Petescoffee
Member
Hi,
New to the forum.
I am working on a project in a 12 story building in California. The building is concrete construction; floors are 8” thick, built in the mid to late 1970’s and has no fire sprinklers other than on the ground floor. Each floor, 2-12 have dry stand pipes at either end of the corridors. There are stair cases at either end of the corridors. The corridors are 1 hour as installed in the 1970's. There is an extensive Fire life safety system that was upgraded in the building about 2 years ago and approved by the fire department.
When the building was constructed the city approved using a concealed spline ceiling system with an Armstrong Fire guard 12x12 ceiling tile. The ceiling has ThermaFibre fire batt insulation on top of it as per the detail. The walls on either side of the corridor go up to the floor deck above, but have openings in them without fire dampers for plenum return air and ducts for supply air. These are shown on the detail as well. The rating called out is 1 hour.
In the past when tenant improvements have occurred the inspector has asked to see the original detail approval of the corridor, then checked to see if the ThermaFibre batts are still in place then signed off on a final inspection. Recently an inspector said they would no longer be doing that and they want the corridor upgraded to be a current design 1 hour corridor. Walls full height, Fire Dampers added etc. The TI work occurring is not in the hallway but in the tenant space on the other side of the wall.
Am I required to upgrade the corridor wall or ceiling?
Thank you
DT
New to the forum.
I am working on a project in a 12 story building in California. The building is concrete construction; floors are 8” thick, built in the mid to late 1970’s and has no fire sprinklers other than on the ground floor. Each floor, 2-12 have dry stand pipes at either end of the corridors. There are stair cases at either end of the corridors. The corridors are 1 hour as installed in the 1970's. There is an extensive Fire life safety system that was upgraded in the building about 2 years ago and approved by the fire department.
When the building was constructed the city approved using a concealed spline ceiling system with an Armstrong Fire guard 12x12 ceiling tile. The ceiling has ThermaFibre fire batt insulation on top of it as per the detail. The walls on either side of the corridor go up to the floor deck above, but have openings in them without fire dampers for plenum return air and ducts for supply air. These are shown on the detail as well. The rating called out is 1 hour.
In the past when tenant improvements have occurred the inspector has asked to see the original detail approval of the corridor, then checked to see if the ThermaFibre batts are still in place then signed off on a final inspection. Recently an inspector said they would no longer be doing that and they want the corridor upgraded to be a current design 1 hour corridor. Walls full height, Fire Dampers added etc. The TI work occurring is not in the hallway but in the tenant space on the other side of the wall.
Am I required to upgrade the corridor wall or ceiling?
Thank you
DT
