Accessibility Upgrade Triggered by a Change of Use to a Small Restaurant
A single-storey building of 250 m² was formerly a hardware store (Group E) and is being converted to a 70-seat restaurant (Group A, Division 2). The entrance has a 150 mm step up from the sidewalk, and the two washrooms are small, each about 1.5 m by 1.8 m, with 760 mm doors. The owner plans to renovate the kitchen and dining area extensively but wants to leave the entrance and washrooms untouched to save money. The building is not sprinklered and has a single front door 900 mm wide. The designer must determine what accessibility upgrades are triggered and how to address the entrance and washroom deficiencies.
1. Does the change to a restaurant trigger barrier-free accessibility requirements for the entrance and washrooms?
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Yes. A change of major occupancy to a Group A, Division 2 restaurant requires the building to comply with barrier-free requirements for the new occupancy to the extent required by the code, and the extensive renovation supports treating the work as a substantial alteration. The 150 mm step at the entrance is an accessible-route barrier that must be addressed, typically with a ramped or level entrance, and the washrooms must be made accessible. The existing washrooms at 1.5 m by 1.8 m with 760 mm doors are too small and too narrow to meet accessible washroom dimensions; an accessible washroom generally requires a clear turning space, a wider door, and grab bars at the water closet. The owner's plan to leave these untouched would not comply. The designer should propose enlarging or reconfiguring at least one washroom to be accessible and providing an accessible entrance, and should confirm whether the code requires a percentage of accessible seating and an accessible route through the dining area.
2. The owner argues the single 900 mm front door is adequate and the step is minor. How should the designer respond, and what practical solutions exist?
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The designer should explain that the 900 mm door is acceptable as a door width for accessibility in many cases, but the 150 mm step is not a minor issue because it breaks the accessible route into the building. A step of that height cannot be negotiated by a wheelchair user, so the entrance must be regraded, ramped, or provided with a level landing. Practical solutions include building a ramp with the required slope and landings within the site, regrading the sidewalk approach, or relocating the entrance to a level location. If a ramp is used, it must have handrails and landings as required. The designer should also note that the restaurant's occupant load of 70 requires at least two exits, and the single 900 mm front door is insufficient; a second exit is needed regardless of the accessibility discussion. Combining the accessibility upgrade with the required second exit may allow a single design solution, such as a new accessible entrance that also serves as a second exit.