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404.6 Enclosure of Atriums

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Atrium spaces shall be separated from adjacent spaces by a 1-hour fire barrier constructed in accordance with Section 707 or a horizontal assembly constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both.

Exceptions:

A fire barrier is not required where a glass wall forming a smoke partition is provided. The glass wall shall comply with all of the following:
1. Automatic sprinklers are provided along both sides of the separation wall and doors, or on the room side only if there is not a walkway on the atrium side. The sprinklers shall be located between 4 inches and 12 inches (102 mm and 305 mm) away from the glass and at intervals along the glass not greater than 6 feet (1829 mm). The sprinkler system shall be designed so that the entire surface of the glass is wet upon activation of the sprinkler system without obstruction;
2. The glass wall shall be installed in a gasketed frame in a manner that the framing system deflects without breaking (loading) the glass before the sprinkler system operates; and
3. Where glass doors are provided in the glass wall, they shall be either self-closing or automatic-closing.
A fire barrier is not required where a glass-block wall assembly complying with Section 2110 and having a ³/₄-hour fire protection rating is provided.
A fire barrier is not required between the atrium and the adjoining spaces of up to three floors of the atrium provided that such spaces are accounted for in the design of the smoke control system.
A fire barrier is not required between the atrium and the adjoining spaces where the atrium is not required to be provided with a smoke control system.