Appeal 13183

OSSC 3007.7

3007.7 Fire service access elevator lobby. The fire service access elevator shall open into a fire service access elevator lobby in accordance with Sections 3007.7.1 through 3007.7.5.

Exception: Where a fire service access elevator has two entrances onto a floor, the second entrance shall be permitted to open into an elevator lobby in accordance with Section 708.14.1.

3007.7.1 Access. The fire service access elevator lobby shall have direct access to an enclosure for an interior exit stairway.

3007.7.2 Lobby enclosure. The fire service access elevator lobby shall be enclosed with a smoke barrier having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour, except that lobby doorways shall comply with Section 3007.7.3.

Exception: Enclosed fire service access elevator lobbies are not required at the levels of exit discharge.

3007.7.3 Lobby doorways. Other than the door to the hoistway, each doorway to a fire service access elevator lobby shall be provided with a 3/4-hour fire door assembly complying with Section 716.5. The fire door assembly shall also comply with the smoke and draft control door assembly requirements of Section 716.5.3.1 with the UL 1784 test conducted without the artificial bottom seal.

3007.7.4 Lobby size. Each enclosed fire service access elevator lobby shall be a minimum of 150 square feet (14 m2) in an area with a minimum dimension of 8 feet (2440 mm).

3007.7.5 Fire service access elevator symbol. A pictorial symbol of a standardized design designating which elevators are fire service access elevators shall be installed on each side of the hoistway door frame on the portion of the frame at right angles to the fire service access elevator lobby. The fire service access elevator symbol shall be designed as shown in Figure 3007.7.5 and shall comply with the following:

1. The fire service access elevator symbol shall be not less than 3 inches (76 mm) in height.
2. The vertical center line of the fire service access elevator symbol shall be centered on the hoistway door frame. Each symbol shall not be less than 78 inches (1981 mm), and not more than 84 (2134 mm) inches above the finished floor at the threshold.

The proposed building design will meet all the requirements for a Fire Service Access Elevator lobby except that the lobby will be the entire corridor on each floor. Equivalent protection for the lobby will be provided by the following (see attached floor plan drawings showing location of fire barrier lobby enclosure):

1. Fire service access elevator lobby will have direct access to pressurized stair enclosures, in excess of 3007.7.1.
2. Fire service access elevators will open into the main corridor on the residential floors. The corridor will be enclosed with 1-hour fire barrier walls with 45 minute opening protection as required by 3007.7.2.
3. All doors opening into the corridor, except the elevator doors, will meet the requirements of 716.5.3.1.
4. The corridor width in front of the elevators on all residential unit floors will meet the 8 feet minimum depth and shall not be less than 150 square feet in area.

Additional protection in the corridors will be provided by:
A. Automatic smoke detectors will be provided along the entire length of the rated corridor.
B. Elevator shafts shall be pressurized against smoke migration in accordance with 909.21.

The building is of Type I-A construction with non-separated A-3, M, S-2 and R-2 occupancy groups. The corridor on all levels except the level of discharge will be separated from all other areas by 1 hour fire barriers with 45 minute rated doors per OSSC 716.5.3.1. The proposed design for the fire service access elevator opening into the corridor is based on the exception provided by the City of Seattle, this except states that the corridor will be used for the fire service access elevator lobby on all levels including the basement and parking levels. Compartmentalization will be provided on all levels, by required separation between dwelling units and one-hour separation between storage rooms in the basement level. Smoke detectors along the entire length of the corridor will provide additional time for occupants to respond to a fire event and begin to egress.

City of Seattle exempts fire service access elevator lobby from the IBC-based lobby requirements on High-Rise Buildings for residential floors. This exception has gone through an independent rational analysis and approval process. The rational analysis is based on the compartmentalization required for residential units, which reduces the impacts of a fire/smoke event on the corridor, and pressurization of stair and elevator shafts. The compartmentalization and pressurization limits smoke migration and impact on the corridor. Seattle has more high-rise buildings than Portland and is the basis for this proposal. This proposal exceeds the requirements of the Seattle exceptions (included here).

Exceptions:

1. Enclosed fire service access elevator lobbies are not required at the levels of exit discharge.
2. Enclosed fire service access elevator lobbies are not required for elevators with pressurized hoistways.

The pressurization will follow the requirements of OSSC 909.21, which has higher performance requirements than those required by the City of Seattle. OSSC requires the specified pressure differential across all floors, rather than just 4 floors as permitted by Seattle.

Since all elevators and stairs are pressurized, smoke migration between floors has been addressed.

If the lobbies were fully enclosed, additional doors would reduce the available area and hinder rather than help firefighting efforts.

The cumulative effect of the increased area of protection, added smoke detection, and the shaft pressurization backed up by the analysis performed on the Seattle exception, we believe meets the code intent for protection of firefighting operations on each floor, and we therefore request approval of this proposed design.

OSSC Table1018.1 & 1018.6 & Table 716.5 & Table 716.6, 3007.7.2

Table 1018.1. Requires a fire­resistance rating of 0.5 hours for R occupancies equipped with automatic fire sprinkler systems.

1018.6. Fire ­resistance rated corridors shall be continuous from the point of entry to an exit and shall not be interrupted by intervening rooms.

Table 716.5 requires a 20 minute fire resistive door rating for fire partitions used as corridor walls if the fire partition is required to have a 30 minute rating.

Table 716.6 requires a 20 minute fire resistive window rating for fire partitions used as corridor walls if the fire partition is required to have a 30 minute rating.

Section 3007.7.2 and 3 requires the fire service access elevator lobby shall be enclosed with a smoke barrier having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour and 45 minute door assemblies.

Corridor and lobby walls adjoining the parking garage (levels P2 and P1), Community room and Amenity deck (Level 09), Exterior lobby wall (Levels 10 – 14) that have been designed with glass doors and glass relites have been provided with the following:

1. Additional fire sprinkler protection on each side of the openings with sprinkler heads mounted at 6’­0’ on center.
2. Self-closing doors that are equipped with smoke gaskets.

To provide equivalent protection.

The glass doors and relites provide a more open and inviting environment to the residents of the building’s amenity spaces. Equivalent fire protection is provided via the addition of sprinkler heads on each side of the openings, and self-closing gasketed doors.

OSSC Code Section 602.2 and 603.1

Types I and II Construction are those types of construction in which the building elements listed in Table 601 are of not combustible materials except as listed in Section 603 of this code.

603.1 Allowable materials. Combustible materials shall be permitted in buildings of Type I and II construction in the following applications and in accordance with Sections 603.1.1 through 603.1.3:

Item 13) Combustible exterior wall coverings, balconies, and similar projections and bay or oriel windows in accordance with Chapter 14.

The proposed design is a mixed use apartment tower, with 14-stories of Type I-A construction. The construction of the pedestrian canopies located within the ground story over entrances, commercial outdoor seating areas and at the 8th floor and 14th floor terrace canopies include wood soffit material within the non-combustible supporting steel frame. The wood sheathing proposed will be fire retardant treated as prescribed in 1406.3.

The overall building is sprinklered per Chapter 9. The tops of the canopies are covered with standing seam metal or plate steel. The soffits are fire retardant treated Western Red Cedar.

Provides a softer more appealing entrance to the residence while maintaining fire resistive properties of a very dense wood.

We do not believe this is an alternative design but falls under the intent of the allowed combustible elements noted in 603.1.13. A canopy is certainly a “similar” exterior projection to a balcony or oriel window as prescribed in the allowed exceptions. In point of fact the hazard is lower for the canopy since it is not supporting occupied space. The primary framing which holds the canopy in place is steel and the secondary wood framing meets the criteria of 1406.3. The assembly meets the criteria set forth in the OSSC for allowed combustible element.

We believe that while canopies are not specifically noted in 603.1.13, they are a similar projection and allowed by the code. We respectfully request this appeal be granted.

OFC 307.1, OFC 308.4

Oregon Fire Code, Section 307.1
Provisions for open flame appliances. A person shall not kindle or maintain or authorize to be kindled or maintained any open burning unless conducted and approved in accordance with this section.

Oregon Fire Code, Section 308.4
Open flame, fire and burning in Group R occupancies shall comply with the requirements of Sections 308.1 through 308.1.6.2 and 308.4.1.

A gas fire pit and (2) outlets for a gas barbecues are proposed to be installed on the Floor 9 rooftop terrace amenity space meeting the following conditions:

1. The gas barbecue and fire table will be CSA certified, ETL listed, or UL listed.
2. The fire table will be secured to the deck structure to prevent tipping.
3. The roof terrace at the fire table and barbecue is constructed with concrete pavers on a pedestal system over non-combustible roofing.
4. A timer will be connected to the valve of the fire table which will restrict the flow of gas to 1 hour limited periods. The barbecue will be provided connection thru a manufactured Quick-Connect box.
5. The barbecue will have control buttons to shut off the gas flow immediately or after 60, 30, 20, and 10 minutes.
6. The fire table will have a control to shut off the gas flow immediately or after 1 hour, 30 minutes, and 15 minutes.
7. A fuel shutoff valve will be connected to the fire alarm system that will interrupt the flow of gas when the fire alarm is activated anywhere in the building.
8. The building is fully sprinklered per NFPA 13 and there are no combustibles within 10’-0” of the fire table or the barbecue.
9. Gas will be internally piped to the appliance. No fuel tank or fuel storage will be provided.
10. A portable fire extinguisher will be installed on the same level and within 75 feet of the gas burning fire pit.

Multiple safety measures will be installed to provide life safety and fire protection for the barbecue and fire table (open flame appliances). These are consistent with the conditions required by the Fire Marshal for the installation and use of a natural gas barbecue and a fire table at exterior amenity spaces in other residential buildings we have completed.