Minnesota Administrative Rules

7511.0909 SECTION 909, SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS.

Subpart 1.

[Repealed, 40 SR 1437]

Subp. 1a.

IFC section 909.1.

IFC section 909.1 is amended to read as follows:

909.1 Scope and purpose. This section applies to mechanical or passive smoke control systems when they are required for new buildings or portions thereof by provisions of this code or the Building Code. The purpose of this section is to establish minimum requirements for the design, installation, and acceptance testing of smoke control systems that are intended to provide a tenable environment for the evacuation or relocation of occupants and for fire suppression and overhaul efforts. These provisions are not intended for the preservation of contents or the timely restoration of operations.

Subp. 1b.

IFC section 909.4.6.

IFC section 909.4.6 is amended to read as follows:

909.4.6 Duration of operations. All portions of the active or passive smoke control system shall be capable of continued operation after detection of the fire event for a period of not less than 20 minutes. System design shall be for 20 minutes; however fans shall continue to operate after 20 minutes and shall continue to operate automatically for smoke removal during fire suppression and overhaul efforts for a minimum of 5 minutes for every 10 feet vertically of protected space.

Subp. 1c.

IFC section 909.4.8.

IFC section 909.4 is amended by adding a section to read as follows:

909.4.8 Door opening force. With any of the design methods allowed by Section 909, the door opening force, latch release, and set-in-motion force shall comply with Section 1010.1.3 requirements when the system is in smoke control mode.

Subp. 1d.

IFC section 909.20.

IFC section 909.20 is amended and a section added to read:

909.20 Maintenance. Smoke control systems and post-fire smoke exhaust systems shall be maintained to ensure to a reasonable degree that the system is capable of controlling smoke for the duration required. The system shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and Sections 909.20.1 through 909.20.7.

(Sections 909.20.1 to 909.20.6 remain unchanged.)

909.20.7 Qualifications. Special inspection agencies for smoke control shall have expertise in fire protection engineering, mechanical engineering, and certification as air balancers.

Subp. 2.

IFC section 909.22.

IFC section 909 is amended by adding a section to read:

909.22 High-rise and covered mall smoke-exhaust systems. High-rise buildings, not provided with a smoke control or a post-fire smoke exhaust system, shall be equipped with a smoke removal system installed and maintained in accordance with the Building Code. Covered mall buildings exceeding 50,000 square feet (4,645 m²) in floor area, excluding anchor stores, and not provided with a smoke control system, shall be equipped with a post-fire smoke exhaust system installed and maintained in accordance with the Building Code.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299F.011; 326B.02

History:

32 SR 10; 40 SR 1437; 44 SR 610

Published Electronically:

April 16, 2020