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IBC 302.1 — Occupancy Classification

Updated Mar 25, 2026
Every building or portion thereof shall be classified according to its use or the character of its occupancy. Groups: A (Assembly), B (Business), E (Educational), F (Factory), H (High-Hazard), I (Institutional), M (Mercantile), R (Residential), S (Storage), U (Utility).

The 10 occupancy groups determine nearly every other code requirement — fire protection, means of egress, construction type limits, plumbing fixtures, and accessibility. Group A: Assembly (A-1 theaters, A-2 restaurants/bars, A-3 churches/libraries, A-4 arenas, A-5 outdoor). Group B: Business (offices, banks, clinics). Group E: Educational (K-12 schools). Group F: Factory (F-1 moderate hazard, F-2 low hazard). Group H: High-Hazard (explosives, flammables). Group I: Institutional (I-1 assisted living, I-2 hospitals, I-3 prisons, I-4 daycare). Group M: Mercantile (retail). Group R: Residential (R-1 hotels, R-2 apartments, R-3 houses, R-4 care facilities). Group S: Storage (S-1 moderate hazard, S-2 low hazard). Group U: Utility (barns, greenhouses).

TAGS
occupancyclassificationibc-chapter-3group-agroup-bgroup-r
DETAILS
chapter
3 - Use and Occupancy Classification
severity
prescriptive
code year
2024
code system
IBC
building types
["all"]
section number
302.1
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