Which risk category (RC) are telecommunications structures?

My gut says RC IV because communication could be considered essential during emergencies, natural disasters, etc

I agree with MOTORCITY ..

When you look risk category descriptions in IBC Table 1604.5 ;

RC IV = Buildings and other structures designated as essential facilities, including but not limited to:
...

. Designated emergency preparedness, communication, and operation centers and other facilities required for emergency
response..






I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure..It is: Try to please everybody.

Thanks guys I can get on board with that. I did not read the IBC until you mentioned it. Surprisingly the IBC is not just a watered down regurgitation of ASCE, does not generally reference ASCE, and even smacks it down hardcore at one point: "Where a referenced standard specifies that the assignment of a risk category be in accordance with ASCE 7, Table 1.5-1, Table 1604.5 shall be used in lieu of ASCE 7, Table 1.5-1." So I no longer care what ASCE says

My respond to your interpretation will be copy and paste of relevant commentary ;

''C1.5.1 Risk Categorization
......The Risk Category numbering is unchanged from that in the previous editions of the standard (ASCE 7-98, -02, and -05), but the criteria for selecting a category have been generalized with regard to structure and occupancy descriptions. The reason for
this generalization is that the acceptable risk for a building or structure is an issue of public policy, rather than purely a
technical one. Model building codes such as the International Building Code (ICC 2009) and NFPA-5000 (NFPA 2006)
contain prescriptive lists of building types by Occupancy Category.''

If Table 1.5-1 is insufficient for classifying risk category , You may look for more detailed descriptions of
risk category in IBC Table 1604.5.









I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure..It is: Try to please everybody.

or more realistically, if IBC is insufficient, you may gain insight by giving ASCE a little bit of minor consideration perhaps. Local codes don't typically reference ASCE, so you are not supposed to follow it.

There is no IBC calculator as useful as It is much simpler to retrieve data from the tool than from the IBC ( included maps, which are taken directly from the printed ASCE 7.
But to use the hazard tool the risk category must be determined first.