Contractor's Guide to the Minnesota Residential Code

Most contractors do not have access to a Minnesota residential code book or, if they do, they do not know how to navigate it. In many cases finding the proper section in the code can be a daunting and time-consuming task. This course will address common code questions and concerns that arise in the field. In addition, the instructor will discuss some of the more obscure and less common portions of the code. This course will also address energy code provisions.

Topics will include but not limited to:

• Key definitions
• Fire resistive construction as it relates to wall location and property lines ,2 family dwellings and garages
• Fire protection of floors
• Interior and exterior stairway illumination
• Safety glazing locations
• Emergency escape openings
• Stairways, guardrails lofts and ships ladder
• Mezzanines
• Roof framing, roofing, and re-roofing
• Envelope criteria and options / Energy code and existing buildings

• Introduction
  • Course description
  • Intent of the material presented.
• Definitions
• Chapter 4 Foundations
  • Soils
    • Identifying soils
    • Soil bearing capacity Table 401.4.1
  • Surface drainage
  • Soil tests
  • Footings
    • Footing strength (table 402.2)
    • Footing size (table 403.1(1)
    • Footing options
  • Sill Plates
    • Size
    • Anchor bolt Attachment
    • Anchor bolt Spacing (table 404.1(1)
  • Foundation Wall design
    • 3 components of foundation wall design
    • Wall height
    • Soil type
    • Height of unbalanced backfill
      • Table 404.1.2(1) 8” masonry
      • Table 404.1.2 (3) 8” poured
      • Details of Reinforcing (Table 404.1.2 (1)
• Chapter 5 Floor Framing
  • Deflection criteria
    • Calculation formula for deflection
    • Allowable deflection (Table R301.7)
  • Floor Joist span
    • Table 502.3.1(2)
• Chapter 6 Wall Framing
  • 602.7 headers
    • Exterior wall Header spans table 602.7.(1)
    • Interior Wall header spans table 602.7(2)
    • Rim Board Headers 602.7.2
  • Advanced framing techniques
• Chapter 8 Roof framing
  • Roof trusses
    • Truss drawing design review
  • R806.5 Unvented attic assemblies (hot roofs)
• Chapter 9 Roof Assemblies (roofing)
  • 903.2 Flashing
    • Where required
    • Type of flashing
  • 905.1.2 Ice Barriers
  • Asphalt shingles
    • Flashings
• R908 Reroofing
  • Roof Replacement
  • Roof Recover
• Chapter 3 Fire Resistance Rated Construction
  • Fire separation distance Table 302.1(1)
    • Projections
    • Openings
  • R302.3 Two Family dwellings
    • With lot line
    • Without lot line
  • R302.5 Garage separation
    • Opening protection
    • Duct penetrations
    • Wall Fire separation Table 302.6
  • R302.12 Draftstopping
    • Floor ceiling construction
    • Materials
  • R3032.13 Fire protection of floors
  • R303.7 & R303.8 stairway illumination interior and exterior
• R308 Glazing
  • Hazardous glazing locations
    • R308.4.1 doors
    • R308.4.2 Glazing adjacent doors
    • R308.4.3 Glazing in windows
    • R308.4.5 Glazing and wet areas
    • R308.4.6 Glazing adjacent stairs and ramps
    • R308.4.7 Glazing adjacent bottom of the stair landing
• R310 Emergency escape and rescue openings (egress windows)
  • R310.1 Where required
  • R310..1. Operational constraints
  • R310.2.4 Windows under decks
  • R310.2.5 Replacement windows
• R311.7 Stairways
  • R311.7.1.2 Width
  • R311.7.2 Headroom
  • R311.7.5.1 Risers
  • R311.7.5.2 Treads
  • R311.7.6 Landings
• R311.7.8 Handrails                                                                       
  • R311.7.8.1 Height
  • R311.7.8.4 continuity
• R311.7.11 Alternating tread devices
  • R311.7.11.1 treads of Alternating tread devices
  • R311.7.11.2 handrails alternating tread devices
• R311.7.12 Ships ladders
  • Where allowed
  • R311.7.12.1 Treads
  • R311.7.12.2 Handrails
• R312 Guards
  • R312.1.1 Where required
  • R312.12.1.2 Height
  • R312.12.1.3 Openings
• R312.12.2 Window fall protection.
• R325 Mezzanines
  • R325.2 Clear Height
  • R325.3 Area
  • R325.5 Openness
• Energy code
  • Envelope criteria and options
  • Energy code and existing buildings
• Summary-Questions

• Recognize common code questions and concerns that arise in the field
• Better understand the 2020 Minnesota Residential Codes and code book
• Identify some of the more obscure and less common portions of the code

This course has been approved for six hours of MN residential contractor, remodeler, and building official continuing education by the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry, including the required energy credit This course has also been approved for six hours of WI Dwelling Contractor Qualifier CE by the Wisconsin Dept. of Safety & Professional Services. 

If you are eligible to receive continuing education credits, your information will be electronically reported to the appropriate agency within 3 business days of course completion.

A quiz is not required for those attending for Minnesota contractor, building official, and Realtor continuing education, or Wisconsin continuing education. Students attending for International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) CEU(s) must complete a quiz following the course and achieve 70% correct answers.

Questions and comments related to the curriculum for this course may be submitted to the instructor at education@housingfirstmn.org.