Chapter 3 Occupancy Classification and Use

About this chapter: Chapter 3 provides the criteria by which buildings and structures are classified into use groups and occupancies. Through the balance of the code, occupancy classification is fundamental in the setting of features of construction; occupant safety requirements, especially building limitations; means of egress; fire protection systems; and interior finishes.

Section 301 Scope

301.1 General

The provisions of this chapter shall control the classification of all buildings and structures as to occupancy and use. Different classifications of occupancy and use represent varying levels of hazard and risk to building occupants and adjacent properties.

Section 302 Occupancy Classification and Use Designation

302.1 Occupancy Classification

Occupancy classification is the formal designation of the primary purpose of the building, structure or portion thereof. Structures shall be classified into one or more of the occupancy groups specified in this section based on the nature of the hazards and risks to building occupants generally associated with the intended purpose of the building or structure. An area, room or space that is intended to be occupied at different times for different purposes shall comply with all applicable requirements associated with such potential multipurpose. Structures containing multiple occupancy groups shall comply with Section 508. Where a structure is proposed for a purpose that is not specified in this section, such structure shall be classified in the occupancy it most nearly resembles based on the fire safety and relative hazard. Occupied roofs shall be classified in the group that the occupancy most nearly resembles, according to the fire safety and relative hazard, and shall comply with Section 503.1.4 .

1. Assembly (see Section 303): Groups A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-5.
2. Business (see Section 304): Group B.
3. Educational (see Section 305): Group E.
4. Factory and Industrial (see Section 306): Groups F-1 and F-2.
5. High Hazard (see Section 307): Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 and H-5.
6. Institutional (see Section 308): Groups I-1, I-2, I-3 and I-4.
7. Mercantile (see Section 309): Group M.
8. Residential (see Section 310): Groups R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4.
9. Storage (see Section 311): Groups S-1 and S-2.
10. Utility and Miscellaneous (see Section 312): Group U.

302.2 Use Designation

Occupancy groups contain subordinate uses having similar hazards and risks to building occupants. Uses include, but are not limited to, those functional designations specified within the occupancy group descriptions in Section 302.1. Certain uses require specific limitations and controls in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 4 and elsewhere in this code.

Section 303 Assembly Group A

303.1 Assembly Group A

Assembly Group A occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for the gathering of persons for purposes such as civic, social or religious functions; recreation, food or drink consumption or awaiting transportation.

303.1.1 Small Buildings and Tenant Spaces

A building or tenant space used for assembly purposes with an occupant load of less than 50 persons shall be classified as a Group B occupancy.

303.1.2 Small Assembly Spaces

1. A room or space used for assembly purposes with an occupant load of less than 50 persons and accessory to another occupancy shall be classified as a Group B occupancy or as part of that occupancy.
2. A room or space used for assembly purposes that is less than 750 square feet (70 m 2 ) in area and accessory to another occupancy shall be classified as a Group B occupancy or as part of that occupancy.

303.1.3 Associated With Group E Occupancies

A room or space used for assembly purposes that is associated with a Group E occupancy is not considered a separate occupancy.

303.1.4 Accessory to Places of Religious Worship

Accessory religious educational rooms and religious auditoriums with occupant loads of less than 100 per room or space are not considered separate occupancies.

303.1.5 Special Amusement Areas

303.2 Assembly Group A-1

Group A-1 occupancy includes assembly uses, usually with fixed seating, intended for the production and viewing of the performing arts or motion pictures including, but not limited to:

• Motion picture theaters
• Symphony and concert halls
• Television and radio studios admitting an audience
• Theaters

303.3 Assembly Group A-2

Group A-2 occupancy includes assembly uses intended for food and/or drink consumption including, but not limited to:

• Banquet halls
• Casinos ( gaming areas )
• Nightclubs
• Restaurants, cafeterias and similar dining facilities (including associated commercial kitchens)
• Taverns and bars

303.4 Assembly Group A-3

Group A-3 occupancy includes assembly uses intended for worship, recreation or amusement and other assembly uses not classified elsewhere in Group A including, but not limited to:

• Amusement arcades
• Art galleries
• Bowling alleys
• Community halls
• Courtrooms
• Dance halls (not including food or drink consumption)
• Exhibition halls
• Funeral parlors
• Greenhouses for the conservation and exhibition of plants that provide public access
• Gymnasiums (without spectator seating)
• Indoor swimming pools (without spectator seating)
• Indoor tennis courts (without spectator seating)
• Lecture halls
• Libraries
• Museums
• Places of religious worship
• Pool and billiard parlors
• Waiting areas in transportation terminals

303.5 Assembly Group A-4

Group A-4 occupancy includes assembly uses intended for viewing of indoor sporting events and activities with spectator seating including, but not limited to:

• Arenas
• Skating rinks
• Swimming pools
• Tennis courts

303.6 Assembly Group A-5

Group A-5 occupancy includes assembly uses intended for participation in or viewing outdoor activities including, but not limited to:

• Amusement park structures
• Bleachers
• Grandstands
• Stadiums

Section 304 Business Group B

304.1 Business Group B

Business Group B occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for office, professional or service-type transactions, including storage of records and accounts. Business occupancies shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Airport traffic control towers
• Ambulatory care facilities
• Animal hospitals, kennels and pounds
• Banks
• Barber and beauty shops
• Car wash
• Civic administration
• Clinic, outpatient
• Dry cleaning and laundries: pick-up and delivery stations and self-service
• Educational occupancies for students above the 12th grade including higher education laboratories
• Electronic data processing
• Food processing establishments and commercial kitchens not associated with restaurants, cafeterias and similar dining facilities not more than 2,500 square feet (232 m 2 ) in area
• Laboratories: testing and research
• Motor vehicle showrooms
• Post offices
• Print shops
• Professional services (architects, attorneys, dentists, physicians, engineers, etc.)
• Radio and television stations
• Telephone exchanges
• Training and skill development not in a school or academic program (this shall include, but not be limited to, tutoring centers, martial arts studios, gymnastics and similar uses regardless of the ages served, and where not classified as a Group A occupancy)

304.2 Airport Traffic Control Towers

304.3 Ambulatory Care Facilities

304.4 Higher Education Laboratories

Section 305 Educational Group E

305.1 Educational Group E

Educational Group E occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, by six or more persons at any one time for educational purposes through the 12th grade.

305.1.1 Accessory to Places of Religious Worship

Religious educational rooms and religious auditoriums, which are accessory to places of religious worship in accordance with Section 303.1.4 and have occupant loads of less than 100 per room or space, shall be classified as Group A-3 occupancies.

305.2 Group E, Day Care Facilities

This group includes buildings and structures or portions thereof occupied by more than five children older than 2 1 /₂ years of age who receive educational, supervision or personal care services for fewer than 24 hours per day.

305.2.1 Within Places of Religious Worship

Rooms and spaces within places of religious worship providing such day care during religious functions shall be classified as part of the primary occupancy.

305.2.2 Five or Fewer Children

A facility having five or fewer children receiving such day care shall be classified as part of the primary occupancy.

305.2.3 Five or Fewer Children in a Dwelling Unit

A facility such as the above within a dwelling unit and having five or fewer children receiving such day care shall be classified as a Group R-3 occupancy or shall comply with the International Residential Code .

305.2.4 Family Child Care Homes

Family child care homes occupied as their primary residence (Group R-3) operating between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. may accommodate a total of 12 children of any age without conforming to the requirements for Group E occupancy, except for fire extinguishers as required by Section 906, smoke alarms as required by Section 907.2.11.2, carbon monoxide alarms as required by Section 908, means of egress requirements of Section 1003, and emergency escape and rescue openings, as required by Section 1029, in napping or sleeping rooms, and fire extinguisher requirements as described in the International Fire Code (IFC), as adopted by reference in 13 AAC 50.025, including children related to the staff. All stories that are not at grade plane shall have access to two exits.

305.3 Storm Shelters in Group E Occupancies

305.4 Combination Shops

Shop classrooms that combine wood working with any other fabrication using flame or causing spark shall be considered an F-1 occupancy and must be separated from the E occupancy in accordance with Table 602.

Section 306 Factory Group F

306.1 Factory Industrial Group F

Factory Industrial Group F occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for assembling, disassembling, fabricating, finishing, manufacturing, packaging, repair or processing operations that are not classified as a Group H hazardous or Group S storage occupancy.

306.2 Moderate-Hazard Factory Industrial, Group F-1

Factory industrial uses that are not classified as Factory Industrial F-2 Low Hazard shall be classified as F-1 Moderate Hazard and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Aircraft (manufacturing, not to include repair)
• Appliances
• Athletic equipment
• Automobiles and other motor vehicles
• Bakeries
• Beverages: over 16-percent alcohol content
• Bicycles
• Boats
• Brooms or brushes
• Business machines
• Cameras and photo equipment
• Canvas or similar fabric
• Carpets and rugs (includes cleaning)
• Clothing
• Construction and agricultural machinery
• Disinfectants
• Dry cleaning and dyeing
• Electric generation plants
• Electronics
• Energy storage systems (ESS) in dedicated use buildings
• Engines (including rebuilding)
• Food processing establishments and commercial kitchens not associated with restaurants, cafeterias and similar dining facilities more than 2,500 square feet (232 m 2 ) in area
• Furniture
• Hemp products
• Jute products
• Laundries
• Leather products
• Machinery
• Metals
• Millwork (sash and door)
• Motion pictures and television filming (without spectators)
• Musical instruments
• Optical goods
• Paper mills or products
• Photographic film
• Plastic products
• Printing or publishing
• Recreational vehicles
• Refuse incineration
• Shoes
• Soaps and detergents
• Textiles
• Tobacco
• Trailers
• Upholstering
• Water/sewer treatment facilities
• Wood; distillation
• Woodworking (cabinet)

306.2.1 Aircraft Manufacturing Facilities

306.3 Low-Hazard Factory Industrial, Group F-2

Factory industrial uses that involve the fabrication or manufacturing of noncombustible materials that during finishing, packing or processing do not involve a significant fire hazard shall be classified as F-2 occupancies and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Beverages: up to and including 16-percent alcohol content
• Brick and masonry
• Ceramic products
• Foundries
• Glass products
• Gypsum
• Ice
• Metal products (fabrication and assembly)

Section 307 High-Hazard Group H

[F] 307.1 High-Hazard Group H

High-hazard Group H occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, that involves the manufacturing, processing, generation or storage of materials that constitute a physical or health hazard in quantities in excess of those allowed in control areas complying with Section 414, based on the maximum allowable quantity limits for control areas set forth in Tables 307.1(1) and 307.1(2). Hazardous occupancies are classified in Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 and H-5 and shall be in accordance with this section, the requirements of Section 415 and the International Fire Code . Hazardous materials stored, or used on top of roofs or canopies, shall be classified as outdoor storage or use and shall comply with the International Fire Code .

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE QUANTITY PER CONTROL AREA OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS POSING A PHYSICAL HAZARD a, j, m, n, p

1. For use of control areas, see Section 414.2.
2. The aggregate quantity in use and storage shall not exceed the quantity specified for storage.
3. The quantities of alcoholic beverages in retail and wholesale sales occupancies shall not be limited provided the liquids are packaged in individual containers not exceeding 1.3 gallons. In retail and wholesale sales occupancies, the quantities of medicines, foodstuffs or consumer products, and cosmetics containing not more than 50 percent by volume of water-miscible liquids with the remainder of the solutions not being flammable, shall not be limited, provided that such materials are packaged in individual containers not exceeding 1.3 gallons.
4. Maximum allowable quantities shall be increased 100 percent in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. Where Note e also applies, the increase for both notes shall be applied accumulatively.
5. Maximum allowable quantities shall be increased 100 percent when stored in approved storage cabinets, day boxes, gas cabinets, gas rooms or exhausted enclosures or in listed safety cans in accordance with Section 5003.9.10 of the International Fire Code . Where Note d also applies, the increase for both notes shall be applied accumulatively.
6. Quantities shall not be limited in a building equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
7. Allowed only in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
8. Containing not more than the maximum allowable quantity per control area of Class IA, IB or IC flammable liquids.
9. The maximum allowable quantity shall not apply to fuel oil storage complying with Section 605.4.2 of the International Fire Code .
10. Quantities in parentheses indicate quantity units in parentheses at the head of each column.
11. A maximum quantity of 220 pounds of solid or 22 gallons of liquid Class 3 oxidizers is allowed when such materials are necessary for maintenance purposes, operation or sanitation of equipment when the storage containers and the manner of storage are approved.
12. Net weight of the pyrotechnic composition of the fireworks. Where the net weight of the pyrotechnic composition of the fireworks is not known, 25 percent of the gross weight of the fireworks, including packaging, shall be used.
13. For gallons of liquids, divide the amount in pounds by 10 in accordance with Section 5003.1.2 of the International Fire Code .
14. For storage and display quantities in Group M and storage quantities in Group S occupancies complying with Section 414.2.5, see Tables 414.2.5(1) and 414.2.5(2).
15. Densely packed baled cotton that complies with the packing requirements of ISO 8115 shall not be included in this material class.

1. Liquid or gaseous fuel in fuel tanks on vehicles.
2. Liquid or gaseous fuel in fuel tanks on motorized equipment operated in accordance with the International Fire Code .
3. Gaseous fuels in piping systems and fixed appliances regulated by the Plumbing Code as adopted by 8 AAC 63.010, as amended from time to time .
4. Liquid fuels in piping systems and fixed appliances regulated by the International Mechanical Code .
5. Alcohol-based hand rubs classified as Class I or II liquids in dispensers that are installed in accordance with Sections 5705.5 and 5705.5.1 of the International Fire Code . The location of the alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) dispensers shall be provided in the construction documents.

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE QUANTITY PER CONTROL AREA OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS POSING A HEALTH HAZARD a, c, f, h, i

1. For use of control areas, see Section 414.2.
2. The aggregate quantity in use and storage shall not exceed the quantity specified for storage.
3. In retail and wholesale sales occupancies, the quantities of medicines, foodstuffs or consumer products, and cosmetics containing not more than 50 percent by volume of water-miscible liquids and with the remainder of the solutions not being flammable, shall not be limited, provided that such materials are packaged in individual containers not exceeding 1.3 gallons.
4. Maximum allowable quantities shall be increased 100 percent in buildings equipped throughout with an approvedautomatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. Where Note e also applies, the increase for both notes shall be applied accumulatively.
5. Maximum allowable quantities shall be increased 100 percent where stored in approved storage cabinets, gas cabinets or exhausted enclosures as specified in the International Fire Code . Where Note d also applies, the increase for both notes shall be applied accumulatively.
6. For storage and display quantities in Group M and storage quantities in Group S occupancies complying with Section 414.2.5, see Tables 414.2.5(1) and 414.2.5(2).
7. Allowed only where stored in approved exhausted gas cabinets or exhausted enclosures as specified in the International Fire Code .
8. Quantities in parentheses indicate quantity units in parentheses at the head of each column.
9. For gallons of liquids, divide the amount in pounds by 10 in accordance with Section 5003.1.2 of the International Fire Code .

[F] 307.1.1 Uses Other Than Group H

An occupancy that stores, uses or handles hazardous materials as described in one or more of the following items shall not be classified as Group H, but shall be classified as the occupancy that it most nearly resembles.

1. Buildings and structures occupied for the application of flammable finishes, provided that such buildings or areas conform to the requirements of Section 416 and the International Fire Code .
2. Wholesale and retail sales and storage of flammable and combustible liquids in mercantile occupancies conforming to the International Fire Code .
3. Closed piping system containing flammable or combustible liquids or gases utilized for the operation of machinery or equipment.
4. Cleaning establishments that utilize combustible liquid solvents having a flash point of 140°F (60°C) or higher in closed systems employing equipment listed by an approved testing agency, provided that this occupancy is separated from all other areas of the building by 1-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or 1-hour horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both.
5. Cleaning establishments that utilize a liquid solvent having a flash point at or above 200°F (93°C).
6. Liquor stores and distributors without bulk storage.
7. Refrigeration systems.
8. The storage or utilization of materials for agricultural purposes on the premises.
9. Stationary storage battery systems installed in accordance with the International Fire Code .
10. Corrosive personal or household products in their original packaging used in retail display.
11. Commonly used corrosive building materials.
12. Buildings and structures occupied for aerosol product storage, aerosol cooking spray products or plastic aerosol 3 products shall be classified as Group S-1, provided that such buildings conform to the requirements of the International Fire Code .
13. Display and storage of nonflammable solid and nonflammable or noncombustible liquidhazardous materials in quantities not exceeding the maximum allowable quantity per control area in Group M or S occupancies complying with Section 414.2.5.
14. The storage of black powder, smokeless propellant and small arms primers in Groups M and R-3 and special industrial explosive devices in Groups B, F, M and S, provided such storage conforms to the quantity limits and requirements prescribed in the International Fire Code .
15. Stationary fuel cell power systems installed in accordance with the International Fire Code .
16. Capacitor energy storage systems in accordance with the International Fire Code .
17. Group Bhigher education laboratory occupancies complying with Section 428 and Chapter 38 of the International Fire Code .
18. Distilling or brewing of beverages conforming to the requirements of the International Fire Code.
19. The storage of beer, distilled spirits and wines in barrels and casks conforming to the requirements of the International Fire Code.

[F] 307.2 Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials in any quantity shall conform to the requirements of this code, including Section 414 , and the International Fire Code .