[RE-wrenches] Setbacks for fire responder protection

[william at millersolar.com]

Dear Colleagues:

 

I know many of you have been concerned about the impacts of new regulations
on roof-top solar intended to protect fire responders.  I have a new
scenario to offer for your consideration:

 

Around here only one city has adopted codes that require eave and ridge
setbacks to provide firefighter access for residential rooftop PV.  The
standard used for this city and for others adopting commercial restrictions
had been a draft proposal presented by Cal-Fire that has been circulating
for a while.  A copy of that is on our web site.  

 

This city has upped the ante by increasing the setback such that the
measurement starts not at the gable eave but at the gable framed wall.  This
typically subtracts another 24" of module space.  It appears that the
justification for this more restrictive interpretation is language in the
2013 California Fire Code offers some suggestion that gable eaves are not
structurally sound, although this is not stated.  Here is the language:

 

The access pathway shall be located at a structurally strong location on the
building capable of supporting the live load of fire fighters accessing the
roof.

 

I see no evidence in the language to support the notion that a gable eave
overhang is not structurally sound.  It is certainly strong enough to allow
roofers and other trades people to traverse without concern.  I would
suggest that any portion of a framed roof can become unsound if the
underpinnings are being burned away.

 

I think to disallow eaves as part of access paths based on the language is
taking this too far.  Comments?

 

Changing subjects slightly:  I have always wondered why we must preserve
access to both sides of a E-W ridge.  The concept  I have heard is that
firefighters may need to open the roof at the highest point to let out
smoke.  I have never seen a partition below a ridge in the attic that would
prevent smoke from wafting sideways 36" to a hole cut on the north side of
the ridge versus the south side.  Does anyone know of a reason that the
south side of the ridge needs to be kept clear when the north side is clear?

 

The material I refer to can be found here:
http://www.millersolar.com/MillerSolar/Resources/_Resources.html

 

William Miller

 

 

 

 

Gradient Cap_mini
Lic 773985
 <http://www.millersolar.com/> millersolar.com
805-438-5600

 

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