Ministry of Municipal Affairs PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE 2012 BUILDING CODE O. REG. 332/12 AS AMENDED CHANGE NUMBER: SOURCE: B-03-13-05 Ontario CODE REFERENCE: Div. B 3.13.4.5. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT Revise existing Article 3.13.4.5. to address the minimum permitted width of a means of egress and reduces the minimum permitted width of platforms. EXISTING 2012 BUILDING CODE PROVISION(S) 3.13.4.5. Width of Means of Egress (1) Except as otherwise required in this Subsection, the required width of means of egress serving platforms in a rapid transit station shall be determined based on, (a) the required egress capacity determined in conformance with Article 3.13.4.4., and (b) the pedestrian flow rate for the type of means of egress facility listed in Table 3.13.4.5. (2) In calculating the required width of corridors and ramps with a grade of less than 4%, 300 mm at each sidewall shall be added to the width determined based on required egress capacity. (3) In calculating the required width of egress routes, one escalator at each level in a rapid transit station is deemed to be out of service and not available for egress purposes. (4) Except as provided in Sentence (5), the minimum width of means of egress facilities serving platforms shall be, (a) 1 750 mm for corridors and ramps, (b) 1 750 mm for stairs, (c) 430 mm for turnstiles, (d) 500 mm for fare collection gates, (e) 600 mm nominal width for escalators, and (f) 900 mm for a door leaf. (5) A second means of egress as required by Sentence 3.13.4.3.(1) is permitted to be not less than 1 100 mm wide. (6) The minimum width of platforms shall be, (a) 3.2 m for side platforms, and (b) 6.4 m for island platforms. (7) The minimum unobstructed width of platforms measured from the platform edge shall be 2.5 m. Building and Development Branch Page 1
Type of Egress Facility Table 3.13.4.5. Pedestrian Flow Rates Forming Part of Sentence 3.13.4.5.(1) per metre width Platforms N/A 80 Corridors N/A 80 Doorways N/A 80 Gates N/A 80 Ramps not more than 4% N/A 80 Ramps more than 4% N/A 55 (1) Stairs N/A 55 (1) Escalators moving in direction of egress travel, nominal width : 1 200 mm 100 N/A : 800 mm 80 N/A : 600 mm 60 N/A Turnstiles, height of bar : not more than 900 mm 45 N/A : more than 900 mm 25 N/A Column 1 2 3 Notes to Table 3.13.4.5.: (1) Flow rate is applied vertically. PROPOSED CODE CHANGE Revise existing Clauses 3.13.4.5.(4)(a) and (b) and relocating Clauses 3.13.4.5.(4)(c) and (d) as a new Sentence 3.13.4.5.(5), delete existing Sentences 3.13.4.5.(5), (6) and (7), add new requirements for width of platforms as a new Sentence 3.13.4.5.(6) and a new Appendix A note, including a revision to existing Table 3.13.4.5. as follows: 3.13.4.5. Width of Means of Egress (1) Except as otherwise required in this Subsection, the required width of means of egress serving platforms in a rapid transit station shall be determined based on, (a) the required egress capacity determined in conformance with Article 3.13.4.4., and (b) the pedestrian flow rate for the type of means of egress facility listed in Table 3.13.4.5. (2) In calculating the required width of corridors and ramps with a grade of less than 4%, 300 mm at each sidewall shall be added to the width determined based on required egress capacity. (3) In calculating the required width of egress routes, one escalator at each level in a rapid transit station is deemed to be out of service and not available for egress purposes. Building and Development Branch Page 2
(4) Except as provided in Sentence (5), The minimum width of means of egress facilities serving platforms shall be, (a) 1 750 1100 mm for corridors and ramps, (b) 1 750 1100 mm for stairs and ramps, (c) 430 mm for turnstiles, (d) 500 mm for fare collection gates, (e)(c) 600 mm nominal width for escalators, and (f) (d) 900 mm for a door leaf. (5) The minimum clear width for fare collection equipment providing means of egress from public areas in stations shall be (a) 420 mm for turnstiles, and (b) 455 mm for fare collection gates at and below a height of 1 000 mm and 530 mm above 1 000 mm. (5) A second means of egress as required by Sentence 3.13.4.3.(1) is permitted to be not less than 1 100 mm wide. (6) The minimum width of platforms shall be, (a) 3.2 m for side platforms, and (b) 6.4 m for island platforms. (7) The minimum unobstructed width of platforms measured from the platform edge shall be 2.5 m. (6) The minimum unobstructed width of platforms measured from the platform edge shall be 2.5 m 1 100 mm, measured from (a) the inside of the platform edge doors where provided, or (b) the inside edge of the platform edge strip where no platform edge doors are provided (see Appendix A). A-3.13.4.5.(6)(b) Minimum Unobstructed Width of Platforms. The platform edge strip refers to the visual and tactile platform edge treatment that is stipulated in local requirements and guidelines, which is generally required to be approximately 610 mm deep. In that case, this clause effectively requires a minimum unobstructed width from the edge of the platform of at least 1 710 mm. The 1 100 mm is based on corridor widths that permit bi-directional or passing pedestrian flows. Adjustments in the minimum width may be reasonable where pedestrians can flow on the other side of an obstruction (e.g., where supporting pillars located in the vicinity of a platform edge permit passage on the non-track side of the pillar). Building and Development Branch Page 3
Type of Egress Facility Table 3.13.4.5. Pedestrian Flow Rates Forming Part of Sentence 3.13.4.5.(1) per metre width Platforms N/A 80 Corridors N/A 80 Doorways N/A 80 Gates N/A 80 Ramps not more than 4% N/A 80 Ramps more than 4% N/A 55 (1) Stairs N/A 55 (1) Escalators moving in direction of egress travel, nominal width (2) : 1 200 mm 100 N/A : 800 mm 80 N/A : 600 mm 60 N/A Turnstiles, height of bar : not more than 900 mm 45 N/A : more than 900 mm 25 N/A Column 1 2 3 Notes to Table 3.13.4.5.: (1) Flow rate is applied vertically. (2) Escalators not moving in the direction of egress travel shall be calculated as stairs. The attributed width of each stopped escalator for calculation of egress capacity shall be the width of the tread plus 100 mm on each side - i.e., an escalator with a tread width of 1 000 mm shall have an egress capacity based on an attributable width of 1 200 mm. RATIONALE FOR CHANGE Problem/General Background The proponent contends that existing Clauses 3.13.4.5.(4)(a) and (b), which specify a minimum width of 1750 mm for corridors and stairs was based on NFPA 130 criteria that was found to have insufficient technical rationale and was therefore deleted in the 2007 edition in favour of the standard 1100 mm minimum widths. The wider minimum widths also did not recognize alternative designs wherein additional capacity is provided by means of additional egress routes. Existing Clauses 3.13.4.5.(4)(c) and (d), provide the width requirements for fare barrier equipment and should be relocated to a separate Sentence since they are based on different requirements. Further, the proponent contends that existing minimum widths for fare barrier equipment are not in line with current NFPA 101 criteria for turnstiles and current NFPA 130 criteria, which was modified in the 2014 edition based on ergonomic research. Building and Development Branch Page 4
Existing Sentence 3.13.4.5.(5) is redundant based on revised Clause 3.13.4.5.(4)(a) and egress capacity calculations. With respect to existing Sentence 3.13.4.5.(6), the proponent contends that there is no technical rationale to support current minimum platform widths. Instead, requirements for platform circulation are adequately addressed in criteria for minimum unobstructed widths as stipulated in existing Sentence 3.13.4.5.(7). According to the proponent, the minimum clear platform width of 2.5 m as specified in existing Sentence 3.13.4.5.(7) was based on TTC Design Manual criteria that does not have sufficient technical rationale and does not recognize alternate means of achieving safe clearances on platforms. The proponent has proposed narrower minimum platforms widths in revised Sentence (6). Justification/Explanation Revised Clause 3.13.4.5.(4) (a) specifies a minimum width of 1100 mm, reflective of requirements in Sentence 3.4.3.2.(7) for exit facilities and the proponent contends that this is appropriate for station egress facilities. Where egress calculations indicate that additional egress capacity is required, the proposed changes will permit design alternatives i.e., wider egress facilities or additional egress routes. New Sentence 3.13.4.5.(5) applicable to fare barrier equipment, provides minimum width dimensions that are supported by ergonomic analysis based on material in the SFPE Handbook. Existing Sentences 3.13.4.5.(5) has been deleted as it is redundant based on revised Clause 3.13.4.5.(4)(a). With respect to existing Sentence 3.13.4.5.(6), the minimum platform widths (3.2 m for side and 6.4 m for centre) were based on input from the TTC Design Manual. NFPA 130 criteria related to minimum platform, corridor and stair widths in excess of the requirements in applicable codes were found to not have sufficient technical rationale and were therefore deleted in the 2007 edition of NFPA 130. Requirements for minimum platform widths should be based on operational and ridership considerations and more appropriately belong in Design Manual criteria. As proposed the deletion of Sentence 3.13.4.5.(7) applicable to platforms results in requirements that are consistent with other Code provisions. Cost/Benefit Implications Will reduce costs by permitting narrower egress facilities and platforms where permitted by calculations. Enforcement Implications None Who is Affected Code users, the transit commission and transit system users. Building and Development Branch Page 5
Objective Based Analysis Provision Objective/Functional Statement Division B 3.13.4.5. (4) [F10-OS3.7] (5) [F10-OS3.7] (6) [F30-OS3.1] [F10-OS3.7] OTHER SUPPORTING MATERIALS Building and Development Branch Page 6