STANDARD the

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE BUILDING CODES AND STANDARDS DIVISION

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION • 408 METRO SQUARE BUILDING
121 7TH PLACE EAST • ST. PAUL MN 55101 • VOL. 1, NO. 7

October 2002

Did we
Elevator Safety
staff grows with see you
ADA, high-rises at the
O
ur booth at the State

O Fair?
nce a curiosity, elevators Fair drew fairgoers with
have been popping up (sorry) remodeling questions.
all over Minnesota in the 30 Top, investigator Mike Happ
years that their construction has answered a question from
been overseen by the State Building homeowners. Right, St. Paul electrical
Code. Starting with one state inspec- inspector Ron Mader discussed
tor in 1973 and adding a sixth this electricity with a couple. Below, build-
year, everything about elevator ing code representative Jim Fallon
construction signals growth. The advised a fairgoer on a sticky issue.
1990 Americans with Disabilities
Act, which requires public buildings
to be accessible to people with disa-
bilities, had a large impact on the
demand for elevators. Such high-
tech conveniences as the “inclined
elevators” (automated people
movers) at the Minneapolis – St. Paul

Elevator team Page 3

BULLETIN: EXAMS at ANNUAL SCHOOL State building official certification exams will be given Friday morning, Jan.
17, 2003, at the annual Building Official Institute at the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus. For details or to register,
call Mike Fricke at (651) 205-4802 or Rich Lockrem at (651) 205-4803.
 An elevator
inspector’s
typical day
at work
A
typical day in
the work life of
state elevator
inspectors involves a lot
of people contact. For
example, they:
• answer phone calls from
elevator contractors,
subcontractors, and
designers seeking
information about
elevator safety rules.
• call elevator contractors
to schedule inspections
and re-inspections.
ELEVATOR TEAM Supervisor Elroy Berdahl sits in front of his Elevator Safety
group, from left, Renee Gavin, Jerry Saarenpaa, Matt Piper, • conduct onsite
Darren DeJoy, John Roche, Mark Johnson, and Bill Reinke. Elroy’s best guess is that the number inspections, looking
of elevators in the state has at least quadrupled in the past 30 years. The state inspectors are at life-safety aspects
responsible for more than 25,000 elevators in the state. In fiscal year 2001, the team issued in everything from a
1,017 permits and conducted 1,416 inspections; in fiscal year 2002, they issued 904 permits and residential stair chair or
conducted 1,233 inspections. a wheelchair platform to
multiple passenger and

The term
freight elevators in high-
rise buildings.
INSPECTOR REGIONS
‘elevator’
• issue elevator permits
after they have reviewed
a contractor’s application

includes. . .
NORTHEASTERN for construction or
Jerry Saarenpaa alteration of an elevator.
• investigate accidents
NORTHWESTERN involving elevators.
Matt Piper • escalators • investigate public, tenant,
TWIN CITIES • passenger/freight elevators and employee complaints
North - Mark • residential stair chairs involving elevators.
Johnson • dumbwaiters • “red tag” an elevator
South - Bill out of service if its
Reinke • vertical reciprocating
SOUTHWESTERN conveyors
equipment is unsafe.
Darren DeJoy
• hand-powered elevators
SOUTHEASTERN • endless-belt lifts
John Roche • wheelchair platform lifts
• moving walks

International Airport continue the growth
trend. High-rise building construction has
also called for more elevators.
At the Building Codes and Standards
Division, the six elevator inspectors,
supported by an administrative staff
member and their supervisor, are kept busy
performing key responsibilities assigned
to them by law: monitoring and issuing
permits for the construction of new or
altered elevators from the plan review
phase through the
final inspection of the
completed project,
and investigating
reported elevator-
related accidents and
complaints.
The state
elevator safety
team is supervised
ELROY BERDAHL by Elroy Berdahl,
who has been
with the division for 30 years and
before that worked for the State Board
of Electricity. He began supervising
the section when it was transferred to
Building Codes 10 years ago. Renee
Gavin, with 28 years of state service
and new to BCSD
this year, provides
the section’s
ELEVATOR TEAM
Continued from Page 1
of the state. Northwestern Minnesota is pursued QEI professional certification
Matt Piper’s region, Jerry Saarenpaa has for all of its inspectors.
the Northeastern corner, Darren DeJoy
Southwestern, John Roche Southeastern,
Mark Johnson the northern Twin Cities
metropolitan area, and Bill Reinke the
southern metro.
State law allows any Minnesota
municipality to establish its own
administrative authority for elevators;
Minneapolis and St. Paul have their
own elevator safety sections. The state DARREN DEJoy MARK JOHNSON
performs inspections throughout the
remainder of the state.
Onsite inspections can get hairy.
Standing on the “roof” of an elevator
car to watch the cables in operation is
a dangerous, dirty, but critical, function
an elevator inspector performs. All of
the state inspectors are members of the
National Association of Elevator Safety
Authority International, a professional MATT PIPER BILL REINKE
organization that provides “Qualified
Elevator Inspector” (QEI) certification
training and testing, conducts workshops,
and provides classroom training on topical
elevator subjects. John Roche was elected
to the association’s board of directors
at the August 2002 annual meeting in
Cleveland. The standardization of safety
codes for elevators is a key long-range
goal of the organization. Minnesota has JOHN ROCHE JERRY SAARANPAA

Meet the elevator inspectors

support services.
She maintains
the computerized

mailing lists,
handles correspon-
dence, enters
inspectors’ reports,
RENEE GAVIN
prepares project files
for the inspectors to take into the field,
creates and mails permits, and serves as
liaison between Elroy and the inspectors.
Renee is the person to contact if you
want to be on the section’s mailing list
for bulletins. Her e-mail address is:
renee.gavin@state.mn.us
or you can send a written request to her
at the division’s Metro Square office in
St. Paul.
The inspectors work in six regions
A
ll of the division’s state elevator Matt Piper has been a state elevator
inspectors are fully trained in inspector since 1989 and has 12 years
elevator safety according to previous experience as an elevator
ASME A17.1 and are knowledgeable in foreman.
the UBC and ADA codes as they pertain
Bill Reinke joined the division in 2000
to elevators. They all take continuing after 22 years with the National Elevator
education classes to maintain their
Industry.
elevator electrical license.
John Roche joined the division in 1997
Darren DeJoy has been with the division after 12 years in elevator construction,
since 1999. He has spent 19 years in the repair, and service.
elevator industry.
Jerry Saarenpaa has been a state
Mark Johnson joined the division earlier elevator inspector since 1995 and
this year, after five years as an elevator
for 20 years before that was in
inspector for the City of Minneapolis and private elevator construction.
13 years of previous field experience.
3
HUD amends CFR’s smoke alarm
requirements for manufactured homes
U.S.
HUD’s Code of Federal Regulations 3280,
“Manufactured Home Construction and Safety
Standards,” is the standard that manufactured
homes are constructed to in the United States.
HUD has amended Section 3280.208,
“Fire detection equipment,”
effective Sept. 16, 2002.
When manufactured
homes are installed in a
municipality’s jurisdiction
Manufactured
home code
and show a manufacture
date of Sept. 16, 2002, or
newer on the data plate,
the home must comply with matters
the amended smoke alarm
requirements. Data plates are
required on all HUD-labeled homes as per
CFR 3280.5 and must indicate the date of manufacture
on the data plate. The changes to 3280.208 are:
‘Smoke detector’ → ‘Smoke alarm’
Section 3280.208 replaces the term “smoke detector” with the
term “smoke alarm.”
Updated reference
Section 3280.208 (a) is updated to refer to the most recent
version of the incorporated standard.
Protection for living and kitchen areas
Section 3280.208 (b)(1)(i) requires at least one smoke alarm
to protect the living and kitchen areas, whether the areas are
separate or combined. If a smoke alarm is installed within
20 feet of a cooking appliance, the rule requires either that
the smoke alarm include a temporary silencing feature (hush
button) or that the smoke alarm be of a photoelectric type.
Whenever possible, the alarm should be located in the living
area and remote from the kitchen and cooking appliances.
Alarms in all sleeping rooms
Section 3280.208 (b)(1)(ii) requires manufacturers to install a
smoke alarm in each room “designed for sleeping.”
Two choices for stairway alarms
Section 3280.208 (b)(1)(iii) permits, exclusive of the base-
ment, the required stairway smoke alarms in multi-story
homes to be installed on the ceiling near the top of the
stairway or above the stairway for field installation and
4 interconnection of the required smoke alarm.
Homes with basements
Section 3280.208 (b)(2) requires each manufacturer to
provide, but not necessarily to install, a smoke alarm for every
home designed to be placed over a basement. The
manufacturer must install an electrical
junction box that accommodates
the installation and
interconnection of the
basement smoke alarm.
The instructions and
information provided
by the manufacturer
for the installer and
homeowner must make it
clear that the smoke alarm is to
be installed on the basement ceiling
near the stairway.
Ceiling mounts
Section 3280.208 (c)(1, 2, 3) permits manufacturers to mount
smoke alarms on ceilings, except in rooms with peaked
sloping or shed sloping ceilings of more than 1.5/12. Smoke
alarms must be mounted on the ceiling within three feet,
measured horizontally, of the high side of the ceiling and not
closer than four inches from any adjoining wall surface and
from any projecting structural element.
Hard wiring and battery back-up
Section 3280.208 (d)(1)(i and ii) requires that each smoke
alarm be powered by the home’s electrical system and be
provided with a battery back-up, or, alternatively, to be
powered by a battery with a 10-year life.
Alarms sharing electrical circuit
Section 3280.208 (d)(2) clarifies that more than one smoke
alarm may be placed on the same electrical circuit.
Alarms interconnected
Section 3280.208 (d)(3) requires that mandated smoke alarms
be interconnected so that operation of any one alarm activates
all other required alarms in the manufactured home.
U.S. Energy determines that energy
standard 90.1 - 1999 is improvement
T •
he U.S. Department of Energy DOE estimates that, if all states adopt
(DOE) has determined that
Standard 90.1 – 1999, formu-
the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – 1999, which
is a model energy code for commercial What this means
for Minnesota
lated by the American Society of buildings, and if all new buildings comply
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-
Conditioning Engineers, will
improve commercial building In setting up the procedures for the
energy efficiency and Department of Energy to determine
make building code the adoption of ASHRAE 90.1
compliance easier for
architects, builders, and
Energy code – 1999, the U.S. Congress has
acknowledged the importance of
code officials. By redu-
cing energy use, the 1999 matters energy efficiency to this country.
Energy efficiency in commercial
standard will also reduce and residential buildings has been a
power plant emissions and concern in Minnesota since the mid-

SHORTS
benefit the environment, according to 1970s.
DOE officials. “The Energy Office has certified
to DOE standards twice before under
with it, building owners and tenants would
previous levels of codes,” according
lower their utility bills by $110 million the
to Bruce Nelson, engineer with the
first year and cumulatively save $5.7 billion
Minnesota Department of Commerce’s
after 10 years. The country would save 16
State Energy Office. “We have always met
trillion Btu of energy that first year and
the standards that were required.”
almost 800 trillion Btu, or the equivalent
The Minnesota Building Codes and
of 130 million barrels of oil, cumulatively
Standards Division is forming an energy
over 10 years.
code advisory committee with broad
On July 15, DOE published its

C
representation to recommend updates
ongratulations to the state’s determination in the Federal Register
to the state’s energy code. Minnesota’s
recently designated building that Standard 90.1 – 1999 would improve
code has always been among the most
officials: commercial building energy efficiency by
advanced in the nation, according to
• Dan Marthaler – Osakis comparing it with Standard 90.1 – 1989,
Building Codes’ energy specialist, Don
fulfilling DOE’s mandate under the Energy
• Pam Swanson – Baxter Sivigny. ASHRAE’s 90.1 – 1989 standard
Conservation Policy Act, as amended. As
is incorporated in today’s Minnesota
required by the act, all states have two
. . . and BCSD has two new staff Energy Code. The 1999 version will be
years to adopt the standard or upgrade
members – Mark Johnson in reviewed along with the Model Energy
Elevator Safety their existing commercial building codes
Code and the Building Code of Canada,
and Benny Svien to meet or exceed its requirements. The
among others, by the new committee,
in Manufactured standard applies to all new commercial
which will be formed this fall.
Structures. Mark’s buildings and all major remodeling
background is or renovation of existing commercial
buildings. You may contact Don Sivigny, Building
detailed on Page 3.
Standard 90.1 – 1999 was developed Codes’ energy specialist, at (651) 297-
Benny, a building MARK JOHNSON
over 10 years under an American National 3600 (voice), (651) 297-1973 (fax), or
code representative,
Standards Institute consensus process, Don.Sivigny@state.mn.us (e-mail).
is a former building
official in Scott by a committee of 50 individuals and
County and has 30- organizations representative of all parties
plus years’ experience
in the construction
industry. BENNY SVIEN
interested in commercial building codes. The
Illuminating Engineering Society of North
America is a joint sponsor of the standard.
5
 STANDARD
Prsrt Std

THE
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 171
St. Paul, MN
Minnesota’s newsletter for the building industry
THE BUILDING CODES AND STANDARDS DIVISION
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION
408 METRO SQUARE BUILDING • 121 7TH PLACE E. • ST. PAUL MN 55101
WEB SITE WWW.ADMIN.STATE.MN.US/BUILDINGCODES

VOICE (651) 296-4639 • FAX (651) 297-1973 • E-MAIL EDITOR MARY.WILLIAMS@STATE.MN.US • THIS NEWSLETTER IS AVAILABLE IN
ALTERNATIVE FORMATS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH THE MINNESOTA RELAY SERVICE AT 1-800-627-3529

Proposed rules are on the Web

The Building Codes and Standards Division’s Web site contains a complete set of the draft proposed
rules for your review. Go to www.admin.state.mn.us/buildingcodes and click on “Building Code
Rules.” You need an Adobe Acrobat reader to gain access to the files. Watch this newsletter for
updates as we move toward adoption of the new State Building Code.

CALENDAR
Oct. 2 – Maplewood – State Build- AIA on mechanical ventilation
ing Codes and Standards Fall and moisture. Contact Deanna
Seminar on administration and Christiansen at (612) 338-6763.
existing buildings. Contact Don
Sivigny at (651) 297-3600. Oct. 23 – Duluth – State Building
Codes and Standards Fall
Oct. 3 – Maplewood – State Building on IBC. Contact Don Sivigny at Seminar on administration and existing
Codes and Standards Fall Seminar (651) 297-3600. buildings. Contact Don Sivigny at (651)
on IBC. Contact Don Sivigny at 297-3600.
Oct. 16 – Burnsville – State Building
(651) 297-3600.
Codes and Standards Fall Seminar Oct. 24 – Duluth – State Building
Oct. 4 – Detroit Lakes – State Build- on administration and existing Codes and Standards Fall Seminar on
ing Codes and Standards presenta- buildings. Contact Don Sivigny at IBC. Contact Don Sivigny at (651) 297-
tion for Northwest Chapter of (651) 297-3600. 3600.
Building Officials on energy field
Oct. 17 – Burnsville – State Building Oct. 30 – Plymouth – State Building
inspections. Contact Ryan Whiting
Codes and Standards Fall Seminar Codes and Standards Fall Seminar on
at (218) 759-3560.
on IBC. Contact Don Sivigny at administration and existing buildings.
Oct. 5 – St. Paul – Building official (651) 297-3600. Contact Don Sivigny at (651) 297-
certification exams. Contact Rich 3600.
Oct. 17 – Maplewood – North Star/Lake
Lockrem at (651) 205-4803.
Country Chapters education seminar Oct. 31 – Plymouth – State Building
Oct. 9 – Detroit Lakes – State Building on the energy code. Contact Keith Codes and Standards Fall Seminar on
Codes and Standards Fall Seminar Willie at (651) 464-3550. IBC. Contact Don Sivigny at (651) 297-
on administration and existing 3600.
Oct. 18 – Detroit Lakes – Building
buildings. Contact Don Sivigny at
official certification exams. Contact Oct. 31 – Grand Rapids – Building
(651) 297-3600.
Rich Lockrem at (651) 205-4803. official certification exams. Contact
Oct. 10 – Detroit Lakes – State Building Mike Fricke at (651) 205-4802.
Oct. 22 – St. Paul – State Building Codes
Codes and Standards Fall Seminar
and Standards Division seminar for