Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 481 - Inspections and Appeals Department
Inspections Division
Chapter 61 - Minimum Physical Standards for Nursing Facilities
Rule 481-61.14 - Codes and Standards
Nothing in the rules shall relieve anyone from compliance with building codes, ordinances and regulations which are enforced by city, county or state jurisdictions. Where codes, ordinances and regulations are not in effect, the sponsor shall consult one of the national building codes, provided the requirements of the code are not less stringent than the minimum standards set in this chapter (III)
Any alterations, or any installation of new equipment, shall be accomplished as nearly as practical in conformance with all applicable codes, ordinances, regulations and standards required for new construction. Alterations shall not diminish the level of compliance with any codes, ordinances, regulations or standards below that which existed prior to the alterations. Any feature which does not meet the requirement for new buildings but exceeds the requirement for existing buildings shall not be further diminished. Features which exceed requirements for new construction need not be maintained. In no case shall any feature be less than that required for existing buildings. (Ill)
Note: The following codes and standards have been used in whole or in part in these rules:
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Handbooks.
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E 84, Method of Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Material.
International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) Uniform Building Code.
Iowa State Building Code.
Iowa State Plumbing Code.
Labor Services Division, Department of Employment Services.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 70, National Electrical Code.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 90A & 90B, Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 101, Life Safety Code.
Food Service Sanitation Manual (DHEW Publication (FDA) 8-2081).
Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. lists.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard A 117.1-1986, American Standard Specifications for Making Buildings and Facilities Accessible to, and Usable by, the Physically Handicapped.
Copies of nongovernment publications can be obtained from the various agencies at the addresses listed:
American Society for Testing and Materials
1916 Race Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
Iowa State Building Code
Department of Public Safety
Wallace State Office Building
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Iowa State Plumbing Code
Department of Public Health
Lucas State Office Building
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
National Fire Protection Association
Batterymarch Park
Quincy, Massachusetts 02269
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
33 Pfingsten Road
Northbrook, Illinois 66062
American National Standards Institute
1430 Broadway
New York, New York 10018
International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO)
Uniform Building Code
5360 South Workman Mill Road
Whittier, California 90601
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
1791 Tullie Circle N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30329
Except as noted in the list, copies of government publications can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
