Did you know that effective January 1, 2005, s. Comm 61.30 required fire protection system plans for all R-2 occupancies be submitted to the state for plan approval?

Submission of fire protection plans is required for buildings based on the guidelines listed below:

The following types of fire detection, prevention and suppression systems, features and components shall be submitted and examined by the state for approval:

• Alternate Fire Suppression Systems
• Atrium Fire Protection Systems
• Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems
• Fire Alarm Systems
• Manual-Wet Sprinkler Systems
• Standpipe and Hose Systems

Occupancies requiring fire protection plan:

• Educational Group E
• Institutional Group I-1 and Group I-3
• Mercantile Group M exceeding 50,000 square feet which contain a combined use of retail area and rack storage
• Residential Group R-1 and R-2
• High rise buildings (public buildings exceeding 60 feet in height)
• State owned buildings except hospitals and nursing homes (reviewed by DH&FS)
• All buildings containing an Atrium, as defined by IBC 404.1.1, regardless of occupancy

Unless your municipality is a recognized Fire Protection Agent of the state all fire protection plans noted above are required to be submitted for approval. The following municipalities are delegated agents of the department to perform plan review of fire detection and suppression systems as prescribed under s. Comm 61.30.

• City of Appleton
  
• City of Burlington
  
• City of Madison
  
• City of Milwaukee
  
• Village of McFarland

Your municipal fire department or building department can conduct these state required plan reviews upon becoming recognized as a Fire Protection Agent.

If you have questions, you may contact one of our fire protection plan reviewers at fireprotech@commerce.state.wi.us.

If your municipality would like to become an agent to perform this review on behalf of the state, please contact Henry Kosarzycki at (608)212-0138.

-- Henry Kosarzycki

The newsletter is issued electronically every other month.

Please send comments or questions to Barbro McGinn, editor.