Monday, Sep 02, 2013
Construction is a major area of economic activity in the UAE as it continues to develop residential, commercial, retail properties and enhance civic facilities. The construction sector is governed by the municipalities of the seven emirates, which have seven building codes that differ from each other in many aspects. This creates a lot of confusion and problems for the contractors who have to obtain approvals for buildings at different stages of construction and development. Most medium and large contractors operate in more than one emirate and these variations create problems for their engineers and designers, who have to tailor their work to suit the building code of the respective emirate.
In a country that strives for excellence, one cannot have a ‘different strokes for different folks’ attitude.
As the UAE moves forward as a strong federation, it should have the best building codes for the construction sector that tackle issues related to building life, earthquake, environment, maintenance, sustainability and energy efficiency. As it is, many home-owners have, in the past, complained of inferior construction and poor-quality buildings which they bought at a high premium.
It is time all civic bodies get together and formulate the best building code, incorporating the best elements from the existing codes and implementing them across the country.
This comprehensive set of building codes should also tackle the maintenance and retro-fitting of the old buildings and ensure that they are energy-efficient and sustainable.
Staff
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
