All schools built in Maine must conform to the state fire code. In 2007, the state adopted the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) uniform fire code by reference. The codes adopted from NFPA include standards for insulation, building materials, entries and exits that help to ensure buildings are sufficiently fire-resistant and can be evacuated easily in the event of a fire. Additionally, NFPA codes mandate the installation of sprinkler systems in schools. In addition to the uniform fire codes, the state Dormitory Law requires the installation of sprinkler systems in higher education institutions like the University of Maine system and related facilities.
All of the regular health codes for public places apply to Maine's schools. These are codified in Title 22 of the Maine statutes and include provisions for disease control, food preparation and minimum standards of cleanliness. Additionally, the health codes of Title 22 regulate the water supplied to schools and the placement of bathrooms, alongside sections of the building code. Health codes that apply specifically to schools are adopted in Title 20-A of the Maine Statutes, which set standards for the safe operation of schools. These codes empower school administrations to exclude children from public schools that constitute a threat to human health. School administrations must provide nutritional education, substance abuse programs, sanitary facilities, and school physicians under Title 20-A. Immunizations for disease are also required of all children before they may attend Maine's public schools.
The state of Maine regulates schools to provide for a minimum degree of student safety. Building safety requirements are governed generally by Maine's model building code, which was enacted in 2004 and has subsequently been adopted by municipal governments around the state. Some of Maine's school safety provisions are also enacted in Title 20-A of the Maine Statutes, alongside the health codes. Safety codes for Maine schools prohibit the carrying of firearms within 500 feet of a school property and prohibit hazing--rituals compelled by older students of younger students that potentially threaten their safety. These safety codes also specifically ban school officials from selling or encouraging the use of performance-enhancing drugs by student athletes.