Architecture - calculating # of kids per square foot in a classroom?

Question

I am on a building committee, and need to know how many kids per square foot I can have comfortably fit in a (square or rectangular) church Sunday School classroom with tables. I know there is an occupancy load provided by the local fire Marshall, but I don't want an overcrowded room.
Thanks!!!

Answer 1

The limiting factor in the size of a teaching unit may be the available space. Adult and youth classes require 10 square feet for each pupil; preschool and children's departments require 25 square feet for each pupil (ideally, preschoolers should have 35 square feet per child, but this is an ideal seldom achievable). The other factor is the rule that only 80% of capacity is realizable on an ongoing basis; you may be able to achieve greater attendance for short periods, but it will soon return to the 80% level. Your Sunday School cannot grow beyond its available space.

Answer 2

no table that i know of ( and the fire dept would allow too many )
to calculate you need to decide on the seating arrangement first ( how many per table ) then leave space for an adult between tables - 3'6" is minimum

but i believe the real limit will be the noise and attention factor more than space and only you know the personalities of the children and instructor - i would err on the low side for the sake of the lessons getting across

doing some quick calculations based on school desk spacing i get 15 sq ft per child minimum required ( seems about right a 15 x 20 room for 20 kids and space for instruction )

Answer 3

math will help you