WE NEED TO IDENTIFY
WHERE YOU LIVE
One of the
more crucial things a building owner can do to help out the Fire
Department in the event of emergency is to properly identify the
building. Obviously, when responding to a fire, the building can
be identified as "the one that is burning". However,
with over 75% of our responses going to medical aid calls, rapid
identification of the building is necessary in the event of life
threatening situations where seconds literally count.
Fire Code Section 901.4.4 requires building owners to provide
address numbers plainly visible and legible from the street and
alley in contrast with their background. The Municipal Code further
requires that the number size be 6-inch minimum. Visible and
legible from the street means that the numbers cannot be visibly
obstructed by trees or other vegetation. Common sense will tell
you, if the numbers are difficult to see from the street then
you may have to trim any vegetation around them. If that is not
possible because of aesthetic reasons, simply move the numbers
on the building to a higher unobstructed location.
Speaking of height, how high is high enough when posting address
numbers on the building? How about 7 feet? Why so high? Think
about it. The next time you see a fire engine rolling down the
street, look at how high those guys are actually sitting above
the ground. Their eye level is just about 7 feet. 7 feet is also
about the same level that the facia board attached to most eaves
below your roof is located, if we are talking about a single story
building. And that facia board makes an ideal attachment point
for mounting those numbers. But most apartment buildings are two
stories. So just measure 7 feet up from the ground and call it
satisfactory.
Now, what
kind of numbers does the Fire Department want you to use on your
building? We really are not particular as far as the style
of numbers that you use. And we are not insensitive to the artistic
needs of some building owners. Simple, basic English language
numbers are all we need. They can be made out of carved wood or
painted on a ceramic tile. If you prefer the spray-painted-on-with-stencil
look, that's O.K. too. Most of the ones I see are the generic
type of numbers you can find at any hardware store, numbers painted
on metal squares with adhesive backing.
Now, there is a problem that I'm finding with getting people to
comply with this particular code requirement. I get phone calls
from owners who tell me, "I've been to a half dozen hardware
stores and nobody makes 6-inch numbers!" And you know what?
They're right. Because the Building Code only requires 4-inch
numbers on single family dwellings, that's the size that most
hardware stores stock. But in Santa Monica, all commercial businesses
have to post 6-inch numbers. And guess what? Apartment buildings
are considered commercial businesses. But my partner and I are
"Spirit of the Law" inspectors. If you find the numbers
you want only come in 5 or 5 ½-inch size, use them. We
can still see them from the street. But don't ask us to go any
smaller than that. In the mean time, we'll keep lobbying the local
stores to stock bigger numbers. By the way, all inside numbers
on apartment doors must be 4 inches minimum.
It's pretty important that the numbers are in contrast to their
background as well. That means that if the building is white,
then use dark numbers, and vice versa. Painting the address numbers
the same color as the background color is like having no address
at all.
One last thing on addresses: What's the reason for having to post
numbers in the alley? Well, if you have a fire in your building,
we don't show up only at the front door. We surround your building.
We pull lines in through the front and back. We have you covered.
And the quickest way to do that is numbers on the back. Also,
sometimes when we are dispatched to paramedic calls, we are asked
to "respond to the rear of the address" Oh, and please
DON'T post alley address numbers onto a garage door. It's
like the riddle of what's the first thing you lose when you stand
up? Your lap. When the garage door is up, you lose your address.
See you next
month! 
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