IBC Table 1604.5

[SteelPE]

Looking at Occupancy Category III bullet #1 which is as follows:

Buildings and other structures whose primary occupancy is public assembly with an occupant load greater than 300

What types of building would this include? Restaurants and night clubs? or are we only talking about theaters and similar buildings?

I have always included restaurants in this definition but I am not sure if this is correct or not.

 

[azcats]

I wouldn't think that dining is 'public assembly'. Night clubs make me wonder however.

ASCE commentary says, "Risk Category II includes the vast majority of structures, including most residential , commercial, and industrial buildings..."

The commentary also cautions against using assignment criteria that are "more appropriate to fire and life safety than to structural failure."

My gut says Risk Category II for restaurants and not sure on night clubs. I don't think I'd be wrong to say II though but would evaluate on case by case basis.

 

[RobertHale]

I have been assuming for a while that the "public assembly" specified in the Occupancy category of Chapter 16, is intimately linked with the Assembly Use and Occupancy Group of Chapter 3. I have no concrete evidence to base this on, but the term "public assembly" is only found in the IBC (not ASCE 7) and the only other place I can find assembly used is in chapter 3. It is a leap, but I don't think it is a huge leap. I don't think I have encountered a restaurant during practice that has exceeded the 300 person limit, so my restaurants always end up as Category II. ASCE 7's commentary states "Risk Category III includes buildings and structures that house a large number of persons in one place, such as theaters, lecture halls, and similar assembly uses." To be on the safe side, I have been tripping to Category III on any Group A buildings, and using the occupancy load to back off if I can.

Robert Hale, PE