The government has finalised new Building Code, to be implemented throughout the country, to make buildings safe from the effects of earthquakes, official sources told Business Recorder.
However, dams, harbour structures, tunnels, pipelines, power transmission lines, power generation plants, including hydro, thermal and nuclear power plants, gas storage facilities, special defence installations, underground structures and other structures designed with analysis and safety requirements would remain outside the scope of this code, sources added.
They said that the new building code has been prepared in the light of recommendations of a committee headed by Housing and Works Secretary with representatives of Ministries of Petroleum and Environment, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Pakistan Meteorological Department, Pakistan Engineering Council, C.D.A., Quaid-i-Azam University, NED Engineering University Karachi, UET Taxila, UET Peshawar, Earthquake Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Authority and Nespak.
Nespak was assigned the task of revising the building code last prepared in 1986, in the context of the earthquake of October 8, 2005 and in the light of reports prepared by various international agencies for making the buildings earthquake-resistant.
The interim guidelines/recommendations for preliminary seismic design parameters and criteria for seismic resistant designs of buildings in Islamabad-Rawalpindi area, prepared by Nespak, were approved by the Cabinet on March 2, 2006.
Sources said that Nespak has now formulated 'Building Code (Seismic Provisions 2007)' in close collaboration with International Code Council (ICC), USA, and Pakistan Engineering Council 'core group' representing various stakeholders.
As per international practice and guidelines for seismic hazard evaluation and seismic hazard mapping for building codes, Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) procedure has been employed for seismic hazard analysis.
The report covers seismic hazards, site considerations, soils and foundations, structural design requirements, structural tests and inspections, structural concrete, structural steel, masonry, architectural elements and mechanical and electrical systems.
The objective of these seismic provisions is to prescribe the minimum requirements for the earthquake design and construction of buildings and building-like structures and/or their components subjected to earthquake ground motions. Requirements of these provisions will be applicable to reinforced concrete building, steel buildings, building-like structures, masonry buildings etc. These code provisions are essential to protect public health, safety & welfare and do not restrict the use of new materials and technology.
Sources said that Pakistan being located close to the collision boundary of the Indian and Eurasian plates lies in a seismically active zone. Owing to high population density near seismically active areas, buildings should be able to withstand the seismic hazards to which these may be exposed during their lifetime.
Based on geological, tectonic and seismic data, Pakistan is characterised by extensive zones of moderate to high seismically and the geographic domain of Pakistan comprises a network of active seismotectonic features of regional extent, generally associated with collisional mountain ranges, which define five broad seismotectonic zones ie (i) the Himalayan Seismotectonic Zone in the North (ii) Suleiman-Kirthar thrust-fold belt (iii) Chaman-Ornach Nal fault zone, (iv) Makran Subduction zone, in the west and (v) Rann of Kutch Seismotectonic Zone in the South-East. The Pamir-Hindukush Seismic Zone straddles across Afghanistan and Tajikistan outside Pakistan is also in close vicinity of North West Pakistan comprising District Chitral.
Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar fall in Zone 2-B (0.16 to 0.24g); Lahore in Zone 2-A (0.08 to 0. 16g); Quetta & Gilgit in Zone 3 (0.24 to.32g) and Muzaffarabad in Zone-4 (0 32g).
Keeping in view the new seismic hazards analysis of Pakistan, following recommendations have been made: Nespak will finalise all issues related to copyright and intellectual property rights with source organisations of the documents from which material has been borrowed by Nespak for the seismic provisions 2007, as per the prevalent international laws and practices, before publishing the code.
Pakistan Engineering Council, being a statutory regulatory body having technical expertise & statutory powers to frame provisions/regulation pertaining to engineering profession for effective and legal application, will provide for necessary legal framework making mandatory for all federal/provincial government agencies to ensure that all buildings are constructed in accordance with the building code and the provisions of the code are implemented.
The provincial governments have already been advised by the Prime Minister on December 5, 2005 to ensure upgrading of building codes simultaneously and within the shortest possible time throughout the country and AJK.
According to sources, revision of the building code after every five years, or as and when deemed necessary, may be carried out by Pakistan Engineering Council in consultation with professionals and stakeholders for which necessary funds may be provided by the federal government.
The work on the revision and updating of the remaining parts of the Pakistan Building Code relating to administrative regulations, development control rules & general building requirements, fire protection requirements, stipulations regarding materials & general structural design, rules for design of electrical installations, lighting, air conditioning and lifts, regulations for ventilation, acoustics and plumbing services, such as water supply, drainage, sanitation and gas supply, measures to ensure safety of workers and public during construction and rules for erection of signs and outdoor display structures, may be continued in the light of seismic provisions 2007.