Chute Discharge Room Fire Rating

[Scott12345678]

I had a question about fire rating a chute discharge room, as specified in NFPA 82.
Per section 6.2.4.1.1, the discharge room is required to be the same rating as the shaft (in this case, 2 hours). Has anyone ever found an exception that allows the shaft to run to the slab (ie. the floor of the level of discharge), which separates it from the room, eliminating the need for the room to be 2 hours? In theory I think it makes sense, as the shaft is no longer open to the room, which could then be reduced to 1 hour. However, I can't find any exceptions allowing this.

Thank you for your help.

 

[cdafd]

Do laundry or trash???

How are they going to get whatever out of the chute??

 

[Scott12345678]

We have both in our building. The chute will still have the fire door in it, it would just be embedded in a fire rated shaft, much like the intake rooms.

Thanks

 

[cdafd]

Appears you can do it

Fbc

713.13.4 Chute discharge room
Waste or linen chutes shall discharge into an enclosed room separated by fire barriers with a fire-resistance rating not less than the required fire rating of the shaft enclosure and constructed in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both. Openings into the discharge room from the remainder of the building shall be protected by opening protectives having a fire protection rating equal to the protection required for the shaft enclosure. Doors shall be self- or automatic-closing upon the detection of smoke in accordance with Section 716.5.9.3. Waste chutes shall not terminate in an incinerator room. Waste and linen rooms that are not provided with chutes need only comply with Table 509.

 

[cdafd]

How are you getting the reduction to one hour???

Or looking for an exception

Which you have not found

 

[stookeyfpe]

Permissible reductions or elimination of fire-resistance rating for wall, ceiling and shaft assemblies are specified in the adopted building code.

 

[Scott12345678]

Thanks everyone for your replies. When I say exception I should be clearer. I assume that the room would have to be 2 hours to match the shaft, if it is open to the room. This is the same as any chute, mechanical shaft, elevator, etc. because the room is an extension of the shaft. What I'm hoping to do is continue the shaft down to the slab, separating it from the room entirely. I'm not trying to cheat the system, I'm simply on a project in construction where this issue was identified (ie. the discharge room isn't rated) and trying to come up with a solution that would avoid rating the very large room. Logically, if the shaft extends to the floor, then the fire rating is contained within the extents of the shaft, so it would work. This is allowable when a mechanical shaft terminates at the ground floor slab, rather than in an opening in the second floor slab which requires the entire mechanical room to be 2 hour rated.

Thanks again

 

[UFT12]

What you re saying makes sense but you need to consult the applicable building code. If there is no clear stipulation I guess you can exercise the relevant section where the code allows to clarify with the AHJ. However to make it work you need to make sure the openings on the chute are protected as per the relevant sections of the code (like cdafd posted above). With that said, the openings cannot remain open for an indefinite amount of time, meaning that they have to be self-closing to allow being separated all the time unless a supplementary active system like smoke detection will close the doors in case of fire. This is a similar concept as self-closing doors. If there is a chance that this prerequisite is not satisfied then it may be that the code or the AHJ may not be satisfied.

 

[Scott12345678]

Thank you UFT12. The doors nein the chute are self closing, but yours and others points are well taken. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[stookeyfpe]

You should be asking the question why shouldn't the room have a 2-hour fire-resistance rating. If your project is subject to compliance with building code, you or the registered design professional must comply with the minimum provisions.

Trash room and chute fires are serious business for firefighters. Feel free to review this report about a Dallas (TX) firefighter who died in the line of duty. The lack of maintenance of the fire-resistive assemblies was a contributing factor to the incident.

https://www.tdi.texas.gov/reports/fire/documents/fmloddwilson.pdf

 

[chicopee]

What does the insurance company providing professional liability insurance to your work or about the local fire department or the state fire marshal have to say?
The description of your OP is kind of confusing but if I read your OP correctly how about having a smaller enclosed room with the appropriate fire resistance rating including fire rated self closing doors for the discharge of the chute.