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Wisconsin Building Codes Report Articles
August 2000: You may choose the links to individual articles or scroll down this page to view the articles. 1. S&B Customer Service Week - October 2-5; 2. Fire Prevention Week is October 8-14, 2000; 3. Pearse is a building reviewer; 4. Revisions to Comm 65, Soil Erosion, being discussed; 5. Material Approvals; 6. Onsite audits disclose discrepancies in claims for Fire Dues Fund money; 7. Two special fire safety newspaper sections for 4th and 5th graders; 8. Events Calendar; 9. Reported U.S. fire deaths declined in 1999; 10. Building review position goes from Hayward to La Crosse; 11. Lighting plans will not be reviewed but may be "inspected;" 12. Public hearings will continue the process of considering model building codes adoption; 13. Certified Municipalities   1. S&B Customer Service Week - October 2-5
The Safety and Buildings Division will be celebrating "Customer Service Week" with open houses at each of the S&B full service offices - Green Bay, Hayward, La Crosse, Madison, Shawano, and Waukesha. The program will consist of a short ceremony for introductions, customer awards, and a customer feedback session, followed by refreshments, office tours, and discussions with staff. Shawano Open House - Monday, October 2, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., 1340 E. Green Bay St., 715-524-3626 Green Bay Open House - Monday, October 2, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., 2331 San Luis Place, 920-492-5601 Waukesha Open House - Tuesday, October 3, 9 a.m. to Noon, 401 Pilot Court, 262-548-8600 Madison Open House - Wednesday, October 4, 10 a.m. to Noon., 201 W. Washington Ave., 608-266-3151 La Crosse Open House - Thursday, October 5, 10 a.m. to Noon, 4003 N. Kinney Coulee Rd., 608-785-9334 Hayward Open House - Friday, October 6, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., 10541N Ranch Rd, 715-634-4870   2. Fire Prevention Week is October 8-14, 2000
Fire departments in Wisconsin are hotly planning local activities for "The Great Escape" and "National Fire Prevention Week." "The Great Escape" is based on the fact that too few people develop and practice home escape plans. The event is a unified national fire drill. Fun and educational activities for the event and national Fire Prevention Week are described in an information kit sent to all fire departments by the National Fire Protection Association, KIDDE Safety, Lowe's Home Safety Council, the USAA Educational Foundation, and the U.S. Fire Administration. The trust in and rapport with fire service personnel offer special opportunities for fire departments to lead communities in home fire escape planning and practice, as well as other considerations to make residents safer from fire.   3. Pearse is a building reviewer
John Pearse has been chosen as a new Safety and Buildings Division commercial buildings plan reviewer and is now located in the La Crosse S&B office. Pearse is a registered architect and a long-time resident of La Crosse. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and president of the local chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute. His telephone number is 608-785-7852 and his email address is jpearse@commerce.state.wi.us.   4. Revisions to Comm 65, Soil Erosion, being discussed
Proposed rules for erosion control at commercial building construction sites, Comm 65, are on hold pending further discussions with the Department of Natural Resources. At last winter's UW Code Refresher Training, it was predicted the rules might become effective sometime this fall. It now seems unlikely the rules will take effect soon. The discussions with the DNR continue, with some hope implementation of the rules might come for start of the 2001 building season. As it is available, further information will be in the WBCR, and will also be posted on the Safety and Buildings Division WebSite. If you have questions, contact Jim Quast, S&B Soil Erosion Program Manager, jquast@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-266-9292.   5. Material Approvals
Per Comm 10.125, Comm 20.18, and Comm 50.19, the following have been issued material approvals in June and July, 2000. The approvals are valid for five years. Copies of the full approvals are available from the Safety and Buildings Division Integrated Services Bureau, PO Box 2658, Madison, WI 53701-2658. -Furnace, 960062-H(Rev.4), York International Corp., Unitary Products Group, P.O. Box 1592, 232F, York, PA 17405-1592
-Gas Water Heaters, 980031-H(Rev.3), State Industries, Inc., 500 Lindahl Parkway, Ashland City, TN 37015
-Joist, 200025-W (Replaces 940076-W), Truswall Systems Corp., 1101 North Great Southwest Parkway, Arlington, TX 76011
-Insulating Concreter Formework, 200038-I (Replaces 940066-I), AAB Building System, 840 Division St., Cobourg, Ontario, Canada K9A 4J9
-Sub-Floor Drainage System, 200042-O, Basement Systems, Inc., 60 Silvermine Rd., Seymour, CT 06483
-Metal Connectors, Hangers, and Straps, 200043-N (Replaces 940017-N), Simpson Strong-Tie Co.,Inc., 4637 Chabot Drive, Suite 200, Pleasanton, CA 94588
-Modular Classroom, Model GCR2460-MW, 200044-A, Markline Industries, Inc., 51687 C.R.133, P.O.Box 277, Bristol, IN 46507
-Modular Office, Model 5539a, 200052-A, Whitley Manufacturing Co., 201 W. First St., South Whitley, IN 46787
-Modular Office, Model 5540a, 200053-A, Whitley Manufacturing Co., 201 W. First St., South Whitley, IN 46787
-Modular Office, Model 4957D, 200054-A, Whitley Manufacturing Co., 201 W. First St., South Whitley, IN 46787
-Hot Water Boilers and Heaters, 200055-H, Weben-Jarco, Inc., 4007 Platinum Way, Dallas, TX 75237
-Laminated Veneer Lumber,200056-W, (Replaces 990043-W), Lousiana-Pacific Corporation, 325 Industrial Drive, Fernley, NV 89204
-Master Plankolvl, 200057-W, McCausey Wood Products, 32205 Little Mack Ave., Roseville, MMI 48066
-Patio Enclosure System, 200059-O, Joyce Manufacturing, 1125 Berea Industrial Pkwy., Berea, OH 44017   6. Onsite audits disclose discrepancies in claims for Fire Dues Fund money
By John Lippitt, Safety and Buildings Division Fire Safety Program Manager
Onsite audits by fire safety consultants for the Safety and Buildings Division have found some municipalities and fire departments claimed compliance with requirements to receive money through the state Fire Dues Fund program, when in fact the compliance was not there. Audits of Fire Dues Fund services verify provision of very important local fire safety inspections and to be sure Fire Dues Fund money is honestly earned. Onsite audits begun in April 2000 discovered major problems, particularly relating to some fire departments not doing fire inspections. Fire inspections were not performed and documented as required by state regulations. Yet, in some cases, the municipal clerk and the fire chief self-certified compliance with inspection requirements. Money from the state Fire Dues Fund was paid to the municipality based on the expectation that the self-certification was correct. Incorrect declaration of compliance not only can lead to the municipality having to refund the money, but also can potentially result in criminal proceedings for false swearing. In either case, the municipality will be notified of the failed audit and will be requested to return the unearned Fire Dues Fund money to the state. While returning the monies could be a problem to the municipality, larger problems loom in terms of endangered public safety and misconduct with government funds. I urge all fire chiefs to ensure the fire protection and fire prevention services are being properly provided by their fire department. Please review the Wisconsin Fire Dues Funds Guide, provided in 1999 to each fire department and to each municipal clerk. There are laws in Wisconsin concerning public officials engaging in misconduct in public office and false swearing regarding actions taken by government agencies. These laws specify charges for such misbehavior, some of which are classified as felonies. Individuals may be held accountable for knowingly falsifying information in the Fire Dues Fund process. Questions about onsite audits may be directed to Dan Graham, Fire Safety Program Section Chief, 608-266-0056, dgraham@commerce.state.wi.us.   7. Two special fire safety newspaper sections for 4th and 5th graders
Two 4-page fire safety newspaper sections to Wisconsin school children are being organized by the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Newspapers in Education Department. Arriving to coincide with Fire Prevention Week, October 8-14, 2000 activities, fourth and fifth graders will receive a section highlighting fire safety and another section meant to be taken home and shared with their families. Last year the Journal Sentinel-based program was chosen best among fire safety programs and third best overall among national Newspaper in Education programs.   8. Events Calendar
Contact the listed Code Consultant for information on the meetings agenda, locations, etc. If you have questions concerning technicalities of the codes which are the subjects of the meetings, contact consultants and reviewers listed on pages 10 - 11 of this WBCR.
- Sept. 14, 2000, Thursday, Commercial Building Code Council, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., UW-Madison Agricultural Research Station, 8502 Mineral Point Road, Verona, Sam Rockweiler, srockweiler@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-266-0797.
- Sept. 19, 2000, Tuesday, Comm 10 Code Committee, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Thompson Commerce Center, Rm. 3B, 201 W Washington Ave., Madison, Duane Hubeler, dhuebler@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-266-1390.
- November 1, 2000, Wednesday, Uniform Dwelling Code Council, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Tentative Date/Location: Wisconsin Builders Association, 4868 High Crossing Blvd, Madison, Duane Hubeler, dhuebler@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-266-1390.
- Dec. 13, 2000, Wednesday, Multifamily Dwelling Code Council, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Tentative Date/Location: Wisconsin Builders Association, 4868 High Crossing Blvd, Madison, Sam Rockweiler, srockweiler@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-266-0797.   9. Reported U.S. fire deaths declined in 1999
An August information release on fire losses in the United States says fire deaths decreased in 1999 to 3,570, down 11 percent from 1998. The information is part of a larger report the National Fire Protection Association will release later this year. The data used is incomplete because of incomplete reporting of fire incidents in the United States. About 80 percent of all fire deaths continue to occur in the home, according to the NFPA. 70 percent of all structure fires continue to occur in homes. The overall number of reported fires in the country rose four percent, to 1,823,000, the NFPA stated. "We are generally pleased with the findings," said John Hall, Jr., NFPA's assistant vice president for fire analysis and research, but he cautions that "the work of the fire protection community is far from complete. It certainly appears, though, that the long downward trend in U.S. fire deaths has been extended." Still, every 17 seconds, a fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the country, and every 85 seconds, there's a home fire. On average, there is a civilian fire injury every 24 minutes. Other findings: Vehicle fires dropped by 3 percent last year, to 368,500. The Northeast had the highest regional rate of fire injuries per million population, while the West had the lowest. There was a significant increase in property damage as a result of fire, up 16 percent from the previous year, to an estimated direct cost of $10 billion. The report also indicates a decrease of five percent in fires known to have been deliberately set or suspected of being set. The full findings of the report will be published later this year in The NFPA Journal. Fire deaths: Reported fire deaths in 1999 decreased 11 percent from '98 for a total of 3,570. A civilian fire fatality occurred every 2.5 hours. 80 percent of all fire deaths occurred in the home.
Comparisons: In 1979, the number of deaths from fire was 7,575, or 53 percent higher than the current report. In 1989, the number of deaths from fire was 5,410, or 34 percent higher than the current report.
Fire injuries: On average, every 24 minutes, there was a fire injury to a civilian.
Fire statistics: The overall number of fires rose by nearly 4 percent to 1,823,000. A home fire occurred every 85 seconds. A fire department responded to a fire somewhere in the U.S. every 17 seconds. Property damage as a result of fire was up by 16, estimated at $10 billion.
Regional data: The South had the highest civilian fire death rate per capita. The Northeast region had the highest rate of civilian fire injuries per capita. The North Central region had the highest rate of direct dollar loss.   10. Building review position goes from Hayward to La Crosse
Submittal patterns, numbers also cause other moves
Building plan review will not be done in the Safety and Buildings Division Hayward office after September 29, 2000. The current building plan review position there will be moved to the La Crosse office. (Reviews for plumbing and private onsite wastewater treatment systems will continue to be done in Hayward.) The change is being made in line with continued in-depth statistical study of S&B's review workload, said Integrated Services Bureau Director Randy Baldwin. The next available building plan review in the La Crosse office this summer was sometimes a month from the request, while the work hours available in Hayward were being utilized 75 percent of the time, Baldwin stated. Getting an appointment in La Crosse has been the farthest out, he added, and in Hayward review appointments were available in what averaged to less than a week, with some days having no reviews scheduled. "We looked at the pattern of who was submitting to Hayward and found five submitters were using that as the office they submitted most of their reviews to. The vast majority of submitters to Hayward used the office only once. Most of those customers also submitted to other offices, suggesting they were moving between S&B offices where they would find the earliest available appointments," Baldwin said. We are sorry if we inconvenience some submitters, however we need to use the work hour resources we have as efficiently as we can, he said. Balancing the workload between the offices is also reflected by moving a vacant non-review position in Madison to become a building review position in Shawano, which has been the office next hardest after La Crosse in which to get a building review appointment. Another building reviewer position was added in La Crosse (see above), and a building reviewer position in Madison was transferred to Green Bay.   11. Lighting plans will not be reviewed but may be "inspected"
Plan reviews for commercial buildings will no longer include reviews of lighting plans. Code changes to Comm 2, effective September 1, 2000, eliminate any fee for lighting review, and the Safety and Buildings Division will no longer ask for lighting plans as part of the data needed for a complete plan review. However, inspectors at a site may ask to see the lighting plans to clarify some question that occurs to them While it is the normal process in project design to prepare lighting plans, they may not always be on the site. If an inspector does make a request for the plans, they will need to be provided. For more information on lighting plans, contact Randy Dahmen, S&B lighting consultant, 608-266-3162, rdahmen@commerce.state.wi.us.   12. Public hearings will continue the process of considering model building codes adoption
By Michael F. Corry, Administrator of the Safety and Buildings Division
The Safety and Buildings Division of the state Department of Safety and Professional Services will hold public hearings at the end of the year on adoption in Wisconsin of customized national model building codes. I strongly encourage municipal officials to present comments and to be part of the discussions on adoption of these codes. The hearing sessions continue a process begun several years ago, when S&B formed about a dozen advisory councils to consider adoption of one or more of a suite of national codes being created by the International Code Council (ICC). The ICC is an unprecedented cooperative effort of three previously mutually exclusive national building code organizations, the Building Officials and Code Administrators International, the International Conference of Building Officials, and the Southern Building Code Congress International. S&B staff joined other building and fire officials from across North America in development of the ICC codes. At the same time, S&B and the state advisory councils considered the model codes in depth, including what amendments might be needed for use of the models in Wisconsin. Comparisons of the ICC codes and Wisconsin's current building-related codes were thoroughly researched and openly discussed. The councils and S&B staff have agreed on the general concept of adoption with a minimum of Wisconsin amendments, of the International Building Code (IBC), International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, and International Energy Conservation Code. To speak only of the IBC for the moment, the following councils endorsed or recommended adoption of the IBC, or those parts of the IBC that was apropos for their review: Commercial Building Code Council; Multifamily Dwelling Code Council; Fire Safety Code Council; Egress and Accessibility Code Council; Structural Code Council; Elevator Code Council. S&B had planned a comparison of the National Fire Protection Association's Fire Prevention and Life Safety Codes with the ICC International Fire Code, in order to consider possible adoption in Wisconsin of a national fire code to replace Wisconsin's current Comm 14. However, NFPA recently announced plans to redo NFPA 1 and NFPA 101 to the extent that a comparison at this time would not be valid. The question of adopting a model fire code is still under discussion. If you wish to talk about the code process or technical points of the codes, contact Jim Smith, the S&B Commercial Buildings Program Manager, jsmith@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-266-0251. Specific public hearing dates and locations have not been selected. As soon as it is available, that information will be offered in the WBCR and on the S&B WebSite, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-HomePage.html. 13. Certified Municipalities
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