Fire & Rescue Department

Site Requirements

Dumpster/Compactor Requirements

All commercial /industrial developments shall provide appropriate facilities for the disposal of garbage and trash. The requirements set forth within these guidelines include only those provisions related to fire safety.

The requirements are as follows:

All dumpsters, and any associated screening which consists of combustible fencing around the dumpster pad shall have a minimum separation from the nearest building or building overhang of ten feet (10'). Large commercial/ industrial dumpsters, such as twenty or forty yard containers may require a larger separation. This minimum separation may be reduced or waived if the dumpster is protected by one or more fire sprinkler heads of a fire sprinkler system designed in accordance with sound engineering practices. Compactors, because of their unique designs and construction requirements shall be reviewed on an individual basis by the authority having jurisdiction (A.H.J.).

It is emphasized that the requirements set forth herein are only those related to fire safety.

Fire Protection Facility Improvements

The location and characteristics of the external support devices and components of fire protection systems is an important site design consideration. It is essential that these facilities be located so as to enable the fire departments to standardize operational use of them as well as enabling developers, engineers and contractors to understand the requirements for properly installing the improvements.

Fire Line Backflow Preventers
All fire line backflow preventers shall be located at either the front property line of the development parcel easily visible and not obscured by landscaping or other improvements or, in the case of commercial shopping centers and similar type developments, at or along the access way at the rear of the building complex. Other locations will not be permitted unless a specific exception in writing is issued by the authority having jurisdiction (A.H.J.).

Fire Department Connections
All fire department connections shall be located on the private property. Exception is issued in writing by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Such connection shall be a two and one half-inch (2 1/2") Siamese connection verified by the AHJ.

Fire department connection (FDC) serving the fire sprinkler system shall be a yard FDC provided that the FDC main is installed in accordance with single and multiple riser systems as defined by NFPA 13 and 14. Freestanding FDC piping shall be capable of supporting and/or resisting the weight and lateral forces applied by connecting (2) three -inch (3") hose lines when subjected to a minimum of 150 psi.

New FDC locations shall not be located on any double check valve assembly.

The FDC shall be a two and one half -inch (2 1/2") connection listed for use as a fire department sprinkler connection. Two and one half -inch (2 1/2") connection shall be in accordance with design specifications as stated in NFPA 1963, Standard for Fire Hose Connections.

The FDC shall be arranged so that the connection is between thirty inches (30") and thirty-six inches (36") above the finished grade at the location of the connection.

A supporting fire hydrant shall be within 40 ft of the FDC and shall be a minimum of 15 ft. from the protect building.

The FHA(s) and FDC location shall be coordinated with the Fire Prevention Division.

For further clarification, see APPENDIX.

When both standpipe and sprinkler systems are provided, individual fire department connections are required with each marked as to the system they serve, i.e. the connection serving the fire sprinkler system shall be noted "Sprinkler" and the connection serving a standpipe shall be noted "Standpipe". Approval for locating one or both of these Fire Department Connections in a location other than the private property side of the fire line backflow preventer as provided above must be obtained in writing from the authority having jurisdiction (A.H.J.).

Relationship of Fire Hydrant(s) to Fire Department Connection(s)

Whenever a proposed development will be required to install one or more fire hydrants as a condition of approval and the proposed development will be equipped with an internal fire protection system (fire sprinklers, standpipes or both) a fire hydrant shall be located within forty feet (40'), as measured along a normal access route, of the fire department connection for such internal system. Fire hydrant shall be on the same side of the street as the fire department connection.