Under current law, DSPS examines essential drawings, calculations, and
specifications (“plans”) for public buildings, public structures, and places of employment
(“commercial buildings”) before construction on those buildings may begin. DSPS also
examines plumbing plans and specifications (“plumbing plans”) before the installation,
addition, or alteration of certain types of plumbing and plumbing systems.
Testimony before the committee indicated that DSPS currently schedules
appointments for plan examination in the order in which finalized plans are received, but
previously had allowed an owner to schedule a future appointment for examination of
plans that would be finalized and submitted at some point before the appointment. This
bill allows an owner either to submit finalized plans to DSPS and schedule the next
available appointment for examination of those plans, or to schedule a future
appointment and submit the finalized plans for that appointment no later than three
business days before the appointment. In either event, the full examination fee is due
when an appointment is scheduled. The bill requires DSPS to refund an examination fee
if an owner cancels an appointment at least 20 business days before the appointment. If
an owner cancels an appointment within 20 business days of the appointment, DSPS
must refund only that part of a plan examination fee above $5,000.
The bill also requires DSPS to allow an owner, when submitting plans for
examination, to identify for DSPS any previously approved plans that are substantially
similar to those plans.
Finally, the bill creates an exemption from DSPS plumbing plan examination
requirements. The exemption is based on the number of fixtures involved, but is subject
to certain design requirements and does not apply to certain plumbing plans.
DSPS's current administrative rules generally do not require examination of
plumbing plans for a new installation, addition, or alteration involving less than 16
plumbing fixtures. However, those rules require examination of certain categories of
plumbing plans, such as grease interceptors, garage catch basins, and mixed wastewater
holding devices, regardless of number.
The bill prohibits DSPS from requiring the examination of plumbing plans for an
installation, addition, or alteration involving not more than 20 plumbing fixtures, if the
plumbing plans are prepared by a person holding one of five specified credentials.
However, the bill allows DSPS to require the examination of plumbing plans for certain
types of plumbing for which DSPS's administrative rules currently require plan
submission regardless of number. The bill also enables DSPS to require by rule the
examination of any other type of plumbing installation, addition, or alteration that DSPS
determines to pose a unique risk to the waters of the state or to public health or safety.
The bill does not alter the authority of a unit of local government to require the
examination of plumbing plans.
SB186,1 1Section 1. 101.12 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB186,2,42 101.12 (1m) (a) For an examination of essential drawings, calculations, and
3specifications by the department under this section, an owner may select to have the
4examination appointment scheduled at one of the following times:
SB186,2,75 1. If the owner submits complete essential drawings, calculations, and
6specifications and pays all plan examination fees at the time of scheduling, the next
7available appointment.
SB186,3,2
12. If the owner pays all plan examination fees at the time of scheduling, a single
2date in the future.
SB186,3,43 (b) The department shall schedule an examination appointment for the time
4selected by an owner under par. (a).
SB186,3,85 (c) 1. If an owner selects a single date in the future for an examination
6appointment under par. (a) 2., the owner shall submit complete essential drawings,
7calculations, and specifications to the department at least 3 business days before the
8date of the examination appointment.
SB186,3,119 2. a. If an owner cancels an examination appointment at least 20 business days
10before the appointment, the department shall refund to the owner all of the
11examination fees paid.
SB186,3,1412 b. Except as provided in subd. 2. c., the department may not refund
13examination fees paid by an owner if the owner cancels the examination
14appointment within 20 days of the appointment.
SB186,3,1815 c. If an owner pays more than $5,000 for an examination fee and cancels the
16examination appointment within 20 business days of the appointment, the
17department shall refund to the owner the difference between the examination fee
18paid by the owner and $5,000.
SB186,3,2219 (d) The department shall provide on the form for submitting to the department
20essential drawings, calculations, and specifications under this section a place for an
21owner to identify any previously approved essential drawings, calculations, and
22specifications that are substantially similar to those submitted by the owner.
SB186,2 23Section 2. 145.02 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
SB186,4,324 145.02 (6) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the department may not require
25examination by the department of plumbing plans and specifications for a plumbing

1installation, addition, or alteration if the plans and specifications include not more
2than 20 plumbing fixtures and the plans and specifications were prepared by any of
3the following:
SB186,4,54 1. A person who is registered as an architect or professional engineer under ch.
5443.
SB186,4,76 2. A person who holds a designer permit under s. 443.07 in the field of plumbing
7systems.
SB186,4,88 3. A licensed master plumber.
SB186,4,99 4. A licensed master plumber (restricted).
SB186,4,1010 5. A utility contractor.
SB186,4,1211 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to plumbing plans and specifications that
12include any of the following:
SB186,4,1313 1. An alternate or experimental plumbing system.
SB186,4,1414 2. A reduced pressure backflow preventer or vacuum breaker.
SB186,4,1615 3. A stormwater or clearwater infiltration system or a stormwater system that
16serves a drainage area of at least one acre.
SB186,4,1717 4. A grease or oil interceptor or garage catch basin.
SB186,4,1818 5. A sanitary dump station.
SB186,4,1919 6. Piping designed to serve as a private water main.
SB186,4,2020 7. A chemical waste system.
SB186,4,2121 8. A wastewater holding device.
SB186,4,2322 9. A supply and drain system for a manufactured home community or
23campground.
SB186,4,2424 10. Piping designed to serve as a private interceptor main sewer.
SB186,4,2525 11. Plumbing serving a hospital, nursing home, or ambulatory surgery center.
SB186,5,3
112. Any type of plumbing installation, addition, or alteration that the
2department determines, by rule, to pose a unique risk to the waters of the state or
3public health or safety.
SB186,3 4Section 3. Initial applicability.
SB186,5,75 (1) The treatment of s. 101.12 (1m) first applies to essential drawings,
6calculations, and specifications submitted for examination under s. 101.12 on the
7effective date of this subsection.
SB186,5,108 (2) The treatment of s. 145.02 (6) first applies to plumbing plans and
9specifications submitted for examination under ch. 145 on the effective date of this
10subsection.
SB186,4 11Section 4. Effective date.
SB186,5,1312 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after
13publication.
SB186,5,1414 (End)
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