In accordance to OBC 3.2.2.42, this building belongs to Group C which is residential for the condo apartments and Group E which is mercantile as well as Group D which is personal services for the ground floor. The ground level is divided between mercantile and personal service while it consists from second to eighth floor residential condominium units.
b. Is Combustible Construction Permitted?
No, combustible construction is not permitted. OBC 3.2.2.42 (2): Structures assigned to Group C must be of noncombustible construction.
c. Are Sprinklers Required?
Yes, there is a requirement to have sprinklers in this building. In OBC 3.2.2.42 (2a), sprinkler systems are required throughout the building for all structures falling under Group C which is residential buildings. This is especially important primarily for fire safety considerations in case of tall buildings.
d. Is There a Maximum Building Area Required?
Article 3.2.2.43 and other parts of the OBC will clarify limits based on the area depending on the height, occupancy classification, and features for fire resistances.
e. What is the Required Fire Resistance Rating for the Floors?
According to OBC 3.2.2.42 (2b) the fire-resistance rating of the floors is required to be 2 hours. This applies to the floor assemblies that divide the storeys so that they can adequately resist fire for some time. Further, mezzanines under some circumstances, should have a minimum 1-hour fire resistance rating for mezzanines and load bearing walls & columns as required based upon supported assembly.
Part 2
| Suites | Occupancy Type | Area (s.m.) | Load Factor | Occupant Load |
| a. Pharmacy | Group E (mercantile) | 93 m² | 3.7 m²/person | 39 people |
| b. Medical Office | Group D (business) | 84 m² | 9.3 m²/person | 10 people |
| c. Restaurant | Group A2 (assembly) | 51 m² | 1.2 m²/person | 40+ people |
| d. Hairdresser | Group D (personal services) | 31 m² | 9.3 m²/person | 5 people |
| e. Café | Group A2 (assembly) | 30 m² | 1.2 m²/person | 30 people |
Total Building Occupant Load:
124+ people
Justifications
a. Pharmacy (Suite 1)
Pharmacies are categorized under the Mercantile Occupancy of OBC 3.2.56 because they sell products to the public directly. The occupant load of mercantile space can be evaluated by applying OBC 3.1.17.1 by floor area.
b. Medical Office (Suite 2)
Medical offices are found under OBC 3.2.2.58 because while they offer professional services they are not inherently part of Group B (care occupancies). Business spaces occupant load is defined by the OBC 3.1.17.1.
c. Restaurant (Suite 3)
This is because of OBC 3.2.2.28 which refers restaurants to Group A-2 since they are assembly occupancies where people congregate to partake food and beverages. The occupant load is given based on the seating and standing occupant density BY OBC 3.1.17.1.
d. Hairdresser (Suite 4)
Hairdressing salons are business and personal service occupancies because they offer personal services to their customers. This classification is supplemented by OBC 3.2.2.58.
e. Café (Suite 5)
Like restaurants serving food and beverages, cafés also count for assembly in Group A-2 according to OBC 3.2.2.28. Another factor found to be closely related to occupant load is the number of seats and standing places provided.
References
Ontario Building Code. (2017). Group C, Any Height, Any Area, Sprinklered (3.2.2.42). Ontario Building Code Online. Retrieved from https://www.buildingcode.online/section3.html
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. (2012). Occupancy classifications and fire safety measures (Sections 3.1, 3.2). Ontario Building Code Compendium. Ontario: Queen’s Printer for Ontario.
