CHAPTER 443
EXAMINING BOARD OF ARCHITECTS,
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS,
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS,
DESIGNERS, AND PROFESSIONAL
LAND SURVEYORS, AND REGISTERED
INTERIOR DESIGNERS

195,9 Section 9. 443.01 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

443.01 (3) “Examining board" means the examining board of architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, designers, and professional land surveyors , and registered interior designers.

195,10 Section 10. 443.01 (3c) of the statutes is created to read:

443.01 (3c) “Interior alteration or interior construction project” means a project for an interior space or area within a proposed or existing building or structure, including construction, modification, renovation, rehabilitation, or historic preservation, that involves changing or altering any of the following:

(a) The design function or layout of rooms.

(b) The state of permanent fixtures or equipment.

(c) The interior space or area if the change or alteration requires verification of the compliance of the interior space or area with a building code, fire code, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, or state or local regulations.

(d) Interior furnishings.

(e) Nonstructural elements of the interior space or area.

195,11 Section 11. 443.01 (3e) of the statutes is created to read:

443.01 (3e) “Interior technical submission” means a design, drawing, specification, study, or other technical report or calculation that establishes the scope of an interior design project, including a description of standards of quality for materials, skilled labor, equipment, and construction systems, and that may be signed and sealed by a Wisconsin registered interior designer in compliance with this chapter.

195,12 Section 12. 443.01 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:

443.01 (5m) (a) “Practice of interior design” means the design of interior spaces as a part of an interior alteration or interior construction project in conformity with public health, safety, and welfare requirements, including the preparation of documents relating to building code descriptions, project egress plans that require no increase in the number of exits in the space affected, space planning, finish materials, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment and the preparation of documents and interior technical submissions relating to interior construction.

(b) “Practice of interior design” does not include any of the following:

1. Services that constitute the practice of architecture or the practice of professional engineering.

2. Altering or affecting the structural system of a building, including changing the building's live or dead load on the structural system.

3. Changes to the building envelope, including exterior walls, exterior wall coverings, exterior wall openings, exterior windows and doors, architectural trim, balconies and similar projections, bay and oriel windows, roof assemblies and rooftop structures, and glass and glazing for exterior use in both vertical and sloped applications in buildings and structures.

4. Altering or affecting the mechanical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, ventilation, electrical, vertical transportation, fire sprinkler, or fire alarm systems.

5. Changes beyond the exit access component of a means of egress system.

6. Construction that materially affects life safety systems pertaining to fire safety or the fire protection of structural elements, or alterations to smoke evacuation and compartmentalization systems or to fire-rated vertical shafts in multistory structures.

7. Changes of use to an occupancy of greater hazard as determined by the International Building Code.

8. Changes to the construction classification of the building or structure according to the International Building Code.

195,13 Section 13. 443.01 (9) of the statutes is created to read:

443.01 (9) “Wisconsin registered interior designer” means a person registered as a Wisconsin registered interior designer under this chapter.

195,14 Section 14. 443.015 (1e) of the statutes is created to read:

443.015 (1e) The rules promulgated under sub. (1) by the registered interior designer section of the examining board shall require a Wisconsin registered interior designer to complete at least 15 hours of continuing education during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a). At least 10 of the 15 hours shall be in subjects related to the practice of interior design which safeguard the public's health, safety, and welfare.

195,15 Section 15. 443.02 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

443.02 (5) No person may use the title “Wisconsin registered interior designer,” use any title or description that implies that he or she is a Wisconsin registered interior designer, or represent himself or herself to be a Wisconsin registered interior designer unless the person is registered as a Wisconsin registered interior designer under this chapter.