(I) COMMITTEE ON FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS - (ARCHITECTURE) -

As per extract from Building Control Act 2012 Section 3(a), a building shall fulfil the following
minimum functional requirements:
(i) utility, to ensure that the arrangement and dimensions of the space and the fitting out
of the services allow the building to be used for its intended purpose;
(ii) accessibility, to ensure that persons with impaired mobility and communication,
elderly persons and pregnant women are able to access and use the building and the
facilities within the building comfortably;
(iii) access to telecommunication, audio-visual and information services; and
(iv) gender compliance, to ensure that gender-specific requirements are integrated in the
building;

That section of the Building Control Act recognised that there are three overarching principles
associated with ensuring functional building design and operations:
Account for Functional and Psychological Needs
Identifying the spatial requirements and psychological needs developed in the functional program is
a primary element of the planning process that translates to an owner's spatial and service
requirements for a building or facility. Key tasks in this process are: problem definition or statement,
establishing goals, collecting and analyzing facts, establishing functional relationships, and
uncovering and testing concepts. There is also a need to design for flexibility of programmed space.
Ensure Appropriate Product / Systems Integration
A successfully designed building that functions properly in all respects is composed of building
systems, materials, and technologies that are selected and integrated to be mutually supportive as a
cohesive "whole" system.
Meet Performance Objectives
Meeting performance objectives is not achieved simply by a "Final Inspection" of the finished
product, but is a sustained effort from inception and planning through turnover and operation to
assure the delivery of a project that satisfies all of the owner's functional, psychological, and
operational requirements for the project. There are many aspects involved in assuring performance
objectives are met, from assembling a qualified project delivery team; to adequately coordinating
team member roles and responsibilities; to instituting systematic quality assurance programs,

Residential apartments, public and commercial buildings, in general, should be designed in such a
way so that these premises may also be used by persons whose mobility and ability to orientate is
restricted due to age, infirmity or disability. Existing buildings, while being renovated, should take
into consideration the accessibility standards that may be required for the elderly or disabled. Some
services, for example, may be located on the ground floor for elderly and disabled if it is not
reasonably possible to construct elevators between floors.
In Mauritius currently there are no building statutes or norms requiring accessibility for the elderly
or disabled persons. The government, since the proclamation of the year of persons with disabilities
in 1981, has taken upon it the challenge of providing for the needs of people with physical
disabilities in all its public buildings. However, in the absence of firm legislation, these statutes and
norms are still flexible in Mauritius.
The function of the committee on Functional Requirements- Architecture shall be to advise the
Chairman of the Building Control Committee on the following:
(a) Review the statutory requirements of different Acts which have an impact on the design and
planning of buildings.
(b) Set up a classification system for different type of buildings. Definition for each type of
building shall be provided.
(c) Propose a list propose a list mandatory Design Codes to be applicable in Mauritius.
(d) Prepare prescriptive,wherever possible, guidance to sets out the standard space
requirements of various parts of a building and those of light and ventilation. Requirements
will depend on the number of persons who would normally occupy the building, and also the
classification.
(e) Prepare regulations and prescriptive design guidance to improve access to buildings to cover
the needs of all people, including the permanently disabled, those with limited mobility, and
others who might experience difficulties accessing facilities and services. Reference to BS
8300, Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people Code
of practice or any other similar code can be made.
(f) Set up regulations to ensure gender compliance is integrated within building. In that specific
case reference to BS 8300 concerning the recommendation for the provision of Changing
Places is strongly advisable. These are new toilet and sanitary/changing facilities for use by
disabled persons and their carers where conventional accessible toilets are inadequate. They
offer adequate space for the disabled person and up to two carers and incorporate a
centrally placed toilet, height adjustable adult-sized changing bench, hoist, screen or curtain
and often have wash-down facilities. They are recommended for large publicly accessible
places such as shopping malls, airports, or motorway service stations. Changing Places make
it possible for more people, especially those with profound and multiple learning difficulties,
to get out and enjoy facilities most of us take for granted, and to do so with dignity.


(II) SUB-COMMITTEE ON STRUCTURAL SAFETY
Section 3(b)(i) refers structural safety, to insure against damage, due to design and construction,
to the building originating in or affecting the foundation, including supporting columns, load
bearing walls, beams and floor slabs of the superstructure or other structural elements which
could directly jeopardise the buildings structural soundness and stability required normally for its
use;

The intention of this section is to ensure that the structure of a building shall be designed and
executed in such a way that, during its intended life, it will not pose a threat to the safety of people
in and around the building with an appropriate degree of reliability. To achieve a structure with
adequate structural resistance, serviceability and durability the following should be taken into
account:
a. the loadings (actions) on the building;
b. nature of the ground;
c. collapse or deformations;
d. stability of the building and other buildings;
e. climatic conditions;
f. materials;
g. structural analysis; and
h. details of construction

The actions on the building will comprise a set of loads applied directly to the structure that will
include dynamic, concentrated and peak load effects, together with a set of imposed deformations
caused for example by temperature changes or uneven settlement.

The term of reference for the sub-committee on structural safety shall be as follows:

(a) Structural design of building in Mauritius: Prepare a review of the any current statutory
requirement, regulations and practice with reference to design codes, materials, loadings
and durability issues.
(b) Design codes: Propose a list mandatory Design Codes to be applicable in Mauritius.
(c) Prepare appropriate prescriptive guidelines and regulations to assist building professionals
particularly civil and structural engineers during the design, construction and commissioning
phase.




(III) SUB-COMMITTEE ON FIRE SAFETY
Section 3(b)(ii) refer to Safety in case of fire, to ensure that
a person may evacuate the building safely in a specified time.
the fire may be stopped from spreading inside the building and to neighbouring buildings;
and facilities, such as means of escape in case of fire, means of giving warning in case of
fire and means of firefighting, are incorporated in the building so as to allow fire services
and other emergency services to operate properly at all times.
safety of use, to ensure that the use of the building poses no risk of accident to any
person;

Life safety is the paramount objective of fire safety. Buildings should be designed and constructed in
such a way that the risk of fire is reduced and, if a fire does occur, there are measures in place to
restrict the growth of fire and smoke to enable the occupants to escape safely and for fire-fighters to
deal with fire safely and effectively.
The term of reference for the sub-committee on fire safety shall be as follows:
a) Carry out a review of the current regulations in Mauritius.
b) Design codes: Propose a list mandatory Design Codes to be applicable in Mauritius.
c) Prepare guidance and regulations to prevent and minimise the risk of fire outbreak in
buildings
d) Prepare guidance and regulations to achieve the following objectives in the case of an
outbreak of fire within the building to protect life; to assist the fire and rescue services; and
to further the achievement of sustainable development.





(IV) SUB-COMMITTEE ON SUSTAINABILITY REQUIREMENT FOR ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
Section 3(c) clearly makes sustainability requirements mandatory within the design of a building in
the following manner
(i) by providing indoor air quality in the building, to ensure the well-being, comfort and
productivity of the occupants of the building;
(ii) by ensuring
(A) water tightness of the building and water management within its premises;
(B) waste management from the construction site;
(C) noise protection so that noise levels do not affect the health of any person and allow any
person to carry out his activities normally;
(D) energy savings and optimum energy consumption for the proper running of the building; and
(E) reduction of heat island effect in urban areas.






(v) Sub-committee on Mandatory Guarantees
21. Mandatory guarantees

(1) Every builder shall subscribe, in relation to such building as may be prescribed, a property
damage insurance policy in favour of a developer or an eventual buyer to guarantee for a period of
one year, the payment of compensation for any property damages due to execution faults or defects
which affect the finish works or elements, failing which the developer shall withhold 5 per cent of
the contractual price of the building works.

(2) Every developer shall subscribe, in relation to such building as may be prescribed

(a) a property damage insurance policy in favour of eventual or subsequent buyers or lessees to
guarantee, for a period of 2 years, the payment of compensation for any property damage resulting
from faults or defects in non-structural elements or services resulting in the non-compliance with
the requirements under section 3(c);

(b) a property damage insurance policy in favour of eventual or subsequent buyers or lessees to
guarantee, for a period of 10 years, the payment of compensation for any property damage caused
to a building by faults or defects originating in or affecting the structural elements including the
foundation, supports, beams, framework, load-bearing walls, or other structural elements and which
could directly jeopardise the buildings structural soundness and stability; and

(c) a property damage insurance policy in favour of eventual or subsequent buyers or lessees to
guarantee the payment of compensation for any property damage caused during a cyclonic season.