Building & Planning Regulations

Colombo City Development Plan 1999

By
Devsriyani Jayasundera
Deputy Director (Planning)
Urban Development Authority
Light & Ventilation
Natural Light & Ventilation (energy efficient buildings)

Source of Light & Ventilation

Natural lighting (sky light)

- Windows/ Fanlight

- Skylights

- Doors/ventilation openings
Location of source

They face & open upon

- The sky

- Public road

- Street with right of way

- Public space

- Air well/court yard/open space within the building

Distance from the source

• Habitable/Rooms – 10 m horizontally

• Factories/Ware house – 12 m horizontally

9 m vertically
Source may open upon

Balcony/Verandah/Porch

- Face upon a street/court yard

- Such source does not exceed 10 m

from the outer face of the enclosure wall of the balcony

- Balcony opens to external air

- 75% of such balcony to be opened.
Area for lighting & ventilation

• Residential room - 15% of the floor space

70% uninterrupted openings

• Rooms for business purposes - 15% of the floor space

50 % uninterrupted openings

• Stores/ garages - 10% of the floor space

50% uninterrupted openings

• Toilet - 10% of the floor space

100% uninterrupted openings

• Schools - 20% of the floor space

50% uninterrupted openings
 Contd …..

• Hospitals - 20% of the floor space

100% uninterrupted openings

• Staircases & Corridors- 10% of the floor space

50% uninterrupted openings

• Parking - 10% of the floor space

50% uninterrupted openings

• Factories - 10% of the floor space

50% uninterrupted openings

• Adjoining rooms - ½ of the area of common wall is opened & unobstructed

• Basements - 1/3 of the height of its external wall - above the outside ground level
Specifications of Air Wells for Natural Light & Ventilation

No. of Floors Min. Width (M) Min. Area (Sq. M)

1-2 2.3 06
3-4 3.0 12
5-7 4.0 20
8-9 6.0 36
10 & above 6.0 *

* Minimum area shall be increased by 1 sq. m. for every additional floor-------

Mechanical Ventilation
– Air conditioning

– Mechanical ventilation

– Artificial lighting

– Height of the rooms may be waived/modified - Discretion of the Authority

– Undertaking letter to be submitted by owner

– Certification to be submitted by Qualified person (Electrical engineering)

Sanitation

• Water Supply
- To be provided with water supply system

- high rises – certification from water supply & drainage board

- If obtained from a well;

Distance between well & soakage pit – 15.0 m

• Sewerage
- Certification from drainage division of the CMC

- Outlets shall connect to existing public sewerage system

- If no public sewerage system – septic tank

• Waste Water
- soakage pit
Sanitary Convenience

• Water Closets

– Every dwelling unit – one water closet

- Cinema/Theaters/ Auditorium - 1 for 100 – 400 seats

- 1 for additional 250 seats

• Restaurants - 1 for 50 – 200 seats

• - 1 for additional 100 seats

• Office & shop - 1 for 200 sq. m. FA

• Waste disposal
- Disposal in a manner safeguarding the health of the inhabitants.

• Electrical & Plumbing work

– Carry out by a QP
Rainwater Harvesting & Drainage

• Submit Plans for Drainage Facilities

- How to Drain off & Convey Rain Water of the Building.

• Exiting Buildings 3 yrs given

• 90% Ground cover with vegetation

• Submit a Drainage Plan with the site with

- Size of pipelines

- Showing the flow direction

- Storage tanks
Design & Construction considerations of Rainwater system

- Design by a QP

- Storage – soakage pit

- Dug or borne well

- pond

- Built in structurally sound manner

- Eliminate dust & contamination

- Non conflict with other building regulations

- Non conflict with aesthetic consideration

• Other Regulations

Disabled accessibility - Act No. 28 of 1996

Fire safety - Chief Officer of CMC

- Public Buildings
- Intermediate rise
- Middle rise
- High rise
Duties of Qualified Person (QP)

• Who is a QP

- Person with Professional Qualification

- Chartered or Registered Architect
- Town Planner
- A Professional Engineer
- Chartered Vaguer
- Licensed Surveyor

Duties:-
- Submit correct & clear information on plans
- Certify the plans ensuring that plans are inconformity with the
prevailing regulations
- Submit to the LA to obtain approval
- Supervise all building works & other development activities
- Submit progress reports to the Authority.
- Prior to request of COC certify the plan
 Change of QP

- If QP’s services been terminated/changed inform the Authority in writing

- Until another QP is appointed the work shall not commence.
Building categories certification required by Charted
Architect (Gazette No. 1597/8 dated 17.4.2009)

Category A - more than 4 floors

Category B - Not more than 4 floors where wall or columns on the boundary.
- Pile or raff foundation
- Roof span exceeding 10.0 m.
- Public assembly or public building
- Any building not commenced by category A & C

Category CI – G+ 2 storied residential buildings not exceeding 500 sq. m.

Category CII – G+2 storied no residential building not exceeding 300 sq. m.
Category CIII– G+1 storied residential buildings not exceeding 300 sq. m.
- G+1 storied non residential buildings not exceeding 100 sq. m.
Task of Qualification Person (QP)
Development Activity Certification Prior to QP
Approval or COC
Building Category A&B Architectural Chartered Architect or
drawings Registered Architect
Structural Designs Civil Engineer
Service Plan (water Relevant Engineer
supply, electricity,
rainwater harvestity)
Mechanical Ventilation Mechanical or
Electrical Engineer
Building Category Architectural Drawings Architect or Architect
CI&CII Chartered Licentiate
Architectural
Land Development Exceeding 0.5 ha. Town Planner
Licensed Surveyor

Not Exceeding 0.5 ha. Licensed Surveyor

Contd….