Description

With firefighter access to infill and medium-density housing, there’s more to think about than just meeting the current Building Code requirements.

Even if fire trucks had been able to get closer to the fire, there may not have been enough space for firefighters to work around the trucks as they need to, accessing hoses and pumps, tools and equipment from both the sides and backs of the vehicles.

The new homes were considered fully compliant with the fire clause in the Building Code. For example, each was a minimum 1 m from the boundary (and therefore a minimum 2 m apart), but this was not enough to prevent significant loss. In addition to the building where the fire started being completely destroyed, three others were substantially damaged.

Scope

In this article:

• Access problems can delay response to a fire
• Planning for access and protection
• Some relevant Building Code changes delayed
• Accessing water from street hydrants