Appeal 23468

Appeal Summary

Status: Decision Rendered

Appeal ID: 23468

Submission Date: 2/6/20 2:55 PM

Hearing Date: 2/19/20

Case #: B-002

Appeal Type: Building

Project Type: commercial

Building/Business Name: Brewery Block 4 - M Financial

Appeal Involves: Alteration of an existing structure

Proposed use: Office

Project Address: 1125 NW Couch St

Appellant Name: Kent Pottebaum

LUR or Permit Application #: Permit 19-249275-FA

Stories: 10 Occupancy: B Construction Type: 1A

Fire Sprinklers: Yes - Throughout

Plans Examiner/Inspector: Preliminary

Plan Submitted Option: pdf   [File 1]

Payment Option: electronic

Appeal Information Sheet

Appeal item 1

Code Section

3004

Requires

1997 UBC – Chapter 3004 Hoistway Enclosures
Hoistways housing elevators extending more than two floors shall be vented to the outside.

Code Modification or Alternate Requested

Remove existing hoistway vent from existing (4) stop elevator shaft. Vent is no longer required by current code, and shaft meets all requirements of 2019 OSSC code.

Proposed Design

The building was built under 1997 UBC Code, which stated that all elevators regardless of building occupancy shall be vented to the outside.
2014 OSSC Section 3004.1 states venting is not required for B occupancies where it is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.
2019 OSSC No longer requires venting in elevator hoistways.

The existing elevator shaft complies with Chapter 30, and is exempt from Section 3007 - Fire service access elevator by exception: Elevator only services parking garage and lobby of the building.

The existing elevator shaft serves a fully sprinklered building on all levels. The elevator shaft enclosures are two-hour rated throughout, each lobby enclosure is one-hour rated and has two means of egress. The machine room meets all provisions of Section 3005.

The proposed design is to remove the existing vent shaft to the exterior and seal the elevator shaft. This complies with all 2019 OSSC code provisions of Chapter 30.

Reason for alternative

The parking garage elevator shaft serves three parking garage levels and terminates at the ground floor building lobby. At the lobby level the elevator shaft has a rated soffit running to the exterior of the building. The soffit is 6’-0” deep and 5’-0” wide and is causing head height clearance issues with needed utilities running from the central core of the building to the tenants.

The code iterations from 1997 IBC to 2019 OSSC have removed requirements for venting. The elevator shaft meets all current requirements without the vent to the exterior. The removal of the vent soffit will allow needed utilities to run to tenant spaces without incurring height clearance issues.

Appeal Decision

Removal of elevator hoistway vent at 4 existing elevator shafts: Granted as proposed per Section 3004 of 2015 IBC.

The Administrative Appeal Board finds that the information submitted by the appellant demonstrates that the approved modifications or alternate methods are consistent with the intent of the code; do not lessen health, safety, accessibility, life, fire safety or structural requirements; and that special conditions unique to this project make strict application of those code sections impractical.

Pursuant to City Code Chapter 24.10, you may appeal this decision to the Building Code Board of Appeal within 90 calendar days of the date this decision is published. For information on the appeals process, go to www.portlandoregon.gov/bds/appealsinfo, call (503) 823-7300 or come in to the Development Services Center.