Atrium in I-2 memory care facility

[tuzi]

I have an atrium in an I-2 memory care project. The building has 3 levels, the atrium is connecting level 1 and level 2. I am using IBC 2015.

The max. smoke area is 22,500 sf. Level 1 is 22,000 sf.and level 2 is 21,000 sf. which means I need a smoke barrier between the two floors at the atrium. Can I use fire curtain around the perimeter of the atrium or I have to build a permanent smoke barrier along the perimeter from floor to ceiling in place, such as glass from floor to ceiling or walls with windows?

Thanks in advance!

 

[cda]

Define your "fire curtain "

 

[cda]

404.6 Enclosure of atriums.

Atrium spaces shall be separated from adjacent spaces by a 1-hour fire barrier constructed in accordance with Section 707 or a horizontal assembly constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both.

Exceptions:

1. A fire barrier is not required where a glass wall forming a smoke partition is provided. The glass wall shall comply with all of the following:

1.1. Automatic sprinklers are provided along both sides of the separation wall and doors, or on the room side only if there is not a walkway on the atrium side. The sprinklers shall be located between 4 inches and 12 inches (102 mm and 305 mm) away from the glass and at intervals along the glass not greater than 6 feet (1829 mm). The sprinkler system shall be designed so that the entire surface of the glass is wet upon activation of the sprinkler system without obstruction;

1.2. The glass wall shall be installed in a gasketed frame in a manner that the framing system deflects without breaking (loading) the glass before the sprinkler system operates; and

1.3. Where glass doors are provided in the glass wall, they shall be either self-closing or automatic-closing.

2. A fire barrier is not required where a glass-block wall assembly complying with Section 2110 and having a 3/4-hour fire protection rating is provided.

3. A fire barrier is not required between the atrium and the adjoining spaces of any three floors of the atrium provided such spaces are accounted for in the design of the smoke control system.

 

[cda]

This is an 05 article but some of the info still valid just check it against the 15


http://www.specsandcodes.com/articles/code_corner/The Code Corner No. 13 - Atriums.pdf

 

[tuzi]

Thanks cba. I was reading those clauses, too and I read them again. I think the below is what I need:

---Per 407.5, The max. smoke compartment area is 22,500 sf. Level 1 is 22,000 sf.and level 2 is 21,000 sf. which means I need a smoke barrier between the two floors at the atrium. The smoke barrier is 1-hour fire-resistance rating per 709.3

---Per 404.5, a smoke control system shall be installed for the atrium. ( the project is I-2)

---Per 404.6, if no glass wall or no glass block wall or no smoke control system installed in the space adjoining atrium, I need 1-hour fire barrier, vertically or horizontally.


Based on above, if I want the atrium is open to the space adjacent to it, I need a product can function as a 1-hour fire resistant smoke barrier and 1-hour fire barrier along the perimeter of the atrium (like this: http://www.smokeguard.com/products/m2100-smoke/) , also I need to install smoke control system for the atrium.

Define your "fire curtain "

404.6 Enclosure of atriums.

Atrium spaces shall be separated from adjacent spaces by a 1-hour fire barrier constructed in accordance with Section 707 or a horizontal assembly constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both.

Exceptions:

1. A fire barrier is not required where a glass wall forming a smoke partition is provided. The glass wall shall comply with all of the following:

1.1. Automatic sprinklers are provided along both sides of the separation wall and doors, or on the room side only if there is not a walkway on the atrium side. The sprinklers shall be located between 4 inches and 12 inches (102 mm and 305 mm) away from the glass and at intervals along the glass not greater than 6 feet (1829 mm). The sprinkler system shall be designed so that the entire surface of the glass is wet upon activation of the sprinkler system without obstruction;

1.2. The glass wall shall be installed in a gasketed frame in a manner that the framing system deflects without breaking (loading) the glass before the sprinkler system operates; and

1.3. Where glass doors are provided in the glass wall, they shall be either self-closing or automatic-closing.

2. A fire barrier is not required where a glass-block wall assembly complying with Section 2110 and having a 3/4-hour fire protection rating is provided.

3. A fire barrier is not required between the atrium and the adjoining spaces of any three floors of the atrium provided such spaces are accounted for in the design of the smoke control system.

 

[cda]

Ok not an atrium person and diffently not a smoke control person, have not seen one in yages

1. Thought atrium smoke control was kind of going away

2. Not sure your set up you are specing, but do not think a barrier is required on the first floor. If that is what you were proposing

There should be some other posters that can help better answer your question, just give them a day or two

 

[cda]

You are the exception

Smoke control.
A smoke control system shall be installed in accordance with Section 909.

Exception: In other than Group I-2, and Group I-1, Condition 2, smoke control is not required for atriums that connect only two stories.

 

[tuzi]

You are the exception

Smoke control.
A smoke control system shall be installed in accordance with Section 909.

Exception: In other than Group I-2, and Group I-1, Condition 2, smoke control is not required for atriums that connect only two stories.

The building is I-2, so I can't use this exception.

 

[cda]

Yep your are the exception

 

[JBI]

Unless you are a Condition 1 Group I-2 the exception would not apply.

If your facility does not provide emergency care, surgery, obstetrics, or in-patient stabilization units for psychiatric or detoxification, then the exception would apply.

 

[tuzi]

I am a bit confused here.
In IBC 2015 Section 404 Atriums

Clause 404.5 it reads:
404.5 Smoke control. A smoke control system shall be installed in accordance with Section 909.
Exception: In other than Group I-2, and Group I-1, Condition 2, smoke control is not required for atriums that connect only two stories.


What I understand is my building is I-2 condition 1 (no provide emergency care, surgery...), so I can't use the exception.... did I miss something?

Unless you are a Condition 1 Group I-2 the exception would not apply.

If your facility does not provide emergency care, surgery, obstetrics, or in-patient stabilization units for psychiatric or detoxification, then the exception would apply.

 

[JBI]

"In other than Group I-2, Condition 2 smoke control is not required..."
Your project is other than Group I-2, Condition 2, so the exception does apply.
I hate the way they word some of these exceptions (and some of the text itself) but for I-2, condition 1 the exception does apply.

I may have also worded my prior response poorly...

Your clientele would be generally ambulatory and cognizant, so evacuation would not be unduly hampered.

A Group I-2, Condition 2 could more likely have people who would be incapable of ready evacuation, hence the requirement for smoke protection at the atrium.

 

[tuzi]

Now I know what you mean. So it reads: other than Group I-2 condition 2 and Group I-1 condition 2, bla bla bla...

Man... that's so easy to misunderstand.

"In other than Group I-2, Condition 2 smoke control is not required..."
Your project is other than Group I-2, Condition 2, so the exception does apply.
I hate the way they word some of these exceptions (and some of the text itself) but for I-2, condition 1 the exception does apply.

I may have also worded my prior response poorly...

Your clientele would be generally ambulatory and cognizant, so evacuation would not be unduly hampered.

A Group I-2, Condition 2 could more likely have people who would be incapable of ready evacuation, hence the requirement for smoke protection at the atrium.

 

[JBI]

The Condition 1, Condition 2 language is new for 2015, so understanding what the differences are helps.
For the I-1's and the R-4's it is a different qualifying condition, but the same basic concept. Where people are likely to need help it slows evacuation down.

 

[cda]

"In other than Group I-2, Condition 2 smoke control is not required..."
Your project is other than Group I-2, Condition 2, so the exception does apply.
I hate the way they word some of these exceptions (and some of the text itself) but for I-2, condition 1 the exception does apply.

I may have also worded my prior response poorly...

Your clientele would be generally ambulatory and cognizant, so evacuation would not be unduly hampered.

A Group I-2, Condition 2 could more likely have people who would be incapable of ready evacuation, hence the requirement for smoke protection at the atrium.

Ok now I am lost. Was never good in grammar.

How do you attach the condition 2 to the I-2??

It comes after the I-1??


Exception: In other than Group I-2, and Group I-1, Condition 2, smoke control is not required for atriums that connect only two stories.


Or is it just poorly written to begin with??

 

[JBI]

cda, it is poorly written. The 'Condition 2' applies to both the I-1 and I-2 occupancies.
I-1 Condition 2 means that clients may need limited assistance responding, Condition 1 in I-2 means fully able to respond without assistance.
For I-2 the difference is condition 1 is without emergency care, etc, and condition 2 is with emergency care, etc.
In both cases condition 1 clients would not impede evacuation, and condition 2 clients may impede evacuation.
The key is understanding the differences between condition 1 and condition 2. This is new language for the IBC in 2015. There is also condition 1 & 2 for R-4 occupancies which are similar to I-1's with fewer clients.