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Forum Categories BOMA 2010 - Office Buildings Question

Stairs that have no doors- not real stairwells

Townsend Wilson: PWGSC; February 23, 2017

On some of our small 2 story government buildings built many years ago, we tend to have stairs that resemble a stairwell but there are no doors to the stairs on the 1st floor nor on the 2nd floor. At times there may be a door built later on one of the floors to control access- no for fire/smoke separation. At times it's a straight run of stairs from 1st to 2nd floor and at other times, the stairs are in a tight U shape. There is no open air space to look down or up. Is this a BS(1st floor) and void(2nd floor) scenario or does one stay with Vertical penetration?

David Fingret: Extreme Measures Inc.; February 24, 2017

Hi Townsend,

It's difficult to answer without seeing floor plans but I believe the way you are describing this, these are unenclosed stairwells. As long as there is a hole in the floor slab, Major Vertical Penetration would apply. When a stair occurs in a VOID then the stair is part of the VOID and not a Major Vertical Penetration. Feel free to send plans to mail@xmeasures.com if you would like greater clarity.

Thanks,