General: Model Building Type

  • Question: Are there Model Building Type definitions specific to California?

How to Inventory:

  • Answer: No, FCA inspectors should reference the attached FEMA Model Building Type matrix for determine building types for UC buildings

Structural Building Classifications (Model Building Types)


No.
Label
Description		 Height
Range Typical
Name Stories Stories Feet
1 W1 Wood, Light Frame ( 5,000 sq. ft.)
1 - 2 1 14
2 W2 Wood, Commercial and Industrial (> 5,000 sq. ft.) All 2 24
3 S1L Steel Moment Frame Low-Rise 1 - 3 2 24
4 S1M
Mid-Rise 4 - 7 5 60
5 S1H
High-Rise 8+ 13 156
6 S2L Steel Braced Frame Low-Rise 1 - 3 2 24
7 S2M
Mid-Rise 4 - 7 5 60
8 S2H
High-Rise 8+ 13 156
9 S3 Steel Light Frame
All 1 15
10

11		 S4L

S4M		 Steel Frame with Cast-in-Place Concrete Shear Walls Low-Rise

Mid-Rise		 1 - 3

4 - 7		 2

5		 24

60
12 S4H
High-Rise 8+ 13 156
13

14		 S5L

S5M		 Steel Frame with Unreinforced Masonry Infill Walls Low-Rise

Mid-Rise		 1 - 3

4 - 7		 2

5		 24

60
15 S5H
High-Rise 8+ 13 156
16 C1L Concrete Moment Frame Low-Rise 1 - 3 2 20
17 C1M
Mid-Rise 4 - 7 5 50
18 C1H
High-Rise 8+ 12 120
19 C2L Concrete Shear Walls Low-Rise 1 - 3 2 20
20 C2M
Mid-Rise 4 - 7 5 50
21 C2H
High-Rise 8+ 12 120
22

23		 C3L

C3M		 Concrete Frame with Unreinforced Masonry Infill Walls Low-Rise

Mid-Rise		 1 - 3

4 - 7		 2

5		 20

50
26

27		 PC2L

PC2M		 Precast Concrete Frames with Concrete Shear Walls Low-Rise

Mid-Rise		 1 - 3

4 - 7		 2

5		 20

50
28 PC2H
High-Rise 8+ 12 120
29

30		 RM1L RM2M Reinforced Masonry Bearing Walls with Wood or Metal Deck Diaphragms Low-Rise Mid-Rise 1-3

4+		 2

5		 20

50
31

32		 RM2L

RM2M		 Reinforced Masonry Bearing Walls with Precast Concrete Diaphragms Low-Rise

Mid-Rise		 1 - 3

4 - 7		 2

5		 20

50
33 RM2H
High-Rise 8+ 12 120
34

35		 URML

URMM		 Unreinforced Masonry Bearing Walls Low-Rise

Mid-Rise		 1 - 2

3+		 1

3		 15

35
36 MH Mobile Homes
All 1 10
25 PC1 Precast Concrete Tilt-Up Walls
All 1 15
24 C3H
High-Rise 8+ 12 120