Occupancy Classifications
Residential R-3
Occupancies where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature, and not classified as R-1, R-2, R-2.1, R-2.2, R-3.1, R-4, or I, including: Buildings that do not contain more than two dwelling units; Boarding houses (nontransient) with 16 or fewer occupants; Boarding houses (transient) w/ 10 or fewer occupants; Congregate residences (nontransient) w/ 16 or fewer occupants - Boarding houses (nontransient); Convents; Dormitories; Fraternities and Sororities; Monasteries Congregate residences (transient) w/ 10 or fewer occupants - Boarding houses (transient); Lodging houses (transient) w/ 5 or fewer guestrooms and 10 or fewer occupants; adult care facilities that provide accommodations for 6 or fewer clients of any age for less than 24 hours; Licensing categories that may use this classification include adult day programs; Child care facilities that provide accomdations for six or fewer clients of any age for less than 24 hrs; Licensing categories that may use this classification include BANLT: Day-care center for mildly ill children; Adult Day Programs; Infant care center; School age child day-care center. Congregate residences (nontransient) with 16 or fewer occupants; Congregate residences (transient) with 10 or fewer occupants; Alcoholism or drug abuse recovery homes (ambulatory only); Family Day-Care homes that provide accommodations for 14 or fewer children, in the provider's own home, for less than 24-hrs; Lodging houses with 5 or fewer guest rooms; Adult care and child care facilities that are within a single-family home are permitted to comply with the CRC.
Factory Group F
Occupancy includes the use of building/structure or portion for assembling, disassembling, fabricating, finishing, manufacturing, packaging, repair, or processing operations that are not classified as a Group H (Hi-Hazard) or Group S (Storage).
Storage Group S
Occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure OAPT for storage that is not classified as a hazardous occupancy.
Lodging Houses
Owner-occupied lodging houses with five or fewer guestrooms and 10 or fewer total occupants shall be permitted to be constructed in accordance with the CRC.
E, Accessory to places of religious worship
Religious edu. rooms and religious auditoriums, which are accessory to places or worship in accordance w/ CBC, w/ occupant loads < 100 per room or space shall be A-3.
Day care @ within places of worship
Rooms and spaces within places of worship providing care during worship functions shall be clasified as part of the primary occupancy (where not licensed for day care purposes by the Dept of Social Services).
High Hazard, H-5
Semiconductor fabrication facilities and comparable research and development areas in which hazardous production mats (HPM) are used and the aggregate quantity of materials is in excess of those listed in Tables 5003.1.1(1 and 2) shall be classified as H-5. Such facilities shall be designed/constructed in accordance w/ CBC 415.11.
Institutional, 5 or fewer persons receiving medical care
Shall be classified as Group R-3.1 or shall comply with the CRC provided an automatic sprinkler system is installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3 or with Section R313 of the CRC.
Haz Mat stored/used on top of roof or canopy
Shall be classified as outdoor storage or use and shall comply with High Hazard codes.
Institutional I-2
Shall include buildings/structures for medical care on a 24 hr basis for more than 5 people who are not capable of self-preservation or classified as non-ambulatory or bedridden. This shall include (BNBLT): Detox facilities; Hospitals; Nursing homes; Psychiatric hospitals.
A, Small assembly spaces
The following rooms and spaces are NOT assemblies: 1) A room with occupant load < 50 and accessory to another occupancy shall be a B or as a part of that occupancy. 2) A room/space used for assembly purposes that is less than 750 ft sq. in area and accessory to another occupancy shall be a B or as a part of that occupancy.
Business Group B
The use of a building o structure for office, professional, or service-type transactions including storage of records and accounts. Examples (not limited to): airport traffic controls, ambulatory care facilities (5 or fewer patients), animal hospitals, car wash, barber/beauty shops, banks, post offices, dry cleaning/laundry, print shops, vehicle showrooms, civic admin, outpatient clinics that are not I-2.1, Educational occupancies > 12th grade, electronic data processing, food processing/commercial kitchens NOT assoc w/ restaurants/cafeterias/dining facilites and NOT > 2500 sq ft. in area, Labs, Motor veh showrooms, Post offices, Print shops, Professional services, Radio/TV stations, Telephone exchanges, Training and skill develpment (when not an A) ex tutoring, martial arts.
Residential Group R
The use of a building or structure, OAPT, for sleeping purposes when not classified ans an Institutional Group I or when not regulated by the CRC (in accordance w/ 101.2 of CBC).
Group I-3 Occ. Condition 4
This occupancy condition shall include buildings in which free movement is restricted from an occupied space. Remote-controlled manual release is provided to permit movement from sleeping units, activity spaces and other occupied areas within the smoke compartment to other smoke compartments.
Mercantile Group M
Use of a building or structure, OAPT, for the display and sale of merchandise, and involves stocks of goods, wares or merchandise incidental to such purposes and accessible to the public. Mercantile occupancies shall include, BNBLT: Department stores; Drug stores; Greenhouses w/ public access that maintain plants for display and sale; Markets; Motor fuel-dispensing facilities; Retail or wholesale stores; Sales rooms.
Educational Group E
Use of a building/structure by six or more persons at any one time for educational purposes through the 12th grade. EXCEPTION: Home school for children residing at residence (shall be R-2 or R-3)
High Hazard Group H
Use of a building/structure or portion that involves the manufacture/processing/generation/storage of materials that constiture a physical or health hazard in quantities in excess of those allowed in control areas complying with Ch 50 tables.
Uses other than Group H
17 subsections that are specified not group H, but rather shall be classified as the occupancy that it most nearly resembles: Application of flammable finishes complying w/ Ch. 24 & CBC 416; Wholesale/retail sales or storage of flamm/combust liquids in M occupancy conforming w/ Ch. 57; Closed piping system w/ flamm/combust liquid/gases utilized for the operation of machinery or equipment; Cleaning establishments that utilize combust liquid solvents w/ flash point 140 degrees F or higher in closed systems employing equipment listed by approved agency, provided that this occupancy is separated from all other areas of the building by a 1-hour fire barrier (CBC 707) or 1-hr horizontal assemblies (CBC 711) or both; Cleaning establishments that utilize a liquid solvent having a flash point at or above 200 deg. F.; Liquor store/distributor w/o bulk storage; Refrigeration systems; Storage/utilization of mats for AG purposes on the premises; Stationary storage battery systems (installed in accordance w/ section 1206.2); Corrosive personal or household products in their OG packaging used in retail display; Commonly used corrosive building mats; Buildings used for aerosol product storage shall be classified S-1 (provided conformity to Ch 51); Display/storage of nonflammable solid and nonflamm/noncombust liquid hazmat in quantities < max allowable/control area in Group M or S (provided conformity to Section 5003.8.3.5.1); Storage of black powder, smokeless prepellant, and small arms primers in Group M and R-3 and special industrial explosive devices in Groups B, F, M, and S (provided conformity w/ quantity limits and code); Stationary fuel cell power systems installed in accordance w/ code; Capacitor energy storage systems installed in accordance w/ code; Group L occupancies as defined in CBC 453.
Occupancies w/ Explosives, but not H-1
2 exceptions: 1) Division 1.3 explosive mats that are used and maintained in a form where either confinement or configuration will not elevate the hazard from a mass fire hazard to mass explosion hazard shall be allowed in H-2 occupancies; 2) Articles, including articles packaged for shipment, that are not regulated as a Div 1.4 explosive under ATF(E) regs, or unpackaged articles used in process operations that do not propagate a detonation or deflagration between articles shall be allowed in H-3 occupancies.
A, 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.
Group I-4; Classification as Group E
A child day care facility that provides care for more than 5 but not more than 100 children under 2 years of age, where the rooms in which the children are cared for are located on a level of exit discharge serving such rooms and each of these child care rooms has an exit door directly to the exterior, shall be classified as Group E.
Day Care Exception
A day care facility not otherwise classified as an R-3, where occupants are not capable of responding to an emergency situation w/o physical assistance from the staff shall be classified as an I-4
A, 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.
Accessory storage spaces
A room or space used for storage purposes that is less than 100 square feet in area and accessory to another occupancy shall be classified as part of that occupancy. The aggregate area of such rooms or spaces shall not exceed the allowable area limits of Section 508.2 of CBC.
A, Accessory with places of religious worship
Accessory religious edu. rooms and relig. auditoriums with occupant loads of less than 100 per room or space are not considered separate occupancies.
Institutional I-2.1
Ambulatory Health Care Facility. A healthcare facility that receives persons for outpatient medical care that may render the patient incapable of unassisted self-preservation and where each tenant space accommodates more than five such patients.
Group C (Camps, Organized)
An organized camp is a site with programs and facilities established for the primary purpose of providing an outdoor group living experience with social, spiritual, educational or recreational objectives, for five days or more during one or more seasons of the year.
Assembly A-2
Assembly uses intended for food and/or drink consumption including, but not limited to: Banquet halls, Casinos (gaming areas), Night clubs, Restaurants, cafeterias & similar dining facilities (including associated commercial kitchens), taverns and bars.
Assembly A-5
Assembly uses intended for participation in or viewing outdoor activities including (but not limited to): Amusement park structures, bleachers, Fixed guideway transit systems, Grandstands, Stadiums, Subterranian spaces for winery facilities in natural or manmade caves.
Assembly A-4
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
Assembly A-3
Assembly uses intended for worship, recreation, or amusement and other assembly uses not clasified elsewhere in Group A, including but not limited to: Amusement arcades, Art galleries, Bowling alleys, Community halls, Courtrooms, Dance halls (not including food/drink consumption), Exhibition halls, Funeral parlors, Greenhouses w/ public access for the conservation and exhibition of plants, Gymnasiums (w/o spectator seating), Indoor swimming pools (w/o spec. seating), Indoor tennis courts (w/o spec seating), Lecture halls, Libraries, Museums, Places of religious worship, Pool and billiard parlors, and Waiting areas in transport terminals.
Assembly A-1
Assembly uses, usually with fixed seating, intended for the production and viewing of performing arts or motion pics including: Theaters, Concert halls, TV/Radio studios w/ audience, Movie theaters, Movie/TV studios or production sound stages (with live audiences)
Group I-3 Occ. Conditon 8
Building containing not more than 4 secure interview rooms located within the same fire area where not more than 6 occupants under restraint are located in the same fire area. A condition 8 building shall be permitted to be classified as a Group B occupancy, provided CBC 408.1.2.7 requirements are met.
Institutional Group I-4, day care facilities
Buildings and structures occupied by more than 6 clients of any age who receive custodial care for less than 24 hours by persons other than parents or guardians, relatives by blood, marriage, or adoption, and in a place other than the home of the client cared for. This group shall include, BNBLT: Adult day care; Child day care
Miscellaneous Group U
Buildings and structures of an accessory character and mescellaneous structures not classified in any specific occupancy shall be constructed, equipped, and maintained to conform to the requirements of this code commensurate with the fire and life safety hazard incidental to their occupancy. Group U shall include BNBLT: Ag buildings; Air Hangar if accessory to a one-two fam residence (CBC sec 412.4); Barns; Carports; Comm. equipment structures w/ floor area less than 1500 sq ft; Fences >6ft; Grain silos when accessory to a residential occupancy; Livestock shelters; private garages; retaining walls; sheds; stables; tanks; towers.
Group I-3 Occ. Condition 6
Buildings containing only one temporary holding facility with 5 or leass persons under restraint or security where the building is protected throughout with a monitored auto sprikler system (IAW Sec 903.3.1.1) and where the temp holding facility is protected throughout with an auto fire alarm system with notification appliances. A condition 6 building shall be permitted to be classified as a Group B occupancy.
Group I-3 Occ. Conditon 7
Buildings containing only one temporary holding facility with 9 or less persons under restraint or security where limited to the first or second story, provided the building complies with section 408.1.2.6 of the CBC. A condition 7 building shall be permitted to be classified as a group B occupancy.
Group I-3 Occ. Condition 2
Buildings in which free movement is allowed from sleeping areas and any other occupied smoke compartment to one or more other smoke compartments. Egress to the exterior is impeded by locked exits.
Group I-3 Occupancy Condition 1
Buildings in which free movement is allowed from sleeping areas and other spaces where access or occupancy is permitted to the exterior via means of egress without restraint. A condition 1 facility is permitted to be constructed as Group R.
Group I-3 Occ. Condition 3
Buildings in which free movement is allowed within individual smoke compartments, such as within residential unit comprised of individual sleeping units and group activity spaces, where egress is impeded by remote-controlled release of means of egress from such smoke compartment to other smoke compartments.
Group I-3 Occ. Condition 5
Buildings in which free movement is restricted from an occupied space. Staff-controlled manual release is provided to permit movement from sleeping units, activity spaces and other occupied areas within the smoke compartment to other smoke compartments.
Group L Laboratories
Buildings or structures, OAPT, containing one or more laboratory suites as defined in CBC section 453.
Residential R-4
Buildings, structures, OPT for more than six ambulatory clients, but not more than 16 persons, excluding staff, who reside on a 24-hr basis in a supervised residential environment and receive custodial care. The persons receiving care are capable of self-preservation. Group R-4 occupancies shall meet the requirements for construction as defined for R-3, except as otherwise provided for in the CBC. This occupancy class may include a max 6 non-ambulatory or bedridden clients (see Appendix Ch. 4, section 435). This group shall include BNBLT: Assisted living facilities such as - Residential care facilities; Residential care facilities for the Elderly; Adult Residential facils; Congregate living health facils; Group homes. Social Rehab facils such as: Halfway houses; Community Tx Programs; Work furlough programs; Alcoholism/Drug abuse recover or Tx facils.
Residential R-2.1
Buildings, structures, OPT, housing clients, on a 24-hr basis, who because of age, mental disability or other reasons, live in a supervised residential environment that provides personal care services. This occupancy may contain more than 6 nonambulatory and/or bedridden clients. This group shall include, BNBLT: Assisted living facilities such as - Residential care; Residential care for the elderly; Adult residential; Congregate living health; group homes; Residential care facilties for the chronically ill; Congregate living health facils for the terminally ill. Social rehab facils such as - Halfway houses; Community correctional ctrs; Community correctional reentry ctrs; Community treatment programs; Work furlough progs; Alcoholism or drug abuse recover or tx facils.
High Hazard H-2
Buildings/Structures containing mats that pose a deflagration hazard or a hazard from accelerated burning shall be classified H-2. Mats shall include, BNBLT: Class I, II, or IIIA flammable or combustible liquids that are used or stored in normally open containers or systems, or in closed containers or systems pressurized at more than 15 psi; Combustible dusts where manufactured, generated or used in such a manner that the concentration and conditions create a fire or explosion hazard based on info prepared in accordance w/ CBC 414.1.3; Cryogenic fluids - flammable; Flammable gases; Organic Peroxides, Class 1; Oxidizers, Class 3, that are used or stored in normally open containers or systems, or in closed containers or systems pressurized at >15 psi; Pyrophoric liquids, solids and gases, nondetonable Unstable (reactive) mats, Class 3, nondetonable Water-reactive mats, Class 3.
High Hazard H-3
Buildings/Structures containing mats that readily support combustion or that pose a physical hazard shall be classified as H-3, such mats shall include, BNBLT; Class I, II, or IIIA flammable or combustible liquids that are used or stored in normally closed containers or systems pressurized at 15 psi or less; Combustible fibers, other than densely packed baled cotton, where manufactured, generated or used in such a manner that the concentration and conditions create a fire or explosion hazard based on info prepared in accordance w/ CBC 414.1.3; Consumer fireworks,1.4G (class C, common); Cryogenic fluids, oxidizing; Flammable solids; Organic peroxides, Class II and III; Oxidizers, Class 2; Oxidizers, class 3, that are used or stored in normally closed systems or containers pressurized at 15 psi or less; Oxidizing gases; Unstable (reactive) mats, Class 2; Water-reactive mats, Class 2.
High Hazard, H-4
Buildings/structures containing mats that are health hazards shall be classified as H-4. Such mats shall include, BNBLT: Corrosives; Highly toxic mats; Toxic mats.
High Hazard Group H-1
Buildings/structures containing mats that pose a detonation hazard shall be H-1. Such mats shall include, BNBLT: Detonable pyrophoric mats; Explosives (divisions 1.1 - 1.6); Organic Peroxides, unclassified detonable Oxidizers, Class 4 Unstable (reactive) mats, Class 3 detonable, and Class 4.
Institutional I-3
Buildings/structures or portions thereof which are inhabited by 1 or more persons who are under restraint or security. An I-3 facility is occupied by persons who are generally incapable of self-preservation due to security measures not under the occupants control which includes persons restrained. This group shall include BNBLT: Correctional centers; Courthouse holding facilities; Detention centers; Detention treatment rooms; Jails; Juvenile halls; Prerelease centers; Prisons; Reformatories; Secure interview rooms; Temporary holding facilities.
Residential R-2.2
CDCR Only - Res occupancies operated by CDCR in a community located facility that provides housing and community based program services for non-transient ambulatory perticipants in a non-licensed facility w/ 24/7 supervision Comm Correctional Reentry Ctrs.
Residential R3.1
Facilities licensed by a gov agency for a residentially based 24-hr care facility providing accomodations for 6 or fewer clients of any age. Clients may be classified as ambulatory, nonambulatory, or bedridden. A Group R-3.1 occupancy shall meet the requirements for construction as defined for Group R-3, except as otherwise provided for in Appendix 4, section 425. This group may include: Adult Residential Facilities; Congregate living health facilities; Intermediate care facils for the developmentally disabled habilitative; Intermediate care facils for the developmentally disabled nursing; Nurseries for the full-time care of children under the age of 6, but not including "infants" as defined in Ch. 2; Residential care facilities for the elderly; Small family homes and Residential Care Facils for the Chronically ill.
Factory Industrial F-2 (Low Hazard)
Factory and Industrial uses involving the fabrication or manufacturing of noncombustible materials that, during finishing, packaging, or processing, do not involve a significant fire hazard. Examples (IBNLT): Beverages 16% alcohol and less, Brick/masonry, Ceramic products, Foundries, Glass products, Ice, Gypsum, Metal products (fabrication and assembly)
Factory Industial F-1 (Moderate Hazard)
Factory and Industrial uses that are not classified as F-2 Low Hazard, (IBNLT): Aircraft manufacturing (not repair), Appliances, Athletic equip, Auto & motor vehicles, Bakeries, Beverages w/ >16% alcohol, Bikes, Boats, Brooms/brushes, Business machines, Cameras/photo equip, Canvas & sim. fabrics, Carpets/rugs (including cleaning), Clothing, Construction and AG machinery, Disinfectants, Dry cleaning and dyeing, Electric generation plants, Electronics, Engines (including rebuilding), Food processing and Commercial kitchens >2500 sq ft. in area, Furniture, Hemp products, Jute products, Laundries, Leather products, Machinery, Metals, Millwork (sash and door), Motion Picture/Sound Stage production studios w/o live audience, Movie/TV filming (no spectators), Musical Instruments, Optical goods, Paper mills or products, Photographic film, Plastic products, Printing or publishing, Refuse incineration, Shoes, Soaps/detergents, Textiles, Tobacco, Trailers, Upholstering, Wood distillation and woodworking (cabinets).
Moderate-Hazard storage, Group S-1
Group S-1 occupancies are building occupied for storage uses that are not classified as Group S-2, including BNLT storage of the following: Aerosols, levels 2 and 3; Aircraft hangar (storage and repair); Bags: cloth, burlap and paper; Bamboos and rattan; Baskets; Belting - canvas and leather; Books and paper in rolls or packs; Boots and shoes; Buttons, including cloth covered, pearl or bone; cardboard and boxes; clothing - woolen wearing apparel; Cordage; Dry boat storage (indoor); Furniture; Furs; Glues, mucilage, pastes and size; Grains; Horns and combs (other than celluloid); Leather; Linoleum; Lumber; Motor vehicle repair garages complying with the maximum allowable quantities of hazmat listed in Table 5003.1.1(1) see CBC sec. 406.8; Photo engravings; Resilient flooring; Silks; Soaps; Sugar; Tires, bulk storage; Tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and snuff; Upholstery and mattresses; Wax candles.
Low-Hazard Storage, Group S-2
Group S-2 occupancies include, among others, buildings used for the storage of non-combustible mats such as products on wood pallets or in paper cartons with or without single thickness divisions; or in paper wrappings. Such products are permitted to have a negligible amount of plastic trim, such as knobs, handles or film wrapping. Storage uses shall include BNBLT: Asbestos; Beverages up to and including 16% alcohol in metal/glass/ceramic containers; Cement in bags; Chalk and crayons; Dairy products in nonwaxed coated paper containers; Dry cell batteries; Electrical coils; Electrical motors; Empty cans; Food products; Foods in noncombustible containers; Fresh fruits and Vegs in nonplastic trays or containers; Frozen foods; Glass; Glass bottles (empty or filled w/ noncombustible liquids) Gypsum board; Inert pigments; Ivory; Meats; Metal cabinets; Metal desks (plastic trim/tops); Metal parts; Metals; Mirrors; Oil-filled and other types of distribution transformers; Parking garages (open/closed); Porcelain and pottery; Stoves; Talc and soapstones; Washers/dryers.
Group Home R-3.1 Exception
Group homes licensed by the Dept of Soc Services which provide nonmedical board, room and care for 6 or fewer ambulatory children or children 2 years of age or younger, and which do not have any nonambulatory clients shall not be subject to regulations found in Appendix 4 Sec 435.
E, Day care facilities
Includes buildings and structures occupied by more than 6 children (2 years and older) who receive educational, supervision, or personal care services for <24 hrs/day.
Assembly Group A
Includes, among others, the use of a building or structure or a portion therof, for the gathering of persons for purposes such as civic, social, or religious functions; recreation, food or drink consumption; or awaiting transportation or motion picture and TV production studio sound stages, approved production faciities and production locations. Any building used for showing movies when a fee is charged & open to public and 10 or > person capacity.
Institutional Group I
Institutional group I includes the use of a building/structure (OAPT) in which care or supervision is provided to persons who are or are not capable of self preservaion without physical assistance or in which persons are detained for penal or correctional purposes or in which the liberty of the occupants is restricted. Institutional occupancies shall be classified as Group I-2, I-2.1, I-3, or I-4. Restraint shall not be permitted in any building except in Group I-2 constructed for such use in accordance with Sect. 407.1.1 of CBC and I-3 constructed for such use, in accordance with CBC 408.1.2. If housing both ambulatory and non-ambulatory, the more restrictive requirements shall apply.
Institutional I-1
Not used. (Now R-2.1)
Residential R-2
Occupancies containing sleeping units or more than two dwelling units where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature, including: Apartment houses; Congregate living facilities (nontransient) w/ more than 16 occupants; Boarding houses (nontransient); Congregate residences (nontransient) w/ more than 16 occupants; Convents; Dormitories; Fraternities and Sororities; Monasteries; Hotels/Motels (nontransient); Live/work units; Vacation timeshare properties
Residential R-1
Occupancies containing sleeping units where the occupants are primarily transient in nature, including: Boarding houses (transient) w/ more than 10 occupants; Congregate residences (transient) with more than 10 occupants; Hotels/Motels (transient).
