Definitions

[Ted Fontenot]

This does not specifically fall under the Elevator lobby thread, but my situation deals with elevator lobbies.
I am looking for the definition of the term "SERVES" and whether the elevators provided "SERVES" only the open parking garage, or, also the adjacent building. If the elevator is located in an adjacent open garage and the adjacent building accesses the open garage and elevator via a horizontal exit, is the elevator considered as serving only the open garage, or also serving the adjacent building since the R-2 occupants will be using these elevators?
Code: 2015 IBC
1. Considering Section 3006.2 Elevator Lobbies and Hoistway Opening Protection.
2. the only elevators for the tenants to use are located in the open garage.
3. Elevator shaft opening is NOT in the Garage wall. The elevator is accessed after entering the open garage through the horizontal exit.
4. I am using Section 705.3 separation between Type I-B S-2 garage and 1-story Type I-A below 5-story Type III-A R-2 multi-family.

I am trying to determine whether the elevators located in the open garage is required to have an elevator lobby. An elevator lobby is not required if the elevator 'SERVES' only an open parking garage. Does "SERVES" mean physical connection, or does it mean used by the occupants of the building?

 

[RLGA]

I suggest not getting hung up on the definition of "serve" but rather the intent of elevator lobbies. Elevator lobbies are provided as another means of controlling the passage of smoke from a story into the elevator hoistway, and vice versa. If the elevator is located only in the open parking garage, the open nature of the parking garage lends itself to being naturally ventilating of any smoke; thus, there is no need to control smoke migration through the elevator hoistway by use of an elevator lobby. Hence, the exception.

If an elevator hoistway opens into an open parking garage, but also opens into the interior of the building, then control of smoke is required if one or more of the conditions in Section 3006.2 apply.

In your case, it sounds like the elevator hoistway does not open into the building, so it only "serves" the open parking garage. However, this issue should not really be a situation in your case since none of the conditions apply:

Condition 1 - As a Group R-2 occupancy, the building is required to be sprinklered throughout per NFPA 13 or 13R.
Condition 2 - You don't mention the building containing a Group I-1, Condition 2.
Condition 3 - You don't mention the building containing a Group I-2.
Condition 4 - You don't mention the building containing a Group I-3.
Condition 5 - The building is not a high rise and the height of the hoistway is not more than 75 ft (or so I assume).​

Whether the elevator serves the building or not, it seems that elevator lobbies are not required in your situation.

 

[cda]

Welcome

 

[Ted Fontenot]

RGLA, Lets add a condition - Two adjacent sides of the elevator enclosure is made up of the garage wall separating the it from the apartments (technically exterior wall on 0-lot line per 705.3).. Now lets say we add a rear opening on level 1 that opens into the adjacent building (remember, the 1st level of R-2 is below a concrete 3-hr horizontal assembly). Now the elevator connects to the Type IA/R-2 and the Type IB/S-2 but not the Type IIIA R-2 above the podium. Now the elevator is considered to "serve" both buildings. Now, since the elevator does NOT serve only the open garage, elevator lobbies will be required at all hoistway openings.

Consider another condition using the term "serves" - adjacent to the elevator inside the garage is a vertical exit also accessed via the same horizontal exit. This vertical exit is used by both the garage occupants and apartment occupants and must handled the combined occupant load. The exit that "serves" the apartment is the horizontal exit into the garage, but what is the stair a) is it used by, or, b) does it serve the apartments? This is why I'm looking for the definition of "serves."

 

[RLGA]

RGLA, Lets add a condition - Two adjacent sides of the elevator enclosure is made up of the garage wall separating the it from the apartments (technically exterior wall on 0-lot line per 705.3).. Now lets say we add a rear opening on level 1 that opens into the adjacent building (remember, the 1st level of R-2 is below a concrete 3-hr horizontal assembly). Now the elevator connects to the Type IA/R-2 and the Type IB/S-2 but not the Type IIIA R-2 above the podium. Now the elevator is considered to "serve" both buildings. Now, since the elevator does NOT serve only the open garage, elevator lobbies will be required at all hoistway openings.

Only if one or more of the five conditions listed apply. Otherwise, elevator lobbies are not required. Even if one of the conditions apply, an elevator lobby is not necessarily required, since Section 3006.3 provides other methods of compliance besides elevator lobbies.

Consider another condition using the term "serves" - adjacent to the elevator inside the garage is a vertical exit also accessed via the same horizontal exit. This vertical exit is used by both the garage occupants and apartment occupants and must handled the combined occupant load. The exit that "serves" the apartment is the horizontal exit into the garage, but what is the stair a) is it used by, or, b) does it serve the apartments? This is why I'm looking for the definition of "serves."

Yes, the exit stair will serve the occupants egressing from the residential area on the other side of the horizontal exit; however, the exit width of the stairs is based only on the occupant load from the garage side.