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Chapter 15.28
FIRE HYDRANTS AND WATER MAINS*Sections:
15.28.010 Purpose.
15.28.020 Definitions.
15.28.030 Applicability.
15.28.040 Exemptions.
15.28.050 New residential subdivisions and short subdivisions with inadequate water flow.
15.28.060 Water main installation.
15.28.070 Fire hydrant specifications.
15.28.080 Fire hydrants—Where required.
15.28.090 Fire flow.
15.28.100 Water purveyor authority.
15.28.110 Modifications and appeals.
* Prior history: Prior code Sections 14.22.010—14.22.110 as amended by Ord. dated 1/23/84.
15.28.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the installation of fire hydrants and water mains in the county, establish fire flow requirements, clarify installation standards, define the role of water authorities, and provide fire protection and safety to county residents. (Res. TLS 04-41 Exh. A (part): Ord. TLS 01-02-06B Exh. A (part))
15.28.020 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
A. “Agricultural building” means a structure which has as its sole use the storage or sheltering of farm implements, horticultural products, livestock, poultry, hay or grain. This definition shall not apply to buildings where agricultural products are processed, packaged, treated, or where workers are housed.
B. “Commercial building” means any building having an International Building Code occupancy classification of group A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R-1, R-2, or S.
C. “Dead-end main” means a water main over fifty feet long and not being fed from both ends at the time of installation.
D. “Fire department” means the fire authority responsible for fire protection in the area in which a proposed building is to be built.
E. “Fire flow” means the amount of water required for fire fighting at a specific building or within a specific area.
F. “Fire marshal” means the duly appointed county fire marshal.
G. “Flush-type hydrant” means a hydrant installed entirely below grade.
H. “Private hydrant” means a fire hydrant situated and maintained to provide water for fire fighting purposes with restrictions as to use. The location may be such that it is not readily accessible for immediate use by the fire department for other than certain private property.
I. “Public hydrant” means a fire hydrant so situated and maintained as to provide water for fire fighting purposes without restrictions as to use for the purpose. The location is such that it is accessible for immediate use by the fire department at all times.
J. “Residential building lot” means any lot used exclusively for single-family residences or duplexes.
K. “IBC” means the International Building Code adopted pursuant to DCC Chapter 15.08.
L. “IFC” means the International Fire Code adopted pursuant to DCC Chapter 15.08.
M. “UL” means Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc.
N. “Water authority” means the water department, water district or other entity legally supplying pressurized water used for fire suppression purposes. (Res. TLS 04-41 Exh. A (part): Ord. TLS 01-02-06B Exh. A (part))
15.28.030 Applicability.
A. All subdivisions and short subdivisions shall have water mains and fire hydrants consistent with this chapter, as a condition of final county approval, unless exempt pursuant to DCC Section 15.28.040.
B. All structures or additions thereto erected or installed pursuant to a building or manufactured home permit on a lot subject to the requirements of this chapter shall be served by operational water mains and fire hydrants consistent with these standards prior to the commencement or installation of combustible construction.
C. Manufactured home parks and recreational vehicle parks shall be required to provide water mains and fire hydrants consistent with this chapter and other applicable provisions of the DCC as a condition of final county approval of such park.
D. All new water mains and all additions and extensions to existing water mains shall meet the requirements of this chapter, provided that the water mains, which serve only the uses exempt pursuant to DCC Section 15.28.040, are also exempt from the requirements of this chapter. (Res. TLS 04-41 Exh. A (part): Ord. TLS 01-02-06B Exh. A (part))
15.28.040 Exemptions.
The following permits, uses and approvals are exempt from the water flow and fire hydrant requirements of this chapter:
A. Residential subdivisions and residential short subdivisions containing no lots less than one acre (forty-three thousand five hundred sixty square feet) in size. Size shall be calculated by deducting those portions of lots submerged under water.
B. Single-family detached dwellings and manufactured home permits for manufactured homes not in manufactured home parks, provided the lot is at least one acre (forty-three thousand five hundred sixty square feet) in size, or provided the lot, tract, or parcel is exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
C. Buildings classified as occupancy group U in the IBC and not located within one thousand feet, as measured in the most direct manner, of an approved accessible water supply capable of providing fire flow otherwise required by this chapter. Any building subject to this exemption shall not be used for storing combustible materials.
D. Structures not exceeding two thousand five hundred square feet in floor area, and not located within a water district or within an area served by a state-approved private water system capable of delivering the fire flow required by this chapter.
E. Structures classified as group U occupancies pursuant to the IBC, which conform to the scope of an agricultural building in Appendix C of the IBC. Stables and riding arenas intended for public use or assembly or for boarding of animals other than those of the owner of the building are not exempt. (Res. TLS 04-41 Exh. A (part): Ord. TLS 01-02-06B Exh. A (part))
15.28.050 New residential subdivisions and short subdivisions with inadequate water flow.
A. Residential subdivisions and short subdivisions created in areas served with water flows less than what is currently required pursuant to this chapter, and served with at least two hundred fifty gallons per minute, may be approved by the county; provided, that any structures erected or installed on those new lots are provided with a fire sprinkler system conforming to the National Fire Protection Association standards for sprinkler systems for one- and two-family dwellings and manufactured homes.
B. Water mains and fire hydrants shall be installed to be consistent with the requirements of this chapter. (Res. TLS 04-41 Exh. A (part): Ord. TLS 01-02-06B Exh. A (part))
15.28.060 Water main installation.
A. All water mains subject to this chapter which serve fire hydrants shall be a minimum of eight inches inside diameter for dead-end mains and six inches inside diameter for circulating mains. Hydrant leads less than fifty feet in length may be six inches in diameter.
B. All new water mains subject to this chapter shall have fire hydrants installed to conform to the requirements of this chapter.
C. All water mains subject to this chapter shall meet applicable engineering and health standards adopted by the state and/or the water purveyor.
D. All water mains installed for the sole purpose of supplying an automatic fire sprinkler or fire fighting standpipe system shall be installed in compliance with Chapter 18.160 RCW. An installing contractor shall be currently licensed by the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office for such work. No work shall commence prior to approval by the county fire marshal. (Res. TLS 04-41 Exh. A (part): Ord. TLS 01-02-06B Exh. A (part))
15.28.070 Fire hydrant specifications.
A. Fire hydrants shall have a minimum six-inch, nonfreezing barrel. Discharge outlets shall consist of two, two-and-one-half-inch ports with NH male threads and one four-inch inner diameter port with male threads cut to 4.828 by six threads per inch or threads approved in writing by the fire marshal. Fire hydrants shall comply with all applicable American Water Works Association Standards. There shall be an auxiliary gate valve located in the underground supply piping to allow isolation of the hydrant for maintenance without interrupting any other water service or fire protection systems.
B. Hydrants shall stand plumb and be set to the finished grade. The bottom of the lowest outlet of the hydrant shall be no less than eighteen inches above the finished grade. There shall be thirty-six inches of clear area about the hydrant for operation of a hydrant wrench on the outlets and on the control valve. The pumper port shall face the road. Where the road cannot be clearly defined or recognized, the pumper port shall face the pumping location and most likely approach route of the fire truck, as determined by the fire marshal.
C. Hydrants shall not be obstructed by any structure or vegetation or have visibility impaired for a distance of fifty feet in the direction of vehicular approach to the hydrant.
D. Hydrants, public and private, are to be accessible to fire department pumpers over roads designed, constructed and maintained so as to be capable of supporting the imposed load of fire fighting apparatus.
E. Fire hydrants located in areas subject to regular private, commercial or industrial motor vehicle traffic shall be protected against vehicle damage by curbs, space separation, grade level changes, guard posts, or other means acceptable to the fire marshal.
F. Fire hydrants shall be self-draining and frost-free.
G. Flush-type hydrants are prohibited, except upon specific approval of the fire marshal.
H. All hydrants shall be subject to testing by the local fire department and the fire marshal.
I. All newly installed fire hydrants shall show the available fire flow indicated by color-coding the top of the hydrant. The following code shall be uniform in the county:
0 to 500 gallons per minute:
Red
501 to 1,000 gallons per minute:
Yellow
1,001 to 1,499 gallons per minute:
Green
1,500 or greater gallons per minute:
Blue
(Res. TLS 04-41 Exh. A (part): Ord. TLS 01-02-06B Exh. A (part))
15.28.080 Fire hydrants—Where required.
A. Fire hydrants, where required by provisions of this chapter, and/or any other provision of the DCC or development permit approval, shall be installed in accordance with the 1997 UFC, Appendix III-B, Table A-III-B-1 as it now exists or may hereafter be amended.
B. The fire marshal shall approve hydrant locations. Hydrants shall be a minimum of fifty feet and a maximum of two hundred and fifty feet from buildings, except when impractical due to property lines, topography, or other natural conditions as determined by the fire marshal. (Res. TLS 04-41 Exh. A (part): Ord. TLS 01-02-06B Exh. A (part))
15.28.090 Fire flow.
Required fire flows shall be based on the IFC Appendix B. Such fire flow shall be for a minimum duration of two hours. (Res. TLS 04-41 Exh. A (part): Ord. TLS 01-02-06B Exh. A (part))
15.28.100 Water purveyor authority.
This chapter establishes minimum standards. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit water purveyors from imposing more stringent requirements for the construction of water mains and installation of fire hydrants. (Res. TLS 04-41 Exh. A (part): Ord. TLS 01-02-06B Exh. A (part))
15.28.110 Modifications and appeals.
A. The fire marshal may grant modifications of this chapter on a case-by-case basis if strict compliance with this chapter is impracticable, the modification is in conformity with the intent and purpose of this chapter, and the modification maintains the level of fire protection required by this chapter. The material, method and/or design of a modification must serve the intended purpose and be, at least, equivalent to the suitability, effectiveness and fire safety protection provided in this chapter. The fire marshal shall require sufficient qualified written evidence substantiating a proposed modification prior to approval. The details of any action granting a modification shall be retained in the records of the permitting authority.
B. Proponents of modifications have the right to appeal the decision of the fire marshal pursuant to DCC Chapter 15.98. (Res. TLS 04-41 Exh. A (part): Ord. TLS 01-02-06B Exh. A (part))