Assembly occupancies with occupant loads greater than ______ require sprinklers?

The requirement for sprinklers in assembly occupancies with an occupant load greater than 300 is based on fire safety codes and regulations that are designed to protect the lives of individuals in such environments. Assembly occupancies, which include places like theaters, concert halls, and convention centers, can gather large groups of people, increasing the risk during a fire or emergency scenario.

By requiring sprinklers when the occupant load exceeds 300, building regulations aim to enhance fire suppression capabilities within these facilities. This provision is based on statistical data relating to fire incidents, indicating that as the number of occupants increases, so does the complexity of evacuating everyone safely. Sprinklers serve as an effective means of controlling or extinguishing a fire quickly, thereby allowing more time for occupants to exit safely and reducing the potential for injuries or fatalities.

In contrast, lower limits such as 100 or 150 may not adequately address the risks associated with larger gatherings, where the potential for a rapid fire spread and congestion during evacuation is significantly heightened. Therefore, the threshold of 300 occupants is a critical benchmark in maintaining safety within assembly spaces, leading to the incorporation of sprinkler systems in these scenarios.