Occupant load factor for a Hallway within an Assembly space

[Meadowbend99]

Hi,
For a funeral home there is a chapel on one side of the building and a reception hall on the opposite side. There is a wide hallway/corridor leading from one to the other. We're using "7" for the factor for the chapel and assembly, what factor would you use for the hallway? Presumably it's for the same people that would be in the chapel/reception.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Presumably it's for the same people that would be in the chapel/reception.

I never like to entrust life safety to presumptions. Will ("can") there EVER be people assembling in the hallway while waiting for one funeral while there is another being conducted in the chapel and a reception being conducted in the reception room?

Disregarding the potential for simultaneous occupancy of the hallway, your description makes it sound like the chapel and the reception room will never be used simultaneously. I'm almost certain that's not the case. I have been to any number of funerals where there were multiple events occurring simultaneously.

 

[RLGA]

Is the hallway for circulation only, or is it intended to be a waiting area? Typically, circulation spaces such as corridors, stairs, ramps, exit passageways, etc., are not included in occupant load calculations when serving areas with occupant loads that are determined solely or predominantly by net floor area. However, if circulation space also doubles as a waiting area, then that space should be given an occupant load, as well.

In some cases, the perception may drive whether or not to include a space as an assembly use. For example, if the corridor is narrow (e.g., 48 inches wide) for its entire length, then it would appear to be for circulation only, and most people would likely not apply an occupant load factor to that area (even though some people may wait in the corridor). However, if the narrow corridor opens into a large reception area, then the reception area would likely require an occupant load load factor applied. If the entire corridor is wide (and often provided with seating of some kind), the entire corridor would likely be considered assembly space and have an occupant load factor applied.

 

[Meadowbend99]

For both the Reception and Chapel we're using 7 (not-fixed seating). Completely understand that both spaces have the potential to be used at the same time. For the hallway, it's really intended as circulation, no seating spaces, but we realize with it being a wider corridor people will mingle/congregate in the hallway (however, it should be for same people that are in either the chapel or reception). We're using a factor of 15 for the hallway but it seems like overkill, adding 100 more occupants. The occupancy for the chapel is 250 and reception 175. Does 15 sound adequate or would you go higher since it's not being used as seating space?

 

[arwat23]

For both the Reception and Chapel we're using 7 (not-fixed seating). Completely understand that both spaces have the potential to be used at the same time. For the hallway, it's really intended as circulation, no seating spaces, but we realize with it being a wider corridor people will mingle/congregate in the hallway (however, it should be for same people that are in either the chapel or reception). We're using a factor of 15 for the hallway but it seems like overkill, adding 100 more occupants. The occupancy for the chapel is 250 and reception 175. Does 15 sound adequate or would you go higher since it's not being used as seating space?

Not used for seating? No tables and chairs? Then assuming the corridor can't be excluded as circulation space, it would be higher, probably 5 (standing space) since there're no chairs.

I don't know the layout, but I'd probably exclude the hallway based on what you've described. Nothing's stopping people from mingling in narrower corridors. If those can be excluded, you should be able to exclude this wider one (unless it may be used as waiting space / extension of the reception area).

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Not used for seating? No tables and chairs? Then assuming the corridor can't be excluded as circulation space, it would be higher, probably 5 (standing space) since there're no chairs.

I don't know the layout, but I'd probably exclude the hallway based on what you've described. Nothing's stopping people from mingling in narrower corridors. If those can be excluded, you should be able to exclude this wider one (unless it may be used as waiting space / extension of the reception area).

He didn't say not used for seating -- he said non-fixed seating. 1 person per 7 s.f. is the appropriate ratio for non-fixed seating. Standing room only is 1 person per 5 s.f.

For both the Reception and Chapel we're using 7 (not-fixed seating). Completely understand that both spaces have the potential to be used at the same time. For the hallway, it's really intended as circulation, no seating spaces, but we realize with it being a wider corridor people will mingle/congregate in the hallway (however, it should be for same people that are in either the chapel or reception). We're using a factor of 15 for the hallway but it seems like overkill, adding 100 more occupants. The occupancy for the chapel is 250 and reception 175. Does 15 sound adequate or would you go higher since it's not being used as seating space?

Here you go again with presumptions. Any time someone says something "shouldn't" be used for ____, that immediately suggests that it can be used for ____ and possibly will be used for ____.

IMHO, there needs to be a lot more clarity over how this corridor may and will be used. In a school, for example, you typically have three large assembly spaces: a cafeteria, a gymnasium, and an auditorium. We don't typically assign an occupant load to the corridors. However, in a theater we typically do assign an occupant load to the foyer/lobby, because we know that people will be assembled there toward the end of one show, waiting for admission to the next show.

If this corridor may be used as a waiting area while the are services being conducted in the chapel and the reception room, then the occupant load for the corridor has to be calculated at 1:5, not 1:15. The 1:15 ratio is for seated assembly with tables and chairs.. If the funeral home provides a statement of operation attesting that the hallway will not be used as a waiting area while services are being conducted in the chapel and/or in the reception room, I might accept that -- and I would write in the certificate of occupancy that the hallway may not be used as a waiting area, and I would post if for an occupant load of zero.

 

[arwat23]

He didn't say not used for seating -- he said non-fixed seating.

For the hallway, it's really intended as circulation, no seating spaces...

Sounds like no seats in the hallway to me.

Other spaces? Agreed, 7 net for seats, no tables.

 

[bill1952]

However, in a theater we typically do assign an occupant load to the foyer/lobby, because we know that people will be assembled there toward the end of one show, waiting for admission to the next show.

Like true for cinema - movie theatres - but almost never for performing arts theatres. High school theatres (where the auditorium occupancy load sometimes is not even added to classrooms), regional professional and community theatres, and the local theatre for national tours DO NOT have performances so closely scheduled that an audience for next performance waiting at end of a performance.

 

[Sifu]

Like true for cinema - movie theatres - but almost never for performing arts theatres. High school theatres (where the auditorium occupancy load sometimes is not even added to classrooms), regional professional and community theatres, and the local theatre for national tours DO NOT have performances so closely scheduled that an audience for next performance waiting at end of a performance.

Similar to your scenario. Large school, 900 occupants on one side emptying into a prefunction area from a fieldhouse. 500 occupants on the other side emptying into the prefunction area from a performing arts theater. 1400 occupants total traversing the prefunction area. During the day, the prefunction area is a cafeteria, during after hours the prefunction area is assigned no OL. The prefunction area is 6,400sf². The number of exits is based on the assembly spaces exclusive of the prefunction area per 1006.2.1, but the capacity can't exclude the occupants if we assign an OL. I remember back to my high school days (not quite the FLUBBER era, but close). The school lobbies were often packed with people. I have a hard time excluding occupants from that space. The capacity as designed will not handle any more occupants.

The only assumptions I allow are that their could be a play and a ball game at the same time, but not during school hours.