McGough on WCC Elevator Smoke-Control

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McGough Five Generations Building Confidence TO: Mr.Lyle Oman,Building Official, City of Orono CITY OF ORONO , FROM: Tate Halvorson,QA BUNLDING T PLAN REVIEW NNaPECl OA CC: David Kulich,Project Architect,Miller Dunwiddie Architecture DATE- —J7 d -- ERM T NO. ?':iit 0FSS Paul Egertson,Project Manager,McGough '• ' SJL','!rTED Dave Krings, State Building Codes and Standards Division C t r'IT` %rt.: \'."!H`!CORRECTIONS AS NOTED Gerry Norman, State Building Codes and Standards Division CUECT&RESUBMIT r,,- , . a i.... ,�`i�,n. ,'G ,k shai be dons DATE: May9 2005 ? �� r zon code. C . F ey.r: i .s. a ly n ed in tills review. KEEP THIS PLAN SET ON$1TE AT ALL TIMES RE: Wayzata Country Club Elevator Smoke-Control Based on your desire to have a State opinion on the issue of smoke control for the Wayzata Country Club's elevators and with the approval of our Architect, I called Dave Krings Monday morning. Dave called me back immediately and very graciously agreed to meet with me in the afternoon. He asked Gerry Norman if he could attend and we all met at 2:00! We discussed the status of the next code adoption cycle and the possible changes to the codes through amendments to the 2003 IBC. Gerry indicated that he is on the committee working on these amendments and the committee has recommended the deletion of the amendment,IBC 707.7. As you know this amendment has, in effect,overridden the provisions of IBC 707.14 which allows the elimination of elevator lobbies and smoke control for low-rise elevators. Gerry indicated that it is highly likely that the committee's recommendation will be upheld but it is not a certainty. There are pending amendments to the 2006 IBC that will be voted on at the ICC Annual Business Meeting(ABM)in September that may affect the final outcome. Additionally,proponents for the present amendment,especially manufacturers of products that achieve the smoke control for elevators,may be successful in seeking a public hearing,during the adoption process,and have this amendment retained. One concern of many Building Officials, including myself,is that the final code adoption should address the issue of smoke control for elevators in buildings with five or more stories even if rated corridors are not required. We discussed the specifics of the Wayzata Country Club while looking at the floor plans and I indicated our desire to eliminate some or all of the"Smokeguard"systems on the elevator openings based on the above possible code changes and the limited nature of any"stack effect"in a low-rise structure such as the Country Club. I also discussed the possibility of providing smoke gaskets on doors adjacent to the elevators area to provide lobbies or lobby"areas". Both Dave and Gerry were reluctant to endorse this approach given the present codes and the uncertainty of changes. However,upon further discussion some other options did develop. I will note,separately,the options that were developed. Elevator A: Elevator A is the elevator being added in the existing building. It travels from ground floor level through the 1st floor to the small 2"floor office area. The travel is less than 25 feet. It was noted that the 1st and 2nd floors are open to each other via both an adjacent open stair and a large floor opening and it was agreed that it did not make much sense,since smoke and hot gas from a fire rises,to worry about any smoke developed on the 151 or 2"d. Since the elevator at the ground floor level is adjacent to mechanical and storage rooms,both Dave and Gerry were comfortable with supporting the idea of providing smoke-and draft-control at the lowest,most critical level. Since Wayzata Country Club has requested an additional door be added to close off this area on the ground floor level,visually,from the other areas, it is our proposal that we construct this area as an elevator lobby. All the adjacent rooms are sprinklered and have been constructed to resist the passage of smoke per 2737 FAIRVIEW AVENUE NORTH S 1'. PAW.:. MINN1:r:SO'1 A 55113-1372 PHONE: (651) 633-5050 FAX: (651) 633-5673