Summary of Member Meeting on January 16, 2019

Post date: Feb 04, 2019 10:30:24 PM

Alliance for Regulatory Coordination

Summary of Member Meeting

Meeting Date: January 16, 2019

Location: Sun Prairie Fire Department Station 2, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

The meeting was convened at 9:05 a.m. by Bob DuPont, of Regulatory Guidance and Design, LLC. Attendees introduced themselves and identified the organizations they were representing.

Regarding general introduction of ARC to the Evers Administration, DuPont recommended that the ARC send letters of introduction to Governor Evers and DSPS Secretary-Designee Crim. He suggested the letters offer the Alliance as an information and support resource to the Evers Administration, relative to the safety and building programs of the DSPS. During discussion several member representatives suggested that the letters could also address some “low hanging fruit”, such as the need to improve the DSPS code development schedule and DSPS communications efforts to its customers.

After additional discussion, those in attendance agreed that DuPont should develop a single letter of introduction, addressed to both Evers and Crim, for review by all ARC members. DuPont said development of that letter will be the next formal step in communicating with the Evers Administration.

Regarding specific issues concerning the DSPS, discussion resulted in the following 12 steps being agreed to, subject to concurrence by all ARC Classic Members subsequent to the meeting. Those in attendance agreed that ARC letters should be first directed only to Secretary-Designee Crim to give the DSPS a chance to respond accordingly.

• 1. On repeal of plan review participation fees, DuPont will continue working with the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and the Wisconsin Economic Development Association in an effort to have Governor Evers include this change in his budget proposal. Additional efforts may involve approaching members of the Joint Committee on Finance.

  2. On electrical inspections for commercial buildings, DuPont will draft a letter to Secretary Crim encouraging the DSPS to maintain its efforts to implement these inspections as required by state statutes and the State Electric Code.

  3. On the DSPS code interpretation concerning repairs to UDC homes, DuPont will draft a letter to Secretary Crim encouraging the DSPS to include code application to repairs in the scope of the next code change project for the UDC. The letter will also request the January 2018 code interpretation be revised relative to the need for Dwelling Contractor Credentials; reminding that under State Statute Section 101.615(3), a dwelling contractor credential is needed to apply for a building permit for dwellings initially constructed before, on or after 12/1/1978, regardless of application of the UDC to the building.

  4. On the three topics listed below, DuPont will contact DSPS code development staff to find out the status of DSPS efforts to address code changes and operational changes driven by recent legislation, and report his findings to ARC members.

     • Rules for municipal agent appointments and certifications under 2017 Act 198.

     • Rules for enforcement of the Commercial Building Code and carbon monoxide detection under 2017 Act 330.

     • Coordination of state and municipal building inspections in light of 2017 Acts 243 and 330.

  5. On updating the Wisconsin Fire Prevention Code and Commercial Building Code, to adopt the 2018 edition of NFPA 1 and the 2018 editions of ICC codes, it was agreed that DuPont should draft a letter to Secretary-Designee Crim encouraging the DSPS to coordinate such an effort so those codes are updated on the same cycle with the same code change effective date. Review of the 2018 ICC Energy Conservation Code, as required by State Statute Section 101.027, will be emphasized.

  6. On enforcement of the multifamily sprinkler provisions of the Commercial Building Code, it was agreed that DuPont should query all ARC members on taking a position in support of Wisconsin adopting and enforcing the International Building Code provisions which require sprinklers in multifamily dwellings containing three or more dwelling units.

  7. On legislation concerning carbon monoxide detection involving force-air furnaces that serve more than one dwelling or living unit, DuPont will draft a letter to DSPS Secretary-Designee Crim, informing her that the ARC supports remedial legislation that would reflect provisions of the 2015 International Building Code, as originally proposed by the ARC, and asking for DSPS to support such a statute change.

  8. On establishing a three-year code update cycle for safety and building codes, DuPont will draft a letter to DSPS Secretary-Designee Crim.

  9. On adoption of the International Residential Code, developed by the ICC, as the basis for the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, DuPont will draft a letter to DSPS Secretary-Designee Crim.

  10. On establishing a statewide program for inspection of commercial building construction, similar to what is in place for new one- and two-family dwellings, DuPont will draft a letter to DSPS Secretary-Designee Crim.

  11. On discontinuing the DSPS Designer of Engineering Systems Certification Program, as recommended in the Wisconsin Occupational Licensing Study, DuPont will query ARC members on supporting continuation of that program.

  12. On legislation to establish a state uniform code for alterations and additions to pre-UDC homes, DuPont will continue dialogue with other interested parties, including builders, remodelers and realtors, as well as the League of Wisconsin Municipalities.

For each of the 12 steps above, all ARC members will be involved in review and commenting on potential letters to be sent by the ARC, and potential positions to be taken by the ARC.

Relative to recognition of ICC and NICET credentials as proof of competency for obtaining a Wisconsin Fire Detection, Prevention and Suppression Inspector Credential, there was agreement to take no action at this time due to the DSPS recognition of fire inspector training courses offered in Wisconsin.

During discussion of fire sprinklers, it was agreed that the DSPS failure to adopt various fire-related aspects of the 2015 IBC, including those related to rooftop assembly occupancies, should be addressed by the ARC Fire Safety Team during their next meeting, following the next ARC Member Meeting. Richard Paur agreed to help identify the issues prior to the Fire Team Meeting.

The next meeting of Alliance Members was set for April 17, 2019, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at Sun Prairie Fire Department Station 2, at 2598 W. Main Street, Sun Prairie, WI.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m.

This summary was prepared by Bob DuPont, Regulatory Guidance and Design, LLC.

It was issued on February 4, 2019.