Speed Cushions
Best Speed Cushions for Fire-Access Streets (2026)
Cojo
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7 min read
A fire-access speed cushion is a split-hump traffic-calming device with wheel-track gaps wide enough that a fire engine straddles the cushion at near-normal speed while passenger cars (with their narrower track width) hit it square. The International Fire Code section 503 requires unobstructed access for fire apparatus, and NFPA 1141 chapter 5 gives the dimensional framework. The six cushions below are the ones Cojo specifies most often when fire-marshal sign-off is on the critical path.
The spec depends on local fire department vehicle dimensions, but three numbers drive every selection:
The FHWA Traffic Calming ePrimer Module 3.4 documents typical wheel-track gaps of 1.6 to 1.85 meters (63 to 73 inches) for North American fire apparatus. Always confirm the gap with your local fire marshal before specifying. The USFA Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative publishes ladder-truck axle data many municipal fire departments use as their baseline.
We screened 11 commonly available cushion products against three gates: published wheel-track gap, traffic-load rating verified to ASTM standards, and confirmed installations on fire-access streets in the Portland metro area or comparable jurisdictions. The six below cleared all three.
The standard fire-access speed cushion. Three rubber lane sections per cushion, anchored with concrete or asphalt anchors, leaving two 1.85-meter wheel-track gaps at the outside lane edges. Removable for repaving.
Permanent hot-mix-asphalt cushion formed during a paving operation. Lower lifetime cost than rubber, but cannot be moved if a fire department later revises wheel-track requirements.
A rubber cushion with sine-wave ramp transitions instead of straight tapers. Reduces emergency-vehicle vertical jolt at compliant speeds. Used where fire-marshal feedback flags ride quality.
Cast-in-place concrete cushion segments. Reserved for streets where forklift, delivery-truck, or refuse-truck wear would chew through asphalt or rubber.
Lighter-duty plastic alternative to rubber. Lower upfront cost, shorter lifespan, more vulnerable to UV and freeze-cycle damage. Useful for short-term pilots.
A traffic-calming installation pattern (not a single product) using three cushions across the travel lane to handle fire-access on a one-way couplet. Center cushion is sized for the ambulance and bus track; outside cushions handle passenger-car deflection.
| Scenario | Best fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Residential greenway, ladder truck route | Modular rubber, 6-foot sections | Removable; matches typical 1.85 m gap |
| Long-term traffic calming | Asphalt cast-in-place | Lowest life-cycle cost |
| EMS-heavy corridor | Sinusoidal rubber | Smallest jolt at target speed |
| Industrial / hospital service road | Concrete | Survives heavy commercial traffic |
| Pilot or short-term install | Plastic modular | Cheapest, fastest deploy |
| One-way street | Three-cushion set | Splits gap across two outside lanes |
Industry Baseline Range
| Design | Per-cushion installed |
|---|---|
| Modular rubber, 3 lane sections | $3,500 to $6,500 |
| Asphalt cast-in-place | $4,000 to $7,500 |
| Sinusoidal rubber | $4,500 to $8,000 |
| Concrete | $6,000 to $10,500 |
| Plastic modular | $2,500 to $4,500 |
Rubber cushion prices reflect tire-derived crumb pricing and have moved roughly 12 to 16% upward across 2024 and 2025 per the USDA Rubber Recyclers Association market reports. Asphalt installs track the BLS PPI WPU0581 series the same way as standard pavement work. Add 8 to 14% for traffic-control on streets where lane closure is required.
In late 2024 Cojo installed a set of three modular rubber speed cushions on a Tigard fire-access greenway. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue specified the wheel-track gap at 1.85 meters based on their tower-truck axle measurement. The post-install drive-through delay measured by the department was 1.8 seconds per cushion at code-3 response speed. We re-checked anchor torque at the 12-month mark, which is standard practice for any rubber cushion in the Willamette Valley freeze-thaw zone.
The standard path in Oregon municipalities runs through three reviewers:
Most jurisdictions package these into a single Traffic Calming Application form. Portland, Salem, and Eugene each publish their own. For an Oregon-specific walk-through see the speed cushion fire truck access sibling article and the speed cushions guide for the broader product overview.
Cojo coordinates fire-marshal review and installation across the Oregon I-5 corridor. We carry the modular rubber cushion product line most Oregon fire departments have already vetted, and we form asphalt cushions with the same crew that handles the surrounding pavement. See how do speed cushions work for engineering background or pair installation with our asphalt maintenance services. For local installs see Speed Cushion Installation Portland. Get a custom quote.
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