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1. A renewed, refined codes report. Introducing the WCCR.
2. New building and fire codes will make a difference
3. Hearing on Plumbing Code changes is February 13
4. Notice of Public Hearing, Changes Related to the Plumbing Code
5. Upcoming training related to new fire code
6. Fire Prevention Delegated Agents
7. John Lippitt resigns from S&B fire position
8. UDC education
9. Fire Alarm Education
10. Division staff take temporary assignments
11. Several reminders about plan reviews and code applicability during the transition to a new Commercial Building Code
12. POWTS Education
13. POWTS Intent to Monitor reminder
14. UW-Small Scale Waste Management Project Winter Educational Sessions
15. No new UDC commentary
16. On S&B's WebSite, search for an individual credential status, con ed, or view lists
17. BOCA offers code courses

  1. A renewed, refined codes report. Introducing the WCCR.
by Todd Taylor, Safety and Buildings Division Publications Editor, ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-267-3606 To meet the challenges of change in Wisconsin's codes and to respond positively to our unsettled economics, this is the first edition of the Wisconsin Construction Codes Report, published by the Safety and Buildings Division of the state Department of Commerce. The publication will be a combination of the previous Wisconsin Plumbing Codes Report and Wisconsin Building Codes Report. All people who received either of the two codes reports will receive the new WCCR. S&B needs to concentrate on being efficient and useful in providing information to the customers with whom the division works. About thirty percent of the information in the two previous publications was neccessary duplication because the messages pertain to both audiences. Articles in the WCCR will be shorter to save readers time and to get more directly to the point. The new report will reflect the intention to provide crisp, timely information. There also is a need to respond to the state's unsettled economics. Dollars and staff hours will be saved in producing the new WCCR. S&B's revenue is down. Tax dollars must be watched even more closely than ever. The conserved hours will be used for more development of the S&B Internet WebSite and for more outreach to building owners and the public with information supporting the various S&B programs. For example, outreach is needed in support of testing cross connection devices and to reinforce licensing and permitting systems. In many programs, there can be more focus on maintenance requirements. February 2002, with the publication of the WCCR, is a good time for S&B to shake off cobwebs and try to make the new publication a sharpened "tool."   2. New building and fire codes will make a difference
by Jim Quast, S&B Program Manager Visualize how things have changed since the people of Wisconsin created their first Commercial Building Code in 1914. That almost unbelievable difference is representative of why Wisconsin has adopted new Commercial Building and Fire Prevention Codes. The importance of the new codes may not be extremely visible to everyone on Main Street in our state, however, the new codes do make a difference. Since 1914, many new construction products have enhanced safety and building system efficiency. Also since 1914, knowledge of how things in the world physically function has expanded greatly. We learned that some of these new products, and old ones, pose risks and dangers to our well being. The physical environment that we design and construct for ourselves is no exception to the cycle of "progress" and "risk". The recent adoption of national model code provisions as part of Wisconsin Commercial Building Codes, effective July 1, 2002, is intended to fit into the onward cycle of changes, to meet safety expectations and desire for improvement. The adopted national models, NFPA1, the Fire Prevention Code, the International Building Code, the International Energy Conservation Code, the International Mechanical Code, and the International Fuel Gas Code, have all been developed and written with a great deal of collective national insight to take us forward in terms of safety and efficiency. For example, if one were to study the current Wisconsin building code requirements for assembly halls under Comm 55, and compare them to the requirements in the first building code, one would realize that some things haven't changed over the decades. This isn't necessarily bad, and hasn't resulted in assembly buildings that comply with the code minimums being dangerous. What it does mean is that Wisconsin's code has not keep pace with the knowledge gained over years concerning a variety of matters such as potential material hazards, the behavior of fire, and the reaction of people while exiting. The information in our new codes addresses in greater depth and detail the new construction systems risks and dangers, as well as provides efficient solutions for the design, construction, and use of commercial buildings. Editor's note: Jim Quast has taken a temporary assignment with another division of the Department of Commerce. See page 5. For comments or questions on the new Commercial Building Code, contact Henry Kosarzycki, S&B Agent Monitor, 262-548-8615, hkosarzycki@commerce.state.wi.us.   3. Hearing on Plumbing Code changes is February 13
A public hearing on proposed changes to Wisconsin's Uniform Plumbing Code, Comm 81-87, will be held on February 13, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in room 3C of the Thompson Commerce Building, 201 West Washington Ave., Madison. The formal announcement is below. The revisions include requirements for wastewater discharge points, new and revised definitions, requirements for campgrounds, mobile homes, home parks, and health care and related facilities. Rules on water quality, treatment, and reuse are also being created to allow more plumbing options. For example, for holding tank owners, reuse regulations would allow pumping less frequently. Or, for example, a homeowner with a private well that produces arsenic in excess of the enforcement standard of 10 micrograms per liter could be code compliant by using a reverse osmosis system on the kitchen sink faucet that produces water of Department of Natural Resources drinking water quality. If you're interested in downloading a copy of the code proposal, it's available on the S&B WebSite, http://www. commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-HomePage.html, or, for a paper copy, contact Roberta Ward, 608-266-8741, rward@commerce.state.wi.us. If you have comments or questions concerning the draft, contact Lynita Docken, S&B Plumbing Program Manager, 608-785-9349, ldocken@commerce.state.wi.us.   4. Notice of Public Hearing, Changes Related to the Plumbing Code
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to ss. 101.63 (1) and (2), 101.73 (1) and 145.02 (2), Stats., the Department of Commerce will hold a public hearing on proposed rules relating to Wisconsin Uniform Plumbing Code; Fees; Amusement Rides; and Design and Construction of Public Swimming Pools. Wednesday, February 13, 2002, 9:30 a.m. at the Thompson Commerce Center, 201 W. Washington Ave., Rm 3C, Madison Interested persons are invited to appear at the hearings and present comments on the proposed rules. Persons making oral presentations are requested to submit their comments in writing. Persons submitting comments will not receive individual responses. The hearing record on this proposed rulemaking will remain open until February 27, 2002, to permit submittal of written comments from persons who are unable to attend a hearing or who wish to supplement testimony offered at a hearing. Written comments should be submitted to: Jean M. MacCubbin, Department of Commerce, Administrative Services Divison, P.O. Box 2689, Madison, WI 53701-2689 These hearings are held in accessible facilities. If you have special needs or circumstances that may make communication or accessibility difficult at the hearing, please call (608) 266-8741 or (608) 264-8777 (TTY) at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Accommodations such as interpreters, English translators, or materials in audio tape format will, to the fullest extent possible, be made available upon request by a person with a disability. The proposed rules and an analysis of the proposed rules are available on the Internet at the Safety and Buildings Division web site at www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-HomePage. Copies may also be obtained without cost from Roberta Ward, Department of Commerce, Program Development Bureau, P.O. Box 2689, Madison, WI 53701-2689, email rward@commerce.state.wi.us, telephone 608-266-8741 or 608-264-8777 (TTY). Copies will also be available at the public hearings.   5. Upcoming training related to new fire code
"How will NFPA 1 / 101 be applied as Wisconsin's new fire code" is the title of training to be presented this spring by the Wisconsin State Fire Chief's Association and the Wisconsin Fire Inspectors Association, in cooperation with the National Fire Protection Association. Comm 14, newly revised as the Wisconsin Fire Prevention Code, adopts NFPA1 for operation, use, and maintenance of public buildings. References to NFPA 101 for operation and use also apply. Design and construction requirements are located in the new Commercial Building Code. The classes will be Friday, April 5 in Green Bay; Saturday, April 6 in Wausau; Monday, April 8 in Ashland; Tuesday, April 9, in Eau Claire; Friday, May 3 in Milwaukee, Saturday, May 4 in Madison; Monday, May 6 in Onalaska; and Tuesday, May 7 in Wisconsin Rapids. There will be a $10 fee. All who attend will receive complementary code books from NFPA. For more information, contact Gil Hucek of the WFIA, 920-434-1644. Next month's WCCR will have a registration form for the classes.   6. Fire Protection Delegated Agents: These municipalities are delegated agents of the department to perform plan review and inspection of fire detection and suppression systems as prescribed under Comm 50.12(2)(k): City of Appleton; City of Burlington; City of Madison; Village of McFarland.   7. John Lippitt resigns from S&B fire position
Safety and Buildings Division Fire Safety Program Manager John Lippitt resigned in January. He has taken a Fire Protection Engineer position with the City of Madison Fire Department. Field Operations Bureau Director Dan Graham will be the contact person for the fire safety program, 608-266-0056, dgraham@commerce.state.wi.us.   8. UDC education
The Wisconsin League of Municipalities and the Safety and Buildings Division will hold full-day UDC Plumbing Inspector training sessions in Waukesha on March 12 and in Eau Claire on March 14. A separate flyer for these courses was mailed in February. Interested inspectors should contact the League of Municipalities, 608-267-2386, if they didn't receive one. UDC Inspectors will be receiving information from S&B concerning the March UDC Construction/UDC HVAC/UDC Electrical continuing education courses. Brochure, PDF file, Word 97 file.   9. Fire Alarm Education
"Fire Alarm Installation Methods Certification, " March 21-22, 2002, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Brown Deer. Registration deadline is March. 8, 2002. There is a fee. The course is for fire and building inspectors, code enforcement officials, installers, electricians, etc., covering NFPA 72 codes and installation. Contact the Wisconsin Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, 414-276-9232.   10. Division staff take temporary assignments
The Safety and Buildings Division has recently been experiencing expense levels greater than that supported by current revenues. The reduced revenues result from the down turn in the economy. In order to reduce expenditures to meet the revenue shortfall, and to help avoid staff layoffs, four Program Managers in the Bureau of Program Development have accepted temporary assignments in vacant managerial and supervisory positions in the Environmental and Regulatory Services Division, also a part of the Department of Commerce. They are Eric Hands, Joe Hertel, Bernice Mattsson, and Jim Quast. The temporary assignments began January 14 and terminate no later than June 28, 2002. S&B program managers help lead individual programs with division-wide planning, policy, code, and procedure development. The individual program responsibilities have been temporarily assigned to other program managers. These are the programs assigned to the four program managers: Hands: Amusement Rides and Attractions, Explosive Materials, Fire Dept. Safety and Health; Manufacture of Fireworks; Mine Safety; Public Sector Employee Safety; Clean Indoor Air; Passenger Ropeways; Worker Compensation Accident Investigations Hertel: Electrical & Lighting Systems; Elevators Mattsson: Energy Efficiency; Rental Unit Energy Efficiency; Gas Systems (Anhydrous Ammonia, Compressed Natural Gas, Liquid Natural Gas, Liquid Petroleum Gas Systems); Boilers; HVAC Systems; Refrigeration Systems Quast: Multi-Family Dwellings; Soil Erosion Control; Credentials; Code Development for Comm 83 During the temporary assignments, telephone calls to the four program managers may be redirected. For technical code questions related to the topics above right, you may contact program staff listed here.   11. Several reminders about plan reviews and code applicability during the transition to a new Commercial Building Code
Revisions - Revisions within the scope of the original project may be submitted prior to plan approval expiration showing compliance with the code in effect at the time of original submittal. Approval of the revision does not extend the expiration date of the approved plans. Tenant Space Alteration Plans - In the case of a multi-tenant building, the initial and subsequent tenant space alteration plans are subject to the code in effect at the time of submittal of that tenant space plan, not the original building shell. Code Applicability - The code in effect at the time of valid plan submittal is the code that will be used to review and approve the submittal. For a new building or building addition, valid plan submittal could be a viable building plan submittal, or a footing and foundation plan submittal received in our office on a business day. Note that a preliminary review does not qualify as a submittal that determines code edition applicability.   12. POWTS Education
17th annual On-Site Waste Management Teleconference: Thursday, March 21, 2002, 8:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. at Wisconsin county Extension ETN sites. This audio teleconference provides a current update on research projects, an announcement of educational offerings, and discussion time for rules and regulations. 1.5 continuing education credit hours for JP, JPRS, MP, MPRS, PInspect, CST. Fee $10.

POWTS Maintenance sessions: Tuesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 25, 2002. Arlington UW Research Station, a.m. - Pretreatment/Treatment Systems (classroom), p.m. - Evaluation and Maintenance (classroom and field, includes field tests), 3 credit hours per session for PMaintain, PInspect, CST, JP, JPRS, MP, MPRS. This is a POWTS Maintainer qualifying course. Fee $70.

For more information on either session, contact Jim Peterson, UW Environmental Resources Center, 608 262-3799; jopeters@facstaff.wisc.edu.   13. POWTS Intent to Monitor reminder
The next soil saturation determination period (groundwater monitoring season) is fast approaching. Comm 83.60(3)(b)1says: "The property owner, or his or her agent, shall notify the governmental unit and the department of the intent to conduct a soil saturation determination at least 15 business days prior to installing any groundwater elevation observation pipe." Please notify the county in which the groundwater elevation observation pipes will be installed and notify the S&B wastewater specialist in whose district the county is located. If you are not sure which wastewater specialist to contact, ask county officials, or check our website, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-PowtsWastewaterSpecialistsMap.html.   14. UW-Small Scale Waste Management Project Winter Educational Sessions
February 2002 - Arlington, Tomahawk, Rice Lake, Fond du Lac For more information, contact Jim Peterson, UW Environmental Resources Center; 608-262-3799; jopeters@facstaff.wisc.edu. ---Linking Linear Loading Rate to Soil Morphology - E. Jerry Tyler
---Drip Distribution Design, Installation and Maintenance - Jim Converse
---Matching Soil Science, Code Requirements and Reality - E. Jerry Tyler
---Mound/At-Grade System Design with Pressure Distribution - Jim Converse 3 continuing education credit hours for CST, MP, MPRS, JP, JPRS, POWTS M, POWTS I   15. No new UDC commentary
Since there has been no substantive changes in the Uniform Dwelling Code since the code most recently became effective, April 1, 2001, and due to the budget crunch, there will not be a new 2002 edition of the Uniform Dwelling Code and Commentary. When someone orders the UDC Code and Commentary in 2002, they will get the 2001 edition. It is anticipated that the next UDC code change considerations will occur in 2003. If there are revisions at that time, a new code and commentary document could be issued. Comments and questions can be directed to Larry Swaziek, One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code Program Manager, 608-267-7701, Lswaziek@commerce.state.wi.us. UDC Inspectors will be receiving information from S&B concerning the March UDC Construction/UDC HVAC/UDC Electrical continuing education courses. Brochure, PDF file, Word 97 file.   16. On S&B's WebSite, search for an individual credential status, con ed, or view lists
You can check the status and continuing education credit hours of your license, certification, or registration. http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-CredentialStatusCheck.html. Entering the customer number from your credential card (above your name on card) will provide a readout of some basic information from the S&B computer database. Search results appear at the bottom of the search page. The new service includes a Combination Search feature allowing searches for groups of credential-holders by type and zip code, with a maximum number of 500 people. (Lists of categories with more than 500 people are available on the site, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-Cred List.html.) A search does not provide address or telephone contact information for individuals, however, business address information may be available. Special Instructions
Selecting underlined individual or business names among search results will provide a view of more detail, if available. Combination search: When doing the combin- ation search, you should definitely choose a "credential type", a "credential status," and, if possible, enter a zip code. Limit the parameters of the search as much as you can. Continuing education information will not be in the computer database immediately after the class occurs. Class instructors need to send the information to S&B and the information needs to be keyed into the database. This process may take two to four weeks. "Comm 5, Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations" is the state code governing credentials administered by the Safety and Buildings Division, and provides definitions of the categories, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-DivCodesListing2001.html. Contact the Safety and Buildings Division Credential Unit, madisoncred@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-261-8500, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.   17. BOCA offers code courses
Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA) is offering courses in Wisconsin and northern Illinois this spring related to the International Codes, provisions of which are adopted in the new Wisconsin Commercial Building Code, effective July 1, 2002. Among the courses are "Architects Guide to the International Building Code," "Performing Nonstructural Plan Reviews," "Overview(s) 2000 International Fuel Gas Code/ 2000 International Mechanical Code/ 2000 International Energy Conservation Code," and "High-Piled Combustible Storage." For information, call 800-214-4321, ext. 319, or visit their web site, www.bocai.org/hire.asp. Copies are available on the state Revisor of Statutes' site of Comm 50-64, the Commercial Building Code in effect until July 1, and Comm 61-65, the code effective on that date, http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code/comm/comm050.html

Email this page's manager, Todd Taylor, ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us The Department of Commerce Safety and Buildings Division is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. If you need assistance to access services or need material in an alternate format, please contact us, 608-266-3151, TTY 608-264-8777, or ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us.