Generally includes the full area inside the exterior walls for that function, including circulation and support areas that are not assigned separately.
Code Help Without the Guesswork
You do not need to know your occupancy group or code-table factors to get started. Tell us what you are building, and the toolkit will explain the likely path in plain language before asking for any measurements.
2024 Code Decision Toolkit
Calculate the occupant load—then keep going.
Build a room-by-room occupant load, determine preliminary exit and door requirements, and screen the project for fire sprinklers, alarms, detection and commercial cooking protection under the 2024 I-Codes.
Start with occupant load.The result feeds the decisions for exit count, door swing, panic hardware, alarm thresholds and sprinkler thresholds.
Building Code
Occupant Load
Estimate occupant load using a floor area and the applicable adopted-code load factor.
This tells you how many people the code assumes could occupy a space. It is not simply the number of employees or chairs.
- Choose the business or room type above.
- Enter the measured floor area shown on the plan.
- For mixed spaces, calculate each room type separately and add the results.
Code / technical reference2024 IBC / IFC Section 1004.5 and Table 1004.5Open the official ICC section ↗
2024 IFC / IBC Table 1004.5
Room-by-Room Occupant Load
Room / area nameFunction of spaceFloor areaFactorOccupants
Table factor150 gross
Result0
Calculated occupant load0 people
Each room result is rounded up before being added. Any “Special” row requires the referenced code method and is not included in this numerical total.
Generally includes the actual occupied floor area and excludes corridors, stairs, toilets, mechanical rooms and similar accessory areas.
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