Chapter 5 — FIRE SERVICE FEATURES

SECTION 503 FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS

BUILDING STANDARDS

503.1 Where required. Fire apparatus access roads shall be provided and maintained in accordance with Sections 503.1.1 through 503.1.3 and in accordance with the fire department access standards.

503.1.1 Buildings and facilities. Approved fire apparatus access roads shall be provided for every facility, building or portion of a building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction. The fire apparatus access road shall comply with the requirements for this section and shall extend to within 150 feet (45 720 mm) of all portions of the facility and all portions of the exterior walls of the first story of the building as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building or facility.

Exceptions:

In other than R-3 or U occupancies, when the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system, installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 the dimension may be increased to a maximum of 300 feet when approved by the fire code official.

When there are not more than two Group R-3 or accessory Group U occupancies, the dimension may be increased to a maximum of 200 feet.

When apparatus roads cannot be installed because of topography, waterways, nonnegotiable grades or other similar conditions, an approved alternative means of fire protection shall be provided.

BUILDING STANDARDS

503.2.1 Dimensions. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet (6096 mm) for engines and 26 feet (7925mm) for aerial fire apparatus, exclusive of shoulders, except for approved gates or barricades in accordance with Sections 503.5.1 and 503.6. The unobstructed vertical clearance shall be a minimum of 13 feet 6 inches (4115 mm), or as determined by the fire code official.

Exception: When there are not more than two Group R, Division 3 parcels, or more than two Group U occupancies, the access road width may be modified by the fire code official.

BUILDING STANDARDS

503.2.4 Turning radius. The required turning radius of a fire apparatus access road shall be a minimum of 30 feet inside, and a minimum of 50 feet outside.

503.2.7 Grade. The maximum grade of a fire department apparatus access road shall not exceed 15- percent, unless approved by the fire code official.

503.5 Required gates or barricades. The fire code official is authorized to require the installation and maintenance of gates or other approved barricades across fire apparatus access roads, trails, or other accessways, not including the public streets, alleys, or highways. The minimum width for commercial applications is 20 feet, and 12 feet for single-family dwellings. 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.

503.6 Security gates. The installation of security gates across a fire apparatus access road shall be approved by the fire code official. Where security gates are installed, they shall have an approved means of emergency operation. The security gates and the emergency operation shall be maintained operational at all times. 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. The minimum width for commercial applications is 20 feet, and 12 feet for single-family dwellings.

SECTION 504 ACCESS TO BUILDING OPENINGS AND ROOFS

BUILDING STANDARDS

504.5 Access control devices. When access control devices including bars, grates, gates, electric or magnetic locks or similar devices, which would inhibit rapid fire department emergency access to or within the building are installed, such devices shall be approved by the fire code official. All electrically powered

access control devices shall be provided with an approved means for deactivation or unlocking from a single location or otherwise approved by the fire code official.

Access control devices shall also comply with Chapter 10 Means of Egress.

SECTION 505 PREMISES IDENTIFICATION

505.1 Address identification. New and existing buildings shall be provided with approved address identification. The shall be provided with approved address identification. The address identification shall be legible and placed in a position that is visible from the street or road fronting the property. Address identification characters shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. Each character shall be not less than 6 inches (102153 mm) high with a minimum stroke width of ½ inch (12.7 mm). Where required by the fire code official, address identification shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. Where access is by means of a private road and the building cannot be viewed from the public way, a monument, pole or other sign or means shall be used to identify the structure. Address identification shall be maintained.

The following is a guideline for adequate address number dimensions:

The number posted up to 49 feet from the public street shall be of one solid color which is contrasting to the background and be at least six (6) inches high with a half (½) inch stroke.

The number posted from 50 to 100 feet from the public street shall be of one solid color which is contrasting to the background and be at least six (6) inches high with a one (1) inch stroke.

The number posted over 100 to 199 feet from the public street shall be of one solid color which is contrasting to the background and be at least ten (10) inches high with a one and a half (1½) inch stroke.

The number posted over 200 to 299 feet from the public street shall be of one solid color which is contrasting to the background and be at least ten (10) inches high with a one and a half (1½) inch stroke.

The number posted over 300 to 400 feet from the public street shall be of one solid color which is contrasting to the background and be at least ten (10) inches high with a one and a half (1½) inch stroke.

SECTION 510 EMERGENCY RESPONDER RADIO COVERAGE

BUILDING STANDARDS

510.1 Emergency responder radio coverage in new buildings. Approved radio coverage for emergency responders shall be provided within all buildings meeting any one of the following conditions:

There are more than 3 stories above grade plane (as defined by the Building Code Section 202);

The total building area is 30,000 square feet or more;

The total basement area is 5,000 square feet or more;

Where required by the fire code official and radio coverage signal strength levels are not consistent with the minimum levels set forth in Section 510.4.1

Exceptions:

Where approved by the fire code official, a wired communication system in accordance with Section 907.2.13.2 shall be permitted to be installed or maintained in lieu of an approved radio coverage system.

Where it is determined by the fire code official that the radio coverage system is not needed.

In facilities where emergency responder radio coverage is required and such systems, components or equipment required could have a negative impact on the normal operations of that facility, the fire code official shall have the authority to accept an automatically activated emergency responder radio coverage system.

Buildings and areas of buildings that have minimum radio coverage signal strength levels of the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority (SVRIA) P25 Phase 2 700 MHz Digital Trunked Radio System within the building in accordance with Section 510.4.1 without the use of an indoor radio coverage system.

The radio coverage system shall be installed and maintained in accordance with Sections 510.4 through 510.6.4 of this code and with the applicable provisions of NFPA 1221, Standard for the Installation, Maintenance and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems.

The coverage shall be based upon the existing coverage levels of the public safety communication systems of the jurisdiction at the exterior of the building. This section shall not require improvement of the existing public safety communication systems.

510.1.1 Obstruction by new buildings. No obstruction of the public safety system backhaul shall be allowed without an approved mitigating plan.

510.3 Permit required. A construction permit, for the installation of, or modification of, emergency responder radio coverage systems and related equipment is required as specified in Section 105.6.4. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered a modification and does not require a permit. A frequency change made to an existing system is considered to be new construction and will require a construction permit.

510.4 Technical requirements. Systems, components and equipment required to provide the emergency responder radio coverage system shall comply with the current Emergency Responders Radio Coverage Systems Standard Details & Specification enforced by the Santa Clara County Fire Department.

510.4.1.1 Minimum signal strength into the building. The minimum inbound signal strength shall be sufficient to provide usable voice communications throughout the coverage area as specified by the fire code official. The inbound signal level shall be sufficient to provide not less than a Delivered Audio Quality (DAQ) of 3.0 for analog communications and DAQ of 3.4 for digital communications systems or an equivalent Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) applicable to the technology.

510.4.1.2 Minimum signal strength out of the building. The minimum outbound signal strength shall be sufficient to provide usable voice communications throughout the coverage area as specified by the fire code official. The outbound signal level shall be sufficient to provide not less than a DAQ of 3.0 for analog communications and DAQ of 3.4 for digital communications systems or an equivalent SINR applicable to the technology.

510.5 Installation requirement. The installation of the emergency responder radio coverage system shall be in accordance with NFPA 1221 and the current Emergency Responder Radio Coverage Systems Standard Details & Specification enforced by the Santa Clara County Fire Department.

510.5.2 Approval prior to installation. Amplification systems capable of operating on frequencies licensed to any public safety agency by the FCC or other radio licensing authority shall not be installed without prior coordination and approval of the fire code official and the agency FCC license holder or systems administrator.

510.5.3 Acceptance test procedure. Where an emergency responder radio coverage system is required, and upon completion of installation, the building owner shall have the radio system tested to verify that two-way coverage on each floor of the building is not less than 95 percent. Final system acceptance will require ERRCS power level and DAQ testing with agency FCC license holder, systems administrators, or designee.