This article shall apply to the heating, ventilating and air
conditioning of all new buildings and to all alterations of improvements,
including the replacement of any major apparatus or device in existing
buildings. The provisions of this article shall apply to every building,
or portion of a building, devoted to a new use for which the requirements
are in any way more stringent than the requirements covering the previous
use.
A.
Qualifications. There is created the office of Heating, Ventilating
and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Inspector (herein referred to as the "Inspector").
The Inspector shall be of good moral character, shall be possessed
of such executive ability as is requisite for the performance of the
duties of the office, and shall have a thorough knowledge of the standards,
materials and methods used in the installation of HVAC equipment,
shall be well versed in approved methods of construction for safety
of persons and property, the state statutes relating to HVAC, and
any orders, rules and regulations issued by authority thereof, and
Ch. SPS 364, Wis. Adm. Code (HVAC).
B.
Appointment. The Inspector shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject
to confirmation by the Council. The Inspector shall also take and
subscribe an oath, which together with the certificate of appointment
shall be filed with the City Clerk. The Inspector shall be removed
from office for cause only after a hearing by the Council, at which
he or she shall be entitled to appear and produce evidence.
A.
Enforcement. The Inspector shall enforce the provisions of this article.
He or she shall, upon application, grant permits for the installation
or alteration of equipment and shall make inspections of installations
as provided in this chapter. The Inspector shall keep complete records
of all permits issued, inspections and reinspections made and other
official work performed in accordance with the provisions of this
article.
B.
Assistants. The Inspector may employ, subject to approval of the
Council, any assistant inspectors and clerical assistants necessary
for the proper conduct of the office and the inspection of installations
as provided for in this article.
C.
Conflicting business prohibited. The Inspector and his or her assistants
shall not engage in the business of the sale of, installation or maintenance
of HVAC equipment, either directly or indirectly, and they shall have
no financial interest in any concern engaged in such business in the
City at any time while holding such office.
A.
Authorized inspections. The Inspector may during reasonable hours
enter any building or premises in the discharge of official duties
or for the purpose of making any inspections, reinspections or tests
of the equipment contained therein or its installation. When any equipment
is found by the Inspector to be dangerous to persons or property because
it is defective or defectively installed, the person responsible for
the equipment shall be notified in writing and shall make any changes
or repairs required in the judgment of the Inspector to place such
equipment in safe condition, and if such work is not started as soon
as possible and not completed within 15 days or any longer period
that may be specified by the Inspector in such notice, the Inspector
may order the discontinuance of the use of the HVAC equipment.
B.
Delegation. The Inspector may delegate any of the powers of the office
or duties to any assistant.
A.
Conformance to state law. All installations shall be reasonably safe
to persons and property and in conformity with this chapter and the
applicable state statutes and all orders, rules and regulations issued
by authority thereof.
B.
Conformance to other standards. Conformity of installation of HVAC
equipment with applicable regulations or nationally recognized institutes
and organizations shall be prima facie evidence that such installations
are reasonably safe to persons and property. The HVAC Inspector may
authorize use of special installation methods.
A.
All HVAC equipment installed or used shall be reasonably safe to persons and property and in conformity with the provisions of this article and the applicable statutes of the state and any orders, rules or regulations issued by authority thereof, and conformity of HVAC equipment with applicable standards as set forth in § 175-62B shall be prima facie evidence that such equipment is reasonably safe to persons and property.
B.
The Inspector may authorize the installation of special equipment.
Where there is an underground valve provided for piping systems
for fuel gases such as natural gas, manufactured gas, undiluted liquefied
petroleum gases, liquefied gas-air mixtures or mixtures of any of
these gases, installed in the City, the valve location shall be plainly
identified by an approved metal marker provided by the supplier and
attached to the exterior of the outside wall of the occupancy by the
owner directly above where the piping system enters the building so
as to be visible at all times.
A.
Permit required. No HVAC equipment shall be installed within or on any building, structure or premises, publicly or privately owned, nor shall any alteration or an addition be made in any such existing equipment without first securing a permit therefor from the Inspector, including any electrical permit for all field-installed control wiring, except as provided in Subsections B and C.[1]
B.
Emergency work. Permits shall be obtained as soon as possible after
emergency work has been done on installations which would otherwise
require a permit in advance. No emergency work shall be done during
the Inspector's regular office hours without notifying the Inspector.
C.
Minor repair work. Any work involved in the manufacturing, testing,
servicing, altering or repairing of HVAC equipment or apparatus, except
that this exemption shall not include any permanent changes other
than those required for testing purposes.
D.
Applications. Application for a permit, describing the work to be
done, shall be made in writing to the Inspector by the person installing
the work. The application shall be accompanied by such calculations,
plans, specifications and schedules as may be necessary to determine
whether the installations as described will be in conformity with
the requirements of this article. If the installations as described
will conform with all legal requirements and if the applicant has
complied with this article, a permit for such installation shall be
issued. No deviation may be made from the installation described in
the permit without written approval of the Inspector.
A.
The Common Council shall establish a fee for processing HVAC permits
and inspections. An applicant for a HVAC permit shall pay the required
fee upon final submission of the application. An application shall
not be deemed complete until the required fee is paid. A copy of the
current fees established by the Common Council shall be kept on file
by the City Clerk.
B.
Number of inspections.
(1)
All fees for required inspections are included in the schedule of
fees. The Inspector shall determine the number of required inspections,
based on the complexity of the project.
A.
Notice to be given. Upon completion of any installation of HVAC equipment
under a permit the person making the installation shall notify the
Inspector, who shall inspect the installations within 24 hours (exclusive
of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) of the time such notice is given
or as soon thereafter as practicable.
B.
Certificate of approval. Where the Inspector finds the installation
to be in conformity with this article, he or she shall issue to the
person making the installation a certificate of approval with duplicate
copy for delivery to the owner, authorizing the use of the installation.
C.
Expiration of temporary certificate of approval. When a certificate
of approval is issued authorizing the use of a temporary installation,
such certificate shall be issued to expire at a time to be stated
therein and shall be revocable by the Inspector for cause.
D.
Concealed installations. When any HVAC equipment is to be hidden
from view by the permanent placement of parts of the building, the
person installing the equipment shall notify the City Hall, and such
equipment shall not be concealed until it has been inspected and approved
by the Inspector or until 24 hours (exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays
and holidays) shall have elapsed from the time of such notification,
provided that on large installations, where the concealment of equipment
proceeds continuously, the person installing the heating or ventilating
or air-conditioning equipment shall give the Inspector due notice,
and inspections shall be made periodically during the progress of
the work.
No person shall make installations, additions or alterations
to any heating, ventilating and air-conditioning equipment for the
installation of which a permit is required or which has been discontinued
or ordered disconnected by the Inspector, until such installation,
addition or alteration has been authorized by the Inspector.
A.
No person shall let to another for occupancy any space in a residential
building for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking or eating therein,
which does not comply with the following minimum heating standards:
(1)
All habitable rooms shall be provided with a permanently connected
heating system complying with this article.
(2)
The heating system shall be maintained in a safe and efficient condition
by a qualified person and a record kept at the premises showing the
date of service and the person performing service. A heating system
must be capable of maintaining a minimum temperature of 67° F.
Any person may register an appeal with the Board of Appeals
for a review of any decision of the Inspector, provided such an appeal
is made in writing within five days after such person shall have been
notified of such decision of the Inspector. Upon receipt of such appeal,
the Board shall proceed to determine whether the action of the Inspector
complies with this article and within five days shall make a decision
in accordance with its findings. Three members of the Board present
at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business,
but any action taken at any meeting shall require the affirmative
vote of at least three members. The Chair of any meeting of the Board
shall vote.
