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ARTICLE FOR ATTIC SUPPLEMENT IN THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

THE NEED FOR A NATIONAL BUILDING CODE FOR TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

By
Myron W. Chin, PhD, CEng, FICE, FIStructE, FAPETT
Senior Research Fellow and GEM Operational Manager for the Caribbean
Seismic Research Centre, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, TRINIDAD &
TOBAGO
INTRODUCTION
The need for a National Building Code for Trinidad & Tobago has long been recognized and
various attempts have been made to develop one over the past four decades but so far it remains
an elusive dream. Recent earthquakes such as the 12th January 2010 one in Haiti, the 27th
February 2010 one in Chile and the 22nd February 2011 one in Christchurch, New Zealand have
demonstrated in no uncertain terms that the threat of earthquakes should be taken very seriously
by all nations that are exposed to the risk.

FIGURE 1 -DEATHS FROM MAJOR EARTHQUAKES (after Lloyd Lynch)


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It can be seen from Figure 1 that the 230,000 deaths of the Haiti Mw7 earthquake resulted from
the release of elastic energy equivalent to a 2-megaton nuclear bomb, whereas the 802 deaths
from the Chile Mw8.8 earthquake were caused by energy release equivalent to a 500-megaton
bomb. The factor of 287 in the number of Haitian deaths compared to Chile was entirely due to
Port au Princes virtual absence of earthquake resistance and a lack of a proper building code.
The development and enforcement of a National Building Code is indispensable to the orderly
and safe development of a countrys built environment and, therefore, its sustainable
development. The main objectives of such a Code is the establishment of minimum
requirements for design, construction and occupancy of building structures with the aim of
protecting public health, safety and general welfare.
While it has been common knowledge that the Caribbean Islands are located near a seismically
active zone, the long return interval between devastating regional events and other prevailing
factors have combined to make it difficult for most countries of the region to establish and
sustain effective earthquake risk reduction programs. In the case of Trinidad and Tobago Figure
2 shows damaging earthquakes in terms of size, intensity chronology and locations.

Trinidad and Tobago Damaging Earthquakes


Size, Intensity, Chronology and Locations

Seismic Energy

7.8 (IX)
1766

7.4 (VI)
2007

7.3 (VIII)
1918

6.6 (VIII)
1825

1700

1750

1800

1850

7 (VII)
1888

6.7 (VIII)
1997

6.3 (VIII)
1954
6.5

6.7
5.9

1900

1950

6.2

6.1

6.3
5.3

2000

FIGURE 2 -TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO'S DAMAGING EARTHQUAKES(after Lloyd Lynch)


In the absence of earthquake risk reduction programs, population increase and economic
development over the last 50 years have taken place in such a way that earthquake risk is
currently at levels that are unacceptable. The cost, in terms of human and property losses, that a
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large to great earthquake could inflict on any Caribbean island can be extremely high and is
expected to continue to rise in the future unless concerted effort is taken to intervene by
addressing the multi-dimensional cause of earthquake risk by means of new effective initiatives.

PAST AND RECENT INITIATIVES FOR EARTHQUAKE RISK REDUCTION


Past initiatives included, inter-alia, the development of the Caribbean Uniform Building Code
(CUBiC) in 1986, a proposal for the development of a Regional Building Standard (RBS) since
2004 and recently, a proposal for developing a National Building Code for Trinidad and Tobago.
CUBiC was intended to improve and harmonize the quality of building design and construction
throughout the Caribbean. The plan was for the Governments of the individual member states of
CARICOM to adopt and enforce it but this was never realized locally, despite several attempts
by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) so to do. Some of the
reasons cited were a lack of political will as well as insufficient public awareness of its benefits.
In 2004, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) convened a meeting of key regional
stakeholders to assess the regions readiness to withstand natural disasters such as from
earthquakes and hurricanes. As a result of its findings, the Bank agreed to fund the development
of a new Regional Building Standard (RBS) based on the International Building Code (IBC) with
Caribbean Application Documents (CADs) for the various Caribbean islands. This was to be
executed by the CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ).
However, CROSQ has to date been unable to complete the RBS, the deadline for which was
April 2010.
The deadline of the RBS project has been extended by 18 months but there is skepticism and
wariness amongst local stakeholders with regards to the ability of CROSQ to complete the task
in the extended time frame. As a consequence of this, the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of
Standards (TTBS) submitted to the Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT) - now the
Ministry of Works and Infrastructure (MOWI), a proposal for developing a NBC for Trinidad
and Tobago along similar lines as this present proposal. This was done earlier this year but to
date it has not had any positive response from that Ministry.
Since the declaration of the Hyogo Framework of Action 2005-2015 and the decision by
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to implement its regional brand
of Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM), there has been a steady shift in the approach in
which disaster management is practised in the Caribbean, with gravitation towards mitigation
and preparedness, away from the traditional response. Recent initiatives such as the Global
Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the Global Earthquake Model
(GEM) have served as catalysts for regional disaster management efforts. The University of the
West Indies (UWI), through the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) is currently undertaking tasks to
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develop the earthquake risk component of a GFDRR Risk Atlas project as well as spearheading
the Caribbean Regional Programme of GEM which was launched in the Caribbean with a highly
successful three-day workshop from May 2-4, 2011 in Port of Spain, Trinidad with over 70
participants from nine Caribbean countries. Full details of the Workshop can be found at the
website of the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) www.uwiseismic.com. Arising out of this
workshop seven Working Groups (WGs) were formed to review and investigate a number of
topics within the GEMs Hazard and Risk Modules with particular reference to the Caribbean.
One of the Working Groups was charged with looking at Building Codes and the SRC under the
GEM Caribbean Regional Programme took the initiative to revive the call for the urgent
development of a National Building Code for Trinidad and Tobago and enlisted most of the
relevant stakeholders into a steering committee which prepared a proposal for the drafting of
such a Code. It was recognized that implementing mitigation measures and reducing
vulnerability were the most effective mechanisms to reduce the potentially devastating impact of
future strong and major earthquakes. Measures such as the legislation of building codes
and appropriate land use policies are most effective when applied at the planning and design
stages of projects. In order to effectively implement such mitigation measures however,
there must be a national building code in place.
BRIEF DETAILS OF PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL
BUILDING CODE (NBC) FOR TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
The proposal aims to provide for the development of a national building code and a suitable
compliance mechanism for Trinidad and Tobago and was submitted to the Minister of Housing
and Environment on 2011-08-08. It is intended for the use of engineers, architects, contractors,
builders, planners and other allied professionals to establish effective disaster risk reduction
measures for earthquakes and other types of hazards in Trinidad and Tobago. It is based on the
adoption of the International Building Code (IBC) with a Caribbean Application Document
(CAD) for Trinidad and Tobago which will include appropriate seismic hazard maps for
Trinidad and Tobago. It supports the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobagos
(GORTTs) Development Pillar of Good Governance by strengthening existing agencies
responsible for building approval institutions and making these approval requirements
transparent.
The proposed NBC project complements the current regional effort by CDB-CROSQ project in
that it is based on the same IBC with CADs which could be incorporated into the regional
document if and when it is produced. This proposal is intended to replace the one submitted by
TTBS to MOWI in the first quarter of 2011 since it has the same aims and objectives and is
achievable within a shorter time frame.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTING AGENCY, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND


PROJECT TEAMS
The project will be implemented by an appropriate Institution/Agency to be selected by the
Steering Committee to be established by GORTT. The project proposal has been prepared by the
Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad
under its Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Caribbean Regional Programme in collaboration with
a wide cross-section of stakeholders such as APETT, BOETT, TTCA, JCC, TTBS, ATTIC,
ODPM, UWI, and other professional bodies interested in the development of building codes and
standards. It should be noted that because of time constraints some of the other key stakeholders
viz: MOWI and the Ministries of Local Government, Housing and the Environment and Public
Utilities have not yet been invited to participate in this exercise.
A Steering Committee will be formed from the various stakeholders and will develop the
organizational structure for the project together with the Project Teams which are to be ratified
by the GORTT.
The project will be carried out utilizing six teams as follows:
(A) Team 1: Code Administration, General Sections and Compliance:
I.
Undertake a review of Administration, General Sections of IBC, the Planning
and Development Bill, the Municipal Corporations Act and any other relevant
Acts to see how best the National Building Code could be incorporated and
enforced.
II.
Prepare appropriate Application Documents.
(B) Team 2: Electrical and Mechanical
I.
Undertake a review of the Electrical and Mechanical Sections of IBC to see
how best those sections could be incorporated and enforced. In this review
determine if there is need for a small buildings plumbing code.
II.
Prepare appropriate Application Documents.
(C) Team 3: Structural Requirements and Material Use
I.
Undertake a review of the Structural Requirements and Material Use Sections
of IBC to see how best those sections could be incorporated and enforced.
(Note: this review will include the work carried out by the Structures Code
Committee of APETT and TTBS)
II.
Review all material and loading standards referenced for use by the IBC such
as ASCE 7, ACI 318, AISC Seismic Provisions to see how best those sections
could be incorporated and enforced.
III.
Prepare an appropriate Application Document including Earthquake Hazard
Maps And Design Wind Speeds for Trinidad and Tobago
(D) Team 4: Occupancy and Fire Safety
I.
Undertake a review of the Occupancy and Fire Safety Sections of IBC to see
how best those sections could be incorporated and enforced.
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II.
Prepare an appropriate Application Document
(E) Team 5: Documentation: This group will be responsible for the following tasks:
I.
Preparation of an awareness manual on the National Building Code.
II.
Organisation of an awareness programme.
III.
Organisation of public relations associated with the project.
(F) Team 6: Small Building Guidelines
I.

Undertake a review of TTS: 599, Guide for the Design and Construction of
Small Buildings and prepare an appropriate CAD document.

Based on the foregoing it is appropriate to make the following concluding remarks:-

CONCLUDING REMARKS
1.The development of a National Building Code for Trinidad and Tobago has long been
overdue and it is encouraging to note that this elusive dream might finally come to fruition
when on Thursday 24th November 2011 Cabinet approved the appointment of a Steering
Committee with Quality Control consultant Shyankaran Lalla as Chairman to look at the
establishment of a building code for Trinidad and Tobago. This was announced by the
Housing and Environment Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal during the post-Cabinet news
conference.
2. Members of the Committee will include representatives from the T&T Contractors
Association, Association of Profesional Engineers, Joint Consultative Council, Bureau of
Standards, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management, the Tobago House of
Assembly and various government ministries.
3. The Minister said Government recognized the need to protect citizens and safeguard
infrastructure and the introduction of the building code would preserve the country's
economic gains and safeguard lives.
4. It is therefore hoped that this committee will report back to Cabinet in one month's time
as mandated by Cabinet and that a National Building Code for Trinidad and Tobago will
be produced within a year's time.

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