The Ontario Building Code | Fixed Seats

3.3.2.3. Fixed Seats

(1) Except for the requirements of Article 3.3.2.7. for bench-type seats and except as required or permitted by Sentence (2) and Articles 3.3.2.9. and 3.3.2.10., fixed seats in places of assembly shall be,

(a) attached or secured to the floor, platform or platform riser,

(b) provided with arms and back, and

(c) arranged in rows having an unobstructed passage not less than 400 mm wide measured horizontally between plumb lines from the backs of the seats in one row and the edges of the furthest forward projection of the seats in the next row in the unoccupied position.

(2) For fixed seats with backs and with folding tablet arms, the value of 400 mm required by Clause (1)(c) shall be measured when the tablet arms are in the use position, but is permitted to be measured in the stored position provided,

(a) there are not more than seven seats between any seat and the nearest aisle,

(b) the seats are located in a lecture hall or an auditorium used for instructional purposes, and

(c) the tablet arm, when raised manually to a vertical position, falls by the force of gravity to the stored position.

(3) Except as permitted by Sentences (4) and (5), aisles shall be located so that there are not more than seven seats with backs or 20 seats without backs between any seat and the nearest aisle.

(4) The requirements of Sentence (3) do not apply if,

(a) egress doorway ="http://thehandyforce.com/doors/" title ="Toronto Door installer">doorways are provided to serve both ends of rows of seats,

(b) each doorway ="http://thehandyforce.com/doors/" title ="Toronto Door installer">doorway referred to in Clause (a) serves not more than three rows of seats, and

(c) each row contains not more than 100 seats.

(5) The requirements of Sentence (3) do not apply if,

(a) there are not more than seven seats between any seat and the nearest aisle, where the seats are served by a single aisle,

(b) there are not more than 20 seats between any seat and the nearest aisle, where the seats are served by two aisles,

(c) each row has an unobstructed passage with minimum width of 400 mm plus 6.1 mm for each additional seat above 16 seats in the row, and

(d) the travel distance is not more than 45 m measured along the path of travel from any seat to an exit or to an egress doorway ="http://thehandyforce.com/doors/" title ="Toronto Door installer">doorway.

(6) Seating arrangements that do not conform to the requirements of Sentences (3) to (5) are permitted provided the standard of safety is not reduced and the time required for egress is not increased.