Question

When a building has more than one occupancy, the occupant load for the whole building is determined by which of the following?

1) The occupant load for each individual occupancy
2) The average of the occupant load for each individual occupancy
3) The highest occupant load for any individual occupancy
4) The lowest occupant load for any individual occupancy

Answer 1

The occupant load for a building with multiple occupancies is determined by adding together the occupant load for each individual occupancy to ensure building safety measures are adequate for all occupants.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a building has multiple occupancies, the occupant load for the whole building is determined by the occupant load for each individual occupancy. This means that each area with a distinct use will have an occupant load calculated based on factors specific to that area, such as function, size, and layout. These individual occupant loads are then added together to obtain the total occupant load for the entire building. This approach ensures that building safety measures, such as emergency exits and fire safety systems, are adequate for the maximum number of people that could potentially occupy the building at any given time.