103A.8 - STANDARDS.
103A.8 STANDARDS.
The state building code shall as far as practical:
1. Provide uniform standards and requirements for construction,
construction materials, and equipment through the adoption by
reference of applicable national codes where appropriate and
providing exceptions when necessary. The rules adopted shall include
provisions imposing requirements reasonably consistent with or
identical to recognized and accepted standards contained in
performance criteria.
2. Establish such standards and requirements in terms of
performance objectives.
3. Establish as the test of acceptability, adequate performance
for the intended use.
4. Permit the use of modern technical methods, devices, and
improvements which tend to reduce the cost of construction without
substantially affecting reasonable requirements for the health,
safety, and welfare of the occupants or users of buildings and
structures.
5. Encourage the standardization of construction practices,
methods, equipment, material, and techniques.
6. Eliminate restrictive, obsolete, conflicting, and unnecessary
regulations and requirements which tend to unnecessarily increase
construction costs or retard unnecessarily the use of new materials,
or provide unwarranted preferential treatment to types or classes of
materials or products or methods of construction.
7. Limit the application of thermal efficiency standards for
energy conservation to construction of buildings which are heated or
cooled. Air exchange fans designed to provide ventilation shall not
be considered a cooling system. The commissioner shall exempt any
construction from any thermal efficiency standard for energy
conservation if the commissioner determines that the standard is
unreasonable as it would apply to a particular building or class of
buildings. No standard adopted by the commissioner for energy
conservation in construction shall be interpreted to require the
replacement or modification of any existing equipment or feature
solely to ensure compliance with requirements for energy conservation
in construction. Lighting efficiency standards shall recognize
variations in lighting intensities required for the various tasks
performed within the building. The commissioner shall consult with
the office of energy independence regarding standards for energy
conservation prior to the adoption of the standards. However, the
standards shall be consistent with section 103A.8A.
8. Facilitate the development and use of renewable energy. Section History: Early Form
[C73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 103A.8; 81 Acts, ch 184, § 12] Section History: Recent Form
85 Acts, ch 147, §1; 88 Acts, ch 1134, § 22; 90 Acts, ch 1267, §
26; 2002 Acts, ch 1162, §33; 2008 Acts, ch 1126, § 6, 33; 2009 Acts,
ch 108, §6, 41