Section 27-358. Occupant load

The  number  of  occupants  for  whom exit
  facilities shall be provided shall be  established  either  (1)  by  the
  actual  number  of  occupants  for  whom  each occupied space, floor, or
  building, as the  case  may  be,  is  designed,  or  (2)  by  using  the
  appropriate  occupant-area  ratios  from table 6-2, whichever is larger.
  The occupant load of any space shall include the occupant  load  of  all
  spaces that discharge through it in order to gain access to an exit.
 
                    Table 6-2  Occupant Load Requirements
                               Net Area Table
  ========================================================================
                                                            Net Floor
                                                            Area per
                                                            Occupant
       Occupancy                                            (sq. ft.)
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Billiard rooms....................................      50
       Bowling alleys....................................      50
       Classrooms........................................      20
       Dance floors......................................      10
       Dining spaces (nonresidential)....................      12
       Exhibition spaces.................................      10
       Garages and open parking structures...............     250
       Gymnasiums........................................      15
       Habitable rooms...................................     140
       Industrial shops..................................     200
               In schools................................      30
       Institutional sleeping rooms
               Adults....................................      75
               Children (except as listed below).........      50
               Day Care
                a. under 6 mos...........................      50
                b. 6 mos. - 2 yrs........................      40
                c. 2 yrs. - 6 yrs........................      30
               Institutional staff, all..................      30
       Kindergartens.....................................      35
       Kitchens (nonresidential).........................     200
       Laboratories......................................      50
               Preparation rooms.........................     100
       Libraries.........................................      25
       Locker rooms......................................      12
       Offices...........................................     100
       Passenger terminals or platforms..................       1.5xC
       Sales areas (retail)
               1st floor or basement.....................      25
               All other floors..........................      50
       Seating areas (audience) in all places of assembly
               Fixed seats...............................       D
               Moveable seats............................      10
       Skating rinks.....................................      15
       Stages (See subchapter eight)
       Standing room (audience) in all places of
         assembly........................................       4
       Storage rooms.....................................     200
  ========================================================================
  Notes:
    C--capacity  of  all  passenger vehicles that can be unloaded simulta-
  neously.

    D--designed number of seats or occupants.
 
    (a)  Unlisted occupancies. Where data regarding the sq. ft. per person
  for an occupancy is not listed in table 6-2, the occupant load shall  be
  established  by an architect or engineer, subject to the approval of the
  commissioner.
    (b) Modifications.
    (1) When the actual occupant load of any space will  be  significantly
  lower  than  that  listed in table 6-2, the commissioner may establish a
  lower basis for the determination of the occupant load.
    (2) When a building  existing  on  December  sixth,  nineteen  hundred
  sixty-eight  is  altered or changed in occupancy or use so as to require
  enlarged exit facilities, the commissioner may authorize the  alteration
  or change in occupancy or use without an enlargement of exit facilities,
  provided  the  occupant  load  is  limited  to  that accommodated by the
  existing exit facilities as determined by the provisions of  this  code,
  and  the building or space is posted accordingly with a sign. Such signs
  shall be at least twelve inches in width and sixteen inches  in  height.
  The  lettering  shall be red on a white background. The letters shall be
  not less than one inch high and the  numerals  not  less  than  one  and
  one-quarter inches high.
    (c)  Nonsimultaneous  occupancy.  The occupant load of toilets, locker
  rooms, meeting rooms, storage rooms, employee  cafeterias,  and  similar
  rooms or spaces that are not occupied at the same time as other rooms or
  spaces on the same floor of a building, may be omitted from the occupant
  load  calculation  of  the floor on which they are located to the extent
  that such spaces serve occupied rooms on the same floor.