Abu Dhabis New Building Codes:

Underpinning Sustainable
Development

Big 5, 2012
1

The DMA
4 entities, DMA, Abu Dhabi
Municipality, Al Ain Municipality,
Western Region Municipality
Staff of 4000+
DMA develops strategy, policy and
regulations.
Municipalities are the
implementation arm.

DMAs Vision & Mission

Vision
An advanced municipal system that enables sustainable development
and enhances quality of living for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Mission
To achieve the Abu Dhabi Governments objective of providing distinctive
municipal services that enhance the quality of living of all residents
through coordination, oversight and monitoring of the Abu Dhabi
Municipalities and Municipal Councils

In 2006 the government underwent a restructure to create a

decentralized model..

of specialist departments with specific functions

DMA is providing the integrated framework to enable the

development of sustainable cities, with an enhanced quality of
life

Commitment towards creating cities

that are economically, socially and
ecologically sustainable.
Collaborate with other government
agencies.
Develop laws and regulations.
Develop municipal governance
frameworks.
Support the Municipal System deliver
quality services
Developing relationships with the public,
private & third sectors

through an advanced Municipal System

By integrating the regulations and
policies of all government agencies the
DMA can demonstrate to the world that
the Emirate has a comprehensive
regulatory framework in place befitting
a 21st Century economy

HE Ahmed Shareef-DMA Undersecretary2009 Sustainability Report

and the Municipal Code regulatory framework

Municipal Code

Environmental
Protection

Urban
Development

Property, Building
and Construction

Public
Infrastructure

Public Health
and Safety

Traffic and
Parking

Licensing &
Fair Trade

Urban Planning,
Land Use and
Zoning

Construction

Roadways and
Sidewalks

Animal Control

Traffic Control

General Licensing

Noise Pollution

City Image

Property
Ownership and
Lease

Water Supply

Food Safety

Parking Control

Waste Disposal,
Littering

Signs and
Billboards

Promotion of
Public Health

Vehicles Control

Water

Licensing of
Events and
Facilities

Air Pollution

Fair Trade

Community
Services

Public Order
and Security

Administration
& Operations

Public Housing
and Land for
Citizens and

Emergency
Preparedness and
Response

Rules
Governing Code

Mortuary
Services

Public Order

Administration
and Personnel

Libraries

Administrative
Guidelines

Tents for
Weddings and
Occasions

Finance,
Procurement, &
Contracting

Environmental
Reporting and
Disclosure

Relation to other
Laws,
Regulations

Main Responsibility for Regulation

Dept. of Economic
Development

DMA &
Municipalities

ADFCA

ADWEA

DOT
/ Municipality

DED / Health
Dept / Tourism
Auth. / Municipality

EAD

DOT and
Abu Dhabi Police

UPC
And Municipality

Centre of
Waste
Management

DOF

EAD / Municipality

Regulating the construction sector is the Abu Dhabi International

Building Code.

The Abu Dhabi International Building Codeimproving quality

of life and quality of construction by addressing

Durability
Life safety & accessibility
Interior environment (ventilation & daylighting)
Structural design & inspection
Materials-durability and combustibility & ecological
impact (cement replacement)
Flood resistance

10

The Abu Dhabi International Mechanical Codeimproving indoor air

quality, reducing CO2 emissions and protecting the ozone layer
through.
Prescribed minimum outdoor air %,
Minimum ventilation rates to protect
occupant health,
Design of ductwork to promote efficiency
(insulation, leakage)
Zone and air distribution effectiveness,
Minimum car park ventilation rates,
Exhaust systems,
Refrigerant classifications,
Thermal storage & ground source heat
pump systems

11

The Abu Dhabi International Property Maintenance Code, the

vehicle for all sustainability programmes for existing buildings..

12

The Abu Dhabi International Energy Conservation Code is central

to reducing the carbon dioxide emissions from the new and
existing buildings.

Energy density targets- UN targets for

extremely hot climates (Kuwait, Riyadh,
Calcutta, Hong Kong) of 132kWh/m2/pa
for residential & 96kWh/m2/pa for
commercial are achievable.

13

the UAE has a number of codes that relate to buildings but no

official energy conservation code per se

14

..as part of the adaption process DMA benchmarked the IECC

against international standards to ensure these minimum
standards where achievable .at a stretch.....
IECC- 2006

Badrah

Nick L Germany

U value roof

0.28

0.15

U values walls

0.87

0.25 0.33 (R3)

Fenestration U value

4.32

Window frame U value

SHGC

0.25-0.4

Max % Fenestration

0.25

Part L

ASHRAE 90.1-2007
Climate 2

0.25

EGBC

Masdar

0.27

0.35 0.857 (non res) 0.7 (res)

1.6

2.1

0.2

0.2

2.2 3.97-4.26 (metal frame)

0.27 0.25-0.4

UN-H3 Decree
Zone
66 Estidama

0.12

1.5

0.44

0.25

1.5

0.57

1-1.2(office)

0.25

0.23-0.27

40

0.35-0.4
30

25

25-27
24 summer

Set point temp

24-26

Infiltration

5.5m3/hr/m2 @50Pa

KWH/m2/pa-Residential Villa
KWH/m2/pa-Residential
Apartment

5.0m3/hr/m2
@50Pa

0.02-0.03 at
4pa

95
85

70

132

KWH/m2/pa-Office

70

96

KWH/m2/pa-Large Public Bldg

70

108

Lighting efficinecy lm/W

0.51

2.7 2.1-3.28

60

45

70

15

16

Table Of Contents

CHAPTER 1 ADMINISTRATION
PART 1SCOPE AND APPLICATION
Section101 Scope and General Requirements
102 Alternate Materials- Method of Construction,
Design or Insulating Systems

PART 2ADMINISTRATION AND

ENFORCEMENT
103 Construction Documents
104 Inspections
105 Validity
106 Reference Standards
107 Fees
108 Stop Work Order
109 Board of Appeal
CHAPTER 2 DEFINITIONS
Section 201 General
202 General Definitions

CHAPTER 4 RESIDENTIAL ENERGY

EFFICIENCY
Section 401 General
402 Building Thermal Envelope
403 Systems
404 Electrical Power and Lighting Systems
405 Simulated Performance Alternative.
CHAPTER 5 COMMERCIAL ENERGY
EFFICIENCY

Section 501 General

502 Building Envelope Requirements
503 Building Mechanical Systems
504 Service Water Heating
505 Electrical Power and Lighting Systems
506 Additional Efficiency Package Options
507 Total Building Performance

CHAPTER 3 GENERAL REGULATIONS

Section 301 Climate Zones
302 Design Conditions .

303 Materials, Systems and Equipment

CHAPTER 6 REFERENCE STANDARDS

INDEX

17

General Regulations -Section 301- Climate Zones

Zone 1 classification is 5000< CDD 10C

UAE has 6254 annual cooling degree-days (10C baseline)

AND THEREFORE IS CLASSIFIED ZONE 1

Warm-humid DefinitionMoist (A) locations where either

of the following wet-bulb temperature conditions shall
occur during the warmest six consecutive months of the
year:
67F (19.4C) or higher for 3,000 or more hours; or
2. 73F (22.8C) or higher for 1,500 or more hours
DATA SHOWS ABU DHABI IS NOT CONSIDERED WARM &
HUMID TO (A) CLASSIFICATION

18

Section 302- Design Conditions

302.1 Interior design conditions. The interior design
temperatures used for heating and cooling load calculations
shall be a maximum of 72F (22C) for heating and minimum
of 75F (24C) for cooling with a relative humidity of 50 5%.

19

Chapter 5- COMMERCIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Section 501- General
501.2 Application.
(Prescriptive Route)
The commercial building project shall comply with the requirements
in section 502 (Building Envelope) , 503 (Mechanical Systems) , 504
(Service Hot Water ) and 505 (Electrical Power & Lighting) in its
entirety and one of the additional options as presented in Section
506 (Additional Efficiency Options).
(Performance Route)
As an alternative the commercial building project shall exceed by at
least 25% the requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1- 2007,
Section 11 in its entirety.
Exceptions:
(Hybrid Route)
Buildings conforming to Section 507 (Total Systems Performance)
provided Sections 502.4 (Air leakage) ,503.2 (Mechanical Systems),
504 (Hot Water), 505.2 (Power & Lighting), 505.3 (Tandem Wiring),
505.4 (Exit Signs), 505.6 (Exterior Lighting) and 505.7 (Metering) are
each satisfied. Building energy cost shall be equal to or less than 85%
of the standard reference design building.
20

Section 502- Building Envelope Requirements

Element

U value (W/m2.K)

Projection
Factor (PF)*

SHGC

Insulation entirely above deck

0.22

PF<0.25

0.25

Metal buildings

0.36

0.25<PF<0.5

0.33

Attic & Other

0.19

PF>0.5

0.4

Roof

Walls Above Grade

Mass

0.33

Metal buildings

0.52

Metal framed

0.21

Wood framed & other

0.20

*The greater the projection

then more relaxed the SHGC

Fenestration (Max 30% Area)

U-value

2.21

Metal Framing
Curtain Wall/ storefront

2.10

Entrance Door

2.80
21

Section 502.4- Air Leakage

502.4.1 Air Barriers- The building thermal envelope shall be
constructed with a continuous air barrier to control air
leakage into and out of conditioned space.
502.4.1.2.1 Materials- Individual materials to have an air
permeability not to exceed 0.2L/s.m2 at 75 Pa
502.4.1.2.3 Building Test - The completed the building shall
be tested and the air leakage rate of the building envelope
shall not exceed 2.0 L/s/m2 at 75 Pa (7.2 m3/hr @ 75 Pa)
502.4.5.2 Outdoor Intakes & Exhausts- to have class A
motorized dampers with maximum leakage of 5.1L/s/m3
@1250 Pa Exception: Gravity dampers with leakage rate of
34L/s/m3 at 1250 Pa when intake or exhaust doesnt
exceed 300 cfm.
502.4.8 Recessing Lighting- to have a maximum air leakage
rate of 0.944 L/s at 75 Pa
22

Section 503- Building Mechanical Systems- (ADIMC)

503.1 General- Mechanical systems are classified into simple and complex
systems.
503.2.1- Calculation of heating & cooling loads-In accordance with
ASHRAE 183.
503.2.2 Equipment & systems sizing- shall not exceed the loads calculated
using ASHRAE 183- Exception- 1. Standby equipment and 2. Multiple
units of the same equipment type providing there are controls to
sequence operation of each unit based on load.
503.2.3 HVAC equipment performance requirements- Energy efficiency
ratings at Full load & IPLV for a variety of simple & complex systems
including:
A/C Air cooled- split/packages
A/C Water cooled- splits /packages/centrifugal/reciprocating/absorption
(single, double effect, gas fired)
A/C Groundwater cooled23

Section 503.2.4- HVAC systems controls

503.2.4.1 Thermostatic controls one per
thermal zone including humidity control .
Exception: Independent perimeter systems.

503.2.4.2 Set-point overlap restrictionwhere used to control heating & cooling

thermostatic controls shall provide a
temperature range (dead band) of at least 2.8
deg C within which the supply of heating
/cooling to the zone can be shut off or
reduced to a minimum.
503.2.4.3.2 Automatic setback & shutdown
capabilities-

503.2.4.3.3 Automatic start capabilities503.2.4.4- Shut off damper controls 24

Section 503.2.5 Ventilation- (ADIMC)

503.2.5.1 Demand control ventilationrequired for spaces larger than 50m2 with
an occupancy of 40 people per 93m2

503.2.6 Energy recovery ventilation

system- each fan system shall have an
energy recovery system to recover at least
50% of the difference between the indoor
and outdoor air enthalpies. Excludes:
Laboratory fume systems and other
system s that use coils wrapped around
the cooling coil for dehumidification.

25

Section 503.2.7 Duct & Plenum Insulation & Sealing

503.2.7.1.1 Medium pressure duct systemsInsulation-R-5 insulation when located in
unconditioned spaces and R- 8 when located
outside the building
Sealing-all joints, seams and connections operating
at a static pressure <746 Pa shall be securely
fastened and sealed with welds , gaskets, mastics or
tapes in accordance with a manufacturers
instructions.
503.2.7.1.3 High pressure duct systems Insulation- (Same as medium pressure).
Sealing-operating at > 746 Pa shall be tested in
accordance with the SMACNA (Sheet Metal and A/C
contractors National Assoc.) HVAV Air Duct Leakage
Test Manual. Evidence to be shown that 25% of the
duct area has been tested.

26

Section 503.2.9 Mechanical System Commissioning

503.2.9.1.1 Commissioning plan -detailed explanation of the
equipment & systems to be tested, measurable criteria for acceptable
performance etc.
503.2.9.1.2 Systems adjusting & balancing- air and water flow rates
shall be measured and adjusted to within 10% of design rates. Air
systems balancing in accordance with ADIMC .
503.2.9.1.3 Equipment functional performance testing- demonstrate
correct installation & operation of systems components.
503.2.9.1.3.2 Controls functional performance- HVAC controls to be
tested to ensure they are calibrated and operate in sequence.
503.2.9.1.4 Preliminary commissioning report- reqd. for completion

503.2.9.3.2 Manuals - operating and maintenance manual

503.2.9.3.4 Final commissioning report- to include results from
functional performance test, deficiencies found during testing and test
procedure

27

Section 503.2.10 Air system design and control- RIGHTSIZING FANS

503.2.10.1 Allowable fan horsepower- each
HVAC systems fan horsepower (hp) is to be
designed in accordance with the ADIECC
criteria;

hp< CFM (air )*0.0015 (assuming variable

volume)
503.2.9.1.2 Motor nameplate horsepower- the
selected fan motor shall be no larger than the
first available motor size greater than the
breaking horse power.

28

Section 503.4 Complex HVAC Systems & Equipment

503.4.2 Variable Air Volume (VAV) fan controlIndividual fans with >5.6kW (7.5hp) shall have:
1. Variable speed drive
2. Driven by a vane-axial fan with variable pitch
3. Controls to ensure that the fan motor demand
is no more than 30% of design wattage at 50%
airflow rate.
4. Static pressure sensors in ductwork
503.4.4- Heat rejection equipment fan speed
control- fans >5.6kW shall have the capacity to
operate at <2/3 of full speed +controls that
automatically change the fan speed to control the
heat rejection process.
503.4.6 Heat recovery for service hot water
heating- for facilities operating 24 hours where
heat rejection is 6 Million Btu/hr and service water
load > 1 Million Btu/hr
29

Section 504 - SERVICE WATER HEATING

504.2 Service water heating equipment performance
efficiency- for the following systems:

Water heaters (electric)

Storage water heaters (gas)
Instantaneous water heaters (gas)
Hot water supply boilers (gas)
Heat pump pool heaters

504.3 Temperature controls- set-point of 43deg C for

dwelling units.
504.6 Hot water systems controls- automatic circulating hot
water systems to be turned off when the system is not in
operation.

30

Section 505 ELECTRIC POWER & LIGHTING SYSTEMS

505.1 General -covers lighting systems controls ,
maximum lighting power etc.
Exception: 1. Where 75% of light fixtures within a
dwelling are fitted with high efficacy lamps ( >60
lumens/watt) or
2. Low voltage lighting is used.
505.2.2.1 Light reduction controls- allow occupant
to reduce intensity level by at least 50%.

505.2.2.2 Daylight zone control- (Daylight zone

definition-Depth 4.572m deep , Width = window
width +610mm each side) - Maximum 232m2 allowed to be controlled by a single device.
505.2.2.3 Automatic daylight controls- shut off
lighting using either:
1. Occupancy sensors,
2. Time clocks , or
3. Automatic daylight sensors zones
31

Section 505.5- Interior lighting power requirements

LIGHTING POWER DENSITY
Whole Building
Building Area Type

Space by Space
(W/ft2)

Active Storage

0.8

Atrium First Three Floors

0.6

Atrium Each Additional Floor

Automotive

Facility

0.2
0.9

Classroom/lecture/training

1.3

Conference/Meeting/Multipurpose

1.1

Corridor/Transition

0.5

Electrical/Mechanical

1.1

Food Preparation

1.2

Inactive Storage

0.2

Lobby

1.1

Restroom

0.8

Stairway

0.6

CONVENTION CENTER

1.2

Exhibit Space

1.3

Audience/Seating Area

0.9

COURTHOUSE

0.9

Courtroom

1.9

Connement Cells

0.9

Judges Chambers

1.3

Dressing/Locker/Fitting Room

0.6
1.3

Lounge/Leisure Dining
1.4

DINING: FAMILY

1.6

Dining

1.4

Kitchen

1.2
1

Living Quarters

1.1

Bedroom

0.5

Study Hall

1.4

EXERCISE CENTER

Dressing/Locker/Fitting Room

0.6

Audience/Seating Area

0.3

Exercise Area

0.9

Exercise Area/Gymnasium
GYMNASIUM

0.9
1.1

Dressing/Locker/Fitting Room

0.6

Audience/Seating Area

0.4

Playing Area

1.4

Exercise Area
HEALTHCARE CLINIC
Corridors w/patient waiting, exam

0.9
1

9.68

COURTHOUSE

12.91

DINING: LOUNGE/LEISURE

14.00

DINING: CAFE

15.07

DINING: FAMILY

17.22

DORMITORY

10.76

EXERCISE CENTRE

10.76

GYMNASIUM

11.84

HEALTHCARE CLINIC

10.76

HOTEL

10.76

LIBRARY

14.00

MANUFACTURING FACILITY

14.00

MUSEUM etc

11.84

Exam/Treatment

1.5

Emergency

2.7

Public & Staff Lounge

0.8

Hospital/Medical supplies

1.4

Hospital - Nursery

0.6

Nurse station

CONVENTION CENTRE

1.4

DINING: CAFETERIA/FAST FOOD

DORMITORY

W/m2

1.2

Audience/Seating Area

DINING: BAR LOUNGE/LEISURE

WHOLE BUILDING

Physical therapy

0.9

Patient Room

0.7

Pharmacy

1.2

Hospital/Radiology

0.4

Operating Room

2.2

Recovery

0.8

Active storage

0.9

32

Section 505.6 Exterior Lighting Zones

LIGHTING ZONE
1

2
3
4

DESCRIPTION
Developed areas of national parks, state parks,
forest land, and rural areas
Areas predominantly consisting of residential
zoning, neighborhood business districts, light
industrial with limited nighttime use and
residential mixed use areas
All other areas
High-activity commercial districts in major
metropolitan areas as designated by the local
land use planning authority

33

Section 505.6- Power Allowances for Building Exteriors

Base Site Allowance
(Base allowance may be used in
tradable or non tradable surfaces.)

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

500 W

600 W

750 W

1300 W

0.10 W/ft2

0.13 W/ft2

Uncovered Parking Areas

Parking areas and
drives

0.04

W/ft2

0.06 W/ft2

Building Grounds

Tradable Surfaces
(Lighting power densities for uncovered
parking areas, building grounds,
building entrances and exits, canopies
and overhangs and outdoor sales areas
may be traded.)

Walkways less than

10 feet wide
Walkways 10 feet
wide
or greater, plaza areas
special feature areas
Stairways
Pedestrian tunnels

0.7 W/linear foot

0.7 W/linear foot

0.8 W/linear foot

1.0 W/linear foot

0.14 W/ft2

0.14 W/ft2

0.16 W/ft2

0.2 W/ft2

0.75 W/ft2
0.15 W/ft2

1.0 W/ft2
0.15 W/ft2

1.0 W/ft2
0.2 W/ft2

1.0 W/ft2
0.3 W/ft2

30 W/linear foot
of door width
20 W/linear foot
of door width
0.4 W/ft2

30 W/linear foot
of door width
20 W/linear foot
of door width
0.4 W/ft2

0.8 W/ft2

1.0 W/ft2

Building Entrances and Exits

Main entries
Other doors
Entry canopies

20 W/linear foot
of door width
20 W/linear foot
of door width
0.25 W/ft2

20 W/linear foot
of door width
20 W/linear foot
of door width
0.25 W/ft2

Sales Canopies
Free-standing and
attached

W/ft2

0.6 W/ft2

0.25 W/ft2

0.25 W/ft2

0.5 W/ft2

0.7 W/ft2

No allowance

10 W/linear foot

10 W/linear foot

30 W/linear foot

0.6

Outdoor Sales
Open areas (including
vehicle sales lots)
Street frontage for
vehicle sales lots in
addition to "open area"
allowance
Building facades

Non tradable Surfaces

(Lighting power density calculations for
the following applications can be used
only for the specific application and
cannot be traded between surfaces or
with other exterior lighting. The
following allowances are in addition to
any allowance otherwise permitted in
the "Tradable Surfaces" section of this
table.)

Automated teller
machines and night
depositories
Entrances and
gatehouse inspection
stations at guarded
facilities
Loading areas for law
enforcement, fire,
ambulance and other
emergency service
vehicles
Drive-up
windows/doors

Parking near
24-hour
retail

0.1 W/ft2 for each illuminated 0.15 W/ft2 for each illuminated 0.2 W/ft2 for each illuminated
wall or surface or 2.5 W/linear wall or surface or 3.75 W/linear wall or surface or 5.0 W/linear
No allowance
foot for each illuminated wall or foot for each illuminated wall or foot for each illuminated wall or
surface length
surface length
surface length
270 W per location plus 90 W 270 W per location plus 90 W
270 W per location plus 90 W
270 W per location plus 90 W
per additional
per additional
per additional
per additional
ATM per location
ATM per location
ATM per location
ATM per location
0.75 W/ft2 of covered
and uncovered area

0.75 W/ft2 of covered

and uncovered area

0.75 W/ft2 of covered

and uncovered area

0.75 W/ft2 of covered

and uncovered area

0.5 W/ft2 of covered

and uncovered area

0.5 W/ft2 of covered

and uncovered area

0.5 W/ft2 of covered

and uncovered area

0.5 W/ft2 of covered

and uncovered area

400 W per drive-through

400 W per drive-through

400 W per drive-through

400 W per drive-through

800 W per main

entry

800 W per main

entry

800 W per main

entry

800 W per main

entry

34

Section 506 ADDITIONAL EFFICIENCY PACKAGE OPTIONS

506.1 Requirements. Buildings shall comply with at least one of the
following:
a. 506.2 Efficient Mechanical Equipment

b. 506.3 Efficient Lighting System Requirement

c. 506.4 On-Site Supply of Renewable Energy

35

Section 506.2- Efficient Mechanical Equipment

Equipment Type

Size

Unit

Full Load IPLV

Section
Section
503
503

Full Load IPLV

Section
Section
506
506

Water cooled
centrifugal chiller

> 600 T

kW/T

0.57

0.55

0.539

0.51

36

Section 506.3- Efficient Lighting System Requirements

Facility

Whole building
W/m2
Section 505

Whole building
W/m2
Section 506

Healthcare Clinic

10.76

9.58

37

Section 506.4- Renewable Energy

506.4 On-site Supply of Renewable Energy- The building or
surrounding property shall supply 3% or more of building energy
use with on-site renewable energy.
On-site power generation using nonrenewable sources does not
meet this requirement.

38

Section 507- Total Building Performance

507.1 Scope- The following systems and loads shall be used to calculate the
total building performance:

Cooling systems
Heating systems
Service water heating
Fan systems
Lighting power
Receptacle loads
Process loads

507.2 Mandatory requirement- compliance with the following sections:

502.4- Air leakage
503.2-Provisions applicable to all mechanical systems
(calculation of cooling loads, equipment sizing ASHRAE 183)
504-Service hot water heating
505- Electrical power & lighting systems

39

Thank You

40