1. Interior Designers of Canada
ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN CANADA – BASED ON CANADIAN BUILDING CODES
Presented to:
Interior Designers of Canada

2. LRI: WHO WE ARE
Largest and oldest Building Code/fire protection firm in Canada
3 offices: Toronto (Head Office), Ottawa, Owen Sound
We provide services for projects across North America and Internationally

3. LRI: WHAT WE DO Code Consulting Services Life Safety Services
Building Code Review, Fire Code Review, Drawing Review, Fire Modeling, Alternative Solutions
Life Safety Services
Fire Safety Planning, Fire Safety Training Seminars, Fire Drill Evaluations
System Engineering Services
Fire Protection Systems Evaluation, Fire Alarm/Fire Suppression Systems Design

4. WEBINAR AGENDA Review of: Building Codes in Canada
Highlights of Barrier-free sections within the National Building Code and Provincial Building Codes
Focused highlights of the Accessible Design for the Built Environment (CAN/CSA B651)

5. BUILDING CODES IN CANADA

6. BUILDING CODES IN CANADA
2010 National Building Code of Canada (NBC)
Model Code for Canada
Provincial adoption or adaption of NBC
New Brunswick
Manitoba
Nova Scotia
Saskatchewan
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Yukon
Prince Edward Island

7. BUILDING CODES IN CANADA
Provincial Building Codes
2006 Alberta Building Code (ABC)
2006 British Columbia Building Code (BCBC)
2006 Ontario Building Code (OBC)
2006 Quebec Construction Code (QCC)

8. 2005 NBC  2010 NBC 2006 Provincial Codes are based on 2005 NBC
2010 NBC Section 3.8.
No significant change from 2005 NBC
Upcoming 2011 Provincial Codes
Section 3.8. may be revised from 2006 editions

9. OTHER REGULATIONS

10. ACCESSIBLE DESIGN FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT (CAN/CSA B651)
Canadian Standard which can be used in the design and construction of new facilities or modifications to existing facilities, generally as a reference document

11. OTHER ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS
Additional accessibility documents and standards may be applicable to projects in some provinces/municipalities
Client/contract requirements
It is the designers responsibility to be aware of all legislated documents and standards applicable to each project

12. Highlights of Barrier-free
National Building Code and Provincial Building Codes

13. BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL
An accessible route into and throughout a floor area
Permitted to include ramps, passenger elevators, other platform equipped passenger elevating device to overcome a difference in level greater than 13 mm

14. BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL
Minimum unobstructed width must be 920 mm with the following exceptions:
1100 mm – OBC
1500 mm – BCBC
“lay-by” spaces, for wheelchair passing, must be located not more than 30 m apart and provide a minimum 1500 mm x 1500 mm clear space except the following:
1600 mm x 1600 mm (where the path is less than mm) – OBC
Not required (due to wider path of travel) – BCBC

15. BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL

16. EXEMPTIONS TO BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL (EXCEPT BCBC)
Floor levels not served by an elevator, escalator, moving walk, etc.
Elevated/sunken portions of a floor area which are provided with the same amenities as the main floor area
Dwelling units (i.e. houses and within suites of residential occupancy ); except 10% OBC
Rooms/spaces that are “not occupied” are not exempt (i.e. storage rooms)

17. EXEMPTIONS TO BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL - BCBC
Storeys above or below the accessible entrance storey in a building/suite not more than two storeys if:
less than 600 m2 in area,
don’t contain facilities integral to the function of the accessible storey, and
don’t contain an assembly occupancy greater than 100 m2
Group C dwelling units, row houses, boarding houses, and lodging houses
Floor levels not served by an elevator, escalator, moving walk, etc. are not exempt.

18. BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL – BCBC
Barrier-free path of travel is described for specific occupancy groups and specific building types, such as:
Theatres, Studios, Opera Houses, Amusement Arcades and Billiard Halls, Schools and Colleges (residential and nonresidential), Drive-in Theatres, Psychiatric Hospitals and Police Stations, Banks, etc.

19. BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL – BCBC
Assembly Occupancies - Access must be provided to:
Each type of public facility (refreshments, recreational, offices, etc.)
Accessible viewing positions
Amenities, special-use public areas (i.e. changing rooms, interview rooms, bowling lanes, etc.)
Some amenities/areas require “all” to be accessible, others require “at least one” to be accessible

20. BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL – BCBC
Care and Detention Occupancies – Access must be provided to:
Jails
areas where visitors are admitted
accessible visitor washrooms
Psychiatric Hospitals, Police Stations, and Care Facilities
areas where work functions can reasonably be expected to be performed by persons with disabilities
accessible washrooms serving each accessible area
each type of facility

21. BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL – BCBC
Residential Occupancies
Apartment/Condominium Buildings
Access must be provided from the street and a private parking area to the main entrance, and from the main entrance to an elevator
Hotels/Motels
Access must be provided to all public facilities/storeys
At least one in every 40 sleeping units must be accessible
At least one in every 20 sleeping units, which is not accessible must have a visual warning system
Public washrooms must be accessible

22. Residential Occupancies
BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL – BCBC
Residential Occupancies
Residential schools/colleges and Dormitories
At least one in every 40 bed spaces must be accessible
Bed spaces which are not accessible must have a visual warning system
Accessible washrooms must be provided to serve accessible bed spaces
Residential Clubs
Where sleeping accommodation is provided for 10 or more people in single or double rooms, at least one room must be accessible *
Sleeping rooms which are not accessible must have a visual warning system

23. BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL – BCBC
Business and Personal Services Occupancies
General
At least one accessible washroom must be either available to all suites or provided in each suite
Access must be provided to all public areas
Banks
Access must be provided to every type of public facility, at least one teller location, and ATMs, night deposit boxes, where provided

24. Business and Personal Services Occupancies Barbers and Hairdressers
BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL – BCBC
Business and Personal Services Occupancies
Barbers and Hairdressers
Access must be provided to at least one hairdressing sink, where provided
Self-service Laundry and Dry-cleaning
Access must be provided to at least one of each type of equipment for public use

25. BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL – BCBC
Mercantile Occupancies
At least one accessible washroom must be either available to all suites or provided in each suite
Access must be provided to all public facilities

26. BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL – BCBC
Industrial Occupancies
High Hazard – not required
Low/Medium Hazard, Service Stations, Parking Garages
Access must be provided to all public areas
Washrooms provided within a service station must be accessible
Within a parking garage, access must only be provided to storeys containing accessible parking spaces

27. PROTECTION ON FLOOR AREAS WITH A BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL
Where a barrier-free path of travel is provided to levels above/below the entrance level, protection of the floor area must be protected.
Protection is achieved by:
Vestibules serving elevator lobbies,
Fire compartments (i.e. zones) such that persons with disabilities can be accommodated in each zone and the travel distance from one zone to the other does not exceed the travel distance permitted for the occupancy, or
Sprinkler protection

28. PROTECTION ON FLOOR AREAS WITH A BARRIER-FREE PATH OF TRAVEL

29. Minimum # of Barrier-Free Pedestrian Entrances
BARRIER-FREE ENTRANCES
Each building must have barrier-free entrances
Not less than 50% of pedestrian entrances - NBC, ABC, QCC
At least one main entrance - BCBC
Based on table below - OBC
Pedestrian Entrances
Minimum # of Barrier-Free Pedestrian Entrances
1-3 1
4-5 2 6+
Not less than 50%

30. DOORS Required minimum clear door width is 800 mm except:
850 mm – OBC
Only the active leaf in a multiple leaf door in a barrier-free path of travel must be barrier-free.

31. DOORS

32. DOORS
Clear space on the latch-side of the doorway is required to provide maneuvering space for wheeled mobility devices on both sides of a door
Clear space extends the height of the door and
Minimum 300 mm beside the door latch on the push side
Minimum 600 mm beside the door latch on the pull side
Sliding doors
Not specifically addressed – rule of thumb: Minimum 300 mm both sides
Each side of any door opening onto a suite in a hotel or motel must have a maneuvering area minimum 1500 mm in diameter on each side (QCC)

33. DOORS

34. DOORS
Where doors are located in a series (i.e. vestibule) the space between the doors must:
Allow for movement of wheelchairs between doors
The minimum distance between doors when in the open position is 1200 mm

35. DOORS
Where vision panels are provided in a door, the panel must be (OBC):
at least 75 mm wide
located with bottom of the panel not more than 900 mm above the floor
edge of the panel not more than 250 mm from latch side of the door

36. DOORS
Glazed doors must be designed so that the position of the door is apparent by means of installing non-transparent hardware, bars, or other permanent fixtures. (All except OBC)
Glazed doors must be marked with a continuous opaque strip that is (OBC):
Colour and brightness contrast with background
Minimum 50 mm wide
Be located at a height of 1350 mm – 1500 mm above the floor

37. DOORS Power door operators must be provided at:
Barrier-free designated entrances with the following exceptions:
Buildings containing a Group B-1, Group C (except hotels), or Group F occupancy
Buildings smaller than 500 m2 containing a Group A, Group B-3, Group D, or Group E occupancy
Individual suites smaller than 500 m2 in a building containing only suites of Group A, Group B, Group D, or Group E occupancy
Universal toilet rooms if equipped with a self-closing device (OBC)
Doors not provided with required latch side clearances

38. RAMPS Minimum clear width between handrails must be 870 mm, except:
890 mm – 940 mm, 1500 mm (BCBC)
900 mm (OBC)
Maximum clear width between handrails
920 mm if the ramp does not reduce the required width of a means of egress (QCC)

39. RAMPS Maximum slope must be 1:12 except: BCBC based on table below
Max. Length
Max. Landing Interval
Required Ramp Width
Handrail Required
Over 1:20 – 1:16
None
12 m
890 mm – 940 mm
Both sides
Over 1:16 – 1:12
9 m
890 mm mm
Over 1:12 – 1:10
6 m -
1500 mm
Both sides if > 2 m
Over 1:10 – 1:8
600 mm
Not required

40. RAMPS
Minimum 1500 mm x 1500 mm landings must be provided at the top, bottom, and at intermediate levels leading to a door, except:
1670 mm x 1670 mm (OBC)
1500 mm x width of the ramp (BCBC)
At intervals not more than 9 m, landings measuring at least 1200 mm by the width of the ramp must be provided except:
1670 mm x width of the ramp (OBC)
1500 mm x width of the ramp (BCBC – at intervals specified in table on above slide)

41. RAMPS
Landings measuring at least 1200 mm by the width of ramp must be provided at abrupt changes in the direction of the ramp, except:
1200 mm x 1200 mm (ABC - 90° turn)
1500 mm x 1500 mm (ABC - 180° turn)
1500 mm x width of the ramp (BCBC)
1670 mm x width of the ramp (OBC)

42. RAMPS Walls or guards must be provided on both sides of a ramp
Minimum guard height is 1070 mm
Guard openings must not permit the passage of a sphere with diameter more than 100 mm
Guards must be designed to prevent climbability between 140 mm – 900 mm above the ramp (i.e. horizontal members, attachment, etc.)

43. RAMPS
A ramp must have a curb where a solid enclosure or solid guard is not provided:
Minimum 75 mm (BCBC)
Minimum 50 mm (OBC)
Otherwise, ramps must have a railing or other barrier that extends to:
75 mm of the finished ramp surface (BCBC)
50 mm of the finished ramp surface (OBC)

44. RAMPS
Intermediate handrail if ramp is required to be > 2200 mm wide
Handrail height must be 865 mm – 965 mm along the length of ramp
Handrails must extend at least 300 mm beyond the top and bottom of the ramp

45. RAMPS

46. CONTROLS
Controls for power door operators, building services or safety devices, including electrical switches, thermostats, and intercom switches must be installed 400 mm – 1200 mm above the floor except:
900 mm – 1200 mm above the floor (OBC)

47. WASHROOMS

48. REQUIRED BARRIER-FREE WASHROOMS
A washroom provided on a floor level with a barrier-free path of travel must be barrier-free unless other barrier-free washrooms are provided on the same floor area within 45 m, unless:
It is located within a suite of D, E, or F occupancy,
is less than 500 m2 (NBC), 300 m2 (OBC), and
is completely separated with no access to the remainder of the building.
All washrooms in a barrier-free path of travel must be barrier-free unless they are located within an individual suite less than 500 m2 and there are barrier-free washrooms on the same floor area within 45 m (ABC). Where more than one washroom is required, one barrier-free stall must be provided for every 10 stalls (or part thereof).

49. REQUIRED BARRIER-FREE WASHROOMS
A washroom provided on a floor level required to be barrier- free must be barrier-free unless (QCC):
It is located within a suite less than 250 m2 and other barrier-free washrooms are provided on the same floor area within 45 m, or
The suite has at least one barrier-free washroom on the same floor area
In buildings and occupancies required to have washrooms, where the occupant load of the building or occupancy exceeds 150 , barrier-free public washrooms must be provided on floor areas required to be barrier-free (BCBC)
At least one universal toilet room is required per accessible building/occupancy (BCBC only)

50. WATER CLOSETS
Seat height must be 400 mm – 460 mm above the floor except:
430 mm- 480 mm above the floor (BCBC)
Seat back must be equipped with seat lid or other back support
Seat type must not be spring-actuated
Flushing controls must be hand-operated and easily accessible to a wheelchair user or automatically operable

51. WATER CLOSETS
* BCBC – 430 mm – 480 mm

52. WATER CLOSET LOCATION WITHIN A STALL
Water closet must be located 285 mm – 305 mm from an adjacent side wall (NBC, QCC)
Centreline of water closet 460 mm – 480 mm from an adjacent side wall (ABC, OBC)
Centreline of water closet 420 mm – 480 mm from an adjacent side wall and at least 1020 mm from any obstruction on the opposite side (BCBC)

53. Same requirements as water closet stall (BCBC)
WATER CLOSET LOCATION WITHIN A UNIVERSAL
Water closet 285 mm – 305 mm from an adjacent sidewall on one side and not less than 875 mm on the other side (NBC, ABC, QCC)
Centreline of water closet 460 mm – 480 mm from an adjacent sidewall on one side and not less than 1020 mm on the other side (OBC)
Same requirements as water closet stall (BCBC)

54. URINALS (not addressed in OBC)
Height of a wall mounted urinal must be 488 mm – 512 mm above the floor except:
490 mm – 510 mm above the floor (BCBC)
Height of a floor mounted urinal must be such that the rim is level with the finished floor
Minimum clear width of approach must be 800 mm with no step in front
Grab bars must be vertically mounted on each side
Urinals – not regulated by OBC

55. LAVATORIES Centreline location must be at least 460 mm to the sidewall
Height of lavatories must be such that the top is not more than 865 mm above the floor except:
840 mm (OBC)

56. LAVATORIES
Clearance beneath the lavatory must be at least 760 mm wide and:
735 mm high at front edge (All except QCC)
685 mm high at a point 205 mm back from front edge except:
250 mm back from front edge (BCBC)
280mm back from front edge (QCC)
230 mm high over the distance from a point 280 mm to a point 430 mm back from front edge except:
250 mm high to a point 500 mm back from front edge (BCBC)

57. LAVATORIES Lavatory faucet handles
Operate automatically or have lever-type handles that do not close under spring action (BCBC, OBC)
Located with centreline of faucet to the edge of the basin or front edge of vanity is not more than 485 mm (OBC)
Not regulated (NBC, ABC, QCC)
Where mirrors are provided above lavatories, at least one must be mounted with bottom edge not more than 1000 mm above the floor, or, be inclined to be usable by a person in a wheelchair

58. LAVATORIES
Dimensions reflect typical requirements (BCBC and QCC differ slightly)

59. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
Horizontal, vertical, sloping and/or L-shaped grab bars are required within water closet stalls, universal toilet rooms, showers and bathtubs.
Location varies by fixture and Province
Soap dispensers are required
Hand dryers/towel dispensers are required

60. STALL ENCLOSURES
Water closet stall enclosures must be at least mm x 1500 mm, except:
Provide an open space 1500 mm diameter (ABC)
Doors serving the water closet stall must be at least 800 mm except:
810 mm (OBC)
Doors must swing outward, except that inward swinging doors are permitted provided the door swing permits the door to close without interfering with a wheelchair, except:
A clear unobstructed space of 760 mm x 1220 mm is provided (OBC)
A clear unobstructed space 1200 mm in diameter is provided (QCC)
Inward swinging not permitted (BCBC)

61. STALL ENCLOSURES

62. STALL ENCLOSURES Clearance beyond water closet stall door must be:
Minimum of 1700 mm from stall wall to an in- swinging door
1400 mm from stall wall to wall-mounted fixture/obstruction

63. STALL ENCLOSURES

64. UNIVERSAL TOILET ROOMS
Internal dimensions between all walls must not be less than 1700 mm except:
Floor area not less than 3.7 m2 and no internal dimension between walls less than 1700 mm when door swings out, or
Floor area not less than 4.0 m2 and no internal dimension between walls less than 1800 mm when door swings in (BCBC only)
Minimum 1500 mm diameter clear space must be provided and is not permitted to overlap fixtures

65. UNIVERSAL TOILET ROOMS

66. SHOWERS
If showers are provided, at least one shower in each group of showers must be at least 1500 mm wide x 900 mm deep
Clear space at shower entrance must be at least 900 mm x the width of the shower except:
1500 mm wide entrance (BCBC)

67. SHOWERS - SEAT
Hinged seat must be minimum 450 mm x 400 mm, at a height of 450 mm above the floor (NBC, ABC, OBC, QCC)
Portable or wall-mounted folding seat must be 40 mm – 60 mm less than the shower compartment depth by 430 mm – 530 mm wide, at a height of 430 mm – 480 mm above the floor (BCBC)

68. SHOWERS

69. BATHTUBS Bathtubs must be barrier-free if:
Installed in a suite of residential occupancy that is required to be barrier-free (NBC, ABC, and OBC for hotels)
If bathtubs are provided in a non-residential club, school, or college, a dormitory, or public toilets, at least one bathtub (BCBC)
Individual bathtubs provided for patients/residents in Group B, Div. 2 or 3 (OBC)
Bathtub must be located in a room that has no internal dimension between walls less than 1700 mm and a mm diameter clear space (NBC, ABC)
Clear floor space must be:
750 mm wide x length of bathtub (NBC)
900 mm wide x length of bathtub (ABC)
800 mm wide x 1500 mm long (BCBC, QCC)

70. BATHTUBS

71. COUNTERS
Every counter more than 2 m long which serves the public is required to have a barrier-free section except:
OBC – not addressed
Barrier-free section of counter must be
Not less than 760 mm long centered over a knee space not less than 760 mm wide, 685 mm high, and 485 mm deep, and
Not more than 865 mm above the floor

72. COUNTERS

73. CAN/CSA B651 ACCESSIBLE DESIGN FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

74. CSA B651 Addresses topics not regulated by NBC such as:
Signage and visual displays
Rest area seating
Furniture/counters
Floor and ground surfaces

75. CSA B651
Seating spaces for persons in wheelchairs, provided at counters, tables, or other work surfaces must have:
Clear floor area at least 750 mm x 1200 mm
Adequate maneuvering space to approach them
Height between 730 mm – 860 mm from the floor
Knee clearance at least 750 mm wide by 480 mm deep by 680 mm high where s forward approach is used (may overlap clear floor area by up to 480 mm)

76. CSA B651

77. CSA B651

78. CSA B651 A bench or seat area must Benches and seats must:
Be located adjacent to an accessible route (barrier-free path of travel)
Have a level and firm surface
Have an adjacent level and firm area at least 850 mm x mm that is not part of the route of travel
Benches and seats must:
Be stable
Have a seat height of 450 mm – 500 mm from the floor
Provide back rest and arm rest options (i.e. some with, some without)

79. CSA B651

80. CSA B651 Floor and ground surfaces must:
Be stable and firm
Be slip resistant
Produce minimal glare
Not be heavily patterned
Detectible floor and ground warning surfaces must be used to inform persons who are walking over them of three possible situations:
A hazard indicator signals that a person should stop
A warning indicator signals that caution should be taken
A directional indicator facilitates way-finding in open areas and signals a route to be taken

81. CSA B651 A detectible hazard indicator must be located at:
An unprotected drop-off edge such as a transit platform, where the elevation change is greater than 250 mm and the slope is steeper than 1:3
The unprotected edges of a reflecting pool
Curb ramps
An entry into a vehicular route or area where no curbs or other elements separate it from the pedestrian route of travel

82. CSA B651

83. CSA B651 A detectible warning indicator must be located at:
At the top of stairs where the stairs are not enclosed
At each landing incorporating an entrance into a stair system
Where the regular pattern of a stairway is broken
Where the run of a landing not having continuous handrail is greater than 2100 mm

84. CSA B651

85. CSA B651
Where signage, including electronic display monitors, is provided, it must:
Be consistently located
Be positioned to avoid shadow areas and glare
Have a glare-free surface
Be of uniform design
When used to display the same type of information within the same facility, be consistently shaped, coloured, and positioned
Colour-contrasted with its background

86. CSA B651 Information on visual displays must be:
Supplemented by tactile and/or auditory information
Colour-contrasted
Located on a glare-free surface

88. Bibliography 2010 National Building Code of Canada
2006 Alberta Building Code
2006 British Columbia Building Code
2006 Quebec Construction Code
2006 Ontario Building Code
Illustrated Guide to the 1997 Building Code (graphics only)
CAN/CSA B651 Accessible Design for the Built Environment

89. NATIONAL ACCESSIBILITY