Fire apparatus access roads shall be in accordance with this appendix and all other applicable requirements of the International Fire Code.
Where a fire hydrant is located on a fire apparatus access road, the minimum road width shall be 26 feet (7925 mm), exclusive of shoulders (see Figure D103.1).
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.
DEAD-END FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROAD TURNAROUND
Fire apparatus access roads shall not exceed 10 percent in grade.
Exception: Grades steeper than 10 percent as approved by the fire code official.
Dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150 feet (45 720 mm) shall be provided with width and turnaround provisions in accordance with Table D103.4.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEAD-END FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS
| LENGTH (feet) | WIDTH (feet) | TURNAROUNDS REQUIRED |
| 0—150 | 20 | None required |
| 151—500 | 20 | 120-foot Hammerhead, 60-foot "Y" or 96-foot diameter cul-de-sac in accordance with Figure D103.1 |
| 501—750 | 26 | 120-foot Hammerhead, 60-foot "Y" or 96-foot diameter cul-de-sac in accordance with Figure D103.1 |
| Over 750 | Special approval required | |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.
Gates securing the fire apparatus access roads shall comply with all of the following criteria:
- Where a single gate is provided, the gate width shall be not less than 20 feet (6096 mm). Where a fire apparatus road consists of a divided roadway, the gate width shall be not less than 12 feet (3658 mm).
- Gates shall be of the swinging or sliding type.
- Construction of gates shall be of materials that allow manual operation by one person.
- Gate components shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times and replaced or repaired when defective.
- Electric gates shall be equipped with a means of opening the gate by fire department personnel for emergency access. Emergency opening devices shall be approved by the fire code official.
- Methods of locking shall be submitted for approval by the fire code official.
- Electric gate operators, where provided, shall be listed in accordance with UL 325.
- Gates intended for automatic operation shall be designed, constructed and installed to comply with the requirements of ASTM F2200.
Where required by the fire code official, fire apparatus access roads shall be marked with permanent NO PARKING—FIRE LANE signs complying with Figure D103.6. Signs shall have a minimum dimension of 12 inches (305 mm) wide by 18 inches (457 mm) high and have red letters on a white reflective background. Signs shall be posted on one or both sides of the fire apparatus road as required by Section D103.6.1 or D103.6.2.
FIRE LANE SIGNS
Buildings or facilities having a gross building area of more than 62,000 square feet (5760 m2) shall be provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads.
Exception: Projects having a gross building area of up to 124,000 square feet (11 520 m2) that have a single approved fire apparatus access road where all buildings are equipped throughout with approved automatic sprinkler systems.
Multiple-family residential projects having more than 100 dwelling units shall be equipped throughout with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads.
Exception: Projects having up to 200 dwelling units shall have not fewer than one approved fire apparatus access road where 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.
Developments of one- or two-family dwellings where the number of dwelling units exceeds 30 shall be provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads.
Exceptions:
- 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 or 903.3.1.3, access from two directions shall not be required.
- 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.
| ASTM | F2200—14 | Standard Specification for Automated Vehicular Gate Construction | D103.5 |
| UL | 325—02 | Door, Drapery, Gate, Louver, and Window Operators and Systems, with Revisions through May 2015 | D103.5 |
