| Well maintained roads can save lives as well as property. The
road shown here could definitely use some work.
Trees and branches tend to grow over roads as their leaves compete for sun.
This road should be wider and have overhead unobstructed clearance of at least 16 feet..
Trees leaning into the road space forces fire trucks further to one side which can result
in halting the response and blocking the road.
Tree branches overhanging the road will get caught in truck attachments such as ladders,
sirens, mirrors, portable water tank, hose nozzles, etc...
|
2006
Ontario Building Code Excerpt 3.2.5.6. Access
Route Design
(1) A
portion of a roadway or yard provided as a required access route for fire department use
shall,
(a) have a clear width not less than 6 m
(20 feet), unless it can be shown that lesser widths are satisfactory,
b) have a centreline radius not less than 12 m (40 feet),
(c) have an overhead clearance not less than 5 m (16.5 feet),
(d) have a change of gradient not more than 1 in 12.5 over a minimum
distance of 15 m,
(e) be designed to support the expected loads imposed by fire fighting
equipment and be surfaced with concrete, asphalt or other material designed to permit
accessibility under all climatic conditions,
(f) have turnaround facilities for any dead-end portion of the access
route more than 90 m long, and
(g) be connected with a public thoroughfare. |