(A) All premises which the Fire Department may be called upon to protect in case of fire and which are not readily accessible from public roads shall be provided with suitable gates, access roads, parking lot lanes, or a combination thereof so that all buildings on the premises are accessible to fire apparatus.
(B) Plans for fire department access roads, fire hydrant systems and fire sprinkler system connections shall be provided to the Fire Chief, or his designee, for review and approval prior to construction.
(C) A fire department access road shall extend to within 50 feet (15m) of at least one exterior door that can be opened from the outside and that provides access to the interior of the building. Access roads shall be provided such that any portion of the facility or any portion of an exterior wall of the first story of the building is located no more than 150 feet (46m) from fire department access roads as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building or facility.
(D) More than one fire department access road shall be provided when it is determined by the Fire Chief, or his designee, that access by a single road could be impaired by vehicle congestion, condition of the terrain, climatic conditions or other conditions that could limit access.
(E) Fire department access roads shall have an unobstructed width of at least 20 feet including adjacent traffic lanes, with the road edge closest to the building at least eight feet from the building. Access roads shall have an unobstructed vertical clearance of at least 13 feet 6 inches (4.1m). Any dead-end access roads more than 150 feet long shall be provided with an approved cul-de-sac or hammerhead turn-around at the closed end. The cul-de-sac design must have a minimum diameter of 96 feet and a minimum 28-foot radius as shown in Figure 1 below. The hammerhead design is 60 feet from the center of the road in both directions as shown in Figure 2 below.
Figure 1
Figure 2
(F) Fire department access roads shall be constructed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire department apparatus and shall be provided with an all-weather driving surface. The surface of access roads shall be marked with approved markings. Signs shall be posted that read "No Parking Fire Lane".
(G) Buildings or facilities containing automatic fire alarm or automatic fire sprinkler systems shall provide fire department access though the installation of key access boxes approved by the Fire Chief or his designee.
(H) Fire department access shall be provided to gated subdivisions or developments through the use of key switches or devices approved by the Fire Chief or his designee.
(I) Industrial, commercial and institutional facilities that manufacture, process, use or store hazardous materials shall mark their facilities in accordance with NFPA 704. This section shall be retroactive to include all facilities for which the standard applies.
(J) Buildings equipped with fire sprinkler systems shall locate the fire department connection(s) away from the building a distance of at least one and one-half times the height of the building or at the street, whichever is closer. The fire department connections shall be located no closer than 20 feet (6m) or further than 80 feet (24.2m) from a fire hydrant. Exception; existing fire sprinkler installations.
(K) Fire hydrants shall be spaced apart no further than 450 feet (106m) in residential areas, and 350 feet (136m) in commercial and industrial areas. Blue raised street reflectors shall be installed to indicate the location of fire hydrants. When a fire hydrant is located at an intersection, reflectors shall be installed on each street. Blue raised hydrant reflectors shall be installed on any city street that is resurfaced. Cost for the blue raised hydrant reflectors and their installation shall be borne by the contractor and the cost included in the street resurfacing bid.
(L) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section, in addition to any other penalties or fines, shall become liable to the city for any expenses, loss, or damage occasioned the city by reason of such violation.
(Ord. 778, passed 8-11-83; Am. Ord. 2012-1574, passed 5-10-12; Am. Ord. 2019-1774, passed 4-25-19) Penalty, see § 92.99