Last year, Ronny J. Coleman published an article on overcrowding in nightclubs. He explains the complications in determining the occupancy loads in buildings. (Coleman, 2013). Describes two fires that occurred in nightclubs, one in Rhode Island where 100 people lost their lives and one in Santa Maria, Brazil that killed more than 250 people. Overcrowding was the cause of many of the deaths.
To determine an occupant load on buildings can be difficult to say the least. There are many myriad nuances in calculating the proper loads. Even the simplest ways to determine these loads have many different variances such as decorations, seating, and tables to name a few, that make the calculation process much more difficult. After determining the loads, the owners must post the Occupant Loads in a visible place for future inspections. Building that have high volumes of patrons in nightclubs should be a priority in the fire-prevention planning workload for the foreseeable future. The primary reason for occupancy loads is to ensure that people have a means to escape when necessary.
The article supports the materials that are written in the course book (Robertson, 2010). With the amount of tragic fires that have happened over the years, there is a common theme of overcrowding. The course manual covers the importance of adequate training and education along with the fire and building codes being implemented to try and prevent tragedies like the two mentioned above.
Knowing how to do the calculations properly requires competent training and education for the prospection fire prevention programs. Being able to determine what needs to be factored in for correct calculations looks like it can be a challenge. Although it would cost more money and extra time to achieve the training needed to recognize what can affect load ratings, and effectively calculating a load rating