Dear Valued Clients and Partners,

Vortex Fire would like to announce that there are new Ontario Building Code Changes regarding Smoke Damper Requirements, effective as of February 28, 2023!

The following outlines a summary of the above noted changes:

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) on February 28, 2023, filed an amendment to the Ontario Building Code (O.Reg. 30/23) that clarifies the provisions related to waiving smoke dampers or combination smoke and fire dampers in certain locations. Of most significance is the revision to clarify the smoke dampers or combination smoke and fire dampers requirements in the following locations:

  • Long term care and hospitals – Walls (0 h fire separations) between patients or resident rooms will not require a damper.
  • High rise residential buildings – the air handing system serving the public corridor will only require a fire damper (not a combination smoke and fire damper) where the air handing system is used to provide make up air as part of a smoke control system.

There has also been a change to the definition of fire compartment to now state that the walls are required to have a fire resistance rating.

Fire compartment means an enclosed space in a building that is separated from all other parts of the building by enclosing construction providing a fire separation having a required fire-resistance rating.

Previously the OBC definition did not align with the NBC definition and did not specify that a fire compartment needs to have a fire resistance rating. This meant the 0 h fire rated walls such as corridor walls were considered as a fire compartment and could have triggered the requirement for dampers to be provided. This Code change clarifies that a 0 h fire separation is not considered a fire compartment.

Further amendments to the Code include the introduction of the need for a building permit for demountable stages and associated sound and lighting equipment towers as well as new safety requirements in the Code for demountable stages and stage support structures.

We are happy to help you with any questions you might have regarding the new Ontario Building Code Changes – Smoke Damper Requirements. 

Vortex Fire