In an assembly area of less concentrated use, such as a conference room or dining room, measuring 150 ft by 200 ft, with a load factor of 15 square feet per person, what is the occupant load?

• A. 1,000
• B. 1,500
• C. 2,000
• D. 2,500

Answer: (C)

The concept here is calculating occupant load by dividing the total floor area by the area allotted per person. First find the area: 150 ft × 200 ft = 30,000 square feet. With a load factor of 15 square feet per person, the occupant load is 30,000 ÷ 15 = 2,000 people. So the assembly area can accommodate 2,000 occupants. This reflects that in less concentrated use spaces, more area per person reduces the number of people that can be present.