Fire Trucks and Turning Templates 1

[mbherlihy]

I do not have Auto Turn Software. I have ACAD blocks that have several different wheel bases. Is there a standard Wheel Base (WB-67, WB-40, etc... reference AASHTO Chpt 2 pages 30-35) that I can use to check a fire truck entering a proposed fire station i am designing?

I have asked the fire chief to measure his wheel base...just thought there may be a standard WB measurement out of Autoturn or experience on the street.

Thanks!

 

[WL123]

Yeah, your best bet is the Fire Chief. You can measure the wheelbase, but some trucks have different turning radii for right and left hand turns. Find out the brand and model of the truck and see if you can get the info from the manufacturer. If not there may be another truck manufacturer that has a similar size/model.

Walter

 

[Hoagie]

mbh,

you may want repost this in the earthwork/grading forum.

i use 28-ft inside and 48-ft outside radii for fire turns.

best.

 

[civilperson]

Fire trucks are BACKED in unless through traffic is possible through the building.

 

[GoldDredger]

Yes, check with the local Fire Marshal for sure. I had one juristiction that had ladder trucks, and their inside turning radius was 39' for fire lanes adjacent to buildings 30-feet and above.

I had the darn-dest time with this one, because the fire marshal was insisting on a 39' foot radius along the entire fire lane. Even in areas where additional width fire lanes intersected with eachother. I had to create exhibits to prove that although a given curb radius isn't 39', a 39' radius turn could be accomplished. The fact that radii of public streets were seldom 39' feet was lost on him.