April 27, 2011: Letter to Provost Gilson
Click here to view the document
State Building Code - General Provisions
Click here to view the document
State Building Code - General Provisions
Parents,
We are trying to educate ourselves on the "new" or amended State Building Code under General Provisions - Chapter 301. See the entire copy of the code by following this hyperlink. However, without going through the whole document, here are some related information we found that we think we should try to understand.
We are trying to educate ourselves on the "new" or amended State Building Code under General Provisions - Chapter 301. See the entire copy of the code by following this hyperlink. However, without going through the whole document, here are some related information we found that we think we should try to understand.
Under 661—301.3(103A) General provisions, the following new section 1003.8 was added:
"1003.8 Location of Preschool through Second Grade Students. In Group E occupancies, rooms normally occupied by preschool, kindergarten or first grade students shall not be located above or below the level of exit discharge. Rooms normally occupied by second grade students shall not be located more than one story above the level of exit discharge."
However, if you go backward, there is a statement in P.2. of the General provisions, which suggests:
661—301.3(103A) General provisions. The provisions of the International Building Code, 2009 edition, published by the International Code Council, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 600, Falls Church, VA 22041, are hereby adopted by reference as the general requirements for building construction, with the following amendments:
102.6 Existing Structures. The legal occupancy of any structure existing on the date of adoption of this code shall be permitted to continue without change, except as specifically covered in this code or the state fire code, or as deemed necessary by the building code commissioner for the general safety and welfare of the occupants and the public.
Also, on Ch 301, P.7.
101.4.2 Buildings Previously Occupied. The legal occupancy of any structure existing on the date of adoption of this code shall be permitted to continue without change, except as specifically covered in this code or the state fire code, or as deemed necessary by the building code commissioner for the general safety and welfare of the occupants and the public.
102.6 Existing Structures. The legal occupancy of any structure existing on the date of adoption of this code shall be permitted to continue without change, except as specifically covered in this code or the state fire code, or as deemed necessary by the building code commissioner for the general safety and welfare of the occupants and the public.
And on P.6.: 661—301.7(103A) Existing buildings.
301.7(1) Definition. “Existing building” means a building erected prior to January 1, 2010.
There must be existing buildings on and off campus that are not completely up to the current codes. We believe that it is not impossible, but would be unrealistic for current owners of existing buildings to keep renovating their structures in order to adopt to any new codes. In fact, after the fire in 2006, Gilchrist Hall actually had spent about $7 million on restoration and code updates, including asbestos removal and installation of a sprinkler system. Prior to 2006, it would be reasonable for us to suspect that Gilchrist Hall probably wasn't 100% up to codes. So, why is it such a big deal for the CDC to be in 100% compliance in this unique situation?
Please help us better understand the document.
------Please help us better understand the document.
We are also reviewing administrative interpretations of legislative mandates,
The only legislative language we can find regarding the enrollment of the R & D school places caps on enrollment--not requirements.
Below are some excerpts from a bill passed and signed in 2009...
Iowa's laws regarding enrollment at the R&D school:
15 b. a. The total enrollment of the
research and development school shall be limited to six
hundred fifty students.
b. Open enrollment requests accepted by the research and
development school shall be limited to a five percent increase
per year of students from each of the Cedar Falls community
school district and the Waterloo school district over the
previous year's enrollment at the research and development
school.
c. The total number of students enrolled in the research
and development school from the Cedar Falls community school
district shall be limited to not more than ten percent of the
total district enrollment of the Cedar Falls community school
district.
d. Open enrollment requests accepted by the research and
development school from a school district shall be limited to
not more than two percent of a school district's previous
year's total enrollment count. This subsection does not apply
to the Cedar Falls community and Waterloo school districts.
...
Sec. 56. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE.
1. a. There is appropriated from the general fund of the
state to the university of northern Iowa for the fiscal year
beginning July 1, 2009, and ending June 30, 2010, the
following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be
used for the purposes designated:
For a contract with a design firm to evaluate the condition
of the center for early development education in Cedar Falls
and determine an approximate cost of both renovation of the
current facility and new construction with a recommendation as
to which is more feasible:
.................................................. $ 35,000
b. The design firm's recommendation shall consider the
following property elements:
(1) Grounds, utility, and paving systems.
(2) Exterior systems, including the roof, walls, windows,
exterior doors, and structural components.
(3) Interior systems, including walls, doors, floors, and
ceilings.
(4) Fire and life safety issues.
(5) Readily achievable design features meeting the
requirements of the federal Americans With Disabilities Act.
(6) Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning including
control mechanisms.
(7) Electrical and electrical distribution system.
(8) Plumbing.
(9) Fire protection.
(10) Elevators.
(11) Special construction.
c. The design firm shall report in fiscal year 2010=2011
to the president, the director, and the transition team the
results of its evaluation and recommendation. The transition
team shall report the design firm's findings to the general
assembly by January 15, 2012.
2. Leadership in energy and environmental design
certification shall be sought in order that the research and
development school serve as a model of energy efficiency and
design.
Here the rest of the file if you are interested (scroll down till DIVISION II - RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL)
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PowerPoint Presentation used during the open meeting on April 5, 2011.
