GHANA BUILDING CODE

– GS 1207:2018

AN OVER VIEW AND DISCUSSION OF

PLUMBING SPECIFIC CODES

ING. MICHAEL OSEI ASSIBEY

 PARTS OF THE CODE
● PART ONE – SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
– HOW WAS THE CODE PREPARED?
– HOW SHOULD IT BE APPLIED?
– EXCEPTIONS TO THE CODE?
– HOW THE CODE WILL BE ENFORCED?
– PERMITS
– INSPECTIONS
 PARTS OF THE CODE
● PART TWO – DEFINITIONS
– WHAT DO THE VARIOUS TERMS IN THE CODE MEAN?
– ARE THE TERMS INTERCHANGEABLE WITH OTHER
TERMS?
– ARE THE TERMS DEFINED IN OTHER CODES
DIFFERENTLY?
– ARE THERE TERMS WHICH HAVE BEEN
INTENTIONALLY LEFT?
 PARTS OF THE CODE
● PART THREE – OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND
USE
– OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATIONS
– USE DESIGNATION
– ASSEMBLY (A), BUSINESS(B), EDUCATIONAL(E),
FACTORY(F),HIGH HAZARD(H), INSTITUTIONAL(I),
MERCANTILE(M), RESIDENTIAL(R.), STORAGE (S) AND
MISCELLANEOUS GROUPS.
 PARTS OF THE CODE
● PART FOUR – SPECIAL DETAILED
REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY AND
USE
● PART FIVE – SITE DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE
● PART SIX – GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND
AREAS
● PART 7 – TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
 PARTS OF THE CODE
● PARTS 8 TO 35: CODES FOR SPECIFIC DISCIPLINES
– STRUCTURAL AND CIVIL ELEMENTS
– GEO-TECHNICAL ELEMENTS
– WOOD TYPES AND FINISHES
– ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING SYSTEMS
– FIRE DETECTION AND FIGHTING SYSTEMS
– SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS
– HVAC SYSTEMS
– BUILDING MATERIALS ALLOWABLE
PART 29: MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
● DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION OF HVAC SYSTEM
● SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS
● ACOUSTICS
● FUEL SUPPLY AND STORAGE DESIGN
● COMPRESSED GASSES SYSTEMS
● CRYOGENICS AND COLD ROOMS
● HAZARDOUS/TOXIC/POISONOUS SYSTEMS
● BOILERS, HEATERS, PRESSURE VESSELS
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.2 – MINIMUM PLUMBING FACILITIES
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.2.2 –SEPARATE FACILITIES
– SEPARATE FACILITIES REQUIRED AS A RULE
– EXCEPTIONS
● DWELLING UNITS

● TENANT SPACES OF LESS THAN 15,

MERCANTILE OCCUPANCY OF LESS THAN 100,

AND BUSINESS OCCUPANCY OF LESS THAN 25.

– THE WORLD IS MOVING TOWARDS UNISEX

WASHROOMS!!!!
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.2.3.1 –ACCESS
– ACCESS TO PUBLIC TOILETS MUST NOT PASS
THROUGH KITCHEN, STORAGE ROOMS OR
CLOSETS.
– TOILETS MUST BE OPEN AS LONG AS THE
BUILDING IS OPEN.
● 30.2.5 – DRINKING FOUNTAINS
– NOT REQUIRED FOR OCCUPANT LOADS
BELOW 15
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.2.3.1 –ACCESS
– ACCESS TO PUBLIC TOILETS MUST NOT PASS
THROUGH KITCHEN, STORAGE ROOMS OR
CLOSETS.
– TOILETS MUST BE OPEN AS LONG AS THE
BUILDING IS OPEN.
● 30.2.5 – DRINKING FOUNTAINS
– NOT REQUIRED FOR OCCUPANT LOADS
BELOW 15
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.3–BASIC PRINCIPLES
– POTABLE WATER AT CORRECT VOLUMES AND
PRESSURES WITH CONSERVATION FEATURES!
– EACH DWELLING MUST HAVE AT LEAST 1WC, 1
BASIN, I SINK, AND 1 SHOWER.
– DRAINAGE SYSTEM MUST NOT SMELL OR CLOG.
– ALL MATERIALS AND INSTALLATION METHOD
MUST BE SOUND.
– ALL SYSTEMS MUST BE TESTED
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.3–BASIC PRINCIPLES
– PERMIT REQUIRED TO UNDERTAKE PLUMBING
WORKS (AUTHORITY AND EXECUTIVES
POWERS STILL UNDER WORKS)
– ENGINEERING COUNCIL GRANTED AUTHORITY
TO LICENSE PLUMBERS.
● EXAMINATIONS IN THE FUTURE OF

QUALIFICATION
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.4–WATER SUPPLY
– 70-100L PER HEAD FOR RESIDENCES
– FOR PLANNING PURPOSES: 150-200LPHD
– ASSUME 45LPHD IS FOR FLUSHING
– TABLE AVAILABLE FOR NON DOMESTIC
REQUIREMENTS
– NON-DRINKING WATER MUST STILL BE FREE FROM
BACTERIA (STILL POTABLE)
– RECLAIMED WATER MUST BE USED FOR ONLY NON-
DOMESTIC PURPOSES
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.4–WATER SUPPLY
– TANK REQUIREMENTS (30.4.3)
● TANK SIZING, USE POPULATION DENSITY.

ALSO, LOCATION DEPENDENT. FOR

INTERMITTENT SUPPLY, DOUBLE THE
STORAGE CAPACITY PER DAY
– PIPE MATERIALS ALLOWED
● PPR NOT CODED YET
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.4–WATER SUPPLY - SIZING
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.4–WATER SUPPLY – SIZING
– DESIGN OF ALL PIPES IS BASED ON:
● NUMBER AND KIND OF FIXTURES

● FIXTURE UNIT FLOW RATES

● PROBABLE SIMULTANEOUS USE OF

FIXTURES
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.4–WATER SUPPLY – DESIGN
– NO CONNECTION TO MAINS WITHOUT APPROVAL
OF GWCL
– PROVIDE SUITABLE COVER FOR UNDERGROUND
PIPES
– PROVIDE STOP VALVES ON EACH BRANCH TO
DIFFERENT ZONES IN OCCUPIED SPACE.
– IN-LINE PUMPS ON SERVICE LINES NOT ALLOWED.
– SUPPORT, NOISE CONTROL, AND CORROSION
CONTROL.
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.4–WATER SUPPLY – DESIGN
– NO SERVICE PIPE SHOULD BE CONNECTED TO
DISTRIBUTION PIPE.
– USE BACKFLOW PREVENTERS WHEN NECESSARY
– PIPE SHOULD NOT BE LAYED THROUGH LAND FILL,
REFUSE, ASHPIT, SEWER, DRAIN, CESSPOOL, REFUSE
CHUTE OR MANHOLE.
– NO PIPE SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO AGENTS THAT
CAUSE IT TO DETERIORATE
SOME CODES ON DESIGN INCONSISTENT WITH CURRENT
INTERNATIONAL PRACTICES.
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.5–DRAINAGE PRELIMINARY DESIGN
REQUIREMENTS
– SITE PLAN. DRAINAGE PLAN. USE. NATURE OF
WASTE.
– SEWERS.
– COVER.
– SUB SOIL CONDITIONS.
– LOCATION OF OTHER SERVICES.
 PART 30: PLUMBING SYSTEMS
● 30.5–DRAINAGE PRELIMINARY DESIGN
REQUIREMENTS
– AVOID POSSIBILITY OF CROSS CONTAMINATION
WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
– VENT! VENT! VENT!
– DO NOT MIX RAIN WATER AND SOIL PIPES
– GREASE TRAPS MUST BE INSTALLED WHEN
NECESSARY

PART 30 NOT ADEQUATE. CONSIDER IPC 2015

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. ANY QUESTIONS?