Plywood is covered with noncombustible copper on top and protected with metal decking and gypsum board below, providing equivalent protection for plywood. Plywood is necessary for attachment of copper roofing. No access from the interior is provided to the hatch. Hatch has a fusible link to automatically open with build up of heat at top of stair, which is provided in lieu of interior access to hatch and roof in this central stair. Building designed for addition of 4 future floors.
Central stair is designed to encourage use of stairs between floors instead of elevators.
Intermediate handrails at stairways for every 88 inches of required width. Intermediate handrails shall be spaced approximately equally across the entire width of the stairway. A low on-grade ramp not requiring handrails entrance is provided at the southeast corner of property from the Park Blocks. Monumental stair entrance without intermediate handrails is consistent with other major buildings on the Park Blocks. We feel the handrails at each side of the stair and the on-grade ramp without need to use stairs provides equivalent access to entrance without intermediate handrails.