Chapter 2 Building Occupancy Overall project Individual programmed spaces

Building Classifications: How will the space be used? Assembly (A-1 to 5) Business (B) Education (E) Factory/Industrial (F) Hazardous (H-1 to 5) Institutional (I-1 to 4) Mercantile (M) Residential (R-1 to 4) Storage (S-1 to 2) Utility/Misc (U)

Guess the Occupancy Halle library Art Center Dormitory Residence A hospital CVS Starbucks College Hall The Academic Center Home Depot The North Shore Mall Jiffy Lube The Callahan Center

New vs. Existing Occupancies Important to know when using the Life Safety Code (LSC) because it separates its regulations into these two categories for each occupancy classification NEW means that the Occupancy falls into one of the following categories: It’s in a newly constructed building It’s relocated to an existing building It’s in a new addition to an existing building It’s remaining in the same building but changing its size or use to a different sub classification

Mixed Use Occupancy Must separate the occupancies or treat them all as one (following most stringent requirements) IBC calls mixed use buildings: accessory, separated mixed, or non-separated mixed NFPA calls mixed use buildings: accessory, mixed multiple, or separated multiple

Accessory Typically a space that is less than 10% of the total area (IBC). Do not have to be designed as a separate occupancy than the larger space unless they don’t meet requirements for building type.

Mixed Occupancies (IBC) Mixed Occupancies: more than 2 occupancies that cannot be considered an accessory. Can be separated by rated assemblies (separated mixed) or not (non-separated mixed). Non-separated mixed must meet the most stringent requirements.

Multiple Occupancies (NFPA) 2 or more occupancies exist in a building or space either horizontally or vertically. Intermingled occupancies (mixed multiple) when there is no separation, the different occupancies use the same exiting components, or both occur at the same time. Can also have occupancies that are separated by rated walls but don’t share exiting (separated multiple)

Accessibility Almost all occupancy classifications under certain conditions can be considered public accommodations and/or commercial facilities and can be regulated by the ADA guidelines. ADAAG (ADA Accessibility Guidelines) and ICC/ANSI A117.1 also include specific requirements for certain building types within various occupancies Get familiar with these!

Occupant Loads How many people can safely use and exit the space? Determined for each space or building Load factor given by code or establishing a desired number of occupants When multiple spaces use the same path of travel to exit (converging) the occupant load for the shared area is determined by adding the number of occupants for each space

Occupant Load by Load Factor Load Factor: a predetermined amount of area or square feet (gross or net) established by the code required for each occupant. Based on occupancy classification and the specific use of the space Occupant Load = Floor Area (sq.ft) / Load Factor

Gross Area Refers to the building as a whole and includes all misc. spaces within the exterior walls

Net Area Refers to the actual occupied spaces and does not include corridors, restrooms, utility closets or any other unoccupied space. Ex: schools

Modifying the Occupant Load Increased Number: when you wish to increase the occupant load to meet needs of client – advisable to get approval from a code official. Maximum amount of people allowed at any one time Reduced Number: required to get approval from a code official.

Occupant Load for Primary & Secondary Spaces When one or more smaller spaces exits into a larger (primary) space before reaching the final exit Code requires that the OL of the primary space include the OL of the secondary spaces

More Than One Occupancy After determining OL for each space, you will need to calculate the OL for the entire floor of the building if any of the occupancies share spaces (corridors, restrooms, etc.) Used to determine other code requirements like exiting and plumbing

Fixed Seats Occupant Load Instead of using formula for calculating the occupant load, the actual number of seats are counted. Seats with arms Continuous seating: benches, bleachers, pews 18 linear inches per occupant is typical (but each code will provide this info.)

Calculating Occupant Load with CMR (Code of Massachusetts Regulations) Use chart in code to identify Specific Occupancy Areas (in 781 CMR Ch. 10) Create/import Occupancy Calculations schedule and fill out for each room from Revit Create 1/32” scale Occupancy Plan and add color scheme Adjust areas for circulation, furniture, etc, and enter into chart for each level Chart calculates toilets, egress component dimension Fix your plans to comply

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