The low rise has shown vulnerability to natural disasters due to non-intervention by structural engineers. Have a look civil engineer Shrikant S. channel in the wake of recent building collapse
TeaThe National Building Code-2016 has made it mandatory to engage appropriate professionals at all stages of construction work in view of the increasing number of building collapses due to lapses in safety issues. This is especially so in building designs below the G+4 category. It has been found that the low-rise building category, which accounts for 98% of the total housing in the country, seems defenseless and susceptible to natural calamities like earthquakes, cyclones, floods, etc., due to non-involvement of structural engineers. Other engineering inputs.
building bye-laws
The increase in urban population density demands innumerable civic amenities to keep life safe and comfortable. The systematic, controlled physical development of the city is one of the primary objectives of any governing body. Controlled building development becomes an absolute necessity both vertically and horizontally. One type of master plan (commonly called a CDP-Comprehensive Development Plan) would be prepared in advance by urban engineering experts to guide the expected development for the city/town. This is how the “Building By-Laws” (BBL) comes into existence and is subsequently taken up as part of the Master Plan/CDP. The primary purpose of the BBL is to restrict and guide the spatial development of the city/town which are popularly covered in the CDP under the heading “Zoning Regulations”.
periodic revision
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the country’s highest standardization body, as the National Building Code of India, is responsible for formulating technical codes and standards for civil construction and development. These codes are revised from time to time to accommodate the latest developments in the construction industry, the latest being NBC-2016.
The NBC provisions are prepared by an expert committee of the BIS apex body comprising of suggestions from government, private and educational institutions, civil engineers, contractors, architects, environmentalists etc. These codes will form the fundamental technical principles to be followed. Design and construction of buildings for safe and sustainable development.
Since law is a state subject, it is for state governments to incorporate these national building codes and standards into their state/local/municipal building bye-laws.
local infrastructure
Each state has its own Town and Country Planning Act, through which these bye-laws, codes and standards are framed and amended from time to time to keep pace with the changed requirements and technological advancements.
In Karnataka, through the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act-1961, these bye-laws came into existence for various local authorities and have been amended from time to time.
All corporations and development authorities have their own building bye-laws under the above Act. These BBLs will be revised/modified as CDPs from time to time by the State Government as per the requirement of urban development.
flow chart
For any urban development work, such as layout construction or building construction, formal approval from the civil engineering/town planning departments of the corporation or development authority is essential.
The Authority will grant approval after verifying the compliance of the proposed development with the applicable CDP and BBL/Regional rules on the boundaries/boundaries of the Authority.
Therefore, in the interest of safety and sustainability, the Authority will also look into the aspect of participation of professionals like civil engineers/architects for planning, structural engineers for safe design, geotechnical engineers, public health engineers, electric/service engineers and so on. Civil contractors who shall have valid registration with the authority.
Documents and drawings, signed by the concerned professionals, will be submitted to the authority along with a “certificate of engagement” from each of these professionals.
The requirement of professionals will depend on the type of development/construction specified in NBC-2016 and their professional competence.
The appointment of the above mentioned professionals becomes imperative from the building permit stage till the completion of all types of building/development, be it small or large.
However, depending on the volume, type and/or importance of the building the involvement of other professionals may be sought by the Authority, such as peer review of design drawings, especially for tall buildings and special buildings.
During the construction period, NBC has also prescribed certain instructions to be followed and the authority has the right to withdraw the approved development/building permit if the construction/development deviate from the approved design drawing.
There are provisions to suspend a professional’s license if he performs his duties in a manner that contravenes those envisaged by NBC and the bye-laws.
issue of occupancy certificate
The owner can apply for Occupancy Certificate (OC) to the authority after attaching all the completion certificates and documents obtained from the professionals involved in the building/development work.
The authority will issue the certificate as per the extant conditions in the bye-laws.
The owner can then proceed with all the required service connections and other documents.
(The author is President, Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (I), ACCE – Bangalore Centre).
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