SF 155

1st Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 05/20/2022 12:39pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; requiring installation of automatic sprinkler systems in
certain existing public housing buildings; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299F.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [299F.48] AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS IN EXISTING PUBLIC
HOUSING BUILDINGS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) An automatic sprinkler system must be installed in
those portions of an entire existing public housing building in which an automatic sprinkler
system would be required if the building were constructed on the effective date of this
section. The automatic sprinkler system must comply with standards in the State Fire Code
and the State Building Code and must be fully operational by August 1, 2033.
new text end

new text begin (b) For the purposes of this section, "public housing building" means housing for
low-income persons and households financed by the federal government and owned and
operated by the public housing authorities and agencies formed by cities and counties in
which at least one story used for human occupancy is 75 feet or more above the lowest level
of fire department vehicle access.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Reporting. new text end

new text begin By August 1, 2023, the owner of a building subject to subdivision
1 shall submit to the state fire marshal a letter stating the owner's intent to comply with this
section and a plan for achieving compliance by the deadline in subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Extensions. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety, or the state fire marshal as the
commissioner's designee, may grant extensions to the deadline for reporting under subdivision
2 or the deadline for compliance under subdivision 1. Any extension must observe the spirit
and intent of this section and be tailored to ensure public welfare and safety. To be eligible
for an extension, the building owner must apply to the commissioner of public safety and
demonstrate a genuine inability to comply within the time prescribed despite appropriate
effort to do so.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Effect on other laws. new text end

new text begin This section does not supersede the State Building Code
or State Fire Code.
new text end