Final answer:
Fixed charges like mortgage or rent, property taxes, and insurance premiums are unaffected by building occupancy levels. To safely discharge a person carrying an excess charge, they should touch a grounded metal object. Improper discharge can lead to harmful electric discharges.
Step-by-step explanation:
Specific charges unaffected by the level of occupancy in a building include items such as the institution's mortgage or rent, property taxes, and insurance premiums. These fixed costs remain the same regardless of how many people occupy the building at any given time. In contrast, variable charges such as utilities and maintenance may fluctuate with occupancy levels.
When a person carries an excess charge, their ability to maintain this charged status against a ground relies on the insulation properties of their footwear. If they are wearing shoes with insulative soles, such as rubber, they might retain that charge. To discharge them safely, one method is to have them touch a grounded metal object, ensuring that the static charge can flow away safely. If the charged person simply walks away without properly discharging, they risk causing an electric discharge to themselves or to others, which might be uncomfortable or even harmful in certain environments, such as those with flammable gases.