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 Union Grove and Yorkville
Sec. 46-21. Automatic fire sprinkler, fire suppression and fire alarm systems and fire hydrants.
(c) State regulations. All building code requirements, rules and laws of the state shall apply to all buildings located within the village/town. The requirements of this section shall not lessen any building code requirements, rules or laws of the state. Should any conflict arise between this section and the codes, rules or laws of the state, the more stringent regulation shall govern .
(e) Installation required. An automatic fire sprinkler System shall be installed in all structures where the floor area exceeds the thresholds established the Wisconsin Administrative Code, or where otherwise required by State law.
(f) How installed.
(1) Incorporation of standards by reference. The most current editions of all NFPA documents are hereby incorporated by reference into this section.
(4) Fire pump test header. Fire pump test headers shall be placed on the exterior of the fire pump room.
(5) Fire pump relief valve. When a fire pump is required to have a relief valve and that relief valve discharges to the exterior, the relief valve shall discharge directly into a storm water catch basin.
(6) Safety factor. The safety factor for a hydraulically calculated sprinkler system shall be a minimum of ten percent or five psi, whichever is greater.
(7) Sprinkler control rooms shall be located with adequate access for fire department, sprinkler maintenance and inspection personnel and shall not be located within private dwellings with the exception of NFPA 13D systems.
(8) There shall be direct access from the exterior to the sprinkler control valve as determined by the AHJ, with a door labeled as such which will include reflective lettering.
(g) Standpipes and hose connections.
(1) Wet automatic standpipes shall be provided in all buildings three stories or more in height. Standpipes shall be sized and distributed as described in subsection (2).
(h) Fire department connection. The fire department connection (FDC) for both the sprinkler system and standpipe systems shall be located remote from the building, curbside to a street or driveway. The minimum distance from the building shall be equal to the height of the building. An FDC may be placed at a greater distance from the building if the building is of extra hazard occupancy. The location of the FDC shall be approved by the fire department. The FDC shall have an automatic drip for drainage of the waterline enclosed within an inspection pit and accessed through a manhole, when the automatic drip cannot be placed within the structure.
(k) Strobe light.
(1) A red strobe light shall be placed in the vertical position above the audible water flow alarm. The light shall be activated by a sprinkler water flow. Additional strobe lights will be required on the exterior of buildings that have multiple sprinkler (risers in multiple locations) systems.
(2) Strobe specifications. The following strobe lights are acceptable for use: Federal, Model 131 ST/DST and Whelen, Model 1550. Alternate manufacturers must be approved by the department prior to installation.
(p) Automatic closing devices.
(1) Where installed.
a. Except on single and two-family dwellings, there shall be an automatic closing device on all fire and smoke doors, except doors leading directly outside in all buildings, regardless of size.
b. On all fire shutters and vents.
c. Wired into the fire alarm system when a fire alarm system is required.
(2) How installed. Per National Fire Protection Association Standard 80, Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives.
(3) How maintained and inspected. Per National Fire Protection Association Standard 80, Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives.
(q) Fire alarm systems.
(1) Minimum system requirements. When a fire alarm system is required, the following minimum system requirements shall be met:
a. Audible notification appliances shall be installed throughout protected premises.
b. Visible notification appliances shall be installed throughout protected premises. Exceptions:
1. Closets and/or other similar small storage rooms that do not exceed 50 square feet in floor area and are not normally occupied.
2. Normally unoccupied crawl spaces.
3. Normally unoccupied attic spaces.
4. Any non-accessible area.
5. Any area the AHJ deems visible notification appliances are not required.
d. Manual initiating devices (pull stations) shall be located at all points of egress including all exit doors on every floor and/or building level.
e. Water flow detection devices shall be connected to the protected premises fire alarm system to specifically activate the notification appliances upon water flow.
f. Fire suppression system activation alarms shall be connected to the protected premises fire alarm system to specifically activate the notification appliances upon system activation. This includes but is not limited to wet chemical, C02, clean agent, water mist and dry chemical systems.
g. Fire control and/or suppression systems supervisory condition indicators shall be connected to and monitored by the protected premise fire alarm system. This specifically includes but is not limited to: valve supervisory switches (tamper switches), low air switches, low water switches, low temperature switches, fire pump condition indicators and/or any other situation or condition deem necessary by the AHJ.
h. Fire alarm systems shall be addressable and capable of indicating the status of all specific components connected to the system.
i. All fire alarm systems shall be monitored by a service acceptable to the AHJ.
j. Fire alarm annunciators shall be installed in all protected premises. The number and locations of the fire alarm annunciators installed shall be acceptable to the AHJ.
k. As determined by the AHJ, any additional notification and/or initiation appliances/devices may be required due to size, occupancy hazards, building construction, and/or occupancy use.