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1979, 09-14 Letter Re: Proposed Atrium Medical BldgBOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT JOHN J. McKINNON, P.E. BUILDING AND SAFETY DIRECTOR TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA International Conference of Building Officials 5360 SOUTH WORKMAN MILL ROAD • WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA 90601 • (213) 699 -0541 FIRST VICE - PRESIDENT HERBERT W. MEYER CODE CONSULTANT BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA SECOND VICE - PRESIDENT JOHN C. CANESTRO CITY BUILDING OFFICIAL HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA TREASURER WILLIAM F. FUREY, P.E. SUPERINTENDENT OF BUILDING RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT VICTOR L. TAUGHER, P.E. BUILDING OFFICIAL COUNTY OF ALAMEDA HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA JACK S. ATKINS, P.E. BUILDING OFFICIAL PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA JOHN E. BOSS BUILDING OFFICIAL COUNTY OF LANE EUGENE, OREGON ROBERT B. FELDNER, P.E., R.A. SUPERINTENDENT OF CENTRAL INSPECTION WICHITA, KANSAS CHARLES L. GILLETT CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE LITTLETON, COLORADO JOHN E. MAULDING, P.E. SUPERINTENDENT OF BUILDING LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA LESTER E. PAIGE, JR. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/ BUILDING OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FORT WORTH, TEXAS DAVE SCOTT, P.E. DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING SAFETY TEMPE, ARIZONA CHARLES G. SEALE, AIA SUPERINTENDENT OF CODES ADMINISTRATION LINCOLN, NEBRASKA H. T. WIEDENMAN, P.E. DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING DES MOINES, IOWA EDWARD F. WINTER, P.E. BUILDING OFFICIAL CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA JACK V. WINTER BUILDING OFFICIAL COUNTY OF TEHAMA RED BLUFF, CALIFORNIA OFFICES OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JAMES E. BIHR, P.E. TECHNICAL DIRECTOR DONALD R. WATSON, P.E. Kenneth E. Jeffrey Plans Examiner Spokane County Building Codes Department N. 811 Jefferson Spokane, WA 99201 September 14, 1979 Subject: Report of Meeting Dear Ken: Attached find the report for our meeting of September 10, 1979, which I said I would prepare. Hopefully it will be of assistance in making a final determination regarding the acceptability of the proposed alternate life safety system. Although the report does not specifically state that the building must be limited to only 58% of the allowable area as a condition of acceptance (since we did not specifically discuss the point), it might not be a bad idea to consider imposing such a limitation. This might be advantageous should other similar a roj - cts be proposed. PS:dvo Attachment Yours v : v t 1 aul Sheedy Staff Engineer, Plan Check r Regional Office: 6738 N.W. Tower Drive • Kansas City, Missouri 64151 • (816) 741 -2241 Report of Meeting Regararding Proposed Atrium Medical and Professional Building Mission and Pines, Spokane, Washington Meeting: Monday, September 10, 1979 Attendees: Kenneth Jeffrey, Plans Examiner Spokane County Project: Larry Sullivan, Architect Groesbeck - Pasold Architects Paul Sheedy, Staff Engineer International Conference of Building Officials Four Story Office Building Group B -2 Occupancy Type II -One hour Construction 1979 Uniform Building Code Building to be provided with area separation walls on Line D and E Proposal: Building will be provided with two interior courts having a width of 20 feet. Such courts would comply with the provisions of Section 504 (c), which regulates buildings containing courts. However, it is proposed to provide a roof enclosure (in the form of a skylight) above these courts. Question: What reasonable alternate methods of construction might be considered in order to allow the courts to be enclosed. Alternate methods which may be proposed in order to provide equivalent protection should be considered by the Board of Appeals as required by Section 204. Discussion: The proposal would create what is commonly referred to as an atrium. Neither the 1979 edition, nor any earlier edition contains requirements which would be applicable. There is, however, a code change presently being considered (change 1706 -79 -1) which specifically addresses "atriums ". (See Exhibit A.) The provisions contained in this proposed code change formed the basis for the discussion which follows. Under this change the least dimension of the "atrium" would be required to be 40 feet. The building under discussion would not qualify with this provision since it will have a least dimension Page 2 of only 20 feet. It should be noted, however, that the proposed change is equally applicable to any type of construction and thus an atrium could be provided in a three story building of Type V one -hour construction. It would appear reasonable to give credit to the fact that the proposed building will be noncombustible construction. Also, it would appear reasonable to consider the area separation walls to be provided on Lines D and E, since these walls limit the actual area to approximately 58% of the area which could be provided (see Exhibit B). In order to further limit the possibility of smoke spread, draft stop doors will be provided as shown in Exhibit C. Each tenant space (when developed) will be provided with exits which do not open into the "atrium" area. Enclosing walls of the "atrium" will comply with Section 3304 (g) and (h) for corridors. There was discussion reagarding the 25% limitation for the area of openings (other than doors) contained in Section 3304 (h). The discussion concluded that the imposition of this limit may not be necessary. The building will be provided with an automatic sprinkler system throughout. A smoke - control system will be provided. Such system to be designed based on criteria contained in code change 1706 -79 -1. Such system should be tested as suggested in proposed code change A- 7 -76 -1 (A- ll -76 -1) for covered Mall Buildings. ( "Before the smoke - control system is accepted by the building official, it shall be tested in his presence to confirm that the system is operating in compliance with the requirements of this subsection. ") Code change 1706 -79 -1 requires stairways to be pressurized. However, the proposed building would appear to not require such pressurization. Stairs at the east and west exterior walls are provided with natural ventilation and the interior center stairway will be isolated from each "atrium" by both a smoke barrier and by an area separation wall. Conclusion: Since no test data, literature research, or other information was submitted for consideration, the discussion was based on provisions developed by the Fire and Life Safety Subcommittee and presented as proposed code change 1706 -79 -1. Except for the reduced width of the "atrium ", the proposed construction would basically comply with the proposed code change. In addition, certain other items will be provided to insure that barriers are provided to prevent both smoke and fire spread. TO REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT Department of Building & Safety ALL CONCERNED FROM Ken Chan P -1535 Dear Ad Hoc Member: DATF 15 NnvPmher 1973 NOV IC SUBJECT ATRIUM Suhcommi t tnP Please find enclosed the final rough draft for the Atrium section (1706). Please review at your earliest convenience and forward me any constructive comments, additions, deletions or suggested changes. At the time of the final submittal to the Fire & Life Safety Subcommittee, I would like to thank all of the participating members and look forward to seeing your participation if the Fire & Life Safety Subcommittee chooses to extend the exist- ence of the "Atrium Ad Hoc Commiteee ". /gj.Chan, Charman KC:gp Distribution: Britt Alderman (Associates) John F. Behrens; H.B. CA Tom Briggs, ICBO Ralph 0. Coxon, Schirmer Enr. Gus Degenkolb, Ch. Malls Art Garcia, SD FD Leo Garcia, LA FD William R. Goss, NAS &FCA Robert W. Hall, Asst. SFM Jim Johnson, PCA James A. Knowles, P.E. ($ Associates) Terrill McGee, CSAdm. William D. Rome, Sta. M. CA Richard C. Schulte, BOCA James Shern, Bat. Ch. PasFD Bill Smith, AISI Marvin Smith, GYPSUM Assoc. J. W. Trotter, FM Orange CA Ronald R. Walker, N.F.P.A. Herb Weirauch, Midland MI Chairman, Fire & Life William J. Yang, -DIE (& Associates) EXN17iT Section 1706, page 102. Change the title to read Vertical Openings and add a new subsection (e) to read as follows: (e) Atriums. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, vertical openings extending through more than two floors may be unenclosed provided: 1. The least horizontal dimension of the vertical opening is not less than 40 feet. 2. The construction of the enclosing walls of the vertical opening is not less than that required by Sections 3304 (g) and (h) for corridors. 3. The building is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system throughout. Where the roof of the vertical opening is more than 55 feet above the floor, the sprinkler system shall be of a design which considers the effective- ness of the system at this height. 4. A smoke control system is provided for the area within the vertical opening and adjoining areas not physically separated from the vertical opening. This system shall be connected to an approved smoke detection system and the sprinkler system so that activation of either system will cause the smoke control system to operate automatically. The system shall also be designed so that it can be manually operated from an approved location and from the central con- trol station where such stations are required by Section 1807. The smoke less than of both a _2_ control system shall be capable of providing not six complete air changes per hour and shall consist supply having a vertical discharge at the base of the vertical opening and an exhaust at or near the top of the vertical opening. Such supply and exhaust shall be vertical- ly aligned. 5. If elevators are provided, at least one elevator is available for fire department access to each floor. Such elevator shall be separated from the vertical opening by construction having the fire - resistive rating specified for vertical openings in Table No. 17 -A or the elevator shall be installed entirely on the exterior of the building. 6. The stair shaft in all enclosed stairways is pro- vided with a dampered relief opening at the top and supplied mechanically with sufficient air to discharge a minimum of 2500 cubic feet per minute through the relief opening while maintaining a minimum positive pressure of 0.25 inch of water column in the shaft relative to atmosphere with all doors closed. Smokeproof enclosures shall be provided when required by Sec tion 3309. 7. When two or more exits are required by Table No. 33 -A, one exit shall be independent of the Atrium for floors other than those exiting at grade. �.._ • ._r.G...:.,.�,....W�. -3- EXCEPTION: When the Occupant Load does not exceed 50, exiting may be through the Atrium provided the travel distance through the Atrium does not exceed 40 feet [to an exit conforming to Section 3302 (e)] to an exit corridor, exit stairway, exterior exit, horizon- tal exit, exterior exit balcony or exit passageway. 1I, riew- to 000 spy-r-- Fice -r- e o, 4 F /otre— 11, 4 cw.�Aa�. c)-z -1- �v 00Qf l4 ©oo s � 0-30 4,411L11 -5roh ?.'r'' ('2 44,66- 4 hzt 72, "1-1 L SMo kc- P> A►'PA / p��ZS v✓ �IAPb WQg.5. PE Sec. 430 6(e