The Building (Construction) (Amendment) Regulation 2011 (Amendment Regulation), made under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123), was gazetted today (January 14).
The structure of every building shall be capable of safely sustaining its anticipated imposed loads (e.g. the weight of occupiers, furniture, equipment, etc). The Amendment Regulation aims to modernise and update the minimum imposed load requirements for buildings, with a view to ensuring that requirements meet the localised, modern-day needs of society.
The updated load requirements are based on recent research conducted by the Buildings Department (BD) on various technical aspects of structural design, including the actual loading situation of buildings in Hong Kong. These will help to achieve more economical design and construction of building structures and bring the same in line with international standards. The Amendment Regulation also aims to facilitate the process of structural design for buildings and enhance the efficiency of building control.
"Due to changes in local occupation patterns, advances in building technology and developments in international building standards, the existing minimum imposed load requirements for certain uses of building are adjusted while the minimum imposed load requirements for some new uses are specified in the Amendment Regulation. The BD has consulted the relevant stakeholders of the industry including the various building professional institutions and they are supportive of the proposed amendments," the Development Bureau spokesman said.
Following the gazettal today, the Amendment Regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council (LegCo) for negative vetting on January 19 and, subject to LegCo's scrutiny, will come into operation on August 1, 2011.
A code of practice promulgating the technical guidelines in relation to the loading requirements will be issued upon commencement of the Amendment Regulation to facilitate industry practitioners in following and complying with the new requirements. The BD will also conduct briefing sessions for building professionals on the new requirements under the Amendment Regulation.
Ends/Friday, January 14, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:45
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