2020-01-24 FD CommentsMERIDIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
DATE: 1/24/2020
TO: Bill Parsons
REVIEWER: Joseph Bongiorno, Deputy Chief of Prevention 208-888-1234
SUBJECT: H-2019-0127
PROJECT NAME: Andorra Senior Living
Fire Department Summary of Report:
Overview:This project can be serviced by the Meridian Fire Department. There are issues with the
preliminary plat that will need to be addressed by the applicant. See Item 4. This project will require private
roads.
1.Fire Response Time Travel time from nearest fire station (level of service expectation goal = 5 minutes)
This development is 5:00 minutes (under ideal conditions) from the nearest fire station – Fire Station
1. This fire station is approximately 1.9 miles from the project. If approved, the Fire Department can
meet the response time goals.
2.Resource reliability Current reliability of closest fire station (Reliability Goal is 80% or greater)
This development is closest to Fire Station #1. Current reliability is 65% from this station and does
not meet the targeted goal of 80% or greater.
3.Risk Identification Risk Factor (1=residential, 2=residential with hazards, 3=commercial,
4=commercial with hazards, 5=industrial)
This proposed commercial development has a risk factor of 4, in which current resources would not
be adequate to supply service to this propose project. Risk factors include fire fighting in multi-story
buildings and a large gathering of people in a single location. This entails a greater risk for the
occupants as well as first responders. Fire, life safety systems and occupant training are critical for
this development. Other hazards may be found once the development is completed.
4.Accessibility Roadway Access, traffic
This project does not meet all required access, road widths and turnarounds. The shared drives shall
have an address sign at each entrance and the roadways shall be mainted 365 days a year for fire,
EMS and police responses. The end of the common drives shall be signed “No Parking Fire Lane” per
appendix D of the 2015 IFC. The driveway on the southwest corner of the break between phase 1 and
2 is over 150’ long. It needs to be shortened, go all the way around the building, or have a turn around
at the end of it.
Page 2 of 5
Work with the City Adressing Agent for approved signs at the common driveways and main access
points off Wells.
This project will require private streets. The applicant will work with the addressing agent for this
project. All private streets shall shall be signed on both sides of the roadway “No Parking Fire Lane”
per International Fire Code 503.3 & D103.6 unless approved by the Fire Marshal.
5.Specialty/Resource needs
a.Aerial device needed for development (more than 30’ in height)?
i.If yes, is one available within a 12 minute travel time goal
This proposed project will require an aerial device. The closest truck company is 5 minutes travel
time (under ideal conditions) to the proposed development, and therefore the Fire Department can
meet this need in the required timeframe if a truck company is required. This fire station is
approximately 1.9 miles from the project
b.Other specialty needs (water rescue, hazmat, and technical rescue)?
i.If yes, is one available within a 5 minute travel time?
In the event of a hazmat event, there will need to be mutual aid required for the
development. In the event of a structure fire an additional truck company will be required. This
will require additional time delays as a second truck company is not available in the city.
6.Water Supply (list expectations)
Water supply for this proposed development requires 2500 gallons per minute for two hours.
(Approximate – see appendix B of the 2015 International Fire Code) The fire flow requirements may
be less if the building is fully sprinklered.
7.Other Comments
Project specific comments are listed below.
***All IFC code sections per 2015 IFC or as noted***
RESOURCE AVAILABILITY - FireFlow and Water Supply:
1.Fire Flow:Commercial and office occupancies will require a fire-flow consistent with
International Fire Code Appendix B to service the proposed project. Fire hydrants shall
be placed per Appendix C.
2.Water Supply:Final Approval of the fire hydrant locations shall be by the Meridian Fire
Department or their designee in accordance with International Fire Code Section (IFC)
508.5.4as follows:
a.Fire hydrants shall have a Storz LDH connection in place of the 4 ½” outlet. The
Storz connection maybe integratedintothehydrantoranapprovedadaptermaybe
usedonthe41/2"outlet.
b.Fire hydrantsshall have the Storz outlet face the main street or parking lot drive aisle.
c.Fire hydrantsshall be placedoncorners when spacingpermits.
d.Fire hydrants shall not have any vertical obstructionsto outlets within 10’.
e.Fire hydrants shall be placed 18” above finished grade to the center of the Storz
outlet.
Page 3 of 5
f.Fire hydrantsshall be provided to meet the requirementsof theMeridianWaterDept.
Standards.
g.Show all proposed or existing hydrants for all new construction or additions to
existing buildings within1,000feet of the project.
3.Water Supply:Where a portion of the facility or building hereafter constructed or moved
into or within thejurisdictionis morethan400feet(122m)froma hydrantonafireapparatus
access road, as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the facilityor building,
on-site fire hydrants and mains shall be provided where required by the code official as
set forth in International Fire Code Section 507.5.1. For buildings equipped throughout
with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1 or
903.3.1.2 the distancerequirement shall be 600 feet (183).
a.For Group R-3 and Group U occupancies, the distance requirement shall be 600 feet
(183 m).
b.For buildings equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system
installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, the distance requirement
shall be600feet (183m).
4.Water Supply:Thereshall be a fire hydrant within 100’ of all fire department connections as
set forth in local amendment to the International FireCode 10-4-1. Over 100 apartment
units without an approved sprinkler system or over 200 apartment units with an approved
sprinkler system will require a secondary access per International Fire Code Section
D104.3. The access roads shall be placed a distance apart equal to not less than one half of
the length of the overall diagonal dimension of the property or area to be served, measured
in a straight line as set forth in International Fire Code Appendix D104.1.
5.Water Supply:All R-2 occupancies with 3 or more units shall be required to be fire
sprinkled as set forth in International Fire Code Section 903.2.8.
ACCESSIBILITY - Fire Department Roadways, Access and Addressing:
6.Roadways:In accordance with International Fire Code Section 503.2.5 and Appendix D,
any roadway greater than 150 feet in length that is not provided with an outlet shall be
required to have an approved turn around. Phasing of the project may require a temporary
approved turn around on streets greater than 150' in length with no outlet. Cul-D-Sacs shall
be 96’ in diameter minimum and shall be signed “No Parking Fire Lane” per International
Fire Code Sections 503.3 & D103.6. There shall be two no parking fire lane signs on each
side of the entrance to the Cul-D-Sac and one sign at the head.
7.Roadways:All entrances, internal roads, drive aisles, and alleys shall have a turning radius
of 28’ inside and 48’ outside, per International Fire Code Section 503.2.4.
8.Roadways:Roadways shall be 26’ in width for ladder truck access.
9.Roadways:All common driveways shall be maintained at all times for access by fire,
police and EMS at all times of the year.
Page 4 of 5
10.Roadways:Private Alleys and Fire Lanes shall have a 20’ wide improved surface
capable of supporting an imposed load of 80,000 lbs. All roadways shall be marked “No
Parking Fire Lane” per International Fire Code Sections 503.3 & D103.6.
11.Roadways:Requirements for dead-end fire apparatus access roads that are between 500’-
750’ in length are as follows: 1) Roadways shall be built to Ada County Highway District
cross section standards and have a clear driving surface of 26-feet in width available at all
times and shall have no parking. Both sides of the street shall be signed “No Parking Fire
Lane” per appendix D of the IFC; 2) Streets less than 32-feet in width shall have no parking
on one side. One side of the street shall be signed “No Parking Fire Lane” per appendix D of
the IFC; and 3) Streets more than 39-feet in width shall be allowed to have parking on
both sides. These measurements shall be based on the drivable surface dimension. Special
approval is required for accessroadsover 750’ in length per International Fire Code Section
D103.6.1 and D103.6.2. The roadway shall be able to accommodate an imposed load of
80,000 GVW.
12.Roadways:Buildings over 30’ in height are required to have access roads 26’ in width
minimum in accordance with the International Fire Code Appendix D Section D105.
13.Roadways:Emergency response routes and fire lanes shall not be allowed to have traffic
calming devices installed without prior approval of the Fire Code Official. National Fire
P r o t e c t i o n IFC 503.4.1.
14.Access:Fire lanes, streets, and structures (including the canopy height of mature trees) shall
have a vertical clearance of13’6as set forthin International Fire Code Section503.2.1.
15.Access:Operational fire hydrants, temporaryor permanent street signs, and access roads with
an all-weather surface are required to be installed before combustible constructionmaterial
is brought onto the site, as set forth in International Fire Code Section (IFC) 501.4.
16.Access:Provide a Fire Department Key box entry system for the complex prior to
occupancy as set forth in International Fire Code Section 506.
17.Access:Based on the size of new construction and the location of the sprinkler room in
relation to the address side of the structure, the AHJ may require separate Fire
Department key box locations. One being at the main, address side entrance and the other
at the entrance to the sprinkler riser room. Knox Boxes can be ordered from
www.knoxbox.com.
18.Access:The Fire Department will require Fire Department locking Connection caps on all
FDC inlets. IFC 102.9. Caps can be ordered at www.knoxbox.com.
19.Access:All portions of the buildings located on this project must be within 150’ of a
paved surface as measured around the perimeter of the building as set forth in International
Fire Code Section 503.1.1.
20.Access:COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL -Buildings or facilities exceeding 30
feet (9144mm) or three stories in height shall have at least two means of fire apparatus access
for each structure. The access roads shall be placed a distance apart equal to not less than
one half of the length of the overall diagonal dimension of the property or area to be
served, measured in a straight line as set forth in International Fire Code Appendix D104.1.
Page 5 of 5
The applicant shall provide an additional stub street to the property
21.Access:As set forth in International Fire Code Section 504.1, multi-family and
commercial projects shall be required to provide an additional sixty inches (60”) wide access
point to the building fromthe fire lane to allow for the movement of manual fire suppression
equipment and gurney operations. The unobstructed breaks in the parking stalls shall be
provided so that building access is provided in such a manner that the most remote part of a
building can be reached with a length of 150' fire hose as measured around the perimeter of
the building from the fire lane. Code compliant handicap parking stalls may be included to
assist meeting thisrequirement. Contactthe Meridian Fire Department for details.
22.Addressing:The first digit of the Apartment/Office Suite shall correspond to the floor level
as set forth in International Fire Code Section 505.1 and Meridian Amendment 10-4-1.
23.Addressing:The applicant shall work with Public Works and Planning Department staff to
provide an address identification plan and a sign which meets the requirements of the City
of Meridian sign ordinance and is placed in a position that is plainly legible and visible from
the street or road fronting the property, as set forth in International Fire Code Section 505.1
and Meridian Amendment104-4-1.
24.Addressing:This project will require private streets. The applicant will work with the
addressing agent for this project. All private streets shall shall be signed on both sides of
the roadway “No Parking Fire Lane” per International Fire Code 503.3 & D103.6 unless
approved by the Fire Marshal.