Thailand’s progress in the construction sector is closely linked to the sustainable development programme and energy-efficient technologies. The growth of investment demand for eco-friendly Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) projects has had a significant impact on this area. We will tell you more about the features of the modern market of real estate in Thailand, construction trends, key principles, and technologies in our material.
Content:
- Seismic rules: what a building must withstand
- What the 2025 earthquake taught
- The features of safe and eco-friendly construction in Thailand
- "Green construction"
- Closed-loop economics and its role in the construction sector
- The role of private companies in the real estate sector development
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Seismic rules: what a building must withstand
A conversation about the safety of Thai housing starts not with materials but with structural design. Earthquake requirements are set out in Ministerial Regulation B.E. 2564, adopted in 2021 to replace the earlier document of 2007.
- The rules apply in 43 provinces divided into three zones by risk level. Bangkok is on the list: the capital sits on soft soils that amplify tremors even from distant quakes.
- Design follows the DPT 1301/1302-61 standard. Requirements are stricter for buildings above 60 metres, where analysis uses the modified response spectrum method.
- Ductility of joints is regulated separately: connections between structural elements must deform rather than fail in a brittle way.
- A building designed before 2007 never went through these checks at all, and one built between 2007 and 2021 met softer rules. Ask for the year of design alongside the year of completion.
What the 2025 earthquake taught
On 28 March 2025 a magnitude 7.7 earthquake centred in Myanmar reached Bangkok. Most high-rises came through it, but a 30-storey State Audit Office building under construction in the Chatuchak district collapsed entirely, killing 96 people. Insurers received about 150,000 claims and the damage was estimated at 50 billion baht.
Three practical conclusions follow for a buyer.
- What failed was a building under construction, not a finished one. A frame without completed joints and floors is weaker than a finished structure — an argument for projects with transparent technical supervision.
- The investigation focused on steel quality and design decisions rather than on the rules themselves. Thailand’s codes are modern; the question is how they are followed on a particular site.
- After March 2025 owners queued up to have cracks assessed. If you are buying a resale unit in a Bangkok high-rise, ask the juristic person for the post-earthquake structural inspection report — almost every large complex commissioned one.
"Thai codes are comparable to European ones; the difference is in site supervision. We tell buyers to ignore marketing lines about earthquake resistance and look at two things: the year the project was designed and whether independent technical supervision was in place. Everything else is finishing detail."
— a structural engineer working on residential projects in Thailand
The features of safe and eco-friendly construction in Thailand
The devastating effects of environmental pollution are becoming an increasingly serious problem in Thailand. In 2011, the government decided to support environmental protection by encouraging investments in "green technologies" and eco-friendly materials. As a result, the authorities adopted the concept of "green construction" in the real estate market.
They have developed some initiatives and subsidies to promote eco-friendly buildings in the country. Local and foreign investors have also supported these "green" initiatives. In 2021, the BCG projects received numerous investment requests for 128.4 billion baht (about $3.8 billion).
According to the country’s Board of Investment (BOI), Thailand expects BCG sectors to be about 24% of GDP over the next six years. As part of the sustainable development, the country plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20–25% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
With UN support, the Kingdom has adopted effective ways to promote energy-efficient buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide citizens with low-cost housing, including affordable apartments in Thailand. This assistance was part of the national plan to reduce NAMA emissions (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions). NAMA is seen as a key tool for mitigating the effects of climate change in developing countries through energy conservation, public transport, reforestation and renewable energy programmes.
"Green construction"
The term "green construction" refers to the eco-friendly planning, construction and operation of houses in Thailand. These buildings must meet some criteria for construction materials, maintenance, renovation, and demolition technologies to be eco-friendly.
According to the "green requirements", the country's construction sector uses renewable (local) building materials, reduces waste and energy consumption (for example, through renewable energy sources), and prevents pollutants from entering the air (including through "green roofs" as natural filters).
Thus, "green construction" helps to:
- save energy;
- use resources efficiently;
- reduce waste;
- reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Green building creates a new market for safe materials and equipment, including:
- wooden structural panels;
- glass facades;
- floor coverings;
- glue;
- heat pumps;
- inverters and many other products safe for human health and the environment.
Closed-loop economics and its role in the construction sector
In 2018, Thailand decided to change its development strategy and gradually turn to a closed-loop economy, which is one of the most productive ways to solve the problem of waste disposal through more efficient resources and an eco-friendly construction industry.
Thailand encourages special environmental solutions such as:
- electrical products;
- eco-friendly chemicals;
- "green" polymer materials;
- recycling and reuse of waste;
- solar cell production.
The role of private companies in the real estate sector development
In March 2022, 23 private Thai organizations committed themselves to business development in a closed-loop economy, including SCG, which pays special attention to building materials, services, and green solutions.
The company focuses on resource efficiency by optimizing the production process that meets energy saving requirements, extending the service life of products and equipment, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
SCG also uses digital technologies to eco-friendly building processes that will help reduce construction time, improve accuracy, reduce resource consumption, minimize costs, and reduce waste on the construction site.
EEC Engineering Network Company Limited is another major market player following this closed–loop strategy. The company plays an important role in developing and building many global projects such as multifunctional buildings, new city development, and eco-industry projects. Their main goal is to achieve carbon neutrality.
Conclusion
Thailand has an excellent chance to become a model of "green building" in Asia – a region that is urbanizing faster than any other in the world is. In 2022, the country implemented two Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAS) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The first one involves greening housing in development projects in Thailand for low- and middle-income people. The second one is aimed at greening government buildings.
According to Isabelle Louis, Deputy Director of the UN Asia-Pacific Environment Office, the Thai government is committed to transforming the construction market and ensuring sustainable growth over the years.
Nowadays, the average cost of "green buildings" in Thailand exceeds the cost of standard properties (by about 20%), but the cost of electricity and water supply in such housing units is 20–30% lower. However, the number of "green buildings" will increase across the country, which will benefit owners and residents in the long term.
Ask for help from our specialists to find and safely buy apartments in development projects in Thailand. The website presents various housing options from proven developers in sought-after cities of the country with current prices and photos.
Frequently asked questions
Does Thailand have earthquakes?
Yes, and Bangkok is one of the 43 provinces where seismic rules are mandatory. Tremors usually arrive from far away, but the capital’s soft soils amplify them.
Since when have buildings been designed to modern seismic rules?
The current regulation dates from 2021 and the previous one from 2007. Projects older than 2007 never went through these checks, so ask for the year of design separately from the year of completion.
Is it risky to buy in a Bangkok high-rise?
Most high-rises came through the 2025 earthquake. For a resale unit, though, ask for the structural inspection report that almost every large complex commissioned after March 2025.
What is a "green building" and is it worth the premium?
It is a building designed to environmental criteria. Construction costs about 20% more, while electricity and water bills run 20–30% lower.
How can I check build quality before buying?
Look at the developer’s completed projects, ask for the construction permit and details of technical supervision, and when buying off-plan compare the payment schedule with the construction stages.