Appeal 35096

FIre CODE PFC B105.2

Fire CODE PFC B105.2

The minimum fire flow and flow duration for one- and two-family dwellings having a fire-flow area that does not exceed 3,600 square feet shall be 1,000 gpm at 20 psi for 1 hour. For one and two-family dwellings exceeding 3,600 square feet, the required fire flow shall be as specified in PFC Appendix B, Table B105.1(1). Note that the minimum fire flow for development in the Wildland Fire Hazard Designation area is 1750 gpm at 20 psi. A reduction of ½ of the allowed fire flow is allowed when residential fire sprinklers are installed that meet the Fire Code requirement.

The lot is in the designated Wildland Fire Hazard Designation.

Use Alternate Building Materials to meet code requirements and intent of the code due to degradation of hydrant flow rate.

We propose to use concrete siding and other fire-resistant material on the exterior to meet a 1-2 hour burn rating. Will construct a Class-A fire rated roof using fire resistant roofing material and will install screened ridge venting. Wrap eaves in 1-hour fire-rated fire-resistant areas with Type X gypsum or other approved material and avoiding vent openings.

No large vegetation or trees near the ADU.

Sprinklers will be designed and installed if required.

Due to the degradation of the fire hydrant flow rate (when we built in 2008 it was 1100gmp now it is estimated at 700 gpm) we cannot meet the wildfire flow rate requirements even with sprinklers. Since it is the Wildland Fire designation that is causing the issue with required GPM at the hydrant, we believe that by increasing fire resistance of the structure we are attempting to meet and/or exceed the intent of the code to increase the fire resistance of the structure.

PFC D103.4 AND D103.1

PFC D103.4 AND D103.1

DEAD END ROADS AND TURNAROUNDS: Dead end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 300 feet in length shall be provided with an approved turnaround. Diagrams of approved turnarounds are shown in the Portland Fire Access and Water Supply Guide.

Use of (2) access roads to Colony Drive to allow for turn around and access to site

We would request that the (2) paved access roads that connect Colony Drive and 4th Ave be used as access to the house and thus negate the need for a roundabout for the proposed ADU construction. The (2) access points (see photos) are identified as emergency access and exceed 20ft in width. These can and have been used to allow emergency vehicles access to houses on dead end streets in both colony and those on 4th Avenue.

Further the turnaround / cul-de-sac at the end of 4th Ave is adequate for most emergency vehicles. For example, the current garbage trucks are able to use the existing turnaround at the end of 4th avenue.

When we constructed our house in 2008 a roundabout was not needed due to the (2) connecting roads between Colony and 4th avenue. We request that we be allowed to apply this same rationale to the ADU. Our house location and exterior geography do not lend themselves to the construction of a roundabout and many small trees and landscaping would have to be removed to accommodate a roundabout.