Lastname, Firstname 2004-06-22 2004-06-22 2005-06-30 Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Safety and Buildings Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Safety and Buildings, Commerce, Safety and Buildings, Comm, Credentials, Certifications, Buildings Codes, Registrations, Construction, Public Safety, Licenses, Permits, License application forms, Trades, Administrative codes, Regulations, Statutes, Administrative rules, Cities, City, Towns, County, Counties, Municipal, Ordinances, Hygiene, Hazardous, Diseases, Design, Engineering, Continuing education, Audits, Grants, POWTS, Private wastewater treatment systems, Septic field, Septic tanks, Sewage treatment, Sewage disposal, Accessibility, Accessible, Disability, Disabilities, Clean air, Clean water, Air quality, Public sector employees, Applications, Plan review, State, Bureau of Program Development, Bureau of Field Operations, Bureau of Integrated Services, Environmental assessments, Environmental impact statement, Soil erosion, Drinking water, Appliances, Plumbing Products, Fire prevention and protection, Firefighter safety, Fire Sprinklers, Rental unit energy efficiency, Rental weatherization, Commercial buildings, Forms, Publications, Plumbing, Inspection, Inspectors, Consultants, Waste disposal, Historic buildings, Occupational and industrial safety, Occupational health, One and two family dwellings, Houses, Housing, Homes, Multifamily dwellings, Mine Safety, Mining, Mines, Open pits, Quarries, Blasters, Plumbers, Electricians, Boilers, Wastewater, Elevators, Lighting, Energy, Mobile homes, Manufactured homes, Welding, Structural systems, Gas systems, HVAC, Refrigeration, Public swimming pools, Wisconsin Fund, Explosives, Amusement rides and attractions, Tramways lifts and tows, Government facts figures and statistics Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Safety and Buildings, Commerce, Safety and Buildings, Building, Wisconsin, Safety, Construction, License. Safety and Buildings Division - Wisconsin Plumbing Codes Report July 2001 articles You may select the number of an article title that interests you, or you may scroll down through the articles: 1. Use Caution! Think before you modify that water distribution system!; 2. Daniel Meneguin is new fire and electrical programs section chief; 3. Ryan Boebel leaves division; 4. Approved plans must be kept at site; 5. Petition forms must be notarized; 6. Period for late credential renewal is lengthened; 7. Employment Opportunities; 8. Comm 83 POWTS Training Seminar; 9. Comm 83 changes are part of credential exams; 10. Residential fire sprinklers; 11. A plumbing information database; 12. Exams changing - Pass/fail rates reported; 13. Compare the number of master, journeyman, and apprentice plumbers over the last few years ...; 14. Soil Saturation Determination Report revised   1. Use Caution! Think before you modify that water distribution system!
by Lynita Docken, S&B Plumbing ProgramManager, 608-785-9349, ldocken@commerce.state.wi.us With code recognition of multipurpose piping systems (MPP) in May 2000, another layer of caution needs to be recognized when cutting into existing water distribution systems. An MPP system serves both plumbing fixtures and fire sprinklers in one- and two-family homes. When sprinklers are added to a plumbing system, the water pipe sizing calculations become more complicated. The coverage of the sprinklers is dependent upon the pressure and flow available in the water service and distribution piping. Each sprinkler has a specific range of coverage assigned by the manufacturer based on specific pressure and flow. For example, think of a home water distribution system that includes a MPP system. The system doesn't include a point-of-entry water treatment device. After initial construction, the homeowner decides to install a water softener and calls a plumber for the installation. The plumber (remember, this could be you) completes a water analysis and arrives at the home ready to install the new softener, only to find a tag attached to the building control valve. The tag says that any new appliance, device, or plumbing fixture added to the existing system may affect sprinkler coverage and may negatively affect the designed protection for the home.Just like the modification of any other water distribution system, a water calculation worksheet must be completed. If you haven't attended a class in MPP system design, to consider modifying a MPP system you would need to find someone who has been trained and who understands the system design. If you're a master plumber licensed before January 2002, you need to attend an approved course before you can take responsibility for the installation of an MPP system. See Comm 5.91(6)(b). After January 1, 2002, people taking journeyman and master plumber exams will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of MPP systems via questions on the exams. The person who has the required training, who is knowledgeable in design of MPP systems, knows the limitations of the system and the effects of the added pressure losses or demands caused by modification to the system. If you have questions, please contact any S&B plumbing plan reviewer or consultant.
  2. Daniel Meneguin is new fire and electrical programs section chief
Daniel Meneguin is the Safety and Buildings Division Bureau of Field Operations Section Chief for the Fire Safety and Electrical Programs. He supervises the division's Fire Safety Consultants and Electrical Consultants. Meneguin has over 14 years of diverse fire protection experience, including work with volunteer, partially-paid, paid, and military fire departments. Most recently, he was the fire inspector for the City of Madison Fire Department who was responsible for the fire safety aspects of all the construction projects within the city. Meneguin comes with a great deal of knowledge through experiences working with NFPA 1 and 101, the Uniform Building and Fire Code, the International Building and Fire Code, and is a certified commercial building inspector under Comm 50-64. You may contact Meneguin via email, dmeneguin@commerce.state.wi.us, or telephone, 608-264-7624   3. Ryan Boebel leaves division
Ryan Boebel, a Safety and Buildings Division general plumbing plan reviewer in the Madison office, left the division as of June 15. In addition to his plan review duties, he had worked on credential petitions and cross connection control, as well as exam development. Boebel plans to create his own business of plumbing design and presentation of continuing education seminars. His replacement will be recruited via civil service procedures. A notice of the hiring is below.   4. Approved plans must be kept at site
by Henry Kosarzycki, S&B Agent Monitor, 262-548-8615, hkosarzycki@commerce.state.wi.us A common concern continues to surface among inspectors and regulatory agents - The reviewed construction documents are not available at the construction site. For different parts of projects for which plan review is required by the state or local municipalities, plans must be approved before commencing the construction or installation. Those plans are needed on the site. For commercial building projects, the Safety and Buildings Division requires at least four complete bound sets of plans and one copy of specifications to be submitted for examination. For fire protection systems plan review, four is also the minimum number. Five is the maximum, before an additional fee is required. For elevator plan review, the minimum number is four. For plumbing, the minimum number is two sets, the maximum is five. For private onsite wastewater treatment systems, the minimum number is three sets, the maximum is five. For public swimming pools, a minimum of four sets are required, and five is the maximum. After review and conditional approval of the various subjects of review, one set of plans is retained by the reviewing office, and the remaining sets bearing approval stamps, with review letters, are returned to the submitting party (after elevator review, one set is also sent to the S&B inspector, and after pool review, one set is sent to the Department of Health and Family Services inspector). The number of sets of plans and specs which must be submitted to an agent municipality or county having jurisdiction varies for different reviews. It's best to contact the local jurisdiction in advance to ascertain the appropriate number. In any case, the architect, engineer, designer, installer, builder, manufacturer, or owner must keep at the building site one set of plans bearing the stamps of conditional approval and a copy of the specifications. The plans and specs shall be open to inspection by the S&B staff, authorized representatives, and the municipality. Now that we are beyond the threshold of another building season in Wisconsin, we need to make sure that approved plans are located at all of our construction sites. Owners, builders, mechanics, inspectors, we all need the plans as tools to keep construction projects moving forward to success.   5. Petition forms must be notarized
The owner's signature on Petition for Variance forms, SBD-9890, must be notarized. An article in the April 2001 Wisconsin Plumbing Codes Report about a misprint on the petition form said the signature does not have to be notarized. That statement was wrong. Comm 3.02(2)(a) dictates the form must be notarized. For more information on petition forms, contact Safety and Buildings Division plan entry staff in one of the S&B offices.   6. Period for late credential renewal is lengthened
The period during which credential holders may renew expired Safety and Buildings Division credentials with relatively minor consequences has been lengthened to one term after expiration. The change does not allow someone who does not renew on time to go on working. Installing without the appropriate active license, certification, or registration is in violation of the administrative code, and possilbly state statutes and local ordinances. As of June 1, 2001, the Credential Code Comm 5.07(2)(b)1 states: "A person may apply to renew his or her license, certification or registration in accordance with par. (a) no later than one term after expiration of the license, certification or registration as specified in Table 5.06 in accordance with all of the following conditions ..." The code change, according to Credentialing Program Manager Jim Quast, is to more appropriately match the consequence to the offense of not renewing on time. Previously, Quast explained, holders of certificates, registrations, and licenses under Comm 5 could be up to six months late in their renewal and still renew their credential, with some extra procedures. After six months, renewal of an expired credential necessitated going through the same process as if obtaining a new credential, which in some cases demanded a re-examination for the credential. Now, credential holders have up to one term to renew an expired credential before they must follow the procedure for obtaining a new credential. (Terms for different credentials and the processes for obtaining the credentials vary.) Another major change is that late continuing education may be obtained and credited after the end of the continuing education cycle for a credential, with minor extra procedures for processing by S&B credentialing staff. Previously, a petition for variance was needed for any late con ed to be considered. Not having the appropriate con ed on time has been a cause for credential holders not being able to renew a credential on time. There is an extra $25 fee for the late renewal, when continuing education is involved. To repeat, whether it be for lack of continuing education, a misplaced renewal form, or forgetfulness, working with an expired credential is in violation of code requirements. For more information, contact the S&B Credentialing Unit, 608-261-8500, madisocred@commerce.state.wi.us.   7. Employment Opportunities
Plumbing Consultant 2 - Chippewa Falls
Department of Safety and Professional Services; Division of Safety and Buildings; Bureau of Field Operations. Salary: Start at $36,650 per year, plus excellent benefits. Job Duties: Provide consultation to a variety of parties regarding proper design of plumbing installations, technical code-related inquiries, etc; perform inspections of plumbing installations in a variety of buildings; determine compliance with state plumbing codes; issue written directives to resolve violations of codes; monitor licensing credentials of plumbers and apprentices and investigate possible licensure violations; provide instruction to plumbing professionals. Well-Qualified Applicants: All candidates must have a journey level plumber's license, or be registered as a professional engineer or engineer in training, AND be eligible to write the Master Plumber's exam upon completion of the six-month probationary period. Well-qualified candidates will be licensed in Wisconsin as a Master Plumber or be eligible to write the Master Plumber's exam within six months of appointment. A valid Wisconsin driver's license is required. Knowledge and Skills Required: Wisconsin Uniform Plumbing Code; Chapter 145 Stats.; Wisconsin administrative code and state statutes governing plumbers' licensing, and plumbing design and installation techniques; engineering principles involved in plumbing; preparation, reading and interpretation of blueprints, designs, plans and specifications for plumbing systems; assessing plumbing systems; groundwater systems, and hydrologic and pneumatic principles and practices as they relate to plumbing systems; cross connection control practices; computations and calculations involved in plumbing; flow theories used in engineering for the plan review function; and effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication techniques. Application Information: Apply with the Application for State Employment form (DER-MRS-38), current resume and a description of your qualifications for this position. Include a list of credentials/licenses and a description of your experience in the plumbing field, including the nature of plumbing work performed (residential/commercial, etc.) and specific nature of plumbing duties. Send application materials to Dale Bartz; Bureau of Human Resources; 201 West Washington Avenue, 6th floor; PO Box 7970; Madison, WI 53707-7970. Fax 608-266-0182; email dbartz@commerce.state.wi.us, telephone 608-266-0366. Deadline: Application materials will be accepted until the needs of the department are met. First review of applications is scheduled for the week of July 9, 2001. Plumbing Plan Reviewer 2 - Madison
Department of Safety and Professional Services; Division of Safety and Buildings ; Bureau of Integrated Services. Salary: Start at $36,650 per year, plus excellent benefits. This position is included in the Technical Bargaining Unit. A 6-month probationary period will be required. Job Duties: Examine plumbing designs, plans, specifications, and calculations submitted by engineers, architects, designers, and plumbers to ensure compliance with the state Uniform Plumbing Code provisions established to safeguard the public health and safety of the state's water supply. Apply engineering principles and practices to ensure adequate hydraulic and pneumatic balances within plumbing systems; consult with and provide technical advise to engineers, designers, owners, and other professionals concerning the technical aspects of the plan review process; recommend alternatives to proposed designs; resolve technical problems and issues arising as a result of the review. Well-Qualified Applicants: Well-qualified applicants will have experience, education, and/or training in inspection, design, and/or installation of general plumbing systems; Licensure as a Wisconsin Master Plumber OR Registered Designer of Engineered Plumbing Systems, OR Professional Engineer (PE); OR be eligible within six months of hire to acquire such credentials. Knowledge and Skills Required: Wisconsin Uniform Plumbing Code; Chapters 101,145, and 254, Wis. Stats., Wis. Adm. Code Chapters COMM 2, 3, 5, and 82-84; engineering principles associated with hydraulics and pneumatics as they relate to plumbing systems; principles of plumbing design and installation, including cross connection control methods; principles of POWTS design; oral and written communication skills; basic personal computer skills. Application Information: Apply with the Application for State Employment form (DER-MRS-38), current resume and description of the qualifications as stated above. Send application materials to Dale Bartz; Bureau of Human Resources; 201 West Washington Avenue, 6th floor; PO Box 7970; Madison, WI 53707-7970. Fax 608-266-0182; email dbartz@commerce.state.wi.us, telephone 608-266-0366. Deadline: Application materials will be accepted until the needs of the department are met. First review of applications is scheduled for the week of July 9, 2001. An equal opportunity employer functioning under an affirmative action plan.   8. Comm 83 POWTS Training Seminar
8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., July 26, 2001, Best Western, 2701 South Hwy CX, Portage, Wisconsin Topics: "Code Update" - "Aerobic Units" - "Gravel Filters" - "Sand Filters" - "Gag Filters" - "Drip Systems" - "Septic Tanks" Organized by the Safety and Buildings Division, with assistance of Wayne Mink, POWTS Code Advisory Commitee member - NO charge for seminars or lunch, which is provided by sponsors - Pre-register by July 23 by calling Wayne or Diane, 800-641-5937 Six hours of continuing education for Master Plumbers, Master Plumbers - Restricted Service, Journeyman Plumbers, Journeyman Plumbers - Restricted Service, Soil Testers, POWTS Maintainers   9. Comm 83 changes are part of credential exams
The Comm 83 Plumbing Code changes that took effect July 1, 2000 are now part of the credential examinations for POWTS Inspectors, Master Plumbers, Journeyman Plumbers, Master Plumbers-Restricted Service, or Journeyman Plumbers-Restricted Service. Also tested in the exams is working knowledge of the component manuals for Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. These manuals will not be provided at the exam sites; it will be the responsibility of the examinees to bring such materials. Component manuals can be purchased from state Document Sales, 800-362-7253, or are on the Safety and Buildings Division WebSite www.commerce.state.wi.us/sb, choose "Publications." Questions on these exams, including allowable materials, can be directed to the S&B credential staff, 608-261-8500, madisoncred@commerce.state.wi.us.   10. I want to convince you that residential fire sprinklers are important topics for plumbers. So, like any "good" teacher, first, I'll ask you to take a tricky test. Circle your answer to the True or False Questions below.
by Tom Braun, S&B Plumbing Consultant, 715-345-5335, tbraun@commerce.state.wi.us T F 85 percent of all fire deaths occur in homes. T F Over 4000 people die each year in the U.S. in home fires. T F Over 11 people die each day in home fires. T F Less than 2 percent of homes contain fire sprinklers. T F Smoke detectors increase survival rates by 50 percent. T F Smoke detectors and fire sprinklers increase survival rates to 97percent. T F Sleeping occupants, small children ,and the elderly are twice as likely to die as able-bodied adults if a fire erupts in a home. T F Most home fires start from cooking facilities and careless use of smoking materials. T F Fire sprinklers save lives. All the statements are true. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend training on home fire sprinkler systems. I was surprised by the statistics and my false sense of security in believing that battery-powered smoke detectors would save my family. I have been working at plumbing for 23 years and this is the first time that I heard (or listened) that fire sprinklers in homes saves lives. Fire sprinklers in homes save lives by keeping the fire contained. Fire sprinklers in homes save lives by preventing a fire from going to "flashover," allowing enough time for occupants to escape. What is "flashover?" Flashover is when the heat produced from a fire reaches a certain tempterature at the ceiling, and everything in the room that is combustible ignites at once. There is no safe zone at flashover. Flashover can occur in as little as five minutes from the start of a fire. Most victims in post-flashover fires are found in a different room than that of the room where the fire originated. Crawling on the floor trying to escape a fire, which most of us were taught at grade school, at flashover can be just as fatal. Convinced that fire sprinklers save lives? Wait; before you answer, here are the common reasons not to install fire sprinklers in your customer's homes: Fire sprinklers go off accidentally. ~ The chances of fire sprinklers going off accidentally are 1 in 16 million. Fire sprinklers are heat activated, not smoke activated. Fire sprinklers activate one at a time when activated by high temperature. Forget about the "Bond" movies where the entire sprinkler system goes off when a cigarette lighter is placed under a sprinkler. Home installation of fire sprinklers is expensive. ~ Is safety technology worth the extra dollars? In comparison to the cost of property these days, sprinkler installation is well worth considering. (Don't forget, there can be long-term insurance rate benefits.) And, prices have been going down as technology and experience have improved. And, the final valuation stresses the value of saving lives. Fire sprinklers are ugly! ~ Home fire sprinklers are notably smaller than commercial sprinklers you've seen, home sprinklers come in designer colors, and some are concealed. Fire and water can both cause damage; you shouldn't put in sprinklers because they'll damage your contents. ~ A single sprinkler activating puts out about 90 percent of home fires. A home fire sprinkler discharges about 14 gallons per minute. Compare that to most fire hoses discharging 200 gallons per minute. A major study showed the average property loss in sprinkled homes was $1,945 and the average property loss in unsprinkled homes is $17,067. (Scottsdale, Az.) Fire departments respond quickly, why install fire sprinklers? ~ Fire departments respond to the first alert, not when a fire starts. A fire can reach flashover in less than five minutes. If you're asleep, fire department response may be too long. Plumbers, consider attending NFPA 13D training when available in your area. Fire sprinklers save lives! You can prove that to customers once you have proved it to yourself. (Class is not dismissed, we will continue this lesson in the future.)   11. A plumbing information database will be converted into Word and PDF files in late June 2001 and will be placed on the Safety and Buildings Division WebSite, see http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-PlumbingProgram.html. The information is a compendium shared by the S&B staff that was created to maintain an archive of staff responses and to ensure some consistency. We hope the information may be of use to you. For more information, contact Plumbing Program Manager Lynita Docken, ldocken@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-785-9349. Below is an example of a page of the information in the database. Plumbing Info Data Base Use "find" to locate a word associated with the topic of your interest. You may also search using code section. Code section
82.20.1 9/25/98 Assembly of pre-fab plumbing systems
Information derived from: Code Clarification
May pre-fab systems be assembled prior to plan approval? Yes, if they are not installed. 82.20 (1) (a) requires that "Written approval for the plans shall be obtained prior to installation of the work. 82.20.1 5/20/99 Plan submittal/inspection of Indian Land
Information derived from: Code Clarification
See attached file 82.20.1 11/18/97 Municipality can require plan review beyond code
Information derived from: Code Commentary
Municipality can require plan review for fewer than 16 plumbing fixtures. There is no requirement for the department to see the ordinance drafted for this requirement, however an ordinance is required. 82.20.1 3/13/98 Bed and Breakfast plumbing review requirements.
Information derived from: Code Commentary
Bed and breakfasts only require plumbing plan review when new construction is involved. An existing building converted to a bed and breakfast does not require plan review if it meets the statutory definition (254.61) of bed and breakfast. A new building must be consided as a hotel or motel for the purposes of plan review, even if it's advertised and/or licensed as a bed and breakfast. 82.20.1 4/7/98 Replacement grease interceptor plan review
Information derived from: Code Commentary
Yes. All grease interceptor installations require plan review. 82.20.1 7/10/98 Plan review requirements for multiple dwellings
Information derived from: Communication
See Table 82.20-2, which states "For the purposes of plan submittal, public buildings do not include zero-lot line row houses where each living unit is served by an individual water service and an individual building sewer." For clarification, these individual connections (water and sewer) are made at the street serving other buildings in addition tot he row houses. Because of their individual connections each row house would be required to have one full sized drain and vent stack.   12. Exams changing - Pass/fail rates reported
by Lynita Docken, S&B Plumbing ProgramManager, 608-785-9349, ldocken@commerce.state.wi.us The master plumber and journeyman plumber exams were revised over the Winter and early Spring. The first revised exams were administered in June, 2001. How did the revised exams affect the pass/fail rate for the JP and MP exams? The following information is available on pass/fail rates in the recent past and for the new exams. The pass/fail rate for the exams from January 2000 through April 2001 is shown here: Exam Passing Rate
Journeyman - Part 1 54%
Journeyman - Part 2 37%
Master - Part 1 67%
Master - Part 2 51% The two parts of the exam are composed of similar topical information for both journey and master exams. Part one consists of water supply and distribution, cross connection control, administration and licensing, and basic math. Part two includes private onsite wastewater treatment systems and drain and vent issues. Beginning in June 2001 the new Comm 83 changes were incorporated in the exams. Basically, the POWTS portion of the exam was totally rewritten. The following results are for the exams on June 7: Exam Passing Rate
Journeyman - Part 2 25%
Master - Part 2 20% Safety and Buildings staff will continue to administer the new exams and will continue to upgrade exams based on code revisions. Hopefully, these updates will be in a timely fashion and will still allow plumbers to study the new material. Currently, S&B staff are working with technical college programs in Wisconsin to develop a curriculum for apprentices that will prepare them for the exam and for the plumbing trade. As code revisions take new technology and changing ideas into account, S&B will work with the apprenticeship programs to help apprenticeship instructors learn about the changes, so they can, in turn, pass code revision knowledge on to their students. If you have questions or comments concerning plumbing exams, contact Lynita Docken, 608-785-9349, ldocken@commerce.state.wi.us, or, for POWTS exams, contact Roman Kaminski, 715-345-5334, rkaminksi@commerce.state.wi.us.   13. Compare the number of master, journeyman, and apprentice plumbers over the last few years ...
  14. Soil Saturation Determination Report revised Safety and Buildings Division staff have revised the Soil Saturation Determination Report Form, SBD-6412 (R06/01) to reflect provisions listed in Comm 85, Soil and Site Evaluations Code. For example, the form has been revised to use terminology consistent with Comm 85, such as "observation pipe" instead of "monitoring well." Also, check boxes are included to identify the Monitoring Zone where the project is located. A copy of this revised form was recently sent to all Wisconsin counties, asking them to make it available to those soil testers that may be in the process of conducting soil saturation determinations this season. It is also available on the S&B WebSite, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-DivForms.html . Please keep in mind that S&B does not receive precipitation data summaries from the state climatologist's office until late July, and the division cannot process soil saturation determination approval requests until after then. People doing soil saturation determination reports, should have plenty of time to take advantage of the revised form. Anyone with questions about the form may contact Leroy Jansky, 715-726-2544, ljansky@commerce.state.wi.us. Email this page's manager, Todd Taylor, Todd.Taylor@Wisconsin.gov 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, TTY 608-264-8777, or Todd.Taylor@Wisconsin.gov.