Rescinded [2010-04-01] - Fire Protection Standard for Correctional Institutions - Chapter 3-6

This standard prescribes fire protection requirements for correctional institutions to minimize risks to life and property and to protect and conserve the Government's financial position.

1. This standard applies to correctional institutions under the administration of the Correctional Service of Canada.
2. A building or structure in an institution that is used for farming purposes and not as a residence is exempt from the requirements of this standard. (See appendix A)
3. Community residential facilities are exempt from the requirements of this standard. (See appendix A)

1. The requirements of this standard apply to all new construction, including additions and alterations.
2. The requirements of this standard apply to existing buildings to the extent practicable. (See appendix A)

1. The Fire Commissioner of Canada or the authorized representative of the Fire Commissioner (henceforth referred to as FC) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of this standard.
2. This standard is not to be interpreted as permitting practices specifically prohibited by provincial, municipal, or other federal legislation.
3. Where reference is made to other codes and standards, unless otherwise stipulated, the reference shall be to the latest edition including amendments to that code or standard.

1. Certain terms used in this standard are defined to ensure understanding of their meaning and intent.

   Contained use area means a supervised area containing one or more rooms in which occupant movement is restricted to a single room by security measures not under the control of the occupant, (see appendix A); (zone de détention cellulaire);

   free access means access without barriers that require keys, special devices, remote releasing devices, or specialized knowledge of the opening mechanism, to an approved safe area, (see appendix A), (accès libre);

   impeded egress zone means a supervised area in which occupants have free movement but require the release, by security personnel, of security doors at the boundary before they are able to leave the area, but does not include a contained use area, (see appendix A), (zone à sortie contrôlée);

   listed means equipment or materials included in a list published by a nationally recognized organization concerned with product evaluation, that maintains periodic inspection of production of listed equipment or materials and whose listing states either that the equipment or material meets appropriate standards or has been tested and found suitable for use in a specified manner, (répertorié);

   living unit means a building or portion thereof containing sleeping accommodation for inmates, and may include ancillary areas such as lounges, kitchenettes, showers, and janitor's closets. Family visiting units are not considered to be living units, (unité résidentielle).

2. Unless otherwise stated, the definitions of words and phrases given in the NBC and NFC also apply to this standard.

1. The abbreviations of proper names in this standard shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Clause.

2. CAN	National Standard of Canada
   CER	Communication Equipment Room
   CGSB	Canadian General Standards Board
   CSA	Canadian Standards Association
   CSC	The Correctional Service of Canada
   CF	Fire Commissioner of Canada or the authorized representative of the Fire Commissioner
   MCCP	Main Communication and Control Post
   NBC	National Building Code of Canada
   NFC	National Fire Code of Canada
   NFPA	National Fire Protection Association
   TB	Treasury Board
   ULC	Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada

3. The symbols and other abbreviations in this standard shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Clause.

   C	degree(s) celsius
   h	hour(s)
   kg	kilogram(s)
   kPa	kilopascal(s)
   L	litre(s)
   m	metre(s)
   mm	millimetre(s)
   No.	number(s)
   o.c.	on centre
   s	second(s)

Except as otherwise provided in this standard, fire protection in all correctional institutions shall conform to the applicable requirements of:

1. the National Building Code of Canada (NBC);
2. the National Fire Code of Canada (NFC);
3. Treasury Board fire protection standards; and
4. FC standards.

Plans and specifications for all new construction, including additions and alterations, shall be submitted to the FC for review in accordance with the Treasury Board Fire Protection Standard for Design and Construction (chapter 3-2).

1. Buildings that do not have free access shall conform to the requirements of the NBC for buildings of Group B Division 1 occupancy.
2. Buildings that do not have free access shall be of noncombustible construction.

1. Buildings that have free access shall conform to the requirements of the NBC for the major occupancies appropriate to their use. (See appendix A)
2. A building that has free access shall be of noncombustible construction if the building area exceeds the limits permitted in appendix C. (See also appendix A)

1. Means of egress shall conform to the requirements of the NBC.
2. A door in a means of egress, which is required to be locked for reasons of security, shall be such as to be openable by a key from both sides of the door. (See appendix A)
3. If in the opinion of the FC in consultation with CSC for reasons of security it may be difficult to gain access to a locked egress door in the event of an emergency, remote releasing devices shall be provided for such doors in addition to the key release prescribed in 3.3(b). (See appendix A)

Major occupancies shall be separated from each other by fire separations in accordance with the requirements of the NBC.

1. Except as provided in clause 3.5(b), the following areas shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of at least 2 h:
   1. living units in either contained use areas or impeded egress zones; and,
   2. any other contained use areas.
2. The fire separation in (a) may be reduced to 1 h in a sprinklered building provided the adjacent area is not an industrial use. (See appendix A)
3. The following rooms or areas shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of at least 1 h:
   1. maintenance shops;
   2. storage rooms;
   3. shipping and receiving areas; and
   4. kitchen, cafeteria and dining areas.

1. Interior finish materials shall conform to the requirements of the NBC and this subsection.
2. Except as provided in (c), interior wall and ceiling finishes in a contained use area shall have a flame spread rating of not more than 25 and a smoke developed classification of not more than 50.
3. Interior padding used for walls or ceilings shall be of fire-retardant materials, suitable for institutional use. (See appendix A)
4. Interior floor finish materials shall have a flame spread rating of not more than 300 and a smoke developed classification of not more than 500.

Unless otherwise specified in this standard, hazardous materials, processes and operations shall conform to the requirements of the NFC. (See appendix A)

The storage, handling and use of explosives and ammunition shall be in accordance with the Explosives Act, R.S., c.102, S.1 and the Explosive Regulations published by the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources.

1. Mattresses and pillows shall be of a fire retardant type, suitable for institutional use. (See appendix A)
2. Upholstered or plastic furniture shall not be used in a contained use area unless the floor area is sprinklered.
3. Except as permitted in (d), upholstered or plastic furniture in contained use areas or impeded egress zones shall be of a fire retardant type suitable for institutional use. (See appendix A)
4. Furniture in an impeded egress zone is not required to be fire retardant provided:
   1. the floor area is sprinklered; and
   2. the floor area is not occupied by inmates.

1. Commercial kitchen cooking equipment such as a range, broiler, frying unit or other equipment capable of producing grease laden vapours shall be provided with a listed grease removal system.
2. Systems for the ventilation of commercial kitchen cooking equipment shall be designed, constructed and installed to conform to NFPA Standard No. 96, Installation of Equipment for the Removal of Smoke and Grease-Laden Vapors from Commercial Cooking Equipment.
3. (See appendix A) An automatic fire suppression system shall be provided for the protection of:
   1. commercial kitchen cooking equipment; and,
   2. residential ranges in living units.

1. A fire alarm system shall be installed in every building except as permitted in (b).
2. For a building having free access and a total occupant load of 10 or less, a fire alarm system is not required if the building is 2 storeys in height and less than 50 m² in building area, or 1 storey in height and less than 100 m² in building area.
3. Except as provided in this Section, fire alarm systems shall conform to the Treasury Board Standard for fire alarm systems (chapter 3-4).
4. In a building having either a contained use area or an impeded egress zone, the fire alarm system shall be a 2 stage system. (See appendix A)
5. The fire alarm system shall be zoned in accordance with the NBC. Zones shall also correspond to functional divisions of the institution as determined by CSC in consultation with the FC.
6. Manual fire alarm stations in inmate occupied areas may be located in secure areas, except in buildings intended for use by occupants having free access.
7. Smoke alarms shall be installed in sleeping rooms and corridors serving such rooms in buildings not requiring a fire alarm system.
8. Where a fire alarm system is required, smoke detectors shall be installed in every sleeping room and every corridor serving as part of a means of egress from sleeping rooms.

1. Sprinkler systems shall be installed throughout all living units. (See appendix A)
2. Except as permitted in (d) and (e), sprinkler systems shall be installed throughout all other buildings.
3. Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection, sprinkler systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with the requirements of FC Standard No. 403, Sprinkler Systems.
4. Sprinklers may be omitted from small detached buildings in which in the opinion of the FC, there is no life hazard and which do not constitute an exposure hazard to the principal functional areas of the institution.
5. Unless otherwise required by the NBC or NFC, sprinklers may be omitted from detached buildings intended for use by occupants having free access, where the building is not more than:
   1. 2 storeys in height and 500 m² in building area, or
   2. 1 storey in height and 1000 m² in building area.
6. Main sprinkler control valves shall be located in a secure area accessible only to authorized personnel. (See appendix A)
7. Secondary sprinkler control valves such as zone control valves, test connections, and auxiliary drains shall either:
   1. be located in secure areas accessible only to authorized personnel; or
   2. be locked. (See appendix A)
8. The outside water motor gong may be omitted from buildings when all parts of the perimeter of the building are within the secured area, and the transmission of an alarm to a continuously manned facility is provided.

1. (See appendix A) Except as required in (b), standpipe and hose systems shall be installed in all buildings of more than 3 storeys or 14 m in height and of 3 storeys or 14 m or less in height when the building area exceeds the following:

   Height (Storeys)	Building area (m2)
   1	2000
   2	1500
   3	1000

2. Standpipe and hose systems shall be installed in all living units not having free access.
3. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, standpipe and hose systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with the NBC.
4. Except as permitted in (e), every hose station shall be equipped with a 65 mm hose connection for fire department use and a 38 mm connection. In lieu of 38 mm fire hose, a suitable easily removable adapter connected to a 25 mm rubber hose may be provided. The rubber hose shall not exceed 30 m in length and shall be mounted on a continuous flow hose reel.
5. The 65 mm hose connections may be omitted in a detached, single-storey building not exceeding 4000 m² in building area. (See appendix A.)
6. Subject to consultation between the FC and the Administrative Official, 38 mm hose stations may be supplied from sprinkler branch lines in any fully sprinklered building. (See appendix A)
7. An electrically controlled shut-off valve may be installed in the branch water supply line leading to a hose station, provided the valve is
   1. of a type listed for fire protection service,
   2. located in a secure area, accessible only to authorized personnel,
   3. capable of being manually overridden,
   4. electrically supervised,
   5. connected to an emergency power supply,
   6. arranged to control not more than one hose station in any one fire zone and not more than two hose stations in a building,
   7. normally open, and
   8. inspected on a regular basis, with the frequency prescribed by the NFC for valves controlling sprinkler water supplies.

1. Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection, fire extinguishers shall be selected and installed in accordance with the requirements of the NBC and NFC.
2. Alkali base dry chemical extinguishers shall be installed in areas with commercial cooking equipment.
3. Carbon dioxide extinguishers shall be provided for the protection of sensitive electrical and electronic equipment.

1. Hydrant protection shall be provided for all buildings.
2. Municipal hydrants may be considered as meeting all or part of the requirements of this Section, subject to the approval of the FC.
3. Hydrants shall be equipped with two 65 mm hose outlets and a fire department pumper connection, sized and threaded to local fire department requirements.
4. Hydrants shall be located such that they are not less than 1.5 m nor more than 3 m from access roads and readily accessible to fire department apparatus.
5. Hydrants shall be so located that all parts of the perimeter of the building can be reached by hose streams with not more than 75 m of hose attached to a hydrant.
6. Hydrants shall be located so that they are no closer than 15 m and no farther than 75 m from any building they are intended to protect.

1. Fire department connections shall be located in supervised areas and accessible to fire department apparatus at all times.
2. Fire department connections shall be located so that the distance from a fire department connection to a hydrant does not exceed 45 m and is unobstructed.
3. Fire department siamese connections shall be provided for all sprinkler systems and standpipe and hose systems.

1. At least two separate access routes for fire department vehicles shall be provided through the main security fence of a correctional institution.
2. Where practicable, fire department access routes conforming to the requirements of the NBC shall be provided to the principal entrance of every building. (See appendix A)

1. The water supply for correctional institutions shall be not less than the fire flow required for the building having the largest demand, as calculated in clause (b).
2. Except as otherwise permitted by the FC, the minimum water supply for each building shall be the greater of:
   1. the demand determined in accordance with Water Supply for Public Fire Protection - A Guide to Recommended Practice published by Fire Underwriters' Survey; or,
   2. the demand for sprinkler systems, including inside and outside hose allowance.
3. The water supply stipulated in (a) shall be available for a period of not less than 2 h.
4. The water supply system shall be designed so that the available flow rate at any one hydrant is not less than 30 L/s of water at a residual pressure of not less than 450 kPa (gauge). (See appendix A)

1. Where available, the water supply shall consist of 2 separate connections from a municipal water works system.
2. Where a municipal water works system is not adequate to meet the requirements stipulated in this Section, it shall be augmented by an on-site water supply from tanks or reservoirs conforming to FC Standard No. 403, Sprinkler Systems.
3. The installation of fire pumps and booster pumps shall conform to the appropriate requirements of FC Standard No. 403, Sprinkler Systems.

Exit signs shall be provided and placed over every exit door other than the main entrance to a building, and installed in accordance with the NBC.

1. Emergency lighting shall conform to the requirements of the NBC.
2. Emergency lighting shall be provided for:
   1. means of egress and other areas prescribed by the NBC,
   2. the MCCP and other control posts, and
   3. other security areas as determined by CSC.

1. Emergency power shall be provided for
   1. electric fire pumps where required by reference in clause 6.2(c),
   2. fire alarm systems, and
   3. emergency lighting systems.
2. Emergency generator systems shall conform to CSA Standard C282, Emergency Electrical Power Supply for Buildings and be of sufficient capacity to operate for a period of not less than 2 h.

1. A fire emergency organization shall be established with an official and deputies appointed by the administration of CSC.
2. The general responsibilities and formation of the organization shall be in accordance with the Treasury Board Standard for Fire Safety Planning and Fire Emergency Organization.
3. A fire safety plan as described in subsection 8.2 shall be prepared to be put into immediate action in the event of a fire emergency.

1. A fire safety plan shall be prepared and administered by the senior departmental officer or a designated official.
2. The fire safety plan shall comply with the requirements of the Treasury Board Standard for Fire safety planning and emergency organization (chapter 3-1).
3. Duplicate keys for locked doors shall be provided and kept in a secure location that is readily accessible at all times to authorized personnel.

1. An investigation shall be made by CSC of the cause, origin, and circumstances of every fire or false alarm occurring in a correctional institution. (See appendix A)
2. Records shall be kept by CSC of all fires and false alarms for a period of not less than 2 years.
3. Fires shall be reported to the FC as prescribed in appendix A of the Treasury Board Policy on Fire protection, investigation and reporting.

This Section applies to the Main Communication and Control Post/ Communication Equipment Room (MCCP/CER) containing the main communication and security equipment, and facilities contained therein, such as washrooms and entrance lobby. (See appendix A)

1. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the design, construction, and operation of the MCCP/CER shall conform to the requirements prescribed for the protection of Level 2 EDP equipment in the Treasury Board Fire protection standard for electronic data processing equipment.
2. The MCCP/CER shall be of noncombustible construction.
3. The MCCP shall be separated from the CER by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of at least 1 h.
4. Sprinkler systems in the MCCP/CER may be of the pre-action type.

Operations and housekeeping

1. The MCCP/CER shall have at least 1 attendant on duty at all times.
2. Facilities such as kitchenettes, hot plates, sinks except lavatory in washroom, refrigerators, stoves, toasters, and microwave ovens shall not be provided within the MCCP/CER.
3. Housekeeping shall be carried out on a regular basis to ensure no hazards or unnecessary combustibles accumulate in the area.