Appeal 32377

Appeal Summary

Status: DECISION RENDERED

Appeal ID: 32377

Submission Date: 6/27/24 8:26 AM

Hearing Date: 7/3/24

Case #: B-007

Appeal Type: Building

Project Type: commercial

Building/Business Name: Alberta Street Development LLC

Appeal Involves: Erection of a new structure

Proposed use: S2, A, B, R1

Project Address: 1150 NE Alberta St

Appellant Name: Timothy Cooke

LUR or Permit Application #: Permit 19-264096-CO

Stories: 5 Occupancy: S2, A, B, R1 Construction Type: IA & III-B

Fire Sprinklers: Yes - 100% Coverage

Plans Examiner/Inspector: Eric Gessner

Plan Submitted Option: pdf   [File 1]

Payment Option: electronic

Appeal Information Sheet

Appeal item 1

Code Section

2014 OSSC §1009.9.3

Requires

2014 OSSC §1009.9.3 Enclosure under interior stairways
The walls and soffits within enclosed usable spaces under enclosed and unenclosed stairways shall be protected by 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction or the fire-resistance ratings of the stairway enclosure, whichever is greater. Access to the enclosed space shall not be directly from within the stair enclosure.

Code Modification or Alternate Requested

It is requested that the access to the proposed enclosed area under the interior exit stairway be allowed to be provided from within the stair enclosure as shown on the “Enlarged Stair Plans - Stair A”.

Proposed Design

As currently designed and permitted, the Stair A interior stairway contains approximately 200 SF of floor area at the base of the Stair A stairway shaft on the Basement Level that is outside of the required path of travel for the stair. The Stair A shaft is separated from the rest of the building by concrete shear walls that provide a minimum 2-hour fire-resistance rating. The proposed design will provide a 2-hour fire-resistance-rated construction at the walls and soffit that encloses the area at the bottom of the stair and separates it from the stair, creating a separate, enclosed storage space. Access to this enclosed storage space below the stair is proposed from within the stair enclosure, as shown in the attached “Enlarged Stair Plans - Stair A”. The door into the proposed storage space would be a 2-hour door with a door closer, and the proposed storage space would be fully sprinkler protected and provided with smoke detection.

Reason for alternative

Providing access to the proposed storage area below the stair from outside the stair is infeasible. This is due to the existing construction of the stair core; it is separated from the rest of the building by reinforced concrete shear walls on all sides that have already been constructed. Cutting a new opening for access would not be allowed because it would compromise the structure.

In both the existing and proposed design, the area underneath the stair has the potential to be used for storage. However, in the existing design this space is not enclosed. Although storage is not permitted in the existing configuration, there is the risk that future building users may utilize this space for storage despite storage being prohibited in this location. In the proposed design, this space is enclosed and separated by 2-hour construction, thus making the condition for egress at the stair safer in the event that this space at the base of the stair is used for storage.

Therefore, since providing access to the storage area from outside the enclosure is not feasible due to structural constraints AND the overall proposed condition is safer than the current design, it is requested that access to the storage area under the interior exit stairway be allowed to be provided from within the stair enclosure as shown on the attached “Enlarged Stair Plans - Stair A”.

ATTACHMENT
•A800 - ENLARGED STAIR PLANS - STAIR A - CODE APPEAL

Appeal Decision

Allow proposed enclosed area under an interior exit stairway to be accessed from within the stairway enclosure: Denied. Proposal does not provide equivalent fire and life safety. Appellant may contact Geoffrey Harker (503-351-9103) with questions.

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