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Max distance for fire hydrant to exist building

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ktisaab

Mining
Mar 22, 2012
1
Under the Alberta Building or National Building Code, (canada) would someone know the maximum distance allowed from a 40 year old Assembly occupancy type building to its nearest fire hydrant?

We aren't renovating this small 500m2 single storey building, just ensuring it is to current codes!

ABC cites:

3.2.5.5. Location of Access Routes
1) Access routes required by Article 3.2.5.4. shall be located so that the principal
entrance and every access opening required by Articles 3.2.5.1. and 3.2.5.2. are located
not less than 3 m and not more than 15 m from the closest portion of the access route
required for fire department use, measured horizontally from the face of the building.
2) Access routes shall be provided to a building so that
a) for a building provided with a fire department connection, a fire department
pumper vehicle can be located adjacent to the hydrants referred to in
Article 3.2.5.15.,
b) for a building not provided with a fire department connection, a fire
department pumper vehicle can be located so that the length of the access
route from a hydrant to the vehicle plus the unobstructed path of travel for
the firefighter from the vehicle to the building is not more than 90 m, and
c) the unobstructed path of travel for the firefighter from the vehicle to the
building is not more than 45 m.
3) The unobstructed path of travel for the firefighter required by Sentence (2) from
the vehicle to the building shall be measured from the vehicle to the fire department
connection provided for the building, except that if no fire department connection is
provided, the path of travel shall be measured to the principal entrance of the building

Am I limited to the 90 m or can I add the 45 m to this for the fire fighter? I actually need further than this as my building is 200 m from the closest hydrant.

I can't seem to find anything with NFPA either.

thanks.
 
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IMO, the code specifies the "minimum" distance of the hydrant from the building to be protected. The "maximum" distance may be depended on the local firefighting ability and the water source location, and to be agreed with the AHJ. There was one city example which plans to pump the water from the bay through a mile long of 12" hose to provide water for the building in the hillside.
 
It is typical to run this question past the local fire department.
 
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