Assembly occupancies: A-1 through A-5

One-line orientation

Group A covers spaces where people gather. The most useful anchors are A-2 for food and drink and A-3 for assembly uses not classified elsewhere in Group A.

Key points

• A-1 — viewing performing arts / motion pictures: theaters, concert halls, cinemas (fixed seating for a performance).
• A-2 — food and/or drink consumption: restaurants, banquet halls, nightclubs.
• A-3 — the catch-all: worship, recreation, amusement, and assembly uses not classified elsewhere in Group A — community halls, libraries, museums, most places of worship.
• A-4 — indoor spectator sport: arenas, indoor swimming pools, tennis courts (spectator seating, indoors).
• A-5 — outdoor activity: amphitheaters, stadiums, grandstands (participation in / viewing outdoor activities).

Confusions / comparison

Subgroup	Defining use	Examples
A-1	Viewing performing arts / film	Theaters, concert halls, cinemas
A-2	Food and/or drink	Restaurants, banquet halls, nightclubs
A-3	Catch-all assembly	Worship, libraries, museums, community halls
A-4	Indoor spectator sport	Arenas, indoor pools, tennis courts
A-5	Outdoor activity	Stadiums, amphitheaters, grandstands

Related

→ Occupancy groups overview (this module): where Group A sits among the ten · B / E / M (this module): why a restaurant is not Mercantile · Construction types (this module): occupant load and construction type together set allowable area.