[RE-wrenches] Cal Fire Residential Access

[John Stimac]

Could someone help clarify the fire access requirements as stated in the Cal
Fire Code? (Text below)

 

It's my understanding that regardless of hips, valleys or a building with a
single ridge each roof plane with modules requires a 3' eave to ridge clear
access pathway and a 3' setback from the ridge to the top edge of the solar
array for ventilation requirements.

 

My questions:

1. Does the 3' ventilation setback requirement need to be clear of
obstructions?

2. Would a cross-gable roof, which has two ridges, require only one access
pathway alongside the array regardless of where the second ridge is located?

3. Does the single ridge requirement apply to a building with a single ridge
and a dormer? 

4. A cross-gable roof would require a single 3' access pathway along one
side but because this can be on either side of the array, one side of the
array could be right up to the left or right roof edge as long as there is
3' on the other side, correct? 

5. Does a roof surface with a valley and a hip (cross-hipped) still need to
have at least one 3' access pathway along one side of the array? 

 

For the last one I understand that if there are no modules on the adjacent
roof the modules do not need to be 18" from the hip/valley but do you still
need at least one 3' access pathway on that roof plane? 

 

I have read Bill Brooks guideline on this but some of the jurisdictions we
are working with have different ways of interpreting the requirements. 

 

Thanks!

 

Code

605.11.3.2.1 Residential buildings with hip roof

layouts. Panels/modules installed on residential

buildings with hip roof layouts shall be located in a

manner that provides a 3-foot-wide (914 mm) clear

access pathway from the eave to the ridge on each

roof slope where panels/modules are located. 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.

Exception: These requirements shall not apply

to roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12

units horizontal (2: 12) or less.

 

605.11.3.2.2 Residential buildings with a single

ridge. Panels/modules installed on residential buildings

with a single ridge shall be located in a manner

that provides two, 3-foot-wide (914 mm) access

pathways from the eave to the ridge on each roof

slope where panels/modules are located.

Exception: This requirement shall not apply to

roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units

horizontal (2: 12) or less.

 

605.11.3.2.3 Residential buildings with roof hips

and valleys. Panels/modules installed on residential

buildings with roof hips and valleys shall be located

no closer than 18 inches (457 mm) to a hip or a valley

where panels/modules are to be placed on both

sides of a hip or valley. Where panels are to be

located on only one side of a hip or valley that is of

equal length, the panels shall be permitted to be

placed directly adjacent to the hip or valley.

Exception: These requirements shall not apply

to roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12

units horizontal (2: 12) or less.

 

605.11.3.2.4 Residential building smoke ventilation.

Panels/modules installed on residential buildings

shall be located no higher than 3 feet (914 mm)

below the ridge in order to allow for fire department

smoke ventilation operations.

 

 

--

John Stimac | Corvallis, OR

Renewable Energy Associates LLC

541-754-2001 Office/Fax

 <mailto:john at renewableassociates.com> john at renewableassociates.com

 <http://www.renewableassociates.com/> www.renewableassociates.com

REAL_logo_black2

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20140915/23e9e113/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 5932 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20140915/23e9e113/attachment-0001.jpg>