1.4.1.2. Defined Terms

(1)

The words and terms in italics in this Code shall have the following meanings:

(a)

the same meaning as in subsection 1(1) of the Act, if not defined in Clause (b) or (c),

(b)

the same meaning as in each of the following provisions for the purposes described in the provision:

(i)

Sentences 1.4.1.3.(1) and (2) of Division A, and

(ii)

Sentences 3.13.1.2.(1), 7.1.1A.1.(1), 8.1.1.2.(1) and 11.1.1.2.(1) of Division B, or

(c)

the following meaning for the purposes of this Code:

Absorption trench

means an excavation in soil, as defined in Part 8 of Division B, or in leaching bed fill, being part of a leaching bed, in which a distribution pipe or leaching chamber is laid that allows infiltration of the effluent into the soil, as defined in Part 8 of Division B, or leaching bed fill.

Acceptable solution

means a requirement stated in Parts 2 to 12 of Division B.

Accessible

means, when applied to a fixture, connection, plumbing appliance, valve, cleanout or equipment, to be accessible with or without having to first remove an access panel, door or similar obstruction, but a fixture, connection, plumbing appliance, valve, cleanout or equipment is not accessible if access can be gained only by cutting or breaking materials.

Access to exit

means that part of a means of egress within a floor area that provides access to an exit serving the floor area.

Adaptable seating

means a fixed seat or seats designed to facilitate a side transfer from a wheelchair. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Additional circuit vent

means a vent pipe that is installed between a circuit vent and a relief vent to provide additional air circulation.

Adfreezing

means the adhesion of soil to a foundation unit resulting from the freezing of soil water. (Also referred to as “frost grip.”)

Agricultural occupancy

(Group G) means the occupancy of a building or part thereof that is located on land that is associated with and devoted to the practice of farming, and is used for the purpose of producing crops, raising farm animals, or preparing, marketing, storing or processing agricultural products. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Agricultural occupancy with no human occupants

(Group G, Division 4) means an agricultural occupancy that is not intended to be occupied by persons under normal use and is generally used for the storage of agricultural materials and by-products. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Air admittance valve

means a one-way valve designed to allow air to enter the drainage system when the pressure in the plumbing system is less than the atmospheric pressure.

Air barrier system

means the assembly installed to provide a continuous barrier to the movement of air.

Air break

means the unobstructed vertical distance between the lowest point of an indirectly connected waste pipe and the flood level rim of the fixture into which it discharges.

Air-conditioning

means the process of treating air in a space to control simultaneously its temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and distribution to meet the comfort requirements of the occupants of the space.

Air gap

means the unobstructed vertical distance through air between the lowest point of a water supply outlet and the flood level rim of the fixture or device into which the outlet discharges.

Air-supported structure

means a structure consisting of a pliable membrane that achieves and maintains its shape and support by internal air pressure.

Alarm signal

means an audible signal transmitted throughout a zone or zones or throughout a building to advise occupants that a fire emergency exists.

Alert signal

means an audible signal to advise designated persons of a fire emergency.

Allowable bearing pressure

means the maximum pressure that may be safely applied to a soil or rock by the foundation unit considered in design under expected loading and subsurface conditions.

Allowable load

means the maximum load that may be safely applied to a foundation unit considered in design under expected loading and subsurface conditions.

Alloyed zinc

means an alloy of zinc having the corrosion resistance and physical properties of an alloy containing 0.15% titanium, 0.74% copper and 99.11% zinc, and so tempered as to be capable of being formed into the shape required for a watertight joint.

Alternative solution

means a substitute for an acceptable solution.

Apparent sound transmission class (ASTC)

means a single number rating of the airborne sound attenuation of building assemblies separating two adjoining spaces, taking into account both the direct and flanking sound transmission paths. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1)) (See also Note A-9.11. of Division B)

Appliance

means a device to convert fuel into energy and includes all components, controls, wiring and piping required to be part of the device by the applicable standard referred to in this Code.

Architect

means the holder of a licence, a certificate of practice or a temporary licence under the Architects Act.

Area affected by a significant drinking water threat

means an area described in Clause 1.10.2.3.(2)(b) of Division C.

Artesian groundwater

means a confined body of water under pressure in the ground.

As constructed plans

means construction plans and specifications that show the building and the location of the building on the property as the building has been constructed.

Assembly occupancy

(Group A) means the occupancy or the use of a building or part thereof by a gathering of persons for civic, political, travel, religious, social, educational, recreational or like purposes, or for the consumption of food or drink.

Attic or roof space

means the space between the roof and the ceiling of the top storey or between a dwarf wall and a sloping roof.

Auxiliary water supply

means, when applied to premises, any water supply on or available to the premises other than the primary potable water supply for the premises.

Backflow

means a flowing back or reversal of the normal direction of the flow.

Backflow preventer

means a device or a method that prevents backflow in a water distribution system.

Back pressure

means pressure means pressure higher than the supply pressure.

Back-siphonage

means backflow caused by a negative pressure in the supply system.

Back-siphonage preventer

means a device or a method that prevents back-siphonage in a water distribution system.

Back vent

means a pipe that is installed to vent a trap off the horizontal section of a fixture drain or the vertical leg of a water closet or other fixture that has an integral siphonic flushing action and “back vented” has a corresponding meaning.

Backwater valve

means a check valve designed for use in a gravity drainage system.

Barrier-free

means, when applied to a building and its facilities, that the building and its facilities can be approached, entered and used by persons with physical or sensory disabilities.

Basement

means a storey or storeys of a building located below the first storey.

Bathroom group

means a group of plumbing fixtures installed in the same room, consisting of one domestic-type lavatory, one water closet and either one bathtub, with or without a shower, or one one-headed shower.

Bearing surface

means the contact surface between a foundation unit and the soil or rock upon which it bears.

Boarding, lodging or rooming house

means a building

(a)

that has a building height not exceeding three storeys and a building area not exceeding 600 m²,

(b)

in which lodging is provided for more than four persons in return for remuneration or for the provision of services or for both, and

(c)

in which the lodging rooms do not have both bathrooms and kitchen facilities for the exclusive use of individual occupants.

Boiler

means an appliance intended to supply hot water or steam for space heating, processing or power purposes.

Bottle trap

means a trap that retains water in a closed chamber and that seals the water by submerging the inlet pipe in the liquids or by a partition submerged in the liquids.

Braced wall band

means an imaginary continuous straight band extending vertically and horizontally through the building or part of the building, within which braced wall panels are constructed.

Braced wall panel

means a portion of a wood-frame wall where bracing, sheathing, cladding or interior finish is designed and installed to provide the required resistance to lateral loads due to wind or earthquake.

Branch

means a sanitary drainage pipe that is connected at its upstream end to the junction of two or more sanitary drainage pipes or to a stack connected at its downstream end to another branch, a sump, a stack or a building drain.

Branch vent

means a vent pipe that is connected at its lower end to the junction of two or more vent pipes and at its upper end either to another branch vent, or to a stack vent, vent stack or vent header, or terminates in open air.

Breeching

means a flue pipe or chamber for receiving flue gases from one or more flue connections and for discharging these gases through a single flue connection.

Building area

means the greatest horizontal area of a building above grade within the outside surface of exterior walls or within the outside surface of exterior walls and the centre line of firewalls.

Building Code website

means the website at www.ontario.ca/buildingcode.

Building control valve

means the valve on a water system that controls the flow of potable water from the water service pipe to the water distribution system.

Building drain

means the lowest horizontal piping, including any vertical offset, that conducts sewage, clear water waste or storm water by gravity to a building sewer.

Building height

(in storeys) means the number of storeys contained between the roof and the floor of the first storey.

Building sewer

means a pipe that is connected to a building drain 1 m outside a wall of a building and that leads to a public sewer or private sewage disposal system.

Building trap

means a trap that is installed in a building drain or sanitary building sewer to prevent the circulation of air between the sanitary drainage system and a public sewer.

Business and personal services occupancy

(Group D) means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the transaction of business or the provision of professional or personal services.

Caisson

(see Pile).

Camp for housing of workers

means a camp in which buildings or other structures or premises are used to accommodate five or more employees.

Campground

means land or premises used as an overnight camping facility that is not a recreational camp.

Canopy

means a roof-like structure projecting more than 300 mm from the exterior face of the building.

Carbon dioxide equivalent

means a measure used to compare the impact of various greenhouse gases based on their global warming potential.

Carbon monoxide alarm

means a carbon monoxide detection device with an integral audible alarm device designed to sound an alarm within the room, suite or space in which it is located when the concentration of airborne carbon monoxide exceeds a pre-determined level and duration.

Care and treatment occupancy

(Group B, Division 2) means an occupancy in which persons receive special care and treatment.

Care occupancy

(Group B, Division 3) means an occupancy, other than a retirement home, in which special care is provided by a facility, directly through its staff or indirectly through another provider, to residents of the facility

(a)

who require special care because of cognitive or physical limitations, and

(b)

who, as a result of those limitations, would be incapable of evacuating the occupancy, if necessary, without the assistance of another person. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Cavity wall

means a construction of masonry units laid with a cavity between the wythes. The wythes are tied together with metal ties or bonding units, and are relied on to act together in resisting lateral loads.

Certificate for the occupancy of a building described in Sentence 1.3.3.4.(3) of Division C

means a certificate described in Sentence 3.7.4.3.(6) of Division C.

Certificate for the occupancy of a building described in Sentence 1.3.3.5.(1) of Division C

means a certificate described in Sentence 3.7.4.3.(7) of Division C.

Certificate for the occupancy of a building not fully completed

means a certificate described in Sentence 3.7.4.3.(5) of Division C.

Chamber

means a structure in a shallow buried trench that is constructed with an open bottom and that contains a pressurized distribution pipe.

Check valve

means a valve that permits flow in only one direction and prevents a return flow.

Child care centre

means a child care centre as defined in subsection 2 (1) of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.

Chimney

means a primarily vertical shaft enclosing at least one flue for conducting flue gases to the outdoors.

Chimney liner

means a conduit containing a chimney flue used as a lining of a masonry or concrete chimney.

Circuit vent

means a vent pipe that serves a number of fixtures and connects to the fixture drain of the most upstream fixture, and “circuit vented” has a corresponding meaning.

Class 1 fire sprinkler/standpipe system

means an assembly of pipes and fittings that conveys water from the water service pipe or fire service main to the sprinkler/standpipe system’s outlets, is directly connected to the public water supply main only, has no pumps or reservoirs and in which the sprinkler drains discharge to the atmosphere, to dry wells or to other safe outlets.

Class 2 fire sprinkler/standpipe system

means a standpipe system that includes a booster pump in its connection to the public water supply main.

Class 3 fire sprinkler/standpipe system

means an assembly of pipes and fittings that conveys potable water from the water service pipe or fire service main to the sprinkler/standpipe system’s outlets and that is directly connected to the public water supply main as well as to one or more of the following storage facilities, which are filled from the public water supply main only: elevated water storage, fire pumps supplying water from aboveground covered reservoirs or pressure tanks. The water in this sprinkler/standpipe system must be maintained in potable condition.

Class 4 fire sprinkler/standpipe system

means an assembly of pipes and fittings that conveys water from the water service pipe or fire service main to the sprinkler/standpipe system’s outlets and is directly connected to the public water supply main (similar to Class 1 and standpipe systems) and to an auxiliary water supply dedicated to fire department use that is located within 520 m of a pumper connection.

Class 5 fire sprinkler/standpipe system

means an assembly of pipes and fittings that conveys water from the water service pipe or fire service main to the sprinkler/standpipe system’s outlets, is directly connected to the public water supply main and also interconnected with an auxiliary water supply.

Class 6 fire sprinkler/standpipe system

means an assembly of pipes and fittings that conveys water from the water service pipe or fire service main to the sprinkler/standpipe system’s outlets and acts as a combined industrial water supply and fire protection system that is supplied from the public water supply main only, with or without gravity storage or pump suction tanks.

Cleanout

means a fitting access in a drainage system or venting system that is installed to provide access for cleaning and inspection and that is provided with a readily replaceable air tight cover.

Clean water

means water that has passed through a recirculation system.

Clear-water waste

means waste water with impurity levels that will not be harmful to health and may include cooling water and condensate drainage from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and cooled condensate from steam heating systems, but does not include storm water.

Closed container

means a container so sealed by means of a lid or other device that neither liquid nor vapour will escape from it at ordinary temperatures.

Closure

means a device or assembly for closing an opening through a fire separation or an exterior wall, such as a door, a shutter, a damper, wired glass or glass block, and includes all components such as hardware, closing devices, frames and anchors.

Combustible

means that a material fails to meet the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Standard Method of Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”

Combustible construction

means that type of construction that does not meet the requirements for noncombustible construction or encapsulated mass timber construction.

Combustible dusts

means dusts and particles that are ignitable and liable to produce an explosion.

Combustible fibres

means finely divided, combustible vegetable or animal fibres and thin sheets or flakes of such materials which, in a loose, unbaled condition, present a flash fire hazard, including cotton, wool, hemp, sisal, jute, kapok, paper and cloth.

Combustible liquid

means a liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8°C and below 93.3°C.

Compliance alternative

means a substitute for a requirement in another Part of Division B that is listed in Part 10 or 11 of Division B, and “C.A.” has a corresponding meaning.

Compressed gas means

(a)

any contained mixture or material having a vapour pressure exceeding one or both of the following

(i)

275.8 kPa (absolute) at 21°C, or

(ii)

717 kPa (absolute) at 54°C, or

(b)

any liquid having a vapour pressure exceeding 275.8 kPa (absolute) at 37.8°C.

Computer room

means a room

(a)

that contains electronic computer or data processing equipment such as main frame type,

(b)

that is separated from the remainder of the building for the purpose of controlling the air quality in the room by a self-contained climate control system, and

(c)

that has an occupant load of not more than one person for each 40 m² of the room.

Conditioned space

means any space within a building, the temperature of which is controlled to limit variation in response to the exterior ambient temperature by the provision, either directly or indirectly, of heating or cooling over substantial portions of the year.

Construction index

means a level on a scale of 1 to 8 determined in accordance with Table 11.2.1.1.-A of Division B designating the expected performance level of the building structure with respect to the type of construction and fire protection of an existing building, and “C.I.” has a corresponding meaning.

Contained use area

means a supervised area containing one or more rooms in which occupant movement is restricted to a single room by security measures not under the control of the occupant.

Continuous vent

means a vent pipe that is an extension of a vertical section of a branch or fixture drain.

Cooktop

means a cooking surface having one or more burners or heating elements.

Critical level

means the level of submergence at which a back-siphonage preventer ceases to prevent back-siphonage.

Dangerous goods

means products, materials or substances that are

(a)

regulated by TC SOR/2001-286, “Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR)”, or (See Table 3.2.7.1. of Division B of CCBFC NRCC-CONST-56437E, “National Fire Code of Canada”)

(b)

classified as controlled products under HC SOR/2015-17, “Hazardous Products Regulations”. (See Note A-Table 3.2.7.1. of Division B of CCBFC NRCC-CONST-56437E, “National Fire Code of Canada”) (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Day camp

means a camp or resort that admits persons for a continuous period not exceeding 24 hours.

Dead end

means a pipe that terminates with a closed fitting.

Dead load

means the weight of all permanent structural and non-structural components of a building.

Deep foundation

means a foundation unit that provides support for a building by transferring loads either by end-bearing to soil or rock at considerable depth below the building, or by adhesion or friction, or both, in the soil or rock in which it is placed.

Piles

are the most common type of deep foundation.

Demountable stage

means a structure that

(a)

consists of one or more platforms together with any wall, roof or other structures attached to or located on any of the platforms,

(b)

is intended to be used for public or private performances or events, other than performances or events associated with movie or television productions,

(c)

is intended to be erected, assembled or installed for a limited specified time,

(d)

is capable of being dismantled at its location and moved to be reconstituted elsewhere or is erected for one-time use,

(e)

is not located inside a fully enclosed building,

(f)

is primarily for use by performers and workers, and

(g)

may or may not be mounted on wheels.

Demountable support structure

means any structure that

(a)

is capable of supporting banners, stage sets, props, sound equipment, lighting equipment or other equipment,

(b)

is intended to be used for public or private performances or events, other than performances or events associated with movie or television productions,

(c)

is intended to be erected, assembled or installed for a limited specified time,

(d)

is capable of being dismantled at its location and moved to be reconstituted elsewhere or is erected for one-time use,

(e)

is not attached to or located on a demountable stage,

(f)

is not located inside a fully enclosed building,

(g)

is primarily for use by performers and workers, and

(h)

may or may not be mounted on wheels.

Design activities

means the activities described in subsection 15.11(5) of the Act.

Design bearing pressure

means the pressure applied by a foundation unit to soil or rock, which pressure is not greater than the allowable bearing pressure.

Design capacity

means, in the definition of sewage system, the total daily design sanitary sewage flow determined in accordance with Article 8.2.1.3. of Division B.

Designer

means the person responsible for the design.

Design load

means the load applied to a foundation unit, which load is not greater than the allowable load.

Detention occupancy

(Group B, Division 1) means the occupancy by persons who are restrained from or are incapable of evacuating to a safe location without the assistance of another person because of security measures not under their control.

Developed length

means, the length along the centre line of the pipe and fittings.

Direct-vented

(as applying to a fuel-fired space- or water-heating appliance) means an appliance and its venting system in which all the combustion air is supplied directly from the outdoors and the products of combustion are vented directly to the outdoors via independent, totally enclosed passageways connected directly to the appliance.

Directly connected

means physically connected in such a way that neither water or gas can escape from the connection.

Distilled beverage alcohol

means a beverage that is produced by fermentation and contains more than 20% by volume of water-miscible alcohol.

Distillery

means a process plant where distilled beverage alcohols are produced, concentrated or otherwise processed, and includes facilities on the same site where the concentrated products may be blended, mixed, stored or packaged.

Distributing pipe

means a pipe or piping in a water distribution system.

Distribution box

means a device for ensuring that effluent from a treatment unit is distributed in equal amounts to each line of distribution pipe or leaching chamber in a leaching bed.

Distribution pipe

means a line or lines of perforated or open jointed pipe or tile installed in a leaching bed for the purpose of distributing effluent from a treatment unit to the soil, as defined in Part 8 of Division B, or leaching bed fill in the leaching bed.

Diving board

means a flexible board.

Diving platform

means a rigid platform that is not a starting platform.

Drainage system

means an assembly of pipes, fittings, fixtures and appurtenances on a property that is used to convey sewage and clear water waste to a main sewer or a private sewage disposal system, and includes a private sewer, but does not include subsoil drainage piping.

Drinking water system

has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002.

Drum trap

means a trap whose inlet and outlet are in the sides of the cylindrical body of the trap.

Dual vent

means a vent pipe that serves two fixtures and connects at the junction of the trap arms.

Dwelling unit

means a suite operated as a housekeeping unit, used or intended to be used by one or more persons and usually containing cooking, eating, living, sleeping and sanitary facilities.

Earth pit privy

means a latrine consisting of an excavation in the ground surmounted by a superstructure.

Effluent

means sanitary sewage that has passed through a treatment unit.

Electric space heating

means an electric energy source that provides more than 10 percent of the heating capacity provided for a building and includes

(a)

electric resistance unitary baseboard heating,

(b)

electric resistance unitary cabinet heating,

(c)

electric resistance ceiling cable or floor cable heating,

(d)

electric resistance central furnace heating,

(e)

electric hot water space heating, and

(f)

air source heat pumps in combination with electric resistance backup heating.

Encapsulated mass timber construction

means that type of construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by the use of encapsulated mass timber elements with an encapsulation rating and minimum dimensions for structural members and other building assemblies.

Encapsulation rating

means the time in minutes that a material or assembly of materials will delay the ignition and combustion of encapsulated mass timber elements when it is exposed to fire under specified conditions of test and performance criteria, or as otherwise prescribed by this Code.

Excavation

means the space created by the removal of soil, rock or fill for the purposes of construction.

Exhaust duct

means a duct through which air is conveyed from a room or space to the outdoors.

Exit

means that part of a means of egress, including doorways, that leads from the floor area it serves to a separate building, an open public thoroughfare, or an exterior open space protected from fire exposure from the building and having access to an open public thoroughfare. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Exit level

means the level of an exit stairway at which an exterior exit door or exit passageway leads to the exterior.

Exit storey

(as applying to Subsection 3.2.6. of Division B) means a storey having an exterior exit door.

Exposing building face

means that part of the exterior wall of a building that faces one direction and is located between ground level and the ceiling of its top storey or, where a building is divided into fire compartments, the exterior wall of a fire compartment that faces one direction.

Exterior cladding

means those components of a building that are exposed to the outdoor environment and are intended to provide protection against wind, water or vapour.

Factory-built chimney

means a chimney consisting entirely of factory-made parts, each designed to be assembled with the other without requiring fabrication on site.

Farm building

means a building or part thereof that contains an agricultural occupancy. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Fill

means soil, rock, rubble, industrial waste such as slag, organic material or a combination of these that is transported and placed on the natural surface of soil or rock or organic terrain. It may or may not be compacted.

Fire block

means a material, component or system that restricts the spread of fire within a concealed space or from a concealed space to an adjacent space.

Fire compartment

means an enclosed space in a building that is separated from all other parts of the building by enclosing construction providing a fire separation having a required fire-resistance rating.

Fire damper

means a closure consisting of a damper that is installed in an air distribution system or a wall or floor assembly and that is normally held open but designed to close automatically in the event of a fire in order to maintain the integrity of the fire separation.

Fire detector

means a device that detects a fire condition and automatically initiates an electrical signal to actuate an alert signal or alarm signal and includes heat detectors and smoke detectors.

Fire load

(as applying to an occupancy) means the combustible contents of a room or floor area expressed in terms of the average weight of combustible materials per unit area, from which the potential heat liberation may be calculated based on the calorific value of the materials, and includes the furnishings, finished floor, wall and ceiling finishes, trim and temporary and movable partitions.

Fire-protection rating

means the time in minutes or hours that a closure will withstand the passage of flame when exposed to fire under specified conditions of test and performance criteria, or as otherwise prescribed in this Code.

Fire-resistance rating

means the time in minutes or hours that a material or assembly of materials will withstand the passage of flame and the transmission of heat when exposed to fire under specified conditions of test and performance criteria, or as determined by extension or interpretation of information derived therefrom as prescribed in this Code. (See Sentence 1.2.1.(2) in MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-2)

Fire-retardant-treated wood

means wood or a wood product that has had its surface-burning characteristics, such as flame spread, rate of fuel contribution and density of smoke developed, reduced by impregnation with fire-retardant chemicals.

Fire separation

means a construction assembly that acts as a barrier against the spread of fire. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Fire service main

means a pipe and its appurtenances that are connected to a source of water and that are located on a property

(a)

between the source of water and the base of the riser of a water-based fire protection system,

(b)

between the source of water and inlets to foam making systems,

(c)

between the source of water and the base elbow of private hydrants or monitor nozzles,

(d)

as fire pump suction and discharge piping not within a building, or

(e)

beginning at the inlet side of the check valve on a gravity or pressure tank.

Fire service pipe

means a pipe that conveys water from a public water main or private water source to the inside of a building for the purpose of supplying the fire sprinkler or standpipe systems.

Firestop

means a system consisting of a material, component and means of support used to fill gaps between fire separations or between fire separations and other assemblies, or used around items that wholly or partially penetrate a fire separation.

Fire stop flap

means a device intended for use in horizontal assemblies required to have a fire-resistance rating and incorporating protective ceiling membranes that operates to close off a duct opening through the membrane in the event of a fire.

Firewall

means a type of fire separation of noncombustible construction that subdivides a building or separates adjoining buildings to resist the spread of fire and that has a fire-resistance rating as prescribed in this Code and has structural stability to remain intact under fire conditions for the required fire-rated time.

First storey

means the storey that has its floor closest to grade and its ceiling more than 1.8 m above grade.

Fixture

means a receptacle, appliance, apparatus or other device that discharges sewage or clear water waste, and includes a floor drain.

Fixture drain

means the pipe that connects a trap serving a fixture to another part of a drainage system.

Fixture outlet pipe

means a pipe that connects the waste opening of a fixture to the trap serving the fixture.

Fixture unit

, as applying to a drainage system, means the unit of measure based on the rate of discharge, time of operation and frequency of use of a fixture that expresses the hydraulic load that is imposed by that fixture on the drainage system.

Fixture unit

, as applying to water distribution systems, means the unit of measure based on the rate of supply, time of operation and frequency of use of a fixture or outlet that expresses the hydraulic load that is imposed by that fixture or outlet on the supply system.

Flame-spread rating

means an index or classification indicating the extent of spread-of-flame on the surface of a material or an assembly of materials as determined in a standard fire test as prescribed in this Code.

Flammable liquid

means a liquid having a flash point below 37.8°C and having a vapour pressure not more than 275.8 kPa (absolute) at 37.8°C as determined by ASTM D323, “Standard Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method).”

Flash point

means the minimum temperature at which a liquid within a container gives off vapour in sufficient concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid.

Flight

means a series of steps between landings. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Flood level rim

means the top edge at which water can overflow from a fixture or device.

Floor area

means the space on any storey of a building between exterior walls and required firewalls, including the space occupied by interior walls and partitions, but not including exits, vertical service spaces, and their enclosing assemblies.

Flow control roof drain

means a roof drain that restricts the flow of storm water into the storm drainage system.

Flue

means an enclosed passageway for conveying flue gases.

Flue collar

means the portion of a fuel-fired appliance designed for the attachment of the flue pipe or breeching.

Flue pipe

means the pipe connecting the flue collar of an appliance to a chimney.

Food premises

means a floor area where food or drink for human consumption, or an ingredient of food or drink for human consumption, is manufactured, processed, prepared, stored, displayed, handled, served, distributed, sold or offered for sale, but does not include

(a)

a private residence,

(b)

a boarding house that provides meals for fewer than 10 boarders,

(c)

a building to which Ontario Regulation 502/17 (Camps in Unorganized Territory) or Ontario Regulation 503/17 (Recreational Camps) made under the Health Protection and Promotion Act applies,

(d)

a plant, as defined in the Milk Act, that is required to be operated under the authority of a licence issued under that Act,

(e)

premises where a licensed activity, as defined in the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001, is carried on by a person who is required to hold a licence issued under that Act,

(f)

an egg-grading station or an egg-processing station, as defined in subsection 1(1) of Ontario Regulation 171/10 (Eggs and Processed Egg), made under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001,

(g)

a floor area occupied by a church, service club or fraternal organization for the purpose of

(i)

preparing meals for special events for its members and personally invited guests, or

(ii)

conducting bake sales, or

(h)

a farm building.

Forced-air furnace

means a furnace equipped with a fan that provides the primary means for the circulation of air.

Force main

means a sanitary drainage pipe through which sanitary sewage is conveyed by mechanical or pneumatic propulsion.

Foundation

means a system or arrangement of foundation units through which the loads from a building are transferred to supporting soil or rock.

Foundation unit

means one of the structural members of the foundation of a building such as a footing, raft or pile.

Fresh air inlet

means a vent pipe that is installed in conjunction with a building trap and terminates outdoors.

Frost action

means the phenomenon that occurs when

(a)

water in soil is subjected to freezing which, because of the water ice phase change or ice lens growth, results in a total volume increase or the build-up of expansive forces under confined conditions or both, and

(b)

the subsequent thawing leads to loss of soil strength and increased compressibility.

Functional statement

means a function set out in Article 3.2.1.1. that a building or an element of a building is intended to perform.

Furnace

means a space-heating appliance using warm air as the heating medium and usually having provision for the attachment of ducts.

Gaming premises

means premises that are a gaming site as defined in the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act, 1999.

Gas vent

means that portion of a venting system designed to convey vent gases to the outdoors

(a)

from the vent connector of a gas-fired appliance, or

(b)

directly from the appliance when a vent connector is not used.

Grade

means the average level of proposed or finished ground adjoining a building at all exterior walls.

Graded lumber

means lumber that has been graded and stamped to indicate its grade, as determined by the NLGA, “Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber”.

Greenhouse agricultural occupancy

(Group G, Division 3) means an agricultural building or part thereof that is primarily constructed of roofs and walls designed to transmit natural light.

Greywater

means sanitary sewage of domestic origin that is derived from fixtures other than sanitary units.

Gross area

means the total area of all floors above grade measured between the outside surfaces of exterior walls or between the outside surfaces of exterior walls and the centre line of firewalls, except that, in any occupancy other than a residential occupancy, where an access or a building service penetrates a firewall, measurements shall not be taken to the centre line of such firewall.

Ground water

means, when applied to a sewage system, water below the surface of the ground that occupies a zone of the earth’s mantle that is saturated with water.

Ground water table

means, when applied to a sewage system, the elevation of the upper surface of the ground water existing in the area of the sewage system.

Groundwater

means a free standing body of water in the ground.

Groundwater level

(groundwater table) means the top surface of a free standing body of water in the ground.

Guard

means a protective barrier, with or without openings through it, that is around openings in floors or at the open sides of stairs, landings, balconies, mezzanines, galleries, raised walkways or other locations to prevent accidental falls from one level to another.

Hauled sewage

means sanitary sewage that

(a)

is not finally disposed of at the site where it is produced and is not conveyed by a sewer to sewage works, and

(b)

is stored or retained at the site where it is produced for periodic collection, handling, treatment, transportation, storage or processing prior to final disposal at a place other than where it was produced, and includes sanitary sewage that is removed from a sewage system for the purpose of cleaning or maintaining the system.

Hauled sewage system

means works, installations, equipment, operations and land used in connection with the collection, handling, treatment, transportation, storage, processing and disposal of hauled sewage, as regulated under the Environmental Protection Act.

Hazard index

means a level on a scale of 1 to 8 determined in accordance with Tables 11.2.1.1.-B to 11.2.1.1.-N of Division B, designating the life safety hazard to occupants of a building based on

(a)

use and occupancy,

(b)

occupant load,

(c)

the use and function of floor spaces,

(d)

the difficulty of egress,

(e)

the fire load of contents, finishes and furnishings,

(f)

the configuration or compartmentation of floor spaces, and

(g)

the size of the building, and “H.I.” has a corresponding meaning.

Hazardous classroom

means a classroom

(a)

that is supplied with flammable gas,

(b)

that contains hazardous substances such as chemicals or explosive dusts,

(c)

that contains large quantities of combustible materials, or

(d)

where cooking equipment is used.

Hazardous extraction

means a process to remove or separate a substance from a solution or mixture that involves the use of flammable liquids, combustible liquids or flammable gases as solvents in the process.

Hazardous room

means a room containing sufficient quantities of a substance that, because of its chemical nature, may create an atmosphere or condition of imminent hazard to health.

means a vent pipe that connects two or more vent stacks or stack vents to open air.

Header line

means a line of pipe with watertight joints installed in a sewage system for the purpose of distributing effluent from a treatment unit to the distribution pipe in a leaching bed.

Heat detector

means a fire detector designed to operate at a predetermined temperature or rate of temperature rise.

Heavy timber construction

means that type of combustible construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained

(a)

by placing limitations on the sizes of wood structural members and on the thickness and composition of wood floors and roofs, and

(b)

by the avoidance of concealed spaces under floors and roofs.

Heritage building

means a building or part thereof,

(a)

that is identified, or otherwise protected under the Ontario Heritage Act as being of cultural heritage value or interest;

(b)

that has been set apart as a National Historic Site of Canada by the Minister of the Environment for Canada under the Canada National Parks Act (Canada);

(c)

that has been marked or commemorated as a historic place having national historic interest or significance under the Historic Sites and Monuments Act (Canada); or

(d)

that is listed on an inventory of property forming part of the cultural and natural heritage of a place inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s World Heritage List of sites under the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

High ground water table

means the highest elevation at which there is physical evidence that the soil, as defined in Part 8 of Division B, or the leaching bed fill has been saturated with water.

High-hazard agricultural occupancy

(Group G, Division 1) means an agricultural occupancy containing sufficient quantities of highly combustible and flammable or explosive materials which, because of their inherent characteristics, constitute a special fire hazard.

High-hazard industrial occupancy

(Group F, Division 1) means an industrial occupancy containing sufficient quantities of highly combustible and flammable or explosive materials which, because of their inherent characteristics, constitute a special fire hazard.

Holding tank

means a tank designed to totally retain all sanitary sewage discharged into it and requiring periodic emptying.

Home for special care

means a home for the care of persons requiring nursing, residential or sheltered care.

Horizontal branch

means that part of a waste pipe that is horizontal and installed to convey the discharge from more than one fixture.

Horizontal exit

means an exit from one building to another by means of a doorway, vestibule, walkway, bridge or balcony.

Horizontal service space

means a space such as an attic, duct, ceiling, roof or crawl space

(a)

that is oriented essentially in a horizontal plane,

(b)

that is concealed and generally inaccessible, and

(c)

through which building service facilities such as pipes, ducts and wiring may pass.

Hotel

means floor areas, a floor area or part of a floor area that contains four or more suites and that provides sleeping accommodation for the travelling public or for recreational purposes.

Hub drain

means a drain opening for indirect liquid wastes

(a)

that does not serve as a floor drain,

(b)

that has the same pipe size, material and venting requirements as a floor drain,

(c)

that has a flood level rim above the floor in which it is installed, and

(d)

that receives wastes that are discharged directly into the drain opening.

Impeded egress zone

means a supervised area in which occupants have free movement but require the release, by security personnel, of security doors at the boundary before they are able to leave the area, but does not include a contained use area.

Indirectly connected

means not directly connected.

Indirect service water heater

means a service water heater that derives its heat from a heating medium such as warm air, steam or hot water.

Individual vent

means a vent pipe that serves one fixture.

Indoor pool

means a public pool where the pool and pool deck are totally or partially covered by a roof.

Industrial occupancy

(Group F) means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the assembling, fabricating, manufacturing, processing, repairing or storing of goods and materials.

Interceptor

means a receptacle that is designed and installed to prevent oil, grease, sand or other materials from passing into a drainage system.

Interconnected floor space

means superimposed floor areas or parts of floor areas in which floor assemblies that are required to be fire separations are penetrated by openings that are not provided with closures.

Lake Simcoe shoreline

has the same meaning as in the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan established under the

Lake Simcoe

Protection Act, 2008 and dated July, 2009.

Lake Simcoe watershed

has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008.

Leaching

means dispersal of liquid by downward or lateral drainage or both into permeable soil, as defined in Part 8 of Division B, or leaching bed fill.

Leaching bed

means an absorption system constructed as absorption trenches or as a filter bed, located wholly in ground or raised or partly raised above ground, as required by local conditions, to which effluent from a treatment unit is applied for treatment and disposal and that is composed of

(a)

the soil, as defined in Part 8 of Division B, leaching bed fill or other filter media that is contained between the surface on which the sanitary sewage is applied and the bottom of the bed,

(b)

the leaching chamber or the distribution pipe and the stone or gravel layer in which the distribution pipe is located, and

(c)

the backfill above the distribution pipe or the leaching chamber, including the topsoil and sodding or other anti-erosion measure, and the side slopes of any portion elevated above the natural ground elevation.

Leaching bed fill

means unconsolidated material suitable for the construction of a leaching bed, placed in the area of the leaching bed in order to obtain the required unsaturated zone below the distribution pipes or leaching chambers and the required lateral extent such that the effluent is absorbed.

Leaching chamber

means a formed structure with an open bottom and permeable sidewalls installed in a leaching bed for the purpose of distributing effluent from a treatment unit to the soil, as defined in Part 8 of Division B, or leaching bed fill in the leaching bed.

Leader

means a pipe that is installed to carry storm water from a roof to a storm building drain or sewer or other place of disposal.

Limiting distance

means the distance from an exposing building face to a property line, the centre line of a street, lane or public thoroughfare, or to an imaginary line between 2 buildings or fire compartments on the same property, measured at right angles to the exposing building face.

Listed

means equipment or materials included in a list published by a certification organization accredited by the Standards Council of Canada.

Liquid manure

means manure having a dry matter content of less than 18 per cent or a slump of more than 150 millimetres using the Test Method for the Determination of Liquid Waste (slump test) set out in Schedule 9 to Regulation 347 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (General — Waste Management) made under the Environmental Protection Act.

Live load

means a variable load due to the intended use and occupancy that is to be assumed in the design of the structural members of a building. It includes loads due to cranes and the pressure of liquids in containers.

Live/work unit

means a dwelling unit having an area of not more than 200 m2 that contains a subsidiary business and personal services occupancy or a subsidiary low-hazard industrial occupancy, and which is used and operated by one or more persons of a single household.

Loadbearing

(as applying to a building element) means subjected to or designed to carry loads in addition to its own dead load, excepting a wall element subjected only to wind or earthquake loads in addition to its own dead load.

Loading rate

means the volume in litres of effluent per square metre applied in a single day to soil, as defined in Part 8 of Division B, or leaching bed fill.

Low-hazard industrial occupancy

(Group F, Division 3) means an industrial occupancy in which the combustible content is not more than 50 kg/m2 or 1 200 MJ/m2 of floor area.

Low human occupancy

means, when applied to a farm building, an occupancy in which the occupant load is not more than one person per 40 m² of floor area during normal use.

Major occupancy

means the principal occupancy for which a building or part thereof is used or intended to be used, and shall be deemed to include the subsidiary occupancies that are an integral part of the principal occupancy. The major occupancy classifications used in this Code are as follows:

Group A, Division 1 – Assembly occupancies intended for the production and viewing of the performing arts
Group A, Division 2 – Assembly occupancies not elsewhere classified in Group A
Group A, Division 3 – Assembly occupancies of the arena type
Group A, Division 4 – Assembly occupancies in which the occupants are gathered in the open air
Group B, Division 1 – Detention occupancies in which persons are under restraint or are incapable of self-preservation because of security measures not under their control
Group B, Division 2 – Care and treatment occupancies
Group B, Division 3 – Care occupancies
Group C – Residential occupancies
Group D – Business and personal services occupancies
Group E – Mercantile occupancies
Group F, Division 1 – High-hazard industrial occupancies
Group F, Division 2 – Medium-hazard industrial occupancies
Group F, Division 3 – Low-hazard industrial occupancies
Group G, Division 1 – High-hazard agricultural occupancies
Group G, Division 2 – Agricultural occupancies not elsewhere classified in Group G
Group G, Division 3 – Greenhouse agricultural occupancies
Group G, Division 4 – Agricultural occupancies with no human occupants

Make-up water

means water added to a public pool from an external source.

Marquee

means a canopy over an entrance to a building.

Masonry or concrete chimney

means a chimney of brick, stone, concrete or masonry units constructed on site.

Means of egress

means a continuous path of travel provided for the escape of persons from any point in a building or contained open space to a separate building, an open public thoroughfare, or an exterior open space protected from fire exposure from the building and having access to an open public thoroughfare.

Means of egress

includes exits and access to exits.

Mechanically vented

(as applying to a fuel-fired space- or water-heating appliance) means an appliance and its combustion venting system in which the products of combustion are entirely exhausted to the outdoors by a mechanical device, such as a fan, blower or aspirator, upstream or downstream from the combustion zone of the appliance, and the portion of the combustion venting system that is downstream of the fan, blower or aspirator is sealed and does not include draft hoods or draft control devices. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Medium-hazard industrial occupancy

(Group F, Division 2) means an industrial occupancy in which the combustible content is more than 50 kg/m2 or 1 200 MJ/m2 of floor area and not classified as a high-hazard industrial occupancy.

Mercantile occupancy

(Group E) means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the displaying or selling of retail goods, wares or merchandise.

Mezzanine

means an intermediate floor assembly between the floor and ceiling of any room or storey and includes an interior balcony.

Mobility assistive device

means a mobility assistive device as defined in section 2 of Ontario Regulation 191/11 (Integrated Accessibility Standards) made under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

Modified pool

means a public pool that has a basin-shaped floor sloping downward and inward toward the interior from the rim.

Modified stack venting

means a stack venting arrangement in which the stack vent above the connection of the highest stack vented fixture is reduced in diameter.

Municipal drinking water system

has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002.

Nominally horizontal

means at an angle of less than 45° with the horizontal.

Nominally vertical

means at an angle of not more than 45° with the vertical.

Nominal pipe size (NPS)

means the nominal diameter by which a pipe, fitting, trap or other similar item is commercially designated.

Noncombustible

means that a material meets the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Standard Method of Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”

Noncombustible construction

means that type of construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by the use of noncombustible materials for structural members and other building assemblies.

Objective

means an objective set out in Article 2.2.1.1.

Occupancy

means the use or intended use of a building or part thereof for the shelter or support of persons, animals or property.

Occupant load

means the number of persons for which a building or part thereof is designed.

Offset

means the piping that connects the ends of two pipes that are parallel.

Offset relief vent

means a relief vent that provides additional air circulation upstream and downstream of an offset in a stack.

Open air

means the atmosphere outside a building.

Open-air storey

means a storey in which at least 25% of the total area of its perimeter walls is open to the outdoors in a manner that will provide cross-ventilation to the entire storey.

Outdoor pool

means a public pool that is not an indoor pool.

Pail privy

means a latrine in which the receptacle for human waste consists of a removable container surmounted by a superstructure.

Partition

means an interior wall 1 storey or part- storey in height that is not loadbearing.

Party wall

means a wall

(a)

that is jointly owned and jointly used by two parties under an easement agreement or by a right in law, and

(b)

that is erected at or upon a line separating two parcels of land each of which is, or is capable of being, a separate real estate entity.

Perched groundwater

means a free standing body of water in the ground extending to a limited depth.

Percolation time

means the average time in minutes that is required for water to drop one centimetre during a percolation test or as determined by a soil evaluation or analysis.

Performance level

means the level of performance under which all or part of an existing building functions with respect to its building systems.

Permanent solid nutrient storage facility

has the same meaning as in subsection 1(1) of Ontario Regulation 267/03 (General) made under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002.

Pharmacy

means the premises in a building or the part of the premises in which prescriptions are compounded and dispensed for the public or in which drugs are sold by retail.

Pile

means a slender deep foundation unit made of materials such as wood, steel or concrete or a combination thereof, that is either premanufactured and placed by driving, jacking, jetting or screwing, or cast-in-place in a hole formed by driving, excavating or boring. (Cast-in-place bored piles are often referred to as caissons in Canada.)

Plenum

means a chamber forming part of an air duct system.

Plumbing appliance

means a receptacle or equipment that receives or collects water, liquids or sewage and discharges water, liquid or sewage directly or indirectly to a plumbing system.

Plumbing system

means a system of connected piping, fittings, valves, equipment, fixtures and appurtenances contained in plumbing.

Point of entry treatment unit

has the same meaning as in subsection 1(1) of Ontario Regulation 170/03 (Drinking Water Systems) made under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002.

Pool deck

means the area immediately surrounding a public pool.

Portable privy

means a portable latrine in which the receptacle for human body waste and the superstructure are combined structurally into one unit.

Post-disaster building

means a building that is necessary for the provision of essential services to the general public in the event of a disaster and includes

hospitals, emergency treatment facilities and blood banks,
telephone exchanges,
power generating stations and electrical substations,
control centres for natural gas distribution,
control centres for air, land and marine transportation,
water treatment facilities,
water storage facilities,
water and sewage pumping stations,
sewage treatment facilities, and
buildings of the following types, unless exempted from this designation by the principle authority:
- emergency response facilities,
- fire, rescue and police stations and housing for vehicles, aircraft or boats used for such purposes, and
- communications facilities, including radio and television stations. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Potable

means fit for human consumption.

Potable water system

means the plumbing that conveys potable water.

Pressurized distribution system

means a leaching bed in which the effluent is distributed through the use of pressurized distribution pipes.

Private sewage disposal system

means a sewage system or a sewage works that is not owned and operated by the Crown, a municipality or an organization acceptable to the Director responsible for issuing an environmental compliance approval required under section 53 of the Ontario Water Resources Act.

Private sewer

means a sewer other than a building sewer that

(a)

is not owned or operated by a municipality, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks or another public agency,

(b)

receives drainage from more than one sanitary building drain either directly or through more than one sanitary building sewer or receives drainage from more than one storm building drain either directly or through one or more storm building sewers, and connects to a main sewer, or

(c)

serves as a place of disposal on the property, but does not include

(d)

a sewer that carries only the sanitary waste or storm sewage from semi-detached houses each containing not more than two dwelling units,

(e)

a sewer that carries only the sanitary waste or storm sewage from one main building that is of care, care and treatment, detention, commercial or industrial occupancy and one ancillary building, or

(f)

a sewer that carries only the sanitary waste or storm sewage from a row housing complex having five or fewer dwelling units.

Private use

means, when applied to plumbing fixtures, fixtures in residences and apartments, in private bathrooms of hotels, and in similar installations in other buildings for a single household or an individual.

Private water supply

means piping that serves as a source of supply on the property to more than one water service pipe.

Private water supply system

means an assembly of pipes, fittings, valves, equipment and appurtenances that supplies water from a private source to a potable water system.

Privy vault

means a latrine in which the receptacle for human waste consists of a constructed vault from which the waste is periodically removed.

Process plant

means an industrial occupancy where materials, including flammable liquids, combustible liquids or gases, are produced or used in a process.

Professional engineer

means a person who holds a licence or a temporary licence under the Professional Engineers Act.

Protected floor space

means that part of a floor area protected from the effects of fire and used as part of a means of egress from an interconnected floor space.

Public corridor

means a corridor that provides access to exit from more than one suite. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Public heritage building

means a heritage building where the occupancy in whole or in part includes viewing of the building by the public provided that displays in it are limited to those relevant to the heritage significance of the building.

Public pool

means a structure, basin, chamber or tank containing or intended to contain an artificial body of water for swimming, water sport, water recreation or entertainment, but does not include

(a)

pools operated in conjunction with less than six dwelling units, suites or single family residences or any combination of them,

(b)

pools that are used only for commercial display and demonstration purposes,

(c)

wading pools,

(d)

hydro-massage pools, or

(e)

pools that serve only as receiving basins for persons at the bottom of water slides.

Public spa

means a hydro-massage pool that contains an artificial body of water, that is intended primarily for therapeutic or recreational use, that is not drained, cleaned or refilled before use by each individual and that utilizes hydrojet circulation, air induction bubbles, current flow or a combination of them over the majority of the pool area, but does not include

(a)

wading pools, or

(b)

spas operated in conjunction with less than six dwelling units, suites or single family residences, or any combination of them, for the use of occupants or residents and their visitors.

Public use

means, when applied to plumbing fixtures, fixtures in general washrooms of schools, gymnasiums, hotels, bars, public comfort stations and other installations in which fixtures are installed so that their use is unrestricted.

Public way

means a sidewalk, street, highway, square or other open space to which the public has access, as of right or by invitation, expressed or implied.

Rainwater

means storm sewage runoff that is collected from a roof or the ground, but not from accessible patios and driveways.

Ramp

means a path of travel having a slope steeper than 1 in 20.

Recirculation system

means a system

(a)

that maintains the circulation of water through a public pool by pumps, and

(b)

that provides continuous treatment of the water, including filtration and chlorination or bromination and any other process that may be necessary for the treatment of the water.

Recreational camp

means a camp for recreational activities consisting of one or more buildings or other structures established or maintained as living quarters, with or without charge, for the temporary occupancy of 10 or more persons for five or more days.

Relief vent

means a vent pipe that is used in conjunction with a circuit vent to provide additional air circulation between a drainage system and a venting system.

Repair garage

means a building or part thereof where facilities are provided for the repair or servicing of motor vehicles.

Residential full flow-through fire sprinkler/standpipe system

means an assembly of pipes and fittings installed in the residential portions of a building containing one or two-family dwelling units that conveys water from the water service pipe to outlets in the sprinkler and standpipe systems and is fully integrated into the potable water system to ensure a regular flow of water through all parts of both systems.

Residential occupancy

(Group C) means an occupancy in which sleeping accommodation is provided to residents who are not harboured for the purpose of receiving special care or treatment and are not involuntarily detained and includes an occupancy in which sleeping accommodation is provided to residents of a retirement home.

Residential partial flow-through sprinkler/standpipe system

means an assembly of pipes and fittings installed in the residential portions of a building containing one or two family dwelling units that conveys water from the water service pipe to outlets in the sprinkler and standpipe systems and in which flow occurs during inactive periods of the sprinkler and standpipe systems only through the main header to the water closet located at the farthest point of the two systems.

Retirement home

means a building or part of a building that is a retirement home as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Retirement Homes Act, 2010.

Return duct

means a duct for conveying air from a space being heated, ventilated or air-conditioned back to the heating, ventilating or air-conditioning appliance.

Rim joist

means the outermost member in floor framing, other than blocking, be it parallel, perpendicular or on an angle to the floor joists. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Riser

means a water distributing pipe that extends through at least one full storey, as defined in Part 7 of Division B.

Rock

means that portion of the earth’s crust that is consolidated, coherent and relatively hard and is a naturally formed, solidly bonded, mass of mineral matter that cannot readily be broken by hand.

Roof drain

means a fitting or device that is installed in the roof to permit storm water to discharge into a leader.

Roof gutter

means an exterior channel installed at the base of a sloped roof to convey stormwater.

Run

means the horizontal distance between two adjacent tread nosings on a stair. (See Figure A-9.8.4.-B in Note A-9.8.4. of Division B.)

Sanitary building drain

means a building drain that conducts sewage to a building sewer from the most upstream stack, branch or fixture drain serving a water closet.

Sanitary building sewer

means a pipe that is connected to a sanitary building drain 1 000 mm outside a wall of a building and that conducts sewage to a public sewer or private sewage disposal system.

Sanitary drainage pipe

means all piping that conveys sanitary sewage to a place of disposal, including the sanitary building drain, sanitary building sewer, soil pipe, soil stack, waste stack and waste pipe but not the main sewer or piping in a sewage treatment plant.

Sanitary drainage system

means a drainage system that conducts sewage.

Sanitary sewage

means

(a)

liquid or water borne waste

(i)

of industrial or commercial origin, or

(ii)

of domestic origin, including human body waste, toilet or other bathroom waste, and shower, tub, culinary, sink and laundry waste, or

(b)

liquid or water borne waste discharged from a public pool to a drain.

Sanitary sewer

means a sewer that conducts sewage.

Sanitary unit

means a water closet, urinal, bidet or bedpan washer.

Secondary suite

means a self-contained dwelling unit located in a building or portion of a building of only residential occupancy that contains only one other dwelling unit and common spaces, and where both dwelling units constitute a single real estate entity. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Self-service storage building

means a building that is used to provide individual storage spaces to the public and that is open to the public only for those purposes.

Septic tank

means a watertight vault in which sanitary sewage is collected for the purpose of removing scum, grease and solids from the liquid without the addition of air and in which solids settling and anaerobic digestion of the sanitary sewage takes place.

Service room

means a room provided in a building to contain equipment associated with building services. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Service space

means space provided in a building to facilitate or conceal the installation of building service facilities such as chutes, ducts, pipes, shafts or wires.

Service water heater

means a device for heating water for plumbing services.

Sewage

means sanitary sewage or storm sewage.

Sewage system

means

(a)

a chemical toilet, an incinerating toilet, a recirculating toilet, a self-contained portable toilet and all forms of privy, including a portable privy, an earth pit privy, a pail privy, a privy vault and a composting toilet system,

(b)

a greywater system,

(c)

a cesspool,

(d)

a leaching bed system, or

(e)

a system that requires or uses a holding tank for the retention of hauled sewage at the site where it is produced before its collection by a hauled sewage system, where these

(f)

have a design capacity of 10,000 litres per day or less,

(g)

have, in total, a design capacity of 10,000 litres per day or less, where more than one of these are located on a lot or parcel of land, and

(h)

are located wholly within the boundaries of the lot or parcel of land on which is located the building or buildings they serve.

Sewage works

means sewage works as defined in subsection 1(1) of the Ontario Water Resources Act.

Sewer lateral extension

means the portion of a storm building sewer or sanitary building sewer that extends from the public sewer up to 1.5 m into the property.

Shallow buried trench

means an absorption trench that contains a chamber or leaching chamber.

Shallow foundation

means a foundation unit that derives its support from soil or rock located close to the lowest part of the building that it supports.

Shelf and rack storage system

means a self-contained structural system within a building, having one or more elevated platforms or walkway levels for personnel access that may also support conveyors and other material handling, storage and distribution equipment.

Significant drinking water threat

has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Clean Water Act, 2006.

Size

means the nominal diameter by which a pipe, fitting, trap or other similar item is commercially designated.

Smoke alarm

means a combined smoke detector and audible alarm device designed to sound an alarm within the room or suite in which it is located upon the detection of smoke within that room or suite.

Smoke detector

means a fire detector designed to operate when the concentration of airborne combustion products exceeds a predetermined level.

Soil

means, except for the purposes of Part 8 of Division B, a portion of the earth’s crust that is fragmentary or such that individual particles of a dried sample may be readily separated by agitation in water, and includes boulders, cobbles, gravel, sand, silt, clay and organic matter.

Soil pipe

means a sanitary drainage pipe that carries the discharge of a sanitary unit, with or without the discharge from any other fixture.

Soil stack

means a vertical soil pipe that passes through one or more storeys and includes any offset that is part of the stack.

Solid masonry

means a single wythe or multi-wythe construction made of solid masonry units or semi-solid, cored, or hollow masonry units, the cells of which may or may not be filled with mortar or grout. In multi-wythe masonry construction, the space between the wythes consists of a mortar-filled collar joint or grout-filled space and the wythes may or may not be constructed of the same masonry materials.

Solid masonry unit

means a concrete block or brick unit, a clay brick unit, or a calcium silicate brick unit whose net solid area is at least 75% of its gross area. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Sound transmission class (STC)

means a single number rating of the airborne sound attenuation of a building assembly separating two adjoining spaces, taking into account the direct sound transmission path. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1)) (See also Note A-9.11. of Division B)

Source protection area

has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Clean Water Act, 2006.

Source protection plan

has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Clean Water Act, 2006.

Space heater

means a space-heating appliance for heating the room or space within which it is located, without the use of ducts.

Space-heating appliance

means an appliance intended for the supplying of heat to a room or space directly, such as a unit heater, or to rooms or spaces of a building through a heating system such as a central furnace or boiler.

Sprinklered

(as applying to a building or part thereof) means that the building or part thereof is equipped with a system of automatic sprinklers.

Stack vent

means a vent pipe that connects the top of a soil stack or waste stack to a header or open air and “stack vented” has a corresponding meaning.

Stack venting

means, when used with reference to fixtures, an arrangement such that the connections of the drainage piping from the stack vented fixtures to the stack provide venting to the fixture traps so that no additional vent pipe is required.

Stage

means a space that is designed primarily for theatrical performances with provision for quick change scenery and overhead lighting, including environmental control for a wide range of lighting and sound effects and that is traditionally, but not necessarily, separated from the audience by a proscenium wall and curtain opening.

Starting platform

means a rigid platform located entirely on a pool deck that consists of a top that, if projected horizontally over the water surface, would be less than 1 000 mm in vertical height above the surface and that is designed to be used by a swimmer to dive from at the start of a swimming race.

Storage garage

means a building or part thereof intended for the storage or parking of motor vehicles and containing no provision for the repair or servicing of such vehicles. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Storey

means, except for the purposes of Part 7 of Division B, the portion of a building

(a)

that is situated between the top of any floor and the top of the floor next above it, or

(b)

that is situated between the top of the floor and the ceiling above the floor, if there is no floor above it.

Storm building drain

means a building drain that conducts storm water and is connected at its upstream end to a leader, sump or catch basin, and at its downstream end to a building sewer or a designated storm water disposal location.

Storm building sewer

means a building sewer that conveys storm sewage to a place of disposal and commences 1 000 mm from the building.

Storm drainage pipe

means all the connected piping that conveys storm sewage to a place of disposal and includes the storm building drain, storm building sewer, rain water leader, catch basin and area drain installed to collect water from the property and the piping that drains water from a swimming pool, other than a public pool, or from water cooled air-conditioning equipment, but does not include

(a)

a subsoil drainage pipe, or

(b)

a private sewage treatment and disposal facility designed for the treatment or retention of storm sewage prior to discharge to the natural environment.

Storm drainage system

means a drainage system that conveys storm sewage.

Storm sewage

means water that is discharged from a surface as a result of rainfall, snow melt or snowfall.

Storm sewer

means a sewer that conveys storm sewage.

Stove

means an appliance intended for cooking or space heating or both.

Street

means any highway, road, boulevard, square or other improved thoroughfare that is 9 m or more in width, that has been dedicated or deeded for public use and that is accessible to fire department vehicles and equipment.

Subsoil drainage pipe

means a pipe that is installed underground to intercept and convey subsurface water, and includes foundation drain pipes.

Subsurface investigation

means the appraisal of the general subsurface conditions at a building site by analysis of information gained by such methods as geological surveys, in situ testing, sampling, visual inspection, laboratory testing of samples of the subsurface materials and groundwater observations and measurements.

Suite

means a single room or series of rooms of complementary use, operated under a single tenancy, and includes

(a)

dwelling units,

(b)

individual guest rooms in motels, hotels, boarding houses, rooming houses and dormitories, and

(c)

individual stores and individual or complementary rooms for business and personal services occupancies. (See Note A-1.1.4.2.(1))

Supply duct

means a duct for conveying air from a heating, ventilating or air-conditioning appliance to a space to be heated, ventilated or air-conditioned.

Surface water

means water on the surface of the ground.

Tapered tread

means a tread with non-parallel edges that increases or decreases its run uniformly over its width.

Tarion Warranty Corporation

means Tarion Warranty Corporation as designated under section 2 of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act.

Theatre

means a place of public assembly intended for the production and viewing of the performing arts or the screening and viewing of motion pictures, and consisting of an auditorium with permanently fixed seats intended solely for a viewing audience.

Trap

means a fitting or device that is designed to hold a liquid seal that will prevent the passage of gas but will not materially affect the flow of a liquid.

Trap arm

means that portion of a fixture drain between the trap weir and the vent pipe fitting.

Trap dip

means the lowest part of the upper interior surface of a trap.

Trap seal depth

means the vertical distance between the trap dip and the trap weir.

Trap standard

means the trap for a fixture that is integral with the support for the fixture.

Trap weir

means the highest part of the lower interior surface of a trap.

Treatment unit

means a device that, when designed, installed and operated in accordance with its design specifications, provides a specific degree of sanitary sewage treatment to reduce the contaminant load from that of sanitary sewage to a given effluent quality.

Tribunal

means the Licence Appeal Tribunal established under the Licence Appeal Tribunal Act, 1999.

Type A dispersal bed

means a leaching bed that receives effluent from a Level IV treatment unit as described in Table 8.6.2.2. of Division B and that is comprised of a stone layer or leaching chambers installed over an unsaturated sand layer as described in Subsection 8.7.7. of Division B.

Type B dispersal bed

means a leaching bed comprised of a pressurized distribution system that uniformly distributes effluent from a Level IV treatment unit as described in Table 8.6.2.2. of Division B to the underlying soil, as defined in Part 8 of Division B, through a set of distribution pipes installed in a bed comprised of septic stone.

Underpinning

means the process of strengthening the foundation or lowering the level of a foundation of an existing building.

Unit heater

means a suspended space heater with an integral air-circulating fan.

Unprotected opening

means, when applied to an exposing building face

(a)

a doorway, window or opening, other than one equipped with a closure having the required fire-protection rating, or

(b)

any part of a wall forming part of the exposing building face that has a fire-resistance rating less than required for the exposing building face.

Unstable liquid

means a liquid, including flammable liquids and combustible liquids, that is chemically reactive to the extent that it will vigorously react or decompose at or near normal temperature and pressure conditions or that is chemically unstable when subjected to impact.

Vacuum breaker

means back-siphonage preventer.

Vapour barrier

means the elements installed to control the diffusion of water vapour. (See Note A-1.4.1.2.(1))

Vent connector

(as applying to heating or cooling systems) means the part of a venting system that conducts the flue gases or vent gases from the flue collar of a gas appliance to the chimney or gas vent, and may include a draft control device.

Vent pipe

means a pipe that is part of a venting system.

Vent stack

means a vent pipe that is connected at its upper end to a header or is terminated in open air and that is used to limit pressure differential in a soil or waste stack.

Venting system

means an assembly of pipes and fittings that connects a drainage system with open air for circulation of air and the protection of trap seals in the drainage system.

Vertical leg

means the vertical portion of a fixture drain and includes the portion of a drain from the outlet of a water closet bowl to the point where the connecting piping changes to horizontal.

Vertical service space

means a shaft oriented essentially vertically that is provided in a building to facilitate the installation of building services including mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations and facilities such as elevators, refuse chutes and linen chutes.

Vulnerable area

has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Clean Water Act, 2006.

Walkway

means a covered or roofed pedestrian thoroughfare used to connect 2 or more buildings.

Waste pipe

means a sanitary drainage pipe that carries the discharge from a fixture directly to a waste stack, soil stack, sanitary building drain, branch or sewage system.

Waste stack

means a vertical waste pipe that passes through one or more storeys and includes any offset that is part of the stack that conducts liquid waste from fixtures other than sanitary units.

Water distribution system

means an assembly of pipes, fittings, valves and appurtenances that conveys potable water to water supply outlets, fixtures, plumbing appliances and devices from the water service pipe or from a point of entry treatment unit located in the building.

Water purveyor

means the owner or operator of a drinking water system.

Water service pipe

means a pipe on the property that conveys potable water from a drinking water system or a private water supply to the inside of the building.

Water system

means a water service pipe, a private water supply, a water distribution system, a fire service main or any part of any of them.

Wave action pool

means a public pool equipped with a means for inducing wave motion in the water.

Wet vent

means a waste pipe that also serves as a vent pipe.

Working capacity

means the volume of liquid that a treatment unit or holding tank is capable of holding without overflowing while it is in its working position, but does not include the volume of liquid contained in a compartment in which a pump or siphon is installed.

X-ray equipment

includes x-ray imaging systems, processing equipment and equipment directly related to the production of images for diagnosis or directly related to irradiation with x-rays for therapy.

X-ray machine

means an electrically-powered device producing x-rays

(a)

for the irradiation of a human being or an animal for a therapeutic or diagnostic purpose, or

(b)

for industrial use.

Yoke vent

means a vent pipe that is connected at its lower end to a soil or waste stack and at its upper end to a vent stack or a branch vent that is connected to a vent stack.

(2)

Where a word or term that is defined in Sentence (1) is used, it shall be read as if it has the same meaning as in that Sentence, unless the context requires otherwise.

Editor's note: Building Code Act

As referred to within Clause (1)(a), the following content is extracted from Building Code Act, 1992 for ease of referencing.

(accessed on December 30th, 2025)

Building Code Act, 1992

1(1) Definitions

In this Act,

administrative agreement

means the agreement described in subsection 30.3 (1); (“accord d’application”)

administrative authority

means the corporation designated by regulation under clause 30.1 (1) (a); (“organisme d’application”)

building

means,

(a)

a structure occupying an area greater than ten square metres consisting of a wall, roof and floor or any of them or a structural system serving the function thereof including all plumbing, works, fixtures and service systems appurtenant thereto,

(b)

a structure occupying an area of ten square metres or less that contains plumbing, including the plumbing appurtenant thereto,

(c)

plumbing not located in a structure,

(c.1)

a sewage system, or

(d)

structures designated in the building code; (“bâtiment”)

building code

means regulations made under section 34; (“code du bâtiment”)

building condition evaluation

means an evaluation conducted under a building condition evaluation program; (“évaluation de l’état du bâtiment”)

building condition evaluation program

means a program established under subsection 34 (2.3); (“programme d’évaluation de l’état des bâtiments”)

building owner

means, in respect of a building,

(a)

the registered owner of the land on which the building is located or, if the building is owned separately from the land on which the building is located, the owner of the building, unless the person is a person prescribed in the building code,

(b)

the person that is responsible for maintaining the building or part of the building subject to a building condition evaluation program, unless the person is a person prescribed in the building code, and

(c)

such other persons as may be prescribed; (“propriétaire du bâtiment”)

change certificate

means a certificate prescribed under the building code or approved by the Minister as a change certificate; (“certificat de modification”)

chief building official

means a chief building official appointed or constituted under section 3 or 4; (“chef du service du bâtiment”)

code of conduct

means a code of conduct described in section 7.1; (“code de conduite”)

construct

means to do anything in the erection, installation, extension or material alteration or repair of a building and includes the installation of a building unit fabricated or moved from elsewhere and “construction” has a corresponding meaning; (“construire”, “construction”, “travaux de construction”)

delegated provisions

means the provisions of this Act and the regulations whose administration is delegated to the administrative authority under clause 30.1 (1) (b), subject to any restrictions imposed under subsection 30.1 (2); (“dispositions déléguées”)

demolish

means to do anything in the removal of a building or any material part thereof and “demolition” has a corresponding meaning; (“démolir”, “démolition”, “travaux de démolition”)

director

means the person appointed as director under section 2; (“directeur”)

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the definition of “director” in subsection 1 (1) of the Act is repealed. (See: 2020, c. 16, Sched. 1, s. 1 (2))

final certificate

means a certificate prescribed under the building code or approved by the Minister as a final certificate; (“certificat définitif”)

inspector

means an inspector appointed under section 3, 3.1, 4, 6.1 or 6.2; (“inspecteur”)

maintenance inspection

means an inspection conducted under a maintenance inspection program; (“inspection d’entretien”)

maintenance inspection program

means a program established under clause 7 (1) (b.1) or subsection 34 (2.2); (“programme d’inspections d’entretien”)

Minister

means the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; (“ministre”)

municipality

means a local municipality; (“municipalité”)

officer

means a property standards officer who has been assigned the responsibility of administering and enforcing by-laws passed under section 15.1; (“agent”)

planning board

means a planning board established under section 9 or 10 of the Planning Act; (“conseil d’aménagement”)

plans review certificate

means a certificate prescribed under the building code or approved by the Minister as a plans review certificate; (“certificat d’examen des plans”)

plumbing

means a drainage system, a venting system and a water system or parts thereof; (“installation de plomberie”)

principal authority

means,

(a)

the Crown,

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the definition of “principal authority” in subsection 1 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following clause: (See: 2020, c. 16, Sched. 1, s. 1 (3))

(a.1)

the administrative authority,

(b)

the council of a municipality,

(c)

an upper-tier municipality that has entered into an agreement under subsection 3 (5), 6.1 (1) or 6.2 (1),

(d)

a board of health that has been prescribed for the purposes of subsection 3.1 (1) or has entered into an agreement under subsection 6.1 (2) or (3) or 6.2 (2),

(e)

a planning board that has been prescribed for the purposes of subsection 3.1 (1), or

(f)

a conservation authority that has been prescribed for the purposes of subsection 3.1 (1) or has entered into an agreement under subsection 6.2 (2); (“autorité principale”)

registered code agency

means a person that has the qualifications and meets the requirements described in subsection 15.11 (4); (“organisme inscrit d’exécution du code”)

regulations

means regulations made under this Act. (“règlements”)

Explorer

1.4.1.2. Defined Terms

(1)

(a)

(b)

(i)

(ii)

(c)

Absorption trench

Acceptable solution

Accessible

Access to exit

Adaptable seating

Additional circuit vent

Adfreezing

Agricultural occupancy

Agricultural occupancy with no human occupants

Air admittance valve

Air barrier system

Air break

Air-conditioning

Air gap

Air-supported structure

Alarm signal

Alert signal

Allowable bearing pressure

Allowable load

Alloyed zinc

Alternative solution

Apparent sound transmission class (ASTC)

Appliance

Architect

Area affected by a significant drinking water threat

Artesian groundwater

As constructed plans

Assembly occupancy

Attic or roof space

Auxiliary water supply

Backflow

Backflow preventer

Back pressure

Back-siphonage

Back-siphonage preventer

Back vent

Backwater valve

Barrier-free

Basement

Bathroom group

Bearing surface

Boarding, lodging or rooming house

(a)

(b)

(c)

Boiler

Bottle trap

Braced wall band

Braced wall panel

Branch

Branch vent

Breeching

Building area

Building Code website

Building control valve

Building drain

Building height

Building sewer

Building trap

Business and personal services occupancy

Caisson

Camp for housing of workers

Campground

Canopy

Carbon dioxide equivalent

Carbon monoxide alarm

Care and treatment occupancy

Care occupancy

(a)

(b)

Cavity wall

Certificate for the occupancy of a building described in Sentence 1.3.3.4.(3) of Division C