Appeal 7100

707.2 & 404.4

Code Sections:
707.2 Shaft Enclosure Required - Exception 2.1
404.4 Smoke control (Atriums)

Requires:
707.2 Shaft Enclosure Required - Exception 2.1

“Openings through a floor/ceiling assembly shall be protected by a shaft enclosure complying with this Section. . . “

“Exception 2: A shaft enclosure is not required in a building equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 for an escalator opening or stairway that is not a portion of the means of egress protected according to Item 2.1 or 2.2.”

“2.1 Where the area of the floor opening between stories does not exceed twice the horizontal projected area of the escalator or stairway and the opening is protected by a draft curtain and closely spaced sprinklers in accordance with NFPA 13.”

404.4 Smoke control (Atriums)
“A smoke control system shall be installed in accordance with Section 909.
Exception: Smoke control is not required for atriums that connect only two stories.”

The creation of community among residents in a high rise apartment building is rarely attempted, and requires re-inventing the high rise building in order to accomplish. The building design strives to create levels of community and neighborhoods within the project and has relies on a unique design response vertically to achieve these goals.

The building construction type is IA, and the occupancy group is R2, with some accessory spaces. The building will be 16 stories and will be fully sprinklered. The 15 housing floors have been subdivided vertically into 5 vertical three story neighborhoods. Each vertical neighborhood contains 57 units on 3 levels. There are (5) 3-story tall common/lobby rooms in the building, one connecting each neighborhood. Each lobby contains an open 3 story stair and a separate opening in the floor which currently connects 3 stories. The stair is not required for egress but provides a connection within each of the neighborhoods. The combined area of both floor openings is 580 square feet (Stair:140sf + Atrium: 440sf), and the height of the three story space is roughly 28’-8”. When the two openings are considered together the stair will reduce the combined size by 24% instead of the 50% required by exception 2.1.

We propose the following protection at each floor:

1.Two sides will be closed off with a solid wall from floor to floor, and one side is a glazed exterior wall.

2.The remaining side of the atrium openings and entire perimeter of the stair openings will utilize provide 18 inch deep draft curtains; sprinklers will be installed 6 feet on center along the draft curtain as prescribed by NFPA 13.

3.The ceiling above the stair and floor openings will be fitted with series of compliant draft curtains in line with the openings below.

As quoted above, the OSSC allows a communicating stair to connect three stories, and the floor opening may be up to double the size of the stair if a draft curtain is provided. The proposed design includes both a stair and second floor opening exceeding the area allowed by the stair/escalator exception. Equivalent protection is achieved by providing a draft curtain the entire open length of both floor openings. The proposed draft curtains will be designed to meet the prescriptive criteria outlined in NFPA 13. Therefore, we believe that the proposed design meets or exceeds the code intent and urge you to approve this appeal.

404.5 Enclosure of atriums

Code Section:
404.5 Enclosure of atriums

Requires:
“Atrium spaces shall be separated from adjacent spaces by a 1 hour fire barrier constructed in accordance with Section 706…”

The building construction type is IA, and the occupancy group is R2, with some accessory spaces. The building will be 16 stories and will be fully sprinklered. The 15 housing floors have been subdivided vertically into 5 vertical three story neighborhoods. Each vertical neighborhood contains 57 units on 3 levels. There are (5) 3-story tall common/lobby rooms in the building, one connecting each neighborhood. Each lobby contains an open 3 story stair and a separate opening in the floor which connects 3 stories. Adjacent to commons are a study and laundry rooms. (See attached plans)

We propose the following protection at each floor:

1.1 hour fire resistive enclosure shall be extended to include the laundry and study rooms.

2.In lieu of required fire resistive ratings, automatic sprinkler protection shall be provided on both sides of the relites and doors between the laundry/study rooms and the atrium. Sprinkler installation shall be in accordance with NER-516 (attached) and shall be by permit from the Fire Marshal's Office. No window coverings will be allowed on the interior of the glazing.

For student safety PSU prefers to have large areas of glazing between all public spaces and isolated spaces like laundry and study rooms. These openings are prohibitively expensive when realized with fire rated glazing products. Sprinkler protection provides a more cost effective option providing protection (2 hour) exceeding that required (1 hour). Therefore, we believe that the proposed design meets or exceeds the code intent and urge you to approve this appeal

1024.5.2 Construction and openings. (Egress Courts)

Code Section: 1024.5.2 Construction and openings. (Egress Courts)

Requires:
“Where an egress court serving a building or portion thereof is less than 10 feet in width, the egress court wall shall have not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction for a distance of 10’ above the floor of the court. Openings within such wall shall be protected by opening protective having a fire protection rating of not less than ¾ hour.”

The building construction type is IA, and the occupancy group is R2, with some accessory spaces. The building will be 16 stories and will be fully sprinklered. The southeast exit from the ground floor of the proposal occurs within a space open to the adjacent court, but with building above. Through discussions with the AHJ, it has been determined that this space is subject to the OSSC requirements for an egress court. The space is limited in width to 9’ and is separated by a series of bollards from the onsite loading area to the west. The width being limited to less than 10’ requires the exterior wall of the building to meet the requirements detailed in section 1024.5.2. The wall construction will meet 1hour requirements, but the window opening cannot.

We propose the following protection:

1. Automatic sprinkler protection shall be provided on both sides of the storefront area where width is limited to less than 10’ by the row of bollards. Sprinkler installation shall be in accordance with NER-516 (attached) and shall be by permit from the Fire Marshal's Office. No window coverings will be allowed on the interior of the glazing.

2.At areas of spandrel locations provide a back up wall construction meeting 1-hour fire resistive requirements.

3.At opaque wall locations provide an exterior wall construction meeting 1-hour fire resistive requirements.

4.Provide sprinkler protection at soffit above exterior exit path.

Sprinkler protection will provide equivalent protection for the adjacent egress path while maintaining access to daylight from the adjacent workspace and punctuate the façade to meet design review requirements. Therefore, we believe that the proposed design meets or exceeds the code intent and urge you to approve this appeal