Date: June 18, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Grimes Community Center, 410 SE Main Street, Grimes, Iowa
Meeting Overview
The Grimes Board of Appeals meeting packet includes agenda materials, prior meeting minutes, staff communication, proposed building code updates, and supporting information related to changes to the City of Grimes building regulations.
The primary public agenda item concerns proposed updates to the City of Grimes Building Regulations, including changes to the Residential Building Code and Building Code provisions. The proposed updates include changes related to radon-resistant construction requirements and corrections related to swimming pool and spa code provisions.
Agenda Summary
General Agenda Items
The meeting agenda includes:
- Roll Call
- Approval of the Agenda
- Approval of Minutes from the Previous Meeting
Public Agenda Item
The main discussion item is:
- Recommendation and approval of proposed changes to the City of Grimes Building Regulations:
- Title 11-8 Residential Building Code
- Title 11-11 Building Code
The meeting concludes with adjournment.
Main Topic: Proposed Building Regulation Updates
Background
The packet explains that the State of Iowa is requiring all one- and two-family dwellings to install, at minimum, a passive radon mitigation system effective July 1, 2026.
To comply with this requirement, staff recommended adoption of Appendix BE of the 2024 International Residential Code through Title 11-8 Residential Building Code of the Grimes Code of Ordinances.
The proposed changes also remove certain swimming pool-related items that remained in Titles 11-8 and 11-11 after previous code updates.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommended approval of the proposed code changes.
The packet notes:
- No budget impact was identified.
- The item was not identified as a strategic planning priority.
- The requested Board action was approval of the proposed changes.
Proposed Radon Mitigation Requirements
The packet includes guidance related to radon-resistant construction requirements for one- and two-family dwellings.
The proposed requirements address several construction components.
Gas-Permeable Materials and Soil Preparation
Requirements include:
- Installation of gas-permeable materials beneath concrete slabs or approved flooring systems.
- Placement of a 6-mil polyethylene or equivalent flexible membrane over gas-permeable materials or crawlspace floors.
- Coverage of the entire floor area with membrane overlaps at joints.
- Extension of membrane material to foundation walls in crawlspaces.
- Sealing around penetrations, punctures, and tears.
Radon Vent Pipe Requirements
The proposed guidance includes:
- Use of PVC, ABS, or equivalent vent piping materials.
- Installation of piping to allow moisture drainage back beneath the slab or submembrane area.
- Labeling exposed visible piping as a “Radon Reduction System.”
- Installation of vertical vent piping through floors to a point above the roof line.
- Connection options involving foundation drainage systems or sealed sump baskets when applicable.
- Required clearances from windows and other openings.
- Accessibility for future fan installation.
Additional Construction Requirements
The packet identifies additional radon-related construction requirements, including:
- Providing an electrical outlet box near the anticipated future fan location.
- Sealing openings through floor systems.
- Sealing floor joints, cracks, and wall connections.
- Sealing crawlspace air handling equipment and ductwork.
- Managing condensate drainage appropriately.
- Properly sealing sump basket lids.
Testing Requirements
The packet states that radon testing must be completed according to the City of Grimes Radon Testing Policy.
Previous Board Discussion Included in Packet
The packet contains minutes from a prior Board of Appeals meeting discussing proposed building regulation updates.
During that earlier discussion:
- Staff presented proposed changes to multiple sections of the City’s building regulations.
- Staff discussed changing the Board name to “Building Regulations Board of Appeals” to reduce confusion with the Board of Adjustment.
- Staff explained proposed additions involving swimming pool and spa code provisions.
- Board members discussed ensuring clerical corrections, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation edits, were completed before Council review.
- The prior motion approved the proposed changes with the condition that clerical edits be completed before Council approval.
The meeting materials explain that members of the public wishing to address the Board during public comment should:
- Sign up upon entering the meeting.
- Be recognized by the presiding officer.
- State their full name and address before speaking.
- Limit comments to three minutes.
The packet states that meetings are recorded.
Key Takeaways
- The Board is reviewing updates to local building regulations to align with state requirements and updated building standards.
- A major focus of the proposed update is adding passive radon mitigation requirements for new one- and two-family dwellings.
- The proposed changes include construction details for radon-resistant systems, testing requirements, and related building code updates.
- The packet does not identify a budget impact for the proposed changes.
- The Board’s action is focused on recommending and approving proposed regulatory updates for further consideration.
Supporting Documents Included in the Packet
The packet includes materials related to:
- Meeting agenda
- Meeting packet
- Previous meeting minutes
- Staff memo and communication
- Proposed residential building code changes
- Proposed building code changes
- Radon testing policy
- Radon installation guidance handout
