Model building bye laws zimbabwe

Model building by-laws zimbabwe. Model building bye laws zimbabwe pdf. Zimbabwe building regulations. Model building by-laws zimbabwe pdf. Model building-bye-laws. Model building bye laws 2016. Model
building by-laws 1977.

The provisions of this chapter serve as a guideline for the Model Building By-Laws, 1977, and offer insight into their application. The following definitions, as outlined in the Urban Councils Act, are essential to understanding these by-laws. - **Combined Private Sewer**: A sewer that conveys sewage from two or more private premises to a public
sewer or conserving tank. - **Conserving Tank**: A covered tank without overflow used for temporary storage of sewage and requiring regular emptying. - **Construction**: Alteration, subdivision, conversion, reconstruction, or addition to a building. - **Private Drain**: A conduit for storm water or surface, subsoil, or spring water from one premise
to a public drain. - **Private Sewer**: A sewer that conveys sewage from one premise to a combined private sewer, public sewer, or conserving tank. - **Public Drain**: A conduit vested in or under the control of a municipality for storm water or surface, subsoil, or spring water conveyance. - **Public Sewer**: A sewer vested in or under the control of
a municipality that receives sewage from private sewers or combined private sewers. - **Sanitary Fitting**: Fixtures used for disposing of soil water or waste water into pipes, such as toilets and sinks. - **Sewage**: Liquid waste produced by trade activities or commercial processes. - **Sewage Works**: Structures necessary for treating and disposing
of sewage, excluding public sewers. - **Storm Water**: Water that flows directly due to rainfall before joining a public stream. - **Trade Effluent**: Any liquid waste resulting from industrial or manufacturing processes. water supply tanks used by towns, buildings that control water pressure, and pipes for cleaning all things controlled by a town or
municipality including other necessary items therewith. note section 93 of Urban Councils Act [Chapter 214] and section 137 of Rural Councils Act [Chapter 211] allowing local authorities to give employees powers with certain conditions - specifically powers not given by acts other than this one, any power given to executive committee, model
building by-laws for granting relaxation or waiver, subsection (2) of section sixty-seven and subsection (2). if someone is unhappy with a decision made by an employee using delegated powers they can take it up with the head of department first then the town clerk if not satisfied. Local authorities can fix and levy charges through resolutions passed
by a majority vote. The Urban Councils Act [Chapter 214] and Rural Councils Act [Chapter 211] enable councils to set tariffs for services such as electricity, water, refuse removal, and sewage conveyance. Charges can also be set for certificates, licenses, permits, inspections, and services provided by the council. Deposits may be fixed for certain
services. Before implementing new charges or tariffs, a statement outlining the proposed rates must be advertised in two newspaper issues and posted at the council's office for 30 days. If objections are received from 30 or more voters/users within this timeframe, the council must reconsider the proposal. For electricity-related tariffs, the Electricity
Council must be notified and may lodge an objection within 60 days; if so, the Minister's consent is required before implementation. A water shortage has been declared in our area and a special tariff has been introduced to address this issue. Section 79 of the Rural Council's Act states that councils can levy charges for services rendered, registration
certificates or licenses issued, inspections carried out, etc., as long as they follow certain guidelines. Before these charges come into effect, the council must post a statement outlining the proposed charges and existing charges for the same matters in public for 30 days. If at least 30 voters lodge objections during this period, the council must
reconsider the charges and pass them by a majority vote. For designated areas, town boards review the charges beforehand and consider any objections before recommending them to the council. The council then decides whether to levy these charges based on the recommendation from the town board. It is also important to note that no changes to
existing by-laws can come into effect until those by-laws are repealed. The council can access private property for certain authorized tasks like maintaining water mains or investigating nuisances without needing direct permission. These tasks include inspecting, repairing, and cleaning public utilities, as well as ensuring compliance with laws related
to their administration. However, the council must give reasonable notice before entering a building or land unless it's an urgent matter like reading meters. In cases where entry is necessary for reasons like town planning or valuation for rates, consent isn't always required but must be at reasonable times and only to the extent necessary. Those
authorized can also bring necessary personnel, vehicles, or tools for their duties. The council shall restore the land, road, or place to its original condition as closely as possible after completing work, causing minimal harm to the area. The council must pay compensation to anyone who suffers losses or rights deprivation due to the exercise of powers
under this section and related parts of the Land Acquisition Act. Section 71 allows authorized council officers to enter premises for inspections, inquiries, or executing duties, provided they follow reasonable times and have necessary grounds for entry into a dwelling-house, except in cases where public health or safety are at risk. Attention is drawn to
relevant sections regarding offenses and penalties that apply not only to the Act but also to related by-laws. Section 266 states that failure to comply with this Act's directives or orders can lead to prosecution and punishment for those who deliberately disregard them. Section 143 outlines the liability of offenders, stating they may face fines up to
$100 or other penalties unless specified in the Act. Any offender faces a maximum fine of four dollars per day for each day the offense persists. Upon conviction of any offense listed in (1), the court may grant summary judgment to the council, covering an amount not exceeding any loss incurred due to the offense, alongside any other penalty imposed.
This judgement carries the same force as a civil action. The court reserves the right to consider trial proceedings and additional evidence upon request. For service of notices or orders referred to in these by-laws, please refer to section 34 of the Interpretation Act, which outlines the required procedures. Public Sewer and Drain Protection
Regulations Chapter 214: This chapter provides guidelines for safeguarding public sewers and drains. For clarity, if doubts arise, local authorities should be consulted. The Urban Councils Act (Chapter 214) includes Section 128, which stipulates that without the council's consent, no one can: - Build or construct a structure above or near a public
sewer or drain. - Excavate or remove ground next to, under, or near a public sewer or drain. - Release substances into public sewers or drains if prohibited by the council. The council has the right to: - Demolish or alter structures built in contravention of these regulations. - Repair any damage caused by such actions. - Recover costs incurred from
those responsible for contravening the rules. Additionally, if someone discharges prohibited substances into public sewers or drains, the council may recover expenses related to removal and repair. Note: Conflicts with other by-laws are addressed in Section 183 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter214). Any discrepancy between these by-laws and
others in force in that area will be resolved in favor of these by-laws (1). The administrative provisions of Chapter 2 apply generally to building construction, alterations, additions, and sewerage system installation/modification on all land, except for parts under the responsibility of local authorities. (2) Chapters 3 onwards primarily provide technical
information on building and sewerage standards, with some chapters containing additional administrative provisions. (3) These by-laws do not cover all administrative matters related to building and sewerage work; each local authority will likely have its own by-laws regarding various topics such as water supply, public sewer connections, fire
protection services, and advertising sign licensing. These model building by-laws shall take effect within Rhodesia only after adoption by or on behalf of each local authority. (1) Local authorities have the discretion to relax or depart from specific provisions in certain situations, while interpreting terms like "adequate," "proper," and "reasonable"
according to their own judgment. (2) Departures or variations must be authorized through Part VII of Chapter or await amendments to these by-laws. (1) Approvals by local authorities do not absolve the owner, builder, or plumber from all liability for building or sewerage work. They remain responsible for complying with these by-laws as adopted by
any local authority. (2) The local authority will not be liable for costs or losses unless they can be directly attributed to their wrongful or negligent acts. (1) Most chapters in these model building by-laws are divided into Parts. The way sections are numbered doesn't affect how chapters are divided into parts and sections. (1) Sections can have
subsections, but these don't always need to relate grammatically to the section they're in; a paragraph might stand alone as its own sentence. (2) Tables and schedules are part of the by-laws' content, not separate documents. The order and division of chapters, parts, sections, and paragraphs in this model building guide are meant to be significant for
interpretation purposes. This means terms used early on can refer to details mentioned later on. (3) Definitions in Chapter 2 apply throughout these by-laws. Terms defined elsewhere have force only in those specific chapters unless they're deemed relevant in other contexts due to their similarity. (4) Standards and codes are considered applicable
across the board unless otherwise stated. Preliminary These model building by-laws can be referred to as the Model Building By-laws, 1977. Key terms include: - “approved” meaning authorized by local authorities. - “architect” referring to a registered member of the Architects Council of Rhodesia. - “basement” referring to any floor below ground
level. - “builder” typically covering those who construct buildings or principal parts thereof, including contractors and owners, but not workers doing isolated tasks like brickwork or painting. "plans" means drawings, specifications, and details relevant to building or sewerage construction, alteration, or repair; "plumber" refers to a person undertaking
plumbing work, unless specified in Chapter 9; "prescribed fee" is the tariff or deposit payable to the local authority as per section 172 of the Urban Councils Act or section 79 of the Rural Councils Act; "sewerage system" includes pipes, fittings, and other infrastructure intended for waste disposal; "sewerage work" involves construction, alteration, or
repair of sewerage systems and may include plumbing and building work; "site" refers to the land area on which a building is being constructed or sewerage work is undertaken; "soil water" means excremental liquid discharged from soil-water fittings; "storey" includes basement levels, with the ground storey being the lowest level accessible from
outside, and topmost storey referring to the uppermost level, whether for human habitation or not. The standards publication can be viewed at no cost at the Standards Association of Central Africa's offices located at 17, Coventry Road, Workington, Salisbury. (4) Any changes to a standard or code of practice mentioned in subsection (3) will take
effect immediately unless the Minister disapproves the change and publishes a notice stating so in the Gazette. (5) When implementing provisions that use subjective terms like "acceptable", "adequate", "proper", "reasonable", "satisfactory" or "suitable", the local authority should consider both the general nature of the standards and the specific
circumstances of each case. (1) Whenever these by-laws require a fee for approval of plans, inspection, or testing as a condition for performing work, occupying a building, or using plumbing or sewerage systems, the person responsible for paying the fee must do so according to subsection (2). (2) The prescribed fee must be paid before the local
authority examines the plans, conducts an inspection, or performs a test. The person may only start work, occupy a building, or use plumbing or sewerage systems once they have paid the fee. If the local authority rejects plans, approval lapses, or plans are withdrawn before construction begins, the authority can refund 50% of the fees paid by the
applicant. However, this refund is only payable if- a) the total amount to be refunded exceeds $10; and b) in cases where plans were disapproved or approval lapsed, the claim for the refund is made within thirty days of- i) notification that the plan was disapproved; or ii) lapse of approval. Part 1: Plans and Drawings (1) Subject to this Chapter's
provisions, no person shall start construction on any site unless they have submitted plans and received approval from the local authority in accordance with these by-laws for all aspects of the work. (2) To obtain approval from the local authority, a person must- a) pay the prescribed fees; b) submit written application, in duplicate, to the local
authority using the form provided by the local authority; c) complete the form in all relevant respects; and d) submit with the application two copies of any plans required. Minor building, plumbing, or sewerage work can proceed without approval for routine tasks like maintenance, repairs, or stoppage clearances. However, significant projects require
detailed planning and submission to local authorities, including site plans, working drawings, and specific requirements depending on the project's scope. Plans must include a site plan, complete set of working drawings, sewerage and drainage work plans, statement of proposed use for various building parts, stress calculations (if necessary),
estimated work value, and other specified details. These plans must be dated, signed by responsible individuals (structural engineer for detail drawings or architect otherwise), and legible to ensure the local authority can verify whose signature it is. No alterations or additions to existing buildings or sewerage works are allowed unless approved by
the local authority in accordance with these regulations. However, minor changes that won't cost more than a specified amount and don't involve sewerage system work might be exempt from this requirement, provided they're done as per a permit issued by the local authority. (4) No one can construct a building or its parts that rely on existing
buildings or foundations unless these existing works meet the by-law requirements and do not pose health hazards to users. The work must also be stable enough to support any proposed additions or alterations. (5) For changes or additions, plans are required as per section 6 subsection (1), except in certain situations: if the sewerage system is
unaffected and no new connections are made, a sewerage plan is not needed; only site-plan and sewerage work plans are required for systems-only changes. permission to submit part-plans or require full plans to be submitted. 10) Plans submitted in terms of these by-laws be prepared on sheets of standard A0, A1, A2, or A3 size, and shall be clear
prints on white paper or other material approved by the local authority: Provided that, if the local authority is satisfied that adherence to these specifications is, for any reason, not feasible, it may accept plans prepared on paper or other material of such other size or sizes as it may specify. (1) The scale to which any plan is drawn shall be clearly
stated on each drawings Site-plans and main sewerage plans shall be drawn to one of the following scales- a) if the area of the site exceeds one hectare, 1 to 2 000, 1 to 1 000 or 1 to 500; b) if the area of the site is one hectare or less; 1 to 500, 1 to 200 or 1 to 100. (3) Working-drawings shall be drawn to a scale of 1 to 100, 1 to 50 or 1 to 20 Detailed
sewerage plans shall be drawn to a scale of 1 to 100 or 1 to 50. (5) Detail drawings shall be drawn to a scale of 1 to 50, 1 to 20, 1 to 10, 1 to 5, 1 to 2 or 1 to 1. (6) In the case of stress diagrams, a scale shall be used from which accurate determination of stresses and forces can be made by measurement. Local authorities may permit other scales to be
used if a reasonable need to use other scales can be demonstrated. (1) All copies of site-plans of alterations and additions to existing works shall be prepared using the following fixed colours and forms of representation- a) areas of proposed work, red; b) work to be demolished, uncoloured and out-lined with black dotted lines; c) new private sewers,
brown; Working-drawings of alterations and additions to existing works shall be prepared using the following fixed colours and forms of representation- a) new brick and masonry, red; b) new concrete, green; c) new iron or steel, blue; d) new wood, yellow; e) all other new materials, to be clearly indicated and to be described in words; f) work to be
demolished, uncoloured and out-lined with black dotted lines. Sewerage and drainage plans of alterations and additions to existing works shall be prepared using the following fixed colours and forms of presentation- a) new sewers and new soil-pipes, brown; b) new waste-pipes and new private sewers carrying trade effluent, orange; c) new waste-
pipes and new waste-sewers, green; d) new vent-pipes to all types of pipes, red; e) new private drains, blue. 13. Content Of Site-Plans Site-plans shall fully and clearly show the following information Working drawings shall include detailed plans, sections, and elevations to clearly show every aspect of the intended building. This includes location,
form, dimensions, and materials for each part of the structure. The drawings must depict: * The position and measurements of pilings, foundations, floors, walls, windows, doors, stairs, roofs, and chimneys. * Sanitary fittings and structural members such as columns, slabs, beams, joists, rafters, trusses, battens, and purlins. * Projections from the
building, including ground-floor windows that project or open outward. * Proposed ventilation methods, ventilation inlet and outlet positions, and relevant information for section 7 of Chapter 10. * Proposed natural lighting methods. * Maximum superimposed loads per unit area for floors and rooms where the design load exceeds two kilo-pascals. *
Occupancy classification based on section 4 of Chapter 11. * Intended uses for every room or compartment, including maximum person capacities for public buildings and details about seating aisles for indoor assembly places. * Details of permanent earthworks that might affect the building itself or adjacent structures. * Floor levels relative to each
other, existing ground surfaces, proposed finished ground surfaces, public areas, kerbs of adjoining streets or subways, and distances from specified corners or reference points. Additionally, the drawings should include provisions for future additions, water and sewer connections, vehicle entrances, true north direction, building lines, rights of way,
and servitudes associated with services. The building regulations require detailed sewerage and drainage plans to ensure compliance with health and safety standards. The plans must include as many sections and elevations as necessary to show all intended and existing sewers, drains, and sanitary fittings. Local authorities may also request
additional information or clarification on certain aspects of the plan. The plans should depict key features such as private sewers, manholes, and pipes, as well as levels and gradients of each sewer and drain. The plans must be accurate and free from false information, with any errors or inaccuracies clearly explained to the applicant. The local
authority will review the plans within 35 days of receiving payment and may either approve them or reject them, providing clear reasons for rejection if applicable. The applicant will receive notice from the local authority regarding the outcome of their plan consideration. This may involve: (i) providing a later date for completion and submission of
required plans, (ii) requesting amendments or amplifications to ensure compliance with by-laws, and (iii) specifying a deadline for completing these changes. In exceptional circumstances, the local authority can extend the time frame for submitting amended plans. If the applicant fails to meet this deadline, their plans may be rejected. The authority
may also approve plans before finalizing structural details, provided that no construction work begins without approval of these drawings. Once structural detail drawings are submitted, the local authority must inform the applicant of its decision within 35 days. If changes are needed, the same process applies as outlined earlier. When a plan is
approved, one copy will be retained by both the local authority and the applicant for on-site reference. Approved plans must be followed in all building or sewerage work, including any directives or requirements issued by the local authority. Similarly, no work can commence without supervision when an undertaking of oversight has been given. Any
changes to previously approved plans require prior approval from the local authority. To make alterations or departures from approved plans, applicants must submit a request for permission and receive approval before commencing the work. This application should include a prescribed fee, be submitted in duplicate on the local authority's provided
form, and clearly reference the original plan. The local authority may approve the request, require revised plans, or reject the application entirely. Given text: Require plans to be re-prepared in line with these by-laws. Notwithstanding subsection (3), subject to subsection (5), local authorities shall not insist on revised or new plans for alterations that
involve replacing doors, windows, floor finishes, ceiling finishes, or wall finishes as long as the strength and durability of the structure are maintained. However, if any person makes such an alteration, they must ensure the work is sound and adequate before proceeding with further work. Local authorities may dispense with plan approval for urgent
sewerage work, providing directions on excavations, inspections, and construction methods. The site owner must submit compliant plans within a specified period. Local authority approvals become null and void if construction has not commenced within 12 months. If construction is discontinued for over six months, the local authority may require
completion within a reasonable timeframe. If the owner fails to comply with the notice, the local authority may revoke approval and require restoration of the site or take other actions to ensure safety, tidiness, and minimal offensiveness. Every building must be designed and constructed to withstand adverse combinations of dead loads, superimposed
loads, and forces. Structural designs should account for combined loads and forces that could cause adverse conditions. This includes making provision for the most stressful situations in terms of stress, deflection, and structural instability. When it comes to overturning moments, the design should ensure that the moment provided by foundations,
anchorages, or other fixings exceeds the overturning moment due to dead and superimposed loads by at least 50%. Additionally, reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, precast concrete, and structural steel designs should adhere to specific standards (C.A.S. 164-170). Similarly, timber designs should comply with C.A.S. 162. Structural engineers
are responsible for designing load-bearing structures not specifically covered by these regulations. They must provide a certificate to the local authority, which must be supervised in accordance with the undertaking. No work can commence without this supervision. Key terms include "bearing area of foundation," referring to the contact area
between the foundation and subsoil; "foundation," describing the part of the building that transmits loads to the subsoil; "maximum allowable bearing pressure," which considers the maximum safe bearing capacity and ability of the structure to settle; and "net loading intensity," representing the additional loading on the subsoil. Any horizontal plane
affected by the mass of a new building or structure, including earthworks, will differ between pre-construction and post-completion pressures. This disparity indicates the total pressure intensity before construction begins and after the building is complete, loaded, and fully supported. A "sleeper wall" refers to a foundation wall erected between other
foundation walls to provide intermediate support for the lowest floor, without an adjacent supporting wall. The term "subsoil" denotes the ground that bears the load from the foundation. When required by local authorities and subject to subsection 1 of section 22 of this Chapter and section 23 of Chapter 2, every building site must undergo a soil
investigation by a qualified individual to assess conditions affecting foundations. A report detailing the findings may be submitted to the authority upon request. Except in cases where the authority permits otherwise, such investigations should include one or more recorded soil profiles. Buildings sited near water sources must have adequate drainage
to divert water away from the structure and prevent soil erosion or dampness that could compromise stability. No building can be constructed adjacent to a natural watercourse unless its floor level exceeds the maximum known flood level, with precautions taken to avoid disrupting water flow. The local authority's assessment will be accepted in place
of professional expertise. When determining the maximum allowed weight on a building or structure, account must be taken of the settlement that may occur. The value of the maximum safe bearing capacity and pressure on subsoil can be assessed by an individual who is qualified to do so, as deemed satisfactory by the local authority. This person
must submit their assessment in writing, which the local authority may accept or reject. If rejected, a second assessment will be called for, and if the values differ, the local authority decides which one to adopt. The maximum allowed weight on subsoil cannot exceed the adopted value. Maximum bearing capacity for subsoils under horizontal
foundations at 600mm depth subject to vertical static loading: - **Rock** + Fresh, intact rock requiring blasting (5000 kPa) + Fresh, fractured or jointed rock that can be excavated with difficulty (10000 kPa) + Decomposed soil, to be assessed as soil - **Non-Cohesive Soils** + Compact, well-graded sands and gravels above water table (500 kPa) +
Compact, well-graded sands and gravels below water table at any stage of the structure's life (200-250 kPa) + Compact but poorly graded sands and gravels above all water tables (200-400 kPa) + Loose sands and gravels by test only (400-500 kPa, 200-250 kPa, 200-400 kPa) - **Cohesive Soils** + Very stiff clays and similar soils (400-500 kPa) + Stiff
clays and similar soils (300-400 kPa) + Firm clays and similar soils (200-300 kPa) + Soft clays and similar soils (100-200 kPa) + Very soft clays and similar soils (50-100 kPa, 0-50 kPa) - **Artificially Occurring Soils** + Made-up ground, compacted fills, waste dumps, etc. by test only The bearing pressure is calculated as the product of two values: P,
which is the maximum allowed pressure for the soil type determined by subsections (1) through (4) of section 5, measured in kilopascals; and b, the smallest dimension of the foundation's lateral size, expressed in meters.