CHAPTER 301
STATE BUILDING CODE—GENERAL PROVISIONS
[Prior to 12/21/05, see rules 661—16.1(103A) to 661—16.500(103A)]
661—301.1(103A) Scope and applicability. The provisions of this chapter apply generally to:
	1.	Buildings and facilities owned by the state of Iowa;
	2.	The initial construction of any building or facility not wholly owned by the state of Iowa or any department or agency of the state of Iowa which is financed in whole or in part with funds appropriated by the state, if there is no local building code in effect in the jurisdiction in which the construction is located or if there is a local building code in effect in the jurisdiction, and the local building code is not enforced through a system of plan reviews and inspections;
	3.	Buildings and facilities subject to the state building code, pursuant to a provision of state or federal law other than Iowa Code chapter 103A; and
	4.	Buildings and facilities in local jurisdictions which have adopted the state building code by local ordinance in accordance with the provisions of Iowa Code section 103A.12.
661—301.2(103A) Definitions. The following definitions apply to 661—Chapters 300, 301, 302, and 303.
“Appropriated by the state of Iowa” means funds which are included in a bill enacted by the Iowa general assembly and signed by the governor or which are appropriated in a provision of the Iowa Code.
“Board of appeals” means the local board of appeals as created by local ordinance.
“Board of review” or “board” means the state building code board of review created by Iowa Code section 103A.15. The three members of the board of review are appointed by the building code commissioner from among the membership of the building code advisory council.
“Building” means a combination of materials, whether portable or fixed, to form a structure affording facilities or shelter for persons, animals or property. The word “building” includes any part of a building unless the context clearly requires a different meaning. This definition does not apply to 661—Chapter 302.
“Building code advisory council” or “council” means the seven-member council appointed by the governor, pursuant to Iowa Code section 103A.14, to advise and confer with the commissioner on matters relating to the state building code and to approve provisions of the state building code adopted by the commissioner.
“Building component” means any part, subsystem, subassembly, or other system designed for use in, or as a part of, a structure, including but not limited to: structural, electrical, mechanical, fire protection, or plumbing systems, and including such variations thereof as are specifically permitted by regulation, and which variations are submitted as part of the building system or amendment thereof.
“Building department” means an agency of any governmental subdivision charged with the administration, supervision, or enforcement of building regulations, prescribed or required by state or local building regulations.
“Building system” means plans, specifications and documentation for a system of manufactured factory-built structures or buildings or for a type or a system of building components, including but not limited to: structural, electrical, mechanical, fire protection, or plumbing systems, and including such variations thereof as are specifically permitted by regulation, and which variations are submitted as part of the building system or amendment thereof.
“Bureau” means the building code bureau of the fire marshal division of the department of public safety.
“Commissioner” means the state building code commissioner appointed by the commissioner of public safety pursuant to Iowa Code section 103A.4.
“Construction” means the construction, erection, reconstruction, alteration, conversion, repair, equipping of buildings, structures or facilities, and requirements or standards relating to or affecting materials used in connection therewith, including provisions for safety and sanitary conditions.
“Construction cost” means the total cost of the work to the owner of all elements of the project designed or specified by the design professional including the cost at current market rates of labor and materials furnished by the owner and equipment designed, specified or specifically provided by the design professional. Construction costs shall include the costs of management or supervision of construction or installation provided by a separate construction manager or contractor, plus a reasonable allowance for each construction manager’s or contractor’s overhead and profit.
“Division” means the fire marshal division of the department of public safety.
“Enforcement authority” means any state agency or political subdivision of the state that has the authority to enforce the state building code.
“Equipment” means plumbing, heating, electrical, ventilating, conditioning, refrigeration equipment, and other mechanical facilities or installations.
“Governmental subdivision” means any state, city, town, county or combination thereof.
“Label” means an approved device affixed to a factory- built structure or building, or building component, by an approved agency, evidencing code compliance.
“Listing agency” means an agency approved by the commissioner which is in the business of listing or labeling and which maintains a periodic inspection program on current production of listed models, and which makes available timely reports of such listing including specific information verifying that the product has been tested to approved standards and found acceptable for use in a specified manner.
“State plumbing code” means the state plumbing code adopted by the Iowa department of public health, pursuant to Iowa Code section 135.11, subsection 5.
Note:  As of January 1, 2007, the state plumbing code is found in 641—Chapter 25.
“Structure” means that which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner except transmission and distribution equipment of public utilities. “Structure” includes any part of a structure unless the context clearly requires a different meaning.
661—301.3(103A) General provisions. The provisions of the International Building Code, 2006 edition, published by the International Code Council, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 600, Falls Church, VA 22041, are hereby adopted by reference as the general requirements for building construction, with the following amendments:
Delete sections 101 through 115 except for sections 106.1, 106.1.1, and 106.1.1.1.
Add the following new section 1100:
1100. Any building or facility which is in compliance with the applicable requirements of 661—Chapter 302 shall be deemed to be in compliance with any applicable requirements contained in the International Building Code concerning accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Delete chapter 29.
Amend section 3001.2 by adding the following new unnumbered paragraph after the introductory paragraph:
Notwithstanding the references in Chapter 35 to editions of national standards adopted in this section, any editions of these standards adopted by the elevator safety board in 875—Chapter 72 are hereby adopted by reference. If a standard is adopted by reference in this section and there is no adoption by reference of the same standard in 875—Chapter 72, the adoption by reference in this section is of the edition identified in Chapter 35.
Amend section 3401.3 by deleting “International Private Sewage Disposal Code” and inserting in lieu thereof “567 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 69.”
Delete appendices A through K.
Delete all references to the “International Plumbing Code” and insert in lieu thereof “state plumbing code.”
Delete all references to the “ICC Electrical Code” and insert in lieu thereof “National Electrical Code, 2005 edition.”
	301.3(1) Hospitals and health care facilities.
	a. 	A hospital, as defined in rule 661—205.1(100), that is required to meet the provisions of the state building code shall be deemed to be in compliance with the fire safety requirements of the state building code if the hospital is in compliance with the provisions of rule 661—205.5(100). In any other case in which an applicable requirement of the Life Safety Code, 2000 edition, is inconsistent with an applicable requirement of the state building code, the hospital shall be deemed to be in compliance with the state building code requirement if the Life Safety Code requirement is met.
	b. 	A nursing facility or hospice, as defined in rule 661—205.1(100), that is required to meet the provisions of the state building code shall be deemed to be in compliance with the fire safety requirements of the state building code if the nursing facility or hospice is in compliance with the provisions of rule 661—205.10(100). In any other case in which an applicable requirement of the Life Safety Code, 2000 edition, is inconsistent with an applicable requirement of the state building code, the nursing facility or hospice shall be deemed to be in compliance with the state building code requirement if the Life Safety Code requirement is met.
	c. 	An intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded, as defined in rule 661—205.1(100), or intermediate care facility for persons with mental illness that is required to meet the provisions of the state building code shall be deemed to be in compliance with the fire safety requirements of the state building code if the intermediate care facility is in compliance with the provisions of rule 661—205.15(100). In any other case in which an applicable requirement of the Life Safety Code, 2000 edition, is inconsistent with an applicable requirement of the state building code, the intermediate care facility shall be deemed to be in compliance with the state building code requirement if the Life Safety Code requirement is met.
	d. 	An ambulatory health care facility, as defined in rule 661—205.1(100), that is required to meet the provisions of the state building code shall be deemed to be in compliance with the fire safety requirements of the state building code if the ambulatory health care facility is in compliance with the provisions of rule 661—205.20(100). In any other case in which an applicable requirement of the Life Safety Code, 2000 edition, is inconsistent with an applicable requirement of the state building code, the ambulatory health care facility shall be deemed to be in compliance with the state building code requirement if the Life Safety Code requirement is met.
	e. 	A religious nonmedical health care institution that is required to meet the provisions of the state building code shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of the state building code if the institution is in compliance with the provisions of rule 661—205.25(100). In any other case in which an applicable requirement of the Life Safety Code, 2000 edition, is inconsistent with an applicable requirement of the state building code, the religious nonmedical health care institution shall be deemed to be in compliance with the state building code requirement if the Life Safety Code requirement is met.
	301.3(2) Reserved.
661—301.4(103A) Mechanical requirements. The provisions of the International Mechanical Code, 2006 edition, published by the International Code Council, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 600, Falls Church, VA 22041, are hereby adopted by reference as the requirements for the design, installation, maintenance, alteration, and inspection of mechanical systems that are permanently installed and utilized to provide control of environmental conditions and related processes within buildings, with the following amendments:
Delete chapter 1.
Delete section 403 and insert in lieu thereof the following new section:
SECTION 403
MECHANICAL VENTILATION
Mechanical ventilation systems shall be designed in accordance with the provisions of ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004, “Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality,” published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, 1791 Tullie Circle, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329.
Delete appendices A and B.
Delete all references to the “International Plumbing Code” and insert in lieu thereof “state plumbing code.”
Delete all references to the “ICC Electrical Code” and insert in lieu thereof “National Electrical Code, 2005 edition.”
661—301.5(103A) Electrical requirements. The provisions of the National Electrical Code, 2005 edition, published by the National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, are hereby adopted by reference as the requirements for electrical installations, with the following amendments:
Delete appendices A through G.
Delete all references to the “International Plumbing Code” and insert in lieu thereof “state plumbing code.”
661—301.6(103A) Plumbing requirements. Provisions of the state plumbing code, 641—Chapter 25, adopted by the Iowa department of public health pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 135, apply to plumbing installations in cities or which are connected to municipal water systems or municipal wastewater treatment systems.
Private sewage disposal systems shall comply with 567—Chapter 69.
	301.6(1) Plumbing installations which are not subject to the state plumbing code, 641—Chapter 25, and which are in buildings or facilities subject to the state building code shall comply either with the state plumbing code or with the International Plumbing Code, 2006 edition, published by the International Code Council, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 600, Falls Church, VA 22041, except that any assembly occupancy, restaurant, pub or lounge constructed on or after January 1, 1991, shall comply with the provisions of subrule 301.6(2) regarding the provision of minimum plumbing facilities.
If the International Plumbing Code, 2006 edition, is used, section 708.3.3 is deleted and the following new section is inserted in lieu thereof:
708.3.3 Changes of direction. Cleanouts shall be installed at each fitting with a change of direction greater than 45 degrees (0.79 rad) in the building sewer, building drain and horizontal waste or soil lines. Where more than one change of direction occurs in a run of piping, only one cleanout shall be required for each 40 feet (12 192 mm) of developed length of the drainage piping.
	301.6(2) Places of public assembly, restaurants, pubs and lounges constructed on or after January 1, 1991, shall provide at least the numbers of plumbing facilities required in the Uniform Plumbing Code, 2000 edition, Table 4-1, published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, 5001 E. Philadelphia St., Ontario, CA 91761. Additions to, or adding seating capacity in, these types of occupancies shall require the installation of additional fixtures based upon the added number of occupants unless it can be shown that the existing facilities comply for the total number of occupants including the additional occupants.
All water closets installed pursuant to this subrule shall be water-efficient water closets complying with requirements of the U.S. Department of Energy.
This subrule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 104B.1.
	301.6(3) Fuel gas piping shall comply with the requirements established in 661—Chapter 51.
661—301.7(103A) Existing buildings.
	301.7(1) Definition. “Existing building” means a building erected prior to January 1, 2007, or for which plans have received approval from the building code bureau of the fire marshal division of the department of public safety prior to January 1, 2007.
	301.7(2) Adoption. The provisions of the International Existing Building Code, 2006 edition, published by the International Code Council, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 600, Falls Church, VA 22041, are hereby adopted by reference as the requirements for repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition, and relocation of existing buildings, with the following amendments:
Delete chapter 1.
Delete section 605.
Delete section 806.
Delete section 912.8.
Delete chapters A1 through A5.
Adopt appendix B, with the following amendments:
Delete section B101 and insert in lieu thereof the following new section:
Any building or facility subject to this rule shall comply with the provisions of 661—Chapter 302.
Delete sections B102, B103, and B104.
Delete resource A.
Delete all references to the “International Plumbing Code” and insert in lieu thereof “state plumbing code.”
Delete all references to the “ICC Electrical Code” and insert in lieu thereof “National Electrical Code, 2005 edition.”
661—301.8(103A) Residential construction requirements. The provisions of the International Residential Code, 2006 edition, published by the International Code Council, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 600, Falls Church, VA 22041, are hereby adopted by reference as the requirements for construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, removal, and demolition of detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) not more than three stories in height with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures, with the following amendments:
Delete chapters 1 and 11.
Delete all references to the “International Plumbing Code” and insert in lieu thereof “state plumbing code.”
Delete section R310.1 and insert in lieu thereof the following new section:
R310.1 Emergency escape and rescue required. Basements and every sleeping room shall have at least one operable emergency and rescue opening. Such opening shall open directly into a public street, public alley, yard or court. Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, emergency egress and rescue openings shall be required in each sleeping room, but shall not be required in adjoining areas of the basement. Where emergency escape and rescue openings are provided they shall have a sill height of not more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above an adjacent permanent interior standing surface. The adjacent permanent interior standing surface shall be no less than 36 inches wide and 18 inches deep and no more than 24 inches high. Where a door opening having a threshold below the adjacent ground elevation serves as an emergency escape and rescue opening and is provided with a bulkhead enclosure, the bulkhead enclosure shall comply with section R310.3. The net clear opening dimensions required by this section shall be obtained by the normal operation of the emergency escape and rescue opening from the inside. Emergency escape and rescue openings with a finished sill height below the adjacent ground elevation shall be provided with a window well in accordance with section R310.2. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall open directly into a public way, or to a yard or court that opens to a public way.
Exception:  Basements used only to house mechanical equipment and not exceeding total floor area of 200 square feet (18.58 m2).
Amend section R324.1.6 by striking the words “Chapter 3 of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code” and inserting in lieu thereof “567 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 69.”
Add the following new sections:
P2500. Chapter 25 shall not apply to construction of a residence if the residence is within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality or if the plumbing in the residence is connected to a municipal water system or a municipal wastewater treatment system.
P2600. Chapter 26 shall not apply to construction of a residence if the residence is within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality or if the plumbing in the residence is connected to a municipal water system or a municipal wastewater treatment system.
P2700. Chapter 27 shall not apply to construction of a residence if the residence is within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality or if the plumbing in the residence is connected to a municipal water system or a municipal wastewater treatment system.
P2800. Chapter 28 shall not apply to construction of a residence if the residence is within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality or if the plumbing in the residence is connected to a municipal water system or a municipal wastewater treatment system.
P2900. Chapter 29 shall not apply to construction of a residence if the residence is within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality or if the plumbing in the residence is connected to a municipal water system or a municipal wastewater treatment system.
P3000. Chapter 30 shall not apply to construction of a residence if the residence is within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality or if the plumbing in the residence is connected to a municipal water system or a municipal wastewater treatment system.
P3100. Chapter 31 shall not apply to construction of a residence if the residence is within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality or if the plumbing in the residence is connected to a municipal water system or a municipal wastewater treatment system.
P3200. Chapter 32 shall not apply to construction of a residence if the residence is within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality or if the plumbing in the residence is connected to a municipal water system or a municipal wastewater treatment system.
Delete appendices A through Q.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 103A.
[Filed 12/2/05, Notice 9/14/05—published 12/21/05, effective 4/1/06]
[Filed 11/2/06, Notice 9/27/06—published 11/22/06, effective 1/1/07]
[Filed 10/31/07, Notice 9/12/07—published 11/21/07, effective 1/1/08]