> ## Documentation Index
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# Chapter 1: Title, Purpose, Scope, Etc

1. Title and commencement.(1) This Code may be called the Bangladesh
   National Building Code (BNBC) 2020.
   (2) It shall come into force at once.
2. Purpose.(1) The purpose of this Code is to establish minimum standards for
   design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and maintenance
   of all buildings within Bangladesh in order to safeguard, within achievable limits, life,
   limb, health, property and public welfare.
   (2) The installation and use of certain equipment, services and appurtenances
   related, connected or attached to such buildings are also regulated herein to achieve the
   same purpose.
   ( 2583 )
   g\~j¨ : UvKv 197200
   "জাতির পিতা বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমানের
   জন্মশতবাষির্কী উদ্‌যাপন সফল হোক"

(3) The expressed intent of this Code is to ensure public safety, health and general
welfare insofar as they are affected by the construction, alteration, repair, removal,
demolition, use or occupancy of buildings, structures or premises, through structural
strength, stability, means of egress, safety from fire and other hazards, sanitation, light
and ventilation.
3\. Scope.(1) The provisions of this Code shall apply to the design, construction,
use or occupancy, alteration, moving, demolition and repair of any building or structure
and to any appurtenances installed therein or connected or attached thereto, except such
matters as are otherwise provided for in other laws controlling and regulating buildings.
(2) If for any case different sections of this Code provide different specifications
for materials, methods of design or construction, or other requirements, the most
restrictive specification shall govern.
(3) In case of any conflict between a general requirement and a specific
requirement, the specific requirement shall prevail.
(4) Unless otherwise explicitly stated in this Code, all references to part, chapter or
section numbers or to provisions not specifically identified by number, shall be construed
to refer to such part, chapter, section or provision of this Code.
(5) References made to a section without mentioning a part shall be construed to
refer to that section of the part in which the reference is made.
(6) The provisions of any appendix in this Code shall not be mandatory unless they
are referred to as such in any section of the Code or they are specifically adopted by any
regulation.
(7) Inspection conducted or permission granted for any building or plan of building,
under the provisions of this Code, shall not be construed as a warranty of the physical
condition of such building or the adequacy of such plan.
(8) Neither the Authority nor any employee thereof shall be liable for damages or
any defect or hazardous or illegal condition or inadequacy in such building or plan, nor
for any failure of any component of such building which may occur subsequent to such
inspection or granting of permission under the provisions of the Code.
4\. Existing buildings.(1) Buildings which are in existence on the date of
commencement of this Code may have their use or occupancy continued without
undergoing any alteration, abandonment or removal unless in the opinion of the
Authority such continued use is hazardous to life and property and provided such use or
occupancy was legal on the date of commencement of this Code.

(2) Buildings approved before commencement of this Code and compliant under
the repealed Code may continue to be used or occupied unless any deviation is made
thereafter or any deterioration has rendered the building unsafe in the opinion of the
Authority.
(3) Additions, alterations, modifications or repair to an existing building may be
made without requiring the existing building to comply with all the requirements of this
Code, provided the additions, alterations, modifications or repairs conform to that
required for a new building and such additions or alterations shall not be permitted when
the existing building is not in full compliance with the provisions of this Code except
when the addition or alteration will result in the existing building or structure being no
more hazardous based on life safety, fire safety and sanitation than it was before the
addition or alteration was undertaken.
(4) Any building together with the new additions shall not exceed the height,
number of storeys and area specified in this Code for new buildings having the relevant
occupancy and type of construction.
(5) Non-structural alterations or repairs to an existing building or structure which
do not adversely affect any structural member, nor reduce the strength of any part of the
building or structure to result in an unsafe condition shall be made with materials and
components having the required fire resistance.
(6) Change in use or occupancy in an existing building may be made when such
change complies with the requirements of this Code for a new building and provided such
change does not render any part or the whole of the affected building or structure any
more hazardous based on life safety, fire safety and sanitation than it was before such
change was effected.
5\. Historic or architecturally valuable buildings.A building or structure which
has been designated by official action as having special historical or archaeological
interest, or a building or structure identified by a legally constituted authority as being
architecturally valuable, may be undertaken for repairs, alterations and additions
necessary for its preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or continued use, provided :
(a)
the proposed repair, alteration or addition to buildings of historical or
archaeological significance is approved by the legally constituted
authority, such as the Department of Archaeology;
(b)
the proposed repair, alteration or addition to buildings of architectural
value does not impair the aesthetic quality and architectural character of
such buildings; and
(c)
the restored building or structure will be no more hazardous, if any, based
on life safety, fire safety and sanitation than the existing building.