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Safety and Buildings Division - Wisconsin Plumbing Codes Report, October 1999 Choose from this list of articles, or scroll down the page: Do you have concerns regarding plumbing products?, Latest area list for WQM letters described, WQM area list, New plumbing staff, A tribute to Cletus E. Hahn, 1919-1999, Advertising space for continuing education classes, Where should elevated water heater relief valves discharge?, Events Calendar, Continuing Education Information, Mandated sewer hookup language removed via code change proposal which went to committee, Who to contact at the Safety and Buildings Division   Do you have concerns regarding plumbing products? by Mike Beckwith, S&B Plumbing Products Reviewer The Safety and Buildings Division would like to hear any concerns you may have regarding plumbing products used in Wisconsin. Let's talk them over. Recently I was told consumers are not satisfied with the amount of water they get from wall hydrants that are being installed. The wall hydrants were said to not produce enough water to "adequately" water the garden or lawn, especially when more than one sprinkler is used at one time. Also, the person did not like getting sprayed by water when they shut off the hydrant. More about hydrants in a moment. First, let me tell you how S&B has opportunities to do something about some of the concerns you may have. The question can be dealt with through code changes or with changes to the national standards the products conform to. Code changes are handled within the division through administrative rule change procedures, with assistance from a Plumbing Code Advisory Committee. Changes to national standards can be proposed through division staff who are members of national standards committees. We are fortunate in that S&B has representation on committees of the American Society of Sanitary Engineering, the American Society for Materials and Testing, the National Sanitation Foundation International, and the Water Quality Association. As committee members, we have the opportunity to submit changes to present standards, as well as standards that are being developed. To get back to the wall hydrant discussion: The water flow from wall hydrants is governed by national standards that the hydrants meet. The standard that Wisconsin adopted requires hydrants with a 3/4-inch hose thread size to provide a minimum water flow of six gallons per minute with a maximum pressure drop of 25 p.s.i. through the hydrant. This does not mean that 25 p.s.i. is required for the hydrant to operate properly. It does indicate that if you want the highest flow of water from a hydrant, an installer can obtain flow rates of hydrants from different manufacturers, and then choose the one they want. Of course, there has to be adequate pressure to supply the hydrant. Getting wet when shutting off the hydrant can be avoided by leaving open the nozzle at the end of the hose, so pressure doesn't cause water to spit back from the vent ports. You can send your written comments regarding plumbing products to: Mike Beckwith, Division of Safety and Buildings, PO Box 7162, Madison, WI 53707. If you care to email them, you can send them to mbeckwith@commerce.state.wi.us. Image alt text   Better late than ... Latest area list for WQM letters Last February, the WPCR presented information about Water Quality Management letters which are needed in certain areas of the state to make sewer connections or extend/create sewers. An updated listing to the affected areas was promised for March. Didn't happen; the new list wasn't available. Wasn't available in April, either. Then, the matter got put aside, then, forgotten. The updated list of municipalities needing WQM letters is on pages 10 and 11 of this WPCR. Notice that a few areas listed (in italics) do not now need letters, but will in the future, with estimated effective dates provided. An explanation of WQM letters and a decision tree for helping resolve whether a letter is needed for a project were on pages 14 and 15 of the February 1999 WPCR. The information is also on the S&B WebSite, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB-PlumbingWQMExplanation.html Image alt text   Areas needing Water Quality Management letters and the corresponding planning agencies to obtain the letters This is an update of Comm 82.20(4) Appendix. Areas Served: Counties of Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Menominee, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago Agency: East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Agency, 132 Main Street, Menasha, WI 54952, 920-751-4770 Areas Served: County of Dane Agency: Dane County regional Planning Commission, 217 South Hamilton Street, Room 403, Madison, WI 53703, 608-266-4137 Areas Served: County of Brown Agency: Brown County Planning Commission, 100 N. Jefferson Street, Room 608, Green Bay, WI 54301, 920-448-3400 Areas Served: Counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Waukesha, Washington Agency: Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning, 916 North East Avenue, PO Box 1607, Waukesha, WI 53187-1607 Areas Served: Cities of Altoona, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, River Falls (est. July 2000;, Towns of Brunswick, Hallie, Lafayette, Seymour, Tilden, Union, Washington Agency: West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning, 800 Wisconsin Street, Eau Claire, WI 54703-3606, 715-836-2918 Areas Served: City of Hudson; Towns of Hudson, St. Joseph, Troy; Village of N. Hudson; Western 1/2 of Town of Warren Agency: St. Croix County Planning Department, 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, WI 54016, 715-386-4673 Areas Served: Cities of Janesville and Beloit; Towns of Beloit, Harmony, Janesville, La Prairie, Rock, Turtle; Village of Clinton Agency: Rock County Planning Agency, 51 South Main Street, Janesville, WI 53547, 608-757-5310 Areas Served: Cities of LaCrosse, Onalaska; Towns of Shelby, Campbell Agency: LaCrosse/Onalaska Office of City Engineer, 400 LaCrosse Street, LaCrosse, WI 54601, 608-789-7505 Areas Served: City of Stevens Point; Villages of Plover, Park Ridge, Whiting; Towns of Hull, Linwood, Plover Agency: Portage County Planning Department, 1516 Church Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481, 715-346-1334 Areas Served: Cities of Wausau, Schofield; Towns of Maine, Stettin, Texas, Wausau, Weston, Kronenwetter, Rib Mountain, Rothschild; Village of Weston Agency: Marathon County Planning Department, 210 River Drive, Wausau, WI 54403-5449, 715- 261-6040 Areas Served: Cities of Nekoosa, Wisconsin Rapids; Towns of Grand Rapids, Port Edwards, Rudolph, Saratoga, Seneca, Sigel; Villages of Biron, Port Edwards, Rudolph Agency: Wood County Planning, 400 Market Street, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495, 715-421-8466 Areas Served: City of Menomonie Agency: Dunn County Land Conservation, 390 Red Cedar Street, Menomonie, WI 54751, 715-232-1496 Areas Served: City of Oconto; Towns of Abrams, Little River, Little Suamico, Pensaukee, Stiles, Oconto Agency: Oconto County Office of Land Use and Zoning, 310 Washington Street, Oconto, WI 54153-1621, 920-834-6827 Areas Served: Cities of Marshfield (Est. July 2000), Merrill Agency: North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning, 407 Grant Street, Wausau, WI 54403, 715-261-6565 Areas Served: City of Baraboo (Est. July 2000) Agency: Sauk County Planning & Zoning, 505 Broadway, Baraboo, WI 53913, 608 355-3285 Areas Served: City of Superior Agency: City of Superior Administrative Engineer, 1407 Hammond Avenue, Superior, WI 54880, 715-394-0691 Areas Served: City of Sturgeon Bay Agency: Sturgeon Bay Utilities, P.O. Box 259 230 East Vine Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235, 920-746-2820 Areas Served: Cities of Marinette, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, Manitowoc and Two Rivers (est. Jan. 2000); Towns of Peshtigo, Porterfield, Wilson, Lima, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls; Village of Kohler Agency: Bay-Lake Regional planning Commission, 211 N. Broadway, Suite 211, Green Bay, WI 54303-2757, 920-448-2820 Image alt text   New plumbing staff The Safety and Buildings Division has hired three "veterans" to work in the plumbing program. Ken Pertzborn, a former S&B plumbing consultant in the northwest part of the state, is now a plumbing plan reviewer in the Madison office. Recently he had been a plumbing instructor at Indianhead Technical College in Rice Lake. Pertzborn may be contacted at 608-267-2242, kpertzborn@commerce.state.wi.us. He is a master plumber, a UDC-plumbing inspector, and a cross connection device tester. Tom Devereaux is now a plumbing plan reviewer in Hayward. 715-634-3026 is his telephone number, tdevereaux@commerce.state.wi.us is his email address. Devereaux, a master plumber, soil tester, and plumbing systems designer, has been a plumbing contractor in the Rhinelander area for about 23 years. The newest plumbing plan reviewer in Waukesha is Robert Samuels, who has worked in the industry for about 40 years. A plumbing contractor for over 25 years, Samuels also had a stint as a plumbing inspector. He has been an instructor for continuing education computer classes since 1994. His telephone number is 414-548-8634, email is rsamuels@commerce.state.wi.us. Samuels is a master plumber, a UDC-plumbing inspector, and a UDC-construction inspector. Image alt text   A tribute to Cletus E. Hahn, 1919-1999 by Ryan Boebel, S&B Plumbing Plan Reviewer I would like to take a moment to pay homage to Cletus Hahn, a man that spent his life working in the plumbing field, and is partially responsible for getting me started in the plumbing trade. In 1958, Cletus Hahn and William Novinski started H & N Plumbing and Heating in the small southwestern Wisconsin City of Fennimore. Sadly, in 1970, Mr. Novinski was killed in a car accident, and Cletus assumed total ownership of H & N. Prior to the 1982 sale of his business to his son and two sons-in-law, Cletus played a large role in initiating the Southwest Wisconsin Plumbing Apprenticeship Board. For his many years of voluntary work on this board, Cletus was given the honor of being chosen to the Bureau of Apprenticeship Hall of Fame in January of 1995. I began working at H & N in the summer of 1988. Although this was after Cletus had sold the company, he still showed up almost every morning at 7 a.m. I have many memories of Cletus. In retrospect, one of the more humorous memories, was that whenever the shop would be installing something that was out of the normal flow of business, you could bet the box would be opened before you were on the jobsite. It didn't take long to realize Cletus had opened the box and removed the directions for installation. Now, you would have to call the shop to talk to him so he could answer your questions. He still had his hands on the business. It was aggravating and hard to understand at the time, but after I left the shop and moved to the Fox River Valley in 1992, I realized how lucky I am to have known Cletus as an employer and a friend. About a year after I left H & N, Cletus was diagnosed with cancer. He battled the disease for approximately six years. I hope anyone who either worked for or associated with Cletus understood underneath that gruff shell was a gentleman who would do whatever he could to help you out. Farewell, Cletus, and thank you. Image alt text   Advertising space for continuing education classes These pages exhibit the two kinds of advertising available in the "Wisconsin Plumbing Codes Report" and the "Wisconsin Buildings Codes Report." Advertising is only accepted for continuing education classes approved by the Safety and Buildings Division. Fees for display advertising such as the C&I Safety or City of Madison ads range from $40 for a quarter page to $160 for a full page. The two publications are produced monthly, with deadlines approximately a month before they reach the readers. The WBCR is provided to most people who hold inspector credentials with S&B, to people with fire sprinkler credentials, to all Wisconsin fire departments, to about 400 frequent building plan review submitters, plus to subscribers - about 4200 total. The WPCR serves people holding plumbing licenses, certifications, and registrations, and to subscribers - about 9400 total. Both publications are available on the S&B WebSite, http://www.commerce.state. wi.us/SB-Publications.html. For information, contact Todd Taylor, 608-267-3606, Todd.Taylor@Wisconsin.gov. Image alt text   Where should elevated water heater relief valves discharge? by Robert L. Samuels, S&B Plumbing Plan Reviewer, 414-548-8634, rsamuels@commerce.state.wi.us Situation: A restroom in a public building with the water heater placed on a platform above the ceiling tiles (the heater is in a separate enclosure). The water heater is approximately 9 to 10 feet higher above the floor than normal. Question: What should be done with the discharge from the relief valve? 1. Should it discharge to a pan under the water heater? 2. Should it discharge inside a wall, solid-piped from the relief valve, to the floor below? 3. Should it discharge to a site drain above the ceiling tiles? Answers: 1. A relief valve can discharge to a pan located under the water heater. However, the pan must be an approved receptor made of approved materials with a minimum 1 ½-inch diameter drain opening to accept the discharge of the water heater relief valve. If not properly installed, a potentially dangerous situation can develop. The drains on the pans are generally one-inch or less in diameter, and less than two inches deep. The heater usually occupies more than ½ the area of the pan. If the thermostat malfunctions on the heater, and the water becomes superheated to the point where the relief valve does discharge, steaming hot water will blow out of that relief discharge at a high rate. Most pans are not designed to handle that situation. The heater pans are generally designed as protection in the event the heater develops a leak. Therefore, the receptor must be sized to handle this discharge. 2. When the heater is in a separate enclosure, it is not allowed to run the indirect waste line from the relief valve to the floor below. Per Comm. 82.40(5)(d)5f, the relief valve must discharge to a receptor within the room or enclosure where the heater is located. If the heater was in the same enclosure, it would be acceptable. In other words while standing in the room, you should be able to look down, see the relief valve discharge end ,and look up to see the water heater. If it is above ceiling tiles, you cannot see it; it is not within the same enclosure. 3. Discharging to a site drain or local waste located above the ceiling tiles is an approved method. The receptor should have a high enough standpipe so as to prevent overflow. The local waste pipe must be sized at 1 ½ inches minimum, be made of materials approved for drain piping, and trapped. The local waste piping shall discharge to an approved receptor or a floor drain. For more information, contact any of the plumbing plan reviewers or plumbing consultants listed in the Who to Contact at S&B list . Image alt text   Event Calendar Oct. 26, 1999 - Tuesday - Energy Conservation - 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. - WHEDA Building, Rm. 3B, 201 W Washington Ave., Madison - Diane Meredith, 608-266-8982, dmeredith@commerce. state.wi.us Nov. 3, 1999 - Wednesday - Uniform Dwelling Code Council - 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - WI Builders Association, 4868 High Crossing Blvd., Madison - Duane Hubeler, 608-266-1390, dhubeler@commerce. state.wi.us Nov. 11, 1999 - Thursday - Commercial Building Code Council - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - UW Madison Ag Research Station, 8502 Mineral Point Rd, Verona - Sam Rockweiler, 608-266-0797, srockweiler@ commerce.state.wi.us Nov. 16, 1999 - Tuesday - HVAC Code Council - 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. - WHEDA Building, Rm. 3C, 201 W Washington Ave., Madison - Jean MacCubbin, 608-266-0955, jmaccubbin@ commerce.state.wi.us Nov. 18, 1999 - Thursday - Plumbing Advisory Code Council - 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. - WHEDA Building, Rm. 3B, 201 W Washington Ave., Madison - Jean MacCubbin, 608-266-0955, jmaccubbin@ commerce.state.wi.us Nov. 30, 1999 - Tuesday - Energy Conservation - 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. - WHEDA Building, Rm. 3B, 201 W Washington Ave., Madison - Diane Meredith, 608-266-8982, dmeredith@commerce.state.wi.us Dec. 8, 1999 - Wednesday - Multifamily Dwelling Code Council - 9:15 a.m. to - 3 p.m. - Wisconsin Builders Association, 4868 High Crossing Blvd, Madison - Sam Rockweiler, 608-266-0797, srockweiler@commerce.state.wi.us Image alt text wpeA2.jpg (4751 bytes)   ontinuing Education is on the way. Hopefully, you looked at course information and the registration form in last month's WPCR. As promised, here are the locations and dates for upcoming Safety and Buildings Division continuing education classes. Come prepared to learn and share in some of the newest technology. See you there! MADISON - December 9, 1999, Dane County Exposition Center 608-267-3976, 1919 Expo Way, Madison, WI 53713 STEVENS POINT - December 14, 1999, Holiday Inn Convention Center 715-341-1340, 1501 N. Point Dr., Stevens Point, WI 54481 RHINELANDER - December 16, 1999, Holiday Inn 715-369-3600, 668 W. Kemp St., Rhinelander, WI 54501 HAYWARD - January 11, 2000, Country Inn & Suites 715-634-4100, Hwy 27 South, Hayward, WI 54843 EAU CLAIRE - January 13, 2000, Ramada Conference Center 1-800-482-7829, 1202 W. Clairmont Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701 PLATTEVILLE - January 20, 2000, Governor Dodge Motor Inn 608-348-2301, Highway 151, P.O. Box 658, Platteville, WI 53818 GREEN BAY - February 8, 2000, Regency Suites 920-432-4555, 333 Main St., Green Bay, WI 54301 FOND DU LAC - February 9, 2000, Holiday Inn & Holidome 920-923-1440, 625 W. Rolling Meadows Dr., Fond du Lac, WI 54937 MAUSTON - February 15, 2000, Alaskan Motor Inn 608-847-5609, 531 State Rd 82, Mauston, WI 53948 PEWAUKEE - February 17, 2000, Country Inn Hotel 414-547-0201, 2810 Golf Road, Pewaukee, WI 53072 More information and the registration form were printed in the September WPCR, pages 18-19. The same is available on the S&B WebSite, http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB-Plumbing1999Classes.html. For registration information, contact Sue Hansen, 608-261-8501, shansen@commerce. state.wi.us. Image alt text   Mandated sewer hookup language removed via code change proposal which went to committee by Roman Kaminski, S&B POWTS Program Manager, 715-345-5334, rkaminski@commerce.state.wi.us In December of last year, the state legislative Committee for Review of Administrative Rules temporarily suspended a portion of Comm 83.03(2). The rule subsection mandated abandonment of a private sewage system once public sewer is available to the premises served. In June of this year, a public hearing was held on a rule revision proposal which would permanently repeal the suspended subsection. A code revision package, known formally as Clearinghouse Rule #99-080, was recently forwarded for consideration by the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Environmental Resources and Campaign Finance Reform. Current law assigns the responsibility of making a determination of when sewer service is available to local governmental units, including town sanitary districts and metropolitan sewerage districts. The law gives the local governmental units broad powers to order hook-up to their sewer service (even if the existing private sewage system is code compliant). There is no need for the Comm 83 POWTS code to duplicate local powers and add confusion. In addition to repealing the mandate to connect to public sewer code language, this rule package clarifies what the requirements are if certain components of an existing private sewage system such as a subsurface tank or pit are abandoned. Following is the draft language sent to the legislature for consideration: The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services proposes an order to repeal s. Comm 82.10 (7) and 83.01(2)(b); renumber ss. Comm 82.10(8) to (15) as Comm 82.10 (7) to (14) and Comm 83.01 (2)(c) to (f) as Comm 83.02 (2)(b) to (e); and repeal and recreate Comm 83.03(2), relating to private sewage systems. Analysis of Proposed Rules: Statutory authority: ss. 101.02 (1), 101.63 (1), 101.73 (1), 101.82 (1) and 145.02 (3), Stats., Statutes interpreted: ss. 145.02 (2), Stats. Under s. 145.02, Stats., the Department of Safety and Professional Services has the responsibility of the proper siting, design, installation, inspection, and maintenance of private sewage systems. This rule revision relates to an action of JCRAR on December 8, 1998 suspending the first two sentences of s. Comm 83.03 (2) regarding the current mandate to abandon a private sewage system once public sewer service is available to the premises served. This revision would repeal the portions of the current rules that require owners of private sewage systems to discontinue use of such systems and connect to public sewer when public sewer becomes available. This revision repeals and recreates s. Comm 83.03 (2) to clarify the requirements for abandonment of subsurface tanks or pits no longer in use. In addition, a note containing statutory text has been added to indicate the authority provided to municipalities and sanitary districts in requiring connection to public sewer. SECTION 1. Comm 82.10 (7) is repealed. SECTION 2. Comm 82.10 (8) to (15) are renumbered as Comm 82.10 (7) to (14). SECTION 3. Comm 83.01 (2) (b) is repealed. SECTION 4. Comm 83.01 (2) (c) to (f) are renumbered as Comm 83.01 (2) (b) to (e). SECTION 5. Comm 83.03 (2) is repealed and recreated to read: Comm 83.03 (2) ABANDONMENT. A subsurface tank or pit that is no longer used as part of a private sewage system shall be abandoned by complying with all of the following:(a) Disconnecting all piping to the tanks and pits. (b) Sealing all disconnected piping to the tanks and pits in accordance with s. Comm 82.21 (2) (h). (c) Pumping and disposing of the contents from all tanks and pits. Note: The disposal of the contents from septic tanks, treatment tanks, distribution tanks, seepage pits and holding tanks is addressed in ch. NR 113 which is administered by the department of natural resources. (d) Removing all tanks or removing the covers of the tanks or pits and filling the tanks and pits with soil, gravel or an inert solid material. Note: Pursuant to s. 281.45, Stats., municipalities and sanitary districts may determine the availability of, and require connection to, public sewers. Section 281.45, Stats., reads in part: "HOUSE CONNECTIONS. To assure preservation of public health, comfort and safety, any city, village or town or town sanitary district having a system of waterworks or sewerage, or both, may by ordinance require buildings used for human habitation and located adjacent to a sewer or water main, or in a block through which one or both of these systems extend, to be connected with either or both in the manner prescribed. If any person fails to comply for more than 10 days after the notice in writing the municipality may impose a penalty or may cause connection to be made, and the expense thereof shall be assessed as a special tax against the property." Effective date: Pursuant to s. 227.22 (2) (intro.), Stats., these rules shall take effect on the first day of the month following publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register. Who to contact at the Wisconsin Safety and Buildings Division Link to this page's manager, Todd.Taylor@Wisconsin.gov Explanation of formats of files The Department of Safety and Professional Services is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. If you need assistance to access services or need material in an alternate format, please contact the department at 608-266-3151 or TTY 608-264-8777.