Did You Know? | Building Construction Types

Building construction types categorize buildings based on the combustibility and the fire resistance of structural, interior and exterior elements.

Type I

Construction in which building elements are fire resistive and/or noncombustible. Highest degree of fire resistance.

Type II

Construction in which building elements are noncombustible. Fire resistive elements are non inclusive, resulting in a lower degree of fire resistance than Type I construction.

Type III

Construction in which exterior building elements are noncombustible and interior building elements are either combustible or noncombustible.

Type IV

Construction in which the exterior elements are noncombustible and interior building elements are of solid or laminated combustible wood without concealed spaces.

Type V

Construction in which structural elements, exterior elements and interior elements are combustible.

For additional information, refer to Section 602: Construction Classification of the International Building Code (available on our website).