Probably could be considered a fence. I think FBC has some special allowances for wood fences because they just don't work for full load. Also isn't that in the HVHZ area only?
@slickdeals, While I agree with the 90mph I believe it is limited to fences 6'-0" above grade and shorter. Otherwise you have to go with the full load. Back to the original question, I don't believe there's anything where the code mandates what I factor to use. It depends on office "standards". I tyically use I = 1.0 since in my experience it has not been that much difference in bars.
FWIW, fences and masonry walls failed en masse in the 2004 Florida hurricanes. Most that I observed appeared to have no engineering (I would hope), and most of the walls were URM.
From a flying debris standpoint, I would just like fences to have enough concrete to keep them on the ground. I think anything stricter than that is just silly like others have said.
For overturning or bending failure of CMU privacy walls, I think I usually use I=1.0, though I agree with MiamiSerg that it doesn't usually make much difference. Though you could justify I=.77 from a loss of life standpoint as it is not an inhabitable structure.
