Supplementary Legal Guide

Fire Service Act Occupancy Classification: Category 13 (Factories, Workstations, Auto Repair Shops, Film Studios)

Sub-Classifications of Category 13 (13-A and 13-B)

Category 13 is sub-divided into "13-A" and "13-B" based on hazardous material handling and elevated fire risk[cite: 26]:

Sub-Category	Target Facilities	Characteristics & Hazard Profile
Category 13-A	Auto repair shops, film/TV studios, workstations handling elevated fire hazards[cite: 26]	Facilities handling flammables, paints, or gas, presenting relatively higher ignition risks[cite: 26]
Category 13-B	General manufacturing plants, printing plants, garment factories, standard processing workstations[cite: 26]	Facilities executing general product manufacturing, assembly, and processing operations[cite: 26]

Primary Fire Protection Requirements for Category 13 Facilities

Enforcement thresholds vary based on building construction (e.g., fireproof design) and processing environments, with key installation thresholds outlined below[cite: 26]:

Equipment Type	Primary Installation Thresholds for Category 13 (Factories/Workstations)
Fire Extinguishers	Gross floor area ≥150 m² (lowered to ≥50 m² for basement, windowless, or 3rd+ floor areas)[cite: 26]
Automatic Fire Alarm Systems	Gross floor area ≥500 m² (may be lowered to ≥300 m² for auto repair shops under Category 13-A)[cite: 26]
Indoor Fire Hydrants	Gross floor area ≥700 m² to 1,400 m² (varies depending on structural fire resistance)[cite: 26]
Fire Sprinkler Systems	Mandated for 11th floor and above, or specific high-bay rack storage configurations[cite: 26]
Outdoor Fire Hydrants	Combined 1st/2nd floor area ≥3,000 m² (≥9,000 m² for fireproof construction)[cite: 26]

Interlocking Relationship with Logistics Warehouses (Category 14)

In logistics centers and distribution facilities, executing value-added processing (kitting, labeling, minor assembly) alongside storage can impact fire code classifications during official fire department reviews[cite: 26]:

• Minor Value-Added Processing: Treated as an ancillary operation under Category 14 (Warehouse), allowing continued operation under standard warehouse fire code criteria[cite: 26].
• Full-Scale Assembly or Manufacturing: The specific compartment or the entire building may be reclassified as Category 13 (Factory/Workstation) or Category 16-B (Mixed-Use Warehouse/Factory), triggering significantly stricter fire protection equipment standards[cite: 26].