Type V buildings are the most combustible type of construction on this list. It is the only construction category that allows the construction of combustible outer walls, as well as combustible structural elements inside. The frames, walls, floors and ceilings are made entirely or partially of wood. These building elements are cheaper to develop and are increasingly common in the construction of single-family homes and garages.
The IBC is the predominant model building code in the United States, since it has been adopted by most states with or without amendments. Chapters 16, 17 and 23 cover structural wood design and construction. Non-structural provisions, such as heights and areas, are covered elsewhere. Construction types I and II are generally limited to non-combustible materials such as concrete and steel, although wood can be used in all types of construction to varying degrees.
Type III allows a mixture of combustible and non-combustible materials, while construction types IV and V can contain combustible building materials. The International Building Code (IBC) uses types of construction to classify materials that can be used for the different elements of a building, focusing mainly on fire resistance classification requirements. Buildings sprayed from the same type of construction and used as non-sprayed buildings may be larger. The fire resistance rating assigned to wood and other materials associated with type IV and V construction often varies depending on thickness.
IBC Table 503 lists building heights and floor areas allowed for different types of construction; however, there are provisions for increases. The International Building Code (IBC) classifies buildings into five types of construction, and each has different parameters. Newer school buildings, shopping centers and recently renovated commercial structures usually belong to this type of construction. Hospitals or jails where occupants are confined and unable to leave on their own may require more stringent types of construction, even such as single-story buildings.
Type IV buildings are largely constructed of large pieces of wood, connected by metal plates and bolts. If these types of buildings catch fire, they require large volumes of water to extinguish, but they resist fire well and do not collapse easily due to their structural mass. Some type 1 buildings have climate control systems and self-pressurized staircases to prevent fires from spreading. The size requirements are similar to those of Type III and, although construction materials are classified as non-combustible, they provide less fire resistance than Type I, and a fire that spreads would likely cause more damage.
However, type V construction buildings are always smaller than a building of the same use constructed with a more stringent type of construction. Fireproof buildings are similar to the fire-resistant type, where walls, partitions, columns, floors and ceilings are not combustible. The objectives of type III construction are to contain any fire within the outer walls of the building and to mitigate the spread of fire to adjacent buildings. The many nuances of a building's use and size requirements can complicate things and create confusion about which type of construction is the most suitable.
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