Minnesota Administrative Rules

7511.1105 SECTION 1105, SEPARATION OF OCCUPANCIES AND HAZARDOUS AREAS.

IFC section 1105 and all subsections are deleted and replaced with the following:

1105.1 General. Mixed occupancies within the same building and hazardous areas shall be separated in accordance with Sections 1105.2 through 1105.3.2.1.

1105.2 Occupancy separations. Occupancy separations shall be provided in buildings containing Group I and Group R occupancies as specified in Sections 1105.2.1 through 1105.2.3.1. These separations shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the Building Code. Existing wood lath and plaster in good condition or 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum wallboard is acceptable where one-hour occupancy separations are required.

1105.2.1 Door openings. Where one-hour fire-resistant construction is required, openings shall be protected by listed fire doors, insulated steel doors, 1-3/8-inch thick (35 mm) or 1-3/4-inch thick (45 mm) solid wood doors, or fixed wired glass set in steel frames. Doors shall be self-closing or automatic-closing by smoke detection.

1105.2.2 Group I-1 and Group I-2 occupancies. Group I-1 and Group I-2 occupancies shall be separated from other occupancies as specified in the Building Code.

1105.2.3 Group I-3 occupancies. Group I-3 occupancies shall be separated from other occupancies as specified in the Building Code.

1105.2.3.1 Group I-3 compliance options. Occupancy separations need not be provided for Group I-3 occupancies in the following conditions:

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 (1,219 mm) above the floor and are provided with a metal cover or door.

1105.2.4 Group R occupancies. Group R occupancies and the exits therefrom shall be separated from Group A, B, M, S, and U occupancies by at least one-hour fire-resistance-rated construction. Group R occupancies shall be separated from all other occupancies as specified in the Building Code.

1105.2.4.1 Group R compliance options. Occupancy separations need not be provided for Group R occupancies in the following conditions:

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.

1105.3 Incidental use areas. Incidental use areas shall be separated from the rest of the building in accordance with this section. Incidental use areas are defined as shops, laboratories containing hazardous materials, laundry rooms exceeding 100 square feet in size, and rooms containing boilers or central heating plants where the largest piece of fuel equipment exceeds 400,000 Btu per hour input.

1105.3.1 Separation required. Incidental use areas in Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R-1, R-2, and S occupancies shall be separated from the rest of the building by not less than a one-hour fire barrier. Existing wood lath and plaster in good condition or 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum wallboard is acceptable where one-hour fire barriers are required. Storage rooms need not be separated in Groups F, M, or S occupancies.

1105.3.2 Sprinkler protection in lieu of separation. Incidental use areas in Groups A, B, E, F, H, M, and S occupancies need not be separated when the incidental use area is protected with automatic sprinklers.

1105.3.2.1 Groups I and R occupancies. Incidental use areas in Groups I and R occupancies need not be separated when the incidental use area is protected with automatic sprinklers and the construction of such areas is capable of resisting the passage of smoke. Doors to such areas shall be a minimum of one-hour fire-rated, solid-core wood doors or insulated steel doors. Doors shall be self-closing or automatic-closing by smoke detection.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 326B.02

History:

40 SR 1437; 44 SR 610

Published Electronically:

April 16, 2020