Section 1004 — OCCUPANT LOAD

2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

[BE] 1004.1 Design occupant load. In determining means of egress requirements, the number of occupants for whom means of egress facilities are provided shall be determined in accordance with this section.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.27] Overcrowding.

The number of occupants of any building, structure or portion thereof, shall not exceed the permitted or posted capacity.

[BE] 1004.2 Cumulative occupant loads. Where the path of egress travel includes intervening rooms, areas or spaces, cumulative occupant loads shall be determined in accordance with this section.

[BE] 1004.2.1 Intervening spaces or accessory areas. Where occupants egress from one or more rooms, areas or spaces through others, the design occupant load shall be the combined occupant load of interconnected accessory or intervening spaces. Design of egress path capacity shall be based on the cumulative portion of occupant loads of all rooms, areas or spaces to that point along the path of egress travel.

[BE] 1004.2.2 Adjacent levels for mezzanines. That portion of the occupant load of a mezzanine with required egress through a room, area or space on an adjacent level shall be added to the occupant load of that room, area or space.

[BE] 1004.2.3 Adjacent stories. Other than for the egress components designed for convergence in accordance with Section 1005.6, the occupant load from separate stories shall not be added.

[BE] 1004.3 Multiple-function occupant load. Where an area under consideration contains multiple functions having different occupant load factors, the design occupant load for such area shall be based on the floor area of each function calculated independently.

[BE] 1004.4 Multiple occupancies. Where a building contains two or more occupancies, the means of egress requirements shall apply to each portion of the building based on the occupancy of that space. Where two or more occupancies utilize portions of the same means of egress system, those egress components shall meet the more stringent requirements of all occupancies that are served.

[BE] 1004.5 Areas without fixed seating. The number of occupants shall be computed at the rate of one occupant per unit of area as prescribed in Table 1004.5. For areas without fixed seating, the occupant load shall be not less than that number determined by dividing the floor area under consideration by the occupant load factor assigned to the function of the space as set forth in Table 1004.5. Where an intended function is not listed in Table 1004.5, the fire code official shall establish a function based on a listed function that most nearly resembles the intended function.

Exception: Where approved by the fire code official, the actual number of occupants for whom each occupied space, floor or building is designed, although less than those determined by calculation, shall be permitted to be used in the determination of the design occupant load.

[BE]TABLE 1004.5—MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA ALLOWANCES PER OCCUPANT

FUNCTION OF SPACE	OCCUPANT LOAD FACTORa
Accessory storage areas, mechanical equipment room	300 gross
Agricultural building	300 gross
Aircraft hangars	500 gross
Airport terminal
Baggage claim	20 gross
Baggage handling	300 gross
Concourse	100 gross
Waiting areas	15 gross
Assembly
Gaming floors (keno, slots, etc.)	11 gross
Exhibit gallery and museum	30 net
Assembly with fixed seats	See Section 1004.6

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MEANS OF EGRESS

[BE]TABLE 1004.5—MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA ALLOWANCES PER OCCUPANT—continued

FUNCTION OF SPACE	OCCUPANT LOAD FACTORa
Assembly without fixed seats
Concentrated (chairs only—not fixed)	7 net
Standing space	5 net
Unconcentrated (tables and chairs)	15 net
Bowling centers, allow 5 persons for each lane including 15 feet of runway, and for additional areas	7 net
Business areas	150 gross
Concentrated business use areas	See Section 1004.8
Courtrooms—other than fixed seating areas	40 net
Day care	35 net
Dormitories	50 gross
Educational
Classroom area	20 net
Shops and other vocational room areas	50 net
Exercise rooms	50 gross
Group H-5 fabrication and manufacturing areas	200 gross
Industrial areas	100 gross
Information technology equipment facilities	300 gross
Institutional areas_c_
Inpatient treatment areas	240 gross
Outpatient areas	100 gross
Sleeping areas	120 gross
Kitchens, commercial	200 gross
Laboratory Educational (K−12) Laboratories, noneducational Laboratory suiteb	50 net 100 net 200 gross
Library
Reading rooms	50 net
Stack area	100 gross
Locker rooms	50 gross
Mall buildings—covered and open	See Section 402.8.2 of the California Building Code
Mercantile	60 gross
Storage, stock, shipping areas	300 gross
Parking garages	200 gross
Residential	200 gross
Skating rinks, swimming pools
Rink and pool	50 gross
Decks	15 gross
Stages and platforms	15 net
Warehouses	500 gross
For SI: 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2, 1 foot = 304.8 mm. a. Floor area in square feet per occupant. b. See California Building Code Section 453.2. c. See California Building Code Section 408.3.13 for I-3 facilities.

[BE] 1004.5.1 Increased occupant load. The occupant load permitted in any building, or portion thereof, is permitted to be increased from that number established for the occupancies in Table 1004.5, provided that all other requirements of the code are met based on such modified number and the occupant load does not exceed one occupant per 7 square feet (0.65 m [2] ) of occupia

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

MEANS OF EGRESS

ble floor space. Where required by the fire code official, an approved aisle, seating or fixed equipment diagram substantiating any increase in occupant load shall be submitted. Where required by the fire code official, such diagram shall be posted.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.30] Posting of Room Capacity.

Any room having an occupant load of 50 or more persons where fixed seats are not installed, and which is used for assembly, class- room, dining, drinking or similar purposes, shall have the capacity of the room posted in a conspicuous place near the main exit from the room. Posting shall be by means of a durable sign having a contrasting color from the background to which it is attached. Signs shall be of an approved type and shall be maintained in a legible manner by the owner or his authorized agent and shall indicate the number of occupants permitted for each room use. No person shall deface or remove such signs except as authorized by the enforcing

agency.

[BE] 1004.6 Fixed seating. For areas having fixed seats and aisles, the occupant load shall be determined by the number of fixed seats installed therein. The occupant load for areas in which fixed seating is not installed, such as waiting spaces, shall be determined in accordance with Section 1004.5 and added to the number of fixed seats.

The occupant load of wheelchair spaces and the associated companion seat shall be based on one occupant for each wheelchair space and one occupant for the associated companion seat provided in accordance with Chapter 11B of the California Building Code.

For areas having fixed seating without dividing arms, the occupant load shall be not less than the number of seats based on one person for each 18 inches (457 mm) of seating length.

The occupant load of seating booths shall be based on one person for each 24 inches (610 mm) of booth seat length measured at the backrest of the seating booth.

[BE] 1004.7 Outdoor areas. Yards, patios, occupiable roofs, courts and similar outdoor areas accessible to and usable by the building occupants shall be provided with means of egress as required by this chapter. The occupant load of such outdoor areas shall be assigned by the fire code official in accordance with the anticipated use. Where outdoor areas are to be used by persons in addition to the occupants of the building, and the path of egress travel from the outdoor areas passes through the building, means of egress requirements for the building shall be based on the sum of the occupant loads of the building plus the outdoor areas.

Exceptions:

Outdoor areas used exclusively for service of the building need only have one means of egress.
Both outdoor areas associated with Group R-3 and individual dwelling units of Group R-2.

[BE] 1004.8 Concentrated business use areas. The occupant load factor for concentrated business use shall be applied to telephone call centers, trading floors, electronic data entry centers and similar business use areas with a higher density of occupants than would normally be expected in a typical business occupancy environment. Where approved by the code official, the occupant load for concentrated business use areas shall be the actual occupant load, but not less than one occupant per 50 square feet (4.65 m [2] ) of gross occupiable floor space.

[BE] 1004.9 Posting of occupant load. Every room or space which is used for assembly, classroom, dining, drinking or similar purposes having an occupant load of 50 or more that is an assembly occupancy shall have the occupant load of the room or space posted in a conspicuous place, near the main exit or exit access doorway from the room or space, for the intended configurations. Posted signs shall be of an approved legible permanent design and shall be maintained by the owner or the owner’s authorized agent.

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2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9)