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Section 1004 Occupant Load
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In determining means of egress requirements, the number of occupants for whom means of egress facilities are provided shall be determined in accordance with this section.
Where the path of egress travel includes intervening rooms, areas or spaces, cumulative occupant loads shall be determined in accordance with this section.
Where occupants egress from one or more rooms, areas or spaces through others, the design occupant load shall be the combined occupant load of interconnected accessory or intervening spaces. Design of egress path capacity shall be based on the cumulative portion of occupant loads of all rooms, areas or spaces to that point along the path of egress travel.
That portion of the occupant load of a mezzanine with required egress through a room, area or space on an adjacent level shall be added to the occupant load of that room, area or space.
Other than for the egress components designed for convergence in accordance with Section 1005.6, the occupant load from separate stories shall not be added.
Where an area under consideration contains multiple functions having different occupant load factors, the design occupant load for such area shall be based on the floor area of each function calculated independently.
Where a building contains two or more occupancies, the means of egress requirements shall apply to each portion of the building based on the occupancy of that space. Where two or more occupancies utilize portions of the same means of egress system, those egress components shall meet the more stringent requirements of all occupancies that are served.
The number of occupants shall be computed at the rate of one occupant per unit of area as prescribed in Table 1004.5. For areas without fixed seating, the occupant load shall be not less than that number determined by dividing the floor area under consideration by the occupant load factor assigned to the function of the space as set forth in Table 1004.5. Where an intended function is not listed in Table 1004.5, the building official shall establish a function based on a listed function that most nearly resembles the intended function.
Exception: Where approved by the building official, the actual number of occupants for whom each occupied space, floor or building is designed, although less than those determined by calculation, shall be permitted to be used in the determination of the design occupant load.
| FUNCTION OF SPACE | OCCUPANT LOAD FACTORa |
| Accessory storage areas, mechanical equipment room | 300 gross |
| Agricultural building | 300 gross |
| Aircraft hangars | 500 gross |
| Airport terminal | |
Baggage claim |
20 gross |
Baggage handling |
300 gross |
Concourse |
100 gross |
Waiting areas |
15 gross |
| Assembly | |
Gaming floors (keno, slots, etc.) |
11 gross |
Exhibit gallery and museum |
30 net |
| Assembly with fixed seats | See Section 1004.6 |
| Assembly without fixed seats | |
Concentrated (chairs only—not fixed) |
7 net |
Standing space |
5 net |
Unconcentrated (tables and chairs) |
15 net |
| Bowling centers, allow 5 persons for each lane including 15 feet of runway, and for additional areas | 7 net |
| Business areas | 150 gross |
| Concentrated business use areas | See Section 1004.8 |
| Courtrooms—other than fixed seating areas | 40 net |
| Day care | 35 net |
| Dormitories | 50 gross |
| Educational | |
Classroom area |
20 net |
Shops and other vocational room areas |
50 net |
| Exercise rooms | 50 gross |
| Group H-5 fabrication and manufacturing areas | 200 gross |
| Industrial areas | 100 gross |
| Institutional areas | |
Inpatient treatment areas |
240 gross |
Outpatient areas |
100 gross |
Sleeping areas |
120 gross |
| Kitchens, commercial | 200 gross |
| Library | |
Reading rooms |
50 net |
Stack area |
100 gross |
| Locker rooms | 50 gross |
| Mall buildings—covered and open | See Section 402.8.2 |
| Mercantile | 60 gross |
| Storage, stock, shipping areas | 300 gross |
| Parking garages | 200 gross |
| Residential | 200 gross |
| Skating rinks, swimming pools | |
Rink and pool |
50 gross |
Decks |
15 gross |
| Stages and platforms | 15 net |
| Warehouses | 500 gross |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2.
- Floor area in square feet per occupant.
The occupant load permitted in any building, or portion thereof, is permitted to be increased from that number established for the occupancies in Table 1004.5, provided that all other requirements of the code are met based on such modified number and the occupant load does not exceed one occupant per 7 square feet (0.65 m2) of occupiable floor space. Where required by the building official, an approved aisle, seating or fixed equipment diagram substantiating any increase in occupant load shall be submitted. Where required by the building official, such diagram shall be posted.
For areas having fixed seats and aisles, the occupant load shall be determined by the number of fixed seats installed therein. The occupant load for areas in which fixed seating is not installed, such as waiting spaces, shall be determined in accordance with Section 1004.5 and added to the number of fixed seats.
The occupant load of wheelchair spaces and the associated companion seat shall be based on one occupant for each wheelchair space and one occupant for the associated companion seat provided in accordance with Section 1108.2.3.
For areas having fixed seating without dividing arms, the occupant load shall be not less than the number of seats based on one person for each 18 inches (457 mm) of seating length.
The occupant load of seating booths shall be based on one person for each 24 inches (610 mm) of booth seat length measured at the backrest of the seating booth.
Yards, patios, occupied roofs, courts and similar outdoor areas accessible to and usable by the building occupants shall be provided with means of egress as required by this chapter. The occupant load of such outdoor areas shall be assigned by the building official in accordance with the anticipated use. Where outdoor areas are to be used by persons in addition to the occupants of the building, and the path of egress travel from the outdoor areas passes through the building, means of egress requirements for the building shall be based on the sum of the occupant loads of the building plus the outdoor areas.
Exceptions:
- Outdoor areas used exclusively for service of the building need only have one means of egress.
- Both outdoor areas associated with Group R-3 and individual dwelling units of Group R-2.
The occupant load factor for concentrated business use shall be applied to telephone call centers, trading floors, electronic data processing centers and similar business use areas with a higher density of occupants than would normally be expected in a typical business occupancy environment. Where approved by the building official, the occupant load for concentrated business use areas shall be the actual occupant load, but not less than one occupant per 50 square feet (4.65 m2) of gross occupiable floor space.
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, for the intended configurations. Posted signs shall be of an approved legible permanent design and shall be maintained by the owner or the owner's authorized agent.
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