1 Del. Admin. Code § 705-5-2.0
Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 7, January 1, 2025
Section 705-5-2.0 - Emergency Access2.1 All premises where emergency personnel may be called upon to provide emergency services, which are not readily accessible from streets, shall be provided with suitable gates, access roads, and fire lanes so that all buildings on the premises are accessible to emergency apparatus. Click here to view Image
2.2 In the case of one- and two-family dwellings emergency service access shall be provided in such a manner so that emergency apparatus will be able to locate within 100 feet from the street to the primary entrance. 2.2.1 Where alleys are provided, pumpers shall be able to access all portions of the alley without strict restrictions for entrance radii. Click here to view Image
2.3 Any dead end road more than 300 feet in length shall be provided with a turn-around or cul-de-sac arranged such that emergency apparatus will be able to turn around by making not more than one backing maneuver. The turn-around or cul-de-sac shall be arranged as follows: 2.3.1 Turn-around - Turn-arounds shall be arranged in accordance with one of the four standard designs shown in Figure 5-2, Figure 5-3, Figure 5-4 and Figure 5-52.4 A lock box containing any and all means necessary for fire department access shall be provided at the following occupancies:2.4.1 Any occupancy that contains a fire alarm signaling system that is monitored off-site, or2.4.2 Any occupancy that contains an automatic sprinkler system. Exception No. 1: Where an occupancy has on-site 24 hour guard service or is operating on a manned 24 hour operational cycle.
Exception No.2: Where the fire department, in whose district the occupancy is located, indicates in writing to the State Fire Marshal that the lock box is not necessary.
Exception No. 3: One- and Two-Family dwellings.
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2.5 The lock box, as specified in 2.4, shall be listed or approved by the State Fire Marshal for the intended use and installed in such a manner that the fire department will have access to the box.2.5.1 The lock box shall contain any or all means needed for entry into the building or property.2.5.2 Lock box contents shall be updated when tenants change, ownership changes, or any time locks are changed or re-keyed.2.6 Gated Communities and Gated Commercial Properties 2.6.1 The requirements of this section shall apply to all new gates installed and for any gate replacing more than 50% of the hardware and software after September 13, 2004.2.6.2 Fire Department access shall be provided to all otherwise inaccessible gated communities, subdivisions, developments, gated commercial properties or property by any other name through the use of a system or device approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal after consultation with the local Fire Chief.2.6.3 The system or device required in 2.6.2 shall be located in an area accessible to the fire department approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal after consultation with the local Fire Chief. 2.6.3.1 All gates shall be either automatic or manual.2.6.3.1.1 An automated system shall consist of one manual and one automated means to open the gate. The owner or their representative shall meet with the local Fire Chief prior to submission to the Office of the State Fire Marshal to agree on the system. A letter of agreement shall be created, and signed by both parties. The letter shall include a detailed description of both the manual and automated means.2.6.3.1.2 A manual gate shall consist of one manual means to open the gate. The owner or their representative shall meet with the local Fire Chief prior to submission to the Office of the State Fire Marshal to agree on the means to open. A letter of agreement shall be created, and signed by both parties. The letter shall include a detailed description of the manual means to open. Click here to view Image
2.6.3.2 To be considered accessible for fire department apparatus the actual clear openings shall be not less than 14 feet, the paved surface through the gate shall be not less than 12 feet, and the gate shall be setback from the perpendicular street by at least 50 feet. Exception: If the 50 foot setback above is not possible, the actual clear openings and the paved surface through the gate shall be made wider than set forth above in order to accommodate all responding emergency response apparatus.
2.6.3.3 Plans submitted to the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall be provided at 1:20, 1:30, 1:40, or 1:50 scale.2.6.4 The owner and/or occupant of the property requiring fire department access as specified in 2.6.2 and 2.6.3 shall maintain the approved system or device in strict accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.2.6.5 The owner and/or occupant of the property requiring fire department access shall not modify access in any manner that could prevent fire department access without obtaining prior approval from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.1 Del. Admin. Code § 705-5-2.0
19 DE Reg. 843 (3/1/2016)
25 DE Reg. 80 (7/1/2021) (Final)