The code topic of the month addresses the long-standing requirement for elevator hoistway ventilation, previously found in Section 3004 of the 2011 Ohio Building Code (OBC), which has been removed with the adoption of the 2017 OBC. This change was part of a national coordinated effort between the American Society of Mechanical Engineers standard A17.1, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, and the International Code Council model building code, the International Building Code (IBC). You can view the full article below:
“Topics covered in this section are based on recent code questions emailed to board staff and our response. They are intended to provide guidance only to code users and should be not considered formal interpretations of the board. Code questions can be emailed to BBS@com.state.oh.us.
The long-standing requirement for elevator hoistway ventilation, previously found in Section 3004 of the 2011 Ohio Building Code (OBC), has been removed with the adoption of the 2017 OBC. This change was part of a national coordinated effort between the American Society of Mechanical Engineers standard A17.1, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, and the International Code Council model building code, the International Building Code (IBC).
Over the years, hoistway ventilation consisted of properly-sized vent openings to the outside at the top of the hoistway. In the event of a fire, these openings were intended to allow the escape of smoke and hot gases to the outside instead of spreading to other floors connected by the hoistway. With a large opening present in the elevator shaft, there were obvious design challenges associated with energy conservation and elevator pressurization requirements that were slowly addressed by adding exceptions to the code over the years.
One such change appeared in the 2011 O.B.C. § 708.14.2.1, which added an exception allowing the elimination of hoistway venting when pressurized elevator shafts were provided. More recent building code changes relating to elevators and fire safety – such as requirements and design options for elevator lobbies, hoistway opening protection, elevator hoistway pressurization, and/or automatic sprinklers – have essentially rendered the old hoistway ventilation systems redundant. Therefore, the requirement was removed in the 2015 IBC, which was adopted by the board last year resolving the design challenge.”
The proposed rules section indicates the board will convene for a public hearing in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Revised Code at 10 a.m., Nov. 9 in Hearing Room 1, at 6606 Tussing Road, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, 43068 to consider proposed changes to the Residential Code of Ohio and the Certification rules. The rules can be reviewed here.
The board has scheduled three upcoming continuing education sessions on Existing Buildings/Ohio Building Code Chapter 34:
Nov. 26
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Montgomery County Auditorium
451 W. Third St, Dayton, Ohio 45422
Register: Nov 26 Existing Buildings Dayton Registration
Jan. 15, 2019
Ocasek Building
161 S. High Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
Feb. 21, 2019
Ohio Department of Transportation Auditorium
1980 W. Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43223
This course is approved for six hours of continuing education credit for all certifications. This free class is open to the public.
Upcoming Meetings
All meetings will take place at: (unless otherwise noted)
6606 Tussing Road
Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068
Nov. 8, 10 a.m. – BBS Certification and Education Committees
Nov. 8, 1 p.m. – BBS Code Committee
Nov. 9, 10 a.m. – BBS Conference Meeting
Nov. 28, 9 a.m. – RCAC Meeting