1. Chapter 2 Building Occupancy
Overall project
Individual programmed spaces

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

7. 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.

9. 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.

11. 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)

12. 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!

13. 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

14. 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

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

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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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

23. 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.)

24. 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

25. Another checklist