College Classroom Occupancy

10/18/2018

2015 NFPA 101: A college classroom building is a Business occupancy. For occupant load relative to the classrooms, do you use the Educational amount of 20 SF net or do you use the Business square-footage amount? In the past, we’ve used the Education load because it seemed logical; but is this correct?

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13 Comments

Roy

10/18/2018 09:18:03 am

In my opinion the 20 SF is correct for Classroom areas.

Edw H

10/18/2018 09:34:20 am

K-12 are Educational

College and University occupancies can be Assembly, or Business

NFPA 101 2018

14.1.1.4 Educational facilities that do not meet the definition
of an educational occupancy shall not be required to comply
with this chapter but shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Instructional building — business occupancy
(2) Classrooms under 50 persons — business occupancy
(3) Classrooms, 50 persons and over — assembly occupancy
(4) Laboratories, instructional — business occupancy
(5) Laboratories, noninstructional — industrial occupancy

Roy

10/18/2018 09:52:03 am

EDW what is the sqft per person in NFPA 101 for a classroom?

I should have asked what the adopted building code in your area is?

My response above is based on 2015 IBC

Jon Nisja

10/18/2018 09:55:16 am

Occupancy classifications and means of egress occupant load factors are two different things. While the terminology is similar, they are not interchangeable concepts. For egress purposes, a classroom use is classroom use - it doesn't matter if it is in an elementary school, high school, college classroom, or adult education.

Also note that the occupant load factors are different for other uses. For instance, shops, laboratory, and exercise (gym floor) uses are often 50 sq. ft. per person as opposed to 20 sq. ft. per person.

The occupancy classification of the building is for one purpose (height, area, type of construction, required fire protection thresholds) while the occupant load factor is for determining the adequacy of the means of egress. It sounds like you were doing it right at 20 sq. ft. per person. I never recommend cutting corners when it comes to egress (more is better).

MAX

10/18/2018 10:11:41 am

College and Universities are considered a business occupancy. But, occupant load is calculated on use of space and not the occupancy classification. I agree with 20 sq ft.

Pari

10/18/2018 10:22:28 am

I agree with Jon Nisja , The set up of the room is classroom therefor means of egress shall follow the same rule of educational facility but laboratory and vocational shop is 50.

as a AHJ we did not allow occupant load more than 20 for any classroom set up by now.

Ginger

10/18/2018 11:59:47 am

As an FPE consultant I calculate the occupant load and exit capacity of buildings on a daily basis. We work on a lot of college campus building and we get this question frequently, since the architects want to use 100 sf/p instead of 20 sf/p for classrooms because it results in more desirable occupant loads. Ultimately, it comes down to the use/function of the space. Per Table 7.3.1.2 of NFPA 101 the occupant load factors are based on uses and not occupancy group classifications. Therefore, you can have a Group B, higher education/college building that has classrooms that have occupant loads calculated at 20 sf/p. Faculty or Grad Student offices would be calculated based on the office function of 100 sf/p. Conference rooms, lounges, cafes, etc. with assembly functions would be calculated at 15 net sf/p for non-concentrated assembly functions.

RON PIERCE

11/5/2019 02:26:16 pm

Thanks for the clarification! Never would have thought that Occupancy Classification would be different than Occupancy Load, but I can see it now after rereading NFPA 101. Would be nice if they could better at delineating the subjects. So I was asked again today, "How many can we fit in this classroom?", and I can rely on 20 sf/p as a general standard...correct (given not assembly or other unique usage)? Thank you all for your input.

HPeterson

2/11/2019 01:43:09 am

So you calculate the occupant load for classrooms, etc. OLF for classrooms is net. How do we calculate for additional students occupying corridors outside classrooms while classes are in session?

MODERATOR

2/22/2019 07:02:10 am

HPETERSON, Good question - this is being discussed currently as a Daily Discussion topic.

You can see the full thread here: https://www.meyerfire.com/daily/net-occupant-load-calculations-for-corridors

Couple O'Pennies

10/5/2022 09:03:52 am

In this case the definition of "occupiable space" may come to bear. Corridors and toilet rooms are not "occupied"; it helps to think of them as "transitory" spaces. Spaces like mechanical or storage rooms can be occupied by people working in those spaces, but the load factors are larger to account for the lower density of people. You don't find corridors, toilet rooms, foyers, etc in the occupant load tables, likely because they are not considered "occupied" spaces.
Grandiose building lobbies and large halls are interesting when used for informal "assembly-esque" purposes such as cocktail receptions. For those functions, rhe number of people using the space are *not* transitory and far exceed the typical use when the space is used in its typical transitional function.

Ron Pierce

3/7/2019 03:54:50 pm

We're having this sort of conundrum at our university-- defining "room capacity". While maximum occupancy is a life safety calculation, OPTIMAL capacity to maximum learning is a whole different topic altogether. Some classrooms look like cattle cars heading to slaughter with so many desks and little aisle space. Is there a simple way I can walk into a room, measure it, and come up with a maximum room capacity? Is this something I can use the load factor table to accomplish? It still seems there's disagreement between using the Education LF (20SF) versus the Office LF (100SF) for college classrooms. OLF would make our classrooms look barren!

John smith

7/22/2019 01:08:08 pm

The 2012 commentary states the following

Classrooms and laboratories that are located in colleges, universities and academies for educating students above the 12th grade and that have an occupant load of less than 50 are classified in group b. Classrooms with an occupant load of 50 or more are classified in Group A-3

College Classroom Occupancy

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