Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 193B - ARCHITECTURAL EXAMINING BOARD
Chapter 5 - EXCEPTIONS
Rule 193B-5.1 - Definitions

The following definitions apply as used in Iowa Code chapter 544A and this chapter of the architectural examining board rules.

"Accessory buildings" means a building or structure of an accessory character and miscellaneous structures not classified in any specific occupancy or use. "Accessory buildings" shall be constructed, equipped and maintained to conform to the requirements corresponding to the fire and life hazard incidental to the buildings' occupancy. "Accessory buildings" is intended to encompass the uses listed in Group U of the 2015 International Building Code®.

"Agricultural building " means a structure designed to house farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock or other agricultural products. For the purpose of this definition, this structure shall not contain habitable space or a place of employment where agricultural products are processed or treated or packaged; nor shall it be a place used by the public.

"Alter" or"alteration" means any change, addition or modification to an existing building in its construction or occupancy.

"Church " means a building or portion thereof intended for the performance of religious services.

"Commercial" or"commercial use" means the following:

1. The use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for office, professional, or service-type transactions, including storage of records and accounts.

2. The use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for the display and sale of merchandise, and involves stocks of goods, including wares or merchandise incidental to such purposes and accessible to the public.

"Commercial use" is intended to encompass the uses listed in Group B and Group M of the 2015 International Building Code®.

"Detached" means a structure separated by distance and not connected to another structure.

"Dwelling unit" means a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.

"Educational use" means the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof used (1) by six or more persons at any one time for education purposes through twelfth grade; or (2) by six or more children for day care purposes. Rooms and spaces within places of religious worship providing such day care during religious functions and day cares serving five or fewer children shall be classified as part of the primary occupancy. "Educational use" is intended to encompass the uses listed in Group E of the 2015 International Building Code®.

"Factory-built buildings" means any structure which is, wholly or in substantial part, made, fabricated, formed, or assembled in manufacturing facilities for installation, or assembly and installation, on a building site. "Factory-built buildings" includes the terms "mobile home," "manufactured home," and "modular home."

"Family dwelling unit" means the same as "dwelling unit."

"Gross floor area" means the area included within the surrounding exterior walls of a building. Areas of the building not provided with surrounding walls shall be included in the building area if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of the supporting structure of the roof or floor above.

"Habitable space (room)" means a space in a structure for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet compartments, closets, halls, storage or utility space, and similar areas are not considered "habitable space."

"Hazardous use" means the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, which involves the manufacturing, processing, generation or storage of materials that constitute a physical or health hazard. "Hazardous use" is intended to encompass the uses listed in Group H of the 2015 International Building Code®.

"Industrial use" means the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for assembling, disassembling, fabricating, finishing, manufacturing, packaging, repair, or processing operations that are not classified as hazardous use. "Industrial use" is intended to encompass the uses listed in Group F of the 2015 International Building Code®.

"Institutional use" means the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, in which persons are receiving custodial or medical care, in which persons are detained for penal or correctional purposes or in which the liberty of the occupants is restricted. Day care facilities as defined in educational use are not considered institutional uses. "Institutional use" is intended to encompass the uses listed in Group I of the 2015 International Building Code®. Facilities with five or fewer persons receiving custodial care may be considered a residential use or be considered part of the primary occupancy as listed in Group I of the 2015 International Building Code®.

"International Building Code" is a model building code developed by the International Code Council. The 2015 International Building Code®; is available from the state library of Iowa or the board or online at codes.iccsafe.org.

"Light industrial" means buildings not more than one story in height and not exceeding 10,000 square feet in gross floor area that involve fabrication or manufacturing of noncombustible materials which, during finishing, packing, or processing, are not classified as hazardous use.

"Mixed building use" means a building containing more than one use classification.

"Nonstructural alterations" means modifications to an existing building which do not include any changes to structural members of a building, or do not modify means of egress, handicap accessible routes, fire resistivity or other life safety concerns.

"Occupancy" means a purpose for which a building, or part thereof, is used or intended to be used.

"Outbuildings" means the same as "accessory buildings."

"Place of assembly of people or public gathering" means the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for the gathering of persons such as for civic, social, or religious functions; recreation, food or drink consumption; or awaiting transportation. "Place of assembly of people or public gathering" is intended to encompass the uses listed in Group A of the 2015 International Building Code®. Places of assembly with occupancy of fewer than 50 people shall be considered part of the primary occupancy.

"Residential use" means the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for sleeping purposes when not classified as an institutional use. "Residential use" is intended to encompass the uses listed in Group R of the 2015 International Building Code®.

"Story" means that portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above.

"Structural members" consists of building elements which carry an imposed load of weight and forces in addition to their own weight including, but not limited to, loads imposed by forces of gravity, wind, and earthquake. Structural members include, but are not limited to, footings, foundations, columns, load-bearing walls, beams, girders, purlins, rafters, joists, trusses, lintels, and lateral bracing.

"Use" means the same as "occupancy."

"Warehouses" or"warehouse use" means the use of a building or structure, or portion thereof, for storage that is not classified as a hazardous use. "Warehouse use" is intended to encompass the uses listed in Group S of the 2015 International Building Code®.