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

• • LJ Building Proximity In areas with aerial apparatus that may respond to an emergency, the road or fire lane should be posi- tioned at a distance from the building that will accommodate aerial ladder operation. Access too close or too far from the building will limit aerial ladder use. Where a fire lane is parallel to a build- ing that is more than 30 feet high, Appendix D of the IFC calls for the near edge of the lane to be between 15 and 30 feet away from the building. Turn Radius The IFC and NFPA 1 leave turn radius requirements to the code official and AHJ. However, NFPA 1141 requires a minimum inside turn radius of 25 feet and a minimum outside radius for turns of 50 feet. The cul-de-sac depicted in Figure 2.5 shows an effective inside turn radius of 40 feet. Further, NFPA 1141 requires 2-foot curb cuts on either side of a fire lane where it connects to a road. Grade NFPA 1 sets a maximum grade (slope) of 5 percent for fire lanes. NFPA 1141 specifies a 10 percent maxi- mum, as well as a 0.5 percent minimum to prevent pooling of water. However, some manufacturers have lower limits for specific apparatus. When aerial apparatus is set up for operation, the vehicle body must be leveled with the outriggers. The least grade possible would allow for the most rapid setup. Loads All access roads or lanes should be built to with- stand the loads presented by modern, heavy fire apparatus as well as potential weather conditions. Paved surfaces, bridges, and other elevated sur- faces (such as piers or boardwalks) should be designed to handle the weight of all apparatus that may use them. The IFC Appendix D has a load design requirement of 75,000 pounds. U.S. Department of Transportation standards dictate requirements for both load and frequency. The IFC references the Standard Specification for Highway Bridges from the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO). 14 (Fig. 2.7) The same paver block access lane as shown in Figure 2.6, but covered with snow. Access is blocked by a mound of snow plowed from the adjacent parking lot. Materials All-weather paved access is the best surface. Some jurisdictions permit the use of paver blocks or sub- surface construction for fire lanes (Figure 2.6). These permit an area to be partially or fully land- scaped, while being strong enough to allow fire apparatus to negotiate the area. However, these materials do have inherent limitations. Unless their perimeter is clearly marked, it is easy to drive off the edge. Also, in regions subject to snow accumu- lation, areas with paver blocks and subsurface con- struction cannot be plowed effectively (Figure 2.7). OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration 130 (Fig. 2.6) Paver blocks were chosen instead of paving for this access road. The aesthetic benefits are minimal, and the road cannot be plowed effectively.