FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROAD
A road that provides fire apparatus access from a fire station to a facility, building or portion thereof. This is a general term inclusive of all other terms such as fire lane, public street, private street, parking lot lane and access roadway.
503.1 WHERE REQUIRED
Fire apparatus access roads shall be provided and maintained in accordance with Section 503.1.1 through 503.1.3 and Appendix D of the International Fire Code 2015 and local amendments.
503.2 SPECIFICATIONS
Fire apparatus access shall be installed and arranged in accordance with Section 503.2.1 through 503.2.8 and Appendix D of the International Fire Code 2015 and local amendments.
503.2.1 DIMENSIONS
Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet (6096 mm), of improved surface in accordance with Section 503.6 and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches (4115 mm)
503.2.3 SURFACE
Fire apparatus access roads shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus and shall be surfaced so as to provide all-weather driving capabilities.
503.2.4 TURNING RADIUS
The required turning radius of a fire apparatus road shall be determined by the fire code official.
30' interior; 50' exterior radius turn
503.2.5 DEAD ENDS
Dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150 feet (45 720 mm) in length shall be provided with an approved area for turning around fire apparatus.
503.2.6 BRIDGES AND ELEVATED SURFACES
Where a bridge or an elevated surface is part of a fire apparatus access road, the bridge shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with AASHTO HB-17. Bridges and elevated surfaces shall be designed for alive load sufficient to carry the imposed loads of fire apparatus. Vehicle load limits shall be posted at both entrances to bridges where required by the fire code official. Where elevated surfaces designed for emergency vehicles use are adjacent to surfaces that are not designed for such use, approved barriers, approved signs or both shall be installed and maintained where required by the fire code official.
D102.1 ACCESS AND LOADING
Facilities buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed shall be accessible to fire department apparatus by the way of an approved fire apparatus access road with an asphalt, concrete or other approved driving surface capable of supporting the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing at least 80,000 pounds (34,050 kg) with a minimum single axle weight of 28,000 pounds. Alternative methods such as brick pavers, road base, and gravel,, ext. may be considered on a case by case basis. A State of Colorado Certified Engineer must approve the design and installation as being capable of supporting 80,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight in all weather conditions.
D103.1 ACCESS ROAD WIDTH WITH A HYDRANT
Where a fire hydrant is located on a fire apparatus access road, the minimum road width shall be 26 feet (7925 mm), of improved surface per Section D102.
D103.2 GRADE
Fire apparatus access roads shall not exceed 10 percent in grade.
Exception: Grades steeper than 10 percent as approved by the fire chief.
D103.4 DEAD ENDS
Dead ends fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150 feet shall be provided with width and turnaround provisions in accordance with Table D103.4
TABLE D103.4
|
LENGTH
(FEET)
|
MINIMUM
WIDTH
(FEET)
|
A. MINIMUM TURNAROUNDS REQUIRED
|
|
0-150
|
20
|
NONE REQUIRED
|
|
151-500
|
24
|
120 - FOOT HAMMERHEAD, 60 - FOOT "Y". 96 - FOOT DIAMETER CUL-DE-SAC IN ACCORDANCE WITH FIGURE D103.1
|
|
501-700
|
28
|
120 - FOOT HAMMERHEAD, 60 - FOOT "Y", 100 - FOOT DIAMETER CUL-DE-SAC IN ACCORDANCE WITH FIGURE D103.1
(ADDITIONAL INTERMEDDIATE TURNAROUNDS MAY BE REQUIRED)
SPECIAL FIRE DEPARTMENT APPROVAL IS REQUIRED
|
|
OVER 700
|
NOT PREMITTED
|
|
Figure 103.1
DEAD-END FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROAD TURNAROUND
D103.5 FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROAD GATES. Gates securing the fire apparatus access roads shall comply with all of the following criteria:
1. Where a single gate is provided, the gate width shall be not less than 20 feet. Where a fire apparatus road consists of a divided roadway, the gate width shall be not less than 12 feet.
2. Gates shall be of the swinging or sliding type
3. Construction of gates shall be of materials that allow manual operation by one person.
4. Gate components shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times and replaced or repaired when defective.
5. Electric gates shall be equipped with a means of opening the gate by fire department personnel for emergency access (see Knox Box). Emergency opening devices shall be approved by the fire code official.
6. Methods of locking shall be submitted for approval by the fire code official.
7. Electric gate operators, where provided, shall be listed accordance with UL 325.
8. Gates intended for automatic operation shall be designed, constructed and installed to comply with the requirements of ASTM F 2200.
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS
D104.1 BUILDINGS EXCEEDING THREE STORIES OR 30 FEET IN HEIGHT
Building or facilities exceeding 30 feet (9144 mm) or three stories in height shall have at least two means of fire apparatus access for each structure.
D104.2 BUILDINGS EXCEEDING 62,000 SQUARE FEET IN AREA
Buildings or facilities having a gross building area of more than 62,000 square feet (5760 m²) shall be provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads.
Exception: Projects having a gross building area of up to 124,000 square feet (11 520 m²) that have a single approved fire apparatus access road when all buildings are equipped throughout with approved automatic sprinkler systems.
D104.3 REMOTENESS
Where two fire apparatus access roads are required, they shall be placed a distance apart equal to not less than one half of the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the lot or area to be served, measured in a straight line between accesses.
AERIAL FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS
D105.1 WHERE REQUIRED
Where the vertical distance between the grade plane and the highest roof surface exceeds 30 feet (9144 mm), approved aerial fire apparatus access roads shall be provided. For purposes of this section, the highest roof surface shall be determined by measurement to the eave of a pitched roof, the intersection of the roof to the exterior wall, or the top of parapet walls, whichever is greater.
D105.2 WIDTH
Aerial fire apparatus access roads shall have a minimum unobstructed width of 26 feet (7925 mm), of improved surface per section D102, in the immediate vicinity of the building or portion thereof.
D105.3 PROXIMITY TO BUILDING
At least one of the required access routes meeting this condition shall be located within a minimum of 15 feet (4572 mm) and a maximum of 30 feet (9144 mm) from the building, and shall be positioned parallel to one entire side of the building. The side of the building on which the aerial fire apparatus access road is positioned shall be approved by the fire code official.
D105.4 OBSTRUCTIONS
Overhead utility and power lines shall not be located over the aerial fire apparatus access road or between the aerial fire apparatus road and the building. Other obstructions shall be permitted to be placed with the approval of the fire code official.