Smoke and Draft Control IBC 2009

[jar546]

Exception 4 of Section 708.4.1 is applied to a 3-story Group R1/R2 building. The building is protected throughout with an automatic sprinkler system and the corridors have a ½ fire-resistance rating. Hence, an enclosed elevator lobby is not required. Is the elevator shaft enclosure door opening required to comply with the smoke and draft control requirements for a door assembly in a corridor of Section 715.4.3.1 when opening into the fire-resistance rated corridor?

 

[Coug Dad]

This is a case where you typically see the "flop doors" over the elevator door. Elevator doors cannot be smoke and draft controll.

 

[RLGA]

1. I believe the section is 708.14.1 and not 708.4.1.

2. I don't believe the intent was to replace the lobby with a smoke-control door. Per the Commentary regarding this exception: "This recognizes the effectivenessof sprinkler systems in controlling thespread of smoke."

3. Elevator lobbies are only required when the elevator connects more than three stories--your example is only a three-story building.

 

[Coug Dad]

You would have to use either a Smoke Guard type product or "flop doors" over the hoistway opening.

 

[AegisFPE]

This is a common question. A strict interpretation would concur with Coug Dad, that the exception for not requiring elevator lobbies does not eliminate the requirement to protect openings into a fire-resistance-rated corridor with S-labeled doors per UL 1784 in accordance with 715.4.3.1.

As the elevator hoistway doors are not S-labeled, we could conclude that additional protection is required.

You could also use something like the SmokeGuard M1500 to create a lobby without protecting each hoistway opening.