You may choose the numbered link to an article from this list, or scroll down:
1. Owners may now register some commercial projects, in lieu of plan review submittal;
2. Material Approvals;
3. Toilet room exhaust "draws" questions and answers;
4. Examples of October 1 commercial building code changes;
5. Fire department update form gathered partial statewide statistics;
6. S&B surveys plan review submitters, recognizes quality submittals;
7. IBC News - Model code adoption hearings coming;
8. Erosion Control for Commercial Buildings, Proposed Comm 65;
9. Occupational Safety Inspectors;
10. Fire Safety Consultants;
11. Fire protection system plan review progressing;
12. Events Calendar;
13. Certified Municipalities;
14. Who to contact at S&B
1. Owners may now register some commercial projects, in lieu of plan review submittal
For more information, contact any plan review offices, or the commercial building plan reviewers.
An owner of a commercial building, the volume of which requires plan submittal but does not require engineer or architect involvement, may hire an engineer or architect to prepare plans and perform periodic onsite observations . Effective October 1, if that option is chosen, the owner may register the building and HVAC with the Safety and Buildings Division, in lieu of plan submittal.
Q1. What buildings may be registered?
A1. Registration is permitted for buildings with a total volume of more than 25,000 cubic feet, but less than 50,000 cubic feet, under the scope of Comm 54, Comm 59 storage garages, Comm 62 mini-storages, and Comm 62 greenhouses. Registration is also permitted for buildings with a total volume less than 25,000 cubic feet, under the scope of Comm 55 through 62 and Comm 66. (Total volume is the total volume of the building following completion of the proposed project.)
Q2. Which type of licensed professionals may be obtained?
A2 Plan preparation. The building must be designed by a Wisconsin-licensed architect or engineer. The HVAC system must be designed by a Wisconsin-licensed architect or engineer, or Wisconsin-licensed HVAC designer.
A2. Performance of onsite observations and filing a compliance statement. The supervising professional for the building must be a Wisconsin-licensed architect or engineer. The supervising professional for the HVAC system must be a Wisconsin-licensed architect or engineer or Wisconsin-licensed HVAC designer. The designer and supervising professional may be the same person or may be different people.
Q3. When the owner chooses to register a project in lieu of plan review, what factors should they consider?
A3. The owner needs to consider many factors specific to the site, project, and time constraints associated with a specific project. When making a decision to register a project, the owner should be aware that:
*There will be no review of the construction plans conducted by S&B for this project.
*There will be no routine inspections conducted by S&B during the construction of this project.
*Permitting, plan review, and/or inspections by the local municipality may be required by local ordinances.
*The building and HVAC for this project must be registered with S&B. (This means that if the building project is registered, then the HVAC must also be registered, and cannot be submitted for review. This also means that if the building plans were submitted for review, then the HVAC must also be submitted and cannot be registered.)
Q4. If a project is registered, will the owner receive a letter from S&B?
A4. Yes, a letter will be generated acknowledging receipt of the registration. Distribution of the letter will be the same as for a plan review approval. (owner, designer, supervising professional, local municipality, state inspector)
Q5. Can a local permit be obtained prior to receipt of the above-mentioned letter?
A5. Projects of the indicated size require state or authorized agent approval prior to obtaining a local permit. The letter of acknowledgment of the registration by S&B must be received prior to obtaining the permit.
Q6. What is the local inspector's role in a registered project?
A6. If the local inspector is acting as the state agent they have no responsibility for a registered project. The full responsibility goes to the owner and licensed professionals. Complaints about a licensed professional's work should go to the Department of Regulation and Licensing. If the local inspector is acting on behalf of the municipality, the local ordinances govern their responsibility.
Q7. What if the project is registered, but later design changes or results of an onsite evaluation discover the building exceeds the thresholds for registration?
A7. If the building exceeds the threshold limits, then plan review is required and the registration is void.
Q8. What if a project is registered and completed, but then later an addition is desired that puts the total building over the threshold limits?
A8. Once the total volume of the building is greater than the volume indicated in question 1, then plan review would be required. When submitting plans for the addition, the reviewer will need to be provided with information on the existing building in order to consider the addition.
Q9. Where can registration forms be obtained?
A9. Forms may be obtained from the S&B's WebSite, at http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-HomePage.html under Forms or from a full-service S&B office.
2. Material Approvals
Per Comm 10.125, Comm 20.18, and Comm 50.19, the following have been issued material approvals in August, 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 Corporation, P.O.Box 1592-232F, York, PA 17405-1592 Insulated Panels, 200039-I(Replaces 940027-I), Coldmatic Building Systems, 8500 Keele Street, Concord, Ontario, Canada L4K-2A6 Laminated Veneer Lumber, 200056-W(Revised), Louisiana-Pacific Corp., 325 Industrial Drive, Fernley, NV 89204 I-Joist, 200060-W(Replaces 970037-W), Superior Wood Systems, Inc, 1301 Garfield Ave., P.O.Box 1208, Superior, WI 54880 Egress Window Well Systems, 200061-O, Behlen Mfg. Co., P.O.Box 569, Columbus, NE 68602 Make-Up Air Systems, 200063-H, Reznor, A Unit of Thomas & Betts, 150 McKinley Ave., Mercer, PA 16136
3. Toilet room exhaust "draws" questions and answers
By John Spalding, S&B Bureau of Integrated Services Commercial Buildings Section Chief
Periodically questions arise about toilet room exhaust. For example, what is the required rate, how can it be controlled, and how does it interact with the rest of the building's ventilation system? There are three code sections that should always be applied to design of the toilet room exhaust system. (There are some exceptions that will be discussed later)
1. Comm Table 64.05: Toilet Rooms are a (d) ventilation classification and must be exhausted at a rate of 75 cubic feet per minute per toilet fixture or two cfm/square foot. Note that for calculating minimum exhaust rates, toilet fixtures in Comm 64 refer only to water closets and urinals. Lavatories are not included.
2. Comm 64.65(4): Toilet rooms must always be provided with a negative pressure in respect to adjacent rooms.
3. Comm 64.06(1) & (4)(b): Outside air and exhaust air must be balanced and air may be transferred from (a) and (b) ventilation classifications to a (d) classification before being exhausted. Two examples to illustrate these requirements
1. A small office has 1500 square feet of retail space and two single-fixture toilet rooms...
Per Table 64.05, the office, which is an (a) vent classification, is required to provide 150 cfm of outside air (1500 sf divided by 75 sf per person times 7.5 cfm per person). The toilet rooms are required to have 150 cfm of exhaust (two single-fixture toilet rooms times 75 cfm). The designer has chosen to use a small furnace with a fresh air intake and to exhaust the building through the toilet rooms. In this case, the toilet room exhaust fan(s) must be connected to the furnace so that the exhaust will operate whenever the furnace is on. The system must operate continuously whenever the office space is occupied. The exhaust fans cannot be operated by either the toilet room light switch or by a separate switch in the toilet room. In addition, if supply air is provided to the toilet rooms, the air must be supplied at a rate of less than 75 cfm so as to maintain a negative pressure. 2. The same office designed with electric heaters in the Toilet Rooms...
The designer has chosen to provide outside air and exhaust through a small air-to-air heat exchanger. In this case, because the office HVAC system is designed independently of the toilet rooms and it's adjacent only to spaces under positive pressure, the toilet room exhaust may be switched separately. so that it will only function when the rooms are in use. However, if the toilet exhaust is included in the calculations as part of the overall building ventilation system, then the exhaust fans must be on whenever the building is occupied. Now, for several exceptions:
A. Comm 64.65(3)(a) - Toilet Rooms having only a single water closet or urinal may use natural ventilation via a window, or may use an approved ductless treatment device. Remember, however, if one of these options is used, supply air may not be provided to the toilet room. It should also be noted that Comm 52.50(2) permits mazed entrances in lieu of doors for privacy within toilet rooms. However, because most toilet rooms abut other rooms, paragraph (e), states the toilet room must always have mechanical exhaust. Natural ventilation would be permitted when the mazed toilet room does not abut an adjacent room, such as with a privy in a park.
B. Comm 64.65(3)(c) - Bathrooms with one bathtub or shower and one water closet or urinal may be provided with mechanical exhaust at 50 cfm.
C. Comm Table 64.05 - Toilet rooms in schools must be exhausted at a rate of 75 cfm per fixture or two cfm per square foot, whichever is greater. Two problems encountered during the plan review process are:
1) Incorrect indication or no indication of how the exhaust fans are controlled, and
2) Not providing information as to the discharge point of the exhaust. It must be at least 12 inches away from an opening or air intake if under 100 cfm and at least 10 feet away if over 100 cfm. The discharge must also be to the exterior of the building (not in the attic or soffit) and the system must be equipped with a backdraft damper. It is important to keep in mind that the building code only sets minimum requirements. It is not a design manual. Individual project circumstances may require greater exhaust rates to provide proper air quality. It is the responsibility of the HVAC designer to analyze the needs of the facility and to design the system to meet those needs. Feel free to contact any of the building plan reviewers with questions regarding this topic.
4. Examples of October 1 commercial building code changes
by Jim B. Smith, S&B Commercial Building Program Manager
The "interim" rule changes that went into effect October 1, 2000 included recognizing several Safety and Buildings Division uncodified past practices in review processes for commercial buildings. (I use the word "interim" because the changes were pursued to complement the continuing adoption track of the model International Building Code in Wisconsin.) An example of the process changes based on past-practices is to allow 24-hour key card type of self service gas stations to operate without keeping their toilet rooms open during off hours. Other October 1 changes cleaned up the language requiring not just the plan review submittal prior to project construction, but more specifically requiring the approval prior to proceeding with construction. Some of the changes allow for flexibility in regulations, including a provision where an owner could chose to hire an architect or engineer as an alternative to submitting certain projects for Safety and Buildings Division review and approval. (See page one.) This would be an option for smaller projects that would normally not require an owner to hire an A/E to design, prepare plans, and supervise the construction of the commercial building. When using that option, the owner would then register the project with S&B. The project must still comply with the code; the owner and building are subject to division involvement should the code violations be found. I mention last, but don't mean to downplay, that the October 1 code changes even dropped some submittal requirements, including the need to submit plans for antenna towers. Division study of the history of review of those elements showed that S&B didn't need to perform a plan review and approval prior to construction in order to assure safety. For more detail on the changes that just went into effect, refer to our website, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-HomePage.html. If you have any questions you think I can help with, feel free to contact me, 608-266-0251, jsmith@commerce.state.wi.us.
5. Fire department update form gathered partial statewide statistics
By John Lippitt, S&B Fire Safety Program Manager, 608-266-1036, jlippitt@commerce.state.wi.us
The last revision to Comm 14, the Fire Prevention Code, included a requirement that fire departments must complete and return an annual update survey form to the Safety and Buildings Division. I want to share some of the information that was gleaned from the survey. Currently, based on S&B database information, Wisconsin has 34 career fire departments (Pay Status 1), 84 combination fire departments (PS 2), and 727 volunteer fire departments (PS 3). Three volunteer departments are new and did not participate in 1999 fire prevention or protection. In 1999, there were 844 fire departments (PS 1, 2, 3) providing fire prevention and fire protection services to the 1852 municipalities in Wisconsin. Of the 844 fire departments, 527 or roughly 62 percent returned the annual update form to S&B. (Some fire departments did not answer all the questions.) Thanks to the fire service staff who returned forms for their cooperation in providing valuable information, and for complying with the state code. How many firefighters are there in Wisconsin? 376 fire departments reported a total of 12,122 firefighters. This represents reporting by 44 percent of the fire departments in Wisconsin. There are reportedly 2,980 fire inspectors working for 678 fire departments. 517 departments' fire inspectors conducted 262,425 inspections. 381 departments identified 133,332 code violations and 370 departments reported 92,020 corrections. This is raw data from what is the first year S&B asked inspection questions. I think it shows that a lot of people did a lot of work in getting 92,020 code violations corrected. I believe this is a benefit to the people of Wisconsin and I thank the fire inspectors for a job well done. Keep up the good work! I encourage all fire chiefs to complete the update form for 1999, and every year in the future, so we can improve the quality of the information about our fire service. S&B receives queries about fire department statistics from many different customers, including fire service member groups. S&B can supply another 1999 form to any fire department that wishes one; contact Luann Robb, 608-266-5824, Lrobb@commerce.state.wi.us. Fire education officers on the Internet
In response to a survey S&B ran last year; a fire education officer suggested to us that we collect and make available a list of the fire education officers in Wisconsin. We now have a list of 356 fire education officers for your use. S&B already had listed all the state's fire departments on our Internet site. Now we have added a list of fire education officers and their contact information to the WebSite.
6. S&B surveys plan review submitters, recognizes quality submittals
by Randy Baldwin, Director, S&B Bureau of Integrated Services, 608-267-9152, rbaldwin@commerce.state.wi.us
As a follow-up to National Customer Service Week, a survey packet was mailed to designers who submitted 20 or more plans to the Safety and Buildings Division in a recent 12-month period. The packet contained a "report card" showing how that specific submitter was doing as a supplier of plans to S&B. Each submitter's number of plans, held plans, denied plans, missed appointments, etc., were noted. Each submitter was part of a list of unnamed submitters ranked by "percent of plans approved on initial submittal" for each of the five major plan review programs. This provided a comparison of how each submitter's performance ranked with the "competition." Submitters are "suppliers" to S&B. Accurately completing the application forms and preparing detailed code-complying submittals are essential for overall economy and efficiency. To emphasize the importance of this, S&B sent special recognition certificates to 92 frequent submitters whose plans were approved 90 percent of the time or better on initial submittal last year. Thanks very much to these quality submitters for their good efforts. The 394 designers who submitted 20 or more plans last year are also in the best position to rate S&B's customer service. Thus, they were provided with an opinion survey to provide input on what needs improvement in our plan review service. Results of that survey will be published in a future WBCR.
7. IBC News - Model code adoption hearings coming
The Safety and Buildings Division and all its building advisory code groups propose adoption in Wisconsin of one or more model codes: International Building Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, or International Energy Conservation Code. The division and advisory groups are also looking at the International Fire Code, projected National Fire Prevention Association codes, and revisions to Wisconsin's Fire Prevention Code, Comm 14. I think IBC public hearings will be in February or March 2001. Exact details have not yet been determined. Keep watching the WBCR for details. To assure that our partners are kept up to speed on the activities of the division, over the past few months S&B staff met with the four state building inspector organizations. The meetings were very informative and we received a lot of good feedback. I hope the information we provided was as useful to those attending as the feedback was to us. In August, S&B had our second meeting with the IBC Implementation Task Group. If you will recall from previous articles, the group was created to provide us with suggestions as to steps the division can take to make transition to model codes as painless as possible for partners who are also responsible for enforcement of building codes. One of the goals originally recommended by the implementation group was that adequate training be made available to all code officials. In August, we rolled out our initial plans for that training. We tentatively plan an orientation-type of training on the aforementioned codes this coming March. We expect to provide an all-day session at each of four association-sponsored sites. More detailed "function specific" training has been suggested for later in 2001 and early 2002, so as to be closer to possible mid-2002 effective dates of model code adoptions. We continue to discuss potential training plans. Details will be coming in future articles.
8. Erosion Control for Commercial Buildings, Proposed Comm 65
Safety and Buildings Division staff discussions with representatives of the state Department of Natural Resources are continuing regarding the scope and detail of proposed rules from both agencies concerning erosion control, storm management, and non-point sources of pollution. S&B does not anticipate having currently proposed rules, Comm 65, take effect any time soon. If and when modifications to the proposals are made, the rules will be resubmitted to the legislature for committee review. Under this scenario, Comm 65 could not take effect any sooner than May 1, 2001. In the meantime, Comm 50.115 still applies. Those rules require a "Notice of Intent" to be filed with S&B at least 14 days before commencing construction for any commercial building project that disturbs five or more acres of land. (S&B will not mail back an acknowledgment of receipt of the notice.) For these types of projects, a notice of intent does not have to be filed with the DNR. Erosion control plans and storm water management plans are to be developed and implemented, but the plans do not have to be submitted to and approved by S&B. If plans are submitted to S&B, the division will retain the plans as reference material. A set of plans should be kept at the job site and made available upon request. When the disturbed land is stabilized, a "Notice of Termination" is to filed with S&B. "Notice of Intent" and "Notice of Termination" forms are available by calling 608-261-8490, or on the Safety and Buildings WebSite, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-Forms.html. For more information, contact Jim Quast, S&B Soil Erosion Program manager, 608-266-9292, jquast@commerce.state.wi.us.
9. Occupational Safety Inspectors
10. Fire Safety Consultants
11. Fire protection system plan review progressing
By John Lippitt, S&B Fire Safety Program Manager, 608-266-1036, jlippitt@commerce.state.wi.us
Program development is well underway for the implementation of the Safety and Buildings fire protection system plan review service. Our target date to begin reviewing fire protection system plans is March 1, 2001. S&B staff has developed a proposed standard which outlines the policies and procedures which both state and local plan reviews will use when conducting a plan examination. To help us get the standard off on the right foot, we created an advisory group of volunteers to review the standard and provide feedback. The volunteers are an automatic fire sprinkler contractor, a fire alarm system contractor, and representatives of municipalities and fire departments that have in the past provided fire protection system plan review. That Fire Protection Systems Plan Review Task Group met on October 5 in Madison to discuss the proposed standards. The group was scheduled to meet again on November 8 to provide more feedback. It is the goal of S&B to have uniform consistent fire protection system plan review in Wisconsin, regardless of whether a plan examination is conducted by a state plan examiner or a local plan examiner. This applies to examination of the plans for compliance with the state codes. However, keep in mind that local authorities may also examine plans for compliance with local regulations; these reviews may be conducted outside the scope of the S&B standards. The fees for fire protection system plan review are now included in Comm 2, the Fee Code. Copies are available from state Document Sales, 608-266-3358, or for credit card purchases, 800-362-7253. The codes are also available from the S&B WebSite, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-CodesListing2000.html. As reported in the February 2000 WBCR, S&B will be reviewing fire alarm plans and fire suppression plans for a limited number occupancies. Additional information may be obtained by contacting either of the fire protection system plan reviewers, Bill Sullivan, bsullivan@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-266-9643, or Keith Glaunert, kglaunert@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-267-7395.
12. 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 (S&B Contacts).
*November 7, 2000, Tuesday, Automatic Fire Sprinkler System Contractors and Journeymen Council, 9:30 a.m., Thompson Commerce Center, Rm. 4A, 201 W Washington Ave., Madison, Ron Acker, 608-267-7907, racker@commerce.state.wi.us.
*November 8, 2000, Wednesday, Fire Protection Systems Plan Review Task Group, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Thompson Commerce Center, first floor Human Resources Conference Rm., 201 W Washington Ave., Madison, contact Program Manager John Lippitt, 608-2266-1036, jlippitt@commerce.state.wi.us.
*November 9, 2000, Thursday, Commercial Building Code Council, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., UW-Madison Agricultural Research Station, 8502 Mineral Point Road, Verona, Sam Rockweiler, 608-266-0797, srockweiler@commerce.state.wi.us.
*November 15,, 2000, Wednesday, Multifamily Dwelling Code Council, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Wisconsin Builders Association, 4868 High Crossing Blvd, Madison, Sam Rockweiler, 608-266-0797, srockweiler@commerce.state.wi.us.
*December 7, 2000, Thursday, Comm 10 Code Committee, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Thompson Commerce Center, Rm. 6A, 201 W Washington Ave., Madison, Duane Hubeler, 608-266-1390, dhubeler@commerce.state.wi.us
13. Certified Municipalities 14. Who to contact at S&B