ICC Commercial Building Inspector Practice Test

Construction documents must designate the number of occupants for all floors and spaces, except for which type of occupancy?

1. A Group R-1 occupancy

2. A Group R-2 occupancy

3. A Group R-3 occupancy

4. A Group R-4 occupancy

The correct answer is: A Group R-3 occupancy

In the context of building codes and construction documents, the designation of the number of occupants is a critical aspect of ensuring safety and compliance with occupancy requirements. Group R occupancies are specifically categorized into different sub-groups based on the nature of their use and the associated life safety concerns. Group R-3 occupancies typically consist of small residential units, such as single-family homes or duplexes, that do not have the same level of occupancy risk as larger multi-family buildings or institutional settings. Because of their smaller scale and lower density of potential occupants, these types of spaces are often exempt from the requirement to specify a designated number of occupants in construction documents. This exemption is due to the fact that the life safety systems in these kinds of buildings are less complex, and they do not typically pose the same level of risk as larger residential or commercial occupancies. In contrast, Group R-1, R-2, and R-4 occupancies encompass larger residential areas that typically have more stringent life safety requirements, stemming from their greater number of occupants and the potential for higher risks in emergencies. These classifications necessitate clear occupant load calculations in construction documents to ensure that emergency egress and safety mechanisms are adequately designed to handle the expected number of occupants. Therefore,