Uses in Buildings (II)

Building Uses in Spain (II)

Uses in the Group C of the LOE

The building uses in Groups A and B are listed in Article 2 of the Spanish 'Ley de Ordenación de la Edificación' (LOE), but when it comes to the uses in Group C, the Law simply states they are the uses not specifically listed in the two previous groups. If we limit ourselves to the list of building uses that are defined by the Spanish 'Código Técnico de la Edificación' (CTE), which are listed in the Terminology annexes, there are only two uses that may be included in the Group C of the LOE: Parking Use and Commercial Use.

Parking Use

Parking Use ('Uso aparcamiento') is defined as one that characterizes the buildings, facilities or areas for parking of vehicles, but only if the surface area exceedes 100 sq. m. It may include areas destinated to washing vehicles, tuning, installation of accessories, checking tires and headlights, etc., and it excludes garages in private houses, whatever its surface, as well as exterior car parks around buildings, even if the lots are covered.

Commercial Use

Commercial Use ('Uso comercial') is defined as one that characterizes the buildings or establishments whose main activity is the sale of products directly to the public, or the provision of services related thereto. It's the use of the shops, department stores, malls, markets, shopping malls, etc.

Establishments that lend certain services directly to the public, not necessarily related to the sale of products, may also be considered to be affected by Commercial Use, if constructive and functional characteristics can be assimilated more to Commecial Use than to any other use. Examples of such assimilation can be laundromats, hair salons, etc.

Uses in Buildings (I)

Building Uses in Spain (I)

List and Classification of Uses for Buildings

In Spanish building industry, uses are defined as those activities that take place in a building, or in certain areas of a building, after its delivery to the users.

Uses in Spanish LOE and CTE

Spanish 'Ley de Ordenación de la Edificación' (LOE) defines three groups of uses: A, B and C. Then, the 'Código Técnico de la Edificación' (CTE) includes definitions for the uses. Using both official documents we can compile the list of uses is included below:

Group A Uses

The A group includes the following uses:

• Administrative Use ('Uso Administrativo'): Building, facility or area in which management activities or services are carried out. It includes public administration centers, banks, professional offices, etc.
• Sanitary Use ('Uso Sanitario'): building or area which use includes hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, health centers, clinics, clinical analysis centers, etc.
• Religious Use ('Uso Religioso'): spaces for cult.
• Public Residential Use ('Uso Residencial Público'): Building or facility designed to provide temporary shelter, which can provide common services such as housekeeping, dining, laundry, meeting and entertainment facilities, sports, etc. It includes hotels, hostels, tourist apartments, etc.
• Residential Housing Use ('Uso Residencial Vivienda'): Building or area for permanent accommodation. It includes detached houses, flats, apartments, etc.
• Educational Use ('Uso Docente'): Building, establishment or area for teaching, in any level. It includes nursery schools, primary schools, secondary schools, university, etc.
• Cultural Use ('Uso Cultural'): building or establishment for catering, entertainment, meeting, leisure, sport, auditoriums, games, etc.

Group B Uses

The B group includes the following uses:

• Aeronautical ('Aeronáutico')
• Agricultural ('Agropecuario')
• Of Energy ('De la energía')
• Of Hydraulics ('De la hidráulica')
• Miner ('Minero')
• Of Telecommunications ('De telecomunicaciones')
• Of Land, Sea, River and Air Transport ('Del transporte terrestre, marítimo, fluvial y aéreo')
• Forest ('Forestal')
• Industrial
• Naval
• Of Sanitation and Hygiene Engineering ('De la ingeniería de saneamiento e higiene')
• Accessory to Engineering Works and their Exploitation ('Accesorio a las obras de ingeniería y su explotación').

Group C Uses

Within the group called C, LOE includes all buildings whose uses are not specifically listed in the two previous groups.