What types of Group C buildings are allowed to have a storage garage below the fourth storey?

The correct answer is that Group C buildings can have a storage garage below the fourth storey if they are up to 6 storeys and are equipped with a sprinkler system. This provision recognizes the safety and fire protection measures that sprinklers provide, allowing for greater flexibility in design and usage of space in taller buildings.

In Canada's building codes, the regulations are structured to prioritize occupant safety related to fire hazards. Sprinkler systems significantly enhance the fire safety of multi-storey buildings, allowing them to accommodate storage garages at lower levels without posing excessive risks. Therefore, the allowance for garages in up to 6-storey buildings with sprinklers reflects an understanding of how these systems mitigate potential dangers.

Greater emphasis on occupancy, usage, and safety measures often leads to distinctions in what is permitted based on the presence of such protective systems. Other options may imply certain limitations that do not align with these safety provisions or fail to account for the necessary fire protection measures that enable the construction of storage garages in specified contexts.