Building Risk Categories III & IV

Protecting the Integrity of Your Design

International Building Code includes risk categories assigned to every building. The four risk categories divide buildings into groups that have different design requirements and thresholds. The higher the risk code, the more stringent design criteria is required of the building, as its securement is in direct relation to the protection of human life should a catastrophic failure occur to the roof or building. 

Section 1604.5 of the IBC assigns risk categories to each building based on its nature of occupancy. The intention of the risk category is to bolster the building's performance under the harshest conditions (think blizzards, earthquakes, flash floods, hurricanes, tornadoes -- the list goes on) to protect what's inside. The higher the risk code, the more stringent design criteria is required.

For architects specifically, the use of the building is important when determining the proper wind load design.