Understanding Component Importance Factors & Occupancy

Categories

The Component Importance Factor (Ip) of any project will either be assigned as either
a 1.0 or a 1.5. If the component of the project is required to function for life-safety
purposes after an earthquake (including fire protection sprinklers), if the component
contains hazardous materials, or if the component is in or attached to an Occupancy
Category IV Structure and it is needed for continued operation of the facility or its
failure could impair the continued operation of the facility you will apply an
Importance Factor of 1.5 to your project. All other Components Importance Factor
(Ip) will be equal to 1.0.

Occupancy Category however is a category used to determine structural requirements

based on occupancy which can range from I to IV. The categories are used to classify
buildings and other structures based on occupancy level and nature of use. Occupancy
Category I buildings represent a low hazard to life in the event of failure, while
Occupancy Category IV buildings are considered essential facilities. Occupancy
categories differ between building codes, so it is important to make sure and specify
which building code is assigned to your project.

Read the reference tables below to determine which occupancy category or

importance factor your project may fall under. If you are still confused Contact ISAT
to have someone walk you through your project requirements, we are here to help.

Reference Tables and Information From ASCE 7-05

13.1.3 Component Importance Factor

All components shall be assigned a component importance factor as indicated in this

section. The component importance factor, Ip, shall be taken as 1.5 if any of the
following conditions apply:

1. The component is required to function for life-safety purposes after an

earthquake, including fire protection sprinkler systems.
2. The component contains hazardous materials.
3. The component is in or attached to an Occupancy Category IV structure and it
is needed for continued operation of the facility or its failure could impair the
continued operation of the facility.  All other components shall be assigned a
component importance factor, Ip, equal to 1.0.

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TABLE 1-1 OCCUPANCY CATEGORY OF BUILDINGS AND
OTHER STRUCTURES

Occupancy
Nature of Occupancy
Category

Building and other structures that represent a low hazard to human

I life in the event of failure, including agricultural, temporary, and
minor storage facilities.

II All other structures that aren't in categories I, III, or IV.

Building and other structures that represent a substantial hazard to

human life in the event of failure including:

 Covered structures the primary occupancy of which is public

assembly with an occupant load of 300.
 Buildings and other structures with elementary-school,
secondary-school, or day-care facilities with an occupant load
greater than 250.
 Buildings and other structures with elementary-school,
secondary-school, or day-care facilities with an occupant load
greater than 500 for colleges or adult-education facilities.
 Health-Care facilities with an occupant load of 50 or more
III resident patients without surgery or emergency-treatment
facilities.
 Jails and detention facilities.
 Any structure with an occupant load greater than 5,000.
 Power-generating stations, water-treatment facilities for
portable water, waste-water-treatment facilities, and other
public-utility facilities not included in Occupancy Category
IV.
 Buildings and other structures not included in Occupancy
Category IV containing sufficient quantities of toxic or
explosive substances that would be dangerous to the public if
released.

IV Buildings and other structures designated as essential facilities,

including:

 Hospitals and other health-care facilities with surgery or

emergency-treatment facilities.
 Fire, rescue, and police stations and emergency-vehicle
garages.
 Designated earthquake, hurricane, or other emergency
shelters.
 Designated emergency-preparedness, communication, and
operation centers and other facilities required for emergency
 response
 Power-generating stations and other public-utility facilities
required as emergency-backup facilities for Occupancy
Category IV structures.
 Structures containing highly toxic materials as defined in
Section 307 of the 2006 International Building Code.
 Aviation control towers, air-traffic control centers, and
emergency-aircraft hangers.
 Buildings and other structures with critical national-defense
functions.
 Water-treatment facilities required to maintain water pressure
for fire suppression.