ATTENDEES:

George Blind, Sunnyvale Dept. of Public Safety
Bruce Lecair, Woodland Fire Dept.
Robert Evans, Stockton Fire Dept.
Glenn Peterson, Fire Protection Engineer
Scott McMillan, San Jose Fire Dept.
Bill Lichtenberger, Newark Fire Dept.
Todd Larson, Geo. M. Robinson Co.
Jim Meyer, Principal Engineer – DIR/DOSH, Elevator, Ride, and Tramway Unit

MEETING SUBJECT - ELEVATOR POWER SHUNT REQUIREMENTS –
ANSI/ASME A17.1

This meeting was held to review alternative methods for complying with Title8 and

ANSI/ASME A17.1 requirements for shut down of elevator power when automatic sprinklers are present. Jim Meyer, Principal Engineer with the State Elevator Unit of DOSH, clarified the requirements as adopted by reference in Title 8.

THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS – Rule 102.2 – ANSI/ASME A17.1

When automatic sprinklers are present in either the elevator equipment room or hoistway, a system must be provided to "automatically disconnect the main line power supply to the affected elevator upon or prior to the application of water from sprinklers located in the machine room or in the hoistway. This means shall be independent of the elevator control and shall not be self-resetting."

Smoke detectors must be provided along with the heat detectors so that Phase I elevator recall may be initiated. The authors of the ANSI/ASME A17.1 assume that the smoke detector will preact the heat detector so that recall may be accomplished; however, they also understand that a car might be stopped with passengers inside. No provision was made to verify completion of recall before removing power.

The following are acceptable means to accomplish the power shut down:

1. Rate of rise/fixed temperature heat detectors arranged to activate a shunt trip

breaker.
2. A water flow switch on the sprinkler piping into the hoistway or equipment

room to activate upon waterflow with NO time delay.
3. A pre-action or dry pipe sprinkler system arranged to shunt the power upon flow of water or activation of heat detector.

1. A separate valve for hoistway sprinklers is not required.
2. A waterflow switch for power shut down is not required if heat detectors are utilized.
3. The complications associated with providing effective smoke and heat detection within the hoistway, can be eliminated by keeping sprinklers out of the hoistway. This can be allowed if the elevator car enclosure materials meet the requirements of A17.1 and the hoistway is "noncombustible". If you apply "noncombustible" to the hoistway wall and lid finish – e.g. gypsum board, then, for sprinklering purposes, the rated hoistway could be considered noncombustible regardless of the type of framing used.
4. Flow of water from the sprinkler at the bottom of the shaft does not have to shunt elevator power.
5. If an unsprinklered building is retrofitted with sprinklers, the power shunt would be required.

Jim Meyer will provide feedback regarding the use of battery back-up units for hydraulic elevators. When power is lost, these units allow the car to go down to the next floor and power the doors open. The issue revolves around whether or not the shunt would apply to battery output.

Devices Committee members will integrate efforts with those of the State Fire Marshal’s Office and DOSH. The next mid-month meeting to discuss this subject will be on September 14, 2000.

Respectfully submitted,

George Blind and Bruce Lecair
Fire Protection Devices Committee