During its participation in the International Code Council Annual Conference which took place in Oregon Convention Center in the United States of America, the Municipal System delegation headed by H.E. Jasem Al Darmaki, Managing Director of the Land and Property Management Sector at the Department of Municipal Affairs ( DMA) and included a number of officials in the Municipal Regulations Divisions and other sectors in the DMA and the Emirate’s Municipalities, Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain City and the Western Region, presented the Abu Dhabi Government’s efforts to achieve sustainable development in the building and construction sector.
In a paper titled “rigorous up to date building codes make a difference in the after math of disaster" Engineer Yasmeen Sami Saadah the manager of the Municipal Regulation Division in the Department of Municipal Affairs highlighted the Abu Dhabi government’s efforts to achieve sustainable development in the building and construction sector, referring to the Abu Dhabi International Building Codes, which introduce a common and transparent set of regulations to govern all construction industry activities throughout Abu Dhabi Emirate. The DMA produced the International Codes in cooperation with the International Codes Council (ICC), the world’s leading building code authority, and adapted them for Abu Dhabi's local climate conditions. The codes set the foundation for more cost-effective buildings with greater durability and higher health and safety standards and apply new regulations and standards to protect buildings against earthquakes and other national disasters.
During the (ICC) annual conference the Municipal delegation participated in a variety of comprehensive educational sessions and seminars about building department financial management, customer service for code administration, legal aspects and introduction to code enforcement investigation and procedures. The participation also included an intensive courses in customer services, permit technical essentials, indoor air quality, water Conservation, best practises in adopting and enforcement the building codes, green building, approving innovative building codes.
The ICC conference forms a platform for the Municipal System to enhance cooperation and exchange knowledge and experience in the Municipal field, and getting an in-depth knowledge of other countries Municipal regulatory systems.
