Above Grade
Above grade describes space in a building whose floor is at or above the level of the finished ground outside. Main floors and upper stories are above grade.
Grade is the level of the finished ground next to the foundation. On a sloped lot the ground can sit at different heights on different sides of the house, so the classification depends on where the ground meets each wall. Under ANSI Z765-2021, if any part of the finished ground outside is at or above a level's finished floor, that level counts as below grade.
Only above-grade finished space counts as gross living area. See above grade vs below grade.
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