The Ministry of Construction, together with the drafting body, the Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology (IBST), is currently seeking comments and finalizing the dossier for Draft Amendment 1:2026 to QCVN 02:2022/BXD – National Technical Regulation on Natural Conditions Data for Construction.

The amendment aims to ensure that the regulation is consistent with the administrative unit system following the recent administrative restructuring, update the legal basis and names of specialized agencies, and facilitate the retrieval and application of natural conditions data in construction activities.

Updating Administrative Place Names and the Legal Basis

One of the key elements of the draft amendment is the updating of the administrative place-name system in accordance with National Assembly Resolution No. 202/2025/QH15 on the reorganization of provincial-level administrative units, reducing the number of provinces and centrally governed cities from 63 to 34. At the same time, the draft reviews commune-level place names in accordance with resolutions of the National Assembly Standing Committee, reflecting the reduction in the number of commune-level administrative units from 10,035 to 3,321.

In addition, the draft updates relevant concepts and provisions to align with the Law on Construction No. 135/2025/QH15 and the Law on Urban and Rural Planning No. 47/2024/QH15, including a clearer distinction between construction activities and planning activities.

The names of specialized agencies responsible for providing data have also been reviewed and revised to reflect the new organizational structure. These include the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology, Environment and Sea under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Institute of Earth Sciences under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

Reviewing Data Down to the Commune, Ward and Special Administrative Zone Level

A notable feature of Amendment 1:2026 to QCVN 02:2022/BXD is the review of tables and maps delineating natural factors, including wind pressure, earthquake peak ground acceleration and lightning strike density, to reflect the new administrative boundaries. Data are assigned in detail to each commune, ward and special administrative zone, replacing the previous presentation based on the former district-level administrative system.

The draft establishes specific principles for assigning data to newly formed administrative units resulting from the reorganization of existing units.

For wind pressure, where a new commune or ward is formed from former administrative units belonging to different wind-pressure zones, the applicable value is determined according to the zone with the highest value, thereby ensuring safety requirements in structural design.

For earthquakes and thunderstorms with lightning, the data are determined based on the geographical centroid of the newly formed commune or ward. This approach provides a consistent basis for retrieving and determining the relevant data in accordance with current administrative boundaries.

The amendments in this round focus primarily on updating place names and reassigning data according to the new administrative boundaries, rather than comprehensively updating the time series of extreme meteorological and hydrological observations.

According to the proposed roadmap, new observational data, including information related to extreme weather events and the impacts of Typhoon Yagi in 2024, will be considered for comprehensive updating under Amendment 2, which is expected to be issued in 2027.

Implications for Building Design Consultancy

Once promulgated, Amendment 1:2026 to QCVN 02:2022/BXD is expected to help consulting firms, project owners and management authorities more conveniently determine natural conditions data in accordance with the new administrative place-name system.

For construction surveys, design and design verification, updating administrative boundaries and establishing consistent data-assignment principles have direct implications for selecting design input parameters, particularly those affecting structural safety and durability, such as wind, earthquakes and thunderstorms with lightning.

While awaiting the official promulgation of the amended regulation, relevant organizations and individuals should monitor the draft dossier and the final promulgated document to ensure timely updates to applicable requirements, particularly transitional provisions for projects currently under implementation.

Note: The information presented above reflects the draft regulation during the consultation and dossier-finalization process. The official scope of application shall be determined by the document promulgated by the competent authority.

Editorial Board – TECCO1