Home›Knowledge›IBC Table 504.4 — Allowable Building Height by Construction Type
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IBC Table 504.4 — Allowable Building Height by Construction Type

Updated Mar 25, 2026
Maximum building height in feet and stories by construction type and occupancy. Type IA: unlimited height for B occupancy. Type VA: 50 ft / 3 stories for R occupancy. Type VB: 40 ft / 2 stories.

Table 504.4 sets maximum height limits based on construction type. Key values — Type IA: unlimited height for A/B/E/F/M/S, 12 stories for R. Type IB: 180 ft for B, 11 stories for R. Type IIA: 85 ft for B, 5 stories for R. Type IIB: 75 ft for B, 4 stories for R. Type IIIA: 85 ft for B, 4 stories for R. Type IIIB: 75 ft for B, 4 stories for R. Type IV-A (mass timber): 270 ft / 18 stories. Type VA: 60 ft for B, 3 stories for R. Type VB: 40 ft for B, 2 stories for R. Automatic sprinklers per 903.3.1.1 add 1 story and 20 feet to allowable height. This table drives the fundamental decision of what construction type is needed for a given building program.

TAGS
heightstoriesconstruction-typetable-504ibc-chapter-5
DETAILS
chapter
5 - General Building Heights and Areas
severity
prescriptive
code year
2024
code system
IBC
building types
["all"]
section number
Table 504.4
RELATED KNOWLEDGE
📋 Code
IBC 903.2.1 — Group A Occupancies (Sprinkler Requirements)
Automatic sprinkler system required throughout buildings with Group A occupancy where fire area exceeds 5,000 square feet, or overall building area exceeds 12,000 square feet, or occupant load of the fire area exceeds 300.
📋 Code
IBC 903.2.7 — Group M Occupancies (Retail Sprinkler Requirements)
Automatic sprinkler system required in Group M (mercantile) occupancies where fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet or building is more than three stories above grade.
📋 Code
IBC 903.2.11.3 — Buildings 55 Feet or More in Height
Automatic sprinkler system required throughout buildings with a floor level having an occupant load of 30 or more that is located 55 feet or more above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
📋 Code
IBC 1015.1 — Exit and Exit Access Doorways Required
Two exits or exit access doorways required from any space where occupant load exceeds the table values. Spaces with occupant load exceeding 500 require a minimum of 3 exits. Spaces exceeding 1,000 require 4 exits.
📋 Code
IBC 1017.2 — Exit Access Travel Distance
Maximum travel distance from any point in a building to an exit shall not exceed 200 feet unsprinklered or 250 feet sprinklered for most occupancies. Specific occupancies have modified limits.
📋 Code
IBC Table 601 — Fire-Resistance Rating Requirements
Specifies minimum fire-resistance ratings for structural elements based on construction type (Type I through V). Type IA requires 3-hour rated structural frame, 2-hour floors, and 1.5-hour roof.
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