LUBA RET. EX 076/077 RE-E - Laserfiche WebLink

• • the direction of doors, so that firefighter access and occupant egress is not impeded (Figure 5.9). A freestanding FDC (such as the one shown in Figure 5.11), is an option as long as it is acceptable to the local fire department. Designers may position these anywhere on the property. If an FDC is located far from the building it feeds, consider the special signage discussed in the section, Marking, page 47. FDCs subject to vehicle damage should be pro- tected by barricades such as the bollards often used near fire hydrants (Figure 2.14). An alterna- tive to protect wall-mounted 'FDCs is a wall- mounted guard (Figure 5.3). Considerations - FDC Location ■ Locate on street side of buildings, or on line of approach, if building is set back. ■ Locate within an easy hose line stretch of a hydrant. • Locate where it may be easily reached by a firefighter with a hose line. ■ Provide at least a 4-foot clear path to the FDC. ■ FDCs with angled inlets should have 3 feet of clearance on either side. Avoid locations where th'e FDC may be blocked by area use, e.g., merchandise, storage, equipment, vehicles, etc. ■ Avoid areas adjacent to hazardous materials. 46 POSITION The Appendix of NFPA 13 recommends that FDCs be installed so that the centerlines of the inlets are between 18 and 48 inches above the adjacent ground. This height will make hose line connection straightforward. Some jurisdictions may prefer a maximum height of 42 inches, or even 36 inches. Designers should position FDCs based on the final grade, rather than the reverse. If the grade is built up in one area with a mound of soil or mulch to achieve the correct height, this can easily be inadvertently changed later by a landscaper. Or, if a platform is built to achieve the correct height, a fall hazard is created for firefighters who may be work- ing in the dark and/or in smoky conditions (Figure 5.10). Wall-mounted FDCs should be positioned at least 40 feet away from windows, doors, or vents. This will minimize the chance that fire, heat, or smoke will make it difficult to connect hose lines. Considerations - FDC Position ■ Meet all requirements or recommendations for height above grade. ■ Do not use platforms or other artificial means to achieve the correct height. ■ Position at least 40 feet from openings when possible. OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Fig. 5.10) A plat- form built up to reach an FDC cre- ates a hazardous condition. This should not be considered as equivalent to positioning the FDC at a proper height above grade level. 162 (Fig. 5.9) An FDC pointed directly across the main entrance of a restaurant. A connected and charged hose line would impede both egress and entry.