storey
Let an agent handle storeys by numbering convention, height, use and regulations, avoiding cross-country confusion.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent handle storeys by numbering convention, height, use and regulations, avoiding cross-country confusion.
A level of a building between floor and ceiling, such as the ground floor, upper floors, basement or mezzanine; numbering conventions differ between countries (for example first floor may be ground level or the level above).
What it is for: Organising space vertically in buildings.
It can be count and number floors; plan access and evacuation per floor; apply height-dependent building rules; describe locations within buildings.
Distinguishing features
Horizontal building level
Numbering varies by country
Height triggers building rules
Basements and mezzanines are special cases
What it looks like
A horizontal level of a building with rooms.
Physical character
storey height: 2.7-4 m - typical floor-to-floor
How it is recognised
Floor numbers on lifts and plans
Names such as piano nobile or mezzanine
Different ground-floor conventions
Related models
is a kind of - category
is part of - whole
is connected by - circulation
is related to - units on floors
In practice
Families and kinds
ground floor
upper floors
basements and cellars
mezzanines
piano nobile (historic principal floor)
Standards and regulation
National building codes (height and storey limits)
Fire codes for evacuation by storey
Failure modes and hazards
Numbering confusion in emergencies
Inadequate escape from upper floors
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Numbering Which floor.
Conventions differ.
Convention
Country rules.
Convention
Numbering convention.
- Which floor numbering convention applies here? definition
- Is the ground floor counted as first? boundary
Count
Number of storeys.
Count
Storey count.
- How many storeys does the building have? measurement
- Are basements included? boundary
Dimensions Height.
Height matters.
Height
Floor to floor.
Height
Storey height.
- What is the floor-to-floor height? measurement
- What is the total building height? measurement
Rules
Thresholds.
Rules
Height rules.
- Which building rules change at this height or storey count? provenance
- Are sprinklers required? boundary
Access Circulation.
Floors need access.
Stairs and lifts
Vertical access.
Stairs
Vertical access.
- How is each floor reached? definition
- Is there step-free access? boundary
Evacuation
Escape.
Evacuation
Evacuation.
- How are people evacuated from upper floors? provenance
- Are there refuges for wheelchair users? boundary
Use Function.
Floors have uses.
Function
Use of floor.
Function
Floor use.
- What is the floor used for? definition
- Is that use permitted? boundary
History
Historic floors.
History
Historic arrangement.
- Was it a historic principal floor? provenance
- How has use changed? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Should storey types be separate entries?
- How should numbering conventions be recorded?
- How should height thresholds be localised?