Published: April 06, 2007 09:36 pm      

Survey shows ‘I-Codes’ are building code of choice

CLINTON — For more than 65 years, a variety of efforts have been made to apply a building code to the city of Clinton.

Most recently, House File 590 was introduced in the state legislature, and would require any Iowa city without a building code and a population greater than 15,000 to adopt the state’s building code. Last week, the Clinton City Council voted 4-1 in favor of a resolution asking the state legislature to delay action on this bill.

While the contentious debate in Clinton continues over the proper implementation of a building code, it appears other Iowa cities have reached a virtual consensus on the issue.

An informal survey conducted by the Clinton Herald reveals the International Building Code and International Residential Code have been adopted by many Iowa cities similar in size to Clinton.

The International Building Code is published by the International Code Council, a membership association comprised of code enforcement and fire officials, architects, engineers, builders, contractors and others in the construction industry.

Established in 1994, the ICC was founded by three nonprofit organizations that developed three separate sets of building codes used throughout the United States. The consolidation of the three organizations created a single set of building codes, eliminating the complexity and expense of three different regional codes.

The ICC publishes several sets of building codes, known as “I-Codes”, that cover areas such as residential buildings, electrical, plumbing and mechanical design of buildings.

The I-Codes are in widespread use; according to the ICC’s Web site, 48 states enforce I-Codes at the state or jurisdictional level.

The state of Iowa also mandates that state-owned and rented structures adhere to the I-Codes. According to Clinton Planning Director John Staszewski, if House File 590 becomes law, the same building codes would be applied to new structures built in Clinton.

Staszewski indicated enforcement of a building code would require the creation of a new Building Division within the city government, staffed by inspectors. Currently, the city is in early planning phases in order to be prepared if and when a code is adopted.

Existing structures would be exempt from the building codes. However, improvement projects such as significant remodeling or room additions would be required to adhere to the codes. The I-Codes are known as “model building codes.” Model building codes are published by standards organizations through the work of a network of development committees. The codes are updated every three to five years, and adopting authorities can choose to adopt the codes as-is, or adapt the codes to their specific jurisdiction.

Model building codes are typically modified through amendments, which often come in the form of city ordinances. Amendments can address the jurisdiction’s enforcement of the code, such as permit fees and inspection procedures, or tailor the code to a specific jurisdiction. Building code guidelines can be amended depending upon an area’s specific regional concerns.

Most respondents indicated that a minimal amount of amendments were being applied to the model code. Examples of typical amendments include adding guidelines for wind loads or snow loads in rural areas.

Most survey respondents said that model building codes were adopted between the 1950s and 1970s. Prior to that, building codes were authored on the local level. Urbandales’s first building code, which was only two pages long, dates to 1938. Mason City’s building department was established and began enforcing codes as early as 1919.