UAE Fire Code - Fire Service Vehicle and Personnel Accessibility (September 2018) PDF

In this Chapter : INTENTIONS  Fire Access Road specifications.  To ensure Civil Defence and their Fire fighting trucks,  Fire Fighters access to and vehicles and Fire Boats have approved accessway with...

In this Chapter : INTENTIONS  Fire Access Road specifications.  To ensure Civil Defence and their Fire fighting trucks,  Fire Fighters access to and vehicles and Fire Boats have approved accessway with inside buildings. desired clear dimensions and load carrying capacities to developments, buildings and gated subdivisions.  Fire Boat Access and Docking  To ensure proper access to buildings and Fire and Life  Fire Apparatus specifications. Safety equipment are available for Fire Fighters.  Fire Station design guidelines  To ensure sufficient water supply is available through fixed Fire Fighting Systems. 1. Definitions 1.1. Fire Access Roadway The road to the building or structure to allow access for Civil Defence fire-fighting and res- cue apparatus. 1.2. Fire Service access level Level where Civil Defence Fire Appliances (Fire Truck/Engine) are deployed and where fire fighters have direct access into the building. 1.3. Fire Accessway The path adjacent to the building or structure to allow operational setup for Civil Defence fire-fighting and rescue apparatus such as Aerial Appliances. 1.4. Turning Facility The Fire access Road arrangements such as T-Turn, V-turn, U-Turn, where Civil Defence Fire Vehicles can make turns, usually to overcome dead ends. 1.5. Breeching inlet A connection through which the Civil Defence fire department can pump supplemental wa- ter into the sprinkler system, standpipe, or other system, furnishing water for fire extin- guishment or to supplement existing water supplies. 1.6. Landing Valve A 65 mm diameter instantaneous water outlet normally located near the staircase for trained or Civil Defence fire fighters to use during fire. 1.7. Hose Reel or Hose Rack A 25 mm or 40 mm diameter instantaneous water outlet with a connected hose for trained Photo Caption occupants or Civil Defence fire fighters to use during fire. 1.8. Standpipe The vertical portion of the system piping that delivers the water supply for hose connec- tions (and sprinklers on combined systems), vertically from floor to floor. The term stand- pipe can also refer to the horizontal portion of the system piping that delivers the water supply for two or more hose connections (and sprinklers on combined systems) on a single level. | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 202 of 1348  1.9. Fire Vehicle (Fire Fighting Apparatus) Fire Vehicle or Fire Fighting Apparatus is designed for fire fighters and is used by Civil De- fence trained fire fighters to carry water and fight fires. These Vehicles are equipped with Water, pumps, extinguishing agents, extinguishers, Rescue and smoke venting tools and equipment. Please see section 4 1.10. Fire Boat A fireboat is a vessel designed for fire fighting and is staffed by trained Civil Defence fire fighters. Fire Boats are used by Civil Defence for rescue, fire fighting platform on water and can also pump water to shore side fire fighting operations. Please see section 4 1.11. Berth Berth is the term used in ports, harbors and water front for designated location where boats and vessels can be moored. 1.12. Mooring Mooring is the term used for securing a boat or vessel to the berth utilizing thick ropes (Mooring lines) by fixing one end to the boat or vessel and the other end to fittings on deck or shore. | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 203 of 1348 2. Fire Access for Fire Vehicles and Fire Fighters 2.1. Intention 2.1.1. The Fire Access requirements are to address the following. 2.1.1.1. Civil Defence Fire-fighters need to be able to reach a fire quickly, with their equipment, if they are to successfully deal with a fire. This is even more im- portant in a high rise building where the fire could be at a height of many meters from fire service access level. 2.1.1.2. Physical safety and lives of the fire-fighters and those of the occupants of the building, and the preservation of the building and its contents, can be jeop- ardized by delays in reaching the Fire scene. 2.1.1.3. Fire-fighting access to and into the building should be aimed at assisting the Civil Defence service in protecting life, protecting fire-fighters, reducing building losses, salvaging property and goods and minimizing environmental damage. Did You Know? Department of Civil De- 2.2. General Requirements fence in United Arab Emirates was estab- 2.2.1. The Fire access roads and Fire accesways shall also lished in 1976, just 5 consider Urban Infrastructure manuals and individ- years after Unification. ual authority requirements in individual Emirates of UAE. The First Fire Station in Dubai was established 2.2.2. The requirements in this chapter are minimum guidelines. It is consultant’s responsibility to refer in 1964. to international standards, Civil Defence operation- al updates, Civil Defence vehicle updates and adapta- tion of new technologies and strategies by Civil Defence. 2.2.3. The standards and documents referred for this chapter are NFPA 1, NFPA 14, NFPA 24, NFPA 22, NFPA 20, British Approved document B5, Civil Defence Fire Apparatus Spec- ifications,. | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 204 of 1348  2.3. Fire Access Roadways for Fire Vehicles 2.3.1. Civil Defence Fire access Roadways shall be provided to every facility, every structure and every under construction buildings, except detached retail units, kiosks, store rooms, snack bars, rest rooms which are less than 100 m2 and are remotely located from predominant occupancy. 2.3.2. Civil Defence Fire department access roads shall consist of Roadways, Fire Lanes, Park- ing lot lanes, or a combination thereof. Such Fire Accessway shall comply with Table 2.1. specifications. 2.3.3. Fire access road shall be of concrete , asphalt or such solid surface acceptable to Civil Defence 2.3.4. 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 Municipality and Road Transport Authority’s recognized standards. 2.3.5. The bridge shall be designed for a live load sufficient to carry the imposed loads of fire Vehicle, as per Table 2.1. 2.3.6. Vehicle load limits shall be posted at both entrances to bridges. | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 205 of 1348  Table 2.1: Fire Access Roadways and route specifications REQUIREMENTS FIRE ACCESS FIRE ACCESS ROAD ROAD FOR FOR HIGH REACH STANDARD FIRE FIRE APPLIANCE APPLIANCE Minimum weight carrying capacity of all-weather driving 41,000 kg 81,000 kg surface to withstand Civil Defence Vehicle Maximum Dead end 45 m 45 m Minimum Unobstructed Width 6m 6m Minimum Unobstructed Road Width between Kerbs 6m 6m Minimum Width of Gateways 4.5 m 4.5 m Minimum Unobstructed vertical clearance for any Grade 4.5 m 4.5 m Maximum Road Grade 10% 10% Minimum Turning Circle (Roundabout) Radius 12 m 12 m 2.4. Fire Access Roadway Gate 2.4.1. Fire access Roadway Gate width shall be 4500 mm. 2.4.2. Gates shall be of swinging, sliding or lifting types. 2.4.3. Electric and automatic gates shall be equipped with a manual overriding facility such that Civil Defence personnel can open the gate during power failures and emergencies. 2.4.4. Locks shall not be installed on Fire access road gates unless it is attended continuously by security guards or keys are located on-site and the gates may be readily unlocked. 2.5. Signage 2.5.1. Fire access Roadways and Fire accesssway shall be free of obstruction and designated parking for Fire vehicles shall be available at all times. Signs shall be provided with ‘NO PARKING, FIRE LANE’ and ‘PARKING RESERVED OF CIVIL DEFENCE’ Signage. Size of wordings shall not be less than 50mm. NO PARKING PARKING RESERVED FOR FIRE LANE CIVIL DEFENCCE FIRE LANE FOR CIVIL DEFENCE | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 206 of 1348  2.6. Fire Accessway for Fire Vehicles 2.6.1. The accesssway shall have a minimum width of 6 m throughout. Such access way must be able to accommodate the entry and maneuvering of fire engine, extended ladders, pumping appliances, aerial appliances, turntable and / or hydraulic platforms. 2.6.2. Accessway shall be provided to within 18 m of breeching inlet for all midrise and high- rise buildings that exceed the habitable height of 15 m. 2.6.3. Overhead obstruction to accessway could be en- trance gate, link or bridges connecting buildings. However, vertical clearance of 4.5 m for the Accessway shall be maintained. See Figure 2.1. Figure 2.1: Vertical Clearance for Fire Vehicle 2.6.4. The security barrier, when lifted up, shall not obstruct the fire en- gine accessway. Eaves of the se- curity post or guard house shall not project into the fire engine accessway. See Figure 2.2. And 2.3. Figure 2.2: Security Barrier for Fire Vehicle 2.6.5. Accessway provided on turfed area such as synthetic grass, composite material, sports sur- faces must be marked with con- trasting object (preferably reflec- tive) that is visible at night. The markings are to be at an interval not more than 3 meters apart and shall be provided on both sides of the accessway. Figure 2.3: Security guard house eaves clearance Table 2.2: Fire Vehicle Access Specifications CIVIL DEFENCE VEHICLE ACCESS SPECIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS Maximum Parking distance of Civil Defence Vehicle from building entrance 15 m Maximum Parking distance of Civil Defence Vehicle from Breeching inlet 18 m Maximum Road Grade of the Civil Defence Vehicle Access 10% | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 207 of 1348  2.6.6. Accessway and fire engine access road shall be kept clear of obstructions and other protruded parts of the building, plants, trees or other fixtures such that they do not obstruct the path between the accessway and access openings of the building. Note: The podium edge is obstructing the reach of the boom of fire engine to 4th storey. Other obstructions could be roadside trees, entrance porch etc. To allow full extension of aerial ladders at a safe climb- ing or elevation angle Ø of 60 to 80 de- grees, sufficient space is needed to posi- tion the fire engine. Such obstructions should be avoided for buildings without firefighting lifts and firefighting lobbies. Public road may be used as hard standing by fire engine, provided the edge of the public road to the facade of the building where access openings are located is not exceeding 10m. See Figure 2.4. The fire engine shall be located at least 2m from the building, but not more than 10m away from the external wall or façade (including any overhead obstruction) of the building. Figure 2.4: Obstruction to Fire Vehicle If the fire engine is located within 2m from the building, the aerial ladder when set-up would fall outside the safe working limit i.e. the inclination of the ladder would be too steep. If the fire engine is located more than 10m from the building, the effec- tive reach of the aerial ladder would be reduced. 2.6.7. A suitable access pathway shall also be provided to enable fire-fighters to inspect all elevations of a building during or after a fire. A suitable pathway could be a paved or gravel path. Any such pathway should be a minimum of 1 m wide and Plants, Bushes, Walls or other features should not impede such pathway. 2.6.8. Fire Hydrants, where required as per Chapter 9, shall be located along the Fire Access Road and Fire Accessway and installed as per Chapter 9, Yard Fire Hydrants. FIRE TRUCK STAGING FOR ILLUSTRATION | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 208 of 1348  2.7. Turning Facilities for Fire Vehicles 2.7.1. Maximum Dead End allowed on Fire Accessway is 45 m. Where Fire Accessway dead end exceeds 45 m, a Turning Facility shall be provided. Such Turning facility can be U- Turn, Y-Turn, T-Turn or Roundabout. 2.7.2. U-Turn and Roundabout U-Turn and Roundabout specifications shall be as shown in Figure 2.5. Figure 2.5: U-Turn specifications 2.7.3. T-Turn T-Turn specifications shall be as shown in Figure 2.6. Figure 2.6: T-Turn specifications | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 209 of 1348  2.7.4. Y-Turn Y-Turn specifications shall be as shown in Figure 2.7. Figure 2.7.: Y-Turn specifications Points to Ponder In congested localities, where extension or modifications are done to existing buildings and developments, the Fire Accessway might be challenging. In such scenarios, Civil Defence might require additional Fire Fighting Systems, equip- ment and/or Transport buggies to compensate for the ill-defined Fire Accessways. | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 210 of 1348  IMPORTANCE OF COMPLIANT TURNING RADII AND MANEUVERING OF FIRE APPARATUS 2.8. Extent of Fire Vehicle Access around the building 2.8.1. The accesssway shall have a minimum width of 6 m throughout. Such accessway must be able to accommodate the entry and maneuvering of fire engine, extended ladders, pumping appliances, aerial appliances, turntable and / or hydraulic platforms. 2.8.2. Accessway shall be positioned so that the nearer edge shall be not less than 2 m or more than 10 m from the building, measured horizontally. HIGH REACH CIVIL DEFENCE FIRE APPARATUS | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 211 of 1348  2.8.3. Commercial Villa (Group of Villas/ Housing Development) a. For cluster housing developments (with shared communal facilities) fire engine accessway with a minimum 6 m width shall be provided to within a travel dis- tance of 60 m from every point on the projected plan area of any building in the housing developments. See Figure 2.10. for illustrations. Figure 2.10: Maximum distance from Fire Access from most remote Residential Unit 2.8.4. Lowrise (Buildings with height less than 15 m) a. For Lowrise buildings not exceeding the habitable height of 15 m, accessway will not be required. However, provision of fire engine access road having minimum 6 m width for Fire appliance will be required to within a travel distance of 45m of every point on the projected plan area of the building. See Figure 2.11. Figure 2.11: Maximum distance from Fire Access from most remote Lowrise building | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 212 of 1348  2.8.5. Midrise buildings (Having height more than 15 m but less than 23 m and not Sprin- kler protected) a. For Midrise buildings exceeding the habitable height of 15 m, accessway shall be provided. Accessway shall be provided based on the gross floor area (including toilets, stores, circulation areas, etc.) of the building footprint projected onto ground level. For Midrise buildings without Sprinkler protection, the extent of Fire access shall be as shown in Table 2.3. Table 2.3: Extent of Fire Vehicle Access for Midrise buildings without Sprinklers AREA OF NON SPRINKLERED MIDRISE BUILDINGS EXTENT OF FIRE ACCESS 2 Less than 2000 m Minimum of 1/6 perimeter (At least 15 m) 2 2 2000 m to 4000 m 1/4 perimeter 2 2 4001 m to 8000 m 1/2 perimeter 8001 m2 to 16,000 m2 3/4 perimeter More than 16,000 m2 Whole perimeter (100%) 2.8.6. Midrise and Highrise buildings (Buildings having height 15 m to 90 m and Sprinkler protected) a. For Midrise and Highrise buildings exceeding the habitable height of 15 m, access- way shall be provided. Accessway shall be provided based on the gross floor area (including toilets, stores, circulation areas, etc.) of the of the building footprint projected onto ground level. For Midrise and Highrise buildings with Sprinkler protection, the extent of Fire access shall be as shown in Table 2.4. Table 2.4: Extent of Fire Vehicle Access for Midrise and Highrise buildings with Sprinklers AREA OF SPRINKLERED MIDRISE AND HIGHRISE EXTENT OF FIRE ACCESS BUILDINGS Less than 4000 m2 Minimum of 1/6 perimeter (At least 15 m) 4001 m2 to 8000 m2 1/4 perimeter 8001 m2 to 16,000 m2 1/2 perimeter Photo Caption 16,001 m2 to 32,000 m2 3/4 perimeter 2 More than 32,000 m Whole perimeter (100%) b. Where highrise buildings are situated on the podiums, parking structures, archi- tectural features with the tower façade more than 30 m of horizontal separation distance away from the fire access road, following shall apply to such highrise buildings, b.1. Fire access road shall extend and reach the highrise tower perimeter above the podium. Such access shall be a minimum of ¼ (25 percent) of the tower perimeter and in compliance to UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice 2017, chapter 2. Fire Service vehicle and personnel accessibility specifica- tions. b.2. Building façade shall comply with Chapter 2, Section 2.8.10., b.1. | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 213 of 1348  2.8.7. Super Highrise buildings (Buildings having height more than 90 m), Malls, Theme Parks a. For Super Highrise buildings, Malls and Theme Parks, accessway shall be provided. Accessway shall be provided irrespective of the area or height. The extent of Fire access shall be as per Table 2.5. but not less than as required in Table 2.3 or Table 2.4. Table 2.5: Extent of Fire Vehicle Access for Superhighrise, Malls and Theme Parks buildings SUPERHIGHRISE, MALLS, THEME PARKS EXTENT OF FIRE ACCESS Any Area or Height 3/4 perimeter b. Where superhighrise buildings are situated on the podiums, parking structures, architectural features with the tower façade more than 30 m of horizontal sepa- ration distance away from the fire access road, following shall apply to such su- perhighrise buildings, b.1. Fire access road shall extend and reach the superhighrise tower perimeter above the podium. Such access shall be a minimum of ¼ (25 percent) of the tower perimeter and in compliance to UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice 2017, chapter 2. Fire Service vehicle and personnel accessibility specifications. b.2. Building façade shall comply with Chapter 2, Section 2.8.10., b.1. | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 214 of 1348  2.8.8. Storage and Industrial buildings without Sprinkler Protection a. For all industrial and storage occupancies, accessway shall be provided for fire fighting appliances. The provision of accessway shall be calculated based on the following gross cubical extent of the building. For Non-sprinklered industrial and storage buildings, Fire access shall be provided as per Table 2.6. Table 2.6: Extent of Fire Vehicle Access for Industrial and Storage buildings without Sprinklers VOLUME OF NON SPRINKLERED INDUSTRIAL AND EXTENT OF FIRE ACCESS STORAGE BUILDINGS Less than 28,400 m3 Minimum of 1/6 perimeter (At least 15 m) 28,4001 m3 to 56,800 m3 1/4 perimeter 56,801 m3 to 85,200 m3 1/2 perimeter 85,201 m3 to 113,600 m3 3/4 perimeter 3 More than 113,600 m Whole perimeter (100%) 2.8.9. Storage and Industrial buildings with Sprinkler Protection a. For all industrial and storage occupancies, accessway shall be provided for fire fighting appliances. The provision of accessway shall be calculated based on the following gross cubical extent of the building. For sprinklered industrial and stor- age buildings, Fire access shall be provided as per Table 2.7. Table 2.7: Extent of Fire Vehicle Access for Industrial and Storage buildings with Sprinklers VOLUME OF SPRINKLERED INDUSTRIAL AND EXTENT OF FIRE ACCESS STORAGE BUILDINGS Less than 56,800 m3 Minimum of 1/6 perimeter (At least 15 m) 3 3 56,801 m to 85,200 m 1/4 perimeter 85,201 m3 to 113,600 m3 1/2 perimeter 3 2 113,001 mPhoto to 170,400 Caption m 3/4 perimeter More than 170,400 m3 Whole perimeter (100%) | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 215 of 1348  Figure 2.12: 1/6 perimeter Fire Access Figure 2.13: 1/4 perimeter Fire Access Figure 2.14: 1/2 perimeter Fire Access | CDGH-OP-25 | September 2018 Page 216 of 1348  2.8.10. Waterfront Properties a. For all water front properties, the fire access road shall comply with this chapter and Table 2.8. Table 2.8: Extent of Fire Vehicle Access for Waterfront Properties OCCUPANCY EXTENT OF FIRE ACCESS Commercial Villas Maximum distance from Fire access road shall not exceed 60 m Lowrise buildings Maximum distance from Fire access road shall not exceed 60 m Highrise buildings Shall comply with Table 2.3 and Table 2.4. of this chapter Superhighrise buildings Shall comply with Table 2.5. of this chapter b. Where the water front properties, the fire access road does not comply with Sec- tion 2.8.10.a., the Section 2.8.10. b.1. and Section 2.8.10. b.2. shall apply to such properties. b.1. Building Facade b.1.1. Façade system shall comply with UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice 2017, chapter 1, Section 4. However, materials and materi- al test requirements of Chapter 1, section 4 shall be superseded with the Chapter 2, Section 2.8.10. b.1. b.1.2. Façade material shall comprise of non-combustible cladding and non -combustible insulation materials such as below. i. Natural stones, masonry, brick, terra cotta, ceramics. ii. Non-composite solid metals such as aluminium, steel, stainless steel, copper, titanium, factory painted (