# Presentation: 164075

## OVERVIEW OF BRAZIL BUILDING CODE REGULATION PROCESS

- NIST Standards in Trade Workshop on Concrete and Cement
- 9-13 December 2002

- [Name of Presenter]   [Title of Presenter]   [Name of Organization]

## SUBJECT

- Administration,
- Development,

**...*****related with the Regulation process for Building Codes and Standards in Brazil***

- Implementation,
- Support Services, and
- Conclusions.

## Name of Organization

- ABNT- Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (Brazilian Standards Association) develops standards in Brazil. Housing codes are developed either by Municipalities or the State Government
- Year established: 1940 (ABNT)
- Number of staff: 100 persons
- Purpose of organization: development and revision of Technical Standards
- Annual budget: US$3370 (about 30% for the preparation of Technical Standards)
- Sources of revenue: membership fees (14%), publication sales (55%), certification (23%), other sources (8%)

## Membership Composition

- Anyone can be a member of ABNT
- There are, up to now, 7 categories of membership. Costs per year are: sustaining (US$2000), organizational A (US$1200), organizational B (US$580), organizational C (US$280), small company (US$150), individual (US$75), student (US$40)
- ABNT has approximately 1280 members, but there is no need to be a member to participate in the standards development

## Codes and Standards

- Difference between a code and a standard, in Brazil
- Technical standards have a national status and must be used by all engineers and architects
- Codes are developed mainly by the municipalities and they mention the standards

## Contents of the Building Code

-  Building codes usually refer to:
- Concrete, steel, masonry, and wood construction
- Fire protection
- Mechanical, sanitation, fuel gas and plumbing
- Energy conservation
- Lighting
- Usually there are no references to seismic behavior

## DEVELOPMENT                                                       of Building Codes and Standards

- Process for the development of Building Codes and Standards in Brazil
- Who submits an initial idea or proposal?: *the society*
- How is the proposal processed?: *see next slide*
- Who votes in the process?: *ABNT members although everybody can comment and make suggestions to the document*
- Is the voting a function of the membership fees?: **no**
- How often are the building codes and standards updated?: *when required by the society*

## Process for the development of Building Codes and Standards in Brazil

**The Brazilian society asks for a new standard**

**The Brazilian Committee (CB), the Standards Branch Body (ONS), analyses and includes into the Standards Branch Program (PNS) **

**A Technical Committee (CE) is created with a voluntary participation of several segments of the society**

**The Technical Committee (CE) develops a draft standard base don a consensus of its members**

**The Draft Standard is subjected to public consultation among ABNT members and the society**

**After public consultations all suggestions are duly analyzed by the Technical Committee (CE) and the document is later approved as a Brazilian Standard**

**The Brazilian Standard is printed and can be acquired at several ABNT sales offices**

## Who participates in the development of building codes and standards

|  | YES | NO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Building Departments | X |  |
| Public works/Ministries | X |  |
| Fire Departments | X |  |
| Standard Developing Organizations |  |  |
| Professional Association | X |  |
| Professors/Universities | X |  |
| Manufacturers | X |  |
| Testing Labs | X |  |
| Independent Engineers/architects/technicians | X |  |
| Insurance Companies | X |  |
| Builders and Users | X |  |

## MODIFICATION AND ADAPTATION       of Building Codes and Standards

-  Technical standards are changed whenever it is deemed necessary by the society
-  Codes are also modified when necessary
-  Any person can trigger the revision process of a standard or a code

## ADOPTION of Building Codes and Standards

- Standards are adopted in Brazil after being confirmed through an homologation process conducted by ABNT. Their acceptance is nationwide.
-  Codes are adopted through either municipal or state laws

## ENFORCEMENT                                              of Building Codes and Standards

- PROCON (Consumer’s Protection Code) has the authority to enforce the standards and the Government enforces the Codes
- Sometimes plan-checks are performed by technical personnel from the municipalities
- Inspections are performed through technical inspectors from the municipalities

## Codes from other Countries

- The building code enforcing authority allow the use of building codes and standards from other countries once there are no Brazilian Standards related to that subject
- If multi-national companies submit structural and/or non-structural building designs based on the U.S. codes and standards the authority allow their use if there is a responsible engineer registered at the CREA (Regional Council of Engineers and Architects)

## Support Services

- The organization developing the building codes and standards, ABNT, sells publications to the public.
- Building materials from other countries for use in Brazil can be accepted if they follow the Brazilian standards and their properties fit into the required values, after tests have been done

## General Contact Information

- Headquarters of ABNT
- Address: Av. Paulista 726, 10th floor
- Phone: 55-11-3016 7070
- Fax: 55-11-3016 7040
- Website: www.abnt.org.br