2013 Abu Dhabi International Building Code Becomes Mandatory on Oct. 1, 2014 ro ce EDC > (a Tope: Retum to ‘We wanted to let you know about a significant code-related development that we have been involved with: the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has adopted, and just made mandatory, a building code based on the International Burlding Code (IBC) and its referenced standards Fist, a litle information about Abu Dhabi...the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is the largest (in area) of the seven emirates making up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The best known of the other six is Dubai. Abu Dhabi has the largest population of the seven emirates. ts GDP is larger than that : of the other sit combined. Many of our clients have offices in that part ofthe world Tho 2013 Abu Dnabi International Building Coda (ADIBC) was in effoct on a voluntary basis, ‘rom October 1, 2013 and has just become mandatory with effect from October 1, 2014 The document is based on the 2009 IBC and has adopted ASCE 7-05 and AC| 3181-08 (the “Mt” standing for metic). Certain modifications to these documents were made under the guidance of Dr. Ghosh who acted as consultant fo the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs (OMA), Perhaps the two most important (and obvious) ASCE 7-05 modifications are: 1) the maps for Ss, $;, and 7, are replaced with corresponding maps for UAE, and 2) the basic wind ‘speed map is replaced with permission given to users to continue to use the basic wind speed values current'y in use in the three Abu Dhabi municipalities: Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain, and the Western Region. Most of the modifications to ACI 316M-08 either accommodate reinforcing bar sizes other than those recognized in ASTM Specifications, which aro in use in the UAE, of permit the optional use of BS/EN standards that are counterparts of the corresponding ASTM standards referenced by ACI 318M-08 Itmay be of interest to nole that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located in the same part of the world as UAE, also uses building code basad on the IBC: the 2007 Edition of the Sava! Building Code. For more information on the 2013 ADIBC, please visit the DMA website