Chapter 3 Use and Occupancy Classification

The provisions of this chapter shall control the classification of all Class 1 structures as to use and occupancy.

Structures or portions of structures shall be classified with respect to occupancy in one or more of the groups listed in this section. A room or space that is intended to be occupied at different times for different purposes shall comply with all of the requirements that are applicable to each of the purposes for which the room or space will be occupied. Structures with multiple occupancies or uses shall comply with Section 508. Where a structure is proposed for a purpose that is not specifically provided for in this code, such structure shall be classified in the group that the occupancy most nearly resembles, according to the fire safety and relative hazard involved.

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

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.

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

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

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
• 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

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 uses intended for participation in or viewing outdoor activities including, but not limited to:

• Amusement park structures
• Bleachers
• Grandstands
• Stadiums

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:

The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:

• AMBULATORY CARE FACILITY.
• CLINIC, OUTPATIENT.

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.

This group includes buildings and structures or portions thereof occupied by more than five children older than 2¹/₂ years of age who receive educational, supervision or personal care services for fewer than 24 hours per day.

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.

Factory industrial uses which 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
• Engines (including rebuilding)
• Food processing and commercial kitchens not associated with restaurants, cafeterias and similar dining facilities
• 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
• Wood; distillation
• Woodworking (cabinet)

Factory industrial uses that involve the fabrication or manufacturing of noncombustible materials which 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)

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.

[F] TABLE 307.1(1)
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE QUANTITY PER CONTROL AREA OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS POSING A PHYSICAL HAZARD^{a, j, m, n, p}

MATERIAL	CLASS	GROUP WHEN THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE QUANTITY IS EXCEEDED	STORAGEb			USE-CLOSED SYSTEMSb			USE-OPEN SYSTEMSb
			Solid pounds (cubic feet)	Liquid gallons (pounds)	Gas (cubic feet at NTP)	Solid pounds (cubic feet)	Liquid gallons (pounds)	Gas (cubic feet at NTP)	Solid pounds (cubic feet)	Liquid gallons (pounds)
Combustible dust	N/A	H-2	Note q	N/A	N/A	Note q	N/A	N/A	Note q	N/A
Combustible liquidc, i	II	H-2 or H-3	N/A	120d, e	N/A	N/A	120d	N/A	N/A	30d
	IIIA	H-2 or H-3		330d, e			330d			80d
	IIIB	N/A		13,200e, f			13,200f			3,300f
Combustible fiber	Loose	H-3	(100)	N/A	N/A	(100)	N/A	N/A	(20)	N/A
	Baledo		(1,000)			(1,000)			(200)
Consumer fireworks	1.4G	H-3	125d, e, l	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Cryogenics, flammable	N/A	H-2	N/A	45d	N/A	N/A	45d	N/A	N/A	10d
Cryogenics, inert	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	NL	N/A	N/A	NL	N/A	N/A
Cryogenics, oxidizingr	N/A	H-3	N/A	45d	N/A	N/A	45d	N/A	N/A	10d
Explosives	Division 1.1	H-1	1e, g	(1)e, g	N/A	0.25g	(0.25)g	N/A	0.25g	(0.25)g
	Division 1.2	H-1	1e, g	(1)e, g	N/A	0.25g	(0.25)g	N/A	0.25g	(0.25)g
	Division 1.3	H-1 or H-2	5e, g	(5)e, g	N/A	1g	(1)g	N/A	1g	(1)g
	Division 1.4	H-3	50e, g	(50)e, g	N/A	50g	(50)g	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Division 1.4G	H-3	125d, e, l	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Division 1.5	H-1	1e, g	(1)e, g	N/A	0.25g	(0.25)g	N/A	0.25g	(0.25)g
	Division 1.6	H-1	1d, e, g	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Flammable gas	Gaseous	H-2	N/A	N/A	1,000d, e	N/A	N/A	1,000d, e	N/A	N/A
	Liquefied			(150)d, e	N/A		(150)d, e	N/A
Flammable liquidc	IA	H-2 or H-3	N/A	30d, e	N/A	N/A	30d	N/A	N/A	10d
	IB and IC			120d, e			120d			30d
Flammable liquid, combination (IA, IB, IC)	N/A	H-2 or H-3	N/A	120d, e, h	N/A	N/A	120d, h	N/A	N/A	30d, h
Flammable solid	N/A	H-3	125d, e	N/A	N/A	125d	N/A	N/A	25d	N/A
Inert gas	Gaseous	N/A	N/A	N/A	NL	N/A	N/A	NL	N/A	N/A
	Liquefied	N/A	N/A	N/A	NL	N/A	N/A	NL	N/A	N/A
Organic peroxide	UD	H-1	1e, g	(1)e, g	N/A	0.25g	(0.25)g	N/A	0.25g	(0.25)g
	I	H-2	5d, e	(5)d, e	N/A	1d	(1)d	N/A	1d	(1)d
	II	H-3	50d, e	(50)d, e	N/A	50d	(50)d	N/A	10d	(10)d
	III	H-3	125d, e	(125)d, e	N/A	125d	(125)d	N/A	25d	(25)d
	IV	N/A	NL	NL	N/A	NL	NL	N/A	NL	NL
	V	N/A	NL	NL	N/A	NL	NL	N/A	NL	NL
Oxidizer	4	H-1	1e, g	(1)e, g	N/A	0.25g	(0.25)g	N/A	0.25g	(0.25)g
	3k	H-2 or H-3	10d, e	(10)d, e	N/A	2d	(2)d	N/A	2d	(2)d
	2	H-3	250d, e	(250)d, e	N/A	250d	(250)d	N/A	50d	(50)d
	1	N/A	4,000e, f	(4,000)e, f	N/A	4,000f	(4,000)f	N/A	1,000f	(1,000)f
Oxidizing gasr	Gaseous	H-3	N/A	N/A	1,500d, e	N/A	N/A	1,500d, e	N/A	N/A
	Liquefied		N/A	(150)d, e	N/A	N/A	(150)d, e	N/A	N/A	N/A
Pyrophoric material	N/A	H-2	4e, g	(4)e, g	50e, g	1g	(1)g	10e, g	0	0
Unstable (reactive)	4	H-1	1e, g	(1)e, g	10 g	0.25g	(0.25)g	2e, g	0.25g	(0.25)g
	3	H-1 or H-2	5d, e	(5)d, e	50d, e	1d	(1)d	10d, e	1d	(1)d
	2	H-3	50d, e	(50)d, e	250d, e	50d	(50)d	250d, e	10d	(10)d
	1	N/A	NL	NL	NL	NL	NL	NL	NL	NL
Water reactive	3	H-2	5d, e	(5)d, e	N/A	5d	(5)d	N/A	1d	(1)d
	2	H-3	50d, e	(50)d, e	N/A	50d	(50)d	N/A	10d	(10)d
	1	N/A	NL	NL	N/A	NL	NL	N/A	NL	NL

[F] TABLE 307.1(2)
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE QUANTITY PER CONTROL AREA OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL POSING A HEALTH HAZARD^{a, b, c, i}

MATERIAL	STORAGEd			USE-CLOSED SYSTEMSd			USE-OPEN SYSTEMSd
	Solid pounds (cubic feet)e, f	Liquid gallons (pounds)e, f	Gas (cubic feet at NTP)e	Solid poundse	Liquid gallons (pounds)e	Gas (cubic feet at NTP)e	Solid poundse	Liquid gallons (pounds)e
Corrosive	5,000	500	Gaseous 810f	5,000	500	Gaseous 810f	1,000	100
			Liquefied (150)h			Liquefied (150)h
Highly Toxic	10	(10)h	Gaseous 20g	10	(10)i	Gaseous 20g	3	(3)i
			Liquefied (4)g, h			Liquefied (4)g, h
Toxic	500	(500)h	Gaseous 810f	500	(500)i	Gaseous 810f	125	(125)
			Liquefied (150)f, h			Liquefied (150)f, h

The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:

• AEROSOL.
  
  
  • Level 1 aerosol products.
  • Level 2 aerosol products.
  • Level 3 aerosol products.
• AEROSOL CONTAINER.
• BALED COTTON.
• BALED COTTON, DENSELY PACKED.
• BARRICADE.
  
  
  • Artificial barricade.
  • Natural barricade.
• BOILING POINT.
• CLOSED SYSTEM.
• COMBUSTIBLE DUST.
• COMBUSTIBLE FIBERS.
• COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID.
  
  
  • Class II.
  • Class IIIA.
  • Class IIIB.
• COMPRESSED GAS.
• CONTROL AREA.
• CORROSIVE.
• CRYOGENIC FLUID.
• DAY BOX.
• DEFLAGRATION.
• DETONATION.
• DISPENSING.
• EXPLOSION.
• EXPLOSIVE.
  
  
  • High explosive.
  • Low explosive.
  • Mass-detonating explosives.
  • UN/DOTn Class 1 explosives.
    
    
    • Division 1.1.
    • Division 1.2.
    • Division 1.3.
    • Division 1.4.
    • Division 1.5.
    • Division 1.6.
• FIREWORKS.
  
  
  • Fireworks, 1.3G.
  • Fireworks, 1.4G.
• FLAMMABLE GAS.
• FLAMMABLE LIQUEFIED GAS.
• FLAMMABLE LIQUID.
  
  
  • Class IA.
  • Class IB.
  • Class IC.
• FLAMMABLE MATERIAL.
• FLAMMABLE SOLID.
• FLASH POINT.
• HANDLING.
• HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.
• HEALTH HAZARD.
• HIGHLY TOXIC.
• INCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS.
• INERT GAS.
• OPEN SYSTEM.
• OPERATING BUILDING.
• ORGANIC PEROXIDE.
  
  
  • Class I.
  • Class II.
  • Class III.
  • Class IV.
  • Class V.
  • Unclassified detonable.
• OXIDIZER.
  
  
  • Class 4.
  • Class 3.
  • Class 2.
  • Class 1.
• OXIDIZING GAS.
• PHYSICAL HAZARD.
• PYROPHORIC.
• PYROTECHNIC COMPOSITION.
• TOXIC.
• UNSTABLE (REACTIVE) MATERIAL.
  
  
  • Class 4.
  • Class 3.
  • Class 2.
  • Class 1.
• WATER-REACTIVE MATERIAL.
  
  
  • Class 3.
  • Class 2.
  • Class 1.

Buildings and structures containing materials that pose a detonation hazard shall be classified as Group H-1. Such materials shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Detonable pyrophoric materials
• Explosives:
  • Division 1.1
  • Division 1.2
  • Division 1.3
  • Division 1.4
  • Division 1.5
  • Division 1.6
• Organic peroxides, unclassified detonable
• Oxidizers, Class 4
• Unstable (reactive) materials, Class 3 detonable and Class 4

Buildings and structures containing materials that pose a deflagration hazard or a hazard from accelerated burning shall be classified as Group H-2. Such materials shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Class I, II or IIIA flammable or combustible liquids which are used or stored in normally open containers or systems, or in closed containers or systems pressurized at more than 15 psi (103.4 kPa) gage
• Combustible dusts where manufactured, generated or used in such a manner that the concentration and conditions create a fire or explosion hazard based on information prepared in accordance with Section 414.1.3
• Cryogenic fluids, flammable
• Flammable gases
• Organic peroxides, Class I
• Oxidizers, Class 3, that are used or stored in normally open containers or systems, or in closed containers or sytems pressurized at more than 15 psi (103 kPa) gage
• Pyrophoric liquids, solids and gases, nondetonable
• Unstable (reactive) materials, Class 3, nondetonable
• Water-reactive materials, Class 3

Buildings and structures containing materials that readily support combustion or that pose a physical hazard shall be classified as Group H-3. Such materials shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Class I, II or IIIA flammable or combustible liquids that are used or stored in normally closed containers or systems pressurized at 15 pounds per square inch gauge (103.4 kPa) or less
• Combustible fibers, other than densely packed baled cotton
• 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 containers or systems pressurized at 15 pounds per square inch gauge (103 kPa) or less
• Oxidizing gases
• Unstable (reactive) materials, Class 2
• Water-reactive materials, Class 2

Buildings and structures which contain materials that are health hazards shall be classified as Group H-4. Such materials shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Corrosives
• Highly toxic materials
• Toxic materials

Semiconductor fabrication facilities and comparable research and development areas in which hazardous production materials (HPM) are used and the aggregate quantity of materials is in excess of those listed in Tables 307.1(1) and 307.1(2) shall be classified as Group H-5. Such facilities and areas shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Section 415.10.

Buildings and structures containing a material or materials representing hazards that are classified in one or more of Groups H-1, H-2, H-3 and H-4 shall conform to the code requirements for each of the occupancies so classified.

Institutional Group I occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, in which care or supervision is provided to persons who are or are not capable of self-preservation 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-1, I-2, I-3 or I-4.

The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:

• 24-HOUR CARE.
• CUSTODIAL CARE.
• DETOXIFICATION FACILITIES.
• FOSTER CARE FACILITIES.
• HOSPITALS AND PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS.
• INCAPABLE OF SELF-PRESERVATION.
• MEDICAL CARE.
• NURSING HOMES.

This occupancy shall include buildings, structures or portions thereof for more than 16 persons who reside on a 24 hour basis in a supervised environment and receive custodial care. The persons receiving care are capable of self preservation. This group shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Alcohol and drug centers
• Assisted living facilities
• Congregate care facilities
• Convalescent facilities
• Group homes
• Halfway houses
• Residential board and custodial care facilities
• Social rehabilitation facilities

This occupancy shall include buildings and structures used for medical care on a 24-hour basis for more than five persons who are incapable of self-preservation. This group shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Foster care facilities
• Detoxification facilities
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Psychiatric hospitals

This occupancy shall include buildings and structures that are inhabited by more than five 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. This group shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Correctional centers
• Detention centers
• Jails
• Prerelease centers
• Prisons
• Reformatories

Buildings of Group I-3 shall be classified as one of the occupancy conditions indicated in Sections 308.5.1 through 308.5.5 (see Section 408.1).

This group shall include buildings and structures occupied by more than five persons of any age who receive custodial care for fewer than 24 hours per day by persons other than parents or guardians, relatives by blood, marriage or adoption, and in a place other than the home of the person cared for. This group shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Adult day care
• Child day care

Mercantile Group M occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure or a portion thereof, 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, but not be limited to, the following:

• Department stores
• Drug stores
• Markets
• Motor fuel-dispensing facilities
• Retail or wholesale stores
• Sales rooms

The aggregate quantity of nonflammable solid and nonflammable or noncombustible liquid hazardous materials stored or displayed in a single control area of a Group M occupancy shall not exceed the quantities in Table 414.2.5(1).

Residential Group R includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for sleeping purposes when not classified as an Institutional Group I.

The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:

• BOARDING HOUSE.
• CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITIES.
• DORMITORY.
• GROUP HOME.
• PERSONAL CARE SERVICE.
• TRANSIENT.

Residential occupancies containing sleeping units where the occupants are primarily transient in nature, including:

Residential occupancies containing sleeping units or more than two dwelling units where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature, including:

• Apartment houses
• Boarding houses (nontransient) with more than 16 occupants
• Congregate living facilities (nontransient) with more than 16 occupants
• Convents
• Dormitories
• Fraternities and sororities
• Hotels (nontransient)
• Live/work units
• Monasteries
• Motels (nontransient)
• Vacation timeshare properties

Residential occupancies where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature and not classified as Group R-1, R-2, R-4 or I, including:

This occupancy shall include buildings, structures or portions thereof for more than five but not more than 16 persons, excluding staff, who reside on a 24-hour basis in a supervised residential environment and receive custodial care. The persons receiving care are capable of self-preservation. This group shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Alcohol and drug centers
• Assisted living facilities
• Congregate care facilities
• Convalescent facilities
• Group homes
• Halfway houses
• Residential board and custodial care facilities
• Social rehabilitation facilities

Group R-4 occupancies shall meet the requirements for construction as defined for Group R-3, except as otherwise provided for in this code.

Storage Group S occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for storage that is not classified as a hazardous occupancy.

Buildings occupied for storage uses that are not classified as Group S-2, including, but not limited to, 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 cardboard 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 hazardous materials listed in Table 307.1(1) (see Section 406.8)
• Photo engravings
• Resilient flooring
• Silks
• Soaps
• Sugar
• Tires, bulk storage of
• Tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and snuff
• Upholstery and mattresses
• Wax candles

Includes, among others, buildings used for the storage of noncombustible materials 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. Group S-2 storage uses shall include, but not be limited to, storage of the following:

• Asbestos
• Beverages up to and including 16-percent alcohol in metal, glass or 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 vegetables in nonplastic trays or containers
• Frozen foods
• Glass
• Glass bottles, empty or filled with noncombustible liquids
• Gypsum board
• Inert pigments
• Ivory
• Meats
• Metal cabinets
• Metal desks with plastic tops and trim
• Metal parts
• Metals
• Mirrors
• Oil-filled and other types of distribution transformers
• Parking garages, open or enclosed
• Porcelain and pottery
• Stoves
• Talc and soapstones
• Washers and dryers

1. Private garages,
2. carports,
3. sheds,
4. tanks,
5. towers,
6. and agricultural buildings that are Class 1 structures.