Appeal 9939

Appeal Summary

Status: Decision Rendered

Appeal ID: 9939

Submission Date: 8/2/13 3:12 PM

Hearing Date: 8/7/13

Case #: P-003

Appeal Type: Plumbing

Project Type: commercial

Building/Business Name: CC Building North Elevator

Appeal Involves: Erection of a new structure

Proposed use: Elevator

Project Address: 12000 SW 49th Ave

Appellant Name: Keith Skille

LUR or Permit Application #: Permit 12-207263-CO

Stories: 3 Occupancy: Not given Construction Type: 1-A

Fire Sprinklers: No

Plans Examiner/Inspector: Chuck Luttmann, McKenzie James, Joe Blanco

Plan Submitted Option: pdf   [File 1]

Payment Option: electronic

Appeal Information Sheet

Appeal item 1

Code Section

OPSC 710.14 Elevator Pit Drains

Requires

Permanent means of drainage shall be provided for elevator pits. Gravity drains, when installed, shall be provided with an approved type backwater valve to prevent drain line back up and the trap seal shall be protected with an automatic trap seal primer. Sumps and pumps may be installed when provided with the following:
(7) The outlet pipe of the [pit sump] pump shall be directly or indirectly connected to the sanitary drainage system.

Code Modification or Alternate Requested
Proposed Design

The proposed Design seeks to drain the sump directly to an outlet pipe that will drain onto an adjoining landscape bed.

Reason for alternative

The approved and permitted plans are for a new, 4 stop exterior elevator located on the north side of the PCC Sylvania Campus CC Building. The elevator will provide an improved and reliable accessible means of access to the 100 and 200 levels of the CC Building from the plaza grade level; replace an old ADA wheelchar lift located inside the building; and provide access to PCC maintenance staff to the roof.

The project site has a very hard basalt layer located 5 feet below grade. For this reason, a "machine-roomless" traction elevator will be provided since the product does not require a drilled 60-plus foot deep hycraulic cased jack cylinder to raise and lower the elevator. The 100% electric relies upon ropes - not a hydraulic cylinder to raise and lower the elevator. An added benifit to this product is that the machine has no oils present to leak fromt the cylinder and drain into the sump.

As an exterior elevator, the hoistway is not sprinklered. Any water that might get to the sump would be via storm water that enters through the hoistway doors, condensation from the glazed enclosure, or ground water which could possibly percolate through the pit walls and slab.

It is our understanding that the purpose of the Code requirement is to mitigiate the possiblity of hydraulic oils entering either the storm sewer system or contaminating the ground via the sump pump. Since this is an electric system that condition does not exist, Therefore the Code requirement is not applicable based upon the equipment and systems being provided. Additionally, we have reviewed this condition with the City of Porltand Chief Plumbing Plans Examiner and understand he supports this Appeal based upon these facts.

For these reasons, we requestfully request the Appeal be granted.

Appeal Decision

Drainage from elevator pit into landscape bed: Granted as proposed.

The Administrative Appeal Board finds that the information submitted by the appellant demonstrates that the approved modifications or alternate methods are consistent with the intent of the code; do not lessen health, safety, accessibility, life, fire safety or structural requirements; and that special conditions unique to this project make strict application of those code sections impractical.