The following minimum fire protection requirements shall apply to all future developments and additions in the city.
(A) Water supply.
(1) For residential subdivision and small commercial districts, water main shall be not less than six inches in diameter, including fire hydrant branch connections, and shall be arranged into a gridiron or “looped” system. If intersecting mains are at a distance in excess of 800 feet, or if dead end or poor circulation is likely to exist for a considerable period of time, or if other physical characteristics indicate, the developer may be required to install mains of a large diameter. Fire flows based on the following guidelines shall be the determining factor:
Minor mercantile districts | 1,500 g.p.m. at flow pressure |
Residential subdivisions | 1,000 g.p.m. at flow pressure |
Scattered residential area | 500 g.p.m at flow pressure |
(2) For large commercial and industrial subdivisions, water mains shall be “looped” or interconnected with existing mains and their diameter shall be equal to or greater than the smallest diameter line to which they are being connected. In addition to the previous conditions, a fire flow of at least 2,000 gallons per minute at flow pressure must be expected to be obtained. If a minimum flow of 2,000 gallons per minute can be proven, the conditions for “looping” and sizing may be waived.
(3) The Engineering Department in conjunction with the Fire Department shall make the final determination of the minimum size pipe for all systems.
(4) The distribution system shall be equipped with a sufficient number of valves located at all branches and placed so that no more than 800 feet of a main is shut down at any time.
(5) All water mains shall be installed in conformity with the minimum requirements of the city and the local water authorities. Fire protection services shall be equipped with a detector check valve and backflow preventer. Approval shall be obtained for all fire protection systems prior to the issuance of a building permit.
(B) Fire hydrants.
(1) (a) Fire hydrants shall be spaced not further than 500 feet apart as measured over hard surfaced roads. The distance between a fire hydrant and any portion of a building shall not exceed 400 feet as measured on a hard-surface access road.
(b) Fire hydrants in single-family subdivisions shall be spaced not further than 500 feet apart along city rights-of-way or the public travel way. The builder or owner of a single-family structure located more than 1,200 feet from a fire hydrant shall provide, at his or her expense, a fire hydrant within 1,200 feet of the structure. The fire hydrant shall be connected to a public water main and provide adequate flow to meet the requirements of this section.
(2) Fire hydrants must be located at least 25 feet away from the exterior wall of any masonry building, and at least 50 feet away from any exterior wall of frame or equivalent construction, including brick and stone veneer.
(3) Fire hydrants shall meet the minimum specifications and be installed in conformity with the requirements of the city and the local water authorities. The location of all hydrants must be approved by the Fire Chief and the City Engineer.
(4) Fire hydrants shall be equipped with not less than two two and one-half inch outlets and a four and one-half inch pumper outlet, and shall have national standard threads. Each hydrant shall have an inlet gate valve installed in conjunction with it.
(Prior Code, § 93.04) (Ord. passed 5-5-1986; Ord. 25-2011, passed 11-21-2011) Penalty, see § 93.99