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Contractor News, December 23, 2010 - There are a number of code changes that will affect work by construction contractors in Wisconsin. (See more news below the dated code change * bullets.)*December 1, 2010 - Comm 5, Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations Code, updating contractor credentials rules, with the field of related construction codes enlarged, and penalties created for working without the appropriate contractor credentials or hiring a subcontractor without appropriate credenitials. See code change summary. *January 1, 2011 - Comm 81-87, Uniform Plumbing Code, general update of plumbing rules, including elevator sumps. See code change summary. *January 1, 2011 - Comm 14, Fire Prevention, general update to keep rules consistent with national construction and fire prevention standards. See code change summary. *February 1, 2011 - Comm 21, Uniform Dwelling Code, and Comm 28, Smoke Detectors Code, requiring carbon monoxide alarms. See code change summary. *February 1, 2011 - Comm 5, Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations Code, creating a thermal insulation system mechanic credential. See code change summary. - Commercial buildings sprinkler code change may call for getting plan reviews submitted in December. Info - Ryobi recalls portable table saws due to potential laceration hazard, December 16, 2010, CPSC - The Energy Center of Wisconsin is offering attendance scholarships for its 2011 Better Buildings: Better Business conference, which S&B will be a part of. See conference information. According to ECW, the scholarships are designed for post-secondary education students or new trade contractors entering the industry of building performance. The scholarship will cover the cost of the registration fee, pre-conference session, meals included in the conference and two nights of lodging. The application deadline is December 31, 2010. See scholarship info. - An "Electrical Exam Prep" course is offered on Wednesday afternoons beginning January 12, 2011, through March 23, 2011. See course brochure, PDF file. - Berni Mattsson in January will be the new director of the Bureau of Program Development. Mattsson was previously an S&B employee and has recently been the Administrator of the Division of Environmental and Regulatory Services (petroleum and tanks) in the Department of Safety and Professional Services. The new S&B division administrator and new Commerce secretary have not yet been announced. December 1, 2010 changes to Comm 5, Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations Code. (Construction Contractors.) Final adoption draft summary. Effective October 2, 2009, the various construction trades involved in building or modifying these types of structures were required to register as a building contractor. The Department of Commerce administers a registration program for businesses engaged in building construction as contractors or subcontractors under Comm 5. The adopted ed rules expand the building contractor registration which is a credential for a contracting business and is not required for each partner or employee involved with physically constructing or modifying the structures. In light of Wisconsin Act 28, the definition of “construction business” has been revised to apply to trades that are regulated by departmental codes. The proposed rules require the registration of trades and businesses that construct, install or alter mechanical equipment and devices such as boilers, gas systems, piping and mechanical refrigeration systems serving a building or structure. In addition, the proposed rules expand the registration requirement to those trades or businesses involved in the construction, installation or alteration of permanent devices or structures regulated under the amusement rides code and the sanitation code. The proposed rules create administrative procedures and a forfeiture process for those persons or entities doing construction- or installation-related work without a registration number. The forfeitures would apply to the building contractor registration and to the other business contractor credentials currently recognized in lieu of the building contractor registration. In addition, the proposed rules consolidate two types of weld tester certifications into one category. (See Comm 5 online.) (See code project documents online.) January 1, 2011, changes to Comm 81-87, Plumbing Code. Final adoption draft summary. The primary revisions to Comm 81 to 87 clarify the existing rules by modifying technical requirements within the standards, reorganizing current requirements and incorporating editorial changes. The major proposed rule changes to these chapters are as follows: Include definitions for various types of wastewater and requirements for wastewater treatment and containment devices. [Comm 81.01 (154) and (160m) and Comm 82.34(1) and (15)] Modify the identification requirements of water supply systems that pose different degrees of hazard within a building. [Comm 82.40 (3) (d) and Table 82.40-1] In addition, the proposed rules require 6 hours of continuing education for the renewal of the cross connection control tester license. [Comm 5.99 (4) (c)] The proposed rules also modify the requirements for sump pumps in elevator pits, and allow the use of standard-sized equipment to meet a more realistic pumping requirement. [Comm 18.1702 (1)] (See Comm 81-87 online - It will be updated about December 31, 2010.) (See code project documents online.) January 1, 2011, changes to Comm 14, Fire Prevention Code. Final adoption draft summary. The rules for Comm 14 primarily update the incorporated National Fire Protection Association 1 fire prevention code from the 2006 edition to the 2009 edition. The rules also specify (1) an expanded scope of the chapter so that only buildings, structures, or situations which are sovereignly controlled are excluded from the chapter; (2) the information that all fire departments must report to the United States Fire Administration for all fires; (3) an occupancy period of no more than six months, for seasonal occupancies to be eligible for being inspected only once per calendar year; (4) an exception that allows fire departments in non-first-class cities to reduce their inspection frequency in low-use buildings, based on the same criteria applied in first-class cities; (5) a time period of at least seven years, for cities, villages and towns to retain records for fire prevention inspections and fire dues entitlement; (6) the maximum size and usage, and minimum record keeping, for a mobile kitchen that is allowed to not have an exhaust hood and corresponding automatic fire suppression system; (7) that the requirements in NFPA 1 chapter 53 for mechanical refrigeration do not apply; (8) some minor cross-reference and other editorial corrections in the requirements for one- and two-family dwellings; (9) submittal of local ordinances where municipalities choose to perform plan review or inspection of commercial buildings; (10) criteria for no-smoking signs; (11) options for installing carbon monoxide detectors for fuel-burning appliances that are located within small enclosed spaces; and (12) some minor cross-reference and other editorial corrections in the requirements for energy conservation in public buildings and places of employment. (See Comm 14 online - Not updated as of Dec. 23.) (See code project documents online.) February 1, 2011, changes to Comm 5, Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations Code. (Thermal Insulation.) Final adoption draft summary. The rules establish administrative procedures for licensing and registration of individuals who install or maintain thermal insulation for heating, ventilating, cooling, plumbing or refrigeration systems. The proposed rules reflect the statutory provisions of s. 101.136, Stats. The rules create credentials for thermal insulation mechanics, apprentices and helpers. The rules allow acquisition of the insulation mechanic license by completing an apprenticeship or taking and passing a department licensure exam provided the individual has 1,000 hours per year of experience for at least four consecutive years. The rules also include a grandfathering provision to obtain the mechanic’s license that would sunset on July 1, 2015. Continuing education obligations are proposed in order to renew the mechanics license. The proposed rules also establish administrative forfeiture schedule for individuals who violate the credentialing provisions of the law or the rules. (See Comm 5 online - Not updated as of Dec. 23.) (See code project documents online.) February 1, 2011, changes to Comm 21, Uniform Dwelling Code, and Comm 28, Smoke Detectors. (Carbon Monoxide Alarms) Final adoption draft summary. The proposed rules establish minimum requirements for the installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms in one- and two-family dwellings. The requirements reflect the statutory mandates of 2009 Wisconsin Act 158. The rules would require the following: - Carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed in a dwelling, the initial construction of which was commenced before, on or after February 1, 2011. - In new dwellings with electrical service, the carbon monoxide alarms shall be continuously powered by the house electrical service and interconnected so that activation of one alarm will cause activation of all alarms. - The alarms are listed and labeled in conformance with UL 2034, Underwriters Laboratories Inc, Standard for Safety Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms. (See Comm 21 online - Not updated as of Dec. 23.) (See code project documents online.) County Web sites || City/Town/Village Web sites || State Portal || Build Your Business Email this page's manager, Todd Taylor, Todd.Taylor@Wisconsin.gov or 608-267-3606 The Department of Safety and Professional Services 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 Todd.Taylor@Wisconsin.gov |