(a) Establishment. The Fire Chief is hereby authorized to establish fire lanes on either public or private property within the City
(1) As deemed necessary for the efficient and effective use of fire apparatus.
(2) When necessary for the safeguarding of life and property from the hazards of fire, explosion, or hazardous material incident.
(3) For the safe use and occupancy of buildings, structures and adjacent property; and/or
(4) For the safe egress of occupants in the event of fire or other emergency requiring building evacuation.
(b) Specifications. Fire lanes shall be installed and arranged in accordance with subsections (b) through (h):
(1) Dimensions. Fire lanes shall have an unobstructed width of not less than twenty (20) feet, except for approved security gates in accordance with subsection (b)(5) hereof, or where previously approved by the Fire Chief, and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches.
(2) Authority. The Fire Chief shall have the authority to require an increase in the minimum access widths where they are inadequate for fire or rescue operations.
(3) Surface. Fire lanes shall be constructed of an asphalt, concrete or other driving surface approved by the Fire Chief capable of supporting the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing at least 77,000 pounds.
(4) Grade. Fire lanes shall not exceed 10 percent grade. Exception: Grades steeper than 10 percent as approved by the Fire Chief.
(5) Security gates. Where security gates are installed, they shall be maintained and an approved means of emergency operation shall be provided and maintained. The minimum gate width shall be 20 feet. Gates may be of the swinging or sliding type that allow manual operation by one person. All gate components shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times and replaced or repaired when defective. Locking devices shall be approved by the Fire Chief.
(c) Obstructions.
(1) Fire lanes shall be maintained free of obstructions at all times.
(2) No person shall obstruct a fire lane by parking, stopping or leaving standing a motor vehicle, whether such vehicle is attended or unattended.
(3) No person shall obstruct a fire lane by constructing a fence, gate, barricade or in any other manner. A gate, barricade or fence which is readily removable or through which access may be gained by firefighting equipment and personnel without delay may be permitted with approval of the Fire Chief. Such permitted barricade or fence shall not be locked in any manner.
(4) Landscaping or other obstructions shall not be placed around structures in a manner so as to impair or impede accessibility for firefighting and rescue operations.
(5) Attended motor vehicles found standing or parked in a fire lane shall be immediately moved upon direction of any member of the Fire Department and/or Police Department. Any unattended motor vehicle found standing or parked in a fire lane may be towed and impounded at the owner's expense, subject to the penalties and charges set forth in this section and in Chapter 303 of the Traffic Code of the City.
(6) Parking in any fire lane or fire apparatus access road shall not be permitted within twenty (20) feet of a fire hydrant, sprinkler, or standpipe connection or in any other manner that will obstruct or interfere with the Fire Department's use of the hydrant or connection.
(d) Speed Control Devices.
(1) No owner or operator of any building, apartment or other structure in the City of Oberlin that has designated fire lanes shall have any type of traffic control device or speed bump that does not conform with the specifications in the "Speed Control Device" diagram set forth below. The materials to be used to construct the speed control device shall conform to the latest edition of the State of Ohio Department of Transportation Construction and Materials Specifications manual.
(2) The failure of any owner or operator to remove nonconforming speed control devices from designated fire lanes upon order of the Fire Chief shall subject such owner or operator to the penalties set forth in Section 1501.99. The installation of nonconforming speed control devices in designated fire lanes by an owner or operator shall also subject such owner or operator to the penalties set forth in Section 1501.99.
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(e) Marking.
(1) Fire lanes shall be marked with"NO PARKING - FIRE LANE"signs and marked curbs, sidewalks, or other traffic surfaces. Signs shall have a minimum dimension of 12 inches wide by 18 inches high having red letters on a white reflective background. Markings on curb and traffic surfaces shall be painted in contrasting traffic yellow paint. All normally used parking areas and walkways shall be marked in traffic white paint.
(2) All signs required by subsection (e) hereof shall be spaced not more than seventy (70) feet apart nor less than fifty (50) feet apart. Fire lanes less than or equal to twenty-six (26) feet wide shall be posted on both sides; fire lanes more than twenty-six (26) feet wide shall be posted on one side of the road. Special circumstances may indicate less distance, more distance or additional or different types of style of signs as approved by the Fire Chief.
(3) All designated fire lane signs or markings shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition at all times and replaced when necessary to insure adequate visibility. Signs and markings shall be supplied, installed and maintained by the property owner.
(4) "NO PARKING" signs or other designation indicating that parking is prohibited shall be provided at all normal and emergency access points to structures and within twenty (20) feet of each fire hydrant, sprinkler, or standpipe connection.
(f) Fire Apparatus Access Roads.
(1) Facilities, buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed or occupied within the City shall be accessible to Fire Department apparatus by way of an approved fire apparatus access road.
(2) Buildings or facilities exceeding thirty (30) feet or three (3) stories in height, and/or have a gross building area of more than 62,000 square feet, shall be provided with two (2) separate and approved fire apparatus access roads. At least one of the required access routes shall be located a minimum of 15 feet and a maximum of 30 feet from the building, and shall be positioned parallel to one entire side of the building. These access roads shall have a minimum unobstructed width of 26 feet in the immediate vicinity of any building or portion of building more than 30 feet in height.
Exception: Buildings having a gross building area up to 124,000 square feet having a single approved fire apparatus access road when all buildings are provided with approved automatic sprinkler systems.
(3) Multi-family residential projects having more than 100 dwelling units shall be provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads.
Exception: Projects with less than 200 dwellings units may have single approved fire apparatus access when all buildings, including nonresidential occupancies, are provided with approved automatic sprinkler systems.
(4) One or two family residential developments where the number of dwelling units exceeds thirty (30) shall be provided with separate and approved fire apparatus access roads, and shall meet the specifications above.
Exceptions:
A. Where there are thirty (30) or fewer dwellings on a single public or private access way and all dwelling units are protected by approved residential sprinkler systems, only one access is required.
B. The number of dwelling units on a single fire apparatus access road shall not be increased unless fire apparatus access roads will connect with future development, as approved by the Fire Chief.
(g) Dead Ends. Every dead-end fire lane or fire access road in excess of 150 feet in length shall be provided width and turnaround provisions as follows:
Length (feet) | Width (feet) | Turnaround required |
0 - 150 | 20 | None required |
151 - 500 | 20 | 120' hammerhead or 96' cul-de-sac |
501 - 750 | 26 | 120' hammerhead or 96' cul-de-sac |
Over 750 | Special approval required | |
(h) Bridges/Elevated Surfaces.
(1) Where a bridge is required to be used as access, it shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the latest edition of AASHTO Standard Specification for Highway Bridges. Bridges and elevated surfaces shall be designed for a live load sufficient to carry the imposed loads of fire apparatus. Vehicle loads shall be posted at both entrances to bridges when required. Where elevated surfaces designed for emergency vehicle use are adjacent to surfaces which are not designed for such use, approved barriers, approved signs or both shall be installed and maintained when required by the code official.
(i) Enforcement.
(1) Enforcement of subsection (c) shall be the responsibility of the Police Department and/or the Fire Department. Penalties for violations of any of the provisions these subsections shall be as follows:
A. For the first offense, ten dollars ($10.00);
B. For the second offense occurring within twelve months of the first offense, twenty-five dollars ($25.00); and
C. For the third or subsequent offense occurring within twelve months of the first offense, a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00).
(2) The fines for the first and second offenses shall be waivable as provided in Section 351.99 of these Codified Ordinances.
(3) Enforcement of all other provisions of this section shall be the responsibility of the Fire Chief or his/her designee. Penalties for violations of any of the provisions of this section shall be as set forth in Section 1501.99.
(Ord. 02-37 AC. Passed 4-15-02.)