In the wake of the aftershocks felt in some countries in the Gulf following the recent earthquakes in Iran and Pakistan, the Building Department of Dubai Municipality has issued a circular amending some of the requirements of structural design related to wind and seismic loads.
The amendments, issued to all consulting offices and contractors operating in the Emirate, aim to raise the efficiency and safety of buildings in Dubai.
Eng. Moawya Zafarini, Head of the structural engineering unit at Dubai Municipality, says the circular stipulates to amend the specifications of wind and seismic loads for buildings higher than ten floors to ‘non-traditional’ buildings.
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The new requirement will be applicable for all commercial buildings, markets, hospitals and public buildings.
“According to the circular the structure of buildings above 10 stories should be as per either American Building Code (UBC) or International Building Code (IBC) or Dubai Seismic Code (DSC), as updated,” Moawya said.
“Buildings taller than 10 floors as well as schools and hospitals should be built to withstand quakes between 5.5 and 5.9 (Zone 2B). Buildings with between four and 10 floors will be designed for Zone 2A,” he added.
In regard to the wind loads, Dubai Wind Code, British code (BS6399) or U.S. Code (ASCE7-05) as updated are applicable for all buildings in Dubai, Moawya also stated.
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