McKEON distributor Maxson and Associates worked with Pieper O’Brien Herr Architects and Gilbane on an addition to the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville, GA.
Our products were utilized to resolve two common building code concerns. One was area separation between the existing facility and the new wing. Another was vertical separation around an open monumental stair that also functions as an egress stair tower.
In the first instance, a Safescape® S7900 side acting fire door was installed to separate the new building from the existing building. In return capping the end of the breezeway between them as a fire rated opening protective. The wide-span opening protective, with its integrated swinging egress door, provided an egress pathway through the breezeway. The swinging egress door is ADA compliant ensuring all building occupants are able to egress through without issue. The narrow storage space required by the S7900 fit easily between the exterior wall of the new building and an area with a desk. The fire door slides out of sight into the wall out of sight behind the desk like a pocket door would!
Secondly, three Safescape® T2000 fire doors were installed at the monumental stair providing the rated separation required to create an egress stair. In an alarm condition these 3-hour smoke and fire rated assemblies surround the stair — protecting building occupants as they descend during a building evacuation. The T2000 incorporates a complying swinging egress door allowing passage into the exit stair from the surrounding floors. When these wide-span opening protectives are not deployed, the shaft walls literally disappear exposing the convenient and expansive monumental stair that building occupants use frequently. The feel of the space is airy and open thanks to the McKEON T2000!