Fire Dept. Commercial & Res. Dev. Guidelines Schertz 3.10.2015Schertz Fire Department
Fire Marshal’s Office
Commercial & Residential Site Development Guidelines
These guidelines are provided to assist the developer of commercial and residential properties to meet the requirements
of the City of Schertz's Fire Marshal’s Office. The information provided are guidelines only and are not intended to address
all requirements. Currently the City references the 2012 IFC, 2012 IBC, & most current NFPA edition.
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPEMENTS
Fire Lane Coverage
•An approved surface (lane) must be in installed prior to going vertical with any construction*
•All exterior walls shall be within 150' of an approved fire lane
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Required Radii
•14’ height clearance over fire lanes
•All fire lanes shall be paved either asphalt or concrete, unless alternate material is approved .
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Cul‐de‐sac length is 500’ Maximum (measured from the center of road to center of cul-de-sac)•
Minimum unobstructed width access lanes of 24'
Two points of fire department access or approved turnaround is required after 150'
Fire Hydrants
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•Fire Hydrant branch lines shall connect to an 8" Main
•Not located in the fire lane radii
•Fire Department Connections shall be located not more than 120' or less than 30' from the nearest FH
•An approved water supply shall be on site prior to installation or construction of combustable materials
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•City of Schertz requires all hydrants to come with (5 1/4") Storz quick connection by Approved Manufacturers
1400 Schertz Parkway
Schertz, Texas 78154
210‐619‐1300
6/23/2015
Site Development Guidelines
Page 1 of 2
•Must have a hydrant locator reflector (type II blue bump) installed perpendicular to roadway
Building Sprinkled – 600’ spacing
Building without sprinkler– 400’ spacing
Fire Hydrants located every 300' in a commercial/industrial area fire
Hydrants located every 500' in residential areas
1 hydrant allowed on 6" Main
Fire Lane Width 24’ – 25' Inside Radii, 50’ Outside Radii
Private Fire Hydrants (All Red), Public Fire Hydrants (Red & White), see Detail
•Distance to nearest hydrant:
Schertz Fire Department
Fire Marshal’s Office
Commercial Site Development Guidelines
Fire Sprinklers Required
•Buildings 10,000 sq. ft. or greater and Residential above 5,000 sq. ft.
•Changing in Certificate of Occupantcy will require to update facilities to current NFPA code #101
•Highest floor level 30’ or more requires a stand pipe
•Underground Fire Mains shall be a minimum of 8”
•FDC location shall be shown and labeled on all site plans. Knox FDC caps and boxes are required
Underground Storage Tanks
•Off‐street/fire lane loading space
•Distance to property lines, building easements-follow NFPA guidlines
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Out of Fire Lane•
Separate Permit required through the Fire Marshal’s Office
Above Ground Storage Tanks
•Tanks must be in accordance with most current edition of pertinant NFPA.
•Distance to property lines, buildings, public ways
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•Out of fire lane
Off‐street/fire lane loading space
Gates and Fences
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Gates through fences must be located to maintain 150’ fire lane coverage and be a minimum of 5’ wide
1400 Schertz Parkway
Schertz, Texas 78154
210-619-1300
6/23/2015
Site Development Guidelines
Page 2 of 2
A-2 occupancy-5,000 ft2/100 occupancy load•
Electric gates shall require approved Knox switch and approved locks
Must include means of emergency means to open in case of power loss
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