1. Vehicle access to the exterior of a building may be needed to enable high reach appliances, such as turntable ladders and hydraulic platforms, to be used, and to enable pumping appliances to supply water and equipment for fire fighting and rescue activities. The access arrangements increase with building size and height.
2. Vehicle access should be provided to at least one or more elevations of the building, where the principal entrance or entrances are located. Vehicle access routes to more than one elevation may not always be possible due to the constraints of the site. Where this is the case then pedestrian access for Fire and Rescue Service personnel should be provided which consists of a paved (or equivalent) footpath at least 900mm wide to the principal entrance, or entrances, of the building.
3. Every elevation which is provided with vehicle or pedestrian access for Fire and Rescue Service personnel should have a door giving access to the interior of the building.
4. Where any compartment exceeds 900m2, or the building footprint has a perimeter greater than 150m, then access should be provided to the other elevations.
5. Fire and Rescue Service vehicles should not have to reverse more than 20m from the end of an access road (where any dead-end route is more than 20m long, turning facilities should be provided). Following consultation with the Fire and Rescue Service, it may be recommended that an operating space, or spaces, for a high reach appliance be provided.
High reach appliance |
Pumping appliance only |
|
| Minimum width of road between kerbs | 3.7m | 3.7m |
| Minimum width of gateways etc. | 3.5m | 3.5m |
| Minimum clearance height | 4m | 3.7m |
| Minimum turning circle between kerbs | 26m | 16.8m |
| Minimum turning circle between walls | 29m | 19.2m |
| Minumum axle loading | 14 tonnes | 14 tonnes |
6. Fire-fighting operations depend on a sufficient supply of water in order to control fire growth and assist in effective rescue operations.
7. At least one external water hydrant should be provided. Hydrants should be positioned so that there is one not more than 60m from at least one normal entrance to the building and every external elevation of the building is within 60m of a hydrant. Hydrants should be:
8. Each hydrant should be connected to a water service pipe capable of delivering water at a flow rate of at least 1500 litres per minute, provided by a water main vested in a public water authority. Whilst it is desirable to achieve 1500 litres per minute flow rate, it is accepted that the flow rates in the water mains may not achieve this.
9. Localised areas throughout Scotland may not be supplied by mains water or, where mains water is available, the pressure and flow rates in the main may not be sufficient for fire-fighting operations. Skilled pump operators can regulate the water supplies to the fire-fighters and take care not to overdraw the mains especially where the mains pressure and flow rates are poor.
10. Where no piped water supply is available, or there is insufficient pressure and flow in the water main, or an alternative arrangement is proposed, the alternative source of supply should be provided in accordance with the following recommendations:
11. Where the topmost storey is at a height of more than 7.5m above ground level, at least two of the escape stairs should be provided with a protected lobby in which there is located a dry rising fire main.
12. The inlets to the risers will be located externally to the building and not more than 18m from a parking space suitable for a pumping appliance and with a clear hose route between the appliance and the inlet. This will allow fire-fighters to connect the hose to the inlets quickly saving time. Where vehicle access is not possible to within 18m of the riser inlets a footpath should also be provided to the riser inlets. Dry risers should be installed in accordance with BS 5306: Part 1; and where there are:
13. Where there is only one escape stair in the building, then fire-fighting facilities may only be provided to that stair.