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Fire and Life Safety - 15 - Fire Apparatus Access Roads

  1. Fire apparatus access roads shall be provided and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this section.


  2. Fire apparatus access roads shall be required for every building hereafter constructed when any portion of an exterior wall of the first story is located more than 150 feet from Fire Department vehicle access. Exception: When buildings are completely protected with an approved automatic fire sprinkler system, the provisions of this section may be modified. More than one fire apparatus road may be required when it is determined that access by a single road may be impaired by vehicle congestion, condition of terrain or other factors that could limit access.


  3. The unobstructed width of a fire apparatus road shall be not less than 20 feet.


  4. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches.


    5. Exception: Upon approval, vertical clearance may be reduced, provided such reduction does not impair access by fire apparatus and approved signs are installed and maintained, indicating the established vertical clearance.

  5. Fire apparatus access roads shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus and shall be provided with a surface so as to provide all weather driving capabilities.


  6. The turning radius of a fire apparatus access road shall be as approved by the Campus Fire Marshal and the Berkeley Fire Department.


  7. All dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150 feet in length shall be provided with approved provisions for the turning around of fire apparatus.


  8. The gradient for a fire apparatus access road shall not exceed the maximum approved by the Berkeley Fire Department with the concurrence of the Campus Fire Marshal.


  9. The required width of any fire apparatus access road shall not be obstructed in any manner, including parking of vehicles. Minimum required widths and clearances established under this section shall be maintained at all times.


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