Director is asking about fire sprinklers in elevator shafts. Is it necessary?
Director is asking about fire sprinklers in elevator shafts. Is it necessary?
It is an existing 5 buildings. Idk if any exist at the moment. Ok so i did read it correctly. Of course anything needs to be approved by proper authorities and agents.
So the boss wants to add if not?? Or just wants to know if required??
Or other?
OHHH I am not an engineer, so you can discount my reply if you want, and I cannot do math.
Comment were fair enough.
I have experienced this situation in hospitals and found the most affordable way to is to comply to the earlier codes.
If your building was designed before the 1994 edition of NFPA 13 was adopted by the AHJ's building code and/or life safety code, yes the elevator shafts were required to be protected with a sprinkler at the top and with noncombustible shaft walls another one near the bottom.
You did not mention the year the buildings were designed.
Caution before the sprinkler requirement goes way, the facility would have to upgrade the life safety features by remodeling or renovation to meet the new construction requirements of the building codes and/or life safety codes that adopted the 1994 edition of NFPA 13 or later. The building code and life safety code and their referenced installation standards fire safety features are an integrated body of requirements. Who just can't pick a single fire feature in a later code or standard, especially omitting sprinkler protection, without upgrading the building's other fire safety features of the codes to that for existing occupancy life safety codes or new construction codes.
If the sprinklers were required by the earlier building code and/or life safety codes, it may may be more affordable to install them and the proper operational safe guards instead of upgrading the fire safety features of the building to the existing life safety codes or new construction requirements.
Operational safe guards:
ASME A17.1 requires that the power to the elevator be shut down upon or before the application of water in elevator rooms or hoistways. The shut down could be accomplished by a detection system sensitive enough to operate before the sprinklers activated. Alternatively, the system could use devices capable of shutting down power before significant sprinkler discharge took place. The intent was to cut power before the potential loss of elevator control due to shorting of equipment from water discharge or the potential loss of traction in the hoistway due to wetting of brakes.
ASME A17.1 also required that elevators be recalled to lobby level prior to power shut down to ensure that passengers were not trapped on elevators in the hoistways.
Changes in the installation standards:
The 1994 NFPA 13 also allowed the omission of the sprinkler at the top of a noncombustible passenger elevator hoistway where the car enclosure materials met the requirements of the ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. From my experience, the car enclosure materials are very difficult to document from the original car manufacturer. Over the years of renovation the cars the materials may not meet the safety code.
From my experience and based on the information provided, I would say unless there are other facts that change the parameters are discovered, you will be installing sprinklers in the elevator shafts.
Respectfully,
Milt Werner
Existing building or new building?
Do you know which NFPA standard or building code you are under and year?
In the old days, yes sprinklers were required at the top, but if installed now, there has to be a shunt trip to kill the power to the elevator.
Now a days, depending on what code/ standard you are under,
Basically if shaft is non combustible and the elevator car itself meets certain standards,
Both the top of the elevator and elevator machine room sprinkler is eliminated.
Will post a couple of links, may take a day or two, for the site to release them
If and existing building, and you want to remove them, make sure all ahj's over you and insurance company approves it first.
OHHH I am not an engineer, so you can discount my reply if you want, and I cannot do math.