Canadian building code question

What are the building code requirements for tasting rooms and brew-pubs in Canada?

Tasting rooms and brew-pubs in Canada involve a combination of Group F industrial occupancy (the brewing or production area) and Group A assembly occupancy (the public tasting or dining area). The NBC requires each occupancy zone to meet the requirements for its classification, and where the two occupancies are in the same building, fire separation between them is required. Plumbing fixture counts, means of egress, occupant load calculations, and ventilation for both the production and public areas are all governed by the NBC. Provincial liquor licensing adds separate requirements. CodeCan can cite the applicable NBC provisions for your tasting room or brew-pub project.

The craft beverage industry boom has made tasting rooms and brew-pubs a common project type for Canadian architects and permit officials. These facilities are inherently mixed-occupancy: the production side (brewery, distillery, winery) is an industrial occupancy, while the tasting room or pub where the public gathers is an assembly occupancy. Understanding how the NBC handles this mix — including required fire separations, occupant load calculations, and plumbing fixture counts for each side — is essential for a smooth permit process.

What to check first

  • Tasting rooms and brew-pubs typically involve both Group F industrial occupancy (production) and Group A assembly occupancy (public tasting area), each with distinct NBC requirements.
  • Fire separation between the industrial production space and the public assembly area is required and the rating depends on the fire hazard of the production process and building height.
  • Occupant load calculations for the assembly area drive egress, plumbing fixture count, and sprinkler system requirements — and liquor licensing authorities may impose maximum occupancy limits that are lower than the NBC occupant load.

Jurisdiction notes

National baseline

The NBC treats each occupancy zone under its own requirements (Group F for production, Group A for public areas). NBC Part 3 governs fire separations between occupancies, egress requirements, and plumbing fixture counts via NBC Part 7. Ventilation requirements appear in Part 6.

Ontario adoption check

In Ontario, tasting rooms and brew-pubs require both an OBC building permit and a licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). AGCO requirements for licensed area dimensions, outdoor patio layouts, and occupant capacity interact with OBC occupant load calculations. The OBC and AGCO requirements must both be satisfied, and they sometimes conflict.

Project-specific variables

The ratio of production to public area, whether the public area is used for dining or tasting only, the presence of a commercial kitchen, whether the building is new or a renovation, building area, height, and the province's liquor licensing requirements all affect the applicable NBC provisions.

Work through it in this order

  1. Define the occupancy zones: identify which areas are Group F production, Group A assembly, and any ancillary areas (storage, offices), and establish the required fire separations between them.
  2. Calculate the occupant load for the assembly area to determine egress door widths, travel distances, plumbing fixture counts, and sprinkler system requirements.
  3. Check provincial liquor licensing requirements for licensed area dimensions, emergency exits, and maximum occupancy, coordinating these with the NBC occupant load.
  4. Use CodeCan to retrieve the cited NBC occupancy, fire separation, egress, and plumbing fixture provisions for your tasting room or brew-pub configuration.

Common questions

Does a brewery's tasting room need to be fire-separated from the production area?

Yes. The NBC requires fire separation between different occupancy classes in the same building. The fire-resistance rating of the separation between the Group F production area and the Group A tasting room depends on the fire hazard rating of the production process and building height. CodeCan can retrieve the applicable separation requirement for your facility.

How is the occupant load calculated for a tasting room?

The NBC Part 3 provides occupant load factors for assembly areas based on the floor area per person. For a tasting room with no fixed seating, the standing assembly factor applies. The resulting occupant load drives egress width, plumbing fixture count, and emergency lighting requirements.

Why doesn't this page list all the brew-pub building code requirements?

Requirements depend on the production/public area ratio, occupancy classification, province, code edition, and liquor licensing regime. The interaction between NBC occupant load and liquor licence capacity varies by province. CodeCan takes your project details and returns the cited requirements that apply.