Residential Fireproofing Toronto & GTA

Garage fire separations, party wall protection, and basement fireproofing for Toronto homes. OBC compliant. Protect your family with professional fire-rated assemblies.

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When is Residential Fireproofing Required by the OBC?

Many Toronto homeowners are surprised to learn that the Ontario Building Code has specific fire-resistance requirements for residential buildings. While a single-family home with a wood frame typically does not require spray-applied fireproofing on structural elements, there are several common situations where fire-rated assemblies and fireproofing materials are mandatory.

The OBC requires fire protection in residential settings when there is a risk of fire spreading between different occupancy zones within the same building or between adjacent dwelling units. Understanding these requirements helps homeowners stay compliant, pass inspections, and — most importantly — protect their families from the catastrophic consequences of an uncontrolled fire.

Whether you are building a new home, renovating an existing property, or addressing deficiencies found during a home inspection or real estate transaction, Unique Fireproofing provides professional residential fireproofing services throughout Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Our residential projects are typically completed in one day, with minimal disruption to your household.

Garage Fire Separation Requirements

The Ontario Building Code requires a minimum 1-hour fire-resistance rating on all walls and ceiling assemblies separating an attached garage from the living space of a residential building. This is one of the most common and critical fire safety requirements for homes in Toronto.

A compliant garage fire separation typically includes 5/8-inch Type X gypsum board on the garage side of the common wall and ceiling, with all joints taped and mudded. Penetrations for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC must be properly fire-stopped. The door between the garage and the house must be a rated fire door with a self-closing mechanism.

Many older Toronto homes have inadequate garage fire separations — missing drywall, unfinished ceilings, or regular 1/2-inch drywall instead of the required 5/8-inch Type X. These deficiencies are commonly flagged during home inspections and real estate transactions. Our team can bring your garage fire separation up to current OBC standards, typically in a single day.

Typical cost: $1,200 to $2,000 for a standard two-car garage fire separation including materials, labour, and fire-stopping.

Residential garage fire separation installation in a Toronto home

Party Wall Fire Protection

In townhomes, semi-detached homes, and row houses throughout Toronto, the party wall — the shared wall between adjacent dwelling units — must be a fire separation with a minimum 1-hour fire-resistance rating. In many cases, the OBC requires this wall to extend from the foundation to the underside of the roof sheathing, forming a continuous fire barrier between units.

Common party wall deficiencies we find in older Toronto homes include gaps at the top of the wall where it meets the attic, unsealed penetrations for shared services, and deteriorated fire-stopping materials. These gaps allow fire and smoke to travel between units, putting neighbouring families at risk. Our team identifies and corrects these deficiencies using rated fire-stop systems, additional layers of Type X gypsum, and spray-applied fireproofing where structural steel members pass through the party wall.

Typical cost: $1,500 to $2,500 for party wall fire separation repairs and upgrades.

Basement Structural Fireproofing

Some residential buildings in Toronto use structural steel beams and columns in the basement to support the main floor. When these steel members support a required fire separation (such as the floor between a basement apartment and the main dwelling), they must be fireproofed to achieve the required fire-resistance rating.

This is particularly relevant for homes with basement secondary suites (legal or in-progress), where the OBC requires specific fire separations between the basement unit and the main floor unit. Steel lally columns and carrying beams that support the floor assembly must be protected to maintain the integrity of the fire separation for the rated duration.

We apply spray-applied fireproofing or intumescent coatings to residential basement steel members, providing 1-hour or 2-hour fire-resistance ratings as required. This is a fast, minimally invasive process that protects the structural integrity of your home during a fire event.

Typical cost: $800 to $2,000 depending on the number and size of steel members.

Spray Foam vs Traditional Fire Protection

Homeowners often ask whether spray foam insulation can replace traditional fireproofing materials in residential applications. The answer depends on the specific assembly and code requirements. Spray foam insulation provides excellent thermal performance and air sealing, but it does not inherently carry a fire-resistance rating on its own.

However, spray foam can be used as part of a fire-rated assembly when combined with the correct gypsum board, steel framing, and fire-stop materials as specified in tested and listed assemblies. For residential garage fire separations and party walls, we often recommend a combination approach: closed-cell spray foam for insulation and air sealing on the living-space side, with Type X gypsum board and fire-stopping on the garage or party-wall side. This gives you both fire protection and energy efficiency in a single system.