Appeal 34991

1005.3.1, OSSC 7.16

1005.3.1-Exit width in inches shall be determined by multiplying the total occupant load served by the means of egress times .3 inches. Multiple means of egress shall be sized such that the loss of any one means of egress shall not reduce the available capacity to less than 50 per cent of the required capacity. The maximum capacity required from any story of a building shall be maintained to the termination of the means of egress.
OSSC 7.16 Exit doors accessing exit stairs shall be 1 hour rated, swing in the direction of exiting, and self-closing.

To allow stairlifts, whose railings @ floor level reduce the required exit stair widths in certain stair runs in the West Stair and to allow that exit stair to be without rated fire doors swinging in the direction of travel..

Original appeal text - (excerpt is as follows)"The chairlift is our last resort and a crucial improvement which would give the staff and artist of Imago access to work spaces on the second floor. The intent is give our senior volunteers, employees and contracted workers who have difficulty climbng stairs a viable means of access to the second floor......"
Reconsideration Text- Four runs of stairlifts are proposed. Each run involves a resting stairlift in the up position at the top or bottom of the stairs going to a mid landing position to pick up the passenger . The resting positions shown have chairs that project 12" from the walls they are situated on. The proposed location of the stairlifts in the resting position and their required railings in the West Stairs creates the following exit widths which are less than the required 3'-9" (45") exit width.as per calculation shown on the Second Floor Plan under the Banquet/Rehearsal Room title.as per the new plans A-1, A-2 dated 9/29/25. Refer also to permit plans dated 2/4/02 by BOORA architects for the original remodel permit.. .
From 2nd floor down to mid-landing - exit width is 3'-8 1/2" (44 1/2") See Second Floor Plan
From mid-landing down to Mezzanine level- exit width 3'-7 1/4" ( 43 1/4") See Mezzanine Floor Plan
From Mezzanine down to mid-landing- exit width is 3'-8 1/2" (44 1/2") See Mezzanine Floor Plan
From Mid-landing to First Floor - exit width 3'-7 1/2" (43 1/2") See First Floor Plan.
To allow the stairlifts to function, existing doors need to be removed in 2 locations. One is the non-rated double doors on the Second Floor swinging in the opposite direction of exit travel going into the East stair well going down as shown on the Second Floor Plan.
The second door proposed to be removed is a non-rated single door swinging in the direction of exiting at the bottom of the stair well on the First Floor as shown on the First Floor Plan.

Reconsideration Text - The alternative is required to expand handicapped accessibility to this important cultural facility for volunteers and the public
Original permitted plans by BOORA Architects (see attached Floor Plan) included exit doors on the West Stairs which did not conform to code. Removal of these doors will not substantially reduce fire life safety and will allow inclusion of stairlifts for handicapped access to the floors above the 1st floor.