Formula to automate highlighting empty column cells based on values

First post here. please advise of any errors. If it is posted wrong section, please move it to correct section.

I have to automate the yearly staff absent calendar. This spreadsheet is just a snapshot of whole year.

Breakdown of rows and columns,
Row A2 to A14 - contains staff Names
Columns B to F - days of the week

A16 row - gives total of the staff away for that day
A17 cell - allowable limit for staff (25% of the staffs). The formula used =((COUNTA(A2:A14))*25)/100

B2 to F14 range of cells - staff marked on Vacation/away.
1 = vacation choice. These cells are colour coded based on staff choices
Y = staff who called in sick or away for other reasons for that day.

Reason for posting here:
I need help in automating the process of highlighting the empty cells of each column (B to F ) where the Total (row 16) is equal or greater than A17 (allowable limit for staff 25%).

I don't want to use VBA as I have no knowledge. I want to rely on formulas only.

Is it possible ??

Thank you for looking into my query. I am using MS Office 2010.

Thank you very much, Keebellah.
could you please advise explain, how it is done.
Is the conditional formatting applied to each column ?

Thanks again.