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House numbers help emergency responders find you
Give 'em your digits
House numbers help emergency responders find you
By Sean Sims
Is your house number clearly marked?
You can help emergency responders by clearly posting your street number on your home.
Police officers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and firefighters often know the locations of streets, and perhaps general blocks or numbering patterns.
But remembering the exact location of every residence in South Fayette is impossible, so readable house numbers are important.
Ask yourself this question: Could people unfamiliar with my home quickly find it? You should evaluate a few scenarios:
• Could they find my home on a clear, sunny day?
• Could they find my residence at night?
• Could they find my house at 2 a.m. on a moonless night, in the middle of a snowstorm?
Ideally, your address number should be on your house—especially if your mailbox is across the street or you have group mailboxes elsewhere.
The numerals should be clearly visible from the road at night. You don't have to light them, but reflective digits help responders who use spotlights at night.
Codes in South Fayette Township require the following:
• Ensure numbers are at least 4 inches tall for residences and 6 inches for businesses.
• Do not spell out numbers. Use numerals and letters that contrast with the background and have a stroke width of at least a half-inch.
• Place the numbers on the building itself. Choose a visible spot next to or over each entrance that faces a public road.
• Make sure the numbers are not concealed by any object or foliage such as bushes or trees.
• If you rely on numbering your mailbox rather than your house, you should label both sides of the mailbox so responders can see the address from both directions.
Township code officials may require additional number placement.
Seconds matter in an emergency. House numbering is a simple step you can take now, in case you need assistance later.
As always, call 911 if you need help.
