Richard Gaspar's List: construction

TYPE I - This concrete and steel structure, called fire resistive when first built at the turn of the century, is supposed to confine a fire by its construction. This type of construction in which the building elements listed in IBC Table 601 are of noncombustible materials such as concrete and steel. The roof is also of noncombustible material such as concrete or steel .

TYPE II - This type building has steel or concrete walls, floors and structural framework similar to a type I construction however, the roof covering material is combustible. The roof covering of a type II building can be a layer of asphalt water proofing, with a combustible felt paper covering. Another layer of asphalt may be mopped over the felt paper.

TYPE III - This type of constructed building is also called a brick and joist structure by some. It has masonry bearing walls but the floors, structural framework and roof are made of wood or other combustible material. For example; a concrete block building with wood roof and floor trusses. Fire-retardant-treated wood framing complying with IBC Sec. 2303.2 shall be permitted within exterior wall assemblies of a 2-hour rating or less.

TYPE IV - These buildings have masonry walls like Type III buildings but the interior wood consists of heavy timbers. In a heavy-timber building a wood column cannot be less than eight inches thick in any dimension and a wood girder cannot be less than six inches thick. The floor and roof are plank board. One difference between a heavy timber type IV building and type III construction is that a heavy-timber type IV building does not have plaster walls and ceilings covering the interior wood framework. The details of type IV construction shall comply with the provisions of 602.4.1 through 602.4.7. Fire-retardant-treated wood framing complying with IBC Section 2303.2 shall be permitted within exterior wall assemblies with a 2-hour rating or less.

TYPE V - Wood-frame construction is the most combustible of the five building types. The interior framing and exterior

SECTION 601 GENERAL

601.1 Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall control the classification of buildings as to type of construction.

SECTION 602 CONSTRUCTION CLASSIFICATION

602.1 General. Buildings and structures erected or to be erected, altered or extended in height or area shall be classified in one of the five construction types defined in Sections 602.2 through 602.5. The building elements shall have a fireresistance rating not less than that specified in Table 601 and exterior walls shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than that specified in Table 602.

602.1.1 Minimum requirements. A building or portion thereof shall not be required to conform to the details of a type of construction higher than that type, which meets the minimum requirements based on occupancy even though certain features of such a building actually conform to a higher type of construction.

602.2 Types I and II. Type I and II construction are those types of construction in which the building elements listed in Table 601 are of noncombustible materials, except as permitted in Section 603 and elsewhere in this code.

602.3 Type III. Type III construction is that type of construction in which the exterior walls are of noncombustible materials and the interior building elements are of any material permitted by this code. Fire-retardant-treated wood framing complying with Section 2303.2 shall be permitted within exterior wall assemblies of a 2-hour rating or less.

602.4 Type IV. Type IV construction (Heavy Timber, HT) is that type of construction in which the exterior walls are of noncombustible materials and the interior building elements are of solid or laminated wood without concealed spaces. The details of Type IV construction shall comply with the provisions of this section. Fire-retardant-treated wood framing complying with Section 2303.2 shall be permitted within exterior wall assemblies with a 2-hour rating or less. Minimum solid sawn nominal dimensions are required for structures built using Type IV construction (HT)