1. MINNESOTA CHAPTER AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM ASSOCIATION Requirements of the 2003 Minnesota State Fire Code relating to Group R Occupancies September 14, 2006

3. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Code philosophies of the 2003 MSFC  Heat detectors are redundant where sprinklers are present  Manual pull stations increase the potential for false alarms  Even existing buildings need fire alarm protection  Area separation walls or fire walls do not define separate buildings

4. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC What are Group R Occupancies? R-1Buildings where the occupants are primarily transient in nature This would include: Hotels/motels Bed and Breakfast (>6 guest rooms) > Transient = less than 30 days <

5. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC What are Group R Occupancies? R-2 Buildings containing more than two dwelling units where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature This would include: Apartment houses/condominiums Dormitories Fraternity/sorority houses Convents/monasteries

6. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC What are Group R Occupancies? R-3 Buildings containing not more than two dwelling units where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature AND not classified as R-1, R-2 or I However, Group R-3 also includes adult and child day care and foster care facilities

7. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Examples of Group R-3 Occupancies  Single family dwellings  Duplexes  Townhouses  Bed & breakfast with 5 or less guest rooms  Family/group family day care  Class A-1 and Class B-1 Supervised Living Facilities  Assisted living housing 5 or fewer persons

8. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC What are Group R Occupancies? R-4Buildings arranged for occupancy as:  Assisted living for more than 5 but not more than 16 occupants  Class A-2 Supervised Living Facilities housing not more than 16 persons, excluding staff  Class B-2 Supervised Living Facilities  Residential hospices

9. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Specific fire alarm requirements relating to NEW Group R Occupancies can be found in MSFC(03), Section 907.2 Specific fire alarm requirements relating to EXISTING Group R Occupancies can be found in MSFC(03), Section 907.3

10. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC All NEW Group R-1 Occupancies are required to be equipped with a fire alarm system There are two exceptions to this requirement: MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.8

11. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.8 Exception No. 1: Buildings not over 2 stories in height where all individual guest rooms and continuous attic and crawl spaces are separated from each other and public or common areas by at least 1-hour fire partitions AND each guest room has an exit directly to a public way, exit court or yard.

12. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.8 Exception No. 2: Buildings containing 5 or fewer guest rooms shall be allowed to be equipped with approved multiple-station smoke detectors installed as required for Group R-3 Occupancies. Installation shall be in accordance with Section 907.2.10.

13. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Initiation of the fire alarm system in NEW Group R-1 Occupancies shall be by automatic means consisting of: Automatic fire detectors Automatic smoke detectors MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.8.1

14. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.8.1 Approved automatic fire detectors are required in laundry rooms, boiler and furnace rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms, shops, trash-collection rooms, storage rooms, gift shops, locker rooms and similar areas.

15. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.8.1 Approved automatic smoke detectors are required in all common areas and interior corridors serving as required means of egress.

16. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.8.1 IMPORTANT EXCEPTION: System fire and smoke detectors are not required when an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system is installed throughout the building and manual activation is provided at a constantly attended location.

17. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Personal recommendation: If acceptable to the AHJ, automatic smoke detection should still be provided in all corridors and spaces open to corridors. Possible options to gain support of AHJ include:  Alarm verification in accordance with NFPA 72, 1999 edition, Sec. 3-8.3.2.3 – OR –  Positive alarm sequencing in accordance with NFPA 72(99), Sec. 1-5.4.11.

18. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.8.2 NOTIFICATION: Activation of the fire alarm or sprinkler system in NEW Group R-1 Occupancies shall initiate a general evacuation signal.

19. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Guest room detectors: Sec. 907.2.8.3 prohibits the guest room detectors required by Sec. 907.2.10 from being connected to a fire alarm system. Exception: Connection for annunciation only.

20. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC All EXISTING Group R-1 Occupancies 3 or more stories in height or having 20 or more guest rooms are required to be equipped with a fire alarm system. There is one exception to this requirement: MSFC(03), Sec. 907.3.4

21. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC MSFC(03), Sec. 907.3.4 Exception: A fire alarm system is not required in buildings that do not have interior corridors serving guest rooms AND where each guest room has an exit door opening directly to an exterior exit access that leads directly to the exits.

22. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC The requirements in MSFC(03), Sections 907.3.4.1 through 907.3.4.3 relating to Initiation, Notification and Guest Room Detectors in EXISTING Group R-1 Occupancies are identical to those that apply to new R-1 Occupancies.

23. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.9 requires all NEW Group R-2 Occupancies to be equipped with a fire alarm system where:  Any guest room or dwelling unit is located 3 or more stories above the lowest level of exit discharge (LED) – OR  Any guest room or dwelling unit is located more than one story below the highest LED – OR  The building contains more than 16 dwelling units or guest rooms – OR  The building has an occupant load of 20 or more (e.g. open dormitory, convent/monastery, fraternity/sorority)

24. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Per an exception to Sec. 907.2.9, a fire alarm system is not required in R-2 Occupancies consisting of: Buildings not over 2 stories in height where all dwelling units and continuous attic and crawl spaces are separated from each other and public or common areas by at least 1-hour fire partitions AND each dwelling unit has an exit directly to a public way, exit court or yard.

25. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Initiation of the fire alarm system in NEW Group R-2 Occupancies shall be by automatic means consisting of: Automatic fire detectors Automatic smoke detectors MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.9.1

26. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Approved automatic fire detectors are required in laundry rooms, boiler and furnace rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms, shops, trash-collection rooms, storage rooms, gift shops, locker rooms and similar areas. MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.9.1

27. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Approved automatic smoke detectors are required in all common areas and interior corridors serving as required means of egress. MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.9.1

28. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC IMPORTANT EXCEPTION: System fire and smoke detectors are not required when an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system is installed throughout the building. Personal recommendation: If acceptable to the AHJ, automatic smoke detection should still be provided in all corridors and spaces open to corridors. MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.9.1

29. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC NOTIFICATION: Activation of the fire alarm or sprinkler system in NEW Group R-2 Occupancies shall initiate a general evacuation signal. MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.9.2

30. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC The fire alarm requirements for EXISTING Group R-2 Occupancies can be found in MSFC(03), Sections 907.3.5 through 907.3.5.2.

31. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC The requirements applicable to EXISTING Group R-2 Occupancies are very similar to those that apply to new buildings except that no fire alarm system is required in buildings that do not have interior corridors serving guest rooms AND where each dwelling unit has an exit door opening directly to an exterior exit access that leads directly to the exits.

32. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC RESIDENTIAL HOSPICE FACILITY A facility located in a residential area that directly provides 24-hour residential and support services in a home-like setting for at least 6 and not more than 12 persons who have been diagnosed as terminally ill with a probable life expect- ancy of under one year.

33. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC All NEW residential hospices are required to be protected by a fire alarm system. When automatic sprinkler systems or automatic fire detectors are installed, such systems or detectors shall be connected to the building fire alarm system. MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.24

34. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Initiation of the fire alarm system in NEW residential hospices shall be by: Automatic fire detectors Automatic smoke detectors Manual fire alarm boxes MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.24.1

35. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Approved automatic fire detectors are required in laundry and soiled linen rooms, boiler and furnace rooms, kitchens, laboratories, mechanical and electrical rooms, shops, janitors’ closets, trash- collection rooms, storage rooms, gift shops, commissaries, locker rooms, lounges and similar areas. MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.24.1

36. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Approved automatic smoke detectors are required in all sleeping rooms, corridors and spaces open to the corridors. MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.24.1

37. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Manual fire alarm boxes are not required at exits if boxes are located at all nurses’ stations or other constantly attended staff locations, provided the boxes are visible and continuously accessible. Travel distance to the nearest box cannot exceed 200 feet per Sec. 907.4.1. Exception to MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.24.1

38. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC Activation of the fire alarm or sprinkler system in a residential hospice shall initiate a general evacuation signal. Exception: Visual notification devices are allowed to be used in sleeping areas. The fire alarm system must be monitored by an approved central station service. MSFC(03), Sec. 907.2.24.2

39. Fire Safety Resources, LLC MNAFAA – GROUP R OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS OF 2003 MSFC QUESTIONS??? THANK YOU!!!