--- title: "Short note: Building code and its use" subject: "Construction Management" chapter: 11 key: "semester_8/construction_management:building-code-note" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/building-code-note site: BCT Engineering --- # Short note: Building code and its use Construction Management · Chapter 11: Regulatory Requirements - Asked in: 2074 Bhadra, 5 marks; 2073 Magh, 5 marks; 2070 Bhadra, 3 marks; 2068 Bhadra (old course), 4 marks; 2067 Mangsir (old course), 4 marks; 2065 Baisakh (old course) (asked 6 times) - Video: [National Construction Code NCC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D32j5D4DaMk) — Dr Amer Hijazi Better Together - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/building-code-note - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-11 ## Question Write a short note on building code (National Building Code), its use and requirements, and quality control. ## Short answer Building codes are government rules setting minimum standards for design, construction, safety, and health to protect life and property. Nepal's National Building Code (NBC) was developed after the 1988 earthquake, made mandatory in 2003, and covers seismic design, materials, and services. It is used for building permits, quality control, and ensuring earthquake-resistant structures. ## Answer #### Building code A **building code** is a set of rules and standards, prepared by a government authority, that fixes the minimum requirements for the design, materials, construction, safety, health and use of buildings. It is made to protect the life and property of the public. #### National Building Code (NBC) of Nepal Nepal's NBC was prepared in 1993–94 by the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC) with UNDP/UNCHS support, following the 1988 Udayapur earthquake. It was made mandatory by the government in 2003 (2060 BS) and has been revised since (e.g. NBC 105:2020 for seismic design after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake). It is enforced through the **Building Act 2055 (1998)** and the municipal building bye-laws. The main groups of codes are: - **NBC 000–114 (professionally engineered buildings):** design requirements, e.g. NBC 102 unit weights, 103 occupancy loads, 104 wind loads, 105 seismic design, 109 masonry, 110 concrete, 111 steel, 114 construction safety. Other codes such as 206 (architectural design), 207 (electrical) and 208 (sanitary) give service requirements. - **Mandatory Rules of Thumb (MRT):** ready-to-use rules for small, ordinary buildings without detailed calculation: NBC 201 (RC frames with masonry infill), 202 (load-bearing masonry) and 205 (RC buildings without masonry infill). - **Guidelines for rural buildings:** earthquake-resistant construction of low-strength masonry (NBC 203) and earthen buildings (NBC 204). #### Use - To design and construct earthquake-resistant, safe buildings. - A basis for building permits and approval by the municipality. - A standard for engineers, contractors and inspectors. - A basis for inspection and legal action against violations. #### Requirements - Structural design for dead, live, wind, earthquake and other loads. - Minimum material quality and workmanship. - Fire safety, exits, ventilation, lighting, sanitation and services. - Architectural requirements: setbacks, room sizes, heights, accessibility. - Documentation by licensed engineers and submission of drawings. #### Quality control The code also requires quality control: testing of materials (cement, steel, aggregates, bricks), concrete cube tests, inspection of foundations, reinforcement and masonry by an engineer, supervision records, and checking of as-built drawings and completion certificates. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. A building code: A. Is only about colour B. Fixes minimum requirements for design, materials, construction and safety to protect life and property C. Sets maximum rates D. Is a contractor's private rule Answer: B. It sets minimum requirements to protect public life and property. (Key point: Definition) 2. Which NBC series gives mandatory rules of thumb for small buildings? A. 100 series B. 200 series C. 300 series D. 400 series Answer: B. The 200 series gives mandatory rules of thumb. (Key point: NBC series) 3. NBC is enforced in Nepal through: A. Building Act 2055 and municipal bye-laws B. Company policy C. Labour Act only D. Voluntary use Answer: A. Building Act 2055 (1998) and bye-laws. (Key point: Legal base) 4. Quality control under the code includes: A. Verbal approval B. No inspection C. Only drawings D. Material testing, concrete cube tests and inspection of foundation and reinforcement Answer: D. Testing, cube tests, inspections and records. (Key point: Quality control) ## Related in Construction Management - [Regulatory requirements and building codes for planning](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aregulatory-building-codes-urban) — Construction Management, chapter 11, asked 2× - [Short note: Building bye-laws and requirements](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Abuilding-bye-laws-note) — Construction Management, chapter 11 - [Importance of quality control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aquality-control-importance) — Construction Management, chapter 7 ## Related in other subjects - [Mechanical ventilation and building code](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Avent-mech-conditions-nbc) — Building Technology, chapter 1 - [Asphalt concrete construction and quality control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Aasphalt-concrete-construction) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 3, asked 5× - [Quality requirements of an IS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Ais-quality-requirements) — Information System, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Project quality requirements](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-quality-requirements) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10