Appeal 33594

2022 OSSC 905.4

2022 OSSC 905.4 – Location of Class I Standpipe Hose Connections

OSSC 905.3.1 Height
Class III Standpipe systems shall be installed throughout buildings where any of the following conditions exist:

1. Four or more stories above or below grade plane.
2. The floor level of the highest story is located more than 30 feet above the lowest level of required fire department vehicle access.

OSSC 905.6 Location of Class III Standpipe Hose Connections
Class III Standpipes systems shall have hose connections located as required for Class I standpipes in Section 905.4 and shall have Class II hose connections as required in Section 905.5.

OSSC 905.4 Location of Class I Standpipe Hose Connections
Class I standpipe hose connections shall be provided in all of the following locations:

1. In every required interior exit stairway, a hose connection shall be provided for each story above and blew grade plane. Hose connections shall be located at the main floor landing unless otherwise approved by the fire official.

Appeal to maintain two existing stairwells in their pre-existing condition with no standpipes or roof hatches as existing, permitted, and built under permit number 20-227703-CO and Appeal ID #26162 dated 9/23/21.

The Health Technology (HT) Building is an existing Type II-A Building located at the PCC Sylvania Campus in SW Portland. Built-in 1964, it is a fully sprinklered four-story building, including the basement, and contains partially separated Group A-3, B, and S-1 mixed occupancies. The building is located on a sloped site with exits directly to the exterior on all floors.

The building includes the following exit stairwells within the scope of the west-side renovation:

Stairwell 1 is constructed of 2-hour-rated concrete walls and provides access to three stories from Floor 1 to Floor 3. The stair discharges directly to the exterior at Floor 1.

Stairwell 5 has 2-hour-rated concrete walls and connects four stories from the Basement (Floor 0) to Floor 3. The proposed design removes access to Floor 1 without compromising exiting and maintains access to the Basement (Floor 0), Floor 2, and Floor 3. The stair discharges directly to the exterior at Floor 1.

The building also contains the following stairwells, which are outside the scope of work on the east side of the HT Building:

Stairwell 2 is constructed of 3-hour-rated concrete walls and provides access to five stories, from the Basement (Floor 0) to the Roof (Floor 4). Roof access is achieved through an existing non-conforming roof hatch. The stair discharges directly to the exterior at Floor 1.

Stairwell 4 is constructed of 2-hour-rated concrete walls and provides access to three stories, from Floor 1 to Floor 3. At Floor 2, the stairwell discharges directly to the exterior.

Stairwell 10 is constructed of 2-hour rated gypsum walls and provides access to 4 stories, from Floor 1 to the Roof (Floor 4). Access to the roof is achieved through a stair overrun and a man door. The stairwell is equipped throughout with standpipes, which include a wet pipe to the roof. The stairwell discharges directly to the exterior at Floor 2.

The non-conforming conditions of Stairwell 1 and Stairwell 5 are pre-existing. Given the construction type, sprinkler system, access to exits, and exit discharge, standpipes and roof hatches do not offer significant life safety improvement and are cost prohibitive.

Life safety and fire protection system items to note:

There is no change of use to the building.
NFPA 13 sprinklers are installed throughout the building and will be brought up to current code along with the fire alarm system.
Existing stairwell 10 includes a full stair flight to the roof and standpipe access at each floor and the roof.
The pre-existing roof hatch in Stairwell 2, while non-conforming, can be used to provide roof access in the case of an emergency.
A new roof access ladder will connect the lower roof of the southwest portion of the building, approximately 16’-0” above grade, to the west portion of the gymnasium roof that is over 30’-0” above grade plane.
Handrails and guardrails will be brought up to code in Stairwell 1 and Stairwell 5.
The Renovation proposes voluntary seismic strengthening to protect egressing occupants in the case of a seismic event along the west portion of the building exterior.

Considering the existing conditions and the previously permitted and appealed conditions we request that the pre-existing non-confirming conditions remain as is.