Application

1. This Subsection applies to a building
   1. of Group A, D, E or F major occupancy classification that is more than
      1. 36 m high, measured between grade and the floor level of the top storey, or
      2. 18 m high, measured between grade and the floor level of the top storey, and in which the cumulative or total occupant load on or above any storey above grade, other than the first storey, divided by 1.8 times the width in metres of all exit stairs at that storey, exceeds 300,
   2. containing a Group B major occupancy in which the floor level of the highest storey of that major occupancy is more than 18 m above grade,
   3. containing a floor area or part of a floor area located above the third storey designed or intended as a Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy, or
   4. containing a Group C major occupancy whose floor level is more than 18 m above grade.

1. A building to which this Subsection applies shall be designed in accordance with Sentences (2) to (6) and Article 3.2.6.3. to limit the danger to occupants and firefighters from exposure to smoke in a building fire.
2. A building referred to in Sentence (1) shall be designed so that, during a period of 2 h after the start of a fire, each exit stair serving storeys below the lowest exit level will not contain more than 1% by volume of contaminated air from the fire floor, assuming an outdoor temperature equal to the January design temperature on a 2.5% basis determined in accordance with Subsection 1.1.3. (See Note A-3.2.6.2.(2).)
3. Each stairway that serves storeys above the lowest exit level shall have a vent to the outdoors, at or near the bottom of the stair shaft, that
   1. has an openable area of 0.05 m2 for every door between the stair shaft and a floor area, but not less than 1.8 m2,
   2. opens directly to the outdoors or into a vestibule that has a similar opening to the outdoors, and
   3. has a door or closure that
      1. is openable manually, and
      2. can remain in the open position during a fire emergency. (See Note A-3.2.6.2.(3).)
4. Measures shall be taken to limit movement of smoke from a fire in a floor area below the lowest exit storey into upper storeys. (See Note A-3.2.6.2.(4).)
5. Except for exhaust fans in kitchens, washrooms and bathrooms in dwelling units, and except for fans used for smoke venting as required by Article 3.2.6.6., air moving fans in a system that serves more than 2 storeys shall be designed and installed so that in the event of a fire these fans can be stopped by means of a manually operated switch at the central alarm and control facility.
6. Except as provided in Article 3.2.4.12. or where there is a conflict with other smoke control measures in the building, air-handling systems used to provide make-up air to public corridors serving suites in a Group C major occupancy shall not shut down automatically upon activation of the fire alarm so as to maintain corridor pressurization.

1. If a building described in Article 3.2.6.1. is connected to any other building, measures shall be taken to limit movement of contaminated air from one building into another during a fire. (See Note A-3.2.6.3.(1).)

1. Manual emergency recall shall be provided for all elevators serving storeys above the first storey.
2. Key-operated switches for emergency recall required by Sentence (1) shall be provided in a conspicuous location at
   1. each elevator lobby on the recall level, and
   2. the central alarm and control facility required by Article 3.2.6.7.
3. In-car emergency service switches shall be provided in all elevator cars.
4. Keys to operate the switches required by Sentences (2) and (3) shall be
   1. provided in a suitably identified box conspicuously located on the outside of an elevator hoistway near the central alarm and control facility required by Article 3.2.6.7., and
   2. kept at the central alarm and control facility.

1. At least one elevator shall be provided for use by firefighters in conformance with Sentences (2) to (6).
2. The elevator referred to in Sentence (1) shall have a useable platform area not less than 2.2 m2 and shall be capable of carrying a load of 900 kg to the top floor that it serves from a landing on the storey containing the entrance for firefighter access referred to in Articles 3.2.5.4. and 3.2.5.5. within 1 min.
3. Each elevator for use by firefighters shall
   1. be provided with a closure at each shaft opening so that the interlock mechanism remains mechanically engaged and electrical continuity is maintained in the interlock circuits and associated wiring for a period of not less than 1 h when the assembly is subjected to the standard fire exposure described in CAN/ULC-S104, "Fire Tests of Door Assemblies,"
   2. be protected with a vestibule containing no occupancy and separated from the remainder of the floor area by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 45 min, or
   3. be protected with a corridor containing no occupancy and separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h.
4. Except as permitted by Sentence (5), an elevator referred to in Sentence (1) shall be capable of providing transportation from the storey containing the entrance for firefighter access referred to in Articles 3.2.5.4. and 3.2.5.5. to every floor that is above grade in the building and that is normally served by the elevator system.
5. If it is necessary to change elevators to reach any floor referred to in Sentence (4), the system shall be designed so that not more than one change of elevator is required when travelling to any floor in the building from the storey containing the entrance for firefighter access referred to in Articles 3.2.5.4. and 3.2.5.5.
6. Electrical conductors for the operation of the elevator referred to in Sentence (1) shall be
   1. installed in service spaces conforming to Section 3.6. that do not contain other combustible material, or
   2. protected against exposure to fire fromthe service entrance of the emergency power supply, or the normal service entrance of the normal power supply, to the equipment served, to ensure operation for a period of 1 h when subjected to the standard fire exposure described in CAN/ULC-S101, "Fire Endurance Tests of Building Construction and Materials," (see Note A-3.2.6.5.(6)(b)).

1. Means of venting each floor area to the outdoors shall be provided by windows, wall panels, smoke shafts, or the building exhaust system. (See Note A-3.2.6.6.(1).)
2. Fixed glass windows shall not be used for the venting required by Sentence (1) if the breaking of the windows could endanger pedestrians below.
3. Openable windows used for the venting required by Sentence (1) shall be permanently marked so that they are easily identifiable.
4. Elevator hoistways shall not be designed for the venting required by Sentence (1).

1. A central alarm and control facility shall be provided on the storey containing the entrance for firefighter access referred to in Articles 3.2.5.4. and 3.2.5.5. in a location that
   1. is readily accessible to firefighters entering the building, and
   2. takes into account the effect of background noise likely to occur under fire emergency conditions, so that the facility can properly perform its required function under these conditions. (See Note A-3.2.6.7.(1).)
2. The central alarm and control facility required by Sentence (1) shall include
   1. means to control the voice communication system required by Article 3.2.6.8., so that messages can be sent to
      1. all loudspeakers simultaneously,
      2. individual floor areas, and
      3. exit stairwells,
   2. means to indicate audibly and visually alert signals and alarm signals and a switch to
      1. silence the audible portion of these signals, and
      2. indicate visually that the audible portion has been silenced,
   3. means to indicate visually that elevators are on emergency recall,
   4. an annunciator conforming to Article 3.2.4.8.,
   5. means to transmit alert signals and alarm signals to the fire department in conformance with Article 3.2.4.7.,
   6. means to release hold-open devices on doors to vestibules,
   7. means to manually actuate alarm signals in the building selectively to any zone or zones,
   8. means to silence the alarm signals referred to in Clause (g) in conformance with Sentences 3.2.4.22.(2) and 3.2.4.22.(3),
   9. means, as appropriate to the measure for fire safety provided in the building, to
      1. actuate auxiliary equipment identified in Articles 3.2.6.2., 3.2.6.3. and 3.2.6.6., or
      2. communicate with a continually staffed auxiliary equipment control centre,
   10. means to communicate with telephones in elevator cars, separate from connections to firefighters' telephones, if elevator cars are required by ASME A17.1/CSA B44, "Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators," to be equipped with a telephone,
   11. means to indicate visually, individual sprinkler system waterflow signals,
   12. means to indicate audibly and visually, sprinkler and standpipe system supervisory signals and trouble signals,
   13. a switch to silence the audible portion of a supervisory signal or a trouble signal, and
   14. visual indication that the audible portion of a supervisory signal or a trouble signal has been silenced. (See Note A-3.2.6.7.(2).)

1. A voice communication system conforming to Article 3.2.4.22. shall be provided in a building if
   1. the floor of the top storey is more than 36 m above grade, or
   2. a floor area or part of a floor area located above the third storey is designed or intended for use as a Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy.

1. The systems for control of smoke movement and mechanical venting required by Articles 3.2.6.2. and 3.2.6.6. shall be tested to ensure satisfactory operation. (See Note A-3.2.6.9.(1).)