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NATIONAL STRUCTURAL CODE FOR HOUSING (NSCP 3)

Residential Structural Design Code

By:

MIRIAM LUSICA-TAMAYO, M.S.C.E., F.ASEP

ASEP Immediate Past President

WHYhouses fall down

OBJECTIVE of NSCP 3:

To come up with a housing code

which will ensure the safety of

people and property against hazards.

REALITY CHECK* There are many non-engineered houses, existing

and still being built.

* Even engineered houses are non-compliant

with prevailing building codes.

* The present National Building Code exempts

some houses from Earthquake analysis.

REALITY CHECK* NSCP Vol. 1 is deemed very stringent for houses

and therefore, not followed/observed.

* There is no strict implementation of product

standards for housing construction.

* I am building JUST A HOUSE, not a building.

REALITY CHECK* Overloading

* Experienced workers with the WRONG

experience.

And so on

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REALITY CHECK* Overloading

* Experienced workers with the WRONG

experience.

And so on

NSCP 3

1. Applicable to one- to two-family dwellings.

2. Prescriptive limits for column-spacing and floor-to-

floor heights.

3. Shall cover:

Reinforced concrete construction

Wood construction

Light gage construction

Composite construction

Alternative materials

NSCP 3

4. Simplified presentation of minimum loads

5. Minimum sizes and reinforcements for typical

cases, especially for masonry

6. Appendix:

Detailing for Earthquake-resistant structures

Detailing for Typhoon-resilient structures

Site Selection

Typical Concerns that prompt

professional service

NSCP 3 will

1. Focus on critical construction details related to

building envelope, such as correct spacing of

roof sheathing nails, adequate use of roof tie-

downs, window protection.

2. Emphasize construction quality.

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NSCP 3 will

3. Simplify wind and seismic design

requirements to a degree commensurate

with knowledge and uncertainty as to

how homes actually perform.

4. Emphasize design precautions against

locating homes in steep slopes and weak

soils.

Whybuilding codes and regulations change over the years

PURPOSE OF BUILDING CODES

For the protection of public health, safety and general welfare.

HISTORY OF BUILDING CODES

Historically building codes are very reactive in that when a problem

occurs the building codes change to ensure that the problem never

happens again.

EARLY BUILDING CODES

First Building Code: Code of Hammurabi229. If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and

the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put

to death.

230. If it kills the son of the owner, the son of that builder shall be put to death.

231. If it kills a slave of the owner, then he shall pay, slave for slave, to the owner of

the house.

232. If it ruins goods, he shall make compensation for all that has been ruined, and

inasmuch as he did not construct properly this house which he built and it fell, he

shall re-erect the house from his own means.

233. .

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EARLY BUILDING CODES

Biblical Reference: Law of MosesDeuteronomy, Chapter 22 verse 8

"In case you build a new house, you must also make a parapet for your roof, that you may not

place bloodguilt upon your house because someone falling might fall from it."

Wake-up calls

Why? Because of

1

Why? Because of

Why? Because of

NEW

Why? Because of

Research

Products

Technology

2

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Why? Because of

Why? Because of

Initiatives of

Professional

Groups

Why? Because of

3

New Laws. Amendments to

existing laws.

Why? Because of

So, how do we divide the pie?

Our LAW says

the PIE is ours!

Our LAW says

we can SHARE!

Our LAW says

the PIE is ours!

Youre all

WRONG! The PIE

is ours!

Government

initiatives

Why? Because of

4

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Department Orders.

Ordinances. Memorandum

Circulars.

Why? Because of

Hearsay: DPWH says Henceforth, Design Wind force will be

based on 300 kph

Victims of Typhoon Pablo (Dec 2012)

Benefits of a

closer look

Why? Because of

5

Typo errors,

Wrong cross-

referencing.

Missing parts,

etc.

Why? Because of

We have established the WHYs

behind the revisions of the

building codes and regulations

2

1

34

5

reasons

WAKE-UP

CALLS

NEW Research,

Products,

Technology

Initiatives of

Professional

Groups

Government

Initiatives

Benefits of a

Closer Look

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By REVISING and UPDATING the CODES,

is the SAFETY OBJECTIVE met? Is it

Guaranteed?

Not always.

By REVISING and UPDATING the CODES,

is the SAFETY OBJECTIVE met? Is it

Guaranteed?

What is needed?

COMPLIANCEby the public.

For the Codes to be effective, we need:

ENFORCEMENTby the government.

For the Codes to be effective, we need:

Compliance by

the public.

Enforcement by

the government

To be safe

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Why houses fell down

Many of those which failed are non-engineeredstructures.

Failures are due to:

1. Absence/lack of reinforcement.2. Poor quality of materials. Use of sea sand in

concrete mixes. Sub-standard CHB.3. Free-standing parapet walls.4. Small sizes of structural elements 5. Absence of lateral-force resisting system6. Soft storey (Top heavy)7. Inadequate anchorage.

To be safe

We are in the business of saving lives, not

just money.

Remember:

The best thing you can do is the

right thing;

the next best thing you can do is the

wrong thing;

the worst thing you can do is

nothing.

-Theodore Roosevelt

By changing nothing, nothing changes.

-Tony Robbins