Elevator shafts - included in GFA? Please, help!

You can go in circles parsing definitions! The USGBC definition at http://www.usgbc.org/glossary/term/4472 for Gross Floor Area says it “Excludes air shafts, pipe trenches, and chimneys.” Is an elevator shaft a vent shaft? The USGBC definition is based on the ASHRAE definition of gross floor area, which says: “The sum of the floor areas of all the spaces within the building with no deductions for floor penetrations other than atria.” That suggests elevator shafts could be included. The International Building Code (IBC) definition of Gross Floor Area (Section 1002.1) doesn’t specifically address elevator shafts, but is excludes vent shafts and interior courts: “The gross floor area shall not include shafts with no openings or interior courts.” Stairs are typically included in gross floor area. In many contexts, elevator shafts are also included in the gross floor area of each floor, so it’s probably safest to include them here. Correct, voids are not included. The floor area of that double height space is counted once on the floor where it is occupied.

Hi David, I had a question on the same topic. We are responding to the final Design review comments and it appears that the GSA calcs in our PIf3 form did not exclude the SF of our atria. Can we change the GSA now? subtract the according SF and update the table PIf3-1?? Thanks in advance for your response!