Mechanical Technical Advisory Committee

Tampa, Florida

May 7, 2007 

The meeting was convened at 1 p.m. by Commissioner Gary Griffin, acting chair in the absence of Chair Steve Bassett. A quorum of eight voting members was present.

Voting Members Present:

Bob Andrews, Larry Banks, Betsy Goll, Gary Griffin, Daniel Griffin, Don Pittman, and Pete Quintela.

Meeting Activities:

The TAC considered DEC request DCA07-DEC-080 by Mike Pella of Kamm Consulting. Gordon Myers represented Kamm Consulting at the meeting. Kamm Consulting is designing a hospitality project, the 4 story Hyatt Place, in Lake Mary, Florida, where the desired intent is to exhaust the guest unit bathrooms via an exhaust riser with a central exhaust fan on top that runs continuously. No smoke control system is required or planned. The typical bathroom design is based on a 50 cfm ceiling fan connected by a 4” round, metal duct to a 22” metal sub-duct inside the riser, in compliance with FBC-M 2004 section 607.5.5.1, exception 1.1. However, such design does not comply with exception 2.1 of the same section, which is restricted to group B occupancies only. Therefore a smoke damper is required in order to comply with the requirements of Section 607.5.5.1 for penetrations of shaft enclosures.

On review of the questions, the TAC disagreed with the staff analysis and recommended the following:

•  To the question, Would the advantages of automatic sprinkler protection be equally applicable to the described group R occupancies, which the 2004 FM Code recognizes for group B occupancies?, the answer is YES, based on NFPA and life safety codes, the advantages of automatic sprinker protection should be equally applicable to group R occupancies.

•  To the question, Would the omission of smoke dampers be acceptable for the described group R occupancies, considering that the 2003 IMC Commentary recognizes that “smoke dampers in steel exhaust sub-ducts extended at least 22 inches vertically in the exhaust shafts would not significantly increase safety to the building occupants” when there is a continuous upward outflow to the outside? the answer is YES, based on NFPA, life safety codes and the 2006 International Mechanical Code the omission of smoke dampers should be acceptable for group R occupancies.

•  To the question, Would the omission of smoke dampers be acceptable for the described group R occupancies, considering that for smoke barriers NFPA 90-A, 2002 ed., recognizes the following exceptions, which are applicable in these instances?

•  #5.3.5.1.3 Smoke dampers shall not be required where the air inlet or outlet openings in ducts are limited to a single smoke compartment.

•  #5.3.5.1.4 Smoke dampers shall not be required in ducts where the air continues to move and the air-handling system installed is arranged to prevent recirculation of exhaust or return air under fire emergency conditions,

the answer is YES, the omission of smoke dampers per NFPA 90-A should be an acceptable alternate material, design or method of construction and equipment for the described group R occupancies.

•  To the question, Would such smoke dampers, as required, lead to decreased life safety considering their serviceability and maintainability in practical reality? Typically, such smoke dampers would be located above hard ceilings, in congested areas where accessibility is limited or, at times, non-existent, the answer is that it is beyond the scope of this Declaratory Statement.

The TAC reviewed the following Draft Code material(s) and took comments from members and other interested parties. These comments will be complied with the Florida specific requirements incorporated into the 2006 I Code base document. The following are Code volumes, Chapters and sections were reviewed by the Mechanical TAC:

Florida Building Code, Mechanical , Florida Building Code, Building: Chapter 28 , Florida Building Code, Existing Volume: s. 508 , s. 609 , s. 709 , s. 909 , Florida Building Code, Residential: Chapter 3 , Chapter 12 , Chapter 13 , Chapter 14 , Chapter 15-16 , Chapter 17-21 , Chapter 43 , Local Amendment : (Residential, M1411.3).

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 3 p.m.