Small Buildings

Height Area & Occupancy

In order for a building to be classified under Part 9 of the Ontario Building Code there are three conditions that
must be satisfied:

1. The building must be no more than 600 m2 in building area

2. The building must be no more than 3 Storeys in building height
3. The building must be of C, D, E, F2 or F3 occupancy

After passing the Small Building Exam, and the Legal Process Exam, an individual will be qualified to provide
design services to the public for most Part 9 buildings that satisfy these three criteria.
Items 1 and 2 are easy to determine if one has a clear understanding of the terms ‘Building Area’ and ‘Building
Height’. Item 3, occupancy, is determined by identifying the use of the building (or part of the building) and
assigning a letter designation according to the code. A description of occupancies and their corresponding
designations can be found in Part 3 on OBC Table 3.1.2.1. A more detailed description of occupancies and their
letter designations can be found in the appendix A-3.1.2.1.(1). If any of the uses are classified as Assembly ‘A’,
Industrial ‘F1’ or Care and Detention ‘B’, then the building must be designed according to Part 3.
The description of major occupancies permitted under Part 9 can be found on OBC Table 9.10.2.1.

Building Area
Building Area does not refer to Gross Building Area which is the addition of all floor areas above grade. The
calculation of Gross Building Area is made for other reasons and does not apply to the determination between
Part 9 and Part 3 buildings.
Gross Building Area is used for purposes such as:
 Determining the need for an Architect or Engineer. Generally, any building exceeding 600 m2 (6460 ft2)
in gross building area or any building exceeding 3 storeys in building height requires the services of an
Architect or Engineer. Refer to Table 2.3.1.1.
 Determining the ratio of floor space to lot area. This is a zoning requirement and is used to determine
what is referred to as GFA (Gross Floor Area). In some jurisdictions it is also referred to as FSI (Floor
Space Index). Whatever the term, the calculation is the same – a ratio of the Lot Area to the Gross
Building Area. Note here how words and syntax are used in interchanging ways. In the building Code,
the term is ‘Gross Building Area’, for zoning purposes it is ‘Gross Floor Area (GFA)’. Note when the
building code refers to floor area, the definition is different.

THIRD FLOOR 200 m²

10 m

SECOND FLOOR 200 m²

FIRST FLOOR 200 m²

20 m

PLAN ISOMETRIC

Figure 1 showing a building with 600 m2 of Gross Building Area (200m2 per floor)
The building Area in the example above is 200 m2 and the Gross Building Area is 600 m2. The best way to think
of building area is to imagine a bird’s eye view of the building. For instance, when the second floor is
overhanging the first floor, it needs to be counted as part of the overall building area. Consider the following
example:

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Small Buildings

2m
Overhang 2 metres

10 m
20 m 10 m 2m
Plan Section A

Figure 2 Building Area Calculation

In the diagram above, the building area is 240 m2 and the Gross building area is 600 m2. Note that this building
is the same size as the building shown in Figure 1 but the ‘Building Area’ is larger.
Consider the same building in Figure 2 above with a wall thickness. For the purpose of making the calculations
easier, say the wall thickness is 500 mm. This would create interior dimensions of 19 m x 9 m for a total floor
area of 171 m2. This value of Floor Area would be used for various calculations such as occupant load, and
allowable mezzanine area. The building in Figure 2 then has three very different numbers associated with area
descriptions:

Gross Building Area 600 m2

Building Area 240 m2
Floor Area 171 m2 (for one floor with wall thickness of 500 mm)

Note these calculations and how they are derived because they will need to be used for any number of different
situations and for different purposes. When reading a question or trying to solve a problem, check the definitions
in the building code for ‘keywords’ that form the question.
Keywords
For example:
You receive a telephone call from a client. ‘The building inspector has requested that the block size for the
foundation wall be increased’. The block size on the drawings is 10” and the dimension from the top of the floor
slab to adjacent outside grade is 5’-10”. ‘Do we have to make the blocks larger?’ ‘I hope not because it will cost
me another $1200.00 and the contractor already has the 10” blocks ordered.
You respond to the client. ‘The drawings are showing 10” block. Let me check the code and get back to you.
With some experience, a designer will know to look in the code for issues with regards to the requirements for
foundation walls (OBC 9.15.4.1). You have already assessed that the joist framing will provide lateral support
and check OBC Table 9.15.4.1 to see that 10” block with 5’-10” of cover will suffice. A visit is made to the site to
check the measurement between the top of the basement slab and adjacent grade and a letter is written to the
client and the Building inspector indicating that the drawings are correct and that the work proceed as described.
The same example can be applied to the questions that will be posed on the exam. Keywords will direct the
reader to the right source for the information and the answers being sought. In the example above, one could
look directly to the index under ‘Foundation + walls’ to find the reference to 9.15.4. The Table of Contents under
Footings and Foundations also provides the reference.

Consider the following building descriptions below and indicate which are classified as Part 9 and which are
classified as Part 3

A An unsprinklered 3 storey Warehouse (F3) with a building area of 500 m2 ________________

B A restaurant with a building area of 400 m2 and seating capacity of 46 ________________
C A 3 storey Concrete Apartment building with an area of 400 m2 per floor ________________
D An unsprinklered wood frame Restaurant with seating for 25 people ________________

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Building Height
Building Height means the number of storeys contained between the roof and the floor of the first storey.
First Storey means the storey with its floor closest to grade and having its ceiling more than 1.8 m above grade.
Grade means the average level of proposed or finished ground adjoining a building at all exterior walls.
These three terms – building height, first storey, and grade are defined terms in the building code (OBC 1.1.3.2.).
Determining building height requires that the first storey and grade are properly identified. Consider the following
example:

Fourth Floor
Third Floor

Third Floor
Second Floor

1.4 m
Second Floor

1.1 m
First Floor
2.1 m

1.8 m

First Floor

1.6 m
Grade Grade
0.9 m

4 STOREY BUILDING 3 STOREY BUILDING

Figure 3 Building Height in relation to Grade

Both of these buildings seem identical in size. The 3 storey building on the right however is lowered slightly
further into the ground than the 4 storey building. This minor adjustment has a significant impact on how the
building needs to be considered and built. The 4 storey building would need to be considered under Part 3 and
the 3 storey building could be considered under Part 9. The implications in terms of cost are huge. The 4 storey
building would require the services of an Architect. The 3 Storey building would require the services of an MMAH
qualified designer. An accurate determination of grade then is important piece of information to identify on
drawings as well as the site.

Occupancy
OBC Table 9.10.2.1. Describes all major occupancies permitted under Part 9 (C, D, E, F2, F3).

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