Section 503 of the IFC is deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows:

503.1 Where required. Fire apparatus access roads shall be provided and maintained in accordance with sections 503.1.1 through 503.1.3.

503.1.1 Buildings and facilities. Fire apparatus access roads shall be provided in accordance with sections 501 and 503 of the IFC for every facility, building or portion of a building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the county when any portion of the facility or any portion of an exterior wall of the first story of the building is located more than 150 feet from fire apparatus access as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building or facility. See also section 504 of the IFC for personnel access to buildings. When access roads cannot be installed due to location on property, topography, waterways, nonnegotiable grades or other similar conditions, the fire marshal is authorized to require alternative fire protection.

Exceptions:

1. When buildings are completely protected with an approved automatic fire sprinkler system installed in accordance with this chapter, the fire apparatus access road requirements may be modified by the fire marshal.

2. When there are no more than two dwelling units, or Group U Occupancies, the requirements of sections 503.1.1 and 503.2 of the IFC may be modified by the fire marshal.

503.1.2 Additional access. More than one fire apparatus road shall be provided when it is determined by the fire marshal that access by a single road might be impaired by vehicle congestion, condition of terrain, climatic conditions or other factors that could limit access. For high-piled combustible storage, section 3206.6 of the IFC applies. For required access during construction, alteration or demolition of a building, section 1410.1 of the IFC applies.

503.1.3 High piled storage. Fire department vehicle access to buildings used for high-piled combustible storage shall comply with the applicable provisions of chapter 23 of the IFC.

503.2 Specifications. Fire apparatus roads shall be installed and arranged in accordance with sections 503.2.1 through 503.2.8, as modified by this chapter.

503.2.1 Dimensions. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet (6096 mm), exclusive of shoulders, except for approved security gates in accordance with section 503.6, and an unobstructed vertical clearance of 13 feet and 6 inches (4115 mm).

503.2.2 Authority. Vertical clearances of 13 feet and 6 inches in height or widths of 20' shall be increased when, in the opinion of the fire marshal, vertical clearances or widths are not adequate to provide fire apparatus access.

503.2.3 Surface. All fire apparatus access roadways shall be constructed of either gravel, asphalt or some other all-weather surface capable of supporting vehicles consistent with Engineering Design and Development Standards (EDDS).

503.2.4 Turning Radius. Turns, bends, or sweeps in fire apparatus access roadways shall be designed at not less than 20-foot inside-turning radius nor less than 40-foot outside-turning radius. For private dead-end fire lanes ending with a permanent hammerhead, the minimum inside turning radius shall be 25-feet. For private road network elements the fire marshal may require a minimum turning radius of 25 feet (inside radius) and 45 feet (outside radius) for fire lanes that serve structures over 30 feet in height.

503.2.5 Dead ends. Dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150 feet in length shall be provided with a turnaround unless a modification is granted by the fire marshal. Dead-end fire apparatus access roads that exceed 1,200 feet in length shall be provided with intermediate turnarounds to provide adequate fire apparatus turn-around or the fire marshal is authorized to require additional fire protection.

503.2.6 Bridges. When a bridge is required to be used as part of a fire apparatus access road, it shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the department of public works engineering design and development standards adopted by the county. The bridge shall be designed to carry an AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Traffic Officials) HL-93 Load Resistance Factor Design method live load or greater. Bridges shall be sufficient to carry the imposed loads of fire apparatus. Vehicle load limits shall be posted at both entrances to bridges when required by the fire marshal.

503.2.7 Grade. The gradient for a fire apparatus access road shall not exceed 15 percent. Cul-de-sac bulb grades shall not exceed six percent.

503.3 Marking. Where required by the fire marshal, approved signs or other approved notices or markings that include the words NO PARKING - FIRE LANE shall be provided for fire apparatus roads to identify such roads or prohibit the obstruction thereof. The means by which fire lanes are designated shall be maintained in a clean or legible condition at all times and be replaced or repaired when necessary to provide adequate visibility.

503.4 Obstruction of fire apparatus access roads. Fire apparatus access roads shall not be obstructed in any manner, including the parking of vehicles.

503.5 Required gates or barricade. The fire marshal is authorized to require the installation and maintenance of gates or other approved barricades across fire apparatus access roads, trails or other accessways, not including public streets, alleys or highways. Electric gate operators, where provided, shall be listed in accordance with UL 325. Gates intended for automatic operation shall be designed, constructed and installed to comply with the requirements of ASTM F 2200.

503.5.1 Entrances secured by gates or barriers. Entrances to roads, trails or other access way which have been closed with gates and barriers in accordance with section 503.5 of the IFC shall not be obstructed by parked vehicles.

503.6 Gates accessing residential developments. Gates installed in a residential community shall be equipped with a strobe activation device unless the local fire district does not have the capability to activate such device and another device is approved by the local fire district. Minimum gate width opening shall be 20 feet. The gate is required to open automatically with the approach of emergency vehicles. In the event of a loss of power, the gate shall open automatically and remain in the open position until power is restored.

Exemption: 2 or fewer dwelling units as approved by the local fire district.

503.7 Split entries to plats, short plats and single-family detached units (SFDU). Split entries into plats, short plats and SFDUs shall be allowed where each aisle (lane) is at least 14 feet in width.

503.8 Cul-de-sac Planters. Planters may be installed in cul-de-sacs when the outside radius of the cul-de-sac is a minimum of 50 feet and the inside radius is a minimum of 25 feet.