STATE OF WISCONSIN
Department of Saftey and Professional Services
IN THE MATTER OF RULEMAKING PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE
DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
PROPOSED ORDER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
ADOPTING RULES
(CLEARINGHOUSE RULE )
PROPOSED ORDER
An order of the Department of Safety and Professional Services to amend SPS 322 relating to crawl space ventilation.
Analysis prepared by the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
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ANALYSIS
Statutes interpreted:
Statutory authority:
Explanation of agency authority:
Section 227.11 (2) (a) of the Statutes authorizes the Department to promulgate rules interpreting any statute that is enforced or administered by the Department, if the rule is considered necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statute. Sections 101.92 (intro.) and (3) require the department to review annually the rules adopted under this subchapter. No set of rules may be adopted that has not taken into account the costs of specific code provisions to home buyers in relationship to the benefits derived from the provisions. Related statute or rule:
Various other rules promulgated by the Department in SPS 322 address ventilation in one- and two-family dwellings.
Plain language analysis:
Provisions in the Uniform Dwelling Code currently allow crawl space walls to be uninsulated if they have ventilation openings and the underside of the floor above is insulated. They also allow unvented crawl spaces with insulated walls and without insulation under the floor. These changes to the code eliminate the option of a vented, uninsulated crawl space.
Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulation:
Federal regulations do not provide provisions for construction of one- and two-family dwellings other than those for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) manufactured homes and those related to accessibility. No proposed federal regulations were found specifically related to crawl space ventilation.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
Illinois: An Internet-based search did not reveal the existence of a statewide one- and two-family dwelling code. Dwelling regulation appears to be left up to the individual local units of government. Statewide provisions for energy conservation adopt the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The IECC allows vented or non-vented crawl spaces.
Iowa: An internet based search revealed that the Iowa Building Code adopts the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) and 2009 IECC. The Iowa Building Code applies statewide to state owned and funded buildings. The accessibility, energy conservation, and minimum plumbing provisions apply to dwellings statewide. The 2009 IRC allows vented or unvented crawl spaces. Iowa amendments make no changes to crawl space ventilation.
Michigan: An Internet-based search revealed a mandatory, statewide one- and two-family dwelling code. The Residential Construction Code under the Construction Code Commission’s General Rules, in section 408.305, contains the state amendments to the 2009 International Residential Code developed by the International Code Council. The 2009 IRC allows vented or unvented crawl spaces. Michigan amendments make no changes to crawl space ventilation.
