KEY ASPECTS OF BUILDING CODE OF PAKISTAN
SEISMIC PROVISIONS-2007

ABSTRACT:

Building Code of Pakistan, Seismic Provision 2007, serves two purposes. First is to define the earthquake level for each tehsil of the country, which buildings have to be designed. Secondly, it provides codified procedures and guidelines for planning, design, analysis and detail of building structures.. The topics covered include site considerations, soil and foundations, general structural design requirements, reinforced concrete buildings, structural steel buildings, masonry buildings, architectural elements and mechanical & electrical systems. Effective implementation of this code can lead to significant improvement in the seismic safety of buildings in the country. The paper presents overview of the key aspects of the code.

INTRODUCTION:

A seismic building code provides a rational, uniform and methodical basis for providing optimally economical way of ensuring earthquake resistant design of buildings. Earthquake hazard varies in different parts of the country. This has to be realistically defined. Intensive studies have been carried out to the evaluate the geology of Pakistan and to identify possible sources of earthquakes. Based on an evaluation of these data, a seismic zoning map of Pakistan has been prepared. This has also been presented in a tabular form, where each tehsil of the country has been listed together with its seismic zone. Detailed codified procedures are then given for design of different types of buildings structures.

CONTENTS

The main chapters of the code are as follows:

• Scope
• Seismic Hazard
• Site Consideration
• Soils Foundations
• Structural Design Requirements
• Structural Tests and Inspection
• Structural Concrete
• Structural Steel
• Masonry
• Architectural Elements
• Mechanical and Electrical Systems