Title 17F Construction Standards
Chapter 17F.040 Building Code
Section 17F.040.130 Special Skywalk Provisions
Definitions.
“Skywalk area” is those areas within a building through which pedestrians may pass when en route from any skywalk bridge or vertical circulation point to another skywalk bridge or vertical circulation point.
On single-tenant floors this includes the entire floor.
On multi-tenant floors this includes all areas which are not separated from the pedestrian routes by walls, doors, windows, chain gates, rolling grilles or other devices.
“Skywalk bridge” is any elevated bridge-like structure connecting two buildings and primarily designed for pedestrian use.
“Skywalk system” is the entirety of the central business district interconnecting above the street-level pedestrian circulation system.
Required Separations.
Required building separations must be in accordance with IBC Section 707. Openings for the purpose of interconnecting the skywalk areas of buildings may occur so long as they be protected as required by IBC Section 707 for area separation walls. The protection may be provided by any labeled fire door assembly of the proper rating.
Exceptions:
Protection of openings in walls between buildings of like construction types need not be provided if the buildings are sprinklered on the floors upon which the openings occur.
Protection of openings in walls between buildings of unlike construction types may be reduced from the required three-hour rating to a two-hour rating and from a one-and-one-half-hour rating to a one-hour rating if the buildings are sprinklered on the floors upon which the openings occur.
Exits.
Each building connected to the skywalk system by opening(s) or skywalk bridge(s) must have exits as required by the IBC.
Exceptions:
After business hours skywalk areas and tenant areas within a building may be closed off from each other or the rest of the building by security devices, but:
Skywalk areas must be served by at least one exit at all times, and
Tenant spaces must be served by at least one exit at all times. This exit may be into the skywalk area, but openings with closures other than leaf-type doors are not considered as exits after business hours. Proper separation of exits must be maintained in cases where two exits are required.
Corridors.
Skywalk areas within buildings are treated as corridors subject to the requirements of IBC Section 1020.
Exceptions:
When thirty feet or more in width, such areas are not treated as corridors.
When the skywalk area is fully sprinklered and smoke alarms are installed, the corridor walls may be of noncombustible construction instead of one-hour construction so long as sprinklers are installed on both sides of the corridor wall. Openings in the wall must be equipped with self-closing or automatic-closing (IBC Section 716) doors with gaskets in the frames. Only openings glazed with safety glazing or wire glass are permitted but there is no limit on the amount of glazing.
When the skywalk areas and the tenant space opening onto it are both fully sprinklered and smoke alarms are installed, no corridor walls or doors are required. If walls are provided, they must be of noncombustible construction.
In no case are partitions, rails, counters and similar space dividers construed to form corridor walls.
Date Passed: Monday, May 23, 2016
Effective Date: Thursday, June 30, 2016
ORD C35389 Section 9
