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Fire Safety Requirements A home inspection by a fire marshal is required if: 1. The residence is a mobile home. 2. A wood burning stove is used. 3. The basement is used for day care. 4. The home has an attached garage (mixed occupancy). 5. The home is a multiple dwelling (duplex, apartment building, etc.) If the home does not meet one of these triggers, the fire inspection will be conducted by a licensing specialist. LIFE SAFETY CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR DAY CARE HOMES 1. A 2A10BC or larger fire extinguisher must be provided for the kitchen area. 2. Smoke detectors must be installed and operable on each level. 3. Outlet covers are required in all areas occupied by children and not covered by furniture. 4. Operable flashlight must be available. 5. Unvented room heaters are prohibited (kerosene heaters, LP gas heaters, etc.). 6. Closet doors must be able to be opened from the inside. 7. Bathroom doors must be able to be opened from the outside, and any special opening tools must be readily available. 8. Rooms used for child care should have one door and at least one escape window. The window must be no more than 44" form the floor and have a clear opening area of no less than 5.7 square feet. The window must be at least 20" wide and at least 25" high. 9. Fireplaces and woodburning stoves shall be guarded to protect children from hot surfaces. A guard must be securely mounted around the woodburner to prevent children from touching the hot surface. This is necessary only if the woodburner is used during the hours when children are in care and is located in an area accessible to children. ---PAGE BREAK--- 10. The chimney must be a class A rated chimney and the pipe from the stove to the chimney can be no less than 18" from the ceiling. The stove may be no closer than 36" from any combustibles (wall, furniture, drapes, etc.). 11. Fire walls are required between a house and attached garage. A fire wall consists of ⅝" sheet rock from floor to roof. 12. A fire door must be in place between a house and attached garage. Fire doors must be equipped with a self-closing device. Fire doors may be 1 ⅜" solid wood or a metal door with a fire resistance rating of 20 minutes of more. 13. The flame spread of the interior finish must be rated A, B, or C and have a spread rating of 200 or less. This applies primarily to mobile homes and in areas such as paneled family rooms and connecting stairways or hallways. The flame spread rating can be obtained by writing to the manufacturer. Also most paneling has the flame spread rating stamped on the back. If the flame spread does not meet the code, the interior can be protected with a flame retardant paint or varnish. Mobile homes manufactured in Minnesota after July 1972 or under federal codes after 1976 should pass the flame spread requirement.