Structural works: definition, stages and how they differ from fit-out and finishes
Structural works, gros œuvre in French, are the works that hold a building up: earthworks, foundations, the reinforced concrete structure, masonry, the roof structure and basic waterproofing. They come before fit-out and finishes (second œuvre), which make the building usable. In Morocco, their design and execution follow the seismic design code RPS 2000, version 2011.
Construction glossary in French, Arabic and English: 74 site terms
Structural works are gros œuvre in French and الأشغال الكبرى in Arabic, earthworks are terrassement and أعمال الحفر, the client is the maître d'ouvrage and صاحب المشروع. This construction glossary brings together 74 terms from building and public works in Morocco, grouped by family, with the French, the Arabic of the official texts, British English and a one-sentence definition.
RPS 2011: the seismic building code in Morocco
RPS 2011 is Morocco's seismic building code, "RPS 2000, version 2011", approved by Decree n° 2-12-682 of 28 May 2013, which amends Decree n° 2-02-177 of 22 February 2002. It applies to buildings throughout the country, places every municipality in a velocity zone and an acceleration zone, and divides buildings into three classes according to their use. Since the Al Haouz earthquake, a single change has been published: the zoning of 80 municipalities, revised by a decree of 22 October 2024.
