Technical Booklet E Fire Safety·Page 49·Table 2.2
Floor space factors for occupancy calculation
Table 2.2 establishes floor space factors (in square metres per person) for different types of accommodation to determine occupant capacity for fire safety purposes. The most onerous factor applies where mixed uses occur, and alternative methods may be used for certain room types.
Floor space factors
Item Type of accommodation (1)(2) Floor space factor m2 per person
1 Standing spectator areas 0.3
2 Amusement arcade, assembly hall (including a general purpose place of assembly), bar (including a lounge bar), bingo hall, dance floor or hall, club, crush hall, venue for pop concert and similar events, queuing area 0.5
3 Concourse (other than in a shopping complex)(3) 0.75
4 Committee room, common room, conference room, dining room, licensed betting office (public area), lounge (other than a lounge bar), meeting room, reading room, restaurant, staff room, waiting room 1.0(4)
5 Exhibition hall 1.5
6 Shop sales area(5), skating rink 2.0
7 Art gallery, dormitory, factory production area, office (open-plan exceeding 60 m2), workshop 5.0
8 Kitchen, library, office (other than in item 7 above), shop sales area(6) 7.0
9 Bedroom or study-bedroom 8.0
10 Bed-sitting room, billiards room 10.0
11 Storage and warehouse accommodation 30.0
12 Car park Two people per parking space
Notes:
(1) Where accommodation is not directly covered by the descriptions given, a reasonable value based on a similar use may be selected.
(2) If there is to be mixed use, the most onerous factor should be applied.
(3) Refer Section 4 of BS 5588-10 for detailed guidance on the calculation of occupancy and means of escape in common areas in shopping complexes. Refer to the relevant recommendations of BS 9999 for detailed guidance on the calculation of mall population and means of escape in common areas in shopping complexes.
(4) Alternatively, the occupant capacity may be taken as the number of fixed seats provided, if the occupants will normally be seated.
(5) Shops, other than those included under item 8, including – supermarkets and department stores (all sales areas), shops for personal services such as hairdressing and shops for the delivery or collection of goods for cleaning, repair or other treatment or for members of the public themselves carrying out such cleaning, repair or other treatment.
(6) Shops, excluding those in covered shopping complexes and department stores, trading predominantly in furniture, floor coverings, cycles, perambulators, large domestic appliances or other bulky goods, or trading on a wholesale self-selection basis (cash and carry).
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