White River Township Fire Prevention and Protection Ordinance
 
ARTICLE II
 
Plan Review
 

SECTION 1.  General.

A.        The serving Fire Department shall perform a review of all pertinent building plans, site plans and fire protection system plans and specifications of any project within the boundaries of the White River Township Fire Protection District and the Bargersville Fire Protection District, in order to determine whether such plans and specifications comply with the applicable rules of the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission (FPBSC), this Ordinance and any other codes, standards or rules that may apply. Separate review and permits shall be required for fire protection systems.   

B.        Plans shall be submitted both in traditional paper form and in digital format compatible with current Department software in order to assist the Department in the pre-fire planning of that structure.

C.        Fire Department Plan Review shall occur at the following phases: Site Plan, Sketch Plan, Construction Plan and Fire Protection Systems Plan. This review shall occur concurrent to the county, city, or town plan review and any issues or corrections that need to be made to the plans shall be completed by the developer prior to the approval of the Johnson County Planning and Zoning Office, the City of Greenwood Planning and Zoning Office or the Town of Bargersville Planning and Zoning Office.  No permits shall be issued until Department review and compliance has occurred.   

D.        Plans shall be submitted to the Fire Marshal prior to any alteration, remodel, addition or demolition of any part of a building that is equipped with an Automatic Fire Suppression System or Automatic Fire Detection or Fire Alarm System, regardless of the size of proposed project. 
 

SECTION 2.  Fire Protection Requirements.

A.         Fire Hydrants

1. General 

a.)  Fire hydrants shall be installed pursuant to the requirements of the water utility having jurisdiction. Quantity and location of hydrants shall be determined by the Fire Marshal or his designee.

b.)  Fire hydrant(s) shall be placed on eight inch or larger water main and outlets 18 inches above finished grade.

c.)  Fire hydrants shall be located not more than eight feet from the edge of pavement.

d.)  If a temporary water system is to be used, prior approval shall be given by the Fire Marshal or his designee.

e.)  Fire hydrants out of service shall be covered with a bag indicating “Out of Service”. 

f.)  Fire hydrants shall only be used for Fire Protection, or as so directed by the water utility having jurisdiction.

g.)  Fire hydrants shall be kept clear and accessible at all times.

h.)  Fire hydrants shall be in service prior to any issuance of a building permit for the structure. 

2. Multiple Family, Commercial and Industrial Development

a.)  Fire hydrants shall be installed no more than 300 feet apart on a public or private road. When any portion of a building being protected is in excess of 150 feet from a water supply on a public or private road, there shall be provided on site, mains and hydrants capable of supplying the required fire flow as required by the Fire Marshal or his designee. Required fire flow shall be calculated in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standards 1231 and 1142.
 
b.) Required Water Supply for Fire Protection. A water supply capable of supplying the required fire flow, for firefighting purposes, as determined by local ordinance, shall be provided to all premises upon which a Class 1 building or a portion of Class 1 buildings are hereafter constructed. The water supply shall be provided as follows:

(1)  When a public water supply is available to a premises, there shall be provided fire hydrants and mains capable of supplying the required fire flow.

(2)  When a public water supply is not available to a premises, the water supply shall consist of a pond, stream, river, canal, lake, reservoir, quarry, pressure tank, elevated tank, swimming pool, other fixed systems, or fire department delivered portable system capable of providing the required fire flow.

The on-site water supply shall be accessible to the fire department and be located within one hundred fifty (150) feet of the Class 1 building or structure being protected with an automatic fire-extinguishing system. If the on-site water supply is not within one hundred fifty (150) feet of the structure being protected, the water supply shall be connected to on-site fire hydrants and mains capable of supplying the required fire flow. The owner shall verify the water supply requirements with the servicing fire department prior to final design and construction.

(3)  As provided in the sections of the Indiana Fire Code.

3. Single Family Residential Development

Fire hydrants shall be installed no more than 500 feet apart on a public or private road.

4. Sprinkler Systems or Standpipes

Fire hydrants installed to provide fire suppression augmentation for sprinkler systems or standpipes shall be installed within 50 feet of Fire Department Connection or as required by the Fire Marshal or his designee.

5. Dry Hydrants

a.)  Dry hydrants may be required to be installed when an available static water supply is available in the development to be used as an additional water supply for fire protection. Dry hydrants are to be placed within eight feet of the roadway and 32 inches above grade.

b.)  The connection is to be a six-inch male connection National Standard Thread with cap. Specifications of required installations are available through the Fire Marshal’s office.

6. Public and Private Fire Hydrants 

a.)  Public fire hydrants shall be painted “safety yellow” in accordance with the regulations of the water utility having jurisdiction.  Private fire hydrants shall be painted per current edition of NFPA 291 (Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants).  The barrel is to be painted “safety yellow”. The top portion (bonnet) and nozzle caps to be painted with the following color scheme to indicate flow capacity:

Class Capacity Color

Class AA 1500 gpm or greater Light blue

Class A 1000 gpm to 1400 gpm Green

Class B 500 gpm to 999 gpm Orange

Class C 499 gpm or less Red

b.)  The type and model of fire hydrants to be installed shall be in accordance with the requirements of the water utility having jurisdiction.

B. Fire Department Access   

A minimum of two means of access shall be provided for:
                        1. Any subdivision with 50 or more single or two-family residential lots;

2. Any development having one or more commercial, multi family, or industrial structures, three stories or greater in height; or

3. Any development having three or more commercial, multi family, or industrial structures of any height. 

C. Fire Department Access Roads

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

            Dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of one hundred fifty (150) feet in length shall be designed and constructed so as to allow the turning around of the longest piece of fire apparatus available to the fire department.

The turning radius of a fire apparatus access road shall be determined after consultation with the servicing fire department and shall be at least equal to the minimum required radius for the fire apparatus. Such roads shall be designed and constructed to permit turning of the longest piece of fire apparatus available to the fire department.

            When fire apparatus access roads or a water supply for fire protection is required to be installed, such protection shall be installed and made serviceable prior to and during the time of construction except when approved alternative methods of protection are provided.

D.       Gates and Other Traffic Controlling Devices

            When a traffic control device (i.e.: gates, islands, or curbing) is proposed to be installed in a new development, the Fire Marshal shall review the plans to assure that fire apparatus access will not be obstructed.  

            If a gated entrance is proposed on any project, the access drive and radiuses shall be reviewed and shall meet the requirements of this ordinance.  A Fire Department Key Box, Access Code or Opticom system shall be provided to the fire department for immediate access to the property.

            E.  Response Map Updates

    Any new development, which necessitates updating of emergency response maps by virtue of new structures, hydrants, roadways or similar features, shall be required to provide map updates in a digital format compatible with current Department software.

            F.  Fees.

In addition to any fees paid at the time of application for a building permit pursuant to county and state ordinances, at the time of such application, the applicant shall also pay a nonrefundable plan review fee to the serving Fire Department as set forth in Article XVIII of this Ordinance.