Delaware Administrative Code
Title 1 - Authorities, Boards and Commissions
700 - Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission
705 - General Fire Safety
Chapter 5 - Access for Emergency Personnel and Apparatus
Section 705-5-4.0 - Emergency Services Access to Buildings That Require Fire Lanes

Universal Citation: 1 DE Admin Code 705-5-4.0

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024

4.1 This section applies to all buildings:

4.1.1 Exceeding 10,000 gross square feet, or

4.1.2 Three (3) or more stories above grade, or

4.1.3 35 feet or more in height, or

4.1.4 Buildings housing or containing materials or processes classified as High Hazard.

4.2 Fire Lane Access and Perimeter Access shall be in accordance with Table 5-2.

4.2.1 In cases where Regulation 702, Chapter 4, Section 1.1.1, Exception 2 applies, or where no fire suppression system is provided, the following access shall apply:
4.2.1.1 Fire lane access shall be 50%.

4.2.1.2 Perimeter access shall be 100%..

Note: See Figure 5-8 - Fire Lane and Perimeter Access - Without Fire Suppression

4.3 The State Fire Marshal may consider other design criteria for existing properties in a traditional urban setting on an individual basis, based upon the nature and degree of hazard associated with the building and/or characteristics of the site.

4.4 Fire Lanes shall be provided and designed in accordance with Section 6.0 of this chapter and marked in accordance with Section 7.0 of this chapter.

4.5 Perimeter Access minimum width shall be 15 feet measured from the face of the building at grade with a maximum slope of ten percent (10%). Plantings and utility services (includes condenser units, transformers, etc.) shall be permitted within the perimeter access, provided they do not interfere with the emergency services fire ground operations.

4.5.1 If a physical barrier (fence, pond, steep slope, etc) prevents access, that portion of the building perimeter shall not be included in the calculation of Percent of Perimeter Access.

Note: See Figure 5-9 - Fire Lane and Perimeter Access with Fire Suppression

4.5.2 Percent of Perimeter Access requirements shall include the required Percent of Fire Lane Access requirements of Table 5-2.

Accessibility Table

Table 5-2

Percent of Fire Lanes Percent of Perimeter Access
Number of Stories 1-2 3-4 > 4 1-2 3-4 > 4
Height up to 25' >25 to 50' > 50' up to 25' >25 to 50' > 50'
OCCUPANCY1
Assembly 50 50 50 N/A N/A 100
Educational2 50 75 75 N/A N/A 100
Day Care Center 25 50 75 50 75 100
Hospital 50 75 75 100 100 100
Nursing Home 25 50 75 75 75 100
Ambulatory Health Care 25 25 50 N/A 50 75
Detention & Correction TBDFM TBDFM TBDFM TBDFM TBDFM TBDFM
Residential 25 35 75 50 75 100
Mercantile 25 50 50 50 75 75
Business 25 25 50 N/A 50 75
Industrial 25 TBDFM TBDFM 50 TBDFM TBDFM
Storage 25 TBDFM TBDFM 50 TBDFM TBDFM

TBDFM = To Be Determine in consultation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

1. For Mixed Use occupancies, accessibility shall be based on the floor with the individual occupancy requiring the greatest accessibility coverage.

2. Educational shall include educational buildings with mixed uses and shall not be considered as mixed use

Note: For the purposes of this Regulation and application of the Accessibility Table, the fire lane portion was based upon a 100 foot Aerial reach and the width of aerial stabilizers. The Perimeter Access portion was based upon standard fire ground operations.

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