national builiding codes

Amity School of Architecture & Planning
BUILDING BYE - LAWS
& CODES PRACTICES
B. Arch IV Semester
Course Code: BAR 408

Codes Practices
Introduction to Codes of Practice
Introduction to various building codes in professional practice
emphasizing the importance of codes and regulations to protect
public health, safety and welfare and to ensure compliance with
the local authority.
Application of Codes of Practice
• Understanding the applications of various codes as per various
building types.
• Conducting a comprehensive code search process and
• Representing the above analysis by preparing detailed code
data sheets as applicable in the domain which has been
chosen for the research.

3
“Building codes are a series of ordinances
enacted by a state or local governmental
entity, establishing minimum requirements that
must be met in the construction and
maintenance of buildings”.
The government establishes requirements and
standards to protect people from unsafe living
and working conditions.
Introduction to Building Codes

4
Ensure public health and safety throughout a building.
Most have come into play “after-the-fact” as a learning
experience from a major tragedy.
They are primarily concerned with
Construction requirements
Hazardous materials or equipment used in the building
75% of all codes and standards deal with fire
Energy conservation
Accessibility
PURPOSE OF Codes

5
A building code is a document containing standardized requirement for the
design & construction of most types of building.
Codes regulate building construction & building use in order to protect the
health, safety & welfare of the occupant.
Codes express all aspects of construction including structural integrity, fire
resistance, safe exists, lighting, electrical, energy conservation, plumbing,
sanitary facilities, ventilation, seismic design & correct use of construction
materials.
Building codes classify standard by use & apply different standards to
each classification. For example, schools & office buildings are in separate
occupancy category with different performance requirement.
What is building code?

6
The codes includes various aspect for regulation on design
& construction viz;
For Planning Building/Development work
For Structural Design
For Constructional aspects
For Building Services (HVAC, electrical, Acoustics, lifts etc.)
Plumbing Services (Water supply, Sewerage, Drainage, waste
management)
Landscaping, signs and outdoor display structures

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The purpose of all these building codes is to ensure
public safety, health & welfare as affected by
building construction.
This purpose includes:
Structural strength
Sanitary equipment
Light & ventilation
Fire safety

NATIONAL BUILDING CODES
Introduction

9
The National Building Code of India (NBC), (a
comprehensive building Code), is a national instrument
providing guidelines for regulating the building construction
activities across the country.
It serves as a Model Code for adoption by all agencies
involved in building construction works be they Public Works
Departments, other government construction departments,
local bodies or private construction agencies.
What is National building code?

10
The Code mainly contains administrative regulations,
development control rules and general building requirements;
fire safety requirements; stipulations regarding materials,
structural design and construction (including safety); and
building and plumbing services.
The National Building Code was first published in 1970 at the
instance of Planning Commission and then revised in 1983.
Thereafter three major amendments were issued, two in 1987
and the third in 1997.
What is National building code?

These studies resulted in a recommendation that a
NATIONAL BUILDING CODE be prepared to unify the
building regulations throughout the country.
In 1968 A Report on Economies in Construction Cost’ was
published by planning commission.
It revealed that building bylaws and regulations and some of
the prevailing methods of construction were outmoded; some
designs were over burdened with safety factors; building
bylaws of municipal bodies were outdated etc.
History and Overview -National building code

• The Bureau of Indian Standards was established with the
objective of harmonious development of standardization
activity in India.
• This Bureau, Under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act,
1986, established Indian Standards, by a process of
consultation involving consumers, manufacturers,
Government and regulatory bodies, technologists, scientists
and testing laboratories through duly constituted
committees.
History and Overview -National building code

History and Overview - National building code
The first version of the NATIONAL BUILDING CODE was
published in 1970. Since the publication in 1970 version of the
NATIONAL BUILDING CODE a large number of comments and
useful suggestions for modifications and additions to different
parts and sections of the code were received.
The revised version of NATIONAL BUILDING CODE of India
was therefore, brought out in 1983

Based on the changes effected in the:
• Steel Code,
• Masonry Code
• Loading Codes
• to update Fire Protection Requirements,
three voluminous amendments were brought out to
the 1983 version of the Code,
Two in 1987 and the third in 1997.

In the last about two decades since the publication of the 1983
version of the Code, substantial further experience had been
gained in the areas of the
• Building planning,
• Designing and
• Construction.
Intensive efforts involving wide consultative process have
resulted in finalization and publication of the
NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF INDIA – 2005
reflecting the state-of-the-art and contemporary applicable
international practices.

The revised
NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF
INDIA – 2005
was formally released on 16th
September 2005
at New Delhi

It is the third revision compiled under the aegis
of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
It provides guidelines for regulating building
construction activities across the country.
It has the basic codes for construction
materials, services, systems and processes.

CONTENTS OF NBC 2005
• PART 0 INTEGRATED APPROACH – PREREQUISITE FOR
APPLYING PROVISION OF THE CODE
• PART 1 DEFINITIONS
• PART 2 ADMINISTRATION
• PART 3 DEVELOPMENT CONTROL RULES AND GENERAL
BUILDING REQUIREMENTS
• PART 4 FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY
• PART 5 BUILDING MATERIALS
• PART 6 STRUCTURAL DESIGN
• PART 7 CONSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES AND SAFETY
• PART 8 BUILDING SERVICES
• PART 9 PLUMBING SERVICES
• PART 10 LANDSCAPING, SIGNS AND OUTDOOR DISPLAY
STRUCTURES

Part 0: Integrated Approach Prerequisite
for Applying Provisions of the Code
This part covers guidelines to be followed for judicious
implementation of the provisions of various
parts/sections of the Code.

PART 1 : DEFINITIONS
It lists the terms appearing in all the parts/sections of
the National Building Code of India. However, some
common definitions are reproduced in this part also.

PART 2: ADMINISTRATION
It covers the administrative aspects of the Code, such as:
• Applicability of the Code,
• Organization of building department for enforcement of the
Code,
• Procedure for obtaining development and building permits, and
• Responsibility of the owner and all professionals involved in the
planning, design and construction of the building.

PART 3: DEVELOPMENT CONTROL RULES
AND GENERAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS
It covers :
• The development control rules and general building
requirements for proper planning and design at the layout
and building level to ensure health safety, public safety and
desired quality of life.
• Provides provisions for covered area, plinth area, FAR,
amenities, land use classification, height/ size of rooms,
kitchens etc.

PART 4 : FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY
It covers the requirements for fire prevention, life safety in
relation to fire, and fire protection of buildings. The code
specifies planning and construction features and fire protection
features for all occupancies that are necessary to minimize
danger to life and property.
The code categorizes the buildings as follows:
Group A - Residential Group B - Educational
Group C - Institutional Group D - Assembly
Group E - Business Group F - Mercantile
Group G - Industrial Group H - Storage
Group J - Hazardous

PART 5: BUILDING MATERIALS
It covers the requirements of building materials and
components, and criteria for accepting new or alternative
building materials and components.

29 Materials/ components which are covered in this part:
1. Aluminum & other light materials & their alloys
2. Bitumen & Tar products
3. Builders hardware's
4. Building chemicals
5. Building lime and products
6. Burnt clay products
7. Cement & concrete (i/c reinforcement)
8. Composite matrix products
9. Conductors & cables
10. Doors/windows & ventilators
11. Electrical wiring & accessories
12. Fillers, stoppers & putties
13. Floor coverings, roofing's & other finishes
14. Glass
15. Gypsum based materials

29 Materials/ components which are covered in this part :
16. Lignocellulosic building materials (timber bamboos etc.)
17. Paints & allied products
18. Polymers, plastics etc.
19. Sanitary appliances & water fittings
20. Soil based blocks
21. Steel & its alloys
22. Stones.
23. Structural sections
24. Thermal insulation materials
25. Threaded fasteners & rivets
26. Unit weight of building materials
27. Water proofing & damp proofing materials
28. Welding electrodes & wires
29. Wire ropes & wire products

PART 6 : STRUCTURAL DESIGN
This part through its seven sections provides for:
• structural adequacy of buildings to deal with both
internal and external environment, and
• provide guidance to engineers/ structural engineers
for varied usage of material/ technology types for
building design.

Part 6 : Section 1 : Loads, Forces and
Effects
It covers basic design loads to be assumed in the design of
buildings.
The live loads, wind loads, seismic loads, snow loads and
other loads, which are specified herein, are minimum
working loads which should be taken into consideration for
purposes of design.

Part 6 : Section 2 : Soils and
Foundations
It covers structural design (principles) of all
building foundations such as raft, pile and other
foundation systems to ensure safety and
serviceability without exceeding the permissible
stresses of the materials of foundations and the
bearing capacity of the supporting soil.

Part 6 : Section 3A : Timber
It covers the use of structural timber in structures or
elements of structures connected together by
fasteners/ fastening techniques.

Part 6 : Section 3B : Bamboo
It covers :
• The use of bamboo for constructional purposes in
structures or elements of the structure,
• Ensuring quality and effectiveness of design and
construction using bamboo.
• Minimum strength data, dimensional and grading
requirements,
• Seasoning, preservative treatment, design and jointing
techniques with bamboo which would facilitate scientific
application and long-term performance of structures.
• Guidelines so as to ensure proper procurement, storage,
precautions and design limitations on bamboo.

Part 6 : Section 4 : Masonry
It covers
• the structural design aspects of unreinforced load
bearing and non-load bearing walls,
• Constructed using various bricks, stones and blocks
permitted in accordance with this section.
• provisions for design of reinforced brick and reinforced
brick concrete floors and roofs.

Part 6 : Section 5A :
Plain and Reinforced Concrete
It covers the general structural use of plain and reinforced
concrete.

Part 6 : Section 5B : Prestressed
Concrete
It covers the general structural use of pre-stressed
concrete. It covers both work carried out on site and the
manufacture of precast pre-stressed concrete units.

Part 6 : Section 6 : Steel
It covers the use of structural steel in general building
construction including the use of hot rolled steel sections
and steel tubes.

Part 6 : Section 7 :
Prefabrication and Systems
Building

Though desirable for large scale building activities, has yet
to take a firm hold in the country.
Includes a few recommendations on the need to avoid
‘progressive collapse’ of the structures.
Part 6 : Section 7A : Prefabricated
Concrete:

Part 6 : Section 7B : Systems Building and
mixed/ Composite Construction
It covers recommendations regarding modular
planning, component sizes, joints, manufacture,
storage, transport and erection of prefabricated
elements for use in buildings and such related
requirements for mixed/composite construction.

PART 7 : CONSTRUCTIONAL
PRACTICES AND SAFETY
It covers
• The constructional practices in buildings;
• storage, stacking and handling of materials and
• safety of personnel during construction operations for
all elements of a building and demolition of buildings.
The objective can be best achieved through proper
coordination and working by the project management and
construction management teams.

PART 8 : BUILDING SERVICES
This part through its five elaborate sections on utilities
provides detailed guidance to concerned professionals/
utility engineers for meeting necessary functional
requirements in buildings.

Part 8 : Section 1 : Lighting and
Ventilation
It covers requirements and methods for lighting and
ventilation of buildings.

PART 8 : Section 2 : Electrical and
Allied Installations
It covers
• The essential requirements for electrical installations in
buildings to ensure efficient use of electricity including
safety from fire and shock.
• General requirements relating to lightning protection of
buildings.

PART 8 : Section 3 : Air conditioning,
Heating and Mechanical Ventilation
This section covers
• The design, construction and installation of air
conditioning and heating systems and
• equipment installed in buildings for the purpose of
providing and maintaining conditions of air temperature,
humidity, purity and
• Distribution, suitable for the use and occupancy of the
space.

PART 8 : Section 4 : Acoustics, Sound
Insulation and Noise Control
It covers, requirements and guidelines regarding planning
against noise, acceptable noise levels and the
requirements for sound insulation in buildings with different
occupancies.

PART 8 : Section 5 : Installation of
Lifts and Escalators
It covers the essential requirements for the installation,
operation, maintenance and also inspection of lifts
(passenger lifts, goods lifts, hospital lifts, service lifts and
dumb-waiter lifts) and escalators so as to ensure safe and
satisfactory performance.

PART 9 : PLUMBING SERVICES
This part through its two sections gives detailed guidance
to concerned professionals/ plumbing engineers with
regard to plumbing and other related requirements in
buildings.

PART 9 : Section 1 : Water Supply, Drainage and
Sanitation (including Solid Waste Management)
It covers
• The basic requirements of water supply for residential,
business and other types of buildings, including traffic
terminal stations.
• General requirements of plumbing connected to public
water supply and design of water supply systems.
• Provisions on Rain Water Harvesting have also been
included

PART 9 : Section 1 : Water Supply, Drainage and
Sanitation (including Solid Waste Management)
It also covers
• The design, layout, construction and maintenance of drains for
foul water, surface water and subsoil water and sewage;
• Together with all ancillary works, such as connections,
manholes and inspection chambers used within the building
and from building to the connection to a public sewer, private
sewer, individual sewage-disposal system, cess-pool, or to
other approved point of disposal/ treatment work.
• It further includes the provisions on solid waste management.

PART 9 : Section 2 : Gas Supply
It covers the requirements regarding the safety of persons
and property for all piping uses and for all types of gases
used for fuel or lighting purposes in buildings.

PART 10 : Section 1 : Landscape
Planning and Design
It covers requirements of landscape planning and design
with the view to promoting quality of outdoor built
environment and protection of land and its resources.

PART 10 : Section 2 :
Signs and Outdoor Display Structures
It covers
• The requirements with regard to public safety,
structural safety and fire safety of all signs
(advertisements) and outdoor display structures
including the overall aesthetical aspects of imposition
of signs and outdoor display structures in the outdoor
built environment.
• Terminologies related to signages and explanatory
figures have been added.

• Inclusion of a complete philosophy and direction for
successfully accomplishing the building projects through
integrated multidisciplinary approach right from conceptual
stage through planning, designing, construction, operation
and maintenance stages.
• A series of reforms in building permit process.
• Provision for ensuring safety of buildings against natural
disaster& certification of structural sufficiency by engineer &
structural engineer.
• Permission of two stage permit for high rise residential and
special buildings.
Salient Features of NBC – 2005

• Provision for periodic renewal certificate of occupied buildings
from structural, fire, electrical, health safety point of view
• Provision for empowering engineers/architects for sanctioning
plans for residential buildings up to 500 sqm.
• Revision of parking requirements for metro & mega cities.
(mega cities are metros with population more than 50 lacs)
• Up gradation of special requirements for low income housing
for urban areas.
• Inclusion of special requirements for low income housing for
rural habitat planning.

• Inclusion of guidelines for development planning for hilly
areas.
• Revisions of the provisions for building and facilities for
physically challenged
• Fire safety norms completely revamped through detailed
provisions on fire prevention, life safety and fire protection
• Inclusion of new categories of starred hotels, heritage
structures & archeological monuments for fire safety
provisions
• Substitution of halon based fire extinguishers/fire fighting
system
• Promotion to new/innovative building materials/technologies

• Inclusion of latest provisions for earthquake resistant design &
construction
• Inclusion of details on multi-disaster prone districts
• Inclusion of new chapter on design & construction using
bamboos
• Chapter on pre-fabricated & composite construction for
speedier construction
• Up gradation of provision of safety in construction.
• Complete revision of provision on building & plumbing
services in line with applicable international practices.
• Provision on Rain Water Harvesting
• Inclusion of new chapter to cover landscaping needs.

Conclusion
Codes set the minimum criteria. You can follow
stricter requirements at any time.
They are not always perfectly clear. When two
requirements are similar, go with the strictest
requirement
Not all of them will apply to every design situation.
Work with the code official to resolve discrepancies.

national builiding codes

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