Wisconsin to Adopt IBC 2006

The State of Wisconsin, in addition to being the home of the Green Bay Packers and Halberg Engineering, is also the home of the oldest building code in the Union. The state-specific code changed for the first time in July of 2002 when Wisconsin adopted the 2000 edition of the International Building Code (IBC). The adoption of the 2006 is currently underway and is in the hands of the State Legislature.

I learned today that the anticipated date of enforcement for the new building code in Wisconsin is March 1, 2008.

Building plan submittals that are received at a State Safety & Buildings office before this date will be reviewed under the current code (IBC 2000 with ammendments) and building plan submittals received at a plan review office on or after March 1, 2008 (or the final date of enforcement) will be reviewed to the IBC 2006-based code.

Just one example of changes in the 2006 code, A-2 Assembly occupancies (Restaurants, Taverns, Banquet Halls) currently have a sprinkler requirement for occupant loads of 300 people, but the 2006 IBC code requires sprinkler systems at an occupant load of 100 people or more. Of course the code is a relatively complex set of documents and standards, so I would always encourage owners and general contractors to work with their Design Professional as early in the design process as possible to ensure that any advantage available may be obtained by performing the plan submittal before or after the March 1, 2008 implementation date.