Division B
Section 9.5. Design of Areas, Spaces and Doorways
Section 9.5. Design of Areas, Spaces and Doorways Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.1. General Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.1.0A. Application Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Except as otherwise specified in this Part, this Section applies only to dwelling units that are intended for use on a continuing or year-round basis as the principal residence of the occupant.
9.5.1.1. Method of Measurement Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Except as otherwise specified in this Part, the areas, dimensions and heights of rooms or spaces shall be measured between finished wall surfaces and between finished floor and ceiling surfaces.
9.5.1.1A. Floor Areas Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Minimum floor areas specified in this Section do not include closets or built-in bedroom cabinets unless otherwise indicated.
9.5.1.2. Combination Rooms (See Note A-9.5.1.2.) Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Two or more areas may be considered as a combination room if the opening between the areas occupies the larger of 3 m2 or 40% or more of the wall measured on the side of the dependent area.
(2)Where the dependent area is a bedroom, direct passage shall be provided between the two areas.
(3)The opening required in Sentence (1) shall not contain doors or windows.
9.5.1.3. Lesser Areas and Dimensions Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Areas of rooms and spaces are permitted to be less than required in this Section provided it can be shown that the rooms and spaces are adequate for their intended use, such as by the provision of built-in furniture to compensate for reduced sizes.
9.5.2. Barrier-Free Design Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.2.1. General Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Except as provided in Sentence (2) and Article 3.8.1.1., every building shall be designed in conformance with Section 3.8.
(2)The requirements of Section 3.8. need not be provided for detached houses, semi-detached houses, houses with a secondary suite, duplexes, triplexes, row houses and boarding or rooming houses with fewer than eight boarders or roomers.
9.5.2.2. Protection on Floor Areas With a Barrier-Free Path of Travel Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Where a barrier-free path of travel required in Article 9.5.2.1. is provided to any storey above the first storey, the requirements in Article 3.3.1.7. shall apply.
9.5.2.3. Reserved Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.2.4. Stud Wall Reinforcement Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)If wood wall studs or sheet steel wall studs enclose the main bathroom in a dwelling unit, reinforcement shall be installed to permit the future installation of the following:
(a)for a water closet, a grab bar described in Clauses 3.8.3.8.(3)(a) and a grab bar described in Clause 3.8.3.8.(3)(c),
(b)for a shower, a grab bar described in Clause 3.8.3.13.(2)(g), and
(c)for a bathtub, a grab bar described in Clause 3.8.3.13.(7)(e).
(See Note A-9.5.2.4.(1))
9.5.3. Ceiling Heights Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.3.1. Ceiling Heights of Rooms or Spaces Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3), the ceiling heights and clear heights in rooms or spaces in residential occupancies and live/work units shall conform to Table 9.5.3.1.
(2)Ceiling heights in secondary suites shall be not less than 1.95 m.
(3)Clear heights under beams and ducting in secondary suites shall be not less than 1.85 m.
(4)Areas in rooms or spaces over which ceiling height and clear height are not less than the minimum specified in Table 9.5.3.1. or Sentence (2) or (3) shall be contiguous with the entry or entries to those rooms or spaces.
| Room or Space | Minimum Heights(1) |
|---|---|
| Living room or space, dining room or space, kitchen or kitchen space | 2 300 mm over at least 75% of the required floor area with a clear height of 2 100 mm at any point over the required area |
| Bedroom or bedroom space | 2 300 mm over at least 50% of the required area or 2 100 mm over all of the required floor area. Any part of the floor having a clear height of less than 1 400 mm shall not be considered in computing the required floor area |
| Basement space | 2 100 mm over at least 75% of the basement area except that under beams and ducts the clearance is permitted to be reduced to 1 950 mm |
| Bathroom, water closet room or laundry area above grade | 2 100 mm in any area where a person would normally be in a standing position |
| Passage, hall or main entrance vestibule and finished rooms not specifically mentioned above | 2 100 mm |
Notes to Table 9.5.3.1.:
9.5.3.2. Mezzanines Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)The ceiling height above and below a mezzanine floor assembly in all occupancies shall be not less than 2.1 m.
9.5.3.3. Storage Garages Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)The clear height in a storage garage shall be not less than 2 m.
9.5.3A. Living Rooms or Spaces Within Dwelling Units Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.3A.1. Areas of Living Rooms and Spaces Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Living areas within dwelling units, either as separate rooms or in combination with other spaces, shall have an area not less than 13.5 m².
(2)Where the area of a living space is combined with a kitchen and dining area, the living area alone in a dwelling unit that contains sleeping accommodation for not more than two persons shall be not less than 11 m².
9.5.3B. Dining Rooms or Spaces Within Dwelling Units Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.3B.1. Area of Dining Rooms or Spaces Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)A dining space in combination with other space shall have an area of not less than 3.25 m².
(2)Dining rooms not combined with other space shall have a minimum area of 7 m².
9.5.3C. Kitchens Within Dwelling Units Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.3C.1. Kitchen Areas Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Kitchen areas within dwelling units either separate from or in combination with other spaces, shall have an area of not less than 4.2 m² including the area occupied by the base cabinets, except that in dwelling units containing sleeping accommodation for not more than two persons, the minimum area shall be 3.7 m².
9.5.3D. Bedrooms or Spaces in Dwelling Units and Dormitories Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.3D.1. Areas of Bedrooms Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Except as provided in Articles 9.5.3D.2. and 9.5.3D.3., bedrooms in dwelling units shall have an area not less than 7 m² where built-in cabinets are not provided and not less than 6 m² where built-in cabinets are provided.
9.5.3D.2. Areas of Master Bedrooms Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Except as provided in Article 9.5.3D.3., at least one bedroom in every dwelling unit shall have an area of not less than 9.8 m² where built-in cabinets are not provided and not less than 8.8 m² where built-in cabinets are provided.
9.5.3D.3. Areas of Combination Bedrooms Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Bedroom spaces in combination with other spaces in dwelling units shall have an area not less than 4.2 m².
9.5.3D.4. Areas of Other Sleeping Rooms Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Sleeping rooms other than in dwelling units shall have an area not less than 7 m² per person for single occupancy and 4.6 m² per person for multiple occupancy.
9.5.3D.5. Recreational Camps Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Recreational camps shall have an area in the sleeping quarters of at least 3.72 m² per camper or, if double or triple tier bunk units are used, 2.79 m² per camper.
9.5.3D.6. Camps for Housing Workers Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)A camp for housing of workers shall have a minimum area of 3.72 m² per employee in every room used for sleeping purposes.
9.5.3E. Combined Spaces Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.3E.1. Combined Living, Dining, Bedroom and Kitchen Spaces Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Despite Subsections 9.5.3A. to 9.5.3D., where living, dining, bedroom and kitchen spaces are combined in a dwelling unit that contains sleeping accommodation for not more than two persons, the area of the combined spaces shall be not less than 13.5 m2.
9.5.3F. Bathrooms and Water Closet Rooms Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.3F.1. Space to Accommodate Fixtures Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)In every dwelling unit an enclosed space of sufficient size shall be provided to accommodate a water closet, lavatory and bathtub or shower stall.
9.5.3F.2. Doors to Rooms Containing Water Closets Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)A door shall be provided to each room containing a water closet within a dwelling unit.
9.5.4. Hallways Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.4.1. Hallway Width Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)The unobstructed width of a hallway within a dwelling unit shall be not less than 860 mm, except that the hallway width is permitted to be 710 mm where
(a)there are only bedrooms and bathrooms at the end of the hallway furthest from the living area, and
(b)a second exit is provided
(i)in the hallway near the end furthest from the living area, or
(ii)in each bedroom served by the hallway.
9.5.5. Doorway Sizes Copy linkAdd bookmark
9.5.5.1. Doorway Opening Sizes Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Except as provided in Sentence (2) and Articles 9.5.5.3., 9.9.6.2. and 9.9.6.3., doorway openings within dwelling units and within houses with a secondary suite including their common spaces shall be designed to accommodate at least the door sizes given in Table 9.5.5.1. for swing-type and folding doors.
(2)Doorway openings within secondary suites shall be designed to accommodate swing-type and folding doors not less than 1 890 mm high where the ceiling height complies with Sentence 9.5.3.1.(2).
| At Entrance to: | Minimum Width, mm | Minimum Height, mm |
|---|---|---|
| Dwelling unit or house with a secondary suite including common spaces (required entrance) Vestibule or entrance hall | 810 | 1 980 |
| Stairs to a floor level that contains a finished space All doors in at least one line of passage from the exterior to the basement Utility rooms | 810 | 1 980 |
| Walk-in closet | 610 | 1 980 |
| Bathroom, water-closet room, shower room(1) | 610 | 1 980 |
| Rooms located off hallways that are permitted to be 710 mm wide | 610 | 1 980 |
| Rooms not mentioned above, exterior balconies | 760 | 1 980 |
Notes to Table 9.5.5.1.:
9.5.5.2. Doors to Public Water-Closet Rooms Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Doors to public water closet rooms shall be not less than 810 mm wide and 2 030 mm high.
9.5.5.3. Doors to Bathrooms Copy linkAdd bookmark
(1)Where a barrier-free path of travel conforming to Section 3.8. is provided into a suite of residential occupancy and where a bathroom within the suite is at the level of the suite entrance door, the doorway to such bathroom and to each bedroom at the same level as such bathroom shall have, when the door is in the open position, a clear width of not less than,
(a)760 mm where the door is served by a corridor or space not less than 1 060 mm wide, and
(b)810 mm where the door is served by a corridor or space less than 1 060 mm wide.