FIRE , ACCESS , AND SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS

INFORMATION PACKET

Exeter Township Fire Department Fire Codes Office

2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS DESIGN ……………………………………………….. 3, 4

COMMERCIAL / INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS ……………………………………..………4, 5

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS ……………………………………………………………..….5

ACCESS TO BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR MODIFICATION ……….…... 5, 6

TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES ………………………………………………………………….. 6

FIRE SIGNS …………………………………………………………………………….….. 7, 8

TYPICAL FIRE ACCESS – FIGURE # 1 …………………………………………………… 9

TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES – FIGURE # 2 ………………………………….……….… 10

FIRE ACCESS ROAD MAXIMUM LENGTH DIAGRAM – FIGURE # 3 ……….…….…11

REMOTENESS DIAGRAM – FIGURE # 4 …………………………………………………...12

DEAD-END TABLE – FIGURE # 5 …………………………………..…..13

FIRE HYDRANT CLEARANCE - FIGURE # 6 ...... 14

EXAMPLES OF DEAD-END TURNAROUNDS ………………………………………….….. 14, 15

FIRE APPARATUS • Access roadways with a width ACCESS ROAD DESIGN of 34 feet or more do not require fire lane signs. 1. Public roadways shall be Parking is allowed on both constructed to Township Standards sides of the roadway (see Figure 1). 2. All roadways proposed for fire department access shall be • Access roadways with a width engineered and constructed of an of 26 to 34 feet wide shall all-weather driving surface of asphalt have fire lane signs posted on or capable of supporting one side of the roadway. the imposed load of fire apparatus Parking is allowed on only weighting at least 80,000 pounds. one side of the (see Figure 1). • Alternative methods such as pavers, road base, • Access roadways with a width gravel, etc. may be of 20 to 26 feet require fire considered on a case-by-case lane signs on both sides of basis. A State of the street. Pennsylvania Certified Civil Engineer must approve the • Where a fire hydrant is design and installation as located on a fire apparatus meeting the weight access road, the minimum requirement in writing. road width shall be 26 feet. See figure # 6 • Access roadways designed to incorporate materials that • Access roadways in parking allow grass to grow through or lots may be reduced to a upon the surface such as minimum of 24 feet where Grassrings, Geoblock, parking spaces are designed Grasstone, or Grass Crete back to back. Where parking may be considered on a case- is designed back to , a by-case basis. The roadway minimum of 28 feet shall be must be clearly defined provided without fire lane through some type of means. posting (see Figure 1). An example would be using landscaping to identify curves • Roadways with features such in the roadway. as landscape islands, traffic calming devices, etc. that 3. Minimum widths for apparatus cause a one way or reduction access shall be as follows. Widths in width of roadway shall be a are measured curb face to curb face minimum 20 feet in width and or, edge of pavement to edge of no longer than 200 feet in pavement where there are no . length. Fire lane signs shall These areas must be maintained be posted on both sides (see unobstructed. Figure 2).

3 4. Access roads shall be within 150 8. GATES feet of all portions of the exterior wall • Minimum gate widths shall be of the first story of the building as 20 feet measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building. • Gates shall be of the sliding or An approved turnaround is required swinging type if the remaining distance to an approved intersecting roadway, as • Construction of gates shall be measured along the fire apparatus of materials that allow manual access road, is greater than 150 operation of one person. feet. (See figures # 3, 5). • Electric gates shall be • Unobstructed vertical equipped with a means of clearance of 13 feet, six opening the gate by fire inches, shall be department personnel for maintained above all fire emergency access. (approval department access ways. by fire code official Obstructions include but are not limited to wires, tree limbs, • Gates and other approved awnings, etc. devices designed to limit access shall be provided with 5. Dead-end apparatus access roads the Knox Rapid Entry System in excess of 150 feet shall be with a manual override provided with width and turnaround provisions in accordance with Table • Locking device specifications D103.4 of IFC (See figure # 5) shall be submitted for approval by the fire code 6. Cul de sac bulbs shall be official. constructed to the following widths: • Dead-ends exceeding 151 COMMERCIAL / INDUSTRIAL feet require a minimum 96- DEVELOPMENTS foot bulb. • Buildings or facilities • Cul de sacs and dead-end exceeding 30 feet or three access roads exceeding 750 stories in height shall have at feet shall be provided with least three means of fire intermediate turnarounds as apparatus access for each deemed necessary by the structure. ETFD • Buildings or facilities having a 7. GRADES - Fire apparatus access gross building area of more roadway shall not exceed 10 percent than 62,000 sq. ft. shall be grade. Intersections and turnarounds provided with two separate shall be level (maximum 5%) with and approved fire apparatus the exception of crowing for water access roads. run-off.

4 • Where two access roads are • Developments that exceed required, they shall be placed 30, one and two-family a distance equal to not less dwelling units shall be than ½ of the length of the provided with two separate, maximum overall diagonal remote and approved access dimension of the property or roads. (See figure # 4) area to be served, measured in a straight line between • Multi-family residential accesses. (See example # 4) projects that exceed 100 dwelling units shall be *Automatic Sprinkler Protection (Exception) equipped with two separate, When buildings are completely protected with an approved automatic fire sprinkler remote, and approved access system, the requirements for fire access may roads. (See example # 4) be modified as approved by the fire code official. • REMOTENESS: Where two RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS access roads are required, Private driveways for one and two- they shall be placed a family dwellings shall be provided distance apart equal to not with fire department access to within less than one half of the 150 feet of all first story exterior length of the maximum overall portions of the structures upon the diagonal dimension of the property. property or area to be served, measured in a straight line between accesses. • Driveways shall be provided and maintained with a minimum of 12 feet of unobstructed width. ACCESS TO BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR MODIFICATION • Grades shall not exceed 10%.

• Required street and on-site • Dead-end driveways that are fire hydrants/water mains required for fire department shall be installed, operable access and exceed 150 feet tested, inspected, and shall be provided with an approved by ETFD prior to approved turnaround (see starting construction. approved turnaround figures

3, 5). • Fire department access roads

shall be established, • Dead-end fire access engineered, and maintained roadways in excess of 150 serviceable for fire protection feet must be provided with an and emergency purposes in approved turnaround (see accordance with the approved approved turnaround development plan, and the examples). International Fire Code.

5 • Access roads shall be kept TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES clear of all obstructions such as but not limited to low Plans for these devices must be hanging wires, construction submitted for the Department's materials, construction review and approval. We supports equipment, contractor trailers, the design of safe and the and contractors' vehicles. need for devices intended to slow traffic, i.e., islands, , and • Where required, fire lanes bump outs; however, we discourage shall be posted when the the use of speed bumps. In most access road is established. cases, these devices can be designed within our minimum • Street name identification and requirements (see figure 2). Plans building addresses shall be for these devices must be submitted installed at the time the for our review and approval. access road is established.

6 FIRE LANE SIGNS • Fire department access roadways exceeding 34 feet Dimension wide - No Fire Lane The "No Parking Fire Lane" sign restriction signage shall be 12 inches wide and 18 requirement. inches high. Installation The NO PARKING signs shall be installed as follows: • One at the beginning of the restriction (one arrow pointing towards the restriction zone).

• One at the end of the restriction (one arrow pointing back into restricted zone).

• One at least every 150 ft within the restricted area (double arrow pointing in each direction, to indicate the continuing restriction).

• Spaced evenly within the restriction (for straight curbs/zones).

Characteristics • Spaced so that at least one The signs are to be all-season readable sign is visible in front durable with red lettering on a white of a parked vehicle from any background. point along the restriction (for curved curbs/zones and areas Where Required that may present visual "No Parking Fire Lane" signs are obstacles). required in areas that meet the following criteria: Some areas may need additional fire • Fire department access lane signs. Check with the Office of roadways less than 28 feet Fire Codes for any additional wide - Signs shall be posted requirements. on both sides Painting of Curbs or Streets • Fire department access The ETFD does permit fire lanes to roadways between 28 feet be painted with curb markings. Per wide and 34 feet wide – IFC, D 103.6 approved signage or Signs shall be posted on one curb markings shall identify fire side only. lanes.

7 The diagrams below indicate the types of signs that can be used and the recommended placement of these signs with the appropriate arrows.

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9

10 FIGURE # 3

11 FIGURE # 4

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FIGURE # 5

13 FIGURE # 6

EXAMPLES OF TURNAROUNDS

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15