Chapter 5: General Building Heights & Areas
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You've learned how to classify buildings by use (Chapter 3) and by construction type (Chapter 6). Now comes the critical question that determines if your building design is even possible:
"How big can this building be?"
Area limitations directly affect project feasibility and cost. A developer wants to maximize rentable space. An architect needs to know if the program will fit. A code official must verify the building doesn't exceed its limits. Get this wrong early in design, and you're looking at expensive redesigns or construction type upgrades that blow the budget.
The IBC limits building area based on two factors working together:
Higher-risk occupancies and less fire-resistant construction = smaller allowable area. Lower-risk occupancies and more fire-resistant construction = larger allowable area.
We'll continue using the building from Chapter 3:
The question: What construction type do we need to make this building work? Can we use economical wood framing, or do we need expensive steel/concrete?