Emergency Access Requirements

Emergency Access Requirements

  • Fire Lanes: Required fire lanes shall be provided with the inner edge of the roadway no closer than 10 feet and no further than 30 feet from the building. Such lanes shall have a surface designed to accommodate fire apparatus with a minimum weight of 41 tons.
  • Fire lanes shall be marked with freestanding signs with the wording, "NO PARKING FIRE LANE BY ORDER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT" or similar wording. Such signs shall be 12 inches by 18 inches with a white background and red letters and shall be a maximum of seven feet in height from the roadway to the bottom part of the sign. The signs shall be within sight of the traffic flow and be a maximum of 60 feet part.
  • Access to building: A fire department access road shall extend to within 50 feet (15 meters) of a single exterior door providing access to the interior of the building.
  • Additional requirements: Fire department access roads shall be provided such that any portion of the facility or any portion of an exterior wall of the first story of the building is located not more than 150 feet (46 meters) from fire department access roads as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building or facility.
  • Multiple Access Roads: More than one fire department access road shall be provided when it is determined by the AHJ that access by a single road could be impaired by vehicle congestion, condition of terrain, climatic conditions, or other factors the could limit access.
  • Specifications/Dimensions: Fire department access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet (6.1 meters) and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inch (4.1 meters). Minimum width may be reduced to meet special access with the approval of the fire official.
  • Surface: Fire department access roads shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus and shall be provided with a surface suitable for all-weather driving capabilities.
  • Turning Radius: The turning radius of a fire department access road shall be as approved by the AHJ.
  • Dead Ends: Dead-end fire department access roads in excess of 150 feet (46 meters) in length shall be provided with approved provisions for the turning around of fire apparatus.
  • Bridges, Ramps, and Elevated Roads: When a bridge is required to be used as part of a fire department access road, it shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with nationally recognized standards.  The bridge/road/ramp shall be designed for a live load sufficient to carry the imposed loads of fire apparatus with a minimum weight of 41 tons.  Vehicle load limits shall be posted at both entrances to bridges, ramps, and elevated roadways.
  • Grade: The gradient for a fire department access road shall not exceed the maximum approved.  The angle of approach and departure for any means of fire department access shall not exceed 1 feet drop in 20 feet (0.3 meters drop in 6 meters), and the design limitations of the fire apparatus of the fire department shall be subject to approval by the AHJ.
  • Marking of Fire Apparatus Access Road: Where required by the AHJ, approved signs or other approved notices shall be provided and maintained for fire department access roads to identify such roads, or prohibit the obstruction thereof, or both.