Egyptian construction code gets international accreditation

CAIRO - 7 June 2018: An Egyptian construction code managed to get an international accreditation for the first time, according to the head of Housing & Building National Research Center, Khaled al-Zahaby.

Zahaby added in statements to Egypt Today on Wednesday that the new internationally accredited code is expected to make the building materials up to five times stronger than the normal concrete as a result of adding new materials.

The code which was accredited internationally by the end of last year will be implemented starting Saturday June 9. Other codes (six of them) have been recognized by several Arab countries; however, this was the first to be accredited worldwide.

Egypt has about 31 different building codes that have been issued during the past 33 years.



Old mosque with a unique architectural heritage which does not exist in any other place and is more than 900 years old; it is sands of Siwa mixed with salt, it is called “karsheef” – Adelbayoumi/ Wikimedia commons


The building code is a set of rules that specify the standards for constructed objects such as buildings and non-building structures. According to the natural conditions of every country or area, the building codes are chosen. The American and British codes are the most popular.

There are specific building codes for the rocky soils and the areas which are full of dust, according to Zahaby. “The green construction code” is also one of the commonly used codes all around the world.

“This code can be considered to be eco-friendly, as it depends more on designing large green spaces and allowing the use of solar power inside homes,” Zahaby explained.



Siwa Oasis, Egypt, Shali (Old Town), famous for its kersheef (Mud brick) architecture - Michael Hermann/ Wikimedia commons


Egypt started to establish its own construction codes since 1985, before that “we had several building specifications to abide by,” Zahby revealed, adding that disabled people have their own construction code to ease their burdens and provide them with all their needs.

Egyptians have known several special construction methods, like those adopted by people who wish to preserve the nature of their habitat, such as Siwa residents.

“Kershif” is a building method that has been widespread in Siwa oasis, where the residents use mud, salt, and palm logs to build homes. These homes are considered to be customized to suit Egypt's, and especially Siwa’s, weather and geography.