HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire Code PRE19-008 - Salerno Mini StorageThomas L. Aumock
Consulting Fire Code Inspector & Plans Examiner
2303 Hendricks Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368.7009
(360) 385.3938 Email: taumock@cablespeed.com Cell: (360) 643.0272
PLAN REVIEW MEMORANDUM
TO: Joel Petersen, Jefferson County Dept. of Community Development
FR: Thomas Aumock, Consulting to Jefferson Co. Dept. of Community Development
DT: 14 February 2019
RE: PRE19-008 Salerno Commercial Self Storage, 8012 Highway 20, Port Townsend,
APN 001213015
This Fire Code Inspector and Plans Examiner is in receipt of the pre-application for the above-referenced
from your office. The pre-app has been reviewed with the International Fire Code [I.F.C.], 2015 Edition,
as amended by W.A.C. 51-54. The following constitutes this consulting Fire Code Inspector findings and
determinations based upon the planning materials submitted.
Findings & Determinations:
1. The proposed commercial self-storage structures was reviewed at a total of nine [9] storage buildings
of 6,250 square feet each of the largest “fire area” as a Group S-1 “Moderate Hazard” storage occupancy,
with an undisclosed construction classification.
2. Addressing signage will required to be consistent with Jefferson County standard for size, and be in a
position as to be plainly visible and legible.. Said numbers shall contrast with their background [I.F.C.
Section 505].
3. The parcel area is to be served by a thirty [30] foot ingress, egress, and utility easement extending
from the present U-Haul road intersection stoplight, and is found to be sufficient for emergency services
vehicle access. Road access from AC-paved Highway 20 at the stop-light is proposed for the subject
parcel and is found to be consistent with the purpose and intent of I.F.C. Section 503 fire apparatus access
road design standards. Internal road access would be required to sustain 75,000 pound loading.
3.1 A security gate is proposed, thus, Code Access, or a key box for access to the subject area for
emergency services delivery will be required to be installed at a location determined by East Jefferson
Fire & Rescue, to contain the key to gain necessary access to the area [I.F.C. 506].
4. Interior circulation access to the designed building openings will be required to be consistent with the
I.F.C. Section 504, which requires an approved access walkway leading from fire apparatus access to
exterior openings. This normally requires fire apparatus to be within 150-feet of any building.
4.1 An automatic fire suppression system (sprinklers) is not required under I.F.C. Section 903.2.9 for this
occupancy. However, the Code requires that an automatic sprinkler system be provided “throughout all
buildings containing a Group S-1 occupancy for the storage of commercial trucks or buses where the fire
area exceeds 5,000 square feet”. If the applicant wishes to use space[s] for storage of commercial trucks
or buses, an automatic fire suppression system is required, or the applicant can construct a Jefferson
County approved area separation wall system to reduce the “fire area" from 5,000 square feet.
5. An automatic fire detection alarm system is not required for this occupancy under Section 907 of said
Code.
6. Fire extinguisher sizing and placement would have to meet or exceed IFC Section 906 and NFPA
Standard 10, which normally requires a 2-A:10-B:C minimum rated fire extinguishers to be located at
permit application review, to be housed in cabinets, with conspicuous “Fire Extinguisher” placards.
7. Fire flow from fire hydrant[s] is required for this proposal under the requirements of Section 903.2 of
the I.F.C. Pursuant thereto, the adopted Jefferson County Coordinated Water System Plan uses W.A.C.
246-293-640 “Minimum Standards for Fire Flow” which establishes a commercial level 750 gallons per
minute minimum fire flow [subject to other considerations such as distance to the fire hydrant].
For comparative purposes, the Insurance Services Organization [I.S.O.] standard, and portions of NFPA
1142 “Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting” is provided. It assumes that the structures
would be classified as 2B construction classification [metal].
7.1 ISO Fire Flow Formula: 18 C [A] 0.5 = Flow [F] – H%
• 18 [0.8 Construction Factor] [6,250 Sq. Ft. of largest fire area]0.5 = Fire Flow in GPM @ 20 psi residual
14 [79] = 1,106 g.p.m. @ 20 psi residual as the base fire flow requirement
= 830 g.p.m. after applying a I.S.O. low occupancy hazard credit, one-hour construction
classification credit between buildings, and buildings proximity debit.
7.2 NFPA 1142 Volumetric Fire Flow Requirement Without County Approved Area Separation Wall[s]
• Floor area = 6,250 ft2 [total fire area]
• Height = 14 ft [assumed]
• Total volume = 6,250ft2 14 ft = 87,500 ft3
• The occupancy hazard classification number is 2 and the construction classification number is 0.8 resulting in
the following calculations:
87,500
2 [0.75] = 32,812 gallons
• In summary the minimum NFPA 1142 calculated total water supply requirement equals 32,812 gallons of
water. This does not include exposure control.
7.3 The first fire hydrant that qualifies for proximity to this facility is located at “Romans Road” near the
Calvary Church facility. The distance is about 3,500 feet. The estimated fire flow is over 1,000 gallons
per minute. [Source: Jeff. Co. P.U.D. No. 1 modeling]
7.4 The water purveyor is the Public Utility District No. 1 of Jefferson County and is a public water
system, which serves this area. It is capable of sustained flow for about 2 hours according to P.U.D. No. 1
J.C. modeling], based upon water-shuttle implementation, as a formal hose-lay is not practical due to
friction loss.
7.5 The second fire hydrant The primary fire hydrant for this proposal is at the Arrow Lumber entrance, with
a base flow of 756 gpm at 20 psi residual. It is served by a 10-inch dead-end water main.
7.6 The water purveyor is in the City of Port Townsend service area and is a public water system. It is
capable of sustained flow for about 2 hours and will be based upon water-shuttle implementation, as a
formal hose-lay is not practical due to friction loss.
Therefore, water-based fire protection will most likely rely upon water-shuttle implementation, as a formal
hose-lay is not practical due to friction loss.
2.0 hours time was logged in the initial plans review, and report filing with Jefferson County Department
of Community Development for this pre-application review.