Chapter 5 — FIRE SERVICE FEATURES

(22)

California Fire Code Section 503.1 is amended to read:

503.1 Where Required. Fire apparatus access roads shall comply with the Sonoma County Fire Safe Standards when applicable, and otherwise shall be provided and maintained in accordance with Sections 503.1.1 through 503.1.3.

(23)

California Fire Code Section 503.2 is amended to read:

503.2 Specifications. Fire apparatus access roads shall be installed per the Sonoma County Fire Safe Standards when applicable, and otherwise shall be installed or arranged in accordance with Sections 503.2.1 through 503.2.8.

(24)

California Fire Code, Section 503.2.6.1 is added to read:

503.2.6.1 Evaluation and Maintenance. All existing private bridges and elevated surfaces that are a part of the fire department access roadway shall be evaluated by a California licensed civil engineer experienced in structural engineering or a California licensed structural engineer, for safety and weight rating, in accordance with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Manual: ''The Manual for Bridge Evaluation,'' Second Edition, or other approved standard. Vehicle load limits shall be posted at both entrances to bridges. All bridges and elevated structures providing fire department access shall be routinely maintained in accordance with Section 503.2.6 or when directed by the fire code official or authorized designee.

(25)

California Fire Code Section 503.3 is amended to read:

503.3 Marking. Where required by the fire code official, approved signs or other approved notices or markings that include the words NO PARKING - FIRE LANE in accordance with the California Vehicle Code, shall be provided for fire apparatus access roads to identify such roads or prohibit the obstruction thereof. The means by which fire lanes are designated shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition at all times and be replaced or repaired when necessary to provide adequate visibility.

(26)

California Fire Code Section 503.6.1 is added to read:

503.6.1 Width. All gate entrances and similar structures shall be at least two feet (2') wider than the width of the traffic lane(s) serving the gate or structure.

(27)

California Fire Code Section 503.6.2 is added to read:

503.6.2 Setbacks. All gates providing access from a public road to a private road or private driveway shall be located at least thirty feet (30') from the roadway and shall open to allow a vehicle to stop without obstructing traffic on the roadway.

(28)

California Fire Code Section 505.1 is amended to read:

505.1 Address Identification. New and existing buildings shall be provided with approved illuminated or other approved means of address identification. The address identification shall be legible and placed in apposition that is visible from the street or road fronting the property. Address identification characters shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numerals or alphabetic letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. Character size and stroke shall be in accordance with Section 505.1.1 through 505.1.2. 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.

(29)

California Fire Code Section 505.1.1 is added to read:

505.1.1 Numbers For One- and Two- Family Dwellings. Each address identification character shall be not less than four (4) inches high with a minimum stroke width of one-half (0.5) inch.

(30)

California Fire Code Section 505.1.2 is added to read:

505.1.2 Numbers For Other Than One and Two-Family Dwellings. Each address identification character shall be not less than twelve (12) inches high with a minimum stroke width of one (1) inch. Suite and unit directional numbers shall be not less than six (6) inches high with a minimum stroke width of three-quarter (0.75) inch. Numbers shall be not less than four (4) inches high with a minimum stroke width of one-half (0.5) inch.

(31)

California Fire Code Section 505.1.3 is added to read:

505.1.3 Complex Directory. Where two or more buildings cannot be viewed from the public way or when determined by the fire code official, an approved illuminated complex directory, monument, pole, or other approved sign or means shall be used to identify the structures at the main entrances to the property.

(32)

California Fire Code Section 505.1.4 is added to read:

505.1.4 Installation, Location and Visibility of Addresses. All buildings shall have a permanently posted address, which shall be placed at each driveway entrance and visible from both directions of travel along the road. In all cases, the address shall be posted at the beginning of construction and shall be maintained thereafter, and the address shall be visible and legible from the road on which the address is located.

(33)

California Fire Code Section 505.1.4.1 is added to read:

505.1.4.1 Signs Posted One-Way Roads. Address signs along one-way roads shall be visible from both the intended direction of travel and the opposite direction.

(34)

California Fire Code Section 505.1.4.2 is added to read:

505.1.4.2 Multiple Addresses. Where multiple addresses are required at a single driveway, they shall be mounted on a single post.

Where a roadway provides access solely to a single commercial or industrial business, the address sign shall be placed at the nearest road intersection providing access to that site.

(35)

California Fire Code Section 505.2.1 is added to read:

505.2.1 Size of Letters, Numbers and Symbols or Street and Road signs. Size of letters, numbers, and symbols for street and road signs shall be a minimum of three inches (3") for letter height with a three-eighths inch (3/8") stroke, reflectorized, and contrasting with the background color of the sign.

(36)

California Fire Code Section 505.2.2 is added to read:

505.2.2 Visibility and Legibility of Street and Road Signs. Street and road signs shall be visible and legible from both directions of vehicle travel for a distance of at least one hundred feet (100').

(37)

California Fire Code Section 505.2.3 is added to read:

505.2.3 Height of Street and Road Signs. Height of street and road signs shall be uniform countywide, and meet the visibility and legibility standards of this section.

(38)

California Fire Code Section 505.2.4 is added to read:

505.2.4 Names and Numbers on Street and Road Signs. Newly constructed or approved public and private roads and streets must be identified by a name or number through a consistent countywide system that provides for sequenced or patterned numbering and/or non-duplicating naming within the county. All signs shall be mounted and oriented in a uniform manner. This section does not require any entity to rename or renumber existing roads or streets, nor shall a roadway providing access only to a single commercial or industrial occupancy require naming or numbering.

(39)

California Fire Code Section 505.2.5 is added to read:

505.2.5 Intersecting Roads, Streets and Private Lanes. Signs required by this article identifying intersecting roads, streets and private lanes shall be placed at the intersection of those roads, streets and/or private lanes.

(40)

California Fire Code Section 505.2.6 is added to read:

505.2.6 Signs Identifying Traffic Access Limitations. A sign identifying traffic access or flow limitations, including, but not limited to weight or vertical clearance limitations, dead-end road, one-way road (or single land conditions) shall be placed: (a) at the intersection preceding the traffic access limitation, and (b) no more than one hundred feet (100') before such traffic access limitation.

(41)

California Fire Code Section 507.2.2 is amended to read:

507.2.2 Water Tanks. Water tanks for private fire protection shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 22.

Exception: For Group R-3 occupancies, equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3, and associated accessory structures up to 3,000 square feet in area, plastic water tanks up to 5,000 gallons in volume may be used. A flammable vegetation clearance of not less than twenty feet (20') shall be maintained around all poly-plastic or similar water tanks.

(42)

California Fire Code Section 507.2.3 is added to read:

507.2.3 Urban Water System. For one- and two-family dwellings, and accessory structures associated with one- and two-family dwellings. If the water supply to the parcel is provided by a public or community water system (urban parcel - see Definitions) the emergency water supply for residential buildings shall consist of a permanent hydrant located on the road within two hundred fifty feet (250') of the driveway measured from where the driveway intersects with the public or private road. Distance measurements shall be determined by hose lay along the road, not horizontal distance.

(43)

California Fire Code Section 507.2.4 is added to read:

507.2.4 Non-Urban Water System. If the water supply to the parcel is provided by a private water well (non-urban parcel - see Definitions) the fire code official is authorized to utilize NFPA 1142 or the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code.

Exception: When authorized by the authority having jurisdiction, the emergency water supply requirements for one- and two-family dwellings, and accessory structures associated with one- and two-family dwellings, may be waived when sufficient evidence is proven that the Emergency Water Standards of Title 14 of the Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Article 4 have been met.

(44)

California Fire Code Section 507.5.1.2 is added to read:

507.5.1.2 Other Areas. Fire hydrant systems shall be required where a public water system, regardless of type of ownership, provides water for human consumption to fifteen (15) or more service connections.

(45)

California Fire Code Section 507.5.7 is added to read:

507.5.7 Fire Hydrant Size and Outlets. New commercial and industrial development shall have a minimum of two 4.5 inch connections and one 2.5 inch connection per Appendix D 104 unless otherwise approved by the fire code official.