changing construction type for remodel

[omahawildcat]

I am working on a small office building (3 stories) that has non-combustible (multi wythe brick) exterior walls, floors and roofs but had wood framed partitions so I assumed it was a type 3b and that is what I moved forward with. The owner wants to continue the use of wood framed partitions. Went for permit and the city said the building was originally a 2B and they can not change that.
Is that true, can you not change the construction type as long as the building meets all of the requirements for the new building type?

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Is that true, can you not change the construction type as long as the building meets all of the requirements for the new building type?

No, that is not correct. And if the current classification is obviously incorrect (wood framing inside a II-B building), then IMHO it has to be reclassified.

 

[mtlogcabin]

No that is not true

602.1.1 Minimum requirements.
A building or portion thereof shall not be required to conform to the details of a type of construction higher than that type which meets the minimum requirements based on occupancy even though certain features of such a building actually conform to a higher type of construction.

 

[RLGA]

Not true. I have requested building classification changes on a few occasions.