International Building Code Section 308 – International Building Code 2006 Discussions

International Building Code 308.1

Institutional Group I. Institutional Group I occupancy
includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a
portion thereof, in which people are cared for or live in a supervised
environment, having physical limitations because of
health or age are harbored for medical treatment or other care
or treatment, or in which people are detained for penal or correctional
purposes or in which the liberty of the occupants is
restricted. Institutional occupancies shall be classified as
Group I-1, I-2, I-3 or I-4.

International Building Code 308.2

This occupancy shall include buildings,
structures or parts thereof housing more than 16 persons, on a
24-hour basis, who because of age, mental disability or other
reasons, live in a supervised residential environment that provides
personal care services. The occupants are capable of
responding to an emergency situation without physical assistance
from staff. This group shall include, but not be limited to,
the following:
Residential board and care facilities
Assisted living facilities
Halfway houses
Group homes
Congregate care facilities
Social rehabilitation facilities
Alcohol and drug centers
Convalescent facilities
A facility such as the above with five or fewer persons shall
be classified as a Group R-3 or shall comply with the International
Residential Code in accordance with Section 101.2. A
facility such as above, housing at least six and not more than 16
persons, shall be classified as Group R-4.

International Building Code 308.3

Group I-2. This occupancy shall include buildings and
structures used for medical, surgical, psychiatric, nursing or
custodial care on a 24-hour basis for more than five persons
who are not capable of self-preservation. This group shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:
Hospitals
Nursing homes (both intermediate care facilities and
skilled nursing facilities)
Mental hospitals
Detoxification facilities
A facility such as the above with five or fewer persons shall
be classified as Group R-3 or shall comply with the International
Residential Code in accordance with Section 101.2.

Child care facility. A child care facility that provides
care on a 24-hour basis to more than five children 21/2
years of age or less shall be classified as Group I-2.

International Building Code 308.3.1

Child care facility. A child care facility that provides
care on a 24-hour basis to more than five children 21/2
years of age or less shall be classified as Group I-2.

International Building Code 308.4

Group I-3. This occupancy shall include buildings and
structures that are inhabited by more than five persons who are
under restraint or security. An I-3 facility is occupied by persons
who are generally incapable of self-preservation due to
security measures not under the occupants’ control. This group
shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Prisons
Jails
Reformatories
Detention centers
Correctional centers
Prerelease centers
Buildings of Group I-3 shall be classified as one of the occupancy
conditions indicated in Sections 308.4.1 through
308.4.5 (see Section 408.1).

Condition 1. This occupancy condition shall
include buildings in which free movement is allowed from
sleeping areas, and other spaces where access or occupancy
is permitted, to the exterior via means of egress without
restraint. A Condition 1 facility is permitted to be constructed
as Group R.

Condition 2. This occupancy condition shall
include buildings in which free movement is allowed from
sleeping areas and any other occupied smoke compartment
to one or more other smoke compartments. Egress to the
exterior is impeded by locked exits.

Condition 3. This occupancy condition shall
include buildings in which free movement is allowed within
individual smoke compartments, such as within a residential
unit comprised of individual sleeping units and group
activity spaces, where egress is impeded by remote-controlled
release of means of egress from such a smoke compartment
to another smoke compartment.

Condition 4. This occupancy condition shall
include buildings in which free movement is restricted from
an occupied space. Remote-controlled release is provided to
permit movement from sleeping units, activity spaces and
other occupied areas within the smoke compartment to
other smoke compartments.

Condition 5. This occupancy condition shall
include buildings in which free movement is restricted from
an occupied space. Staff-controlled manual release is provided
to permit movement from sleeping units, activity
spaces and other occupied areas within the smoke compartment
to other smoke compartments.
2006 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE 33
USE AND OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION

International Building Code 308.4.1

International Building Code 308.4.2

International Building Code 308.4.3

International Building Code 308.4.4

International Building Code 308.4.5

International Building Code 308.5

Group I-4, day care facilities. This group shall include
buildings and structures occupied by persons of any age who
receive custodial care for less than 24 hours by individuals
other than parents or guardians, relatives by blood, marriage or
adoption, and in a place other than the home of the person cared
for.Afacility such as the above with five or fewer persons shall
be classified as a Group R-3 or shall comply with the International
Residential Code in accordance with Section 101.2.
Places ofworship during religious functions are not included.

International Building Code 308.5.1

Adult care facility. A facility that provides accommodations
for less than 24 hours for more than five unrelated
adults and provides supervision and personal care
services shall be classified as Group I-4.
Exception: A facility where occupants are capable of
responding to an emergency situation without physical
assistance from the staff shall be classified as Group A-3.

International Building Code 308.5.2

Child care facility.Afacility that provides supervision
and personal care on less than a 24-hour basis for more
than five children 21/2 years of age or less shall be classified
as Group I-4.
Exception: A child day care facility that provides care
for more than five but no more than 100 children 21/2
years or less of age, when the rooms where such children
are cared for are located on the level of exit discharge and
each of these child care rooms has an exit door directly to
the exterior, shall be classified as Group E.