Chapter 101

101.149(1)(ag) (ag) “Bed and breakfast establishment” has the meaning given in s. 97.01 (1g).

101.149(1)(am) (am) “Carbon monoxide detector” means an electronic or battery-operated device or system that sounds an alarm when an unsafe level of carbon monoxide is in the air.

101.149(1)(as) (as) “Fuel-burning appliance” means a device that burns fossil fuel or carbon-based fuel and that produces carbon monoxide as a combustion by-product.

101.149(1)(b) (b) “Residential building” means a tourist rooming house, a bed and breakfast establishment, or any public building that is used for sleeping or lodging purposes. “Residential building” does not include a hospital or nursing home.

101.149(1)(c) (c) “Sleeping area” has the meaning given in s. 101.145 (1) (b).

101.149(1)(cm) (cm) “Tourist rooming house” has the meaning given in s. 97.01 (15k).

101.149(1)(d) (d) “Unit” means a part of a residential building that is occupied by one or more persons as a home, residence, or sleeping place.

101.149(2) (2) Installation requirements.

101.149(2)(ac) (ac) Carbon monoxide detectors required. Except as provided in sub. (5), the owner of a residential building shall provide carbon monoxide detectors at the locations specified in par. (ax) as required under pars. (ag) to (at).

101.149(2)(ag) (ag) Fuel-burning appliances. Carbon monoxide detectors shall be provided in units that contain a fuel-burning appliance.

101.149(2)(aL) (aL) Forced-air furnaces. Carbon monoxide detectors shall be provided in units served by a fuel-burning, forced-air furnace, except that carbon monoxide detectors are not required in a unit if a carbon monoxide detector is provided in the first room or area served by each main duct leaving the furnace and one of the following is satisfied:

101.149(2)(aL)1. 1. The carbon monoxide alarm signals are automatically transmitted to all units served by the furnace and to a designated location at a facility staffed by trained personnel on a continuous basis where alarm and supervisory signals are monitored and facilities are provided for notification of the fire department.

101.149(2)(aL)2. 2. In addition to the first room or area served by each main duct leaving the furnace, a carbon monoxide detector is installed in every 4th unit on the same floor as that first room or area.

101.149(2)(ap) (ap) Fuel-burning appliances outside of units. Carbon monoxide detectors shall be provided in units located in residential buildings that contain fuel-burning appliances, except as follows:

101.149(2)(ap)1. 1. Carbon monoxide detectors are not required in units where there are no openings between the fuel-burning appliance and the unit through which carbon monoxide can get into the unit.

101.149(2)(ap)2. 2. Carbon monoxide detectors are not required in units where a carbon monoxide detector is provided in one of the following locations:

101.149(2)(ap)2.a. a. Between the fuel-burning appliance and the unit.

101.149(2)(ap)2.b. b. On the ceiling of the room containing the fuel-burning appliance.

101.149(2)(at) (at) Private garages. Carbon monoxide detectors shall be provided in units in buildings with attached private garages, except as follows:

101.149(2)(at)1. 1. Carbon monoxide detectors are not required where there are no openings between the private garage and the unit through which carbon monoxide can get into the unit.

101.149(2)(at)2. 2. Carbon monoxide detectors are not required in units located more than one story above or below the private garage.

101.149(2)(at)3. 3. Carbon monoxide detectors are not required where the private garage connects to the building through an open-ended corridor.

101.149(2)(at)4. 4. Where carbon monoxide detectors are provided between openings to the private garage and units, carbon monoxide detectors are not required in the units.

101.149(2)(at)5. 5. Carbon monoxide detectors are not required where the private garage has openings designed to provide natural ventilation, or is mechanically ventilated, in accordance with rules for natural and mechanical ventilation in public parking garages promulgated by the department.

101.149(2)(ax) (ax) Locations. If required under pars. (ag) to (at), carbon monoxide detectors shall be installed in the following locations:

101.149(2)(ax)1. 1. ‘Units.’ In units, outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping rooms.

101.149(2)(ax)2. 2. ‘Sleeping rooms.’ In sleeping rooms, if a fuel-burning appliance is located within the sleeping room or its attached bathroom.

101.149(2)(d) (d) Certification. Any carbon monoxide detector that bears an Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., listing mark or similar mark from an independent product safety certification organization satisfies the requirements of this subsection.

101.149(2)(e) (e) Manufacturer directions and specifications. The owner shall install every carbon monoxide detector required by this subsection according to the directions and specifications of the manufacturer of the carbon monoxide detector.

101.149(3) (3) Maintenance requirements.

101.149(3)(a) (a) The owner of a residential building shall reasonably maintain every carbon monoxide detector in the residential building in the manner specified in the instructions for the carbon monoxide detector.

101.149(3)(am) (am) If any person certified under s. 101.12 (4) or 101.14 (4r) gives written notice to an owner of a residential building that a carbon monoxide detector in the residential building is not functional, the owner shall provide, within 5 days after receipt of that notice, any maintenance necessary to make that carbon monoxide detector functional.

101.149(3)(b) (b) An occupant of a unit in a residential building may give the owner of the residential building written notice that a carbon monoxide detector in the residential building is not functional or has been removed by a person other than the occupant. The owner of the residential building shall repair or replace the nonfunctional or missing carbon monoxide detector within 5 days after receipt of the notice.

101.149(3)(c) (c) The owner of a residential building is not liable for damages resulting from any of the following:

101.149(3)(c)1. 1. A false alarm from a carbon monoxide detector if the carbon monoxide detector was reasonably maintained by the owner of the residential building.

101.149(3)(c)2. 2. The failure of a carbon monoxide detector to operate properly if that failure was the result of tampering with, or removal or destruction of, the carbon monoxide detector by a person other than the owner or the result of a faulty detector that was reasonably maintained by the owner as required under par. (a).

101.149(4) (4) Tampering prohibited. No person may tamper with, remove, destroy, disconnect, or remove batteries from an installed carbon monoxide detector, except in the course of inspection, maintenance, or replacement of the detector.

101.149(5) (5) Exception. Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to the owner of a residential building if all of the fuel-burning appliances in the residential building have sealed combustion units that are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty against defects.

101.149(6) (6) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules establishing a procedure under which the owner of a residential building may apply to the department for a waiver of the requirements under sub. (2).

101.149(7) (7) Inspection. To ensure compliance with subs. (2) and (3), the department or a person certified under s. 101.12 (4) or 101.14 (4r) may inspect the common area of residential buildings and may inspect a unit within such buildings at the request of the owner or occupant of the unit to be inspected.

101.149(8) (8) Penalties.

101.149(8)(a) (a) If the department of safety and professional services or the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection determines after an inspection of a building under this section or s. 97.625 (1g) that the owner of the building has violated sub. (2) or (3), the respective department shall issue an order requiring the person to correct the violation within 5 days or within such shorter period as the respective department determines is necessary to protect public health and safety. If the person does not correct the violation within the time required, he or she shall forfeit $50 for each day of violation occurring after the date on which the respective department finds that the violation was not corrected.

101.149(8)(b) (b) If a person is charged with more than one violation of sub. (2) or (3) arising out of an inspection of a building owned by that person, those violations shall be counted as a single violation for the purpose of determining the amount of a forfeiture under par. (a).

101.149(8)(c) (c) Whoever violates sub. (4) is subject to the following penalties:

101.149(8)(c)1. 1. For a first offense, the person may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months, or both.

101.149(8)(c)2. 2. For a 2nd or subsequent offense, the person is guilty of a Class I felony.

101.149 History History: 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 205; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 166 s. 77; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 330.

101.149 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. SPS 321.095, 362.0915, and 366.1011 (2), Wis. adm. code.

101.15 101.15 Mines, tunnels, quarries and pits.

101.15(1) (1) If any shaft or workings of a mine, or any tunnel, trench, caisson, quarry, or gravel or sand pit is being operated or used in violation of the safety orders of the department applicable thereto, the owner or operator upon receiving notice of such violation from the department shall immediately cease such operation or use. The operation or use of such shaft or workings of a mine, or of such tunnel, trench, caisson, quarry or gravel or sand pit, shall not be resumed until such safety orders have been complied with.

101.15(2) (2) 

101.15(2)(a) (a) For the purpose of this section:

101.15(2)(a)1. 1. “Excavation” or “workings” means any or all parts of a mine excavated or being excavated, including shafts, tunnels, drifts, cross cuts, raises, winzes, stopes and all other working places in a mine.

101.15(2)(a)2. 2. “Mineral” means a product recognized by standard authorities as mineral, whether metalliferous or nonmetalliferous.

101.15(2)(a)3. 3. “Shaft” means an opening made for mining minerals, for hoisting and lowering persons or material, or for ventilating underground workings.

101.15(2)(b) (b) No excavation of a shaft may be commenced unless a permit is first issued therefor by the department. Permits for such excavation shall be issued upon fee payment and application filed with the department, if the department is satisfied that the shaft or the excavation and workings will be in compliance with the safety orders adopted by the department and applicable thereto. Application shall be made upon forms prescribed by the department and shall be furnished upon request.

101.15(2)(c) (c) Paragraph (b) does not apply to shafts which will be less than 50 feet in depth wherein persons are not employed, or which are not equipped with power driven hoists used for hoisting persons in and out of the shafts, or which are not covered with a flammable building.

101.15(2)(d) (d) The department may:

101.15(2)(d)1. 1. Employ additional mining inspectors, each of whom shall have experience in mining or be a graduate of a recognized college with a degree of mining engineering.

101.15(2)(d)2. 2. Cause the inspection of all underground mines, quarries, pits, zinc works or other excavations.

101.15(2)(e) (e) The department shall promulgate rules to effect the safety of mines, explosives, quarries and related activities. Such rules shall provide for the establishment of uniform limits on permissible levels of blasting resultants to reasonably assure that blasting resultants do not cause injury, damage or unreasonable annoyance to any person or property outside any controlled blasting site area.

101.15(2)(f) (f)

101.15(2)(f)1. 1. The department shall cause the inspections of underground mines and similar establishments at least once every 2 months and shall cause the inspections of surface mines and similar establishments at least once each year. In the making of the inspections the owner and the labor union identified as the bargaining representative of the employees of the mine or establishment shall be permitted to accompany the inspector engaged in the tour of inspection. The department shall cause a report of any inspection so made, to be submitted to representatives of the operator and of the employees.

101.15(2)(f)2. 2. The department may apply to a court of record for the closing of any underground mine, quarry, pit, zinc works or other excavation where the same is being operated in violation of any of its rules or orders, and the owners or operators have failed within a reasonable time to correct any unsafe methods of operation. The failure of any owner or operator to comply with the order or judgment of the court subjects the party or parties to contempt proceedings.

101.15 History History: 1971 c. 185; 1971 c. 228 s. 44; Stats. 1971 s. 101.15; 1975 c. 94 s. 91 (9); 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 257; 1983 a. 189; 1985 a. 29; 1993 a. 16; 2017 a. 329.

101.15 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. SPS 307 and 308, Wis. adm. code.

101.15 Annotation When an inspector determines that there is a violation of safety orders and a condition of extreme and imminent danger to a worker’s life exists, the inspector may seek the assistance of a local law enforcement officer. The local law enforcement officer has a duty to render assistance unless in the officer’s opinion other priority assignments take precedence. 59 Atty. Gen. 12.

101.16 101.16 Liquefied petroleum gas.

101.16(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

101.16(1)(a) (a) “Department of transportation cylinder” means a container that holds liquefied petroleum gas and that meets the specifications established by the federal department of transportation.

101.16(1)(b) (b) “Liquefied petroleum gas” means any material which is composed predominantly of, or any mixtures of, any of the following hydrocarbons including their isomers:

101.16(1)(b)1. 1. Propane.

101.16(1)(b)2. 2. Propylene.

101.16(1)(b)3. 3. Butane.

101.16(1)(b)4. 4. Butylene.

101.16(1)(c) (c) “Propane gas system” means an assembly consisting of one or more containers that has a total water capacity of at least 100 gallons and a means of conveying propane gas from the container or containers to a point of connection with devices used to consume the propane gas. A “propane gas system” includes all piping and other components associated with the assembly that are used to control the quantity, flow, pressure, and physical state of the propane gas.

101.16(1)(d) (d) “Retailer” means a person engaged in the business of filling containers that have a water capacity of at least 4 pounds with liquefied petroleum gas that is intended to be used directly from the containers as fuel. “Retailer” does not include a person who fills such containers with liquefied petroleum gas for the person’s own use.

101.16(2) (2) Rules.

101.16(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the department shall promulgate rules to ascertain, fix, and order such reasonable standards, rules, or regulations for the design, construction, location, installation, operation, repair, and maintenance of equipment for storage, handling, use, and transportation by tank truck or tank trailer, of liquefied petroleum gases for fuel purposes, and for the odorization of said gases used therewith, as shall render such equipment safe.

101.16(2)(b) (b)

101.16(2)(b)1. 1. The department may not promulgate a rule that prohibits self-service dispensing by the general public of compressed natural gas or liquefied petroleum gases into an individual vehicle fuel tank.

101.16(2)(b)2. 2. The department may not promulgate a rule that requires completion of training to self-service dispense compressed natural gas or liquefied petroleum gases into an individual vehicle fuel tank.

101.16(2)(c) (c) The department shall promulgate rules ensuring that safety requirements under this section and federal law are satisfied during self-service dispensing by the general public of compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gases and rules establishing requirements for the signage required under sub. (4) (d).

101.16(3) (3) Filling, evacuating, and use of containers.

101.16(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person, other than the owner of a liquefied petroleum gas container or a person authorized by the owner, may fill, refill, evacuate, or use in any other manner the container for any purpose.

101.16(3)(b) (b) A retailer may evacuate a liquefied petroleum gas container not under the retailer’s ownership in order to transfer the remaining liquefied petroleum gas that is in the container into a container that is under the retailer’s ownership.

101.16(3g) (3g) License required. No retailer may distribute liquefied petroleum gas without holding a license issued by the department. The department, subject to ss. 440.12 and 440.13, shall issue a license to be a retailer upon receiving the fee established under s. 101.19 (1g) (L) or (1m) and upon the retailer’s obtaining commercial general liability insurance as required under sub. (3r) (c). The department shall set the term of the license, not to exceed 2 years.

101.16(3r) (3r) Commercial general liability insurance.

101.16(3r)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a retailer shall maintain commercial general liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence with an annual aggregate of $2,000,000 for compensating 3rd parties for bodily injury and property damages for incidents associated with the release of liquefied petroleum gas.