Using the floor-area method, determine the occupancy load for a conference room using 15 sq. ft. per person. The conference room measures 25 feet by 32 feet.

Using the floor-area method, determine the occupancy load for a conference room using 15 sq. ft. per person. The conference room measures 25 feet by 32 feet.

• A. 53
• B. 8
• C. 16
• D. 27

Answer: (A)

The floor-area method estimates how many people can occupy a space by dividing the total area by the space allotted per person. First find the room’s area: 25 feet times 32 feet equals 800 square feet. With an allowance of 15 square feet per person, the occupancy load is 800 divided by 15, which equals 53.333. Since you can’t have a fraction of a person, the practical result used here is 53 occupants. (Some codes round up to the next whole person, which would be 54, but this calculation yields 53.)

The floor-area method estimates how many people can occupy a space by dividing the total area by the space allotted per person. First find the room’s area: 25 feet times 32 feet equals 800 square feet. With an allowance of 15 square feet per person, the occupancy load is 800 divided by 15, which equals 53.333. Since you can’t have a fraction of a person, the practical result used here is 53 occupants. (Some codes round up to the next whole person, which would be 54, but this calculation yields 53.)