(A) General requirements for all living areas. Within all habitable rooms of a dwelling unit, including living areas, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and basements, the following conditions shall be provided or maintained:
(1) General condition. Structural elements of the dwelling unit including doors, windows, ceilings, walls, and floors shall be in sound condition and good repair and free of fire hazards.
(2) Electrical wiring and lighting. Electrical wiring and lighting shall be in sound condition and good repair.
(3) Heating. Heating facilities shall be turned on and maintained at a minimum temperature of 68° F between October l and May 1.
(4) Security. Windows and exterior doors must be lockable and equipped with locking devices of an approved type.
(5) Occupant load. The minimum floor area allowance per occupant in residential dwellings shall be 200 gross square feet per occupant.
(B) Kitchens.
(1) Cooking ovens, cooking stoves, and/or cooking ranges. Cooking ovens, cooking stoves, and/or cooking ranges, if provided by owner, shall be in sound condition and repair and good operating order. Gas models shall be self-igniting and equipped with a shut off valve. Gas lines shall be in sound condition and good repair.
(2) Refrigerator. Refrigerators shall be operable, in sound condition, and in good repair.
(3) Kitchen sink. The kitchen sink shall be operable, in sound condition, and in good repair and provide adequate hot and cold running water.
(4) Food storage and preparation. Space shall be provided for the storage and preparation of foods.
(C) Bathrooms.
(1) Toilet. Bathrooms shall be equipped with an operable flush toilet, fixed washbasin or lavatory, and either a bathtub, shower or combination. Adequate hot and cold running water shall be provided.
(2) Door. A bathroom shall occupy an enclosed space equipped with a door.
(D) Bedrooms.
(1) Means of egress. All sleeping rooms shall have a primary and a secondary means of escape. The primary means of escape is the primary access to a room. The secondary means of escape may be a window meeting the minimum size requirements set forth hereafter. All means of egress shall comply with this section and Minnesota State Fire Marshal Office Policy # INS-04 (2007) (Revised 6-27-2012) located in the office of the City Building Official and/or City Fire Chief.
(2) Escape windows.
(a) When required, emergency escape windows (second means of egress) shall be installed and maintained in Group R occupancies as specified in M.S.F.C. (07) Section 1026.1 and this policy. Emergency escape windows shall be installed in sleeping rooms and basements used for sleeping.
(b) Any one of the following four options will substitute for an emergency escape window from a room.
1. An escape window is not required if the room has a door that leads directly to the exterior of the building.
2. An escape window is not required if the building is protected through-out by an approved, automatic sprinkler system.
3. Escape windows need not be installed from rooms of existing buildings having two separate means of escape, provided that the means of escape are independent and remote from each other and they pass through one adjacent non-lockable room or area.
4. Escape windows are not required in group R hotels or motels constructed prior to 4-11-1983.
(c) Sliding glass doors may be accepted as qualifying exit doors provided that the doors are maintained operational at all times (M.S.F.C. (07) Section 1008.1.2 Exception 4, MSBC (07) Section 1008.1.2 Exception 4).
(3) Approved emergency escape windows. When used as an emergency escape, only a single window in each room need meet the minimum size requirements listed below. The window sash cannot be removed to meet the size requirements and windows must be measured with the window fully opened by the normal window opening mechanism.
(a) For escape windows installed prior to 7-10-2007*:
A minimum of 20 inches in width |
A minimum of 24 inches in height |
A minimum of 648 square inches (4.5 square feet) of clear opening |
A maximum of 48 inches from the floor to the sill opening |
*Note: The above is considered the absolute minimum regardless of existing or window replacement. |
(b) For escape windows installed above or below the level of exit discharge on or after 7-10- 2007:
A minimum of 20 inches in width |
A minimum of 20 inches in height |
A minimum of 820 square inches (5.7 square feet) of clear opening |
A maximum of 44 inches from the floor to the sill opening |
(c) For grade or ground floor escape windows installed on or after 7-10-2007:
A minimum of 20 inches in width |
A minimum of 24 inches in height |
A minimum of 720 square inches (5.0 square feet) of clear opening |
A maximum of 44 inches from the floor to the sill opening |
(d) Approved egress/escape windows may include any of the following:
Double hung windows
|
Double hung windows |
Casement windows |
(e) See the diagrams in the office of the City Building Official and City Fire Chief for additional description of acceptable escape windows and a worksheet for determining compliance with the requirements of the MSEC (07).
(4) Escape window opening height. Escape windows with openings up to 52 inches off of the floor may meet the height requirement (for existing buildings as applicable from Section 1.2 above in division (D)(2) by securing a step, platform or bed to the wall directly underneath the window. This step, platform or bed shall be no more than 44 inches below the opening and must be strong enough to support the weight of the person. The minimum acceptable width shall be the same as the window opening. The minimum acceptable depth away from the wall shall be 18 inches. (M.S.F.C. (07) Section 1026.1)
(5) Coverings on escape windows. Plastic coverings are allowed to cover egress/escape windows and exterior doors if the plastic covering meets the following requirements. (M.S.F.C. (07) Section 1026.1)
(a) The plastic covering shall be readily transparent. The occupant shall be able to readily see rescuers on the outside and rescuers shall be able to readily see people on the inside.
(b) The plastic covering may only be attached on the inside and can only be attached to the window frame or structure with two sided tape, hook and loop (Velcro) or static cling.
(c) The plastic shall have enough material overhanging the attachment on all sides, top and bottom to facilitate grabbing it from any direction and allow easy removal.
(6) Window wells. Escape windows with a finished sill height below the adjacent ground elevation shall have a window well. Window wells shall comply with the following (M.S.F.C. (07) Section 1026.5). See the POLICY # INS -26 diagram in the office of the City Building Official and City Fire Chief for additional description of window wells and a worksheet for determining compliance with the requirements of the M.S.F.C. (07).
(a) Window well size. The window well shall have a minimum horizontal area of nine square feet with minimum dimensions of 36 inches. The area of the window well shall allow the emergency escape opening to be fully opened. (M.S.F.C. (07) Section 1026.5)
(b) Ladders or steps. Window wells with a vertical depth of more than 44 inches shall be equipped with an approved permanently affixed ladder or stairs that is accessible with the window in the fully open position. The ladder shall not be obstructed by the window or obstruct the opening of the window. The ladder is also not allowed to encroach into the required dimensions of the window well by more than six inches. (M.S.F.C. (07) Section 1026.5.2)
(c) Covers on window wells. Window wells may be covered as necessary to keep the window well clear of debris, snow, and rain water and to help prevent people from falling in if the building owner wishes. However, the cover shall comply with the following requirements:
1. The covering shall not interfere with the opening of the window in any way.
2. The covering shall be supported in such a way that it cannot become frozen to the ground, window well or structure.
3. The covering shall be readily removable without the use of tools or special knowledge from the window well area by the building occupants.
(7) Means of egress for existing buildings. Means of egress in existing buildings shall comply with 2007 Minnesota State Fire Code, §§ 1027.1 through 1027.23.4.
(a) Compliance option. Means of egress in existing buildings conforming to N.F.P.A. 101 (Life Safety Code) shall be deemed as evidence of compliance with this section.
(b) Previous codes. Means of egress in existing buildings conforming to the requirements of the Fire Code or Building Code under which they were constructed shall be considered, as complying means of egress if, in the opinion of the fire code official, they do not constitute a distinct hazard to life.
(8) Carbon monoxide alarm requirements.
(a) Carbon monoxide alarm. Every single family dwelling and every dwelling unit in a multi-family dwelling must have an approved and operational carbon monoxide alarm installed within ten feet of each room lawfully used for sleeping purposes. All carbon monoxide alarms must comply with this section and with Minn. Stat. § 299F.50.
(b) Exceptions.
1. In lieu of requirements of this division (D)(8), multi-family dwellings may have approved and operational carbon monoxide alarms installed between 15 and 25 feet of carbon monoxide producing central fixtures and equipment provided there is a centralized alarm system or other mechanism for responsible parties to hear the alarm at all times.
2. An owner of a multi-family dwelling that contains minimal or no sources of carbon monoxide may be exempted from the requirements of division (A), above, provided that such owner certifies to the commissioner of public safety that such multi-family dwelling poses no foreseeable carbon monoxide risk to the health and safety to the dwelling units.
(E) Basements; egress. Basement stairways shall be in sound condition and good repair and required handrails installed and secure.
(F) Utilities.
(1) Furnace and water heater. The furnace or boiler and water heater shall be in sound condition and in good repair.
(2) Clearances. The following clearances shall be maintained:
(a) Pipes: Six inches to combustibles on single wall pipes.
(b) Pipes: One inch to combustibles on new style double wall riser.
(c) Combustibles are not allowed in the area around the furnace, water heater or boiler.
(d) Wood burners need a minimum of three feet of clearance.
(3) Chimney pipes. Chimney pipes must be clear, in sound condition, and good repair and the piping shall be stable.
(4) Washer and dryer units. Electrical and gas connections shall be in sound condition and in good repair. Gas piping shall not have any kinks. Exhaust ducts for domestic clothes dryers shall be constructed of metal and have a smooth interior finish. The exhaust duct shall be a minimum nominal size of four feet (102 mm) in diameter. The entire exhaust system shall be supported and secured in place. The male end of the duct at overlap duct joints shall extend in the direction of airflow. Clothes dryer transition ducts used to connect the appliance to the exhaust duct system shall be limited to single lengths not to exceed eight feet (2438 mm) and shall be listed and labeled for the application. Transition ducts shall not be concealed within construction.
(G) Health and safety.
(1) Insects and rodents. Rodents or insects shall be eliminated from dwelling units.
(2) Housekeeping. Living areas shall be clean and free of hazards which may cause injury or illness.
(1992 Code, § 460:13) (Ord. 1315, passed 5-20-2003; Ord. passed - -)