In a context of rapid and often unplanned urbanization, it is crucial to recall the basic safety distance rules — known as setbacks — around major infrastructure. These protection zones, often overlooked, are essential for public safety, infrastructure durability, and disaster prevention.
- High-Voltage Power Lines: Don’t Play with Power
High and very high-voltage power lines require strict safety distances:
5 to 10 meters for medium-voltage lines (20–60 kV),20 to 30 meters for high-voltage lines (110–220 kV),
Up to 60 meters for very high-voltage lines (>400 kV).
No buildings, dwellings, or tall agricultural activities should be allowed within these zones. The risks of electrocution, fire, or electromagnetic interference are real.
- Riverbeds: Let the Water Breathe
Rivers, streams, and canals must be surrounded by buffer zones:
10 to 15 meters around the minor bed, to allow for natural vegetation and maintenance,
20 to 100 meters in flood-prone areas, depending on hydraulic maps.
Occupying these zones exposes people to destructive flooding, erosion, and water pollution.
- Roads and Streets: Plan for the Margins
Roadways require clear rights-of-way:
20 to 60 meters total, depending on whether it’s an urban road, national highway, or expressway,
3 to 10 meters of setback for any building along the street, to preserve sidewalks, underground networks, and allow for future widening.
In the DRC, too many constructions encroach on these zones, complicating traffic and public works.
Respecting Setbacks Means Building for the Future
These norms are not a constraint, but a safeguard against disasters, legal disputes, and future development costs. In a country undergoing urban expansion, applying these rules from the very beginning of any project — big or small — is an act of civic responsibility.
ExpoBéton urges urban planners, developers, traditional leaders, and citizens to embrace these norms, because building with order ensures the resilience and sustainability of our cities.
Rédaction
