Wisconsin Department of Commerce: S&B Uniform Dwelling Code Program (One- and Two-Family Dwellings) -

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S&B Uniform Dwelling Code Program (One- and Two-Family Dwellings)

NEWS

2009 Winter Inspector Updates. Classes about the Uniform Dwelling Code, Commercial Building Code, and about electrical aspects of both codes. From January 26 through March 19, 2009, presented by S&B in cooperation with the four state building inspector associations. See PDF brochure that will be mailed in early December to people eligible for S&B continuing education credits.

Proposed code changes to Comm 20-25, Uniform Dwelling Code, one- and two-family dwellings, were sent to the legislature for committee review on August 27, 2008.

Go to legislative review documents.
Go to short analysis of changes.

Changes to Comm 2, Fee Code, and Comm 5, Licenses, Registrations, and Certifications Code, were adopted by the Department of Commerce and will be effective December 1, 2008. The changes will increase service fees in the S&B Uniform Dwelling Code Program for the first time since 1992.

Product approval for Form-A-Drain footing form and foundation drainage system from CertainTeed Corporation has been revised, notably in the spacing of bleeders, see PDF

There is enforcement of the Uniform Dwelling Code in all Wisconsin municipalities.

Dwelling contractors need two certifications to take out building permits for one- and two-family homes. More info.

The Wisconsin statutory mandate for superinsulation of one and two-family dwellings heated by electricity was repealed by recently-signed 2007 Act 67, which was effective at the end of March, 2008. The act says: "The department may not promulgate or enforce a rule that requires that any one−family or two−family dwelling that uses electricity for space heating be superinsulated." S&B will be developing rules in the future to remove the current regulations, which are not now enforceable.
- Letter to some Uniform Dwelling Code inspectors concerning the repeal of UDC superinsulation requirements, PDF file
- See 2007 Act 67, PDF file.

Program Description: The Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) is the statewide building code for one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1, 1980. Consultation and education are provided concerning Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) construction standards and inspection procedures. Building materials are evaluated for conformance with standards. UDC inspection and contractor credentials are administered. There is enforcement of the UDC in all Wisconsin municipalities.

1. UDC Program contacts GO

2. UDC Program forms GO

3. Comm 20 - 25, Uniform Dwelling Code online GO

4. How to Obtain S&B Codes

5. UDC Program Resources GO

6. You can sign up to receive occasional messages from the Safety and Buildings Division about news that is important to people interested in Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code Program.

7. The Wisconsin Building Safety Network (WBSN)

Contacts
One- & Two-Family Dwellings/UDC Staff (See map of counties/districts for UDC Consultants, PDF version)

West-Central: Jack Miller, Code Consultant (La Crosse office) 608-785-9348, jamiller@commerce.state.wi.us

Southern: Duane Hubeler, Code Consultant (Madison office) 608-266-1390, dhubeler@commerce.state.wi.us

Northeast: Jack Wotruba, Code Consultant (Green Bay office) 920-360-0020, jack.wotruba@wisconsin.gov

Northwest: Steve Thiesing, Code Consultant, (Hayward office) 715-634-8964, stephen.thiesing@wi.gov

Central: Leroy Stublaski, S&B Uniform Dwelling Code Consultant, 608-339-4657, lstublaski@commerce.state.wi.us

- Fax UDC technical questions to: 608-283-7409

- Email UDC technical questions to: udctech@commerce.state.wi.us

- Uniform Dwelling Code Advisory Council

- An email group has been set up for the One- and Two-Family Dwelling Program. You can sign up to receive occasional messages from the Safety and Buildings Division about news that is important to people interested in Wisconsin's Uniformed Dwelling Code.
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- Gary Ekes, S&B Manufactured Dwellings Consultant, 608-575-0967, gekes@commerce.state.wi.us

- Tom Kasper, S&B Integrated Services Bureau UDC section chief, 608-267-7586, tkasper@commerce.state.wi.us.

- Larry Swaziek, S&B UDC Program Manager, 608-267-7701, lswaziek@commerce.state.wi.us

There is enforcement of the UDC in all Wisconsin municipalities.

See a PDF report for all Wisconsin municipalities and their status as to enforcement of the UDC. This includes note of the contracted inspection agency, if there is state enforcement (some agencies have not yet returned the signed contracts). There is an instruction page for abbreviations used in the report.

Here is a PDF map of the state inspection districts. Here is a PDF file showing the inspection district contracted agencies.

Lists of registered UDC Inspection Agencies and UDC Inspectors are available from an index of S&B credential lists.

- Model ordinance for adoption of Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, PDF or Word 97 files (Updated May, 2007)
- Info on municipalities contracting with inspectors or inspection agencies,PDF or HTML files
- Info on establishing UDC enforcement fees, PDF file

PDF brochure "Building a Home in Wisconsin?"

Resources
- 2005 Wisconsin Act 201, related to communications between consumers and contractors concerning possible construction defects, PDF file, Commerce "Right to Cure" brochure as prescribed by Act 201, PDF file . The law was effective Oct. 1, 2006.

- Pamphlet describing various aspects of UDC inspector certification, PDF file, Word 97 file.

- "Making Wisconsin Night Safer, Wisconsin's Smoke Alarm Requirements" SBD-8282P (R9/08), PDF file

- An erosion control field guide (SBD-10837) and a standard erosion control plan (DNR WT-458-96) are available on the S&B Forms page.

- REScheck is a software application that can be downloaded from the federal Department of Energy. A Wisconsin version is an option within REScheck and is used for Wisconsin one- and two-family dwelling design. Link to federal site for software for downloading, http://www.energycodes.gov/

The latest upgrade to REScheck is now (9/03) available for download (version 3.5 release 1e). The weather data file was updated with new heating degree day values for some Texas and Idaho locations and minor fixes pertinent to the Wisconsin and Massachusetts codes were made. None of the issues found and fixed in this release impacted the calculated results or compliance determination. There is also a new DOE online compliance tool. Note that the online tool does not include a heating load calculation that is in the Wisconsin REScheck version.

(Note that there is also a federal online calculation tool, for people who don't want to do the download. However, it does not provide all the heating calculations needed in Wisconsin.)

* Product approval for Form-A-Drain footing form and foundation drainage system from CertainTeed Corporation was revised in June, 2008, notably in the spacing of bleeders, see PDF file

* Garage wall bracing memo, Jan. 2006, PDF file

* Info about the UDC enforcement changes and electric service hookup.

* Modular Home Manufacturers Approved in Accordance with UDC COMM 20.14, Oct. 1, 2008, PDF file

* UDC commentary, Index

* Building material product evaluation letters.

* UDC Statistics, monthly UDC permit information

* S&B Buildings One- and Two-Family Dwellings Program Forms

* The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires proper inspections, notification and removal of asbestos containing materials for renovations and demolitions. For more information on Wisconsin Administrative Code, Chapter NR 447 please visit the DNR website at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/aw/air/reg/asbestos/.

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* Note, May 18, 2007: Per Comm 20.09(4)(b), foundation systems serving manufactured homes may be designed by structural analysis but do not need to be signed and sealed by a registered professional.

Here is a PDF file concerning an acceptable slab on grade foundation system for manufactured homes, prepared by Larry Swaziek, S&B Maufactured Home and Uniform Dwelling Code Program Manager.

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Also here, PDF file, is a “Manufactured Home Installation Manual for Homes Produced On or After April 1, 2007,” which includes federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) "Draft December 8, 2005 Installation Standards."

The Wisconsin Building Safety Network is a new name for a long-standing group of state and local officials working together to promote safety and health in the built environment in Wisconsin - since 1915. The WBSN annual meeting will be in September 2008. WBSN Web page.

Short analysis of August 2008 proposed changes to Comm 20-25, Uniform Dwelling Code.
The vast majority of these proposed rule changes are intended to clarify current policies and requirements. The substantial changes to the code are as follows:

- Comm 20.02(1), 20.09 and 20.10 relating to scope of the code, permit issuance and inspections, respectively, have been reformatted and expanded.

- Comm 20.24 on adopted national standards is updated to include the latest editions. One standard on duct construction is dropped and two new ones on fire sprinkler construction and log home construction are added.

- Comm 21.24(4) has new requirements for water-resistive barriers under the exterior covering of the dwelling.

- Comm 21.25(7) has new requirements for the construction of short "cripple walls" on top of foundation walls.

- Comm 21.25(8) and (9) has new requirements for wind bracing of wood frame walls that bring the Wisconsin requirements in line with national standards.

- Comm 22, containing the energy conservation requirements, is repealed and recreated to bring the Wisconsin requirements in line with the national model energy code. There are new prescriptive component requirements as an alternative to the traditional total envelope heat loss requirements.

Go to legislative review documents.

County Web sites || City/Town/Village Web sites || State Portal || Build Your Business

Email this page's manager, Todd Taylor, ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us or 608-267-3606

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, TDD Relay dial 711 in Wisconsin or 800-947-3529, or ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us