Dubai Building Code (2021)

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 61

F.9.4.3.3 Permanent earth retaining system

Any retaining structure is deemed to be permanent if the design life of the system is

more than two years. The permanent retaining system shall be designed to retain the

soil and future groundwater pressure (including tidal effect) without allowing for the

temporary retaining system.

The temporary retaining structures listed under the NOTE to F.9.4.3.1 may be

designed as permanent structures, provided they are included in the analysis of the

overall structure. The same design life, performance and durability requirements shall

be applied to both the main structural system and the permanent retaining system.
In addition to the requirements for temporary retaining systems stipulated under

F.9.4.3.2, the Engineer shall design the retaining system with consideration for

the intended design life. In particular, the Engineer shall consider the applicable

performance, serviceability and durability requirements stated in F.5.6 and F.8.

The geotechnical design of permanent earth retaining systems (including

counterfort/buttressed wall systems) shall be performed in accordance with

Section 9 of BS EN 1997-1:2004 and the associated UK NA. Design of the concrete

structural elements shall be in accordance with F.6, F.8 and ACI 318-19.

F.9.4.3.4 Basement walls

A permanent basement concrete wall should be provided in front of the temporary

retaining systems detailed in F.9.4.3.2. The permanent basement wall shall be

designed to retain the soil and future groundwater pressure (including tidal effect)

without considering the temporary retaining system.
The permanent basement wall shall be fully integrated with the main structural

system of the building. The same design life, performance and durability

requirements shall be applied to the main structural system and the basement walls.
The geotechnical design of permanent basement walls shall be performed in

accordance with Section 9 of BS EN 1997-1:2004 and the associated UK NA. Design

of the concrete structural elements shall follow F.6, F.8 and ACI 318-19.

F.9.4.4

Groundwater control and dewatering

Dewatering systems shall be designed in accordance with BS EN 1997-1:2004, and

the associated UK NA and CIRIA C750

[Ref. F.21]

, taking into account the following.

a) All existing facilities shall always be protected.
b) The dewatering system shall reduce the loss of soft materials in the soil and any

effect on the surrounding structures. The hydrogeological model shall identify and

assess any piping effect (see Figure F.26).

c) The depth of shoring systems and internal excavations shall prevent soil heave.

This is to avoid the possibility of seepage, and to ensure compatibility between

the designs of the shoring systems and the dewatering system (see Figure F.27).

d) A seepage analysis and groundwater/hydrogeological model shall be prepared for

at least 20 m below the bottom of the excavation. The model shall determine the

following:
1)  type of soil and rocks;
2)  horizontal permeability of each layer;
3)  incoherent or gypsum soils; and
4)  other areas exposed to water leakage under the surface.

Figure F.28 shows the permeability of different soil types and recommended

dewatering systems.

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 62

Figure F.26

Example of situations that might cause piping (© British Standards Institute.

Figure extracted from BS EN 1997-1:2004. Permission to reproduce extracts from British

Standards is granted by BSI Standards Limited (BSI). No other use of this material is

permitted).

Key

01: Free water level

02: Piezometric level in the permeable subsoil

03: Low permeability soil

04: Permeable soil

05: Possible well; starting point for pipe

06: Possible pipe

Figure F.27

Example of a situation where heave might be critical (© British Standards

Institute. Figure extracted from BS EN 1997-1:2004. Permission to reproduce extracts from

British Standards is granted by BSI Standards Limited (BSI). No other use of this material is

permitted).

Key

01: Excavation level (left); free-water level (right)

02: Water

03: Sand

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 63

Figure F.28

Permeability of soil and dewatering systems

Key

01: Dewatering not feasible and may not be necessary

02: Vacuum necessary

03: Vacuum beneficial

04: Sump pump

05: Single stage well point system

06: Two stage well point system/deepwell system

07: Deepwell systems

08: Excessive seepage flows: cut-off or wet excavation may be necessary

09: Ejectors

F.9.4.5

Liquefaction

This section shall be read in conjunction with F.7.13 and Section 11.8 of

ASCE/SEI 7-16.

The 2% probability of exceedance within a 50-year period hazard parameters are

given in Table F.20. Specifically, the values of peak ground acceleration (PGA) and the

life safety, 5% damped spectral responses acceleration parameter at short period

S LS

) and at a period of 1s (S

1 LS

) are given. The long-period transition period (T

) is

also provided.

Location

PGA

1 LS

(s)

Dubai

0.13

0.33

0.11

Table F.20 Life safety seismic ground motion parameters for Dubai (site class B)

The following amendments to Section 11.8 of ASCE/SEI 7-16 shall be used.
a) Section 11.8.1 of ASCE/SEI 7-16 does not apply to Dubai.
b)

Liquefaction shall be assessed using a PGA determined on the basis of either (1)

a site-specific study considering soil amplification effects as specified in F.7.13.9

or (2) the PGA

, from Eq. F.9.

Permeability (m/s)

wn (m)

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

PGA

.PGA

Eq. F.9

where, PGA is the MCE

peak ground acceleration taken from Table F.20 and F

PGA

is the site coefficient from Table F.21.

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 64

Site class

Short period F

PGA

0.80

0.90

1.27

1.54

2.25

See F.7.13.9

Table F.21 PGA site coefficient F

PGA

for liquefaction assessment in Dubai

The factor of safety (FS) against the occurrence of earthquake-induced liquefaction

shall be defined as the available soil resistance to liquefaction, the cyclic resistance

ratio (CRR) divided by the cyclic stress generated by the design event, the cyclic

stress ratio (CSR) as shown in Eq. F.10. The FS shall not be less than 1.5.

The requirements for foundations design in liquefiable sites shall follow the

requirements in Section 12.13.9 of ASCE/SEI 7-16 and associated subclauses. This

shall include consideration of the following issues regarding liquefaction, namely:
a)  lateral spreading;
b)  global and differential settlements;
c)  provision of ties between individual foundations; and
d)  negative skin friction (i.e. downdrag) on vertical capacity of piles.
Where the impact of liquefaction exceeds the requirements of ASCE/SEI 7-16

(Table 12.13-2 for lateral spreading and Table 12.13-3 for differential settlement

thresholds), then suitable ground improvement shall be required.

F.9.4.6

Ground improvement

Ground improvement shall be designed according to BS EN 1997-1 and the ICE

Manual of geotechnical engineering (vol. I) Ch.25

[Ref. F.20]

NOTE: The following ground improvement techniques are accepted in Dubai

(see Figure F.29):

a)  dynamic compaction;
b) vibro-compaction;
c)  soil replacement;
d)  soil mixing;
e)  grouting; and
f)  vertical drains.

Alternative techniques specified in accordance with international codes and

standards may also be accepted.

FS≥1.5(CRR/CSR)

Eq. F.10

The groundwater level shall be selected based on the peak over the design period,

which allows natural changes (such as the “spring” tide peak), land use changes and

considerations for global warming.
In calculating the CSR, a magnitude of 6.2 shall be used for Dubai.
When assessing the potential for liquefaction any published and internationally

accepted methodology can be used provided it is internally consistent. It is

recommended to use the “Idriss Boulanger Method”

[Ref. F.9]

. The impact of

carbonate sands on the liquefaction potential should also be included.

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 65

Figure F.29

Type of ground improvement systems and type of soil

Figure F.30 illustrates the indicative range of soil type (particle size sieve analysis)

suitable for compaction techniques.

Key

01: Explosive compaction

02: Deep dynamic

compaction

03: Vibratory probes

04: Particulate

(cement) grout

05: Compaction grouting

06: Jet grouting

07: Vibro replacement

08: Drains for liquefaction

09: Drains for compaction

10: Compaction piles

11: Admixtures

12: Deep soil mixing

13: Remove and replace

14: Gravel

15: Sand

16: Silt

17: Clay

Figure F.30

Indictive range of soil type (particle size sieve analysis)

Key

01: Stone columns are a solution for a foundation in these soils. There is a resulting increase in bearing

capacity and reduction on total and differential.

02: Compaction is only possible by adding suitable backfill (material from zones 03 or 04) from the

surface (stone columns or sand columns).

03: The soils in this zone are suited for vibro compaction. They have a fines content of less than 10%.

04: The soils of this zone are very well compactable.
The right borderline indicates an empirically found limit where the amount of cobbles and boulders

prevents compaction because the vibroprobe cannot reach the compaction depth.

100

0.1

0.01

0.001

0.0001

4.75

0.075

Particle size (mm)

tage ﬁner

eig

0.002

0.0001

0.001

0.01

0.1

100

1000

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Particle size (mm)

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 66

F.9.5

Execution of geotechnical works

F.9.5.1

General

Geotechnical works shall be carried out in accordance with the BS EN standards

listed in F.3.1.5. The Engineer and Geotechnical Specialist Contractor shall also

conform to the following clauses.

F.9.5.2

Earthworks (excavation and filling)

In addition to the requirements of BS EN 6031, the following requirements shall be

included in the execution of excavation and backfill activities.

The materials used for backfilling purposes shall consist of selected materials

such as sand/granular mixture free from organic materials or other biodegradable

materials. The Engineer shall determine whether excavated materials can be used

in general backfilling works after conducting the necessary testing.

b) All excavations exceeding 1.2 m in depth require an excavation permit issued by

the Authority.

c) All health and safety requirements shall be strictly followed while executing any

excavation works.

d) All excavation activities shall be carried out inside the plot limits only.

A no encroachment, no parking, and no stopping zone with a minimum width

of 1 m shall be provided in proximity to the excavated area.

For any works required outside of the plot limits, no objection certificate (NOC)

/approval from all the relevant Authorities, departments or plot Owners shall be

submitted.

Execution of excavation and filling activities shall conform to the requirements

stipulated in Ch.75 of the ICE manual of geotechnical engineering

(vol. II)

[Ref. F.20]

g) Installation of soil nails shall conform to the requirements of BS EN 14490.

Further guidance can be sought in Ch. 88 of the ICE manual of geotechnical

engineering (vol. II)

[Ref. F.20]

F.9.5.3

Shoring retaining systems

In addition to the requirements of BS 8081, BS EN 1536, BS EN 1537, BS EN 1538

and BS EN 12063, the following requirements shall be included in the construction of

earth retaining structures.
a) All existing structures and utilities shall always be protected.
b) All works of shoring systems shall be carried out within the land plot. The

Geotechnical Specialist Contractor shall obtain all required approvals from all

concerned Authorities and Owners of the adjacent plots regarding any shoring

system or anchors protruding outside the land plot limits.

c) The top 2 m of the shoring systems on the roads or services side shall be removed

upon completion of the basement wall works.

d) All works of shoring systems shall be continuously monitored by the Geotechnical

Specialist Contractor.

e) Anchors can be removed on-site only after obtaining the written consent

of the Engineer.

F.9.5.4

Foundations

It is envisaged that the following foundation systems will be typically provided

for buildings in Dubai:
a)  shallow foundations;
b)  deep foundations; and
c)  raft foundations.
In addition to the requirements of BS EN 1536, BS EN 12699 and BS EN 14199,

the minimum testing criteria listed in Table F.22 shall be followed during and after

the execution of reinforced concrete foundations on piles.

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 67

Test

Minimum requirement

Static test on working piles

Minimum 1% of all piles and each different

diameter

Dynamic test on working piles

5% of all piles

Cross-hole sonic logging (for more than 1 m

diameter and 20 m length)

10% of all piles 900 mm or greater with minimum

four tubes/holes and minimum three tubes for

750 mm. Minimum length of testing 20 m or full

length if shorter. End bearing piles full length

testing

Integrity test working piles

100%

Cubes test (concrete)

as per technical specification

Reinforcement test

as per technical specification

Table F.22

Minimum testing requirements for pile foundation

It is the responsibility of both the Engineer and the Geotechnical Specialist

Contractor to select a test location which does not interfere with the location of

the permanent structural piles of the main structure. The Geotechnical Specialist

Contractor may propose test locations to be reviewed by the Engineer who may

accept them or propose alternative locations. Non-working preliminary test pile

(PTP) location and arrangement shall be submitted officially to the Authority during

the design stage and shall at least include the following.
1) Detailed drawings that clearly show the location of the test pile and

instrumentation.

2) Information detailing the planned duration of the PTP.
3)

An official covering letter from the Engineer and/or the Geotechnical Specialist

Contractor.

4) Minimum 1No. PTP for each project. The maximum diameter and length of pile

should be considered, assuming that they are the most suitable for the site.

PTP results shall be used to optimize the pile design in accordance with

BS EN 1997-1:2004 and the associated UK NA.

F.9.5.5

Groundwater control and dewatering

In addition to the requirements given in CIRIA C750

[Ref. F.21]

, the following

requirements shall also be included during the execution of dewatering on-site.
a) All existing facilities and utilities shall always be monitored and protected by the

Geotechnical Specialist Contractor.

b) A network shall be developed to monitor the groundwater pressure/piezometric

pressure separated from the dewatering system, the vertical groundwater

gradients as well as the horizontal gradients, and the water rises inside and

outside the excavations/the shoring systems.

c) Dewatering works shall not be stopped without the written approval of the

Engineer, after achieving balance between water pressure and the weight of

construction. The factor of safety shall be at least 1.1, irrespective of the friction

between walls and soil.

d) Care shall be taken during the dewatering process to ensure that fine particles soil

is not removed during pumping, as this may lead to unexpected subsidence in the

surrounding lands and the associated structures.

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 68

F.9.5.6

Ground improvement

Ground improvement shall be executed in accordance with BS EN 12715,

BS EN 12716, BS EN 14199, BS EN 14475, BS EN 14679, BS EN 14731 and

BS EN 15237.

In addition to the requirements specified in the referenced codes and standards,

the following requirements shall also be included during the execution of ground

improvement on-site.
a) A technical design shall be prepared by the Geotechnical Specialist Contractor and

approved by the Engineer prior to submission to the Authority.

b) Tests shall be conducted before and after the ground improvement activities.

Tests shall be proposed by the Geotechnical Specialist Contractor, reviewed by the

Engineer and approved by the Authority. The Geotechnical Specialist Contractor

should perform the following tests as minimum.
1)

Bearing capacity:

i) One plate load test per each 750 m

area (minimum one test for each

building) to be carried out in accordance with ASTM D1195M.

The recommended acceptance criterion is to achieve the targeted bearing

pressure with total settlements less than 25 mm.

ii) One zone load test in accordance with ASTM D1195M shall be required

for major developments comprising more than one building and special

structures.

Improvement to mitigate liquefaction risk

The efficiency of the improvement

shall be verified with CPT readings (in accordance with ASTM D5778 or

BS EN ISO 22476-1:2012). The pre-improvement CPT tests should be carried

out every 900 m

maximum (or as stipulated in project specifications) to

compare the results with the post-improvement CPT tests. The locations of

post-improvement CPT tests should be selected at the central points between

the improved points. Weighted average of CPT tip resistance for near and far

tested point, should not be less than 6.0 MPa for shallow foundations.

Deep piled foundation:

It is recommended that, after completion of the

ground improvement, the weighted average of the CPT tip resistance profile is

at least 8.0 MPa.

c) A ground improvement report, based on tests conducted after performing the

ground improvement, shall be approved by the Engineer and submitted to the

Authority.

d) All existing facilities and utilities shall always be monitored and protected by the

Geotechnical Specialist Contractor.

All activities are to be carried out inside the plot limits only. For any activity

outside of the plot limits, a NOC from all of the relevant Authority departments

(e.g. DEWA, RTA, etc.) or plot Owners should be submitted to the Authority.

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 69

F.10

Annex: Seismic acceleration and damping parameters

F.10.1

Seismic hazard in Dubai

A seismic hazard assessment for Dubai was commissioned by DM and carried out by

StrongMotions Inc.

[Ref. F.22]

, for the purposes of supporting the seismic regulations

in this Part.
The acceleration parameters used are taken directly from Malhotra

[Ref. F.22]

In this Annex the values are compared with other published studies for the region

(see Table F.23). There is consistency between several studies, but other studies

indicate higher seismicity in Dubai. Those studies have been reviewed by several

authors and are proposed to be inappropriate for the reasons highlighted in the table.

Reference

Return periods

Comment

475 years

975 years

2,475 years

Malhotra

[Ref. F.22]

0.05

0.06

0.08

Irfan et al.

[Ref. F.23]

0.06

0.12

Consistent with

Malhotra

[Ref. F.22]

Shama

[Ref. F.24]

0.17

0.33

Includes the West Coast Fault

as an active structure in their

model.

Aldama et al.

[Ref. F.25]

0.05

0.06

0.09

Consistent with

Malhotra

[Ref. F.22]

Pascucci et al.

[Ref. F.26]

0.06

0.11

Consistent with

Malhotra

[Ref. F.22]

Musson et al.

[Ref. F.27]

0.05

Consistent with Malhotra

[Ref. F.22]

. Only presents

results for one return period.

Sigbjornsson and

Elnashai

[Ref. F.28]

0.16

0.18

0.22

Includes the West Coast Fault

as an active structure in their

model.

Abdalla and Al Homoud

[Ref. F.29]

0.14

Source zone model allows

seismicity from Iranian

coastline up to the UAE coast.

Grünthal et al.

[Ref. F.30]

0.32

Regional study. The result

was not calculated but

extrapolated across the UAE.

Al-Haddad et al.

[Ref. F.31]

< 0.05

Consistent with

Malhotra

[Ref. F.22]

, but only

a limited regional study.

Table F.23

Comparison of geometric mean PGA (g) calculated from various references (results to two decimal

places)

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 70

F.10.2

Seismic parameters for ASCE/SEI 7-16

F.10.2.1

Component of ground motion

ASCE/SEI 7-16 defines the seismic parameters using the maximum rotated

component of ground motion rather than geometric mean component of ground

motion. To account for this variation the component of ground motion,

Malhotra

[Ref. F.22]

recommends the ratios in Table F.24. The proposed values are

consistent with similar published factors (e.g. Beyer and Bommer

[Ref. F.32]

Parameter

Ratio

PGA

1.20

PGV

1.22

PGD

1.25

Table F.24

Resultant/geometric mean ratios (Malhotra, 2020)

ASCE/SEI 7-16 also adjusts the seismic hazard to ensure risk-consistent hazard

parameters for typical USA building stock following the procedure proposed by

Luco

[Ref. F.33]

. Malhotra

[Ref. F.22]

recommends that this adjustment is not

made, since the building stock in Dubai is considerably different to the USA and the

uncertainty in the methodology is large.

F.10.2.2

Return period

ASCE/SEI 7-16 defines the hazard in terms of a 2% probability of exceedance in 50

years, otherwise known as a return period of 2,475 years. As discussed in Malhotra

[Ref. F.22]

, a factor of two-thirds is applied to approximate the hazard in the USA to

approximate a return period of 475 years, as used in the previous degeneration of

seismic codes. This is an arbitrary requirement, which is country specific.

In contrast the Canadian building Code uses a 2,475-year return period directly.

The reason is because this lower probability is considered to provide a more uniform

margin of collapse, one that is much nearer to the probability of structural failure.

Similarly, the UK National Annex to BS EN 1998-1 also uses a 2,475-year return

period. This is to ensure seismic design is applied to the most critical structures in

what is generally a region of very low seismicity.
Since Dubai is principally affected by large distant events in Iran, it is considered

appropriate not to reduce the seismic hazard level using the arbitrary two-thirds

factor used in the USA, but ensure seismic design caters for these larger events.

This should not increase the seismic demand compared to current design practice.

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 71

F.10.3

West Coast Fault

The West Coast Fault is presented as a structure on the tectonic map of the Arabian

Peninsula in Johnson (1998)

[Ref. F.36]

. The interpretation was based on figures

presented by Murris

[Ref. F.34]

and Hancock et al.

[Ref. F.35]

. Both references show

the West Coast Fault as a right lateral strike slip fault running along the coast from

Abu Dhabi through Dubai and Sharjah to Ras Al Khaimah, whereas

Johnson

[Ref. F.36]

shows this as a left lateral strike slip fault. They also both focus

on the Dibba line as the principal fault within the UAE and do not even discuss the

West Coast Fault.
The existence of the West Coast Fault is at best contentious. Some tectonic and

seismic hazard studies of the region do not include this fault as a local tectonic

feature (e.g. Pascucci et al., 2008, Aldama-Bustos et al.

[Ref. F.25]

). Other seismic

hazard studies include the West Coast Fault as a seismic source (e.g. Sigbjornsson

and Elnashai

[Ref. F.28]

); however details regarding the modelling parameters are

poorly defined.

A study was undertaken by Megahed et al.

[Ref. F.37]

on behalf of the Abu Dhabi

Department of Municipal Affairs to determine the threat posed to the UAE by the

West Coast Fault. The findings of this study rejected the existence of the West Coast

Fault. This agrees with the conclusions of the geological mapping of the area by the

British Geological Survey

[Ref. F.27]

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 72

F.11

Annex: Dubai sustainable concrete baseline (DSCB)

F.11.1

General

Dubai sustainable concrete baseline (DSCB) is an alternative approach to the

minimum requirements for concrete mixes in F.6.2.3.

DSCB represents the allowable upper limit for the environmental weighted average

impact (WAI) of concrete mixes which was based on an industry-wide lifecycle

assessment (LCA) and environmental product declaration conducted for the most

common concrete mixes used in building construction in Dubai.

The WAI is calculated from the normalized LCA indicators/factors for each concrete

mix including global warming potential, acidification potential, eutrophication

potential, abiotic depletion potential fossil, blue water consumption, reused water for

washing and water for washing.

Table F.25 lists all the concrete mixes forming DSCB. Full details about the concrete

mix proportions, environmental impacts, and WAI can be accessed through a web-

based concrete calculator.
DSCB does not consider the durability aspects for any one of the concrete mixes

listed in Table F.25. It is recommended to consult a design engineer for the right

durability specification for every project based on the prevailing conditions of the

structure (service life, exposure conditions, concrete grade, concrete cover and any

other relevant parameter affecting durability) and in line with F.5.6.

The aim is to encourage the industry to produce more sustainable concrete,

eventually resulting in lowering the impact of concrete construction on the

environment. It is essential to balance the specification of concrete for sustainability

while ensuring other performance parameters are optimized. Engineers are urged

not to over-specify concrete strength and/or durability parameters and to permit

flexibility in designing the concrete mixes in a way that encourages the production of

more sustainable concrete.

F.11.2

DM concrete calculator

DM concrete calculator serves as a tool to help members assess their concrete mixes

against DSCB by changing different parameters and prior to submitting for DM

approval.
DM concrete calculator is a web-based application and includes all the baseline mixes

in its data base.

NOTE: To subscribe to DM concrete calculator, contact Research and Building

Systems Section at dscb@dm.gov.ae.

F.11.3

Standard concrete mixes

A ready-mixed concrete company operating in Dubai might have their standard

concrete mixes approved to be used. For any standard mix to be approved, it needs

to have a WAI less than that of a corresponding baseline mix (see Table F.25) of the

same grade.
Preliminary comparisons may be carried out by the client using DM concrete

calculator. Final approval for every mix is issued by Research & Building Systems

Section of the Building Permits Department.
Proposed mixes are compared to the WAI of the baseline mixes of equivalent grade.

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 73

Compressive

strength
(cylinder/cube)

(N/mm

)

Mix description

Total

cement/

content

(kg/m

)

Cement

(OPC)

(kg/m

)

GGBS

(slag)

(kg/m

)

Silica

fume

(kg/m

)

w/c ratio

C12/15,

C16/20, C20/25

(blinding)

OPC + 36% GGBS

280

179

101

0.55

C24/30

OPC + 36% GGBS

360

230

130

0.44

C28/35

OPC + 36% GGBS

380

243

137

0.42

C32/40

OPC + 36% GGBS

400

256

144

0.38

C36/45

OPC + 36% GGBS

410

262

148

0.37

C40/50

OPC + 36% GGBS

420

269

151

0.36

C44/55

OPC + 26% GGBS

+ 5% SF

430

397

112

0.35

C48/60

OPC + 26% GGBS

+ 5% SF

440

303

115

0.34

C52/65

OPC + 26% GGBS

+ 6% SF

450

306

117

0.33

C56/70

OPC + 26% GGBS

+ 6% SF

460

312

120

0.33

C60/75

OPC + 26% GGBS

+ 7% SF

470

315

122

0.32

C64/80

OPC + 26% GGBS

+ 7% SF

490

329

127

0.31

C68/85

OPC + 26% GGBS

+ 8% SF

500

330

130

0.30

C72/90

OPC + 26% GGBS

+ 8% SF

510

336

133

0.29

Table F.25

Concrete mixes of DSCB by concrete compressive strength

F.11.4

New sustainable materials

The DSCB mixes are proportioned using the materials specified in F.6.2.3 including

GGBS, fly ash and silica fume. Other sustainable materials are permitted provided

that:
a)

the material performance conforms to a standard specification and it is verified

against that specification; and

the material has an LCA report and data set submitted to DM for evaluation and

approval.

Once the material is approved, it is added to DSCB environmental impacts model and

DM concrete calculator. Accordingly, it may be used in concrete mixes provided that

those mixes have lower WAIs than those of the corresponding baseline mixes.

F.11.5

Concrete mixes for a specific project

This service permits, for a specific project, the use of mixes different from those

specified in F.6.2.3 The mixes may exceed the WAI of the corresponding baseline

mixes provided that the total WAI for all the concrete mixes used in the project is less

than that of the baseline mixes, as shown in the following equation.

Eq. F.11
∑(WAI of proposed mix . quantity of mix)≤∑(WAI of baseline mix . quantity of mix)

NOTE: Further information on submitting applications can be obtained from

Research and Building Systems Section at

dscb@dm.gov.ae

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 74

F.12

Annex: Precast stairs

The design of precast stairs should take into account the following.
a)

Where precast stair flights are supported on in-situ landings, the landings should

be cast against the precast flight. This avoids the problems of tolerances where

precast flights are placed on previously cast in-situ landings.

b) The design should take into account how the stair is tied to the main structure,

the sequence of construction and the temporary works involved.

c) Ties between precast stair and precast supports are a critical aspect of the design.

Recommended types of connections are illustrated in Figure F.31 and Figure F.32.

Precast staircase flight may be supported by steel beams, providing the shear

studs are welded to the steel beam and holes in the precast unit are located over

the studs and then grouted, as shown in Figure F.33.

Ties between precast stairs and in-situ concrete landings as shown in Figure F.34

and Figure F. 35.

When landings are cast in-situ after placement of the precast stair flights, the stair

should be propped. It is important that the temporary braced props are supported by

permanent rather than temporary structures.

Typical connections are shown in Figure F.31, Figure F.32, Figure F.33, Figure F.34 and

Figure F.35. The Engineer can provide alternative details as long as the strength and

serviceability requirements are satisfied.

Figure F.31 Recommended connection between precast flight and precast landing – Lapped horizontal

connection with reinforcement in the topping tied into the structure

Key

01: Reinforcement in structural topping

02: Bar incorporated with reinforcement in precast staircase

03: Nib sized to ensure safety during construction

04: Precast landing

05: Minimum cover

Dubai Building Code

Part F: Structure

F 75

Figure F.32 Recommended connection between precast flight and precast landing with a dowel tie

Key

01: Part plan of nib

02: Grouted clearance hole

03: Screed

04: Side section of connection

05: Precast landing

06: Precast stair flight

07: U-bar links

08: Dowel

Figure F.33

Recommended connection between precast stair and steel beam with a shear stud tie

Key

01: Precast stair flight

02: Welded connection

03: U-bar link

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 3

G.2

Definitions

G.2.1

Terms

G.2.1.1

Electrical

Accessory:

Device, other than current-using

equipment, associated with such equipment or with the

wiring of an installation.

Active power:

Real component of the apparent power,

expressed in watts (W), kilowatts (kW) or

megawatts (MW).

Alternating current (AC):

Electric current that reverses

its direction many times a second at regular intervals.

Ambient temperature:

Temperature of the air or other

medium where the equipment is to be used.

Apparent power:

Product of voltage (V) and current

(A). It is usually expressed in kilovolt-ampere (kVA)

or megavolt-ampere (MVA), and consists of a

real component (active power) and an imaginary

component (reactive power).

Appliance:

Item of current-using equipment other than

a luminaire or an independent motor.

Arc fault detection device (AFDD):

Device that

protects specifically against arc faults. AFDDs

automatically trip a circuit when they detect dangerous

electric arcs.

Barrier:

Part providing a defined degree of protection

against contact with live parts from any usual direction

of access.

Bonding conductor:

Protective conductor providing

equipotential bonding.

Bunched cables:

Two or more cables that are contained

within a single conduit, duct or trunking, or, if not

enclosed, are not separated from each other by a

specified distance.

Busbar trunking system:

Type-tested assembly, in

the form of an enclosed conductor system comprising

solid conductors separated by insulating material. The

assembly may consist of units such as:
a) busbar trunking units, with or without tap-out

facilities;

b) tap-out units where applicable; or
c)

flexible, end-feeder and adaptor units.

Cable ladder:

Cable support consisting of a series of

transverse supporting elements rigidly fixed to main

longitudinal supporting members.

Cable tray:

Cable support consisting of a continuous

base with raised edges and no covering. A cable tray is

non-perforated, where less than 30% of the material is

removed from the base.

Cable trunking:

Manufactured enclosure for the

protection of cables, normally of rectangular cross-

section, of which one side is removable.

Circuit:

Assembly of electrical equipment supplied from

the same origin and protected against overcurrent by

the same protective devices.

Circuit breaker:

Device capable of making, carrying

and breaking normal load current and making

and automatically breaking, under predetermined

conditions, abnormal currents such as short-circuit

currents. It usually operates infrequently, although

some types are suitable for frequent operation.

Cleat:

Component of a support system, which consist

of elements spaced at intervals along the length of the

cable or conduit and which mechanically retains the

cable or conduit.

Conductor:

Material or device that conducts or

transmits electricity.

Conduit:

Part of a closed wiring system for cables in

electrical installations, allowing them to be drawn in

and/or replaced, but not inserted laterally.

Connected load:

Total electrical power (W) consumed

by all devices connected to an electrical distribution

system.

Connector:

Part of a cable coupler or an appliance

coupler which is provided with female contacts and is

intended to be attached to the end of the flexible cable

remote from the supply.

Current-carrying capacity of a conductor:

Maximum

current which can be carried by a conductor under

specified conditions without its steady state

temperature exceeding a specified value.

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 4

Current-using equipment:

Equipment which converts

electrical energy into another form of energy, such as

light, heat or motive power.

Demand factor:

Ratio of maximum demand of the

system to the total connected load.

Design current:

Magnitude of the current [root mean

square (RMS) value for AC] to be carried by the circuit

in normal service.

Direct current (DC):

Unidirectional flow of an electric

charge.

Distribution board:

Assembly containing switching

or protective devices (e.g. fuses, circuit breakers, and

residual current operated devices) associated with

one or more outgoing circuits, fed from one or more

incoming circuits, together with terminals for the

neutral and protective circuit conductors. It may also

include signalling and other control devices. Means

of isolation may be included in the board or may be

provided separately.

Diversity factor (or diversity):

Ratio of sum of

individual maximum demands of the different type of

load during a specified period to the maximum demand

of the power station during the same period.

Duct:

Enclosure of metal or insulating material, other

than conduit or cable trunking, intended for the

protection of cables which are drawn in after erection

of the ducting.

Earth:

Conductive mass of the earth, of which the

electric potential at any point is conventionally taken

as zero.

Earth continuity conductor (ECC):

Conductor used

for some measures of protection against electric

shock and intended for connecting together any of the

following parts:
a)  exposed conductive parts;
b)  extraneous-conductive parts;
c)  the main earthing terminal;
d)  earth electrode(s); or
e)

the earthed point of the source, or an artificial

neutral.

Earth electrode:

Conductor or group of conductors

in intimate contact with and providing an electrical

connection to earth.

Earth electrode resistance:

Resistance of an earth

electrode to earth.

Earth fault current:

Fault current which flows to earth.

Earth fault loop impedance:

Impedance of the earth

fault current loop starting and ending at the point of

earth fault.

Earth leakage:

Current which flows to earth, or to

extraneous-conductive parts, in a circuit which is

electrically sound.

Earth leakage circuit breaker (ELCB):

Safety device

with high earth impedance which interrupts the circuit

if a dangerous voltage (50 V AC or over) is detected.

Earthing:

Connection of the exposed conductive parts

of an installation to the main earthing terminal of that

installation.

Earthing conductor:

Protective conductor connecting

the main earthing terminal of an installation to an

earth electrode or to other means of earthing.

Electric shock:

Dangerous physiological effect resulting

from the passing of an electric current through a

human body or livestock.

Electrical installation:

Assembly of associated electrical

equipment supplied from a common origin to fulfil

a specific purpose and having certain coordinated

characteristics.

Emergency switching:

Operation intended to remove,

as quickly as possible, danger, which might have

occurred unexpectedly.

Enclosure:

Part providing protection of equipment

against certain external influences and in any direction

protection against direct contact.

Equipment:

Any item that involves the generation,

conversion, transmission, distribution or utilization

of electrical energy, such as machines, transformers,

apparatus, measuring instruments, protective devices,

wiring systems, accessories, appliances and luminaires.

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 5

Equipotential bonding:

Electrical connection

maintaining various exposed conductive parts and

extraneous conductive parts at substantially the same

potential.

Exposed conductive part:

Conductive part of

equipment which can be touched, and which is not

a live part, but which can become live under fault

conditions.

External influence:

Any influence external to an

electrical installation that affects the design and safe

operation of that installation.

Extra-low voltage:

Voltage normally not exceeding

50 V AC or 120 V ripple-free DC, whether between

conductors or to earth.

Fault:

Circuit condition in which current flows through

an abnormal or unintended path, which can result from

an insulation failure or a bridging of insulation.

Fault current:

Current resulting from a fault.

Feeder pillar:

Cabinet for electrical protection and

distribution equipment, mounted externally and

supplying several consumers.

Final circuit:

Circuit connected directly to current-using

equipment, or to a socket outlet or socket outlets

or other outlet points for the connection of such

equipment.

Fixed equipment:

Equipment designed to be fastened

to a support or otherwise secured in a specific location.

Flexible cable:

Cable in which the structure and

materials make it suitable to be flexed while in service.

Flexible cord:

Cable in which the cross-sectional area of

each conductor does not exceed 4 mm

Fuse:

Device which, by the melting of one or more of

its specially designed and proportioned components,

opens the circuit in which it is inserted by breaking the

current when this exceeds a given value for a defined

time. The fuse comprises all the parts that form the

complete device.

Fuse element:

Part of a fuse designed to melt when the

fuse operates.

Fuse link:

Part of a fuse including the fuse element(s),

which requires replacement by a new or renewable fuse

link after the fuse has operated and before the fuse is

put back into service.

Harmonics:

Amount of distortion that occurs to

the voltage or current sine wave, which in electrical

installations can be caused by various sources such

as non-linear loads, variable speed drives, variable

frequency drives, capacitor banks, UPS backup power

supplies, fluorescent light ballasts, fan speed controls,

halogen lights, low voltage transformers for indoor/

outdoor lighting, unfiltered dimmer switches, AC/DC

power supplies, etc. found in various electronic devices

such as computers, printers, fax machines,

televisions, etc.

Insulation:

Non-conductive material enclosing,

surrounding or supporting a conductor.

Inverter:

Device which converts the direct current (DC)

to alternating current (AC).

Isolator:

Mechanical switching device which, in the

open position, meets the requirements specified for

the isolating function.

Live part:

Conductor or conductive part intended to be

energized in normal use, including a neutral conductor.

Low smoke and fume (LSF) cable:

Cable rated Class

-s1b,d2,a2 in accordance with BS EN 13501-6.

Low voltage:

Voltage normally exceeding extra-low

voltage but not exceeding 1,000 V AC or

1,500 V DC between conductors, or 600 V AC or

900 V DC between conductors and earth.

Luminaire:

Equipment which distributes, filters or

transforms the light from one or more lamps, and

which includes any parts necessary for supporting,

fixing and protecting the lamps, but not the lamps

themselves, and, where necessary, circuit auxiliaries

together with the means for connecting them to the

supply.

Main earthing terminal:

Terminal or bar provided for

the connection of protective conductors, including

equipotential bonding conductors, and conductors for

functional earthing, if any, to the means of earthing.

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 6

Maximum demand:

Summation of all electrical power

demand that has occurred during a specified period,

measured in kW or kVA.

Megger test:

Measure of insulation resistance.

Neutral conductor:

Conductor of a three-phase 4-wire

system or the conductor of a single-phase installation

which is earthed at the source of the supply.

Non-combustible:

Material which is classified as

Class A1 in accordance with BS EN 13501-1.

Nominal voltage:

Voltage by which an installation

(or part of an installation) is designated.

Overcurrent:

Current exceeding the rated value. For

conductors the rated value is the current- carrying

capacity.

Overload:

Overcurrent occurring in a circuit which is

electrically sound.

Plug:

Accessory having pins designed to engage with

the contact of a socket outlet and incorporating means

for the electrical connection and mechanical retention

of a flexible cable or cord.

Point (in wiring):

Termination of the fixed wiring

intended for the connection of current-using

equipment.

Protective device:

Device which detects abnormal

and intolerable conditions, which initiates appropriate

corrective action to provide protection against electric

shock under fault-free conditions. Backup protection is

provided to operate when a system fault is not cleared

or abnormal condition not detected in the required

time because of failure or inability of other protection

to operate or failure of appropriate circuit breaker.

Protective earthing:

Earthing of a point or points in

a system or in an installation or in equipment for the

purpose of safety.

PV:

Solar photovoltaic.

PV array:

Mechanically and electrically integrated

assembly of PV modules, and other necessary

components, to form a DC power supply unit.

PV array cable:

Output cable of a PV array.

PV array junction box:

Enclosure where PV strings

of any PV array are electrically connected and where

devices can be located.

PV cell:

Basic PV device which can generate electricity

when exposed to light such as solar radiation.

PV DC main cable:

Cable connecting the PV generator

junction box to the DC terminal of the PV invertor.

PV generator:

Assembly of PV array.

PV generator junction box:

Enclosure where PV array

is electrically connected and where devices can be

located.

PV installation:

Erected equipment of PV power supply

system.

PV invertor:

Device which converts DC voltage and DC

current into AC voltage and AC current.

PV module:

Smallest completely environmentally

protected assembly of interconnected PV cells.

PV AC module:

Integrated module/invertor assembly

where the electrical interface terminal is AC only, with

no access being provided to the DC side.

PV string:

Circuit in which PV modules are connected

in series for a PV array to generate the required output

voltage.

PV string cable:

Cable connecting PV modules to form

a PV string.

PVC:

Polyvinyl chloride as insulation or sheath of cable.

Rated current:

Value of current used for specification

purposes, established for a specified set of operating

conditions of a component, device, equipment or

system.

Reactive power:

Imaginary component of the apparent

power expressed in kVAr or MVAr.

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 7

Residual current:

Vector sum of the instantaneous

values of current flowing through all live conductors of

a circuit at a point in the electrical installation.

Residual current device (RCD):

Mechanical switching

device or association of devices intended to cause the

opening of the contacts when the residual current

attains a given value under specified conditions.

Residual current operated circuit breaker with integral

overcurrent protection (RCBO):

Residual current

operating device designed to perform the functions of

protection against overall load and/or short-circuit.

Residual current operated circuit breaker without

integral overcurrent protection (RCCB):

Residual

current operated switching device not designed to

perform the functions of protection against overload

and/or short-circuit.

Resistance area:

Surface area of ground (around an

earth electrode only) on which a significant voltage

gradient may exist.

Ring circuit:

Circuit arranged in the form of a ring and

connected to a single point of supply.

Short-circuit current:

Overcurrent resulting from a

fault of negligible impedance between live conductors

having a difference in potential under normal operating

conditions.

Short-circuit current under standard test condition

(Isc STC):

Short-circuit current of a PV module, PV

string, PV array or PV generator under standard test

conditions.

Shrouded:

Enclosure used to cover the cable and cable

gland when the cable is entering an item of equipment,

to avoid water and dust ingress.

Sikka:

Public or private path separating two adjacent

plots or a group of adjacent plots, that can be used by

pedestrians as a primary or secondary access to any

plot.

Socket outlet:

Device, provided with female contacts,

which is intended to be installed with the fixed wiring,

and intended to receive a plug. A luminaire track

system is not regarded as a socket outlet system.

Space factor:

Ratio (expressed as a percentage) of

the sum of the effective overall cross-sectional area of

cables forming a bunch to the internal cross-sectional

area of the conduit, pipe, duct, trunking or channel in

which they are installed.

Stationary appliance:

Electrical equipment which is

either fixed, or equipment having a mass exceeding

18 kg and not provided with a carrying handle.

Surge protection device (SPD):

Device designed

to protect electrical systems and equipment from

surge events (e.g. caused by lightening or switching

of electrical loads) by limiting transient voltages and

diverting surge currents.

Switch:

Mechanical device capable of making, carrying

and breaking current under normal circuit conditions,

which can include specified operating overload

conditions, and carrying for a specified abnormal circuit

conditions such as those of short-circuit, and which

can also be capable of making, but not breaking, short-

circuit currents.

Switchboard:

Assembly of switchgear with or without

instruments, excluding groups of local switches in final

circuits.

Switchgear:

Assembly of main and auxiliary switching

apparatus for operation, regulation, protection or other

control of an electrical installation.

Temporary electrical systems:

Electrical installation

erected for a particular purpose and dismantled when

no longer required for that purpose.

Wiring system:

Assembly made up of cables or busbars

and parts which secure and, if necessary, enclose the

cable or busbar.

XLPE cable:

Cross-linked polyethylene as insulation of

cable.

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 8

G.2.1.2

District cooling

Customer:

Building Owner, Developer or other

representative (e.g. designer).

Energy transfer station (ETS):

Dedicated plant room in

the facility or building where a cooling energy transfer

system is installed to supply chilled water to the

premises.

Premises:

Land and buildings, owned by the Customer,

requiring chilled cooling water.

Provider:

Entity that designs, supplies, installs, tests,

cleans and commissions the district cooling plant that

is licensed and approved by the Municipal Authorities.

Valve chamber (VC):

Dedicated space in the premises,

either buried or exposed, where the district cooling

Provider provides isolating valves on the district

cooling chilled water pipes that serve the ETS.

G.2.1.3

Telecommunications

Building Industry Consulting Service International

(BICSI):

Global professional/trade association

supporting the advancement of the information and

communications technology (ICT) community.

Building entry point (BEP):

Point where external ducts

physically enter a building. This can be a standalone

location or incorporated into another telecoms space.

Cable pathway:

Any system used to route cables, such

as cable ducting, cable ladder, cable tray, conduit, duct

and maintenance chamber.

Feeder cable:

Cable that provides signals to a property

from an ethernet or GPON-based SP network.

Feeder cables can deliver signals for connection to

optical splitters and distribution on the in-building

telecom fibre to the x (FTTx) system, or provide a SP

connection to a local optical line terminal (OLT) if the

SP requires this locally within a development.

Fibre concentration point (FCP):

Point where a high

core count feeder cable is converted to multiple smaller

core count distribution cables. The FCP can be located

within the property boundary in a BEP, or outside the

property in a meet-me-chamber (MMC).

Fibre to the x (FTTx):

Delivery of optical fibre signals

directly to a location. For SP telecom services, the x can

be defined as B (building), C (cabinet), H (home) or

P (premise).

Floor telecom room (FTR):

Room located at each floor

between the main telecom room (MTR) and multiple

floor optical telecommunication outlets (TO), which

allows the transition from vertical optical fibre cables

to horizontal tenant cabling.

Handhole:

Small maintenance chamber installed within

a campus duct system specifically aiding the pulling of

cables on long straight duct routes where cable pulling

forces might otherwise be exceeded.

Meet-me-chamber (MMC):

Maintenance chamber

located in the vicinity of the property boundary and

providing the first common element of the outside

plant (OSP) installation, with three separate duct

connections from SPs into the chamber then following

a single OSP route into the development. For multi-

building developments, this can also contain an FCP,

enabling feeder cables to split to separate cables to

individual buildings on a plot when a meet-me-room

(MMR) is not utilized.

Meet-me-room (MMR):

Site-specific location for SP

use, as determined by the agreed masterplan. MMRs

form a common location for feeder cables from SPs to

terminate and split to multiple cables feeding MTRs on

different plots of a development.

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 9

Main telecom room (MTR):

Location where feeder

cables from SPs are terminated, allowing connection to

the building inside plant (ISP) common infrastructure.

Optical line terminal (OLT):

Centralized piece of

equipment providing service to many end users

through a PON solution. OLTs can support cable

distances up to 20 km from centralized equipment

subject to the optical fibre cabling design.

Optical network terminal (ONT):

Active component of

the FTTx optical network located at a tenant premises.

Optical splitter:

Passive component of the FTTx optical

network taking signal from either one or two input

optical cores and equally dividing the signal to the

splitter outputs.

Optical telecommunication outlet (TO):

Fixed

connecting device where tenant indoor optical

fibre cable terminates. The TO provides an optical

connection for the equipment connection cord of the

ONT.

Passive optical network (PON):

Point-to-multipoint

FTTx network architecture utilizing unpowered optical

splitters. Variants of PON using the same topology and

passive components include GPON, XG-PON,

XGS-PON and NG-PON2.

Service Provider (SP):

Provider of telecommunication

services. SPs in Dubai include du and Etisalat.

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 10

G.2.2

Acronyms and abbreviations

alternating current

ACB

air circuit breaker

AHU

air handling unit

APC

angle polished connector

BAPV

Building attached photovoltaics

BEP

building entry point

BICSI

Building Industry Consulting Service International

BIPV

Building integrated photovoltaics

cap

capita

Ch.

chapter

current transformer

distribution board

DBC

Dubai Building Code

direct current

DCD

Dubai Civil Defence

DEWA

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

double-pole

DRRG

distributed renewable resource generation

SP in Dubai

ECC

earth continuity conductor

EID

Etisalat Identification

ELCB

earth leakage circuit breaker

electromagnetic

EMI

electromagnetic interference

Etisalat

SP in Dubai

ETS

energy transfer station

electric vehicle

EVSE

electric vehicle service equipment

FCP

fibre concentration point

FCU

fan coil unit

FFL

finished floor level

FGRP

fibre glass reinforced plastic

FTR

floor telecom room

FTTx

fibre to the x

ground floor

GAID

Global Alliance for ICT and Development

GPON

gigabit passive optical network

galvanized steel

GSM

global system for mobile communication

height

HDPE

high density polyethylene

HDRF

heavy duty return flange

HEX

heat exchanger

HMI

human-machine interface

high voltage

IBS

in-building service

ICT

information and communication technology

IEC

International Electrotechnical Commission

IET

Institution of Engineering and Technology

ingress protection

ISO

International Organization for Standardization

ISP

inside plant

information technology

length

lucent connector

LDPE

low density polyethylene

LPG

liquefied petroleum gas

LSF

low smoke and fume

LSZH

low smoke zero halogen

low voltage

MCB

miniature circuit breaker

MCCB

moulded case circuit breaker

MDB

main distribution board

MEP

mechanical, electrical, plumbing

MMC

meet-me-chamber

MMR

meet-me-room

MNO

mobile network operator

MSR

mobile service room

MTR

main telecom room

medium voltage

NFPA

National Fire Protection Association

NG-PON2

next generation PON2

ODF

optical distribution frame

OLT

optical line terminal

ONT

optical network terminal

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 11

OSP

outside plant

power factor

PLC

programme logic controller

PoE

power-over-ethernet

PON

passive optical network

photovoltaic

PVC

polyvinyl chloride

RCBO

Residual current operated circuit breaker with

integral overcurrent protection

RCCB

Residual current operated circuit breaker without

integral overcurrent protection

RCD

residual current device

RFI

radio frequency interference

RMU

ring main unit

RoHS

restriction of hazardous substances

RTA

Road and Transportation Authority

RTMR

rooftop mobile room

RTU

remote terminal unit

standard connector

SLD

single line diagram

singlemode

SMDB

sub-main distribution board

service provider

SPD

surge protection device

STP

shielded twisted pair

TCL

total connected load

telecommunication outlet

three phrase

TRA

Telecommunication Regulatory Authority

UAE FLSC

UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice

UTP

unshielded twisted pair

undervoltage

valve chamber

VFD

variable frequency drive

voltage transformer

width

XG-PON

10 gigabit PON

XGS-PON

symmetric XG-PON

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 12

G.3 References

G.3.1

General

Ref. G.1

UAE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR GENERAL

COMMAND OF CIVIL DEFENCE, 2018. UAE Fire and

Life Safety Code of Practice (UAE FLSC). United Arab

Emirates: Ministry of Interior General Command of

Civil Defence.

G.3.2

Electrical

BS 546, Specification – Two-pole and earthing-pin

plugs, socket outlets and socket outlet adaptors

BS 559, Specification for the design and construction

of signs for publicity, decorative and general purposes
BS 1363, 13 A plugs, socket-outlets, adapters and

connection units

BS 4177, Specification for cooker control units
BS 4363, Specification for distribution assemblies

for reduced low voltage electricity supplies for

construction and building sites
BS 4444, Guide to electrical earth monitoring and

protective conductor proving

BS 4573, Specification for 2-pin reversible plugs and

shaver socket outlets

BS 4607, Non-metallic conduits and fittings for

electrical installations. Specification for fittings and

components of insulating material

BS 4662, Boxes for flush mounting of electrical

accessories. Requirements, test methods and

dimensions

BS 5467, Electric cables – Thermosetting insulated,

armoured cables of rated voltages of 600/1,000 V and

1,900/3,300 V for fixed installations

BS 5733, General requirements for electrical

accessories – Specification
BS 6004, Electric cables – PVC insulated and PVC

sheathed cables for voltages up to and including

300/500 V, for electric power and lighting
BS 6121, Mechanical cable glands

BS 6231, Electric cables – Single core PVC insulated

flexible cables of rated voltage 600/1,000 V for

switchgear and controlgear wiring

BS 6724, Electric cables – Thermosetting insulated,

armoured cables for rated voltages of 600/1,000 V

and 1,900/3,300 V, having low emission of smoke and

corrosive gases when affected by fire – Specification
BS 7211, Electric cables – Thermosetting insulated

and thermoplastic sheathed cables for voltages

up to and including 450/750 V for electric power

and lighting and having low emission of smoke and

corrosive gases when affected by fire

BS 7430, Code of practice for protective earthing of

electrical installations

BS 7629-1, Electric cables – Specification for

300/500 V fire-resistant, screened, fixed installation

cables having low emission of smoke and corrosive

gases when affected by fire – Part 1: Multicore cables
BS 7671, Requirements for electrical installations –

IET wiring regulations

BS 7769, Electric cables – Calculation of the current

rating

BS 7846, Electric cables – Thermosetting insulated,

armoured, fire-resistant cables of rated voltage

600/1,000 V for fixed installations, having low

emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected

by fire – Specification
BS 7889, Electric cables – Thermosetting insulated,

non-armoured cables with a voltage of 600/1,000 V,

for fixed installations

BS 7909, Code of practice for temporary electrical

systems for entertainment and related purposes

BS 8436, Electric cables – Specification for

300/500 V screened electrical cables having low

emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected

by fire, for use in walls, partitions and building voids –

Multicore cables

BS EN 13501-1, Fire classification of construction

products and building elements – Part 1: Classification

using data from reaction to fire tests

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 13

BS EN 13501-6, Fire classification of construction

products and building elements – Part 6: Classification

using data from reaction to fire tests on power, control

and communication cables
BS EN 50085, Cable trunking and cable ducting

systems for electrical installations
BS EN 50160, Voltage characteristics of electricity

supply by public electricity networks

BS EN 50214, Flat polyvinyl chloride sheathed flexible

cables
BS EN 50522, Earthing of power installations

exceeding 1 kV

BS EN 50525, Electric cables – Low voltage energy

cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/

750 V (U0/U)
BS EN 60079, Explosive atmospheres

BS EN 60204, Safety of machinery – Electrical

equipment of machines

BS EN 60269, Low voltage fuses – General

requirements
BS EN 60309, Plugs, socket outlets and couplers for

industrial purposes

BS EN 60335-2, Household and similar electrical

appliances – Part 2: Safety

BS EN 60423, Conduit systems for cable management

– Outside diameters of conduits for electrical

installations and threads for conduits and fittings

BS EN 60529, Degrees of protection provided by

enclosures (IP code)
BS EN 60570, Electrical supply track systems for

luminaires

BS EN 60669, Switches for household and similar fixed

electrical installations
BS EN 60670, Boxes and enclosures for electrical

accessories for household and similar fixed electrical

installations

BS EN 60898-1, Electrical accessories – Circuit

breakers for overcurrent protection for household and

similar installations – Part 1: Circuit-breakers for a.c.

operation

BS EN 60947, Low voltage switch gear and control

gear
BS EN 61008-1, Residual current operated circuit-

breakers without integral overcurrent protection for

household and similar uses (RCCBs) – Part 1: General

rules
BS EN 61009-1, Residual current operated circuit-

breakers with integral overcurrent protection for

household and similar uses (RCBOs) – Part 1: General

rules

BS EN 61140, Protection against electric shock –

Common aspects for installation and equipment
BS EN 61386, Conduit systems for cable management

BS EN 61439, Low voltage switchgear and control gear

assemblies

BS EN 61643, Low voltage surge protective devices

BS EN 61535, Installation couplers intended for

permanent connection in fixed installations

BS EN 61537, Cable management
BS EN 61558, Safety of transformers, reactors, power

supply units and combinations thereof

BS EN 62423, Type F and type B residual current

operated circuit breakers with and without integral

overcurrent protection for household and similar uses
BS EN 62606, General requirements for arc fault

detection devices (AFDDs)

IEC 60038, IEC standard voltages
IEC 60255, Measuring relays and protection equipment

IEC 60364, Low voltage electrical installations

IEC 61000, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

IEC 61140, Protection against electric shock –

Common aspects for installation and equipment

IEC 61439, Low voltage switchgear and control gear

assemblies
IEC 61851, Electric vehicle conductive charging system
IEC 61869, Instrument transformers

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 14

IEC 61921, Power capacitors – Low voltage power

factor correction banks

NFPA 70, National electrical code

Ref. G.2

INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERING AND

TECHNOLOGY, 2018. Electrician’s guide to the

building regulations. 5th edition. Stevenage: IET.

Ref. G.3

INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERING AND

TECHNOLOGY, 2018. Guidance note 8: Earthing and

bonding. 4th edition. Stevenage: IET.

Ref. G.4

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF DUBAI, 2014.

Executive Council Resolution no. (46) of 2014

concerning the connections of generators of electricity

from solar energy to the power distribution system

in the Emirate of Dubai. Dubai: Executive Council of

Dubai.

Ref. G.5

DUBAI ELECTRICITY AND WATER

AUTHORITY. Publications and resources [online

database]. Available from:

www.dewa.gov.ae/en/

consumer/solar-community/publications-resources

Ref. G.6

DUBAI ELECTRICITY AND WATER

AUTHORITY. Technical publications and resources

[online database]. Available from:

www.dewa.gov.ae/

en/builder/useful-tools/tech-publications-resources

Ref. G.7

DUBAI ELECTRICITY AND WATER

AUTHORITY, 2016. Standards for distributed

renewable resources generators connected to the

distribution network. 2nd edition. Dubai: DEWA.

G.3.3

Water

Ref. G.8

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

(DEWA). Circulars and Regulations [online database].

Available from:

www.dewa.gov.ae/en/builder/useful-

tools/dewa-circulars

G.3.4

District cooling

Ref. G.9

District cooling Providers’ technical guidance

documentation as supplied by the relevant Providers,

which include:
a)  Emaar District Cooling;
b)  Tabreed;
c)  Empower;
d)  Emicool.

G.3.5

Telecommunications

G.3.5.1

Essential reading

BS EN 13501-6, Fire classification of construction

products and building elements – Classification using

data from reaction to fire tests on power, control and

communication cables
IEC/EN 60332-1-2, Tests on electrical and optical

fibre cables under fire conditions – Tests for vertical

flame propagation for a single insulated wire or cable –

Procedure for 1 kW pre-mixed flame

ISO/IEC 11801-1, Information technology – Generic

cabling for customer premises – Part 1: General

requirements

ISO/IEC 11801-2, Information technology – Generic

cabling for customer premises – Part 2: Office

premises

ISO/IEC 11801-3, Information technology – Generic

cabling for customer premises – Part 3: Industrial

premises

ISO/IEC 11801-4, Information technology – Generic

cabling for customer premises – Part 4: Single-tenant

homes

ISO/IEC 11801-6, Information technology – Generic

cabling for customer premises – Part 6: Distributed

building services

ISO/IEC 14763-1, Information technology –

Implementation and operation of customer premises

cabling – Part 1: Administration
ISO/IEC 14763-2, Information technology –

Implementation and operation of customer premises

cabling – Part 2: Planning and installation
ISO/IEC 14763-3, Information technology –

Implementation and operation of customer premises

cabling – Part 3: Testing of optical fibre cabling

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 15

ISO/IEC 30129, Information technology –

Implementation and operation of customer

premises cabling – Part 2: Planning and installation

Telecommunications bonding networks for buildings

and other structures
ITU-T G.657 A1/A2, Characteristics of a bending-loss

insensitive single-mode optical fibre and cable

Ref. G.10

TELECOMMUNICATION REGULATORY

AUTHORITY (TRA) n.d. In-Building

Telecommunication Network – Specification Manual

Guidelines for FTTx in new Buildings Version 2.

Dubai: TRA.

G.3.5.2

Further reading

BICSI, 2020. Telecommunications Distribution

Methods Manual (TDMM), 14th ed. Florida: BICSI.

BICSI, 2018. Outside Plant (OSP) Design Reference

Manual (DRM), 6th ed. Florida: BICSI.

BICSI 2017. Information Technology Systems,

Installation Methods Manual (ITSIMM), 7th ed.

Florida: BICSI.

BICSI, 2016. Essentials of bonding and grounding,

1st ed. Florida: BICSI.

Dubai Building Code

Part G: Incoming utilities

G 16

G.4 Design, erection and installation of electrical systems

G.4.1

General

Sections G.4 to G.7 outline the requirements for

the design of electrical installations. They are based

on the latest edition of BS 7671 and Institution of

Engineering Technology (IET) documents

[Ref. G.2 and Ref. G.3]

11 kV medium voltage (MV) network installations

shall meet the requirements of G.7. For specific

requirements beyond the scope of G.7, the project shall

be referred to DEWA at the concept design stage.
Sections G.4 to G.7 are not intended to:
a)

take the place of a detailed specification;

b) instruct untrained persons; or
c) provide for every circumstance.
Where a situation arises that is not covered or allowed

for within these sections, DEWA shall be consulted to

obtain further clarity and guidance.

G.4.2

Electrical supply

The nominal electric supply voltage from DEWA (see

IEC 60038) is 230/400 V ± 10%, 50 Hz, three-phase,

4-wire with separate neutral and protective conductor

(generally metallic armour of the DEWA service cable).

The neutral is solidly earthed at DEWA’s substations

and shall not be earthed elsewhere in the consumer’s

electrical installations. The design fault level within the

substation is 40 kA (fault duration 1 s), except for fuse

protected equipment/circuits.
All equipment, apparatus, materials and accessories

used in electrical installations shall be designed and

rated for operation on this electric supply. Overload,

short-circuit and earth leakage protective devices shall

be provided. Depending on the design of consumer

installations, protective devices shall also be provided

to protect against the following as required:
a) over voltages;
b)

fluctuations;

c)  transients and harmonics;
d)  loss of one or more phases;
e)  unforeseen interruptions.

NOTE: The earth leakage current may have a capacitive

component, including that resulting from the deliberate

use of capacitors.

G.4.3

Incoming supply and metering

Before commencing building design, the consumer

shall obtain confirmation of the availability of a power

supply from DEWA.

NOTE 1: Power supply from DEWA’s network is subject

to all applicable terms and conditions as issued by

DEWA.

The consumer shall protect all elements of DEWA

installations provided for and within the premises. Any

violation, defect or damage to DEWA lines, equipment

or metering shall be reported to DEWA immediately.

Where the total connected load (TCL) exceeds

400 kW, provision shall be made within the building or

plot for a DEWA substation.

NOTE 2: In some circumstances a DEWA substation

might be required for connected loads less than

400 kW.

Meters shall be installed to measure and record the

electricity demand and consumption of the facility. All

meters shall conform to DEWA specifications and be

approved by DEWA.
Tariff metering shall be in accordance with G.4.5.

When a building tariff meter is not present, sub

meters shall be installed for each individual tenancy

in the building. These submeters shall be for demand

management and electricity cost allocation purposes

only. Virtual meters using run-hours shall not be used

as submeters.

Dubai Building Code (2021) - page 15