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 An Act to standardize all Building

and Construction standards to be
implemented
 by Local Governments/Authorities,
supports Street, Drainage Building
(and Sewerage ) Act.

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COVERAGE
 Procedures, requirements and documents when seeking
Building Approval from Local Governments ;
 Standards for Space, Lighting and Ventilation ;
 Rules in connection with Temporary Works ; Structural
Standards ;
 Minimum Design standards for Buildings for comfort and
safety of occupants ;
 Fire Prevention and Safety Standards for Buildings;
 Fire/Smoke Detection and Fire Fighting Devices;
Schedules.

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COVERAGE (cont’d)

 Amongst others the Act promotes 1)

Safety of Buildings and occupants 2)
Maintains standards of comfort and
living/working conditions 3)
Promotes efficient use of energy 4)
Control/monitoring of construction
activities

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UBBL Sections

 Eight (8) main sections :

 I) Definition of terms used. (1-2)
 II) Submitting Plans for Building
(not Planning) Approval by Local
Authority before commencing
operations on site-

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Plans submitted for BA must :
1)Be submitted to LA for that particular area with fees
paid ;
2)state clearly intended usage of the Building ;
3)all plans must be signed and certified by a qualified
responsible person eg. Architect/Engineer ;
4) and site plan/layout must have been already approved
by the Planning Authority.
5)The Qualified person designing and certifying plans must
undertake to supervise construction in accordance with
plan. Changing the qualified person requires approval
of LA. (5-7).
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 Details of plans (for checking) include : Site Plan ; Floor
Plans ; sections and elevations (8-10).Structural Plans
(RCDC), calculations and specifications may also be
required (15-16).
 Some works will require Temporary Permits given after
approval of sketch plans. E.g.:-
1)Sheds for shows;
2)Temporary sheds or stores on construction site;
3) using the street to deposit materials;
4)scaffolding on the street;
5)staging ,platform abutting a street;
6)hoardings, advertisements also subject to same
law.(Public Interests and safety reasons) (18-21)
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First Schedule

 Notices to LA in First Schedule

(Forms A to E):
1) To start work;
2) Completion of setting out;
3) notice of completion of excavation
for foundations ( 22-24).

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Certificate of Fitness
 Certificate of Fitness - When a Building is
completed the qualified person will apply
in Form E that Building supervised by him
follow approved drawings and is safe,
and that all utilities ready.
 The LA will inspect to confirm, if it is as
certified, LA will issue a Certificate of
Fitness.(25-28).
 New law requires Professionals to assume
LA’s function ie. the Certificate of
Completion and Compliance.
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 III. Space, Light and Ventilation
 Protect airspace etc to prevent
disease, safety etc:
 open spaces to be provided inside and
outside buildings for ventilation.
Owners not allowed to build in open
spaces unless free air circulation can
be achieved and with approval of the
LA.

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 Open space for buildings facing street and
back-lane must not be less than 30% of lot
size area for houses and 10 % for shops.(30-
32).
 Windows to be provided for lighting and
ventilation varying from 10-20 % of clear
floor area for different usage (39)
 Minimum areas of rooms- Rooms in houses,
kitchens and toilets have minimum areas
(42). Heights of rooms also controlled varying
from 2.25-3.5 m minimum depending on
usage (44-46).

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 IV) Temporary Works during construction
 Construction work must have a signboard to
identify parties and status of approval, and
also at discretion of LA a hoarding, Permit
to be obtained. Hoardings must be
maintained ( 48-49).
 V) Structural Requirements(RCDC)-
Identifies minimum standards for design of
structures. Guidelines for imposed and
dead-loads and weight of materials used.
(see 53-80) and also tables in Schedules.
Need to be certified by a qualified person.

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 VI) Building Design Standards (Minimum):
 Party Walls-minimum 200mm for houses/shops
230 mm high above roof level, 100mm for
apartments if party walls made of concrete.
Openings, recesses and chases must be
minimum to control spread of fire (85-90).
 Staircases- Minimum for tread and riser and
consistency. Width to allow for escape in fire
and related to usage eg crowds to be
provided. No obstructions on stairs. Staircases
to be ventilated and lighted.(106-111).
 Means of refuse disposal.
 All non-residential buildings more than 4
storeys to have lifts. (124).
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 VII) Fire Protection Standards in Building Design-
To contain spread of flame and to isolate smoke in
case of fire. To separate and classify high risk areas
and that of lower risk. To facilitate ease of escape
in fire emergencies especially crowded places.
 Purpose groups (134) means usage of Building
&Population (Fifth Schedule).
 Not to exceed certain volume (50000fc), otherwise
needs to be isolated in case of fire eg. Times
Square (Compartmentisation of internal areas).
 High risk areas to have thick walls, eg.stores (139).
 External walls also need to have minimum fire
rating to prevent spread of flame to adjacent
buildings (142 to 145) (Sixth schedule)

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 Protected lobbies and shafts (stairs or pipes)
to contain smoke/fire. Fire rated doors
always kept closed.
 Emergency exits and signages and lights.
Compulsory Generator set for emergency
lighting. Travel distance calculations for
timely escape. Adequate Staircases/
stairwells
 Restricting the spread of flame in ceilings or
walls eg. Class O. Windows to allow smoke to
escape
 (Seventh to Ninth Schedule).

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 VIII) Fire/Smoke Alarms, Detection and Fighting
Equipment and Access (10th Schedule).
 Alarms to warn of emergencies, eg. bells and press
button panels, hose reels and portable extinguishers in
low risk, low occupancy areas, smoke/ heat detectors
with alarms and panels with wet risers in high rise
buildings, sprinkler systems in addition to highly
combustible areas. Signages and lighted direction signs
and floor directories to facilitate escape. Hydrants at
ground level.
 Smoke spill system for air condition areas, Fire alarm
panels and fireman communication system for high rise.
 Fire Fighting access lobbies and shafts in high rise.
Emergency supply and lighted areas.
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