The Ontario Building Code | Exit Signage

3.4.5.1. Exit Signage

(1) Except as provided by Sentences (9) and (10), every exit door shall have an exit sign placed over or adjacent to it if the exit serves,

(a) a buildingmore than 2 storeys in building height,

(b) a buildinghaving an occupant load of more than 150, or

(c) a room or floor area that has a fire escape as part of a required means of egress.

(2) Except as provided by Sentence (7), every exitsign shall,

(a) be visible on approach to the exit,

(b) consist of a green pictogram and white graphic symbol meeting the visibility specifications referred to in ISO 3864-1, "Graphical Symbols – Safety Colours and Safety Signs – Part 1: Design Principles for Safety Signs and Safety Markings", and

(c) conform to the dimensions indicated in ISO 7010, "Graphical Symbols - Safety Colours and Safety Signs - Safety Signs Used in Workplaces and Public Areas" for the following symbols:

(i) E001 emergency exit left,

(ii) E002 emergency exit right,

(iii) E005 90-degree directional arrow, and

(iv) E006 45-degree directional arrow.

(3) Internally illuminated exit signs shall,

(a) be continuously illuminated, and

(b) where illumination of the sign is powered by an electrical circuit, be constructed in conformance with CSA 22.2 No. 141, "Emergency Lighting Equipment".

(4) Externally illuminated exit signs shall be continuously illuminated by a light fixture supplied by an electrical circuit.

(5) Photoluminescent and self-luminous exitsigns shall,

(a) conform to CAN/ULC-S572, "Photoluminescent and Self-Luminous Signs and Path Marking Systems",

(b) be labelled in accordance with the time duration for which they have been tested and listed,

(c) be so installed that upon failure of the regular power they will continue to be illuminated for the applicable time duration specified in Clause 3.2.7.4.(1)(b), and

(d) be continuously illuminated if reliant on an external energy source to energize the reflective coating of the sign.

(6) If illumination of an exit sign is provided from an electrical circuit, that circuit shall,

(a) serve no equipment other than emergency lighting in the area where exit signs are installed, and

(b) be connected to an emergency power supply as described in Sentence 3.2.7.4.(1)

(7) Where no exit is visible from a public corridor, from a corridor used by the public in a Group A or B major occupancy or from principal routes serving an open floor area having an occupant load of more than 150, an exitsign conforming to Clauses (2)(b) and (c) with an arrow or other indicator pointing at the direction of egress shall be provided.

(8) Except for egress doorways described in Sentence 3.3.2.3.(4), an exit sign conforming to Sentences (2) to (6) shall be placed over or adjacent to every egress doorway from rooms with an occupant load more than 60 in Group A, Division 1 occupancies, dance halls, licensed beverage establishments and other similar occupancies that, when occupied, have lighting levels below the level that would provide easy identification of the egress doorway.

(9) Except for suite doors opening directly to the exterior, every exit serving a hotel shall have an exit sign placed over or adjacent to it.

(10) An exit sign is not required within a suite containing a Group B, Division 3 occupancy if the following requirements are met:

(a) the suitecontains sleeping accommodation for not more than 10 persons, and

(b) not more than 6 occupants require assistance in evacuation in case of an emergency.