Separation of use

[C-Pro]

Have a microbrewery production area (F-2) plan that includes a 200 s.f. outdoor seating area adjacent to the production area. Patrons access the outdoor patio from the production area. Designer has included a unisex toilet room in the production area as well. Non-sprinklered building, F-2 area separated from the business/mercantile areas by 2-hour fire barrier construction.
Any code opinions on outdoor seating area?

 

[steveray]

You have to add that occupant load to the building for plumbing fixtures, but if no roof, no fire area, no big concerns...Needs to be accessible...Welcome to the forum!

 

[C-Pro]

Thanks, steveray! Not clear on my inquiry...
Is the outdoor patio permitted to be accessed by the patrons from the mercantile area through the production area? The outdoor patio is isolated in the rear of the building. Walk around the building or walk through the production area to the outdoor patio.

 

[JMarsh]

Is the outdoor patio permitted to be accessed by the patrons from the mercantile area through the production area?

There is a difference between access to an area and egress from an area. Do the patrons in the patio have access to the Public Way in case a fire breaks out? Or do they have to go through the production area to reach an exit?

 

[C-Pro]

JMarsh,
The patio has direct access to the public way. My question is not an egress concern, can the patrons travel from the mercantile area through the production area (F-2) to reach the outdoor patio? Lower hazard through a higher hazard...

 

[e hilton]

Any concerns from the health dept about non-workers going through the production area?

 

[bill1952]

Assuming not groups of 50 or more, and that no one is required to enter the production area to egress, I can't believe there is any building or fire code requirement that prohibits non-employees from entering the production area. No different than any factory tour.

 

[C-Pro]

This a distillery where patrons will be traversing back and forth from the mercantile area to the outdoor patio through the production area. The architect has designed a toilet room in the production area as well. Much different than a factory tour that is guided by a company representative. Would be difficult to advise patrons once you are on the outdoor patio you can no longer go back inside to use the facility.

 

[bill1952]

If there was a hazardous incident in the production area, patrons can egress it and can egress the patio area without going through the production area, so seems fine.

If the restroom in the production area is included in the required restrooms for the patrons, I don't know. Having been in restaurants where access to the restrooms required walking right next to broiler, seems fine, but I could be missing a code requirement. What happens across the tracks in Greenville MS may just stay there.

 

[C-Pro]

Thank you to all who responded.

 

[Paul Sweet]

It sounds more like a potential insurance or health department issue rather than a building code issue.