building code

[macoo]

Is a vapor barrier underneath a new basement floor required as per Unified Bldg code, in Iowa?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Code or not, if you put the vapor barrier down there, you will have a drier floor.

Gerald J.

 

[Mr. Cautious]

When I built my home 8 years ago the township gave me a guideline to build to. This guideline covered basements too. I dont have a basement but I would guess that you will need a vapor barrier. check with your bldg inspector.

 

[ArkanDan]

It's my understanding that that barrier will deter the effects of radon gas, which is known to cause cancer. It is also good for hindering moisture intrusion as mentioned. I would put it down code or no code.

 

[Robert Huntress]

It hasn't been the UBC for years. Today it is the Residential Building Code. Either way, the code is generic in nature, and only serves as a minimal requirement to build. You would need to check your local building codes to find out whether a vapor barrier is required in Iowa. The old UBC also contained requirements for building on Peirs and crawl spaces, which would not have any such barrier. Think of the UBC and now RBC as the basics that local communities use to write their standards.

 

[RobMD]

do it anyway, it's a good thing - keeps the moisture in the ground, and keeps the cement from "sweating"

 

[Mark-Mi]

Put down insulation to in the long run you will be happy you did.Mark