Lateral Load and Design Disparity between BNBC1993 and BNBC2020

Abstract

Building codes are the minimal requirements for design and construction to assure a safe and resilient structure. A building code recognized as the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) is existent in Bangladesh (BD), just like in other developing nations. It's now a difficult task to comply with the code because of the extensive update after two decades. The main goal of this work is to compare the analytical and design requirements for lateral loads between BNBC2020 and BNBC1993. To do so, a large number of structural models are assessed using ETABS following the considered code procedure at different locations in the country. It also compares the lateral load parameters such as zone coefficient, wind velocity, building period, story shear, base shear, drift, deflection, reinforcement ratio etc. The parametric comparison of the outcomes has demonstrated that BNBC2020 is more conservative and boosts the safety factor against lateral loads. Engineers will be able to comprehend the differences in lateral load between these codes after perusing this study.