What occupant load factor to use for an Arcade?

[Meadowbend99]

I have an arcade that I'm trying to determine the occupant load for. The total arcade space is 6,000 SF and there is a large concourse running through the middle of it approx. 2,000 SF.

If I use Assembly Gaming floors to the total space (11 gross) that's 545 occupants which seems outrageous. Some of the arcade games will be really big. The actual arcade area is roughly 60' x 60'. Kids arcades don't quite fill up and get as crowded as a casino floor does.

Would you apply the 11 gross to the concourse or do that separately? Is there a better factor to fit for an arcade?

 

[steveray]

Talk with the BO......11 gross does seem a little harsh....but I don't know what I would accept...

Where an intended function is not listed in Table 1004.5, the building official shall establish a function based on a listed function that most nearly resembles the intended function.

 

[mtlogcabin]

How many arcade games will be installed and are the intended for a single player or multiple players at the same time?

 

[Meadowbend99]

How many arcade games will be installed and are the intended for a single player or multiple players at the same time?

It'll be a mix, some big machines, some small, some single users and some 2-4 users. And they'll change over time.

 

[bill1952]

I think you need to look at the actual plan area the game machines take, and maybe compare that to tables in a dining room. Just googling images of game arcades, it looks like the game machines take more space in the room than tables do in a dining room. Just a thought on how you might present a case for a more lenient occupant load factor.

 

[JPohling]

The city of San Diego has a technical bulletin for occupancies that are not in the code. #1 is Arcades and it is at 1/11 sf gross.

Maximum Floor Area Allowances Per Occupant

This technical bulletin explains maximum floor area allowances per occupant.

www.sandiego.gov

 

[zkasky]

I have an arcade that I'm trying to determine the occupant load for. The total arcade space is 6,000 SF and there is a large concourse running through the middle of it approx. 2,000 SF.

If I use Assembly Gaming floors to the total space (11 gross) that's 545 occupants which seems outrageous. Some of the arcade games will be really big. The actual arcade area is roughly 60' x 60'. Kids arcades don't quite fill up and get as crowded as a casino floor does.

Would you apply the 11 gross to the concourse or do that separately? Is there a better factor to fit for an arcade?

I am currently designing a crane machine arcade and started with the 1occ/11sf and thought it was harsh. I wound up going by the ventilation occupancy requirement. FBC Mechanical (should be same as IBC) code table 403.1.1 calculates density of a Game arcade at 20occ per 1000sf.