Division B
Acceptable Solutions
Part 9 — Housing and Small Buildings
Section 9.37. 
Secondary Suites
9.37.1. General
9.37.1.1. Application
1) This Section applies to construction of a secondary suite and alterations to an existing building to accommodate a secondary suite. (See Appendix A.)
9.37.1.2. Construction Requirements
1) Construction of a secondary suite and
alterations to an existing building to accommodate a secondary suite shall conform to the requirements in this Part except as provided in this Section. (See Appendix A.)
and alterations to an existing building to accommodate a secondary suite shall conform to the requirements in this Part except as provided in this Section. (See Appendix A.)9.37.2. Specific Requirements
9.37.2.1. Heights of Rooms or Spaces
1) The minimum height of rooms or spaces in a secondary suite over the required minimum area as indicated in Table 9.5.3.1. shall be not less than 2.0 m.
2) It shall be possible to travel from the required area of one room to the required
areas of all other rooms within a secondary suite without reduction of the room height as required in Sentence (1).
9.37.2.2. Solid Blocking
1) Solid blocking may be omitted for doors described in Sentence 9.7.5.2.(9) where the interior wall finish adjacent the door is in place prior to the construction of a secondary suite.
9.37.2.3. Exit Stairs
1) Exit stairs within or serving a building that contains a secondary suite shall have a minimum width, measured between wall faces or guards, of not less than 860 mm. (See Appendix A.)
9.37.2.4. Dimensions of Landings
1) Landings for exterior stairs serving both suites in a building containing a secondary suite need not exceed 900 mm in length.
9.37.2.5. Handrails and Guards
1) Handrails and guards shall conform to the requirements of Subsections 9.8.7. and 9.8.8. as if serving only one dwelling unit.
9.37.2.6. Means of Egress
1) The width of every public corridor and exit corridor that serves a building that contains a secondary suite shall be not less than 860 mm. (See Appendix A.)
9.37.2.7. Fire Separations for Exits
1) Except as permitted by Sentence (2), every exit other than an exit doorway shall be separated from adjacent floor areas by a fire separation
a) having a fire-resistance rating of 45 min, or
b) having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 30 min where the dwelling units are equipped with smoke alarms as referenced in Article 9.37.2.19.
2) A fire-resistance rating is not required for a fire separation that separates an exit from adjacent floor areas where the building is sprinklered.
fire-resistance rating is not required for a fire separation that separates an exit from adjacent floor areas where the building is sprinklered. 9.37.2.8. Openings Near Unenclosed Exit Stairs and Ramps
1) Where an unenclosed exterior exit stair or ramp provides the only means of egress from a dwelling unit in a building that contains a secondary suite and the stair is exposed to the hazards of fire from unprotected openings in the exterior wall of another fire compartment, the openings shall be protected in conformance with Articles 9.10.13.5. to 9.10.13.7. (See Appendix A.)
9.37.2.9. Doors in a Means of Egress
1) Every exit door or door that opens into or is located within a public corridor or other facility that provides access to exit from a suite shall
a) be not less than 1980 mm high,
b) have a clear opening width of not less than 800 mm, and
c) be permitted to swing inward.
9.37.2.10. Travel Limit to Exits or Egress Doors
1) In a building that contains a secondary suite, the travel limit from a floor level in a dwelling unit to an exit or egress door may exceed 1 storey provided the floor level within the dwelling unit is served by an operable window conforming to Article 9.9.10.1.
9.37.2.11. Shared Egress Facilities
1) Except as provided in Article 9.9.7.3., where an egress door from a dwelling unit opens onto a public corridor or exterior passageway, it shall be possible from the location where the egress door opens onto the public corridor or exterior passageway to go in opposite directions to 2 separate exits unless the dwelling unit is served by a second and separate means of egress or an opening window conforming to Article 9.9.10.1.
2) Each dwelling unit shall be provided with a second and separate means of egress or an opening window conforming to Article 9.9.10.1. where the egress door from either dwelling unit opens onto
9.37.2.12. Exit Signs
9.37.2.13. Structural Fire Resistance
1) Table 9.10.8.1., Fire-Resistance Ratings for Structural Members and Assemblies, does not apply to a building that contains a secondary suite.
9.37.2.14. Combustible Drain, Waste and Vent Piping
(See Appendix A.)1) Combustible drain, waste and vent piping is permitted to be located within or penetrate a fire separation required to have a fire-resistance rating provided
a) except for the permitted penetration in Clause (b), the combustible piping is located within an assembly protected by a membrane of a minimum 12.7 mm gypsum board,
b) the permitted penetration through the gypsum board membrane is limited in
size to the diameter of the penetrating pipe, and
c) the combustible piping does not penetrate the gypsum board protection membrane on the underside of a horizontal fire separation.
2) Combustible drain, waste and vent piping enclosed in an assembly or protected as described in Sentence (1) is permitted on both sides of a fire separation. (See Appendix A.)
9.37.2.15. Separation of Residential Suites
1) Dwelling units in a building that contains a secondary suite shall be separated from each other by(See Appendix A and Appendix Note A-9.37.2.17. of Appendix A.)
a) a fire separation conforming to Article 9.10.9.14.,
b) a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 30 min. where the dwelling units are equipped with smoke alarms conforming to Article 9.37.2.19., or
(See Appendix A and Appendix Note A-9.37.2.17. of Appendix A.)
9.37.2.16. Separation of Public Corridors
1) A public corridor serving a building that contains a secondary suite shall be separated from the suites by
a) a fire separation conforming to Article 9.10.9.15.,
b) a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 30 min where the dwelling units are equipped with smoke alarms conforming to Article 9.37.2.19., or
(See Appendix A.)min where the dwelling units are equipped with smoke alarms conforming to Article 9.37.2.19., or
9.37.2.17. Air Ducts and Fire Dampers
(See Appendix A.)1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3) and notwithstanding Sentences 9.32.1.1.(1) and 9.33.1.1.(1), Sections 9.32. and 9.33. apply to buildings that contain secondary suites.
2) Where a heating or ventilation duct system serves more than one suite, the system shall be designed and installed to prevent the circulation of smoke upon a signal from a duct-type smoke detector.
3) Ducts penetrating fire separations need not be equipped with fire dampers in conformance with Article 3.1.8.9. provided they are noncombustible with all openings in the duct system serving only one fire compartment.
9.37.2.18. Spatial Separation
1) Notwithstanding Sentence 9.10.15.1.(1), Subsection 9.10.15. applies to buildings that contain secondary suites.
9.37.2.19. Smoke Alarms
(See Appendix A.)1) Except as permitted by Sentence (3), an additional smoke alarm of photo-electric type conforming to CAN/ULC-S531, “Standard for Smoke Alarms,” shall be installed in each suite.
2) Smoke alarms required in Sentence (1) shall be wired so that the activation of the additional alarm in one suite will cause the additional alarm in the other suite to sound.
3) An additional interconnected smoke alarm is not required to be installed in each suite provided
a) the fire separations required in Articles 9.37.2.15. and 9.37.2.16. have a fire resistance rating of 45 min or greater, or
the fire separations required in Articles 9.37.2.15. and 9.37.2.16. have a fire resistance rating of 45 min or greater, orb) the building is sprinklered.
9.37.2.20. Sound Control
1) The assemblies separating the residential suites need not comply with the sound control requirements of Subsection 9.11.2. (See
Appendix A.)
9.37.2.21. Attic Space Access
1) An attic space access hatchway not less than 0.32 m2 in an area with no dimension less than 500 mm may serve both suites in a building that contains a secondary suite.
500 mm may serve both suites in a building that contains a secondary suite.
9.37.2.22. Garages and Carports
1) Section 9.35. is applicable to garages and carports serving a building that contains a secondary suite.