This series of definitions was developed by the California State University, the University of

California, the California Department of General Services, and the Administrative Office of the
Courts from 1995 through 2009.

According to Risk Categories of IBC 2015 (Appendix A and B), residential buildings with less
than 5000 occupants are included in Category II. Peruvian residential buildings correspond to
Use Category of Common and new buildings are designed to have a good behavior
(Performance Objective of Life Safety in DBE ground motion). This rating is based on California
Building Code and ASCE41.

Description of Seismic Hazard Rating

Seismic
Implied Seismic
Performance Objectives Hazard
Damageability
Rating
Immediate Occupancy (S-1) in DBE ground motion
Good 0% to 10%
Life Safety (S-3) in MCE ground motion

Immediate Occupancy (S-1) in the 225-year return period

earthquake ground motion
Good 0% to 15%
Life Safety (S-3) in the 975-year return period earthquake
ground motion
Life Safety (S-3) in DBE ground motion
Good 5% to 20%
Collapse Prevention (S-5) in MCE ground motion

Life Safety (S-3) in the 225-year return period earthquake

ground motion
Fair 10% to 30%
Collapse Prevention (S-5) in the 975-year return period
earthquake ground motion

Life Safety (S-3) in 2/3 of the 225-year return period

earthquake ground motion
Poor 20% to 50%
Collapse Prevention (S-5) in 2/3 of the 975-year return
period earthquake ground motion
Limited Safety (S-4) in 2/3 of the 225-year return period
earthquake ground motion
Very Poor 40% to 100%
Collapse in 2/3 of the 975-year return period earthquake
ground motion
Life Safety (S-3) under gravity loads Very Poor 100%
 Appendix A

Risk category of buildings and other structures

Each building and structure shall be assigned a risk category in accordance with Table 1604.5.
Where a referenced standard specifies an occupancy category, the risk category shall not be
taken as lower than the occupancy category specified therein. 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.

Definitions based upon California Building Code (CBC): Risk category of buildings and other
structures

RISK
NATURE OF OCCUPANCY
CATEGORY

Buildings and other structures that represent a low hazard to human life in
the event of failure, including but not limited to:
I • Agricultural facilities.
• Certain temporary facilities.
• Minor storage facilities.

Buildings and other structures except those listed in Risk Categories I, III and
II
IV.

Buildings and other structures that represent a substantial hazard to human

life in the event of failure, including but not limited to:
• Buildings and other structures whose primary occupancy is public assembly
with an occupant load greater than 300.
• Buildings and other structures containing Group E occupancies with an
occupant load greater than 250.
• Buildings and other structures containing educational occupancies for
students above the 12th grade with an occupant load greater than 500.
• Group I-2 occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or more resident care
recipients but not having surgery or emergency treatment facilities.
III • Group I-3 occupancies.
• Any other occupancy with an occupant load greater than 5,000.a
• Power-generating stations, water treatment facilities for potable water,
wastewater treatment facilities and other
public utility facilities not included in Risk Category IV.
• Buildings and other structures not included in Risk Category IV containing
quantities of toxic or explosive materials that:
Exceed maximum allowable quantities per control area as given in Table
307.1(1) or 307.1(2) or per
outdoor control area in accordance with the California Fire Code; and
Are sufficient to pose a threat to the public if released.b

Buildings and other structures designated as essential facilities, including but

not limited to:
IV • Group I-2 occupancies having surgery or emergency treatment facilities.
• Fire, rescue, ambulance and police stations and emergency vehicle garages.
• Designated earthquake, hurricane or other emergency shelters.
 • Designated emergency preparedness, communications and operations
centers and other facilities required for emergency response.
• Power-generating stations and other public utility facilities required as
emergency backup facilities for Risk Category IV structures.
• Buildings and other structures containing quantities of highly toxic
materials that:
Exceed maximum allowable quantities per control area as given in Table
307.1(2) or per outdoor control
area in accordance with the California Fire Code; and
Are sufficient to pose a threat to the public if released.b
• Aviation control towers, air traffic control centers and emergency aircraft
hangars.
• Buildings and other structures having critical national defense functions.
• Water storage facilities and pump structures required to maintain water
pressure for fire suppression.
a. For purposes of occupant load calculation, occupancies required by Table 1004.1.2 to use
gross floor area calculations shall be permitted to use net floor areas to determine the
total occupant load.

b. Where approved by the building official, the classification of buildings and other structures
as Risk Category III or IV based on their quantities of toxic, highly toxic or explosive
materials is permitted to be reduced to Risk Category II, provided it can be demonstrated
by a hazard assessment in accordance with Section 1.5.3 of ASCE 7 that a release of the
toxic, highly toxic or explosive materials is not sufficient to pose a threat to the public.
 Appendix B

Classification of buildings according to Section 302.1 of the International Building Code 2015
(IBC 2015)

Structures or portions of structures shall be classified with respect to occupancy in one or more
of the groups listed in this section. A room or space that is intended to be occupied at different
times for different purposes shall comply with all of the requirements that are applicable to
each of the purposes for which the room or space will be occupied. Structures with multiple
occupancies or uses shall comply with Section 508. Where a structure is proposed for a purpose
that is not specifically provided for in this code, such structure shall be classified in the group
that the occupancy most nearly resembles, according to the fire safety and relative hazard
involved.

1. Assembly (see Section 303): Groups A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-5
2. Business (see Section 304): Group B
3. Educational (see Section 305): Group E
4. Factory and Industrial (see Section 306): Groups F-1 and F-2
5. High Hazard (see Section 307): Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 and H-5
6. Institutional (see Section 308): Groups I-1, I-2, I-2.1, I-3 and I-4
7. [SFM] Laboratory (see Section 202): Group B, unless classified as Group L (see Section
453) or Group H (see Section 307).
8. Mercantile (see Section 309): Group M
9. [SFM] Organized Camps (see Section 450): Group C.
10. [SFM] Research Laboratories (see Section 453): Group L
11. Residential (see Section 310): Groups R-1, R-2, R-2.1, R-3, R-3.1 and R-4.
12. Storage (see Section 311): Groups S-1 and S-2
13. Utility and Miscellaneous (see Section 312): Group U
 Appendix C

Performance Objectives according to ASCE 41

 Appendix D

Expected Seismic Performance Level according to California Code of Regulations