2020-052 Occupancy CalculationsDate: May 22, 2020 Report No. 2020-052
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Occupant load calculation methodology for businesses in the City of Denton. BACKGROUND: During their May 19 meeting, the City Council requested information on how staff calculates occupancy loads for individual businesses. The Development Services Department is responsible for completing occupant load calculations for each business and restaurant operating in the city limits. Occupant loads are included in the Certificate of Occupancy, which confirms that the
business is operating legally and that the facility has been inspected for compliance with applicable
codes. Occupant load calculations for new construction and new businesses operating in the City of Denton are currently based on the 2012 International Building Code (IBC). The 2012 IBC was adopted by the City Council via ordinance in 2015. For buildings constructed prior to the adoption of the 2012 IBC, staff used the adopted Building Code at that time to calculate occupancy totals.
Over the past decade, there has been no significant changes to the occupancy calculation
methodology as new versions of the IBC have been published. DISCUSSION: As a part of the May 19 Work Session, staff provided Council with an update to City’s COVID-
19 response. During the presentation there was discussion on Governor Abbott’s reopening
strategy, the City Manager was asked to provide more information on how occupant loads are established for businesses within the City of Denton. As the statewide response to the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, businesses and restaurants have
been granted authority to re-open by Governor Abbott with certain restrictions on occupancy
totals. Governor Abbott’s most recent executive orders have restricted certain business types to re-open at 25% and 50% of their listed occupancy. In order to calculate the reduced occupancy totals, Development Services staff first had to compile
the original occupancy totals issued to businesses by referencing historical documents, data in the
permitting software system, and/or by manually calculating occupancy totals using the 2012 IBC. Occupant load calculations include several factors such as the use of the building, square footage, ingress and egress points, and available safety infrastructure. In order to calculate a business’
occupant load, staff must first obtain the square footage of each use in a building or business. The
use serves as the baseline for the occupant load determination. Following this, staff calculates the widths of all marked exit doors, verifies the existence or nonexistence of a sprinkler system, and determines the distances between required or marked exit doors. This calculation allows for the determination of the safe limitation of the number of individuals that can occupy that space.
Example Calculation:
Big Box Store 180,088 square feet total
Date: May 22, 2020 Report No. 2020-052
Calculate occupant load Inside sales floor 138,566 square feet/30 square feet per person = 4,619 persons Storage areas 19,053 square feet/300 square feet per person = 63 persons Kitchen areas 22,469 square feet/200 square feet per person = 112 persons Total equals 4,794 persons
Table 1004.1.2 9 (2012 International Building Code) – not complete table
FUNCTION OF SPACE OCCUPANT LOAD FACTOR
Assembly without fixed seats (Restaurants and Bars)
Concentrate (chairs only-not fixed)
Standing space
Unconcentrated (tables and chairs)
7 net1 (number of persons per square foot)
5 net1 (number of persons per square foot)
15net1 (number of persons per square foot)
Mercantile (Grocery Stores and Retail)
Areas on other floors
Basement and grade floor areas
Storage, stock, shipping areas
60 gross2 (includes all ancillary spaces)
30 gross2 (includes all ancillary spaces)
300 gross2 (includes all ancillary spaces)
1Occupiable Area where individuals may gather; excludes restrooms, kitchens, mechanical, and storage areas
2Gross includes all ancillary spaces Staff has prepared a spreadsheet of Denton restaurants and businesses that lists each establishment’s occupant totals along with 25% and 50% occupant loads. These spreadsheets are updated regularly as additional information is identified and as feedback is received from business
owners. Occupancy load information is available on the City’s website at:
https://www.cityofdenton.com/en-us/business/permits-licenses and https://www.cityofdenton.com/en-us/government/health-safety/covid-19-information/covid-19-business-guidelines. CONCLUSION: Staff continues to monitor the Executive Orders issued by Governor Abbott regarding restrictions placed on businesses as they are permitted to reopen. Development Services staff working closely with staff from Public Affairs and the City Manager’s Office to ensure pertinent information is updated and readily available to the business community.
STAFF CONTACT: Scott McDonald, Director, Development Services Scott.mcdonald@cityofdenton.com
Emily Loiselle, Deputy Building Official Emily.loiselle@cityofdenton.com
(940) 349-8536 REQUESTOR: Council Member Armintor (May 19, 2020 Work Session)
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: 4 hours