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 - June 2001 Wisconsin Plumbing Codes Report articles You may select the number of an article title that interests you, or you can scroll down:
1. Plumbing apprenticeship ratios changed; 2. Anyone planning to write the Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber-Restricted Service, or Journeyman Plumber-Restricted Service examination, take note; 3. Comm 83 "Frequently Asked Questions; 4. McFarland and Madison are agents for fire protection plan review; 5. Error in POWTS pressure distribution manual; 6. Internet licensing info; 7. Faucet vacuum breaker answer depends upon installation location; 8. More counties become agents for POWTS plan review; 9. Classes on multipurpose piping systems; 10. Multipurpose piping class registration form; 11. Agreement is reached on combining use of ICC and NFPA model codes;   1. Plumbing apprenticeship ratios changed
by Lynita Docken, S&B Plumbing ProgramManager, 608-785-9349, ldocken@commerce.state.wi.us The Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards (BAS) has made a change in the ratios of skilled plumbing workers to apprentices, effective June 1, 2001. A skilled worker is a master plumber or journeyman plumber. (Fourth- and fifth-year apprentices are not counted in the ratios as apprentices or as skilled workers, as long as they've completed all related instruction, except the "Transition to Trainer Course.) Skilled Workers - Apprentices
1 - 1
2 - 1
3 - 2
4 - 3
5 - 4
6 - 4
7 - 5
8 - 5
9 - 5
10 -6
Above ten, there is one additional apprentice allowed for two additional skilled workers. The new ratios increased one apprentice for four through ten skilled workers, except nine, which stayed the same. BAS also increased the number of paid related instructional hours (day school) from 440 to 500. If you would like more information concerning the changes or the apprenticeship program, contact the Apprenticeship Bureau's Ken Moore, 608-266-3132, or Karen Morgan, 608-266-3133, or your local BAS representative. A list of those reps is available on the Internet, http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/dweappr/contacts.htm. Choose this image to go back to top.   2. Anyone planning to write the Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber-Restricted Service, or Journeyman Plumber-Restricted Service examination, take note.
As of the June 2001 exam dates, the Comm 83 Plumbing Code changes that took effect July 1, 2000 will be part of the exams listed above. Also tested in the exams will be 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 examinee to bring such materials. Component manuals can be purchased from the 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. Choose this image to go back to top.   3. Comm 83 "Frequently Asked Questions
by Roman Kaminski, S&B POWTS Program Manager, 715-345-5334, rkaminski@commerce.state.wi.us Q. Is it true that an appeal has been filed after the dismissal of the lawsuit against the revised Comm 83?
A. Yes, on April 9, 2001 an appeal was filed in the Dane County Court of Appeals. Q. Are there new issues identified in the appeal?
A. No, the issues listed in the appeal remain the same as the original lawsuit against implementation of the adopted Comm 83 package.
-Whether the regulations adopted by the Safety and Buildings Division of the state Department of Safety and Professional Services ensure compliance with the state groundwater law.
-Whether the state legislature constitutionally delegated discretion to the department to exempt onsite systems from having to meet the nitrate standard in the groundwater law.
- Whether the department has the general statutory authority to adopt a rule that allows variances for new construction sites.
- Whether the department has the authority to make enforcement of the groundwater standards discretionary, rather than mandatory. Q. So, what happens to the POWTS program while the appeal is being processed?
A. The POWTS program continues to operate normally under the adopted Comm 83. There should be no disruption in day-to-day operations while the appeal process takes place. Q. Table 83.44-2 in the revised Comm 83 code does not list single-grained fine sand. What soil application rate should be used when this type of soil is reported?
A. The soil application rate for single-grained fine sand that should be used is 0.5 gals./sq.ft./day for "septic tank quality" effluent and 0.9 gals./sq.ft./day for "pre-treated effluent." [Note: The soil application rate and minimum depth of unsaturated soil tables are being revisited by the advisory Comm 83 Code Council, which is working on revisions to Comm 83.] Q. Can a county review a design for a proposed POWTS that will serve more than one structure?
A. No. Table 83.22-3 is very specific. The table limits governmental units to review of "POWTS that will serve a single one- or two-family dwelling… and using gravity distribution of effluent to an in-ground distribution cell." Q. What if a property owner has an existing POWTS serving their residence and now wants to add a toilet or some other plumbing fixture in a detached garage or other outbuilding?
A. The answer depends on the size of the existing POWTS, the change, if any, in flows and loads generated by the new plumbing fixtures, and whether the garage or outbuilding will be accessible to someone other than the property owner(s). [Note: The examples below do not include a detailed discussion about the installation of a private interceptor main sewer. Separate plan review is required if the interceptor main sewer is greater than four inches in diameter. Specific questions regarding private interceptor main sewers may be referred to S&B's general plumbing consultants and plan reviewers.]
- Example #1 - A property owner installs a toilet for their own use in a detached garage near the residence. The flows and loads to the existing POWTS will not be changing. In that case, the county can make a determination of acceptability pursuant to Comm 83.25(2) and process the request locally. POWTS plans do not need to be submitted to the S&B.
- Example #2 - A property owner wants to build a small workshop that will contain a retail sales area open to the public. The plumbing fixtures in the workshop will be connected to the POWTS serving the residence via a private interceptor main sewer. If the existing POWTS is large enough to handle the anticipated loads and flows, the county can make a determination of acceptability pursuant to Comm 83.25(2), and can process the request locally. POWTS plans do not need to be submitted to S&B. If it is determined that the POWTS system must be enlarged to handle the new loads and flows, then plans must be submitted to S&B or the designated agent, if applicable, for review. Q. In other words, if there will be no modification to the existing POWTS, the county can make a determination of acceptability, even though the end result will be two structures connected to a single POWTS?
A. Yes. Table 83.22-3 applies to POWTS plans that are submitted for review. If there will be no modification to an existing POWTS, plan review for the POWTS is not required. Of course, the county may request other documentation that may include issuance of a local permit to reflect changes that have occurred on the site. Comm 83.25(2) outlines requirements for determination procedures and existing POWTS evaluations that are triggered by construction activities that may affect flows and loads. A determination may be based on submitted information as outlined in the section. If the information is incomplete, the county may request additional documentation prior to making a decision. Q. Is there any way for a county to be able to process applications for one- or two-family POWTS designs that include a detached garage or other outbuilding that contains plumbing fixtures?
A. At this time, the only way for a county to process these types of POWTS designs is to request approval as a designated plan review agent under the provisions of Comm 83.23. Designated agents are authorized under the provisions of Comm 83.22(2)(b)5 to review plans for POWTS that will serve more than one structure or building. [Note: S&B will be discussing possible modifications to Table 83.22-3 as part of the Comm 83 revision process. Your ideas and suggestions are welcome.] Q. Can a governmental unit or designated agent review a POWTS design that will include treatment of industrial wastewater along with domestic wastewater, once the Department of Natural Resources has approved the discharge of the industrial wastewater to the POWTS?
A. No. Table 83.22-1 specifically limits review of this type of design to S&B. Q. How is S&B reviewing designs for POWTS that may handle "high strength waste" from facilities such as supper clubs, gas station convenience stores, and bars that serve food?
A. S&B recognizes that designing POWTS systems for treatment of higher strength waste is a new requirement. Here are some guidelines:
- If the proposed POWTS is to serve an existing facility, the effluent can be sampled and analyzed to see if pre-treatment down to residential strength is necessary. It is important that the samples be taken when the wastestream is considered representative for the facility.
- For new facilities, data from a comparable facility may provide meaningful information in some cases. However, S&B recognizes that each facility may differ based on things like type of food served, or sanitation practices. If there is concern that the wastestream may need pre-treatment, but there is no reliable way to predict this before installation, S&B may conditionally approve the POWTS design. A condition of approval will be that once the facility is in operation, the wastestream will be sampled. If it is determined that pre-treatment is needed, the owner, as condition of approval, agrees to modify the POWTS to provide the necessary treatment components. S&B is developing a guidance document to assist division staff in determining when and how monitoring of effluent should take place. Q. Does the horizontal setback for water service and private water mains in the column labeled "Servicing, Suction Lines and Pump Discharge Lines" in Table 83.43-1 have to be maintained for force mains and other sewer lines serving soil-based systems like mounds? Isn't this in conflict with the setback provisions listed in Comm 82.40(8)?
A. No. The column labeled "Servicing, Suction Lines and Pump Discharge Lines" in Table 83.43-1 is for suction or discharge lines that serve holding tanks. [Future code revisions will include clarification of the relationship of the various setback provisions in Table 83.43-1 and Comm 82.40(8).] Q. Can a county that has received S&B approval to review POWTS plans as a "designated agent" decline to review POWTS designs that meet one of the categories for which the county has approval? For example, what if the designated agent prefers not to review a POWTS design due to complexity of the design or other circumstances?
A. Comm 83.22(1)(c): "Plans for the types of POWTS delineated in Table 83.22-2 shall be submitted for review to the department or a designated agent." In addition, Comm 83.23(4)(b) states: "…that submission and review of plans under Comm 83.22(1) may, at the discretion of the submitter, be made to the department or the designated agent." The code is silent on whether a designated agent can decline a request to perform a POWTS design review. A principle reason for the plan review function is to verify the adequacy of a proposed design in relationship to the soil and site conditions where it will be installed. If the designated agent is uncomfortable making that determination, they may decline to perform the plan review and refer the applicant to S&B. Allowing a POWTS plan review designated agent this type of discretion is consistent with other agent plan review programs administered by the division. Choose this image to go back to top.   4. McFarland and Madison are agents for fire protection plan review
The Village of McFarland and the City of Madison have been delegated authority to conduct fire protection system plan review and inspection on behalf of the Safety and Buildings Division. The delegations are the first to take place following the March 1, 2001 code change implementing statewide fire protection system plan review service. The two municipalities will review construction documents for fire alarm systems, automatic fire sprinkler systems, and alternate fire extinguishing systems. Owners may choose to submit plans for projects within these municipalities to the municipality or to S&B. For information on fire protection system plan review, contact S&B Fire Protection Systems Consultants Keith Glaunert, kglaunert@commerce.state.wi.us, 262-548-8604, or Bill Sullivan, wsullivan@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-266-9643. For information on agent plan review authority, contact Henry Kosarzycki, S&B Agent Audit Coordinator, 262-548-8615, hkosarzycki@commerce.state.wi.us. Choose this image to go back to top.   5. Error in POWTS pressure distribution manual
Errata sheets are available from the Safety and Buildings Division for several pages of the Pressure Distribution Component Manual for POWTS (Version 2.0). The sheets provide corrections to the formula listed in Table 1 for Network Pressure Compensation for Fittings, and to graphs 3 and 4 for Minimum Lateral Diameter Based on Orifice Spacing for 5/32" Diameter Orifices. The formula had a plus sign instead of a multiplication sign. The lines in Tables 3 and 4 were incorrectly plotted. The S&B website, http://www.commerce .state.wi.us/SB/SB-DivPublications.html, has the correction pages and the correct manual copy. Paper copies are available from S&B by contacting Roberta Ward, 608-266-8741, rward@commerce.state.wi.us. The state Document Sales unit, 608-266-3358, or 800-362-7253, has the correct pages in the manuals they sell.   6. Internet licensing info
There is a state "Portal," www.wisconsin.gov, a cooperative Internet website created to serve as a first stop for electronic information from Wisconsin state government agencies. The site is in its infancy, however one of the first goals is to provide information on licenses and permits of various kinds, including those administered by the Safety and Buildings Division. S&B has provided info for the Portal that is not duplicated on the S&B WebSite. Check it out, go to www.wisconsin.gov and choose "Licensing and Permitting" under "Quick Links." Choose this image to go back to top.   7. Faucet vacuum breaker answer depends upon installation location
by Mike Beckwith, S&B Plumbing Products Reviewer, mbeckwith@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-266-6742 Can a faucet that includes a vacuum breaker that is listed to ASSE Standard 1001, located on the spout, be used as adequate backflow protection on service or mop sink faucets? The faucet is of the type shown. Yes and No. You can do it, but you probably don't want to. The maintenance person would need a ladder to use it, or the atmospheric vacuum breaker may leak. The code doesn't let you use these faucets without an additional vacuum breaker, and then they become not really practical. To have a vacuum breaker that is listed to ASSE is only half of the requirement that must be met; the other part of the requirement deals with the location of the vacuum breaker. Comm 82.41 addresses the required location of cross connection control devices. Vacuum breakers that meet ASSE 1001 must be located one to six inches above the highest point where backpressure would be created. The one-inch distance is for those vacuum breakers that are classified as "deck mounted" vacuum breakers, others must comply with the six-inch distance. Faucets such as the Chicago models 956 and 782-VB or Kohler models K-8907 and K-13624 would have to be installed with the vacuum breaker located 7 feet 6 inches above finish floor. This height would make the installation comply with Comm 82.41, but would also make you use a ladder to get tothe faucet. If one were to install the above type of faucets at their normal installation height, a hose connection vacuum breaker or hose connection backflow preventer would have to be installed on the discharge hose threads. This installation then could cause the vacuum breaker located on the spout to leak. Choose this image to go back to top.   8. More counties become agents for POWTS plan review
Door, Forest and Oneida counties have been approved by the Safety and Buildings Division as designated POWTS plan review agents, and the approval for Chippewa County has been revised/expanded . Noted here are the types of systems the counties may review. The full list of agent counties and the types of review they may do is one the S&B POWTS "Local Regulator's Page," http://www.commerce.state. wi.us/SB/SB-Comm83LocalRegulatorsPage.html. Chippewa - Plan review for pre-cast or manufactured holding tanks for one- and two-family dwellings. Plan review for pre-cast or manufactured holding tanks for public or commercial facilities with a design wastewater flow of 4,500 gpd or less. Plan review for non-pressurized inground systems for public or commercial facilities with a design wastewater flow of 5,000 gpd or less. Door - Plan review for pre-cast, or manufactured holding tanks for one- and two-family dwellings. Forest - Plan review for pre-cast, or manufactured holding tanks for one- and two-family dwellings. Oneida - Plan review for pre-cast, or manufactured holding tanks for one- and two-family dwellings. Plan review for pre-cast, or manufactured holding tanks for public or commercial facilities. Plan review for non-pressurized in-ground systems for public or commercial facilities with a design wastewater flow of 5,000 gpd or less. Choose this image to go back to top.   9. Classes on multipurpose piping systems
Are you interested in learning about the multipurpose piping system, which carries water to both plumbing fixtures and automatic fire sprinklers? [Defined in Comm 81.01(156)] Would you like to take a qualifying course for installation of these systems? [Requirements in Comm 5.91 (6)(b)] Safety and Building's staff will be conducting two-day trainings sessions on multipurpose piping systems during June, July, and August. Anyone may register for the classes. If you're interested in learning the basics about the multipurpose piping system, you can choose to attend the first day of the class for an overview of sizing and installation requirements. One- or two-day attendance will be optional. However, someone must attend both days if they want the class in order to qualify as a master plumber to be responsible for the installation of the system. For more information, contact Tim Joyce or Bob Samuels, S&B Plumbing Consultants, tjoyce@commerce.state.wi.us, 608-825-4724, rsamuels@commerce.state.wi.us, 262-548-8635. Choose this image to go back to top.   11. Agreement is reached on combining use of ICC and NFPA model codes
by John Lippitt, Fire Safety Program. Manager, jlippitt@commerce.state.wi.us Two major Safety and Buildings advisory code councils and the management of the Department of Safety and Professional Services have given support to a model code adoption proposal that may go to legislative committee review in June for regulation of commercial buildings in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Fire and EMS Legislative Leadership Coalition has also announced support of the proposal. Known as "Option C," the proposal includes adopting four International Code Council model codes, the International Building Code (IBC), the International Energy Conservation Code, the International Mechanical Code, and the International Fuel Gas Code, all with Wisconsin amendments. (These amended versions of the model codes are relatively the same as presented in the January 2001 hearings on model code adoption for Wisconsin.) (Note that model plumbing codes are not being considered.) The important change from the earlier building code proposals is adoption of an amended version of NFPA 1 (National Fire Protection Association Fire Prevention Code) as the base document for Wisconsin's Comm 14, Fire Prevention Code. The amended NFPA 1 would be adopted instead of the ICC International Fire Code. To avoid conflicting provisions between the ICC codes and the NFPA fire codes, under the proposal now supported by the groups mentioned, the NFPA 1 fire code would not apply to existing or new building construction, but rather would apply to fire safety in terms of use and operation of buildings. The NFPA use and operation regulations would apply to new and existing buildings, while IBC provisions would govern construction aspects of fire safety. During the January hearings, and at other times, Wisconsin fire service representatives opposed adoption of the International Fire Code and other ICC model codes in favor of the NFPA fire code and a NFPA building code suite that is being developed. S&B identified five options in response to fire service comments and input from other interested parties, including state legislators. Those options were:
(A) Adopt the IBC and the three corresponding construction codes from the ICC, in combination with revisions to Wisconsin's current fire code, and perform a comparison between the IFC and the NFPA fire code;
(B) Adopt the four construction-related ICC codes and the IFC;
(C) Adopt the four construction-related ICC codes, and NFPA's fire code and Life Safety Code, and perform a comparison between the ICC suite of codes and the NFPA suite of codes, when that NFPA suite became available;
(D) Delay adoption of national model construction codes until after completing a comparison between the ICC and NFPA suites of codes; and
(E) Discontinue efforts toward adopting national model construction codes and instead continue to produce state-written construction codes. In April, the S&B advisory Fire Code Council recommended adoption of the four ICC codes, NFPA 1, and NFPA 101, NFPA's Life Safety Code. The Safety and Buildings Division has not supported retroactive application of NFPA construction-related rules, which would occur if NFPA 1 and 101 were adopted in their current versions. Discussion at the April 2001 Commercial Buildings Code Council led to the idea that Option C be reworked to provide for code provisions that would deal with the integration of ICC and NFPA codes. In response, S&B staff created a detailed list of provisions that would need to be in place to make feasible the desired "cooperation" of the ICC and NFPA codes. Subsequently, the Wisconsin Fire and EMS Legislative Leadership Coalition said it supported the reworked Option C. S&B staff presented the situation to the Commercial Building Code Council and Multifamily Dwelling Code Council; both recommended adoption of Option C. Choose this image to go back to top.   12. Black and White by Braun: Installation concerns for backflow preventers
After enjoying the 2000 - 01 plumbing continuing education cycle, I want to emphasize something that was brought out in the interaction at the Safety and Buildings Division seminars on Cross-Connection Control. One item of note with the use of an ASSE 1012 double check with atmospheric vent installation (for example Watts 9D) is that these devices shall be used for low hazards situations only. The other facet of note with this device is that it is manufactured with a vent opening that is tapped. Some installers have a tendency of making a direct drain connection to the vent opening, which is a violation of the code. Look at Comm 82.41(5)(e)3b to find code language that addresses this concern. The code reads in part: "Where drain piping is provided for the discharge from a vent port, an air gap … shall be provided between the vent port of the backflow preventer and any indirect waste piping or receptor." This air gap has to be right at the backflow preventer. This style of backflow preventer is not required to have drain piping. However, any discharge can not create a nuisance. This backflow preventer also needs to be installed in a horizontal position with the vent positioned down so it can drain dry. If you have question or comments, contact me, Tom Braun, S&B Plumbing Consultant, 715-345-5335, tbraun@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.