Federal Room Type Codes

Code  

Type

Definition

Description

Limitations

020Circulation AreaUsed by the public for access to a subdivision of space.Corridors, elevator shafts, escalators, stairways, loading docks, lobbies, and other spaces used for public access to a building.Aisles without specific boundaries, used only for circulation within rooms such as office suites or classrooms, may have their area included with the primary room, or be separately measured if their borders are shown on floor plans. Private circulation areas such as office internal corridors are classified under the appropriate Service category.
110ClassroomA room used for classes and that is also not tied to a specific subject or discipline by equipment in the room or the configuration of the room.Includes rooms generally used for scheduled instruction that require no special, restrictive equipment or configuration. These rooms may be called lecture rooms, lecture- demonstration rooms, seminar rooms, and general purpose classrooms. A classroom may be equipped with tablet armchairs (fixed to the floor, joined in groups, or flexible in arrangement), tables and chairs (as in a seminar room), or similar types of seating. These rooms may contain multimedia or telecommunications equipment. A classroom may be furnished with special equipment (e.g., globes, pianos, maps) appropriate to a specific area of study, if this equipment does not render the room unsuitable for use by classes in other areas of study.This category does not include Conference Rooms (350), Meeting Rooms (680), Auditoriums (610), or Class Laboratories (210). Conference rooms and meeting rooms are distinguished from seminar rooms according to primary use; rooms with chairs and tables that are used primarily for meetings (as opposed to classes) are conference rooms or meeting rooms (see room codes 350 and 680 for distinction). Auditoriums are distinguished from lecture rooms based on primary use. A large room with seating oriented toward some focal point, and which is used for dramatic or musical productions, is an Assembly (610) facility (e.g., an auditorium normally used for purposes other than scheduled classes). A class laboratory is distinguished from a classroom based on equipment in the room and by its restrictive use. If a room is restricted to a single or closely related group of disciplines by special equipment or room configuration, it is a laboratory (see 200 series).
115Classroom ServiceA room that directly serves one or more classrooms as an extension of the activities in that room.Includes projection rooms, telecommunications control booths, preparation rooms, coat rooms, closets, storage areas, etc., if they serve classrooms.Does not include projection rooms, coat rooms, preparation rooms, closets or storage areas, if such rooms serve laboratories, conference rooms, meeting rooms, assembly facilities, etc. A projection booth in an auditorium (not used primarily for scheduled classes) is classified as Assembly Service (615).
210Class LaboratoryA room used primarily for formally or regularly scheduled classes that require special purpose equipment or a specific room configuration for student participation, experimentation, observation, or practice in an academic discipline.A class laboratory is designed for or furnished with equipment to serve the needs of a particular discipline for group instruction in formally or regularly scheduled classes. This special equipment normally limits or precludes the room's use by other disciplines. Included in this category are rooms generally called teaching laboratories, instructional shops, typing or computer laboratories, drafting rooms, band rooms, choral rooms, (group) music practice rooms, language laboratories, (group) studios, theater stage areas used primarily for instruction, instructional health laboratories, and similar specially designed or equipped rooms, if they are used primarily for group instruction in formally or regularly scheduled classes. Computer rooms used primarily to instruct students in the use of computers are classified as class laboratories if that instruction is conducted primarily in formally or regularly scheduled classes.Does not include Classrooms (110). Does not include informally scheduled or unscheduled laboratories (see 220). This category does not include rooms generally defined as Research/Nonclass Laboratories (250). It does not include gymnasia, pools, drill halls, laboratory schools, demonstration houses, and similar facilities that are included under Special Use Facilities (500 series). Computer rooms in libraries or used primarily for study should be classified as Study Rooms (410).
215Class Laboratory ServiceA room that directly serves one or more class laboratories as an extension of the activities in those rooms.Includes any room that directly serves a class laboratory. Included are projection rooms, telecommunications control booths, coat rooms, preparation rooms, closets, material storage (including temporary hazardous materials storage), balance rooms, cold rooms, stock rooms, dark rooms, equipment issue rooms, etc., if they serve class laboratories.Does not include service rooms that support classrooms (see 115), Open Laboratories (225), or Research/Nonclass Laboratories (255). Animal Quarters (570) and Greenhouses (580) are categorized separately.
220Open LaboratoryA laboratory used primarily for individual or group instruction that is informally scheduled, unscheduled, or open.An open laboratory is designed for or furnished with equipment that serves the needs of a particular discipline or discipline group for individual or group instruction where 1) use of the room is not formally or regularly scheduled, or 2) access is limited to specific groups of students. Included in this category are rooms generally called music practice rooms, language laboratories used for individualized instruction, studios for individualized instruction, special laboratories or learning laboratories if discipline restricted, individual laboratories, and computer laboratories involving specialized restrictive software or where access is limited to specific categories of students. For example, a computer laboratory with only engineering or CAD software or a computer-based writing laboratory available only to English Composition students would be classified as an open laboratory because of the restricted usage of the room for a particular discipline or discipline group. Rooms containing computer equipment that is not restricted to a specific discipline or discipline group are classified as Study Rooms (see 410).Laboratories with formally or regularly scheduled classes are Class Laboratories (210). This category also does not include rooms defined as Research/Nonclass Laboratories (250). A room that contains equipment (e.g., typewriters, microcomputers) which does not restrict use to a specific discipline or discipline group, and which is typically used at a student's convenience, should be classified as a Study Room (410).
225Open Laboratory ServiceA room that directly serves one or more open laboratories as an extension of the activities in those rooms.Includes only those rooms that directly serve an open laboratory. Included are projection rooms, telecommunications control booths, coat rooms, preparation rooms, closets, material storage (including temporary hazardous materials storage), balance rooms, cold rooms, stock rooms, dark rooms, equipment issue rooms, and similar facilities, if they serve open laboratories.Does not include service rooms that support classrooms (see 115), Class Laboratories (215), or Research/Nonclass Laboratories (255). Animal Quarters (570), Greenhouses (580), and Central Service (750) facilities are categorized separately.
250Research/Nonclass LaboratoryA room used primarily for laboratory experimentation, research or training in research methods; or professional research and observation; or structured creative activity within a specific program.A research/nonclass laboratory is designed or equipped for faculty, staff, and students for the conduct of research and controlled or structured creative activities. These activities are generally confined to faculty, staff and assigned graduate students and are applicable to any academic discipline. Activities may include experimentation, application, observation, composition, or research training in a structured environment directed by one or more faculty or principal investigator(s). These activities do not include practice or independent study projects and activities which, although delivering ""new knowledge"" to a student, are not intended for a broader academic (or sponsoring) community (e.g., a presentation or publication). This category includes labs that are used for experiments, testing or ""dry runs"" in support of instructional, research or public service activities. Nonclass public service laboratories which promote new knowledge in academic fields (e.g., animal diagnostic laboratories, cooperative extension laboratories) are included in this category.Student practice activity rooms should be classified under Open Laboratory (220). A combination office/music or art studio or combination office/research laboratory should be coded according to its primary use if only a single room use code can be applied. Determination also should be made whether the ""studio"" or ""research lab"" component involves developing new knowledge (or extending the application or distribution of existing knowledge) for a broader academic or sponsoring community (and not merely for the practitioner), or the activity is merely practice or learning within the applied instructional process. Primary use should be the determining criterion in either case. Does not include testing or monitoring facilities (e.g., seed sampling, water or environmental testing rooms) that are part of an institution's Central Service (750) system. Also does not include the often unstructured, spontaneous or improvisational creative activities of learning and practice within the performing arts, which take place in (scheduled) Class Laboratories (210) or, if not specifically scheduled, (practice) Open Laboratories (220). Such performing arts (and other science and nonscience) activities, which are controlled or structured to the extent that they are intended to produce a specific research or experimental outcome (e.g., a new or advanced technique), are included in the Research/Nonclass Laboratory (250) category.
255Research/Nonclass Laboratory ServiceA room that directly serves one or more research/nonclass laboratories as an extension of the activities in those rooms.Includes only those rooms that directly serve a research/nonclass laboratory. Included are projection rooms, telecommunications control booths, coat rooms, preparation rooms, closets, material storage, balance rooms, cold rooms, stock rooms, dark rooms, equipment issue rooms, temporary hazardous materials storage areas, and similar facilities, if they serve research/nonclass laboratories.Does not include service rooms that support classrooms (see 115), Class Laboratories (215), or Open Laboratories (225). Animal Quarters (570), Greenhouses (580), and Central Service (750) facilities are categorized separately.
350Conference RoomA room serving an office complex and used primarily for staff meetings and departmental activities.A conference room is typically equipped with tables and chairs. Normally it is used by a specific organizational unit or office area, whereas Meeting Rooms (680) are used for general purposes such as community or campus group meetings not associated with a particular department. If a room is used for both conference and meeting room functions, then the room should be classified according to its principal use. A conference room is distinguished from facilities such as seminar rooms, lecture rooms, and Classrooms (110) because it is used primarily for activities other than scheduled classes. A conference room is intended primarily for formal gatherings whereas a lounge is intended for relaxation and casual interaction. This category includes tele conference rooms.Does not include classrooms, seminar rooms, lecture rooms (see 110), Auditoriums (see 610), departmental lounges (see 315), open lounges (see 650), and Meeting Rooms (see 680).
355Conference Room ServiceA room that directly serves one or more conference rooms as an extension of the activities in those rooms.Includes kitchenettes, storage rooms, telecommunications control booths, projection rooms, sound equipment rooms, etc., if they serve conference rooms.Excluded are service rooms that support meeting rooms (see 685) or offices (see 315).
410Study RoomA room or area used by individuals to study at their convenience, which is not restricted to a particular subject or discipline by contained equipment.Includes study or reading rooms located in libraries, residential facilities, academic or student service facilities, study carrel and booth areas, and similar rooms which are intended for general study purposes. Study stations may be grouped, as in a library reading room, or individualized, as in a carrel. Study stations may include microcomputers, typewriters, computer terminals, microfilm readers, or other multimedia equipment. The category Study Room includes rooms commonly termed ""learning labs"" or ""computer labs"" if they are not restricted to specific disciplines by contained equipment or software. Study rooms are primarily used by students or staff for learning at their convenience, although access may be restricted by a controlling unit (e.g., departmental study room).Does not include Open Laboratories (220) that are restricted to a particular discipline or discipline group. This category also does not include Lounges (650) that are intended for relaxation and casual interaction.
430Open-Stack Study RoomA combination study room and stack, generally without physical boundaries between the stack and study areas.Seating areas include those types of station and seating arrangements described under Study Room (410). The stack areas of these rooms may include any of the educational material collections described under Stack (420).Does not include Study Rooms (410) which have no stack areas. Those stack areas that have only a few incidental chairs or other seating, without a formally arranged study seating area, should be coded Stack (420). Institutions may wish to separate and code the seating or study areas (see 410) and stack areas (see 420) into separate room records. As with Stack (420) and Processing Rooms (440), Open-Stack Study Rooms (430) appear primarily in central, branch, and departmental libraries.
455Study ServiceA room that directly serves study rooms, stacks, open-stack study rooms, or processing rooms as a direct extension of the activities in those rooms.Includes storage rooms, copy rooms, closets, locker rooms, coat rooms, and other typical service areas that support a primary study facilities room (see 410, 420, 430, 440).Does not include Processing Rooms (440) that house specific library support processes and operations (e.g., bookbinding rooms, multimedia processing rooms).
530Media ProductionA room used for the production or distribution of multimedia materials or signals.Includes rooms generally called TV studios, radio studios, sound studios, photo studios, video or audio cassette and software production or distribution rooms, and media centers. These rooms have a clearly defined production or distribution function that serves a broader area (e.g., department, entire campus) than would a typical service room.Does not include rooms that merely store media materials and equipment. Such rooms would be coded as Media Production Service (535) rooms if serving the primary production or distribution room (see 530), or the appropriate service category for the room(s) they serve. Radio or TV broadcasting areas and other media rooms used for teaching broadcasting to students for instructional purposes should be coded as laboratories (see 210, 220). This classification also does not include centralized computer-based data processing and telecommunications equipment facilities (see 710).
535Media Production ServiceA room that directly serves a media production or distribution room as an extension of the activities in that facility.The primary criterion here is that the room should serve a media production or distribution room and not another primary activity room. Examples include film, tape, or cassette libraries or storage areas; media equipment storage rooms; recording rooms; engineering maintenance rooms; darkrooms; preparation rooms; studio control booths; and other support areas that specifically serve a media production or distribution room (see 530).Those rooms containing media materials, equipment or operations which serve a primary activity room other than a 530 should be assigned the appropriate corresponding service code.
550DemonstrationA room or group of rooms used to practice, within an instructional program, the principles of certain disciplines such as teaching, child care or development, and home management or economics.The key criterion here is practice activity within an instructional program which closely simulates a real-world or occupational setting. Includes demonstration day care and development centers, laboratory schools and home economics or management houses, when these facilities are used for practice as a part of collegiate training or instruction.Does not include day care and development centers which are not used as part of an instructional program (see 640). This category also does not include laboratories (see 200 series) that are used for direct delivery of instruction as opposed to practice. Demonstration schools, laboratory schools, day care centers, and home management houses in which students serve as the subjects for a research study are classified as Research/Nonclass Laboratories (250).
555Demonstration ServiceA room that directly serves a demonstration facility as an extension of the activities in that facility.Includes facilities generally called storerooms, pantries, etc., in a home demonstration facility; and kitchens, lockers, shower rooms, etc., in a laboratory school. Similar support rooms which directly serve primary care and training areas in a demonstration day care center (see 550) are included in this category.Generally, the primary activity areas--such as kitchen, dining room, living room (in a home-demonstration house), or classrooms, laboratories, gymnasia that serve nursery, elementary, or secondary school students (in a laboratory school) should be designated as Demonstration (550). Primary care and training areas in a (practice) day care center are also Demonstration (550) rooms. Kitchen and food preparation rooms in a demonstration day care facility are classified as service areas. Eating or break rooms for staff in demonstration day care centers are classified as service areas; eating or training rooms for children are classified as primary activity areas (see 550).
610AssemblyA room designed and equipped for the assembly of many persons for such events as dramatic, musical, devotional, livestock judging, or commencement activities.Includes theaters, auditoria, concert halls, arenas, chapels, and livestock judging pavilions that are used primarily for general presentations (speakers), performances (dramatic, musical, dance), and devotional services. Seating areas, orchestra pits, chancels, arenas, aisles, and stages (if not used primarily for instruction) are included in and usually aggregated into the assembly space. This category also includes chapels located in health care, residential, or other facilities. Institutions may wish to separate the seating area from the stage and other specially configured areas through the use of additional codes.Stage areas used primarily for instruction or practice (dance, music, drama) are typically coded separately as laboratory space (see 210, 220). Assembly facilities that are used primarily as instructional lecture halls are classified as Classroom (110) space.
615Assembly ServiceA room or area that directly serves an assembly facility as an extension of the activities in that facility.Includes check rooms, coat rooms, ticket booths, dressing rooms, projection booths, property storage, make-up rooms, costume and scenery shops and storage, green rooms, multimedia and telecommunications control rooms, etc.Entrance lobbies and other circulation areas outside of the primary assembly room are classified as nonassignable (circulation) space. A concession stand in an assembly facility is classified as Merchandising (660). Lounge areas that are remote from the assembly area within an assembly facility are classified by the appropriate service code or the Lounge (650) code.
650LoungeA room used for rest and relaxation that is not restricted to a specific group of people, unit or area.A lounge facility is typically equipped with upholstered furniture, draperies, or carpeting, and may include vending machines. A general use lounge (see 650) differs from an office area or break room lounge (see 315) by virtue of its public availability. If a room is open for use by people visiting or passing through a building or area, it is coded Lounge (650). Such a room may have vending machines if the primary use of the room is rest, relaxation, informal socializing and not for eating (see 630).A lounge facility is distinguished from a Conference Room (350) and a Meeting Room (680), both of which are intended for formal meetings, by its more informal function of rest, relaxation or casual interaction and its public availability. A lounge area associated with a public rest room is included with the rest room as nonassignable Mechanical area (030). A room devoted to vending machines without accommodation (seating, counters or tables) for local food or drink consumption is classified as Merchandising (660). A lounge that directly serves a specific or restricted area is classified by the appropriate corresponding service code (e.g., a lounge serving an assembly facility is classified 615-Assembly Service). A lounge differs from a lobby (nonassignable circulation area) in placement, use, and intent. A lobby is generally located at a major entrance with openings to hallways on more than one side; and although it may have seating furniture, it is designed more for walking through (or having standing conversations) than for sitting and relaxing. Separate waiting rooms in other than health care facilities are classified with the appropriate service code according to the room or area they serve. Public waiting areas in health care facilities are coded as 880.
655Lounge ServiceA room that directly serves a general use lounge facility.Includes kitchenettes, storage areas, and vending rooms that directly serve a general use lounge facility (see 650).This category does not include kitchenettes, storage rooms, and small vending areas that directly serve other room use types (e.g., a small vending area serving a dining hall eating area should be classified as 635-Food Facility Service).
680Meeting RoomA room that is used by the institution or the public for a variety of nonclass meetings.The key concept here is public availability. Conference Rooms (350) are often confused with meeting rooms because they are both primarily used for nonclass meetings. However, conference rooms are restricted service components of an office complex or used by office occupants of a specific area and are generally limited to staff meetings or other departmental nonclass activities. Although it may be assigned to a specific organizational unit, a meeting room is more available and open to study groups, boards, governing groups, community groups, various student groups, non-employees of the institution, and various combinations of institutional and community members. Meeting rooms in institutional hotels or motels and other for-fee meeting rooms are included in this category. Meeting rooms may be configured like classrooms (i.e., with participant focus to the front of the room), and may be equipped with a variety of furniture types (e.g., tables and chairs, lounge-type furniture, tablet armchairs, or a large table) in various combinations and arrangements.Rooms serving an office complex and used primarily for staff meetings are classified as Conference Room (350). Seminar and lecture rooms used primarily for scheduled classes are classified as Classroom (110). Rooms designed and equipped for the assembly of many persons for such events as dramatic, musical or devotional activities, etc., should be classified as Assembly (610).
685Meeting Room ServiceA room that serves a meeting room as an extension of the activities in that room.Includes kitchenettes, multimedia storage and control rooms, furniture storage rooms, and other support rooms that directly serve a meeting room.Does not include kitchenettes, storage rooms, and other support areas that serve a Conference Room (355) or Assembly Facility (615).