Several questions about Section 507.5.1 regarding fire protection water supplies where required in the 2009 International Fire Code (IFC) are raised and answered:

Q: Is it the intent of Section 507.5.1 that on a large site, fire hydrants must be located so they are spaced at no more than 400 feet intervals (600 feet if the building is protected by an automatic sprinkler system) around the perimeter of the building?

Q: Does this section imply that if a building or portion of a building is more than 400 feet from an approved fire hydrant on an approved route, then an additional on-site hydrant is needed, or it will be necessary to relocate one of the hydrants within the 400 foot measurement?

Q: We are reviewing a site plan for a proposed nonsprinklered building. The building length is 450 feet, and the fire hydrant is located near a corner of the building’s front. The site has a fire apparatus road that serves the front of the building, and it is constructed in accordance with Section 507.5.1. The back of the building is 510 feet (450 foot length + 60 foot width = 510 feet) from a fire hydrant. There are no fire apparatus roads at the sides or the rear of the building. Is it necessary to add a fire hydrant that is located no more than 400 feet from any portion of the exterior wall of the building?

Q: One source states that no more than 400 feet of hose should be needed to reach the building. Does this include both the supply line and the attack line, or is this just the supply line?

Click to get answers to these code questions and continue reading more on this excerpt from the 2009 IFC Q&A.

Get expert answers to hundreds of the most frequently asked real-world questions. The 2009 Q&A series will assist engineers, architects, inspectors, fire and building officials, and plans examiners with finding answers to common code questions that arise during design, plan review, construction and daily code enforcement.

Features:

• many new questions and answers.
• detailed photos, tables and illustrations that provide a clear understanding of both the intent and meaning of the code text.
• the relevant code section printed before the question and answer for easy reference.
• discussion on a wide variety of topics including: accessibility, fire resistive construction, means of egress, building planning, foundations, fire protection systems, hazardous materials, plumbing and mechanical systems, prescriptive compliance method, determination of substantial damage, and much more.