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DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTIONS
INSPECTOR 212 Main Street • Municipal Building
Northampton, MA 01060
May 10, 2006
Fraternal Order of Eagles
270 Pleasant Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Attn. John Dunn
Northampton Fire Department
26 Carlon Drive
Northampton, MA 01060
Attn. Fire Chief Brian Duggan
Re: Letter from Chuck Whitham, Architects Inc.
Dear Mr. Dunn,
I am receipt of letter from Architect Chuck Whitham dated May 4, 2006 for occupant
load for existing facility. The occupant load for each of the floors must be added together
to compute total load . The only way that individual floor loads could be used would be if
they were separate buildings or if they were separated by fire walls. The building code
looks at the three floors as a single use as they are not separated by fire walls therefore
the total occupant load based on letter submitted is as follows:
a. Basement floor 68
b. First floor 79
c. Second floor 80
Total 227
The letter also makes the assumption that the floor area would contain"un-concentrated
tables and chairs" and uses the figure allowed by 780CMR 1008.1.2 of 15 square feet per
person. When the tables and chairs are cleared from the area, as what has happened
during some of your events then 3 feet per person is used and the occupant number
becomes greater.
Sincerely,
'Anthony Patillo
Building Commissioner
City of Northampton