IBC-IRC-Building-Code: Construction Types Overview - I A to V B Concepts — Flashcards

Construction type (Type I, II, III, IV, V with subtypes A/B) describes the fire-resistance characteristics of the building’s structural elements (primary frame, bearing walls, floors, roof). More fire-resistive types generally allow greater height/area and provide more time for evacuation and firefighting. Type I is typically the most fire-resistive; Type V is typically combustible (e.g., wood framing).
 

Worked example(s)
Example: A 5-story wood-framed apartment building over a concrete podium might be Type V-A above with Type I-A podium (a 'podium' configuration). The code has specific rules for how these are separated and counted for height/area.