Fire Department Setback warning [RE-wrenches]

[Mark Frye]

Bill,

I am hoping to learn a bit about how the overall system works.

The new State Level "guideline" can be adopted as a local ordinance.

But the document that is on Williams site is title as a "Guideline" as well.

My sense is that most local jurisdiction do not take the time to actually
promulgate local ordinance, which would then have to conform other
requirements such as outlined in the new state guideline, specifically
producing Facts and Findings.

Rather, do most jurisdictions, LA for example, simply publish "Guidelines"
that do not hold them to actual ordinence, but allow them to exercise
discretion on every project?

Mark Frye
Berkeley Solar Electric Systems
271 Vistamont Dr
Grass Valley CA 95945
(530) 401-8024
www.berkeleysolar.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Brooks [mailto:billbrooks7 at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 5:39 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: Fire Department Setback warning [RE-wrenches]

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Mark,

The "final" version is what fire districts are being asked to implement.
Hopefully LA will use this version and discard their old version.
Residential setback is 3' on ridge and at least one 3' path per roof face.
This is only for fire districts that vent roofs. Some rural districts do not
practice roof venting, and many across the U.S. do not either.

I did a recent web seminar for the Interstate Renewable Energy Council
(IREC) back on April 30 that outlined what are in the guidelines and
basically how it got there. 

This issue is not new in the least, but it recently came to a head with
several situations including the LA guidelines released last year. If you
want to read a little about the process, there are some short reports on the
Solar America Building Codes & Standards website (www.solarabcs.org). The
direct URL is:
http://solarabcs.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=
62. Although it will affect the design of most commercial systems and many
residential systems, had the process not been actively engaged by several in
the PV industry, the resulting regulations would have been far more
restrictive. If anyone would like a pdf of my presentation, they can contact
me offline.

The term "Final Draft" means final for a good while--probably a year. I
don't see much changing until the document has been implemented. Some
jurisdictions will take exception to the document, but beware of districts
who might defer to their own documents (old LA docs--not good).

Bill.


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