Estimate how many people a space is designed for from its area and use — the figure that drives exits, egress width and other life-safety provisions in the NCC.
Indicative only. Occupant load and egress requirements are set by the National Construction Code (NCC) with specific area factors, minimum exit widths and number-of-exits rules that this tool simplifies.
traqR keeps your fire and essential-safety-measure records against each building so compliance information is always to hand.
Start free trialThe National Construction Code assigns an area per person for each type of use — from tightly packed bars to sparse warehouses.
Dividing the floor area by the area per person, and rounding up, gives the occupant load the space is designed for.
Occupant load drives the number and width of exits. More people means wider and more numerous exits, subject to the NCC minimums.
Occupant load is the floor area divided by the area allowed per person for that use, as set in the National Construction Code. A 200 m² office at 10 m² per person has an occupant load of 20; the same area as a restaurant at 1 m² per person is 200. It sets the basis for exits and other life-safety provisions.
Because people pack in at very different densities. A standing bar area might allow 0.5 m² per person, an office 10 m², and a warehouse 30 m². The same floor can therefore have a hugely different occupant load — and very different egress requirements — depending on how it’s used.
The more people, the more and wider the exits required. The NCC sets minimum aggregate exit widths (broadly on the order of 1 mm per person, subject to minimum door and path widths) and rules for the number of exits and maximum travel distances. This tool gives only an indicative width.
No. It’s an indicative aid. Occupant load, egress width, number of exits and travel distances must be determined under the current NCC by a building certifier or fire safety engineer for the specific building.
This calculator is an indicative aid using typical area-per-person figures. Occupant load and egress requirements must be determined under the current National Construction Code, which sets the applicable area factors, minimum exit widths, number of exits and travel distances, by a building certifier or fire safety engineer.
traqR keeps fire and essential-safety-measure records against each building. Try it free for 14 days.