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 West Bend
5.200 GENERAL PROVISIONS
(2) SCOPE.
(b) Exempt Buildings. The following buildings and uses are not public places or places of employment and are not subject to the provisions of this code:
1. Single-family and two-family dwellings.
2. Buildings used exclusively for fanning as described in sec. 102.04(3), Stats.
(4) ADDITIONS TO, CHANGE OF USE OR REMODELED BUILDINGS.
Requirements for additions to, change of use or remodeling of buildings shall follow the requirements of the latest printed version of the International Building Code and/or International Existing Building Code.
5.202 INCORPORATION OF STANDARDS BY REFERENCE.
(1) CODES, STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY REFERENCE. In addition to other state and national codes, standards and regulations specifically adopted elsewhere in this Chapter, the following codes, standards and regulations are adopted by reference in their entirety. Any violation of the codes, standards or regulations adopted by reference constitutes a violation of this Code.
(a) State of Wisconsin Fire Prevention Regulations, Ch. Comm. 14 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, as updated and revised from time to time.
(b) The most current printed version of the National Fire Protection Association Uniform Fire Code (NFPA 1) legislatively enacted by the State of Wisconsin.
(c) The most current printed version of the International Building Code as adopted by the State of Wisconsin.
(d) The most current printed version of the International Existing Building Code as adopted by the State of Wisconsin.
(2) CONFLICTS. In cases of conflict between this Code and the codes, standards and regulations adopted by reference, the most restrictive provision shall govern.
(3) GOOD OR SAFE PRACTICES. Wherever in this subchapter reference is made to nationally recognized good or safe practice, the intent is that the practice to be followed shall be reasonable and safe, as deemed by the Fire Chief.
(a) The Fire Chief, on request of any person affected by any decision as to what constitutes nationally recognized good or safe practice, shall identify the specific provisions of the Fire Prevention Code or other standard publications on which he bases his decision. Any person aggrieved by such decision may appeal to the Fire Prevention Board in accordance with sec. 5.120 of this Code.
(b) Any publications used to determine nationally recognized good or safe practice shall be broadly construed to determine intent, but no provisions contrary to this Code or any of the codes, standards or regulations adopted by reference shall be used as a reference.
(4) The Fire Chief shall maintain in his office, available for public inspection and use during regular office hours, a complete set of all codes, standards and regulations adopted as part of this Chapter and all other publications which he may use as the basis for decisions as to what is nationally recognized good or safe practice.
5.206 FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.
(3) ADDITIONAL SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.
(a) System Drain. The fire sprinkler system shall have a drain piped to the outside of the building.
(b) Inspectors Test Valve. The fire sprinkler system shall have an inspector’s test valve piped so as to discharge water to the outside of the building.
(d) Monitoring. New fire sprinkler systems shall be monitored by an offsite central station monitoring service that is permitted to operate in the City of West Bend.
(e) Outside Notification. The fire sprinkler system shall have a horn/strobe located above the Fire Department connection (FDC), as defined in NFPA 13.
(f) FDC Location. The location of the FDC shall be no more than 150 feet travel distance to a water supply. The FDC shall be located on the front of the building or another location on the building acceptable to the Fire Chief or Bureau.
5.207 FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS.
(1) WHERE REQUIRED.
(b) The owner of any building being renovated that has an existing fire alarm system required by state or local code shall bring the entire building’s fire alarm system into current code compliance in accordance with the International Existing Building Code, as adopted herein.
(c) The owner of any building who replaces the existing fire alarm panel shall also update or add fire alarm detection and notification devices for the entire building in accordance with the requirements for new fire alarm system installations.
(d) The owner of any existing building that was not required to have a fire alarm system installed at the time of construction because of the intended use of the building, is required to install a fire alarm system if the building’s use changes resulting in a new intended use hazard classification under the NFPA that requires installation of a fire alarm system.
(e) As determined by the Fire Chief or Fire Inspectors.
5.211 OTHER REQUIRED FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS.
(3) MONITORING. All other required fire protection systems that are required to be monitored under any provision of this Chapter or the applicable NFPA code section, shall be monitored at all times by a fire alarm monitoring company permitted to do so under sec. 5.208 of this Code.
5.212 STANDPIPES.
(1) WHERE REQUIRED.
(a) Standpipe systems are required in accordance with the current regulations adopted by the State of Wisconsin Department of Commerce as found in the Wisconsin Administrative Code, as amended or renumbered from time to time, or as required by sec. 5.204 of this Code.
(b) The owner of any building being renovated that has an existing standpipe system required by state or local code shall bring the standpipe system into current code compliance in accordance with the International Existing Building Code, as adopted herein.
(c) The owner of any building that changes the occupancy use of that building shall upgrade the existing standpipe system if necessary to comply with the current hazard group requirements based upon the occupancy type as defined in the NFPA 14 hazard classifications.
(d) The owner of any existing building that was not required to have a standpipe system installed at the time of construction because of the intended use of the building, is required to install a standpipe system if the building’s use changes resulting in a new intended use hazard classification under the NFPA that requires installation of a standpipe system.
(3) ADDITIONAL SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.
(a) The location of standpipe connections shall be in accordance with NFPA 14, shall be unobstructed and shall be acceptable to the Fire Department so that all portions of the building can be reached by a nozzle attached to 150 feet of fire hose.
(b) When required by the Fire Department, an approved standpipe shall be installed as construction progresses on a building or structure such that the standpipe is available for Fire Department use in the top most floors constructed. Temporary standpipes may be provided in place of permanent standpipes during the period of construction if approved by the Fire Department.
(c) The Fire Department connections for the standpipe shall be approved by the Fire Department and shall be placed on a separate riser from the building’s fire sprinkler system unless a different configuration is approved by the Fire Chief or the Bureau.
(d) Hose connection types and locations shall be approved by the Fire Department prior to construction.