Wisconsin Legislature: DHS 132.815(2)(e)

(1) Requirement. Before the start of any construction or remodeling project for a nursing home, the plans for the construction or remodeling shall be submitted to the department, pursuant to s. DHS 132.84 (17), for review and approval by the department. The fees established in this section shall be paid to the department for providing plan review services.

(2) Fee schedule.

(a) General. The department shall charge a fee for the review under s. DHS 132.812 of plans for a nursing home capital construction or remodeling project. The fee shall be based in part on the dollar value of the project, according to the schedule under par. (b), and in part on the total gross floor area in the plans, as found in par. (c). The total fee for plan review is determined under par. (d). Fees for review of partial plans, for revision of plans, for extensions of plan approval, and for handling and copying, and provisions for the collection and refund of fees are found in par. (e).

(b) Fee part based on project dollar value. The part of the fee based on project dollar value shall be as follows:

1. For projects with an estimated dollar value of less than $5,000, $100;

2. For projects with an estimated dollar value of at least $5,000 but less than $25,000, $300;

3. For projects with an estimated dollar value of at least $25,000 but less than $100,000, $500;

4. For projects with an estimated dollar value of at least $100,000 but less than $500,000, $750;

5. For projects with an estimated dollar value of at least $500,000 but less than $1 million, $1,500;

6. For projects with an estimated dollar value of at least $1 million but less than $5 million, $2,500; and

7. For projects with an estimated dollar value of $5 million or more, $5,000.

1. ‘General.’ The part of the fee based on total gross floor area shall be as provided in Table 132.815 subject to the conditions set out in this paragraph.

2. ‘Building, heating and ventilation.’ The fees in Table 132.815 apply to the submittal of all building and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) plans. A fee for review of plans shall be computed on the basis of the total gross floor area of each building.

TABLE 132.815

- See PDF for table

3. ‘Scope of fee.’ The fees indicated in Table 132.815, relating to building and heating, ventilation and air conditioning plans, include the plan review and inspection fee for all components, whether submitted with the original submittal or at a later date. Components covered by that fee are:

a. Building plans;

b. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning plans;

c. Bleacher plans for interior bleachers only;

d. Fire escape plans;

e. Footing and foundation plans; and

f. Structural component plans, such as plans for floor and roof trusses, precast concrete, laminated wood, metal buildings, solariums and other similar parts of the building.

4. ‘Building alteration.’

a. The examination fee for review of plans for alteration of existing buildings and structures undergoing remodeling or review of tenant space layouts shall be determined in accordance with Table 132.815 on the basis of the gross floor area undergoing remodeling.

b. The fee specified in subd. 4. a. shall be based on the actual gross square footage of the area being remodeled. When remodeling of an individual building component affects building code compliance for a larger area, the fee shall be computed on the basis of the total square footage of the affected area.

(d) Total fee for review of plans. To determine the total fee for review of plans, the department shall:

1. Add the fee parts from pars. (b) and (c); and

2. Multiply the sum obtained in subd. 1. by 0.95.

(e) Other fee provisions related to review of plans.

1. ‘Fee for miscellaneous plans.’ Miscellaneous plans are plans that have no building or heating, ventilation and air conditioning plan submissions and for which there may not be an associated area. The fee for a miscellaneous plan shall be $250. This fee is for plan review and inspection. Miscellaneous plans include:

a. Footing and foundation plans submitted prior to the submission of the building plans;

b. Plans for industrial exhaust systems for dust, fumes, vapors and gases, for government-owned buildings only;

c. Spray booth plans, for government-owned buildings only;

d. Stadium, grandstand and bleacher plans, and interior bleacher plans submitted as independent projects;

e. Structural plans submitted as independent projects, such as docks, piers, antennae, outdoor movie screens and observation towers; and

f. Plans for any building component, other than building and heating, ventilation and air conditioning, submitted following the final inspection by the department.

2. ‘Fee for permission to start construction.’ The fee for permission to start construction shall be $80. This fee shall apply to those applicants proposing to start construction prior to the approval of the plans by the department.

3. ‘Fee for plan revision.’ The fee for revision of previously approved plans shall be $100. This paragraph applies when plans are revised for reasons other than those that were requested by the department. The department may not charge a fee for revisions requested by the department as a condition of original plan approval.

4. ‘Fee for extension of plan approval.’ The examination fee for a plan previously approved by the department for which an approval extension [was requested] beyond the time limit specified in this chapter shall be $75 per plan.

5. ‘Collection of fees.’ Fees shall be remitted at the time the plans are submitted. No plan examinations, approvals or inspections may be made until fees are received.

6. ‘Handling and copying fees.’

a. The department shall charge a handling fee of $50 per plan to the submitting party for any plan that is submitted to the department, entered into the department’s system and subsequently requested by the submitting party to be returned prior to departmental review.

b. The department may charge a photocopying fee of 25 cents per page to anyone who requests copies of construction or remodeling plans, except that a fee of $5 per plan sheet shall be charged for reproduction of plan sheets larger than legal size.

(3) Handling and copying fees.

(a) The department shall charge a handling fee of $50 per plan to the submitting party for any plan which is submitted to the department, entered into the department’s system and then the submitting party requests that it be returned prior to review.

(b) The department may charge a photocopying fee of 25 cents per page to anyone who requests copies of construction or remodeling plans, except that a fee of $5 per plan sheet shall be charged for reproduction of plan sheets larger than legal size.

History: Emerg. cr. eff. 1-1-94; cr. Register, August, 1994, No. 464, eff. 9-1-94; emerg. r. and recr. (2), eff. 7-1-96; r. and recr. (2), Register, December, 1996, No. 492, eff. 1-1-97.

DHS 132.82 Life safety code.

(1) Applicability. Facilities shall meet the applicable provisions of the 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code.

Note: Copies of the 2012 Life Safety Code and related codes are on file in the Department’s Division of Quality Assurance and the Legislative Reference Bureau, and may be obtained from the National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169.

(2) Fire safety evaluation system. A proposed or existing facility not meeting all requirements of the applicable life safety code shall be considered in compliance if it achieves a passing score on the Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES), developed by the United States department of commerce, national bureau of standards, to establish safety equivalencies under the life safety code.

(3) Resident safety and disaster plan.

(a) Disaster plan.

1. Each facility shall have a written procedure which shall be followed in case of fire or other disasters, and which shall specify persons to be notified, locations of alarm signals and fire extinguishers, evacuation routes, procedures for evacuating helpless residents, frequency of fire drills, and assignment of specific tasks and responsibilities to the personnel of each shift and each discipline.

2. The plan shall be developed with the assistance of qualified fire and safety experts, including the local fire authority.

3. All employees shall be oriented to this plan and trained to perform assigned tasks.

4. The plan shall be available at each nursing station.

5. The plan shall include a diagram of the immediate floor area showing the exits, fire alarm stations, evacuation routes, and locations of fire extinguishers. The diagram shall be posted in conspicuous locations in the corridor throughout the facility.

(b) Drills. Fire drills shall be held at irregular intervals at least 4 times a year on each shift and the plan shall be reviewed and modified as necessary. Records of drills and dates of drills shall be maintained.

1. At least semiannual inspection of the facility shall be made by the local fire inspection authorities. Signed certificates of such inspections shall be kept on file in the facility.

2. Certification by the local fire authority as to the fire safety of the facility and to the adequacy of a written fire plan for orderly evacuation of residents shall be obtained and kept on file in the facility.

3. Where the facility is located in a city, village, or township that does not have an official established fire department, the licensee shall obtain and maintain a continuing contract for fire protection service with the nearest municipality providing such service. A certification of the existence of such contract shall be kept on file in the facility.

Note: See NFPA 10, 1973 edition.

(e) Fire report. All incidents of fire in a facility shall be reported to the department within 72 hours.

History: Cr. Register, July, 1982, No. 319, eff. 8-1-82; r. and recr. (1) and (2), r. (4), renum. (3) and (5) to be (4) and (6), cr. (3) and (5), Register, January, 1987, No. 373, eff. 2-1-87; emerg. am. (3), cr. (3m), r. and recr. (5) and Table, eff. 7-1-94; am. (3), cr. (3m), r. and recr. (5) and Table, Register, January, 1995, No. 469, eff. 2-1-95; CR 04-053: r. and recr. (1) to (5), renum. (6) to be (3) Register October 2004 No. 586, eff. 11-1-04; CR 06-053: r. (3) (d) and (f) to (i), Register August 2007 No. 620, eff. 9-1-07; CR 16-087: am. (1) Register September 2017 No. 741, eff. 10-1-17.

DHS 132.83 Safety and systems.

(1) Maintenance. The building shall be maintained in good repair and kept free of hazards such as those created by any damaged or defective building equipment.

(3) Doors.

(d) Toilet room doors. In period B and C facilities, resident toilet room doors shall be not less than 3 feet 0 inches by 6 feet 8 inches, and shall not swing into the toilet room unless they are provided with two-way hardware.

(e) Thresholds. In period B and C facilities, raised thresholds which cannot be traversed easily by a bed on wheels, a wheelchair, a drug cart, or other equipment on wheels shall not be used.

(4) Emergency power. Emergency electrical service with an independent power source which covers lighting at nursing stations, telephone switchboards, exit and corridor lights, boiler room, fire alarm systems, and medical records when solely electronically based, shall be provided. The service may be battery operated if effective for at least 4 hours.

(7) Mechanical systems.

(a) Water supply.

1. A potable water supply shall be maintained at all times. If a public water supply is available, it shall be used. If a public water supply is not available, the well or wells shall comply with ch. NR 812.

2. An adequate supply of hot water shall be available at all times. The temperature of hot water at plumbing fixtures used by residents may not exceed the range of 110-115°F.

(d) Heating and air conditioning. The heating and air conditioning systems shall be capable of maintaining adequate temperatures and providing freedom from drafts.

(g) General lighting. Period C facilities shall have night lighting.

(h) Ventilation.

5. In period C facilities all rooms in which food is stored, prepared or served, or in which utensils are washed shall be well-ventilated. Refrigerated storage rooms need not be ventilated.

(i) Elevators.

1. In period B facilities, at least one elevator shall be provided when residents’ beds are located on one or more floors above or below the dining or service floor. The platform size of the elevator shall be large enough to hold a resident bed and attendant.

2. In period C facilities, at least one elevator shall be provided in the facility if resident beds or activities are located on more than one floor. The platform size of the elevator shall be large enough to hold a resident bed and an attendant.

(j) Electrical.

2. In period B and C facilities at least one duplex-type outlet shall be provided for every resident’s bed.

3. In new construction begun after the effective date of this chapter, at least 2 duplex-type outlets shall be provided for each bed.

History: Cr. Register, July, 1982, No. 319, eff. 8-1-82; am. (3) (c) 1., (5) (e) and (f) (intro), (6) (b), (7) (a), (f), (g) 1., (j) 2., Register, January, 1987, No. 373, eff. 2-1-87; emerg. am. (6) (a), r. and recr. (6) (b), eff. 7-1-94; am. (6) (a), r. and recr. (6) (b), Register, January, 1995, No. 469, eff. 2-1-95; CR 04-053: am. (4) and (7) (a) 2., r. (5) (b), (c) and (d), Register October 2004 No. 586, eff. 11-1-04; CR 06-053: r. (2) (3) (a) to (c), (5), (6), (7) (b), (c), (d) 2., (e), (f), (g) 1., (h) 1. to 4. and 5. a., and (j) 1. and 2. b., renum. (7) (d) 1. and (g) 2. to be (7) (d) and (g), cons., renum. and am. (7) (h) 5. (intro.) and b. to be &(7) (h) 5., cons., renum. and am. (7) (j) 2. (intro.) and a. to be (7) (j) 2., Register August 2007 No. 620, eff. 9-1-07.

DHS 132.84 Design.