The Modules > Properties > Occupant Load Calculator

This tip is intended for Inspectors who are adding an Occupant Load Permit to a property for assembly occupancies and licensed beverage establishments.

The Alberta Fire Code Section 2.7.1.3 states that:

1.)	the maximum permissible occupant load for any room shall be calculated on the basis of the lesser of

a.)	the number of occupants determined in accordance with Table 3.1.17.1 of Division B of the Alberta Building Code 2006,

b.)	the occupant load for which means of egress are provided for,

c.)	the occupant load as calculated and posted in accordance with the Alberta Building Code

The FP2 ‘Occupant Load Calculator’ discussed in this tutorial was designed using the 3.1.17.1 table from the Alberta Building Code, which we understand is the same as the National Fire Code.

Sample Occupant Load Permit

Steps for Creating an Occupant Load Permit

1.	Select Property Record and click the Occupant Load tab. Add a record to this list and the Occupant Load Calculator window will open.

2.	Fill out the top 5 entry fields with identifying information for the permit.

3.	Use the Spaces and Doors tabs to document the usable/unusable spaces and entrances/exits.

4.	Use the ‘Space List’ editable list to select all applicable assembly uses for the room.

1.	The Occupant Load Permit is accessed in the Property Record--> Occupant Load tab. This tab features a record list of the property’s Occupant Load Permits.

Adding a record to this list will open a new window for entry titled the ‘Occupant Load Calculator.’

2.	Entry Fields

Occupant Permit Title: Enter the Business Name.

Description: Enter the Room that the permit is intended for.

Officer drop-list: This list is pre-populated with Inspector names, as flagged in Set-Up-->Officer List--> Officer Set-Up. Signatures are also attached in Officer Set-Up- if the inspector has one digitally attached to their officer record, it will be included on the permit.

Date: Authorized Date for the permit.

Permit #: For choosing the default permit number setting go to Set-Up-->Custom Settings-->Properties-->Occupant Load.

3.	Space, Doors, Notes tabs.

The Space tab should be titled with the name of the room that this permit pertains to. The total space width and length fields should be filled out in meters*. If there is an unusable space in the room (behind the bar, or pool tables, for instance) this area should also be entered in meters. Entering these values will generate a total usable space area. It is calculated by the formula: (Total Space Width x Total Space Length) - (Unusable Space Width x Unusable Space Length)

If there are several unusable spaces, a coat check room and a bar in this example- it can be documented by adding new entries in the space tab that documents that there is no usable space of length and width, with the measurements of the unusable space length and width. This will display a negative Usable Area for those items.

The Doors tab should be titled with the name of the door (example, Main Entrance, or Fire Escape). The width of the door is entered in millimeters*. The ‘On Grade’ checkbox is used to flag doors that are level and have no steps to them.

If the Inspector wishes to include any notes to the permit, they may do so in the Notes tab.

Back to the top half of the Occupant Load Calculator, the ‘Space Use’ editable list is used to flag any intended uses of the assembly space. Select all that apply. If you save the record at this point and do not close it, you will see occupant load numbers are automatically generated beside the Assembly Use types.

For Inspectors that wish to use an override adjustment that will be applied to all the Assembly Uses, a value can be added here as a positive or a negative.

* Default coefficients can be set in Set-Up-->Custom Settings-->Properties-->Occupant Load tab. The Space Use list also has coefficients for each space usage in the list items. For further reading, please reference the User Manual’s Occupant Load Calculator Tutorial: Ratios, Coefficients And The Imperial System.