B.3.24 Fort Carson Fire Department Standards

These standards are intended to help project architects and engineers prepare plans for submittal to the Fort Carson Fire Department for review.  It also addresses items which are checked during the final inspection, prior to acceptance.  These items are requirements derived from current Department of Defense (DoD) Directives/Regulations, Army Regulations (ARs), UFC 3-600-01, International Building Code (IBC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and local policies. 

In reviewing plans for development, the Fire Department has three major areas of concern.  They are life safety, water supply, and fire fighting.  These concerns are examined in detail when a set of construction plans are submitted for approval.  A copy of the Fort Carson Standard Comments is part of the Fire Department Development and Construction Information Packet.  The Standard Comments are primarily directed at the three major areas of concern.  The Standard Comments should be reviewed and addressed during the planning stage of any new development and during the preparation of construction documents for all review submittals.  The Information Packet also includes a construction checklist that references items that are critical to the plans review process.  

In reviewing plans for remodeling or new construction projects, the Fire Department is concerned with several major items.  These items will be checked utilizing the above-mentioned codes and references.  Which codes are used will depend upon the type of facility being constructed. 

Plans should be prepared from the perspective that the Fire Department’s primary objective is to ensure life safety.  While every effort is made to be very thorough in the review process, there is a possibility something may be overlooked at the plan review stage.  If this occurs, it may be noted at the time of acceptance.  Therefore, if an issue requires particular attention or raises specific questions, please bring this to our attention, as soon as possible.  The Fire Department prefers to utilize the plan review process as a positive time to review important issues rather than try to correct major problems while the building occupants are scheduled and waiting to move in to the new facility. 

The Fire Department encourages preplanning consultations to discuss projects before plans are finished.  Contact the Fire Department office to request an appointment or ask any questions pertaining to fire prevention requirements:  Fort Carson Fire Prevention, Building 526, Fort Carson. 80913-5023. Phone (719) 526-2679.  

Additional Fort Carson Fire Department Standards are listed below.

• Fire Department Development and Construction Information Packet

• NFPA 704 Placarding

• NFPA 231-C

• UFC 3-600-01(PDF File, 118 Pages)

Sign Specifications governed by the Fort Carson Fire Department Standards are "No Parking, Fire Lane" and Exit Signs.

B.3.24.1 Addressing

Building numbers of correct dimension, contrasting with  the background and properly posted are required in accordance with the Fort Carson Installation Design Guide and NFPA 1.  

 All buildings, including single and multi-family  residential, are required to have numbers twelve inches  high, with an appropriate corresponding width, and ½-inch stroke; mall tenant spaces and Family Housing Units, four inches high, ½-inch stroke; suite numbers in office and hotel type occupancies, two inches high and 1/8-inch stroke.     Assigned address numbers are to be posted, on construction sites in a highly visible location facing the address street, at all times during the construction period of any complex.  

B.3 PROJECT DESIGN