Areas required for the fire department?

Hello everyone,

I want to build a house on the rear section of a 3,000 sqm plot in Brandenburg, which will then be >50m away from the street. Pedestrian, vehicle & utility rights are secured in the land register on the two preceding sections.

Construction is carried out according to the surrounding development. There is no development plan available.

It is a low building, where the accessible parapet height on the first floor (above the ground floor) is below 8m. The floor of the story is also below 7m. The second escape route does not require a fire department aerial platform, but is carried out with the portable rescue ladder.

Nevertheless, the building authority requires from us a staging area for the fire brigade and additionally a movement area of 7x12m.

Research has shown that in the same street quadrant 16 other houses are partially >50m away from the street and do not have staging or movement areas.

Does anyone happen to know the exact background for such requirements and how best to argue against them?

Thank you very much!

Basically complies with the law, up to 50m then, if higher than 8m, from 50m always. (At least that’s how I understand §5 BbgBO.) The other houses might already be older?

Hello nathi,

the building regulations specify the areas 'if they are necessary for fire department operations'. According to the fire department, they do not even drive onto the property because the hydrant is located on the street. They would work with hoses.

What exactly are 'old houses'? Most of them have been built in the last 25 years. Where do you draw the line?

Best regards!

. According to the fire department, they do not drive onto the property at all because the hydrant is on the street. They would work with hoses.

Hello,

as a long-standing member of the volunteer fire department, I dare to doubt that.

If the distance from the street is more than 50 meters, the fire department certainly does not park the fire truck on the street. In an emergency, every second counts to rescue people from burning and, above all, smoke-filled buildings - a 50-meter sprint carrying up to 30 kg of equipment is not ideal for the men and women with the big red vehicles...

So at least one vehicle plus rescue and firefighting equipment must fit on the staging and maneuvering area.

In our area, such areas are usually made with grass pavers and, once they are properly grown in, are hardly distinguishable from "normal" lawn areas.

Regards,

Dirk

At least that's the statement of the fire department here on site. They said they would definitely not drive so close to a burning building, but rather go there with the hose. For self-protection reasons. The building is already just behind the beginning of the property. A maneuvering area on the property in front would be sensible. But you can't really demand that.

Furthermore, there is neither a hydrant nor a standpipe to fill. Where I now live, I have been able to observe three major fires at the industrial ruin in front of my house. In all cases, the fire department stayed with the fire truck on the street at the hydrant and laid hoses to the fire site.

BTW: The grass pavers are only allowed if overgrowth is prevented: "They must be constructed to be safely walkable and drivable and maintained so that they are always usable by the fire department and the risk of slipping (e.g. due to humus, snow, ice) is excluded."

Not so simple after all.

As you wish.

I can only tell you from my own experience.