California IDEX Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT true about building code occupancy?

1. Interior finishes are partly based on the occupancy of a building.

2. There can be more than one occupant within an office suite.

3. Occupancy refers to the use the interior designer places on the drawings.

4. Some occupancy classifications are subdivided into subgroups.

The correct answer is: Occupancy refers to the use the interior designer places on the drawings.

The statement regarding occupancy classifications emphasizes that occupancy is primarily concerned with how a building is used rather than the specific use that an interior designer assigns in their drawings. This means that occupancy classifications, which may include aspects such as safety, fire protection, and egress requirements, are determined by the overall function of the building or space. In contrast to that, statements about interior finishes being influenced by occupancy (reflecting safety and material requirements) and the recognition that multiple occupants can exist within an office suite appropriately capture the nuances of how occupancy is defined. Additionally, the establishment of subgroups within occupancy classifications provides a more detailed framework for understanding different types of building uses, further supporting the structured nature of occupancy classifications.