To view an article, you may choose the number of an article of interest to you, or you may scroll down: 1. Rules adopted for UDC inspection agencies; 2. Brochure asks public to pay attention to possible need for other permits; 3. Contact Information for Safety and Buildings Services; 4. Product Evaluations; 5. Personnel News; 6. Black River Falls is S&B exam site; 7. Type "MH" backfill for masonry foundation walls - Correction to previous article; 8. Fire Alarm classes provide continuing education; 9. Employment Opportunity - Pleasant Prairie Senior; 10. The United States Fire Administration offers a long list of free materials to for public fire safety education; 11. Four departments receive federal grants; 12. recall of sprinklers with O-rings; 13. Information being posted on WebSite about Fire Dues Task Group meetings; 14. Fire Protection Delegated Agents; 15. Certified Munis 1. Rules adopted for UDC inspection agencies
by Laurence Swaziek, UDC Program Manager, 608-267-7701, Lswaziek@commerce.state.wi.us A rule change package related to Uniform Dwelling Code inspection agencies, including parts of administrative code chapters Comm 2 (Fees), 5 (Credentials), and 20 (UDC Administration), was adopted in August by the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Brenda Blanchard. (Blanchard resigned from her position at the end of August.) The new rules set the stage for Safety and Buildings Division enforcement of the UDC in some Wisconsin municipalities of less than 2,500 population which haven't officially provided for or declined inspection and enforcement. The division plans to register UDC inspection agencies and use the agencies to provide UDC inspection. The newly-adopted rules have been forwarded to the state Revisor of Statutes for processing, and are expected to become effective October 1, 2001. Changes to Comm 5 will take effect first, and the inspection and fee portions in Comm 2 and 20 will take effect two months later. This two-phase approach will give S&B time to register UDC Inspection Agencies before the date arrives for administration of the UDC in those municipalities for which S&B is responsible. In the 1999 state budget, legislators directed that the Department of Safety and Professional Services, of which S&B is part, be responsible for administration of the UDC in those municipalities which did not officially declare their UDC status. An article in the May 2001 WBCR provided more information. You can access the UDC inspection agency rules in final draft form on the S&B WebSite at http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-DivCode Development.html. If you would like to know what municipalities will need UDC inspection coverage, you can access a status list, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-OneAndTwoFamilyStatusListInstructions.html. As we get closer to the effective date of the rules, particularly those in Comm 5, the application for registering as a UDC Inspection Agency will be available on the S&B "Forms" WebSite page, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-DivForms.html. You may also contact the S&B Credential Unit, 608-261-8500 or madisoncred@commerce.state.wi.us to apply (after October 1, 2001), or if you have any questions on the credential. You may also contact me, as listed above, for more information. 2. Brochure asks public to pay attention to possible need for other permits
by Henry Kosarzycki, S&B Agent Monitor, 262-548-8615, hkosarzycki@commerce.state.wi.us Paying attention to the variety of possible permits needed for different building projects is the theme of a brochure the Safety and Buildings Division has prepared. The brochure will be provided to municipalities to distribute free to people contacting local government departments. The brochure is available for download from the S&B WebSite, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-DivPublications.html, and will be printed this fall for distribution to all municipalities which ask for copies. Registration to receive copies is also on the WebSite. Leading customers to ask the right questions is important to getting all the needed permitting steps taken. Time, money, and aggravation are at stake. S&B repeatedly hears negative reports from people who took one step in one permitting process, but were "burned" because they didn't know about or follow through on other steps needed. They got a zoning permit, but no building permit. They didn't submit for plumbing plan review for a commercial project because they thought it was "just remodeling." Whatever the reasons for not getting the proper permits, people become disturbed with government officials when a problem is discovered in trying to complete a local or state permitting process. The new brochure is meant to help stop some of that frustration before it occurs. The brochure makes a number of suggestions for people who are starting building projects: Contact your local village, town or city government. Ask what permits you need locally. Ask if there are local inspectors to help figure things out. Ask what other agencies' permits you may need. Ask what needs to be done first, then second, then third. Contact the county planning or zoning department. Ask if they have authority over the property you have in mind. Ask if they know of any other permits or processes you need to pay attention to. The brochure says: Even if a property has the proper zoning, projects probably also require another permit if something is erected, constructed, improved, enlarged, altered, converted, repaired, filled in, moved or demolished. The same governing body does not necessarily issue all the permits associated with a project. There are many variations as to what permits are needed; it's in the customer's best interest to ask about the variations. Federal, state, regional planning, county, municipal, special district, sanitary, erosion control, flood plain, zoning, driveway and well issues are examples of the various combinations that can affect projects. Municipal officials obviously concentrate on regulated objects constructed installed and altered in their own community. Building construction or alteration, mechanical systems, fences, or signs are a few of these regulated objects. County and regional agents regulate and are involved with the impact those regulated objects will have on a wider environment. Erosion control, storm water management, zoning, and sanitary permits are examples of these permits. Federal and state regulatory agencies are typically associated with review and inspection duties associated with federal law or state statutory regulations. The Americans with Disabilities Act, Environmental Protection Agency regulations, and state building codes are examples of these rules and regulations. If you have questions about the brochure, contact me, Henry Kosarzycki, as listed above, or Todd Taylor, S&B Publications Editor, 608-267-3606, Todd.Taylor@Wisconsin.gov. The brochure is located online at http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-DivPublications.html . 3. Contact Information for Safety and Buildings Services To schedule an appointment:
FAX: 24 hr. toll-free number for appointment scheduling, 877-840-9172
E-mail: madisonsch@commerce.state.wi.us
Telephone: Green Bay.......920-492-5601
Hayward 715-634-4870
La Crosse 608-785-9334
Madison 608-266-3151
Shawano 715-524-3626
Waukesha 262-548-8600 To obtain application forms:
Call any of the offices listed above.
On the S&B WebSite (choose "Forms" on left side of screen):
http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-HomePage.html Info about next available review appointment:
http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-DailyDoc.html E-mail answers to technical questions:
-Commercial buildings, Comm 50-64, etc. = bldgtech@commerce.state.wi.us
-Plumbing, cross connection = plbgtech@commerce.state.wi.us
-Private onsite wastewater treatment = powtstech@commerce.state.wi.us
-Public swimming pools = pooltech@commerce.state.wi.us
-Building and plumbing products = productech@commerce.state.wi.us
-Licenses, certifications, registrations = madisoncred@commerce.state.wi.us
-Manufactured/mobile homes = manf-homes@commerce.state.wi.us
-One- and Two-family Dwelling Code = udctech@commerce.state.wi.us 4. Product Evaluations
Per Comm 20.18 and Comm 50.19, the following have been issued building product evaluations in April thru June 2001. The evaluations are valid for a five-year period. Copies of the full evaluation are available from the Safety and Buildings Division, Integrated Services Bureau, PO Box 2658, Madison, WI 53701-2658. Boilers, 960049-H (Revised)
Patterson-Kelley Division
100 Burson St., P.O.Box 458
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 Light-Transmitting Plastics, 200101-L (Rev.)
Cyro Industries
25 Executive Boulevard, P.O. Box 550
Orange, Ct.06477 Dual Use Supply Boilers, 970089-H (Revised)
A.O.Smith Water Products
401 Frederick Rd.
El Paso, TX 79905 Furnace, 200102-H (Revised)
Skymark International, Inc.
225 Monarch Ave.
Ajax, ON L1S 7M3, Canada Gas Water Heaters, 980031-H (Rev.4)
State Industries, Inc.
500 Lindahl Parkway
Ashland City, TN 37015 Vapor Barrier Paint, 200103-O (Revised)
Hallman Lindsay Quality Paints
1717 N.Bristol St.
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 Outdoor Duct Furnace, 990055-H (Rev.)
Modine Mfg.Co.
1500 Dekoven Ave.
Racine, WI 53403 LVL G-P LamO, 200104-W (Revised)
Georgia-Pacific Corporation
1000 North Park Drive
Roxboro, NC 27573 Gas-Fired Humidifier, 200013-H (Rev.)
DRI-STEEM Humidifier Co.
14949 Technology Dr.
Eden Prairie, MN 55344 GPI Wood I BeamOJoist, 200105-W (Revised)
Georgia-Pacific Corporation
1000 North Park Drive
Roxboro, NC 27573 Duct Furnace, 200049-H (Rev.)
Modine Mfg. Co.
1500 Dekoven Ave.
Racine, WI 53403 E-Z Fire Tape, 200106-O
E-Z Taping System, Inc.
P.O.Box 11263
Green Bay, WI 54307 Outdoor Duct Furnace, 200058-H
Modine Mfg.Co.
1500 Dekoven Ave.
Racine, WI 53403 Concrete Form System, 200107-R
Elastizell Corporation of America
P.O.Box 1462
Ann Arbor, MI 48106 LPI I-Joists, 200079W (Revised)
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation
2706 Hwy 421 North
Wilmington, NC 28401 EPS Roof Insulation, 200108-I
AFM Corporation
24000 W. Hwy 7, Suite 201
Excelsoir, MN 55331 Waste Oil Boilers, Unit Heaters and Furnaces, 200100-H (Revised)
Clean Burn, Inc.
83 South Groffdale Rd.
Leola, PA 17540 Furnace, 200110-H
International Comfort Products
650 Heil-Quaker Avenue
Lewisburg, TN 37091-0128 Fire Barrier Insulation Systems, 200109-G
Vesuvius
101 Jonesboro Highway
Erwin, TN 37650 Particleboard, 200111-O
Viroc/Portugal-Industrias de Madeira
Valede Rosa E.N. 10-Km 44, 7
Setubal, Portugal 2914-519 I-Joist TJIO Series, 200113-W
Trus Joist
200 East Mallard Drive
Boise, ID 83706 Wood I-Joists, 200114-W
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation
2706 Hwy 421 North
Wilmington, NC 28401 Metal Building Systems, 200115-M
N.C.I.Building Systems, L.P.
7301 Fairview
Houston, TX 77041 5. Personnel News
James Coach is a new boiler inspector in south-central Wisconsin. A veteran of 30 years of plant and industrial engineering, Coach's telephone number is 608-575-8753, his email is jcoach@commerce.state.wi.us. Fokruddin Khondaker is now a com-mercial buildings plan reviewer in the S&B Shawano office. An experienced designer, Khondaker's telephone number is 715-524-6850, his email is fkohndaker@commerce.state.wi.us. David Vriezen, formerly an Occupational Safety Specialist with S&B, has been chosen as Bureau of Field Operations Section Chief for the Mine Safety and Public Sector Safety Programs. His telephone number is 262-548-8602, his email is dvriezen@commerce.state.wi.us. 6. Black River Falls is S&B exam site
Black River Falls is a new exam site for Safety and Buildings Division credentials, with the sessions at the Arrowhead Lodge, Highways 94 and 54. On a trial basis, exams will be held there on October 10, February 6 (2002), April 10, and June 5. People must register in advance. Other S&B exam sites are in Madison, Milwaukee, and Wausau, all of which have exams held each month. For more information, or to register for an exam, contact the S&B Credentialing Unit, 608-261-8500, madisoncred@commerce.state.wi.us. 7. Type "MH" backfill for masonry foundation walls - Correction to previous article
by Laurence Swaziek, Program Manager, 608-267-7701, Lswaziek@commerce.state.wi.us Questions: Table Comm 21.18-A lists Type "MH" soils, inorganic clayey silts and elastic silts, as being unsuitable as backfill material, while this same soil type can be found in one of the headings in the plain masonry foundation wall table 21.18-C and the reinforced masonry foundation wall tables 21.18-D, E & F. Can this soil type be used as backfill? Do you need to perform/request a structural analysis when using this soil? Answers: The first step in determining whether a foundation wall complies with the code is to go to the minimum wall thickness table for plain (non-reinforced) masonry or to the reinforced masonry tables and check for compliance. If the foundation wall does not meet the minimum requirements set forth in the applicable table or the backfill soil type at the site is not listed in one of the tables, a structural analysis is required. It is at this point that the designer/builder/inspector will need to refer to the soil lateral load table 21.18-A to determine what soil pressure values need to be use in the analysis. The values in the tables have been determined to be acceptable through structural analysis. In an article in the July issue of the WBCR, and in training put on earlier this year by S&B, it was stated that poured concrete foundation walls must be designed by additional structural analysis when unsuitable soils are encountered, as identified in Table 21.18-A. That was incorrect. Concrete wall thickness has already been established through structural analysis for the soil types listed in Table 21.18-A and may be used without additional engineering analysis. The concrete thickness given in the Table 21.18-B have been used since the beginning of the Uniform Dwelling Code with no history of problems. Footnote "e" Table 21.18-A. There also have been concerns expressed about footnote "e" of Table 21.18-A, relative to the application of ASTM D2487. The reference to the standard is only meant to give the designer, builder, or inspector access to the document that the soil classifications identified in the table are based on. The designer does not have to classify the soil by performing all the tests set forth in the referenced standard. The designer or contractor may perform the tests set forth in the standard to more comfortably determine the classification of the soil encountered, but may also use other means - visual, reference to previous documentation of soil classification in the area, soils maps, etc. 8. Fire Alarm classes provide continuing education NFPA 72-1999 National Fire Alarm Code Plan Review and Inspection classes will be held Sept. 18, 19, and 20, 2001 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hillside Family Resource Center, 1452 North 7th St, Milwaukee. Sponsored by the Safety and Buildings Division and the City of Milwaukee Development Center, the three-day session costs $149 for fire and building officials. People buildings officials should contact Henry Kosarzycki, S&B Agent Monitor (see below), for appropriate fees. Class size is limited to 50 registrants. The class can provide 21 hours of continuing education credits Commercial Building Inspectors. For more information, contact Henry Kosarzycki, 262-548-8515, hkosarzycki@commerce.state.wi.us. 9. Employment Opportunity - Pleasant Prairie Senior
Buildings Inspector / Deputy Zoning Administrator
The primary responsibilities of this position are the effective and efficient on-site inspection of construction activities and providing inspection, planning and zoning information within the Village of Pleasant Prairie.
Specific duties included within this job description are, but not limited to the following: on-site building and zoning inspection of commercial, residential, and institutional construction within the Village; review of construction plans; on-site inspection of erosion control methods and construction site activities; skillful interpersonal communication with citizens and contractors; tabulation of permit fee requirements; interpretation of various building codes, interpretation of municipal and zoning ordinances with regard to building inspection requirements or zoning ordinance violations; zoning ordinance administration and enforcement; coordination of the permitting process of the department with the municipal utilities, public works, police, fire and rescue departments; review of site and operational plans; accurate and timely processing of permits and inspections and planning and zoning information.
Job Skill Requirements: Must have certifications in all of the following six areas and must hold the certifications while employed in the position: UDC Construction, UDC - HVAC, UDC - Electrical, Erosion Control, UDC - Plumbing, Commercial Building. Must have any two of the following: Journeyman in the electrical, plumbing, or carpentry trades, minimum of two years experience; Two years experience as a field engineer; An associate degree in engineering, surveying, or equivalent experience; Bachelors degree in geography, planning, community development, or a related field; Two years experience as a municipal building inspector. Must also have and maintain a valid Wisconsin Drivers License and have or obtain Kenosha County residency within one year of appointment. Some evening and weekend work is required. There is available a more extensive list of job skill requirements; contract the telephone number below.
Essential job functions of this position require a significant amount of standing, walking, sitting, climbing, stooping, crouching, kneeling, reaching, and lifting and carrying a range of weight up to 40 pounds. Excellent benefits. Hourly Wage: $18.87 - $23.59/hr. Requests for applications must be submitted to the Village Administrator and returned with a resume and copies of certifications no later than 5 p.m., September 17, 2001. Village Administrator, Village of Pleasant Prairie, 9915 39th Avenue, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158, 414-694-1400. 10. The United States Fire Administration offers a long list of free materials to for public fire safety education
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fserd/
Fire Safety Resource Directory
-Burn/Scald Prevention
-CPR/First Aid
-Electrical Hazards
-Escape Plans/Drills
-Fire & the Elderly
-Fire Extinguishers
-Safety & the Disabled
-Flammable Fabrics
-Residences
-Residential Fire Inspections
-Schools/Day Care Programs
-Smoke Detectors 11. Four departments receive federal grants
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced in August that four Wisconsin fire departments will receive grants under the federal Assistance to Firefighters Program. The fire departments slated for grants are: West Allis Fire Dept. $71,106 for wellness and fitness; West Salem Fire Dept. $11,502 for personal protective equipment; Grantsburg Vol. Fire Dept. $112,584 for personal protective equipment; Rural Bridgeport-Prairie Du Chien Fire Dept. $31,500 for personal protective equipment These departments are among the 216 fire departments across the United States that will receive nearly $9.9 million in grants in the fourth round of awards. According to FEMA, more than $5.8 million of the funds in this round of grants are to be used for personal protective equipment, $1.8 for wellness and fitness programs, $1.4 million for fire prevention, $403,574 for vehicles and $353,856 for training. 12. Recall of fire sprinklers with O-rings
Central Sprinkler Company has announced a voluntary program to replace 35 million fire sprinklers which have O-ring seals. The program involves "wet" and "dry" sprinklers with O-ring seals manufactured by Central, "on-off" sprinklers used in "wet" systems sold by Gem Sprinkler, and "dry" sprinklers manufactured by Star Sprinkler. Central said it is doing the recall because it discovered that these type of sprinkler heads can corrode, or minerals, salts and other contaminants in water can affect the rubber O-ring seals. These factors could cause the sprinkler heads, which are installed in a variety of buildings nationwide, to not activate in a fire. Laboratory testing, Central stated, indicated that the majority of the sprinklers would operate in a fire situation, however, some required higher water pressure to activate than may be available in particular buildings. Central said it will replace each of these O-ring sprinkler heads with a free replacement Belleville seal sprinkler head. Belleville seals use a metallic "spring seal," rather than a rubber O-ring, to maintain a watertight seal. Due to the number of sprinklers involved, the company said, sprinklers will be replaced over time, with priority based on the age of the sprinklers, the population affected (e.g. hospitals and nursing homes submitting claims will be addressed first), and whether the sprinklers show signs of corrosion or leakage. Parties may get assistance by reviewing the materials on the Central website, http://www.sprinklerreplacement.com, or by calling 1-866-505-8553 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. EST. A detailed explanation of this voluntary replacement program can be found in a claim packet available through these contact points. 13. Information being posted on WebSite about Fire Dues Task Group meetings
A task group is being formed to assist the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services Safety and Buildings Division to study local and state activities related to the Wisconsin Fire Department Dues Fund, also known as the "Two-Percent Fire Dues Fund." If you have questions or concerns about the program, contact John Lippitt, Safety and Buildings Division Two Percent Dues Program Manager, jlippitt@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-266-1036. 14. Fire Protection Delegated Agents
These municipalities are delegated agents of the department to perform plan review and inspection of fire detection and suppression systems as prescribed under Comm 50.12(2)(k): City of Appleton (as of August 1, 2001); City of Burlington; City of Madison; Village of McFarland. 15. Certified Munis