CHAPTER 3 USE AND OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION

1 CHAPTER 3 USE AND OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATIONSECTION provisions of this CHAPTER shall control theclassification of all buildings and structures as to use and or portions of structures shall beclassified with respect to OCCUPANCY in one or more of thegroups listed below. A room or space that is intended to beoccupied at different times for different purposes shall complywith all of the requirements that are applicable to each of thepurposes for which the room or space will be occupied. Struc-tures with multiple occupancies or uses shall comply with Sec-tion 508. Where a structure is proposed for a purpose that is notspecifically provided for in this code, such structure shall beclassified in the group that the OCCUPANCY most nearly resem-bles, according to the fire safety and relative hazard Assembly (see Section 303): Groups A-1, A-2, A-3,A-4 and A-52.

2 Business (see Section 304): group B3. Educational (see Section 305): group E4. Factory and Industrial (see Section 306): Groups F-1and F-25. High Hazard (see Section 307): Groups H-1, H-2, H-3,H-4 and H-56. Institutional (see Section 308): Groups I-1, I-2, I-3 andI-47. Mercantile (see Section 309): group M8. Residential (see Section 310): Groups R-1, R-2, R-3and R-49. Storage (see Section 311): Groups S-1 and S-210. Utility and Miscellaneous (see Section 312): group USECTION 303 ASSEMBLY group Assembly group group A occupancyincludes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or aportion thereof, for the gathering of persons for purposes suchas civic, social or religious functions; recreation, food or drinkconsumption; or awaiting :1.

3 A building or tenant space used for assembly pur-poses with an occupant load of less than 50 personsshall be classified as a group B A room or space used for assembly purposes with anoccupant load of less than 50 persons and accessory toanother OCCUPANCY shall be classified as a group Boccupancy or as part of that A room or space used for assembly purposes that isless than 750 square feet (70 m2) in area and is acces-sory to another OCCUPANCY shall be classified as aGroup B OCCUPANCY or as part of that occupancies shall include the following:A-1 Assembly uses, usually with fixed seating, intended forthe production and viewing of the performing arts ormotion pictures including, but not limited to:Motion picture theatersSymphony and concert hallsTelevision and radio studios admitting an audienceTheatersA-2 Assembly uses intended for food and/or drink con-sumption including, but not limited to:Banquet hallsNight clubsRestaurantsTaverns and barsA-3 Assembly uses intended for worship, recreation oramusement and other assembly uses not classified else-where in group A including, but not limited to.

4 Amusement arcadesArt galleriesBowling alleysPlaces of religious worshipCommunity hallsCourtroomsDance halls (not including food or drink consumption)Exhibition hallsFuneral parlorsGymnasiums (without spectator seating)Indoor swimming pools (without spectator seating)Indoor tennis courts (without spectator seating)Lecture hallsLibrariesMuseumsWaiting areas in transportation terminalsPool and billiard parlorsA-4 Assembly uses intended for viewing of indoor sportingevents and activities with spectator seating including,but not limited to:ArenasSkating rinksSwimming poolsTennis courts2006 VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION CODE3-1 :\data\CODES\STATE CODES\Virginia\2006\Construction_Buildin g Code\Final VP\ , May 06, 2008 12:32:01 PMColor profile: Generic CMYK printer profileComposite Default screenA-5 Assembly uses intended for participation in or viewingoutdoor activities including, but not limited to:Amusement park structuresBleachersGrandstandsStadiumsSE CTION 304 BUSINESS group Business group group B occupancyincludes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or aportion thereof, for office, professional or service-type transac-tions, including storage of records and accounts.

5 Businessoccupancies shall include, but not be limited to, the following:Airport traffic control towersAnimal hospitals, kennels and poundsBanksBarber and beauty shopsCar washCivic administrationClinic outpatientDry cleaning and laundries: pick-up and delivery stationsand self-serviceEducational occupancies for students above the 12th gradeElectronic data processingLaboratories: testing and researchMotor vehicle showroomsPost officesPrint shopsProfessional services (architects, attorneys, dentists,physicians, engineers, etc.)Radio and television stationsTelephone exchangesTraining and skill development not within a school oracademic programSECTION 305 EDUCATIONAL group Educational group group E occupancyincludes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or aportion thereof, by six or more persons at any one time for edu-cational purposes through the 12th grade.

6 Religious educa-tional rooms and religious auditoriums, which are accessory toplaces of religious worship in accordance with Section have occupant loads of less than 100, shall be classified asA-3 Day use of a building or structure, or portionthereof, for educational, supervision or personal care servicesfor more than five children older than 21/2years of age, shall beclassified as a group E 306 FACTORY group Factory Industrial group Industrial GroupF OCCUPANCY includes, among others, the use of a building orstructure, or a portion thereof, for assembling, disassembling,fabricating, finishing, manufacturing, packaging, repair or pro-cessing operations that are not classified as a group H hazard-ous or group S storage Factory Industrial F-1 Moderate-hazard industrial uses which are not classified as FactoryIndustrial F-2 Low Hazard shall be classified as F-1 ModerateHazard and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:AircraftAppliancesAthletic equipmentAutomobiles and other motor vehiclesBakeriesBeverages.

7 Over 12-percent alcohol contentBicyclesBoatsBrooms or brushesBusiness machinesCameras and photo equipmentCanvas or similar fabricCarpets and rugs (includes cleaning)ClothingConstruction and agricultural machineryDisinfectantsDry cleaning and dyeingElectric generation plantsElectronicsEngines (including rebuilding)Food processingFurnitureHemp productsJute productsLaundriesLeather productsMachineryMetalsMillwork (sash & door)Motion pictures and television filming (without spectators)Musical instrumentsOptical goodsPaper mills or productsPhotographic filmPlastic productsPrinting or publishingRecreational vehiclesRefuse incinerationShoesSoaps and detergentsTextilesTobaccoTrailersUpholst eringWood.

8 DistillationWoodworking (cabinet) Factory Industrial F-2 Low-hazard industrial uses that involve the fabrication or manufactur-ing of noncombustible materials which during finishing,packing or processing do not involve a significant fire hazard3-22006 VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION CODEUSE AND OCCUPANCY :\data\CODES\STATE CODES\Virginia\2006\Construction_Buildin g Code\Final VP\ , May 06, 2008 12:32:01 PMColor profile: Generic CMYK printer profileComposite Default screenshall be classified as F-2 occupancies and shall include, but notbe limited to, the following:Beverages; up to and including 12-percent alcohol contentBrick and masonryCeramic productsFoundriesGlass productsGypsumIceMetal products (fabrication and assembly)SECTION 307 HIGH-HAZARD group H[F] High-hazard group group H occu-pancy 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 orhealth hazard in quantities in excess of those allowed in controlareas constructed and located as required in Section 414.

9 Haz-ardous uses are classified in Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 and H-5and shall be in accordance with this section, the requirements ofSection 415 and theInternational Fire :The following shall not be classified in GroupH, but shall be classified in the OCCUPANCY that they mostnearly resemble:1. Buildings and structures that contain not more thanthe maximum allowable quantities per control areaof hazardous materials as shown in Tables (1)and (2), provided that such buildings are main-tained in accordance with theInternational Buildings utilizing control areas in accordance withSection that contain not more than the maxi-mum allowable quantities per control area of haz-ardous materials as shown in Tables (1) (2).

10 3. Buildings and structures occupied for the applica-tion of flammable finishes, provided that such build-ings or areas conform to the requirements of Section416 and theInternational Fire Wholesale and retail sales and storage of flammableand combustible liquids in mercantile occupanciesconforming to theInternational Fire Closed piping system containing flammable orcombustible liquids or gases utilized for the opera-tion of machinery or Cleaning establishments that utilize combustibleliquid solvents having a flash point of 140 F (60 C)or higher in closed systems employing equipmentlisted by an approved testing agency, provided thatthis OCCUPANCY is separated from all other areas ofthe building by 1-hour fire barriers or 1-hour hori-zontal assemblies or Cleaning establishments that utilize a liquid sol