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Noblesville City Zoning Code

Appendix F-1

Fire Department Access

  1. FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCESS
    The requirements of this appendix pertain to all structures, facilities, buildings, or portion of buildings hereafter constructed or moved into the jurisdiction of the City of Noblesville Fire Department.
  • Fire Apparatus Access
    • Detailed plans for fire apparatus access roads shall be submitted to the City of Noblesville Fire Department for review.
  • Timing of Installation
    • When fire apparatus access roads are required to be installed, these roads shall be installed and made serviceable prior to and during the time of construction except when approved alternative methods are provided.
  • Required Access
    • Fire Apparatus access roads shall be provided for every facility, building or portion of a building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction when any portion of the facility or any portion of an exterior wall of the first story of the building is located more than 150 feet from fire apparatus access as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building or facility. EXCEPTION: Buildings protected throughout by a supervised automatic fire sprinkler system and not used for high-piled combustible storage in excess of 12,000-SF.
  • Dimensions
    • Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than twenty (20) feet and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than thirteen (13) feet and six (6) inches. The required width of a fire apparatus access road shall not be obstructed in any manner including parking of vehicles. The minimum widths and clearances shall be maintained at all times.
  • Aerial Apparatus Access Roads
    • Buildings or portions of buildings or facilities exceeding 30-FT in height above the lowest level of Fire department vehicle access shall be provided with approved fire apparatus access roads capable of accommodating fire department aerial apparatus. These fire department access roads shall have a minimum unobstructed width of twenty-six (26) feet in the immediate vicinity of the building.
  • Commercial and Industrial Developments
    • Buildings or facilities exceeding three (3) stories in height shall have a minimum of three (3) means of fire apparatus access for each structure. Buildings exceeding 62,00-SF shall be provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads. EXCEPTION: Projects having a gross building area up to 124,000-SF and having a single approved fire apparatus access road when all buildings are equipped throughout with approved automatic sprinkler systems.
  • Multi-Family Residential Developments
    • Multi-family residential projects having more than 100 dwelling units shall be equipped throughout with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads.
  • One or Two-Family Residential Developments
    • Developments of one or two-family dwellings exceed 100 dwelling units shall be provided with separate and approved fire apparatus access road.
  • Surface
    • Fire apparatus access roads shall be designed and constructed to support the imposed live loads of the heaviest piece of fire department apparatus available to the servicing fire department and shall be provided with a surface so as to provide all-weather driving capabilities
  • Turning Radius
    • The turning radius of a fire apparatus access road shall be determined after . Consultation with the City of Noblesville Fire Department. Such roads shall be designed and constructed to permit turning of the longest piece of fire apparatus available to the Noblesville Fire Department.
  • Dead-ends
    • Dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of one hundred fifty (150) feet in length shall be designed and constructed to allow the turning around of the longest piece of fire apparatus available to the Noblesville Fire Department.
  • Bridges
    • When a bridge is required to be used as part of a fire apparatus access road, it shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with AASHTO Standard Specification for Highway Bridges. Bridges and elevated surfaces shall be designed for a live load sufficient to carry the imposed loads of fire apparatus.
  • Grade
    • The grade of the fire apparatus access road shall not exceed the maximum of the fire apparatus available to the Noblesville Fire Department can accommodate.
  • Fire Lane
    • The location of an approved fire land shall be determined by the City of Noblesville Fire Chief or his designee. Detailed plans showing fire lane locations shall be submitted to the City of Noblesville Fire Department for review.

Fire Apparatus Access Road

Fire Apparatus Access Road – A road that provides fire apparatus access road a fire station to a facility, building, or portion thereof.  This is a general term inclusive of all other terms such as fire lane, public street, private street, parking lot, lane, and access roadway.

Effective on: 9/24/2013

Fire Lane

Fire Lane – A road or other passageway developed to allow the passage of fire apparatus.  A fire lane is not necessarily intended for vehicular traffic other than fire apparatus.    ORD. #48-6-05

Effective on: 9/24/2013