Sec. 13-31. - Road and driveway grades.

(a)

No road or driveway shall have a maximum grade in excess of sixteen percent (16%), without the approval of the county fire warden/fire marshal. In granting such approval, the county fire warden/fire marshal may require such additional fire protection measures under Section 13-63 as he or she deems necessary to mitigate access constraints. A road or driveway may include grades up to twenty percent (20%) unless sufficient grade reductions are provided to allow for vehicle cool down period as approved by the fire code official.

(b)

A vertical curve shall be required for any road or driveway when the algebraic difference in grade exceeds three percent (3%) for driveways, and two percent (2%) for private roads. The length of any vertical curve shall not be less than one hundred feet (100').

(c)

The maximum surface cross slope shall be five percent (5%) for all surface types unless a greater cross slope is required to meet super elevation requirements. The minimum surface cross slope for all surface types shall be two percent (2%).

(d)

Turnarounds shall have a maximum longitudinal slope of eight percent (8%). The longitudinal slope is defined as the slope corresponding to the long axis of a vehicle as it travels into, out of, and through a turnaround. This slope shall be maintained beginning and ending at the point of tangency of the edge of pavement curves for the turnaround. The cross slope perpendicular to the longitudinal slope shall not exceed five percent (5%).

(e)

Fire apparatus cool down areas shall have a minimum width of twenty-two feet wide (22') and thirty feet (30') long with a minimum taper of twenty-five feet (25') on each end. The length of the turnout shall be measured along the road or driveway centerline. Cool down area shall be provided with minimum curves set in Section 13-32 and shall be located on a maximum grade not exceeding five percent (5%). Cool down turnout shall not be allowed on the inside of the horizontal curves without approval of the fire code official.

(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)

State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1273.03, 1273.04