Sprinklers in Elevator Machine Rooms and Hoistways

Background

VA practice provides total sprinkler protection for all new patient buildings. Existing VA buildings are also routinely provided with total sprinkler protection retroactively. NFPA Standard No. 13 addressees proper installation of sprinklers including requirement for sprinklers in the pit and in the machine room. There are no exceptions for new construction elevator machine rooms.

ASME A17.1 Elevator Code, Rule 102.2(c) allows sprinklers for elevator machine rooms and pits but requires that power be disconnected to the elevators prior to sprinkler activation in machine rooms.

The reason for the power disconnect requirement is the concern that unsafe operating conditions may occur if a sprinkler discharges wetting the elevator machinery and controllers. This could potentially allow the elevator to move with the doors open. In extreme cases the elevator could crash into the top or bottom of the hoistway.

The NFPA Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72) requires that the heat detectors used for elevator shutdown be connected to the fire alarm control panel for alarm only.

Discussion

Elevator fire protection must comply with NFPA 13, NFPA 70, NFPA 72, and ANSI/ASME A17.1 or A17.3 as applicable.

Sprinklers will be provided for all new elevator machine rooms and pits in accordance with NFPA Standard No. 13 when the building is required to be totally sprinkler protected. Sprinklers at the top of noncombustible hoistways of passenger elevators whose car enclosure meets the requirements of ASME A17.1 shall be omitted. The sprinkler in the pit is required for hydraulic elevators or if oil buffers are present and the hoistway is of combustible construction.

All sprinklers in the elevator machine room and bottom of the hoistway shall be fed from the building wet pipe sprinkler system. No sprinkler risers shall be permitted inside any hoistway. Sprinkler branch lines shall enter hoistways only where a sprinkler is required. Sprinklers shall be standard type with 165 degree temperature rating. A guard shall be provided around each sprinkler. Control valves to isolate the sprinklers shall be provided in an accessible location outside any hoistway or machine room. A separate water flow switch shall be provided to create a separate sprinkler zone. A tamper switch shall be provided for each control valve. Flow and tamper switches shall be connected to the building fire alarm system. Heat detectors, 135 degrees rate compensation with a lower Response Time Index (RTI) shall be provided in accordance with NFPA 72 within 24 inches of each sprinkler in the elevator machine room. No heat detector is required for the pit sprinkler. The heat detectors shall be connected to the fire alarm control panel. The fire alarm control panel shall send a supervised signal to the elevator machine room. Power shall be removed from each elevator controller by activating an independently controlled shunt trip circuit breaker when the temperature in the machine room exceeds the setting of the heat detector.

Equivalent Protection

On a case-by-case basis for some minor renovation or upgrade work, sprinklers may be omitted from the elevator machine room, the top of the hoistway, and the bottom of the hoistway when sprinklers are retroactively installed in existing buildings as follows:

1. Elevator hoistways and machine rooms must be of non-combustible construction.
2. A one-hour fire rated enclosure must be provided around the elevator machine room. Unprotected openings in the floor may be provided for mechanical, hoist and governor cables. Fire doors to the elevator machine rooms shall be provided with signage prohibiting the door being blocked open. Hoistways must also be enclosed in fire rated construction, the rating dependent on other code requirements.
3. No occupancy or storage shall be permitted in the elevator machine rooms. Quarterly inspections shall be conducted and documented.
4. Heat detectors as described above shall be provided in the elevator machine rooms to perform the functions as noted above. Spacing of the heat detectors shall be per NFPA 72.
5. For existing fire alarm systems being modified to include elevator shutdown, follow requirements for new systems if technically feasible. Otherwise, the heat detectors shall be part of an independent shutdown system.
6. All other provisions of Rule 211 of ASME A17.1 shall be provided.

For additional information contact the Consulting Support Service (183A), Bill Haupt @ 202-565-9371.

Send inquiries about this page to cfm@va.gov.