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Building Standards Code

Should be include those chapters

  1. Accessibility standards buildings for disable community
  2. Building adaptation of Climate Change
  3. Historical building renovation for cultural protecting
  4. Construction of Landscape and land spaces assessment
  5. Conformation of Building structural design
  6. Applicability of Estimate of BoQs (Bill of Quantities)
  7. Quality Control of Construction material
  8. Urban Development Plan (Town Plan)

I.  Introduction

This policy announces a standard for new public construction or renovation projects funded by, or on behalf of, the Ministry of Public Works and Reconstruction. The policy goal is to provide access to public buildings by people with disabilities (PWDs).

The basis for this policy is firmly rooted in the Somali Constitution.  The Constitution states that human dignity is given by God, it is inviolable, and must be protected by all. The Constitution states that every citizen has the right to life, to education, and to health care.  The Constitution further states that, “all citizens, including the disabled, shall have equal rights and duties before the law.”

Referring to the UN Convention on 3, May 2008, on the rights of people living with disabilities and The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 15% percent of the people in the world live with a disability. An estimated 80 percent of these people live in developing countries. After years of conflict, experts estimate even higher numbers of people living with disabilities in Somalia, with conservative estimates of more than 1.85 million disabled Somalis.

As Somalia makes the transition from conflict to development, the nation is rebuilding.  In these early days, now is the time to develop a policy of access to public building for all citizens.

This draft policy for people living with disabilities will also promote and contribute to the global climate change and how this can also be incorporated with Somali building standard code as well.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Public Works and Reconstruction commits to incorporate accessibility standards into the new policies and Somali building standard code   which is expected to be drafted in 2017.  It will work to develop those standards in consultation with representatives of the disability community, technical, legal experts and along with other stakeholders.

II.  Policy Key Provisions

  1. Universal Design – This guidance promotes “universal design” meaning the design of structures, environments, and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
  2. Reasonable accommodation – This guidance promotes necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments, not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
  3. Inclusive Consultation Codifying Accessibility Standards – This policy recognizes the accessibility standards outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons. Consideration will also be given to other regional and international accessibility laws and regulations.  Finally this policy commits the Ministry, during the development of the accessibility laws and regulations, to do so in full consultation with all key stakeholders, in particular, the disability community.
  4. Applying the Standards – This accessibility policy shall be applied to;
    • New construction – all new construction activities will incorporate universal or accessible design in accordance with the standards stated
  • Alterations – changes to an existing structure that affects, or could affect the usability of the structure shall adhere to the standards, unless these alterations are technically infeasible and/or constitute an undue burden to the grantee or
  • Exceptions –
  • Normal maintenance, re-roofing, painting or wallpapering, or changes to mechanical or electrical systems are not alterations and, therefore, the standards do not apply unless they affect the accessibility of the building or facility.
  • Emergency construction that is temporary in nature (though the needs of people with disabilities should be included in the overall program). When the emergency situation normalizes, however, more permanent structures will follow the guidance on standards in this document.