As evident from its name, Dubai Building Code (DBC) are regulations pertaining to the design and development of buildings in Dubai. To put it simply, the main objective of DBC is to make a unified building design across the Emirate for quality and safety through best practices. For this purpose. The DBC has developed an easily usable building code to meet the objective.
Following these minimum requirements set by the DBC is necessary:
- The safety, health, welfare and convenience of the people inside and around buildings
- The safety, health, welfare and convenience of those who might be affected by buildings
- Using a building design that reduces the impact on the surroundings and ensures for sustainable development
DBC stipulated regulations are the minimum requirements for the building design of any building in Dubai. To put it simply, the design code needs to be followed to achieve higher building design and development standards.
Where is Dubai Building Design Code Applicable
The DBC is arranged under different parts or themes to integrate all relevant elements of building design. They are as follows:
- Part A: General
- Part B: Architecture
- Part C: Accessibility
- Part D: Vertical transportation
- Part E: Building envelope
- Part F: Structure
- Part G: Incoming utilities
- Part H: Indoor environment
- Part J: Security
- Part K: Villas
Part A – General
Generally, the Dubai Building Code, also known as Dubai Municipality Building Code takes inputs from various sources. These include:
1) Already existing regulations and technical requirements made by several authorities and service providers
2) Government authorities’ interviews, and interviews of various service providers, consultants, master developers and other stakeholders to understand why gaps or inconsistencies exist between regulations
3) International and regional code benchmarks
Part B – Architecture
Dubai building code regulations & construction specifications pertaining to the building’s architecture are as follows:
- The building should be integrated appropriately with the surrounding natural and built environment. Moreover, safety facilities, convenience and welfare of all building occupants must be provided.
- As for accessibility, the building had to provide appropriate access and safe movement of vehicles within the site and building. The building must also provide minimum communal provisions and facilities for occupants’ welfare.
- The building design should be such that it provides adequate and nearby solid waste and recycling storage to ensure people are safeguarded against injury or illness caused by any kind of infection and contamination
Part C: Accessibility
According to the performance standard mandated by Dubai Building Design Code for building accessibility, reasonable provisions to access the building and its facilities must be made.
Part D: Vertical Transportation
As for vertical transportation, the building is responsible to provide a safe, sustainable, adequate and effective vertical transportation service.
Part E: Building Envelope
Dubai building code regulations & construction specifications pertaining to the building envelope are as follows:
- The building envelope should be such that it resists the loads imposed on it safely. Moreover, the building envelope should reduce the energy requirements to cool the building. The building envelope must also control moisture to protect the building, its users, mechanical systems and contents from any kind of physical or chemical damage.
- According to Dubai Building Design Code, the building envelope needs to protect the occupants from external noise. It should also make sure; occupants are safe when they open or close windows of their space in the building.
- The building envelope must also provide adequate safety measures to be followed in case of fire spread.
- Lastly, the building should be designed and constructed such that it makes up for safe access for cleaning and maintenance of the building envelope.
Part F: Structure
As for structure, the building has to provide a structure that protects other property from physical damage. One that does not sustain damage or collapse to a disproportionate extent.
Part G: Incoming Utilities
Dubai building code regulations & construction specifications for incoming utilities are as follows:
- The building needs to provide electrical installations to safeguard occupants against outbreak of fire and personal injury because of an electric shock.
- The building has to use metered water supplies to monitor water consumption and inform water conservation.
- The building must coordinate all the needs of relevant incoming district cooling provisions. The building must also enable telecommunications services for its occupants.
Part H: Indoor Environment
Dubai building code regulations & construction specifications for the indoor environment of the building are as follows:
- The building’s indoor environment must be energy-efficient, have effective controls, ensure optimal operational efficiency and facilitate the health and comfort of the occupants.
- Moreover, to keep the indoor environment healthy, a reliable supply of safe water with sanitary fittings selected to reduce water consumption has to be provided.
- There should be a proper drainage system, and the building’s environment should be such that it protects the occupants from noise pollution from adjacent spaces.
- Then, the building must include artificial lighting to enable safe movement when there is insufficient natural light.
- Lastly, the building must enable necessary digital services to ensure communications.
Part J: Security
The building security standards must be in accordance with the security requirements laid down by the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) to keep the Emirate of Dubai as one of the safest cities.
Part K: Villas
DBC to be followed for the design and development of villas are subject to meeting the performance statements laid down in architecture and building envelope.
For more details about the aforementioned parts and their technical codes, you can visit DBC’s official website.
Importance of Dubai Building Code
To no one’s surprise, Dubai is among the world’s leading cities that attract foreign investment, particularly from the real estate and tourism sectors. Naturally, the Dubai government has introduced several incentives to these sectors; the latest one is the recently revised Dubai building code.
According to the new building code, unified standards must be followed for building construction. These standards promote sustainable development and innovation in building design. They also play a major role in attracting international investment and promoting diversification of projects in the emirate’s construction sector.
With the help of standardized building requirements, Dubai building code will also quicken the completion of various construction projects still in the design phase. More importantly, investors who are already aware of the benefits of buying property in Dubai will now be more satisfied as the DBC ensures compliance with all design requirements.
That is all about the Dubai Building Code, its parts and its importance. If you are a constructor or investor willing to pitch in Dubai’s real estate, understanding DBC will help you move forward. Besides, if you wish to buy a residential building, go through this list of residential buildings for sale in Dubai. On the contrary, if you wish to go through decent apartments, this is a useful list of apartments for sale in Dubai.
On a different note, if you are looking for a property for yourself, here is a list of properties for sale in the UAE.
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