Assignment on

Building Code, Health &

Wellbeing
COMPARATIVE DISCUSSION AMONG THE PROVISION ,SCOPE
AND INTENT OF THE BANGLADESH NATIONAL BUILDING CODE
(BNBC)AND INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE (IBC)THAT ARE
OPERATING SUCCESSFULLY TO PRESERVE TO HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY.
Building Code
A building code (also building control or building regulations) is a set of rules that specify the standards
for constructed objects such as buildings and non-building structures. Buildings must conform to the
code to obtain planning permission, usually from a local council. The main purpose of building codes is
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.

Bangladesh National Building Code

The first Bangladesh National Building Code was developed in 1993 and was enacted in 2006 followed by
amendment of the Building Construction Act-1952. As a living document, the building code needs to be
updated periodically within an interval of 4-5 years. The first developed and enacted BNBC has already
been updated and is awaiting enactment as BNBC-2017.
Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) was first drafted in 1993 but not formally reviewed and
updated. In 2006 the Building Construction Act was amended to include a new section 18 A, empowering
the government to promulgate the building code as a legally binding document. Further in December 2009
the House Building Research Institute (HBRI) involved leading experts from BRTC, BUET and outside to
update the code and act within a year and make it available to all.

INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE (IBC)

Internationally, code officials recognize the need for a modern, up-to-date building code addressing the
design and installation of building systems through requirements emphasizing performance. The
International Building Code in this 2009 edition, is designed to meet these needs through model code
regulations that safeguard the public health and safety in all communities, large and small The International
Building Code is available for adoption and use by jurisdictions internationally. Its use within a
governmental jurisdiction is intended to be accomplished through adoption by reference in accordance
with proceedings establishing the jurisdiction's laws. At the time of adoption, jurisdictions should insert the
appropriate information in provisions requiring specific local information, such as the name of the adopting
jurisdiction. These locations are shown in bracketed words in small capital letters in the code and in the
sample ordinance. The sample adoption ordinance on page xv addresses several key elements of a code
adoption ordinance, including the information required for insertion into the code text.
In 1972, BOCA, SBCCI, and ICBO created the Council of American Building Officials (CABO) to prepare a
national building code for residential construction. CABO's One and Two Family Dwelling Code was adopted
by only a handful of U.S. jurisdictions; the rest preferred to stick with the regional building codes. In 1994,
BOCA, SBCCI, and ICBO merged to form the International Code Council (ICC) in order to develop a
comprehensive set of building codes that would have no regional limitations: the International Codes (or I-
Codes)
Scope of the IBC and BNBC
The provisions of BNBC shall apply to the design, construction, use or occupancy, alteration,
moving, demolition and repair of any building or structure and to any appurtenances installed
therein or connected or attached thereto, except such matters as are otherwise provided for in
other ordinances and statutes controlling and regulating buildings. If for any case different
B sections of this Code provide different specifications for materials, methods of design or
construction, or other requirements, the most restrictive specification shall govern. In case of
any conflict between a general requirement and a specific requirement, the specific
N requirement shall be applicable. Unless otherwise explicitly stated in this Code, all references to
part, chapter or section numbers or to provisions not specifically identified by number, shall be
construed to refer to such part, chapter, section or provision of this Code. References made to a
B section without mentioning a part shall be construed to refer to that section of the part in which
the reference is made. The provisions of any appendix in this Code shall not be mandatory
unless they are referred to as such in any section of the Code or they are specifically adopted by
C any regulation. Inspection conducted or permission granted for any building or plan of building,
under the provisions of this Code, shall not be construed as a warranty of the physical condition
of such building or the adequacy of such plan. Neither the Authority administering the Code, nor
any employee thereof shall be liable for damages or any defect or hazardous or illegal condition
or inadequacy in such building or plan, nor for any failure of any component of such building
which may occur subsequent to such inspection or granting of permission under the provisions
of the Code

The purpose of building codes is 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:
I • 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,
B site drainage & storage, appliance, lighting, fixtures standards, occupancy rules, and
swimming pool regulations
• Rules regarding parking and traffic impact
C • Fire code rules to minimize the risk of a fire and to ensure safe evacuation 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
I • Grandfather clauses: Unless the building is being renovated, the building code usually does not
apply to
B •
•
existing buildings.
Specifications components
•
C •
Allowable installation methodologies
Minimum and maximum room ceiling heights, exit sizes and location
• Qualification of individuals or corporations doing the work
• For high structures, anti-collision markers for the benefit of aircraft

Intent of the IBC and BNBC

In 1993 the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) was made to regulate the technical
details of building construction and to maintain the standard of building construction with the
following two main objectives;
▪ To provide safe and healthy habitat by regulating all activities related to buildings such as
planning, design and construction.
▪ To provide guidance for a uniform start of practice in planning, design, construction aspects as
well as service facilities such as electrical, mechanical, sanitary and other services.
The Code has been notified by gazette of the Government of Bangladesh and is a
comprehensive document that can be used for legally binding codes of development in urban
B areas of Bangladesh. It covers planning administration and enforcement, general building
controls and regulations, requirements for different uses, fire protection, building materials,
design and services. Importantly, it also considers building use (occupancy classes), density and
N building height.
In Comparison it can be said , the purpose or the intention of BNBC and IBC is almost same .It is
to provide minimum standards for safety, health, and general welfare including structural
B integrity, mechanical integrity (including sanitation, water supply, light, and ventilation), means
of egress, fire prevention and control, and energy conservation.
Building codes are generally intended to be applied by architects, engineers, interior
C designers, 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, and
others. Codes regulate the design and construction of structures where adopted into
law.Purpose of the BNBC is to establish minimum standards for design, construction, quality of
materials, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of buildings within Bangladesh in
order to safeguard, within achievable limits, life, limb, health, property and public welfare
 The purpose of IBC is to establish the minimum requirements to safeguard the public health,
safety and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability,
sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property
from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment and to provide safety to fire
fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations. It’s a safeguard of the public

I health, safety and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities,
stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation,energy conservation, and safety to life and
property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment and to provide safety

B to fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.

Before the creation of the International Building Code there were several different building
C codes used, depending on where one decided to construct a building. The IBC was developed to
consolidate existing building codes into one uniform code that could be used nationally and
internationally to construct buildings. The purpose of the IBC is to protect public health, safety
and general welfare as they relate to the construction of buildings. Therefore, it is used to
regulate building construction through use of standards and is a reference for architects and
engineers to use when designing buildings or building systems.

Provision of the IBC and BNBC

Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) of 1993 came into effect with a gazette notification
issued on November 15, 2006. It has been made mandatory to comply with in any building
construction under the Building Construction Act of 1952 to ensure accountability in the
B management of overall building construction and safety of the buildings. The BNBC 1993 has
dealt only with construction, structure, material, geo technical, seismic aspects, etc. of
development. The BNBC has left out the planning aspects of development as is evident from
N section (f). All these planning and development factors need to be incorporated in the BNBC, if it
is to produce a safe and livable environment at all. Apparently BNBC, 1993 provides insignificant

B consideration on environmental influences on planning, design, construction and selection of

construction material for buildings.
The BNBC 2015 (final draft) code book published in 3 volume has 10 parts, such as:

C • Administration and Enforcement• General Building Requirements, Control and Regulation

• Fire Protection • Building Materials • Structural Design
• Construction Practices and Safety • Building Services • Alteration, Addition to and Change of
use of Existing Buildings • Signs and Outdoor Display
 A large portion of the International Building Code (IBC) deals with fire prevention. It differs
from the related International Fire Code in that the IBC addresses fire prevention in regard to
construction and design and the fire code addresses fire prevention in regard to the
operation of a completed and occupied building. For example, the building code sets criteria
for the number, size and location of exits in the design of a building while the fire code
requires the exits of a completed and occupied building to be unblocked.
I
The code book itself (2000 edition) totals over 700 pages and chapters include:
•Building occupancy classifications
B •Building heights and areas
•Interior finishes

C •Foundation, wall, and roof construction

•Fire protection systems (sprinkler system requirements and design)
•Materials used in construction
•Elevators and escalators
•Already existing structures
•Means of egress

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_code
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Building_Code
REFERENCE Bangladesh National Building Code 2014 Draft
International Building Code