Elevator Hoistway Be a 'Convenience Opening'?

7/5/2024

Can an elevator hoistway connecting two adjacent stories be considered a "convenience opening" and avoid a fire resistance rating altogether based on NFPA 5000?

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3 Comments

Todd E Wyatt

7/5/2024 10:46:06 am

NFPA 5000 is an Occupancy Classification (OC) based Code. Chapters 1-15 & 32-56 include general requirements and “Chapters 15 through 31 and 33 through 34” include additional requirements and restrictions based on the OC(s) in the building and/or a special condition (e.g. High Rise Buildings). A “convenience Opening” (CO) may be permitted in (1) OC (e.g. New Business) but may not for another OC (Health Care).

NFPA 5000 - 2023 8.12.5.1 includes (6) conditions where an “unenclosed vertical openings not concealed within the building construction shall be permitted.”

8.12 Vertical Openings.
8.12.1 General.
8.12.1.1
Every floor that separates stories in a building shall meet the following criteria:
1) It shall be constructed as a smoke barrier in accordance with Section 8.11.
2) It shall be permitted to have openings as described by 8.12.2, 8.12.3, 8.12.4, 8.12.5, or Chapters 15 through 31 and 33 through 34.
8.12.5 Convenience Openings.
8.12.5.1
Where permitted by Chapters 15 through 31 and 33 through 34, unenclosed vertical openings not concealed within the building construction shall be permitted as follows:
1) Such openings shall connect not more than two adjacent stories (one floor pierced only).
2) Such openings shall be separated from unprotected vertical openings serving other floors by a barrier complying with 8.6.5.
3) Such openings shall be separated from corridors.
4) Such openings shall be separated from other fire or smoke compartments on the same floor.
5) Such openings shall be separated from the corridor referenced in 8.12.5.1(3) by a smoke partition, unless Chapters 15 through 31 and 33 through 34 require the corridor to have a fire resistance rating.
6) Such openings shall not serve as a required means of egress.

If the elevator hoistway meets all (6) conditions and if the building’s Occupancy Classification(s) permit Convenience Openings, then it is permissible for this elevator hoistway (connecting (2) stories) to NOT be protected by a fire-resistant rated (FRR) assembly.

Most jurisdictions do not adopt only (1) Code … chances are, the building will also have to meet an ICC Code. IBC-2021 addresses “Convenience Openings” as “Two-Story Openings” with similar (6) conditions :

Chapter 7 Fire and Smoke Protection Features
Section 712 Vertical Openings
712.1.9 Two-Story Openings
In other than Groups I-2 and I-3, a vertical opening that is not used as one of the applications specified in this section shall be permitted if the opening complies with all of the following items:
1) Does not connect more than two stories.
2) Does not penetrate a horizontal assembly that separates fire areas or smoke barriers that separate smoke compartments.
3) Is not concealed within the construction of a wall or a floor/ceiling assembly.
4) Is not open to a corridor in Group I and R occupancies.
5) Is not open to a corridor on nonsprinklered floors.
6) Is separated from floor openings and air transfer openings serving other floors by construction conforming to required shaft enclosures.

Jack G

7/5/2024 02:34:00 pm

Agree with Todd.
Must be protected from smoke transfer, floor to floor.
Hoistway to have a smoke detector within 2 feet of sprinkler.
IBC calls for 1 hr shaft for 2 story elevators.
IRC the same.
If elevator involves hydraulic fluid, must have a rated enclosure and fire sprinklers.
All depends on specifics of the build.
Should reference Meyer fire “ elevator” cheat sheet from the tool box.

Panos

7/6/2024 01:06:02 am

Thank you both for replying!

The fact is that we finally reached a decision based on a few other things.

After speaking with a friend who was a member of the NFPA technical committee, I requested a clarification from NFPA’s current technical committee. Their reply:

“For assembly occupancies, please see 16.3.1 for requirements, which reference 8.12, unless permitted by one of the four parenthetical requirements. In 8.12.5. I read that convenience openings are generally stairs that offer convenience for occupants to use rather than traversing to exits to move between two floors. Note 8.12.5.1 and its six parenthetical requirements. Convenience openings cannot connect more than two adjacent stories, with one floor pierced, require specific protections, and do not serve as a required means of egress.

Please see 8.12.6 for service openings regarding elevators, which provides specific requirements, including the number of cars per 812.6.4.”

It seems that the intent of the NFPA code art. 8.12.5 for convenience openings had stairs in mind. This is the reason for the requirement “not concealed within the building construction”. An elevator shaft opening between two stories is concealed from bystanders so we cannot use 8.12.5 to omit rated hoistways.

However, the NFPA 16.3.1 reference goes

“16.3.1 Protection of Vertical Openings.
Any vertical opening shall be enclosed or protected in accordance with Section 8.12, unless
(…)
(3)Assembly occupancies protected by an approved, electrically supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 55.3 shall be permitted to have unprotected vertical openings between any two adjacent floors, provided that such openings are separated from unprotected vertical openings serving other floors by a barrier complying with 8.12.1.5.”

Our case is a fully sprinklered assembly occupancy, with no unprotected vertical openings in the same fire compartment, so yes, an elevator can have a non rated hoistway for two stories only if NFPA 5000 not applicable and not IBC.

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Elevator Hoistway Be a 'Convenience Opening'?

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