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 Type Type Type Type
I II III IV V
Groups A B A B A B HT A B
A-3 S UL 11 3 2 3 2 3 2 1
A UL UL 15,500 9,500 14,000 9,500 15,000 11,500 6,000
B S UL 11 5 4 5 4 5 3 2
A UL UL 37,500 23,000 28,500 19,000 36,000 18,000 9,000
E S UL 5 3 2 3 2 3 1 1
A UL UL 26,500 14,500 23,500 14,500 25,500 18,500 9,500
M S UL 11 4 4 4 4 4 3 1
A UL UL 21,500 12,500 18,500 12,500 20,500 14,000 9,000
I-2 S UL 4 2 1 1 NP 1 1 NP
A UL UL 15,000 11,000 12,000 NP 12,000 9,500 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 IBC

Construction Type
Type Type Type Type Type
I II III IV V
Groups A B A B A B HT A B
A-3 S UL 11 3 2 3 2 3 2 1
A UL UL 15,500 9,500 14,000 9,500 15,000 11,500 6,000
B S UL 11 5 4 5 4 5 3 2
A UL UL 37,500 23,000 28,500 19,000 36,000 18,000 9,000
E S UL 5 3 2 3 2 3 1 1
A UL UL 26,500 14,500 23,500 14,500 25,500 18,500 9,500
M S UL 11 4 4 4 4 4 3 1
A UL UL 21,500 12,500 18,500 12,500 20,500 14,000 9,000
I-2 S UL 4 2 1 1 NP 1 1 NP
A UL UL 15,000 11,000 12,000 NP 12,000 9,500 NP
 Example #1 continued:
Construction Type
Type Type Type Type Type
I II III IV V
Group A B A B A B HT A B
s
R-1 S UL 11 4 4 4 4 4 3 2
A UL UL 24,000 16,000 24,000 16,000 20,500 12,000 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!