Building Classifications
BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS
Here is a table of the various types of buildings and their corresponding fire safety classification:
| TYPE OF BUILDING | CLASSIFICATION |
|---|---|
| Health Buildings (CHSLD, Hospitals, Retirement Homes, Care Homes, etc.) | B-2 |
| Habitation (Lodging, Apartment Buildings, Hotels.) | C |
| Office Buildings (Building containing exclusively offices.) | D |
| Retail | E |
| High Traffic Service Buildings (Schools, Bars, Theaters, Day-Cares, Libraries, etc.) | A-1 or A-2 |
| Industrial Buildings (Factories, Storage Buildings,etc.) | F-1, F-2, or F-3 |
BUILDING NORMS BASED ON YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION
Below is a guide for property owners to know which fire alarm code to follow for their building based on the date in which they were built:
| CONSTRUCTION DATE | APPLICABLE NORM |
|---|---|
| Before December 1st, 1976 | Public building safety regulations |
| Between December 1st 1976 and May 24th 1984. | Quebec Building Code. |
| Between May 25th 1984 and July 17th 1986. | National Building Code (c. 1980) Quebec Edition. |
| Between July 18th 1986 and November 10th 1993. | National Building Code (c. 1985) Quebec Edition. |
| Between November 11th 1993 and November 6th 2000. | National Building Code (c. 1990) Quebec Edition. |
| Between November 7th 2000 and May 16th 2008. | National Building Code (c. 1995) Quebec Edition. |
| After May 17th 2008. | National Building Code (c. 2005) Quebec Edition. |
| After June 15th 2008 to today. | National Building Code (c. 2010) Quebec Edition. |
More Stringent Standards for Certain Building Types
Watch out for your municipality’s standards!
Your municipality may set stricter standards for buildings located on its territory.
Under regulations designed to improve safety in buildings, private seniors’ residences, residential buildings, care facilities and supervised residences are subject to stricter standards than those in effect when the building was built or converted.
Fire alarm requirements in effect since March 18, 2016
- A fire detection and alarm system is required in all residential buildings where 10 or more people sleep.
- If your building was built or converted before November 7, 2000, you may have to upgrade your existing detection
and alarm system to meet most of the requirements of NBC 1995 mod. Québec. Call in an expert to make sure you don’t forget anything! - In any multi-room dwelling or hotel/motel suite, the sound level of the fire alarm signal near the entrance door must be at least 85 decibels,
with the door closed. In the case of a rooming house, the standard is 75 decibels.