Assembly occupancies generally contain large numbers of people who are unfamiliar with the space and are therefore subject to indecision regarding the best means of egress in an emergency.
Assembly occupancies are characterized by the presence or potential presence of crowds with attendant panic hazard in case of fire or other emergency. They are generally or occasionally open to the public, and the occupants, who are present voluntarily, are not ordinarily subject to discipline or control. Such buildings are ordinarily occupied by able-bodied persons and are not used for sleeping purpose.