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Steve Gantner, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: sgantner

Post Number: 62
Registered: 08-2007


Posted on Wednesday, May 09, 2018 - 02:05 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Has anyone specified restoration of a 1920's era high rise mail chute system? My inclination is to cover the various components in each representative section, ie, decorative metal refinishing, glazing, etc. Then I wonder if there should be one section which covers that particular work result, 105591 - Mail Chutes.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.
Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP, EDAC
Senior Member
Username: redseca2

Post Number: 644
Registered: 12-2006


Posted on Wednesday, May 09, 2018 - 02:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

The first question is if the chutes will merely be decorative, or would they be restored to use?

Fire Marshals these days tend to see them as non-rated shafts and take a dim view of them.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/new-york-citys-mail-chutes-are-lovely-ingenious-and-almost-entirely-ignored
Jeffrey Wilson CSI CCS SCIP
Senior Member
Username: wilsonconsulting

Post Number: 254
Registered: 03-2006


Posted on Wednesday, May 09, 2018 - 03:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I think a separate section makes sense, particularly if they will be restored to service. But I would follow the "O&M of" approach in MasterFormat w/ something like 100155 "Operation and Maintenance of Mail Chutes"; or simply "Maintenance of Mail Chutes" or "Restoration of Mail Chutes" if they'll remain inoperable.
Jeffrey Wilson CCS CSI SCIP
Wilson Consulting Inc
Ardmore PA
Steve Gantner, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: sgantner

Post Number: 63
Registered: 08-2007


Posted on Wednesday, May 09, 2018 - 04:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thanks Steven and Jeffrey.

These will be de-commissioned for the original use, cut and capped at each floor for fire resistance reasons. They are to remain for "historic" reasons only.

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