HomeMy WebLinkAbout403.010 - ADU Access Water SupplyEffective Date: July 2023 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 7/27/2023 Section 403.010
Next Revision (1) Date: 7/27/2026 Page 1 of 3
400 Fire Prevention Manual
SECTION 403.010 FIRE ACCESS AND WATER SUPPLY REQUIREMENTS FOR
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS (ADU’S)
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to clarify the Fresno Fire Department’s (FFD or
Department) requirements regarding fire access and water supply requirements for
accessory dwelling units (ADU’s).
APPLICATION
This policy applies to all accessory dwelling units (ADU’s) within the City of Fresno and
contract service areas.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
Based upon the need for uniformity in application across the Department’s diverse
service delivery area, and after careful deliberation, the Department has determined
the following:
• All ADU’s must have compliant fire access and a compliant water supply
as noted within the California Fire Code (CFC), California Residential
Code (CRC), and Fresno Municipal Code (FMC).
• It is the obligation of the property owner (and agents of the owner as
necessary) to provide compliant fire access and a compliant water
supply prior to construction of an ADU. Items specific to FFD’s fire
access and water supply requirements can be found on the
Department’s website.
• Fire access requirements may include, but are not limited to:
o Improvement of the existing fire access point(s) to include
additional grading, widening, surface construction, clear height
requirements, removal of gates and fences, additional access
points through existing fences, etc.
Fresno City Fire Department
Effective Date: July 2023 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 7/27/2023 Section 403.010
Next Revision (1) Date: 7/27/2026 Page 2 of 3
• Compliant fire water supplies may include, but are not limited to:
o Fire hydrant installations in either the public right of way or on the
private lot, fire water main replacement, and/or fire water main
extension into the private lot, addition of a private water storage
tank, etc.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
When an ADU is planned for construction on a site deficient of fire department access
and/or a deficient water supply, FFD will allow the ADU to be fire sprinklered in
accordance with the currently adopted edition of NFPA 13D. This process is permitted
under the alternate means and methods of construction approach found within the
CFC, CRC, and FMC.
Adding residential fire sprinklers to an ADU is not a requirement, and an applicant may
instead choose to improve the location to comply with fire department access and water
supply requirements as outlined during fire site plan/building plan review. However, in
many cases, simply adding residential fire sprinklers to the ADU will be a more cost-
effective way to provide an equivalent level of fire protection.
For all proposed ADU’s, where fire sprinklers are selected as an alternative form of fire
protection for deficient fire department access and/or deficient water supply, the
normally required fire sprinkler system submittal process is to be utilized.
Exceptions:
1. For ADU’s utilizing the City of Fresno’s Pre-approved ADU plans, the
applicant must use the FFD pre-approved fire sprinkler plan for the
location.
2. Where the ADU fire sprinkler system utilizes a 2” fire sprinkler riser, 1
½” fire sprinkler lead in with a minimum length of 2’, and 1” fire sprinkler
piping is used for the sprinkler system throughout the ADU, fire sprinkler
plans compliant with FFD submittal requirements shall be submitted for
review, approval, and permit issuance, however, no hydraulic
calculations for the ADU will be required.
PROCESS
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Effective Date: July 2023 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 7/27/2023 Section 403.010
Next Revision (1) Date: 7/27/2026 Page 3 of 3
INFORMATION
As noted in the applicable codes, the fire code official has the authority to formulate
policies they deem necessary based upon local conditions, and these conditions
include fire access and water supplies.
FFD is aware that many ADU’s will be constructed in neighborhoods, which have
deficient water supplies, including but not limited to:
• Smaller water supply mains,
• Fire hydrants that exceed currently adopted spacing requirements,
• Locations with non-compliant fire department access.
To help facilitate ADU construction in these deficient areas, FFD will allow the use of a
prescriptive alternate means and method of construction scheme.
DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
California Fire Code
California Residential Code
Fresno Municipal Code
NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family
Dwellings and Manufactured Homes (2022 edition)