NFPA CFPE Exam - Topic 3 Question 18 Discussion

Actual exam question for NFPA's CFPE exam

Question #: 18
Topic #: 3

[All CFPE Questions]

Exhibit.

What is the occupant load for the woodworking shop in the figure?

A3 people

B7 people

C10 people

D15 people

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: B

To determine the occupant load for the woodworking shop, we use the standard occupant load factor provided in NFPA 101, Life Safety Code. For an industrial occupancy like a woodworking shop, the typical occupant load factor is 100 square feet per person. The shop is 750 square feet (69.7 square meters), so dividing the total area by 100 square feet per person gives an occupant load of 7.5, which rounds down to 7 people.

by Vincent at Aug 01, 2025, 10:55 PM

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Cassandra

5 months ago

7 people seems more reasonable.

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Nadine

5 months ago

Wait, is it really that high?

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Dorothy

5 months ago

I think it's 10 people.

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Charlene

6 months ago

Definitely 15 people!

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Cherilyn

6 months ago

I heard it's based on square footage, right?

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Mary

6 months ago

I practiced a question like this where the load was determined by equipment space. I think it could be closer to 15 people for a woodworking shop, but I’m not confident.

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Haley

6 months ago

I feel like 10 people could be a reasonable estimate, but I can't recall if there are specific codes for woodworking shops that might change that number.

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Nakita

7 months ago

I remember a similar question about a classroom, and I think the formula is something like 50 square feet per person? Does that apply here too?

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Hollis

7 months ago

I think the occupant load might be based on the square footage of the shop, but I'm not entirely sure how to calculate it.

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Abel

7 months ago

I've got this! The occupant load factor for a woodworking shop is 100 square feet per person. Applying that to the 700 square foot area shown gives me the answer of 7 people.

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Aretha

7 months ago

This is a tricky one. I'm not sure if I have enough information to determine the occupant load. I may need to make some assumptions or look up additional details in the code.

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Tammi

7 months ago

Okay, I think I can figure this out. The key will be identifying the correct occupant load factor from the code and then applying it to the square footage shown in the floor plan.

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Daren

7 months ago

Hmm, I'm not too familiar with occupancy calculations for this type of space. I'll need to carefully review the details in the image and think through the applicable code requirements.

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Marlon

8 months ago

This looks like a straightforward occupancy calculation based on the floor plan. I'll need to review the relevant code sections to determine the proper occupant load factor for a woodworking shop.

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Lyndia

8 months ago

C) 10 people. That's a pretty decent-sized shop, so I'm going with 10 as the occupant load. Although, I hope they have good ventilation in there with all that sawdust flying around!

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Laticia

8 months ago

D) 15 people. This place looks like it can handle a lot of workers. I bet they have some serious machinery in there to keep up with the demand!

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Willie

4 months ago

Yeah, with all that machinery, they need the space!

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Colby

5 months ago

I agree, 15 seems right. They must be busy!

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Christiane

5 months ago

Definitely! Lots of room for equipment too.

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Lawrence

5 months ago

I think 15 is a good guess. Looks spacious!

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Elbert

10 months ago

I'm not sure, but I think it's either 7 or 10 people.

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Shayne

10 months ago

I think the answer is B) 7 people. The image shows a woodworking shop with several workstations, and based on the space and equipment, 7 people seems like a reasonable occupant load.

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