The most appropriate building control system for Maldives

Abstract

To date, Maldives has had few building regulations. But recent developments particularly related to the urbanisation of Male', the capital, and the rapid expansion of the tourist industry have led the Maldivian government to recognise the need for a building control system. A draft proposal called the Building Code of Maldives, was developed in 1996 which has not yet been enacted. This research scrutinises this draft proposal, seeks to establish its strengths and weaknesses, aims to address the weaknesses, enhance the strengths and suggest the most appropriate building control system for the particular situation found in Maldives. This study carries out a detailed investigation into the conditions in the Maldives to determine the specific needs and how building control concepts can be customised to suit the local needs. This research examines a number of examples of common types of building control systems around the world to identify possible options and approaches. The research concludes that there is a need to control building work in Maldives but the need is not very strong in the rural residential sector. It is found that the building control system must be clear, simple, effective, efficient, affordable and practical. The study concludes that the system would need: a clear hierarchy of control documents to be established; the establishment of a single, national, centralised authority to manage and enforce building controls; greater private sector involvement in Code vetting and enforcement; the establishment of a clear and simple performance-based code; the implementation of a national Building Code, but one which excludes owner-occupied rural dwellings from code compliance; and to institute a fee charging system which would make the system self funding. The study finds that the proposed Building Code of Maldives (BCM) could be improved significantly by incorporating the suggested changes. These changes could be integrated into the BCM relatively easily and quickly, as it uses most of the provisions in the BCM with little or no changes.