Pennsylvania Code › Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY › Part I - Department of Labor and Industry › Chapter 50 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS-BUILDINGS › OCCUPANCY GROUP › Section 50.1 - Occupancy groups

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
Class of building.
The Department will classify each building
				  into one or more of the following occupancy groups according to the building
				  use and the characteristics of the occupants.
(b)
Group A-Assembly
.
				  Buildings primarily used or designed for the purpose of assembly of persons for
				  amusement, entertainment, worship, transportation, recreation, sports, military
				  drilling, dining or similar purposes shall be classified as Group A-Assembly
				  Occupancies. Group A is divided into the following division:
Division
Capacity
A-1 (Chapter 51)
501 or more
A-2 (Chapter 52)
101 thru 500
A-3 (Chapter 53)
4 thru 100
(c)
Group B-Educational
. Buildings primarily used or designed for
				  the purpose of education or instruction shall be classified as Group
				  B-Educational Occupancies. Schools for business or vocational training shall be
				  classified in the same occupancies and conform to the same requirements as the
				  trade, vocation or business being taught. Nursery schools, day care centers,
				  group day care homes and the like shall be classified as B occupancies.
				  However, they may be housed in a building which has an A, C-1 or C-2 occupancy
				  permit without submission of plans or approval as a B occupancy. Group day care
				  homes and family day care homes may use the C-3 regulations for occupancies of
				  eight or less children without a B occupancy approval. See Chapter 54 (relating
				  to Group B-Educational).
(d)
Group C-Group habitation
. Buildings primarily used or
				  designed for the purpose of habitation by four or more persons shall be
				  classified as Group C-Group Habitation. Group C is divided into the following
				  divisions:
(1)
Division C-1
.
				  Health care institutions include buildings that provide sleeping facilities for
				  four or more persons who are mostly incapable of self-preservation because of
				  physical or mental illness or disease, or persons convalescing from physical or
				  mental illness or disease. Hospitals, sanitariums, nursing homes, convalescent
				  homes, rest homes, and the like shall be classified as health care
				  institutions. Personal care homes licensed by the Department of Public Welfare
				  will not be considered health care institutions. Health care institutions shall
				  comply with the following:
(i) Health care
				  institutions which have plans approved by the Department after May 19, 1986,
				  shall comply with NFPA-101, Life Safety Code, 1985 Edition published by the
				  National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts
				  02269.
(ii) Health care
				  institutions or portions of health care institutions which have had plans
				  approved by the Department from June 1, 1976, to May 19, 1986, shall be
				  considered in compliance with this chapter as long as compliance is maintained
				  in accordance with the provisions in force on the date of approval by the
				  Department.
(iii) Health care
				  institutions or portions of health care institutions which complied on May 31,
				  1976, with the requirements of NFPA-101, Life Safety Code, 1967 Edition will be
				  considered in compliance with this chapter as long as compliance is maintained
				  in accordance with NFPA-101, Life Safety Code, 1967 Edition published by the
				  National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts
				  02269.
(iv) Plan approval and field
				  inspections for health care institutions, Division C-1, are conducted by the
				  Department of Health.