The Ontario Building Code | Occupant Load Determination
3.1.17.1. Occupant Load Determination
(1) The occupant load of a floor area or part of a floor area, or of a building or part of a buildingnot having a floor area, shall be based on,
(a) the number of seats in an assembly occupancy having fixed seats,
(b) two persons per sleeping room or sleeping area in a dwelling unit or suite, or
(c) the number of persons,
(i) for which the area is designed, or
(ii) determined from Table 3.1.17.1. for occupancies other than those described in Clauses (a) and (b).
Table 3.1.17.1.
Occupant Load
Forming Part of Article 3.1.17.1.
| Item | Column 1 Type of Use of Building or Floor Area or Part of Floor Area | Column 2 Area per Person, m2 |
| 1. | Assembly uses |
|
|
| space with fixed seats | See Clause (1)(a) |
|
| space with non-fixed seats | 0.75 |
|
| stages for theatrical performances | 0.75 |
|
| space with non-fixed seats and tables | 0.95 |
|
| standing space | 0.40 |
|
| stadia and grandstands | 0.60 |
|
| bowling alleys, pool and billiard rooms | 9.30 |
|
| classrooms | 1.85 |
|
| school shops and vocational rooms | 9.30 |
|
| reading or writing rooms or lounges | 1.85 |
|
| dining, alcoholic beverage and cafeteria space | 1.10 |
|
| laboratories in schools | 4.60 |
|
| exhibition halls other than those classified in Group E | 2.80 |
| 2. | Care, care and treatment or detention uses |
|
|
| B-1 : detention quarters | 11.60 |
|
| B-2 : treatment and sleeping room areas | 10.00 |
|
| B-3 : sleeping room areas | 10.00 |
|
| (See also Article 3.7.1.3.) |
|
| 3. | Residential uses |
|
|
| dwelling units | See Clause (1)(b) |
|
| dormitories | 4.60 |
| 4. | Business and personal services uses |
|
|
| personal service shops | 4.60 |
|
| offices | 9.30 |
| 5. | Mercantile uses |
|
|
| basements and first storeys | 3.70 |
|
| second storeys having a principal entrance from a pedestrian | 3.70 |
|
| thoroughfare or a parking area |
|
|
| dining, alcoholic beverage and cafeteria space | 1.10 |
|
| other storeys | 5.60 |
| 6. | Industrial uses |
|
|
| manufacturing or process rooms | 4.60 |
|
| storage garages | 46.00 |
|
| storage spaces (warehouse) | 28.00 |
|
| aircraft hangars | 46.00 |
| 7. | Other uses |
|
|
| cleaning and repair of goods | 4.60 |
|
| kitchens | 9.30 |
|
| storage | 46.00 |
|
| public corridors intended for occupancies in addition to pedestrian travel | 3.70 |
(2) If a floor area or part of it has been designed for an occupant load other than that determined from Table 3.1.17.1., a permanent sign indicating that occupant load shall be posted in a conspicuous location.
(3) For the purposes of this Article, mezzanines, tiers and balconies shall be regarded as part of the floor area.
(4) If a room or group of rooms is intended for different occupancies at different times, the value to be used from Table 3.1.17.1. shall be the value that gives the greatest number of persons for the occupancies concerned.
(5) Except as provided by Sentence (6) or (7), in dining, alcoholic beverage and cafeteria spaces the occupant loadshall be determined from Table 3.1.17.1.
(6) The occupant load in Sentence (5) is permitted to be the number of persons for which the space is designed.
(7) The occupant load in Sentence (6) shall be not more than that determined by using an area of 0.6 m2 per person.