AskCodeMan

Aloha,

I have been trying to understand if an R-3 classification under International Building Code (the State and City and County of Honolulu accept IBC classification), applies to a condominium, one that consists of 2 buildings and a total of 234 units here in Honolulu.

I appreciate any guidance, including directing this post to a more appropriate forum.

Mahalo (thank you),

Warren
Honolulu

Hi Warren,

A condominium building is simply an "apartment house" in which the ownership is different. I.e., in an "apartment house" the building (the structure itself) is common owned and each "unit" ("apartment") is rented out to various tenants, whereas in a "condominium building" the building (the structure itself) is common owned and each "unit" ("condominium") is sold to various owners.

Thus, under the IBC, a condominium building is R-2:
- R-2 Residential occupancies containing sleeping units or more than two dwelling units where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature, including:
- - Apartment houses
- - Boarding houses (not transient)
- - Convents
- - Dormitories
- - Fraternities and sororities
- - Hotels (nontransient)
- - Monasteries
- - Motels (nontransient)
- - Vacation timeshare properties
- - Congregate living facilities with 16 or fewer occupants are permitted to comply with the construction requirements for Group R-3.