Many are not aware or have no knowledge of what is in the National Building Code.

This was something highlighted and discussed during the Construction Industry Council workshop held at Novotel Suva, Lami Bay  yesterday.

The National Building Code is the premium document for all licensed builders, engineers, architects and surveyors.

Director Town and Country Planning, Ravind Prasad said lack of knowledge was basically due to the fact there was no awareness application raised with regard to the Code, and awareness by the administrative authority for that NBC.

“Any organisations which administer something, on whether legislation of policy it is their rule or duty is to create awareness.”

Mr Prasad said the workshop about the NBC was very useful and also beneficial to all the stakeholders, including all the line agencies that deal with building plan and development with regard to building application.

“This will set up a platform for everybody to follow especially in regard to the strength of the building and the quality of the building as well.

“People will now have a set of guidelines to follow especially those who are submitting architectural drawings for assessment, and also a guideline for those who are assessing those applications.

This will have a set of criteria, by we just know what is required of the building and we imposed and forced it at the processing stage of the application.”

And everybody has to comply, and everybody will be in the same wave length. There is no room for people who didn’t know about this.

Mr Prasad said the workshop was actually  a platform where all the stakeholders come together and give  input or put in their recommendation on what the Code should contain, what improvement should be made on the old Code, what is required in terms of further strengthening of building that can withstand the intensity of the cyclone.

He stated the workshop was a good opportunity for all of them to contribute towards the betterment for the improvement of the National Building Code

The lack of structural engineers was another concern for the Construction Industry Council.

Council Chief Executive, Vijay Naidu said this was a growing issue as they keep losing qualified structural engineers to overseas countries.

He said most local contractors were hiring engineers from overseas to undertake local construction works.

“We just need to train more engineers to be up to standard.

This country needs it, structural engineers are very valuable people especially now construction industry is reaching newer heights.

I think it’s important that we train more engineers especially structural engineers who can then advise the building code and other aspects of construction matters.”

The Council is working closely with the University of the South Pacific, the Fiji National University’s APTC and the Fiji Higher Education Commission to address the issue.

More than 30 participants from government, public and private sectors were present at the workshop.

The facilitator was Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility consultant and architect Rhys Gwilliam.

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