Division B
Acceptable Solutions

Part 2 — Building and Occupant Fire Safety

Section 2.2. Fire Separations

2.2.1. General

2.2.1.1. Fire Separations

1) Where a building contains more than one major occupancy, such occupancies shall be separated from each other in conformance with the British Columbia Building Code.

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1) Where a building contains more than one major occupancy, such occupancies shall be separated from each other in conformance with the British Columbia Building CodeNBC.

2) Where rooms or spaces within a building contain a high-hazard industrial occupancy, such occupancy shall be separated from the remainder of the building by fire separations in conformance with this Code and the British Columbia Building Code.

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2) Where rooms or spaces within a building contain a high-hazard industrial occupancy, such occupancy shall be separated from the remainder of the building by fire separations in conformance with this Code and the British Columbia Building CodeNBC.

3) Rooms, corridors, shafts and other spaces shall be separated where practicable by fire separations conforming to the British Columbia Building Code.

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3) Rooms, corridors, shafts and other spaces shall be separated where practicable by fire separations conforming to the British Columbia Building CodeNBC.

2.2.1.2. Damage to Fire Separations

1) Where fire separations are damaged so as to affect their integrity, they shall be repaired so that the integrity of the fire separation is maintained.

2.2.2. Closures

2.2.2.1. Openings in Fire Separations

1) Openings in fire separations shall be protected with closures in conformance with the British Columbia Building Code.

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1) Openings in fire separations shall be protected with closures in conformance with the British Columbia Building CodeNBC.

2) Where closures in fire separations are replaced, the replacements shall be in conformance with the British Columbia Building Code.

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2) Where closures in fire separations are replaced, the replacements shall be in conformance with the British Columbia Building CodeNBC.

2.2.2.2. Damage to Closures

1) Where closures are damaged so as to affect the integrity of their fire-protection rating, they shall be repaired so that their integrity is maintained in conformance with Article 2.2.2.1.

2.2.2.3. Protective Guarding Devices

1) Protective guarding devices shall be

a) provided where necessary to prevent damage to the mechanical components of doors in fire separations, and

b) installed so as not to interfere with the proper operation of the doors.

2.2.2.4. Inspection and Maintenance

1) Defects that interfere with the operation of closures in fire separations shall be corrected, and such closures shall be maintained to ensure that they are operable at all times by

a) keeping fusible links and other heat-actuated devices undamaged and free of paint and dirt,

b) keeping guides, bearings and stay rolls clean and lubricated,

c) making necessary adjustments and repairs to door hardware and accessories to ensure proper closing and latching, and

d) repairing or replacing inoperative parts of hold-open devices and automatic releasing devices.

2) Doors in fire separations shall be inspected at intervals not greater than 24 h to ensure that they remain closed unless the door is equipped with a hold-open device conforming to the British Columbia Building Code.

NC2010  2010-01-01 R1

2) Doors in fire separations shall be inspected at intervals not greater than 24 h to ensure that they remain closed unless the door is equipped with a hold-open device conforming to the British Columbia Building CodeNBC.

3) Doors in fire separations shall be operated at intervals not greater than one month to ensure that they are properly maintained in accordance with Sentence (1), as specified in the fire safety plan prepared in conformance with Section 2.8.

4) Closures in fire separations shall not be obstructed, blocked, wedged open, or altered in any way that would prevent the intended operation of the closure.

5) Fire dampers and fire stop flaps shall be inspected at intervals not greater than 12 months to ensure that they are in place and are not obviously damaged or obstructed.

2.2.2.5. Fire Door Signs

1) Every door used as a closure with a required fire-protection rating shall have a permanent sign clearly displaying the words, “FIRE DOOR KEEP CLOSED” posted on the visible side of the door when it is in the open position, except where the door is

a) located between a corridor and an adjacent sleeping room in a hospital or a nursing home,

b) located between a corridor and an adjacent classroom,

c) located between a public corridor and a suite of Group C or D occupancy, or

d) fitted with an acceptable hold-open device designed to be released by a signal from a fire detector, fire alarm system or sprinkler system. (See Appendix A.)