Housing and You...GNBS explains the National Building Codes

Housing and You…GNBS explains the National Building Codes

Feb 23, 2014 News

By Leonard Gildarie

Over the last two weeks we have been examining the National Building Codes which has been published on the website of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS).

Plumbing is one of the sections of the Code that has been completed, but will be reviewed this year.

At first glance, I was under the impression that regulations are meant to be enforced. I have been harping on this particular issue for a long time. How in the world can we have rules and no clear means of enforcement? It is like the nonsensical explanation that some Government agencies, NDCs and city ouncils have millions in outstanding taxes and rates but no staffers to make the collections. They can’t budget enough funds to pay those workers.
So we have evolved into a situation that it is ‘the wild west’ out in the construction sector.
I saw two cases last week where persons were mixing cement on the roadways…one in Canal Number One, where half of the space had been taken up and the other, yes it is shocking, in the corner of the West Bank Demerara road. How can this happen? Where are the police and the authorities on this?
We come right back to those interesting building codes. For the new readers, the codes were designed to ensure safety and quality in keeping with international norms. Surely, an authority must be tasked with ensuring these.
I made contact with GNBS early last week, questioning their role. They have replied and for the readers, we will publish, almost in its entirety what they said. I will however be pestering them on the body that was supposed to have been set up to overlook and hear complaints of the building sector.
The thrust of these columns of course have veered away from the regular ones. It is a little more technical but important if we are to join the rest of the world in adopting standards that are acceptable.
According to GNBS in their reply, building codes provide minimum standards to ensure the public safety, health and welfare are not affected by building construction and to secure safety to life and property from all hazardous incidents to the occupancy of buildings, structures or premises.
The concept of developing National Building Codes for Guyana was first introduced more than twenty years ago by the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE). This concept emanated from numerous surveys and recommendations from engineering and construction personnel and institutions. It was recognized at the time that the then available regulations were inadequate and outdated. On this basis, the major stakeholders in the industry agreed to develop National Building Codes.
The Caribbean Unified Building Code (CUBIC) which was developed by the Council of Caribbean Engineering Organisation (CCEO), was used as the reference standard, because of its adoption and general acceptance within the Caribbean region.
Protection
According to GNBS, the purpose of the codes is to regulate building construction through the use of standards and is a reference to architects and engineers to use when designing building or building systems.
In 1993, GNBS began to facilitate the development of building codes for Guyana. The Bureau facilitated the development of codes through the National Building Code Committee and its various sub committees. These committees comprise representatives from various public, private, research, academia, non-governmental and other interested organizations.
To date, ten sections of the Code are completed and these include Enforcement; Fire Safety, Use and Occupancy; Electrical; Plumbing; Use of Guyanese Hardwoods in Construction; Concrete and Block Masonry; Structural Steel; High Rise Buildings; Foundations and Excavations and Code of Practice for the Design and Construction of Septic Tanks and Associated Secondary Treatment and Disposal Systems.
However, there are several codes which are on the GNBS’s work programme to be reviewed this year. These are Fire Safety, Use and Occupancy; Plumbing; High Rise Buildings; Foundations and Excavations; Specification for Load Bearing Masonry Concrete Units; Specification for Non-Load Bearing Masonry Concrete Units; Reinforced Concrete Trestle; Design and Construction of Latrine; Code of Practice for the Design and Construction of Septic Tanks and Associated Secondary Treatment and Disposal System.
The revision of the Fire Safety, Use and Occupancy and Foundations and Excavations has commenced and will be continued this year, GNBS said.
THE CODES
With regards to the codes, GNBS provided explanations. The Fire Safety and Occupancy code comprises a set of minimum requirements regarding the safety of buildings on aspects of fire protection and structural sufficiency.
“The primary purpose of this Code is the promotion of public safety through the application of appropriate building standards. Occupancy and fire safety requirements depend on the type of occupancy of a building and the use to which it is put.
It also includes certain specific requirements relating to building size and occupancy and fire safety within floor areas, exit requirements, fire protection systems, and requirements during construction and sign.” Access for disabled persons is also featured in this section.
Relevant codes and standards are also specified or referenced for items such as storage of volatile flammable liquid, smoke and heat vents, installation of mechanical systems, etc.
Under the Plumbing code, GNBS said that it speaks of the requirements for good plumbing practice for water supply and distribution, and sewerage.
“It shall apply and govern plumbing on the basis of the practice, materials and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance, extension and alteration of all the pipes, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with any of the following:- sanitary facilities, the venting system, and the public or private water supply systems within or adjacent to any building; also the practice and materials used in the installation maintenance, extension or alteration of the sewage system of any premises to their connection with any point of public disposal or other terminal.”
The use of local woods is one area that I like. This Code provides guidance on the use of Guyana’s timber species for construction purposes. It includes recommendations on quality, engineering properties and the various design considerations and principles for simple members, build-up components, composite structures and sub-structures incorporating other materials. Requirements and recommendations for sound construction and typical details for residential construction are also included. Further, recommendations for the design of heavy engineered structures, nailed, screwed, and bolted joints are also presented.
We will stop here now as there is more. We will continue next week.
Thank you for the many emails and calls last week and please do continue to send your messages to [email protected] or call on 225-8491.
Do have a blessed Mashramani.