Sunrooms and Habitable Space

[Lawrence]

Per R301.2.1.1.1 there are 5 categories of sunrooms. I through III are defined as noninhabitable space, and are unconditioned. My understanding of R303.9 is that in order to be habitable, a space must at least be heated.

Habitable space is of course defined as 1) in a dwelling and 2) for living, sleeping, eating or cooking.

Sunroom categories IV and V seem confusing.

Category IV is thermally isolated, enclosed walls, conditioned, but is *noninhabitable*.

Category V is all of the above, open to main structure, and is *habitable*.

Let's say I enclose a porch, add a mini-split, put some nice wicker furniture in there, this apparently authoritative reference is showing this as a Category IV (page 12) https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DAS/O...s-to-the-2015-IRC_-2-Slide-Handouts.pdf?la=en

Is an enclosed porch "habitable"? Can I eat, or live out there? Or does being thermally isolated from the dwelling unit make it "nonhabitable" ?

 

[steveray]

[RB] HABITABLE SPACE. A space in a building for living,
sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet rooms,
closets, halls, storage or utility spaces and similar areas are
not considered habitable spaces.

 

[ICE]

Is an enclosed porch "habitable"? Can I eat, or live out there? Or does being thermally isolated from the dwelling unit make it "nonhabitable" ?

The determining factor is not whether the code would call it habitable .....You can eat or live just about anywhere. If you want a "take it to the bank" decision...follow the code as far as it will take you and you have a IV sunroom. You can eat, live or sleep there but habitation is not allowed.

Pay attention to EERO code.

 

[ADAguy]

Per R301.2.1.1.1 there are 5 categories of sunrooms. I through III are defined as noninhabitable space, and are unconditioned. My understanding of R303.9 is that in order to be habitable, a space must at least be heated.

Habitable space is of course defined as 1) in a dwelling and 2) for living, sleeping, eating or cooking.

Sunroom categories IV and V seem confusing.

Category IV is thermally isolated, enclosed walls, conditioned, but is *noninhabitable*.

Category V is all of the above, open to main structure, and is *habitable*.

Let's say I enclose a porch, add a mini-split, put some nice wicker furniture in there, this apparently authoritative reference is showing this as a Category IV (page 12) https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DAS/O...s-to-the-2015-IRC_-2-Slide-Handouts.pdf?la=en

Is an enclosed porch "habitable"? Can I eat, or live out there? Or does being thermally isolated from the dwelling unit make it "nonhabitable" ?

In what way are you concerned about inhabitating it?