In the last article, I wrote about the
importance of preparing pre-incident plans and touched on some
of the important information that should be noted in that plan.
This month’s article will discuss important site plan fire
safety features in greater detail. Fire Service Features is
actually the title for Chapter 5 of the Fire Code of New York
State, which is based on the model International Fire Code
developed by the International Code Council.
Two important requirements in Chapter 5 of the Fire Code of New
York State are found in the administrative section. First, the
scoping provisions are written to cover “buildings, structures
and premises”, so the provisions of this chapter address fire
safety of the property or site-plan in addition to fire
protection of the building or structure. This is where fire
apparatus access roads and firefighting water supply are
required by the Fire Code. The second requirement provides that
the required fire apparatus access roads and water supply for
fire protection be installed and made serviceable before
construction starts. Temporary street signs are also required to
allow emergency responders the ability to quickly locate an
address during the construction phase on any development
(residential or commercial). As a fire Chief or Company Officer,
you need to work with your local Fire or Building Code
Enforcement Official to ensure these requirements are addressed
during the site plan review process and than implemented before
construction actually starts.
As you may recall from previous articles, the International Fire
Code and International Building Code are companion codes,
designed to work together in providing for public and emergency
first responder safety in the built environment. Accordingly,
the Building Code of New York State contains requirements that
support the Chapter 5 provisions of the Fire Code. An important
example is the requirement for at least one temporary standpipe
to be provided and operational during construction for all
buildings that are four or more stories in height. The code
requires this standpipe be extended as upward construction
proceeds and be located adjacent to a usable stairs, always to
within one floor below the highest level of construction. Should
a fire occur during construction, you should know the location
of the outside standpipe FDC (fire department connection) and
the location of internal hose connection points for the engine
company to utilize to get quick water on the fire. The details
for this temporary standpipe are best formalized during the site
plan and preliminary construction phases of the project.
Fire Apparatus Access Roads are another important fire safety
feature that is covered in Chapter 5 of the Fire Code of New
York State. The Fire Code contains detailed provisions
concerning the proper width, usually twenty-feet, vertical
clearance, surface, grade, security gates, bridges, turning
radius, dead-ends, etc. New York State has also adopted Appendix
D from the International Fire Code, Fire Apparatus Access Roads.
This appendix gives further guidance and information about
determining turn-around requirements based on the actual length
of fire apparatus and derails on proper markings and signage for
“fire lanes” and “fire zones”. Ensuring the fire apparatus
access roads are adequate for your local fire apparatus size is
something that must be addressed during the review of the site
plan application. As a Fire Chief, it is important that you work
with your local Fire or Building Code Enforcement Official and
the construction project design professional (architect or
engineer) so roads and fire zones match your specific apparatus
length and conform to your operating procedures as to apparatus
placement. The Fire Code also contains additional requirements
addressing aerial fire apparatus access roads for sites that
contain taller buildings.
Chapter 5 imposes requirements for installation of approved
signs along fire apparatus access roads to help ensure those
roads are maintained unobstructed at all times. This requirement
addresses any obstruction, from illegally parked private
vehicles to snow or other natural obstructions. It should be
noted that enforcement of the “no parking” requirements may
require that an additional local Town or Village Vehicle and
Traffic ordnance be properly enacted to allow dully authorized
enforcement personnel the legal authority to issue a “parking
ticket” to the vehicle operator.
Finally, Chapter 5 of the Fire Code of New York State contains
the requirements for fire protection water supplies. This
section of the code specifies various options for providing
adequate water supply (fire flow) based on local conditions and
accounting for the size and type of the building(s) on the site.
An adequate water supply may consist of reservoirs, pressure or
elevated water tanks and/or water mains and fire hydrants
(public or private) as approved by the local Code Enforcement
Official. The Fire Chief should work with the local Fire or
Building Code Enforcement Official and the construction project
design
