Posted By Alan Hoskins
Hi Kim,

Not an answer I'm afraid...

From memory there were DoE recommended capacities many years ago for educational establishments. Don't know if there was anything similar for NHS.

For higher education there is space utilisation information in the Metric Handbook (Adler) but it varies depending upon the use of the room and circulation space.

Alan

Alan

Posted By Mike Herbert
For a general rule of thumb
Workplace regs of 11 cubic metres per person could be followed presuming there are tables and other furniture. Might be described as a reasonable amount of space for comfort at least.

A single person in a chair needs 1 sq.m plus an aisle to reach exit. Total number in a large room will depend on number of exits.

For places of entertainment there used to be the yellow guide 'fire safety in places of entertainment etc' but this is out of stock and not being reprinted due to RRO. This describes maximum occupancy for a variety of seating formats such as theatre layout, standing room only etc

Is this meeting in your own premises or at an established meeting room/conference centre? Roughly how big is the room? How many do you have to accomodate? Furniture?number of exits?

If at the latter the operators will advise comfortable occupancy levels.

If in your own, pack 'em in and do a risk assessment. :-)

Post again if further help required
cheers
mike

Posted By Robert K Lewis
Kim
The answer to this will depend on the number of doors and their width, the flow capacity of the corridors, whether it is ground floor or above and the room seating layout. The building regs provide computations as a start point.

In essence a flow rate of 1 person per second through a single leaf door is achievable but I would reckon on reducing this by a 1/2 in most circumstances. Staircases too take around 60 persons per minute. Clearly the more doorways and, where necessary staircases you have, the greater the final capacity. You will then need to balance these with the travel distances. the New Fire Safety Risk Assessment Guide, Offices and Shops, available for download from the ODPM website provides help and guidance for the latter element.

Bob

Posted By Descarte
From - The event safety guide

In areas where seating is provided, the major part of the occupant capacity will be determined by the number of seats available. However, in other cases, a calculation will need to be made and this is based on each person occupying an area of 0.5 m2. The maximum number of people who can be accommodated can therefore be calculated by
dividing the total area available to the audience (in m2) by 0.5.

Example: an outdoor site measuring 100 x 50 m with all areas available to the audience could accommodate a maximum of 10 000 people (ie 100 x 50 m = 5000 m2 divided by 0.5 = 10 000).

However, the local or fire authority may decide that for certain events the occupant capacity will need to be reduced.

In deciding whether the means of escape are reasonable they will take into consideration:
• the occupant capacity of the building;
• the width and number of exits required;
• whether temporary stands and/or stages will be constructed within the building;
• exit and directional signs; and
• the normal and emergency lighting with which the building is provided.

In general, stairways should be no less than 1.05 m wide. The aggregate capacity of stairways should
be sufficient for the number of people likely to have to use them at the time of a fire.

Every venue should be provided with exits that are sufficient for the number of people present in
relation to their width, number and siting. Normally no exit should be less than 1.05 m wide.

As a general principle, if a building is used for public assembly, a door used for means of escape
should open in the direction of travel.
142 Also, the door should:
• not open across an escape route;
• be hung to open through not less than 90° and with a swing which is clear of any change of
floor level;
• be provided with a vision panel if it is hung to swing both ways; and
• if protecting an escape route, be fire-resisting, fitted with smoke seals and be self-closing.

There are specific requirements for outdoor areas, also recommendations on stairways and fire exitwidths in this document but refers to more specific guidance in the fire event safety guide

Posted By Kim Sunley
Thanks for the help - time to get the calculator out.