ASSEMBLY OCCUPANCIES ALLOWED UNDER PART 9 AND THE BY THE ARCHITECTS REGULATION
UPDATED MARCH 19, 2025
3.1.2.7. Group A, Division 2, Low Occupant Load (Formerly 3.1.2.6.)
3.1.2.7. Group A, Division 2, Low Occupant Load
(See Note A-3.1.2.7.)
1) A suite of Group A, Division 2 assembly occupancy, except a child or infant daycare facility , is permitted to be classified as a Group D, business and personal services occupancy provided
a) the number of persons in the suite does not exceed 30, and
b) except as permitted by Sentence (2), the suite is separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hr.
2) The fire separation required by Sentence (1) need not have a fire-resistance rating where the suite is located in a building that is sprinklered throughout.
3) A permanent sign, with lettering not less than 50 mm high with a 12 mm stroke, indicating the lesser of the occupant load for the suite or 30 persons, shall be posted in a conspicuous location near the suite ’s principal entrance.
Daycare Facilities for Children
(See Note A-3.1.2.8.)
1) A daycare facility for children shall be classified as a Group A, Division 2 assembly occupancy. (See also Article 3.3.2.17.)
A-3.1.2.7. Group A, Division 2, Low Occupant Load. A suite of Group A, Division 2 assembly is permitted to be classified as a Group D business and personal services occupancy provided the requirements of Article 3.1.2.6. are complied with. This re-classification will permit the suite to be located in a building to which Part 9 of the Code is applicable, or when the suite is located in a building where the adjoining occupancy is a Group F, Division 1 high hazard occupancy.
A-3.1.2.8. Daycare Facilities for Children. A daycare facility for children is typically occupied for a period of less than 24 hours each day (i.e., is not a residential facility). The term “daycare” is not meant to exclude facilities that provide short term care during the night for a period of less than 24 hours each day. (See also A-3.3.2.18.)
BC BUILDING CODE 2024
Group A, Division 2
A-3.1.2.1.(1) Major Occupancy Classification. The following are examples of the major occupancy classifications described in Table 3.1.2.1.:
Art galleries
Auditoria
Bowling alleys
Churches and similar places of worship
Clubs, nonresidential Community halls
Courtrooms Dance halls
Daycare Facilities for Children
Exhibition halls (other than classified in Group E)
Gymnasia
Lecture halls
Libraries
Licensed beverage establishments
Museums
Passenger stations and depots
Recreational piers
Restaurants
Schools and colleges, nonresidential
Undertaking premises
BC BUILDING CODE 2024
Architects Regulation
Reserved practice
5 (1) For the purposes of section 51 (1) (b) [reserved practice] of the Act, the practice of architecture, as it relates to matters that, having regard to the protective purposes, requires the experience or technical knowledge of an architect, is a reserved practice that may only be carried out by or under the supervision of a registrant.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), and subject to section 20 of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, the reserved practice under that subsection includes the practice of architecture in relation to a post-disaster building as defined in the building code and a building classified under the building code as having any of the following major occupancy types:
(a) assembly occupancy, Group A, divisions 1, 3 and 4, as defined in the building code;
(b) except as permitted in article 3.1.2.6. of the building code, assembly occupancy, Group A, division 2, as defined in the building code;
(c) detention occupancy as defined in the building code;
(d) except as permitted in article 3.1.2.5. of the building code, care occupancy as defined in the building code and treatment occupancy as defined in the building code;
(e) residential occupancy respecting any of the following: (i) a hotel as defined in the Hotel Guest Registration Act that has a gross area of 470 m2 or more; (ii) a building that has a building area of 600 m2 or more; (iii) a building that has 4 or more storeys; (iv) a building that has 5 or more dwelling units as defined in the building code; (v) a mixed-use building that has a gross area of 470 m2 or more and that has one or more dwelling units; (vi) a mixed-use building that has one or more dwelling units in combination with assembly, detention, treatment or care occupancy as those terms are defined in the building code;
(f) business and personal services occupancy as defined in the building code if the building has a gross area of 470 m2 or more;
(g) mercantile occupancy as defined in the building code if the building has a gross area of 470 m2 or more;
(h) high-hazard industrial occupancy as defined in the building code;
(i) medium-hazard and low-hazard industrial occupancy as defined in the building code if the building has a gross area of 470 m2 or more;
(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the following do not require the advice or services of a registrant:
(a) a building alteration that otherwise would require the advice or services of a registrant and that is not related to any of the following:
(i) a change of the building's occupancy type;
(ii) the building's structural integrity;
(iii) fire separations within the building;
(iv) the building's enclosure;
(v) the building's exiting;
(vi) the building's energy utilization;
(vii) access to the building for persons with disabilities as prescribed in the building code;
(b) a building set out in Schedule 1 if advice or services are provided by a registrant in the reserved practice of professional engineering.
ARCHITECTS REGULATION FEBRUARY 10, 2023