TED 316 – STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Building Classifications:Construction Types

CONSTRUCTION TYPES DEFINED

Based on how the building is constructed.

Relates to: Materials used Combustibility Fire-resistance

CONSTRUCTION TYPES

Types IA and IB Types IIA and IIB Types IIIA and IIIB Type IV Types VA and VB

CONSTRUCTION TYPES

Types IA and IB Noncombustible and fire-resistive IA has a higher fire-resistance Only noncombustible materials allowed

IBC does not determine combustibility Done through the American Society for

Testing and Materials (ASTM)

CONSTRUCTION TYPES

Types IIA and IIB Also noncombustible Little or no fire-resistance IIA has minimum of 1-hour fire-

resistance IIB has no requirement for fire-

resistance unless required by other sections of the code

CONSTRUCTION TYPES

Types IIIA and IIIB Combustible Permits wood framing Little to no fire-resistance IIIA requires 1-hour fire-resistance

throughout with exterior bearing walls 2-hour

IIIB only requires 2-hour fire-resistance for exterior bearing walls

CONSTRUCTION TYPES

Type IV Combustible Heavy timber construction only

Columns at least 8” thick Floor and roof framing at least 6” thick Floor and roof decks 3-4” thick (built up)

Exterior walls noncombustible construction

CONSTRUCTION TYPES

Types VA and VB Combustible Slightly less fire-resistance than Type III VA exterior bearing wall fire-resistance

is 1-hour VB has no fire-resistance rating

MIXED RATINGS = LOWEST RATING

A building or portion thereof shall not be required to conform to the details of a type of construction higher than that type, which meets the minimum requirements based on occupancy even though certain features of such a building actually conform to a higher type of construction.

SOURCES

http://www.specsandcodes.com/Articles.htm#CodeArticles

http://www.specsandcodes.com/Articles/The%20Code%20Corner%20No.%2015%20%20Building%20Classification%20Part%202%20-%20Construction%20Types.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Building_Code

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&search=ibc+building+code

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Building_Code