Rwanda Building Control PDF
Rwanda Building Control PDF
REPUBLIC OF RWANDA
MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE
RWANDA BUILDING
CONTROL REGULATIONS
__________________________________________________________________________
Ministry of Infrastructure Rwanda Housing Authority
nd
Building Control Regulations 2 Edition
FOREWORD
The overall mission of Rwanda Housing Authority is to implement the national
housing and construction policies through coordination, conception,
development, monitoring and evaluation of actions and programs so as to
improve the overall living conditions of Rwandan citizen and contribute to the
development of the country.
In order to carry out this important mission, the Agency has undertaken an
ambitious program aimed at availing all necessary legal planning tools that
are prerequisites for the organization of the construction and urban planning
industries.
Esther MUTAMBA
Director General
Rwanda Housing Authority
__________________________________________________________________________
Ministry of Infrastructure Rwanda Housing Authority
nd
Building Control Regulations 2 Edition
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1: PRELIMINARY ................................................................................................. 1.1
SECTION 1.1 GENERAL ............................................................................................. 1.1
1.1.1 Citation ................................................................................................................. 1.1
1.1.2 Definitions ............................................................................................................. 1.1
1.1.2.1. 'Acceptable' ........................................................................................ 1.1
1.1.2.2. 'Access door'...................................................................................... 1.1
1.1.2.3. 'Act' ................................................... 1.Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.1.2.4. 'Applicant' ........................................................................................... 1.1
1.1.2.5. 'Application' ........................................................................................ 1.1
1.1.2.6. 'Approval' ........................................................................................... 1.1
1.1.2.7. 'Approved' .......................................................................................... 1.1
1.1.2.8. 'Approved plan' .................................................................................. 1.1
1.1.2.9. 'Artificial ventilation' or 'artificial ventilation system' .......................... 1.1
1.1.2.10. 'Automatic' ......................................................................................... 1.2
1.1.2.11. `Balustrade' ........................................................................................ 1.2
1.1.2.12. 'Basement' ......................................................................................... 1.2
1.1.2.13. 'Block' ................................................................................................. 1.2
1.1.2.14. 'Brickwork' .......................................................................................... 1.2
1.1.2.15. 'Building control officer' ...................................................................... 1.2
1.1.2.16. 'Building committee' ........................................................................... 1.2
1.1.2.17. 'Canopy' ............................................................................................. 1.2
1.1.2.18. 'Cesspool' .......................................................................................... 1.2
1.1.2.19. 'Chimney' ........................................................................................... 1.2
1.1.2.20. 'Class'................................................................................................. 1.2
1.1.2.21. 'Combustible' ..................................................................................... 1.3
1.1.2.22. 'Column' ............................................................................................. 1.3
1.1.2.23. 'Concrete' ........................................................................................... 1.3
1.1.2.24. 'Competent person' ............................................................................ 1.3
1.1.2.25. 'Currency point' .................................................................................. 1.3
1.1.2.26. 'Dead load' ......................................................................................... 1.3
1.1.2.27. 'Deemed satisfied'.............................................................................. 1.3
1.1.2.28. 'Division' ............................................................................................. 1.3
1.1.2.29. 'Domestic building' ............................................................................. 1.3
1.1.2.30. 'Drain' ................................................................................................. 1.3
1.1.2.31. 'Drainage work' .................................................................................. 1.3
1.1.2.32. 'Dwelling house' ................................................................................. 1.4
1.1.2.33. 'Dwelling unit' ..................................................................................... 1.4
1.1.2.34. 'Emergency route' .............................................................................. 1.4
1.1.2.35. 'Escape door' ..................................................................................... 1.4
1.1.2.36. 'Escape route' .................................................................................... 1.4
1.1.2.37. 'Exit door' ........................................................................................... 1.4
1.1.2.38. 'External wall' ..................................................................................... 1.4
1.1.2.39. 'Feeder route' ..................................................................................... 1.4
1.1.2.40. 'Fire shutter' ....................................................................................... 1.4
__________________________________________________________________________
Ministry of Infrastructure Rwanda Housing Authority
nd
Building Control Regulations 2 Edition
__________________________________________________________________________
Ministry of Infrastructure Rwanda Housing Authority
nd
Building Control Regulations 2 Edition
__________________________________________________________________________
Ministry of Infrastructure Rwanda Housing Authority
nd
Building Control Regulations 2 Edition
__________________________________________________________________________
Ministry of Infrastructure Rwanda Housing Authority
nd
Building Control Regulations 2 Edition
__________________________________________________________________________
Ministry of Infrastructure Rwanda Housing Authority
nd
Building Control Regulations 2 Edition
__________________________________________________________________________
Ministry of Infrastructure Rwanda Housing Authority
Building Control Regulations Part I
PART 1 PRELIMINARY
1.1.1 Citation
1.1.2 Definitions
In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires:
1.1.2.1. 'Acceptable'
1.1.2.3. 'Applicant'
Means any person who intends to carry out building operations and who
makes an application;
1.1.2.4. 'Application'
1.1.2.5. 'Approval'
Means
1.1.2.6. 'Approved'
Means
Means a plan or plans retained by the one stop center office being a true
copy of the plan or plans approved;
1.1.2.9. 'Automatic'
1.1.2.10. `Balustrade'
1.1.2.11. 'Basement'
Means any storey of a building, which is under the first storey and any
portion, which is below the level of the adjoining pavement or the
surrounding ground;
1.1.2.12. 'Block'
1.1.2.13. 'Brickwork'
1.1.2.16. 'Canopy'
Means a covering over a street at or below first floor level, which extends
beyond plot boundary;
1.1.2.17. 'Cesspool'
1.1.2.18. 'Chimney'
Means that part of a building, which forms part of a flue other than a flue
pipe;
1.1.2.19. 'Class'
1.1.2.20. 'Combustible'
1.1.2.21. 'Column'
1.1.2.22. 'Concrete'
Mean the gravitational force caused by the static mass of all permanent
parts of a building;
1.1.2.27. 'Division'
1.1.2.29. 'Drain'
urinal, water closet, waste pipe or any other item connected with
sewerage work;
Means a unit containing one or more habitable rooms and provided with
adequate and safe sanitary and cooking facilities and is lawfully, used or
constructed, adapted or designed to be used as a residence for one
family;
Means the entire path of travel from the farthest point in any room in a
building to the nearest escape door;
Means the entire path of travel from the farthest point in any room in a
building to the nearest escape door and may include an emergency
route;
Means any door that is a component of an escape route from any room in
a building;
Means an outer wall of a building, but does not include a party wall or
separating wall;
Means that part of an escape route, which allows travel in two different
directions to the access doors of not less than two emergency outlets;
1.1.2.41. 'Fire-stop'
1.1.2.42. 'Flight'
Means the net area measured on a plan enclosed within the internal
surfaces of external walls without finishes;
1.1.2.44. 'Flue'
Means a pipe that forms a flue, but does not include a pipe built as a
lining to a chimney;
1.1.2.47. 'Foundation'
Means that portion of a wall between the foundation and the lowest floor
above the foundation;
1.1.2.49. 'Garage'
1.1.2.51. 'Hoarding'
1.1.2.55. 'Kitchen'
1.1.2.56. 'Landing'
Means a boundary of a site other than a boundary between such site and
any street or public space with a width in excess of six meters measured
at right angles to such boundary;
1.1.2.58. 'Latrine'
1.1.2.59. 'Load'
1.1.2.61. 'Manhole'
1.1.2.62. 'Member'
1.1.2.64. 'Non-combustible'
1.1.2.65. 'Nosing'
Means the front edge of a tread of a stairway and includes the front edge
of the top surface of any landing that is situated at the top of a flight;
1.1.2.66. 'Obstruction'
1.1.2.67. 'Occupancy'
Means the particular use or the type of use to which a building or portion
of a building is normally put or intended to be put;
1.1.2.68. 'Partition'
Means:
Means a notional line that connects the nosings of all the treads in a
series of stairs;
1.1.2.73. 'Plot'
1.1.2.74. 'Pressurization'
1.1.2.75. 'Pressurized'
Means a building to which the public have a right of access during all
reasonable times for reasons that the building is used in accordance with
its prescribed occupancy;
1.1.2.80. 'Repairs'
Means a building cover and its supporting structure including any ceiling
attached to such structure;
Mean any material, which complies with the requirements for the
performance of safety glazing materials contained in approved standards;
1.1.2.84. 'Scaffolding'
Means a wall or floor, which shall have a specific fire resistance, used
between division occupancies or tenancies in a building;
1.1.2.87. 'Sewage'
Means wastewater, soil water, industrial effluent and other liquid waste
flowing in separate or combined sewer, but shall not include storm water;
1.1.2.88. 'Sewer'
1.1.2.90. 'Stability'
1.1.2.91. 'Stairway'
1.1.2.92. 'Standards'
Means any body that publishes standards within the meaning ascribed
herein;
1.1.2.94. 'Storey'
Means part of a building which is situated between the floor level directly
below it and the floor level above it or, if there is no floor above it, the
ceiling or roof;
1.1.2.97. 'Street'
Means any highway, road or service lane, or any land reserved for a
highway, road or service lane, and includes any bridge, footway, square,
court, alley or passage, whether a thoroughfare intended for use by the
public or not;
1.1.2.98. 'Strength'
1.1.2.99. 'Structural'
Means:
1.1.2.104. 'Tread'
1.1.2.107. 'Wall'
1.1.2.109. 'Width'
1.2.1.1 On any site, water supply, drainage, storm water disposal, electrical or other
services connected to used or provided in connection with any building, shall
be regarded as part of the building.
1.2.1.2 No building operation, including buildings for which a permit has been issued
or for a demolition operation, shall be permitted if it connects to an existing
building except where an engineer certifies to the one stop center office that
the new building operations shall not affect the structural stability of the
existing building.
1.2.2.1 No application is necessary to the one stop center office for any repair works.
1.2.2.2 Any building operation defined as minor building work shall comply with those
parts of these Regulations specified officially by the one stop center officer in
charge of housing and issued upon prior request.
b) The one stop center office shall grant such authorization for a period of
time as applied for the erection of the building and for the performance of
any experiment or for the demonstration, testing or assessment of such
building.
1.2.2.5 Any stall or other similar building to be erected as part of an exhibition shall
be regarded as a temporary building, except that where such stall is to be
erected inside an exhibition hall, the owner of the hall shall not be required to
submit to the one stop center office any details of the stall, but shall submit a
layout plan of all such stalls within the hall showing the location of each
individual stall, all escape doors, and all firefighting equipment.
PART 2 ADMINISTRATION
2.1.1 Submittals
2.1.1.1 Any person intending to construct or modify a building or to alter its use
shall submit an application for a building permit to the one stop center office
in the District in Which the project is to take place, hereinafter called the
one stop center office.
2.1.1.2 A person who intends to carry out building operations shall submit a written
application to do so in such form as the one stop center office may require,
completing all details required so far as they apply to the proposals.
2.1.1.3 The application form shall be signed by the owner or by his or her duly
authorized agent and shall state the name of the person on whose behalf it
has been submitted.
2.1.1.5 Building permits will be issued with due regards to all approved zoning
regulations
2.1.1.6 An applicant shall submit to the one stop center office, in addition to the
written application letter and a duly completed application form, the
following plans and particulars as may be required by public notice issued
with regard to certain areas or major urban design schemes:
a) site plan;
b) layout drawings;
c) services drawings showing locations of any existing services and
proposed points of connection;
d) site drainage plan.
2.1.2.1 The one stop center office may give approval to type plans prepared by an
architect and submitted with other drawings in order to be issued with a
building permit.
2.1.2.2 An applicant may submit only a site plan, and services plans as necessary,
and refer to the building type plan by its drawing number and reference, if
given one by the one stop center office.
2.1.3.1 Any person who intends to carry out major public building operations may
before submitting a formal application request the one stop center office:
2.1.3.2 Where the one stop center office is unable to comply with any such request
it shall state, in writing, its reasons for its inability to do so.
2.1.4.1 Any person intending to carry out a minor building work shall make a
written application to the one stop center officer in charge of housing in
accordance with these Regulations.
2.1.4.2 The one stop center officer in charge of housing shall, thirty days after the
receipt of the application in sub-article 2.1.4.1, give his decision whether to
approve, refuse or give notice for extension of time.
2.1.4.3 If the one stop center officer in charge of housing deems any application to
be of such character or magnitude as to have a substantial impact on the
neighborhood or community, he or she shall inform the person making the
application of the need to disseminate this information to the public, inviting
representations from the public in writing to the one stop center officer in
charge of housing before a specified closing date.
2.1.4.4 The one stop center officer in charge of housing shall make copies of the
representations available to the person making the application within
fourteen days and that person shall then have fourteen days to make a
written reply to these representations.
2.1.4.5 The one stop center officer in charge of housing shall within thirty days
gives his or her decision on the application or the matter shall be referred to
Rwanda Housing Authority headquarters for a final decision within thirty
days from the day of receipt.
2.1.5.1 The minimum qualification for a Building Inspection Officer shall be:
2.1.5.2 The minimum qualification for an Assistant Inspection Officer who will be
assisting the Building Inspection Officer and carrying out building inspection
work shall be:
i. Architecture
ii. Civil Engineering or equivalent
iv. Structural Engineering
b) A minimum of one (1) year continuous employment in the construction
industry.
2.1.6.1 Where so requested in writing by the one stop center office or by the owner
of any building or any person having an interest therein, Rwanda Housing
Authority at central level shall examine the plans, specifications and other
documents accompanying or intended to accompany any building
application to the one stop center office, perform any tests considered to be
necessary and inspect the site on which such building is to be erected, and
shall issue a report in connection therewith.
2.1.6.2 Where Rwanda Housing Authority at central level has found the proposed
building to comply with all the relevant requirements of these Regulations it
shall make its findings known accordingly, and any application for approval
to erect such building accompanied by the report from the agency, shall be
deemed to satisfactory.
2.1.7.2 In the event the instruction given is not strictly followed, the one stop center
office shall issue a notice to the owner asking for the immediate cessation
of any activity on the site until compliance with the present regulations
could be verified.
2.2.1.2 The architect and engineer shall be deemed competent to execute all
necessary inspections and he or she shall certify to the one stop center
office the satisfactory completion of the building before the one stop center
office issues an occupation permit. All inspections are deemed to have
been made by the one stop center office with respect to these Regulations.
2.2.1.3 If the owner terminates the agreement with his or her appointed architect or
engineer at any time before the occupation permit is issued, the owner shall
immediately notify the one stop center office concerned, in which case it
may:
a) serve a notice on the owner to stop any further building operations until
the owner appoints another registered architect or engineer or re-
appoints the original architect or engineer who shall inform the one stop
center office that they have commenced or re-commenced their
appointment, or
b) Serve a notice on the owner that all inspections shall be carried out by
the one stop center office and require the owner to give the notices for
inspections as required by these Regulations.
2.2.2.1 Where it becomes apparent to the one stop center office that any architect
or engineer has failed to apply any or all of the provisions of these
Regulations, the following courses of action may be adopted:
2.2.2.2 Where any matter is brought before the one stop center office at the District
level of Rwanda Housing Authority at central level with regards to
professional misconduct, the following measures may be taken against the
professional:
2.2.3.1 The owner of a building other than a minor building shall employ an
architect for purposes of architectural design, and for a building of two or
more stories or any building with a height to eaves and a roof span of 6.0
meters or greater, or any building with suspended structural floor panel
exceeding 4.0 meters in span, and employ an engineer for the purposes of
structural design, and shall retain the services of the architect and the
engineer for the purpose of supervising the construction of the building.
2.2.3.2 On completion of the building operations with respect to the buildings
specified in sub-article 2.2.3.1, the architect or the engineer, as the case
may be, shall provide the one stop center office with a certificate confirming
that the work has been carried out in accordance with the design and the
specifications and complies with the relevant approved standards and
codes of practice.
2.2.3.3 An owner of buildings specified in sub-article 2.2.3.1 shall employ on the
site, throughout the period of construction, a competent person capable of
reading and interpreting the working drawings, or enter into a contract with
a registered contractor, to ensure that the work is carried out in accordance
with all designs and specifications.
2.2.3.4 All architectural drawings and design calculations shall be signed by the
architect and all structural drawings and design calculations shall be signed
by the engineer.
2.2.3.5 The requirements of these Regulations with regard to provisions dealing
with architectural or structural design shall be satisfied where the designer
satisfies the requirements of the respective registration statutes.
2.2.3.6 For the purpose of these Regulations, the one stop center office shall keep
a register of qualified architects and structural/civil designers and other
engineers as provided by their respective bodies.
PART 3 DESIGN
e) Location plan;
f) Site plan;
g) Architectural layout drawings and details;
h) Structural drawings, layouts and details, including bar bending schedules
and structural calculations;
i) Topographic maps
j) Water, plumbing and drainage drawings and details;
k) General arrangement of artificial ventilation;
l) Electrical or mechanical installation layout details; and
m) Bill of quantities
h) Any other particulars, which the applicant feels, would be of assistance to
the one stop center office.
3.1.1.2 The requirements of sub-article 3.1.1.1 of these Regulations shall not apply to
minor building works.
3.1.1.3 With respect to the drawings referred to in sub-article 3.1.1.1 (d) of these
Regulations, information may be amalgamated into one drawing provided the
overall intent and content shall be legible and understandable.
3.1.1.4 The one stop center office shall, upon receipt of an application, give its
decision or give notice or extension of time as provided by law.
3.1.1.5 The validity of a building permit shall be deemed to have lapsed where the
building operations have not commenced on the site within the time
prescribed by law after the issuance of a building permit by the one stop
center office.
3.1.2.2 The one stop center office may request any person making an application to
provide a detailed description of submittals made under sub-article 3.1.1.1 of
these Regulations regarding:
3.1.3.2 The plans, drawings and diagrams shall be drawn to suitable scales but not
smaller than the scales indicated in the following paragraphs:
a) Site Plans:
1:2500 or 1:1250 or 1:1000 or 1:500 or 1:250 or 1:200 or 1:100;
3.1.3.3 In all cases the scales used shall be stated on the plans, drawings or
diagrams and the letters and symbols adopted shall be not less than 2.5mm.
3.1.3.4 The North point shall be indicated at the top right hand corner of all the site or
location plans.
c) direction of true north and, if required by the one stop center office, the
natural ground contours at suitable vertical intervals or spot levels at each
corner of the site;
d) name of the street upon which the site adjoins, where applicable;
e) position of any service main and any connection point to the service main
and of any sewer, storm water drain existing upon such site;
f) position of the proposed building, existing building to be demolished; and
g) any existing and intended point of access from any street, and any tree,
street furniture, apparatus or equipment relative to the access.
3.1.5.2 The foundations, floors, walls, damp-proofing material, windows that are fixed
or can be opened, fanlights, louvers and other ventilating devices, artificial
ventilation systems, doors, stairs, roofs and chimneys shall be clearly shown
on the plans, drawings or diagrams.
3.1.5.3 The layout drawings shall also indicate sanitary fixtures, structural members,
the intended use of rooms and other spaces as well as the horizontal and
vertical dimensions of the rooms and other spaces.
3.1.5.4 Where fixed seating is provided, the layout of all rows, seats and aisles, the
position of all exit doors, and the total number of seats shall be shown on the
plans.
3.1.5.5 The location, levels and size of any paved areas adjacent to the building shall
be marked on the layout drawings.
3.1.5.6 Where required by the one stop center office, the layout drawings shall
include the levels of any adjoining verge or roadway, together with a section
along the length of any driveway, which shall show the relative levels and
gradients of the driveway, and storm water drainage.
3.1.5.7 The one stop center office may require the levels of the floors relative to one
another and to the existing ground surface, the proposed finished ground
surface or the surface of any public place or public street to be marked on the
layout drawings.
3.1.5.8 Where applicable, the details of any special provisions for persons with
disabilities shall be given on all plans, drawings and diagrams.
a) position, size, gradient and any connecting point to the drain in relation to
a datum established on the site and the level of the ground relative
thereto;
b) position of any point of access to the interior of any drain;
c) position of any trapped gully;
3.1.6.2 The one stop center office may require the owner to submit the following:
a) Drainage design calculations, which shall clearly indicate the basis for
such design;
b) An estimate of the composition and quantity of any industrial effluent
proposed to be discharged into any sewer, and
c) Where approval has been given for the industrial effluent to be
discharged into any sewer, plans and particulars of any drainage works
and installations as required by the relevant water, sewerage and
environmental bodies in terms of the conditions of approval for such
discharge.
3.1.7.2 The Regulations shall not contain anything that could be construed as
preventing details of such requirements from being clearly indicated on a
layout drawing required under sub-article 3.1.1.1 of these Regulations.
3.1.8.1 Where symbols are to be used to signify details on fire protection plans, they
shall conform to symbols prescribed in the appropriate Code of Practice and
additionally submitted as a separate sheet of symbols and abbreviations.
a) to submit to the one stop center office any other approved document
identifying the boundary pegs or beacons of the site; and
b) to submit a block plan showing the nearest streets and the distances of
the boundaries of the plot from the reference streets.
3.1.9.2 Where the owner fails to engage the services of a licensed land surveyor, the
one stop center office shall engage the services at the cost of such owner, to
establish and mark out the pegs or beacons.
3.1.9.4 In the case of residential dwellings, any boundary wall may not be over-
topped with barbed wire fencing material or broken glass or any material that
would cause a safety hazard to persons.
3.1.10.2 Where any portion of a street abutting the site on which any building is to
be erected has not been made, the owner of the building shall obtain the
proposed road levels from the one stop center office.
3.1.10.3 The one stop center office shall provide the levels of unmade street within
fourteen days after the receipt of the request by the owner of the building.
3.1.10.4 Where the one stop center office fails to provide the levels of unmade
street, it shall notify the owner in writing to that effect, and the owner of the
building shall determine the finished ground floor level of the building.
3.1.10.5 Where the floor levels of any building have been fixed under sub-article
3.1.10.3 the one stop center office shall, at its own cost, provide adequate
storm water drainage around the site at the time of making the street.
3.1.11.2 The one stop center office shall, before granting the authorization, require
the owner of the temporary building to state the period for which
authorization is required.
3.1.11.3 The applicant shall submit a site plan with the application to erect a
temporary building.
3.1.11.5 The owner of a temporary building shall also submit for approval the
structural details as may be necessary for the one stop center office to
determine the structural safety of the proposed building where it is intended
that the public shall have access to the building.
3.1.11.6 The one stop center office shall grant authorization for a limited period not
exceeding three (3) years having regard to the use of a temporary building.
3.1.11.7 The one stop center office may at the request of the owner grant approval
for extensions of the period of authorization not exceeding one (1) year
3.1.11.8 Where it is intended that the public shall have access to the building, the
request shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by an engineer,
indicating that the condition of the structural system is satisfactory for the
period of extension.
3.1.11.9 Where the owner of the building wishes to apply for a building permit not
later than the last day of the period of authorization, he may submit to the
one stop center office such additional plans and details as may be required
in order to consider the application.
3.1.11.10 Where approval has been granted with respect to the application, the
owner of the building shall produce an affidavit certifying that all parts of the
building erected under the terms of the authorization have been erected in
accordance with the plans and details approved by the one stop center
office.
3.1.11.11 Where plans and details have not been submitted to the one stop center
office or where the one stop center office has refused to grant approval of
the plans and details, the owner shall demolish and remove the building.
3.1.12.2 Any building or any area within a building shall be classified as being of a
single occupancy provided that any room or space of any other occupancy
within the building or area is used for the purpose ancillary to the single
occupancy.
3.1.14.1 Where the one stop center office has reason to believe that there are
unstable soils or an unstable slope under a building site, it shall advise the
applicant accordingly.
3.1.14.2 Where unstable soils or an unstable slope is evident within the boundaries
of the site, the applicant shall submit to the one stop center office
particulars of the measure considered necessary to make provision for any
differential movements or other effects that may be detrimental to the
building irrespective of whether or not the one stop center office informed
the applicant about the unstable soils or slopes in addition to the
requirements of sub-article 3.1.1.1 (d).
3.1.15.2 An excavation for a foundation shall be taken down to a firm natural ground
and the bottom made horizontal. This shall be indicated on the plans
submitted under sub-article 3.1.1.1 (d).
3.1.15.3 Where an excavation for a foundation is in solid rock, the bottom of the
excavation shall be taken into the rock to a depth not less than 300mm or
the depth equal to the thickness of the foundation footing, whichever is
greater. The engineer shall submit a technical solution equivalent to the
provisions of this sub-article in special circumstances where excavating into
the solid bedrock is not practicable.
3.1.16.2 The landscaping proposal shall be designed to achieve one or more of the
following objectives:
3.1.16.3 The proposal for landscaping shall include indigenous flora and local
materials wherever practicable.
3.1.16.4 Parking for automobiles, vans, buses and trucks shall be provided within
the boundary of the site in accordance with the Third Schedule.
3.2.1.1 For the purpose of calculating the dead load of a building or any part of a
building, the weights of all building material shall conform to the approved
standard specifications and design guidelines. In the case of materials not
mentioned in the required documents, the weights shall be determined by
tests to be carried out by an approved laboratory.
3.2.1.2 Where the positions of permanent partitions are shown on the plans furnished
to the one stop center office, the weight of the partitions shall be included as
dead load.
3.2.1.3 Where it is intended to erect partitions which are not shown on the plan, the
beams and the floor slabs, where they are capable of distributing the load
effectively over the area of floor, shall be designed to carry, in addition to
other loads, a uniformly distributed load per square meter of not less than
30% of the weight per meter run of the finished partitions, or in the case of a
floor being used as an office, the design shall be based on the calculated
2
load or a load of 1 kN/m , whichever is greater.
3.2.1.4 The imposed loads on the floors, stairs, landings, corridors, balconies,
beams, columns, piers, walls, structural frames or any other parts of the
building shall be derived from the imposed loads specified in the approved
Construction Code of Standards, and where it is known that the actual
imposed loads shall exceed those derived, the higher loads shall be adopted
in the design.
3.2.1.5 In the design of columns, piers or walls supporting two or more floors in any
building other than a warehouse, garage or building to be used wholly or
predominantly for storage, the total imposed floor loads calculated in sub-
article 3.2.1.4 may be reduced by the percentage specified in the Fourth
Schedule for a factory or a workshop. The minimum total imposed floor load
2
for any column, pier or wall shall not be less than 5kN/m on all floors
supported.
3.2.1.6 For the purpose of Article 3.2.1, a roof shall have the same meaning as a
floor.
2
3.2.1.7 Where a single span of a beam supports not less than 50m of floor area at
one general level and the floor is not to be used for storage purposes, the
imposed loads as calculated in sub-article 3.2.1.3 for the design of the beam
2
may be reduced by 5% for each 50m of supported floor, subject to a
maximum reduction of 25%; a similar reduction may be taken into account in
the design of any column, pier or wall supporting the beam.
3.2.1.8 Any load specifically allowed for plant or machinery shall not be reduced in
order to comply with these Regulations.
3.2.1.9 For the design of roofs, the following imposed loads shall be allowed in
addition to wind and dead loads:
2
a) on roofs where access is provided, an imposed load of 1.5 kN/m shall be
taken subject to a minimum load of 3.5kN uniformly distributed over the
span in the case of all beams; and
3.2.1.10 For sloping roofs with slopes greater than 10° where access has not been
provided, the following shall apply:
2
a) on roofs with slopes shallower than, or equal to 30°; 0.5 kN/m imposed
load shall be taken;
b) on roofs with slopes greater than 30° but less than 75°; imposed loads
2 2
shall be interpolated linearly between 0.0 kN/m and 0.5 kN/m ; and
c) on roofs with slopes steeper than or equal to 75°, zero imposed load
shall be taken.
3.2.1.11 All roof covering and purlons shall be capable of carrying a minimum load
of 1kN concentrated on an area of 100mm square at any point except that
where the roof slope exceeds 45°, a concentrated load of 0.5kN shall be
provided for.
3.2.1.13 The grades of exposure to wind shall be in accordance with the terrain
categories specified in the Fifth Schedule.
3.2.1.14 The design of all building structures shall conform to the seismic loading
and design requirements in the approved Construction Code of Standards.
3.2.2 Foundations
3.2.2.1 The foundation of every building shall satisfy the following conditions:
i) there should be no wide variation in the type of soil over the loaded
area and no weak soil types should exist below that on which the
f) Where the strip foundation is laid at more than one level, at each
change of level, the higher foundation shall extend over and combine
with the lower foundation for a distance not less than the thickness of
the foundation, and in no case less than 300mm.
g) Any floor slab forming a foundation shall be thickened so that the width
below the floor slab, or the combined depth of the floor slab and the
thickened portion, shall not be less than that required for a continuous
strip foundation.
h) Foundations constructed wholly or in part of reinforced concrete shall
satisfy the requirements of item (i) of this sub-article as far as the
strength of these parts of the foundation are concerned, where as the
design and construction of the reinforced concrete parts is based on
the recommendations in the approved Construction Code of Srandards.
i) All foundations for buildings shall be designed per the requirements in
Article 3.2.1.14. Approval for such structure shall not be granted
without the explicit scrutiny of the design and signature of a registered
geo-technical engineer or a structural engineer,
3.2.3.6 A wall, pier, or column in brickwork or block work shall be deemed sufficient
for the purposes of sub-article 3.2.3.2, and where they are designed and
constructed in accordance with the approved Construction Code of
Standards.
3.2.4 Floors
3.2.4.1 A floor of any building shall be of adequate strength to support its own weight
and all imposed loads on it, and have appropriate fire resistance rating
applicable to its use.
3.2.4.2 The design and construction of a structural floor shall satisfy the requirements
of sub-articles 3.2.3.2, 2.2.3.4 and 3.2.3.5, of Article 3.2.3.
3.2.4.3 Any floor supported on the ground shall be constructed of impervious units
consisting of slabs, bricks, natural stone, or other approved material of
thickness of not less than 50mm.
3.2.4.4 If the floor to which sub-article 3.2.4.3 applies is constructed in concrete, such
concrete shall have a minimum characteristic strength of not less than 15
2
N/mm at the age of 28 days and the concrete floor slab shall be a minimum
of 100mm in thickness.
3.2.4.5 In every building, the lowest floor in every part of the building shall resist the
passage of moisture from the ground.
3.2.4.6 The requirement of sub-article 3.2.4.5 shall be deemed satisfied if a floor,
being a solid floor, is itself or its finishes, impervious to moisture or a damp
proofing layer of approved type is inserted within the thickness of the floor.
3.2.5 Walls
3.2.5.1 The height of a wall shall be measured in the following manner:
a) the height of the lowest or only storey shall be measured from the
underside of that part of the wall that immediately rests upon the footings,
that is the base, to the highest part of the wall;
b) the height of any other storey shall be measured from the level of the
underside of the floor structure above it or, if there is no storey, to the
highest part of the wall, or in a storey comprising a gable to half the
height of the gable;
c) the height of a party wall comprising a gable shall be measured from its
base to the base of the gable,
d) the height of any other wall comprising a gable shall be measured from
its base to its highest part excluding any parapet that does not exceed
1.0 meter in height.
3.2.5.2 The length of a wall shall be measured from the centers of dividing walls,
piers, buttresses, return walls or any other members dividing the wall into
distinct lengths.
3.2.5.4 The external wall of a building of not more than one storey in height, whose
width in the direction of the span of the roof does not exceed 10.0 meters,
and whose height does not exceed 3.0 meters, or a veranda, loggia, garage,
greenhouse, tool shed, fuel store, water closet, lavatory, or wash-house
which does not exceed 3.0 meters in height, and is attached to the house,
shall not be less than 100mm in thickness subject to the following conditions:
a) a wall exceeding 2.0 meters in height or length shall be bonded into piers
2
not less than 200mm in horizontal section, or where piers of greater size
shall be required to give stability to the wall of such greater size;
b) where any pier is required, the piers shall be provided at each end of the
wall and at intermediate distances not exceeding 3.0 meters centre to
centre of the piers;
c) the roof shall be constructed so that the walls are not subjected to any
thrust; and
d) no load other than the distributed loading from the roof shall be borne on
the wall.
3.2.5.5 The thickness of a wall of an outbuilding not communicating directly with the
building to which it is appurtenant shall not be less than 100mm if it does not
exceed 2.0 meters in height and 3.0meters in length.
3.2.5.6 The thickness of a parapet to an external wall shall not be less than 150mm
or the thickness of the wall on which it is carried, whichever is lesser and its
height shall not exceed six times the thickness.
3.2.5.7 The distance between any part of an opening or recess made in an external
wall and the outer face of an external return wall shall not be less than one
and one-half times the thickness of the wall in which the opening or recess is
3.2.5.9 The number, size or position of openings or recesses on a wall shall not
impair the stability of the wall.
3.2.5.10 Where the requirements of sub-articles 3.2.5.1 to 3.2.5.7 of this Article are
disregarded in so far as they relate to the dimensions of the construction of
load bearing walls, and such walls are designed in accordance with sub-
article 3.2.3.2 to 3.2.3.6 of Article 3.2.3, a certificate of good structural
practice together with design calculations shall be submitted to the one stop
center office by the engineer.
3.2.5.12 Where both the length and the height of a wall partition or individual panel
exceeds the specified dimensions, the wall shall be divided into panels by
vertical and horizontal supports of adequate strength and rigidity, and the
individual panel shall be supported along two vertical opposite ends that
shall, in addition, be attached to the main structure by bonding, inserting
into a groove, or by other approved methods of fixing.
3.2.5.13 Hollow blocks shall not be used in the sub-structure or foundation walls.
3.2.5.14 The height of any foundation wall that is not designed as a retaining wall
shall not exceed 1.5 meters, or where the difference in ground level
including backfill exists between the two sides of a foundation wall, the
difference shall not exceed 1.0 meter.
3.2.5.15 A foundation wall shall not have a thickness less than 200mm.
3.2.5.18 The thickness of a party wall or separating wall built with bricks, concrete
blocks, natural stone or any other approved materials, shall comply with the
requirements of sub-article 3.2.5.3; where the external walls of any building
are 150mm in thickness, the thickness of the party wall or separating wall
shall also be 150mm.
3.2.5.19 Boundary walls and fences shall be erected in a vertical plane, shall be
constructed with approved materials, and shall incorporate sufficient,
securely fixed supports to ensure the stability. These structures shall not
exceed a height of 2.0 m above the ground.
3.2.5.20 Any external walls of a building, including any parapet wall to the building,
shall adequately resist the penetration of rain.
3.2.5.21 No wall, pier or column of a building shall permit the passage of moisture
from the ground to the inner surface of any storey of the building, or to any
part of the building.
3.2.5.22 The requirements of sub article 3.2.5.21 shall be deemed satisfied where
any wall of the building in contact with the ground is provided with an
approved damp-proofing course, which in the case of an external wall shall
be continued to a height not less than 150mm above the surface of the
ground adjoining the wall.
3.2.5.23 Where a roof truss, rafter, beam, or any other member forming part of the
roof structure is supported on a wall, provision shall be made to fix the roof
structure to the wall in a secure and approved manner, so that any forces to
which the roof is normally subjected shall be transmitted to the wall, and to
hold down the roof structure against uplift due to wind forces.
3.2.6 Roofs
3.2.6.3 In every building, other than a building that sub-article 3.2.6.4 applies to,
the roof shall be covered or the building shall be isolated from other
buildings so as to afford adequate protection against the spread of fire into
the building or to an adjoining property.
3.2.6.4 Where a building exceeds 1000 cubic meters in capacity or forms a block of
more than two dwelling units, the roof shall be covered with material
capable of affording adequate protection against the spread of fire into the
building or adjoining property, and may be constructed as a single block.
3.2.6.5 The roof shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of sub-article 3.2.6.3
and 3.2.6.4 if it is covered with: tiles or slabs of burnt clay; cement, metal or
galvanized steel sheets; tiles of sisal-cement; or any other approved roofing
materials, which are capable of affording adequate protection against the
spread of fire.
3.2.6.6 The roof of a building shall be durable, weatherproof, and in the case of a
roof with a ceiling, the latter shall be provided with a door or scuttle to allow
access into the roof space.
3.2.6.9 Timber purlins shall have nominal dimensions not less than 75mm deep by
50mm wide and shall be spaced at centre-to-centre distances not
exceeding 1.2 meters, or as prescribed in the approved Construction Code
of Standards.
3.2.7.2 For the purpose of these Regulations, risers shall be constant throughout a
flight and shall be measured vertically from the top of the next tread.
3.2.7.3 All treads shall be level and shall extend for the whole width of the stairway.
3.2.7.5 A landing of length not less than the width of a stairway or 750mm,
whichever is greater, shall be provided at each end of a flight of stairs, at
any change in direction or as required in sub-article 3.2.7.7.
3.2.7.6 Internal landings shall be unobstructed and level, while external landings
shall also be unobstructed, but may be ramped away from the lowest step
at a slope not exceeding 1 to 12.
3.2.7.7 A series of stairs between landings shall not exceed 16 risers, and a
change in direction shall be required after two successive series of stairs
between landings without a turn.
3.2.7.9 Secondary and fire escape stairways shall be of the dimensions not less
than those specified for domestic buildings in the Ninth Schedule and in
special circumstances, the one stop center office may allow the use of an
approved type of escape ladder or any other equipment in place of escape
stairways.
3.2.7.10 Any series of stairs rising more than 600mm shall have a continuous
handrail fixed at a height of not less than 900mm above the pitch line of the
stairs or top of landing; where the width of the stairway exceeds 1.0 meter,
two handrails shall be provided, one on each side; and a stairway which is
wider than 2.0 meters shall be divided by handrails into sections not less
than 1.0 meter in width nor wider than 1.5 meters.
3.2.7.11 A handrail shall not encroach more than 75mm into the width of the
stairway and shall be supported by a vertical baluster spaced at a distance
not exceeding 125mm centre to centre.
3.2.7.12 A passenger lift shall be maintained and inspected once every six months
by a qualified engineer and a certificate shall be issued by the engineer to
the one stop center office confirming that the lift installation is in safe
working order.
3.2.7.14 The motor chamber or any enclosure housing lift-operating gear shall be:
a) Impervious to moisture;
b) Fully enclosed with approved incombustible materials; and
c) Cross-ventilated or adequately ventilated to the satisfaction of the one
stop center office.
3.2.7.15 The design and construction of the lilt shaft or well shall satisfy the
requirements in sub-articles 3.2.3.2 and 3.2.3.4 of these Regulations.
3.3.1.2 All drainage of foul and wastewater in connection with any building shall be
in accordance with the Regulations for Sanitary Installations in Buildings or
any other established practice acceptable to the one stop center office
authorities.
3.3.1.4 Where there is a piped water supply system capable of providing not less
than 75 liters per person per day, a building shall have a water-borne
system of excreta disposal within the curtilage of the site or the owner of
the building shall install the said system.
3.3.1.5 Whenever a water supply distribution system capable of providing not less
than 75 liters per person per day becomes available in any area where a
building is situated, the one stop center office shall serve notice on the
owner of the building to convert the existing method of excreta disposal to a
water-borne system.
3.3.2.2 A soil water fitting or any compartment connected to a soil water fitting shall
be constructed such that it is approachable directly from any room used for
the manufacture, preparation or storage of food for humans, or used as a
factory, workshop, workplace or public building.
3.3.2.3 A water closet compartment may have direct access to any bedroom where
the water closet shall be used exclusively with the bedroom, and there shall
be an additional water closet compartment for use in connection with other
rooms of the building.
3.3.2.4 Where any soil water fitting is within a dwelling unit it shall be ventilated
directly to the external air.
3.3.2.5 Any owner of a building who constructs a soil water fixture shall provide a
compartment in which the soil water fixture shall be situated. The
compartment shall have a window not less than 600mm x 300mm in size or
equivalent area in its external wall.
3.3.2.6 In any building, other than one used or intended to be used as a dwelling
unit and where a water closet is provided with sufficient means of lighting,
whether artificial or borrowed, the one stop center office may permit a
compartment without a window opening directly to the external air.
3.3.2.8 Any owner of a building who constructs a water closet in connection with
the building shall ensure the water closet fixture is installed such that the
whole of the pan and trap shall be entirely above the floor level of the
compartment and shall be provided with a seal made of hardwood, plastic
or other approved materials, or other suitable type of seal which shall be
approved by the one stop center office.
3.3.2.10 The floor of any water closet compartment shall be constructed of concrete
2
with a minimum characteristic strength of 15N/mm at the age of 28 days,
be not less than 75 mm thick, and shall be finished smooth with a 12mm
screed of a minimum Class 2 cement mortar, or with other approved
impervious materials.
3.3.2.11 In any factory, workshop or other workplace, in premises where more than
20 persons work or are housed, or in any school or college of occupancy
type Educational OC 3 and Industrial OC 12, a water-borne system of
disposal of foul water shall be installed. The number of water closets shall
be determined in accordance with the Regulations for Sanitary Installations
in Buildings or other criteria acceptable to the relevant authorities, except
where the water supply is not capable of providing a minimum of 75 liters
per person per day, in which case the disposal of foul water shall be by
ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine or other methods acceptable to the one
stop center office.
3.3.2.12 Where female and male persons are both employed or housed, including a
school or college, there shall be provided separate latrine facilities, the
entrances to which shall be effectively screened off and marked with
"Women Only" or "Men Only" signs, as the case may be, with
internationally recognized symbols, or both.
3.3.2.13 Latrines shall be located on the plot on which the building is to be erected
and shall be arranged and maintained to be conveniently accessible to any
person employed or housed in the building at all times during the period of
employment or residence.
3.3.2.14 Latrines shall be located not more than 30 meters from any building in
which persons are employed or housed.
3.3.2.15 In any school or college, no latrine shall be situated more than 15 meters
away from the dormitory, or more than 30 meters from any school or
college building which shall be used or intended to be used by pupils.
3.3.2.17 No building containing more than one dwelling unit shall be erected or
occupied without provisions being made for separate latrines for each unit.
3.3.3.1 The one stop center office may, in the case of a water-borne system,
require the water closets to be located inside any building housing a
factory, workshop or other workplace, or inside any dormitory or teaching
building of a school or college.
3.3.3.2 Where a public sewer is not available or accessible, but where piped water
supply is adequate to provide not less than 75 liters per person per day, the
method of excreta disposal shall be by water-borne system on site.
3.3.3.3 The method of disposal for a water-borne system shall be by septic tank
and soak away, tile field, sub-surface seepage trenches, radial arms, or
other approved means of subsurface disposal of effluent, or by
conservancy tank, which shall be emptied regularly by a body designated
for that purpose or as determined by the one stop center office.
3.3.3.4 All drains, drain fittings, foul water or wastewater fittings, pipes, accessories
or appurtenances which shall be used in a water-borne system shall
comply with the requirements of these Regulations and the Regulations for
Sanitary Installations in Buildings or any other approved standards.
3.3.4.2 A septic tank or other works for the treatment, reception or disposal of
sewage shall not be constructed except by permission of the one stop
center office and only subject to such conditions as may be imposed.
3.3.4.3 A septic tank or other installations for the disposal of sewage shall not be
constructed under any building, within 3 meters of any building or plot
boundary, or within 50 meters of any well, spring, stream or water used or
likely to be used for drinking, domestic purposes, or in the manufacture of
drinks, or in any such position as to cause pollution of water.
3.3.4.6 The walls, floor, and roof of any septic tank, conservancy tank, or effluent
tank for the reception of sewage or for containing any filtering medium,
shall be constructed of impervious materials or shall be rendered
impervious by waterproofing with approved materials and methods.
3.3.4.7 The design and construction of a septic tank or installation for the treatment
and disposal of sewage shall be in accordance with the Regulations for
Sanitary Installations in Buildings, or any other guidelines as laid down by
the one stop center office authorities.
b) the ratio of the width of the tank to its length shall range from 1:2 to 1:3;
c) the Inlet and outlet pipes shall be positioned on the longitudinal centre
line of the septic tank and the ends shall consist of tees fitted with
screwed caps, with the barrel of the tees submerged not less than
300mm at the inlet or 100mm at the outlet;
d) the height of the dividing wall in the septic tank shall be curtailed not
less than 75mm below the soffit of the roof slab; and
H = h+0.25 in meters,
Where hA=NSP
3.3.6.2 In all cases where the slope of the ground is steeper than 1:20, the owner
shall construct a cut-off drainage system.
3.3.6.3 The cut-off drain shall be earthen or precast units, in-situ concrete or any
other materials as approved by the one stop center office.
3.3.6.4 The design of the drain shall be based on the slope of the ground, the area
of the immediate watershed of the drain, and the maximum intensity of
rainfall in the catchment area.
3.3.6.5 The drainage installation shall be constructed and maintained at the cost of
the owner, and where the drain is common to two or more plots it shall be
constructed and maintained jointly by the owners of plots served by the
drain.
3.3.6.6 The size, slope, and outfall location and design of any drain, whether
individual or common, shall be submitted for approval by the one stop
center office in accordance with the provisions of sub-article 3.1.1.1(e).
3.3.6.7 The one stop center office may, notwithstanding the installations on the
approved plans, order the installation of additional storm water, surface
water, or subsoil water drainage system on the plot in order to prevent the
breeding of mosquitoes or remove any nuisance or hazard the one stop
center office may determine exists.
3.3.6.8 A drainage system for surface water from the roof of any building or paved
surfaces shall conform to the requirements of the Regulations for Sanitary
Installations in Buildings or to any approved building practice.
3.3.6.9 A roof of any building and of any profile, or any other surface susceptible to
rainfall such as canopies, carports, balconies or terraces, shall be
constructed to drain effectually to suitable gutters to carry water away from
the building and any doorway, window or walkway, except where an apron
of concrete or other approved impervious material shall be provided to
protect the foundations and the building, and the water can be prevented
from entering the building, doorway or window, or falling on any walkway.
3.3.6.12 All water collected from any roof or paved area shall be carried off the
curtilage of any building in the manner approved by the one stop center
office.
3.3.6.13 The owner of a building or premises shall maintain all gutters and down
pipes on the premises free of any blockage or obstruction, and the water
shall not stagnate or accumulate in the gutters or down pipes.
3.3.6.14 Eave gutters and down pipes shall be made of galvanized iron, mild steel,
concrete or cast iron, approved by the one stop center office, and shall be
coated or lined with a durable material.
3.3.6.15 An eaves gutter shall be supported by suitable means spaced at not more
than 1.0 meter centre to centre and shall be properly aligned to have a
continuous and even fall to the point of discharge, which shall be located to
serve every 10.0 meters in the length of the eaves gutter.
3.3.6.16 Down pipes or gutters on any building shall not project beyond the limits of
the plot on which the building is erected.
3.3.8.2 Where a building has been constructed for purposes of storage of material
which is likely to attract rats or other rodents, the building shall, in addition
to the requirements of sub-article 3.3.8.1, be separated from any part of
any dwelling unit and shall have its external door, where made of wood,
adequately protected with metal plates or other approved methods, so as to
prevent rats or other rodents from gnawing a passage through the door; the
door shall be hung so that no gap exceeding 15mm shall be left between
the underside of the door and the floor of the building.
3.3.9 Glazing
3.3.9.1 Any material used in the glazing of any building shall be secure, durable
and shall be fixed in such a manner and position that it shall sustain wind
and other loads to which it shall be subjected and shall not permit the
penetration of water into the building.
3.3.9.2 Where any glazing is likely to be subjected to human impact, such glazing
shall be reinforced or toughened using approved methods, and the one
stop center office may require evidence to be produced of such
reinforcement or toughening by the owner of the building.
3.3.10 Heating
3.3.10.1 Any system of heating in a building shall be designed, constructed and
installed to operate safely, and any flue, flue pipe or chimney used in the
system shall be designed to remove any smoke, fumes or noxious gases
without causing harm to the building or creating a hazard.
3.3.10.2 Any flue pipe designed or installed in connection with the heating of a
building shall be such that it shall not cause a fire hazard to any adjacent
material and shall not be connected to any shaft or duct that forms part of a
ventilation system.
3.3.10.4 Where the walls of a chimney in any building are comprised of masonry,
the walls shall be solid masonry units not less than 100mm in thickness,
internally lined with approved non-combustible material capable of
withstanding any action of the flue gases, and shall resist, without cracking
or softening, the temperature to which it shall be subjected.
3.3.10.5 The height of a chimney outlet shall not be less than 1.0 meters above the
highest point of contact with any roof of a building, the highest point of any
window or of any roof light capable of being opened, any ventilation inlet
situated in a roof or in an external wall except that, in addition, the
horizontal distance from the nearest window, roof light, or inlet to the
chimney outlet shall not be less than 2.0 meters.
3.3.10.6 Every fire place used for the burning of solid fuel shall have a hearth made
of non-combustible material of approved thickness, and the hearth shall
extend not less than 500mm in front of the grating or fire basket and not
less than 300mm on either side of the grating or fire basket.
3.3.11.2 If the insulating materials used in a building are other than those used in
generally accepted practice and if the plans submitted do not illustrate the
required performance adequately, the one stop center office may require
the owner of a building to superimpose other insulating materials or adopt
other acceptable solutions in order to enhance the level of comfort in a
building.
3.3.12.4 All windows intended for the purpose of lighting or ventilation shall open
directly to external air, shall be glazed or provided with wooden shutters or
other approved shutters, and shall have a total area of not less that 10% of
the floor area of the room.
3.3.12.5 The one stop center office shall have the right to order the provision of
additional window area in the case of a factory, workshop, or other
workplace, and waive the requirements of sub-article 3.3.12.4 with respect
to openable window area where a shop has one or more display windows,
provided that the door of the shop is kept open in full at all times during the
normal hours of business.
3.3.12.8 Notwithstanding the provisions of these Regulations, the one stop center
office may permit the installation of an approved artificial ventilation system
in any factory, workshop, or places of public assembly where the artificial
ventilation system has been designed by a qualified engineer.
3.3.13.2 In all public buildings, changes in level on flat surfaces where users walk
should be indicated or designed according to standards as to avoid wrong
footings resulting in injuries.
3.3.13.4 All ramps or driveways shall be designed to be safe and fit for the purpose
for which it is intended. The maximum grade for ramps for disabled persons
shall be 1:12.
3.3.13.5 An owner of a site which contains a swimming pool or swimming bath shall
provide adequate access to the pool or bath and shall control access at all
times.
3.3.13.6 All public buildings have the obligation to have systems protecting them
against lighting; these buildings should also incorporate all measures
intended to guarantee the safety of persons with disabilities.
3.3.14 Dimension
3.3.14.1 Any room or space shall have dimensions that will ensure that the room or
space is adequate for the purpose for which it is intended.
3.3.14.2 The floor area of any domestic building or dwelling house shall not be less
than that necessary to provide one habitable room and a separate room
containing toilet facilities. The floor area shall be determined on the basis of
plan dimensions between wall surfaces without finishes, and shall not
include any area occupied by built-in cupboards, wardrobes, cabinets or
any dividing wall.
3.3.14.3 Any habitable room other than a kitchen, scullery, or laundry, shall have a
floor area not less than 10.0 square meters, provided that the minimum
horizontal dimension of the habitable room in any direction shall not be less
than 2.5 meters.
3.3.14.4 The height of any room or space in a building shall not be less than that
prescribed for the room or the space requirements in the Eleventh
Schedule and shall have a vertical dimension measured from the top of the
finished floor to the lowest point on the underside of the roof, ceiling or roof
structure.
3.3.14.5 The total area of any dwelling unit shall not be less 15.0 square meters in
the case of a temporary building or 30.0 square meters for all other dwelling
units.
3.3.15.3 The principal entry to any building shall be clearly sign posted and
designated to enable a person with a disability to easily locate and use the
entrance.
3.3.15.5 Where parking for motor vehicles used by persons with disabilities has
been provided, the route to the facility or to any space that is provided to
accommodate wheelchairs shall be free of any obstruction that may impede
or endanger the travel of persons with disabilities.
3.3.15.6 The one stop center office may grant an exemption from the requirements
of the Regulations for any building that is not designated as a home or
hospital for persons with disabilities, provided that the exemption shall be
granted only upon application, which shall specify the Regulation from
which such exemption is sought.
3.3.15.8 The treads of any stairway in a public building, hotel, dormitory, or any
building in which a group of persons are accommodated or work shall be
designed and constructed to have the edges of the treads delineated by
contrasting color from the color of the remainder of the tread, and the one
stop center office may require that the handrail to any stairway be labeled
in Braille at each floor level to show the floor number.
3.3.15.10 Counters, front desks and front checkouts should be at a maximum height
of 0.8 meters to allow use by a person in wheelchair the possibility to bring
his or her arms to the edge of the counter.
3.3.15.11 At least one checkout counter in every shop should be 1.0 meter wide to
allow wheelchair and buggy access.
3.3.16.1 The one stop center office shall not permit more than one type of occupancy in a
building that is to be used as a hotel, service apartment, lodging or any other
place where a furnished room is rented.
3.4.1.3 The occupancy classification for any building shall be classified and
designated in accordance with the provisions of Article 3.1.12 and in the
event of any doubt or dispute regarding the classification of occupancy for
any building, the one stop center office shall determine the classification of
occupancy and advise the owner of the building accordingly.
3.4.1.4 All external walls of a building shall have a fire resistance rating in
accordance with the Thirteenth Schedule of these Regulations.
3.4.1.5 Where an external wall of any building does not contain a window or other
opening, the wall shall have a fire resistance rating as indicated in the
Thirteenth Schedule of these Regulations and the wall may be erected
without any distance restriction from any lateral boundary of the site, or from
any other building on the same site.
3.4.1.6 Any external wall of a building that has a window or other opening shall be
erected with a distance restriction as indicated in the Fourteenth Schedule of
the Regulations, except where the external wall faces a public open space,
where all windows or openings in the in the wall are protected with fire
shutters, or where the external wall faces a boundary wall that is constructed
of non-combustible material.
3.4.1.7 Where any division of a building is equipped with a sprinkler system or any
other fire fighting system as approved by the one stop center office, the
requirements of sub-article 3.4.1.6 shall be deemed satisfied and the
minimum distances prescribed in the Fourteenth Schedule shall be reduced
by 50% or 2.0 meters, whichever is the greater.
3.4.1.8 The fire resistance rating as prescribed in the Thirteenth Schedule of the
Regulations shall not be applicable where the distance to any external wall of
a building from the plot boundary or from any other building on the same site
shall be greater than the appropriate distances indicated in the Fourteenth
Schedule of the Regulations.
3.4.1.9 Where a building has a total capacity in excess of 6,000 cubic meters, the
building shall be divided into divisions of not more than 6,000 cubic meters,
which shall be effectively separated from one another by approved separating
elements, and the building shall be protected by a permanent installation of
automatic fire extinguishers.
3.4.1.10 The provision of sub-article 3.4.1.9 shall not apply in the case of any
building which falls in occupancy sub-class OC14, OC28 and OC29, or any
building in occupancy sub-class OC15, OC16 and OC17 that has an
internal capacity not exceeding 1,500 cubic meters and is divided into
interconnected divisions, each of which shall not have a capacity exceeding
1,500 cubic meters and are interconnected.
3.4.2.3 A member of any building shall satisfy the appropriate requirements in the
Fifteenth Schedule of the Regulations with respect to notional periods of
fire resistance for the various types of construction.
3.4.3.2 Any portion of a building falling under the occupancy classes listed below
shall be separated by means of an occupancy separating element from any
portion of the building used for any other occupancy class:
b) Assembly: OC5
f) Storage: OC26
3.4.3.5 Any structural element or component that will directly support or adjoin any
separating element shall be of the same fire resistance rating as the
supporting or adjoining separating element.
3.4.4.2 A partition wall in any building intended for use as a place of detention,
hospital or residence for persons with disabilities shall have a fire
resistance rating of not less than 1.0hour.
3.4.4.3 Any partition wall erected in a building above the third storey shall be non-
combustible.
3.4.4.4 Where there is an opening in any separation wall, the opening shall be
provided with a suitable fire door or fire-shutter, which shall be fitted with an
approved self-closing or automatic closing device.
3.4.4.5 The one stop center office may permit the use of combustible material in a
suspended floor of a building if it is designed or constructed to
accommodate two or more dwelling units and does not exceed two storeys
in height, or in a detached dwelling house where such a floor shall be
directly above ground level or above a non-combustible floor slab.
3.4.5.2 Where any approved combustible materials are used as a roof covering of
a building, the distance between the building and its site boundary shall not
be less than 4.5 meters.
3.4.5.3 In the case of any building exceeding 10.0 meters in height or that has a
roof area exceeding of 500 square meters, the roof covering material shall
be constructed with reinforced concrete or other approved non-combustible
materials.
3.4.5.5 A fitted floor covering in any building shall comply with the requirements in
approved Standards or Codes of Practice for fire protection, and the one
stop center office may require proof of compliance by a test to be
undertaken by a competent person or testing facility.
3.4.5.6 Any combustible wall lining or decorative finish in a building shall comply
with the approved Construction Code of Standards.
3.4.5.7 Notwithstanding the requirements of sub-article 3.4.5.4, the one stop center
office has the right to require the testing of a wall lining or decorative finish
to be carried out by a competent person or testing facility to prove
compliance.
3.4.6.2 The floor of any feeder route shall have an approved non-slip surface and
the ceiling shall be finished with approved non-combustible materials.
3.4.6.3 All buildings shall have two or more entirely independent emergency routes
that shall be arranged such that one route remains usable or accessible at
all times.
3.4.6.6 The population of a room, storey or part of building and the required
minimum width of any component of an emergency route serving the room,
storey or part of a building shall be calculated in accordance with guidelines
from the approved Construction Code of Standards.
3.4.6.7 Where more than one emergency route discharges into a common
component, the width of the component and any subsequent components
shall be situated along the direction of egress and shall be calculated using
the resultant cumulative population, except that in the case of a stairway,
the population to be used in the calculation of the component width shall be
that of the most densely populated storey.
3.4.6.8 The travel distance from any point in a room or storey to a point of access
to an emergency route shall not be more than 40.0 meters.
3.4.6.9 A wall, floor or ceiling of an emergency route in any building shall have a
fire resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.
3.4.6.10 The floor of any component of an emergency route shall have a non-slip
finish and shall be free of any projections, indentations, hollows or
coverings that may cause a person to fall.
3.4.6.11 Any emergency route shall have a clear vertical headroom throughout its
length of not less than 2.1 meters.
3.4.6.12 Any building with a storey above or below the ground level shall be served
by not less than two separate stairways, with the entrance to the
emergency stairway not be less than 5.0 meters from the entrance to any
other stairway.
3.4.6.13 The distance from any point of floor level change to a doorway in an
emergency route, or between any two points of floor level change, shall not
be less than 1.5 meters.
3.4.6.14 A curved or winding stairway shall not from part of an emergency route.
3.4.6.16 Any enclosed stairway that is not pressurized and that is a component of an
emergency route in a building shall not exceed 30.0 meters in height, and
shall be provided with a ventilation opening of an area not less than 1.0
square meters or an approved roof ventilator.
3.4.6.19 Where in any building an escalator or stairway does not form part of an
emergency route, such escalator or stairway shall not connect more than
two storeys when the building is not protected by an approved sprinkler
system.
3.4.7.1 The water supply to fire extinguishing equipment in any building shall be
designed and installed to be independent of the domestic water supply
network in the building.
3.4.7.2 The fire extinguishing system in any building shall be equipped with
automatic pump starting mechanisms and shall be fitted with an alarm
system designed to emit a continuous audible warning whenever any pump
installed in the system is activated.
3.4.7.3 The reflux valve in a fire extinguishing system in any building shall not be
positioned to prevent the flow of water from a fire-pump connection to a
hydrant valve or fitted hose reel that is connected to the system.
3.4.7.4 Where a hose reel forms part of the fire fighting installation in any building,
its shall be installed at a quantity of not less than one per storey or one for
every 500 square meters of floor area, whichever is the greater, and shall
comply with the relevant provisions of the approved Construction Code of
Standards.
3.5.1.2 Circuit breakers shall be provided on each line of conductors for the mains
supply at the point of entry.
3.5.1.4 Switchboards and distribution boards for all circuits and sub-circuits shall
be protected against over current and earth faults.
3.5.2 Wiring
3.5.2.1 Conductors, switches and accessories shall be of a size capable of
carrying, without their respective ratings being exceeded, the maximum
current that will normally flow through them.
3.5.2.2 The mains circuit and sub-circuits in a building shall be provided with
leakage protective devices that, on the occurrence of an earth fault,
disconnect the defective circuit from the supply.
PART 4 CONSTRUCTION
4.1.3.4 The one stop center office shall have the right to test or to have tested any
material or component used or to be used in any building operations in order
to determine whether the material or component complies with the
requirements of these Regulations.
4.1.3.5 The one stop center office may, at any time after notifying the person erecting
any building where a material or component is to be tested, request the
removal from the building site the material or component necessary for the
purposes of the test.
4.1.3.6 If any material or component ordered tested does not comply with the
requirements of these Regulations, the one stop center office may serve a
notice on the owner of the building indicating the materials that did not
comply with the requirements of the Regulations, thereby prohibiting such
person from making any further use or such material or component for the
purpose for which it was or is to be used in the erection of the building.
4.1.3.7 Except where the one stop center office permits the use of the materials or
components referred to in sub-article 4.1.3.6 for some different purpose
permitted under these Regulations, the owner of the building shall forthwith
on receipt of the notice served under sub-article 4.1.3.6 remove the material
or component from the building or building site.
4.1.3.8 The cost of testing any material or component in accordance with sub-article
4.1.3.5 shall be recoverable from the person erecting the concerned building.
4.1.3.9 Where a person erecting any building desires to use for a particular purpose
any material or component that is not permitted or prescribed by these
Regulations, or is not on a list of permitted materials issued by public notice
by the one stop center office to be used for that purpose, but can satisfy the
one stop center office that such material or component is suitable for that
purpose, then the one stop center office may approve the use of such
material or component for the purpose concerned, with the cost of the proof
being borne by the person erecting the building.
4.2.1 Construction
4.2.1.1 Where the construction of any building or element of a building is carried out
in compliance with the requirements of any relevant approved standard or
code of practice, such construction shall satisfy the requirements of these
Regulations in regard with the construction methods and workmanship.
4.2.1.2 All workmanship associated with the erection of any building shall be in
accordance with acceptable building practices.
4.2.1.4 Where any approved standards, code of practice or accepted document has
been used as a basis for the design of any building, any construction
procedure described in the approved standard, code of practice or accepted
document shall be observed in the erection of the building.
4.2.1.5 Precautions shall be taken during all stages of construction of any building to
ensure that the structural system is not damaged or distorted during the
course of erection of the building.
a) proper scaffolds shall be provided for all work that cannot be done safely
on or from the ground or from a ladder;
b) the working platforms and gangway scaffolding shall not be less than 500
mm wide and when over 2.0 m in height, shall be provided with toe board
and guard rails on any open side;
c) the one stop center office may prohibit the erection, use or employment of
any scaffolding, staging, shoring, crane or other lifting apparatus, that
may cause damage to persons or property; and
d) all scaffolding on a building operation more than 6.0 m above the ground
shall be constructed in approved steel.
4.2.1.7 Any person who constructs or makes an alteration to a building shall erect
and maintain hoardings throughout the execution of the works as necessary
to protect the public, except that no hoardings shall be erected at any street
without the written permission and to the satisfaction of the one stop center
office.
4.2.2.2 The notice, in the case of the construction of a building, shall be given at least
two working days before erection commences, and in the case of demolition
at least seven working days before commencement.
4.2.2.3 Construction work shall not proceed beyond any stage if that stage has not
been inspected and approved by the one stop center office for structural,
electrical, plumbing and drainage works.
4.2.2.4 The notices requesting inspection shall be made on a form supplied by the
one stop center office and shall be submitted by the owner of the building
operations at least two days before any inspection is due.
i. Site Installation;
ii. Excavation and Leveling;
iii. Compaction and Embankment
iv. Trenching and Soil treatment
v. Foundation Works and Rough Plumbing
vi. Framing
vii. Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, IT facilities
viii. Fire Protective measures and PWD’s facilities
ix. Interior and Exterior Finishes
x. Landscaping
4.2.2.6 The one stop center office may carry out tests or inspections as deemed
necessary.
4.2.3.2 The one stop center office, in granting such permission to demolish, may
impose any condition or requirement that it shall deem necessary for the
purposes of safety, health and convenience of the public and for the safety of
any other building or installation that may be affected by the demolition.
4.2.3.3 No person shall at any time during the course of or after the demolition of a
building leave the building in a condition dangerous to the public or any
adjoining property.
4.2.3.4 Where a building is left in a dangerous condition, the one stop center office
shall serve a notice to the owner requiring him or her to make the site safe,
and if he or she fails to make the site safe, the one stop center office shall
carry out the necessary work and recover the cost from the owner of the site.
4.2.3.5 Where any building is completely demolished to the level of the ground and
the building contained a basement, the owner of the building shall provide
safe lateral support to any side of the basement.
4.2.3.6 The one stop center office may prohibit the use of any method to be applied
in the demolition of a building where the method may create danger to any
person, other building or property and where the one stop center office so
prohibits it shall, on the request of the owner of the building, give reasons in
writing for the prohibition.
4.2.4.2 The one stop center office may require that before any operation is
commenced on a site, the owner of the site shall erect a fence, hoarding or
barricade to keep the public out and to protect the public from activities on the
site.
4.2.4.3 The fence, hoarding or barricade shall be retained and maintained by the
owner in a safe condition for as long as it is necessary, and any access to the
site shall be approved by the one stop center office pursuant to sub-article
4.2.4.1.
4.2.4.4 No part of the fence, hoarding or barricade shall be removed until the work
has been completed without the permission of the one stop center office.
4.2.4.5 Any person undertaking any building operation on a site shall confine all
operations in connection with the work within the boundaries of the site and
shall not encroach upon or over any street or public place abutting the site,
except with the prior approval of the one stop center office and subject to the
conditions contained in the approval, and with regards to the safety and
convenience of members of the public using the street or public place.
4.2.4.6 The one stop center office may, before or during the erection or demolition of
a building, impose any reasonable conditions in addition to the conditions or
requirements contained in these Regulations for the purpose of safeguarding
the interests of the general public, which shall be observed by the owner.
4.3.1.2 Without prejudice to any local proceedings, which shall be instituted against
any owner as a consequence of contravention of or non-compliance with the
requirements of these Regulations, the one stop center office shall serve
notice on such owner to remove or cause to be removed from any building
material used in contravention of these Regulations.
4.3.1.3 The use, method of mixing, preparation, application, or fixing of the materials
shall comply with the provisions of approved Construction Code of Standards.
4.3.1.4 The requirements of sub-article 4.3.1.3 shall be satisfied if the use, method of
mixing, preparation, application, or fixing of the material is appropriate to the
purpose and conditions for and in which the material is intended.
4.3.2 Walls
4.3.2.1 Walls of stabilized soil, natural stone, clay, bricks, concrete blocks, or any
other approved materials shall be hard, durable, weatherproof and suitable
for the purpose for which they are to be used.
4.3.2.2 All dimensions specified in these Regulations for stone, bricks or any other
approved materials are the actual bedding area and are exclusive of any
applied facings, finishes or additives. Where undressed stonework shall be
used, the stones shall be roughly dressed so as not to provide variations
greater than 5mm to the thickness of the wall.
4.3.2.3 Bricks or blocks used in any wall to which these Regulations apply shall be
composed of stabilised soil, burnt clay, stone, concrete or sand lime and shall
have a crushing strength of not less than:
2
a) 2.5 N/mm for the wall of a one-or two-storey dwelling house of a
capacity less than 600 cubic meters;
2 2
b) 10.0 N/mm if the brick or blocks are solid, or 5.0 N/mm if the bricks or
blocks are hollow, for the wall of any building other than one to which
item (a) refers or other than one exceeding three storeys in height; and
2
c) 20.0 N/mm for the wall of any building exceeding three storeys in height.
4.3.2.4 Walls constructed in bricks, concrete blocks or natural stone, both load
bearing and non-load bearing, shall be bonded with mortar of thickness not
greater than 15mm in bedding joints and 10mm in vertical joints, and the
mortar shall satisfy the requirements in the Twentieth Schedule in these
Regulations.
4.3.3 Formwork
4.3.3.1 Formwork shall be constructed so that it remains rigid during the placing and
compacting of concrete and sufficiently tight to prevent loss of liquid content
or slurry from the concrete.
4.3.3.2 The vertical struts supporting the formwork shall be carried down to the base
as shall be sufficiently firm to afford the required support.
4.3.3.3 The formwork shall be cleaned before use and any material or substance
used in treating the formwork shall not be permitted to come into contact with
the reinforcement.
4.3.3.4 The formwork shall not be removed before the concrete attains a cube
strength equivalent to twice the compressive stress to which it shall be
subjected at the time of striking the formwork, which under normal
circumstances is specified in the Twenty First Schedule of these Regulations
and shall be observed before removal of the formwork.
4.3.4 Reinforcement
4.3.4.1 Reinforcement shall not be bent, cut or straightened in a manner that might
damage the material.
4.3.4.2 All reinforcement, after cutting and bending, shall be suitably marked in
accordance with the approved plans.
4.3.4.3 Reinforcement shall be free from loose mill scale, loose rust, oil, grease, or
other deleterious matter.
4.3.4.4 All reinforcement shall be properly wired or rigidly fixed together, and shall be
properly spaced by the use of spacing bars, stirrups or other approved
methods.
4.3.4.5 All reinforcement shall be placed and maintained in positions shown on the
approved plans by the use of metal cradles, chairs, concrete briquettes, or
other approved methods.
4.3.4.6 Reinforcing bars shall be laid in lengths indicated on the approved plans or
according to the requirements of the approved Construction Code of
Standards.
4.3.4.7 All reinforcement that is fixed-in-place shall be checked and inspected either
by a The one stop center officer in charge of housing or an engineer
employed by the owner before any concrete is poured.
4.3.5 Concrete
4.3.5.1 Aggregate used in the concrete mix shall be clean, free from deleterious
matter, of the composition and strength required in the specifications.
4.3.5.2 The constituent materials forming the concrete shall be adequately mixed by
mechanical means or any other approved method to ensure uniform
distribution of materials, in proportions designed so as to produce the
concrete strength and grade specified for the design, having a water to
cement ratio not exceeding 0.6, and without water being added after mixing
has been completed.
4.3.5.3 The concrete shall be transported and deposited without segregation, and
poured before the initial set, after which it shall be thoroughly compacted and
worked around the reinforcement using a vibrator or other approved methods.
4.3.5.4 The concrete in any structural member shall be properly cured by constant
surface wetting for a period of not less than seven days while protecting the
surface against rapid drying by covering with hessian or other approved
materials or curing agents.
4.3.5.5 The engineer shall determine the positions of construction joints, when
necessary, before concreting commences. When placing concrete at
construction joints, the concrete shall be brought up to, for its full width and
thickness, a vertical stop-board and on no account shall concrete be
permitted to flow or to find its natural slope.
4.4.1.2 The one stop center office shall determine the sum of the indemnity for any
one claim and the number of claims shall be unlimited.
4.4.1.3 The indemnity shall be kept in force for as long as the one stop center office
determines appropriate, but not after the occupancy Permit has been issued.
4.4.2.2 The area to be covered by any building operation shall be properly cleared by
the owner of all vegetation, tree stumps, timber or other cellulose based
4.4.2.3 In any building site where there may be infestation by termites or any other
vermin, the owner shall have the infestation or vermin exterminated by
approved methods or treated with a one stop center approved chemical
before commencing any building operations.
4.4.2.4 The owner of any land where building operations are in progress shall take
precautions in the working area, on surrounding roads, and on footways to
limit to a reasonable level the amount of dust arising from the operations.
4.4.3.2 The prohibition under sub-article 4.4.3.1 shall not apply in circumstances
where the use of the machine, machinery, engine, apparatus, tool or
contrivance is necessary for the preservation of life, safety or health of any
person or property, or where permission of the one stop center office has
been granted.
4.4.3.3 Where the one stop center office, on reasonable grounds, believes that any
building operation is not in compliance with the provisions in these
Regulations, where work has reached a stage of advancement that the one
stop center office is unable to establish or where satisfactory proof cannot be
obtained from the owner of the building that the work does comply, the one
stop center office shall serve notice to the owner of the building to cause the
work to be stopped, repaired or demolished to the extent that the one stop
center office shall determine.
4.4.3.4 In addition, the one stop center office shall cause a test of such work to be
carried out within a time and by such person as specified in the notice.
4.4.3.5 In the event of the one stop center office requiring the owner to cause a test
to be carried out, a report on the test shall be prepared and signed by the
person who carried out the test and it shall be submitted to the one stop
center office, indicating the details of the results and the conclusions.
4.4.3.6 Notwithstanding the conclusions of the report under sub-article 4.5.3.5, the
one stop center office may, by notice served on the owner of the building
operations, order him or her to take necessary steps within a period as stated
in the notice to ensure that there is compliance with the requirements of these
Regulations.
4.4.3.7 No owner or person, having been required to cause any work to be stopped,
repaired, demolished, or tested, shall continue with the work or any other
affected work unless authorization by the one stop center office is received.
4.4.3.9 If the owner fails to comply with the terms of the notice served on him or her
under these Regulations, he or she has committed an offence.
4.4.4.2 The construction and location of the sheds shall be to the satisfaction of the
one stop center office and the sheds shall be maintained in good order and
condition at all times during the building operations.
4.4.4.3 The one stop center office may serve a notice to the owner of the sheds
requiring him or her, within a time specified in the notice, to remove, relocate,
reconstruct, repair or improve the condition of the sheds.
4.4.4.4 Security personnel employed in connection with any building operations may
be accommodated in the builder's sheds subject to the requirements and
conditions as may be necessary for the safeguarding of public health,
avoidance of any nuisance or inconvenience to persons in the vicinity of the
building site.
4.4.5.1 No owner shall commence any building operations unless approved sanitary
facilities for personnel have been provided at the building site or at a
reasonably close location.
4.4.5.2 Where sanitary facilities have not been provided the one stop center office
shall order the cessation of all building work until satisfactory facilities have
been provided.
4.4.5.4 Sanitary facilities shall be provided at the rate of not less than one sanitary
facility for every thirty people on the building site.
4.4.6 Excavations
4.4.6.1 Where any excavation is carried out or is to be carried out on a site that is
likely to be unstable, measures shall be taken by the owner of the site to
ensure that the stability is maintained.
4.4.6.2 Where any excavation is likely to impair the stability of a property or where
the depth at any point in an excavation is expected to be in excess of 3
meters, which is not indicated on the approved plans, the owner of the site
shall:
PART 5 OCCUPANCY
5.1.1.1 Upon receipt of an application for an occupation permit, the one stop center
officer in charge of housing shall carry out all the final inspections of any
building according to laws in force in Rwanda prior to the issuance of an
occupation permit.
5.1.2.1 The owner of any building shall ensure that any mechanical equipment or
service installation provided in connection with the building shall be
maintained in a safe condition.
5.1.2.2 The owner or agent of the owner shall ensure that the equipment or
installation is designed to be kept operating during the times of normal
occupancy.
5.1.2.3 The one stop center office may serve a notice on the owner of a building
requiring him or her to comply with the requirements contained in sub-article
5.1.2.2 within the time specified in the notice.
5.1.2.4 The one stop center office may order, by a written notice, the evacuation of a
building where the state of equipment or installation may, in the opinion of the
one stop center office, be detrimental to the safety or health of the occupants
or users of the building.
5.1.3.2 Notwithstanding any provisions of these Regulations, the one stop center
office may order the disuse or emptying of any septic or conservancy tank on
the grounds that such a tank constitutes a nuisance or hazard.
5.1.3.3 The cost of emptying and disposing of the contents of any septic,
conservancy or other tank used for the treatment and disposal of sewage
shall be borne by the owner of the building served by such tank.
5.2.1.1 In areas where a public sewer is not available or accessible and the water
supply is not sufficient to provide not less than 75 liters per person per day,
the method of excreta disposal shall be by ventilated improved pit latrine, in
this section referred to as VIP, or any other methods acceptable to the one
stop center office.
5.2.1.2 The requirements for provision of a VIP at any factory, workshop or other
premises where more than 20 persons work or are housed, school, college,
or dwelling unit, shall conform to the requirements of sub-article 3.3.2.4 of
these Regulations, except that the number of facilities shall be in accordance
with the Twenty Second Schedule, and that no VIP shall be located within
any building where persons work, are educated or are housed.
5.2.1.3 VIPs in connection with dwelling units shall be sited between 1.5 meters and
3.0 meters from any plot boundary, and shall be readily accessible by a
servicing vehicle for emptying at any time.
5.2.1.4 In areas where VIP emptying services are available, the owner of the building
shall notify the agency designated for that purpose whenever the contents of
the VIP are within a half-meter of the soffit of the cover slab in order to
evacuate the VIP.
5.2.1.5 In areas where VIP emptying services are unavailable or inaccessible, the
VIP shall be closed whenever the contents are within a half-meter of the
underside of the slab, the superstructure shall be removed to cover a new pit,
and the old pit shall be filled with earth and well compacted.
5.2.1.6 Notwithstanding any requirements of these Regulations, the one stop center
officer in charge of housing may order the closure or emptying of any VIP
latrine at any time on the grounds that such a VIP latrine constitutes a
nuisance or hazard.
5.2.1.7 The cost of emptying, closing and disposing of the contents of any VIP latrine
shall be borne by the owner of the building served by the VIP latrine.
5.2.2.2 The superstructure of the VIP shall consist of strong supporting members of
durable materials.
5.2.2.4 The minimum dimensions of the VIP shall not be less than 2.1 meters in
height, 800mm in width and 1.2 meters in length.
5.2.2.5 The substructure of any VIP shall consist of a lined or unlined pit and the pit
size shall be determined by the following formula:
V=PSN
Where:
c) they shall open directly into a pit, they shall be straight and vertical, and
the top shall be cut horizontally; and
d) no cowls or decorative attachments shall be placed at the top of the
ventilation pipes.
5.2.2.7 The requirements of sub-article 5.2.2.6 shall be deemed satisfied where any
ventilation pipe is made of internally coated or lined galvanized metal, cast
iron, masonry, concrete, un-plasticized vinyl chlorides (uPVC), fiber glass or
any other materials that will not easily corrode as confirmed by testing.
5.2.2.8 A ventilation pipe shall be fitted with a fly screen with apertures not larger
than 1.5 mm square and coated with corrosion resistant material which is
capable of withstanding rain, heat or direct sunlight.
5.2.2.9 The seat used in a VIP shall be of approved material that is adequately
strong to support any user, have a smoothly finished surface, have a seat
cover that obstructs direct light into the pit, and fit onto the seat so as to
permit the entry of air into the pit.
5.2.3.1 Where maintenance has been neglected and there is a danger of blockage or
structural defects in any drain that could cause damage or erosion to any
building structure or site, the one stop center office shall serve notice upon
the owner to carry out remedial works as may be specified in the notice within
a stated period time and to its satisfaction. Where the owner fails to carry out
the remedial works within the stated period of time, the one stop center office
may have the works carried out and recover the expenses from the owner.
5.2.3.2 The owner of a building or premises shall maintain the gutters and down
pipes on the premises to be free of any blockage or obstruction, and the
water shall not stagnate or accumulate in the gutters or down pipes.
5.2.4.1 A building shall he provided with refuse containers of a type and material as
approved by the one stop center office.
5.2.4.2 Any refuse chute shall be designed and erected so as to afford safe operation
and shall be self cleansing.
5.2.4.3 The owner of a building that generates refuse from building works shall
dispose of the refuse within a reasonable time period after its generation and
shall not deposit the refuse on public land, streets or sidewalks except as
approved by the one stop center office.
5.2.4.4 In the case where any building has been erected or where a building
application has been approved prior to these Regulations coming into force,
and where the premises are inaccessible or inconvenient for the purposes of
collecting or removing refuse, the one stop center office may permit refuse
containers to be positioned outside the premises in a manner and at such
times or periods as may be prescribed.
5.2.4.5 The one stop center office may give approval to any appliance which
incinerates combustible refuse provided that the resulting smell, smoke or
any other fumes do not give rise to a nuisance or hazard, and also provided
that the owner of the appliance shall satisfy the one stop center office with
respect to the disposal of non-combustible refuse.
5.3.1 Equipment
5.3.1.2 The one stop center office has the right to inspect the operation of any
equipment or installation at any reasonable time, and shall serve notice to the
owner for compliance with the requirements of these Regulations within the
time specified in the notice.
5.3.1.3 Every staircase in a public building, hotel, dormitory or any building where a
group of people are accommodated, shall have an emergency lighting
system, with the number of every floor clearly indicated at every landing.
5.3.2.1 The owner of any building used as an office, hotel, dormitory, or any place
where a group of people are accommodated, shall display a notice on the
inside face of the principal door leading into any room that clearly indicates
the escape routes from the room to the exterior of the building together with
diagrams to illustrate the written word.
5.3.3.2 Notwithstanding any provisions in these Regulations, the one stop center
office shall inspect for approval any fire fighting plan or installation and shall
have the right to require fire drills to be carried out by the owner of any
building where fire protection, fire detection, or firefighting equipment has
been installed.
PART 6 MISCELLANEOUS
6.1.1.1 The one stop center office shall charge fees for the checking and approval of
plans in accordance with a schedule to be determined and revised
periodically as deemed necessary.
6.1.1.2 Where any building application submitted to the one stop center office has
subsequently been withdrawn, disapproved, or invalidated, and the
application fee had been paid, the fee received from the applicant shall not be
refunded.
6.1.1.3 Where an application is re-submitted to the one stop center office, full fees
shall become payable.
6.1.1.4 Where a building permit has expired and the owner resubmits the application,
full fees shall be paid to the one stop center office.
6.1.1.5 Full fees with respect to any building notice served shall become payable to
the one stop center office where substantial amendments have been made to
any previously approved plans, drawings or diagrams before the
commencement of the building operations.
6.1.1.6 Where minor amendments to the approved plans, drawings or diagrams have
been made during the building operations, prior to the issuance of an
occupation certificate and upon serving of a notice to that effect, a fee
covering the extra or affected works shall be paid to the one stop center
office.
6.1.1.7 Fees for minor building operations, additions, alterations, and drainage works
shall be paid to the one stop center office.
6.1.2.1 The one stop center office shall charge fees for issuance of occupation
permits in accordance with a schedule to be determined. Such fee schedule
shall be revised periodically as deemed necessary.
6.1.2.2 The one stop center office may charge fees for inspection visits made to
check occupancy compliance if the owner is found to be non-compliant with
these Regulations. Such fees shall be charged at the rates established under
sub-article 6.1.3.1 and shall not be considered to be in lieu of any penalties
that may be effected.
a) cause any building to be altered or used for a purpose other than the
purpose shown on the approved plans of the building; or
b) use a building for a purpose that will cause a change in the class of
occupancy.
6.2.1.3 Where the owner of the building fails to comply with the notice served under
sub-article 6.2.1.2, the one stop center office shall seek remedies according
to the Laws of Rwanda.
6.2.1.4 Any person who, having obtained approval under these Regulations for the
erection of any building, deviates in any material degree from the approved
plans, drawings or diagrams, is considered to have committed an offence.
6.2.1.5 The one stop center office shall serve notice on any person who is
considered to have committed an office and request that the person stop
immediately the erection of the building concerned or to comply with the
approved building application, as the case may be, within a specified period.
6.2.1.6 Where the deviation from the approved plans, drawings or diagrams is to
such a degree that the building is incapable of being altered to comply with
the requirements of these Regulations, the one stop center office shall revoke
the permit for the building operations and serve notice to the owner of the
building to demolish and remove the building within a specified period.
6.2.1.7 Where any deviation is found necessary during the course of construction of
the building, the one stop center office may authorize work to continue but
may require the amended plans, drawings or diagrams that cover the
deviation be submitted for approval before a certificate of occupation will be
issued.
6.2.1.8 If, before the date specified for the rectification or demolition of any building
under sub-articles 6.2.1.3 and 6.2.1.5, the owner satisfies the one stop center
office that compliance with the requirements of these Regulations has been
attained, the notice served shall be withdrawn.
6.2.1.9 Where any building is being or has been erected and a contravention of these
Regulations other than those relating to an approved deviation for a building
has been committed, the one stop center office shall serve a notice on the
owner of the building and in such notice specify a date by which the owner
shall have complied with these Regulations, citing the regulation contravened
and the steps to be taken in order to comply with that regulation.
6.2.1.10 Where any building, not being at a temporary building, is being or has been
erected without the prior approval, the one stop center office shall serve
notice to the owner of the building, calling upon him or her to forthwith apply
for approval as required by these Regulations, or to demolish and remove
the building by a date specified in the notice.
6.2.1.11 Any person who fails to comply with the terms of any notice issued in
accordance with these Regulations shall be considered to have committed
an offence and is liable to penalties in accordance with laws in force in
Rwanda.
6.3.1.2 If the owner of the building operations fails to comply with the notice, he or
she is considered to have committed an offence and is liable on conviction
to a fine in accordance with laws in force in Rwanda.
6.3.1.3 The one stop center office may, at the cost of the owner, remove the
rubble, rubbish, other debris or combustible waste material from the site, if
the owner fails to comply with the notice served under sub-article 6.3.1.1
above.
6.3.1.5 If the owner fails to remove the surplus material, the one stop center office
shall serve notice to the owner of the building to remove it or have the
surplus material removed at the owner's cost.
6.3.2 Plumbing and Drainage
6.3.2.2 Where a sewer has been installed after building operations have been
completed and an occupation certificate issued, the one stop center office
may revoke the occupation certificate if the owner of the building fails to
connect to the sewer within a specified period.
6.3.2.3 Where there is a public sewer within 30 meters from the boundary of any
plot, a connection shall be made to the public sewer.
6.3.2.4 Where there is no public sewer within 30 meters from the boundary of such
plot and the sewer is installed after the building operations, the owner of
the plot shall apply to the one stop center office for connection to the new
sewer, or shall do so within a specified period on being served with a notice
by the one stop center office.
6.3.2.5 A person who fails to act in accordance with sub-articles 6.3.2.3 and 6.3.2.4
is considered to have committed an offence and is liable on conviction to a
fine not exceeding four currency points, imprisonment not exceeding eight
months, or both.
6.3.2.6 Notwithstanding the penalties prescribed in sub-article 6.3.2.5, the one stop
center office may defer the issuance of the occupation certificate of a
building until the sewer connection has been completed, with the owner
being liable to pay the sewerage charges from the day the public sewer
became available.
6.3.4.2 Where maintenance has been neglected and there may be a danger of a
blockage or a structural defect in any drain, or damage or erosion to any
land, the one stop center office shall serve notice upon the owner to carry
out remedial works as may be specified in the notice within a stated period
of time and to the satisfaction of the one stop center office, and where the
owner fails to carry out the remedial works within the stated period, it may
carry out the works and recover the expenses from the owner.
SCHEDULES
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OCCUPANCY DESCRIPTION
Class Sub- Use Group
class
OC1 Entertainment & Occupancy where persons gather to eat, drink, dance or
public assembly participate in other recreational activates.
OC2 Theatrical and Occupancy where persons gather for the viewing of
Indoor sports theatrical, operatic, orchestral, choral, cinematographic or
sports performances.
ASSEMBLY OC4 Worship Occupancy where persons assemble for the purpose of
worshipping.
OC5 Outdoor sports Occupancy where persons view outdoor sports events.
OC9 Exhibition Hall Occupancy where goods and services are displayed
primarily for viewing by the public.
OC10 Museum Occupancy comprising a museum, art gallery or library.
OC18 Large shop Occupancy where merchandise is displayed and offered.
OC19 Small shop Occupancy where merchandise is displayed and offered for
sale to the public and the floor area does not exceed 250
BUSINESS 2.
m
OC21 Offices Occupancy comprising offices, banks, consulting rooms
and other similar usage.
OC3 Places of Occupancy where school children, students or other
EDUCATIONAL
Instruction persons assemble for the purpose of tutoring or learning.
OC11 High risk Occupancy where an industrial process is carried out and
Industrial where either the material handled or the process carried out
is liable in the event of fire, to cause combustion with
extreme rapidity, give rise to poisonous fumes, or cause
explosions.
OC 12 Moderate risk Occupancy where an industrial process is carried out and
industrial where either the material handled or the process carried out
is liable in the event of fire, to cause combustion with
INDUSTRIAL
moderate rapidity, give rise to poisonous fumes, or cause
explosions.
OC 13 Low risk Occupancy where an industrial process is carried out and
industrial where either the material handled or the process carried out
does not fall into a high or moderate risk category.
OC 14 Plant room Occupancy comprising usually unattended mechanical or
electrical services necessary for the running of building
services.
OC 15 Place of Occupancy where people are detained for punitive or
detention corrective reasons or because of their mental condition.
OC16 Hospital Occupancy where people are cared for or treated because
of a physical or mental condition.
INSTITUTIONAL
OC 17 Other institution Occupancy where groups of people, who are either not fully
fit or who are restricted in their movements or their ability to
make decisions, reside or are cared for.
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Building Control Regulations Schedules
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Building Control Regulations Schedules
2
No. of Parking lots required per 1000m of built-up area
OCCUPANCY
Automobiles Vans Trucks / Buses
ASSEMBLY 5 - 1
BUSINESS 10 - 1
EDUCATIONAL 2 - -
INDUSTRIAL 1 2 1
INSTITUTIONAL 2 2 -
MERCANTILE 2 - 1
RESIDENTIAL 10* - 1**
STORAGE 1 - 1
2
* 1 per 100m of detached dwelling house
** for hotels only
1 0
2 10
3 20
4 30
5 or more 40
Category Description
2 Open terrains with scattered obstructions (airfields, open parklands, sparsely built
up suburbs).
3 Terrains with numerous closely spaced obstructions having the size of domestic
houses (well-wooded suburbs, towns and industrial areas fully or partially
developed).
4 Terrains with numerous, large, high, closely spaced obstructions (large city
centres).
Sixth Schedule: GENERAL CLASSIFICATION & DESIGN BEARING CAPACITIES OF SOILS sub-article 3.2.2.1
75 3
100 4.5
125 5
150 6.5
200 8
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Building Control Regulations Schedules
Ministry Of Infrastructure v
Building Control Regulations Schedules
Bedroom 2.4 meters over a floor area of not less than 6.0
square meters, and a clear height of not less
than 2.1 meters over any point farther than 750
mm from the edge of the floor space.
Any other habitable room in a dwelling house or 2.4 meters over not less than 50% of the floor
dwelling unit. area, and not less than 2.1 meters over the
remaining floor area.
All habitable rooms in any building other than those 2.4 meters
listed above
Passage or entrance hall 2.1 meters
Bathroom, shower room, laundry or toilet 2.1 meters over any area in which a person
shall be in a standing position.
Twelfth Schedule: TOILETS & WASHBASINS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ON WHEELCHAIRS sub-article 3.3.15.9
Thirteenth Schedule: FIRE RESISTANCE RATING OF EXTERNAL WALLS sub-articles 3.4.1.4, 3.4.1.5, 3.4.1.8
Occupancy class Fire Resistance Rating
(External Walls) (hours)
All other than those specified below 2
OC8 1
OC13 1
OC24 1
OC25 0.5
OC26 4
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Building Control Regulations Schedules
Fourteenth Schedule: DISTANCE BETWEEN A BUILDING AND A BOUNDARY OR BETWEEN BUILDINGS ON THE SAME SITE
sub- articles 3.4.1.6, 3.4.1.7, 3.4.1.8
Sixteenth Schedule: FIRE RESISTANCE RATING OF OCCUPANCY SEPARATING ELEMENTS sub-article 3.4.3.3
OC26 4
OC8 1.5
OC21, OC24 1
OC26 4
Up to 200 2
200-300 3
300-400 4
400-550 5
550-700 6
700-850 7
850-1000 8
1000-1500 9
1500-2000 10
Over 2000 10+1 for each 500 additional
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Building Control Regulations Schedules
Twenty First Schedule: MINIMUM PERIODS BEFORE STRIKING FORMWORK sub-article 4.3.3.4
Structural Member No. of Days
Beam and cantilever sides, walls and columns 1
Slabs (struts left under) 4
Beam soffits (struts left under) 7
Slabs (removal of struts) 10
Beams (removal of struts) 14
Cantilevers (removal of struts) 28
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Building Control Regulations Schedules
Twenty Second Schedule: MINIMUM LATRINE ACCOMMODATION sub-article 5.2.1.2 & 5.2.2.10
PROVISION OF LATRINES/WCs
Male
FUNCTION USERS POPULATION
Without With Urinal Additional Female
Urinal Urinals
1 – 15 - 1 - 1
staff 16 – 35 - 2 1 2
36 – 60 - 3 2 4
SCHOOL 1 – 15 - 1 - 1
OR COLLEGE 16 – 30 - 2 1 2
boarding 31 – 75 - 3 2 4
students 76 – 100 - 6 4 8
101 – 150 - 8 4 10
Over 150 - 1 per 30 1 per 25 1 per 50
NURSERY pupils 1 per 15* 1 per 15* 1 per 15* 1 per15*
1 – 25 2 2 1 -
26 -50 3 2 2 -
51 – 75 4 3 2 -
76 – 100 5 4 3 -
boys 101 – 125 6 5 4 -
126 – 150 8 6 4 -
151 – 175 9 7 5 -
176 – 200 10 8 5 -
Over 200 1 per 30 1 per 30 1 per 50 -
ELEMENTARY 11 – 20 - - - 2
SCHOOL
21 – 40 - - - 2
41 – 60 - - - 3
61 – 80 - - - 4
81 – 100 - - - 5
101 – 120 - - - 6
girls 121 – 140 - - - 7
141 – 160 - - - 8
161 – 180 -- - - 9
181 – 200 - - - 10
Over 200 - - - 1 per 30
OFFICE OR 1 – 15 - 1 - 1
PUBLIC persons 16 – 35 - 2 - 2
BUILDING Over 35 - 1 per 75
1 – 50 - 1 -- 1
public, male 16 – 50 - 2 - 2
Over 50 - 2 1 per 40 2
RESTAURANT public, female 1 - 50 1 - -- 2
1 – 15 - 1 -- -
staff, male Over 15 - - 1 per 75 -
staff, female 1 - 12 1 - - 1
WAREHOUSE, 1 - 15 2 1 1 -
WORKSHOPS male 16 – 35 3 1 2 -
AND OTHER 1 – 12 - - - 1
WORKPLACES female 13 - 25 - - - 2
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Twenty Third Schedule: FEES FOR HOARDING AND SCAFFOLDING sub-article 6.1.2.3