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29 March 2024

How much does your hi-rise sway in high winds: New rules

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

The final modifications in the soon to be implemented new wind code for the UAE have been made, announced the Building Department of Dubai Municipality.

The new rules are to take into account the increased number of high-rise constructions in the emirate. “For high-rise building design, wind force is a critical factor, especially for tall and slender buildings,” explained Moawya Safarini, Head of the Structural Engineering Unit of the Building Department.

When a consultant wants to obtain a permit for the construction of a project, he needs to take into account in the design of his project and the basic wind speed velocity measured and standardized by the authorities. “The basic wind speed velocity is the value of the average wind velocities within 10 minutes periods and measured at 10 meters height in an open terrain, likely to be exceeded once in 50 years,” explains Moawya.

Earlier, this website reported a draft code suggestion of a basic wind speed velocity for design, being set at 108 km/h. This number was commented on for the fact that it would be high above the actual value concluded after analysis of the wind climate of Dubai and the surrounding regions.

However, the final draft of the Wind Code has adopted a basic wind speed velocity of 90 km/h, or 25m/s. This is equivalent to a basic wind speed of 38m/s on a 3 second gust, and this is lower than the current value specified in the Dubai building regulations, which specifies a 45m/s basic wind speed.

Although assumed earlier, this also implies that no tall structure standing ground in the emirate will be classified as under designed after implementation of the new Code.

“The current basic wind speed velocity used is higher than the value adopted by the new code, explains Moawya. “The new value of the basic wind speed velocity will be relaxed, and lower than the previous 45m/s value.”

This does not mean that the code is not a conservative one, explains Moawya.

“We are confident that we will still be very conservative in the values we adopt for wind speed for the design of buildings in the new Code. Our buildings are very safe in their design to resist wind and seismic forces in this area.”

Extra attention is paid to prestigious projects, like Burj Khalifa, Emirates Towers and Burj Al Arab. For these buildings special analysis and studies are carried out to determine the wind and seismic forces, and very conservative measures are taken to guarantee safety.

“Codes often adopt a 33% extra capacity allowance for buildings to resist wind forces, on top of what is required in terms of design resistance to wind,” explains Moawya.

The law is now in its final stage of preparation and is expected to be implemented sometime next year.