Machine less elevator?

[mtlogcabin]

Hospital addition with 3 traction elevators where traction units are at the top of the shaft.

Question

There is no "machine equipment" only electrical panels for operating the elevators.

Is Section 3006 applicable to the room where the electrical panels are located? Specifically the fire rating requirements?

My gut says no but these are new to us. All advice is appreciated

 

[Codegeek]

The provisions for the machine room apply to a machine room which would house the equipment for operating the elevator, not just the electrical panels. So, I'd go with your gut. There were attempts to put requirements for machineroom less elevators in the 2015 IBC in Dallas, but most of those code changes were disapproved.

 

[Coug Dad]

Some of the machine room less elevators utilize coated cables that drive sprinklers inside the hoistway. These elevators require close coordination between the elevator AHJ, the electrical AHJ, the BO and FM.

 

[north star]

+ + +

What are the load sizes of the electrical panels, and the size of the room?

+ + +

 

[Codegeek]

Keep in mind the requirements for the machine room in 3006 are to protect the equipment as well as to contain any potential hazard to/from adjacent spaces. Since there is no equipment (solid state or otherwise) then the machine room is not required.

 

[mark handler]

http://construction.com/CE/articles/pdfs/articles/0709kone_article.pdf

Interesting article on machine room-less elevators

 

[north star]

$ $ $

From Article 620.71 - Guarding Equipment, `08 NEC & `11 NEC:

"Elevator, dumbwaiter, escalator and moving walk driving machines,

motor generator sets; motor controllers; and disconnecting means

shall be installed in a room set aside for that purpose, unless

otherwise permitted in 620.71(A) or (B).....The room shall be

secured against unauthorized access."

Depending upon the size of the electrical loads in the elevator

electrical panels & the size of the room/space, fire rated

assemblies could be required.

$ $ $

 

[brudgers]

IMO, yes fire protection is required assuming no exception is met. One purpose of the protection is to allow Fire Fighting personnel to use the elevators for their operations.