9.a) Fire Chief road width attachmentJi
Access and Water Supplies: Fire Apparatus Access Road Widths -
Learning Objective: The student shall be able to identify the minimum required road widths for fire apparatus access.
Often it seems there is an immutable conflict among property owners, land use planners, and
emergency response officials over the width of roads in some neighborhoods. Property owners
and developers may want to minimize the impact and cost of drivable surfaces while fire officials
are concerned about safe, reasonable access to emergency scenes.
The two model fire codes, the International Fire Code® and NFPA Is, Uniform Fire Code®, address the
access road requirement similarly. Both require that a minimum 20-foot-(6.1 m) wide road
reach within 15 0 feet (45 m) of all portions of the exterior wall of the first story of a building,
measured in an approved route around the exterior.
The illustration shows the importance of the minimum 20-foot-width requirement to help in
firefighting tactics. Modern fire apparatus, especially large aerial equipment, consume a major
part of the driving surface. When ladder trucks or aerial towers have their stabilizing jacks
extended, they use even more of the road.
Photo courtesy Vigilant Hose Company, Emmitsburg, Maryland.
An aerial apparatus with its stabilizers extended and
an engine take up the bulk of this paved road width.
The purpose of the minimum 20-foot-width
requirement is to enable aerial apparatus to set up, and
allow other vehicles to pass safely around stabilizers and
personnel who may be working around the vehicle. If
large diameter supply hoses or smaller handlines must
be deployed, fire apparatus needs to get around them as
well.
The fire code official has the authority under the model
codes to require even greater road widths if there are
traffic, topographical, weather, or safety considerations
that may affect access.
Next time someone asks about the need for minimum
20-foot-wide fire access roads, show them this picture
and explain the firefighter safety and operational
considerations.
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