The British Columbia Building Code | Section 6.9. | Fire Safety Systems Pt 1
Division B: Acceptable Solutions Part 6 – Heating, Ventilating and Air-conditioning
British Columbia Building Code 2018 Division B
Section 6.9. Fire Safety Systems
6.9.1. General
6.9.1.1. Fire Safety Requirements
1) The fire safety characteristics of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems shall comply with
Subsection3.6.5.
2) Characteristics referred to in Sentence(1) include but are not limited to
a) use of combustible materials in duct systems,
b) flame-spread ratings and smoke-developed ratings of duct and pipe materials and coverings,
c) installation of equipment relative to property lines, and
d) requirements for fire dampers and fire stop flaps.
6.9.1.2. Hazardous Gases, Dusts or Liquids
1) Except as provided in Subsection6.3.4., systems serving spaces that contain hazardous gases, dusts or liquids
shall be designed, constructed and installed to conform to the requirements of the applicable provincial or territorial
regulations or municipal bylaws or, in the absence of such regulations or bylaws, to good engineering practice such as
that described in the publications of the National Fire Protection Association and in the British Columbia Fire Code.
(SeeNoteA-6.9.1.2.(1).)
2) When indoor piping for ClassI flammable liquids is installed in a trench, the trench shall be
a) provided with positive ventilation to the outdoors, or
b) designed to prevent the accumulation of flammable vapours.
6.9.1.3. Commercial Cooking Equipment
1) Fire protection systems for commercial cooking equipment referred to in Sentence6.3.1.7.(1) using vegetable
oil or animal fat shall conform to
a) ANSI/UL 300, “Fire Testing of Fire Extinguishing Systems for Protection of Commercial Cooking
Equipment,” or
b) ULC/ORD-C1254.6, “Fire Testing of Restaurant Cooking Area Fire Extinguishing System Units.”
6.9.2. Dampers and Ductwork
6.9.2.1. Fire Dampers
1) Fire dampers shall conform to Article3.1.8.10.
6.9.2.2. Smoke Detectors
1) Air handling systems shall incorporate smoke detectors where and as required by Article3.2.4.12.
6.9.2.3. Exhaust Ducts and Outlets
1) Where an exhaust duct system is used for smoke removal in a high building, the requirements of
Article3.2.6.6. shall apply.
2) Where exhaust duct systems from more than one fire compartment are connected to an exhaust duct in a
vertical service space, the requirements of Article3.6.3.4. shall apply.
6.9.2.4. Ducts in Exits
1) Where ducts penetrate fire separations separating exits from the remainder of the building, they shall be in
accordance with Article3.4.4.4.
Effective December 10, 2018 to December 11, 2019
Part 6 – Heating, Ventilating and Air-conditioning Division B: Acceptable Solutions
Division B British Columbia Building Code 2018
6.9.3. Carbon Monoxide Alarms
6.9.3.1. Carbon Monoxide Alarms
1) This Article applies to every building that contains a residential occupancy, a care occupancy with individual
suites, or a care occupancy containing sleeping rooms not within a suite, and that also contains
a) a fuel-burning appliance, or
b) a storage garage.
2) Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms required by this Article shall
a) conform to CAN/CSA-6.19, “Residential Carbon Monoxide Alarming Devices,”
b) be equipped with an integral alarm that satisfies the audibility requirements of CAN/CSA-6.19, “Residential
Carbon Monoxide Alarming Devices,”
c) have no disconnect switch between the overcurrent device and the CO alarm, where the CO alarm is
powered by the electrical system serving the suite (see NoteA-6.9.3.1.(2)(c)), and
d) be mechanically fixed at a height above the floor as recommended by the manufacturer.
3) Where a fuel-burning appliance is installed in a suite of residential occupancy or in a suite of care occupancy, a
COalarm shall be installed
a) inside each bedroom, or
b) outside each bedroom, within 5m of each bedroom door, measured following corridors and doorways.
4) Where a fuel-burning appliance is installed in a service room that is not in a suite of residential occupancy nor in
a suite of care occupancy, a CO alarm shall be installed
a) either inside each bedroom, or if outside, within 5m of each bedroom door, measured following corridors
and doorways, in every suite of residential occupancy or suite of care occupancy that shares a wall or floor/ceiling
assembly with the service room, and
b) in the service room.
5) For each suite of residential occupancy or suite of care occupancy that shares a wall or floor/ceiling assembly with
a storage garage or that is adjacent to an attic or crawl space to which the storage garage is also adjacent, a CO alarm
shall be installed
a) inside each bedroom, or
b) outside each bedroom, within 5m of each bedroom door, measured following corridors and doorways.
6.9.4. Ash Storage
6.9.4.1. Ash Storage Bins
1) Every ash storage bin shall be constructed of noncombustible material.
2) Every opening in an ash storage bin shall be protected by a tight-fitting metal door with metal frame securely
fastened to the bin.
6.9.4.2. Fireplaces
1) Fireplaces shall conform to the requirements of Section9.22.
Effective December 10, 2018 to December 11, 2019
Part 6 – Heating, Ventilating and Air-conditioning Division B: Acceptable Solutions
Division B British Columbia Building Code 2018
6.9.3. Carbon Monoxide Alarms
6.9.3.1. Carbon Monoxide Alarms
1) This Article applies to every building that contains a residential occupancy, a care occupancy with individual
suites, or a care occupancy containing sleeping rooms not within a suite, and that also contains
a) a fuel-burning appliance, or
b) a storage garage.
2) Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms required by this Article shall
a) conform to CAN/CSA-6.19, “Residential Carbon Monoxide Alarming Devices,”
b) be equipped with an integral alarm that satisfies the audibility requirements of CAN/CSA-6.19, “Residential
Carbon Monoxide Alarming Devices,”
c) have no disconnect switch between the overcurrent device and the CO alarm, where the CO alarm is
powered by the electrical system serving the suite (see NoteA-6.9.3.1.(2)(c)), and
d) be mechanically fixed at a height above the floor as recommended by the manufacturer.
3) Where a fuel-burning appliance is installed in a suite of residential occupancy or in a suite of care occupancy, a
COalarm shall be installed
a) inside each bedroom, or
b) outside each bedroom, within 5m of each bedroom door, measured following corridors and doorways.
4) Where a fuel-burning appliance is installed in a service room that is not in a suite of residential occupancy nor in
a suite of care occupancy, a CO alarm shall be installed
a) either inside each bedroom, or if outside, within 5m of each bedroom door, measured following corridors
and doorways, in every suite of residential occupancy or suite of care occupancy that shares a wall or floor/ceiling
assembly with the service room, and
b) in the service room.
5) For each suite of residential occupancy or suite of care occupancy that shares a wall or floor/ceiling assembly with
a storage garage or that is adjacent to an attic or crawl space to which the storage garage is also adjacent, a CO alarm
shall be installed
a) inside each bedroom, or
b) outside each bedroom, within 5m of each bedroom door, measured following corridors and doorways.
6.9.4. Ash Storage
6.9.4.1. Ash Storage Bins
1) Every ash storage bin shall be constructed of noncombustible material.
2) Every opening in an ash storage bin shall be protected by a tight-fitting metal door with metal frame securely
fastened to the bin.
6.9.4.2. Fireplaces
1) Fireplaces shall conform to the requirements of Section9.22.
Effective December 10, 2018 to December 11, 2019