Os códigos de obras: tradições e potencialidades

Abstract

The present dissertation discusses the planning instrument known as Código de Obras(Building Code), a set of local rules which frames the process of project approval in approximately 60% of Brazilian municipalities. The genesis of the building codes in Brazil dates back the early discussions of hygienist character in the nineteenth century, which propelled the publication of the of the Código Sanitário(Sanitary Code) of the State of São Paulo in 1894. Since then, several building codes have been replicated in different cities around Brazil without a critical assessment of its effectiveness as far as the generation of high quality spaces is concerned. Currently, many urban settlements in the country have their constructions regulated by outdated building codes. The project approval procedures stated in these local instruments, too often highly fragmented and changeable due to new federal and state norms, are usually not easily understood by the local citizens.The construction sector, in parallel, has demanded the establishment of the Código de Obras Nacional(National Construction Code). It is thought that the definition of a set of national rules to be followed by all municipalities around the countrymay benefit this sector which nowadays has to deal with a large array of specific local norms.The production of a national construction code, however, can not focus exclusively on how to enhance the working conditions of a single sector, but it should also result from a deeper understanding of the current regulatory frameworks, including their origins, real impacts and roles in shaping Brazilians urban dynamics. Through the analysis of the building codes in Brazil and countries where unified building regulations have been applied, the present dissertation develops a comparative study to shed some light on the problems highlighted above. Important issues as far as the topic of the present study is concerned are also discussed at the conclusion.