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Occupancy classification for performance‐based life safety
Author(s) -
Beller D. K.,
Watts J. M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
fire and materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-1018
pISSN - 0308-0501
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1018(199911/12)23:6<281::aid-fam700>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - occupancy , categorization , fire safety , building code , architectural engineering , code (set theory) , function (biology) , engineering , poison control , post occupancy evaluation , space (punctuation) , class (philosophy) , computer science , risk analysis (engineering) , transport engineering , civil engineering , artificial intelligence , business , environmental health , medicine , biology , programming language , set (abstract data type) , evolutionary biology , operating system
A fundamental concept of fire safety codes is the categorization of buildings according to their occupancy or use. The intrinsic purpose of such classification is to simplify the application of code regulations. While actual occupancy fire risk varies in every building space, administration is greatly facilitated by classification into a small number of categories. In application, once determined, occupancy class becomes the basis for building fire risk assessments. Traditional occupancy classification by building function is challenged by modern multifunctional structures that do not fit the earlier categories. Furthermore, these traditional categories are unnecessary given the current capabilities of performance‐based fire safety design and by performance‐based fire safety codes. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.