Building Safety Week to be Held May 5 - 11

For Immediate Release: May 2, 2008
Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661

MADISON - Department of Commerce (Commerce) Secretary Jack L. Fischer announced today that Building Safety Week in Wisconsin will be held from May 5 - 11. Building Safety Week, sponsored by the International Code Council, is an opportunity to increase public awareness of the role building safety and fire prevention officials, local and state building departments, and federal agencies play to protect Wisconsin residents.

"Building Safety Week recognizes the importance of safe buildings and the professionals who work to promote building safety in our communities," Fischer said. "Commerce has moved forward with a number of exciting initiatives to create a positive, safe regulatory climate in Wisconsin."

Wisconsin Building Safety Network (WBSN)
Over the past year, Commerce has formed the Wisconsin Building Safety Network (WBSN) to help communities coordinate their community development, economic development, building regulation and fire department efforts into a cooperative and streamlined process that results in building projects getting completed faster, safer and at less cost. Working with an advisory group including officials from the League of Wisconsin. Municipalities, Wisconsin Towns Association, Wisconsin Fire Inspectors Association, UW-Madison, and the Wisconsin Counties Association, and many others, Commerce has scheduled a WBSN conference for September 24, 2008 in Pewaukee.

The focus of the conference will be threefold:

1. Communicating the scope of the WBSN and its future potential in serving Wisconsin communities.
2. Learning through case studies how several communities have implemented this program.
3. Providing a forum for attendees to share their concerns, challenges and solutions with others in attendance.

The target audience for the conference is elected officials, municipal managers and fire department officials. Commerce will provide further details on the conference as they become available.

Sprinkler Code Change Promotes Safety
As part of its adoption of the International Building Code update, Commerce now requires automatic sprinklers to be installed in multifamily dwellings of more than eight units approved after March 1, 2008. New multifamily dwellings of three or more units approved after January 1, 2011 will require automatic sprinklers in conformance with current provisions of the IBC

The new rules also specify sprinkler coverage for three- and four-unit dwellings served by private wells. Such buildings can use a sprinkler system conforming to private well capacity while protecting lives and property from fire.

Contractor continuing education
Effective January 1, 2008, Commerce put in place a rule change that will help assure consumers that the dwelling contractors they choose will be knowledgeable of current home construction best practices. One- or two-family dwelling contractors seeking a building permit will now have to obtain two certifications: the current Dwelling Contractor Certification and the new Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification. Each dwelling contractor must have or must employ someone who has the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification. The certification requires a completion of a 12-hour qualifier training class and additional annual training thereafter.

Building Safety Week was established in 1980. Its objectives are to promote the use, enforcement and understanding of building codes to safeguard the public. It also recognizes professional code enforcement officials who regularly attend training to make sure they are aware of the latest code changes and technological advances in construction.

The Commerce Safety and Buildings Division develops, administers, and enforces state laws and rules relating to building construction, safety and health. The division conducts plan reviews, inspections, and investigations; issues and administers credentials; develops administrative rules; provides training; and administers funds relating to its grant programs. The International Code Council (ICC) develops building codes to safeguard the public at home, school and work. Wisconsin has adopted five of the ICC codes as the basis for the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code.

For more information on Building Safety Week visit www.iccsafe.org/safety or contact Tony Hozeny at 608/267-9661 or tony.hozeny@wisconsin.gov.

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