F Occupant Load and Overcrowding 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who determines the maximum occupant load for a place of assembly?
- The venue owner based on ticket sales
- The FDNY and/or Department of Buildings based on code calculations (Correct answer)
- The fire guard on duty
- The event promoter
Correct answer: The FDNY and/or Department of Buildings based on code calculations
The maximum occupant load is determined by the FDNY and/or Department of Buildings based on fire code calculations considering floor area, egress capacity, and use type.
Question 2: What should an F-03 fire guard do if they observe the venue exceeding its maximum occupant load?
- Ignore it if people seem comfortable
- Notify venue management immediately and request that admission be stopped (Correct answer)
- Count the people and log it for the end-of-shift report
- Call the police to close the venue
Correct answer: Notify venue management immediately and request that admission be stopped
The fire guard must immediately notify management that the occupant load has been exceeded and request that further admissions be stopped until the count drops to a safe level.
Question 3: Where must the Certificate of Occupancy or place of assembly permit be posted?
- In the manager's office only
- In a conspicuous location visible to the public (Correct answer)
- In the fire guard's logbook
- It doesn't need to be posted
Correct answer: In a conspicuous location visible to the public
The Certificate of Occupancy and/or place of assembly permit must be posted in a conspicuous location visible to the public and FDNY inspectors.
Question 4: What method can a fire guard use to monitor occupant count at a venue?
- Estimating by looking at the crowd
- Mechanical or electronic counting devices at entrances, or manual click counters (Correct answer)
- Checking ticket sales after the event
- No method exists for real-time counting
Correct answer: Mechanical or electronic counting devices at entrances, or manual click counters
Counting devices (mechanical turnstiles, electronic counters, or manual click counters) at entrances and exits provide real-time occupant counts to prevent overcrowding.
Question 5: Overcrowding at a place of assembly is dangerous primarily because:
- It increases the cost of cleaning
- It impedes evacuation and increases the risk of crushing, trampling, and delayed egress (Correct answer)
- It makes the venue too warm
- It reduces ticket revenue per person
Correct answer: It impedes evacuation and increases the risk of crushing, trampling, and delayed egress
Overcrowding creates multiple dangers: blocked aisles, crowd crush at exits, trampling, slower evacuation times, and increased fire load from more people in the space.
Question 6: Can the occupant load of a venue be temporarily increased for a special event?
- Yes, at the owner's discretion
- Only with prior FDNY approval and additional safety measures (Correct answer)
- Yes, up to 25% above the posted limit
- No, the occupant load is permanently fixed
Correct answer: Only with prior FDNY approval and additional safety measures
Temporary increases may only be approved by the FDNY, and typically require additional safety measures such as extra fire guards, additional exits, or enhanced fire protection.
F Occupant Load and Overcrowding 2
Who determines the maximum occupant load for a place of assembly?