We wanted to let you know about a significant code-related development that we have been involved with: the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has adopted, and just made mandatory, a building code based on the International Building Code (IBC) and its referenced standards. First, a little information about Abu Dhabi…the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is the largest (in area) of the seven emirates making up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The best known of the other six is Dubai. Abu Dhabi has the largest population of the seven emirates. Its GDP is larger than that of the other six combined. Many of our clients have offices in that part of the world.

The 2013 Abu Dhabi International Building Code (ADIBC) was in effect on a voluntary basis from October 1, 2013 and has just become mandatory with effect from October 1, 2014. The document is based on the 2009 IBC and has adopted ASCE 7-05 and ACI 318M-08 (the “M” standing for metric). Certain modifications to these documents were made under the guidance of Dr. Ghosh who acted as consultant to the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA). Perhaps the two most important (and obvious) ASCE 7-05 modifications are: 1) the maps for SS, S1, and TL are replaced with corresponding maps for UAE, and 2) the basic wind speed map is replaced with permission given to users to continue to use the basic wind speed values currently in use in the three Abu Dhabi municipalities: Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain, and the Western Region. Most of the modifications to ACI 318M-08 either accommodate reinforcing bar sizes other than those recognized in ASTM Specifications, which are in use in the UAE, or permit the optional use of BS/EN standards that are counterparts of the corresponding ASTM standards referenced by ACI 318M-08.

It may be of interest to note that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located in the same part of the world as UAE, also uses a building code based on the IBC: the 2007 Edition of the Saudi Building Code.

For more information on the 2013 ADIBC, please visit the DMA website.