Maximum floor areas and volumes of buildings or compartments

Table 4.4 Maximum floor areas and volumes of buildings or compartments Purpose group of building (or part) | Height of top storey of building above ground level (m) | Floor area of any one storey in the building or compartment (m²) In a multi-storey building | Floor area of any one storey in the building or compartment (m²) In a single storey building | Maximum compartment volume (m³) In a multi-storey building | Maximum compartment volume (m³) In a single storey building 3 Office | No limit | No limit | No limit | No limit | No limit 4 Shop and commercial – (i) shop – not sprinklered | No limit | 2000 | 2000 | No limit | No limit sprinklered(1) | No limit | 4000 | No limit | No limit | No limit (ii) other than shop - not sprinklered | No limit | 2000 | No limit | No limit | No limit sprinklered | No limit | 4000 | No limit | No limit | No limit 5 Assembly and recreation – (i) school not sprinklered | No limit | 800 | 800 | No limit | No limit sprinklered(1) | No limit | 2000 | No limit | No limit | No limit (ii) other than school - not sprinklered | No limit | 2000 | No limit | No limit | No limit sprinklered(1) | No limit | 4000 | No limit | No limit | No limit 6(3) Industrial – not sprinklered | Not more than 18 | 7000 | No limit | No limit | No limit sprinklered(1) | More than 18 | 2000(2) | No limit | No limit | No limit not sprinklered | Not more than 18 | 14000 | No limit | No limit | No limit sprinklered(1) | More than 18 | 4000(2) | No limit | No limit | No limit 7 Storage and other non-residential – (a)(3) storage and any use not described elsewhere – not sprinklered | Not more than 18 | No limit | No limit | 20000 | No limit sprinklered(1) | More than 18 | No limit | No limit | 4000(2) | No limit (b) car park for light vehicles | Not more than 18 | No limit | No limit | 40000 | No limit sprinklered(1) | More than 18 | No limit | No limit | 8000(2) | No limit Notes: (1) 'Sprinklered' means that the building is fitted throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 8, meeting the relevant recommendations of BS 5306-2 or BS EN 12845, i.e. the relevant occupancy rating together with the additional requirements for life safety. (2) This reduced limit applies only to those storeys which are more than 18 m above ground level. (3) There may be additional limitations on floor area, volume and/or sprinkler provisions in certain industrial and storage uses under other legislation.