OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND DESIGN POPULATION FOR BUILDINGS
The occupancy of any building shall be classified and designated according to the
appropriate occupancy class given in the first column of this table below, and
such classification shall reflect the primary function of such building. If such
building is divided into two or more areas not having the same primary function,
the occupancy of each such area shall be classified seperately.Where the
population of any room or portion thereof is known, it shall be taken as the actual
population and where such population is not known, the population shall be
calculated from the criteria set out in the table below.
Class of
occupancy or
building
A1
A2
Type of occupancy
Entertainment and public
assembly Occupancy where
persons gather to eat, drink, dance
or participate in other recreation
Theatrical and indoor
sports Occupancy where persons
gather for the viewing of theatrical,
operatic, orchestral, movie or sport
performances
Total population
allowed
Number of fixed seats
or 1 person per sqm if
there are no fixed seats
Number of fixed seats
or 1 person per sqm if
there are no fixed seats
Places of instruction
A3
A4
A5
Occupancy where school children or
other persons assemble for the
purposes of tuition or learning
Places of worship
Occupancy where persons assemble
for the purposes of worshipping
Outdoor sports Occupancy
where persons view outdoor sports
events
1 person per 5 sqm
Number of fixed seats
or 1 person per sqm if
there are no fixed seats
Number of fixed seats
or 1 person per sqm if
there are no fixed seats
High risk commercial
service Occupancy where a non
B1
industrial process is carried out and
where either the material handled or
the process carried out is liable, in
the event of fire to cause
combustion with extreme rapidity or
give rise to poisonous fumes or
cause explosions
1 person per 15 sqm
Moderate risk
commercial service
B2
Occupancy where a non industrial
process is carried out and where
either the material handled or the
process carried out is liable, in the
event of fire to cause combustion
with extreme rapidity or give rise to
poisonous fumes or cause
explosions
1 person per 15 sqm
Low risk commercial
service Occupancy where a non
B3
C1
industrial process is carried out and
where neither the material handled
or the process carried out falls into
the high or moderate risk category
Exhibition hall Occupancy
where goods are displayed primarily
for viewing by the public
1 person per 15 sqm
1 person per 10 sqm
C2
Museum Occupancy comprising
a museum, art gallery or library
1 person per 20 sqm
High risk industrial
D1
Occupancy where an industrial
process is carried out and where
either the material handled or the
process carried out is liable, in the
event of fire to cause combustion
with extreme rapidity or give rise to
poisonous fumes or cause
explosions
1 person per 15 sqm
Moderate risk industrial
D2
Occupancy where an industrial
process is carried out and where
either the material handled or the
process carried out is liable, in the
event of fire to cause combustion
with moderate rapidity, but is not
likely to give rise to poisonous
fumes or cause explosions
1 person per 15 sqm
Low risk industrial
D3
Occupancy where an industrial
process is carried out and where
neither the material handled or the
process carried out falls into the
high or moderate risk category
1 person per 15 sqm
Plant room Occupancy
D4
comprising usually unattended
mechanical or electrical services
necessary for the running of a
building
N/A
Place of detention
E1
Occupancy where people are
detained for punitive or corrective
reasons or because of their mental
condition
2 persons per bedroom
Hospital Occupancy where
E2
people are cared for or treated
because of physical or mental
disabilities and where they are
generally bed ridden
1 person per 10 sqm
Other institutional
E3
Occupancy where groups of people
who either are not fully fit, or who
are restricted in their movements or
their ability to make decisions,
reside and are cared for
2 persons per bedroom
Large shop Occupancy where
F1
merchandise is displayed and
offered for sale to the public and
where the floor area exceeds 250
sqm
1 person per 10 sqm
Small shop Occupancy where
F2
merchandise is displayed and
offered for sale to the public and
where the floor area does not exceed
250 sqm
1 person per 10 sqm
Wholesalers store
F3
G1
H1
Occupancy where goods are
displayed and stored and where only
a limited selected group of persons
is present at any one time
Offices Occupancy comprising
offices, consulting rooms and other
similar usage
Hotel Occupancy where persons
rent furnished rooms, not being
1 person per 20 sqm
1 person per 15 sqm
2 persons per bedroom
dwelling units
H2
H3
Dormitory Occupancy where a
group of people are accomodated in
one room
Domestic residence
Occupancy consisting of two or
more dwelling units on a single site
1 person per 5 sqm
2 persons per bedroom
Dwelling house Occupancy
H4
consisting of a dwelling unit on it's
own site, including a garage and
other domestic outbuildings, if any
N/A
High risk storage Occupancy
J1
where material is stored and where
the stored material is liable, in the
event of a fire, to cause combustion
with extreme rapidity or give rise to
poisonous fumes, or cause
explosions
1 person per 50 sqm
Moderate risk storage
J2
Occupancy where material is stored
and where the stored material is
liable, in the event of a fire, to cause
combustion with extreme rapidity
but is not likely to give rise to
poisonous fumes, or cause
explosions
1 person per 50 sqm
Low risk storage Occupancy
J3
J4
where the stored material does not
fall into the high or moderate risk
category
Parking garage Occupancy
used for storing or parking of more
than 10 motor vehicles
1 person per 50 sqm
1 person per 50 sqm
The above table has been extracted from the SABS Code 0400 of 1990 and has been
recreated by the Environmental Health Section for the purpose of this web site.
Table - Occupancy Classification, Population Figures and Sanitary Facility Requirements