QCS 2014 Section 01: General Page1

Part 01: Introduction

1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 2

1.1 GENERAL ...................................................................................................... 2

1.1.1 Scope of this Section 2
1.1.2 Scope of the Qatar Construction Specification 2
1.1.3 References 2
1.1.4 Precedence of Specification and Documents 2
1.2 COMPLIANCE ............................................................................................... 3
1.2.1 Compliance with the Qatar Construction Specification 3
1.2.2 Compliance with the General Conditions of Contract 3
1.3 STANDARDS ................................................................................................. 3

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1.3.1 References to Standards 3
1.3.2 Government Published Specifications, Regulations, Notices and Circulars 3

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1.3.3 Survey Marks 5

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1.4 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS .......................................................................... 5
1.4.1
1.4.2
General
Approved o. 5
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1.4.3 Contract 5
1.4.4 Contract Documents 5
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1.4.5 Contractor 5
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1.4.6 Drawings 6
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1.4.7 Engineer 6
1.4.8 Engineer’s Representative 6
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1.4.9 Government 6
1.4.10 Government Departments and Utility Services 6
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1.4.11 Guarantee 6
1.4.12 Independent Agency 6
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1.4.13 Owner 6
1.4.14 Permanent Works 6
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1.4.15 Plant 7
1.4.16 Project Documentation 7
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1.4.17 Singular and Plural 7

1.4.18 Site 7
1.4.19 Specifications 7
1.4.20 Specified 7
1.4.21 Temporary Works 7
1.4.22 Works 7
1.5 ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS ............................................................... 7
1.5.1 General 7
1.5.2 Site Conditions 9
1.6 LANGUAGE ................................................................................................. 10
1.6.1 Contract Language 10
QCS 2014 Section 01: General Page2
Part 01: Introduction

1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 GENERAL

1.1.1 Scope of this Section

1 This Section specifies the general clauses applicable to Works being carried out in
accordance with this Specification.

1.1.2 Scope of the Qatar Construction Specification

1 The clauses in this Specification are applicable to each and every part of the Works. Their
function is to bring together all those statements which are normally common to most types
of work.

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2 The Qatar Construction Specification applies to the entire Works, whether on the Site or in

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yards, workshops and factories employed elsewhere in connection with the Works.

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1.1.3 References

1 The following standards are referred to in this Part: o.

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BS 6100......................Building and civil engineering: Vocabulary
BS ISO 80000 ............Quantities and Units
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BS EN 1991-1-4 .........Eurocode 1. Actions on structures. General actions. Wind actions

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BS EN 1992-1-1 .........Eurocode 2. Design of concrete structures. General rules and rules for
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buildings
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ASCE/SEI 7-05...........Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and other Structures

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Guide to the Design of Concrete Structures in the Arabian Peninsula, 2008

Seismic hazard and seismic design requirements for the Arabian Peninsula region. The 14th
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World Conference on Earthquake Engineering October 2008

Civil Aviation Authority wind records. Ministry of Communication & Transport, Department of
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Civil Aviation & Meterology.

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1.1.4 Precedence of Specification and Documents

1 The precedence of documents shall be:

(a) Particular Conditions of Contract.

(b) General Conditions of Contract.
(c) Project Specific Specification.
(d) Project Specific and General Drawings.
(e) Qatar Construction Specification.
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Part 01: Introduction

1.2 COMPLIANCE

1.2.1 Compliance with the Qatar Construction Specification

1 Unless otherwise stated in the Project Documentation, the Contractor shall comply with every
requirement of the Qatar Construction Specification that is relevant to the type of work
forming any part of the Contract and shall adopt whichever permissible option or alternative
that is best suited to the needs of the construction work being undertaken.

2 Any information in the Contract documents as to the whereabouts of existing services and
mains is approximate and for the guidance of the Contractor who shall not be relieved of his
obligations under of the General Conditions of Contract .

1.2.2 Compliance with the General Conditions of Contract

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1 The Qatar Construction Specification is intended for use with the General Conditions of

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Contract.

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2 The Contractor shall comply with the provisions of the General Conditions of Contract in the
course of construction of the Works.

1.3 STANDARDS
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1.3.1 References to Standards

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1 Any standard referred to in this Specification shall be deemed to be the version and/or
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standard(s), that was current forty-two days prior to the date of return of Tenders.
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2 Any standard referred to in this Specification shall be taken as a reference to an equivalent

Specification.
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3 The Contractor shall have copies of all referenced standards applicable to the work being
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undertaken. Translations of standards not written in English shall be provided where

necessary.
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1.3.2 Government Published Specifications, Regulations, Notices and Circulars

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1 The works shall be executed in accordance with the following Government specifications,
regulations, notices and circulars:

(a) The General Conditions of Contract.

(b) The Qatar Construction Specification (QCS) issued by the Qatar Standards,
Laboratories and Standardisation Affairs, Ministry of Environment, 2014 and all
revisions and addenda issued by the same ministry prior to the date of the
announcement inviting tenderer.
(c) The Code of Practice and Specification for Road Openings in the Highway prepared by
the Ministry of Industry & Public Works, January 1992.
(d) The Guide for Civil Users of Explosives in Qatar prepared by the former Ministry of
Public Works.
(e) The Qatar Survey Manual prepared by the Survey Section of the former Ministry of
Industry & Public Works.
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Part 01: Introduction

(f) The Qatar Traffic Manual prepared by the former Ministry of Public Works and the
Qatar Highway Design Manual prepared by MMAA, 1997.
(g) The Traffic Control at Road Works Manual issued by the former Ministry of Industry &
Public Works.
(h) Rules, Regulations and Code of Practice for Design and Installation of Air
Conditioning, Heating, Ventilation & Refrigeration (ACHVR) Systems for Government
Buildings, 2nd Edition, 1989, prepared by Qatar General Electricity and Water
Corporation (QGEWC).
(i) Regulations for the Installation of Electrical Wiring by the former Qatar National
Telephone Services.
(j) The Regulations for the Installation of Electrical Wiring, Electrical Equipment and Air
Conditioning Equipment, Feb 2006 Edition prepared by the Qatar General Electricity

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and Water Corporation (QGEWC).

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(k) Rules and Regulations for Plumbing Works prepared by the Qatar General Electricity

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and Water Corporation (QGEWC).

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(l) Any current and relevant regulations, notices or circulars issued by the Public Works
Authority, Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Agriculture (including the previous Ministry of
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Public Works and the previous Ministry of Industry and Public Works), Qatar General
Electricity and Water Corporation (QGEWC) (including the previous Ministry of
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Electricity and Water), Qatar Telecom (Q-TEL), the Qatar Standards, the Supreme
Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves or the appropriate local Municipality
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prior to the date of the announcement inviting tenderer.

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(m) State of Qatar Law No. 30 of 2002 and all subsequent amendments concerning “The
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Environment and Natural Resources Protection” – Articles 6, 17, 19 & 35.

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(n) State of Qatar Law No. (6) of 1987 and all subsequent amendments concerning
Materials and Equipment from Qatar or other CCASG countries.
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(o) The Method of Measurement for Road and Bridgeworks published by the Ministry of
Industry and Public Works, Civil Engineering Department , 1987.
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(p) Standard Method of Measurement of Building Works published by the Ministry of

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Public Works, Engineering Services Department, 1973.

(q) Safety Rules issued by the Electricity Networks Department of the former Ministry of
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Electricity and Water.

(r) The Jointing Manual prepared by the Electricity Networks Department of the former
Ministry of Electricity and Water.
(s) The Labour Law, No. (14) of The Year 2004 Published by Labour Department of
Ministry of Civil Service Affairs & Housing, 2005.
(t) Developer’s Drainage Guide prepared by the Public Works Authority, 2007.
(u) Qatar Traffic Law No. 19 of the Year 2007.
(v) CDD (Civil Defence Department) – Fire Safety Handbook.
(w) Civil Defence Law No. 9 of the Year 2012.
(x) Worker Rights Booklet 2009 (National Human Rights Committee).

2 The Contractor shall be deemed to have his own copy of the Government specifications,
regulations, notices and circulars given at (a) to (t) above.
QCS 2014 Section 01: General Page5
Part 01: Introduction

3 Where any standard publication, specification, regulation, notice, etc or any correspondence
refers to a Government Ministry, department, division, section, etc it will be deemed to be the
same as any successor Ministry, department, division, section, etc which has or may
subsequently be officially promulgated by the Government of the State of Qatar.

1.3.3 Survey Marks

1 The Contractor shall consult the Engineer prior to any earth or other works to determine if the
work is likely to disturb survey marks. If the Engineer requires a survey mark to be moved
the Contractor will be responsible for recreating the survey mark to an approved design and
specification, and for resurveying the point using survey companies approved by the
Engineer authority.

2 The Contractor shall be responsible for the protection of the survey marks within the

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boundaries of the site for the duration of the contract period, and shall be liable for all costs of

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any remedial work required by the Engineer.

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3 On the practical completion of the Works the Engineer will issue a certificate stating that all

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survey marks, whether disturbed or otherwise by the Contractor, have been reinstated or
protected to the satisfaction of the Engineer.

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In the event of failure to comply with the requirements of this Clause the Engineer, without
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prejudice to any other method of recovery, may deduct the costs of any remedial work after
the practical completion date carried out by the Engineer, from any monies in its hands or
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which may become due to the Contractor.

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1.4 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

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1.4.1 General
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1 The following terms and conditions shall apply when used within, or in association with, the
Qatar Construction Specification. Terms, which are restricted in their application to certain
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types of material or workmanship, are dealt with in the appropriate Section.

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2 The definitions given in the General Conditions of Contract shall apply to this specification.

1.4.2 Approved
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1 means terms such as “approved’, “approved by”, “to the approval”, “as directed” and the like
refer always to approval or directions given by the Engineer in writing.

1.4.3 Contract

1 means the binding agreement entered into between the parties and the Contractor for the
construction of the Works.

1.4.4 Contract Documents

1 means documents which together form the Contract

1.4.5 Contractor

1 means the party responsible for the construction of the Works.

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Part 01: Introduction

1.4.6 Drawings

1 The drawings included in the Project Documentation.

1.4.7 Engineer

1 means the party appointed by the Owner to administer the Contract

1.4.8 Engineer’s Representative

1 means the party appointed from time to time by the Engineer to perform duties on behalf of
the Engineer whose authority and delegated powers shall be notified in writing to the
Contractor by the Engineer.

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1.4.9 Government

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1 means the Government of the State of Qatar, including its ministries and offices

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1.4.10 Government Departments and Utility Services

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means any governmental, semi-governmental, administrative, fiscal or judicial ministry,
department, commission, authority, tribunal, agency, municipality or body, and shall include
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the provider of electricity, gas, water, wastewater and other public services, and any party
with a regulatory function under the laws of the State of Qatar.
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1.4.11 Guarantee
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1 A Guarantee is a written assurance that a material, product, component, item of equipment,

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finishing or any other part of the Works meets certain defined standards or quality criteria
and/or lasts for a certain length of time.
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2 A warranty is the same as a Guarantee as defined in Clause 1.4.17.1.

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1.4.12 Independent Agency

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1 means a party where specified in the Contract Documents or as instructed by the Engineer
as an Approved agency who is responsible for specific tasks assigned to that party by the
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Contract Documents

1.4.13 Owner

1 means the party for whom the Project is being undertaken and to whom the handover of the
final product will be made.

1.4.14 Permanent Works

1 means the permanent works, forming part of the Works, to be designed and / or executed
and completed by the Contractor under the Contract.
QCS 2014 Section 01: General Page7
Part 01: Introduction

1.4.15 Plant

1 means, irrespective of ownership, all plant, facilities, temporary structures and

accommodation, equipment, tools, appliances, apparatus, machinery, vehicles and other
things required for the design, execution and completion of the Works and the remedying of
defects, whether imported or locally supplied, but excluding Temporary Works and any other
things intended to form or forming part of the Permanent Works

1.4.16 Project Documentation

1 All documents associated with and applicable to the Project Contract.

1.4.17 Singular and Plural

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1 Words importing the singular only also include the plural vice versa where the context

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requires.

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1.4.18 Site

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1 Means the places provided by the Owner where the permanent works are to be executed and

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to which Plant and Materials are to be delivered, any other places that may be specified in the
Contract Documents or by an instruction of the Engineer as forming part of the Site
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1.4.19 Specifications
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1 All specifications contained in the Contract including any modifications or additions thereto as
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may from time to time be issued or approved in writing by the Engineer.

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1.4.20 Specified
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1 Specified in the Project Documentation.

1.4.21 Temporary Works

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1 means temporary works of every kind (other than Plant) required on the Site for the execution
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and completion of the Permanent Works and the remedying of Defects.

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1.4.22 Works

1 means all works, supplies and services of any kind, including Permanent Works and
Temporary Works, required for the project and to satisfy the requirements of the Contract
Documents.

1.5 ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS

1.5.1 General

1 Units shall generally be in accordance with the Systèm International d’Unités and the relevant
provisions of BS ISO 80000
QCS 2014 Section 01: General Page8
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2 The following abbreviations are used in this Specification:

µ microns
A ampere
C Celsius
c centi
d day
dia diameter
g gram (me)
h hour
ha hectare
J joule
k kilo
l litre
M mega

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m metre
m milli

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N Newton

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No. number
nr number
Pa
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Pascal
radius o.
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sec second
t tonne
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V volt
in

W Watt
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3 Reference to a technical society, institution, association or governmental authority is made in

the Specifications in accordance with the following abbreviations:
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AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

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ACI American Concrete Institute

ANSI American National Standards Institute
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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ASTM American Society for Testing & Materials

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AWS American Welding Society

AWWA American Water Works Association
BS British Standard
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BSI British Standard Institution

C & CA Cement and Concrete Association
CEE Commission of approval of Electrical Equipment
CIBSE Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
CIRIA Concrete Industry Research and Information Association
CRSI Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute
CS Concrete Society
DIN Deutsches Institute fur Normung (German Institute for Standardization)
EIA Electronic Industries Association
EN European Standards (Euro-Norm)
FHWA Federal Highway Authority
FM Factory Mutual Engineering Division
GS Gulf Standards
ICE Institution of Civil Engineers
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
IEE Institution of Electrical Engineers
QCS 2014 Section 01: General Page9
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IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ISO International Organization for Standardization
LPC Loss Prevention Council
LPCB Loss Prevention Certification Board
MMAA Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture
NEMA National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association
NFPA National Fire Protection Agency
PCI Prestressed Concrete Institute
PWA Public Works Authority (Ashghal)
QCS Qatar Construction Specification
QGEWC Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation
QS Qatar Standards (Laboratories and Standardisation Affairs, Ministry of
Environment)
Ooredoo Qatar Telecom Provider

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SIS Swedish Standards Institute

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UK DOT United Kingdom Department of Transport

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UPDA Urban Planning and Development Authority
VDE Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker (Association for Electrical, Electronic

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and Information Technologies)

1.5.2 Site Conditions o.

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1 The Site conditions shall be assumed to be as follows for tendering purposes:
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Maximum ambient temperature .......................... 50C

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Minimum ambient temperature ........................... 5C

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Design ambient temperature ............................... 50C

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Maximum metal temperature under the sun ....... 85C

Maximum ambient humidity ................................ 100%
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Minimum ambient humidity ................................. 20%

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Design ambient humidity ..................................... 100%

50-year return period Wind Speed:
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(a) Nominal wind speed for 3 sec gust ……… 38 m/s (A per ASCE 7-05 / IBC 2012)
(b) Mean hourly wind speed…………….…… 25 m/s (as per BS 6399-2)
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(c) Mean 10 minutes wind speed…………… 27 m/s (as per BS EN 1991-1-4)

Yearly rainfall ....................................................... 80 - 150 mm

2 The wind is very directional and that the W-NNW sector predominates for velocities greater
than 8m/s (30km/h). However, the wind in coastal areas tends to exhibit a diurnal pattern,
with onshore winds during daylight hours changing to offshore at night.

3 The temperature is relatively mild from October to May and hot from June to September.

4 The relative ambient humidity is generally low from October to May and generally high from
June to September.

5 Under certain climatic conditions, considerable condensation may take place.

6 A considerable amount of salt is contained in the atmosphere which together with the
relatively high ambient humidity, can produce sever corrosion problems.
QCS 2014 Section 01: General Page10
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7 Distribution and occurrence of rainfall events are very erratic. Rainfall events are generally of
a high intensity with a short duration and usually occur between December and March.

8 The prevailing wind directions are from the north and west.

9 The seismic design for all building structure shall be based upon local seismic accelerations
recommended as per ASCE 7-10, IBC 2012 or BS EN 1998-1:2004. Local seismic spectral
accelerations based upon uniform hazard response spectra for 475 year and 2475 year
return period as below.

Peak Ground Acceleration 0.2 second Spectral 1 second Spectral

(PGA) Acceleration (g) - Ss Acceleration (g) – S1

475 year 2475 year 475 year 2475 year 475 year 2475 year

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0.045 0.10 0.090 0.147 0.045 0.065

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10 Wind tunnel test is recommended for buildings under below criteria

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(a) Total building height exceeding 120m from ground.
(b) Structure with irregular geometry or shape.
(c) Unusual terrain or surrounding structure in the area.
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(d) Any other factor as per design requirements or designer recommendation.
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11 The ratio of the wind speed for any return period to the 50 year return period wind speed as
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per Peterka & Shahid Equation is

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VT / V50 = [0.36+0.1 ln (12T)]

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12 Building structure design working life shall be minimum as specified below

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Design working Indicative design Examples

life category working life (years)
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1 10 Temporary structures (a)

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2 10 to 25 Replaceable structural parts, eg. Gantry girders, bearings

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3 15 to 30 Storage and similar structures

4 50 to 75 Building structures and other common structures

5 120 Civil engineering structures like bridges, tunnel etc.

(a) Structures or parts of structures that can be dismantled with intention of being reused, aren’t temporary
structures.

1.6 LANGUAGE

1.6.1 Contract Language

1 All communications, meetings and documentation shall be in English.

END OF PART