Appendix D
Access and Water Supply Recommended Guidelines
Introduction
This appendix has been designed with public education in mind and is intended to be used to
help familiarize homeowners, contractors, and developers with the general principles of the
access and water supply needs of firefighters. The recommendations in this section are based
on proven practices. However, they are not intended to be a substitute for locally adopted
codes.
Emergency response personnel do their best to respond to calls in a timely manner, often
while negotiating difficult terrain. Planning for access by emergency equipment allows for a
more efficient response, improving safety for residents and their families, as well as that of
the firefighters and emergency medical technicians that will arrive on scene. This is
especially important in rural areas, where response times may be considerably longer than in
cities.
Access Guidelines
Driveway Turnarounds
Turnarounds that are unobstructed by parked vehicles are designed to allow for the safe
reversal of direction by emergency equipment. The "Y” and "Hammerhead” turnarounds
shown below are preferred because they provide the necessary access while minimizing
disturbance to the site. Turnarounds should be located at the end of every driveway.
Driveway Width and Height
Driveways should have an unobstructed vertical clearance of 13 feet 6 inches. Trees may
need to be limbed, and utility lines relocated to provide the necessary clearance. Driveways
should have a 12-foot wide drivable surface and 14 feet of horizontal clearance.
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Driveway Pullouts
Driveway pullouts are designed with sufficient length and width to allow emergency vehicles
to pass one another during emergency operations. These features should be placed at 400-
foot intervals along driveways and private access roads (community driveways). The location
of pullouts may be modified slightly to accommodate physical barriers such as rock
outcroppings, wetlands, and other natural or manmade features.
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Address Markers
Every building should have a permanently posted, reflective address marker mounted on a
non-combustible pole. The sign should be placed and maintained at each driveway entrance.
Care should be taken to ensure that the location will not become obscured by vegetation,
snow, or other features, whether natural or manmade. It is critical that the location and
markings are adequate for easy night-time viewing. It is preferable to locate markers in a
consistent manner within each community. A good guideline for this practice is to place the
markers five feet above ground level on the right side of every driveway. Where multiple
homes are accessed by a single driveway, all addresses that are accessed via that driveway
should be clearly listed on the driveway marker. Where multi-access driveways split, each
fork should indicate all residences accessed by that fork, and the proper direction of travel to
arrive at a given address. It is not adequate to simply mark addresses on a common pole in
the center of the fork. Residential homes should have an additional reflective address marker
permanently attached to the home in clear view of the driveway or access road. Homes that
are marked by lot number while under construction should have the lot number removed and
a permanent address marker posted before granting a certificate of occupancy.
Bridge Load Limits
Bridge load limits should be posted with a permanently mounted, reflective marker at both
entrances to the bridge. Care should be taken to ensure that these markers will not become
obscured by vegetation, snow, or other features, whether natural or manmade. It is critical
that the location of the markings and the markings themselves be adequate for easy night-
time viewing.
Alternative Water Sources
In the study area, like many of the mountainous areas of Colorado’s front range, water is a
critical fire suppression issue. Nine of the twenty-five water sources commonly used by the
FMFD for fire suppression could be dry or too low to be effective during at least part of the
fire season. The hazard assessment revealed several communities in the study area which are
a considerable distance from reliable water sources for fire suppression. The following
information on the use of cisterns and dry hydrant installations has been included to provide
guidelines for future water supply development in the district. For more detailed
recommendations regarding enhancement of the existing water supply system, please see the
Water Supply FMU section of the main report.
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Cisterns
Once emergency vehicles have arrived on site, they will need a dependable supply of water
to help control the fire. Although residential wells with outdoor taps can be used by fire
crews to help fill engine tanks, they are not adequate for fire control. If the property is a
significant distance from a reliable water supply or fire station, it may be advisable to employ
one of the following water supply options:
• An on-site 1,800 to 2,500 gallon cistern for each residence.
• A monetary contribution to a large community cistern fund.
For more information about local standards and regulations, please contact the FMFD.
Dry Hydrants
Dry hydrant installations already are in use in the study area. Guidelines for the construction
and maintenance of dry hydrants may be found in the Dry Hydrant Manual included as a
supplement to this report.
It is always helpful to discuss any potential construction project with the fire department.
FMFD officials can help determine what kind of access and water supply options will work
best for your site. While the guidelines in this appendix have been assembled by querying
firefighters with extensive Wildland-Urban Interface firefighting and fire code experience,
the FMFD is in the best position to offer site-specific information.
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