Appeal 33615

Section D105 Aerial Fire Apparatus Access Roads

PFC D105.7 Alternative to Aerial Fire Apparatus Roads
The Alternatives to aerial access roads specified in Sections D105.2, D105.3 and D105.6 are allowed provided a building exceeding 30 feet in height is provided with all the following:

1. Building is equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system,
2. There are no combustible concealed attic spaces,
3. All stairway exit enclosures shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours,
4. The roof is essentially flat (33-percent slope or less) and,
5. Approved access is provided to the roof from all stairways. In buildings without an occupied roof, access to the roof from the top story shall be permitted to be by an alternating tread device, a ship’s stair or ladder that provides a clear width of not less than 30 inches between handrails through a roof hatch or trap door not less than 36 inches wide and 8 feet long.
6. Buildings requiring standpipes are equipped with at least one standpipe that terminates on the roof.

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

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

Proposed Design:

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 of the building.

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 3 stories from Floor 1 to Floor 3. The stair discharges directly to the exterior at Floor 1.

Stairwell 5 is constructed of 2-hour rated concrete walls and connects 4 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 5 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 3 stories, from Floor 1 to Floor 3. The stairwell discharges directly to the exterior at Floor 2.

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 includes a wet pipe to the roof. The stairwell discharges directly to the exterior at Floor 2.

Reason for Alternate:

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, additional 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.