Manual for Concealment of

Services on Building Rooftops

Version 2.0 - 2022
 MANDATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
MUNICIPALITIES AND TRANSPORT

The Department of Municipalities and Transport was established by Law No. 30 of 2019, and its main
priorities are to realize the vision of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United
Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, which draws on the vision of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to embrace progress by placing great value on the importance of
pursuing development in line with both the needs of present and future generations and the community
in general.

The authority embodies the values of good governance, driven by the needs of the community it serves
and working with a passion to accomplish its aims. The Department focuses on finding the most effective
means of providing essential, modern, responsive and comprehensive municipal services across three
regional municipalities, and supports Abu Dhabi’s global position as a leader in innovation-led urban
planning and transportation, as part of the Abu Dhabi government’s commitment to maintaining the
highest standards to the benefit of all citizens and residents of the emirate.

The DMT is responsible for continually investing in the development of better infrastructure, facilities
and transportation sectors within the emirate, guiding, regulating and monitoring urban development to
enhance Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a world-class destination to live, work and visit.

The DMT also ensures the highest standards of safety, security, sustainability and technological devel-
opment of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s land, air and maritime transport networks, in accordance with the
highest international standards and the UAE’s legislation with the objective of being the region’s connec-
tion to the world.

The Department’s aspirations are driven by the simple proposition of innovating and building sustainable
smart cities, fostering a capacity to change and adapt in order to maintain excellence in services and
sustaining prosperity for future generations, allowing the entire Abu Dhabi community to reach their full
potential.

For more information about DMT’s recent updates, follow us on:

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Table of Content
A. Introduction 9

1. Objective 11
2. Users of the Manual 11
3. Applicability 11
4. Regulatory Language 11
5. Additional Regulations 11
B. Design Regulations 13

1. Policy Regulations 14
2. General Design Regulations - Existing Buildings 15
3. General Design Regulations - New Buildings 15
4. Main Methods of Concealment 16
C. Improvements of Existing Buildings 19

1. Types of Improvements on Existing Buildings 20

2. List of Mechanical Equipment 21

6 Department of Municipalities and Transport I Manual for Concealment of Services on Building Rooftops
Department of Municipalities and Transport I Manual for Concealment of Services on Building Rooftops 7

A Introduction

1. Purpose of the Manual:

The Department of Municipalities and Transport has developed this manual in order to enhance the public image of
rooftops around the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This is achieved through a series of design regulations and standards that
govern the concealment of mechanical equipment and elements that are placed on the rooftops of buildings.

2. Users of the Manual:

This manual is directed towards the following stakeholders:
• Consultants (Architects, Engineers, as well as other concerned professionals)
• Developers
• Municipalities
• Clients/Property Owners (Or whoever represents them)

3. Applicability:
This Manual is applied to all existing and new buildings in the emirate of Abu Dhabi that belong to the land allocations
listed below:

Land Allocation Definition

Residential Land allocated for UAE nationals residential housing purpose.

Governmental Housing Government ready-made housing allocated to UAE nationals as beneficiaries.

Investment Land allocated for residential investment purpose.
Land allocated for mixed used purposes (Residential + Offices + Retails) and/or commer-
Commercial
cial activities.
Industrial Land allocated for investment and industrial use.
Land allocated for public and private service providers such as government agencies
Public Building
building as well as educational, health, religious, and cultural agencies’ buildings.
Land allocated for utility providers’ equipment, structures, and facilities. (Post services
Utility
and Telecommunications)

4. Regulatory Language:
Throughout the Manual, there are regulations and standards that have been established. The regulations and guidelines
in the Manual are defined using the following language:
•• SHALL and SHALL NOT are mandatory statements.
•• SHOULD and SHOULD NOT are recommended statements.
•• MAY is a permitted statement.

5. Additional Regulations:
Users of this manual shall adhere to regulations mentioned below:
•• Abu Dhabi Development Codes.
•• Abu Dhabi International Building Code.
•• Local Fire and Safety Codes and Regulations.
 8 Department of Municipalities and Transport I Manual for Concealment of Services on Building Rooftops

B Design Regulations

General Regulations:
1. All unused equipment shall be removed from rooftops of building as well as building façades.
2. Rooftops of buildings shall be maintained and kept in a clean and hygienic condition on a regular basis.
3. Air intake pipes that extend to the rooftops of buildings shall be painted in a color that is suitable to that of the
building.
4. Passageways that do not exceed the maximum allowed height shall be provided between concealment elements
in order to allow for maintenance.
5. Mechanical equipment and elements placed on rooftops of buildings shall be concealed via innovative design
methods or one of the treatment methods (Table-1), and that is as per the state of the building and the advisement
of the concerned municipality.
6. Telecommunication poles and satellite dishes on rooftops of buildings shall be concealed separately and differently.
7. Materials or goods shall not be stored on the rooftops of buildings.
8. Residential units shall not be built on rooftops of buildings (except for locations where the development codes of
the Emirate of Abu Dhabi allow).
9. Electrical conduits and extensions shall not be exposed from the rooftop of buildings and residential units.
10. The top roof in residential villas may be used to place mechanical services on the following conditions:
• Concealment methods shall be used within the allowed height for the building.
• Access to the top roof shall be provided while taking the façade’s aesthetic quality into consideration.

Example - 1: Rooftops of buildings in Abu Dhabi City and their compliance/non-compliance with the design regulations

Electrical conduits and extensions shall not be exposed
from the rooftop of buildings and residential units.
All unused mechanical equipment shall be removed from
rooftops of building as well as building façades.
Mechanical equipment and elements placed on rooftops
of buildings shall be concealed via innovative design
methods or one of the treatment methods (Table-1),
and that is as per the state of the building and what the
relevant municipality decides.
Telecommunication poles and satellite dishes on rooftops
of buildings shall be concealed separately and differently.
Electrical conduits and extensions shall not be exposed
from the rooftop of buildings and residential units.
All unused mechanical equipment shall be removed from
rooftops of building as well as building façades.
Mechanical equipment and elements placed on rooftops
of buildings shall be concealed via innovative design
methods or one of the treatment methods (Table-1),
and that is as per the state of the building and what the
relevant municipality decides.
Telecommunication poles and satellite dishes on rooftops
of buildings shall be concealed separately and differently.
Department of Municipalities and Transport I Manual for Concealment of Services on Building Rooftops 9

B Design Regulations

General Design Regulations - Existing Buildings:

1. All elements of rooftops on buildings shall be treated up to the highest point on the highest element on the
building’s roof (with the exception of cranes).
2. Alternative camouflage and screening types, not mentioned in this manual, shall meet the performance requirements
of visual screening.
3. The color of all elements placed on the rooftop of buildings shall be harmonious with the color of the building.
4. Screening shall take into account the vertical and horizontal visibility and be compatible with the overall architectural
building design, textures, scale and materials.
5. Screening shall completely surround mechanical equipment while still allowing access.
6. Concealment methods can include painting of equipment, netting or other non-permanent or non-invasive
solutions.

General Design Regulations - New Buildings:

1. New buildings shall be designed with integrated screening on the rooftop. Suggested typologies are in table 1.
2. The placement of all rooftop mechanical equipment and vents shall be treated in harmony with the main building
massing and architectural design.
3. Designers shall avoid bulky rooftop massing that is out of scale and disproportionate to the overall building design.
4. The parapet of the building may also be used as a concealment method.
5. All elements of rooftops on buildings shall be treated up to the highest point on the highest element on the
building’s roof (with the exception of cranes).
6. Alternative camouflage and screening types, not mentioned in this manual, shall meet the performance requirements
of visual screening.
7. Screening shall take into account the vertical and horizontal visibility and be compatible with the overall architectural
building design, textures, scale and materials.
8. Screening shall completely surround mechanical equipment while still allowing access.
 10 Department of Municipalities and Transport I Manual for Concealment of Services on Building Rooftops

B Design Regulations

Main Methods of Concealment:

Table - 1: List of recommended concealment methods

Method Description Example

Parapet walls (upward extensions of

the wall) may be used as a screening
Parapet Walls device. However, they may not always
be of sufficient height and a secondary
screening element may be required.

Canopies are overhead roofs or

structures that provide shade on the top
of buildings. Canopy designs provide a
range of approaches, shapes and use of
Canopies materials (metal, brick tiles, ceramic tiles,
plastic, stretched canvas, etc) and colors.
Canopies may be attached to parts of the
building or be self-supported.

“Woof” is a synthesis of the words “Wall”

Woof (Wall + Roof) and “Roof”. It represents new roof forms
that emerged in the last decade.

Trellises are vertical or horizontal structures

that come in many forms and shapes and
can be built from many types of materials
Trellises (concrete, wood, metal, glass, plexi-glass,
bamboo). Trellises may be attached to
the building or self-standing.
Louvers are blinds or shutters with
horizontal or, less often, vertical slats,
that are angled to allow light and air in,
Louvers but to keep out direct light and views.
Usually 45 degree angle screens provide
sufficient view protection.
Perforated panels are decorative lattice
motifs. They can have custom designs or
Perforated be prefabricated and made of a variety
Screening Panels of materials such as colored reinforced
concrete, brick, metal mesh, perforated
or laser-cut metal, glass, or plexi-glass.
Department of Municipalities and Transport I Manual for Concealment of Services on Building Rooftops 11

B Design Regulations

Method Description Example

Colored panels provide a contemporary

Colored PC panels/ response screening and can be
Glass brick incorporated into the building design as
an architectural feature.

Environmentally Environmentally friendly measures are

used to cover equipment. Such measures
Friendly Roofs include solar panels, softscape, etc.

Utilization of rooftops for different

Active Rooftops
purposes that increase their efficiency
and provide aesthetic value. Examples of
such activities are as follows:
• Playgrounds
• Parks

Rooftops that are planted and have

Green Roofs concealment methods used to cover
equipment.

Concealment does not have to be

Setbacks of provided in the case that the mechanical
Mechanical equipment is set back a distance that
Equipment makes them no longer visible from the
street.
 12 Department of Municipalities and Transport I Manual for Concealment of Services on Building Rooftops

C Improvement of Existing Buildings

Types of Intervention on Existing Buildings:

The type and level of intervention implemented on existing buildings is determined based on the situation of the
rooftop and the decision of the relevant municipality:

•• Simple Intervention:
1. Removing unused equipment.
2. Painting equipment in a color that matches that of the building.

•• Moderate Intervention:
1. Removing unused equipment.
2. Painting equipment in a color that matches that of the building.

3. Installing appropriate screening.

•• Major Intervention:
1. Removing unused equipment.
2. Painting equipment in a color that matches that of the building.
3. Installing appropriate screening.
4. Installation of a roof on top of the screening structure.

Figure - 1: Example of the levels of intervention

Current Situation

Simple Intervention: Moderate Intervention: Major Intervention:

•• Removing unused equipment.
•• Painting equipment in a color that
matches that of the building.
•• Removing unused equipment.
•• Painting equipment in a color that
matches that of the building.
•• Installing appropriate screening.
•• Removing unused equipment.
•• Painting equipment in a color that
matches that of the building.
•• Installing appropriate screening.
•• Installation of a roof on top of the
screening structure.
Department of Municipalities and Transport I Manual for Concealment of Services on Building Rooftops 13

C Improvement of Existing Buildings

List of Mechanical Equipment on Rooftops of Buildings:

Table - 2: List and heights of elements that are located on rooftops of buildings

Mechanical Equipment Coverable Non-Coverable Semi-Coverable Estimated Heights

Air Conditioning

Chillers 3.0 meters

Cooling Units 2.5 meters

Cooling Pumps 2.0 meters

Electricity Rooms 3.0 meters

Air Handling Units 2.5 meters

Fans 2.0 meters

Plumbing

Water Tanks 2.0 meters

Water Pumps and Filters 2.0 meters

Solar Panels 2.0 meters

Fans for Drainage

2.0 meters
Network

Gas

Central Gas Tanks 2.0 meters

Gas Pipe Network 1.0 meters