Committee: Code

2026 Mission:

The mission of the Code Committee is to develop the Minnesota fire code on an ongoing basis and maintain an active posture of participation in the national model code process to provide a forum for the identification, discussion, and preparation of recommendations for fire code-related issues submitted by any interested parties, and to provide for the review of fire code-related decisions.

2026 Report:

This code cycle evaluated emerging fire protection challenges involving lithium-ion batteries and energy storage, electric vehicles, new construction methods, mass timber and other engineered materials, increasingly complex occupancies, residential care environments, alternative fuels and changing approaches to building energy systems.

Minnesota's current fire code is contained in Minnesota Rules, Chapter 7511. The current rules incorporate the 2018 edition of the International Fire Code with Minnesota-specific modifications. The next code will be based upon the 2024 IFC.

2026 Chair: Patrick Farrens, Fire Chief, Rogers 

Bill Beumer, Fire Inspector, Maple Grove
Tom Brace, Representative of the National Fire Sprinkler Association
Lisa Consie, Fire Marshal, Duluth
Scott Futrell, Representative of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers – Minn.
Rick Hauffe, ICC Liaison
Jeff Hemenway, Johnson Controls
Mallory Holmen, Building Official Representative
Thomas Jenson, Deputy State Fire Marshal, State Fire Marshal Division
Roger 'Lars' Larson, Representative of American Institute of Architects – Minn.
Greg Metz, Representative of the Construction Codes and Licensing Division
Dan Moorhead, Representative of American Fire Alarm Association – Minn.
Tom Pitschneider, Fire Marshal, Shakopee
Andy Speltz, Fire Marshal, Red Wing
James Willamette, Building Official Representative
Forrest Williams, Supervisor, State Fire Marshal Division

Moving forward, the MSFCA Code Committee will transition into a steering group, consisting of one Chair and four members. The committee intends to provide code-related guidance and feedback to the MSFCA representatives serving on the Fire Code TAG. This group may also submit change proposals to the TAG based on the needs or desires of the MSFCA.

The transition from the past MSFCA Code Committee to the new TAG was accomplished collaboratively through numerous discussions among the MSFCA Executive Committee, the MSFCA Code Committee Chair, the Minnesota State Fire Marshals' Office, and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. The decision to restructure the fire code adoption process was not taken lightly; however, in a time of heightened scrutiny over codes and code amendment processes, the MSFCA believes the transition to the TAG process adds a layer of public engagement and transparency, building off an already established, solid foundation from the years the MSFCA Code Committee has provided this service.

In a future article, we will release an updated mission statement, an overview of the code adoption process, and additional information regarding the TAG. There are currently four seats open to serve on the restructured code committee. If you are interested, please contact the Code Committee Chair, Patrick Farrens, at [email protected].