We have a 3-story building using machine roomless elevators (MRL).
I have an inspector asking for a smoke detector at the top of an elevator shaft even though there is no sprinkler at the top of the shaft. There are roomless machine rooms on the first/ground floor lowest level. We installed smoke detectors in each of these roomless machine rooms putting the smoke/heat detector as close to the object it is protecting. There is no ceiling for these. The inspector says he wants the smoke at the top of the shaft because of the machine room at the bottom floor and says the smoke will rise and we need the detector at the top of the shaft. I wrote him a book report that NFPA 72 allows for smoke detectors to be installed close the object they are protecting. There is a sprinkler in the pit and we have a heat next to it within 24 inches. I really think that the heat in the pit should generate a recall to the alternate level and they have us shunt tripping it? Some details on the equipment location: the machinery is on the lowest-level inside the shaft. It is accessible by a man door from the side of the shaft. Because of the machine being inside the shaft, is a smoke detector required at the top of the shaft? The inspector is asking for the smoke detectors at the top of the shaft because the Machine room is in the shaft at the 1st floor. He says there is no ceiling in the machine room so he wants the smoke detector at the top of the shaft. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
27 Comments
Anthony
3/13/2023 07:23:19 am
What happens if there is a fire on the 2nd or third floor? I think it's a reasonable request.
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David Perna
3/13/2023 04:10:15 pm
If there is no sprinkler at the top of the shaft, the code does not require a smoke detector and actually frowns upon them being installed at the TOS. If there is an inspector asking for a smoke in the machine room and the machine room is at the first landing there is code that allows for the detector to be within 5 feet of the object it is protecting. We are seeing push back on smokes at TOS and reviewers indicating that most smoked detectors are not listed for use at the TOS.
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Manny
3/13/2023 08:14:40 am
I concur with Anthony, heat/smoke rises and detector’s should be installed at the highest point of the shafts. Regardless of the sprinkler head location.
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chad
3/13/2023 08:18:17 am
Aside from the fact that smoke rises, as others state above, pretty sure its also an ANSI requirement but I am not an elevator guy.
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Daniel Knott
3/13/2023 08:35:38 am
I'm pretty sure elevator code requires it
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Todd E Wyatt
3/13/2023 09:08:51 am
AHJs (Authorities Having Jurisdiction) enforce and interpret the adopted Codes, they do not (should not) “create” Code requirements based on what they “like” or “want”. If the Code does not specifically address a special condition, the AHJ has the authority “to adopt policies and procedures in order to clarify the application of its provisions” but “such interpretations, policies and procedures shall be in compliance with the intent and purpose of this code.”
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Todd E Wyatt
3/13/2023 09:09:18 am
REFERENCES
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Todd E Wyatt
3/13/2023 09:09:55 am
“ELEVATOR” References
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Todd E Wyatt
3/13/2023 09:10:46 am
Continued ...
Todd E Wyatt
3/13/2023 09:11:15 am
“ELEVATOR MACHINE” References
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Todd E Wyatt
3/13/2023 09:12:21 am
“SMOKE DETECT” References
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Danial Bartle
3/13/2023 09:17:20 am
I have been through this a few times.
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Randy Rathert
3/13/2023 09:20:30 am
Atta Boy Todd !
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Todd E Wyatt
3/13/2023 09:51:17 am
Thanks ... as an AHJ for the WY DOH, our department would always include the referenced Code & applicable section(s) when identifying a noncompliance condition during plan reviews and/or inspection for licensure (and occupancy).
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JT
3/13/2023 09:52:33 am
"There is a sprinkler in the pit and we have a heat next to it within 24 inches. I really think that the heat in the pit should generate a recall to the alternate level and they have us shunt tripping it?"
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Mike R
3/13/2023 10:51:13 am
I came here to say this, lots of good stuff and references above but short and sweet is what JT said. MRL makes the hoistway itself the machine room.
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David Perna
3/13/2023 04:23:16 pm
most of our Roomless Machine rooms are usually at the top of the shaft. This one was at the bottom. Generally the roomless at the TOS the smoke for the machine room is the TOS smoke so if there is no sprinkler head the roomless machine room is TOS then we have a smoke there because of the machine room. We have had several where there roomless machine was on the first level and no one asked for a smoke at TOS or there was a sprinkler TOS and it got a smoke there too. There needs to be some clarification in the code because currently the code basically states no sprinkler head TOS then no smoke either.
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DS
3/13/2023 12:26:02 pm
72:21.3.9*
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David Perna
3/13/2023 04:18:47 pm
Exactly!! And guess how many are listed for this use? None!!
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sean
3/13/2023 05:53:36 pm
How is elevator recall going to occur then?
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Rob B
3/14/2023 09:26:37 am
Do what the AHJ asks... With all do respect, either you are a contractor or design professional and its not your job to question it. As for Todd's response, its in the ANSI codes.. and honestly the more protection you can install in a elevator shaft, hoist way, machine room, or whatever fancy term you want to give it makes perfect sense. These areas should be both fire sprinkler protected and smoke/heat detected as they are critical areas of the building that present a life hazard and also may be necessary to remove occupants by the FD... protect it.
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Todd E Wyatt
3/15/2023 09:19:02 am
With all due respect, AHJs are local, state, and/or federal workers and they work for the taxpayer, us.
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Rob B
3/16/2023 02:59:43 pm
Todd, With all due respect you are correct and wrong at the same time. While AHJ work for the public and DP's represent their clients best interest, it is however the AHJ's final & ultimate responsibility to make sure the building is fire safe, and that is not always a code compliant solution. I know that is hard to quantify, but that is real world. The AHJ often has working knowledge of local conditions that aren't covered in code, or needs things done a specific way to provide a level of protection. It is their prerogative to specify how that gets done. Now, that is all said with a grain of salt. In example, a local law would be required if a building didn't require sprinklers by code, but the AHJ was requiring it (think large scale). In another example, the AHJ requires an EPO switch at the fire command center for a building BDA system. You are not going to write a local law for a switch and it isnt currently covered in a written standard. If a DP even brought that up at a meeting they would be laughed out of the room. I do agree that these should be relegated to items that are of importance. If the AHJ is making you paint your sprinkler pipe red because they feel like it, they should be laughed out of the room.
Ivan J. Humberson
3/16/2023 07:40:35 am
Since compliance with ASME A17.1 is required by both NFPA 101 (2021 ed., Sect. 9.4.2.1) and IBC (2021 ed., Sect. 3001.3), and, as Danial pointed out, ASME A17.1 requires a fire alarm initiating device, the shaft needs to have some sort of detection installed. However, since installation of a smoke detector would not comply with NFPA 72 and the smoke detector listing, why couldn't the required initiation device be a rate or rise detector or some other detection means? ASME A17.1 does not specify smoke detection.
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Chad
3/16/2023 03:15:21 pm
The AHJ is also afforded latitude and discretion by most model codes. Todd is right that just because they personally disagreed with it doesn’t make it OK for them to change it. But if they believe a higher level of protection is required beyond the prescriptive, strict definition, for example requiring a smoke detector where there is already a fire alarm require, it can be justified as reasonable and prudent. Even normal and customary.
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Jason Lupa, PE
10/20/2023 07:32:48 am
Smoke detection is required in the top of an elevator hoistway for MRL's.
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Mark Obey
3/6/2025 09:37:26 am
Nice, concise and correct.
Reply
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