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City of Woodbury
8301 Valley Creek Road Woodbury, MN 55125 (651) 714-3500 |
 
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Residential Smoke Alarm Requirements
Minnesota Statute 299F.32 Requirements
- Every dwelling and dwelling unit must be provided with a smoke detector that meets the requirements of the Minnesota State Fire Code. This includes single family homes, townhouses, apartment, hotels (containing six or more guest rooms), lodging houses (containing five or less guest rooms), and similar occupancies.
- Smoke detectors must be mounted in accordance with the requirements of the Minnesota State Fire Code.
- When activated, the smoke detector must sound an alarm in the dwelling unit.
- In new construction, smoke detectors must be directly connected to the dwelling's central power source.
- The owner of the occupancy is responsible for the maintenance of the smoke detector.
- Occupants are required to inform the owner of a nonfunctioning smoke detector within 24 hours of discovering that the detector is not functioning.
- It is a misdemeanor for an occupant to willfully disable a smoke detector, or cause it to be nonfunctioning, if such an action results in damage or injury to persons or property.
Minnesota State Fire Code Requirements:
- In homes built prior to March 31, 2003. Smoke detectors must be installed in hallways or areas which provide access to each separate sleeping area.
- In homes built on or after March 31, 2003. A smoke detector must be installed in each sleeping room in addition to a point centrally located in the corridor or area providing access to each separate sleeping area. Where more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed in a single family home, the smoke alarms must be interconnected so that the activation of one alarm will activate all the alarms in the home.
- In homes constructed prior to August 1, 1989. Smoke detectors may be battery powered only.
- In homes constructed on or after August 1, 1989 and before March 31, 2003. Smoke detectors must hard-wired to the home's permanent primary wiring, without a disconnecting switch. When new bedrooms are created, the detector in the new bedroom must receive its primary power supply from a centralized power source and be equipped with a battery backup.
- In homes constructed on or after March 31, 2003. Smoke detectors must receive their power from the home's permanent primary wiring when such wiring is served from a commercial source and be equipped with a battery backup.
- Smoke detector location and spacing must be as follows, in addition to the manufacturer's instructions:
- Smoke detectors must be mounted on the ceiling at least 4 inches from a wall or on a wall with the top of the detector not less than 4 inches, or more than 12 inches, below the ceiling.
- A smoke detector installed in the basement must be located in close proximity to the stairway leading to the floor above.
- Smoke detectors must not be installed within kitchens, garages, or in other spaces where temperatures can fall below 32 degrees F, or exceed 100 degrees F.
- Smoke detectors must not be located within 3 feet of supply registers of a forced air heating or cooling system, and doors to a kitchen or bathroom with a tub or shower.
- For peaked ceilings, the smoke detector must be installed within 3 feet of the peak.
Smoke Alarm Replacement
The Minnesota State Fire Marshal recommends that smoke alarms be replaced when they have been in use for more than 10 years or when the alarm fails to respond to testing. Other conditions also may cause an alarm to be less effective. To learn more about testing and replacing a smoke alarm, visit the State Public Safety Department's Web site.
Smoke Detector Recall
Some First Alert® smoke alarms and combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms were recalled in May 2006 due to rapidly draining battery power. Visit the links below for more information.
For questions or concerns related to residential smoke alarm requirements, contact the city Fire Marshal by e-mail at mbent@ci.woodbury.mn.us or by calling the Inspections Division at (651) 714-3543.