Vista Municipal Code § 503.2 Fire Code

accordance with the following: a. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed improved width of not less than 24 feet, except as provided in Section 503.2.1 for single- family residential driveways serving no more than two residential parcels, which shall have a minimum of 16 feet of unobstructed improved width. Any of the following, which have separated lanes of one-way traffic: gated entrances with card readers, guard stations, or center medians, are allowed, provided that each lane is not less than 14 feet wide. b. Fire apparatus access roads that are public or private roads which are provided or improved as a result of a Tentative Map, Tentative Parcel Map, or a Major/Minor Use Permit shall have the dimensions as set forth by the County of San Diego Standards for Public and Private Roads. c. All fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches. d. Vertical clearances or road widths shall be increased when the fire code official determines that vertical clearances or road widths are not adequate to provide fire apparatus access. e. Vertical clearances or road width may be reduced when the fire code official determines the reduction does not impair access by fire apparatus. In cases where the vertical clearance has been reduced, approved signs shall be installed and maintained indicating the amount of vertical clearance. f. Driveways exceeding 150 feet in length, but less than 600 feet in length, shall provide a turnout near the midpoint of the driveway. Where the driveway exceeds 600 feet, turnouts shall be provided no more than 400 feet apart.

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Vista Municipal Code

g. For buildings that are more than 35 feet in height, a 35-foot unobstructed fire lane

shall be provided unless otherwise approved by the fire code official. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 35 feet when within laddering distance of buildings exceeding 35 feet in height. The access road shall be set back from buildings exceeding two stories in height such that the centerline of the fire access road shall be equal to 1/4 the difference in elevation from the fire access road to the roof. The building curbside access roads serving buildings over two stories in height but less than 44 feet in height shall be permitted to be up to 10 feet away from the building.

authority to require or permit modifications to the required access widths where they are inadequate for fire or rescue operations or where necessary to meet the public safety objectives of the jurisdiction.

to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus ( not less than 75,000 lbs. unless authorized by the fire code official) and shall be provided with an approved paved surface so as to provide all- weather driving capabilities. The paving and sub-base shall be installed to the standards specified in the County of San Diego Parking Design Manual. A residential driveway constructed of 3-1/2” Portland cement concrete may be installed on any slope up to 20% provided that slopes over 15% have a deep broom finish perpendicular to the direction of travel to enhance traction. The fire code official may allow a surfacing material of 6 inches of compacted decomposed granite on fire apparatus access roads with a slope of 10% or less in areas allowed by the San Diego County Standards for Private Roads.

road shall comply with the County of San Diego Public and Private Road Standards. The horizontal inside radius of any public or private driveway shall be a minimum of 28 feet, as measured on the inside edge of the improvement width or as approved by the fire code official. The length of vertical curves of fire apparatus access roads shall not be less than 100 feet, or as approved by the fire code official.

in length shall be provided with an approved area for turning around emergency apparatus.

approved turn-around shall be provided in residential areas where the fire apparatus access roads serve 3 or more parcels. The minimum unobstructed radius width for a cul-de-sac in a residential area shall be 36 feet paved, 40 feet graded, or as approved by the fire code official. The fire code official shall establish a policy identifying acceptable turnarounds for various project types. See Annex A and B for illustrations.

including all dead-end roads accessed from that dead- end road, shall not exceed the following cumulative lengths, regardless of the number of parcels served:

Title 14 State Responsibility Area (SRA) 1273.08 Ref.) ZONING FOR PARCEL SERVED BY DEAD-END CUMULATIVE LENGTH OF DEAD- ROAD(s) END ROAD(s) Parcels zoned for less than 1 acre 800 feet

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Vista Municipal Code

ZONING FOR PARCEL SERVED BY DEAD-END CUMULATIVE LENGTH OF DEAD- ROAD(s) END ROAD( s) Parcels zoned for 1 acre to 4.99 acres 1,320 feet Parcels zoned for 5 acres to 19.99 acres 2,640 feet Parcels zoned for 20 acres or larger 5,280 feet

All lengths shall be measured from the edge of the roadway surface at the intersection

where the road begins to the end of the road surface at its farthest point. Where a dead-end road crosses areas of differing zoned parcel sizes, requiring different length limits, the shortest allowable length shall apply. Where parcels are zoned 5 acres or larger, turnarounds shall be provided at a maximum of 1,320-foot intervals. Each dead-end road shall have a turnaround approved by the fire code official and constructed at its terminus.

A turnaround shall be provided to all building sites on driveways over 150 feet in length,

and shall be within fifty (50) feet of the building.

is part of a fire apparatus access road, the bridge shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials ( AASHTO) Highway Bridges, 17th Edition ( AASHTO HB-17). Bridges and elevated surfaces shall be designed for a live load sufficient to carry the imposed loads of fire apparatus. Vehicle load limits and clearance limitations shall be posted at both entrances to bridges where required by the fire code official. Where elevated surfaces designed for emergency vehicle use are adjacent to surfaces which are not designed for such use, approved barriers, approved signs, or both shall be installed and maintained where required by the fire code official.

official, private bridges providing access to not more than two residential dwellings may have one 12-foot-wide travel lane and it shall provide for unobstructed visibility from one end to the other, and turnouts shall be provided at both ends.

exceed 15.0%. The fire code official may allow roadway grades up to 20.0% provided that the roadway surface conforms to Section 503.2.3. The fire code official may require additional mitigation measures.

Sec 503.2.7.1 Cross-Slope. The standard cross- slope shall be 2 percent;

minimum cross- slope shall be 1 percent; maximum cross- slope shall be 5 percent.

departure for fire apparatus access roads shall not exceed 7 degrees ( 12 %) for the first 30’ or as approved by the fire code official and shall not allow for transitions between grades that exceed 6% elevation change along any 10-foot Section.

shall be a minimum of 12 feet wide and 30 feet long with a minimum 25-foot taper on each end. Cal. Code Regs. Title 14 SRA 1273.06)

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Vista Municipal Code

Exception: The minimum width of the turnout may be reduced to 10 feet wide when the fire code official determines the reduction does not impair access by fire apparatus.