Water provision for commercial and domestic new builds.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) is fully committed to achieving and maintaining the highest standards of fire safety and emergency response across the county, which includes the ability for firefighters to quickly identify and effectively access water provision essential for ensuring effective firefighting operations. When a planning application is submitted to the Local Authority Planning Department, LFRS where relevant, should be consulted to make comment on the appropriate fire service requirements for the application.

When a planning application is submitted to the Local Authority Planning Department, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) where relevant, should be consulted to make comment on the appropriate fire service requirements for the application. This document has been designed to provide the requirements and recommendations of LFRS and is designed to provide general information and guidance in relation to your application. However, in some circumstances the minimum requirements of the building regulations may not be sufficient to meet the fire risk profile of the building (i.e. where the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005 applies).

It is therefore important that the advice contained within this document is built into the project at an early stage including the design, installation and cost of hydrant provision as part of any development.

Dependent upon the type and size of the project our advice will concentrate on the following areas;

1. Access and Facilities for the Fire Service

2. Water Supplies for Firefighting

3. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

4. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005

5. Goodwill Advice (Including Housing Developments)

Complete guidance can found by downloading the document, "Water provision for commercial and domestic new builds. A guide for planner and developers" document at the beginning of this section.

Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document B, states there should be access for a pumping appliance to within 45m of all points within any dwelling house to allow standard quick response hose reels to be utilised without the necessity for extending them, which would add valuable time to firefighting operations.

As the role of Fire and Rescue Services becomes more diverse, the amount of equipment required increases, the size of the fire appliance has also increased.

Access roads may be public highways, private roads, footpaths or specially strengthened and defined routes through the land surrounding the buildings, with minimum access requirements for access arrangements are shown in this section and are taken from the Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document B where applicable.

Consultation must take place with the Fire Authority during the early planning stages of any development or event to ensure adequate access. Applications must take account not only the access and working space requirements of standard fire appliances, but also specialist firefighting appliances with higher reach capacity such as Aerial Ladder Platforms (ALPs).

Access arrangements provided in this document should be considered when the designs of new developments are being planned. Failure to do so may prevent the applicant from obtaining a completion certificate under the Building Regulations, but more importantly, the lives of the occupiers will be put at risk.

Road Width

This dimension allows enough space for appliances to pass unhindered to the affected building accounting for the likelihood of parked vehicles. This also allows enough space around the vehicle to remove equipment quickly and efficiently from the appliance.

Gateway Width

The gateway dimension allows the new appliances which have a width of approximately 2.9m adequate clearance to enter a premises.

Turning Circle

Fire Service vehicles should not have to reverse more than 20m from the end of an access road. A turning facility will be required for any dead-end situation, where without this provision a fire appliance would be required to reverse more than 20m. One of the main concerns for Fire and Rescue Services would be the time taken to manoeuvre fire appliances if suitable turning facilities are not available. This situation would be compounded further where lengthy dead-end situations occur.

Height Clearance

This clearance allows fire appliances to manoeuvre under overhead obstructions such as archways, barriers and gateways. Consideration should also be taken where overhead obstructions such as cables and branches that line access routes may impinge on this required clearance.

Carrying Capacity

All roads that form part of the access arrangements for Fire and Rescue Service vehicles should be constructed to withstand a minimum weight of 16 tonne. This capacity takes into consideration the specification for new appliances.

Domestic Dwelling Houses

Vehicle access for a pumping appliance should be within 45m reach to the furthest point in the dwelling and measured from the rear ofthe fire appliance along a suitable hose laying path.

Every elevation to which vehicle access is provided should have a suitable door, not less than 750mm wide, giving access to the interior of the building.

Flats or Maisonettes

Vehicle access for a pumping appliance should be within 45m reach to the furthest point in the dwelling and measured from the rear of the fire appliance along a suitable hose laying path.

Other Buildings

The access requirements for other buildings will depend upon the total floor area and the height. (Further detailed guidance contained in Approved Document B Volume 2 - 2019 edition, Section 15: Vehicle Access.)

Buildings with Dry Risers

Building that have a Dry Riser installed should have access for a pumping appliance within 18m of all riser inlet boxes. Requirement Appliance Type Pump High Reach Minimum Width of Road Between Kerbs 3.7m 3.7m Minimum Width of Gateways 3.1m 3.1m Minimum Turning Circle Between Kerbs 16.8m 26.0m Minimum Turning Circle Between Walls 19.2m 29.0m Minimum Clearance Height 3.7m 4.0m Minimum Carrying Capacity 12.5t 17.0t

Table 1: Typical Fire and Rescue Service route access specifications

Vehicle Type Width Height Length Weight Fire Appliance 2.5m 3.5m 8.4m 18t Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) 2.5m 3.7m 10.3m 26t Other Specialist Vehicles 2.6m 4.0m 10.6m 26t

Table 2: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service appliance specifications