MISRAK POLY TECHNIC COLLEGE
ON-SITE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT Level IV
Apply Building Codes and Standards for
Medium Rise Building Projects
1. Access and interpret relevant code
and standard requirements
What is building code?
A building code, or building control, is a set of rules that specify the
minimum standards for constructed objects such as buildings and non-
building structures.
The main purpose of building codes are to protect public health,
safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and
occupancy of buildings and structures.
The building code becomes law of a particular jurisdiction when
formally enacted by the appropriate governmental or private authority.
Cont…
Building codes are generally intended to be applied by architects,
engineers, constructors and regulators but are also used for various
purposes by safety inspectors, environmental scientists, real estate
developers, subcontractors, manufacturers of building products and
materials, insurance companies, facility managers, tenants(rent) and others.
Building codes are sets of regulations governing the design, construction,
alteration and maintenance of structures.
Codes regulating the design and construction of structures where adopted
into law.
Codes in developed western nations can be quite complex and exhaustive.
They began in ancient times and have been developing ever since.
Examples of building codes began in ancient times In the USA the main
codes are the International Building Code or International Residential Code
[IBC/IRC], electrical codes and plumbing, mechanical codes.
The practice of developing, approving, and enforcing building codes varies
considerably among nations.
In some countries building codes are developed by the government agencies or
quasi-governmental standards organizations and then enforced across the
country by the central government.
Such codes are known as the national building codes (in a sense they enjoy a
mandatory nationwide application).
In other countries, where the power of regulating construction and fire safety is
vested in local authorities, a system of model building codes is used.
Model building codes have no legal status unless adopted or adapted by an
authority having jurisdiction.
The developers of model codes urge public authorities to reference model
codes in their laws, ordinances, regulations, and administrative orders.
Scope of building codes
The purpose of building codes are to provide minimum standards for
safety, health, and general welfare including structural integrity,
mechanical integrity (including sanitation, water supply, light, and
ventilation), means of egress, fire prevention and control, and energy
conservation.
Building codes generally include:
Standards for structure, placement, size, usage, wall assemblies,
fenestration size/locations, egress rules, size/location of rooms,
foundations, floor assemblies, roof structures/assemblies, energy
efficiency, stairs and halls, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, site drainage
& storage, appliance, lighting, fixtures standards, occupancy rules, and
swimming pool regulations.
Rules regarding parking and traffic impact
Fire code rules to minimize the risk of a fire and to ensure safe evacuation(to
Exit) in the event of such an emergency
Requirements for earthquake (seismic code), hurricane, flood, and tsunami
resistance, especially in disaster prone areas or for very large buildings where a
failure would be catastrophic.
Requirements for specific building uses (for example, storage of flammable
substances, or housing a large number of people)
Energy provisions and consumption
Specifications on components
Allowable installation methodologies
Minimum and maximum room and exit sizes and location
Qualification of individuals or corporations doing the work
For high structures, anti-collision markers for the benefit of aircraft
Requirements of relevant Building Code of Ethiopia and other related
building codes
It has been found necessary to determine the minimum national
standard for the construction or modification of buildings or alteration
of their use in order to ensure public health and safety.
Sub-article (3) of Article 51 of the Constitution of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia empowers the Federal Government
to establish and implement national standards and basic policy criteria
for public health, education, as well as science and technology.
In accordance with Article 55 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia it is hereby proclaimed under
“Ethiopian Building Proclamation No. 624/2009”
Design requirement
Durability
Factor of safety
Economy
Aesthetics
ETHIOPIAN BUILDING CODE STANDARD/EBCS
• The purpose of these standards is to serve as nationally recognized documents, the
application of which is deemed to ensure compliance of buildings with the
minimum requirements for design, construction and quality of materials set down
by the National Building Code. Some of its parts are:
1. BASIS OF DESIGN AND ACTION ON STRUCTURES- EBCS1
2. STRUCTURAL USE OF CONCRETE- EBCS2
3. DESIGN OF STEEL STRUCTURES- EBCS3
4. DESIGN OF COMPOSITE STEEL AND CONCRETE STRUCTURES- EBCS4
5. UTILIZATION OF TIMBER- EBCS5
6. DESIGN OF MASONARY STRUCTRES- EBCS6
7. FOUNDATIONS- EBCS7
8. EARTHQUAKE RESISTANCE- EBCS8
BASIS OF DESIGN AND ACTION ON STRUCTURES- EBCS1
BASIS OF DESIGN ACTIONS ON STRUCTURES-DENSITIES,
Assumption SELF-WEIGHT AND IMPOSED LOADS
Definitions Densities of building materials and
Symbols stored materials
REQUIREMENTS Self-weight of construction elements
actions and environmental influences Imposed loads on buildings
material properties WIND ACTIONS
geometrical data
representation of actions
modelling for structural analysis and
resistance wind pressure on surfaces
design assisted by testing wind forces
verification by the partial safety factor reference wind
method
wind parameter
STRUCTURAL USE OF CONCRETE- EBCS2
DATA ON CONCRETE AND STEEL SPECIAL STRUCTURAL ELEMENT
Grades of concrete walls for Flexure and Axial
Compressive strength Loads
Tensile strength deep beams
flexural members Footings
Compression members Particular cases
Shear
Torsion
punching
DESIGN OF STEEL STRUCTURES-
EBCS3
Fundamental requirements CONNECTIONS
Structural steel Bolted and riveted connections
Connecting devices (bolts, Pin connections
nuts, washers) Splices
Welded connections
Hybrid connections
beam to column connections
2. Classify buildings
Nature of a building according to use, type of construction and
arrangement is determined in accordance with local and international
codes and standards on construction.
OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION
Occupancy or use categories. Every new and existing building,
structure or part thereof shall, be classified according to its use or
occupancy as a building or structure of one of the following occupancy
groups:
Occupancy or use categories
1. Agricultural buildings: They are the structures designed for farmers and for
agricultural practices, for growing and harvesting crops, and to raise livestock.
2. Commercial buildings: They are the buildings, which are used exclusively
for commercial use. Automobile companies, Ware house, Bank, Convention
centers, Gas stations, Super markets, house Commercial shops etc…
3. Residential buildings: A Residential building is that, in which housing
predominates, as opposed to industrial and commercial areas. building may
vary significantly between, single-family building, multi-family building, or
mobile homes.
4. Educational buildings: This occupancy type shall include any building or
portion thereof in which education, training and care are provided to children
or adults.
Cont…
5. Government buildings: It is a building that houses a branch of government.
Capitol, Embassy, Prison, Fire station, Post office etc…
6. Industrial buildings: These buildings are designed to house industrial operations
and provide the necessary conditions for workers, and for the operation of
industrial equipment.
7. Military buildings: This building is a structure designed to house the functions,
performed by a military unit.
8. Religious buildings: These are the buildings for religious purposes, with a large
open interior or other monumental qualities.
9. Transport buildings: This is a structural building which consists of the means of
equipment necessary for the movement of passengers or goods on land, water, and
air ways.
10. Power stations/power plants: These buildings serve as the industrial facility to
generate electric power. Geo thermal power plant Fossil fuel power plant Nuclear
power plant Renewable energy power station.
Type of construction categories
Based on the type of construction, buildings are classified into 5 categories.
1. Fire resistive buildings: (Type 1A, 1B): These type of buildings are generally
high raised, and the stoutest of all, which are usually of more than 75 feet tall.
They are constructed of concrete and protected steel, (coated with fire resistant
material) which are designed to hold fire. This type of buildings are generally
residential and industrial buildings. The fire resistance is valid only for a
specific time, depending up on the type of construction.
2. Non- combustible buildings :( Type 2A,2B) These buildings are generally
the new buildings and remodels of commercial structures. The walls and roofs
are constructed of non- combustible materials.(i.e. walls are rein forced
masonry and the roofs have metal structural members) .
Cont…
3. Ordinary buildings :(Type 3A,3B) These buildings may be of old or newer
constructions. They have non-combustible walls and wooden roof. Older
constructions may have unrein-forced masonry and have conventionally framed
roof, while newer houses have light weight roof systems, supported by R.C.C
masonry or tilt slab.
4. Heavy Timber :(Type 4) These buildings were most commonly built before
1960, when bolts and metal plates were used as connectors. It utilizes large
dimensional lumber for structural members and interior elements.
5. Wood framed buildings: (Type 5A,5B) This type of construction is found in
many modern homes. The walls and roofs are made of combustible materials
most commonly wood.
Analyze and Apply a Range of Solutions to a Construction
Problem
• The applications of the National Building Code of the country is very important to give exact solutions to the
problems especially determining the minimum requirements as per mandated in the code especially set back
requirements.
• A set back is the distance between the property line to the building line and this requirements is to be implemented
to that there is space for parking space in every building especially commercial, institutional, Industrial or even
residential buildings.
Location on Property
• No building shall be constructed unless it adjoins or has direct access to a public space, backyard or street on at
least one of its sides.
• For the purpose of this code, the centerline of an adjoining street or alley shall be considered an adjacent property
line.
• Eaves over required windows shall not be less than 750 millimeters from the side and rear property lines.
Conti…
Buildings on the Same Property and Buildings Containing Courts
• For the purpose of determining the required wall and opening protection, buildings on the
same property and court walls shall be assumed to have a property line between them.
• When a new building is to be erected on the same property with an existing building the
assumed property line from the existing building shall be the distance to the property line
for each occupancy as set forth by the Code, provided that two or more buildings on the
same property may be considered as one building if the aggregate area of such buildings is
within the limits of allowable floor areas for a single building, and when the buildings so
considered, house different occupancies or are of different types of construction, the area
shall that allowed for the most restrictive occupancy or construction.
Conti..
Height Determination of the Building
• In any given location, the height of the building of proposed buildings/structure shall be governed by
the following factors;
• The designer/space planner must consider both the present and projected population density within the
project site and in the project location/area at full completion/operation of the project.
• For a given volume of building/structure that which has lesser percentage of Site Occupancy or area of
ground coverage Allowable Maximum Building Footprint or Maximum Allowable Construction area
may be built high than that with a greater Allowable Maximum Building Footprint
• The height of the proposed building/structure shall also be governed by the Road Right of Way- Based
limitations.
Conti…
The following factors shall be considered in determining the building height
• Soil characteristics, lot location in relation to fault lines and earthquake belts or
proximity to volcanoes and other geological conditions.
• Hydrological conditions such as the water table at the site and distance to
waterways and shorelines.
• Meteorological conditions such as the frequency and intensity of the destructive
typhoons/monsoon wind/rains, prevailing wind speed and direction, relative
humidity, amount of precipitation and the prevailing ambient conditions.
Conti….
• Effects of environmental conditions on the building structure and vice versa coupled
with the effective control air, noise and thermal pollution, radiant heat, lights and
shadows etc. and the natural optimization of natural light and ventilation.
• Effects/of traffic conditions on the buildings/structure and vice versa and the
satisfaction of parking/loading requirements in accordance with the rule.
• Availability and capacity of public utility/service system considering the availability
and adequacy of electric power, potable and non-potable waters supply, drainage and
sewerage, transportation and communications facilities, solid waste management
system.
