CHAPTER

Title,ScopeandGeneral

1.1

TITLE Theprovisionsandregulationscontainedinthisdocumentshallconstituteandbecollectivelyknownand maybecitedasthe"BangladeshNationalBuildingCode",abbreviated,wheredesired,asBNBC,andwill hereinafterbereferredtoasthe"Code".

1.2

PURPOSE ThepurposeofthisCodeistoestablishminimumstandardsfordesign,construction,qualityofmaterials, useandoccupancy,locationandmaintenanceofallbuildingswithinBangladeshinordertosafeguard, withinachievablelimits,life,limb,health,propertyandpublicwelfare.Theinstallationanduseofcertain

Part1
ScopeandDefinitions

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Part1
ScopeandDefinitions equipment,servicesandappurtenancesrelated,connectedorattachedtosuchbuildingsarealsoregulated hereintoachievethesamepurpose. TheprovisionsofthisCodeareapplicabletoallpersonsofBangladeshirrespectiveofclass,creed,culture, religionorsex.TheCodedoesnotinanywaycreateorotherwiseestablishordesignateanyparticular classorgroupofpersonswhowillorshouldbespeciallyprotectedorbenefitedbytheprovisionsofthis Code. TheexpressedintentofthisCodeistoinsurepublicsafety,healthandgeneralwelfareinsofarastheyare affected by the construction, alteration, repair, removal, demolition, use or occupancy of buildings, structuresorpremises,throughstructuralstrength,stability,meansofegress,safetyfromfireandother hazards,sanitation,lightandventilation. 1.3 SCOPE TheprovisionsofthisCodeshallapplytothedesign,construction,useoroccupancy,alteration,moving, demolitionandrepairofanybuildingorstructureandtoanyappurtenancesinstalledthereinorconnected orattached thereto,exceptsuchmattersasareotherwiseprovidedforinotherordinancesandstatutes controllingandregulatingbuildings. Ifforanycasedifferent sections ofthisCodeprovidedifferentspecifications formaterials, methods of designorconstruction,orotherrequirements,themostrestrictivespecificationshallgovern. Incaseofanyconflictbetweenageneralrequirementandaspecificrequirement,thespecificrequirement shallbeapplicable. Unlessotherwise explicitly stated inthisCode, allreferencestopart, chapter orsection numbersorto provisionsnotspecificallyidentifiedbynumber,shallbeconstruedtorefertosuchpart,chapter,sectionor provisionofthisCode. Referencesmadetoasectionwithoutmentioningapartshallbeconstruedtorefertothatsectionofthe partinwhichthereferenceismade. TheprovisionsofanyappendixinthisCodeshallnotbemandatoryunlesstheyarereferredtoassuchin anysectionoftheCodeortheyarespecificallyadoptedbyanyregulation. Inspectionconductedorpermissiongrantedforanybuildingorplanofbuilding,undertheprovisionsof thisCode,shallnotbeconstruedasawarrantyofthephysicalconditionofsuchbuildingortheadequacy ofsuchplan.NeithertheAuthorityadministeringtheCode,noranyemployeethereofshallbeliablein tortfordamagesforanydefectorhazardousorillegalconditionorinadequacyinsuchbuildingorplan, norforanyfailureofanycomponentofsuchbuildingwhichmayoccursubsequenttosuchinspectionor grantingofpermissionundertheprovisionsoftheCode. 1.4 EXISTINGBUILDINGS BuildingswhichareinexistenceonthedateofpromulgationofthisCodemayhavetheiruseoroccupancy continued without undergoing any alteration, abandonment or removal unless in the opinion of the Authoritysuchcontinueduseishazardoustolifeandpropertyandprovidedsuchuseoroccupancywas legalonthedateofpromulgationofthisCode.

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Chapter1
Title,ScopeandGeneral 1.4.1 AdditionandAlteration Additions,alterations,modificationsorrepairtoanexistingbuildingmaybemadewithoutrequiringthe existing building tocomply withalltherequirements ofthisCode,providedtheadditions, alterations, modificationsorrepairsconformtothatrequiredforanewbuilding.Suchadditionsoralterationsshall notbepermitted whentheexisting buildingisnotinfullcompliancewiththeprovisions ofthisCode except when the addition or alteration will result in the existing building or structure being no more hazardousbasedonlifesafety,firesafetyandsanitationthanitwasbeforetheadditionoralterationwas undertaken. Anybuilding together withthenewadditionsshallnotexceedtheheight,number ofstoreysandarea specifiedinthisCodefornewbuildingshavingtherelevantoccupancyandtypeofconstruction. Non structural alterations or repairs to an existing building or structure which do not adversely affect any structuralmember,norreducethestrengthofanypartofthebuildingorstructuretoresultinanunsafe conditionshallbemadewithmaterialsandcomponentshavingtherequiredfireresistance. 1.4.2 ChangeofUse Changeinuseoroccupancyinanexistingbuildingmaybemadewhensuchchangecomplieswiththe requirementsofthisCodeforanewbuildingandprovidedsuchchangedoesnotrenderanypartorthe whole of the affected building or structure any more hazardous based on life safety, fire safety and sanitationthanitwasbeforesuchchangewaseffected. HISTORICORARCHITECTURALLYVALUABLEBUILDINGS A building or structure which has been designated by official action as having special historical or archaeological interest, or abuilding or structure identified byalegally constituted authority asbeing architecturally valuable, may be undertaken for repairs, alterations and additions necessary for its preservation,restoration,rehabilitationorcontinueduseprovided: i) theproposedrepair,alterationoradditiontobuildingsofhistoricalorarchaeologicalsignificanceis approvedbythelegallyconstitutedauthority,suchastheDepartmentofArchaeology; theproposedrepair,alterationoradditiontobuildingsofarchitecturalvaluedoesnotimpairthe aestheticqualityandarchitecturalcharacterofsuchbuildings;and therestoredbuildingorstructurewillbenomorehazardous,ifany,basedonlifesafety,firesafety andsanitationthantheexistingbuilding.

1.5

ii)

iii)

SeealsoSec3.8ofPart2andSec1.16ofPart3.

BangladeshNationalBuildingCode

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