Egress Through Elevator Lobby

[JustReid]

2009 IBC - I have a 4 story building where the upper three levels are provided with elevator lobbies. The lobby on each floor segments the corridor essentially creating an “intervening room” (See attached sketch). It is a B occupancy and no corridor rating is required since it will be fully sprinklered. I am looking at requiring that doors be installed on the elevator openings to comply with 708.14.1 Exception 3 to provide the shaft protection required by 708.14. The proposed design was using the lobby enclosure as the shaft protection. However, since the lobby is essentially a part of the corridor and passing through this space subjects the occupants to a four story shaft, I think that these doors (or at least one of the other Exceptions to the elevator lobby) would be required. I don’t really see this as an intervening room issue but more as a shaft protection issue. Does anyone have any opinions on this? Or could maybe point out a specific code string that deals with this situation that I am overlooking? ThanksView attachment 1138

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[Coug Dad]

Exception 4 would not require elevator lobby doors or the flop doors you show.

 

[Examiner]

The elevator shaft and elevator doors are rated that is your shaft protection. The elevator lobby is not part of the elevator shaft. Previous codes and studies were putting doors over the elevator door opening for smoke issues due to chimney effect. For low rise buildings this is not required.

 

[JustReid]

Thanks, little bit of a brain hiccup. The "lobby" was inserted in this their last submission of drawings and I went into autopilot from previous editions. It is apparent now on the drawings that I am looking at, that they are not providing lobbies but are providing separation of different tenants (same company just different divisions). I will go into access-controlled egress mode now. Thanks again!