We have a project in San Francisco where there has been a request for a glazed entrance to an elevator lobby. The building is fully sprinklered, so per CBC 3006.2.1 an unrated smoke partition is all that’s required. Have any of you used storefront in this kind of application?
Thanks
I went down this rabbit hole a few years back. No good news, but Ill try to respond later with more info.
There are interior glass automatic sliding door assemblies available that are used in ICU rooms and other applications where a smoke, but not fire, rated assembly is needed at wide openings for patient bed passage. That is an expensive solution.
Then there is the option to punt the problem: Use a totally standard (project standard or otherwise) door system and install a separate roll down smoke barrier in front of the door.
Both systems offer fiddley solutions for emergency egress
You will still need a system rated for smoke if you don’t use the smoke curtain. (Honestly, the smoke curtain at each elevator door is my preferred solution)
For our office, we used hollow metal frames and a wood door with a smoke rating. You would have to check with the storefront manufacturers to see if they offer smoke ratings.