Occupancy Classifications in NFPA

Occupancy Classifications in NFPA

• Assembly

  • Defined as occupancy for gatherings of 50+ persons for various purposes.
  • Includes uses such as deliberation, worship, entertainment, and awaiting transportation.

• Educational

  • Occupancy for educational purposes for six or more persons.
  • Must be for four or more hours per day or over 12 hours per week.

• Day Care

  • Involves care, maintenance, and supervision for four or more clients.
  • Provides care for less than 24 hours by individuals other than relatives or legal guardians.

• Health Care

  • Occupancy focused on providing medical treatment for four or more patients simultaneously.
  • Patients are generally unable to preserve themselves due to age, disability, or security measures.

• Ambulatory Health Care

  • Occupancy providing outpatient services or treatment for four or more patients.
  • Addresses patients unable to act for self-preservation during emergencies, including those under anesthesia or receiving urgent care.

• Detention and Correctional

  • Facilities housing individuals under restraints or security measures.
  • Occupants mostly unable to preserve themselves due to control measures beyond their reach.

• Residential Occupancy

  • Provides sleeping accommodations that are not health care or detention-related.

• One- and Two-Family Dwelling Unit

  • Structures with up to two dwelling units, each occupied by one family.
  • May accommodate up to three outsiders in rented rooms.

• Lodging or Rooming House

  • Structures offering sleeping space for 16 or fewer individuals without personal care services.
  • Does not have separate cooking facilities for individual occupants.

• Hotel

  • Establishments offering sleeping accommodations for over 16 persons primarily for transient occupants.
  • May include meals, but is primarily for lodging.

• Dormitory

  • Buildings providing group sleeping for more than 16 non-family members.
  • Structures have joint occupancy and single management, typically without cooking facilities.

• Apartment Building

  • Contains three or more dwelling units, each with independent cooking and bathroom facilities.

• Residential Board and Care Occupancy

  • Lodging and boarding for four or more residents not related to the operators.
  • Designed to provide personal care services.

• Mercantile

  • Occupancy dedicated to displaying and selling merchandise.

• Business

  • Involves transactions of business that do not fall under mercantile classification.

• Industrial

  • Focuses on manufacturing or processing activities including assembly, packaging, decorating, and repairs.

• Storage

  • Primarily used for storing goods, merchandise, products, or vehicles.

• Multiple Occupancy

  • Structures with two or more classes of occupancy coexisting.

• Mixed Occupancy

  • Multiple occupancy where different classifications are intermingled.

• Separated Occupancy

  • A category of multiple occupancy where different classifications exist separately within a building.