IBC Cheat Sheets

A. Occupancy Classification

Consult Chapter 3 of the IBC to determine the correct occupancy classification based on the Owner’s program criteria

Dependent on : Program Requirements

B. Sprinkler System

Given the occupancy classification and additional secondary criteria, consult Chapter 9 of the IBC to determine the required sprinkler system

Dependent on : Occupancy Classification, Occupant Load, Floor Area, Floor Height

C. Type of Construction

Consult Chapter 6 of the IBC to determine the construction type based on the fire-resistance ratings of building elements

Fire resistance ratings of : Structural frame, Bearing Walls, Non bearing walls (int. and ext.), Floor construction, Roof construction

D. Allowable Floor Area

Consult Chapter 5 of the IBC to determine the allowable floor area. Refer to Table 506.2

Dependent on : Occupancy Classification, Sprinkler Type, Types of Construction

E. Allowable Height and No. of Stories

Consult Chapter 5 of the IBC to determine the allowable floor area. Refer to Table 504.3

Dependent on : Occupancy Classification, Sprinkler Type, Types of Construction

F. Location of Property

Consult Chapter 7 to site the project practically within the lot, taking into account the effect of fire separation distance on allowable openings and projections

Dependent on : Zoning, easements, Program Requirements

F. Means of Egress

Consult Chapter 10 to ensure provided means of egress is suitable for the given space planning, space function, occupant load, and sprinkler system. Table 1004.1.2 is especially useful for determining occupant load given the space function.

Dependent on : Space planning, Function of space, Occupant load, Occupancy classification, Sprinkler system

Chapter 2

Definitions

Chapter 3

Use and Occupancy

Chapter 4

Special Detailed Requirements based on Use and Occupancy (less important)

Chapter 5

Building Heights and Areas

Chapter 6

Types of Construction

Chapter 7

Fire and Smoke Protection Features

Chapter 8

Interior Finishes (less important)

Chapter 9

Fire Protection Sytems

Chapter 10

Means of egress

Chapter 11

Accessibility

Chapter 12-35

Appendix A-M: be generally familiar with their contents, but no need to memorize

Chapter 3: A: Assembly

Civic, social, or religious places of congregation

A.1

Fixed seating: movie theaters, concert halls, theaters

A. 2

Food or Drink consumption: Restaurants, bars, clubs

A. 3

Other: places of worship, community spaces, libraries, art museums, bowling alleys, gyms

A. 4

Indoor Sport: Arenas, stadiums, swimming pools

A. 5

Outdoor Activity: stadiums, amusement partks

Chapter 3: B: Business

Office or professional service (i.e. banks, car washes, labs, post offices, barber shops)

Chapter 3: E: Education

Educational spaces used by 6 or more people for classes up to 12th grade

If within a place of worship and less than 100 people, then considered A.3 occupancy group

Chapter 3: F: Factory

Fabrication, finishing, manufacturing

F. 1

Moderate Hazard

F. 2

Low Hazard : manufacturing materials are noncombustible

Chapter 3: H: High Hazard

High hazard manufacturing and storage

Uses in this category require consultation with building officials early in the design process

Classification H-1 through H-4 varies by type of material and specific risks posed

Chapter 3: I: Institutional

Occupancies where individuals have special restrictions that influence their ability to take care of themselves in an emergency

I - 1

16 + people living under 24 hour custodial care (i.e. assisted living, rehab facilities). Individuals do no require assistance to respond to emergencies

I - 2

5 + people living under 24 hour medical care (i.e. hospitals, nursing homes). Individuals require assistance to respond to emergencies

I - 3

5 + people living under 24 restraint or security (i.e. prisons)

I - 4

5 + people living under less than 24 hour custodial care (i.e. daycare)

Chapter 3: M: Mercantile

Retail spaces for the display and sale of merchandise

Chapter 3: R: Residential

Spaces for sleeping:

R-1: 2+ dwelling units, transient occupants, staying 30 days or less (i.e. hotels, motels)

R-2: 2+ dwelling units, permanent occupants (i.e. apartments, dorms)

R-3: less than 2 dwelling units, permanent occupants (i.e. single family homes, duplexes)

R-4: 5-16 people living under 24 hour custodial care (i.e. assisted living or rehab facilities that are too small to qualify as I - 1)

Chapter 3: S: Storage

Storage spaces that are not classified as hazardous

S - 1 Moderate Hazard

S - 2 Low Hazard: Non-combustible (i.e. enclosed parking)

Accessory storage spaces (less than 100 sq ft) are classified as part of the larger adjacent occupancy

Chapter 3: U: Utility and Miscellaneous

Include building of accessory nature, typically unoccupied and separate

Not to be used as catch-all occupancy, but rather for specific items (i.e. fences and retaining walls)

Special Uses and Occupancies

Includes additional criteria for a variety of specific uses.

A few to be familiar with are covered and open malls (402), High rise building (403) [Considered a high rise if occupied floor is above 75 feet tall, equivalent to the height of a fire ladder; Considered a “super high rise'“ if over 420’ tall], Atriums (404), Underground buildings (405) , Motor vehicle related occupancies (406), Group I-1 hospitals (407), Group I-3 Prisons (408), Childern’s play structures (424)

Building Area

Exclusive of exterior walls, Exclusive of shaft areas and shaft walls, Inclusive of areas under building overhangs

Gross Area

Measured from exterior face of walls

Building Height

Measure to average hight of the highest roof (i.e. mid-slope)

Grade Plane

Reference plane representing average grade level along the exterior edge of the building

Basement

Cannot be greater than 12’ above the grade plane at any point

Mezzanine

Intermediate floor level inserted between larger floor plates.

Open and unobstructed access to floor area below; 42” wall allowable

Limited to 1/3 the are of the larger floor plate area below. Floor area does not contribute to Floor area, Building area, or Number of stories

When a floor contains a mezzanine and an equipment platform, the aggregate area of both raised levels must be less than or equal to 2/3 of the room area

Types of Construction : Type I (A+B)

All noncombustible materials (masonry, concrete, steel)

Passive fire protection of all elements

Type A: 3 hr fire rating for structural system and bearing walls

Type B: 2 hr fire rating for structural system and bearing walls

Types of Construction : Type II (A+B)

All noncombustible materials (masonry, concrete, steel)

Active or Passive fire protection of all elements

Type A: 1 hr fire rating for structural system and bearing walls

Type B: 0 hr fire rating for structural system and bearing walls

Types of Construction : Type III (A+B)

Exterior walls are noncombustible materials, interior materials can be anything code approved

Types of Construction : Type IV (HT)

Exterior wall are noncombustible, structural frame is heavy timber construction, interior building elements are solid or laminated wood

Types of Construction : Type V

Exterior walls, structural frame, and interior materials can be anything code approved

Type A: 1 hr fire rating for structural systems and bearing walls

Type B: 0 hr fire rating for structural systems and bearing walls

Fire Wall

Produces complete fire separation between building and construction types. Required firewall resistance rating vary by occupancy (refer to Table 706.4), but 3 hours is a good rule of thumb

Fire Barrier

A less restrictive fire separation of usually 2 hours. Used in many different instances, including to:

Separate different occupancies

Divide single occupancy into fire areas

Separate interior exit stairs from remainder of egress

Surround shaft enclosures

Fire Partition

The least restrictive type of fire separation, of generally 1 hour. Used primarily to separate dwelling units and corridors

Smoke Barriers

A continuous vertical or horizontal membrane, such as a wall, floor, or ceiling assembly, that is designed to resist the passage of smoke. A 1 hr fire resistance rating is required

Smoke Partition

Similar to a smoke barrier, but no fire resistance rating is required

Interior Finishes

The IBC’s primary concern is with the flame-spread and smoke generation characteristics of materials

Flame Spread Index and Smoke-Developed Index

Used to determine “Class” of material:

Class A : Least combustible

Class B

Class C: Most combustible

Fire Protection Systems

IBC allows for trade-offs between “active” and “passive” fire protection systems. The best designs include both for redundancy

Active Systems

Sprinklers used for fire protection

Passive Systems

Materials with inherent fire protection used

Egress

Continuous and unobstructed path of exit travel from occupied space to public way

Exit Access

Leads from occupied portion of a building to the exit. Can include aisles, passages, corridors, and rooms. The length and geometry of this path is limited by code requirements

Refer to table 1017.2 “exit access travel distance” to determine the maximum travel distance by occupancy type and sprinkler system

Exit

A means of exiting the building that has fire separation from the rest of the building. Can include indoor or outdoor fire stairs, ramps or passageways. This length and geometry of the path taken while in the “exit” is not restricted.

Exit Discharge

Portion of means of egress between termination of Exit and the Public Way. Can include exit courts, yards, stairways, ramps. It is assumed to be open air. The width must be larger than the minimum width of all exits served.

Required Means of Egress

Is dependent on the occupant load of a given space, the travel distance required, and the common path of travel

Occupant Load

Number of people allowed to occupy a spaced according to code.

Maximum Floor Area Allowance Per Occupant

Refer to Table 1004.1.2

To determine the Occupant Load by dividing the sqft of a space by the area required per occupancy for a given use. Occupants from an accessory area who pass through primary area are to be added to the occupant load

Spaces with One Exit or Exit Access Doorway

Refer to Table 1006.2.1

To determine if a single means of egress is acceptable from a space with a given occupancy and occupancy load. Maximum path of egress travel to qualify for a single means of egress is also given

Minimum Number of Exits or Access to Exits per story

Refer 1006.3.1

To determine the number of exits required per story based on occupant load

Travel Distance

Distance from the most remote point on a story along the unobstructed path of egress to the exit

Common Path of Egress

The portion of the exit access which occupants must travel before two separate and distinct path of egress are available. So, the common Path of Egress may be equal to the Travel Distance, but it will never exceed the Travel Distance

The egress path may NOT go through…

a kitchen, storeroom, closet, sleeping area, or bathroom

Egress Sizing

Width Factors, Stairs

Not Sprinklered : 0.3 X Occupant Load = width required (inches)

Sprinklered : 0.2 X Occupant Load = width required (inches)

Stair Requirements

Width: determined by stair width factor, with minimum widths required. When Occupant Load < 50 people, 36” minimum. When occupant load > 50 People, 44” minimum. If stair is part of an ADA accessible means of egress, 48” minimum.

Clear Height: 6’8” minimum

Risers: minimum 4”, maximum 7” (7-3/4” in R3 or inside an apartment unit)

Treads: minimum 11” (10” in R3 or inside an apartment unit)

Nosings: maximum 1-1/4”

Handrails: 34”-38” above finished floor

Guardrail Requirements

42” minimum above finished floor

Door Requirements

Minimum 32” wide

When the occupant load is over 50 people, exit doors must swing with the direction of egress travel

Panic hardware required in Assembly, Educational, and High Hazard occupancies with an occupant load of over 50 people

Corridor Requirements

20’ maximum length for a dead end corridor in a building that is not sprinklered

50’ maximum length for a dead end corridor in a building a sprinklered building

If a plenum for heating, cooling, and/or ventilation is used, it must be fire rated or the air handler unit must shut down when it detects smoke

Generally, a 1 hr fire rating is required in corridors

Horizontal Exit

An exit in a means of egress system to another area or building on the same floor

2 hour fire separation required (fire wall or fire barrier)

All duct or air transfers must be rated

Fire doors must be self or automated closing

The refuge area that the horizontal exit serves must accommodate its own occupant load and the occupant load from the adjoining space