indyarchyguy
SAWHORSE
Here is the situation:
1. Existing Building - 4th Floor
2. New Tenant with HIGH SECURITY NEEDS
3. Elevator Lobby served by (3) elevator grouping
4. Fire stairs - Accessible via Office area - not through Elevator Lobby
5. 2012 IBC with Amendments
I have provided a sketch of the area. I cannot use the actual docs due to security issues.
Scope:
Owner must have security as they cannot allow general occupants on to the floor and into their office space due to the high security needs of their client's data. If anyone gets on the floor, they have to contact every client to tell them they had a possible data breach...no exception. Design calls for you exit off the elevators. The new all glass (frameless) doors and sidelights enclose the lobby. There are egress lights (with arrows) which point you to the glass doors and additional lighting directing you to the fire stair which is immediately adjacent to the elevator lobby, inside the office area.
Glass door hardware consists of maglock (failsafe open), stationary horizontal bar, key fob swipe, occupant sensor on the office side of the door. Standard operation is when you get off the elevator, you swipe your fob and you can enter the office as a credentialed occupant. If you leave the office via the elevator the occupancy sensor trips and releases the maglock, you open the door and walk into the lobby to get on to the elevator. If there is a fire alarm, the power to the maglock is shunted to failssafe open, you exit the lobby via the door and
Issue:
The local AHJ (Fire) states that people cannot get out of the lobby at any time. I have explained that due to the security of the situation and client, that is not practical, nor required by code based on my interpretation of 1008.1.9.9, we do comply with the requirements for a locked egress door. The elevators in grouping must work at all times. Even if there is maintenance being performed code does not allow for shutting down all the elevators in an occupied building. I have copied 1008.1.9.9 as follows:
My interp is as follows:
1. We are B-Occupancy
2. The stationary bar on the door is obvious and is in well-lit condition.
3. The maglock is UL Listed and will shunt to failsafe open with power interruption or fire alarm notification.
4. Loss of power automatically unlocks the door.
5. The bar does not lock the door therefore has no latch and doesn't need to operate the maglock.
We have installed this same scenario in literally dozens of buildings throughout the state. THOUGHTS?
1. Existing Building - 4th Floor
2. New Tenant with HIGH SECURITY NEEDS
3. Elevator Lobby served by (3) elevator grouping
4. Fire stairs - Accessible via Office area - not through Elevator Lobby
5. 2012 IBC with Amendments
I have provided a sketch of the area. I cannot use the actual docs due to security issues.
Scope:
Owner must have security as they cannot allow general occupants on to the floor and into their office space due to the high security needs of their client's data. If anyone gets on the floor, they have to contact every client to tell them they had a possible data breach...no exception. Design calls for you exit off the elevators. The new all glass (frameless) doors and sidelights enclose the lobby. There are egress lights (with arrows) which point you to the glass doors and additional lighting directing you to the fire stair which is immediately adjacent to the elevator lobby, inside the office area.
Glass door hardware consists of maglock (failsafe open), stationary horizontal bar, key fob swipe, occupant sensor on the office side of the door. Standard operation is when you get off the elevator, you swipe your fob and you can enter the office as a credentialed occupant. If you leave the office via the elevator the occupancy sensor trips and releases the maglock, you open the door and walk into the lobby to get on to the elevator. If there is a fire alarm, the power to the maglock is shunted to failssafe open, you exit the lobby via the door and
Issue:
The local AHJ (Fire) states that people cannot get out of the lobby at any time. I have explained that due to the security of the situation and client, that is not practical, nor required by code based on my interpretation of 1008.1.9.9, we do comply with the requirements for a locked egress door. The elevators in grouping must work at all times. Even if there is maintenance being performed code does not allow for shutting down all the elevators in an occupied building. I have copied 1008.1.9.9 as follows:
"1008.1.9.9 Electromagnetically locked egress doors. Doors in the means of egress in buildings with an occupancy in Group A, B, E, M, R-1 or R-2, and doors to tenant spaces in Group A, B, E, M, R-1 or R-2, shall be permitted to be electromagnetically locked if equipped with listed hardware that incorporates a built-in switch and meet the requirements below:
1. The listed hardware that is affixed to the door leaf has an obvious method of operation that is readily operated under all lighting conditions.
2. The listed hardware is capable of being operated with one hand.
3. Operation of the listed hardware directly interrupts the power to the electromagnetic lock and
unlocks the door immediately.
4. Loss of power to the listed hardware automatically unlocks the door.
5. Where panic or fire exit hardware is required by Section 1008.1.10, operation of the listed panic or fire exit hardware also releases the electro-magnetic lock."
2. The listed hardware is capable of being operated with one hand.
3. Operation of the listed hardware directly interrupts the power to the electromagnetic lock and
unlocks the door immediately.
4. Loss of power to the listed hardware automatically unlocks the door.
5. Where panic or fire exit hardware is required by Section 1008.1.10, operation of the listed panic or fire exit hardware also releases the electro-magnetic lock."
My interp is as follows:
1. We are B-Occupancy
2. The stationary bar on the door is obvious and is in well-lit condition.
3. The maglock is UL Listed and will shunt to failsafe open with power interruption or fire alarm notification.
4. Loss of power automatically unlocks the door.
5. The bar does not lock the door therefore has no latch and doesn't need to operate the maglock.
We have installed this same scenario in literally dozens of buildings throughout the state. THOUGHTS?