The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Water, in an effort to streamline the Building and Construction Sector, will launch the National Building Codes at a special session scheduled for Monday, March 05, 2012 at 13:00 h at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast of Demerara.
The objective of the session is to introduce key stakeholders to the ten (10) sections of the National Building Codes and to create a better understanding of their use and importance to the Construction Sector. The ten sections stipulate requirements for Enforcement, Fire Safety, use and occupancy, Electrical, Plumbing, the Use of Guyanese hardwoods in construction, Concrete and block masonry, Structural steel, High rise buildings, Foundations and excavations, and the Code of Practice for the Design and Construction of Septic Tanks and Associated Secondary Treatment and Disposal Systems.
No doubt, the launch of the Building Codes comes at a critical time, considering the current housing boom and the increased construction of low and medium rise structures across our country. It is vital that action be taken now to implement and encourage the use of these codes so as to guarantee that safe and quality structures are erected in Guyana that can withstand the various forms of natural disasters.
The Codes provide minimum requirements to ensure that the public safety, health and welfare of citizens are not affected by poor building construction techniques. They also help to ensure safety to life and property from all hazardous incidents pertaining to the occupancy of faulty buildings, structures or premises.
All Regulators, Architects, Contractors, Engineers, and other experts and stakeholders in the construction sector are invited to this session. The Honourable Minister of Housing and Water is expected to deliver the feature address at the session.
