Fire department access and water supplies shall comply with this chapter.
This chapter shall apply to public and privately owned fire apparatus access roads.
This chapter shall apply to public and privately owned fire hydrant systems.
Permits, where required, shall comply with Section 1.12.
Plans for fire apparatus access roads shall be submitted to the AHJ for review and approval prior to construction.
Plans and specifications for fire hydrant systems shall be submitted to the AHJ for review and approval prior to construction.
Fire department access and fire department access roads shall be provided and maintained in accordance with Section 18.2.
The AHJ shall have the authority to require an access box(es) to be installed in an accessible location where access to or within a structure or area is difficult because of security. The access box(es) shall be of an approved type listed in accordance with UL 1037.
Approved fire department access roads shall be provided for every facility, building, or portion of a building hereafter constructed or relocated.
Fire department access roads shall consist of roadways, fire lanes, parking lot lanes, or a combination thereof.
The provisions of 18.2.3.1 through 18.2.3.2.2.1 shall be permitted to be modified by the AHJ where any of the following conditions exists:
- One- and two-family dwellings protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 13.1
- Existing one- and two-family dwellings
- Private garages having an area not exceeding 400 ft2
- Carports having an area not exceeding 400 ft2
- Agricultural buildings having an area not exceeding 400 ft2
- Sheds and other detached buildings having an area not exceeding 400 ft2
When fire department access roads cannot be installed due to location on property, topography, waterways, nonnegotiable grades, or other similar conditions, the AHJ shall be authorized to require additional fire protection features.
Upcodes Diagrams
A fire department access road shall extend to within 50 ft (15 m) of at least one exterior door that can be opened from the outside and that provides access to the interior of the building.
Where a one- or two-family dwelling, or townhouse, is protected with an approved automatic sprinkler system that is installed in accordance with Section 13.3, the distance in 18.2.3.2.1 shall be permitted to be increased to 150 ft (46 m).
Fire department 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 not more than 150 ft (46 m) from fire department access roads as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building or facility.
More than one fire department access road shall be provided when it is determined by the AHJ that access by a single road could be impaired by vehicle congestion, condition of terrain, climate conditions, or other factors that could limit access.
Fire department access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 ft (6.1 m).
Where approved by the AHJ, the width of fire department access roads shall be permitted to be less than the minimum specified in 18.2.3.5.1.1.
The width of fire department access roads shall be increased when the minimum width specified in 18.2.3.5.1.1 is not adequate to accommodate fire apparatus.
Fire department access roads shall have an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 ft 6 in. (4.1 m).
Vertical clearances shall be increased when vertical clearances are not adequate to accommodate fire apparatus.
Fire department access roads shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus and shall be provided with an all-weather driving surface.
Turns in fire department access roads shall maintain the minimum road width.
Fire department access roads connecting to roadways shall be provided with curb cuts extending at least 2 ft (0.61 m) beyond each edge of the fire department access road.
Dead-end fire department access roads in excess of 150 ft (46 m) in length shall be provided with approved provisions for the fire apparatus to turn around.
When a bridge is required to be used as part of a fire department access road, it shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with nationally recognized standards.
The bridge shall be designed for a live load sufficient to carry the imposed loads of fire apparatus.
The gradient for a fire department access road shall not exceed the design limitations of the fire apparatus of the fire department and shall be subject to approval by the AHJ.
The angle of approach and departure for any means of fire department access road shall not exceed 1 ft drop in 20 ft (0.3 m drop in 6 m) or the design limitations of the fire apparatus of the fire department, and shall be subject to approval by the AHJ.
The required width of a fire department access road shall not be obstructed in any manner, including by the parking of vehicles.
Minimum required widths and clearances established under 18.2.3.5 shall be maintained at all times.
Facilities and structures shall be maintained in a manner that does not impair or impede accessibility for fire department operations.
Entrances to fire department access roads that have been closed with gates and barriers in accordance with 18.2.4.2.1 shall not be obstructed by parked vehicles.
The AHJ shall be authorized to require the installation and maintenance of gates or other approved barricades across roads, trails, or other accessways not including public streets, alleys, or highways.
Where required, gates and barricades shall be secured in an approved manner.
Roads, trails, and other accessways that have been closed and obstructed in the manner prescribed by 18.2.4.2.1 shall not be trespassed upon or used unless authorized by the owner and the AHJ.
Public officers acting within their scope of duty shall be permitted to access restricted property identified in 18.2.4.2.1.
Locks, gates, doors, barricades, chains, enclosures, signs, tags, or seals that have been installed by the fire department or by its order or under its control shall not be removed, unlocked, destroyed, tampered with, or otherwise vandalized in any manner.
Gates shall comply with 18.2.4.2.6.1 and 18.2.4.2.6.2.
When authorized by the AHJ, public officers acting within their scope of duty shall be permitted to obtain access through secured means identified in 18.2.4.2.1.
An approved water supply capable of supplying the required fire flow for fire protection shall be provided to all premises upon which facilities, buildings, or portions of buildings are hereafter constructed or moved into the jurisdiction. The approved water supply shall be in accordance with Section 18.4.
The procedure determining fire flow requirements for buildings hereafter constructed or moved into the jurisdiction shall be in accordance with Section 18.4.
Section 18.4 shall not apply to structures other than buildings.
The AHJ shall be authorized to establish conditions on fire flow reductions approved in accordance with 18.4.3.1.1 including, but not limited to, fire sprinkler protection, type of construction of the building, occupancy, development density, building size, and setbacks.
The fire flow area shall be the total floor area of all floor levels of a building except as modified in 18.4.4.2.
The fire flow area of a building constructed of Type I (443), Type I (332), and Type II (222) construction shall be the area of the three largest successive floors.
The minimum fire flow and flow duration requirements for one- and two-family dwellings having a fire flow area that does not exceed 5000 ft2(464.5 m2) shall be 1000 gpm (3785 L/min) for 1 hour.
A reduction in required fire flow of 75 percent shall be permitted where the one- and two-family dwelling is provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system.
Where one- and two-family dwellings are proposed to be constructed in areas where water distribution systems providing fire flow were designed and installed prior to the effective date of this Code, the AHJ shall be authorized to accept the previously designed system fire flow where the one- and two-family dwellings are provided with approved automatic sprinkler systems.
A reduction in fire flow shall be permitted for building separation distance in accordance with 18.4.5.1.4 and Table 18.4.5.1.4.
Table 18.4.5.1.4 Permitted Fire Flow Reduction for Building Separation
| Separation Distance Between Buildings on a Single Lot | Separation Distance to Lot Line or Easementa | Permitted Fire Flow Reduction | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ft | m | ft | m | |
| >30 and ≤50 | >9.1 and ≤15.2 | >15 and ≤25 | >4.6 and ≤7.6 | 25% |
| >50 | >15.2 | >25 | >7.6 | 40% |
a See 18.4.5.1.4.3.
Where multiple buildings are located on a single lot, the building separation distance shall be the distance between the buildings.
Where a building abuts a lot line, the building separation distance shall be the distance between the building and the lot line.
Where a building is contiguous to a public right of way or no-build easement, the separation distance shall be the distance between the building to the opposite side of the right of way or no-build easement.
Where multiple buildings are located on a single lot and abut a lot line, the building separation distance for determining fire flow reduction shall be the smallest of the two distances.
The reductions in 18.4.5.1.2, 18.4.5.1.3, and 18.4.5.1.4 shall not reduce the required fire flow to less than 500 gpm (1900 L/min).
Fire flow and flow duration for dwellings having a fire flow area in excess of 5000 ft2 (464.5 m2) shall not be less than that specified in Table 18.4.5.2.1.
Table 18.4.5.2.1 Minimum Required Fire Flow and Flow Duration for Buildings
| Fire Flow Area ft2 (x 0.0929 for m2) | Fire Flow gpm† (x 3.785 for L/min) | Flow Duration (hours) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I(443), I(332), II(222)* | II(111), III(211)* | IV(2HH), V(111)* | II(000), III(200)* | V(000)* | ||
| 0—22,700 | 0—12,700 | 0—8200 | 0—5900 | 0—3600 | 1500 | 2 |
| 22,701—30,200 | 12,701—17,000 | 8201—10,900 | 5901—7900 | 3601—4800 | 1750 | |
| 30,201—38,700 | 17,001—21,800 | 10,901—12,900 | 7901—9800 | 4801—6200 | 2000 | |
| 38,701—48,300 | 21,801—24,200 | 12,901—17,400 | 9801—12,600 | 6201—7700 | 2250 | |
| 48,301—59,000 | 24,201—33,200 | 17,401—21,300 | 12,601—15,400 | 7701—9400 | 2500 | |
| 59,001—70,900 | 33,201—39,700 | 21,301—25,500 | 15,401—18,400 | 9401—11,300 | 2750 | |
| 70,901—83,700 | 39,701—47,100 | 25,501—30,100 | 18,401—21,800 | 11,301—13,400 | 3000 | 3 |
| 83,701—97,700 | 47,101—54,900 | 30,101—35,200 | 21,801—25,900 | 13,401—15,600 | 3250 | |
| 97,701—112,700 | 54,901—63,400 | 35,201—40,600 | 25,901—29,300 | 15,601—18,000 | 3500 | |
| 112,701—128,700 | 63,401—72,400 | 40,601—46,400 | 29,301—33,500 | 18,001—20,600 | 3750 | |
| 128,701—145,900 | 72,401—82,100 | 46,401—52,500 | 33,501—37,900 | 20,601—23,300 | 4000 | 4 |
| 145,901—164,200 | 82,101—92,400 | 52,501—59,100 | 37,901—42,700 | 23,301—26,300 | 4250 | |
| 164,201—183,400 | 92,401—103,100 | 59,101—66,000 | 42,701—47,700 | 26,301—29,300 | 4500 | |
| 183,401—203,700 | 103,101—114,600 | 66,001—73,300 | 47,701—53,000 | 29,301—32,600 | 4750 | |
| 203,701—225,200 | 114,601—126,700 | 73,301—81,100 | 53,001—58,600 | 32,601—36,000 | 5000 | |
| 225,201—247,700 | 126,701—139,400 | 81,101—89,200 | 58,601—65,400 | 36,001—39,600 | 5250 | |
| 247,701—271,200 | 139,401—152,600 | 89,201—97,700 | 65,401—70,600 | 39,601—43,400 | 5500 | |
| 271,201—295,900 | 152,601—166,500 | 97,701—106,500 | 70,601—77,000 | 43,401—47,400 | 5750 | |
| Greater than 295,900 | Greater than 166,500 | 106,501—115,800 | 77,001—83,700 | 47,401—51,500 | 6000 | |
| 115,801—125,500 | 83,701—90,600 | 51,501—55,700 | 6250 | |||
| 125,501—135,500 | 90,601—97,900 | 55,701—60,200 | 6500 | |||
| 135,501—145,800 | 97,901—106,800 | 60,201—64,800 | 6750 | |||
| 145,801—156,700 | 106,801—113,200 | 64,801—69,600 | 7000 | |||
| 156,701—167,900 | 113,201—121,300 | 69,601—74,600 | 7250 | |||
| 167,901—179,400 | 121,301—129,600 | 74,601—79,800 | 7500 | |||
| 179,401—191,400 | 129,601—138,300 | 79,801—85,100 | 7750 | |||
| Greater than 191,400 | Greater than 138,300 | Greater than 85,100 | 8000 | |||
*Types of construction are based on NFPA 220.
†Measured at 20 psi (139.9 kPa).
Required fire flow shall be reduced by 75 percent and the duration reduced to 1 hour where the one- and two-family dwelling is provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system.
A reduction in the required fire flow shall be permitted where a one- and two-family dwelling is separated from all lot lines in accordance with Table 18.4.5.1.4.
Required fire flow for one- and two-family dwellings protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system shall not exceed 2000 gpm (7571 L/min) for 1 hour.
The reductions in 18.4.5.2.2, and 18.4.5.2.3 shall not reduce the required fire flow to less than 500 gpm (1900 L/min) for 1 hour.
The minimum fire flow and flow duration for buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings shall be as specified in Table 18.4.5.2.1.
Required fire flow for open parking structures that are not protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system shall be reduced by 75 percent where all of the following conditions are met:
- The structure complies with the building code.
- The structure is of Type I or Type II construction.
- The structure is provided with a Class I standpipe system in accordance with NFPA 14. Class I standpipe systems of the manual dry type shall be permitted.
- The resulting fire flow is not less than 1000 gpm (3785 L/min).
Fire hydrants shall be provided in accordance with Section 18.5 for all new buildings, or buildings relocated into the jurisdiction unless otherwise permitted by 18.5.1.1 or 18.5.1.2.
Fire hydrants shall not be required where the water distribution system is not capable of providing a fire flow of greater than 500 gpm (1893 L/min) at a residual pressure of 20 psi (139.9 kPa).
Fire hydrants shall not be required where modification or extension of the water distribution system is deemed to be impractical by the AHJ.
The provisions of 18.5.1.1 and 18.5.1.2 shall not eliminate the fire flow requirements of Section 18.4.
The distances specified in Section 18.5 shall be measured along fire department access roads in accordance with 18.2.3.
Where fire department access roads are provided with median dividers incapable of being crossed by fire apparatus, or where fire department access roads have traffic counts of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrants shall be placed on both sides of the fire department access road on an alternating basis, and the distances specified by Section 18.5 shall be measured independently of the hydrants on the opposite side of the fire department access road.
Fire hydrants shall be located not more than 12 ft (3.7 m) from the fire department access road.
Fire hydrants shall be provided for detached one- and two-family dwellings in accordance with both of the following:
- The maximum distance to a fire hydrant from the closest point on the building shall not exceed 600 ft (183 m).
- The maximum distance between fire hydrants shall not exceed 800 ft (244 m).
Fire hydrants shall be provided for buildings other than detached one- and two-family dwellings in accordance with both of the following:
- The maximum distance to a fire hydrant from the closest point on the building shall not exceed 400 ft (122 m).
- The maximum distance between fire hydrants shall not exceed 500 ft (152 m).
The minimum number of fire hydrants needed to deliver the required fire flow for new buildings in accordance with Section 18.4 shall be determined in accordance with Section 18.5.4.
The aggregate fire flow capacity of all fire hydrants within 1000 ft (305 m) of the building, measured in accordance with 18.5.1.4 and 18.5.1.5, shall be not less than the required fire flow determined in accordance with Section 18.4.
The maximum fire flow capacity for which a fire hydrant shall be credited shall be as specified by Table 18.5.4.3. Capacities exceeding the values specified in Table 18.5.4.3 shall be permitted when local fire department operations have the ability to accommodate such values as determined by the fire department.
| Distance to Buildinga | Maximum Capacityb | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (ft) | (m) | (gpm) | (L/min) |
| ≤250 | ≤76 | 1500 | 5678 |
| > 250 and ≤ 500 | > 76 and ≤ 152 | 1000 | 3785 |
| > 500 and ≤ 1000 | > 152 and ≤ 305 | 750 | 2839 |
b Minimum 20 psi (139.9 kPa) residual pressure.
Fire hydrants required by 18.5.2 and 18.5.3 shall be included in the minimum number of fire hydrants for fire flow required by 18.5.4.
Fire hydrants and connections to other approved water supplies shall be accessible to the fire department.
A 36 in. (914 mm) clear space shall be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants except as otherwise required or approved.
A clear space of not less than 60 in. (1524 mm) shall be provided in front of each hydrant connection having a diameter greater than 21/2 in. (64 mm).
Where required by the AHJ, fire hydrants subject to vehicular damage shall be protected unless located within a public right of way.
Where water supplies or fire hydrants are out of service for maintenance or repairs, a visible indicator acceptable to the AHJ shall be used to indicate that the hydrant is out of service.
Fire hydrants shall be marked with an approved reflector affixed to the roadway surface where required by the AHJ.
Fire hydrants shall be marked with an approved flag or other device affixed to or proximate to the fire hydrant where required by the AHJ.
Where required by the AHJ, fire hydrants shall be color coded or otherwise marked with an approved system indicating the available flow capacity.