dm area definitions

8/13/2019 DM Area Definitions

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Prepared by P&T Architects and Engineers LTD Dubai Branch 1

DUBAI MUNCIPALITY AREA DEFINITIONS

January 2008

Revision F


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1.0 Introduction

Dubai Municipality (DM) use the following term fordefining areas:

1. Floor Area Ratio (FAR)2. Built-Up Area (BUA)


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2.0 Floor Area Ratio (Area)

The DM Submission definition of FARis different fromthe internationally accepted definition. The DMSubmission definition is a measurement of area.

The Floor Area Ratio (FAR)includes the following:

A (Usable Areas) B (Circulation Areas)

The FARexcludes of the following:

C (Balcony Areas)

D (Service Areas)

MEP Shafts

Exceptions to the above rule:

Lift shaft area is to be counted as B (CirculationArea)for the Ground Floor only. On all otherfloors, lift shafts shall be considered as MEPShafts.

FAR = A (Usable Areas) + B (Circulation Areas)

3.0 Built-Up Area

Built-Up Area(BUA) is the total constructed floor area ofa building.

When providing BUA calculations to DM the BUA shouldbe described as the total of the following areas

A (Usable Areas) B (Circulation Areas)

C (Balcony Areas)

D (Service Areas)

E (Roof Slab Area)1

BUA is exclusive of:

MEP Shafts

BUA = A (Usable Areas) + B (Circulation Areas)+ C (Balcony Areas) + D (Service Areas)+ (E) Roof Slab Areas

1Update Revision F


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4.0 Definition of Areas

4.1 (A) Usable Areas

(A) Usable Areasare all sellable areas within a buildingenclosure.2This includes, but is not exclusive of;residential apartments, office tenancies, retail areas,

hospitality areas, building facilities, etc.

Refer to Figure 1 for Balcony Areas that are included as(A) Usable Areas.

Refer to 4.4 (D) Service Areasfor Storage Areaexclusion.

4.2 (B) Circulation Areas(B) Circulation Areasare all public corridors, lobbyspaces and stair cases.

2Updated Revision D


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4.3 (C) Balcony Areas(C) Balcony Areasare naturally ventilated, areas aboveground floor, which are accessible by one tenancy only,3excluding:

Areas that run the entire length of a faade

Areas that are have two or more edge walls to aheight greater than the balustrade height (900 -

1200mm).4

Exceptions to the above rule:

Where an area comprises of more than one typeof the conditions noted above, each part shall bedefined separately.5

Full height glazed walls are not considered asedge walls. Partial glazing to edge walls shall be

discussed with DM. Areas that run the entire length of a faade

exception, does not apply to Roof Slab Areas.6

Refer to Figure 1.

3Updated Revision C

4Updated Revision E (removal of condition from Revision D)

5Updated Revision F

6Updated Revision F (removal of condition from Revision E)

Figure 1: Balcony Definition Diagram7

7Updated Revision E


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4.5 (E) Roof Slab Areas10(E) Roof Slab Areasinclude all roof slabs that have notbeen previously defined as:

A (Usable Areas)

B (Circulation Areas)

C (Balcony Areas)

D (Service Areas)

10Added in Revision F


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5.0 Area Calculation Method

5.1 External Wall

All areas shall be measured to the external face ofexternal walls at the finished floor level.11

5.2 Internal Walls

All areas shall be measured to the centre line of internalwalls at the finished floor level.12

5.3 MEP Shafts

All areas shall be measured to the inside face of MEPShafts at the finished floor level.13

All voids shall be considered as MEP Shafts.14

11Updated Revision B




Figure 2: Method of Calculating Areas Diagram


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6.0 Area for Garbage and Car ParkingCalculationsThe Area used for Garbage and Car Parking calculationsis the (A) Usable Areas15excluding the following:

Shared Toilet Areas with access only from (B)Circulation Areasand (D) Service Areas.

Store Rooms with access only from (B) Circulation

Areasand (D) Service Areas.

7.0 Submission to DM RequirementsWhen submitting to DM, a key plan is required showingfloor by floor areas of; (A) Usable Area, (B) Circulation

Areas, (C) Balcony Areas,and (D) Service Areas. Thedifferent areas should be show in distinctly recognizablehatches, not colours, as drawings are submitted in blackand white.

All areas units should be in both imperial and metric.

15Updated Revision D

8.0 Affection PlansIn incidences where there is a conflict between DMregulations and the Affection Plan, the Affection Plan willtake precedence.

The FAR noted on DM Affection Plans is the ratio of theFAR (DM Submission)over the Plot Area.


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9.0 AppendixThe following drawings are an example of areacalculation drawings for Dm Preliminary Submission.


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