
Allowable smaller lettering shall be a minimum of 3/8- inch block lettering. Signs shall minimum of 1-inch block letters and numbers on a contrasting background so as to be readily visible.
#Factory town limit of general stores code
Is the sign clear and legible? The Houston Fire Code requires the following:.Has the sign been maintained? It is the responsibility of the building’s owner to make sure that the sign is not damaged by wear or abuse.Is the sign present? The 2018 International Building Code (IBC) requires that signs should be present in all “assembly occupancies.” The city of Yuma, Arizona, requires their presence in assembly occupancies and defines that term as “gatherings of 50 persons or more for civic, social, or religious functions.” Other jurisdictions, such as the cities of Houston, Texas and Portland, Oregon, as well as the state of Idaho, agree that occupancy signs are required for buildings that have occupancy loads of 50 or more.Members of the Certified Commercial Property Inspectors Association (CCPIA) can consider the following questions while they inspect load occupancy signs: The Takeaway for Commercial Property Inspectors The fire was so lethal because the evacuation was sluggish, partly due to the fact that the actual number of people present was much higher than the building’s occupancy load. The NFPA states that “fires in assembly occupancies have shown to be some of the most deadly when the proper features, systems and construction materials were not present.” For instance, in the 2003 Station Night Club fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island, which killed 100 people in just over five minutes. To exceed occupancy load or fail to post-occupancy load signs in the required places can result in fines and is a serious safety hazard.Įmergencies can require the immediate evacuation of a building, particularly in the event of a fire. What Are Maximum Occupancy Load Signs?Īn occupancy load must be posted on signs, which are sometimes called maximum occupancy load signs so that this information is publicly available.

The building authority issues the Certificate of Occupancy.Īccording to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an assembly occupancy refers to “an occupancy (1) used for a gathering of 50 or more persons for deliberation, worship, entertainment, eating, drinking, amusement, awaiting transportation, or similar uses or (2) used as a special amusement building, regardless of occupant load.” Examples of assembly occupancies include armories, assembly halls, auditoriums, club rooms, dance halls, bars, and exhibition halls, and more. The maximum is 50 per foot of exit.Ĭertificate of Occupancy (CO) is a document stating that a building is approved for occupancy. Maximum occupancy refers to the maximum number of people permitted in a room measured per foot for each width of the exit door. The International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties (ComSOP) defines occupancy load as the number of people permitted in a building based on the means of egress. Occupancy load refers to the number of people permitted in a building at one time based on the building’s floor space and function.
