Post on 11-Jan-2016
Occupancy Classification Under NFPA 13Examine the proposed facility and make
recommendation on the Occupancy ClassificationUsed to classify fuel loads and fire severity
associated with building operations Light HazardOrdinary Hazards Group 1 and Group 2Extra Hazard Group 1 and Group 2
Commodity Classifications Under NFPA 13
The commodity classification is important in sprinkler system design.
Adjustments are made to sprinkler system water demands to ensure it can put out a fire involving the stored commodities.
Examine the proposed facility and make recommendation on the Commodity Classification
Defines potential fire severity based upon the type, amount, and arrangement of commodities
Commodity Classifications Under NFPA 13
Class I: noncombustibles packaged directly on wooden pallets, single layer cartons, or shrink wrapped
Class II: noncombustibles packaged in slatted wooden crates, corrugated cartons
Class III: wood, paper, natural fiber productsClass IV: Group A or Group B plastics
See the Commodity Classification document for definitions
NFPA 5000 Occupancy Classifications To classify a building under NFPA 5000:
Chapter 6 provides definitions of the different Occupancy ClassificationsAssembly, Educational, Industrial, etc.
In addition to the occupancy classification, a facility can be further classified as:Multiple occupancy: a building in which 2 or more
classes of occupancies existMixed occupancy: a multiple occupancy in which the
occupancies are intermingledSeparated occupancy: an occupancy in which the
occupancies are separated by a fire rated barrier as required in NFPA 5000
Classifying Your Occupancy Under NFPA 5000Under NFPA 5000, the definition of an
Industrial Occupancy is an occupancy in which products are manufactured, or in which processing, mixing, … or repair operations are conducted.
Industrial Occupancies must meet Chapter 29 of the NFPA 5000 standards
Classifying Your Contents Under NFPA 5000Building contents can be classified as Low,
Ordinary, and HighHigh Hazards Contents can be classified as
Level 1 through 5All are defined in Chapter 6 of NFPA 5000Your building will be using limited amounts of
flammable liquids in closed containers in the finishing area.
NFPA 5000, Chapter 34: Protection LevelsProtection Levels 1 thru 5
If the quantities of hazardous contents exceeds the maximum allowable quantities (MAQ’s) under the Code, then the building construction must meet additional construction/protection requirements
For example, if a quantities of Level 1 High Hazardous Contents exceeds the maximum allowable quantity, then the facility must meet Protection Level 1 requirements
Same for other Contents Classifications (Level 2 – 5)If you don’t exceed MAQ’s, then follow Ordinary
Hazard requirements
Special OperationsNFPA 5000 identifies 66 special operations
which require additional building construction requirements from NFPA standards outside of NFPA 5000.For example, a special operation would be a spray
booth which would fall under NFPA 33: Standard for Spray Application Using Flammable and Combustible Materials.
Using Chapter 29 of NFPA 5000In addition to the requirements in Chapter
29, an industrial occupancy must also meet the requirements of:Chapter 7, 8, 13, 14, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39,
and 40Portions of other Chapters may be required
as cited in the Chapter 29
ConstructionType ClassificationsExamine the proposed facility and make a
recommendation on the following:Construction Type Classification (NFPA 220
and NFPA 5000)Type I: (Formerly Fire Resistive)Type II: (Formerly Non-combustible)Type III: (Formerly Ordinary Construction)Type IV: (Formerly Heavy Timber) Type V: (Formerly Wood Frame)Mixed Construction
Dead LoadsMaterial, equipment, or components that
are relatively constant throughout the structure's life
Walls, floors, roofs, ceilings, stairways, built-in partitions, finishes, cladding and other similarly incorporated architectural and structural items, and fixed services equipment
Live LoadsAll the forces that are variable within the
building’s normal operation cycleMoveable loadsWind load Snow load Rain load Earthquake load Flood load
Case Study 2 Following NFPA 13, selection of the NFPA Building Type
Classification (Provided in Module) Following NFPA 13, determination of Occupancy Classification
and Commodity Classifications (Provided in Module) Following NFPA 5000, determination of Occupancy Classification
and Contents Classifications (Include Construction Type, Fire Ratings, Maximum stories, maximum square footage) Your facility will not exceed the maximum allowable quantities
In your case study, provide one example of each which could be expected for a building of the type in the case study: Live Loads, Dead Loads, Impact Loads, Static Loads, Axial
Loads, Eccentric Loads Selection of building materials for exterior, including foundation,
structural supports, exterior walls and roof Must be selected according to your building type classification