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Town of Standish, ME
Cumberland County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Adopted 5-12-1998 by Order No. 42-98[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This order also superseded former Art. II, Water Supplies, adopted 2-13-1996 by Order No. 187-95.
This article establishes guidelines for the installation of fire protection water supplies in any subdivision where public water is not available for this purpose.
[Amended 11-13-2018 by Order No. 121-18]
A. 
This article is applicable to any project requiring Planning Board subdivision review and approval and consisting of three or more single-family dwelling units or lots.
B. 
Multifamily (three or more dwelling units) and commercial structures requiring Planning Board site plan review and approval.
[Amended 11-13-2018 by Order No. 121-18]
The following shall be considered minimum water supply standards for site plans or subdivisions with three or more single-family dwelling units or lots:
A. 
Option I: Natural water supply. Artificial or man-made fire ponds are not allowed to be used to meet minimum water supply standards. Natural fire ponds are only permitted within existing streams, ponds or rivers and shall only be considered for protection of existing buildings that are located within 2,000 feet of neighboring structures and where there exists an inadequate existing water supply for fire protection purposes as determined by the Fire Chief. Any fire pond within an existing stream, pond or river shall meet the following standards as required for groups of single-family dwellings separated by a distance of 100 feet or more according to current standards of the National Fire Protection Association and the Standish Fire Department: a minimum of 120,000 gallons of water storage as certified by a registered professional engineer for the purpose of supplying the fire flow requirements of 500 gallons per minute for the duration of two hours, with the additional amount being a safety margin for dry weather, additional fires, etc.
B. 
Option II: Storage tank. The storage tank(s) shall have a minimum capacity of 10,000 gallons and be constructed of concrete or fiberglass. The storage tank(s) shall be buried fixtures and must be installed, tested and certified by the Fire Chief prior to the issuance of any building permit.
C. 
Option III: Residential/commercial sprinkler system meeting the currently adopted edition of National Fire Protection Association Standards #13, #13R or #13D, as applicable to the use of the structure(s).
[Amended 11-13-2018 by Order No. 121-18]
A. 
All ponds, tanks, dry hydrants, piping and materials are to be supplied and installed in accordance with guidelines as set forth by the Standish Fire Department and the Public Works Director.
B. 
If possible, the dry hydrants shall be located adjacent to a town-accepted road or proposed right-of-way.
C. 
In cases where the tank/dry hydrant cannot be placed next to a town-accepted road, an access road to the dry hydrant shall be provided to allow a Fire Department pumper to be capable of connecting to the tank/dry hydrant connection with one ten-foot length of hard suction hose. The access road shall be a minimum of 12 feet wide, built to the Town of Standish back lot road standards with a two-inch asphalt layer, and capable of supporting Fire Department apparatus in all seasons and weather conditions. The access road shall be approved by the Public Works Director. The access road shall be posted "No Parking Fire Lane."
D. 
Tanks and dry hydrants shall be installed in accordance with the following standards:
(1) 
The area around the pond/tank and where the piping has been installed shall be graded and seeded.
(2) 
The maximum distance from the dry hydrant to any dwelling within the subdivision shall be 2,000 feet of hose length, as measured along a road or fire lane.
(3) 
A deeded right-of-way or easement shall be given to the Town of Standish to allow the town to maintain both the pond/tank and the hydrant piping.
(4) 
A detailed plan of the pond/tank hydrant, piping, overflow and roadway shall be submitted to the Fire Chief and Public Works Director before construction starts. Once approved by the Fire Chief and Public Works Director, a permit will be issued.
(5) 
The fire protection water supply with dry hydrant shall be in working order, tested and approved by the Fire Chief or his designees and the Public Works Director prior to the issuance of any certificate of occupancy within the subdivision or location.
E. 
Sprinkler systems for one- and two-family units. Whenever single-family and/or two-family dwelling units are required to be sprinkled under the requirements of this article; any other code, regulation, rule or statute; and/or by the owner's free choice, the automatic sprinkler system shall comply with the following:
(1) 
Single-family and two-family dwelling units shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system meeting the currently adopted edition of a National Fire Protection Association Standards #13D or #13R ("NFPA #13D or #13R'').
(2) 
All areas of the building will have sprinkler coverage, with the following exceptions (i.e. these areas need not have sprinkler coverage):
(a) 
Closets — Closets as allowed under NFPA #13D or #13R, unless they are used as a laundry room or the storage of flammable liquids, in which case sprinkler coverage is required.
(b) 
Attics — When the attic (i) has floors that are not boarded over and has no stairway or ladder leading to the attic; (ii) has a scuttle hole that is not bigger than 24 inches by 24 inches or 576 square inches; (iii) is not used for storage; and (iv) has at least two smoke detectors, hardwired into the other detectors in the house, located in the attic.
(c) 
Garages — Attached garages, if there is no living area above or in the garage space and a two-hour firewall is placed between the house and garage.
(3) 
The sprinkler system is not required to be monitored by an outside source; however, an electric alarm bell shall be located on the outside of the building.
(4) 
A single two-and-one-half-inch Fire Department hose connection shall be placed on the outside of the building and shall be easily accessible to the Fire Department year-round.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former § 142-12, Impact fee assessed, was repealed 11-13-2018 by Order No. 121-18.