The objectives in
restricting the numbers in attendance at any event is to avoid the dangers of
overcrowding and to ensure that the means of escape in an emergency are
adequate for the numbers of people being evacuated from the venue. To determine
the total number of people who can inhabit a given space you will need to
calculate the ‘occupant capacity’.
The following factors should be considered:
• Layout of the
venue/site
•
Viewing areas
• Seating arrangements
• Site/venue
infrastructure
• Exit doors and routes
• Circulation areas
• Space required per
person
The advice of a
competent person and the fire authorities should be sought when determining the
numbers of people who can be accommodated at the event. If the event involves
the provision of seating only, then the number of seats the venue can hold will
be a determining factor.
Capacities should be
arrived at not only in terms of space allowance, but also through considering
appropriate rates of entry and exit from areas of the facility within specific
time limits. This involves monitoring crowd or audience levels in particular
areas. A well-managed and secure system of advance ticket sales is the best
method of avoiding over-capacity. Where this is not an option and there is a
limit on attendance numbers, it is important to have some method for assessing
the numbers admitted to ensure the ‘occupant capacity’ is not exceeded. This
can be achieved by using designated entrances manned by stewards in a way,
which will allow them to carry out an accurate form of head counting.
While the need and the
means to manage admittance numbers to an enclosed event which have attractions
which are in temporary accommodation such as marquees, or events where the
audience may be restricted to areas of the public roads should also address the
need to prevent overcrowding in specific areas. It is important that reference
be made to the relevant Codes of Practice and professional assistance sought in
calculating occupant capacity.
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