Article 2 - OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATIONS

Section 27-237

Section 27-237

  §  27-237  Occupancy  groups. Table 3-1 lists occupancy groups and sub
groups that shall be established for classifying buildings and spaces in
accordance with the provisions of articles three through twelve of  this
subchapter.

                   Table 3-1 Occupancy Classifications
                                                                Fire
  Occupancy Group     Classification                            Index
        A           High hazard                                   4
        B-1         Storage (moderate hazard)                     3
        B-2         Storage (low hazard)                          2
        C           Mercantile                                    2
        D-1         Industrial (moderate hazard)                  3
        D-2         Industrial (low hazard)                       2
        E           Business                                      2
        F-1a        Assembly (theaters, etc.)                     1
        F-1b        Assembly (churches, concert halls, etc.)      1
        F-2         Assembly (outdoors)                           1
        F-3         Assembly (museums, etc.)                      1
        F-4         Assembly (restaurants, etc.)                  1
        G           Education                                     1
        H-1         Institutional (restrained)                    1
        H-2         Institutional (incapacitated)                 1
        J-1         Residential (hotels, etc.)                    1
        J-2         Residential (apartment houses, etc.)          1
        J-3         Residential (one-and two-family dwellings)    1
        K           Miscellaneous

Section 27-238

Section 27-238

  §  27-238  Classification  of  spaces.  Every  space or room hereafter
altered or erected shall, for the purposes of this code,  be  classified
in  one  of  the  occupancy  groups listed in Table 3-1 according to the
occupancy or use of the space or room.

Section 27-239

Section 27-239

  § 27-239 Classification of buildings. Every building hereafter erected
or  altered  under  the  provisions of section 27-115 of article four of
subchapter one of this chapter shall, for the purposes of this code,  be
classified  in one of the occupancy groups listed in table 3-1 according
to the main use or dominant occupancy of the building. However,  at  the
option  of  the  applicant, subject to the approval of the commissioner,
buildings may be classified in any other occupancy group, provided  such
occupancy  group  has  a higher fire index, as listed in table 3-1, than
the fire index of the occupancy group classification of the main use  or
dominant occupant.

Section 27-240

Section 27-240

  § 27-240 Separation of occupancies. Occupancies within buildings shall
be separated from one another as follows:
  a.  Spaces  classified in occupancy groups having a higher fire index,
as listed in table 3-1, than the  fire  index  of  the  occupancy  group
classification of the building, shall be separated from adjoining spaces
by construction meeting the fire-resistance rating requirements for fire
divisions  under  the provisions of subdivision (a) of section 27-339 of
article five of subchapter five of this chapter. Such occupancies shall,
for the purposes of this code, be classified  and  treated  as  separate
buildings (hereinafter referred to as "building section").
  b. Spaces classified in occupancy groups having the same or lower fire
index,  as  listed  in  table  3-1, than the fire index of the occupancy
group classification of the building, shall be separated from  adjoining
spaces  by  construction meeting the fire-resistance rating requirements
for fire separations under the provisions of subdivision (b) of  section
27-339 of article five of subchapter five of this chapter.

Section 27-241

Section 27-241

  § 27-241 Classification tables. Table 3-2 and reference standard RS3-3
list  representative  occupancies  that  shall  be  used  as a basis for
classifying buildings and spaces by occupancy.

Section 27-242

Section 27-242

  §  27-242  Multiple occupancy or use. When a building or space is used
for multiple  purposes,  involving  different  activities  at  different
times,  the  building or space shall be given a separate occupancy group
classification for each of  the  activities  involved.  The  design  and
construction  of  the  building or space shall be in accordance with the
most restrictive provisions of this  code  that  apply  to  any  of  the
occupancy  group classifications utilized. However, a minor variation of
any occupancy or use  of  a  space  from  technical  compliance  with  a
particular  space  occupancy  classification  shall not be prohibited if
such variation is normally associated with the occupancy  classification
and no specific danger or hazard is created.