12-18-2013 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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1IS141IN6 6. - ASSOCIATES Memo TAU( KOATO TO: Honorable Chair and Planning Commission FROM: Lee Elfering, City Engineer DATE: December 6, 2013 RE: Fire Flow — 3213 Country Drive The request for increased outdoor storage on the above referenced property has raised some concerns as to the ability to provide adequate fire protection in the area. There are two major water system factors that affect the fire departments ability to provide fire protection in an area; the number /location of points to access the water system (fire hydrant locations) and the amount of water available (fire flow). We will provide a summary of the existing water system in the area and some normal engineering standards relative to fire protection. Water System & Hydrant Locations The existing water system serving the property is an 8 -inch dead end watermain that extends south from a 12 -inch watermain along Country Drive. The 8 -inch line ends just south of the southerly most building on the site. A total of three (3) hydrants were installed on the line, the last one being installed at the very south end. Standard hydrant spacing ranges from 350 to 600 feet depending on the area served. For most applications in the City we determine adequate hydrant spacing by extending a 250 foot radius around each hydrant ensuring all structures are covered. Typically we are only looking at the coverage of the structures because outdoor storage does not exist in most areas. In this case the proposed material storage is quite extensive across the property and the material is combustible so it may warrant consideration for hydrant spacing. We have provided an exhibit showing approximate storage areas (green and red boxes) and the typical 250 foot coverage (grey circles) from the existing hydrants near the site. The outer edges of the storage areas are outside this coverage area. The other factor affecting hydrant locations is the ability to fight a fire from multiple directions. This is the rational typically used around large commercial buildings in requiring a fire loop around the building with hydrants on all sides of the building. The site is bordered by stormwater ponds on the south and east sides of the property so the need for hydrant extensions in those directions is limited. It may make sense to extend a hydrant to the west side of the building to provide an access point for fire fighting efforts behind the building and along the west property line if additional storage is placed there. 10062 Flanders Court NE — Blaine, MN 55449 — Ph: (763) 780-0450 Fax (763) 780 -0452 Z:IPROJ1120000E - Little Canada Cenera112013W emo- 120313 -Fire Flow 3213 Country Orive.doc 24