Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Ontario’s Building Code
ONTARIO ONLY
CHANGE NUMBER
DESCRIPTION OF
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE 2006 BUILDING CODE
H-B-03-02-01
CODE REFERENCE
Div. B 3.2.4.9.(4)
Require electrical supervision of heat tracing cables for sprinkler, standpipe and
heating for a means of egress, if installed.
EXISTING 2006 BUILDING CODE PROVISION(S)
3.2.4.9.
(1)
Electrical Supervision
Electrical supervision shall be provided for a fire alarm system.
(2) If a fire alarm system is installed in a building, an automatic sprinkler system shall be electrically supervised to indicate a
supervisory signal on the building fire alarm system annunciator for each of the following:
(a) movement of a valve handle that controls the supply of water to sprinklers,
(b) loss of excess water pressure required to prevent false alarms in a wet pipe system,
(c) loss of air pressure in a dry pipe system,
(d) loss of air pressure in a pressure tank,
(e) a significant change in water level in any water storage container used for fire fighting purposes,
(f) loss of power to any automatically starting fire pump, and
(g) a temperature approaching the freezing point in any dry pipe valve enclosure or water storage container used for fire
fighting purposes. (See Appendix A.)
(3) In a building regulated by the provisions of Subsection 3.2.6., the indication of a supervisory signal in accordance with
Sentence (2) shall be transmitted to a proprietary control centre or to an independent central station.
The following is a proposed change to the OESC
62-308 Heating cable sets installed on or wrapped around surfaces
(4) When a heating cable set is installed on a standpipe, riser and/or sprinkler lines as part of a fire suppression
system, or as part of an exit or means of egress, its functionality shall be monitored and integrated with the fire alarm
system in conformance with the National Building Code of Canada.
Building and Development Branch
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Issued January 2011
PROPOSED CODE CHANGE
Add new Sentence 3.2.4.9.(4) as follows:
(4) When installed, heat tracing cable shall be electrically supervised to indicate a supervisory signal on the building fire
alarm system annunciator for loss of power:
(a) on a standpipe riser and sprinkler line as part of a fire suppression system, and
(b) as part of a means of maintaining an exit or means of egress free of ice and snow.
RATIONALE FOR CHANGE
Problem / General Background
Currently the Building Code, Article 3.2.5.18. requires fire protection equipment to be protected from freezing. In certain
instances, egress facilities may be supplied with heating cables to keep them free of ice and snow. The Code does not explicitly
require that heating cables be supervised for loss of power. NFPA-13-2007 (8.16.4.1.4.) however requires that “where listed
heat tracing systems are used, they shall be supervised.”
Justification / Explanation
If the OESC adopts the proposed change, the Building Code should also clarify the requirement as it is applicable to fire
protection and fire safety items regulated by the Building Code.
Cost / Benefit Implications
None with respect to sprinkler systems as the proposed Code provisions is clarifying the provision of an applicable standard.
Minimal impact with respect to standpipe systems as dry systems are usually used in locations subject to freezing temperatures.
In rare cases are heating cables required for egress facilities.
Enforcement Implications
Can be enforced with existing resources.
Who is Affected
Designers, Building Officials.
Objective-Based Analysis
Provision
3.2.4.9.(4) new
Objective
OS1.1, OS 1.2, OP 1.1, OP1.2
Functional
Statement
F02, F10
Building and Development Branch
© Copyright Queen's Printer for Ontario 2011
Page 2 of 2
Issued January 2011