How Best to Detect for Recall in Construction?

12/30/2025

How do people do elevator recall during dust-producing construction/tenant fit-outs?

I have heard smoke detectors being replaced with temporary heat detectors. I have heard bag the smoke detectors (but keep it live) and install an adjacent heat detector so that flames could melt the plastic bag.

How have people done this?

Before people say ask the AHJ, I am an AHJ, and I am trying to keep my constituents safe and am waffling back and forth.

Thanks in advance.

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4 Comments

Glenn Berger

12/30/2025 08:36:23 am

Typically start with NFPA 241.

I would prefer to control the work area with safety and dust barriers.

Ricardo Gonzales

12/30/2025 09:29:46 am

You are correct in using heat detectors instead of smoke detectors.

You noted that in construction areas, it is a dirty environment. Per NFPA 72 smoke detectors are not to be installed until the area is cleaned. Adding dust barriers doesn't prevent the dust from getting in, only mitigates it not eliminate it.

If the elevators are authorized for use, then I recommend the use of heat detectors until they can get the floor, above and below into the 'cleaned up' part of construction. It's a reasonable use of the FA Elevator Recall System during construction. Providing a level of protection, but not making a situation where the trucks are running because someone is cutting material or simply sweeping.

Elevator Recall and Zoned sprinklers to finished areas were common when I worked as an AJH in Denver.

Jack G

12/30/2025 11:08:40 am

Yes, heats are the key along with isolating the lobbies with clear slatted dust curtains ( like freezers) to significantly cut down on dirt, dust, and contaminating the shaft ( dirt to other floors ) .
I like bagging the smokes , but removing them is ok too.
Usually the elevators that are part of the egress are equipped with a fireman’s key also..

Chad

12/30/2025 02:01:21 pm

Yes a 241 plan is critical but lets go back to 72, its not a matter of just mitigating the construction hazard, it is a losing battle trying to tent off elevator landing/lobbies.

2019 72
21.3.10*

If ambient conditions prohibit installation of automatic smoke detection used to initiate elevator Phase I Emergency Recall Operation, other automatic fire detection initiating devices shall be permitted.

handbook/Enhanced Content

Some elevator lobbies, hoistways, and machine rooms are not suitable environments for the installation of spot-type smoke detectors. Dust, dirt, humidity, and temperature extremes may exceed the operating parameters of the smoke detector. A spot-type smoke detector installed in the elevator lobby of an unheated parking garage would likely experience problems due to vehicle exhaust, dust, dirt, humidity, and temperature extremes. Subsection 21.3.10 prevents nuisance alarms from smoke detectors installed in such areas and unnecessary initiation of Elevator Phase I Emergency Recall Operation. Another type of fire detector may be substituted for a smoke detector where the authority having jurisdiction or another code requires detection in an area with ambient conditions unsuitable for a smoke detector. Also refer to 21.3.9.

So, what is an a suitable replacement? The committee did not suggest one specific alternative type

Depends on how critical you believe recall is in a construction environment is. For occupants, they should be trained and used to not using elevators in an emergency already. Can they tolerate a delayed response that is normally afforded with a normal smoke detector?

Do your crews routinely use elevators to respond to the upper floors, are we talking high rise?

Is this a healthcare/I-2 occupancy?

In these more sensitive situations, a multi-criteria smoke detector that uses an algorithm to reject false alarms from dust would be the ideal choice, in my opinion, and are readily available.

Heat detectors, preferably rate of rise with a ordinary temp, setting would be better in most low rise occupancies, again my opinion.

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How Best to Detect for Recall in Construction?

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