Fire barriers at atrium separation need smoke

[Redmund]

IBC 404.6 requires that atriums must be separated from the adjacent spaces by 1-hour fire barrier construction that complies with IBC 707. Would doors in the separating fire barriers need to have smoke gaskets in addition to their fire ratings? IBC 707 for fire barriers doesn’t mention smoke containment.

 

[RLGA]

Smoke and draft control for openings are only required for openings in smoke partitions, smoke barriers, and doors in fire-rated walls of corridors.

 

[steveray]

Does the atrium have smoke control?

 

[Redmund]

Yes, the atrium will have smoke control. It's a four story atrium in an B occupancy office building.

 

[steveray]

Maybe it won't affect the way that works.......

 

[RLGA]

Maybe it won't affect the way that works.......

You are correct, smoke barriers are only required for pressurized and passive smoke control systems per IBC Section 909.5.

 

[steveray]

Ron,

Just curious...What is the "third" option? Airflow design? I've seen one passive and one active but I didn't think of assigning a different label to it....

 

[RLGA]

The systems identified in Section 909 include:

• Pressurization Method (909.6)
• Airflow Design Method (909.7)
• Exhaust Method (909.8)

 

[steveray]

Thanks...oddly enough, the fire code official has to "approve" the use of airflow and exhaust.....Which would only leave methods that would require the smoke barriers...Assuming the fire official was the unapproving type.....