For the purpose of this chapter, buildings shall
be classified by groups in respect to the occupancy or use, the fire
hazard and the number and physical condition of the occupants, as
follows:
A. Group A: Business. Buildings in which the primary
or intended occupancy or use is the transaction of administrative
business, civic or professional service and where the handling of
goods, wares or merchandise, in limited quantities, is incidental
to the primary occupancy or use. Newsstands, lunch counters, barbershops,
beauty parlors and similar service facilities are considered as incidental
occupancies or uses.
B. Group B: Mercantile. Buildings in which the primary
or intended occupancy or use is the display and sale to the public
of goods, wares or merchandise.
C. Group C: Industrial. Buildings in which the primary
or intended occupancy or use is the manufacture or processing of products
of all kinds, including operations such as making, altering, assembling,
bottling, canning, finishing, handling, mixing, packaging, repairing,
cleaning, laundering and similar operations.
D. Group D: Storage. Buildings in which the primary or
intended occupancy or use is the storage of or shelter for goods,
merchandise, products, vehicles or animals.
E. Group E: Public Assembly. Buildings in which the primary or intended occupancy or use is the assembly for amusement, athletic, civic, dining, educational, entertainment, patriotic, political, recreational, religious, social, sports or similar purposes, as defined in Chapter
66, §
66-1, of this Code.
F. Group F: Institutional. Buildings in which the primary
or intended use is for persons domiciled or detained under supervision
for reason, including but not limited to age, illness, physical or
mental handicap.
G. Group G: Multiple Residential (including Condominium*).
Buildings or space occupied by three or more dwelling units with one
or more roomers or lodgers, or a one-family dwelling with three or
more roomers or lodgers, used for shelter and sleeping accommodations
on a day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month or longer basis.
[Amended 10-24-1983 by L.L. No. 2-1983]
*CONDOMINIUM
An arrangement under which a tenant in an apartment building
holds full title to his unit and joint ownership in the common grounds.
H. Group H: Mixed Occupancies. In case two or more classes
of occupancy occur in the same building or structure, so intermingled
that separate safeguards are impractical, sprinkler protection shall
meet the requirements of the most hazardous occupancy.
FIRE AREA
The floor area of a story of a building or structure within
exterior walls, party walls, fire walls, or a combination thereof
(NFPA: National Fire Protection Association).
All local laws, ordinances or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter are hereby repealed;
provided, however, that such repeal shall be only to the extent of
such inconsistency, and in all other respects this chapter shall be
cumulative of other local laws and/or ordinances regulating and governing
the subject matter covered by this chapter.
If any section or provision or parts thereof
in this chapter shall be adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, such
invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity of
this chapter as a whole or any other section or provision thereof.
This chapter shall take effect immediately.