2024 Ontario Building Code: Plumbing Fixture Requirements for Assembly Occupancies and Restaurants
Sarah's Expert Insight
OBC Compliance Specialist
"The transition from 40 to 41 seats is a critical design threshold for restaurant owners in London and Oakville, as it triggers mandatory separate staff facilities that can significantly impact your floor plan and plumbing budget. In areas like Muskoka, where seasonal staff fluctuations are common, we carefully apply Sentence (9) to ensure your fixture count is based on peak occupancy without over-building, maximizing your usable commercial space."
Understanding the 2024 Ontario Building Code (OBC) is vital for commercial property owners and developers. Section 3.7.4.3. provides the specific requirements for sanitary facilities in assembly occupancies, ensuring both patron comfort and regulatory compliance.
Understanding Table 3.7.4.3.-E: Patron Water Closet Requirements
For assembly occupancies, the minimum number of water closets is determined by the occupant load of each sex. The requirements scale as follows:
- 1 to 50 Persons: 2 water closets
- 51 to 70 Persons: 3 water closets
- 181 to 220 Persons: 8 water closets
- Over 260 Persons: 10 plus 1 for each additional 40 persons
Staff Sanitary Facility Requirements
The 40-Seat Threshold
Per Sentence (6), any dining room, restaurant, or alcoholic beverage establishment with more than 40 seats must provide separate sanitary facilities for employees. These are in addition to patron facilities and must adhere to the counts found in Table 3.7.4.3.-F.
Provisions for Smaller Establishments
Establishments with 40 seats or fewer have more flexibility. Sentence (7) permits employees to share patron facilities, provided the minimum water closet count is calculated based on a combination of 50% of the seat count plus the number of employees for each sex.
Shared Gender-Neutral Staff Washrooms
Sentence (8) allows for a single, lockable washroom to be shared by male and female employees if the total number of employees does not exceed five. Ensuring these details are handled correctly during the design phase is why many choose empcontracting.ca Inc. your construction contractor in London, Ontario.
Disclaimer: This content is generated from the Ontario Building Code for educational purposes. Always consult with a licensed professional engineer or your local building department before starting any construction project in London, Ontario.