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S&B Fire Preventon Program

The Safety and Buildings Division Fire Prevention Program provides services related to fire prevention and to the administration of the Two Percent Fire Dues Program. Staff also provide assistance to fire chiefs in Wisconsin in support of fire prevention inspections. Also see Fire Protection Systems Program, Fire Department Safety and Health Program, and Commercial Buildings Program.

NEWS

A Public Hearing will be held on proposed rule changes for chapters Comm 14, 21 to 23, 61 to 63 and 66 relating to fire prevention; recordkeeping for fires; fire suppression for mobile kitchens; structural, ventilating and vapor-barrier requirements for one- and 2-family dwellings; air barriers and local enforcement for commercial buildings; and previously constructed buildings that are converted to community-based residential facilities. The hearing is set for December 18, 2009, in Room 3B of the Thompson Commerce Center, 201 West Washington Ave., Madison. Hearing announcement and transmittal documents, PDF file. Draft code language, PDF file.

Information on natural cut vegetation (i.e., christmas trees and boughs) in buildings used for assemblies of people, PDF file

Legislation offers job protection for volunteers, PDF file, Daily Reporter article Nov. 6, 2009

Brochure, PDF file, about requirements for installation of carbon monoxide alarms.

A brochure outlines the requirements for installing smoke alarms in owner-occupied homes, rental homes and other residential buildings in Wisconsin. PDF file, "Smoke Alarms in Wisconsin."

- Updated Fire Prevention Coordonators Map, PDF file

Question and Answer page for Fire Prevention Code issues. Several of the questions and answers relate to Comm 14.01 and residential adult-care, residential community-based and child-care facilities.

SBD-11 Wisconsin School District Record of Fire / Tornado / Other Evacuation Drills (R10/08), PDF file

Fire Prevention Information Especially for People With Disabilities GO

Seasonal fire prevention information
 
S&B Fire Prevention Program contacts

- Fire Prevention Coordinators map PDF file (Updated 10/26/09)

- Listings of fire departments and their chiefs.

- Supervisor of the S&B Fire Prevention Program staff, Rick Merkle, rick.merkle@wisconsin.gov, 608-266-3037

- S&B Fire Prevention Program Manager, Joe Hertel, joe.hertel@wisconsin.gov, 608-266-5649, planning, code, policy, and procedure development


- Comm 14, Fire Prevention Code Advisory Council



  National Fire Incident Reporting System

S&B National Fire Incident Reporting System contacts:
- Luann Robb, Luann.robb@wisconsin.gov, 608-266-5824
- Audrey Fries (Wed-Thurs 7a.m. - 3:30 p.m.), 608-266-9375, audrey.fries@wisconsin.gov

National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) Web site

NFIRS Bulk Import Procedures, PDF File, Word Document

Fire Incident Reporting: 2007 Wisconsin Act 75 requires fire departments in Wisconsin to report specific building fire incident information within 60 days to the Department of Commerce through use of the National Fire Incident Reporting System. See an analysis of 2007 Senate Bill 436, PDF file. See 2007 Wisconsin Act 75, PDF file. Act effective March 27, 2008. Rules for implementing Act 75 have not been yet created.

** SBD-8568 WIFRS Incident Field Notes (R3/05) PDF file



Resources
If you need an Adobe Reader to access PDF files, you can download a free copy,
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

- Department of Children and Family licensed child-care facilities: County directories and regional licensing offices. For more information email or call Anne Carmody at anne.carmody@wisconsin.gov or 608-267-9761.

- Department of Heath Services' health care facilities Web site contains construction-related information including links for submittal of construction plans, business flow charts and tables reflecting responsible parties for reviewing plans, the plan review process, forms, staff contacts, checklists, a plan status tracking site, copies of health care codes, and code interpretations from the Division of Quality Assurance.

- Presentations from the Nov. 2007 Elevator Construction Symposium, including one on elevator fire alarms

Copies of PowerPoint presentations by S&B staff at the Wisconsin Fire Inspectors Association conference in Eau Claire, October 29 - November 2, 2007:
- John Andersen, S&B Fire Coordinator, "Update to Comm 14, Fire Prevention Code," PDF file.
- Jim Smith, S&B Commercial Buildings Program Manager, "Wisconsin Commercial Building Code and International Fire Code - How They Work Together," PDF file.

- An information letter concerning propane storage cylinders, PDF file, October 2006

- U.S. Fire Administration Web site for training, funding, and educational opportunities

- FireX carbon monoxide and smoke alarms recalled by Maple Chase due to malfunction (CPSC)

- Other recalls and safety messages

- Smoke Alarms in Wisconsin Brochure, SBD-8282P (R3/09), PDF file

PDF file, of Fire Department 2 percent Dues scheduled 2009 payments to Wisconsin municipalities. The 2 percent Dues program is supported by fire insurance premiums paid in Wisconsin, with the money intended for uses related to specific fire department activities.

  Info on March 1, 2008 Fire Prevention Code and Commercial Building code changes

How to obtain Wisconsin Commercial Building and Fire Prevention Codes changes in 2008

The March 1, 2008, changes to Comm 14, Fire Prevention Code, allow municipalities to adopt without a special order from S&B the requirements of the 2006 International Fire Code and any additional requirements equivalent to the new Comm 14. See PDF memo.

From Terry Nolen, Fire Coordinator:
- "The New Comm 14, Fire Prevention Code, Effective 3/1/2008," PowerPoint Presentation as a PDF file;
- Cross Reference Table, PDF file;
- Wisconsin Modifications of NFPA 1, PDF file

From John Andersen, S&B Fire Coordinator:
- "Update to Comm 14, Fire Prevention Code," PDF file.

From Jim Smith, S&B Commercial Buildings Program Manager:
- "Wisconsin Commercial Building Code and International Fire Code - How They Work Together," PDF file.

Official Code Interpretations
- Standard for Spray Application Using Flammable and Combustible Materials (PDF file)
- How to Specify Code References (Word document)
- Responsibilities of Fire Chiefs (Word document)


Forms/Publications

- Brochure, PDF file, about requirements for installation of carbon monoxide alarms

- SBD-8568 WIFRS Incident Field Notes (R3/05) PDF file

- Chief Officer's Guidebook (January 2004) (Word)

- Wisconsin Chief Fire Officer Guidebook (1.39 MB - PDF file)

- Fire Drills Required for Commercial Buildings (September 2003) (Word)

- Wisconsin Burning 2005 (PDF file)

- Wisconsin Burning 2004 (PDF file) - A printed copy was mailed to each fire department in Wisconsin in late June, 2006. Cover memo about Wisconsin Burning 2004 and 2003 (PDF file).

- Wisconsin Burning 2003 (PDF file)

- SBD-10615a (R03/08) Detailed Fire Prevention Report ("Northwoods") (PDF file)

- Supply Order Form (PDF file)

- Code Change Proposal Form (PDF file)


 
Seasonal Fire Safety

* Information on natural cut vegetation (i.e., christmas trees and boughs) in buildings used for assemblies of people, PDF file

* Fire prevention requirements for crop mazes (PDF file) under 2006 NFPA 1, compiled by S&B Fire Prevention Coordinator Terry Nolen

* Guidelines (PDF File) for Halloween Houses / Setup and Operation of Special Amusement Structures

* Fireworks 2008
- Fireworks cause a lot of injuries says federal Consumer Product Safety Commission: PDF file

* Fireworks 2007
- Wisconsin Department of Justice, Fireworks in Wisconsin 2007
- Federal CPSC Warns of Deadly Dangers When Consumers Use Illegal Fireworks
- 2003 Wisconsin Act 298
- "Municipal Liability Exemption for Legal Issuance of Fireworks Permits" (PDF file)
- Review of Wisconsin Fireworks Law by Wisconsin Legislative Council, June 2002 (PDF file)

* NFPA offers summer grilling tips to avoid outside fires (PDF file)

  PDF files of presentations from the fall 2006 Wisconsin Fire Inspectors Association Conference
- "S&B Overview" by Bob DuPont, Program Development Bureau Director
- "Firefighters' Emergency Operation and Elevator Shutdown" by David Holmes and Tim Marty. Elevator Inspectors
- "Electrical Topics" by Monte Ewing, Electrical Consultant

County Web sites || City/Town/Village Web sites || State Portal || Build Your Business || List of state agencies

Email or call this page's manager, Norma Sampson, norma.sampson@wisconsin.gov or 608-267-7907.

The Department of Commerce 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 ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us