The Ontario Building Code | Shelves or Counters for Telephones
3.8.3.15. Shelves or Counters for Telephones
(1) Where more than one telephone is provided for public use, a built-in shelf or counter shall be provided for at least one telephone.
(2) A shelf or counter described in Sentence (1) shall,
(a) be level,
(b) be not less than 500 mm wide and 350 mm deep, and
(c) have, for each telephone provided, a clear space that,
(i) is not less than 810 mm wide and 1 370 mm deep, centred on the telephone, and
(ii) has no obstruction within 250 mm above the surface.
(3) The top surface of a section of the shelf or counter described in Sentence (1) shall,
(a) be located not less than 775 mm and not more than 875 mm from the finished floor, and
(b) have a knee space not less than 740 mm high.
(4) Where a wall-hung telephone is provided above the shelf or counter section described in Sentence (3), it shall be located so that the receiver and coin or card slot are not more than 1 200 mm from the finished floor.
(5) Where more than one telephone is provided for public use in a normally occupied floor area that is not required by Article 3.8.2.1. to have a barrier-free path of travel, a built-in shelf or counter that conforms to Sentences (2), (3) and (4) shall be provided for at least one telephone.
In Plain Language
Where more than one public telephone is provided, at least one needs a built-in shelf or counter that is level and meets minimum width and depth dimensions, supporting accessible use.
This is a plain-language summary of the 2012/2017 Ontario Building Code text above, for general understanding only and not a substitute for the Code. Always confirm current requirements against the 2024 edition (O.Reg. 163/24) or a qualified professional before construction.