Special exiting for younger students
Minnesota Statutes and the Minnesota State Fire Code (MSFC) require school buildings used by younger students (second grade and below) to comply with the special exiting and fire protection
requirements as described in Minnesota Building Code (MBC) Section 429.2. A matrix is provided on pages two and three to assist in the application of these provisions.
Use of school buildings by lower grades
Rooms used by preschool, kindergarten, and first- and second-grade students for classrooms, latchkey, day care, early childhood family education, teen parent, or other programs conducted in the building may be located on any floor level below the fourth story if the following conditions exist:
- The building is protected throughout with an approved automatic fire sprinkler system.
- The building is protected throughout with an approved automatic fire alarm system having automatic smoke detection devices installed throughout the exit system within every room or area used for purposes other than a classroom or office.
Rooms shall be located on the story of exit discharge when used for the purposes of classroom, latchkey, day care, early childhood education, teen parent, or other programs conducted in the building by preschool, kindergarten, or first-grade students. Rooms shall be located on the story of exit discharge or one story above when used for any purpose by second grade students.
Rooms occupied by preschool, kindergarten, first- or second-grade students, when used for the programs described in this section, may be located on floor levels other than those designated above if one of the following conditions is met:
- An approved automatic fire sprinkler system is provided throughout the building and the use of the affected room or space is limited to one grade level at a time and exiting is provided from the room or space that is independent from the exiting system used by students above second grade.
- An approved automatic fire alarm system is installed throughout the building consisting of automatic smoke detection installed throughout the exit system and within all rooms and areas other than classroom and office areas, and the use of the affected room or space is limited to one grade level at a time, and exiting is provided from the room or space that is independent from the exiting system used by students above second grade.
For the purposes of this section, pupils from the second grade down are considered one grade level.
Accessory spaces
Accessory spaces, including spaces used for gymnasiums, cafeterias, media centers, auditoriums, libraries, and band and choir rooms, used on a temporary basis by preschool, kindergarten, first- and second-grade students are permitted to be located one level above or one level below the story of exit discharge, if the building is protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system or an approved corridor smoke detection system.
The following matrix is intended to assist in the application of these provisions:
| CLASSROOM LOCATIONS & CONDITIONS | Pre | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Level of exit discharge (LED) | ||||||||
| - no fire protection | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 1 story above LED (2nd story) | ||||||||
| - no fire protection | np | np | np | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 1 story above LED (2nd story) | ||||||||
| - auto fire alarm & exclusive exits | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 1 story above LED (2nd story) | ||||||||
| - auto sprinkler & exclusive exits | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 2 stories above LED (3rd story) | ||||||||
| - no fire protection | np | np | np | np | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 2 stories above LED (3rd story) | ||||||||
| - auto sprinklers or auto fire alarm -AND- exclusive exits | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 2 stories above LED (3rd story) | ||||||||
| - auto sprinklers & auto fire alarm | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 1 story below LED (basement) | ||||||||
| - exits direct to grade level | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 1 story below LED (basement) | ||||||||
| - auto sprinklers & auto fire alarm | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 1 story below LED (basement) | ||||||||
| - auto sprinklers or auto fire alarm -AND- exclusive exits | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
ok = permitted / np = not permitted / LED = level of exit discharge
Accessory Use Areas: Gyms/Cafeteria/Auditoriums
| ACCESSORY USE AREA LOCATION & CONDITIONS | Pre | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| LED - no fire protection | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 1 story above LED (2nd story) | ||||||||
| - no fire protection | np | np | np | np | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 1 story above LED (2nd story) | ||||||||
| - auto sprinkler or auto fire alarm | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 1 story below LED (basement) | ||||||||
| - no fire protection | np | np | np | np | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| 1 story below LED (basement) | ||||||||
| - auto sprinklers or auto fire alarm | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
ok = permitted / np = not permitted / LED = level of exit discharge