Interpretation #7440

Published January 05, 2015

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Original Request

Code Version
2010
Code
BUILDING
Code Description
Building
Chapter
3
Section
306.4
Topic
Factory classification with low density

Question

Is it the intent of the code to use an F3 occupancy classification only for buildings such as steel mills, paper plants, and generating plants when there are other types of industrial facilities such as a package delivery facility that have a relatively low density population and much of the area is filled with machinery and equipment, and how does the code define a relatively low density population?

Answer Published 01/05/2015 at 8:47 AM

No. Please see the attached commentary

Commentary

While a package delivery facility has a relatively low density population, the content of this type of facility is more consistent with the F1 examples than an F3. The Building Official has the opportunity to address the occupant load issue via Chapter 10 in 1004.1.1 Exception.