Glossary Term Defined

Major openings in the floor to accommodate vertical building elements such as stairs, elevators, HVAC shafts, atriums and the like. Distinguished from minor vertical penetrations by various rules of thumb (ranging from 64 square inched to 144 square inches, 1 square foot).

Shall mean stairs, elevator shafts, flues, pipe shafts, vertical ducts, and the like, and their enclosing walls. Atria, light wells and similar penetrations above the finished floor are included in this definition. Not included, however, are vertical penetrations built for the private use of a tenant occupying OFFICE AREAs on more than one floor. Structural columns, openings for vertical electric cable or telephone distribution, and openings for plumbing lines are not considered to be Major Vertical Penetrations.