Wisconsin DSPS provides extension to building professionals

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) is delaying the hard deadline for building plans in the state to meet standards of an upgraded Commercial Building Code (CBC).

DSPS made the announcement Tuesday based on feedback from the state building industry.

“We want to be good partners to Wisconsin’s building professionals,” said DSPS Secretary Dan Hereth. “The process to develop this code experienced delays beyond usual rulemaking, including legislative tactics that stalled progress and the resulting court proceedings. As a result, this is the first upgrade to this code in a decade and represents a big change for the industry. So, to ensure a smooth transition for our partners in the building industry, we are granting an additional grace period for project submittals.”

The CBC establishes standards for commercial buildings in the state, including multi-family residential buildings. After the new code was published on September 1, DSPS announced it would provide a grace period for the industry by accepting plans submitted under the old (2015) code throughout the month of September before enforcing the new code on October 1.

The agency is now extending that grace period by a month through the end of October. It will now require all submitted building plans to meet the new code standards starting November 1.

Wisconsin’s new CBC moves the state to 2021 International Building Code (IBC) standards with some Wisconsin-specific adjustments. Its implementation follows the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision in Evers v. Marklein in July, when the court found that a Legislative committee used an unconstitutional “legislative veto” to block the code’s implementation in 2023.

While new building plans must follow the upgraded CBC starting November 1, any supplemental sub-submissions to DSPS (such as fire suppression/alarm, HVAC, boilers, elevators, refrigeration) must be aligned with the code under which the commercial building plan was approved, regardless of how many months later they follow.

DSPS hosted two virtual webinars for industry professionals in August to explain key code changes and answer questions.