DEN SkyWest Crew Rest Modifications

This project renovated SkyWest crew rooms located in the basement of Denver International Airport’s Concourse B to achieve full fire code compliance. The primary objective was to ensure the quiet rooms met all applicable fire and life safety requirements while minimizing disruption and cost.

The crew rooms are used by SkyWest flight crews between flights as quiet, low-light spaces for rest and recovery. Existing conditions included VAV-conditioned spaces with plenum returns served by central air handling units, while adjacent corridors were equipped with central smoke exhaust systems for smoke events. SkyWest’s goal was to bring the rooms into compliance using the simplest and most budget-conscious approach possible.

Compliance was achieved by introducing dedicated smoke exhaust pathways for each crew room, including the installation of fire smoke dampers and rebalancing of existing systems. Field investigations revealed that the room walls extended nearly to the underside of the floor above, requiring non-standard duct and damper configurations. Transfer ducts were carefully sized to ensure adequate airflow while avoiding excessive static pressure that could limit system performance.

A key challenge was meeting code requirements within a tight budget. This was addressed through early and direct coordination with the Denver Fire Department. By engaging the fire marshal during design, the team confirmed compliance prior to issuing construction documents, streamlining approvals and avoiding costly redesigns.