2013 Wisconsin Act 270 establishes a uniform commercial building code in Wisconsin, while allowing municipalities to grandfather fire detection, prevention, and suppression ordinances that relate to the construction, alteration, or addition to a public building or building that is a place of employment.
Grandfathered Ordinances for Pewaukee
ARTICLE VI. – SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
Sec. 34.122. – Where required.
(a) Specific locations. Automatic sprinkler systems shall be installed and maintained in operable condition in the following new buildings, occupancies and locations:
(3) Within the following residential occupancies:
c. Any building that has residential units mixed with other types of occupancies, such as mercantile space on the first floor and residential space on the second floor, shall be sprinklered throughout the entire building.
(4) New theaters and buildings of public assembly with over 100-person occupancy. Automatic sprinklers shall be installed throughout such buildings regardless of size or type of construction.
(5) New health care facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, convalescent and group care centers. Automatic sprinklers shall be installed throughout such buildings regardless of size or type of construction.
(6) New detention and correctional facilities. Automatic sprinklers shall be installed throughout the buildings regardless of size or type of construction.
(8) High-hazard occupancy. Automatic sprinkler systems shall be installed throughout any new building that, by reason of its construction or combustible occupancy, is deemed a severe hazard to life or property by the fire chief. This includes but shall not be limited to:
a. Aircraft/helicopter hangars, aircraft/helicopter servicing.
b. Dry cleaning establishments using or storing volatile or flammable liquids.
c. Enameling or Japanning operations.
d. Mills.
e. Paint and varnish—manufacturing, storage, handling, spraying or other related operations.
f. Pyroxylin products.
g. Smokehouses.
h. Storage of combustible and flammable gases such as acetylene, hydrogen, liquid propane, etc., in excess of 1,000 cubic feet.
i. Chemical works.
j. Warehouses with materials piled 15 feet or more in height.
k. Explosive and pyrotechnic manufacturing and storage.
l. Basements over 2,500 square feet in size, and containing combustible materials or storage (in buildings not meeting the requirements of Wis. Admin. Code ch. ILHR/Comm. 66).
(b) Exceptions. Automatic fire sprinkler systems are not required in the following:
(1) Rooms or buildings used for the manufacture or storage of aluminum powder, calcium carbide, calcium phosphate, metallic sodium or potassium, quicklime, magnesium powder, sodium peroxide or like materials where the application of water may cause or increase combustion;
(2) In any building that is used to melt and pour metal or glass into a mold or case (foundry); but only that portion of the building where molten product is present is exempt; or
(3) In any building where the fire chief determines that the use of water as a fire extinguishing agent would increase the hazard. However, an automatic fire suppression system using an extinguishing agent other than water, requires that an automatic smoke detection system be installed.
Sec. 34.123. – Application to existing buildings.
All existing public buildings or places of employment, and all building additions shall conform to the provisions of this article applicable to new buildings if:
(1) More than 50 percent of the building is remodeled or more than 50 percent is added to the building; if more than 50 percent of the area or square footage of a building is remodeled and/or added to, the entire building shall comply with the requirements of this section.
a. When determining what constitutes 50 percent remodeled or added, add all previous additions or areas remodeled together to arrive at the total area that has been renovated. If this percentage is equal to or greater than 50 percent of the gross area of the original building as determined by the effective date of the ordinance from which this section is derived, the entire building is required to be brought up to code.
(2) Any building with an existing sprinkler system when making an addition regardless of the size or occupancy, will sprinkler the addition in accordance with NFPA13 or other applicable IFC or NFPA codes.
(3) If the use or occupancy of a building is changed and the hazard and/or danger to life becomes more severe, the entire building shall be brought into compliance with this section.
Sec. 34.125. – Installation.
(a) Approved automatic fire sprinkler equipment shall be installed in accordance with the standards of the current edition of IFC and the NFPA relating to the installation of sprinkler systems and other applicable standards of ILHR/COMM and the ordinances of the city and village.
(b) Compressors for dry pipe systems are required to be wired directly into the building’s electrical power system.
(c) All compressors for dry pipe systems will have low-limit air switches and alarms.
(d) The hydrant water flow test data shall be dated no greater than six months prior to the submission of sprinkler plans. The data shall be obtained during peak flow conditions and conducted with accurate gauges.
(e) The sprinkler system design shall be based on 95 percent of the available water supply.
(f) Every system shall have an alarm system that is audible throughout the building. All alarm systems shall be interconnected. One water flow alarm shall be provided on the outside of the building by the F.D.C.
4.15 INSTALLATION OF SPRINKLER SYSTEM.
(2) NEW BUILDINGS. Automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be installed and maintained in operable condition in the following new buildings:
(c) Within new theaters and buildings of public assembly with over 100 person capacity; health care facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, convalescent and group care centers; detention and correctional facilities; public or private day care facilities licensed to accommodate twenty (20) or more children.
(e) High hazard Construction or Occupancy: Within any new building or new occupancy which by reason of its construction, combustible operations or both is deemed a severe hazard to life or property by the Fire Chief or his assignee. This includes, but shall not be limited to the following operations:
1. Manufacturing, storage, handling, or spraying paint or varnish or other related operations;
2. Storage of combustible and flammable gases including, but not limited to acetylene, hydrogen, and liquid propane, in amounts exceeding 2,000 cubic feet;
3. Manufacturing and storing explosives and pyrotechnics;
4. Commercial building basements over 2,500 square feet, containing or storing combustible materials and not subject to the requirements of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
(f) Exceptions: Automatic fire sprinkler systems are not required in the following when approved by the Fire Chief:
1. Rooms or buildings used for the manufacture or storage of aluminum powder, calcium carbide, calcium phosphate, metallic sodium or potassium, quick lime, magnesium powder, sodium peroxide or like materials where the application of water may cause or increase combustion;
2. The portion of a building or foundry used to melt and pour metal or glass into a mold or cast and portions of buildings used for heat treating operations;
3. In any building where the Fire Chief determines that the use of water as a fire extinguishing agent would increase the hazard. However, an automatic fire suppression system as defined in IBC Ch. 9 as adopted by the Wis. Adm. Code, COMM Ch. 61-65 using an extinguishing agent other than water, and/or an automatic smoke detection system shall be installed;
4. Church sanctuaries and church naves which are used exclusively for worship and ceremonies.
(3) APPLICATION TO EXISTING BUILDINGS.
(a) Automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be installed and maintained in operable condition in existing public buildings or places of employment, within additions to existing public buildings or places of employment, where:
1. An addition is made to an existing building which contains an automatic fire sprinkler system;
(b) The building owner or occupants shall not make changes in the occupancy, use or processes utilized within, or materials used or stored in the building without evaluation by the City of Pewaukee Fire Department of the fire protection systems and their capability to protect the new occupancy’s use of materials. The evaluation shall consider factors that include but are not limited to occupancy changes, process or material changes, or building renovations such as relocating walls, adding mezzanines and ceilings below sprinklers, the removal of heating systems and spaces with piping subject to freezing.
(9) FIRE DEPARTMENT HOSE CONNECTIONS. Every automatic sprinkler system installed in new or existing buildings shall be equipped with at least one Fire Department hose connection at a location approved by the Fire Prevention Bureau and meeting Wis. Adm. Code standards