Builders News Feb. 2019

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6 ICAHBA Builders News | February 2019 Terry Lockridge & Dunn, Watts Group Celebrate 40 Years Accounting/business consulting firm Terry Lockridge & Dunn (TLD) and construction/realty/leasing/development company Watts Group have each marked 40 years in business. TLD is celebrating the milestone by asking employees to volunteer within the communities that have supported it for so many years. The organization has a long commitment to giving back by serving on nonprofit boards, lending professional expertise and more. Watts Group started out in real estate then expanded to development and construction. The company has left its mark on corridor communities with 23 subdivision and more than 2,500 homes and condos. It’s especially proud of its role in helping Johnson County to thrive, particularly the Iowa River Landing project. We applaud the commitment and longevity of these two Iowa City area pillars! Amy Pretorius Named to Board of Adjustments Amy Pretorius of Elevation Home Builders has been named to the Iowa City Board of Adjustments by the city council. Her term began Jan. 1 and ends Dec. 31, 2023. The board is a citizen panel that reviews special exceptions and variance requests and considers appeals when there is a disagreement about a city administrative decision made. It works closely with the City Attorney’s office and planning staff. “My goal is to do my best to make the right decisions for the community as a whole,” explained Amy. “I’m hoping my professional history regarding building, remodeling, land development and real estate will help me make fair decisions while still being forward-thinking.” Amy co-founded Elevation Home Builders in 2017 and formerly was with the Peninsula Development Company that developed and built most of Iowa City’s unique Peninsula Neighborhood. She is a University of Iowa nursing-school graduate and has worked in the construction industry for more than 10 years. Congratulations, Amy! Build My Future Event is April 2 Terry Lockridge & Dunn employees celebrate 40 years with bowling and cake. Team Watts Group. The first annual Build My Future Construction Career Day & Industry Showcase is April 2 at Jones Hall (6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW) on the Cedar Rapids Kirkwood Community College campus. The event is sponsored by Hills Bank and Trust Company, The Greater Iowa City Area HBA’s Vocational Training Council, The Cedar Rapids HBA and Kirkwood Community College with a grant from the National Association of Home Builders Association. Hosted by the ACE Sector Board, the event gives 7th- and 8th-grade students an opportunity to spend a day in the construction industry through an interactive showcase. Hands-on learning labs include construction industry practices, such as carpentry, electrical, heavy equipment, masonry, welding and more. There also will be educational displays and equipment operations. Contact Karyl or Michelle at (319) 351-5333 if your organization wants to be a part of Build My Future. Watch Builders News, iowacityhomes.com and Facebook.com/ IowaCityAreaHBA for further details. NEW Apprenticeship Program Launches The Greater Iowa City Area HBA is proud to announce that the new Construction Technologist Apprenticeship launched last month at Kirkwood Community College. The program is the result of more than three years work between the Iowa City Area HBA and Kirkwood. Six students are enrolled in the three-year program, at the end of which they will have 6,000 hours of on-the-job learning and more than 432 hours of in-classroom training. HBA-member employers participating are Greiner Buildings, McCreedy-Ruth Construction and Streb Construction. The apprenticeship is registered with the Department of Labor. All involved are excited the first round is underway!
2018 Iowa City Building Codes Changes Presented to Board of Appeals The City of Iowa City presented proposed 2018 Building Code changes to the Iowa City Board of Appeals Dec. 20. Our Legislative Committee met Dec 18 with two City of Iowa City staffers: Danielle Sitzman, the new coordinator of Development Services, and Tim Hennes, senior building inspector, to get a preview. Most amendments to the building codes are for clarification of a code requirement, to reflect local practices that have evolved from previous building codes and their amendments and to remain consistent with the Fire Code as amended. Below are notable changes and proposed new amendments. Building Codes Table R301.2(1): Modification to include Manual J criteria on design tables. Comment: Additional information is included on the table to aid the HVAC contractors in designing and sizing the mechanical equipment based on climatic and geographic design criteria based on local conditions. Section R302.5.1: Delete the requirement that requires house to garage doors to have self-closing devices. Comment: The amendment to delete the requirement maintains current requirements. The amendment does not prohibit someone from installing such device. Section R302.13: Delete the requirement to protect the underside of floor/ceiling assemblies in unfinished basements. Comment: This amendment eliminates the requirement to drywall the ceiling or sprinkle an unfinished basement ceiling. The amendment to delete the requirement maintains current requirements. The amendment does not prohibit someone from installing such protection. Section R312.2 (IRC) & 1015.8 (IBC): Delete the requirement to install guards on operable windows that are located less than 24 inches above the floor and more than 72 inches above the finish surface on the exterior of the building. Comment: The amendment eliminates the requirement to install guards on all operable windows that meet specified location criteria. The requirement is not consistent with other guard location criteria requirements and could conflict with emergency and escape window opening requirements. The amendment to delete the requirement maintains current requirements. This amendment does not prohibit the installation of fall protection devices on windows. Section R313: Delete the requirement to install a fire sprinkling system in one- and two-family dwelling and townhouses. Comment: This amendment eliminates the requirement for structures regulated by the IRC have an automatic fire suppression system installed. The amendment to delete the requirement maintains current requirements. The amendment does not prohibit the installation of an automatic fire suppression system. Section R314: Delete the requirement to interconnect smoke alarms when a home is being altered, repaired or an addition is added. Comment: This amendment eliminates the requirement for smoke alarms to be interconnected when a home is being altered, repaired or an addition is added. Previous codes have not required this extensive of an update and eliminating the requirement does not forgive the requirement to install battery operated smoke alarms when alterations, repairs or additions. The amendment to delete the requirement maintains current requirements. The amendment does not prohibit someone from installing such protection. Section R320.2: Maintain eight provisions to implement universal design features that provide accessibility, usability and visit-ability for all. Comment: The amendment applies only to new dwelling units and is not required for existing structures for repairs, alterations, change of occupancy or additions unless the square footage of the addition is more than 25 percent of the existing structure, then, the addition must comply. The minimum usability requirements are as follows: 1. Step-less Entrance: At least one entrance must be designed to provide a step-less entry. 2. Interior Doors: At least one bedroom and one bathroom, if either are provided, and all other passage doorway header widths, on the level served by the designed step-less entrance, must be framed to accommodate a minimum 38 inches clear rough opening. The framing for the doorway width opening may be reduced to accommodate any door size. 3. Sanitation Facilities: There must be at least one bathroom containing a water closet toilet and lavatory (sink) on the level of the dwelling to be accessed by the designed step-less entrance. The room shall have a minimum thirty inches by forty-eight inches clear floor space at the water closet and lavatory. 4. Wall Reinforcement: A bathroom must be provided with wood blocking installed within wall framing to support grab bars as needed. 5. Decks: All exterior decks and patios surfaces adjacent to the level served by the designed stepless entrance must be built within four inches of the dwelling units finish floor level. 6. Switch and Outlet Requirements: All wall switches, controlling light devices and all receptacles shall be located in an area between 15 and 48 inches above the finished floor. 7. Electrical Panel Requirements: Electrical panels on the level of the dwelling step-less entrance shall be located so that the individual circuit breakers are located between 15 inches and 54 inches above the floor. 8. Garages: Must be wired for poweroperated overhead doors. Section R326: Delete Section R326 Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs. Comment: This section was moved to the body of the code from the appendix in the previous code cycle. Deleting it results in no change of enforcement for pools, spas and hot tubs. They are still regulated by the electrical and zoning code. Section G2415.3: Eliminates the requirement prohibiting gas piping not extend through any townhouse unit other than the unit served by such gas piping. Comment: Amendment is consistent with the mechanical and fuel gas code with regard to gas piping being installed through dwelling units. Zero lot-line units will still be required to have separate services but single structures that contain multiple units will be allowed to have the gas piping extend through other units. This is consistent with how gas pipe is installed now and in the past. Appendix J (IRC): Existing Buildings and Structures: (1 & 2 family residential) Comment: The purpose of these provisions is to encourage the continued use or reuse of legally existing buildings and structures. These provisions are intended to permit work in existing buildings that is consistent with the purpose of this code. Existing Building Code (Multifamily and Commercial) Section 102.6 in the International Building Code directs us to the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) for existing structures. Comment: The IEBC allows and encourages the use and reuse of existing buildings while requiring reasonable upgrades and improvements for alterations, repairs, additions, occupancy change, historic and relocated buildings. February 2019 | ICAHBA Builders News 7 Energy Code Adopted by reference the State Energy Code. Comment: The State of Iowa adopted the 2012 Intemational Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Referencing the state energy code provides consistency for designers and builders. Tentative schedule for the state to adopt the 2018 IECC is mid-2019. Accessibility Code Adopted by reference the State Accessibility Code. Comment: The State of Iowa Accessibility Code is based on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and requirements of the federal Fair Housing Act. Adopting the state accessibility codes by reference provides consistency for designers and builders. Plumbing Code Adopt by reference the State Plumbing Code. Comment: Iowa Code Section 105.4 requires local jurisdictions to adopt the State Plumbing Code. The Iowa State Health Department, as administered by the Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board, by law adopts the current edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) within six months of publication with a few amendments. Tentative schedule for the state to adopt the 2018 UPC is first quarter of 2019. Section 422.2.1 of the UPC: Amend to require single-use restroom signage. Comment: This amendment will require single-user restroom to have signage indicating usage by either sex. Mechanical Code Adopt by reference the State Mechanical Code. Comment: Iowa Code Section 105.4 requires local jurisdictions to adopt the State Mechanical Code. The Iowa State Department of Public Health, as administered by the Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board, adopts the current edition of the International Mechanical Code within six months of publication with a few amendments. Tentative schedule for the state to adopt the 2018 UPC is first quarter of 2019.
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