SPS 321.045(1)(1)
General. Every exterior or interior ramp which leads to or from an exit shall comply with the requirements of this section.
SPS 321.045 Note
Note: See ICC/ANSI A117.1 chapter 5 for more guidelines relating to the design and construction of an accessible ramp. Under that standard, ramps along an accessible route for people with disabilities should have a slope of not more than 1-foot of rise in 12-feet of run and should have handrails on both sides of the ramp.
SPS 321.045(2)
(2)
Slope. Ramps shall not have a gradient greater than 1 in 8 or one foot of rise in 8 feet of run. Walkways with gradients less than 1 in 20 or one foot of rise in 20 feet of run are not considered to be ramps.
SPS 321.045(3)
(3)
Surface and width. Ramps shall have a slip resistant surface and shall have a minimum width of 36 inches measured between handrails.
SPS 321.045(4)
(4)
Handrails. Handrails shall be provided on all open sides of ramps. Every ramp that overcomes a change in elevation of more than 8 inches shall be provided with at least one handrail.
SPS 321.045(4)(a)
(a) Ramps which have a gradient greater than 8.33% or 1:12 or one foot rise in 12 feet of run and which overcome a change in elevation of more than 24 inches, shall be provided with handrails on both sides.
SPS 321.045(4)(b)
(b) Handrails shall be located so the top of the handrail is at least 30 inches, but not more than 38 inches above the ramp surface.
SPS 321.045(4)(c)1.1. Open-sided ramps shall have the area below the handrail protected by intermediate rails or an ornamental pattern to prevent the passage of a sphere with a diameter of 4 3/8 inches when applying a force of 4 pounds, except as provided in subd.
2. SPS 321.045(4)(c)2.
2. This paragraph does not apply to ramps having a walking surface that is less than 24 inches above adjacent grade, if a toe-kick or side rail is provided to 4 inches above the walking surface, and a mid-rail is provided between the toe-kick or side rail and the handrail.
SPS 321.045(4)(d)
(d) The clear space between the handrail and any adjoining wall shall be at least 1
½ inches.
SPS 321.045(5)
(5)
Landings. A level landing shall be provided at the top, at the foot and at any change in direction of the ramp. The landing shall be at least as wide as the ramp and shall measure at least 3 feet in the direction of travel.
SPS 321.045 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1989, No. 397, eff. 2-1-89; am. (3) (intro.),
Register, March, 1992, No. 435, eff. 4-1-92; am. (3) (c),
Register, November, 1995, No. 479, eff. 12-1-95; am. (3) (b),
Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99;
CR 03-097: am. (3) (c)
Register November 2004 No. 587, eff. 1-1-05;
CR 08-043: renum. (intro.) and (1) to (4) to be (1) to (5) and am. (1)
Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09;
CR 15-041: renum. (4) (c) to (4) (c) 1. and am., cr. (4) (c) 2.
Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16.
SPS 321.05
SPS 321.05 Natural light and natural ventilation. SPS 321.05(1)(1)
Natural light. Each habitable room shall be provided with natural light by means of glazed openings. The area of the glazed openings shall be at least 8% of the net floor area, except under the following circumstances:
SPS 321.05(1)(a)
(a) Exception. Habitable rooms, other than bedrooms, located in basements, ground floors or above garages do not require natural light.
SPS 321.05(1)(b)
(b) Exception. Natural light may be obtained from adjoining areas through glazed openings, louvers or other approved methods. Door openings into adjoining areas may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
SPS 321.05(1m)
(1m)
Net floor area. For the purposes of subs.
(1) and
(2), “net floor area" does not include any area with a ceiling height of less than 5 feet.
SPS 321.05(2)(a)1.1. Natural ventilation shall be provided to each habitable room by means of openable doors, skylights or windows. The net area of the openable doors, skylights or windows shall be at least 3.5% of the net floor area of the room, except as provided in subd.
2. Balanced mechanical ventilation may be provided in lieu of openable exterior doors, skylights or windows provided the system is capable of providing at least one air change per hour of fresh outside air while the room is occupied. Infiltration may not be considered as make-up air for balancing purposes.
SPS 321.05(2)(a)2.
2. Any area with a ceiling height of less than 5 feet may be excluded from the net floor area.
SPS 321.05(2)(b)
(b) Exhaust ventilation. All exhaust ventilation shall terminate outside the building.
SPS 321.05(3)(am)(am) Except as provided in par.
(bm), glazing shall consist of safety glass meeting the requirements of either
16 CFR Part 1201 or ANSI Z97.1 when installed in any of the following locations:
SPS 321.05(3)(am)1.
1. In any sidelight or glazing adjacent to a door, that meets all of the following:
SPS 321.05(3)(am)1.a.
a. The nearest point of the glazing is within 2 feet of the door when the door is in the closed position.
SPS 321.05(3)(am)1.c.
c. The plane of the glazing is within 30 degrees of the plane of the door when the door is in the closed position.
SPS 321.05(3)(am)2.
2. In any wall where the glazing is within 5 feet vertically of the lowest drain inlet and within 3 feet horizontally of the nearest part of the inner rim of a bathtub, hot tub, shower, spa or whirlpool appliance.
SPS 321.05(3)(am)3.
3. Within 4 feet vertically of a tread or landing in a stairway and within one foot horizontally of the near edge of the tread or landing.
SPS 321.05(3)(am)4.
4. Within 4 feet vertically of the floor and 3 feet horizontally of the nosing of the top or bottom tread of a stair.
SPS 321.05(3)(bm)
(bm) Safety glass is not required where glazing meets any of the following:
SPS 321.05(3)(bm)1.
1. The size of an individual pane of glass is 8 inches or less in the least dimension.
SPS 321.05(3)(bm)2.
2. The safety glass is required by sub.
(3) (am) 1. and the only door within 2 feet of the glazing is the fixed panel of a patio door.
SPS 321.05(3)(bm)3.
3. The safety glass is required by sub.
(3) (am) 1. and there is an intervening wall or other permanent barrier between the door and the glazing.
SPS 321.05 Note
Note: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requires safety glass for glazing in internal and external doors, including storm doors and patio doors, as well as for the tub or shower enclosures themselves. These federal rules, contained in 16 CFR, subchapter B, part 1201, apply in addition to any state rules or statutes.
SPS 321.05 Note
Note: Glass blocks are considered to be masonry products and are regulated under the ACI 530 standard adopted under s.
SPS 320.24. They are not required to be safety glazing.
SPS 321.05 History
History: Cr.
Register, November, 1979, No. 287, eff. 6-1-80; r. and recr. (1) and (2),
Register, February, 1985, No. 350, eff. 3-1-85; r. and recr. (3) and (4),
Register, July, 1986, No. 367, eff. 1-1-87; am. (4),
Register, January, 1989, No. 397, eff. 2-1-89; am. (2) (a), (4) and (5),
Register, March, 1992, No. 435, eff. 4-1-92; am. (2) (a),
Register, November, 1995, No. 479, eff. 12-1-95; am. (3), r. and recr. (4) and (5),
Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99;
CR 02-077: am. (1) (a) and (5) (b)
Register May 2003 No. 569, eff. 8-1-03;
CR 08-043: am. (title), r. (3) and (4), renum. (5) to be (3) and am. (3) (intro.), r. and recr. (3) (a) and (b)
Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09;
CR 15-041: am. (1) (intro.), cr. (1m), renum. (2) (a) to (2) (a) 1. and am., cr. (2) (a) 2., renum. (3) (intro.) and (a) to (d) to (3) (am) (intro.) and 1. to 4. and am. (am) (intro.), 1. (intro.), a., cr. (3) (am) 5., renum. (3) (e) to (3) (bm) (intro.) and am., cr. (3) (bm) 1. to 3.
Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16;
CR 15-089: am. (1) (a)
Register May 2016 No. 725, eff. 6-1-16.
SPS 321.06
SPS 321.06 Ceiling height. All habitable rooms, kitchens, hallways, bathrooms and corridors shall have a ceiling height of at least 7 feet, except as follows:
SPS 321.06(1)(a)(a) Rooms may have ceiling heights of less than 7 feet provided at least 50% of the room's floor area has a ceiling height of at least 7 feet. Any area with a ceiling height of less than 5 feet may be ignored in this calculation.
SPS 321.06(2)
(2) Beams and girders or other projections may project to no more than 8 inches below the required ceiling height.
SPS 321.06(3)
(3) The ceiling height extending back from the front edge of a water closet may slope to below 7 feet, but may not go below 5 feet until beyond the back of the water closet.
SPS 321.06(4)
(4) The ceiling height extending back from the front edge of a lavatory may be less than 7 feet, but may not go below 5 feet until beyond the back of the lavatory.
SPS 321.06(5)
(5) A ceiling height of less than 7 feet may be provided between the rear rim of a bathtub and a wall of the room abutting that rim, or between the side rim and a room wall abutting that rim.
SPS 321.06(6)
(6) A ceiling height of less than 7 feet may be provided between the rear wall of a shower stall and a wall of the room abutting that rear wall, or between the side wall of a shower and a room wall abutting that side wall.
SPS 321.06 Note
Note: Section
SPS 384.20 (5) (o) 4. establishes minimum horizontal clearances for water closets, and reads as follows:
“A water closet may not be located closer than 15 inches from its center to any side wall, partition, vanity, or other obstruction, nor closer than 30 inches center to center, between water closets. There shall be at least 24 inches clearance in front of a water closet to any wall, fixture or door."
SPS 321.06 Note
Note: See ch.
SPS 384 Appendix for further explanatory material.
SPS 321.06 History
History: Cr.
Register, November, 1979, No. 287, eff. 6-1-80; r. and recr.
Register, February, 1985, No. 350, eff. 3-1-85;
CR 15-041: renum. 321.06 to 321.06 (intro.), (1) (a), and (2) and am., cr. (1) (b), (3) to (6)
Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16.
SPS 321.07
SPS 321.07 Attic and crawl space access. SPS 321.07(1)(1)
Attic. Attics with 150 or more square feet of area and 30 or more inches of clear height between the top of the ceiling framing and the bottom of the rafter or top truss chord framing shall be provided with an access opening of at least 14 by 24 inches, accessible from inside the structure.
SPS 321.07(2)
(2)
Crawl spaces. Crawl spaces with 18 inches of clearance or more between the crawl space floor and the underside of the house floor joist framing shall be provided with an access opening of at least 14 by 24 inches.
SPS 321.07 Note
Note: Access to plumbing or electrical systems may be required under chs.
SPS 382 to
387, Plumbing Code or ch.
SPS 316, Electrical Code, Volume 2.
SPS 321.07 History
History: Cr.
Register, November, 1979, No. 287, eff. 6-1-80; am.
Register, March, 1992, No. 435, eff. 4-1-92; am. (1),
Register, November, 1995, No. 479, eff. 12-1-95.
SPS 321.08
SPS 321.08 Fire separation and dwelling unit separation. SPS 321.08(1)(1)
Fire separation. Dwelling units shall be separated from garage spaces, accessory buildings, property lines and other dwelling units in accordance with Table 321.08 and the following requirements:
-
See PDF for table 
1Distance shall be measured perpendicular from wall to wall or property line, ignoring overhangs.
2 Fire rated construction shall protect the dwelling from an exterior fire source.
3 Fire rated construction may be in either facing wall.
4 Fire rated construction shall be in both facing walls.
5 The methods for garage separation in par. (a) 1. are examples of ¾ hour wall construction.
SPS 321.08(1)(a)1.1. The walls and ceiling between an attached garage and any portion of the dwelling, including attic or soffit areas, shall be
¾-hour fire-resistive construction or shall be constructed as specified in any of the following:
SPS 321.08(1)(a)1.a.
a. One layer of
5/8-inch Type X gypsum drywall shall be used on the garage side of the separation wall or ceiling.
SPS 321.08(1)(a)1.b.
b. One layer of
½-inch gypsum drywall shall be used on each side of the separation wall or ceiling.
SPS 321.08(1)(a)1.c.
c. Two layers of
½-inch gypsum drywall shall be used on the garage side of the separation wall or ceiling.
SPS 321.08(1)(a)2.
2. For all methods listed under subd.
1., drywall joints shall comply with one of the following:
SPS 321.08(1)(a)2.b.
b. Joints shall be fitted so that the gap is no more than
1/20-inch with joints backed by either solid wood or another layer of drywall such that the joints are staggered.
SPS 321.08 Note
Note: 1/20-inch is approximately the thickness of a U.S. dime.
SPS 321.08(1)(a)3.
3. Vertical separations between an attached garage and a dwelling shall extend from the top of a concrete or masonry foundation to the underside of the roof sheathing or fire-resistive ceiling construction.
SPS 321.08(1)(b)
(b)
Structural elements exposed in an attached garage. Beams, columns and bearing walls which are exposed to the garage and which provide support for habitable portions of the dwelling shall be protected by one of the methods specified in par.
(a) 1. a. or
c. or other
¾ hour fire-resistive protection.
SPS 321.08(1)(c)1.1. The door and frame assembly between the dwelling unit and an attached garage shall be labeled by an independent testing agency as having a minimum fire-resistive rating of 20 minutes. The test to determine the 20-minute rating is not required to include the hose stream portion of the test.
SPS 321.08 Note
Note: Acceptable tests for fire rating of door assemblies include ASTM E-152, UL 10B, and NFPA 252.
SPS 321.08(1)(c)2.
2. Only glazing allowed by the door's listing may be installed in any door required under this section.
SPS 321.08(1)(d)1.1. Access openings in fire separation walls or ceilings shall be protected in one of the following ways:
SPS 321.08(1)(d)1.a.
a. The opening is protected with a material that has a finish rating of at least 20 minutes.
SPS 321.08(1)(d)1.b.
b. The opening is protected in the same way as the wall or ceiling where the opening is located.
SPS 321.08(1)(d)2.
2. The cover or door of the access opening shall be permanently installed with hardware that will maintain it in the closed position when not in use.
SPS 321.08(2)(a)
(a) General. In 2-family dwellings, dwelling units shall be separated from each other and from shared tenant spaces including attics, basements, garages, vestibules and corridors.
SPS 321.08(2)(b)
(b)
Attic separation. Dwelling units with attic space that extends over both units shall be separated in accordance with one of the following:
SPS 321.08(2)(b)1.
1. `Complete separation.' The units shall be provided with wall construction under par.
(d) that extends all the way to the underside of the roof deck.
