Ghana Building Code - Part 01

PREFACE Building Regulations had been in use by various Municipal Administrations from about the 1940s, and in 1960, the then West African Building Research Institute (WABRI) published, a Part III of the of the Code dealing with ‘loads’ , to be used in civil engineering structures. By the early 1970s the Code and Building Regulations were obviously out of date and the Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) decided to produce a draft document, for discussion, modification and use as a basis for a final Code to address the redundancy of the of the earlier documents. The effort was undertaken by Dr. K. Amonoo‐Neizer and Part 3 and 4 of the of the Draft Code was published in 1977, followed by the Parts 1, 2 and 5 by 1988. With changes in land use patterns, materials and construction methods and local government structure, the Ministry of Works and Housing had produce, a document – National Building Regulations, 1996‐ which was gazetted as LI 1630. This document was to improve upon the Building Regulations of the Colonial times and to complement the BRRI Draft Building Code. The present effort is to produce a Draft Building Code which will take in, all the requirements of the existing building regulations and the BRRI Draft Building Code and be in tune with requirements of a building code to answer current land use patterns, materials for construction, construction methods, construction management practices, safety and energy efficient use of resources. of resources. This document, the Draft Ghana Building Code (2012) has been compiled under the auspices of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing (MWRWH) with funding from the UNDP, through the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO). A technical committee made up of representatives of relevant stake‐holding institutions (as given below) compiled the document, using the BRRI Draft Building Code, the national Building Codes of India of India (2005) and Canada as templates.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the MWRWH, NADMO, the CSIR‐ BRRI and Dr. K. Amonoo‐Neizer are gratefully acknowledged.

1

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DRAFT GHANA BUILDING CODE (2012) TECHNCIAL COMMITTEE Chairman

‐ Ing. John Tettey Ministry of Water of Water Resources, Works and Housing (MWRWH)

Organization 1.

MWRWH

Representative(s)

‐

Ing. John Tettey

‐

Surv. Louis Lawerteh

‐

Arch. C. Pobee‐Abbey

‐ ‐

Ing. K.A. Solomon‐Ayeh Surv. E. Osei‐Tutu

‐ ‐

Ing. William Nimako Mr. Eric Acheampong

2.

CSIR‐Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR‐BRRI)

3.

Ghana Standards Authority (GSA)

4.

Ghana Institution of Geo of Geo‐Scientists

‐

Rev. Fr. Samuel Wood

5.

Ghana Institution of Surveyors of Surveyors

‐

Surv. G.A. Atieku

6.

Ghana Institute of Architects of Architects

‐

Arch. Osei Kwame Agyemang

7.

Ghana Institution of Engineers of Engineers

‐

Ing. Seth Attipoe‐Denya

8.

Ghana Institution of Planners of Planners

‐

Mr. Sylvester Adda Pwalia

9.

Ghana National Fire Service

‐

David Sam Afful

10.

Electricity Company of Ghana of Ghana

‐

Arc. Tei Okletey

11.

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD)

‐

Mrs. Levina Owusu

Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL)

‐

Arch. Eric Ansah

National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO)

‐ ‐

Mr. Joseph Ankrah Mr. P.Y. Amoako

12.

13.

Consultants

Ing. K.A.Solomon‐Ayeh

















Guide to the Use of the of the Code The Ghana Building Code contains regulations which can be immediately adopted or enacted for use by various departments, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, private and public bodies. It lays down a set of minimum of minimum regulations designed to protect the safety of the of the public with regard to structural efficiency, fire hazards and health aspects of buildings. of buildings. So long as these basic requirements are met, the choice of materials and methods of design and construction is left to the ingenuity of the building professionals.

The Code achieves the foregoing by covering aspects of administrative regulations;

development control rules and general building requirements; stipulations regarding structural loads and design; materials; building services; measures to ensure safety of workers and the public during construction and rules for erection of signs of signs and outdoor display structures. As with other building codes, this code is not intended to be a textbook on building design; advice upon which should be sought from professional sources. The present Code is a modification of the of the BRRI Draft Building Code in the following areas: 1) A summary of definitions as contained in various Parts of the Code, with reference to where such definitions will be found. 2) A new section (Part 4) on Development Control Rules and General Building Requirements. 3) A new section (Part 8) on acceptable materials for use in building in Ghana and standards by which they will be assessed. 4) A new section (Part 9) on Building Services. 5) A new section on Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (Part 10), setting out the requirements and recommendations for the energy efficient use of service appliances and other equipment installed in buildings. The contents of this of this section are extensively expanded on in Part 9. 6) A new section (Part 11) on Health, Safety and the Environment. The arrangement of the of the present Code and BRRI Draft Building Code are shown in Table 1.









Table 1:

Comparison of contents of contents of 1988 of 1988 and 2012 Building Codes

BRRI Building Code (1988) Part

Title

Draft Ghana Building Code (2012) Part

Title

1

Administration

1

Scope and Definition

2

Use and Occupancy

2

Administration

3

Structural Loads and Procedures

3

Use and Occupancy

4

Development Control, Rules and general building requirements

5

Structural loads and design

6

Foundations

7

Housing, Small and Rural Buildings

8

Materials and Standards

9

Building Services

10

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

11

Constructional Practices, Safety and the Environment

4

5

Foundations

Housing and Small Buildings









Numbering System of Code of Code A decimal numbering system has been used throughout the Code. The first number (or the first two numbers in Part 9) indicates the Part of the of the Code. The second number indicates the section in the Part, the third, the sub‐section and the fourth the Article in the sub‐section. An article may further be broken into sentences (indicated by numbers in brackets) and sentences further divided into clauses and sub‐ clauses. These are illustrated as follows: 3.

Part

3.5

Section

3.5.1

Sub‐section

3.5.1.6

Article

3.5.1.6 (1)

Sentence

3.5.1.6 (1) (e)

Clause

3.5.1.6 (1) (e) (i)

Sub‐clause

Abbreviations GS

… Ghana Standards

GHA S

… Ghana Highway Authority Standards

GBC

… Ghana Building Code

BS

… British Standards

BS EN

… British European Standards

IS

… Indian Standards











TABLE OF CONTENTS OF CODE

NO. OF PAGES

PART 1

‐

SCPOE AND DEFINITIONS

21

PART 2

‐

ADMINISTRATION

28

PART 3

‐

USE AND OCCUPANCY

126

PART 4

‐

DEVELOPMENT CONTROL RULES AND GENERAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS

82

PART 5

‐

STRUCTURAL LOADS AND DESIGN

42

PART 6

‐

FOUNDATIONS

13

PART 7

‐

HOUSING AND SMALL BUILDINGS

66

PART 8

‐

MATERIALS AND STANDARDS

4

PART 9

‐

BUILDING SERVICES

413

PART 10

‐

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY

4

PART 11

‐

CONSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES, SAFETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

98









PART 1: DEFINITIONS 1.0 SCOPE 1.1 This Code or by‐law may be cited as the Ghana Building Code (2012) 1.2 This Code applies to the design, construction and occupancy of new of new buildings, and the alteration,

reconstruction, demolition, removal, re‐location and occupancy of existing buildings and the services within these buildings.

2.0 DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND PHRASES 2.1 This part lists the terms appearing in all Parts/Sections of the of the Ghana Building Code (2012). The terms have been arranged in alphabetical order. The Parts/Sections in which these terms are appearing, have been indicated against the terms.

– Part 5/Section 5.9

A

Access ( Exit) – Exit) – Part 2/Section 1.2

Apparatus – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Access panel – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Appliance – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Accessory – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Appliance valve – Part 9.7/Section 2

Accessory use – Part 2/Section 1.2

Approach Funnel – Part 4/Appendix A

Aerodrome Reference Point (ARP)

Approved – Part 2/Section 1.2

– Part 4/Appendix A

Aging – Part 4/Appendix E

Atmospheric pressure – Part 9.3/Section 2 Audible Frequency Range – Part 9.4/Section 2









Azimuth (Φ) – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

– Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Branch ventilating pipe (BVP) – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

B

Backflow – Part 9.6/Section 2.1 Backflow prevention device – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Branch waste pipe (BWP) – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Breadth (b) – Part 5/Section 5.9

Background noise – Part 9.4/Section 2

Break‐in – Part 9.4/Section 2

Back up – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Break out – Part 9.4/Section 2

Balcony – Part 4/Section 2.1

Brightness ratio or contrast

Baluster – Part 9.5/Section 2


Balustrade – Part 9.5/Section 2

Broad band noise – Part 9.4/Section 2

Barrel – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Buffer – Part 9.5/Section 2

Base – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Building – Part 2/Section 1.2

Basement or cellar – Part 4/Section 2.1

Building drain, combined

Basement storey – Part 3/Section 1.2 Battery of fixtures of fixtures – Part 9.6/Section 2.1 Bedding – Part 9.6/Section 2.1 Benching – Part 9.6/Section 2.1


Building drain, sanitary – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Building drain, storm









Building trap – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Chair – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Bunched – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Channel – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

C

Chute – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Cabin – Part 4/Section 2.1

Cistern – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Cable – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Cleaning eye – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Cable, armoured – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Clear design sky – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

Cable, flexible – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Clear waste water – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Cable, metal‐sheathed – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Cleat – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Cable, PVC sheathed‐insulated

Colour Rendering Index (CRI)



– Part 9.2/Section 2.1 Cable, weatherproof –

Collection chamber – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Cable, XLPE – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Common stairway – Part 7/Section 7.2.1

Call indicator – Part 9.5/Section 2

Communication pipe – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Candela (c/d) – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

Compartment – Part 3/Section 1.2

Car bodywork – Part 9.5/Section 2

Compartment wall and compartment floor

Car door electric contact – Part 9.5/Section 2


Car frame – Part 9.5/Section 2

Conductor, aerial – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Car platform – Part 9.5/Section 2

Conductor, bare – Part 9.2/Section 2.1










Connector for portable appliances – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

D

Damp situation – Part 9.2/Section 2.1 Daylight area – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

Construction equipment – Part 11/Section 4.2.1

Daylight factor – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

Consumer – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Daylight penetration – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

Consumer’s pipe – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Dead – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Consumer’s terminals – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Dead loads – Part 5/Section 2.1

Control – Part 9.5/Section 2

Decibels – Part 9.4/Section 2

Conversion – Part 2/Section 1.2

Deep manhole – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Cooking alcove – Part 4/Section 2.1

Deflector sheave – Part 9.5/Section 2

Cord, flexible – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Density – Part 4/Section 2.1

Core of a of a cable – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Depth (D) – Part 5/Section 5.9

Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT)

Depth of manhole of manhole – Part 9.6/Section 2.1


Detached building – Part 4/Section 2.1

Courtyard – Part 4/Section 2.1

Development – Part 2/Section 1.2

Counterweight – Part 9.5/Section 2.1

Dewpoint temperature – Part 9.3/Section 2

Cover – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Diameter – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Covered area – Part 4/Section 2.1

Direct solar illuminance – Part 9.1/Section 2.1











– Part/Section 2.1

Door – Part 3/Section 1.2, Part 9.5/Section 2

Earth leakage circuit breaker system – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Door closer – Part 9.5/Section 2

Earthquake loads – Part 5/Section 2.1

Door operator – Part 9.5/Section 2

Effective Perceived Noise Level in decibels

Downtake tap – Part 9.6/Section 2.1 Drain – Part 2/Section 1.2 Drain ventilating pipe (DVP) – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Drainage – Part 2/Section 1.2 Drainage work – Part 9.6/Section 2.1 Drop connection – Part 9.6/Section 2.1 Drop manhole – Part 9.6/Section 2.1 Dry‐bulb temperature – Part 9.3/Section 2

(EPN dB) – Part 9.4/Section 2 Effective opening – Part 9.6/Section 2.1 Effective Frontal area (Ae) – Part 5/Section 5.9 Electrical and mechanical interlock – Part 9.5/Section 2

Electro‐mechanical lock – Part 9.5/Section 2

Element of structure of structure – Part 3/Section 1.2 Element of surface of surface area – Part 5/Section 5.9









Escalator landing zone – Part 9.5/Section 2

Floor Area Ratio (FAR) – Part 4/Section 2

Escalator machine – Part 9.5/Section 2

Floor hole – hole – Part 11/Section 4.2.1

Exit – Part 4/Section 2.1

Floor leveling switch – Part 9.5/Section 2

Exposed metal – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Floor opening – Part 11/Section 4.2.1

Externally non‐combustible – Part3/Section 1.2

Floor selector – Part 9.5/Section 2

External Reflected Component (ERC)

Floor stopping switch – Part 9.5/Section 2


Evaporative air cooling – Part 9.3/Section 2

Flushing cistern – Part 9.6/Section 2.1 Formation – Part 9.6/Section 2.1 Force coefficient (Cf ) – Part 5/Section 5.9

F

Free‐field level – Part 9.4/Section 2

Façade level – Part 9.4/Section 2

French drain/rubble drain

Feed cistern – Part 9.6/Section 2.1 Fire damper – Part 9.3/Section 2


Frequency – Part 9.4/Section 2









Glare – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

Highway authority – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Hoisting beam – Part 9.5/Section 2

– Part 9.3/Section 2

Horizontal pipe – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Goods lift – Part 9.5/Section 2

Hospital lift – Part 9.5/Section 2

Ground roughness – Part 5/Section 5.9

Hot water tank – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Ground storey – Part 3/Section 1.2

Hydronic systems – Part 9.3/Section 2

Group housing – Part 4/Section 2.1 Guard railing – Part 11/Section 4.2.1

I

Guide rails – Part 9.5/Section 2

Illuminance – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

Guide rails fixing – Part 9.5/Section 2

Impact sound pressure level, Li

Guide rails shoe – Part 9.5/Section 2

– Part 9.4/Section 2

Gully chamber – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Imposed (Live) loads – Part 5/Section 5.2

Gully trap – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) – Part 9.3/Section 2









Insulation, reinforced – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Lift – Part 4/Section 2.1

Insulation, supplementary

Lift car – Part 9.5/Section 2


Lift landing – Part 9.5/Section 2

Interceptor – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Lift machine – Part 9.5/Section 2

Interceptor manhole/interceptor chamber

Lift pit – Part 9.5/Section 2


Internal Reflected Component (IRC) – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

Invert – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Lift well – Part 9.5/Section 2 Lift well enclosure – Part 9.5/Section 2 Light Output Ratio (LOR)/Efficiency (η) – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

Linked switch – Part 9.2/Section 2.1 J

Live/Alive – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Junction pipe – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Live (Imposed) loads – Part 5/Section 2.1

L

Locations, industrial – Part 9.2/Section 2.1










Notional width – Part 7/Section 7.2.1

Main waste pipe (MWP) – Part 9.6/Section 2.1 Manhole – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

O

Manhole chamber – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Occupancy/Use group – Part 2/Section 1.2

Material handling hoist – Part 11/Section 4.2.1

Occupier – Part 2/Section 1.2

Meridian – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

Octave band – Part 9.4/Section 2

Mezzanine floor – Part 4/Section 2.1

Offset – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Miniature circuit breaker – Part 9.2/ Section 2.1

Open carport – Part3/Section 1.2

Multiple earthed neutral system

Open space – Part 4/Section 2.1


Open space, front – Part 4/Section 2.1 Open space, rear – Part 4/Section 2.1

N

Open space, side – Part 4/ Section 2.1

Neutral conductor – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Operation – Part 9.5/Section 2











Partition – Part 4/Section 2.1

Positive ventilation – Part 9.3/Section 2

Percentile level, LAN,T – Part 9.4/Section 2

Potable water – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Passenger lift – Part 9.5/Section 2

Premises – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Period of supply of supply – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Pressure coefficient – Part 5/Section 5.9

Peripheral field – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

Pressure regulator – Part 9.7/Section 2

Permit – Part 2/Section 1.2

Private staircase – Part 7/Section 7.2.1

Permitted limit of unprotected of unprotected area

Protected shaft – Part 3/Section 1.2


Psychrometry – Part 9.3/Section 2









Reflected glare – Part 9.1/Section 2.1

Sanctioned plan – Part 2/Section 1.2

Reflection factor (Reflectance)

Sanitary appliances – Part 9.6/Section 2.1


Refrigerant – Part 9.3/Section 2 Relative humidity – Part 9.3/Section 2

Scaffold – Part 11/Section 4.2.1 Semi‐Ambulatory Disabilities – Part 4/Appendix E

Relevant boundary – Part 3/Section 1.2

Semi‐detached building – Part 4/Section 2.1

Riser – Part 9.7/Section 2

Separating wall – Part 3/Section 1.2

Residual current circuit breaker

Service – Part 9.2/Section 2.1









Site, interior or tandem – Part 4/Section 2.1 Sky Component (SC) – Part 9.1/Section 2.1 Slack rope switch – Part 9.5/Section 2 Slop hopper (slop sink) – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Standardized Impact Sound Pressure Level, LnT

‐ Part 9.4/Section 2 Standardized Level Difference, DnT

‐ Part 9.4/Section 2

Smoke damper – Part 9.3/Section 2

ure – Part 9.3/Section 2 Static pressure –

Soakaway – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Stop‐cock – Part 9.6/ Section 2.1

Socket‐outlet – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Stop tap – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Soffit (crown) – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Storage tank – Part 9.6/Section 2.1









Switch – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Transient sound – Part9.4/Section 2

Switchboard – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Transitional Area – Part 4/Appendix A

Switch disconnectors – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Trap – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Switch disconnector fuse – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

Travel – Part 9.5/Section 2

Switchgear – Part 9.2/Section 2.1

U

Systems of drainage of drainage – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Unprotected area – Part 3/Section 1.2 Unsafe building – Part 2/Section 1.2

T

Usable wall space – Part 9.2/Section 2.1









Weighted Standardized Impact Sound Pressure W

Level, LnT,w ‐ Part 9.4/Section 2 Weighted Standardized Level Difference, DnT,w

Walk, Walks – Walks – Part 4/Appendix E – Part 9.4/Section 2

Wall hole – Part 11/Section 4.2.1 Weighted Normalized Impact Sound Pressure Wall opening – Part 11/Section 4.2.1

Level, Ln,w – Part 9.4/Section 2

Warning pipe – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Wet‐bulb temperature – Part 9.3/Section 2

Wash‐out valve – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

White noise – Part 9.4/Section 2

Waste appliance – Part 9.6/Section 2.1

Width (w)

Part 5/Section 5.9

Ghana Building Code - Part 01

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