| See optional Appendix L for language you may adopt or modify for in-building Emergency Responder Radio Coverage. |
TABLE 1103.4
VERTICAL OPENING PROTECTION REQUIRED
| OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION | CONDITIONS | PROTECTION REQUIRED |
| Group I | Vertical openings connecting two or more stories | 1-hour protection |
| All, other than Group I | Vertical openings connecting two stories | No protection requireda, b |
| All, other than Group I | Vertical openings connecting three to five stories | 1-hour protection or automatic sprinklers throughouta, b |
| All, other than Group I | Vertical openings connecting more than five stories | 1-hour protectiona, b |
| All | Mezzanines open to the floor below | No protection requireda, b |
| All, other than Group I | Atriums and covered mall buildings | 1-hour protection or automatic sprinklers throughout |
| All, other than Group B and M | Escalator openings connecting four or less stories in a sprinklered building. Openings must be pro- tected by a draft curtain and closely spaced sprin- klers in accordance with NFPA 13. | No protection required |
| Group B and M | Escalator openings in a sprinklered building pro- tected by a draft curtain and closely spaced sprin- klers in accordance with NFPA 13. | No protection required |
| a. Vertical opening protection is not required for Group R-3 occupancies. |
| b. Vertical opening protection is not required for open parking garages and ramps. |
1. Group A occupancies used as commercial drinking and dining establishments.
2. Group A occupancies used as bowling alleys.
3. Group E occupancies used for student occupancy.
4. Group I occupancies.
5. Group R-1 and R-2 occupancies having dwelling units or guest rooms.
Openings required by this section shall have a minimum dimension of 30 inches (762 mm).
If any portion of the basement is located more than 75 feet (22.86 m) from required openings, the basement shall be provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system throughout.
In buildings containing mixed occupancies that are designed as separated uses (see Section 102.11), fire alarm and detection systems need only be installed in those occupancies where required by this section.
In areas protected by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, automatic fire detectors required by Section 1103.7 need not be provided. Where Section 1103.7 requires smoke detectors, such protection shall be installed.
1. Assembly areas used solely for worship purposes.
2. A fire alarm system is not required when an approved automatic fire-sprinkler system is installed throughout the building.
3. Assembly uses located inside Group E occupancies shall have alarms as required for the Group E occupancy.
4. A-5 occupancies.
1. In buildings equipped throughout by an approved, supervised fire sprinkler system, manual fire alarm boxes are only required in the main office and in a custodial area.
2. Where all corridors are protected by an approved automatic fire alarm system having smoke detection with alarm verification, manual fire alarm boxes are only required near exits serving shops, chemistry and physics laboratories, boiler rooms, industrial technology and industrial arts rooms, kitchens, custodian’s offices, and main offices.
| Existing Group I occupancy fire alarm requirements are the same as for new buildings. The occupants of these buildings are the most vulnerable. |
1. Any sleeping unit or dwelling unit is located two or more stories above the story containing the lowest level of exit discharge.
2. Any sleeping unit or dwelling unit is located more than one story below the highest level of exit discharge of exits serving the dwelling unit.
3. The building contains 20 or more guest rooms or dwelling units.
4. The building is used as a congregate living facility, dormitory, convent, monastery, fraternity, sorority, group home, or shelter and has an occupant load of 20 or more.
1. Any sleeping unit or dwelling unit is located two or more stories above the story containing the lowest level of exit discharge;
2. Any sleeping unit or dwelling unit is located more than one story below the highest level of exit discharge of exits serving the dwelling unit;
3. The building contains more than 16 sleeping units or dwelling units; or
4. The building is used as a congregate living facility, dormitory, convent, monastery, fraternity, sorority, group home, or shelter and has an occupant load of 20 or more.
TABLE 1103.8
SMOKE ALARM REQUIREMENTS
| CONDITION | LOCATION | POWER SUPPLY | INTERCONNECTION REQUIRED |
| Existing buildings that do not have any smoke alarms (same as new). | In hallways outside sleeping rooms. In sleeping rooms. On each level of the building and in basements. On ceiling or wall (less than 12 inches below ceiling). On center of ceiling above stairways. | If constructed on or after 8/1/1989, smoke alarms are required to be hard-wired (120 volt). If constructed before 8/1/1989, smoke alarms can be battery-powered. | No interconnection is required for battery-powered alarms. |
| Existing buildings (constructed on or after 8/1/1989). | In hallways outside sleeping rooms. On each level and in basements. On ceiling or wall (less than 12 inches below ceiling). | Smoke alarms are required to be hard-wired (120 volt). | No interconnection is required. |
| Existing buildings (constructed before 8/1/1989). | In hallways outside sleeping rooms. On each level and in basements. On ceiling or wall (less than 12 inches below ceiling). | Smoke alarms can be battery-powered. | No interconnection is required. |
| Replacement of smoke alarms in existing buildings. | Smoke alarms must be installed in same locations as originally installed. | Power supply must be the same as the smoke alarms being replaced. | Interconnection must be provided if the smoke alarms being replaced were interconnected. |
1. They fail to respond to operability tests.
2. They exceed 10 years from the date of manufacture.
Smoke alarms shall be replaced with smoke alarms having the same type of power supply.
| Younger children are required to be located as close to ground level (i.e., first story) as possible to minimize the number of steps that need to be traveled to exit the building. Rooms used by these younger children are allowed to be above or below the first story if other egress and/ or fire protection features are provided. (See Minnesota Statutes, Section 123B.51, subdivision 7.) |
Exception: Approved signs that provide continuous illumination independent of external power sources are not required to be connected to an emergency electrical system.
1. Group A having 50 or more occupants. Assembly occupancies used exclusively as a place of worship and having an occupant load of less than 300 are not required to have emergency illumination.
2. Group B buildings three or more stories in height, buildings with 100 or more occupants above or below the level of exit discharge, or buildings with 1,000 or more total occupants.
3. Group E in interior stairs, corridors, windowless areas with student occupancy, shops, and laboratories.
4. Group F having more than 100 occupants. Buildings used only during daylight hours that are provided with windows for natural light are not required to have emergency illumination.
5. Group I.
6. Group M buildings greater than 3,000 square feet (2879 m2) in gross sales area or exceeding one story in height.
7. Group R-1. Where each guest room has direct access to the outside of the building at grade, emergency illumination is not required.
8. Group R-2. Where each living unit has direct access to the outside of the building at grade, emergency illumination is not required.
9. Group R-4. Where each sleeping room has direct access to the outside of the building at ground level, emergency illumination is not required.
The emergency power system shall provide power for not less than 30 minutes and consist of storage batteries, unit equipment, or an on-site generator. The installation of the emergency power system shall be in accordance with Section 604.
1. Existing guards on the open side of stairs, which are permitted to be not less than 30 inches (760 mm) high.
2. Existing guards within dwelling units, which are permitted to be not less than 36 inches (910 mm) high.
3. Existing guards in assembly areas.
4. Existing guards on stairs and balconies of buildings designated as historic structures, which are permitted to be not less than 24 inches (610 mm) high.
1. At elevated walking surfaces for access to and use of electrical, mechanical or plumbing systems or equipment, guards shall have balusters or be of solid materials such that a sphere with a diameter of 21 inches (533 mm) cannot pass through any opening.
2. In occupancies in Group I-3, F, H, or S, the clear distance between intermediate rails measured at right angles to the rails shall not exceed 21 inches (533 mm).
1. A revolving door shall not be located within 10 feet (3048 mm) of the foot or top of stairs or escalators. A dispersal area shall be provided between the stairs or escalators and the revolving doors.
2. The revolutions per minute for a revolving door shall not exceed those shown in Table 1104.9.
3. Each revolving door shall have a conforming side-hinged swinging door in the same wall as the revolving door and within 10 feet (3048 mm).
1. A revolving door is permitted to be used without an adjacent swinging door for street-floor elevator lobbies provided a stairway, escalator or door from other parts of the building does not discharge through the lobby and the lobby does not have any occupancy or use other than as a means of travel between elevators and a street.
2. Existing revolving doors where the number of revolving doors does not exceed the number of swinging doors within 20 feet (6096 mm).
TABLE 1104.9
REVOLVING DOOR SPEEDS
| INSIDE DIAMETER (feet-inches) | POWER-DRIVEN-TYPE SPEED CONTROL (rpm) | MANUAL-TYPE SPEED CONTROL (rpm) |
| 6-6 | 11 | 12 |
| 7-0 | 10 | 11 |
| 7-6 | 9 | 11 |
| 8-0 | 9 | 10 |
| 8-6 | 8 | 9 |
| 9-0 | 8 | 9 |
| 9-6 | 7 | 8 |
| 10-0 | 7 | 8 |
| For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm. |
1. Revolving doors shall not be given credit for more than 50 percent of the required egress capacity.
2. Each revolving door shall be credited with not more than a 50-person capacity.
3. Revolving doors shall be capable of being collapsed when a force of not more than 130 pounds (578 N) is applied within 3 inches (76 mm) of the outer edge of a wing.
TABLE 1104.16
DIMENSIONS FOR EXISTING FIRE ESCAPE STAIRS
| FEATURE | SERVING MORE THAN 10 OCCUPANTS | SERVING 10 OR FEWER OCCUPANTS |
| Minimum Width | 22 inches | 18 inches |
| Maximum Height of Risers | 9 inches | 12 inches |
| Minimum Tread Depth | 9 inches | 6 inches |
TABLE 1104.17.1
CORRIDOR FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING
| OCCUPANCY | OCCUPANT LOAD SERVED BY CORRIDOR | REQUIRED FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING (HOURS) | |
| Without sprinkler system | With sprinkler system | ||
| A, B, E, F, H, M, S, U | Greater than 30 | 1 | 0 |
| I | Greater than 10 | 1 (see Section 1104.17.2.3) | 0 |
| R | Greater than 10 | 1 | 0 |
TABLE 1104.17.4
COMMON PATH, DEAD-END AND TRAVEL DISTANCE LIMITS (by occupancy)
| OCCUPANCY | COMMON PATH LIMIT | DEAD-END LIMIT | TRAVEL DISTANCE LIMIT | |||
| Unspr (feet) | Spr (feet) | Unspr (feet) | Spr (feet) | Unspr (feet) | Spr (feet) | |
| Group A | 20/75a | 20/75a | 20b | 20b | 200 | 250 |
| Group B | 75 | 100 | 50 | 50 | 200 | 300 |
| Group E | 75 | 75 | 50 | 50 | 200 | 250 |
| Group F-1, S-1d | 75 | 100 | 50 | 50 | 200 | 250 |
| Group F-2, S-2d | 75 | 100 | 50 | 50 | 300 | 400 |
| Group H-1 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 75 |
| Group H-2 | 50 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 100 |
| Group H-3 | 50 | 100 | 20 | 20 | 100 | 150 |
| Group H-4 | 75 | 75 | 20 | 20 | 150 | 175 |
| Group H-5 | 75 | 75 | 20 | 50 | 150 | 200 |
| Group I-1 | 75 | 75 | 20 | 20 | 200 | 250 |
| Group I-2 (Health care) | NR | NR | NR | NR | 150 | 200c |
| Group I-3 | 100 | 100 | NR | NR | 150c | 200c |
| Group I-4 (Day care) | NR | NR | 20 | 20 | 200 | 250 |
| Group M (Covered mall) | 75 | 100 | 50 | 50 | 200 | 400 |
| Group M (Mercantile) | 75 | 100 | 50 | 50 | 200 | 250 |
| Group R-1 (Hotels) | 75 | 75 | 50 | 50 | 200 | 250 |
| Group R-2 (Apartments) | 75 | 75 | 50 | 50 | 200 | 250 |
| Group R-3, R-4 | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Group U | 75 | 100 | 20 | 50 | 300 | 400 |
| “Unspr” means unsprinklered and “Spr” means sprinklered. |
| For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm. |
| a. 20 feet for common path serving more than 50 persons; 75 feet for common path serving 50 or fewer persons. |
| b. See Section 1028.9.5 for dead-end aisles in Group A occupancies. |
| c. This dimension is for the total travel distance, assuming incremental portions have fully utilized their allowable maximums. For travel distance within the room, and from the room exit access door to the exit, see the appropriate occupancy chapter. |
| d. See the International Building Code for special requirements on spacing of doors in aircraft hangars. |
| NR = No requirements. |
| In existing buildings, Common Path distances cannot be exceeded on a story allowed to have only one means of egress. |
TABLE 1104.22
MINIMUM AISLE AND AISLE ACCESSWAY WIDTHS
| CONDITION | MINIMUM WIDTH (in inches) |
| Aisle accessways serving seating areas having 50 or fewer seats, tables, or desks | 24 inches (610 mm) |
| Aisle accessways serving seating areas more than 50 seats, tables, or desks | 30 inches (760 mm) |
| Aisle accessways serving employee areas only | 24 inches (610 mm) |
| Level or ramped aisles having seating on each side and serving 50 or fewer seats | 36 inches (914 mm) |
| Level or ramped aisles having seating on each side and serving more than 50 seats | 42 inches (1067 mm) |
| Level or ramped aisles having seating on one side and serving 60 or fewer seats | 30 inches (760 mm) |
| Level or ramped aisles having seating on one side and serving more than 60 seats | 36 inches (914 mm) |
| Aisle stairs having seating on each side and serving 50 or fewer seats | 36 inches (914 mm) |
| Aisle stairs having seating on each side and serving more than 50 seats | 42 inches (1067 mm) |
| Aisle stairs having seating on one side and serving 60 or fewer seats | 30 inches (760 mm) |
| Aisle stairs having seating on one side and serving more than 60 seats | 36 inches (914 mm) |
| Aisle stair—distance between seating and aisle handrail or guard when the aisle is subdivided | 20 inches (508 mm) |
Where two or more means of egress doors or exits are required from a room or area, such doors shall be separated from each other by a distance not less than one-third of the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the area served.
TABLE 1104.24
TWO EGRESS DOORS OR EXITS REQUIRED
| OCCUPANCY | NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS |
| A, B, E, F, M, S, U | 50 occupants |
| H, I, R | 10 occupants |
| R (dormitories) | 16 occupants (see 1104.24.1.1) |
a. The room has 16 or fewer occupants;
b. The travel distance from any point in the room to the exit doorway does not exceed 30 feet;
c. The room is not located more than two stories above grade;
d. The room is not located on a level below grade; and
e. The room is provided with an emergency escape window in accordance with Sections 1029.2 through 1029.5 and the escape window is separated from the exit doorway in accordance with Section 1015.2.1.
1. If the room has a door that leads directly to the exterior of the building.
2. In dwellings and structures constructed prior to July 1, 1972, provided they are not licensed by Minnesota or used for transient lodging.
3. If the building is protected throughout by an approved, automatic sprinkler system.
4. From rooms of existing buildings having two separate means of escape, provided that the means of escape are independent of each other and they pass through only one adjacent nonlockable room or area.
5. In Group R hotels or motels constructed prior to April 11, 1983.
| Per SFMD Policy. Escape windows with openings up to 52 inches off of the floor may meet the height requirement for existing buildings by securing a step, platform or bed to the wall directly underneath the window. This step, platform or bed shall be no more than 44 inches below the opening and must be strong enough to support the weight of the person. The minimum acceptable width shall be the same as the window opening. The minimum acceptable depth away from the wall shall be 18 inches. Use this link to locate this policy: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/sfm/fire-code/Pages/Fire-Code-Homepage.aspx. |
1. In buildings that are protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system, one-hour fire-resistance-rated construction is permitted.
2. In buildings that are protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system, openings for the passage of materials between the Group I-3 and adjacent occupancies are not required to be fire-resistance rated when such openings are not more than 4 feet (1219 mm) above the floor and are provided with a metal cover or door.
1. In buildings that are protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system, one-hour occupancy separations need not be provided.
2. An occupancy separation need not be provided between Group A and Group R occupancies if the building is provided with a fire alarm system having automatic smoke detection throughout the Group A occupancy.
3. Fire-resistance-rated opening protection need not be provided between Group A and Group R occupancies when such openings are designed to resist the passage of smoke and the openings are protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system.
4. An occupancy separation need not be provided where two or more occupancies occur in the same building or structure and are so intermingled that separations are impracticable provided that the exit provisions and protection requirements for the more restrictive occupancy are provided.
5. An occupancy separation need not be provided between a Group R-3 occupancy with sleeping accommodations for ten or fewer persons and Group B or Group M occupancies which are accessory if interconnected smoke alarms are provided. At least one smoke alarm shall be located in the Group B or Group M occupancy and additional alarms may be needed in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Smoke alarms in the sleeping areas shall be located as specified in Section 1103.8 and shall be audible in all sleeping areas.
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