Construction Types & Building

Sizes

Construction Types I-V• Generally determined at the time the building is constructed• Building Elements & Structural Elements• Protected (A) vs. Unprotected (B)• Hourly Fire rating = Fire Endurance Rating

Combustible vs. Noncombustible

• Noncombustible materials: will not ignite, burn, or release flammable vapors when subject to fire.

• Combustible materials: will continue to burn when a flame source is removed

• FRTW & HT

Types I & II

• All elements non-combustible

• High Rise Buildings

Types III

• Exterior is non-combustible

• Interior can be constructed of combustible materials

Types IV

• Mill construction

• No concealed spaces allowed (soffits, plenums, or suspended ceilings.)

Types V

• Typical Residential

Mixed Construction Types

• Separated by a Fire or Party wall

• Could be built horizontally.

Building Height and Area• Generally determined at the time the building is constructed• Limited by construction type and occupancy group.

Construction Type

Type

I

Type

II

Type

III

Type IV

Type

V

Groups A B A B A B HT A B

A-3 S

A

UL

UL

11

UL

3

15,500

2

9,500

3

14,000

2

9,500

3

15,000

2

11,500

1

6,000

B S

A

UL

UL

11

UL

5

37,500

4

23,000

5

28,500

4

19,000

5

36,000

3

18,000

2

9,000

E S

A

UL

UL

5

UL

3

26,500

2

14,500

3

23,500

2

14,500

3

25,500

1

18,500

1

9,500

M S

A

UL

UL

11

UL

4

21,500

4

12,500

4

18,500

4

12,500

4

20,500

3

14,000

1

9,000

I-2 S

A

UL

UL

4

UL

2

15,000

1

11,000

1

12,000

NP

NP

1

12,000

1

9,500

NP

NP

Example #1

An existing building with a construction type of Type IIIB has two floors with 17,500 square feet per floor. Can this be converted into a hotel?

Step 1: What is the new occupancy type?

Example #1 continued:• Hotels are occupancy R-1.

Step 2: Reference table 503 from the IBCConstruction Type

Type

I

Type

II

Type

III

Type IV

Type

V

Groups A B A B A B HT A B

A-3 S

A

UL

UL

11

UL

3

15,500

2

9,500

3

14,000

2

9,500

3

15,000

2

11,500

1

6,000

B S

A

UL

UL

11

UL

5

37,500

4

23,000

5

28,500

4

19,000

5

36,000

3

18,000

2

9,000

E S

A

UL

UL

5

UL

3

26,500

2

14,500

3

23,500

2

14,500

3

25,500

1

18,500

1

9,500

M S

A

UL

UL

11

UL

4

21,500

4

12,500

4

18,500

4

12,500

4

20,500

3

14,000

1

9,000

I-2 S

A

UL

UL

4

UL

2

15,000

1

11,000

1

12,000

NP

NP

1

12,000

1

9,500

NP

NP

Example #1 continued:Construction Type

Type

I

Type

II

Type

III

Type IV

Type

V

Groups

A B A B A B HT A B

R-1 S

A

UL

UL

11

UL

4

24,000

4

16,000

4

24,000

4

16,000

4

20,500

3

12,000

2

7,000

An existing building with a construction type of Type IIIB has two floors with 17,500 square feet per floor. Can this be converted into a hotel?

No, the number of floors is allowable, but the square footage per floor is not.

What could it be?

Example #2

• A local developer is planning to develop a series of townhouses. Some will be three stories and some will be four stories. They will all be Type VB construction. The typical first floor will be 3,625 square feet, the second floor will be 2,880 square feet, and the third and fourth floor will be 1,000 square feet each. Can this be developed as planned?

Example #3

• Your client has found a potential building for the relocation of her low-hazard factory. The space is the first floor of an existing two-story building that has a construction type of TypeIIIB. Each floor in the building has 19,250 gross square feet. The client expects to expand to have 100 employees. If the occupant load factor is 100 gross square feet per person, will this space work?

Homework

From the Study Guide:

• Chapter 3 Short Answer Questions

• Chapter 3 Study problem #1

• Please photocopy sheets from your study guides – fill them out and return at the start of class next week.

• Explanation portion is important!