RULES over the construction of buildings in Bahrain have been tightened up with the support of the government and by Royal Order.
His Majesty King Hamad yesterday ratified and promulgated Law (20) of 2022 on amending Article (5) of Decree-Law (13) of 1977 with respect to Constructional Organisation of Buildings, following its approval by the Shura Council and Parliament.
Incidentally, the move comes in the wake of a serious structural collapse in Maqaba yesterday. Five men were injured as the ceiling of a building under construction caved in.
Sources told the GDN that a steel beam supporting the ceiling broke under the weight of concrete slabs placed on the roof.
The expatriate team was allegedly working on an unapproved extension at the commercial building that was ready to be rented out on the Budaiya highway.
The amended law is expected to boost safety and reduce violations as authorities will not deliver building permits unless the following documents are submitted:
1. A drawing of the site showing the adjacent properties within a radius of at least 100 metres, with the exception of small buildings specified by the executive regulations.
2. A drawing showing the construction site in relation to the land, as well as the facilities based on it at the time of submitting the application.
3. Architectural drawings and construction accounting details.
4. Structural drawings for foundations and all floors.
5. Inspection certificate for the soil on which it will be built.
6. The applicant for the licence must provide evidence of his capacity or relationship to the construction site or work.
The municipality will issue regulations on the standards to be followed in drawings and other documents that it deems necessary. The executive regulations indicate the conditions for accepting the soil examination certificate.
Exemptions will be granted from submitting drawings if the building is of low value or is constructed on a small piece of land. Low costs of digging or filling the land could also qualify for exemption besides other reasons determined by the executive regulations and related to the specific circumstances of each request.
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