// CODE SNIPPET
504.4 Number of Stories
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The maximum number of stories of a building shall not exceed the limits specified in Table 504.4.
NOTE: UL = Unlimited; NP = Not Permitted; NS = Buildings not equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system; S = Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1; S13R = Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.2.
TABLE 504.4a, b ALLOWABLE NUMBER OF STORIES ABOVE GRADE PLANE
(continued)
TABLE 504.4a, b—continued ALLOWABLE NUMBER OF STORIES ABOVE GRADE PLANE
| OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION | TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION | |||||||||
| SEE FOOTNOTES | TYPE I | TYPE II | TYPE III | TYPE IV | TYPE V | |||||
| A | B | A | B | A | B | HT | A | B | ||
| A-1 | NS | UL | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| A-2 | NS | UL | 11 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 12 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| A-3 | NS | UL | 11 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 12 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| A-4 | NS | UL | 11 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 12 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| A-5 | NS | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL |
| S | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | |
| B | NS | UL | 11 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| S | UL | 12 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| E | NS | UL | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| S | UL | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
| F-1 | NS | UL | 11 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| F-2 | NS | UL | 11 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| S | UL | 12 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| H-1 | NSc, d | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | NP |
| S | ||||||||||
| H-2 | NSc, d | UL | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| S | ||||||||||
| H-3 | NSc, d | UL | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| S | ||||||||||
| H-4 | NSc, d | UL | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| S | UL | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| H-5 | NSc, d | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| S | ||||||||||
| I-1 Condition 1 | NSd, e | UL | 9 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| S | UL | 10 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| I-1 Condition 2 | NSd, e | UL | 9 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| S | UL | 10 | 5 | |||||||
| I-2 | NSd, f | UL | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | NP | 1 | 1 | NP |
| S | UL | 5 | 3 | |||||||
| I-3 | NSd, e | UL | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
| I-4 | NSd, g | UL | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| S | UL | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
| M | NS | UL | 11 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | |
(continued)
TABLE 504.4a, b—continued ALLOWABLE NUMBER OF STORIES ABOVE GRADE PLANE
| OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION | TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION | |||||||||
| SEE FOOTNOTES | TYPE I | TYPE II | TYPE III | TYPE IV | TYPE V | |||||
| A | B | A | B | A | B | HT | A | B | ||
| R-1 | NSd, h | UL | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| S13R | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | ||||||
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| R-2 | NSd, h | UL | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| S13R | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |||||
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| R-3 | NSd, h | UL | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| S13R | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||||||
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | |
| R-4 | NSd, h | UL | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| S13R | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | ||||||
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| S-1 | NS | UL | 11 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | |
| S-2 | NS | UL | 11 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| S | UL | 12 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | |
| U | NS | UL | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| Occupancy Classification |
Type of Construction | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| See Footnotes |
Type I | Type II | Type III | Type IV | Type V | ||||||||
| A | B | A | B | A | B | A | B | C | HT | A | B | ||
| A-1 | NS | UL | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| A-2 | NS | UL | 11 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 12 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| A-3 | NS | UL | 11 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 12 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| A-4 | NS | UL | 11 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 12 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| A-5 | NS | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | 1 | 1 | 1 | UL | UL | UL |
| S | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | UL | |
| B | NS | UL | 11 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| S | UL | 12 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| E | NS | UL | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| S | UL | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
| F-1 | NS | UL | 11 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| F-2 | NS | UL | 11 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| S | UL | 12 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| H-1 | NSc,d | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | NP | NP | NP | 1 | 1 | NP |
| S | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
| H-2 | NSc,d | UL | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| S | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||
| H-3 | NSc,d | UL | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| S | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||
| H-4 | NSc,d | UL | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| S | UL | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| H-5 | NSc,d | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| S | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||
| I-1 Condition 1 | NSd,e | UL | 9 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| S | UL | 10 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| I-1 Condition 2 | NSd,e | UL | 9 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| S | UL | 10 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 4 | |||||||
| I-2 | NSd,f | UL | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | NP | NP | NP | NP | 1 | 1 | NP |
| S | UL | 5 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | |||||||
| I-3 | NSd,e | UL | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
| I-4 | NSd,g | UL | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| S | UL | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
| M | NS | UL | 11 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | |
| R-1h | NSd | UL | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| S13R | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| R-2h | NSd | UL | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| S13R | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| R-3h | NSd | UL | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| S13D | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||
| S13R | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | |
| R-4h | NSd | UL | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| S13D | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||
| S13R | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| S-1 | NS | UL | 11 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| S | UL | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | |
| S-2 | NS | UL | 11 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| S | UL | 12 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | |
| U | NS | UL | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| S | UL | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
- See Chapters 4 and 5 for specific exceptions to the allowable height in this chapter.
- See Section 903.2 for the minimum thresholds for protection by an automatic sprinkler system for specific occupancies.
- New Group H occupancies are required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.5.
- The NS value is only for use in evaluation of existing building height in accordance with the International Existing Building Code.
- New Group I-1 and I-3 occupancies are required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.6. For new Group I-1 occupancies, Condition 1, see Exception 1 of Section 903.2.6.
- New and existing Group I-2 occupancies are required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.6 and Section 1103.5 of the International Fire Code.
- For new Group I-4 occupancies, see Exceptions 2 and 3 of Section 903.2.6.
- New Group R occupancies are required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.8.
For
Group R-1 and R-2 occupancies in buildings of Type VA
construction equipped throughout with an approved
automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1, the maximum number of stories permitted in
Section 504.2 may be increased by one provided the interior
exit stairways and ramps are pressurized in accordance with
Section 909. Legally required standby power shall be
provided for buildings constructed in compliance with this
section and be connected to stairway shaft pressurization
equipment, elevators and lifts used for accessible means of
egress, hoistway pressurization equipment (if provided) and
other life safety equipment as determined by the authority
having jurisdiction. For the purposes of this section, legally
required standby power shall comply with 2014 NEC
Section 701.12, options (A), (B), (C), (D), (F), or (G) or
subsequent revised section number(s).
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