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National Fire P~otection Association (NFPA) 101-2006, Life Safety Code, is under revision. NFPA recently voted on the revision which will be published as NFPA 101-2009 and released in the fall. The following are proposed changes to NFPA 101.
* Elevators for occupant-controlled evacuation prior to Phase I emergency recall operations (New adoptable Annex B). Building occupants have been taught not to use elevators for occupant evacuation. Elevators in compliance with ASME A17.1/CSA B44 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators are called out of service via Phase I emergency recall operations when required smoke detectors are activated in only the elevator lobbies, elevator machine room and in some hoistways. Therefore, it can be safe to use elevators prior to Phase I recall.
The new annex includes criteria aimed at keeping smoke from reaching the elevator lobby smoke detectors and at keeping water out of the hoistway Communications systems will tell occupants, in real time, the operating status of the elevators. An exit stair enclosure, required to be immediately adjacent to the elevator lobby, provides egress for occupants left at the elevator lobby once the elevator has been called out of service. The occupant evacuation elevator is not credited with meeting any code requirements for number of means of egress or egress capacity, as it cannot be ensured that the elevator will continue to run long into the fire emergency
* Supplemental evacuation equipment (New adoptable Annex C). Supplemental evacuation equipment is not part of the means of egress, but it might provide an alternate to the means of egress or escape. The new annex addresses two forms of escape devices and systems: 1) controlled descent devices, which lower one or two persons per descent, each wearing a rescue harness, at a controlled rate from an upper level to the ground or other safe location; and 2) enclosed platform rescue systems in which platforms move vertically along guides or other means on the exterior of a building to evacuate multiple occupants from an upper level or levels to the ground or other safe location and which has the capability of transporting emergency responders to upper levels of a building.
The new annex provides detailed criteria to help ensure the safe operation of such equipment and to prevent...