CHAPTER 301STATE BUILDING CODE—GENERAL PROVISIONS[Prior to 12/21/05, see rules 661—16.1(103A) to 661—16.500(103A)]661301.1(103A) Scope and applicability. The provisions of this chapter apply generally to:
- Buildings and facilities owned by the state of Iowa;
- 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;
- 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
- 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.
"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" "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" "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.
"Responsible design professional" means a registered architect or licensed professional engineer who stamps and signs the documents submitted, pursuant to Iowa Code chapters 542B and 544A.
"State fire code" means administrative rules adopted by the state fire marshal, pursuant to Iowa Code section 100.1, subsection 5.
"State mechanical code" means the state mechanical code adopted by the state plumbing and mechanical systems board, pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 105.
"State plumbing code" means the state plumbing code adopted by the state plumbing and mechanical systems board, pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 105.
"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.
Related ARC(s): 8305B, 2492C661301.3(103A) General provisions. The provisions of the International Building Code, 2015 edition, published by the International Code Council, 500 New Jersey Avenue NW, 6th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, are hereby adopted by reference as the general requirements for building construction, with the following amendments: 301.3(1) Delete section 101.1. 301.3(2) Delete section 101.2 and insert in lieu thereof the following new section:101.2 Scope. The provisions of this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures.Exception: Detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures shall comply with the International Residential Code, as amended by rule 661—301.8(103A). 301.3(3) Delete sections 101.4.1 through 101.4.6. 301.3(4) Delete section 102.6 and insert in lieu thereof the following new section:102.6 Existing Structures. The legal occupancy of any structure existing on the date of adoption of this code shall be permitted to continue without change, except as specifically covered in this code or the state fire code, or as deemed necessary by the building code commissioner for the general safety and welfare of the occupants and the public. 301.3(5) Delete sections 103, 104, 105 and sections therein. 301.3(6) Delete section 106.2. 301.3(7) Delete section 107.1 and insert in lieu thereof the following new section:107.1 General. Submittal documents consisting of construction documents, statement of special inspections, a geotechnical report and other data shall be submitted in one or more sets with each plan review application. The construction documents shall be prepared by a responsible design professional where required by the statutes of the jurisdiction in which the project is to be constructed. Where special conditions exist, the commissioner is authorized to require additional construction documents to be prepared by a responsible design professional.Exception: The commissioner is authorized to waive the submission of construction documents and other data not required to be prepared by a responsible design professional if it is found that the nature of the work applied for is such that review of construction documents is not necessary to obtain compliance with this code. 301.3(8) Delete sections 107.3, 107.4, and 107.5 and sections therein. 301.3(9) Delete sections 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, and 116 and sections therein. 301.3(10) Add the following to section 202, Definitions:“Cabin Building.” A residential building or structure the use of which is transient in nature and which is used for sleeping purposes when not classified as an Institutional Group I or when not regulated by the International Residential Code. 301.3(11) Add the following to section 310.2:Cabin buildings. 301.3(12) Add the following new section 408.9.1:408.9.1 Windowed Buildings. Plans and specifications for windowed buildings or portions of windowed buildings shall include a rational analysis demonstrating a tenable environment for exiting from the smoke compartment in the area of fire origin. 301.3(13) Delete section 423 in its entirety and insert in lieu thereof the following new section:423 Storm Shelters.423.1 General. Any storm shelter or weather safe room as defined by rule 661—315.2(103A) shall be designed and constructed in accordance with ICC 500-2014.423.1.1 Scope. In accordance with 661—Chapter 315, this section applies to storm shelters and weather safe rooms constructed on or after January 1, 2011. This section does not require the construction of a weather safe room or rooms for any construction project but does establish standards for design and construction of storm shelters and weather safe rooms when their construction is required by another statute, federal statute or regulation, or is incorporated voluntarily in a construction project. 301.3(14) Delete section 903.2.8, except for subsections 903.2.8.1 through 903.2.8.4, and insert in lieu thereof the following new section:903.2.8 Group R. An automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with section 903.3 shall be provided throughout all buildings with a Group R fire area.Exception: Cabin buildings that are located in remote areas without a sufficient municipal water supply for design of a fire sprinkler system and that meet all of the following:- Not more than one story.
- Not more than 750 square feet in floor area.
- Fuel-fired heating equipment and other fuel-fired appliances are separated from sleeping areas by a one-hour fire-rated assembly.
- Provided with fire alarm and smoke alarm systems as required by section 907 for R-1 occupancies.
- Basements are not allowed.
- Maintain a fire separation of 20 feet from any other building or structure.
- Comply with all applicable requirements of the state building code.