CIVIL SERVICE ACADEMY

PAS 39th STP

URBAN DEVELOPMENT COURSE

Topic: Building Control

Lecture Handout

THE URBAN UNIT

Urban Sector Planning & Management Services Unit (Pvt.) Ltd.
A Public Sector Company

History of Building Control

The origins of building control date back as far as 1666, when the Great Fire of London raged
through the City causing widespread devastation. Literally out of the ashes of that catastrophe
Parliament passed in 1667 an Act for the rebuilding of London. The Act set out to prevent a reoccurrence of the disaster and for the first time surveyors or discreet men as they were known,
were appointed to ensure its requirements were not violated.
In the nineteenth century the District Surveyors Association was formed with a function of
ensuring the uniformity and interpretation of building legislation throughout London, a role
which continues to this day. Building Control today plays a major role in the realization of a safe
and healthy built environment and is a fundamental part of the overall success of modern
construction within the City of London.

What is the difference between planning and building control?

It is generally realized that a form of permission is required for building work or alterations of
properties. However, it may not always be clear how the Planning and Building Regulations
differ.
Building Regulations set standards for the design and construction of buildings to ensure the
health and safety for people in or around those buildings. They also include requirements to
ensure that fuel and power is conserved and that facilities are provided for people, including
those with disabilities, to access and move around inside buildings.
Planning seeks to guide the way our towns, cities and countryside should develop. This includes
the use of land and buildings, the appearance of buildings, orientation and placement,
landscaping considerations, highway access and the impact that the development will have on the
general environment.
For many types of building work, separate permission under both regimes (separate processes)
will be required. For other building work, such as internal alterations, Buildings Regulations
approval will probably be needed, but Planning permission may not be. You may also have
responsibilities under the construction health and safety regulations.

Defining Building Control

Building Control is exercised through Building Regulations which are a set of technical
requirements for the design and construction of building works in a particular city which acts as
the tool used by local governments. Building Control is applied to individual buildings (existing or to
be constructed) within a Zoning area.

Building Regulations are minimum standards laid down by local authorities to secure the health
and safety of people in or about buildings. They are about the design and construction of
buildings as well as the provisions of services, fittings and equipment in buildings. They are also
concerned with the conservation of fuel and power and access and facilities for people with
disabilities. Additional fire risks associated with larger buildings are also to be addressed.

Need and Importance of Building Control

There should be some standards on which building designs can be based to avoid dangerous and
haphazard building construction practices mainly powered by the capitalist nature of our markets that
pursue maximum profit agenda. Keeping this need of standardization in mind there was a need to
formulate certain rules and regulations that one should follow while constructing a building. Therefore,
some rules and regulations were formed by government to regulate the construction of the buildings
known as Building by laws or Building Regulation.
Therefore building control is needed to:
1.

Encourage innovation to produce energy efficient and sustainable buildings

2.

Support local, regional and national businesses

3.

Educate and inform building professionals, contractors and traders

4.

Defend vulnerable communities and householders

5.

Drive out rogue traders

6.

Minimize the land use compatibility

7.

Safeguard the investments of individuals and companies

8.

Enhance and ensure access for disabled, sick, young and old people

9.

Protect the community from dangerous structures

10.

Provide advice in support of the emergency services

11.

Ensure sports grounds and public venues are safe for crowds

Most building control officers hold a relevant qualification, which cover a wide range of
disciplines including surveying, architecture, town planning, structural engineering, public
health and fire engineering. There are many years of experience available to call on and
officers should regularly attend training courses to ensure that they are up to date with
modern methods of construction covering structures, fire precautions, services, drainage and
where appropriate liaison with other council departments may be carried out to offer a team
approach.
Extensive records on properties should be maintained so that future owners can plan further
works with confidence. This also means that prospective purchasers can ensure that work
carried out in the past has been inspected and approved. This information can also be
analysed to give prior warning of any potential problems particularly in relation to ground
conditions which will increase the confidence of investors in the market encouraging them to
contribute in the areas economy.
The building code becomes law of a particular jurisdiction when formally enacted by the
appropriate authority. Building codes are generally intended to be applied by architects and
engineers. There are often additional codes or sections of the same building code that have
more specific requirements that apply to dwellings and special construction objects.
NESPAK (National Engineering Services Pakistan) developed a Building Code for Pakistan
in 1986. This document was however not enforced. The earlier version was based on the then
current version of Uniform Building Code.
There is no general building code applicable in all parts of the country. Karachi, which has a
relatively strong Building Control Authority, expects designs based on UBC parameters.

Most cities do not have any prescribed structural requirements. There are efforts to introduce
a wider building Code, but these are at a very early stage. Some interim measures are being
taken in the Federal Capital and earth-quake affected areas. Seismic maps have existed for a
long time. Some Building Codes exist, but none has been made part of a Federal law.
Building code also provide detailed guidelines, procedures and recommendations, about
design of various types of buildings in different conditions, choice and selection of materials
and requirements for testing and inspection. These have been formulated keeping in view the
construction materials and methods prevalent in Pakistan and the latest scientific knowledge
available in building codes worldwide. In general, the following have been used as source
documents:

American codes and standards, including the International Code Council USA (ICC)

American Concrete Institute (ACI)

American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

Currently, Pakistan's design engineers are using them in their general practice.
Building by laws may contain regulations related to:

1. FA.R and Ground Coverage.

2. Density.
3. Setbacks and Projections.
4. Basements and Parking Spaces.
5. Well and well type structures.
6. Area and area usages.
7. Atrium and ornamental structures.

8. Building height and other Service Spaces.

9. Site Design and service design (sewerage, water and electrical design) and many more.

Relevance with PAS Officers

The PAS Officers are entrusted to hold the administrative positions in public offices. The
ultimate responsibility of citizens safety comes on the shoulders of the administrative head
of a municipal entity. Hence, knowing the building regulations and building control processes
are very much important for the PAS Officers to better perform, ensuring transparency and
good governance.

Conclusion
Building control enables the citys administration to allow development in a monitored way
that guarantees safety and public welfare through the use of building regulations. In the light
of the current energy crises and climatic changes, building control is now burdened with an
added function of promoting energy efficiency and reducing wastage. Furthermore, building
control helps in shaping and maintaining the form characteristic of any city which at many
times is cashed with enhanced tourism industry.