TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 14B, ch. 14B-6

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14B-6-601 General.

14B-6-601 General. The provisions of Section 601 of IBC are adopted by reference with the following modification: 1. Replace Table 601 as shown: TABLE 601 FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDING ELEMENTS (HOURS) BUILDING ELEMENT | TYPE I | TYPE II | TYPE III | TYPE IV | TYPE V A | B | A | B | A | B | HT | A | B BUILDING ELEMENT | TYPE I | TYPE II | TYPE III | TYPE IV | TYPE V A | B | A | B | A | B | HT | A | B Primary structural frame f | 3 a, b | 2 a, b | 1 b | 0 | 1 b | 0 | HT | 1 b | 0 Bearing walls | | | | | | | | | Exterior e, f | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 Interior | 3 a | 2 a | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1/HT | 1 | 0 Nonbearing walls and partitions - Exterior | See Table 602 Nonbearing walls and partitions - Interior d | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Note i | 0 | 0 Floor construction and associated secondary members | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 g | 0 | HT | 1 g | 0 Roof construction and associated secondary members | 1.5 b | 1 b | 1 b | 0 c | 1 b, c, h | 0 | HT | 1 b, c, h | 0 For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm. a. Roof supports: Fire-resistance ratings of primary structural frame and bearing walls are permitted to be reduced by 1 hour where supporting a roof only. b. Except in Group F-1, H, M and S-1 occupancies, fire protection of structural members in roof construction shall not be required, including protection of primary structural frame members, roof framing and decking where every part of the roof construction is 20 feet or more above any floor immediately below. c. In all occupancies, heavy timber complying with Section 2304.11 shall be allowed where a 1-hour or less fire-resistance rating is required. d. Not less than the fire-resistance rating required by other sections of this code. e. Not less than the fire-resistance rating based on fire separation distance (see Table 602). f. Not less than the fire-resistance rating as referenced in Section 704.10. g. In single-family dwellings, the floor construction over basements and unexcavated spaces below the first story above grade plane is not required to have a fire-resistance rating. h. In buildings of exclusively Group R-2, R-3, R-4 or R-5 occupancy with no more than four stories above grade plane, the required fire- resistance rating of roof construction and associated secondary members shall be reduced to 30 minutes. i. See Section 2304.11.2. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. II, § 20)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14B-6-602 Construction classification.

14B-6-602 Construction classification. The provisions of Section 602 of IBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications: 1. Replace Table 602 as shown: TABLE 602 FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING REQUIREMENTS FOR EXTERIOR WALLS BASED ON FIRE SEPARATION DISTANCE a, d, g FIRE SEPARATION DISTANCE = X (feet) | TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION | OCCUPANCY GROUP H e | OCCUPANCY GROUP F, S f | OCCUPANCY GROUP A, B, E, M, I, R, U h X < 3 b | VA, VB Others | NP 3 | NP 2 | 2 h, j 2 3 ≤ X < 5 | All | 3 | 2 | 1 5 ≤ X < 10 | IA Others | 3 2 | 2 1 | 1 1 10 ≤ X < 30 | IA, IB IIB, VB Others | 2 1 1 | 1 k 0 1 k | 1 c, k 0 1 c, k X ≥ 30 | All | 0 | 0 | 0 For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm. a. Load-bearing exterior walls shall also comply with the fire-resistance rating requirements of Table 601. b. See Section 706.1.1 for party walls. c. Open parking garages complying with Section 406 shall not be required to have a fire-resistance rating. d. The fire-resistance rating of an exterior wall is determined based upon the fire separation distance of the exterior wall and the story in which the wall is located. e. For special requirements for Group H occupancies, see the Chicago Fire Prevention Code. f. For special requirements for Group S aircraft hangars, see Section 412.3.1. g. Where Table 705.8 permits nonbearing exterior walls with unlimited area of unprotected openings, the required fire-resistance rating for the exterior walls is 0 hours. h. A single-story detached private garage, carport or storage building not exceeding 600 square feet (56 m2) in building area, not exceeding 12 feet (3658 mm) in building height and with a roof slope of 2:12 or greater shall be permitted in Type VA or Type VB construction when the fire separation distance is 2 feet (610 mm) or greater and the exterior wall shall not be required to have a fire-resistance rating. i. [Reserved.] j. Any exterior wall with a fire separation distance of less than 3 feet shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours and shall be built of noncombustible materials, materials allowed by Section 603 or fire-retardant treated wood framing complying with Section 2303.2 with a noncombustible exterior wall covering. k. The required fire-resistance rating of exterior walls with a fire separation distance of 10 feet or greater shall only be required to be rated for exposure to fire from the inside in accordance with Section 705.5. 2. Delete the second sentence of Section 602.3. 3. Revise Section 602.4 and its subsections to read: "602.4 Type IV. Type IV construction is that type of construction in which the exterior walls are of noncombustible materials and the interior building elements are of solid wood, laminated wood, heavy timber (HT) or structural composite lumber (SCL) without concealed spaces. The minimum dimensions for permitted materials including solid timber, structural glued-laminated timber, structural composite lumber (SCL), and cross-laminated timber and details of Type IV construction shall comply with the provisions of this section and Section 2304.11. Interior walls and partitions and noncombustible floor and roof assemblies with not less than a 1-hour fire-resistance rating or heavy timber complying with Section 2304.11.2.2 shall be permitted. 602.4.1 [Reserved.] 602.4.2 [Reserved.] 602.4.3 Exterior structural members. Where a fire separation distance of 20 feet (6096 mm) or more is provided, wood columns and arches conforming to heavy timber sizes complying with Section 2304.11 shall be permitted to be used externally." (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. II, § 21; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. II, § 9)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14B-6-603 Combustible material in Types I and II construction.

14B-6-603 Combustible material in Types I and II construction. The provisions of Section 603 of IBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications: 1. Revise item 1 and its subparts in Section 603.1 to read: "1. Fire-retardant-treated wood shall be permitted in: 1.1. Nonbearing partitions where the required fire-resistance rating is 1 hour or less. 1.2. [Reserved.] 1.3. Roof construction, including girders, trusses, framing and decking of one-story buildings that do not exceed the height and area limitations for Type IIB construction." 2. Add an exception to item 6 in Section 603.1 to read: "Exception: Combustible millwork shall not be permitted in exterior wall openings that are within 5 feet (1524 mm) horizontally and 3 feet (914 mm) vertically of an opening in an adjacent story." 3. Revise item 13 in Section 603.1 to read: "13. Combustible exterior wall coverings, exterior balconies and similar projections and bay or oriel windows in accordance with Chapter 14 and Section 705.2." 4. Revise item 14 in Section 603. 1 to read: "14. Blocking such as for handrails, millwork, cabinets and window and door frames in exterior walls or in interior walls and partitions where the required fire-resistance rating is 1 hour or less." 5. Revise item 19 in Section 603.1 to read: "19. Heavy timber as permitted by Note c to Table 601 and Sections 602.4.3 and 705.2." 6. Revise item 25 in Section 603.1 to read: "25. Materials exposed within plenums complying with the Chicago Mechanical Code and Chicago Electrical Code." 7. Add a new item 27 to Section 603.1 to read: "27. Exterior fiber-reinforced polymer as permitted by Section 2613.5." 8. Revise Section 603.1.2 to read: "603.1.2 Piping. The use of combustible piping materials shall be permitted where installed in accordance with the limitations of Section 903, the Chicago Mechanical Code and the Chicago Plumbing Code." 9. Revise Section 603.1.3 by replacing "this code" with "the Chicago Electrical Code." (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. II, § 22)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14B-6-604 Combustible material in Types III and IV construction.

14B-6-604 Combustible material in Types III and IV construction. The following language is adopted as a new Section 604: "604. COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL IN TYPES III AND IV CONSTRUCTION 604.1 Allowable materials. Combustible materials shall be permitted in the exterior walls of buildings of Type III or IV construction where combustible materials in the same application are permitted in the exterior walls of buildings of Type I or II construction by Section 603.1."

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14B-6-605 Basement construction.

14B-6-605 Basement construction. The following language is adopted as a new Section 605: "605. BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION 605.1 General. In all buildings, basement construction shall comply with the requirements of Sections 605.2 through 605.4. 605.2 Basement columns and bearing walls. In buildings of Type III or V construction with three or more stories above grade plane, all basement columns and basement bearing walls shall be of noncombustible material or of heavy timber construction. 605.3 Multiple basement stories. In buildings with more than one basement story, the floor construction separating the highest basement from the first story above grade plane and all construction below that level shall be of Type IA construction. 605.4 Floor construction. Except in buildings of Group R-5 occupancy, floor construction over basements shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour."

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2663426Fetched: 10/24/2026