HomeMy WebLinkAboutMcGough on WCC Elevator Smoke-Control 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.
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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
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DATE: May9 2005 ? ��
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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
0 McGough
Jive Generalions Building, Confidence
the requirements of incidental uses.The doors are all 1-3/4 inch solid-core doors and they will be provided with smoke
gaskets. 1-3/4 inch doors have traditionally been considered more or less equivalent to 20-minute rated doors and it was
pointed out during the meeting that the 2003 IBC has"corrected"the language regarding elevator lobbies by changing the
wall requirement from a"fire barrier"wall to a"fire partition"wall. Thus,when the adoption of the 2003 IBC is complete,
only a 20-minute door will be required for elevator lobbies regardless of the number of stories. Thus we seek your approval
to just construct the described elevator lobby on the lowest level and recognize that the upper two levels,open to each other in
this area,can not be effectively separated.
Elevator B:
Elevator B is the elevator in the new addition that travels from the sub-basement through the ground floor to the 15`floor. The
travel is more than 25 feet so an elevator vent has been provided. It was acknowledged that the intent of the smoke-and draft-
control provisions for elevators was not necessarily to prevent smoke from entering the elevator shaft but,rather,to prevent
smoke from migrating to other floors from the level of development. Therefore, it should be possible to either provide a
positive or negative pressure within the elevator shaft to control the movement of smoke. A positive pressure within the shaft
could prevent the smoke from entering the shaft and a negative pressure might be utilized in conjunction with an exhaust fan,
in lieu of the elevator vent,to send smoke within the shaft out through the top of the shaft to the exterior.
Dave and Gerry indicated their concurrence, in principle,of this approach but also noted that it would be up to the AHJ to
determine if this was appropriate and what other considerations would be necessary.
After consultation with our Mechanical, it was decided that pressurizing the elevator shaft would be the most effective
method. If you consider this an acceptable option,the design team will put together a fmal design for your approval. The
system will be designed to only operate when one of the local smoke detectors in the adjacent draft curtain detects smoke. It
will then pressurize the shaft with a fan sufficient to keep smoke from migrating into the enclosure. The fan will draw outside
air for this purpose and the opening into the shaft will be protected by a combination damper. There will be a keyed control
for the fire department.
If you agree that we may take the approaches noted,we will work with Miller Dunwiddie to put a final design package
together as soon as possible. I have copied Dave and Gerry with this memo so they can let you know if I have not correctly
interpreted their comments. Thanks much for your assistance in this matter. We look forward to your response.
2737 I•AIRVII W AVENUE NOR t S C. i'AUI.... MINNI:::SO'FA 55113-1372
PIIONF:: (651) 633-5050 I AX: (651) 633-5673
•
0 McGough
rive Generations Building Confidence
the requirements of incidental uses.The doors are all 1-3/4 inch solid-core doors and they will be provided with smoke
gaskets. 1-3/4 inch doors have traditionally been considered more or less equivalent to 20-minute rated doors and it was
pointed out during the meeting that the 2003 IBC has"corrected"the language regarding elevator lobbies by changing the
wall requirement from a"fire barrier"wall to a"fire partition"wall. Thus,when the adoption of the 2003 IBC is complete,
only a 20-minute door will be required for elevator lobbies regardless of the number of stories. Thus we seek your approval
to just construct the described elevator lobby on the lowest level and recognize that the upper two levels,open to each other in
this area,can not be effectively separated.
Elevator B:
Elevator B is the elevator in the new addition that travels from the sub-basement through the ground floor to the 1st floor. The
travel is more than 25 feet so an elevator vent has been provided. It was acknowledged that the intent of the smoke-and draft-
control provisions for elevators was not necessarily to prevent smoke from entering the elevator shaft but,rather,to prevent
smoke from migrating to other floors from the level of development. Therefore, it should be possible to either provide a
positive or negative pressure within the elevator shaft to control the movement of smoke. A positive pressure within the shaft
could prevent the smoke from entering the shaft and a negative pressure might be utilized in conjunction with an exhaust fan,
in lieu of the elevator vent,to send smoke within the shaft out through the top of the shaft to the exterior.
Dave and Gerry indicated their concurrence, in principle,of this approach but also noted that it would be up to the AHJ to
determine if this was appropriate and what other considerations would be necessary.
After consultation with our Mechanical,it was decided that pressurizing the elevator shaft would be the most effective
method. If you consider this an acceptable option,the design team will put together a final design for your approval. The
system will be designed to only operate when one of the local smoke detectors in the adjacent draft curtain detects smoke. It
will then pressurize the shaft with a fan sufficient to keep smoke from migrating into the enclosure. The fan will draw outside
air for this purpose and the opening into the shaft will be protected by a combination damper. There will be a keyed control
for the fire department.
If you agree that we may take the approaches noted,we will work with Miller Dunwiddie to put a final design package
together as soon as possible. I have copied Dave and Gerry with this memo so they can let you know if I have not correctly
interpreted their comments. Thanks much for your assistance in this matter. We look forward to your response.
2737 FAIRVIEW AVI:NUI: NOR III SI'. PAt_I.:_ MINN':SO'I'A c5 I i.3-1.372
PIIONI (651) 633-5050 I'AK: (6511 633-5t,73