All new buildings in the United States, whether residential, commercial or industrial, must comply with the most recent edition of the International Building Code (IBC) or with standards of local laws based on that same code. This code, developed by the International Code Council (ICC), is intended to make buildings safe. Section 1004 of the IBC is one particular section of this building code.
What Is the International Building Code?
The IBC is a collection of guidelines and rules referenced when building any structures intended to be populated by people. The regulations within the the IBC play a key role in determining the design and construction of the structures. There are 35 chapters within the IBC dealing with all aspects of building safety, from staircases to fire provisions to exit doorways.
Purpose
The main purpose of the IBC is to make buildings safe to reside in. This applies to permanent residences such as homes and apartments, as well as commercial areas such as stores, restaurants and offices. By establishing uniform safety guidelines, the IBC seeks to ensure that builders design and build structures with an eye toward the safety of occupants.
Section 1004
Section 1004 of the IBC is found in chapter 10, titled "Means of Egress." Section 1004 details the occupancy load standards set in place for walkways, corridors or any other portions of architecture, whether inside or outside, that eventually lead to an exit. Occupancy load is simply the maximum number of people allowed within a building at one time. According to Section 1004, occupancy load and the number of accessible exits must be determined in conjunction with each other. The number of exits must be suitable to accommodate the approved occupancy load. Occupancy load can be determined by examining the intended function of a structure and by taking into consideration the number of people that will be within the building at any single time. The IBC includes a chart that lists the units of area per person in square feet. By dividing the floor area by these units, you can design accordingly. For example, since an airport baggage claim must have 20 square feet per person, a baggage claim that is designed to have 200 square feet of floor space can legally accommodate 10 people at a time. The legal occupancy must be posted in a public place within the room near the main exit. Section 1004 goes on to list further specifications for determining occupancy load for structures with multiple levels, areas with permanent seating and outdoor areas.
Purpose
Occupancy and the issue of egress (exit) for those within the structure must be considered when designing a new building for both safety and efficiency. If a room is too crowded for an individual to safely move from one side of the room to the other in case of an emergency, it could be a potential hazard to not only the individual having the emergency, but also to those around them. Furthermore, if multiple people need to exit at one time, there must be enough exits for all of them as well as a clear, accessible path to those exits.
Enforcement
The International Building Code is enforced by local state and town laws. Building inspectors, fire inspectors and health inspectors ensure that new and existing buildings comply with the provisions contained within the IBC, including Section 1004.
Tags: Section 1004, International Building, International Building Code, occupancy load, Building Code
