the

Standard
building codes and standards
Construction Codes and Licensing Division MAY 2006

2006 Building Safety Week — working together for a safer world

Governor Tim Pawlenty
proclaimed May 7-13, 2006,
as Building Safety Week in
Minnesota.

This year’s theme, Building

a Safer World Together, is
reflected in the formation of the
Construction Codes and Licensing
Division (CCLD) which brought
Minnesota construction code
entities together under one roof
at the Department of Labor and
Industry.

May 2006 is the one-year

anniversary of the implementation
Back row: Michael Campion, commissioner, Department of Public Safety; Jerry of CCLD, one of the first Drive
Rosendahl, State Fire Marshal; Tom Brace, executive director; Minnesota State to Excellence projects to be
Fire Chief’s Association. Front row: Scott Brener, commissioner, Department
completed. Read the entire
of Labor and Industry; Tom Joachim, CCLD executive director, Department
of Labor and Industry; Cecy Lukoskie, president, Minnesota Building Permit proclamation text on page 2.
Technicians Association.

Building safety includes safe worksites for workers and inspectors

Inspection personnel frequently encounter the need to enter an
excavation in order make an inspection of utility piping, footings,
foundation drains, water proofing and foundations.

Sometimes these excavations are in improperly shored and unsafe to

enter. Minnesota OSHA reports excavation and trenching are among
the most hazardous of construction operations.

In 2005, Minnesota OSHA investigated four accidents involving

excavation work that resulted in death or serious injury. The requirement
that employees in an excavation “be protected from cave-ins by an
adequate protective system,” 1926.652(a)(1), was among the top 10
most cited standards in the construction industry during 2005.

Above: Employees working in an excavation moments before a cave-in.

Below: The same excavation after the cave-in. The employees evacuated the trench prior to the mud
slide. No one was hurt.
443 Lafayette Road Page
N. · St.Paul,
• TheMNStandard
55155-4341 •• www.doli.state.mn.us
MAY 2006 • Minnesota• Phone: Department
(651) 284-5068 ·of
Fax: (651) and
Labor 284-5749 · TTY: (651) 297-4198
Industry
 Building Safety Week Proclamation Congratulations!
Congratulations to the state’s
May 7 — 13, 2006 recently designated municipal
Building Officials:

WHEREAS: The safety of the buildings • Jerritt W. Mohn

we occupy daily is essential City of Chanhassen
to our health, safety, and • Guy T. Sharpe
welfare; and City of International Falls
• Michael Jacobson
WHEREAS: The laws and ordinances that
City of Benson
provide standards for the safe
construction of buildings in • Lyle Nesvold
which people live, work, and City of Rothsay
play are critically important; • Scott Qualle
and City of St. Bonifacius
City of Glencoe
WHEREAS: It often goes unnoticed that City of Green Isle
building safety affects many City of Hamburg
aspects of our daily lives, and
City of Kimball
because of building safety
City of Lester Prairie
code enforcement, we enjoy
the comfort of structures that City of Mayer
are safe and sound; and City of Minnetrista
City of Mound
WHEREAS: For construction and building codes to be effective City of New Germany
and enforceable, understanding and cooperation City of Norwood
must exist between code officials and the people City of Plato
they serve; and City of Silver Lake
City South Haven
WHEREAS: Through the efforts of code officials and their
cooperative relationship with the construction City of Watertown
industry, the administration of these health and life- City of Watkins
safety standards is ensured; and
The current Building Official list
WHEREAS: Building Safety Week is an opportunity to educate is online at www.doli.state.mn.us/
the public and increase awareness of the life- buildingcodes.html.
safety services provided by local and state building If a change is needed to the list,
departments; and please contact Peggi White at
peggi.white@state.mn.us.
WHEREAS: In partnership with dedicated building safety
and fire officials, architects, engineers, and the The Designation of Vacancy of
construction industry, codes are developed and Certified Building Official form is
administered that safeguard us in our homes, online at www.doli.state.mn.us/bc_
schools, and workplaces; and local_government_designation_of_
certified_building_official.html.
WHEREAS: The theme of Building Safety Week 2006, “Building
a Safer World Together,” encourages all Minnesotans
to raise our awareness of building safety, and to
take appropriate steps to ensure that the places
where we live, work, play, and learn are safe; and

WHEREAS: Countless lives have been saved because of the

Calendar
building safety codes adopted and administered
by building safety and fire prevention officials in
May • 2006
government agencies.

Page  • The Standard • MAY 2006 • Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
 ? Construction codes questions and answers

A follow up to April 2006 window well code question

CCLD received many phone calls and e-mails regarding the April 2006 code answer
V regarding window wells. The majority of callers made the comment that in the
V

36" handout published by the International Code Council (ICC) there is a drawing that
V
shows the 36 inch by 36 inch minimum dimension being measured from the opened
36" casement window, and this would seem to contradict CCLD’s opinion in the last
newsletter. CCLD had contacted the ICC a while back regarding that drawing and
the ICC acknowledged that the drawing incorrectly shows the measurement being
V taken from the window. They also indicated in the next edition of the Handbook
that it would be corrected.

Questions regarding home/garage fire separation issue

Question: What fire separation is required between a Question: How is the gypsum fastened to the framing
residential dwelling (house) and its attached garage? members?
Answer: Reference 2000 International Residential Answer Refer to 2000 IRC Table R702.3.5,
Code (IRC) section R309.2, “Separation required. “Minimum Thickness and Application of Gypsum
The garage shall be separated from the residence and Board.” The answer is based on the type of fastener,
its attic area by not less than ½ inch gypsum board spacing of fasteners, spacing of framing members,
applied to the garage side.” orientation of gypsum board to framing and thickness
of gypsum board.
Question: What is the fire rating of ½ inch regular
gypsum board? Question: If the fire separation extends onto the ceiling
Answer: 15 minutes. of the garage, are the exterior garage walls required to be
covered with the same ½ inch gypsum board (those walls
Question: Does this ½ inch gypsum board need to that are not part of the house/garage common wall)?
extend into the soffit area? Answer: Yes. “Where the separation is a floor/ceiling
Answer: Yes. assembly, the structure supporting the separation shall
also be protected by not less than ½ inch gypsum
Question: Are the joints between the sheets of the board or equivalent.”
½ inch gypsum board required to be treated (joints
filled/taped)? Question: Would the exterior stud wall below the gable-
Answer: Not by the IRC, but the State Energy Code end of a garage with parallel-framed garage roof trusses
needs to be referred to. (More info in other answers.) be considered to be part of the “structure supporting
the separation” for the purposes of determining the
Question: Would the State of Minnesota Energy Code location of the ½ inch gypsum board.”
require the joints between the sheets of gypsum board to Answer: Yes. The gypsum board on the garage
be treated (joints filled/taped) related to air movement? ceiling is most likely nailed to a 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 plate
Answer: If the joints were attached to framing resting on top of the 2 x 4 garage wall that acts as a
members, no additional treatment is required. If the gypsum board backer. If this gable end garage wall
joints do not fall on framing members, the Energy fails in a fire, then the gypsum board on the ceiling
Code would require the joints to be sealed airtight, or, would be pulled down, thus comprising the integrity
a house sheathing paper could be used to serve this of the fire separation.
purpose without joint treatment. continued on page 4

Page  • The Standard • MAY 2006 • Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
? Questions regarding home/garage fire separation issue
Construction codes questions and answers continued from page 3

Question: Does the code refer to a minimum or maximum Question: Can this fire door contain glazing?
joint space between the sheets of gypsum board? Answer: Yes, with specific conditions prescribed by
Answer: No, but you should refer to the manufacturer the code.
for any other recommendations.
In IRC section R309.1, it refers to “20-minute fire-
Question: Is a door required between the residential rated doors.” Although not specifically noted in the
dwelling and its attached garage? section, other sections of the International Residential
Answer: No. Code, International Building Code, and the NFPA
codes all state (or imply) compliance with NFPA 80,
Question: If a door is installed between the house and the “Standard for Fire Doors and Fire Windows.” In
garage, is the door required to be fire rated? NFPA 80, in section 1-7, “Glazing Material in Fire
Answer: Refer to 2000 IRC section R309.1, Doors,” it states “Only labeled fire resistance-rated
“Opening protection. Openings from a private garage glazing material meeting applicable safety standards
directly into a room used for sleeping purposes shall shall be used in fire door assemblies (NFPA 252,
not be permitted. Other openings between the garage Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Door Assemblies).
and residence shall be equipped with solid wood doors “Glazing materials shall be installed in labeled frames
not less than 13/8 inch in thickness, solid or honeycomb or in tested frames in accordance with the fire door
core steel doors not less than 13/8 inch thick, or 20 listing.” It goes on to say “Glazing material shall
minute fire-rated doors.” be permitted in fire doors having the following fire
protection ratings when tested in accordance with
Question: Is a self-closing device required for this NFPA 252 …” In Table 1-7.4, “Fire Door Ratings,”
door? a 1/3 hour fire door (20 minute rated) is “Limited to
Answer: No. (A self-closing device was required maximum area tested.”
under the provisions of the old Uniform Building Code).
Question: Will any of the answers noted above change
Question: Is the frame for this door required to be when the 2006 International Residential Code goes
steel, or part of a rated assembly? into effect?
Answer: No. The frame can be a simple wood Answer: Yes. In the 2006 IRC, “Garages beneath
frame. habitable rooms shall be separated from all habitable
rooms above by not less than 5/8 inch Type “X” gypsum
Question: Is this door required to swing in any board or equivalent.”
particular direction?
Answer: No. This door can swing into the house, or Question: In a previous answer, it was noted that
swing into the garage. ½ inch regular gypsum board has a fire rating of 15
minutes. What is the fire rating of 5/8 inch Type “X”
Question: Is a landing required for the stairway at gypsum board?
this door? Answer: 40 minutes per International Building Code
Answer: No, unless the door swings into the garage. Table 720.2.1.4(2).
If you wish to submit a question to the Construction Codes Questions and Answers column, please contact Peter
Kulczyk at peter.kulczyk@state.mn.us. Although you are welcomed to contact any of the technical staff at DLI
regarding code questions, Peter is coordinating the submissions and responses in this column.

Department of Labor and Industry - Construction Codes and Licensing Division

443 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155
St. Paul, MN 55155 FAX: (651) 284-5749
www.doli.state.mn.us/buildingcodes.html

Page  • The Standard • MAY 2006 • Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry