George McGerd
Bronze Member
NPFA 101 (Life Safety Code) 2018 edition.
I'm designing a relatively small town hall building (2 stories) with an area of assembly (council chambers) located on the 2nd floor. The building will have two egress stairs. One will be located in the back of the building, which I would describe as a "conventional" fire stair with a 1-hour enclosure. The second egress stair will be in the front of the building and within a 1-hour enclosure that also serves as a "lobby" on both the 1st and 2nd floors. By lobby, I mean, the space will also serve as an elevator lobby and will provide access to other spaces on the 1st and 2nd floors thru protected openings. The building will be fully sprinklered.
Section 7.1.3.2.3 states: An exit enclosure shall not be used for any purpose that has the potential to interfere with its use as an exit and, if designated, as an area of refuge.
The commentary provides an interpretation of purposes that have the potential to interfere with its use an exit: Use of an enclosed exit stair to house vending machines, copying machines, or storage, or to run electrical distribution wires and cables to other areas of the building is prohibited.
In my opinion the use of stair #2 enclosure as a small lobby providing access to an elevator and other buidling spaces via protected openings does not interfere with its use an an exit. I don't see anything explicit within the code or official commentary that would prohibit this configuration. Thoughts?
I'm designing a relatively small town hall building (2 stories) with an area of assembly (council chambers) located on the 2nd floor. The building will have two egress stairs. One will be located in the back of the building, which I would describe as a "conventional" fire stair with a 1-hour enclosure. The second egress stair will be in the front of the building and within a 1-hour enclosure that also serves as a "lobby" on both the 1st and 2nd floors. By lobby, I mean, the space will also serve as an elevator lobby and will provide access to other spaces on the 1st and 2nd floors thru protected openings. The building will be fully sprinklered.
Section 7.1.3.2.3 states: An exit enclosure shall not be used for any purpose that has the potential to interfere with its use as an exit and, if designated, as an area of refuge.
The commentary provides an interpretation of purposes that have the potential to interfere with its use an exit: Use of an enclosed exit stair to house vending machines, copying machines, or storage, or to run electrical distribution wires and cables to other areas of the building is prohibited.
In my opinion the use of stair #2 enclosure as a small lobby providing access to an elevator and other buidling spaces via protected openings does not interfere with its use an an exit. I don't see anything explicit within the code or official commentary that would prohibit this configuration. Thoughts?
