Source: HVAC Equations, Data, and Rules of Thumb

PA RT

10
People/Occupancy
Rules of ­Thumb

h v a c e q u at i o n s , d ata , a n d r u l e s o f t h u m b

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­10.01 Offices, ­Commercial

A. General 80–150 ­sq.ft./person

B. Private One, Two, or Three ­People

C. Private 100–150 ­sq.ft./person

D. Conference, Meeting Rooms 20–50 ­sq.ft./person

10.02 Banks, Court Houses, Municipal Buildings, Town Halls

A. 50–150 ­sq.ft./person

10.03 Police Stations, Fire Stations, Post Offices

A. 100–500 ­sq.ft./person

10.04 Precision Manufacturing

A. 100–300 ­sq.ft./person

10.05 Computer Rooms

A. 80–150 ­sq.ft./person

10.06 Restaurants

A. 150–50 ­sq.ft./person

10.07 Kitchens

A. 50–150 ­sq.ft./person

10.08 Cocktail Lounges, Bars, Taverns, Clubhouses, Nightclubs

A. 15–50 ­sq.ft./person

10.09 Hospital Patient Rooms, Nursing Home Patient Rooms

A. 80–150 ­sq.ft./person

10.10 Hospital General Areas

A. 50–150 ­sq.ft./person

10.11 Medical/Dental Centers, Clinics, and Offices

A. 50–150 ­sq.ft./person

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10.12 Residential

A. 200–600 ­sq.ft./person

10.13 Apartments (Eff., ­One-­Room, ­Two-­Room)

A. 100–400 ­sq.ft./person

10.14 Motel and Hotel Public Spaces

A. 100–200 ­sq.ft./person

10.15 Motel and Hotel Guest Rooms, Dormitories

A. 100–200 ­sq.ft./person

10.16 School Classrooms

A. 20–30 ­sq.ft./person

10.17 Dining Halls, Lunch Rooms, Cafeterias, Luncheonettes

A. 10–50 ­sq.ft./person

10.18 Libraries, Museums

A. 30–100 ­sq.ft./person

10.19 Retail, Department Stores

A. 15–75 ­sq.ft./person

10.20 Drug, Shoe, Dress, Jewelry, Beauty, Barber, and Other Shops

A. 15–50 ­sq.ft./person

10.21 Supermarkets

A. 50–100 ­sq.ft./person

10.22 Malls, Shopping Centers

A. 50–100 ­sq.ft./person

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10.23 Jails

A. 50–300 ­sq.ft./person

10.24 Auditoriums, Theaters

A. 5–20 ­sq.ft./person

10.25 Churches

A. 5–20 ­sq.ft./person

10.26 Bowling Alleys

A. 2–6 ­people/lane
Note: People/occupancy requirements should be determined from the architect, client, or
as required by the building or mechanical codes whenever ­possible.

10.27 2003 IMC, 2006 IMC, and ASHRAE Standard 62-­2001

OCCUPANCY ­SCHEDULE
Max. Occupant Load (1)
Occupancy Classification
People per 1,000 SF SF/Person
Correctional Facilities
Cells without Plumbing Fixtures 20 50
Cells with Plumbing Fixtures 20 50
Dining Halls 100 10
Guard Stations 40 25
Dry Cleaners, Laundries
Coin-Operated Dry Cleaners 20 50
Coin-Operated Laundries 20 50
Commercial Dry Cleaners 30 33
Commercial Laundry Shops 10 100
Storage, Pick-up 30 33
Education
Auditoriums 150 6
Classrooms 50 20
Corridors - -
Laboratories 30 33
Libraries 20 50
Locker Rooms - -
Music Rooms 50 20
Smoking Lounges 70 14
Training Shops 30 33
Food and Beverage Service
Bars, Cocktail Lounges 100 10
Cafeteria, Fast Food 100 10
Dining Rooms 70 14
Kitchens (cooking) 20 50
(Continued)

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OCCUPANCY ­SCHEDULE (Continued )

Max. Occupant Load (1)
Occupancy Classification
People per 1,000 SF SF/Person
Hospitals, Nursing, and Convalescent Homes
Autopsy Rooms - -
Medical Procedure Rooms 20 50
Operating Rooms 20 50
Patient Rooms 10 100
Physical Therapy 20 50
Recovery and ICU 20 50
Hotels, Motels, Resorts, and Dormitories
Assembly Rooms 120 8
Bathrooms - -
Bedrooms - -
Conference Rooms 50 20
Dormitory Sleeping Areas 20 50
Gambling Casinos 120 8
Living Rooms -
Lobbies 30 33
Offices
Conference Rooms 50 20
Office Spaces 7 143
Reception Areas 60 17
Telecommunication Centers and Data Entry 60 17
Private Dwellings (Single and Multiple)
Living Areas (4) -
Kitchens - -
Toilet Rooms and Bathrooms - -
Garages (Separate for Each Dwelling) - -
Garages (Common for Multiple Units) - -
Public Spaces
Corridors and Utilities - -
Elevators, Elevator Cars - -
Locker Rooms, Dressing Rooms - -
Toilet Rooms, Public Restrooms - -
Shower Rooms (per Shower Head) - -
Smoking Lounges 70 14
Retail Stores, Sales Floors, and Show Room Floors
- -
Basement and Street Levels 30 33
Dressing Rooms - -
- -
Malls and Arcades 20 50
- -
Shipping and Receiving 10 100
Smoking Lounges 70 14
- -
Storage Rooms 15 66
- -
Upper Floors 20 50
- -
Warehouses 5 200
Specialty Shops
Automotive Service Stations, - -
Automotive Motor-Fuel Dispensing Stations (5)
Barber Shops 25 40
Beauty Shops 25 40

(Continued)

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OCCUPANCY ­SCHEDULE (Continued )

Max. Occupant Load (1)
Occupancy Classification
People per 1,000 SF SF/Person
Clothiers, Furniture Stores - -
Embalming Room (5) - -
Florists 8 125
Hardware, Drugs, Fabrics 8 125
Nail Salons (5) - -
Pet Shops - -
Reducing Salons 20 50
Supermarkets 8 125
Sports and Amusement
Ballrooms and Discos 100 10
Bowling Alleys (Seating Areas) 70 14
Game Rooms 70 14
Ice Arenas - -
Playing Floors, Gymnasiums 30 33
Spectator Areas 150 6
Swimming Pools (Pool and Deck Areas) - -
Storage
Repair Garages, Enclosed Parking Garages - -
- -
Warehouses
5 200
Theaters
Auditoriums 150 6
Lobbies 150 6
Stages, Studios 70 14
Ticket Booths 60 16
Transportation
Platforms 100 10
Vehicles 150 6
Waiting Rooms 100 10
Workrooms
Bank Vaults 5 200
- -
Darkrooms
10 100
Duplicating, Printing Areas - -
Meat Processing Areas 10 100
Pharmacies 20 50
Photo Studios 10 100
Notes:
1 Maximum occupant load is based on the net floor ­area.
2 Bold and italicized items are 2006 IMC ­changes.
3 Bold and underlined items are ASHRAE Standard 62-2001 ­changes.
4 Based on the number of bedrooms: First bedroom, two people; each additional bedroom, one ­person.
5 This category is not in ASHRAE Standard 62-­2001.

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10.28 ASHRAE Standard 62-­2004

OCCUPANCY ­SCHEDULE
Max. Occupant Load
Occupancy Category
People per 1,000 SF SF/Person
Correctional Facilities
Cells 25 40
Day Rooms 30 33
Guard Stations 15 67
Booking/Waiting 50 20
Educational Facilities
Daycare (through age 4) 25 40
Classrooms (ages 5–8) 25 40
Classrooms (ages 9 plus) 35 28
Lecture Classrooms 65 15
Lecture Halls (Fixed Seats) 150 6
Art Classrooms 20 50
Science Laboratories 25 40
Wood/Metal Shops 20 50
Computer Labs 25 40
Media Centers 25 40
Music/Theater/Dance 35 28
Multiuse Assembly 100 10
Food and Beverage Service
Restaurant Dining Rooms 70 14
Cafeterias/Fast Food 100 10
Bars/Cocktail Lounges 100 10
General
Conference/Meeting Rooms 50 20
Corridors - -
Storage Rooms - -
Hotel, Motels, Resorts, Dormitories
Bedrooms/Living Rooms 10 100
Barracks Sleeping Areas 20 50
Lobbies/Prefunction 30 22
Multipurpose Assembly Rooms 120 8
Office Buildings
Office Space 5 200
Reception Areas 30 33
Telephone/Data Entry 60 17
Main Entry Lobbies 10 100
Miscellaneous Spaces
Bank Vaults/Safe Deposits 5 200
Computers (Not Printing) 4 250
Pharmacies (Prep Area) 10 100
Photo Studios 10 100
Shipping/Receiving - -
Transportation Waiting 100 10
Warehouses - -
Public Assembly Spaces
Auditorium Seating Areas 150 6
Places of Religious Worship 120 8
(Continued)

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OCCUPANCY ­SCHEDULE (Continued )

Max. Occupant Load
Occupancy Category
People per 1,000 SF SF/Person
Courtrooms 70 14
Legislative Chambers 50 20
Libraries 10 100
Lobbies 150 6
Museums (Children’s) 40 25
Museums/Galleries 40 25
Retail
Sales (except for the following) 15 67
Mall Common Areas 40 25
Barber Shops 25 40
Beauty and Nail Salons 25 40
Pet Shops (Animal Areas) 10 100
Supermarkets 8 125
Coin-Operated Laundries 20 50
Sports and Entertainment
Sports Arena (Play Areas) - -
Gym, Stadium (Play Areas) 30 33
Spectator Areas 150 6
Swimming Pool (Pool and Decks) - -
Disco/Dance Floors 100 10
Health Club/Aerobics Rooms 40 25
Health Club/Weight Rooms 10 100
Bowling Alley (Seating) 40 25
Gambling Casinos 120 8
Game Arcades 20 50
Sages, Studios 70 14
Healthcare Facilities
Patient Rooms 10 100
Medical Procedure Rooms 20 50
Operating Rooms 20 50
Recovery and ICU 20 50
Autopsy Rooms 20 50
Physical Therapy 20 50

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