CHAPTER Types of Buildings Based

2 on Occupancy

A building may be classified based on different parameters like occupancy, load transfer in the
structure, materials used, degree of fire resistance, etc. The National Building Code of India Part
IV – 2005, classifies the buildings in the following nine groups based on occupancy:
1. Residential
2. Educational
3. Institutional
4. Assembly
5. Business
6. Mercantile
7. Industrial
8. Storage
9. Hazardous
The above classification is briefly explained in this chapter.
Minor occupancy incidental to operations in another type shall be classified under the relevant
main occupancy group.

2.1 GROUP – A : RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

The buildings in which sleeping accommodation is provided for normal residential purposes, with
or without cooking or dining or both facilities are grouped as residential buildings. However, the
buildings classified under institutional group are excluded from this group.
Apart from detached houses, semi-detached houses, chawls, duplex type and flats, lodging and
hotels are also considered residential buildings with the following definitions:
a. Lodging: These are the buildings in which under the same management, separate sleeping
accommodation for a total of not more than 40 persons is provided. The accommodation may
be on transit or permanent basis and it may be with or without dining facilities. However,
there should not be cooking facility on individual basis.
b. Hotels: These are the buildings under single management in which sleeping accommoda-
tion with or without dining facility is provided for more than 15 persons who are primarily
transient. Examples of such buildings are hotels, inns, clubs and motels.
 Types of Buildings Based on Occupancy • 5

D–3. Buildings without a stage having accommodation for 300 or more persons but without
permanent seating arrangements: This subdivision of assembly buildings includes assem-
bly buildings without theatrical stage, cinematographic accessories and permanent seating
arrangements. The capacity of the building may be for accommodating more than 300 peo-
ple. Examples of such buildings are dance halls, nightclubs, halls for drama, incidental
picture show, or educational presentations, art galleries, and museums. Passenger terminals
and buildings used for educational purposes for less than 8 hours per week also fall under
this subdivision of buildings.
D–4. Buildings without a stage having accommodation for less than 300 persons: These are
the buildings described in subdivision 3 but with accommodation for less than 300 persons.
D–5. All other assembly buildings not covered in the above four subdivisions: Examples of
such buildings are grandstands, amusement park structures, circus tents, etc.

2.5 GROUP – E : BUSINESS BUILDINGS

These are the buildings which are used for transaction of business, for keeping of accounts and
records. The buildings used for professional establishments, service facilities, etc., also come under
this class of buildings. City halls, town halls, court houses and libraries are also classified in this
group so far as the principal function of these is transaction of public business and keeping of books
and records. The following are the subdivisions of business buildings:
E–1: Offices, banks, professional establishments, like offices of engineers, architects, doctors,
lawyers, etc., belong to this subdivision.
E–2: Laboratories, research establishments and test houses belong to this subdivision.
E–3: Computer installations belong to this subdivision.

2.6 GROUP – F : MERCANTILE BUILDINGS

These are the buildings used as shops, stores for display and sale of merchandise either wholesale
or retail. Such buildings are further subclassified as:
F–1: Shops, stores, markets with area of 500 m2 belong to this subdivision.
F–2: Underground shopping centres, departmental stores with area more than 500 m2 belong to
this subdivision.

2.7 GROUP – G : INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS

Any building or its part in which products or materials of all kinds are fabricated, assembled,
manufactured or processed. Examples of such buildings are dry-cleaning plants, power plants,
pumping stations, gas plants, dairies and sawmills.
On the basis of degree of hazard, industrial buildings are subdivided. The hazard of occupancy
shall be the relative danger of start and spread of fire, the danger of smoke or gases generated,
the danger of explosion or other occurrences potentially endangering lives of the occupants of
the buildings. Where different degrees of hazard of occupancy exist in different parts, the most
hazardous of those shall govern the classification. The following are the subdivisions of industrial
buildings:
 Types of Buildings Based on Occupancy • 7

2.10 OTHER GUIDELINES FOR CLASSIFICATION

The National Building Code of India gives the following additional guidelines for classifying build-
ings on the basis of occupancy:
1. Any building not covered under the above groups shall be classified in the group which most
nearly resembles its existing or proposed use.
2. If there is change in the occupancy, such building shall be made to comply with the require-
ments of the new group or subdivision.
3. If new occupancy is less hazardous, it shall not be necessary to confirm to the requirements
of the code for the new group or subdivision.
4. Certificate of occupancy shall be necessary before any change is effected in the character of
occupancy.

Question
1. Give the classification of buildings on the basis of occupancy as per National Building Code
(NBC).