Ottawa Fire Rated Glass Certified for Ontario Building Code Compliance

In the National Capital Region, compliance with the Ontario Building Code (OBC) 2020 is a non-negotiable requirement for all commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential projects. The OBC mandates that passive fire protection systems, including glazed assemblies, must meet the fire-resistance ratings defined under the National Building Code of Canada (NBC 2020). For Ottawa specifiers, this means specifying products that are certified to ULC S101 (Standard Method of Fire Endurance Tests of Building Construction and Materials) and CAN/ULC S104 (Standard Method for Fire Tests of Door Assemblies). Antifires supplies a comprehensive range of fire rated glass and door systems that are engineered to meet these rigorous Canadian standards. These assemblies are designed to maintain barrier integrity in critical applications such as egress corridors, vertical fire stops, and separation walls in mixed-use developments. By referencing official regulatory documentation—such as the OBC Supplementary Standards—project teams can verify that Antifires’ ULC-listed solutions align with local amendments for fire separation and smoke control. This ensures that every installation in Ottawa, from federal precinct buildings to suburban townhouse complexes, delivers verified performance under real fire conditions.

Adapting to Ottawa’s Fire Safety Requirements Under the Ontario Building Code 2020

Ottawa’s building sector must navigate specific local amendments to the Ontario Building Code 2020, particularly for projects located near heritage districts like the Rideau Canal corridor. These amendments often require enhanced fire separation ratings for mixed-use developments, where commercial ground floors are combined with residential units above. Antifires addresses these demands with glazed systems that achieve 45-minute to 2-hour fire protection ratings, fully compliant with ULC S101 test protocols. For example, the 28mm EI60 panel—a multi-layer composite structure—has demonstrated integrity for 66 minutes and insulation for 64 minutes under standard furnace conditions, making it suitable for vertical fire stops in egress pathways. The glass systems are engineered to withstand Ottawa’s extreme climate cycles, which range from -35°C in winter to 35°C in summer, with high humidity levels. This is achieved through the use of intumescent gel interlayers that expand under heat to block flame and smoke, while maintaining structural stability during thermal expansion and contraction. For projects requiring Part 3 compliance—such as high-rise residential towers—these assemblies provide a reliable transparent barrier that meets both fire safety and energy code requirements.

Fire Rated Glass Grade Specifications for Ottawa’s Extreme Climate and Humidity Cycles

The performance of fire rated glass in Ottawa’s climate is directly linked to its composition and thermal behavior. Antifires’ systems are constructed using multi-layer tempered glass with intumescent gel, a design that has been validated through BS EN 1364-1 and ULC S101 testing. For instance, the 10mm FPOS assembly—comprising 3mm float glass, 4mm fire gel, and 3mm float glass—achieves integrity for 135 minutes and insulation for 16 minutes. This makes it ideal for applications where radiant heat control is less critical, such as interior vision panels in non-loadbearing walls. In contrast, the 50mm EI120 ultra-high-performance glass provides integrity and insulation for up to 120 minutes, suitable for stairwell enclosures and fire-rated partitions in high-occupancy buildings. The key to performance in Ottawa’s humidity cycles lies in the ceramic wool and intumescent seals used in the frame assembly. These materials, with a density of 210 kg/m³, are installed in a 3mm to 5mm expansion gap to accommodate thermal movement without compromising the fire barrier. This engineering ensures that the glass remains stable even when surface cracks occur at 2 to 4 minutes into a fire event, as the gel layer activates to prevent flame penetration.

Application Demands for Ottawa’s Institutional and High-Rise Residential Developments

Ottawa’s expanding federal precinct and university campuses present unique challenges for fire rated glazing. At Carleton University, for example, research wings require transparent fire barriers in laboratory corridors and assembly spaces to maintain visibility for safety monitoring without compromising ULC-listed integrity. Antifires has supplied 90-minute fire rated windows for such applications, using the 26mm door glass structure—a five-layer composite of 5mm glass and 5.5mm gel interlayers—that achieves integrity for 89 to 90 minutes and insulation for 68 minutes. These assemblies are installed in G.M.S. hollow steel frames with M8 anchor bolts spaced at 300mm intervals, ensuring structural rigidity under fire exposure. In high-rise residential developments along the fire partition solutions are critical for vertical fire stops. Here, the 15mm FPOS glass—a multi-layer tempered system—provides integrity up to 132 minutes and insulation for 33 to 34 minutes, meeting OBC requirements for egress pathways. The use of intumescent fire seals (20mm × 4mm) in the frame prevents smoke migration, a key factor in maintaining tenable conditions during evacuation. These installations demonstrate how Antifires’ products are tailored to Ottawa’s institutional and residential demands, where fire safety must coexist with architectural transparency.

Antifires Brand Reliability for Ottawa’s Specifiers and General Contractors

For Ottawa’s specifiers and general contractors, brand reliability is measured by compliance with OBC 9.10—the section governing fire separation in residential buildings. In the Greenbelt and suburban subdivisions, such as the Riverside South mixed-use blocks, fire separation between townhouse units is mandated to provide 1-hour protection. Antifires addresses this with fire door systems and sidelights tested to CAN/ULC S104. The 28mm EI60 panel, for instance, delivers integrity for 66 minutes and insulation for 64 minutes, exceeding the 45-minute minimum for many residential applications. These assemblies are installed using 12mm to 15mm fire-rated insulation boards and ceramic tape to ensure a continuous fire barrier. For projects that must also meet energy code requirements, Antifires offers insulated glazing units that combine fire resistance with thermal performance, reducing heat loss through the envelope. The use of M6 anchor bolts at 600mm spacing ensures secure attachment to steel or concrete substrates, a critical factor in maintaining the assembly’s integrity during a fire event. By providing ULC-listed documentation and technical support, Antifires enables Ottawa contractors to streamline municipal inspections and ensure that every installation meets the stringent requirements of the Ontario Building Code.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Yes, Antifires fire rated glass assemblies are tested and certified to ULC S101 and CAN/ULC S104, the specific standards required for Ottawa building permits under the Ontario Building Code 2020. These certifications are verified through independent third-party testing, ensuring that each product—whether a 10mm FPOS panel or a 28mm EI60 door—meets the fire-resistance ratings mandated for commercial and residential projects. Antifires provides ULC-listed documentation with every order, which can be submitted directly to the City of Ottawa Building Code Services during the permit application process. This documentation includes detailed test reports and installation specifications, allowing specifiers to demonstrate compliance with Part 3 and Part 9 requirements. For projects requiring additional verification, Antifires can supply certified test data from accredited laboratories, ensuring that all assemblies are accepted without delay.

For high-rise residential stairwells in Ottawa, the typical fire resistance rating required is 1-hour (60 minutes) for integrity and insulation, as specified under OBC Part 3 for egress pathways. However, many projects specify 90-minute or 2-hour (120-minute) ratings to provide additional safety margins or to comply with local amendments for buildings exceeding six storeys. Antifires offers ULC S101-tested glazing solutions such as the 26mm door glass (integrity 89–90 minutes, insulation 68 minutes) and the 50mm EI120 panel (integrity and insulation up to 120 minutes). These assemblies are designed to maintain barrier integrity under fire exposure, preventing flame and smoke migration into stairwells. The choice of rating depends on the building’s height, occupancy classification, and the specific requirements of the National Building Code of Canada 2020 as adopted by Ontario. Specifiers should consult the OBC tables for fire-resistance ratings to determine the exact performance needed for each stairwell enclosure.

Antifires supports local Ottawa contractors by providing comprehensive compliance documentation that aligns with the Ontario Building Code 2020 and ULC certification requirements. Each shipment includes certified test reports and installation manuals that detail the specific fire-resistance ratings, glass composition, and frame assembly methods used. For municipal inspections, Antifires offers technical support to verify that the installed assemblies match the approved plans, including documentation on expansion gaps, ceramic wool seals, and anchor bolt spacing. In cases where inspectors require additional verification, Antifires can provide direct access to test data from accredited laboratories, ensuring that all components—from the intumescent gel to the steel frame—meet the CAN/ULC S104 standards. This proactive approach helps Ottawa contractors avoid delays during the inspection process and ensures that every installation achieves full compliance with local fire safety regulations.