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Machineless room elevator

skipharper

Registered User
Joined
Dec 23, 2009
Messages
242
Location
Louisa County, Va.
Scenario: Traction type elevator with the elevator equipment on top of the car in the hoist way-does NFPA 13 require a sprinkler head in the top of the hoist?
 
from the 2013 edition:::

8.15.5 Elevator Hoistways and Machine Rooms.

8.15.5.1* Sidewall spray sprinklers shall be installed at the bottom of each elevator hoistway not more than 2 ft (0.61 m) above the floor of the pit.

8.15.5.2 The sprinkler required at the bottom of the elevator hoistway by 8.15.5.1 shall not be required for enclosed, noncombustible elevator shafts that do not contain combustible hydraulic fluids.

8.15.5.3 Automatic fire sprinklers shall not be required in elevator machine rooms, elevator machinery spaces, control spaces, or hoistways of traction elevators installed in accordance with the applicable provisions in NFPA 101, or the applicable building code, where all of the following conditions are met:

(1)

The elevator machine room, machinery space, control room, control space, or hoistway of traction elevator is dedicated to elevator equipment only.

(2)

The elevator machine room, machine room, machinery space, control room, control space, or hoistway of traction elevators are protected by smoke detectors, or other automatic fire detection, installed in accordance with NFPA 72.

(3)

The elevator machinery space, control room, control space, or hoistway of traction elevators is separated from the remainder of the building by walls and floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assemblies having a fire resistance rating of not less than that specified by the applicable building code.

(4)

No materials unrelated to elevator equipment are permitted to be stored in elevator machine rooms, machinery spaces, control rooms, control spaces, or hoistways of traction elevators.

(5)

The elevator machinery is not of the hydraulic type.

8.15.5.4* Automatic sprinklers in elevator machine rooms or at the tops of hoistways shall be of ordinary- or intermediate-temperature rating.

8.15.5.5* Upright, pendent, or sidewall spray sprinklers shall be installed at the top of elevator hoistways.

8.15.5.6 The sprinkler required at the top of the elevator hoistway by 8.15.5.5 shall not be required where the hoistway for passenger elevators is noncombustible or limited-combustible and the car enclosure materials meet the requirements of ASME A17.1, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators.

8.15.5.7 Combustible Suspension in Elevators.

8.15.5.7.1 Sprinklers shall be installed at the top and bottom of elevator hoistways where elevators utilize combustible suspension means such as noncircular elastomeric-coated or polyurethane-coated steel belts.

8.15.5.7.2 The sprinklers in the elevator hoistway shall not be required when the suspension means provide not less than an FT-1 rating when tested to the vertical burn test requirements of UL 62, Flexible Cords and Cables, and UL 1581, Reference Standard for Electrical Wires, Cables, and Flexible Cords.
 
ok 2010

.15.5 Elevator Hoistways and Machine Rooms.

8.15.5.1* Sidewall spray sprinklers shall be installed at the bottom of each elevator hoistway not more than 2 ft (0.61 m) above the floor of the pit.

8.15.5.2 The sprinkler required at the bottom of the elevator hoistway by 8.15.5.1 shall not be required for enclosed, noncombustible elevator shafts that do not contain combustible hydraulic fluids.

8.15.5.3* Automatic sprinklers in elevator machine rooms or at the tops of hoistways shall be of ordinary- or intermediate-temperature rating.

A.8.15.5.3

A.8.15.5.3 ASME A17.1, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, requires the shutdown of power to the elevator upon or prior to the application of water in elevator machine rooms or hoistways. This shutdown can be accomplished by a detection system with sufficient sensitivity that operates prior to the activation of the sprinklers (see also NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code). As an alternative, the system can be arranged using devices or sprinklers capable of effecting power shutdown immediately upon sprinkler activation, such as a waterflow switch without a time delay. This alternative arrangement is intended to interrupt power before significant sprinkler discharge.

8.15.5.4* Upright, pendent, or sidewall spray sprinklers shall be installed at the top of elevator hoistways.

A.8.15.5.4

A.8.15.5.4 Passenger elevator cars that have been constructed in accordance with ASME A17.1, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, Rule 204.2a (under A17.1a-1985 and later editions of the code) have limited combustibility. Materials exposed to the interior of the car and the hoistway, in their end-use composition, are limited to a flame spread index of 0 to 75 and a smoke developed index of 0 to 450, when tested in accordance with ASTM E 84, Standard Test Method of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials.

8.15.5.5 The sprinkler required at the top of the elevator hoistway by 8.15.5.4 shall not be required where the hoistway for passenger elevators is noncombustible or limited-combustible and the car enclosure materials meet the requirements of ASME A17.1, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators.

8.15.5.6 Sprinklers shall be installed at the top and bottom of elevator hoistways where elevators utilize polyurethane-coated steel belts or other similar combustible belt material.

I know some states/ cities have different setups for elevator shafts
 
In Virginia an amendment has been added that reads:3006.7 Machine-room-less designs.

Where machine-room-less designs are utilized they shall comply with the provisions of ASME A17.1 and incorporate the following:

1. Where the elevator car-top will be used as a work platform, it shall be equipped with permanently installed guards on all open sides. Guards shall be permitted to be of collapsible design, but otherwise must conform to all applicable requirements of this code for guards.

2. Where the equipment manufacturer’s procedures for machinery removal and replacement depend on overhead structural support or lifting points, such supports or lifting points shall be permanently installed at the time of initial equipment installation.

3. Where the structure that the elevator will be located in is required to be fully sprinklered by this code, the hoistway that the elevator machine is located in shall be equipped with a fire suppression system as a machine room in accordance with NFPA 13. Smoke detectors for the automatic initiation of Phase I Emergency Recall Operation, and heat detectors or other approved devices that automatically disconnect the main line power supply to the elevators, shall be installed within the hoistway.
 
Not sure what they are trying to say??

If the building itself is required a fire sprinkler system, the elevator shaft "shall " be sprinkled?????

3. Where the structure that the elevator will be located in is required to be fully sprinklered by this code, the hoistway that the elevator machine is located in shall be equipped with a fire suppression system as a machine room in accordance with NFPA 13. Smoke detectors for the automatic initiation of Phase I Emergency Recall Operation, and heat detectors or other approved devices that automatically disconnect the main line power supply to the elevators, shall be installed within the hoistway.
 
Some of it will depend if the hoistway is vented (and if it's an automatic vent).. we're up to arguing about additional cooling required at the top of the hoistway (which depends on atmospheric conditions locally AND if the controller is in the hoistway).

When in doubt, plan on sprinkler, heat and smoke at top of hoistway.
 
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