New Ontario

Building Code
Highlights

Part 9

This summary highlights items that are believed to be significant

changes to the 2012 OBC and is not intended to include all changes
made within this or other parts of the Code. If you have questions
regarding Building Code regulations please feel free to contact the
Building Department or ask your inspector.

THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF SARNIA

BUILDING DEPARTMENT
Code Change Highlights
Part 9
9.8.1.2.

Stairs, Ramps, Landings, Handrails and Guards in Garages

(1) Except as provided in Sentence 9.8.6.2.(3), stairs, ramps, landings,

handrails and guards in a garage that serves a single dwelling unit
shall conform to the requirements for stairs, ramps, landings,
handrails and guards with a dwelling unit.
Code Change Highlights
Part 9
9.8.4.1.

Dimensions for Risers

2006 Code

New Code
Code Change Highlights
Part 9
9.8.4.4.

Uniformity and Tolerances for Risers and Treads

(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), risers shall be of uniform height in

any one flight with a maximum tolerance of,
(a) 5mm between adjacent treads or landings, and
(b) 10mm between the tallest and shortest riser in a flight

(3) Treads shall have uniform run with a maximum tolerance of,
(a) 5mm between adjacent treads, and
(b) 10mm between the deepest and shallowest treads in a flight

(5) The slope of treads shall not exceed 1 in 50

Code Change Highlights
Part 9
9.8.5.2.

Ramp Width (Multi Residential)

(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), exit ramps and public ramps
serving buildings of residential occupancy shall have a clear width of
not less than 900mm
Code Change Highlights
Part 9
9.8.7.1.

Required Handrails
(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2) to (4), a handrail shall be installed
on stairs and ramps in conformance with Table 9.8.7.1.

9.8.7.4.

Height of Handrails
(2) Except as provided in Sentence (3) and (4), the height
of handrails on stairs and ramps shall be,
(a) not less than 865mm (2’-10”), and
(b) not more than 965mm (3’-2”)
(4) Handrails installed in addition to required handrails
need not comply with Sentence (2)
Code Change Highlights
Part 9
9.8.8.3.

Height of Guards

(5) Except as provided in Sentence (6), the height of guards shall be not
less than,

(a) 920mm (3’-0”) for required exit stairs, and

(b) 1070mm (3’-6”) for around landings

(6) The height of guards for exterior stairs and landings more than 10m
above adjacent ground level shall be not less than 1500mm (4’-11”)

9.10.15.5.

Construction of Exposing Building Faces of Houses

Table 9.10.15.5 of the 2006 Building Code and all references to it have been
deleted as it is duplicated in Table 9.10.14.5
Code Change Highlights
Part 9
9.9.11.3.

Exit Signs

New requirements for exit signs:

• ISO 3864-1 green pictogram

• ISO 7010 directional symbols
• CSA 22.2 #141 for internally illuminated
• CAN/ULC-S572 for photoluminescent and self-luminous
• Continuous illumination when externally illuminated
• Only emergency lighting allowed on same circuit
Code Change Highlights
Part 9
9.10.16.

Fire Blocks

The references to fire stop(s) have been replaced with fireblock(s)

Division A - 1.4.1.2.

Fire Block means a material, component or system that restricts the

spread of fire within a concealed space or from a concealed space to an
adjacent space

Fire Stop means a system consisting of a material, component and means

of support, used to fill gaps between fire separations or between fire
separations and other assemblies, or used around items that wholly or
partially penetrate a fire separation
Code Change Highlights
Part 9
9.10.19.2.

Sound Patterns of Smoke Alarms

(1) The sound patterns of smoke alarms shall,

(a) meet the temporal patterns of alarm signals, or
(b) be a combination of temporal pattern and voice relay

9.10.19.4.

Power Supply

(1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3), smoke alarms required in
Sentence 9.10.9.1.(1) shall,

(c) in case the regular power supply to a smoke alarm is

interrupted, be provided with a battery as an alternative power
source that can continue to provide power to the smoke alarm
for a period of not less than 7 days in the normal condition,
followed by 4 minutes of alarm

9.10.19.3.

Location of Smoke Alarms

(1) Within dwelling units, sufficient smoke alarms shall be installed so that,

(a) there is at least one smoke alarm installed on each storey ,

including basements, and
(b) on any storey of a dwelling unit containing sleeping rooms, a
smoke alarm is installed,
(i) in each sleeping room, and
(ii) in a location between the sleeping rooms and the
remainder of the storey, and if the sleeping rooms are
served by a hallway, the smoke alarm shall be located in
the hallway
Code Change Highlights
Part 9
9.15.4.2.

Foundation Wall Thickness and Required Lateral Support

(1) Except as required in Sentence (2), the thickness of foundation walls

made of unreinforced concrete block or solid concrete and subject to
lateral earth pressure shall conform to Table 9.15.4.2.A. for walls not
exceeding 3.0m (9’-10”) in unsupported height.
Code Change Highlights
Part 9
9.23.3.5.

Fastening for Sheathing of Subflooring

(5) Where roof sheathing supports are spaced at more than 406mm (16”)
o.c., the maximum spacing of fasteners for roof sheathing shall be
150mm (6”) along the edges and intermediate supports

9.24.2.1.

Size and Spacing of Studs in Interior Walls

(1) the size and spacing of steel studs for nonloadbearing interior walls
shall conform to Table 9.24.2.1.
Code Change Highlights
Part 9
9.31.4.1.

Required Fixtures

(1) A dwelling unit with a water distribution system shall contain,

(a) a kitchen sink,

(b) a lavatory,
(c) a bathtub or shower stall, and
(d) a water closet or a drainless composting toilet