Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purpose of this code, have the meaning indicated in this section. Other terms not defined herein used in this code shall be as defined in the International Fire Code Section 202 and any other referenced publications and are adopted herein by reference.
ACCESS BOXA steel key vault, mounted on the exterior of a building, that contains keys, floor plans, maps or other items as required by the AHJ, for access to all portions of the building.
ADDITIONAn extension or increase in height or floor area of a building or structure.
ADULT DAY CAREAny place that receives at any time for compensation four or more adults, for care and supervision, for less than 24 hours a day.
ADULT FAMILY HOMESimilar to a community-based residential facility (CBRF) except that it is licensed for six or fewer tenants.
ALTERATIONAny construction or renovation to an existing structure other than repair or addition.
APPROVED AGENCYAn agency accepted or acceptable to the Bureau of Fire Prevention, such as Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. (UL), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the American Gas Association (AGA) laboratories or other nationally recognized testing authorities.
ASSEMBLY GROUP AGroup A occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for the gathering together of persons for purposes such as civic, social or religious functions, recreation, food or drink consumption or awaiting transportation. A room or space used for assembly purposes by fewer than 50 persons and accessory to another occupant shall be included as a part of that occupancy. Assembly occupancies are classified as A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, and A-5 as described in the IBC.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION (AHJ)Shall be the Fire Chief, or designee of the Fire Chief, to enforce this code, the laws of the State of Wisconsin, as designated in §
SPS 314.01(1), Wis. Adm. Code, pertaining to the prevention of fires and public safety and approving equipment installation, or procedures as outlined in NFPA standards, codes and/or recommended practices.
One which functions without human intervention and is actuated as a result of predetermined temperature rise, rate of rise of temperature, combustion products or smoke density.
AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMA system which automatically detects fire condition and actuates notification appliances throughout the protected premises.
AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMAn integrated system of underground and/or overhead piping designed with fire protection standards in accordance with NFPA 72. The system includes a suitable water supply. The portion of the system above the ground is a network of specially sized or hydraulically designed piping installed in a structure or area, generally overhead, and to which automatic sprinklers are connected in a systematic pattern. The system is usually activated by heat from a fire and discharges water over the fire area.
AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMAn approved system of devices and equipment which automatically detects a fire and discharges an approved fire extinguishing agent onto or in the area of fire.
BASEMENTThat portion of a building that is partly or completely below grade plane. A basement shall be considered as a story as per Section 502 of the IBC.
BOARDINGHOUSEA building arranged or used as lodging for compensation, with or without meals, not occupied as a single-family unit.
BUREAU OF FIRE PREVENTIONThe Fire Department made up of the following personnel: the Fire Chief, the Fire Marshal, Fire Inspectors, or any other designee of the Fire Chief.
BUSINESS GROUP BGroup B occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for office, professional or service-type transactions, including storage of records and accounts, as described in the IBC.
CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) DETECTORAn electronic or battery-operated device that sounds an alarm when an unsafe level of carbon monoxide is in the air.
CEILINGThe upper surface of a space, regardless of height. Areas with a suspended ceiling would have two ceilings, one visible from the floor and one above the suspended ceiling.
CODEA standard that is an extensive compilation of provisions covering a broad subject matter that is suitable for adoption into law independently of other codes and standards.
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALAll material not classified as "noncombustible" is considered combustible. This property of a material does not relate to its ability to structurally perform under fire exposure. The degree of combustibility is not defined by standard fire test procedures.
COMMON AREARefers to any area in a building that can be accessed by more than one person from different families at one time.
COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL FACILITY (CBRF)A community facility where five or more adults who are not related to the operator or administrator and who do not require care above intermediate-level nursing care reside and receive care, treatment or services that are above the level of room and board, but that include no more than three hours of nursing care per week per resident.
CONDITIONAL APPROVALAn approval of plans and/or specifications by the AHJ based upon information provided to the AHJ, including but not limited to any changes required by the AHJ to the above-mentioned plans and/or specifications.
CONSULTANTA company, individual or agency hired by the Bureau of Fire Prevention to provide advice on fire-related issues. Consultants may provide services, which could include plan reviews of fire suppression systems, fire alarm systems, witness tests and/or conduct inspections.
DAY-CARE CENTERAny place which receives at any one time for compensation four or more children under the age of seven years, for care and supervision, for less than 24 hours a day or more than 10 days a month, without the attendance of a parent, relative or legal guardian.
DWELLING or DWELLING UNITA single unit providing living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. For the purpose of this code, "dwelling unit" includes apartments and condominiums but does not include hotel and motel rooms, guest suites, dormitories, boarding rooms, or sleeping rooms in nursing homes.
B. TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGA detached building containing not more than two individual dwelling units which are entirely separated by vertical walls or horizontal floors, unpierced except for access to the outside or common basement.
EDUCATIONAL GROUP EGroup E occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, by six or more persons at any one time for educational purposes through the 12th grade, as described in the IBC.
FACTORY INDUSTRIAL GROUP FGroup F occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for assembly, disassembly, fabricating, finishing, manufacturing, packaging, repair or processing operations that are not classified as Group H occupancy. Group F occupancies are classified as F-1 and F-2, as described in the IBC.
FALSE ALARMThe willful and knowing initiation or transmission of a signal, message or other notification of an event of fire when no such danger exists.
A. MALICIOUS ALARMA false alarm of fire deliberately sounded by someone in order to inconvenience the Fire Department.
ACCIDENTAL ALARMAn alarm set off and transmitted through accidental operation of an automatic or manual fire alarm device.
FAMILY UNITSee definition of "family" in Chapter
445, Zoning, §
445-18.1.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
A device connected to a fire alarm to signal either a fire or trouble condition. Fire alarm annunciation devices could include visual devices, horn/strobes, horns, bells, and/or annunciator panels.
FIRE ALARM INITIATING DEVICEA device connected to a fire alarm system that causes a trouble, supervisory and/or alarm signal to be initiated. Fire alarm initiating devices could include smoke, heat, flame, ionization, or photoelectric detectors, water flow, low-air, low temperature, low-water, or supervisory switches.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMA system or portion of a combination system that consists of components and circuits arranged to monitor and annunciate the status of the fire alarm or supervisory signal-initiating devices to activate notification appliances throughout the protected premises and to initiate the appropriate response to those signals.
FIRE BARRIERA fire-resistance-rated wall assembly of materials designed to restrict the spread of smoke and fire in which continuity is maintained.
FIRE CONTROL SYSTEMA system designed and constructed with the intent of controlling or limiting a fire. Fire control systems may be automatic or nonautomatic. Fire control systems could include automatic fire sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, chemical agent systems, fire hydrants and/or any other system acceptable to the AHJ.
FIRE DEPARTMENT CONNECTION (FDC)A part of a sprinkler, standpipe, deluge and/or combination system to be used by the Fire Department to pump additional water into the system to which it is connected.
FIRE DOOR ASSEMBLYAny combination of a fire door, frame, hardware, and other accessories that together provide a certain degree of fire protection to the opening.
FIRE RESISTIVEThat property of materials or their assemblies that prevents or retards the passage of excessive heat, hot gases or flame under conditions of use. Materials are tested as prescribed in Section 703 of the IBC.
FIRE WALLA fire-resistance-rated wall having protected openings which restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from the foundation to or through the roof, with sufficient structural stability under fire conditions to allow collapse of construction on either side without collapse of the wall.
FLOOR AREA OR SQUARE FOOTAGE OF A BUILDINGThe area included within surrounding exterior walls (or exterior walls and fire walls) exclusive of vent shafts and courts. Areas of the building not provided with surrounding walls shall be included in the building area if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above.
FLOOR, GROUNDThat level of a building on a sloping or multilevel site which has a floor line at or not more than three feet above exit discharge grade for at least 1/2 of the required exit discharges.
FOSSIL FUELCoal, natural gas, oil, wood, propane or kerosene.
FREQUENTEREvery person, other than an employee, who may go in or be in a place of employment or public building under circumstances which render such person other than a trespasser. Such term includes a pupil or student when enrolled in or receiving instruction at an educational institution.
GRADE PLANEA reference plane representing the average of finished ground level adjoining the building exterior walls. Where the finished ground level slopes away from the exterior walls, the reference plane shall be established by the lowest points within the area between the building and the lot line or, where the lot line is more than six feet from the building, between the building and a point six feet from the building.
HAZARDOUS GROUP HGroup H occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, that involves the manufacturing, processing, generation or storage of materials that constitute a physical or health hazard in quantities in excess of those found in Tables 307.7(1) through 307.7(4) of the IBC. Group H occupancies are classified as H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, and H-5 as described in the IBC.
HEIGHT, BUILDINGThe vertical distance from the grade plane to the average height of the highest roof surface.
IBCThe International Building Code.
INSTITUTIONAL GROUP IGroup I occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, in which people having physical limitations because of health or age are harbored for medical treatment or other care or treatment, or in which people are detained for penal or correctional purposes or in which the liberty of the occupants is restricted. Institutional occupancies are classified as I-1, I-2, I-3, and I-4 as described in the IBC.
LISTEDIncluded in a list published by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, inspection agency, or other organization concerned with product evaluation that maintains periodic inspection of production of listed equipment or materials and whose listing states either that the equipment or materials meet nationally recognized standards or have been tested and found suitable for use in a specified manner.
MANUAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEMA system or portion of a combination system that consists of components and circuits arranged to initiate the notification appliances and appropriate response to those signals only after a person manually activates the fire alarm system.
MERCANTILE GROUP MGroup M occupancy includes, among others, building and structures, or a portion thereof, for the display and sale of merchandise, and involves stock of goods, wares or merchandise incidental to such purposes and accessible to the public, as described in the IBC.
MISCELLANEOUS GROUP UBuildings and structures of an accessory character and miscellaneous structures not classified in any specific occupancy and shall be constructed, equipped and maintained to conform to the requirements of this code commensurate with the fire and life hazard incidental to their occupancy, as described in the IBC.
MULTIFAMILY DWELLINGBuilding or portion thereof containing three or more dwelling units such as tenements, apartments and rooming houses. Row houses with fire walls extending from the basement to the underside of the roof separating each living unit are not considered multifamily dwelling for the purpose of this chapter.
NFPAThe National Fire Protection Association.
NONCOMBUSTIBLE MATERIALOne which, in the form in which it is used, meets one of the requirements listed below. Materials used adjacent to or in contact with heat producing appliances, warm air ducts, plenums and chimneys shall be classified as noncombustible only on the basis of requirement.
A. Noncombustible does not apply to the flame-spread characteristics of interior finish or trim materials. No material shall be classified as noncombustible building construction material which is subject to increase in combustibility or flame-spread classification (FSC) beyond the limits herein established through the effects of age, moisture or other atmospheric conditions. (See flame spread rating in Wisconsin Administrative Code.)
Materials which pass the test procedure of ASTM E-136 for noncombustibility of elementary materials when exposed to a furnace temperature of 1,382° F. for a minimum period of five minutes and do not cause a temperature rise of the surface or interior thermocouple in excess of 54° F. above the furnace air temperature at the beginning of the test and which do not flame after exposure of 30 seconds.
Materials having structural base of noncombustible material as defined in Subsection
A, with a surfacing not more than 1/8 inch thick which has a flame-spread classification (FSC) not greater than 50 when tested in accordance with the method of test for surface burning characteristics of building materials (ASTM E-84).
NOTIFICATION APPLIANCEA fire alarm system component such as a bell, horn, speaker, light, or text display that provides audible, tactile, or visible outputs, or any combination thereof.
OCCUPANT(S)The person or persons who physically reside, work or are present in a facility.
OWNERIncludes his duly sworn agent or attorney, a purchaser, devisee, fiduciary or person having a vested or contingent interest in the property in question.
REMODELTo change any building or structure which affects the structural strength, fire hazard, internal circulation, or exits of the existing building or structure. This definition does not apply to maintenance, reroofing, or alterations to the heating and ventilating or electrical system.
REPAIRThe reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of maintenance.
RESIDENTIAL GROUP RGroup R occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or portion thereof, for sleeping accommodations when not classed as an Institutional Group I. Group R occupancies are classified as R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 as described in the IBC.
ROOMING HOUSEAny building which has a room or rooms for sleeping without permanent provisions for cooking. Rooming house rooms do not include any room in a one- or two-family dwelling.
ROW HOUSEA place of abode arranged to accommodate three or more attached side-by-side or back-to-back living units.
SPACINGA horizontally measured dimension relating to the allowable coverage limits of fire detectors, automatic sprinkler systems, and fire alarm visual notification devices.
SPS CHAPTERThe Administrative Code section of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.
STORAGE GROUP SGroup S occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or portion thereof, for storage that is not classed as Hazardous Group H. Group S occupancies are classified as S-1 and S-2, as described in the IBC.
STORYThat portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above. To determine the number of stories in a building, all floors will be counted whether they are above grade or below grade, including basements, subbasements, and ground floors, but not including penthouses or mezzanines less than 1/3 of a story.
THROUGHOUTFor the purpose of this code, "throughout" shall mean the following:
A. "Throughout" for automatic fire sprinkler systems means providing fire sprinkler protection in all areas of a structure as required by NFPA 13, 13R, and/or 13D.
"Throughout" for automatic fire alarm systems means installing detection, audible and visual notification devices in all areas of the protected premises installed in accordance with NFPA 72.
"Throughout" for manual fire alarm systems means installing audible and visual notification devices in all areas of the protected premises installed in accordance with NFPA 72.
WELFAREIncludes comfort, decency and moral well-being.