There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding building codes. That’s why we’ve assembled a handy checklist that helps you make sure that your elevator shaft protection is meeting life safety building codes. Complete the form below to download your safety guide.
Total Door Systems makes integrated door systems that meet the strictest fire and smoke containment building codes.
We’re the expert, so that you don’t have to be. Total Door Systems meets all life safety and sustainability certifications:
When fire breaks out in a high rise, the elevator hoistway can become a chimney, spreading smoke from floor to floor. Building codes focus on three basic ideas: stopping the spread of smoke, allowing an easy exit, and creating a field of vision for fire fighters.
Five life saving codes break those goals down this way:
Most deaths during a fire are attributed to smoke inhalation. If your elevator hoistway protection is only fire-rated, you're only halfway there. Code requires swing doors protecting elevators be both fire- and smoke-rated and labeled as such.
In other words, people must be able to get out quickly and easily, with nothing in their way.
Essentially, your elevator hoistway protection door needs a window. But not just any window. If your door is fire- and smoke-rated, the glass must support the rating of the door.
Many manufacturers use duct tape across the bottom of the door to seal off the undercut during testing. That allows testing of the headers and jambs for air leakage and listing of those parts as meeting the standard. Products that protect life safety, however, need to show certified proof that they’ve been tested without such a seal so that users can be sure that the door system contains smoke and fire, and gives people precious time to escape.
Even a rated elevator protection device must not require special keys, tools, or knowledge to open. When you’re rushing to leave a burning building, the last thing on your mind is finding the right Allen wrench to open a smoke containment device.
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