High-Rise Building is defined as?

• A. Building taller than 35 meters
• B. Any building taller than 100 ft
• C. A building with occupiable floor greater than 75 ft above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access
• D. A building with more than 20 stories

Answer: (C)

A high-rise is defined by the height of occupiable floors relative to the lowest level where fire department vehicles can access the building, specifically more than 75 feet above that level. This threshold matters because buildings with occupiable floors that high require special fire protection design, including fire pumps and water supply arrangements capable of delivering adequate pressure to upper floors. The 75-foot criterion reflects the practical limits of firefighting operations and the added pumping requirements needed for tall buildings. Other height or story-based definitions don’t match NFPA 20’s criterion, which ties high-rise status to the vertical reach above the fire department’s access level and occupiable space, ensuring the pump design and water supply are appropriate for those conditions.