When designing or reviewing assisted living facilities, accurately determining the occupancy classification is critical. How residents can safely leave the building in an emergency determines key fire and life safety requirements, from exits to fire protection systems. Misjudging evacuation ability can lead to misclassification and the omission of essential safety features, potentially putting residents at risk. In part 2 of this blog series, we explore how occupancy classifications influence compliance and project design for assisted living facilities.
Occupancy Classifications in Assisted Living: What You Need to Know
Assisted living facilities differ from standard residential buildings. While residents receive support with daily activities, the level of care does not reach that of a nursing home. Correctly identifying the occupancy classification is essential for designing and operating these facilities safely.
How Assisted Living is Classified in the International Building Code (IBC)
Under the IBC, most assisted living facilities fall under Group I-1 (Institutional) for buildings housing more than 16 residents who receive 24-hour custodial care in a supervised environment. The Group I-1 classification is broken down further into two conditions:
- Condition 1: Residents can self-evacuate independently.
- Condition 2: Residents need limited verbal or physical assistance to evacuate.
Condition 2 comes with more stringent fire and life safety requirements and is typically the most appropriate classification for both assisted living and memory care units. Occupants within these units generally require limited verbal or physical assistance to evacuate the building, which has now been defined explicitly in the 2024 IBC:
Describes persons who, because of age, physical limitations, cognitive limitations, treatment or chemical dependency, may not independently recognize, respond or evacuate without limited verbal or physical assistance during an emergency situation. Limited verbal assistance includes prompting, giving and repeating instructions. Limited physical assistance includes assistance with transfers to walking aids or mobility devices, as well as assistance with egress (IBC 202).
When proposing Condition 1 for assisted living units, operators must thoroughly assess residents’ evacuation capabilities. Some jurisdictions may also require more restrictive occupancy classifications through licensure or local amendments.
Key Takeaway: Engage Code Consultants Early
Selecting the correct occupancy classification is crucial to ensure proper life-safety features, avoid expensive redesigns, and prevent conflicts with authorities. Engage code consultants like Code Red Consultants early in your project for guidance and a smoother, compliant process.
Stay tuned for our final post in the series, where we will discuss key passive fire protection features to align with typical evacuation protocols for this occupancy type. Want to check out the first post in the series? Click here to read Part 1.