Three questions must be asked: 1. Applicants are responsible for completing and submitting an Occupancy Load Application form to the OFM providing all details associated with their event.  It is important for applicants to understand that this can be time consuming as applicants are responsible for providing detailed measurements in metric as outlined in the application along with a legible drawing and any requested fire safety information required.   Ensure to plan your event well in advance. Alberta Fire Code Occupant Load With the new COVID restrictions introduced as of November 24th, we have fielded a number of calls from clients wondering what their occupant load is. 3. Others are information bulletins that provide general advice on related matters. How can I ensure inspection and testing documentation for life safety systems have been submitted as required in my application? Note: Regional Assistant Fire Marshals are available to provide guidance in completing all requested information. Â. clear span metal building used for indoor sports activities such as a soccer field. They are formulas based on each of the different types of Occupancies. What unit of measurement is to be used in my occupancy permit application? – liquor establishments are classified under the NBC as “A2” (Assembly Occupancies) and office buildings are classified by the NBC as  “D” (Office Buildings).  A request to host a liquor event in an office building would be hosting the event in a non-conforming building. The facility will be a 180' x 300' (54,000 s.f.) Site specific requirements are requirements that the OFM requires to ensure fire safety.  Codes and standards address the majority of fire safety related items, however when public events are held in locations where additional risk is involved i.e. These certificates can be requested through the Fire … These guidelines cover definitions, instructions, and suggestions for how affected businesses can determine their occupant load under the Fire Code. m. or 19.9 sq. Fire codes apply to you, whether you’re planning a special event, hanging office decorations, or demolishing a building. Building Code establishes a satisfactory standard of fire, life and health safety for the design and construction and alteration of buildings. Alberta Fire Code Occupant Load Written by David Wickenberg, CPA, CA, CFP on Dec. 4, 2020 On Site Fire Protection recently contacted us to inform us of the new occupant load restrictions due to the COVID pandemic. Occupant load: The number of people who may occupy a space, calculated as both Design Occupant Load and Operational Occupant Load, outlined in the Alberta Building Code and Alberta Fire Code, respectively.See How is occupant load calculated for more information. The facility will be a 180' x 300' (54,000 s.f.) The type of occupancy (in some cases). Liquor inspectors may inspect and enforce site requirements at any time prior to or during the event. We have an "events" center, calculated OL at 5 sf/person, around 8000, and exiting designed. The building is only an indoor sports complex (not part of a school). (2) Alberta Fire Code Article 2.7.1.4. of the AFC requires that those areas in a building that are classified as assembly occupancies and have a maximum occupant load exceeding 60 people are to show the maximum occupant load on an acceptable sign in a conspicuous location near the principle entrance. A-3 does not. ft. per person 1004.1 Design Occupant Load In determining means of egress requirements, the number of occupants for whom means of egress facilities shall be provided shall be established by the largest number computed in accordance with Section 1004.1.1, unless otherwise permitted by … The two codes are intended to be complementary and coordinated documents which reduce the possibility of conflict in their respective contents. - Tent. 16. Learn more about fire reporting Room Occupancy. For example; For events less than 200 people – 5 days, Foe events 200 – 500 people – 14 days, For events  more than  500 people – 45 days, Although these timelines meet the requirements of the LLB they may not meet the timelines for the OFM to confirm fire safety requirements are in place.  The OFM cannot guarantee the issuance of an occupant load in order for clients to obtain a liquor license until such time as an occupant load has been determined and all fire safety requirements have been confirmed by the OFM.Â. What "Floor Area Per Occupant" should I use? There isn't a specific "Function" to calculate the occupant load.  The required information must be provided by the applicant prior to issuance of an occupant load certificate. Most retail businesses may remain open with capacity limited to 25% of the occupancy set under the Alberta Fire Code. The Fire Code establishes an acceptable standard for fire and life safety for buildings in use. How do the codes aid in achievin… fire, then the building occupants would also be pro-tected. If an owner/operator needs assistance with determining the occupant load, they can contact Medicine Hat Fire Services at fireprevention@medicinehat.ca or call 403-529-8282. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You may want to up it from the 50 if you have proper exiting and such....OL shall be posted and when they want to have a concert or graduation or wrestling match or whatever...someone gets to go be the bad guy and that person's input needs to be gooten at the plan review stage IMHO. The closest one is Assembly Standing Space but that would give me an occupant load of 10,800, using 5 net per s.f., which is absurd. You need to look at worst case scenario. As a shortcut approximation, for a single story retail store, take your sales floor area in ft² and divide by 160 to National Building Code – Alberta Edition 2019 [NBC(AE) 2019] & ... fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h, or b) sprinklered. m. or 49.5 sq. University practice facility (football, lacrosse, etc). This fact sheet uses an example to illustrate the method for determining occupant load based on NFPA 101 ®, Life Safety Code . More specifically, the International Building Code (IBC) provides an international standard for calculating the maximum occupancy for an area. Take this occupant load number and divide it by 2. National Building Code, National Fire Code and National Energy Code for Buildings. The OFM requires all measurements to be metric as outlined in the application form.    Â. Occupant load All businesses and places of worship with a physical location in Alberta have an occupant load as a requirement of the provincial building and fire codes. example 50000sq ft divided by the 50 = 1000 and 4000 sq ft as seating area divided by 15 = 266 or if bleacher seating divide the total length of the seating area divided by 1.5 per 1004.7 hope this helps. Occupant loads determined und… A complex event is an event that requires additional time and effort by the OFM to confirm fire safety requirements.  Public events in arenas, large tents or high hazard locations such as aircraft hangers or garages where a large number of people are expected to gather can be complex and take longer to satisfy OFM requirements.  Contact the OFM well in advance (minimum 45 days) to determine if your event qualifies as complex. Fire reporting is mainly carried out by Alberta fire rescue services and the insurance industry. Thanks for your thoughts. The OFM confirms the life safety requirements of the building prior to issuing an occupancy permit. The sports area in question will have a basketball court, baseball field/soccer field combined, three batting cages and an open space for exercise/work out equipment. Assembly Occupancy An assembly occupancy is generally defined as "an occupancy (1) used for a gathering of 50 or more persons for deliberation, worship, entertainment, eating, drinking, amusement, awaiting transportation, or similar uses; or (2) used as a special amusement building, regardless of occupant load." This is allowed where the combined area of all more restrictive occupancy is not more than 10% of the floor area of the storey in which it is located. I like to figure the exiting as the area having an OL of 15 per sq ft. I agree that an occupant load of 10800 is absurd for this structure. To determine how many exits are required, how wide they have to be, and the anticipated number of people in the building, the occupant load needs to be estimated. The occupant load is the maximum number of persons allowed within a building or a suite within a building. To calculate the occupant load for an area without fixed seating, the code says to compute the area of the room or space at a rate of one occupant per unit of area using the occupant load factor found in Table 1004.1.2. Alberta Fire Code (AFC) for calculating occupant loads in assembly buildings or floor spaces. 1) In assembly occupancies with occupant loads exceeding 60 persons, the occupant load shall be posted in conspicuous locations near the principal entrances to the room or floor area. I know this is an older thread but I have a questions regarding Indoor Sports Facility Occupancy or in my case an Indoor Practice Facility. The Fire Code should not conflict with or supersede the requirements in the B.C. The OL WILL be abused at some point....That being said you can use the 50 per, but you want to get together with your Fire Marshal or whomever will be resposible for enforcing the OL after you sign the CofO. Occupancy: The use, or intended use of a space, as defined by the Alberta Building Code. When we consider the ideal classroom, we may think in terms of 15:1 or 20:1 student:teacher ratios.When we discuss the realities of District resources, we may see as much as 25:1 or 35:1.Applying the code requirements between these two scenarios requires analysis of the unique environment. ... required occupant load, even if the building has more than 2 exits. Copy of Certificate of Occupant Load issued under the Alberta Fire Code. See details below to help you determine which method you want to use. Room Occupancy and Load Capacity The Ontario Building Code 1997 establishes room occupancy limits (the minimum number of square feet/metres per person) on the basis of the use of the room. clear span metal building used for indoor sports activities such as a soccer field. NOTE; It is required that clients make application for an occupancy load certificate from the OFM a minimum of 10 business days in advance of the LLB’s filing time requirements and in the case of a complex event, 45 days in advance of LLB’s filing time requirements (see definition for complex event in question and answer section at bottom of page) in order to obtain an occupancy load certificate. The building code does allow exceptions for more restrictive occupancies to be contained with a less restrictive classification of building. I would then use the same table to determine the seating area as a separate occupant calculations to determine the total occupant load of the entire structure. A school soccer field will be use for assembly and graduation functions. What is the intent of the codes? Occupancy load certificates are required for businesses or buildings with a load capacity of more than 60 people such as restaurants, community halls, schools or churches. Fire prevention is often involved in issuing special permits or certificates. Some are issued under the authority of the code or the Safety Codes Actas provincewide variances or interpretations. Access the survey and share your feedback before February 28, 2021. 6.2.2.4* High Hazard Contents. The Liquor Licensing Board requires an application within a specified time frame in advance of a license being granted. Note: Non legible or incomplete application forms or drawings will result in the application being denied. Varying code and construction requirements can apply to the same building depending on if the building is classified as a F2 or F3 major occupancy. Different Requirements for F2 and F3 Classifications. Occupant Load Determination (1) The occupant load of a floor area or part of a floor area, or of a building or part of a building not having a floor area, shall be based on, (a) the number of seats in an assembly occupancy having fixed seats, (b) two persons per sleeping room or sleeping area in a dwelling unit or suite, or Important terms. It is best to check with your Regional Assistant Fire Marshal first to determine if they already have the required documentation on file.  If the OFM does not have the records on file, the applicant will need to contact the building owner to either obtain copies of the documents or have the building owner submit them to the OFM. When George W. was here, twice, they packed around 10K in there. I agree with Mark, you really do have to calculate for worse case scenario, largest possible OL. 1. Do I require an occupancy load certificate for an open air event? A temporary structure is a structure that is being used for a specific period of time and will not remain in place indefinitely. Our Fire Inspections and Investigations team can assist you with fire safety planning and ensuring you comply with the National Fire Code (Alberta Edition) . published_date | … The state fire and building codes use occupant load calculations to establish: Egress provisions (such as the number of doors needed and the width of doors, stairs, aisles, and corridors). Information about your occupant load may or may not be on site. What are the objectives? Every event is unique, especially if the floor plan changes.  Occupant loads are established by applying specified calculations outlined in the NBC based on the useable space of the location and minus any fixed objects such as stages / bars etc. Get the code. Special occasion permits are issued by the LLB who also regulates events where liquor is being served at a specific location for a specific date and time.  Often, these events are requested to be held in Non- conforming  buildings.    The Office of the Fire Marshal issues an occupant load certificate to the applicant and copies the LLB. For example; For events less than 200 people – 5 days. I would not call this an assembly use building. I have no problem using the OL of 50 per sq ft for other code requirements such as plumbing fixtures, ventilation etc.. It may not display this or other websites correctly. safely evacuate in the event of a fire. There were over 290 people attending the church service on January 24, 2021, in excess of the 15 per cent total operational occupancy load as per the Alberta Fire Code. No, we didn't try to shut it down.......... Do they have bleachers or some type of other seating??? OFM Required Timelines for Occupancy Permit. Municipal Affairs works in partnership with the Safety Codes Council to develop and provide relevant information to the fire industry, building owners and authorities having jurisdiction. Municipal Affairs Handrails for Aisles with Steps 3.3.2. Based on the applicant's stated use as an indoor sports facility (which is not listed in table1004.1.1) I would pick the closest listed use as "skating rinks, swimming pools with an occupant load of 50 gross (from 2006 IBC). I am trying to determine the occupant load from table 1004.1.1 for an indoor sports facility (Using the 2009 IBC). There is a different structure that is connected but fire separated (2-hours) that has the main entry, kitchen, concessions, sports equipment & clothing shop, restrooms, etc. BC Building Code requires that an occup ant load sign be posted an assembly when occupancy with an occupant load of 30 or less has been classified as Group D occupancy … Foe events 200 – 500 people – 14 days. Who enforces the requirements for the event? From this outlook on fire safety, the concept of equiv-alent risk has evolved in the code. For events more than 500 people – 45 days. For instance: classrooms: at least 1.85 sq. Most all of the answers to the comments are in the Building and Fire Codes. 2. I've read that you can use 50 Gross for "Participation Sport" but can that be justified since it is not in the table? This concept main-tains that, in part, an acceptable level of risk against the damages of fire respective to a particular occupancy type (group) can be achieved by limiting the height and This is the state-specified “50% of the occupant load” and the maximum number of patrons and employees you can have in your business at any one time. I am trying to determine the occupant load from table 1004.1.1 for an indoor sports facility (Using the 2009 IBC). Building Code. ""The sports area in question will have a basketball court, baseball field/soccer field combined, three batting cages and an open space for exercise/work out equipment. """, You can also post the floor plan with dimenions and we can give you an opinion of what it should be, each batting cage has an occupant load of 1 or there will be problems. • The BC Fire Code requires that an occupant load sign be posted wherever the occupant load exceeds 60 people. SAFETY CODE Alberta Regulation 87/2009 With amendments up to and including Alberta Regulation 150/2020 ... 62 Rated load capacity 63 Load charts 64 Operator requirements 65 Log books ... Fire and Explosion Hazards 161.1 Flammable or explosive atmospheres a hazard Yes, you will require an occupancy load certificate for an open air event so the OFM can confirm means of egress / site specific requirements and the number of persons able to be located within the defined area as determined by the code, Application for Special Event License and Occupancy Load Certificates, Timelines for Receiving an Occupancy Load Permit from the OFM, ofm-occupancy-load-application-procedure-version2_08152016.pdf. The Liquor Licensing Board requires an application within a specified time frame in advance of a license being granted. i.e. Calculating occupancy requirements CMOH order 42. In the business occupancy chapter of NFPA 101, the only areas listed as requiring fire sprinklers are those that house or contain high-hazard contents that exceed the maximum allowable quantities permitted by the code. Industrial occupancy in which the combustible content is not more than 50 kg/m2 of floor area. A-4 Occupancy includes spectators. Easier to add exits at design/construction. When fire protection systems are required (sprinklers, fire alarm systems, etc.). Occupancy load Occupancy load refers to the number of people permitted in a building at one time based on the building’s floor space and function. By recommending a method of calculation it is the intent of this Bulletin to make the application of both Codes more consistent and uniform throughout the Province. That is the logical and true answer. For additional information pertaining to the NWT Liquor Licensing Board (LLB), please visit the following site: Liquor Licensing Board, Events in non-conforming buildings require additional investigation, time, effort and scrutiny by the Office of the Fire Marshal to confirm fire safety requirements.  Should fire safety requirements not be attainable or the OFM ‘s requirements not be satisfied, an occupancy load permit will not be issued.Â, An application package and guide to assist clients in applying for an occupant load certificate can be located here :  ________________________. You must log in or register to reply here. Municipal Affairs and the Safety Codes Council develop Alberta Building Code STANDATA. – non-conforming buildings, additional requirements may be applied for the OFM to feel satisfied that the event is safe for attendance by the public. JavaScript is disabled. The International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties (ComSOP) defines occupancy load as the number of people permitted in a building based on the means of egress. One major problem is secondary uses. Calculate the "Occupancy" count for the specific Occupancy Use. The Ministry of Government Relations is seeking input on red tape issues regarding building and accessibility standards regulations. The fire discipline of Safety Services is responsible for establishing and interpreting the codes, standards and respective regulations under the Safety Codes Act. Restaurant owners have two options: 50% or 30%. The B.C. From the 2018 edition of NFPA 101. How many 'people' would be considered spectators? Thanks all. (Please note that Table 1004.1.2 referenced in this post is from the 2015 International Building Code (IBC). A non-conforming building for the purposes of obtaining an occupancy load permit is a building that is being used for a purpose it was not designed for.  i.e. Timelines for Receiving an Occupancy Load Permit from the OFM. The more fixed objects that go into a floor plan reduces the useable space available for occupants.  So where 50 people were approved at a previous event, 30 may only be permitted due to the changes in the floor plan and useable space available for the public.Â. A definition for spectator can be one person, however getting around the code could benefit using A-4 vs A-3. without more info I would use Table 1004.1.1 and categorize the use as similar to an ice rink with the participant sports area as 50 sq foot per person. ft. per person; school labs: 4.6 sq. Following the announcement of enhanced public health measures, the Government of Alberta has made guidelines on reduced capacities and occupant loads available on their website. You are using an out of date browser. Why is my occupant load lower than before or expected? Effective Dec. 13, some businesses will be required to close, reduce capacity or limit their in-person access. anon947614 April 26, 2014 Approval of the responsible health authority. outside the cage is a different story, typically coaching is done from outside of the cage, Consider the story and video below, and the statement of every other applicant "it will never...". The applicant may mail or deliver the completed package to the nearest AGLC office OR phone to schedule an