Which of the following is an example of ordinary hazard?

• A. Office lobby
• B. Residential kitchen
• C. Parking garage
• D. Warehouse loading dock

Answer: (C)

Ordinary hazard areas are spaces with a moderate amount of combustibles that produce a fire growth rate higher than light hazards but not as extreme as extra hazards. A parking garage fits this description well because parked vehicles bring a substantial fuel load—gasoline, oil, tires, rubber—which can drive a larger, faster-developing fire than in an office lobby, yet isn’t as aggressively fuel-rich as environments with heavy storage of highly ignitable materials or industrial processes.

An office lobby is typically a light hazard: it has furnishings and carpet, but the overall fuel load is relatively low. A residential kitchen tends to be a higher risk due to cooking oils and fats, which can cause rapid, intense fires. A warehouse loading dock can vary, but with heavy or highly combustible storage it can approach ordinary or even extra hazard depending on contents.