Elevator Lobby Egress

[LGreene]

Hi All -

I've given you a little break from crazy door questions while I've been on a pseudo-vacation (actually working part-time) in Mexico. But I just finished an article and I'd really appreciate it if any of you have time to review it and make sure you agree with what I wrote. It's about the requirements for egress out of an elevator lobby - the LSC has a special section for those doors but the IBC does not.

One question I had while researching was regarding using the elevator for egress...it looks like there have been some recent changes to the IBC but it's not clear to me if there are situations where the elevator can act as the required means of egress out of the elevator lobby, which would allow the swinging doors from the elevator lobby to the tenant spaces to be locked since they wouldn't be required means of egress. I don't think this is true, but I'd like confirmation, and any other comments/suggestions you want to add. Here's the article: I Dig Hardware / I Hate Hardware » Decoded: Elevator Lobby Egress

Thanks in advance!

- Lori

 

[cda]

Interesting

If 101 requires rated doors for the elevator lobby, but allows fail safe, and cannot lock after activation, seems like the rating is lost.

Because the doors can possibly be left in an open position, even though they have a closure device.

 

[cda]

2012 IBC wording:

1003.7 Elevators, escalators and moving walks.

Elevators, escalators and moving walks shall not be used as a component of a required means of egress from any other part of the building.

Exception: Elevators used as an accessible means of egress in accordance with Section 1007.4.

1007.4 Elevators.

In order to be considered part of an accessible means of egress, an elevator shall comply with the emergency operation and signaling device requirements of Section 2.27 of ASME A17.1. Standby power shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 27 and Section 3003. The elevator shall be accessed from either an area of refuge complying with Section 1007.6 or a horizontal exit.

Exceptions:

1. Elevators are not required to be accessed from an area of refuge or horizontal exit in open parking garages.

2. Elevators are not required to be accessed from an area of refuge or horizontal exit in buildings and facilities equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.

3. Elevators not required to be located in a shaft in accordance with Section 712 are not required to be accessed from an area of refuge or horizontal exit.

4. Elevators are not required to be accessed from an area of refuge or horizontal exit for smoke protected seating areas complying with Section 1028.6.2.

 

[cda]

Lori ,

Your question is to doors that are not required, but enclose the elevators? so that if you come off the elevator you might hit locked doors?

 

[peach]

we see this pretty often: the elevator lobby opens to one (sometimes 2) tenants and the exit stairs are in the tenant spaces. Those doors need to open INTO the tenant spaces (swing in the direction of egress) and those doors need to release on fire alarm activation (why you ask? If the elevator recalls to that particular floor - like if the fire is on the 1st floor - the alternate floor which is normally the next level up needs to allow egress). I guess that's why high rise fire alarm packages are "fire floor and the floor above and the floor below".

 

[LGreene]

we see this pretty often: the elevator lobby opens to one (sometimes 2) tenants and the exit stairs are in the tenant spaces. Those doors need to open INTO the tenant spaces (swing in the direction of egress) and those doors need to release on fire alarm activation (why you ask? If the elevator recalls to that particular floor - like if the fire is on the 1st floor - the alternate floor which is normally the next level up needs to allow egress). I guess that's why high rise fire alarm packages are "fire floor and the floor above and the floor below".

Hi Peach - Would the doors need to swing into the tenant space with such a low occupant load (<50)?

 

[peach]

<50, the doors don't need to swing in the direction of egress

... it always seems counter intuitive to me to push the door to get into some of these office spaces... but that's where the stairs are.