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Volume 47, No. 12

B.C. Reg. 249/2004

The British Columbia Gazette,

Part II

June 15, 2004

B.C. Reg. 249/2004, deposited June 9, 2004, pursuant

to the FIRE SERVICES ACT [Section 47 (2)]. Ministerial

Regulation M224/2004, dated June 8, 2004.

I, Murray Coell, Minister of Community, Women's and Aboriginal

Services, order that the British Columbia Fire Code, B.C. Reg. 318/2003,

is amended as set out in the attached schedule.

— M. COELL, Minister

of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services.

Schedule

THE BRITISH COLUMBIA FIRE CODE

1. Replace

Article 2.7.1.3. with

2.7.1.3. Occupant Load

1) The maximum permissible occupant load

for any room shall be calculated on the basis of the lesser of

a) 0.4 m 2 of net floor space per occupant, or

b) the occupant load for which means of egress

are provided.

(See Appendix A.)

2) The number of persons permitted to enter a

room shall not exceed the maximum occupant load calculated in conformance

with Sentence (1).

2. Replace Appendix Note A-2.7.1.3. (3) with Appendix Note A-2.7.1.3. (1) as follows

A-2.7.1.3.

(1) The British Columbia Fire Code uses two criteria to determine

the maximum permissible occupant load in existing buildings: the exit capacity,

and the total clear space per person. Assuming that exit capacity is sufficient,

the value of 0.4m 2 /person ensures that a crowd of people will be

able to move steadily toward the exits.

Table 3.1.16.1. in the British Columbia Building Code should not be used to

determine maximum permissible occupant load for rooms or spaces in existing

buildings. Table 3.1.16.1. is intended to allow a building designer to

calculate a minimum occupant load for the purpose of designing certain building

features, such as means of egress and fire alarm systems. The designer may choose

to design for more or fewer persons, in which case the actual design occupant

load must be posted in a conspicuous location. In an existing building, the

process must be calculated in reverse, from the measured exit capacity, or other

building features, to a maximum permissible occupant load. The result of the

calculation may not be, and is not intended to be, consistent with values obtained

using Table 3.1.16.1.

Net floor space referred to in Clause (

a) is the floor space in a room excluding areas occupied by structural features and fixtures, such as tables, furnishings or equipment. In certain assembly occupancies, where the number and type of furnishings may change according to the nature of the function taking place, it may be appropriate to calculate maximum occupant loads for each of the different functions anticipated.

It should also be noted that

Article 2.1.3.1. of this Code requires fire alarm

systems to be installed in conformance with the British Columbia Building Code.

This means that if the occupant load determined by Sentence 2.7.1.3.

(1) exceeds that for which a fire alarm system is required by the British Columbia

Building Code, a fire alarm system must be provided in the building.

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