Occupancy Load Signs

 

By Nick Gromicko, Rob London and Kenton Shepard

 

 

Occupancy load refers to the number of people permitted in a building at one time based on the building’s floor space and function. The occupancy load must be posted on signs, which are sometimes called maximum occupancy signs, so that this information is publicly available. To exceed occupancy load or fail to post occupancy load signs in the required places can result in fines and is a serious safety hazard.

 

Emergencies can require the immediate evacuation of a building, particularly in the event of a fire. Any delay in evacuation can be tragic, as was the case in the 2003 Station Nighclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island, which killed 100 people in just over five minutes. The fire was so lethal because evacuation was sluggish, partly due to the fact that the actual number of people present was much higher than the building’s occupancy load.

 

Sign Inspection

 

InterNACHI inspectors can consider the following questions while they inspect load occupancy signs:

• Is the sign present? The 2006 International Building Code (IBC) requires that signs should be present in all “assembly occupancies.” The city of Yuma, Arizona, requires their presence in assembly occupancies and defines that term as “gatherings of 50 persons or more for civic, social, or religious functions.” Other jurisdictions, such as the cities of Houston, Texas and Portland, Oregon, as well as the state of Idaho, agree that occupancy signs are required for buildings that have occupancy loads of 50 or more.
• Has the sign been maintained?  It is the responsibility of the building’s owner to make sure that the sign is not damag
  ed by wear or abuse.
• Is the sign clear and legible? The Houston Fire Code requires the following:

Signs shall [have a] minimum of 1-inch block letters and numbers on a contrasting background so as to be readily visible. Allowable smaller lettering shall be a minimum of 3/8- inch block lettering.   

• Is the sign placed in a suitable location? The 2006 IBC requires the following:

Every room or space that is an assembly occupancy shall have the occupant load of the room or space posted in a conspicuous place, near the main exit or exit access doorway from the room or space.

Additional recommendations can be drawn from the Houston Fire Code, which requires that occupancy load signs be placed in the following manner:

 

The sign shall be located in a conspicuous location within the room, adjacent to the main exit, so as to not be obstructed by doors, curtains, poster board stands, furniture, room dividers, or similar items.  The sign shall be posted not more than 60 inches nor less than 48 inches above the floor.

Calculation of Occupancy Load

 

Occupancy load is calculated by dividing the area of a room by its prescribed unit of area per person. Units of area

per person for specific buildings can be found in the chart at the end of this article. For instance, the chart dictates that dormitories require 50 square feet of floor area for every room occupant. Consequently, a dorm room that has 100 square feet of floor space will have a maximum occupancy of two people. The amount of space required per person varies based on the function of the room, which is determined by the building’s designer.

 

In summary, occupancy load must be posted in many buildings on signs that are clearly visible and legible.    

 

 

                                         Typical Maximum Floor Area Allowances Per Occupant

Function of Space	Floor Area in Square Feet Per Occupant*
Agricultural building	300 Gross
Aircraft hangar	500 Gross
Airport terminal           Baggage Claim           Baggage handling           Concourse           Waiting area	20 Gross 300 Gross 100 Gross 15 Gross
Assembly            Gaming floors (keno, slots, etc)	11 Gross
Assembly without fixed seats             Concentrated (chairs only - not fixed)             Standing Space             Unconcentrated (tables and chairs)	7 Net 5 Net 15 Net
Bowling Centers, allow 5 persons for each lane including 15 feet or runway, and for additional areas	7 Net
Business areas	100 Gross
Courtrooms - other than fixed seating areas	40 Net
Day care	35 Net
Dormitories	50 Gross
Educational             Classroom area             Shops and other vocational room areas	20 Gross 50 Gross
Exercise rooms	50 Gross
H-5 Fabrication and manufacturing areas	200 Gross
Industrial areas	100 Gross
Institutional areas              Inpatient treatment areas              Outpatient areas              Sleeping areas	240 Gross  100 Gross 120 Gross
Kitchen, commercial	200 Gross
Library             Reading room             Study area	50 Net 100 Gross
Locker rooms	50 Gross
Mercantile              Areas on the floors Basement and grade floor areas Storage, stock, shipping area	60 Gross 30 Gross 300 Gross
Parking garages	200 Gross
Residential	20 Gross
Skating rinks, swimming pools                Rink and pool                Decks	50 Gross 15 Gross
Stages an platforms	15 Net
Accessory storage areas, mechanical equipment room	300 Gross
Warehouse	500 Gross

*Gross square footage is the total amount of space in a building, Net square footage only accounts for space that is suitable for occupancy (excluding such elements as major vertical penetrations and shared space).

Commercial Property Condition Assessments and Inspections

All of our property condition inspections use the baseline property condition assessment process as outlined in the ASTM E-2018 Standards and InterNACHI International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties. You can specify deviations to meet your  specific needs and building type. These deviations would be mutually agreed upon and clearly stated in the inspection agreement and final report.

Inspections are generally more invasive than the PCA Property Condition Assessment Inspection outlined in the ASTM E-2018 Standards and InterNACHI International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties

The end result provides you with detailed picture of the age and condition of the major building components and how maintenance has effected its life span.

The final report will list deficiencies, repair recommendations, and a detailed report with representative photos when appropriate. Reports are computer generated and generally available 1-2 days after completion of the inspection. Al our reports are available online to client. This is convenient when more than one party in different locations need to view reports.