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IBC Table 1004.5 — Maximum Floor Area Per Occupant (Occupant Load Factors)

Updated Mar 25, 2026

Determines occupant load by dividing floor area by the occupant load factor. Business areas: 150 sf/person gross. Assembly concentrated: 7 sf/person net. Assembly unconcentrated: 15 sf/person net.

Table 1004.5 is critical for calculating occupant load, which drives: number of exits, exit width, plumbing fixture count, and ventilation requirements. Key factors (gross unless noted): Assembly concentrated (chairs only): 7 sf net. Assembly standing: 5 sf net. Assembly unconcentrated (tables+chairs): 15 sf net. Business: 150 sf gross. Educational classroom: 20 sf net. Exercise rooms: 50 sf gross. Industrial: 100 sf gross. Kitchens commercial: 200 sf gross. Library reading: 50 sf net. Library stacks: 100 sf gross. Mercantile basement/ground: 60 sf gross. Mercantile upper floors: 120 sf gross. Parking garage: 200 sf gross. Residential: 200 sf gross. Storage: 300 sf gross. Warehouses: 500 sf gross.

TAGS

occupant-load egress table-1004 plumbing exits ibc-chapter-10

DETAILS

chapter

10 - Means of Egress

severity

prescriptive

code year

2024

code system

IBC

building types

["all"]

section number

Table 1004.5

RELATED KNOWLEDGE

IBC 903.2.1 — Group A Occupancies (Sprinkler Requirements)

Automatic sprinkler system required throughout buildings with Group A occupancy where fire area exceeds 5,000 square feet, or overall building area exceeds 12,000 square feet, or occupant load of the fire area exceeds 300.

IBC 903.2.7 — Group M Occupancies (Retail Sprinkler Requirements)

Automatic sprinkler system required in Group M (mercantile) occupancies where fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet or building is more than three stories above grade.

IBC 903.2.11.3 — Buildings 55 Feet or More in Height

Automatic sprinkler system required throughout buildings with a floor level having an occupant load of 30 or more that is located 55 feet or more above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

IBC 1015.1 — Exit and Exit Access Doorways Required

Two exits or exit access doorways required from any space where occupant load exceeds the table values. Spaces with occupant load exceeding 500 require a minimum of 3 exits. Spaces exceeding 1,000 require 4 exits.

IBC 1017.2 — Exit Access Travel Distance

Maximum travel distance from any point in a building to an exit shall not exceed 200 feet unsprinklered or 250 feet sprinklered for most occupancies. Specific occupancies have modified limits.

IBC Table 601 — Fire-Resistance Rating Requirements

Specifies minimum fire-resistance ratings for structural elements based on construction type (Type I through V). Type IA requires 3-hour rated structural frame, 2-hour floors, and 1.5-hour roof.

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