The government has amended and enforced the National Building Code to ensure earthquake-resistant construction. The previous code contained impractical provisions, lacked alignment with international standards, involved complex design calculations, and increased unnecessary construction costs. These issues have now been addressed through the revised code.
The updated National Building Code was published in the Nepal Gazette on Thursday, officially bringing it into implementation. The new code not only guides the construction of buildings but also provides standards for major infrastructure such as hydropower dams, powerhouses, and underground structures like tunnels.
Urban Development Minister Kulman Ghising described the revised code as a milestone for building a safer future for the country. He expressed confidence that buildings constructed under the new standards would minimize loss of life and property during future earthquakes. He also urged local governments, engineers, and the general public to strictly follow the code during construction.
The revised code includes an updated seismic zoning map covering all 753 local levels, offering location-specific design guidelines. Improvements have been made in soil classification, including a special map detailing soil types in the Kathmandu Valley. Snow load, liquid pressure, and soil pressure have been incorporated into new load combination formulas, along with updated equations for stability checks.
New criteria have been introduced to improve structural flexibility, enabling buildings to absorb more seismic energy. Revisions have been made to address soft-storey issues and torsional irregularity in tall buildings, contributing to improved stability and reduced construction costs.
The new code was developed after extensive consultations with professional designers, the Structural Engineers Association (SENEP), professional societies, and academicians. International building codes were also studied, and the suggestions of both national and international experts were incorporated to ensure technical refinement and user-friendliness.
The previous code was lacking in several international standards, creating technical difficulties in structural design. The revised code aims to reduce earthquake-related damage, enhance human safety, ensure uniformity and transparency in design and construction, simplify scientific evaluation for building approval at the local level, reduce long-term costs, ease maintenance, and provide clear guidance for engineers and designers.
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