Kuwait Building Code

Draft Contents 24.08.2015

1. Scope and Application

1.1 General

1.2 Applicability

2. Administration and Enforcement

2.1 Floor and Roof Design Loads

2.2 Temporary Structures and Uses

2.3 Service Utilities

3. Definitions

3.1 General

3.2 Definitions

4. Use and Occupancy Classification

4.1 General

4.2 Classification

4.3 Assembly Group A

4.4 Business Group B

4.5 Educational Group E

4.6 Factory Group F

4.7 High-Hazard Group H

4.8 Institutional Group I

4.9 Mercantile Group M

4.10 Residential Group R

4.11 Storage Group S

5. Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy

5.1 Scope

5.2 Covered Mall and Open Mall Buildings

 5.3 High-rise Buildings

5.4 Atriums

5.5 Underground Buildings

5.6 Motor-vehicle-related Occupancies

5.7 Group I-2

5.8 Group I-3

5.9 Motion Picture Projection Rooms

5.10 Stages, Platforms and Technical Production Areas

5.11 Special Amusement Buildings

5.12 Aircraft-related Occupancies

5.13 Combustible Storage

5.14 Hazardous Materials

5.15 Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 and H-5

5.16 Application of Flammable Finishes

5.17 Drying Rooms

5.18 Organic Coatings

5.19 Live/work Units

5.20 Groups I-I, R-1, R-2, R-3

5.21 Hydrogen Cutoff Rooms

5.22 Ambulatory Care Facilities

5.23 Storm Shelters

5.24 Children’s Play Structures

6. General Building Heights and Areas

6.1 General

6.2 Definitions

6.3 General Building Height and Area Limitations

6.4 Building Height

6.5 Mezzanines and Equipment Platforms

 6.6 Building Area Modifications

6.7 Unlimited Area Buildings

6.8 Mixed Use and Occupancy

6.9 Incidental Uses

6.10 Special Provisions

7. Interior Finishes

7.1 General

7.2 Definitions

7.3 Wall and Ceiling Finishes

7.4 Interior Floor Finish

7.5 Combustible Materials in Types I and II Construction

7.6 Decorative Materials and Trim

7.7 Insulation

7.8 Acoustical Ceiling Systems

8. Means of Egress

8.1 Administration

8.2 Definitions

8.3 General Means of Egress

8.4 Occupant Load

8.5 Means of Egress Sizing

8.6 Means of Egress Illumination

8.7 Accessible Means of Egress

8.8 Doors, Gates and Turnstiles

8.9 Stairways

8.10 Ramps

8.11 Exit Signs

8.12 Handrails

8.13 Guards
 8.14 Exit Access

8.15 Exit and Exit Access Doorways

8.16 Exit Access Travel Distance

8.17 Aisles

8.18 Corridors

8.19 Egress Balconies

8.20 Exits

8.21 Number of Exits and Exit Configuration

8.22 Interior Exit Stairways and Ramps

8.23 Exit Passageways

8.24 Luminous Egress Path Markings

8.25 Horizontal Exits

8.26 Exterior Exit Stairways and Ramps

8.27 Exit Discharge

8.28 Assembly

8.29 Emergency Escape and Rescue

9. Accessibility

9.1 General

9.2 Definitions

9.3 Scoping Requirements

9.4 Accessible Route

9.5 Accessible Entrances

9.6 Parking and Passenger Loading Facilities

9.7 Dwelling Units and Sleeping Units

9.8 Special Occupancies

9.9 Other Features and Facilities

9.10 Signage
10. Interior Environment

10.1 General

10.2 Definitions

10.3 Ventilation

10.4 Temperature Control

10.5 Lighting

10.6 Yards or Courts

10.7 Sound Transmission

10.8 Interior Space Dimensions

10.9 Access to Unoccupied Spaces

10.10 Toilet and Bathroom Requirements

11. Types of Construction

11.1 General

11.2 Construction Classification

11.3 Combustible Material in Type I and II Construction

11.4 Exterior Walls

11.4.1 Definitions
11.4.2 Performance Requirements
11.4.3 Materials
11.4.4 Installation of Wall Coverings
11.4.5 Combustible Materials on the Exterior Side of Exterior Walls
11.4.6 Metal Composite Materials (MCM)
11.4.7 Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS)
11.4.8 High-pressure Decorative Exterior –grade Compact Laminates (HPL)

11.5 Roof Assemblies and Rooftop Structures

11.5.1 General
11.5.2 Definitions
11.5.3 Weather Protection
11.5.4 Performance Requirements
11.5.5 Fire Classification
 11.5.6 Materials
11.5.7 Requirements for Roof Coverings
11.5.8 Roof Insulation
11.5.9 Rooftop Structures
11.5.10 Reroofing
11.5.11 Solar Photovoltaic Panels/modules

11.6 Soils and Foundations

11.6.1 Dampprooffing and Waterproofing

12. Materials & Workmanship

12.1 General

12.2 Materials

12.3 Minimum Standards and Quality

12.4 Aluminum

12.5 Masonry

12.6 Steel

12.7 Wood

12.8 Gypsum Board and Plaster

12.8.1 General
12.8.2 Definitions
12.8.3 Inspection
12.8.4 Vertical and Horizontal Assemblies
12.8.5 Shear Wall Construction
12.8.6 Gypsum Board Materials
12.8.7 Lathing and Plastering
12.8.8 Gypsum Construction
12.8.9 Gypsum Board in Showers and Water Closets
12.8.10 Lathing and Furring for Cement Plaster (Stucco)
12.8.11 Interior Plaster
12.8.12 Exterior Plaster
12.8.13 Exposed Aggregate Plaster
 12.9 Plastic

12.9.1 General
12.9.2 Definitions
12.9.3 Foam Plastic Insulation
12.9.4 Interior Finish and Trim
12.9.5 Plastic Veneer
12.9.6 Light –transmitting Plastics
12.9.7 Light-transmitting Plastic Wall Panels
12.9.8 Light-transmitting Plastic Glazing
12.9.9 Light-transmitting Plastic Roof Panels
12.9.10 Light-transmitting Plastic Skylight Glazing
12.9.11 Light-transmitting Plastic Interior Signs
12.9.12 Fiber-reinforced Polymer
12.9.13 Reflective Plastic Core Insulation

13. Glass and Glazing

13.1 General

13.2 Definitions

13.3 General Requirement of Glass

13.4 Wind, Snow, Seismic and Dead Loads on Glass

13.5 Sloped Glazing and Skylights

13.6 Safety Glazing

13.7 Glass in Handrails and Guards

13.8 Glazing in Athletic Facilities

13.9 Glass in Elevator Hoistways and Elevator Cars

14. Special Construction

14.1 General

14.2 Membrane Structures

14.3 Temporary Structures

14.4 Pedestrian Walkways and Tunnels

14.5 Awnings and Canopies

 14.6 Marquees

14.7 Sings

14.8 Telecommunication and Broadcast Towers

14.9 Swimming Pool Enclosures and Safety Devices

14.10 Automatic Vehicular Gates

15. Encroachments into the Public Right-of-way

15.1 General

15.2 Encroachments

16. Safeguards during Construction

16.1 General

16.2 Construction Safeguards

16.3 Demolition

16.4 Site Work

16.5 Sanitary

16.6 Protection of Pedestrians

16.7 Protection of Adjoining Property

16.8 Temporary Use of Streets, Alleys and Public Property

16.9 Fire Extinguishers

16.10 Means of Egress

16.11 Standpipes

16.12 Automatic Sprinkler System

16.13 Water Supply for Fire Protection

17. Existing Buildings and Structures

17.1 General

17.2 Definitions

17.3 Additions

17.4 Alternations

17.5 Repairs
 17.6 Fire Escapes

17.7 Glass Replacement

17.8 Change of Occupancy

17.9 Historic Buildings

17.10 Moved Structures

17.11 Accessibility for Existing Buildings

17.12 Compliance Alternatives

18. Referenced Standards

Appendix A- Supplementary Accessibility Requirements

A.i General

A.ii Definitions

A.iii Accessible Route

A.iv Special Occupancies

A.v Other Features and Facilities

A.vi Telephones

A.vii Signage

A.viii Bus Stops

A.ix Transportation Facilities and Stations

A.x Airports

A.xi Reference Standards

Appendix B- Rodent proofing

B.i General

Appendix C- Signs

C.i General

C.ii Definitions

C.iii Location

C.iv Identification

C.v Design and Construction

C.vi Electrical

C.vii Combustible Materials

C.viii Animated Devices

C.ix Ground Signs

C.x Roof Signs

C.xi Wall Signs

C.xii Projecting Signs

C.xiii Marquee Signs

C.xiv Portable Signs

C.xv Reference Standards