1. Building Classifications: Construction Types

2.  Based on how the building is constructed.  Relates to:  Materials used  Combustibility  Fire-resistance

3.  Types IA and IB  Types IIA and IIB  Types IIIA and IIIB  Type IV  Types VA and VB

4.  Types IA and IB  Noncombustible and fire-resistive  IA has a higher fire-resistance  Only noncombustible materials allowed  IBC does not determine combustibility  Done through the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

5.  Types IIA and IIB  Also noncombustible  Little or no fire-resistance  IIA has minimum of 1-hour fire-resistance  IIB has no requirement for fire-resistance unless required by other sections of the code

6.  Types IIIA and IIIB  Combustible  Permits wood framing  Little to no fire-resistance  IIIA requires 1-hour fire-resistance throughout with exterior bearing walls 2-hour  IIIB only requires 2-hour fire-resistance for exterior bearing walls

7.  Type IV  Combustible  Heavy timber construction only  Columns at least 8” thick  Floor and roof framing at least 6” thick  Floor and roof decks 3-4” thick (built up)  Exterior walls noncombustible construction

8.  Types VA and VB  Combustible  Slightly less fire-resistance than Type III  VA exterior bearing wall fire-resistance is 1-hour  VB has no fire-resistance rating

9.  A building or portion thereof shall not be required to conform to the details of a type of construction higher than that type, which meets the minimum requirements based on occupancy even though certain features of such a building actually conform to a higher type of construction.

10.  http://www.specsandcodes.com/Articles.htm#CodeArticles http://www.specsandcodes.com/Articles.htm#CodeArticles  http://www.specsandcodes.com/Articles/The%20Code%20Cor ner%20No.%2015%20%20Building%20Classification%20Part %202%20-%20Construction%20Types.pdf http://www.specsandcodes.com/Articles/The%20Code%20Cor ner%20No.%2015%20%20Building%20Classification%20Part %202%20-%20Construction%20Types.pdf  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Building_Code http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Building_Code  http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch& search=ibc+building+code http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch& search=ibc+building+code  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Building_Code http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Building_Code