The Ontario Building Code | Reduction in Performance Level
10.3.2.2. Reduction in Performance Level
(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), the performance level of a building or part of a buildingis reduced where the existing structural floor and roof framing systems and their supporting members are not adequate to support the proposed dead loads and live loads of the new major occupancy that the building is to support.
(2) The inadequacy of the existing structural floor or roof framing system and its supporting members to support the proposed dead loads and live loads does not reduce the performance level of the building if the portion of the floor affected by the proposed loads is restricted to the loading it will support and signs stating the restrictions are posted.
(3) Except as provided in Section 10.4., the performance level of a building or part of a buildingis reduced where the early warning and evacuation systems requirements of the building do not meet the early warning and evacuation systems requirements set out in Table 10.3.2.2.A. for the new major occupancy that the buildingis to support.
Table 10.3.2.2.A.
For Evaluation of Early Warning/Evacuation
Forming Part of Sentence 10.3.2.2.(3)
| Column 1 Early Warning / Evacuation Evaluation | Column 2 Compliance Alternative (1) |
| Early Warning and Evacuation to be checked against | EARLY WARNING |
| (a) access to exit widths based on occupant load in Subsection 3.3.1. or 9.9.3.; |
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| (b) exit widths based on occupant load in Subsection 3.4.3. or 9.9.3.; | (a) Compliance alternatives as listed may be used. |
| (c) exit signs in Subsection 3.4.5. or 9.9.11.; | |
| (d) lighting of exits, lighting of access to exits and emergency lighting in Subsection 3.2.7. or 9.9.12.; |
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| (e) fire alarm system in Subsection 3.2.4. or 9.10.18.; |
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| (f) smoke alarms in Subsection 9.10.19.; | EVACUATION |
| (g) travel distance and number of exits in other Parts of this Division; |
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| (h) smoke control measures, and at least one elevator to permit transport of firefighters to all floors in hotels whose floor level is more than 18 m high, measured between grade and floor level of the top storey as per Subsection 3.2.6.; and | (b) Compliance alternatives as listed to access to exit and exit widths, number of exits, door release hardware, and travel distance may be used. |
| (i) door release hardware requirements in Articles 3.3.1.12. and 3.4.6.16., | |
| and deficiencies shall be upgraded. |
Notes to Table 10.3.2.2.A.:
(1) See Tables 11.5.1.1.A., 11.5.1.1.B., 11.5.1.1.C., 11.5.1.1.D/E. and 11.5.1.1.F. for compliance alternatives that may be used.
(4) Except as provided in Sentence (5), the performance level of an existing building is reduced where a change in use will result in a change of the major occupancyof all or part of an existing building to another major occupancy of a greater hazard index.
(5) Except as provided in Sentence (6), if the hazard index of the new major occupancy is greater than the hazard index of the existing major occupancy, the performance level is not reduced where the hazard index of the new major occupancy is not greater than the construction index of the existing building.
(6) Small or medium sized existing buildings as determined in Tables 11.2.1.1.B. to 11.2.1.1.N. facing multiple streetsmay be assigned a hazard index credit of 1, which may be subtracted from the hazard index of the new major occupancy provided,
(a) the buildingdoes not contain a Group B, Division 1, a Group C, or a Group F, Division 1 occupancy, and
(b) firefighting access complying with Articles 3.2.5.1. to 3.2.5.5. or Subsection 9.10.20. is provided.
(7) Except as provided in Sentence (8), the performance level of a building or part of a buildingis reduced in an existing building of combustible construction where,
(a) the occupancyis changed to a residential occupancy in all or part of the building, and
(b) if the buildingwas new, it would have been required to be of noncombustible construction or to be constructed in accordance with Article 3.2.2.43A. or 3.2.2.50A.
(8) A change in the occupancy of a buildingor part of a building to a residential occupancy does not reduce the performance levelof the building or part of the building where,
(a) the buildingis sprinklered, and
(b) the buildingdoes not exceed 6 storeys in building height.
(9) The performance level of a buildingor part of a building is reduced where the new major occupancy in an existing buildingof multiple occupancy is not separated from adjoining major occupancies by fire separations having fire-resistance ratings conforming to Article 3.1.3.1., Subsection 9.10.9. or Table 10.3.2.2.B.
Table 10.3.2.2.B.(1)
Additional Upgrading for Multiple Major Occupancies
Forming Part of Sentence 10.3.2.2.(9)
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
| New Major Occupancy | Code Requirements | Compliance Alternative |
|
| All | Table 3.1.3.1. and Subsection 9.10.9. | For Existing Building | If Sprinklered |
|
| Where: | Reduce to | Reduce to |
|
| 1 h rating required | 45 min | 30 min |
|
| 2 h rating required | 1.5 h | 1 h |
|
| 3 h rating required | 2 h | 1.5 h |
Notes to Table 10.3.2.2.B.:
(1) For buildingswith multiple major occupancies only, where there is a change in major occupancy.
(10) The performance level of a buildingis reduced where the building after the change of major occupancy will not comply with Article 3.1.3.2. or 9.10.9.12.
(11) The performance level of a building or part of a building is reduced where, after a change of major occupancy,
(a) the total daily design sanitary sewage flow of the new major occupancy, calculated in accordance with Article 8.2.1.3., exceeds the capacity of any component of a sewage system serving the building, or
(b) the type or amount of sanitary sewage that will, under the new major occupancy, be discharged to a sewage system serving the building is prohibited by Article 8.1.3.1.
(12) The performance level of an existing buildingor part of an existing building is reduced where,
(a) the use of the building or part of the buildingis changed to a retirement home regulated under the Retirement Homes Act, 2010, and
Note: On July 1, 2017, Clause 10.3.2.2.(12)(a) of Division B of the Regulation is amended by striking out "a retirement home regulated under the Retirement Homes Act, 2010" and substituting "a retirement home". (See: O. Reg. 139/17, s. 137 (1))
(b) any of the following applies:
(i) the retirement home is not sprinklered,
Note: On July 1, 2017, Subclause 10.3.2.2.(12)(b)(i) of Division B of the Regulation is amended by striking out "the retirement home" and substituting "the retirement home". (See: O. Reg. 139/17, s. 137 (2))
(ii) Clause 3.2.6.8.(1)(b) or (c), as applicable, requires that a voice communication system conforming to Article 3.2.4.23. be provided in the buildingand such a system is not provided in the building, or
(iii) the retirement home contains one or more doors to suites or sleeping rooms not within suites, other than doors leading directly to the exterior, that are not equipped with self-closing devices.
Note: On July 1, 2017, Subclause 10.3.2.2.(12)(b)(iii) of Division B of the Regulation is amended by striking out "the retirement home" and substituting "the retirement home". (See: O. Reg. 139/17, s. 137 (2))
Section 10.4. Compliance Alternatives
10.4.1. Compliance Alternatives