DIRECTORATE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMITTAL OF STRUCTURAL DRAWINGS FOR APPROVAL (Revised to reflect requirements as per the Building Control Regulations of Uganda)

Engineers- in charge are expected to submit two (2) sets of authenticated structural drawings for approval to the

Authority. Additionally the following should be submitted along with the drawings where necessary as discussed

below.

a) REVISED CERTIFICATE OF GOOD STRUCTURAL PRACTICE

The certificate of good structural practice has been amended to include the KCCA logo, the directorate

responsible, latest codes of practice and other minor revisions. The form is available on the KCCA website for

download.

b) STRUCTURAL DESIGN CALCULATIONS

Structural design calculations are a requirement for all storeyed buildings i.e. of two or more storeys or any

building with a height to eaves and a roof span of 6.0 metres or greater, or any building with suspended

structural floor panel exceeding 4.0 metres in span or any construction of a structural nature. Engineers-in-

charge are therefore requested to prepare sufficient endorsed design calculations to establish the form and size

of all the principal elements including the foundations. The nomenclature of the elements used in the

calculations should be the same as that used in the drawings. However, there are some key points to note.

• The Directorate of Engineering and Technical services (DETS) requests for sufficient calculations, i.e.

enough to prove the design is feasible. Serviceability checks are emphasized.

• Only the principal (critical) elements must be presented i.e. not all of the elements. The initial trial

sizings of the elements should have been carried out earlier and thus not to be included. That is, DETS

is requesting for more detail for the elements that are out of the ordinary or crucial to the design of the

building.

• Finally, principal elements that are often specifically cited are the foundations, so Engineers-in-charge

should ensure these are included.

Note: For high rise structures (above 5 storeys), lateral loads analysis and design calculations are a

requirement.

DIRECTORATE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

Principal (critical) elements

The following is a list of structural members that could be considered to be principal elements. It may not be an

exhaustive list and for some buildings some elements might not apply:

• Stability system (including assessment of the loads)

• Foundations (including assessment of the combined effects of gravitational and lateral loads, ground-bearing capacity and specification of materials in aggressive ground). The inclusion of lateral loads effects is a requirement for high rise structures.

• Design to resist uplift of structure due to high ground water level

• Piles

• Basement walls

• Retaining walls

• Basement slabs – particularly in the area resisting uplift or heave

• Transfer beams

• Columns

• Slabs

• Mezzanine floors

• Cladding supports

• Curved beams

• Deep beams

• Wide beams

• Roof structures, particularly where they support heavy loads or sensitive equipment (e.g. swimming pools, water tanks or specialist plant)

c) GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION REPORT

In the case of buildings with two or more floors, or a building with a clear span of or exceeding 6.0 metres, or a

building with heavily loaded foundations, the DETS shall require a geotechnical investigation report to be

submitted by the engineer in addition to the requirements set out in sub-article 3.1.1.1 (d) of the Building Control

Regulations.

d) STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY REPORT

A Structural Integrity (SI) report is compulsory for all storeyed buildings that require extension, addition or

modification of an existing structure. The SI report will help to validate the suitability of the structure with regard

to any proposed modification to its stability system. An SI certification form should be duly filled and signed by a

registered and practicing Engineer.

DIRECTORATE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

e) EXCAVATION PLAN

Any excavation exceeding 3 meters below the original ground level or in situations where special

geotechnical considerations are existent, shall be designed by an engineer.

Note: It is good practice for Engineers-in-charge to list the key elements they intend to design before

they undertake any of the calculations. This can be presented in form of a table of contents with pagination.