North Carolina Fire Code

Chapter 10

Occupant Load Calculator

Table 1003.2.2.2 Maximum Floor Area per Occupant

Square Foot of Area Being
12000
Calculated

Agricultural building

300

gross

Aircraft hangars

500

gross

V
/
S
q
F
t
=
=

Concourse

100

gross

120

Waiting areas

15

gross

800

Baggage claim

20

gross

600

Baggage handling

300

gross

40

OCCUPANCY

FLOOR AREA IN
SQUARE FEET
PER OCCUPANT

Occupant
Load of
Area

1003.2.2.9 Fixed seating

For areas having fixed seating without dividing arms, the occupant load shall not be less than the number of seats based on one
person for each 18 inches (457 mm) of seating length.

Total
Bench
Divided
Length in
by
Inches

18-inches per
person

Equals

Number of Occupants

18

/
40
24

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 seat booth.

Airport terminal

Total
Bench
Divided
Length in
by
Inches

11

gross

1091

Occupancy

net

1714

Standing space

net

2400

Unconcentrated (tables and

chairs)

15

net

800

Bowling centers, allow 5 persons

for each lane including 15 feet of
runway, and for additional areas

net

Stairways (Inches per

Occupant)

Exit In.

Concentrated (chairs only

not fixed)

1714

Occupancie
s other than
those listed
below.

Exit In.

In./Occ

0.3

Stairways (Inches per

Occupant)

Exit In.

0.2

gross

120

40

net

300

50

gross

240

Business areas

100

Dormitories

20

net

600

50

net

240

Exercise rooms

50

gross

240

H-5 Fabrication and

manufacturing areas

200

gross

60

Industrial areas

100

gross

120

Inpatient treatment areas

240

gross

50

Outpatient areas

100

gross

120

120

gross

100

200

gross

60

=
=
=

0
120
240

Library
Reading rooms

50

net

Stack area

100

gross

Locker rooms

50

gross

In./Occ

0.2

0.15

Exit In.

In./Occ

Exit In.

In./Occ

Exit In.

In./Occ

Exit In.

In./Occ

0.7

0.4

0.3

0.2

Exit In.

In./Occ

Exit In.

In./Occ

Exit In.

In./Occ

Exit In.

In./Occ

0.3
Not Applicable

0.2

Not Applicable

Without Sprinkler System

Occupancy

Stairways (Inches per

Occupant)

Occ Load
Occupancie
s other than
those listed
below.

Institutional:
I-2

In./Occ

With Sprinkler System(a)

Other egress
components (Inches per
occupant)

Occ Load

0.3

In./Occ

Stairways (Inches per

Occupant)

Occ Load

0.2

Occ Load

In./Occ

Occ Load

In./Occ

Occ Load

0.7

Other egress
components (Inches per
occupant)

In./Occ Occ Load In./Occ

0.2

Hazardous:
H-1, H-2,H-3
and H-4

Institutional areas

Exit In.

Table 1005.1 Egress Width Per Occupant Served (Figure Exit Inches Using Occupant Load)

Educational

Shops and other vocational room

areas

In./Occ

Other egress
components (Inches per
occupant)

Hazardous:
H-1, H-2,H-3
and H-4

Institutional:
I-2

In./Occ

With Sprinkler System(a)

Other egress
components (Inches per
occupant)

Courtroomsother than fixed

seating areas

Kitchens, commercial

24

Table 1005.1 Egress Width Per Occupant Served (Figure Occupant Load Using Existing Exits)

See 1003.2.2.9

Assembly without fixed seats

Sleeping areas

Number of Occupants

Without Sprinkler System

Assembly with fixed seats

Classroom area

Equals

Assembly
Gaming floors (keno, slots, etc.)

24-inches per
person

0.4

0.15
=

In./Occ Occ Load In./Occ

0.3

Occ Load

In./Occ

Occ Load

In./Occ

Occ Load

0.2
=

In./Occ Occ Load In./Occ

0.3

Not Applicable

0.2

Not Applicable
=

a. Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1 or 903.3.1.2.

March 14 2008
Concord Department of Fire Life Safety

North Carolina Fire Code

Chapter 10

Occupant Load Calculator

Mercantile

Square Footage Calculator

Basement and grade floor

areas

30

gross

400

Length

Width

SqFt

Areas on other floors

60

gross

200

120

50

6000

Storage, stock, shipping areas 300

gross

40

Parking garages

200

gross

60

Residential

200

gross

60

Feet

12

Inches

Skating rinks, swimming pools

50

gross

240

6000

12

72000

15

gross

800

12

Feet

12

Rink and pool

Decks
Stages and platforms

15

net

800

Accessory storage areas,

mechanical equipment room

300

gross

40

Warehouses

500

gross

24

Convert Feet to Inches

Convert Inches to Feet

Inches

March 14 2008
Concord Department of Fire Life Safety