• Welcome to The Building Code Forum

    Your premier resource for building code knowledge.

    This forum remains free to the public thanks to the generous support of our Sawhorse Members and Corporate Sponsors. Their contributions help keep this community thriving and accessible.

    Want enhanced access to expert discussions and exclusive features? Learn more about the benefits here.

    Ready to upgrade? Log in and upgrade now.

Billiards Parlor Occupant Load??

D

DTBarch

SAWHORSE
Joined
Nov 1, 2010
Messages
84
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Anyone with experience on what load factor to definitively use with Group A-3 Billiard Parlor? Table 1004.1.1 does not address it specifically. Looks like it is most similar to "gaming floors (keno, slots, etc)" but logically could be "Unconcentrated (tables and chairs)"? Thank you.
 
7 Or 11 sounds good

Billard parlor only????

No bar??

No burgers??

No wild turkey????
 
I've been inclined to go with 15, and a deduction for the pool tables themselves. Thinking about the room that is typically around the tables.
 
Quick lesson learned, design the room at 15 net and when the owner decides to remove pool tables (bar fights, drinks set on felt, etc.) and wants to set up tables and chairs with satilite TV for SuperBowl Sunday ---- He will still be compliant. In the 2003 IBC, it used to state that a room or a space had to be designed for the most restrictive use of the space -

AlSO, you will doing the Fire Marshal a favor for overcrowding by designing the room or space at a higher occupant load than intened use at the moment - Nobody likes having a New Year Eve's Party shut down for having more than 10 in the billards room because they changed the use of the space.
 
Last time I checked 'billiards' was a game... the tables will likely use up as much floor space as the gaming room accessories would. At 11 s.f. per person you're getting a few more in than if you go with 'tables and chairs'. Sounds reasonable.
 
In a related experience,......we calculated occupant loads for a bar/restuarant,......the BCO allowed us to delete the SF of the pool tables, and the halos around them,...........while I do agree that there is the potential to remove the pool tables, Our discussion centered around the actual conditions, and not any future potential,.........
 
Good first post and welcome to the forum!

gjmaia said:
In a related experience,......we calculated occupant loads for a bar/restuarant,......the BCO allowed us to delete the SF of the pool tables, and the halos around them,...........while I do agree that there is the potential to remove the pool tables, Our discussion centered around the actual conditions, and not any future potential,.........
Click to expand...
 
We have a new project that also has live entertainment, dining and beverages. We used 1/15 dining area and 1/5 net for billiards area deducting the areas for the tables. The facility had to sprinkle and the egress was designed for the increased OL. Owners were happy and it's been packed since opening.
 
Old post, new project. Billiard parlor is an A3 per ch. 3. What makes a billiard parlor? Consider a 4,500sf² drinking and dining space, with 6 pool tables. BEST case for me would be a mixed use A2 and the area where the tables are an A3. OL isn't in question, all would be assembly tables and chairs.

I frequented "pool halls" in my youth. They were large open floors, with pool tables covering every available square foot. The only exception was a service counter and/or office and bathrooms. Pool was the primary use. In the proposed building pool is not the primary use, with the multiple bars, tables, patio, kitchen etc. But this is subjective.

Any thoughts?
 
fatboy said:
I've been inclined to go with 15, and a deduction for the pool tables themselves. Thinking about the room that is typically around the tables.
Click to expand...
1 per 15 is for unconcentrated tables a chairs.....I think they are including the area of the tables in that calculation. If you want to delete the pool tables from the area I would use the 1 per 5sf standing space for the remaining area.
 
1004.3 Multiple function occupant load.
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.
 
Tim Mailloux said:
1 per 15 is for unconcentrated tables a chairs.....I think they are including the area of the tables in that calculation. If you want to delete the pool tables from the area I would use the 1 per 5sf standing space for the remaining area.
Click to expand...
I have been in some crowded bars/pool halls, but I have never seen anywhere close to 5sf/person. How the heck would you even come close to getting a clean shot off.

You need to apply some real-life perspective my friend.
 
Now that you figured out the 5 or 10 or 15 per square foot, which is nice, just wait for a tournament(s) when they cram people all along the wall edges. I think it is a wash using the total sq. ft. area of the space then. Sure, most of the time its 2-4 players per table but like I said, wait for the tournament(s).
 
I/15 Gross floor area would be my choice. If you look at Gaming, it is 11 sq ft gross. However, pool table are not specifically addressed in what a "gaming area" is.

[BE] FLOOR AREA, GROSS. The floor area within the inside perimeter of the exterior walls of the building under consideration, exclusive of vent shafts and courts, without deduction for corridors, stairways, ramps, closets, the thickness of interior walls, columns or other features. The floor area of a building, or portion thereof, not provided with surrounding exterior walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above. The gross floor area shall not include shafts with no openings or interior courts.

[BE] FLOOR AREA, NET. The actual occupied area not including unoccupied accessory areas such as corridors, stairways, ramps, toilet rooms, mechanical rooms and closets.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top