Storage in Alcoves

A small, 4 shelf book cabinet has been placed in a little shallow alcove (not in any pathway) in one of the elevator lobbies.  Is it legal by NFPA standards to keep the shelf unit where it is?

I don’t think the small bookcase in an alcove that you have described should present a problem. However, I would caution on anything else being introduced into the area. Before you know it, staff may want to start storing combustible materials or supplies (e.g. boxes of copy paper, etc.) in other alcoves or placing more furniture in the elevator lobby that eventually may impede egress. The Life Safety Code® does allow some things to be placed or stored in alcoves per certain requirements and features of fire protection as described below.
 
NFPA 101® Life Safety Code® 2000 Edition 19.3.6 Corridors.
19.3.6.1 Corridors shall be separated from all other areas by partitions complying with 19.3.6.2 through 19.3.6.5. (See also 19.2.5.9.)

  
Exception No. 1: Smoke compartments protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 19.3.5.3 shall be permitted to have spaces that are unlimited in size open to the corridor, provided that the following criteria are met:

• (a) The spaces are not used for patient sleeping rooms, treatment rooms, or hazardous areas.
• (b) The corridors onto which the spaces open in the same smoke compartment are protected by an electrically supervised automatic smoke detection system in accordance with 19.3.4, or the smoke compartment in which the space is located is protected throughout by quick-response sprinklers.
• (c) The open space is protected by an electrically supervised automatic smoke detection system in accordance with 19.3.4, or the entire space is arranged and located to allow direct supervision by the facility staff from a nurses’ station or similar space.
• (d) The space does not obstruct access to required exits.