# Address Classifications

## Addressing Classification Levels

The Addressing classification scheme provides varying levels of classification for addressable objects which are captured and maintained by the Local Authorities and Ordnance Survey.

You can query the data to explore residential and commercial properties at the primary classification level. Or you can carry out a more specific query using the secondary and tertiary level classifications. However, there are only certain classification codes that extend to the quaternary classification level.

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-88391a0378a581cd8498a18c6f27a9e70634623d%2Faddress-classifications-table.png?alt=media" alt="Table showing the four levels of classification"><figcaption><p>Table showing the four levels of classification</p></figcaption></figure>

The level of classification varies across all addressable objects and across the different products.

<table><thead><tr><th width="219">Product</th><th>Primary</th><th>Secondary</th><th>Tertiary</th><th>Quaternary</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>AddressBase</td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td><td><mark style="color:red;">No</mark></td><td><mark style="color:red;">No</mark></td><td><mark style="color:red;">No</mark></td></tr><tr><td>AddressBase Core</td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td><td><mark style="color:red;">No</mark></td><td><mark style="color:red;">No</mark></td></tr><tr><td>AddressBase Plus</td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td></tr><tr><td>AddressBase Premium</td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td></tr><tr><td>OS NGD Address</td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td><td><mark style="color:green;">Yes</mark></td></tr></tbody></table>

The full list of classification codes can be found on the [OS website](https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/documents/product-support/support/addressbase-product-classification-scheme.zip)

## Use Case - Health Centre CM02HC

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="AddressBase" %}
AddressBase does not allow access to beyond primary level classifications.

You can only query to identify Commercial classifications (C)

```sql
Select addr.*
from addressbase.addressbase addr
Where addr.class = 'C'
```

This returns 1.3 million records nationally

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-237f312c673fa259a422c4e0f3c26600389e9598%2Faddressbase-classifications.png?alt=media" alt="AddressBase records for classification &#x27;C&#x27;"><figcaption><p>AddressBase records for classification 'C'</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="AddressBase Core" %}
AddressBase Core does not allow access to beyond secondary level classifications.

You can only query to identify Medical classifications (CM).

```sql
Select addr.*
from abcore.addressbasecore addr
Where addr.class = 'CM'
```

This returns over 53,000 records nationally

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-17002c70b7c2f674e3ee9f18585a77aefadaba2b%2Faddressbase-core-classifications.png?alt=media" alt="AddressBase Core records for classification &#x27;CM&#x27;"><figcaption><p>AddressBase Core records for classification 'CM'</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="AddressBase Plus" %}
AddressBase Plus allows access to quaternary level classifications.

You can query to identify Health Centre classifications (CM02HC).

```sql
Select addr.*
from abplus.addressbaseplus addr
Where addr.class = 'CM02HC'
```

This returns approximately 3700 records nationally

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-21074157077b861077c0b2fe5ae72d8b5d561688%2Faddressbase-plus-classifications.png?alt=media" alt="AddressBase Plus records for classification &#x27;CM02HC&#x27;"><figcaption><p>AddressBase Plus records for classification 'CM02HC'</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="AddressBase Premium" %}
AddressBase Premium allows access to quaternary level classifications.

You can query to identify Health Centre classifications (CM02HC).

However, you will need to use the UPRN as a common key to join to additional attribution from other tables (e.g. geometry from the BLPU table).

```sql
Select clas.*, blpu.geom
from abpremium.classification clas
Inner Join abpremium.blpu blpu on clas.uprn = blpu.uprn
Where clas.classification_code = 'CM02HC'
```

This returns approximately 3700 records nationally

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-61c9d14437cf64f6f7640f74c87206a3ded0533d%2Faddressbase-premium-classifications.png?alt=media" alt="AddressBase Premium records for classification &#x27;CM02HC&#x27;"><figcaption><p>AddressBase Premium records for classification 'CM02HC'</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="OS NGD Address" %}
OS NGD Address allows access to quaternary level classifications for each of the address statuses.

You can query to identify Health Centre classifications (CM02HC). This was carried out for built properties.

```sql
Select builtaddress.*
from osngd_add_gb.add_gb_builtaddress builtaddress
Where builtaddress.classification_code = 'CM02HC'
```

This returns approximately 3700 records nationally

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e579410532580cec0db3a72bb4a293e4f835cfa8%2Faddressbase-os-ngd-classifications.png?alt=media" alt="OS NGD Address records for classification &#x27;CM02HC&#x27;"><figcaption><p>OS NGD Address records for classification 'CM02HC'</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

***

## Find out more

[OS NGD Documentation](https://docs.os.uk/osngd)

[OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/)

[GitHub](https://github.com/OrdnanceSurvey/osngd-resources)

[OS Select and Build](https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/business-government/products/os-select-build)

***

This content has been developed from what was originally a Lightning Talk PowerPoint slide set. These slides are available to PSGA members to view and download from the [PSGA members area of the OS website](https://auth.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/my.policy)
