ICC Permit Technician Practice Exam

A building that contains large quantities of highly explosive materials would be classified as a Group ___ occupancy?

1. H-1

2. S-1

3. H-2

4. S-2

The correct answer is: H-2

A building that contains large quantities of highly explosive materials is classified as Group H-2 occupancy. Group H occupancies are defined within the International Building Code (IBC) and are designated for buildings where hazardous materials are present. Specifically, Group H-2 refers to buildings that store or handle materials that pose a significant explosion hazard. The distinction of Group H-2 from other occupancy classifications is essential to ensure that proper safety measures, construction features, and fire protection systems are implemented to mitigate the risks associated with explosions. Buildings classified under H-2 are subject to stricter local code mandates and design requirements in order to safely manage the potential dangers presented by the materials contained therein. In contrast, other occupancy groups such as S-1 and S-2 pertain to storage use types where materials are generally non-explosive or less hazardous. Group H-1 would apply to structures where the risk of a detonation or blast is extreme due to the volumes of explosives stored, while H-3 would relate to less volatile substances. Therefore, H-2 specifically addresses cases with significant explosive risk without being at the level of H-1, making it the correct classification for buildings housing large quantities of highly explosive materials.