15.12.503.4 Amendment of Section 503.4.

Section 503.4 of the International Fire Code shall be amended to read:

503.4 Obstruction of fire apparatus access roads. The required width of a fire apparatus access road shall not be obstructed in any manner, including parked vehicles. Minimum required widths and clearances established under Section 503 shall be maintained at all times.

Entrances to roads, trails or other access ways which have been closed with gates and barriers in accordance with Section 503.5 shall not be obstructed by parked vehicles.

503.4.1 Gates obstructing fire access. All gates hereafter constructed which are obstructing required fire apparatus access roads shall be subject to the approval of the Fire Marshal.

503.4.1.1 Plans for gates. Plans for gates that obstruct fire apparatus access roads shall be submitted to and approved by the Fire Marshal prior to their installation.

503.4.1.2 Manually operated gates. Manually operated gates shall be easily opened by a single individual without the use of any special equipment, knowledge, effort or operation. Locking devices on manually operated gates shall either be of a type and common key as approved by the Fire Marshal or shall be provided with a security box in accordance with Section 506.1 containing a key capable of opening the locking device.

503.4.1.3 Power assisted, power operated or card-locked gates. Power assisted, power operated or card-locked gates shall be provided with mechanisms that, in the event of a power failure open the gate to its fully opened position. Alternatively, back-up power supply capable for operating the gate under normal circumstances and use for a period of not less than twenty-four hours shall be provided. Once the back-up power supply has been exhausted, or in the event of a simultaneous failure of both the primary and back-up power sources, the gate locking or latching mechanisms shall be opened or released.

503.4.1.4 Override mechanism for power or card-locked gates. All power assisted, power operated or card-locked gates shall be provided with an override mechanism that allows immediate access through the gate. The override mechanism may consist of a key, an override switch or other mechanism approved by the Fire Marshal. Such overriding mechanism shall be located in a security box in accordance with Section 506.1. Once activated, the override mechanism shall immediately open the gate to its fully open position and maintain the gate in this position until the gate is returned to its normal operating condition by deactivation of the override mechanism.

(Sec. 13 of Ord. 1996-02-02; amended by Sec. 1 (Exh. A) of Ord. 2004-06-05; amended by Sec. 33 of Ord. 2007-06-19; amended by Sec. 15 of Ord. 2013-07-07; amended by Sec. 25 of Ord. 2016-07-02)