Edgeworth Borough, Allegheny County

"Access and pathways. [a] Roof access, pathways, and spacing requirements shall be provided as required herein. Exceptions: [i] Residential structures shall be designed so that each photovoltaic array is no greater than 150 feet (45,720 millimeters) by 150 feet (45,720 millimeters) in either axis. [ii] Panels/modules shall be permitted to be located up to the roof ridge where an alternative ventilation method approved by the fire chief has been provided or where the fire chief has determined vertical ventilation techniques will not be employed. [b] Roof access points. Roof access points shall be located in areas that do not require the placement of ground ladders over openings such as windows or doors, and located at strong points of building construction in locations where the access point does not conflict with overhead obstructions such as tree limbs, wires, or signs. [c] Residential systems for one- and two-family dwellings. Access to residential systems for one- and two-family dwellings shall be provided in accordance with Subsection G(7)(g)[4][d] through [g] below. [d] Residential buildings with hip roof layouts. Panels/modules installed on residential buildings with hip roof layouts shall be located in a manner that provides a three-foot-wide (914 millimeters) clear access pathway from the eave to the ridge on each roof slope where panels/modules are located. The access pathway shall be located at a structurally strong location on the building capable of supporting the live load of fire fighters accessing the roof. Exception: These requirements shall not apply to roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units horizontal (2:12) or less. [e] Residential buildings with a single ridge. Panels/modules installed on residential buildings with a single ridge shall be located in a manner that provides two three-foot-wide (914 millimeters) access pathways from the eave to the ridge on each roof slope where panels/modules are located. Exception: This requirement shall not apply to roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units horizontal (2:12) or less. [f] Residential buildings with roof hips and valleys. Panels/modules installed on residential buildings with roof hips and valleys shall be located no closer than 18 inches (457 millimeters) to a hip or a valley where panels/modules are to be placed on both sides of a hip or valley. Where panels are to be located on only one side of a hip or valley that is of equal length, the panels shall be permitted to be placed directly adjacent to the hip or valley. Exception: These requirements shall not apply to roofs with slopes of two units vertical in 12 units horizontal (2:12) or less. [g] Residential building smoke ventilation. Panels/modules installed on residential buildings shall be located no higher than three feet (914 millimeters) below the ridge in order to allow for fire department smoke ventilation operations. [h] Other than residential buildings. Access to systems for occupancies other than one- and two-family dwellings shall be provided in accordance with Subsection G(7)(g)[4][i] through [k] below. Exception: Where it is determined by the Fire Code Official that the roof configuration is similar to that of a one- or two-family dwelling, the residential access and ventilation requirements in Subsection G(7)(g)[4][d] through [g] above shall be permitted to be used. [i] Access. There shall be a minimum six-foot-wide (1,829 millimeters) clear perimeter around the edges of the roof. Exception: Where either axis of the building is 250 feet (76,200 millimeters) or less, there shall be a minimum four-foot-wide (1,290 millimeters) clear perimeter around the edges of the roof. [j] Pathways. The solar installation shall be designed to provide designated pathways. The pathways shall meet the following requirements: [i] The pathway shall be over areas capable of supporting the live load of fire fighters accessing the roof. [ii] The centerline axis pathways shall be provided in both axes of the roof. Centerline axis pathways shall run where the roof structure is capable of supporting the live load of firefighters accessing the roof. [iii] Shall be a straight line not less than four feet (1,290 millimeters) clear to skylights or ventilation hatches. [iv] Shall be a straight line not less than four feet (1,290 millimeters) clear to roof standpipes. [v] Shall provide not less than four feet (1,290 millimeters) clear around roof access hatch with at least one not less than four feet (1,290 millimeters) clear pathway to parapet or roof edge. [k] Smoke ventilation. The solar installation shall be designed to meet the following requirements: [i] Arrays shall be no greater than 150 feet (45,720 millimeters) by 150 feet (45,720 millimeters) in distance in either axis in order to create opportunities for fire department smoke ventilation operations. [ii] Smoke ventilation options between array sections shall be one of the following: [A] A pathway eight feet (2,438 millimeters) or greater in width. [B] A four-foot (1,290 millimeters) or greater in width pathway and bordering roof skylights or smoke and heat vents. [C] A four-foot (1,290 millimeters) or greater in width pathway and bordering four-foot-by-eight-foot (1,290 millimeters by 2,438 millimeters) "venting cutouts" every 20 feet (6,096 millimeters) on alternating sides of the pathway."