Sec. 3-231. - Landing facilities—Design criteria.
Sec. 3-232. - Fencing of landing facilities.
Sec. 3-233. - Approach-departure paths.
Sec. 3-234. - Markings for public and private facilities.
Sec. 3-237. - Violations and penalties.
Secs. 3-230—3-250. - Reserved.
Sec. 3-231. - Landing facilities—Design criteria.
(a)
[General criteria.] The size requirements and overall design criteria of heliport and helistop facilities will vary dependent upon the proposed use and the size of the largest helicopter anticipated to use the facility. Therefore, the design criteria set forth in Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular No. 150/5390-2A "Heliport Design," or subsequent revisions to this advisory circular shall be utilized when preparing the plans and specifications for a proposed heliport or helistop.
(b)
Special design criteria elevated facilities (roof-top)
(1)
Where facilities are built on elevated structures the strength of the contact surface should be great enough to withstand at least three-quarters gross weight of the helicopter on one (1) square foot of that surface. The structural requirement above shall be certified by a licensed engineer prior to issuance of certificate of occupancy. All structures shall meet the requirements of the Uniform Building Code.
(2)
Two (2) or more exits or fire escapes, or both, as specified by the city's Building Code, as amended, shall be provided from any elevated facilities (roof-top). They shall be located as required by the Uniform Building Code.
(Ord. No. 63553, 8-28-86; Ord. No. 84181, 5-30-96)
Sec. 3-232. - Fencing of landing facilities.
(a)
Ground level. There shall be a fence of nonclimable material surrounding the landing area with a minimum height of thirty-six (36) inches to prevent entrance of unauthorized persons. For every twelve-inch increase in the height of the fence above the minimum thirty-six (36) inches, there shall be a corresponding ten-foot increase in each direction of the landing area. Appropriate warning signs shall be posted in addition to the above fencing requirements.
(b)
Elevated. Rooftop facilities shall be provided with fencing, constructed of nonclimable material, of at least thirty-six (36) inches in height which shall separate all public areas including the public entrance to the roof from the landing area. Separation of the public areas from the landing area on rooftop facilities elevated three (3) feet or more above roof level may be provided by peripheral fencing constructed of a nonclimable material and supported by posts at least three (3) feet in length radiating from the periphery of the elevated platform. The posts should be set five (5) feet apart at an angle of sixty (60) degrees outward from a line perpendicular to the surface of the elevated platform. A guardrail or a fence of thirty-six (36) inches constructed of nonclimable material shall be provided at the edge of the rooftop if no protecting parapet exists.
(c)
Signs separating public and landing areas. Fencing separating public area from landing area shall bear signs reading:
"Danger — Heliport Keep Out" or "Danger — Helistop — Keep Out."
(Ord. No. 63553, 8-28-86; Ord. No. 84181, 5-30-96)
Sec. 3-233. - Approach-departure paths.
(a)
Visual approach heliport or helistop. The approach departure path surfaces should be in line with prevailing winds. In accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 77, they shall be clear of obstructions at a slope of eight-to-one (8:1) projecting outward and upward from the ends of each heliport/helistop maneuver area (HMA) for a horizontal distance of four thousand (4,000) feet. The widths of the surfaces shall be the width of the HMA splaying outward at a rate of twenty (20) units along the flight path to one (1) unit perpendicular to the flight path. In the event that obstructions necessitate curved paths, such paths should clear the obstruction by at least five hundred (500) feet horizontal distance.
(b)
Precision approach heliport or helistop. The approach departure path surfaces should be in line with prevailing winds. They shall be clear of obstructions at a slope of twenty-to-one (20:1) projecting outward and upward from the ends of each heliport/helistop HMA for a horizontal distance of one (1) nautical mile (6,076′). The widths of the surfaces shall be the width of the HMA splaying outward at a rate of twenty (20) units along the flight path to one (1) unit perpendicular to the flight path.
(Ord. No. 63553, 8-28-86; Ord. No. 84181, 5-30-96)
Sec. 3-234. - Markings for public and private facilities.
(a)
All public facilities shall bear the standard FAA day marker.
(b)
Private facilities may be unmarked, marked with the FAA symbol or marked with a diameter spot or circle of three (3) feet. If night operations are to be conducted, such facilities must be lighted in accordance with approved FAA practice. Markings with reflective paint or tape are acceptable where no immediate adjacent obstructions exist.
(c)
Each rooftop facility shall have painted thereon, in figures not less than two (2) feet in height, the maximum gross weight of the helicopter which the roof is stressed to support.
(a)
Each heliport and helistop shall be provided with at least two (2) portable fire extinguishers located remotely from each other providing the following total minimum amount of dry chemical based on the classifications set forth in this article:
(1)
Class I, sixty (60) pounds;
(2)
Class II, one hundred (100) pounds;
(3)
Class III, one hundred fifty (150) pounds.
(b)
Elevated heliports and elevated helistops shall, in addition to the dry chemical type fire extinguishers, be provided with a wet standpipe system, equipped with two (2) 2½-inch national standard thread fire hose connections, with lengths of approved 2½-inch fire hose capable of reaching the outer edges of the roof area on which the facility is located. The riser piping system provided in the wet standpipe system shall be 2½-inch or larger piping, and equipped with a 2½-inch national standard thread Siamese fire department connection at street level. The fire hoses shall also be equipped with approved fog-spray type nozzles which shall produce variable dispersing patterns. Either a nonpay telephone shall be provided, or a fire alarm box installed or some other approved method of communication shall be set up to provide a method of fire alarm.
(c)
Lighting and/or high visibility reflective markings shall be provided for any restrictive operations during hours of darkness or low visibility.
(d)
Rooftop helistops shall have some provision for runoff removal of gasoline and similar type spillage. Such facilities shall not drain into the sewer system.
(Ord. No. 63553, 8-28-86; Ord. No. 84181, 5-30-96)
Editor's note—
Ord. No. 84181, adopted May 30, 1996, deleted former § 3-236, relative to noise standards, which derived from Ord. No. 63553 adopted Aug. 28, 1986.
Sec. 3-237. - Violations and penalties.
It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally violate any of the provisions of this article, and any person so doing shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in section 1-5.
(Ord. No. 63553, 8-28-86; Ord. No. 84181, 5-30-96)