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Excelsior Fire District
Minnesota State Fire Code and the
Excelsior Fire District Inspection
Fire Safety & Code Requirements
TENTS OVER 200 SQUARE FEET
The following codes set fourth by the Minnesota State Fire Code (MSFC) apply to tents
having an area in excess of 200 square feet. The following are the most common
Minnesota State Fire Code violations found during Excelsior Fire District inspections of
tents, canopies and other membrane structures. Complete sections for tents, canopies and
other membrane structures can be found in chapter 24 of the Minnesota State Fire Code
and in referenced chapters and codes books. In order to provide a fire safe environment in
a tent larger than 200 square feet the following Minnesota State Fire Code and Excelsior
Fire District requirements shall be followed.
CONTACT INFORMATION REQUIRED
Organization name :
Event name :
Contact:
Tent size/sizes:
Tent location (s):
Dates of operation:
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
A sketch of the tent layout should be provided to the Excelsior Fire District 2 weeks prior
to the event.
Sketch should include the following:
- Indicate exits
- Structures surrounding the tent and approximate distance from the tent to
other tents buildings, and structures included in the event
- Streets, road ways, public way, trails and sidewalks
Inspections
A time for the inspections must be set at least 2 weeks before the event.
It is the responsibility of the event organizers to notify the exhibitors, vendors, and
concessions with tents 200 square feet or more of the inspection time and to provide them
with copies of this letter.
A list of the vendors requiring an inspection must be provided to the Excelsior Fire
District 2 weeks before the event. Include the following information:
1) Exhibitors, vendors, and concessions business name
2) Business address
3) Business owners/operators name(s)
4) Phone number(s)
5) Any special information that applies to the inspection
Recreational Fire Burn Permit
Any type of recreational fire at the event will required an Excelsior Fire District
Recreational Burn Permit turned into the Excelsior Fire District 7 business days before
the event.
EXHIBITORS, VENDORS, AND CONCESSIONS INFORMATION
Exhibitors, vendors, and concessions business must be have their booth, trailer, area
completely set up and ready for their MN State Fire Code Inspection at the time that is
set. This includes exhibitors, vendors, and concessions business that have been inspected
at previous events in the same calendar year. A fee of $50.00 will be applied to those who
are not ready for inspection on the time set. Items can not be sold from individual
exhibitors, vendors, or concessions business to the public until the inspection is complete.
MN State Fire Code 2063
Section 2401.3 Place of assembly. For the purposes of this chapter, a place of assembly
shall include a circus, carnival, fair, tent show, theater, skating rink, dance hall or other
place of assembly in or under which persons gather for any purpose.
2403.7 Inspections. The entire tent shall be inspected to determine that it is in
accordance with the MSFC.
THE TOP 4 MOST COMMON VIOLATIONS FOUND WHEN CONDUCTING
INSPECTIONS FOR A TENT THAT IS LESS THEN 200 SQUARE FEET.
1. Portable Fire Extinguishers must be Present and Current
2. Portable Fire Extinguishers must be Mounted or Secured
3. LP Gas
4. Tents and their Appurtenances shall be Anchored Properly
1. Portable Fire Extinguishers must be Present and Current
Commercial Cooking Equipment
904.11.5 Portable fire extinguishers for commercial cooking equipment. Portable fire
extinguishers shall be provided within 30 foot travel distance of commercial-type
cooking equipment.
Cooking equipment involving vegetable or animal oils or fats shall be protected by a 1.5
gallon Class K portable fire extinguisher
1. For up to four fryers having a maximum cooking medium capacity of 80 pounds.
2. For individual fryers exceeding 6 square feet in surface area.
Portable Class A Class B & Class C Fire Extinguishers
A commercial ABC fire extinguisher that has been inspected, tested, and tagged or is
brand new with in the last 12 months and accompanied with a receipt on site shall be
provided.
Fire extinguishers shall be provided for cooking operations. Cooking equipment
involving vegetable or animal oils or fats shall be protected by a Class K portable fire
extinguisher. For all other purposes each vender shall provide an ABC-5 pound fire
extinguisher.
Note: The Excelsior Fire District requires any exhibitor, vendor, or concessions that
have an open flame, uses electricity and/or has a power supply must provide a fire
extinguisher.
Note: The Excelsior Fire District requires all concessions that are operating in front
of an establishment and/or on the same property must have a fire extinguisher that
is solely assigned for the concession operations. A fire extinguisher designated for an
area within the occupancy can not be taken from an operating businesses and/or
business that is occupied for use in a concessions area.
2. Portable Fire Extinguishers must be Mounted or Secured
906.7 Hanger and Brackets. Hand-held portable fire extinguishers shall be installed on
the hanger or brackets supplied. Hangers and bracket shall be securely anchored to the
mounting surface
Note: To prevent accidental discharge of fire extinguisher (s) The Excelsior Fire
District requires that the fire extinguisher shall be mounted and/or secured to a
stable object with a rope or bungee cord. The extinguisher shall be secure in a
manner that allows it to be readily assessable, not be obstructed, and not required
special operation to access.
901.6.1 Standards. Fire protection systems, alarms systems, and fire extinguishers shall
be inspected, tested and maintained annually in accordance with reference standards
listed in chapter 9. A fire protection system, alarm system, and fire extinguisher must be
tagged with current date of inspection.
Note: Owners and operators of concessions should be aware that in the event of a
cooking, frying, or equipment fire they should turn off the electrical power source,
propane tank, or any other equipments /sources if it is safe enough to do so.
3. LP Gas
2412.1 General. LP-gas equipment such as tanks, piping, hoses, fittings, valves, tubing
and other related components shall be approved. Approved piping shall be of a flexible
type. Ridged piping such as copper is not allowed.
2412.2 Location of containers. LP-gas containers shall be located outside. Safety release
valves shall be pointed away from the tent, air-supported, air-inflated or tensioned
membrane structure, or canopy. Valves shall also be pointed away from pedestrian
pathways and areas where people gather.
2412.3 Protection and security. Portable LP-gas containers, piping, valves and fittings
which are located outside and are being used to fuel equipment inside a tent, airsupported,
air-inflated or tensioned membrane structure, temporary membrane structure
or canopy shall be adequately protected to prevent tampering, damage by vehicles or
other hazards and shall be located in an approved location. Portable LP-gas containers
shall be securely fastened in place to prevent unauthorized movement.
Note: The Excelsior Fire District requires when portable LP-gas or compressed gas
container are on site at any time they must be secured with a chain, nylon tie down
strap, or medal cord. No ropes or bungee cords will be accepted.
4. Tents and their Appurtenances shall be Anchored Properly
2403.9 Anchorage required. Tents and their appurtenances shall be adequately roped,
braced, and anchored to withstand the elements of weather and prevent against
collapsing. All post/legs of the tent must be tied done, anchored, or weighed down to
prevent the tent from lifting on any sides. Documentation of structural stability shall be
furnished to the fire official on request.
Note: For safety purposes the Excelsior Fire District may require certain
precautions be taken around support ropes, guy wires, and stakes.
Tents, Canopies and Other Membrane Structures
2403.8.2 Location Tents, canopies or membranes structures shall not be located within
20 feet of lot lines, buildings, other tents, canopies or membrane structures, parked
vehicles or internal combustible engines. For the purpose of determining required
distance, support ropes and guy wires shall be considered as part of the temporary
membrane structure, tent or canopy.
Note: The Excelsior Fire District may reduce the distance between tents in order to
keep a safety zone maintained around each tent and to limit foot traffic in-between
tents.
Please consult the code official for the Excelsior Fire District for exact tent location (s).
2404.2 Flame propagation performance treatment. Documentation of the approved
testing laboratories certifying that the tent and all it structures are composed of material
meeting the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 or shall be treated with
a flame retardant in an approved manner and meet the same criteria.
This information can be obtained at the time of the inspection or fax to the Excelsior Fire
District at 952-960-1690 Attention: Kellie.
2404.3 Label. Tents shall have a permanently affix label bearing the identification of size
and fabric, and material type.
This information can be obtained at the time of the inspection or fax to the Excelsior Fire
District at 952-960-1690 Attention: Kellie.
Egress and Exits
2403.12 Means of Egress (Exiting). Means of egress for temporary tents shall be in
accordance with distribution of exits and maintenance of exits.
2403.12.1 Distribution. Exit shall be spaced approximately equal intervals around the
perimeter of the tent.
2403.12.6 Exit signs. Exit signs shall be of an approved self-luminous type or shall be
internally or externally illuminated.
2403.12.7 Means of egress illumination. Means of egress illumination shall be
illuminated having the intensity of not less than 1 foot candle (11 lux) at floor level while
the structure is occupied. 1 foot candle is the same light as a full moon on a clear night.
2403.12.8 Maintenance of means of egress (Exits). The required width of the exits,
aisles and passageways shall be maintained at all times to public way. Guy wires, guy
ropes, ands other support members shall not cross a means of egress at a height of less
than 8 feet. The surface of means of egress shall be maintained in an approved manner.
Ice/ and snow shall not be allowed to build up in egress areas.
Precautions Against Fire
2404.6 Smoking. Smoking shall not be permitted in tents. Approved “No Smoking”
signs shall be conspicuously posted.
2404.7 Open or exposed flame. Open flame or other devices emitting flame, fire or heat
or any flammable or combustible liquids, gas, charcoal or other cooking devise or any
other unapproved devices shall not be permitted inside or located within 20 feet of the
tent while open to the public unless approved by the fire code official.
Note: No lit candles
2404.11 Clearance. There shall be a minimum clearance of at least 3 feet between the
fabric envelope (walls and ceiling of the tent) and all contents located inside the tent.
2404.22 Waste material. The floor surface inside tents and the grounds outside and with
in a 30 foot perimeter shall be kept clear of combustible waste. Such waste shall be store
in approved containers until removed from the premises.
Food Preparations
2404.15.3 Location. Cooking and heating equipment shall not be located within 10 feet
of exits or combustible materials
2404.15.4 Operations. Operations such as warming of foods and similar operations that
use solid flammables, butane or other similar devises which do not pose an ignition
hazard shall be approved.
2404.15.5 Cooking tents. Tents where cooking is performed shall be separate from other
tents by a minimum of 20 feet.
2404.15.6 Outdoor cooking. Outdoor cooking that produces sparks or grease-laden
vapors shall not be preformed with in 20 feet of the tent.
Heat Producing Equipment
2411.1 Installation. Heating or cooking equipment, tanks, piping, hoses, fittings, valves,
tubing and other related components shall be installed as specified in the International
Mechanical Code and the International Fuel Gas Code, and shall be approved by the
code official.
Heaters
Torpedo style and tank mounted space heaters are not allowed to be used in tents. Use of
an unapproved heater can result in a citation. Approved tent heaters and/or approved
indoor/outdoor heaters are allowed to be used in tents and manufactures instruction must
be followed. All heaters in use must be UL approved.
Patio heaters that are UL approved can be used and manufactures instructions must be
followed.
Flammable & Combustible Liquids (gas)
2413.1 Use. Flammable-liquid-fueled equipment shall not be used in tents, air-supported,
air-inflated or tensioned membrane structures, temporary membrane structures or
canopies.
2413.2 Flammable and combustible liquid storage. Flammable and combustible
liquids shall be stored outside in an approved manner not less than 50 feet (15 240 mm)
from tents, air-supported, air-inflated or tensioned membrane structures, temporary
membrane structures or canopies.
2413.3 Refueling. Refueling shall be performed in an approved location not less than 20
feet (6096 mm) from tents, air-supported, air-inflated or tensioned membrane structures,
temporary membrane structures or canopies.
Generators
2404.19 Separation of generator. Generators and other internal combustion power
sources shall be separated from tents, air-supported, air inflated or tensioned membrane
structures, temporary membrane structures or canopies by a minimum of 20 feet
(6096mm) and shall be isolated from contact with the public by fencing, enclosure or
other approved means.
Note: The Excelsior Fire District requires that generators be protected from any
type of impact and damage.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Excelsior Fire District Fire
Inspector, Kellie Murphy-Ringate at 952-960-1692 or e-mail
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Revised: January 24, 2011
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Fire Safety|Code|Permit 
EFD Requirements For Tents Over 200sqft - PDF