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@Mei-Po.Leung For this question, you’ll refer to both the provided Library Floor Plan and IBC Table 1004.5 to determine the occupant load of each space:
Space
Area (sf)
Occupancy Load Factor
# Occupants
Reception
190
150
2
Private reading rooms
300
50
6
Seating (unconcentrated tables & chairs)
164
15
11
Stacks
1,522
100
16
Offices
666
150
5
Storage
44
300
1
Lecture Hall
743
7
107
Stage
73
15
5
Total
153
I will update the answer explanation in the exercise so that this detail is included.
Hope this helps!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Product Coordinator Black Spectacles
@alongoria@sedona.quimby I’m so sorry for the confusion - that was a typo! I just updated the Library Floor Plan reference so it says ‘164 SF’ correctly. Thank you for bringing this to our attention!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Product Coordinator Black Spectacles
@aljacobs1 great question! Note that while 2021 IBC Section 1005.3.1 indicates that stairways be calculated using a means of egress factor of 0.3 inch, Exception 1 allows a 0.2 factor to be used when buildings other than Group H and I-2 occupancies have an automatic sprinkler system and emergency voice/alarm communication system in accordance with specified sections.
This is an example of one of those tricky nuances that you’ll encounter on the ARE, so be sure that you are reading the question and the entire code section/exceptions thoroughly. I just added this additional explanation to the answer feedback, so hopefully that clarifies things for other studiers going forward
Also just a heads up - we do not allow copyrighted material to be shared on the community, so I will be removing the screenshot from your post.
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Product Coordinator Black Spectacles
As per IBC 1011.2 the minimum width can be 44” as determined by IBC 1005.1 or is that only if the calculation falls below 44” than you would need to bump it up to 44”? If so, does the code mention that anywhere or is this assumed? Thanks!
Hi Kiara! Why is the Lecture hall 107 and not (58), the floor plan shows 58 seats, and it doesn’t say if there are fixed seats or not, so how do I know if I should count them as a fixed seats or concentrated (chairs only-not fixed)?
Great question @sdhl333! The lecture hall seating shown on the floor plan should be interpreted as non-fixed seating, so the occupant load is calculated using the concentrated assembly factor rather than simply counting the chairs shown. The chairs represent the seating layout, not the calculated occupant load.
For the ARE, if seating is intended to be considered fixed, the question or reference would typically specify that. Since fixed seating is not indicated here, it should not be assumed. Hope this helps clarify!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Product Coordinator Black Spectacles
when calculating total occupant load of a mixed use building, should we add each fraction number of each individual occupancy and round up once in the total final result? or we should round up after each occupancy calculation and then add all integers to get the final result? the answer of the question here seems like the pre-rounding is the correct answer, but in my office’s practice, we only round up once in the total final sum, and AHJ has no problems with it. Is this pre-round way the NCARB preferred? @kiaragalicinao
Lecture Hall seats are always fixed, please provide a example where they would not be.. it would be foolish to not assume they are fixed especially shown in a perfect row. Unfixed would be a cafeteria or open eating space.. a movie theatre or lecture hall is fixed seating. Misleading answer.
Look up “lecture hall” on google and see how much unfixed chairs are shown out of hundreds of examples… literally you cant find a single one.. fixed seating is part of the program of a lecture hall
Determining Occupancy, Building Massing, and Construction Types [Exercise B]
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