Building Classifications: Occupancies

 Most things have classifications  Objective classifications  Drivers’ licenses  Hazardous materials  Tests and assignments (hopefully)  Subjective classifications  Social status  Favorite movies

 Provide an essential building block in developing an effective building code  Occupancy  Based on how it will be used  Construction type  Based on the type of construction used

 Oversight organizations  Uniform Building Code (UBC)  First published in 1927  International Council of Building Officials  Promoted public safety & standardized safe construction  International Building Code (IBC)  Replaced the UBC in 2000  International Code Council (ICC)  ICC was a merger of:  International Council of Building Officials (ICBO) Uniform Building Code  Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA) The BOCA National Building Code  Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) Standard Building Code  Primarily used in North America

 UBC definition:  “The purpose that a building, or part thereof, is used or intended to be used  Essentially how the building will be used  IBC  Does not specifically define occupancy

 UBC placed the responsibility on building official  Conflict with architects (designing without knowing code regulations)  IBC does not specify who  IBC states “structures will be classified with respect to occupancy”  Architects can legally determine occupancy code, building official can agree or not

 IBC has ten occupancy groups  Many have subgroups  Subgroups are numbered  Lower number = greater perceived risk

 Most assigned strictly on intended use/uses  Many building have areas that have different uses.  Using a fire department as an example:  Storage of equipment  Sleeping  Meeting  Office  Considered “mixed occupancies”

 Incidental use areas  Provide minor support to main occupancy code  Storage, mechanical, specialty areas  Does not meet minimum size requirements  Assembly = 705 sq. ft.  Based on 50 people x 15 sq. ft. per person

 Assembly: Groups A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-5  Business: Group B  Educational: Group E  Factory and Industrial: Groups F-1 and F-2  High Hazard: Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 and H-5

 Institutional: Groups I-1, I-2, I-3 and I-4  Mercantile: Group M  Residential: Groups R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4  Storage: Groups S-1 and S-2  Utility and Miscellaneous: Group U

 CodeArticles CodeArticles  20Code%20Corner%20No.%2014%20- %20Building%20Classification%20Part%201% 20-%20Occupancies.pdf 20Code%20Corner%20No.%2014%20- %20Building%20Classification%20Part%201% 20-%20Occupancies.pdf