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. 

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:

1. The building is protected throughout with an approved automatic fire sprinkler system.
2. 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 need to 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.

This table can help make sure the rules are followed. 

Classrooms

Classroom locations and conditions	Pre	K	1	2	3	4	5	6
Exit level
No fire protection	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK
Second story
No fire protection	No	No	No	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK
Second story
Auto fire alarm & exclusive exits	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK
Second story
Auto sprinkler & exclusive exits	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK
Third story
No fire protection	No	No	No	No	OK	OK	OK	OK
Third story
Auto sprinklers or auto fire alarm and exclusive exits	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK
Third story
Auto sprinklers & auto fire alarm	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK
Basement
Exits direct to grade level	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK
Basement
Auto sprinklers & auto fire alarm	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK
Basement
Auto sprinklers or auto fire alarm and exclusive exits	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK

Gyms/cafeteria/auditoriums

Accessory use area location and conditions	Pre	K	1	2	3	4	5	6
Exit level: no fire protection	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK
Second story
No fire protection	No	No	No	No	OK	OK	OK	OK
Second story
Auto sprinkler or auto fire alarm	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK
Basement
No fire protection	No	No	No	No	OK	OK	OK	OK
Basement
Auto sprinklers or auto fire alarm	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK	OK