N.Y.C. Admin. Code § BC 3008: Section BC 3008: Occupant Evacuation Elevators

3008.1 General.

Where elevators are to be used for occupant self-evacuation during fires, all passenger elevators for general public use shall comply with Sections 3008.1 through 3008.10. Where other elevators are used for occupant self-evacuation, those elevators shall comply with these sections

3008.1.1 Additional exit stairway.

Where an additional means of egress is required in accordance with Section 403.5.2, an additional exit stairway shall not be required to be installed in buildings provided with occupant evacuation elevators complying with Section 3008.1.

3008.1.2 Fire safety and emergency action plans.

The building shall have an approved fire safety and emergency action plans in accordance with the applicable requirements of the New York City Fire Code. The fire safety and emergency action plans shall incorporate specific procedures for the occupants using evacuation elevators.

3008.1.3 Operation.

The occupant evacuation elevators shall be used for occupant self-evacuation in accordance with the occupant evacuation operation requirements as per ASME A17.1/CSA B44 as modified by Appendix K of this code and the building's fire safety and emergency action plans.

3008.2 Reserved.

3008.3 Automatic sprinkler system.

The building shall be protected throughout by an approved, electrically-supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, except as otherwise permitted by Section 903.3.1.1.1 and as prohibited by Section 3008.3.1.

3008.3.1 Prohibited locations.

Automatic sprinklers shall not be installed in elevator machine rooms, machinery spaces, control rooms, control spaces and elevator hoistways of occupant evacuation elevators.

3008.3.2 Sprinkler system monitoring.

The sprinkler system shall have a sprinkler control valve supervisory switch and water flow initiating device provided for each floor that is monitored by the building's fire alarm system.

3008.4 Water protection.

An approved method to prevent water from infiltrating into the hoistway enclosure from the operation of the automatic sprinkler system outside the enclosed occupant evacuation elevator lobby shall be provided.

3008.5 Reserved.

3008.6 Hoistway enclosure protection.

Occupant evacuation elevator hoistways shall be located in shaft enclosures complying with Section 713.

3008.6.1 Structural integrity of hoistway enclosures.

Occupant evacuation elevator hoistway enclosures shall comply with Sections 403.2.3.1 through 403.2.3.4.

3008.7 Occupant evacuation elevator lobby.

The occupant evacuation elevators shall open into an elevator lobby in accordance with Sections 3008.7.1 through 3008.7.6. Egress is permitted through the elevator lobby in accordance with Item 1 of Section 1016.2.

3008.7.1 Access to Interior exit stairway or ramp.

The occupant evacuation elevator lobby shall have direct access from the enclosed elevator lobby to an interior exit stairway or ramp.

Exception: Access to an interior exit stairway or ramp shall be permitted to be through a protected path of travel protected with smoke partitions complying with Section 711. The protected path shall be separated from the enclosed elevator lobby through an opening protected by a smoke and draft control assembly in accordance with Section 716.5.3.

3008.7.2 Lobby enclosure.

The occupant evacuation elevator lobby shall be enclosed with a smoke barrier having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour, except that lobby doorways shall comply with Section 3008.7.3.

Exception: Enclosed occupant evacuation elevator lobbies are not required at the levels of exit discharge.

3008.7.3 Lobby doorways.

Other than doors to the hoistway, and elevator machine rooms, machinery spaces, control rooms, and control spaces within the lobby enclosure smoke barrier, each doorway to an occupant evacuation elevator lobby shall comply with the smoke and draft control assembly requirements of Section 716.5.3.1 with the UL 1784 test conducted without the artificial bottom seal. Such doorway shall not be required to have a fire-resistance rating.

3008.7.3.1 Vision panel.

A vision panel shall be installed in each door assembly protecting the lobby doorway. The vision panel shall consist of glazing and shall be located to furnish clear vision of the occupant evacuation elevator lobby.

3008.7.3.2 Door closing.

Each door assembly protecting the lobby doorway shall be automatic closing upon receipt of any fire alarm signal from the emergency voice/alarm communication system serving the building.

3008.7.4 Lobby size.

Each occupant evacuation elevator lobby shall have minimum floor area as follows:

1. The occupant evacuation elevator lobby floor area shall accommodate, at 3 square feet (0.28 m

2

) per person, not less than 25 percent of the occupant load of the floor area served by the lobby.

2. The occupant evacuation elevator lobby floor area shall accommodate one wheelchair space of 30 inches by 48 inches (760 mm by 1220 mm) for each 50 persons, or portion thereof, of the occupant load of the floor area served by the lobby.

Exception: The size of lobbies serving multiple banks of elevators shall have the minimum floor area approved on an individual basis and shall be consistent with the building's fire safety and emergency action plans.

3008.7.5 Signage.

An approved sign indicating elevators are suitable for occupant self-evacuation shall be posted on all floors adjacent to each elevator call station serving occupant evacuation elevators.

3008.7.6 Two-way communication system.

A two-way communication system shall be provided in each occupant evacuation elevator lobby for the purpose of initiating communication with the fire command center or an alternate location approved by the Fire Department. The two-way communication system shall be designed and installed in accordance with Sections 1009.8.1 and 1009.8.2.

3008.8 Elevator system monitoring.

The occupant evacuation elevators shall be continuously monitored at the fire command center or a central control point approved by the Fire Department and arranged to display all of the following information:

1. Floor location of each elevator car.

2. Direction of travel of each elevator car.

3. Status of each elevator car with respect to whether it is occupied.

4. Status of normal power to the elevator equipment, elevator machinery and electrical apparatus cooling equipment where provided, elevator machine room, control room and control space ventilation and cooling equipment.

5. Status of emergency or standby power system that provides backup power to the elevator equipment, elevator machinery and electrical cooling equipment where provided, elevator machine room, control room and control space ventilation and cooling equipment.

6. Activation of any fire alarm initiating device in any elevator lobby, elevator machine room, machine space containing a motor controller or electric driving machine, control space, control room or elevator hoistway.

3008.8.1 Elevator recall.

The fire command center or an alternate location approved by the Fire Department shall be provided with the means to manually initiate a Phase I Emergency Recall of the occupant evacuation elevators in accordance with ASME A17.1/CSA B44 as modified by Appendix K of this code.

3008.9 Electrical power.

The following features serving each occupant evacuation elevator shall be supplied by both normal power and Type 60/Class 6/Level 1 standby power:

1. Elevator equipment.

2. Ventilation and cooling equipment for elevator machine rooms, control rooms, machinery and control spaces.

3. Elevator car lighting.

Exceptions:

1. Standby power relying on natural gas as a fuel source need not be Class 6.

2. Where Exception 2 of Section 403.5.2 is utilized, the standby power generating equipment need only be sized to satisfy the loads required to simultaneously operate those elevators identified in the timed egress analysis described in Exception 2.2.

3008.9.1 Protection of wiring or cables.

Wires or cables that are located outside of the elevator hoistway, machine room, control room and control space and that provide normal or standby power, control signals, communication with the car, lighting, heating, air conditioning, ventilation and fire-detecting systems to occupant evacuation elevators shall be protected by construction having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours, or shall be circuit integrity cable having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours, or shall be protected by a listed electrical circuit protective system having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.

Exception: Wiring and cables to control signals are not required to be protected provided that wiring and cables do not serve Phase II emergency in-car operation.

3008.10 Emergency voice/alarm communication system.

The building shall be provided with an emergency voice/alarm communication system. The emergency voice/alarm communication system shall be accessible to the Fire Department. The system shall be provided in accordance with Section 907.5.2.2.

3008.10.1 Notification appliances.

Not fewer than one audible and one visible notification appliance shall be installed within each occupant evacuation elevator lobby.

3008.11 Hazardous material areas.

No building areas shall contain hazardous materials exceeding the maximum allowable quantities per control area as addressed in Section 414.2.