The Government Council has just adopted two decrees amending the earthquake-resistant construction regulations applicable to buildings and the earthquake-resistant regulations for earth constructions.
This is draft decree No. 2.24.766 amending and supplementing decree No. 2.02.177 of 9 hija 1422 (February 22, 2002) approving the earthquake-resistant construction regulations (RPS 2000) applicable to buildings, setting out earthquake-resistant rules and establishing the National Committee for Earthquake Engineering. In addition, draft decree No. 2.24.767 supplementing decree No. 2-12-666 of 17 rejeb 1434 (May 28, 2013) approving the earthquake-resistant regulations for earthen constructions and establishing the National Committee for Earthen Constructions.
For the Minister of Housing, Ms. Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the two draft decrees adopted by the Government Council are part of the measures aimed at strengthening the resilience of buildings in areas affected by the earthquake of September 8, 2023: “Indeed, the new seismic data recorded during this earthquake will imply an increase in the seismic hazard in the majority of the affected regions.” And to add that while waiting for the overall revision of the earthquake-resistant construction regulations, a reconsideration of the seismic zoning of these regions has been required to ensure greater safety for any new construction.
It should be noted that this partial revision was unanimously validated by the National Committee for Earthquake Engineering and the National Committee for Earth Construction.
However, the violent earthquake that shook the province of Al Haouz and whose effects extended to all the territories of the prefecture of Marrakech and the provinces of Chichaoua, Taroudant, Ouarzazate and Azilal, revealed the need for a partial revision of the speed values, speed and acceleration zones at the level of certain municipalities.
As for draft decree No. 2.24.767, it should be recalled, in this regard, that the devastating Al Hoceima earthquake of 2004 demonstrated that Moroccan expertise in earth construction needs to be improved and enriched by international experiences, particularly those of countries with high seismic activity and similar socio-economic conditions. These experiences have proven that earth construction is not incompatible with earthquake engineering if appropriate techniques are used during the design and construction of this type of construction.
Thus, the intensity of the earthquake of September 8, 2023 has made it clear that there is a real need to adopt more earthquake-resistant rules to guarantee the resistance of earthen constructions, in order to ensure greater safety in disaster-stricken areas…
The territorial administration is therefore invited to ensure its proper application, far from any exploitation for irresponsible purposes!
H.Z
#Building #developments #earthquake #regulations
– 2024-09-23 18:21:07
