Chapter 14.30
FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS
Sections:
14.30.070 Fire apparatus access roads.
14.30.080 Single-family and multiple-family residential developments.
14.30.010 Definitions.
“Fire apparatus access road” means an approved route that is always available for use by fire trucks and emergency services apparatus and is designed to meet fire equipment load and access requirements.
“Fire flow” means the routinely maintained and tested water system available for the fire department to use to extinguish a fire. Fire flow can come from fire hydrants connected to a municipal water supply, water district, or water association or it may come from a stand-alone system on one’s property.
“Fire lane” means a road or other passageway developed to allow the passage of fire apparatus. A fire lane is not necessarily intended for vehicular traffic other than fire apparatus. (Ord. O-02-21 § 1)
14.30.020 Fire flow.
A. Residential. For residences, fire flow is required if the building(s) is larger than three thousand six hundred square feet, including all spaces, garages, basements, bonus rooms, etc.
B. Detached Accessory Buildings. For detached personal storage buildings, fire flow is required if the building is larger than two thousand five hundred square feet.
C. Residential Building Fire Flow Requirements Checklist. If the calculated fire flow area* is greater than three thousand six hundred square feet for a residence or greater than two thousand five hundred square feet for a detached accessory building, one of the following options is required:
1. A fire hydrant connected to a municipal or water association system is within six hundred feet (driving route) of the proposed building. It must produce a minimum five hundred gallons per minute at twenty psi for a minimum duration of one hour.
2. An approved NFPA 13-D residential fire sprinkler system will be installed prior to occupancy. Note: A separate fire marshal’s permit is required.
3. A fire flow system consisting of a tank, approved fire pump, and a fire hydrant within six hundred feet (driving route) of the proposed building. The system must produce five hundred gallons per minute at twenty psi for minimum duration of one hour. Note: A separate fire system permit is required.
* Note: Fire flow calculation area shall be the total square footage of all areas within exterior walls, including only areas that are fully enclosed on all sides and which have a full ceiling height (six feet, eight inches or greater). Area is measured to the outside edge of enclosure walls. Breezeways connecting buildings will be included in the area measurement.
D. Commercial. All construction projects within Adams County are required to meet the fire flow provisions of Appendix B of the IFC as adopted by Adams County. (Ord. O-02-21 § 1)
14.30.030 Grade.
A. No fire apparatus access road hereafter created shall have a grade or slope greater than ten percent unless a variance has been granted through the county variance process. Any variance which allows a grade greater than ten percent shall have the following condition attached:
1. Any road with a slope or grade greater than ten percent shall have an increase in width of fifty percent.
2. Other conditions may be required by the fire marshal.
a. If a variance to the ten percent grade is requested, it is probable that an automatic residential sprinkler system will be required for all new residences constructed on the new road.
B. Fire apparatus access roadways shall not be required where there are not more than two Group R, Division 3 or Group U occupancies as defined in the International Fire Code. Any commercial operation shall be required to have an approved fire apparatus access. (Ord. O-02-21 § 1)
14.30.040 Driveways.
A driveway shall serve no more than two residences. Any county driveway hereafter created longer than one hundred fifty feet in length shall have a width of no less than twenty feet and shall provide an approved fire apparatus turnaround meeting the requirements of the IFC Appendix D. County driveways less than one hundred fifty feet in length shall have a width of no less than sixteen feet. A turnaround is not required. All driveways shall have an approved driving surface capable of supporting the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing up to seventy-five thousand pounds. (Ord. O-02-21 § 1)
14.30.050 Fire lanes.
Fire lanes shall be maintained and remain clear from obstructions, including snow accumulations, vehicles, and any other impediment to emergency services response. (Ord. O-02-21 § 1)
14.30.060 Bridges.
Any bridge or box culvert hereafter erected, modified, altered, or repaired shall meet a live load bearing of no less than seventy-five thousand pounds. All box culverts, bridge designs, and load ratings shall be stamped by a registered professional engineer in the state of Washington. An approved sign with the load rating shall be posted on the ingress side of the bridge. It shall be the responsibility of the landowner to maintain the integrity of the crossing in order to preserve the capability of fire service.
Exception: repairs of less than one-fourth of the bridge, with no structural elements included in the repair. (Ord. O-02-21 § 1)
14.30.070 Fire apparatus access roads.
A. Pursuant to WAC 51-54A-0503, fire apparatus access roads shall be provided and maintained in accordance with locally adopted street, road, and access standards or authority. Maintenance shall be the responsibility of the property owner/owners which the fire lane services.
B. Dimensions. Fire apparatus access roads, other than those on private property, shall have an unobstructed width of not less than twenty feet (6,096 mm), except for approved security gates in accordance with Chapter 14.40, and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than thirteen feet, six inches (4,115 mm). Emergency vehicle access roads shall be constructed in accordance with Adams County road standards.
C. Penalty for Violations. Any person who fails to mark or maintain a designated fire lane as prescribed in this chapter, or who parks a vehicle in, allows the parking of a vehicle in, obstructs or allows the obstruction of a designated fire lane is guilty of an infraction. The maximum penalty for failing to mark or maintain a designated fire lane shall be not more than a fine of one hundred fifty dollars. The maximum penalty for parking a vehicle in, allowing the parking of a vehicle in, obstructing, or allowing the obstruction of a designated fire lane, shall be not more than a fine of one hundred fifty dollars. Each day or part of a day during which the unlawful act or violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense. There shall be a penalty of twenty-five dollars for failure to respond to the notice of this infraction. The local court shall impose this monetary penalty for failure to respond, pursuant to RCW 46.63.110(4). (Ord. O-02-21 § 1)
14.30.080 Single-family and multiple-family residential developments.
Appendix D, Section 106 and 107 of the International Fire Code, is adopted with additional provisions to read as follows:
APPENDIX D:
SECTION 106 MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
D106.1 Projects having more than 20 dwelling units.
Single-family and multiple-family residential projects having more than 20 dwelling units shall be equipped throughout with two (2) separate and approved fire apparatus access roads.
Exception: Projects having more than 40 dwelling units may have a single approved fire apparatus access road when all buildings, including nonresidential occupancies, are equipped throughout with approved automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, or 903.3.1.2, or 903.3.1.3 of the International Fire Code.
SECTION 107 ONE OR TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
D107.1 One and two-family residential developments.
Developments of one- or two-family dwellings where the number of dwellings units exceeds 30 shall be provided with two (2) separate and approved fire apparatus access roads.
Exceptions:
1. Where there are more than 30 dwelling units on a single public or private fire apparatus access road and all dwelling units are equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2, 903.3.1.3 of the International Fire Code, access from two (2) directions shall not be required.
2. 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 determined by the Fire Code Official.
(Ord. O-02-21 § 1)