Code Question: Impossible Atrium?

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Author Message Brian Payne, AIA Senior Member Username: brian_payne Post Number: 117 Registered: 01-2014 Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 - 01:27 pm:    So I visited a building (B occupancy office tower) that had a 4-5 story stair atrium with monumental stair and no smoke evac system. The only thing it did have is glass draft curtains at each level. How would this be possible? Liz O'Sullivan Senior Member Username: liz_osullivan Post Number: 236 Registered: 10-2011 Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 - 01:31 pm:    Perhaps it was built decades ago? Brian Payne, AIA Senior Member Username: brian_payne Post Number: 118 Registered: 01-2014 Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 - 01:38 pm:    Sorry, it was completed last year. It's a class-A office building for a well known international company, designed by a top 20 architectural firm. Don Harris CSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA Senior Member Username: don_harris Post Number: 300 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 - 03:50 pm:    Does the curtain wall have operable vents on motors connected to the fire alarm? Brian Payne, AIA Senior Member Username: brian_payne Post Number: 119 Registered: 01-2014 Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 - 04:23 pm:    Not that I could tell from inside or by looking at pictures of the roof. All sides of the clerestory looks like this... Kenneth H. Smith (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 - 04:14 pm:    Brian; Maybe they used the escalator provisions in section 712.1.3 in the 2015 IBC, also look specifically at 712.1.3.1 for the draft curtains. This section applies to B&M occupancies up to 4 stories. Brian Payne, AIA Senior Member Username: brian_payne Post Number: 120 Registered: 01-2014 Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 - 05:03 pm:    I saw that. Interesting that escalator openings are treated differently than stairs in the code. In this case it is a stair, not escalator, and it is 5 connected stories in most of the locations. Kenneth H. Smith (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 - 07:11 pm:    Brian; The stories aside I have used this section for stairs before after convincing the BO that their is no real difference between a "stationary" stair and a "moving" stair. Guest (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, November 30, 2017 - 11:55 am:    I'm curious how the escalator (or stair) provisions would negate the need for smoke control for an atrium. Adding some draft curtains at the edges of the floor openings at an atrium doesn't make it less of an atrium. It would still need to comply with Section 404 (and 909) ... or is there something I'm missing? I could see that perhaps the draft curtains help in the design of a smoke control system, but you would still need the system.