Minnesota Session Laws - 1995, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 100-H.F.No. 1645 
                  An act relating to commerce; specifying kinds of wood 
                  for certain exterior construction applications; 
                  amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 16B.61, 
                  subdivision 3. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 16B.61, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS.] (a)  [SPACE FOR COMMUTER 
        VANS.] The code must require that any parking ramp or other 
        parking facility constructed in accordance with the code include 
        an appropriate number of spaces suitable for the parking of 
        motor vehicles having a capacity of seven to 16 persons and 
        which are principally used to provide prearranged commuter 
        transportation of employees to or from their place of employment 
        or to or from a transit stop authorized by a local transit 
        authority.  
           (b)  [SMOKE DETECTION DEVICES.] The code must require that 
        all dwellings, lodging houses, apartment houses, and hotels as 
        defined in section 299F.362 comply with the provisions of 
        section 299F.362.  
           (c)  [DOORS IN NURSING HOMES AND HOSPITALS.] The state 
        building code may not require that each door entering a sleeping 
        or patient's room from a corridor in a nursing home or hospital 
        with an approved complete standard automatic fire extinguishing 
        system be constructed or maintained as self-closing or 
        automatically closing.  
           (d)  [CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN CHURCHES; GROUND LEVEL 
        EXIT.] A licensed day care center serving fewer than 30 
        preschool age persons and which is located in a below ground 
        space in a church building is exempt from the state building 
        code requirement for a ground level exit when the center has 
        more than two stairways to the ground level and its exit.  
           (e)  [CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN CHURCHES; VERTICAL ACCESS.] 
        Until August 1, 1996, an organization providing child care in an 
        existing church building which is exempt from taxation under 
        section 272.02, subdivision 1, clause (5), shall have five years 
        from the date of initial licensure under chapter 245A to provide 
        interior vertical access, such as an elevator, to persons with 
        disabilities as required by the state building code.  To obtain 
        the extension, the organization providing child care must secure 
        a $2,500 performance bond with the commissioner of human 
        services to ensure that interior vertical access is achieved by 
        the agreed upon date. 
           (f)  [FAMILY AND GROUP FAMILY DAY CARE.] Until the 
        legislature enacts legislation specifying appropriate standards, 
        the definition of Group R-3 occupancies in the state building 
        code applies to family and group family day care homes licensed 
        by the department of human services under Minnesota Rules, 
        chapter 9502. 
           (g)  [MINED UNDERGROUND SPACE.] Nothing in the state 
        building codes shall prevent cities from adopting rules 
        governing the excavation, construction, reconstruction, 
        alteration, and repair of mined underground space pursuant to 
        sections 469.135 to 469.141, or of associated facilities in the 
        space once the space has been created, provided the intent of 
        the building code to establish reasonable safeguards for health, 
        safety, welfare, comfort, and security is maintained. 
           (h)  [ENCLOSED STAIRWAYS.] No provision of the code or any 
        appendix chapter of the code may require stairways of existing 
        multiple dwelling buildings of two stories or less to be 
        enclosed. 
           (i)  [DOUBLE CYLINDER DEAD BOLT LOCKS.] No provision of the 
        code or appendix chapter of the code may prohibit double 
        cylinder dead bolt locks in existing single-family homes, 
        townhouses, and first floor duplexes used exclusively as a 
        residential dwelling.  Any recommendation or promotion of double 
        cylinder dead bolt locks must include a warning about their 
        potential fire danger and procedures to minimize the danger. 
           (j)  [RELOCATED RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.] A residential 
        building relocated within or into a political subdivision of the 
        state need not comply with the state energy code or section 
        326.371 provided that, where available, an energy audit is 
        conducted on the relocated building. 
           (k)  [AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR OPENING SYSTEMS.] The code must 
        require all residential buildings as defined in section 325F.82 
        to comply with the provisions of sections 325F.82 and 325F.83.  
           (l)  [EXIT SIGN ILLUMINATION.] For a new building on which 
        construction is begun on or after October 1, 1993, or an 
        existing building on which remodeling affecting 50 percent or 
        more of the enclosed space is begun on or after October 1, 1993, 
        the code must prohibit the use of internally illuminated exit 
        signs whose electrical consumption during nonemergency operation 
        exceeds 20 watts of resistive power.  All other requirements in 
        the code for exit signs must be complied with.  
           (m)  [RESIDENTIAL WORK.] By January 1, 1996, the 
        commissioner of administration shall develop building code 
        provisions in accordance with the directives and provisions 
        developed under section 144.874, subdivision 11a. 
           (n)  [EXTERIOR WOOD DECKS, PATIOS, AND BALCONIES.] The code 
        must permit the decking surface and upper portions of exterior 
        wood decks, patios, and balconies to be constructed of (1) 
        heartwood from species of wood having natural resistance to 
        decay or termites, including redwood and cedars, (2) grades of 
        lumber which contain sapwood from species of wood having natural 
        resistance to decay or termites, including redwood and cedars, 
        or (3) treated wood.  The species and grades of wood products 
        used to construct the decking surface and upper portions of 
        exterior decks, patios, and balconies must be made available to 
        the building official on request before final construction 
        approval. 
           Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 1 is effective March 20, 1995. 
           Presented to the governor April 27, 1995 
           Signed by the governor April 28, 1995, 3:00 p.m.