What standards must high-occupancy structures meet?

High-occupancy structures, such as schools, hospitals, and multi-family residential buildings, are subject to stricter safety and structural standards due to the increased risk and potential consequences associated with large numbers of occupants. These standards are designed to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of all individuals within the building, especially in emergency situations where rapid evacuation may be necessary.

For example, high-occupancy structures often have more stringent requirements related to fire safety, including emergency exits, fire alarm systems, and sprinkler systems. Additionally, structural integrity assessments are more rigorous to handle the increased loads and stresses that come with a greater number of occupants. While single-family homes have specific safety standards, those standards do not account for the unique challenges faced by buildings that accommodate many people.

The other options suggest either a reduction in necessary standards or treating high-occupancy structures the same as single-family homes, neither of which would adequately protect the occupants in the diverse and potentially hazardous situations that can arise in larger buildings.