Building Occupancy Codes and Access Control Tutorial

Author: Brian Rhodes, Published on Aug 11, 2016

A building or room's classification can greatly impact which building codes must be followed. In terms of access control, these 'occupancy codes' dictate how openings can be locked and what equipment is required, often representing a range of hundreds of dollars per door.

How do you know the occupancy classification of a space and which codes apply? Sometimes, even the AHJ may not be sure, and you need to determine this on your own.

This report will guide you through the process to be sure, covering:

Why classification is necessary
Classification definition and key categories
Finding classification ratings
Comparing classification types
Impact on lock hardware selection
Handling mixed occupancies
Developing manual ratings

* ******** ** ****'* ************** *** ******* ****** ***** ******** codes **** ** ********. ** ***** ** ****** *******, ***** 'occupancy *****' ******* *** ******** *** ** ****** *** **** equipment ** ********, ***** ************ * ***** ** ******** ** dollars *** ****.

*** ** *** **** *** ********* ************** ** * ***** and ***** ***** *****? *********, **** *** ****** *** ** ****, *** *** **** ** ********* **** on **** ***.

**** ****** **** ***** *** ******* *** ******* ** ** ****, covering:

*** ************** ** *********
************** ********** *** *** **********
******* ************** *******
********* ************** *****
****** ** **** ******** *********
******** ***** ***********
********** ****** *******

[***************]

Why ************** ** *********

*************, * ******* ** ********* *** ****** *** *** ****** classification ** ******. *********** ***** **** ** **** ** *** *******, ***** **** *** ***** ********* died ******* **** ****** ****** *** ****** ****** *** *** been ******** **** *** ******** ***** ** ****** ******** *****. Other ********* **** ***'* **** ******** ********** **** (******* ****** ***) **** ***** *** ********** ** ******** ******** and ********** ****** ****** ** * *********.

****** ********* ***** *** ******** ** **** *********** ******** ********** ***** ******, and ******** ****** ************ *** **** ******* ********** **** ******** access ** * *******.

Classifications *******

***** ******** ********** *** ************ **** ******, *** ******* ** the ********* *** ******* *** *** ** ********* *******. ********** of *** ********** ** *** ********, *** ********* ******, ******** areas, *********, ******** *******, *** ********** ******** ********** ** ******** usually ******* *** **** ***** **********.

** ***** ** ************ ****, *** ***** ******* *** ****, and **** **** ** ****** ***** ** ************ *** *****. The **** *** ******** *****, **** *******, ********* *******, ***********, lighting, *** **** ***** **** ** **** ******** *** ** used ** ***** ** ***** ** ***** **********:

******** *****: **** ****** ********** *** ******* ****** ** ****** *** can ****** ** * ***** **************, ********* ** ******* **** area, ********* *****, ******** ********, *** *** ****.
******** ***************: ***** ******* *** *******, *** ******* ************ ***** ** a ***** ***** ** *** ** ** ******** *** ***.

*******, **** ***** ******* *** ********** ** ********** ** ******** engineers ****** ******, *** ** ** ********* ********* *** ******** access ******* ********* ** ****** ***** **********.

Ratings ***** ** ********

** **** ***** ***** ******* *** ********* ** ******* **** or **********, ******* ******* ** ** "********* ********" **** **** example:

***** *** **** **** '********* *****' *** '********* (** ********) Classification', *** ****** ***** *** *** ***** *** ** **********.

** ***** *****, *** ****** **** **** ** *** *** AHJ, ** ******* ************ ** **** ******** ** *** ***. We ******* *** ***** *********** ****** ** *** ***** ******* "Developing ****** *******".

Classification *****

**** ** * **** ** *** ********* *************** ******* ** the************* ******** **** (***):

********: ****** *-*, *-*, *-*, *-* *** *-*
********: ***** *
***********: ***** *
******* *** **********: ****** *-* *** *-*
**** ******: ****** *-*, *-*, *-*, *-* *** *-*
*************: ****** *-*, *-*, *-* *** *-*
**********: ***** *
***********: ****** *-*, *-*, *-* *** *-*
*******: ****** *-* *** *-*
******* *** *************: ***** **

***** ************** ** ********* *************** ***** ** *** *** ******** or **** ** ******** ** ** ****. *** *******, ****** are ***** '*', ************* ****** ***** '*', *** ******* '*'. From *****, *** ***-************** ** ***** ** ******** *** ** size ************** ********* ** ******* *** ** ***.

**** '******* *** **********' ***** *-* ** *-*. '*-*' ********** carry * '******** ******' ******, ***** '*-*' ***** '***-******'.

** *** **** ** '*************' ** '*' ***********, *** ******** I-1 **:

"[****] ****** **** **** ** *******, ** * ** **** *****, who ******* ** ***, ****** ********** ** ***** *******, **** in * ********** *********** *********** **** ******** ******** **** ********. The ********* *** ******* ** ********** ** ** ********* ********* without ******** ********** **** *****."

***** *-* **:

"[****] ********* ** **** **** **** ******* *** *** ***** restraint ** ******** *** ** ******** ** ******* *** *** generally ********* ** ****-************ *** ** ******** ******** *** ***** the ********’* *******."

** ***** *** ******* *** **** ** *********, *** *********** utility ** *** **** *** ******** ***********.

Impact ** ****** *******

********* ********* ***** *** ******** ****** ******* ********* ** ***** type ** **** ******** *** ** ****** ** *****. ** general, ********* ***** ******* ***** **** ****** **** ** **** to ****** ***** ******. **** ********** **** *****, * *********** '*' ************** ***** *** require **** ******* ** *****, **** ** ******** '*' ************** would.

*** ********* ** **** ******* ** ***** ****** ***** ******* can ******* ****** ***** **** ** ********** **** ** **** (ie: ******* ** ******* ******) ** **** *** ******* ***** like ******** **** ***** ***** ** ***. *** **** ** exit ******* (***** ** *** ***** *****), *** *** **** ******* ********.

** ***** ** *** **** ****** ***************, ************* ******** **** (***) mandates ******** '*', ******** '*', ** *********** '*' *********** **** an ******** **** ** ** ** **** ******* ***** ******** *** doors ******** **** * **** ** *****. *** *** **** ****** '*' ***********, ***** ******** ** ******** regardless ** *** ******** ****.

******* ****** ********, **** *** ******** ***** ******** *** ***** ******* ********, Educational, ********, *** *** **** *********** **** ** ******** **** of *** ****** ** ****.

*** *******, **** ** (******** ********** ****) ******** ***** ******** ** **** **** ******** ** ***** within ** **** ** *** ******** ******* ***** *** '****-*******' areas, ******* ******** **** **** *** *****, **** **** *** amps, ** ******* ********/******* ***** ********** ******** ******** ***** ** **********.

Mixed ***********

********** ***** ** ***** ****** ********* *** ** ***** ***********. **** is ** ********* ******* ** **** *********, *** *** ***** classification ** ******** ** * ******** *** ****** ***** ******** variables **** ******* **** ********** *********, ****** ** *********, ********* egress ******, ** **** ******** ************ *** *********.

** *******, '***** ***********' *** * ****** ** ****** ******* because **** ** * ***** ********* ******* * **** ********* life ****** ** ****** **********, ** **** ** ******** ** any *********** ****.

*** *******, ** * ***** '**** ******' **** ** ********** by * **** ********* '*******' ******, *** ****** ***** **** abide ** *** '**** ******' **************. *** **** ************ *** apply ** * ***** ** * ******* ********* (******* ** 'R' ****) **** ******** * ***** ***** **** ** ******** (an '*' ****). ** **** ****, *** ****** ****** ***** would **** ** ** ******** **** **** ******* ********** ** they **** ******* ** ** '*' **** ** *** ******* of *** '*' ***** ********* ****.

Developing ****** *******

** ************* ********* ***** *** ******* ****** ** *****, **** may ***** ** ** **** ********. ********* ***** ********** *** generally **** ** *********, ***** *** ****** *** **** ** compared ** *** ******** ****** ********* * ** ***, ****** "*** *** ********* ***************".

**** ************

** ***** ** ********* *** ******* ****** ** ****** *** are **** ** ****** ** ** * **** ** ********, the *** ********** * ******* ****** ** ****** ** ******* per ********. ***** **** ****** * ******** **** ** **** *.*" of ******* *** ******, *** *** ***** ***** **** *.*" of ******* *** ******.

**** ** ******* ******* **** **** **** *** * ******* occupancy ** *** ******. **** **** ***** ** ***** ***" - ***" ** *******. **** ******** ** ****** ** ****** in ***** **** ******** **** ***** **** ************* ***** ** five *****.

******** ****

** ********* *** ******** ****, *** ***** **** ** ** calculate *** **** ** *** ***** ** ******** ** *********** the ****** ***** *** ***** ***** *** *****. *** *******, if * ********* ******** ** **** (~***) ** ** **** (~15m), *** **** **** ******** **** ****** **** (~*** **. m).

*** **** **** ** ** ****** **** ****** ** *** occupant **** ****** ***** ** ***(****)***** ****.*.* – ******* ***** **** ********** *** ********, ***** ****** ********* ** *** ********* ****. *** ********* value ******** *** **** ***** *** ******** ** *******.

Comments (4)

John Bazyk

IPVMU Certified | 08/11/16 11:42pm

***** ***** **. ****** *** *** ********. ********* **** **** people ********.

Chris Hammond

08/17/16 07:37pm

********* ***** **.

*** ********* ****** ** ** ******* ** ****** ******* *** security ** *** ********** ********** ****** ****. * ***** ********* situations ***** *** ********* ******* ****** ** *** *** ******** egress ****. ** *** **** * ***** ****** ***** ****** public ******** ***** ******** ** ****** **** **** *** ******* office ***** ****. **** ***** **** ***** **** *** ********* on *** ********* **** ** ***** ** ***** ****** **** the ****** ***** ***** ******* *** ** **** ***** ** located. **** ** *** ** *** ********* ****** ** *** space ****** *** ******* ****** ******** ** *** ***** *****.

*** ****** ** * **** ******** **** ******** ******** **** contradicts ****** ***** ********, **, ** **** *****, ********** **** up *** ****** *** ******** ******** ******* **** **********.

***** *** ********* ******* **** ***** ** ******* **** ********** in *** ************* ****** ****** ******* *** *** ***** ********** by *** ********* ******* ******** ******** **** *** ********* ** how ** **** **** *** *** *** ******** *** *****.

Guy Walker

ComNet | 01/30/18 03:33pm

********* **** ******* *****:

"**** ** ******* ******* **** **** **** *** * ******* occupancy ** *** ******. **** **** ***** ** ***** ***" - ***" ** *******. **** ******** ** ****** ** ****** in ***** **** ******** **** ***** **** ************* ***** ** five *****."

*** **** **** ******* *** ** **** * ******** ****** of ******* ***" - ***" ** *******? *******'* *** ** able ** ********* ******* *** **** ******* ** ********?

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Guy Walker | 01/30/18 03:46pm

*** *********** ** *** ************* ************* **********.

** ********* *** ****** **** *** **** ** **" ********, so **** ****** ** ****** *** ***** **** ******* ** them, *** ** ** **** ********* **** **** ** ******* wider **" ***** ** *** ** ***** *****.

** **** ***** ** ******* *** **" ***** ******** ** each ***** ****** **** * ****** ****** **** **** *******. Or * ********* ***** ** ***** ***** ******* **** ***** render * ****** ***-*********.

*** ************* ** ******** ** ** *** ***** ** * general ***** ******* ******* ** ********* ** ********** ** ****.

Login to read this IPVM report.

Why do I need to log in?

IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Software Only VMS vs NVR Appliances on May 23, 2018

Should you buy your own PC/server and load VMS software on it or get a turnkey appliance (both hardware and software, e.g., NVR, Hybrid DVR) from a...

Installing Box Cameras Indoors Tutorial on May 22, 2018

This tutorial starts our physical installation for video surveillance series, starting with Box Cameras, one of the oldest and most basic types....

Cybersecurity for IP Video Surveillance Guide on May 18, 2018

Keeping surveillance networks secure can be a daunting task, but there are several methods that can greatly reduce risk, especially when used in...

Forced Entry / Duress Access Tutorial on May 17, 2018

Even though access control normally keeps people safe, tragedies have revealed a significant issue. If users are forced to unlock doors for...

Worst Manufacturer Technical Support 2018 on May 16, 2018

5 manufacturers stood out as providing the worst technical support to 190+ integrators in new IPVM results. These integrators answered: In the...

Installing Cameras in Plenums Tutorial on May 15, 2018

There is often confusion about plenum ceilings, with misinformation about what is required when running cables through them and mounting cameras...

Access Visitor Management Systems Guide on May 11, 2018

"Who are you, and why are you here?" Facilities that implement Visitor Management Systems hope they never need to ask that question to anyone,...

March Networks Targets Cannabis Market on May 10, 2018

Will the next March Networks customer appreciation event be held a steakhouse or at a Taco Bell at 2 am? Can March sell the types of systems to the...

S2 Access Control / 'Unified Security Management' Profile on May 08, 2018

In our 13th access control company profile, we examine S2 Security's Netbox platform: Unified Security Management Platform positioning Core...

Access Control Card Printers Guide on May 03, 2018

Card printers are a core component of professional access control systems, often used as photos IDs and prominently displayed. Modern badges put...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Software Only VMS vs NVR Appliances on May 23, 2018

Should you buy your own PC/server and load VMS software on it or get a turnkey appliance (both hardware and software, e.g., NVR, Hybrid DVR) from a...

Buy Arecont: Top Bid $10 Million Cash on May 22, 2018

Last year, Arecont had a deal for a purchase price of $170 million (see Failed Arecont China Acquisition). This year, Arecont has a deal for a...

Installing Box Cameras Indoors Tutorial on May 22, 2018

This tutorial starts our physical installation for video surveillance series, starting with Box Cameras, one of the oldest and most basic types....

The Hikvision Smart Classroom Behavior Management System on May 22, 2018

Hikvision's rapidly growing offering of analytics, which we most recently examined with Hikvision's ethnic minority analytics, is now going into...

Dahua Intrusion Analytics And VMD Tested on May 21, 2018

Dahua ships basic analytics on practically all their cameras, ranging from low cost to high end. To see how these analytics work in real world...

Exacq Improving Technical Support, Responding To Integrator Complaints on May 21, 2018

Exacq had been a long-term favorite of integrators, but since their 2014 Tyco acquisition, Exacq has fallen in IPVM integrator studies (though...

Best Manufacturer Technical Support 2018 on May 21, 2018

While 5 manufacturers made the worst technical support 2018 list, only 3 stood out as providing the best technical support to 190+ integrators in...

Stealth / UCIT - Remote Video Monitoring Provider Profile on May 18, 2018

Can 2 remote video monitoring companies, Stealth Monitoring from the US and UCIT from Canada combine to impact the market and compete in a changing...