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Contacts Forms Code Plan Review Email Group Resources Q&A

S&B Commercial Building Code Program

The Safety and Buildings Division reviews plans for public buildings and places of employment prior to construction for compliance with the state statutes and building codes. This includes multifamily buildings. S&B staff provide consultation and education for designers, builders, and local officials through plan reviewers and field inspectors. The division cooperates with local certified municipalities which provide plan review and inspection services for certain types of buildings. Inspection certifications are administered by S&B. Building materials are evaluated for conformance with standards.

NEWS

There will be "Inspector Update" S&B / Inspector Association education sessions presented beginning in January on commercial buildings, Uniform Dwelling Code, and electrical topics.  A flier will be mailed around Thanksgiving to all inspectors eligible for continuing education credits.  See the registration pamphlet, PDF file.

The University of Wisconsin will be presenting the annual Wisconsin Building Code Refresher Feb. 15-17, 2010, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.  Safety and Buildings Division staff will again be part of the sessions.

On January 1, 2010, administration of soil erosion control procedures and requirements under Comm 60, Erosion Control, Sediment Control and Storm Water Management Code, will transfer from the state Department of Commerce to the Department of Natural Resources.  More Info.

A Statement of Scope was issued July 31, 2009, for a possible Comm 5 code development project relating to the licensing and regulation of thermal system insulation mechanics as mandated by 2009 Wisconsin Act 16 and relating to construction contractor registration as mandated by 2009 Wisconsin Act 28, s. 2155m.  The public may comment on the project within thirty days of publication of the statement, which is expected to be August 14. (Comments will also be accepted at various times as the project proceeds.)  Contact Norma Sampson, Communications Specialist, norma.sampson@wi.gov, 608-267-7907.

  S&B Commercial Buildings Program Contacts

- Email technical questions about Commercial buildings, Comm 61-69, to bldgtech@commerce.state.wi.us


- Fax technical questions about Commercial Buildings, Comm 61-69, to: 608-283-7402

- Technical questions about general lighting plan review can be emailed to comsbbuildingtech@wi.gov, or faxed to 608-283-7402.

- Technical questions about emergency lighting plan review can be emailed to comsbemergencylighting@wi.gov, or faxed to 608-283-7421.

- Email questions about plan review scheduling, or about address and personnel changes to planschedule@commerce.state.wi.us

- Commercial Buildings Plan Reviewers list

- Commercial Buildings Code inspectors districts map

- List of delegated municipalities GO
** Becoming a Commercial Buildings Delegated Municipality, PDF file

- Wisconsin Building Safety Network (WBSN) GO

- Commercial Building Section Chiefs:
Steve Dobratz - Shawano, steve.dobratz@wi.gov, 715-524-6853
Tom Kasper - Madison, tom.kasper@wi.gov, 608-267-7856
John Spalding - La Crosse/Hayward, john.spalding@wi.gov, 608-789-4693

- Jim Smith, Commercial Buildings Program Manager, 608-266,0251, jsmith@commerce.state.wi.us

- Commercial Buildings Code Advisory Council

- Accessibility: Send email questions to: bldgtech@commerce.state.wi.us or contact a commercial buildings plan reviewer. - ICC/ ANSI Standard A117.1-2003 is referenced by the International Building Code for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities 

  S&B Building Materials Evaluation Program
Contact Kathleen Gross, 262-548-8606, kathleen.gross@wi.gov
Building Material Products Evaluation letters.
Five alternate standard evaluations.


An email group has been set up for the Commercial Building Program. You can sign up to receive occasional messages from the S&B about topics concerning the commercial building code.

  Resources

- Questions and Answers about the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code

- Carbon Monoxide brochure, SBD-10882 (N10/08), PDF file

- How are campgrounds in Wisconsin affected by the Commercial Buildings program?  New Web feature.

- Structural Steel Welding Program Brochure, PDF file

S&B PowerPoint presentations from 2008 UW Code Refresher and AIA Meeting
- Jim Smith, "WCBC and the International Fire Code, How They Work Together," PDF file
- Jim Smith, 2008 Energy Provisions PDF file
- Bob DuPont, S&B Division Update, PDF file

- Jim Smith, 2008 Code Update, PDF file, August 2008

- Commercial Building Code Accessibility Provisions, PowerPoint presention to a Wisconsin League of Municipalities Inspectors Institute, by Jim Smith, in April 2009, PDF file

- "Wisconsin Commercial Building Code and Existing Buildings," PowerPoint presention to a meeting of American Institute of Architects, Southwest Wisconsin Chapter, and Construction Specifications Institute, Madison Wisconsin Chapter, by Jim Smith, in October 2008, PDF file

- S&B 2009 PowerPoint presentation for Wisconsin Building Inspectors Associations: Jim Smith, "Commercial Buildings Code Update 2009," PDF file
- S&B 2008 PowerPoint presentation for Wisconsin Building Inspectors Associations: Jim Smith, "Commercial Buildings Code Update 2008," PDF file

- SB PowerPoint Presentation, "2008 Roofing Provisions," by Jim Smith for the Wisconsin Roofing Contractors Assoc., May 14, 2008, PDF file

Commercial building codes are available online, article by J.B. Smith, S&B Commercial Building Code Program Manager

- Fire protection systems are not mandated in all new aircraft hangars in Wisconsin, PDF file



Wisconsin Commercial Building Code, Comm 60-65

The Wisconsin Commercial Building Code can be obtained from Document Sales, as noted here, or are free online.

The adopted International Code Council codes and commentary are available from that organization, http://www.iccsafe.org/.

There is no longer an Enrolled version of the Commercial Building code combining in one document the Wisconsin codes and the ICC codes.

Free insert pages are online for putting Wisconsin portions of the codes into the International Code Council code books (ICC 3-ring binder format).



  Links:

- A Wisconsin Department of Health Services Web site about plan review of construction and remodeling of health care facilities. More info about S&B plan submittal of health care facilities. 


- ICC/ ANSI Standard A117.1-2003 is referenced by the International Building Code for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities 


- Link to federal site for software for downloading, http://www.energycodes.gov:

- COMcheck-EZ, federal Department of Energy software approved in Wisconsin for showing compliance with thermal envelope requirements, interior and exterior lighting requirements ONLY (HVAC portions are not acceptable. Note COMcheck-Plus is not acceptable.) COMcheck is used for commercial buildings or high-rise (>3 stories) multi-family buildings.
- REScheck, another software application from DOE, can be used for low-rise multi-family (3 dwellings or more, 3 stories or less). 

- International Code Council Web site, http://www.iccsafe.org/

- The Department of Regulation and Licensing has a web site for looking up information on people to whom they provide credentials, such as architects and engineers.


- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires proper inspections, notification and removal of asbestos containing materials for renovations and demolitions. For more information on Wisconsin Administrative Code, Chapter NR 447 visit the DNR website: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/aw/air/reg/asbestos/.


County Web sites || City/Town/Village Web sites || State Portal || Build Your Business

Email this page's manager, Todd Taylor, ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us or 608-267-3606

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, TDD Relay dial 711 in Wisconsin or 800-947-3529, or ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us