PNAP ADM-19

26 Pages·2016·0.28 MB·English

Practice Note for Authorized Persons,
Buildings Department Registered Structural Engineers and ADM-19
Registered Geotechnical Engineers

Building Approval Process

Introduction

The Buildings Department (BD) is committed to adopt a totally positive
attitude towards building development. Its mission is not to find faults in a building
proposal but to facilitate building professionals in the approval process whilst ensuring
public safety and health. This Practice Note sets out the principles adopted in the
building approval process and the services which BD provides to facilitate the process.

Conformity Among Different Types of Plans

2. A project involves submissions of different types of plans. Among them,
the general building plans (GBP) should form the basis for the development of the
detailed design of other types of plans. In other words, the building layout shown on
the GBP shall prevail over the layout shown on other types of plans. The Authorized
Persons (AP), Registered Structural Engineers (RSE) and Registered Geotechnical
Engineers (RGE) should ensure such other types of plans prepared by them correspond
to the latest approved GBP. Approval of such plans shall not be deemed to be
approval of the building layout shown on such plans.

3. Prior to certifying completion of the alteration and addition (A&A) works or
applying for an occupation permit, the AP, RSE and RGE should ensure that approval
and consent for all the amendments are obtained and the latest amended GBP, structural
plans, drainage plans and site formation plans where applicable for the project, tally
with each other.

Pre-submission Enquiry and Conference

4. AP, RSE and RGE may wish to settle the design principles involved at an
early stage so that they can proceed with confidence and avoid abortive works. To
facilitate early clearance of basic design principles before formal submission of plans,
the BD will upon receipt of a written enquiry provide a determination on the matters
involved in the form of a “letter of assurance” normally within 45 days. The BD may
hold pre-submission conferences with AP/RSE/RGE and invite representatives of
concerned Government departments to discuss and examine the issues and principles
involved.

5. It is recommended that AP/RSE/RGE should make use of this service to
consult the BD as early as possible on the use of any new structural theory, materials or
systems, sophisticated designs and unconventional construction methods prior to
preparing the detailed design.
/Processing….
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Processing of Plan Submissions

6. For submissions of GBP, superstructure plans and drainage plans, a curtailed
check system has been adopted to check on fundamental issues only.

7. In respect of GBP, the BD will check issues concerning density, safety,
health and environment, and major issues under the allied legislations. The items to
be checked are provided in Appendix A.

8. For superstructure plans1, the BD will check the master framing plans, notes,
design loads, design methods, material standards, design codes and fire resistance
rating requirements of structural elements. The items to be checked are provided in
Appendix B.

9. For drainage plans, the BD will check2 the disposal system, underground
drain layout and access for maintenance/repair as provided in Appendix C.

10. As regards other types of plans, such as demolition, site formation,
foundation and excavation & lateral support works, the items to be checked are
provided in Appendix D.

11. To facilitate the preparation of plan submissions for various types of building
works, specific checklists and sample tables/drawings are given in PNAP ADV-33.

12. Under the curtailed check system, non-fundamental issues will not be
checked and will not be raised as disapproval items. These relate generally to matters
that do not affect the basic design of the proposed building. It is the responsibility of
the AP/RSE/RGE to ensure that all such non-fundamental issues fully comply with the
relevant regulations and codes of practice before commencement of the works. After
commencement of works, any contravention of the BO and its subsidiary regulations
should be rectified as and when they are discovered and in any event, before
certification of completion of works.

13. To ensure that a high standard of self-regulation is maintained, the BD carries
out audit checks by examining in detail some submissions selected at random. The BD
will consider taking appropriate actions against AP/RSE/RGE who prepare plan
submissions which blatantly or repeatedly contravene the requirements of the BO and
its subsidiary regulations.

Enquiry Service

14. To assist AP/RSE/RGE in ensuring that design details comply with BD’s
requirements, the BD will also provide an enquiry service regarding compliance or
interpretation of building regulations and codes of practice throughout the entire
development process. The BD will give an answer to these enquiries normally within
four weeks.
/Concept…..

1 Including curtain wall, window wall, cladding, space frame and similar superstructure elements.
2 Only a certain percentage of the proposed drainage works will be randomly selected for checking.
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Concept Drawings
15. To assist AP in demonstrating to concerned Government departments that
their basic design principles comply with Government and statutory requirements, they
are recommended to submit concept drawings for pre-submission conference when
making an enquiry or formal submission of GBP. Concept drawings are coloured key
plans summarising the basic design parameters on site coverage, plot ratio, accountable
gross floor areas, fire safety strategy, barrier free access strategy, etc. in broad terms.
Guidelines for concept drawings are provided in Appendix E. A set of sample concept
drawings is provided for reference in BD’s website (www.bd.gov.hk).
Use of Computer for Mathematical Calculations
16. AP adopting the use of computer for calculating floor areas of buildings in
the preparation of GBP are required to provide the BD with an electronic copy of the
plan submission with the calculations in an accepted format capable of being verified by
AutoCAD, MicroStation or other software accepted by the BD. In this regard, AP
should follow the guidelines in Appendix F.
Minor Amendments
17. With regard to building works for which consent has been given, the
requirement for prior approval and consent for all subsequent amendments may
affect the progress of construction.
18. Subject to a modification of regulation 33(1) of the Building (Administration)
Regulations (B(A)R) being granted by the Building Authority (BA) under section 42(1)
of the BO, prior approval and consent to the minor amendments of building,
superstructure and drainage works, for which the first consent has already been given,
would not be required except for the amendments described in Appendix G.
19. AP/RSE/RGE deferring the submission of minor amendments should ensure
that such amendments comply with the building regulations, requirements of concerned
Government departments and the lease conditions prior to the execution of the works.
Documents showing such amendments should be kept in the site office.
20. AP/RSE/RGE should submit an application for modification of regulation
33(1) of the B(A)R either after obtaining the first consent or simultaneously with the
application for the first consent in respect of the specific type of works (i.e. building,
building (A&A), superstructure, superstructure (A&A), drainage and drainage (A&A)
works).
21. A practice note covering the above guidelines on minor amendments has also
been issued to Registered Contractors.
/Concurrent…..
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Concurrent Applications for Approval and Consent
22. To streamline the approval process for building works, applications for
approval of plans and consent for the commencement of the building works specified in
the following paragraphs may be made concurrently.
(A) A& A, Drainage, Curtain Wall and Cladding Works
23. Approval of plans and consent to the commencement of A&A, drainage,
curtain wall or cladding works may be concurrently applied for if the following criteria
are met:
(a) The works do not involve foundation works (other than spread

footing with excavation depth not exceeding 4.5m), nor works with

significant geotechnical content;

(b) The works do not entail precautionary works nor other safety

measures which are required to be completed to the satisfaction of

the BA prior to the commencement of the proposed works;

(c) All the plans and documents prescribed under regulation 8 of the

B(A)Rs are submitted for approval; and

(d) All the requisite supporting information/documents for the consent

application are submitted. These may include site supervision

plans, hoarding plans or other supporting documents such as test

reports or structural assessment reports required under PNAP

APP-117. For curtain wall works, compliance certificates and test

reports as required under PNAP APP-37 may be submitted prior to

the application for an occupation permit.

(B) Fast Track Processing for Simple A&A Works
24. For simple A&A works, where AP/RSE confirm that the proposed works do
not involve the structure of the building and do not affect the fundamental issues
mentioned above (or if there are only minor changes and AP/RSE confirm that such
changes comply with the provisions of the BO) and referrals to the other Government
departments (except Fire Services Department) are not necessary, the concurrent
applications for fast track approval and consent will be processed within 30 days. A
sample of the AP/RSE’s certification form is attached in Appendix H.
(C) Fast Track Processing for Two-storey Warehouse
25. Procedures for fast track processing of submissions for building a two-storey
warehouse are given in Appendix I.
/(D)…..
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(D) Form BA8A
26. When submitting concurrent applications for approval and consent, AP/RSE
should indicate the same in the covering letter and submit the consent application Form
BA8A. The Form BA8A submission is subject to the following rules:
(a) The effective date of application for consent to the commencement

of the proposed building works will be the date on which the BA

gives his approval of the plans of the proposed building works or,

where applicable, the date on which approval is deemed to have

been given by the BA;

(b) The application for consent to the commencement of the proposed

building works will not be processed if the prescribed plans and

documents of the proposed building works are not approved; and

(c) In cases where the BA considers that the approval can be given but

not concurrently with the consent, the period of 28 days as

stipulated under regulation 32(3) of the B(A)R would run from the

date of approval.

( HUI Siu-wai )
Building Authority
Ref. : BD GP/BOP/6 (XII)
BD GP/BREG/A/3
This PNAP is previously known as PNAP 272
First issue July 2002
Last revision February 2014
This revision February 2016 (AD/NB1 and AD/NB2) (General revision)
Appendix A
(PNAP ADM-19)
Fundamental Issues of General Building Plans
1. Density
(a) Site Parameters
(i) Claimed site area
(ii) Site classification
(Building (Planning) Regulation 19(2) determination?)
(iii) Required private street/service lane
(Deducted from site area and not built over)
(b) Site Coverage (SC) and Plot Ratio (PR)
(i) Gross floor area (GFA) diagrams (accountable, non-accountable
and exempted areas)
(ii) SC diagrams (accountable, non-accountable and exempted areas)
(iii) Exempted areas and non-accountable areas
(iv) Dedication/Surrender in return for bonus
(v) Overall PR & SC
Check against the permissible PR and SC, including any granted
bonus SC & PR, mean street level and height of podium/building
2. Safety
(a) Means of Access for Firefighting and Rescue (MOA)
(i) Number and disposition of fireman’s lifts/firefighting & rescue
stairway (FRS)
(ii) Initial access to fireman’s lifts and FRS
(iii) Emergency vehicular access
(b) Means of Escape (MOE)
(i) Single staircase building requirements
(ii) MOE table: Occupancy factor and the required/provided number
and width of the exit doors and exit routes
(iii) Discharge value calculation
(iv) Discharge at G/F

(Directly to street, lane or to open area)

(Exits at ground storey)

(v) Inter-relationship between staircases
(vi) Direct distance and travel distance
(vii) Independent staircase serving the basement, kindergarten or child
care centre
(viii) Disposition of refuge floors
(ix) PPE premises(Site, exit routes and staircases)
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(c) Fire Resisting Construction (FRC)
(i) FRC table
(Required/provided fire resistance rating against the compartment
volume and use)
(ii) Protection of adjoining buildings
(iii) External walls of required staircases/lobbies
(iv) Smoke vent disposition
(v) Bridge and tunnel

(Fire shutter and by-pass lobby)

3. Health and Environment
(a) Lighting and Ventilation
(i) Window provided for habitable room, kitchen and office
(ii) Disposition of windows
(b) Open space: Required/provided area and its disposition
4. Major issues under allied legislations
(a) Barrier Free Access (BFA) Facilities
(i) Initial BFA to entrance
(ii) Accessible route to required areas
(iii) Accessible toilet
(b) F ire certificate
(c) Outline Zoning Plan
(d) V ehicular run-in/out acceptable to Transport Department and Highways
Department
(e) Geotechnical assessment - PNAP APP-25
(f) Airport height restriction
(g) Railway protection
(h) Road works - control under Section 22 of Roads (Works, Use and
Compensation), Cap 370
(i) Sewage tunnel works - control under Section 17A of Buildings
Ordinance, Cap 123
(j) Antiquities – prohibition of works in a proposed monument or monument
under Section 6 of Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, Cap 53
(Rev. 2/2016)
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Appendix B
(PNAP ADM-19)
Fundamental Issues of Superstructure Plans
For superstructure plans, submissions are divided into two parts, viz. :
(i) master framing plans in which all the requirements on materials,
design loadings, workmanship and the structural framing of the
structure are stipulated; and
(ii) structural detailed plans in which details of every structural
members of a building, including the size of members, quantity
and arrangement of steel bars inside the members are given.
2. BD’s check on the master framing will focus on the following aspects:
(i) Stability and framing;
(ii) Fire Resistance Rating (FRR) requirements;
(iii) Loading; and
(iv) Materials.
3. To assist RSE in making superstructure submissions, a list of the items
appropriate to the type of structural plans which will be checked in processing master
framing plans is enclosed at Appendix B1 for general guidance. RSE should complete
the checklist and include them into Part I of the calculations (prepared in accordance
with PNAP ADM-8) for submission with the structural plans for approval.
(Rev. 2/2016)
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Appendix B1
(PNAP ADM-19)
Checklist on Fundamental Issues of Superstructure Plans
Items to be checked Remarks
Structural Stability & Safety
(1) Structural System Beam-column/core wall/shear wall
Flat Slab/Prestressed/Precast Beam-Slab
Curtain Wall/Cladding/Window Wall
Others:
(2) Compatibility Check Wind modelling
Structural layout compatible with building
plans
Loading compatible with foundation plans
(3) Stability Check Comply with B(C)R 15
Max. lateral deflection= (d/H = 1/ )
Anchorage system: cast-in/drill-in/through
bolt
Supporting structure for curtain wall/cladding/
window wall
Robustness of the building and in particular
those adopting precast concrete construction
(4) FRR Requirements Comply with building plans’ requirements
Comply with Code of Practice for Fire Safety
in Buildings 2011
Loading
(5) Floor Loads Comply with building plans’ requirements
Comply with B(C)R 17(1) & (2)
(6) Lateral Loads Wind loads comply with HK Wind Code 2004
Impact loads comply with B(C)R 17(3) & (4)
Design soil pressure and surcharge loads
Others:
(7) Dynamic Loads Comply with B(C)R 17(5)
Others:
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Design Standard

(8) Design Codes Code of Practice for Structural Use of
Concrete 2013
Code of Practice for the Structural use of Steel
2011
Others:

(9) Design Method Working Stress Method
Limit State Method
Others:

(10) Computer Pre-acceptance programmes:

Programme
Others:

Material Specification

(11) Concrete Not exceeding grade C45

Exceeding grade C45, please specify :

__________

(12) Reinforcement Grade 250/500 complying with CS2:2010
Others:

(13) Prestressed Tendon Grade complying with

(14) Structural Steel Grade complying with

(15) Aluminum Grade complying with

(16) Glass Type:
Permissible stress = complying
with

(17) Others

(Rev. 2/2016)
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