The Ontario Building Code | Separation of Suites

3.3.1.1. Separation of Suites

(1) Except as permitted by Sentences (2) and (3), each suite in other than business and personal services occupancies shall be separated from adjoining suites by a fire separationhaving a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h.

(2) The fire-resistance rating of the fire separation required by Sentence (1) is permitted to be less than 1 h but not less than 45 min provided the fire-resistance rating required by Subsection 3.2.2. is permitted to be less than 1 h for,

(a) the floor assembly above the floor area, or

(b) the floor assembly below the floor area, if there is no floor assembly above.

(3) Occupancies that are served by public corridors conforming to Clause 3.3.1.4.(4)(b) in a building that is sprinklered, are not required to be separated from one another by fire separations provided the occupancies are,

(a) suitesof business and personal services occupancy,

(b) fast food vending operations that do not provide seating for customers,

(c) suitesof mercantile occupancy, or

(d) any combination of these occupancies.