Safety and Buildings Division - Means of Egress and Accessibility Council Meeting Summaries

Meeting summaries are tentative until reviewed at a subsequent meeting.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tommy G. Thompson Commerce Building, Conference Room 4A, 201 West Washington Ave., Madison, WI

Council Member Attendance: Larry Earll – Present; Tom Hirsch, Vice Chair - Present; Joe Jurkiewicz - Present; Larry Palank – Present; Monica Sommerfeldt - Present; Dave Wheaton, Chair – Present

Department of Safety and Professional Services staff: Tom Kasper, Norma McReynolds and Jim Smith

Guest: Scott Satula, S.E. Building Inspector Association, Code Development Committee

Welcome, introductions, housekeeping and review agenda

Chair Dave Wheaton opened the meeting by welcoming the members of the Means of Egress and Accessibility Advisory Council, and asked them to introduce themselves as they called in during the teleconference.

After reviewing the agenda, Chair Wheaton asked Council members to identify themselves before speaking during the teleconference meeting.

Review previous meeting’s progress report

On MOTION (Earll/Jurkewicz), the Council approved the progress notes from the April 29, 2009, meeting.

Explain teleconference process

Jim Smith, Project Manager, reiterated the teleconference procedure, and reminded Council members to state their names before commenting or voting.

Review Council members’ concerns that were submitted in writing

The Council reviewed the June 5, 2009, memorandum from Tom Hirsch outlining his concerns with the 2009 edition of the International Building Code^® (IBC), and specifically, IBC ss. 1008.1.2, 1008.1.8., 1014.3. 1015.1, 1016.1, 1109.1, 1104, 1109.12.1 and 1110.1. Tom discussed his reasons for proposing these Wisconsin-based modifications.

The Council agreed to decide which proposed Wisconsinisms would be forwarded to the umbrella committees during the “Finalize concepts and changes” portion of the agenda.

Revisit current Wisconsin-based requirements

The Council reviewed the summary document that Jim had prepared on current Wisconsinisms relating to means of egress and accessibility. Chair Wheaton commended Jim on his work, and the Council approved the recommendations presented in the 14-page document.

Identify new requirements that the Council wants to recommend as Wisconsin-based modifications

No additional Wisconsin-based requirements were recommended.

Finalize concepts and changes to the mean of egress and accessibility requirements

The consensus of the Council was to recommend as Wisconsin-based modifications the following:

• IBC s. 1008 (2) and Comm 62.1008 (2) ─ Clarify the word “ample.”
• IBC s. 1014 – Modify to make firewalls or division walls in townhouses less restrictive yet still keeping the townhouse exempt from sprinkler protection.
• IBC s. 1109.1 – Add language to allow controls in tubs and showers within reach from outside the tub or shower; allow the controls to be on the back wall for roll-in, 60-inch showers.
• IBC s. 1110.1 – Modify so that the required international symbol signage is not necessary for assigned parking in a residential apartment building.

Other topics

Jim discussed next steps pointing out that because of limited staff and other issues, the adoption timeline of the 2009 edition of IBC has been revised. Currently, public hearings will be held in May, 2010, with the rules proposal going to the legislature in summer 2010. After public hearings, the Council may meet to discuss technical issues that may come up.

Jim and Chair Wheaton thanked everyone for their continued work on the Means of Egress and Accessibility Advisory Council.

On MOTION (Earll/Sommerfeldt) the meeting was adjourned.

Next meeting

The next meeting will be set on an as-need basis, and in response to technical issues brought up during the public hearing stage of the rules adoption process.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., City of Madison Fire Station #11, Conference Room, 4011 Morgan Way, Madison, WI

Council Member Attendance: Larry Earll – Present; Tom Hirsch, Vice chair - Present; Joe Jurkiewicz - Present; Larry Palank – Present; Monica Sommerfeldt - Excused; Dave Wheaton, Chair – Present

Department of Safety and Professional Services staff: Tom Kasper, Norma McReynolds and Jim Smith

Guests: Diane Meredith, private citizen, Madison, WI and Scott Satula, S.E. Building Inspector Association, Code Development Committee

Welcome, introductions, housekeeping and review agenda

Jim Smith opened the meeting by welcoming the members and thanking them for volunteering their time and talents to participate on the Department of Safety and Professional Services’s Means of Egress and Accessibility Council. He noted that the last time this group met the task was to review the means of egress and accessibility requirements under the International Building Code© (IBC), the 2003 edition and the 2004 supplement, for adoption in Wisconsin.

Jim reviewed the agenda and outlined the procedure before asking the council members, staff and guests to introduce themselves.

Review Advisory Council Manual and the scope and purpose of the advisory council

Norma Sampson called the Council’s attention to the Division of Safety and Buildings’ Advisory Council Manual, and asked the members to review the responsibilities and ground rules sections.

Elect chairperson

Jim outlined the chairperson’s duties. The chair facilitates the council meetings and attends the umbrella meeting as a representative of the Means of Egress and Accessibility Advisory Council.

Dave Wheaton volunteered to chair the Council. On MOTION (Earll/Hirsch) and by unanimous vote, the Council approved Dave as chair. On MOTION (Earll/Jurkiewicz) and by consensus of the Council, Tom Hirsch was named vice chair.

Review means of egress and accessibility materials

Council members reviewed the changes made in the 2009 draft edition of IBC chapters 10 and 11 relating to egress and accessibility. The Wisconsin-based requirements (Wisconsin-isms) were discussed concurrently. The Council discussed eliminating some of the Wisconsin-isms because several of them have been incorporated into the changes in the IBC 2009 edition.

Commerce staff pointed out areas of clarification and new sections during the initial review of the IBC 2009 edition. The Council discussed the following, however, no substantive changes were noted:

• Clarification of definitions including a subtle change to the definition of “level of exit discharge” and the addition of a specific definition for “suite.”
• The various interpretations that the word “ample” can have in Comm 62.1008 (2). 
• Concepts and new provisions regarding I-2 and ambulatory health care facilities.
• Changes regarding the area of refuge provisions and their exceptions.
• New and updated egress provisions that are a reflection of high-rise provisions.
• Changes in the open riser provisions.
• Expanded and more flexible provisions relating to live/work units.

Discuss homework

Council members are to revisit on their own the changes in the 2009 IBC chapters relating to egress and accessibility, and share those changes with the organizations that they represent. Council members will also review the Wisconsin-based requirements with their respective organizations.

Any issues or concerns raised by Council members or members in their organization will be discussed at the Council’s next meeting which was set for June 24, 2009. Comments should be submitted in writing to Jim or Norma by June 1. The discussion items will be compiled and sent before the next meeting to Council members for review.

Because Monica Sommerfeldt was unable to attend the meeting, Jim will email an overview of the Council’s progress and homework assignment to her and copy the other Council members.

On MOTION (Earll/Palank) the meeting was adjourned.

Next meeting

The next meeting is set for 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in the Thompson Commerce Building, Conference Room 4A, at 2010 West Washington Ave., Madison, Wisconsin.

Thursday, October 13, 2005, 1 p.m. - 3:15 p.m., Thompson Commerce Center, rm. 4A, 201 W. Washington Ave., Madison, Wisconsin

Council Member Attendance: Cleo Eliason – Ex; Larry Earll – P; Joe Jurkiewicz - Ex; Larry Palank – P; Dick Pomo - Ex; Ed Solner - P; Monica Sommerfeldt - A; Dave Wheaton – Ex

Department of Safety and Professional Services staff: Tom Kasper, Diane Meredith and Jim Smith

Guests: Liz Evan, Department of Health and Family Services, Public Health Education

Jim Smith explained the various Division Specialty Councils are currently meeting to discuss the ICC code change proposals and to develop draft language for any changes to the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code (WCBC).

A meeting of the Commercial Building Code Council (CBCC) and Multifamily Dwelling Code Council (MDCC) is scheduled for Thursday, October 27th and the following Specialty Councils will report on their work: Means of egress; General requirements; Fire safety and fire systems; Structural

Jim noted that members of this Council are welcome to come to the CBCC/MDCC meeting but it is not mandatory.

Jim also reported that Kimberly Walker became the Division Administrator for the Division of Energy in the Department of Administration and that Greg Jones accepted the Administrator’s position for the Division of Safety and Buildings in September.  Greg Jones came here from the Division of Workers’ Compensation within the Department of Workforce Development.

The timeline for the adoption of the 2006 ICC codes was explained and the following key dates are noted:
1. Finish rule drafting by early January 2006
2. Hold public hearing in March 2006
3. Submit final draft of rules to the Legislature for committee review by August 15, 2006
4. Adopt final rules in late 2006
5. Anticipated effective date would be early 2007

Sheri Johnson, Division Administrator and Public Health Officer from the Division of Public Health, wrote to Ron Buchholz, Deputy Administrator, for the Division of Safety and Buildings with concerns regarding the recent death of a 2-year old child who fell from a window on the 5th floor of a building, and this letter was shared with the members. Liz Evans from the Division of Public Health addressed the members and explained their Division would like to see the reduction of deaths from falls from windows on upper stories of buildings. She explained they are looking at increasing education to parents and proposing code changes, where practicable. Jim Smith noted that the International Code Council (ICC) has discussed this topic area; however, no specific language is proposed, and Jim encouraged Liz’s group to contact the ICC groups with their concerns and proposals.

A designer had contacted Larry Palank with a concern relating to the common path of travel requirements for R-2 occupancies. The designer asked why R-2 occupancies were not allowed an increase in travel distance for the common path of travel, which seemed to be provided for other occupancies. Jim Smith explained that all R-2 occupancies are required to be sprinklered and the common path of travel requirement reflects the trade-off for sprinklers.

The ICC proposal E22 eliminates the requirement that areas of refuge are not required in buildings that are fully sprinklered. This proposal goes above the current federal Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and this original proposal was denied by the ICC Means of Egress Committee because there was not adequate information to justify the inclusion of areas of refuge in buildings with a complete sprinkler system. Larry Earll explained the Department of Administration (DOA) is attempting to provide sprinklers in all state-owned facilities because of the increase in safety when buildings are sprinklered. He expressed concern that requiring areas of refuge in all these buildings would increase the total cost of projects, which would have negative impact on DOA’s policy to provide affordable buildings. Larry said that DOA would not support this change, which requires areas of refuge in addition to sprinklers.

In a written response received prior to the meeting, Joe Jurkiewicz indicated there may be other options to providing areas of refuge within the stairway, such as providing compartment areas for moving people horizontally within the building, similar to what is provided in hospitals.

The members generally agreed that this requirement should be reviewed more in detail by the ICC Committees, so this code change proposal would not be accepted.

The ICC proposal E137 change relates to the site arrival points and removes language consistent with the federal Fair Housing regulations and adds language to the accessible route requirements from the primary entrance to the dwelling unit entrance. The members reviewed this change and felt the proposed requirement was misplaced and did not address the concern raised by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD) and suggested maintaining the language reviewed by the ICC Means of Egress Committee during their last meeting.

The members are to review the list of Wisconsin modifications that may need to be retained since they are not specifically addressed in any of the IBC updates. Dave Wheaton’s comments, which were sent prior to the meeting, were also shared with the members for their information.  It was requested the members get back with staff by October 24th, if they feel any changes should be made to the identified Wisconsin modifications. After receipt of these suggestions, staff will prepare a proposed public hearing draft and will share with the members.

Next meeting Depending on the public comments received, the group would not meet again until after the public hearings, which are anticipated to be held in March of 2006.

August 31, 2004 Meeting Summary: Tuesday, August 31, 2004, 9:30 a.m. to1:15 p.m., Thompson Commerce Center, Room 3B, 201 W. Washington Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Council Member Attedence: Cleo Eliason-P; Larry Earll-P; Joe Jurkiewicz-P; Larry Palank-P; Dick Pomo-Ex; Ed Solner-Ex; Monica Sommerfeldt-P; Dave Wheaton-P.
Department of Safety and Professional Services Staff: Jim Smith, Diane Meredith, Tom Kasper, Jim Quast.
-- Welcome and introductions: Jim Smith opened the meeting by welcoming the members and thanking them for volunteering their time and talents to participate on the Division’s Means of Egress and Accessibility Council. He noted that the last time this group met the task was to review the means of egress and accessibility requirements under the International Building Code (IBC) the 2000 edition for adoption in Wisconsin. That endeavor was much more encompassing at that time since using a model building code was a new concept. Now the goal of this group is to review the changes made in the 2003 IBC as well as the 2004 supplement in anticipation of adopting the 2006 edition of the IBC, and to also review the existing Wisconsin-based requirements for need. Jim felt this Council may meet approximately 2 to 3 times and the projected effective date for the updated code is July 2007. The Division’s Advisory Council Manual was distributed and explained to the members. It was also noted that the final work of this Council would be forwarded to the umbrella councils for their review. The review of this group’s initial recommendations will begin early next year.
-- Review of the Summary of changes to IBC chapters 10 and 11: The means of egress and accessibility handout material was explained. The members asked that the summary sheets prepared by staff for the means of egress and accessibility changes be used during the meeting so they could get a better understanding of the changes. Jim Smith pointed out that the summaries are staff’s analysis of the changes and encouraged the members to review the actual code language. The majority of the changes discussed were to improve consistency in terminology, update cross-references, reword requirements for clarity, and to include federal updates relating to accessibility. No substantive changes were noted in the initial review. Jim Smith reminded the members to discuss these changes with their organization. At the next meeting, any issues or concerns raised by the members or members in their organization will be discussed.
-- Chairperson: The members chose Larry Palank as the chairperson for the Council.
-- Next meeting: The next meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 19, 2004 in conference room #3C in the Thompson Commerce Center, 201 W. Washington Ave., in Madison.