IBC 304.1 code change.pdfG30 -12
304.1 (IFC [B] 202)
Proponent: Adria Paesani, Fountain Valley Fire Department(adria.paesani@fountainvalley.org); Robert
Marshall, Contra Costa Fire Department representing CalChiefs
Revise as follows:
304.1 Business Group B. Business Group B occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or
structure, or a portion thereof, for office, professional or service -type transactions, including storage of
records and accounts. Business occupancies shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Airport traffic control towers
Ambulatory health care facilities serving five or fewer patients (see Section 308.3.2 for facilities
serving more than five patients)
Animal hospitals, kennels and pounds
Banks
Barber and beauty shops
Car wash
Civic administration
Clinic — outpatient
Dry cleaning and laundries: pick-up and delivery stations and self-service
Educational occupancies for students above the 12th grade
Electronic data processing
Laboratories: testing, research
Motor vehicle showrooms
Post offices
Print shops
Professional services (architects, attorneys, dentists, physicians, engineers, etc)
Radio and television stations
Telephone exchanges
Training and skill development not within a school or academic program (this shall include, but not be
limited to tutoring centers martial arts studios gymnastics and similar uses regardless of the ages
served and where not classified as a Group A occupancy)
Reason: The 2012 International Building Code defines a Group E occupancy as the use of a building or structure, or a portion
thereof, by six or more persons at any one time for educational purposes through the 12th grade. There are a variety of local
interpretations on whether a tutoring center falls into a Group B or Group E classification. This code proposal is intended to classify
tutoring centers and similar transient occupancies that cater to children as Group B occupancies per section 304.1. Enforcing Group
E regulations greatly increases the cost to tutoring centers , in particular, as other similar uses clearly do not fall into the academic
provisions of the Group E occupancies, i.e. martial arts, gymnastics, etc. The majority of tutoring centers are placed in multi -unit,
Type V structures. Placing a Group E occupancy in a Type V building requires either a one -hour or two-hour wall between adjoining
occupancies depending on fire sprinkler coverage. In addition, a manual fire alarm system is required in all Group E occupancies
having an occupant load of more than 30, unless provided with fire sprinklers.
Cost Impact: The code change proposal will not increase the cost of construction
G30-12
Public Hearing: Committee: AS AM D
Assembly: ASF AMF DF
304.1-G-PAESANI
ICC PUBLIC HEARING::: April - May 2012 G37