Still an Atrium with louvers on roof?

[blugosi]

I am reviewing a modification of an existing building, where a high bay storage area of a mercantile occupancy is transformed to two stories business (60+60 thousand square feet) with an atrium in the middle.
The architects want to bypass atrium requirements per NFPA/IBC by having some kind of louvers on the roof.
I am not convinced. This is vague and the mere existence of louvers does not seem enough to say this opening is not an atrium.
What do you think?

 

[e hilton]

What requirement do they think the louvers will satisfy?

 

[blugosi]

What requirement do they think the louvers will satisfy?

They claim that smoke will not be trapped or something to that effect.
I believe that the fundamental parameter to address atria in a special manner is free movement of air between compartments, as well as smoke accumulation on high floors, especially on tall atria.

 

[RLGA]

Section 404.5, Exception 1: "In other than Group I-2, and Group I-1, Condition 2, smoke control is not required for atriums that connect only two stories."

 

[steveray]

An atrium is an atrium.....Ron posted the exception to get out of smoke control...

 

[blugosi]

Section 404.5, Exception 1: "In other than Group I-2, and Group I-1, Condition 2, smoke control is not required for atriums that connect only two stories."

Thank you Ron,

Requirements for an Atrium are not limited to the smoke control provision I think. First I want to be clear on the definition.