City offices are closed Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day.
Fire Department Permit & Policy Information
- An online permit application submitted by the contractor in the City of Bloomington permitting system: https://permits.bloomingtonmn.gov/prodportal
- Upload plans showing the type and location of cooking equipment, the type and locations of nozzles, and the distance between nozzles and the cooking surfaces and manufacturers specifications for all equipment being installed.
- System must comply with the Minnesota State Fire Code Sections 607 and 904, Minnesota Mechanical Code, and applicable NFPA Standards.
- All deep fat fryers must be installed with at least a 16-inch space between the fryer and surface flames from adjacent equipment, unless an 8-inch steel or tempered glass baffle is installed between the appliances.
- All protected appliances must be located a minimum of 4 inches from the inside vertical edge of the hood.
- All appliances on wheels must have cable restraints
Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems
A wet chemical suppression system with water back up is required in all hood and ducts where cooking produces grease laden vapors. Coverage must include cooking surfaces, deep fat fryers, griddles, upright broilers, char broilers, range tops, ovens and conveyor ovens with grease laden vapors, the enclosed plenum space within the hood above filters and exhaust ducts serving the hood.
Activation of the automatic fire extinguishing system must immediately shut off gas and electric supply to all appliances under the protected hood. Manual gas and electric resets are required.
Wet Chemical With Water Back Up
- Pre-engineered wet chemical systems with water back up must be installed and tested in accordance with UL 300. Other types of suppression systems shall be listed and labeled for specific use as protection for commercial cooking operations.
- All chemical systems must be designed and installed in accordance with the Minnesota State Fire Code and the manufacturers requirements.
- Exhaust ventilation must remain on and the makeup air must shut down upon activation of the system unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer.
- A manual actuation device (pull station) must be located in the path of egress and be a minimum of 10 feet and maximum of 20 feet from the protected hood. The device must be located a minimum of 4-1/2 and a maximum of 5 feet above the floor.
- Suppression systems must be centrally monitored.
- Automatic water shutdown is not approved.
Portable Fire Extinguisher
- A K-class wet chemical fire extinguisher must be installed in a clearly visible and accessible located within 30 feet of cooking equipment.
Contact inspection line at 952-563-8930 to schedule inspections and witnessing tests.
For wet chemical suppression systems, system activation by release of a fusible link and by manual pull station. Exhaust air continues running and makeup air shuts down.
Gas and electric shut down with manual reset.
Verify alarms received by the Central Alarm monitoring company.
Extinguishing systems must be 100% tested prior to calling for an inspection.
Hoods, grease-removal devices, fans, ducts and other appliances shall be cleaned in intervals necessary to prevent the accumulation of grease. Documentation of cleaning shall be maintained on the premises.
Cleanings must be recorded and records shall state the extent, time and date of cleaning. Such records shall be maintained on the premises.
Extinguishing systems must be serviced at least every six months or after activation of the system. Inspections shall be by qualified individuals, and the report shall be forwarded to the Bloomington Fire Prevention Division at fireprevention@bloomingtonmn.gov.
Fusible links must be replaced at least bi-annually, and other protection devices shall be serviced or replaced in accordance with the Minnesota State Fire Code and the manufacturer’s instructions.
Notification Requirements
The Bloomington Fire Prevention Division (952-563-4801) and the Bloomington Health Department (952-563-8934) shall be immediately notified in the event the fire extinguishing system activates or a portable fire extinguisher is discharged in a kitchen.
A Fire Alarm System(s) are intended for life safety should be designed, installed, and maintained to provide indication and warning of abnormal fire conditions. The system should alert building occupants and summon appropriate aid in adequate time to allow for occupants to travel to a safe place and for rescue operations to occur. The Fire Alarm system should be part of a life safety plan that also includes a combination of prevention, protection, egress, and other features particular to that occupancy per the Minnesota State Fire Code. The National Fire Protection Association 72 Standard defines features associated with these systems and also provides information necessary to modify or upgrade an existing system to meet the requirements of a particular system classification. It is ultimately up to the Authority having Jurisdiction to determine the level of modification and/or upgrade required to a fire alarm system(s) when a building is deemed to have immediate hazard(s) to life and property.
Whenever a system is modified or updated, it is vital that the system designer have a thorough understanding of the existing equipment, including its capabilities and the system’s wiring. Where applicable, the software and firmware of existing systems need to be examined to verify compatibility with the new equipment. Often, the existing equipment may be too old to interface easily with the newer technology used in the planned additional equipment. The existing equipment may or may not be able to be modified to conform to current Code requirements leading to the installation of a new fire alarm system.
This page outlines the general requirements for the modifications to the Fire Alarm system(s). Additional information may be required based on the scope of work and will be determined by the Fire Inspector completing the permit review.
All existing and new devices shall be UL listed with the installed panel.
All notification devices in the common areas shall be audible and visual.
Sounding devices in corridors on each floor must be audible in all areas of the building shall be 15 decibels above ambient noise level.
Additional audible and visual devices shall be required if the existing system does not meet the minimum of the Code and Standard.
If applicable: Sounding devices in R occupancies shall be15 decibels above ambient noise level in common areas; 75 decibels minimum at pillow and to not exceed the maximum decibels per NFPA 72.
If the existing wiring has to be replaced, then the system shall be upgraded to meet the requirements of the new system.
All existing and new devices shall be UL listed with the installed panel.
All notification devices in the common areas shall be audible and visual.
Sounding devices in corridors on each floor must be audible in all areas of the building (15 decibels above ambient noise level; 75 decibels minimum at pillow and to not exceed the maximum decibels per NFPA 72). If the minimum decibels cannot be met, then low frequency devices shall be installed.
If the system requires new wiring or considered a change of occupancy, then the new system shall meet the requirements of the State Fire Code, including low frequency devices.
Auxiliary System(s) shall report to the building’s Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP). If the building does not have a FACP, then a new Fire Alarm Panel shall be installed and monitored.
Elevator Recall
Roof Top Units (RTU)
Fire Alarm Systems Monitoring shall meet the State Adopted Fire Code
Specific zone location and device type must be available at the fire alarm panel (i.e. zone map).
If the Fire Alarm Panel is replaced, the system shall be addressable.
Exception: A zoned system may be allowed when it is limited to monitoring a special hazard or small fire sprinkler system only and no other monitored devices.
The Fire Alarm Company 24-hour phone number, account number, and password shall be posted inside of the locked fire alarm panel, along with the owner's name and phone number.
If the fire alarm annunciator requires a code to reset the system, the code shall be shared with the Fire Prevention Division. Any changes of the password shall be reported to the Fire Prevention Division.
If the building contains an automatic sprinkler system, the flow switch must be connected to the fire alarm system if there are 20 or more heads in the system. Also, tamper switches must activate the supervisory signal at the fire alarm panel.
Water flow alarms shall be able to be silenced by the local fire department personnel.
If the stairwell doors are locked from the stair-side the locks will release on the activation of a general alarm, or by manual means of the Fire Alarm Panel.
When a fire alarm system requires repairs or replacement a permit shall be applied for by a state
approved licensed contractor. All documentation shall be submitted with the permit application. No work shall be started until approval of the permit by the Fire Prevention Division. Failure to apply for a permit may result in additional charges.
Note: If there is an emergency fire alarm panel replacement needed, the contractor shall contact the Fire Prevention Division prior to work for authorization.
Permits may be applied for by using the City of Bloomington website under Buildings & Inspections. The permit portal can be found here:https://permits.bloomingtonmn.gov/prodportal.
If in need of assistance, please call 952-563-8930.
Note: When a fire alarm system fails and is in need of a new system(s) or partial system(s) a Fire Watch may be required. See policy on Fire Watch to determine if a watch is required.
The documentation of the design, acceptance, and completion of the modification of system(s) shall comply with the minimum requirements listed. This does not prohibit the addition of additional documents if requested by the Fire Prevention Division.
New Systems:
Plans with Labels for Rooms
Cut Sheets
Battery Calculations
Wiring Diagram
Existing Systems:
Cut Sheets
Anything Over 20 Devices Shall Require a Plan Sheet
When documentation is not available and/or incomplete from the existing system a written narrative providing intent and system description is required. All narrative(s) must be written by the engineer proposing the scope of work.
While the system is in repair, notification shall be given to all occupants within the structure. Notification shall include the date, start time, and end time of the scheduled work. If a fire watch has been ordered, the fire watch shall be in effect during this time.