Fire Safety
33. (1) Where a nursing home was constructed, altered, added to or renovated before the 27th day of April, 1972, every floor of the nursing home shall have two exits that are as far as possible from each other, that are each at least 900 millimetres wide and that are constructed and maintained in accordance with the requirements of subsection (3). R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 832, s. 33 (1). (2) Despite the Building Code, made under the Building Code Act where on or after the 27th day of April, 1972, a nursing home is constructed, altered, added to or renovated and where a building is converted into a nursing home, every exit referred to in subsection (1) shall be at least 1,100 millimetres wide. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 832, s. 33 (2). (3) Every exit from a nursing home shall be so constructed and maintained that, (a) the distance of travel to an exit from the door of any room or suite or rooms opening on to a corridor does not exceed 30.00 metres; (b) all exit doors open in the direction of exit travel; (c) no exit door opens immediately to, (i) a flight of stairs, or (ii) a landing that is less in length than the width of the door. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 832, s. 33 (3). (4) Every landing and every flight of stairs in a stairwell that is used by residents shall have continuous handrails on both sides of the landing and stairs. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 832, s. 33 (4). (5) Despite the Building Code, made under the Building Code Act, no exit door in a nursing home shall be equipped with hardware that permits the door to be locked in a manner that prevents immediate egress. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 832, s. 33 (5). (6) Despite the Building Code, made under the Building Code Act, every exit in a nursing home shall be equipped with internally illuminated exit signs on independent electrical circuits displaying the word “exit” in red letters at least 110 millimetres high on an opaque background. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 832, s. 33 (6). (7) Despite the Building Code, made under the Building Code Act, every nursing home shall be equipped with signs to indicate the direction of egress in corridors and passageways, and each sign shall have the word “exit” on it at least 110 millimetres high together with an arrow or pointer indicating the direction of egress. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 832, s. 33 (7). (8) Every floor that is occupied by residents shall be divided into approximately equal zones by a fire separation having a fire resistance rating of not less than forty-five minutes. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 832, s. 33 (8). (9) Despite the Building Code, made under the Building Code Act, the fire separation referred to in subsection (8) shall contain doors that are suitable for moving residents in the case of an emergency involving the residents and that have a fire protection rating of not less than forty-five minutes. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 832, s. 33 (9). (10) Despite the Building Code, made under the Building Code Act, emergency lighting shall be provided in the hallways, corridors and stairwells of every nursing home. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 832, s. 33 (10). (11) The emergency lighting referred to in subsection (10) shall be provided from a power source independent of that for the general lighting and shall be controlled by a device that automatically transfers the lighting to the emergency power source in the event of a primary power supply failure. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 832, s. 33 (11). Stairways