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// CODE SNIPPET

504.4 Number of stories

California Building Code 2016 (Vol 1) > 5 General Building Heights and Areas > 504 Building Height and Number of Stories > 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.

TABLE 504.4a, b, n

ALLOWABLE NUMBER OF STORIES ABOVE GRADE PLANE

OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATION
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION
SEE FOOTNOTESTYPE ITYPE IITYPE IIITYPE IVTYPE V
ABABABHTAB
A-1NSUL53232321
S (without area increase)UL64343432
S (with area increase)UL53232321
A-2NSUL113232321
S (without area increase)UL124343432
S (with area increase)UL113232321
A-3NSUL113232321
S (without area increase)UL124343432
S (with area increase)UL113232321
A-4NSUL113232321
S (without area increase)UL124343432
S (with area increase)UL113232321
A-5NSULULULULULULULULUL
SULULULULULULULULUL
BNSUL115353532
SUL126464643
ENSUL53232311
S (without area increase)UL64343422
S (with area increase)UL53232311
F-1NSUL114232421
SUL125343532
F-2NSUL115343532
SUL126454643
H-1NSc, d11111111NP
S
H-2NSc, d2032121211
S
H-3NSc, d2064242421
S
H-4NSc, d2075353532
S (without area increase)2086464643
S (with area increase)2075353532
H-5NSc, d443333332
S
I-2/I-2.1j, iNSd, fUL4211NP11NP
S (without area increase)UL53
S (with area increase)UL42
I-3NSd, eNPNPNPNPNPNPNPNPNP
S (without area increase)UL3NPNPNPNPNPNPNP
S (with area increase)UL2NPNPNPNPNPNPNP
I-4NSd, gUL53232311
S (without area increase)UL64343422
S (with area increase)UL53232311
LNSNPNPNPNPNPNPNPNPNP
S2065353532
MNSUL114242431
SUL125353542
R-1hNSdUL114444432
S13R4432
S (without area increase)UL125555543
S (with area increase)UL114444432
R-2hNSdUL114444432
S13R44432
S (without area increase)UL125555543
S (with area increase)UL11444444o2
R-2.1hNSdUL6l3kNP3kNPNP3kNP
S13RUL4l3kNP3kNPNP3kNP
SUL6l3kNP3kNPNP3kNP
R-3, R-3.1hNSdUL1133
S13D444444433
S13R4444
SUL125555544
R-4hNSdUL11l
S13D44l4k4m4k4m4m3k2m
S13R44l
SUL11l
S-1NSUL114232431
SUL125343542
S-2iNSUL115343442
SUL126454553
UNSUL54232421
SUL65343532

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; S13D = Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3.

  1. See Chapters 4 and 5 for specific exceptions to the allowable height in this chapter.
  2. See Section 903.2 for the minimum thresholds for protection by an automatic sprinkler system for specific occupancies.
  3. New Group H occupancies are required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.5.
  4. The NS value is only for use in evaluation of existing building height in accordance with the California Existing Building Code.
  5. New Group I-3 occupancies are required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.6.
  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 California Fire Code.
  7. For new Group I-4 occupancies, see Exceptions 2 and 3 of Section 903.2.6.
  8. New Group R occupancies are required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.8.
  9. See Sections 407.1.1 and 408.1.2 for specific exceptions to construction type, allowable building areas and allowable heights.
  10. Restraint shall not be permitted in any building except in Group I-3 occupancies constructed for such use (see Section 408.1.2).
  11. Nonambulatory persons shall be limited to the first 2 stories.
  12. Nonambulatory persons shall be limited to the first 5 stories.
  13. Nonambulatory elderly clients are not permitted in buildings of these types of construction. See Sections 435.3.3 and 435.3.4.
  14. In other than Group A, E, H, I, L, and R occupancies, high-rise buildings, and other applications listed in Section 1.11 regulated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the S increases for height and stories in Tables 504.3 and 504.4 are permitted in addition to the S area increase in accordance with Table 506.2.
  15. For Group R-2 buildings of Type VA construction equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, S area increase is permitted in addition to the height and story increase provided the height shall not exceed 60 feet and 4 stories.
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