eget SSHYDNOD. SAVOU NVIGNI FHL ‘sR6rE OMEIRC :3-1983 2 2. 2 25. 26. 2 28 ». MEMBERS OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE - KK. Sara (Convener) 1. N. Sivaguew Giember-Secretary) VK Arora RT. Aue 5. MLK Chatteree D.C. Chaturvedi 1. BLM. Das Dr. M.P. Dhir LAE. D'sa ). V.P. Gangal ¥.C. Gokhale 9. LC. Gupta . DP. Jain |. MLB, Jayawant D.C Jha NH. Keshwani . Dr. S.K. Khanna S.B. Kulkarni BK. Lauria KS, Logavinayagam Mahabie Prased H.C. Mathotra JM, Malhotra MAR. Malya PIN. Misra LK. Modi (©. Muthachen PAK. Nagarkar K.K, Nambiar Director General (Road Development) and Addl. Secretary to the Govt. of India, Ministry of Shipping & Transport (Chief Engineer (Roads), Ministry of Shipping & Trans- port Chiet Engineer (Roads), Ministry of Shipping & Trans- port Secretary to the Govt. of Maharashtra (II) PW & H incer (Retd.) E.C. 164, Sat Lake, Caleutta Managing Ditecior (Reté) A709 (BIG), Indica National Highways and Projects, Orissa Deputy Director, Central Road Research Institute Chief Engineer, The Concrete Association of India, Bombay Superintending Engineer, New Delhi Municipal Com- Head, Flexible Pavements Division, Central Road Research Tosttute Engineer-in-Chief (Retd.) Haryana P.W.D. B&R Chief Engineer (Retd.), 0-21, Ashok Marg, Jaipar ‘Neelkanth, 24, Carter Road, Bandra, Bombay ‘Superintending Engineer (Design), C-D.O. Patna ‘Chief Engineer (Retd.), 797 DIMI, Mandir Marg, New Delhi Prof. of Civil Engineering & Dean Development & Planing, University of Roorkee ‘Bitumen Manager, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. Bombay (Chief Engineer-cum-Housing Commissioner, Rajasthan State Housing Board (Chief Engineer (Retd., 181-B, Stth Street, Ashok Nagar Madras lef Engineer (Ret), 1010 Satoisi Naidu Mare, Chairman & Manzzing Director, Engineering Projets (india) Ltd, Now Delhi Secretary to the Govt. of Rajasthan P.W.D. 3, Panorama, 30, Pali Hill Road, Bombay Member, U.P. Public Service Commission Secretary, to the Govt. of Gujarat B & C Deptt. Engincer-in Chief (Retd.), C.P.W.D., Poomkavil, Soman- glam, Punaiur P.O. Ke Chief Engineer & Director, Maharashtra Engineering ‘Research institute Chief Engineer (Retd.) Tamil Nadu, Ramanalaya, 11, Fiat Crescent Park” Road, “Gandhinagar, Adyar, IRC: 31983 DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS OF ROAD DESIGN VEHICLES (First Revision) : Published by ‘THE INDIAN ROADS CONGRESS Jamnagar Honse, Shabjaban Road ‘New Delbi-110011 1983 Price Rs aes (Plus packing and postage) seIRC: 31983 First Published : January, 1954 Reprinted ; November, 1954 First Revision: August, 1983 (Rights of Publication and of Translation are reserved) Printed at PRINTAID, New Dethi20 IRC :3-1983 DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS OF ROAD DESIGN VEHICLES 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. The object of framing this Standard is to lay down a basis for designing road components. The dimensions and weights of vehicles are cardinal factors in the design of road elements. ‘The width of the design vehicle has a bearing on the width of trafic lanes and that of shoulders. The: height of the vehicle affects the clearance to be provided in designing road under- bridges, electrical service lines, and other overhead structures. ‘The overall length of the vehicle (including trailer and semi-trailer combinations) has to be taken into consideration in designing hori zontal curves and yertical curves, as also in framing safety regula tions for passing and overtaking. The axle load affects the design of the thickness of pavement, whereas the total weight of the vehicle governs limiting gradients. 1.2. The Indian Roads Congress Standard on Dimensions and Weights of Road Design Vebicles was first published in January, 1954. When the question of metricization of this standard was taken up, it was felt that since by that time con- siderable changes had’ taken place in the design and construction of motor vehicles and concept of geometric and structural design ‘of the highway system both in this country and abroad, there was, need of its wholesale revision. Accordingly, a revised draft for the Standard was prepared by L.R. Kadiyali.’ This was modified in the Ministry of Ship- ping and Transport (Roads Wing) considering the current amend- ments to the Indian Motor Vehicles Act 1939 and the latest trends on the subject both in this country and abroad. The modified document was considered by the Specifications and Standards ‘Committee in their meeting held at New Delhi on the 24th May, 1983, The draft as approved with a few changes by the Speci fications and Standards Committee was later approved by the Executive Committee and the Council in their meetings held on the 2lst July and the 2Ist August 1983 respectively for being published as a standard of the Indian Roads Congress.IRC : 341983 2 SCOPE, 21. The Standard shall be applied in ds clements except culverts and bridges, the latter the IRC Bridge Codes. 2.2. For purposes of this Standard, three types of commer- cial vehicles have been recognised : () Single unit (i) Sernteailer (ii) Trucketeailer combination. jgning all road governed by ‘The selection of the vehicle type for design of a road would depend upon terrain conditions, economic justification, importance of the road and similar other considerations. As a general guide, roads in steep and mountainous terrain need not be designed for truck-trailer combination and may only be Gesigned for single unit vehicle and, where economically feasible, for semictrailers. Subject to the above, such of the maximum dimensions and weights out of those specified here shall be used that have the Severest effect in the design of any road component. All road components, to be newly built or improved, shall be so designed that they are initially adequate or capable of being made adequate subsequently when the necessity arises, for the movement of vehi- cles conforming to this Standard and selected for design of the road. 3. DEFINITIONS. 341. Axle ‘The common axis of rotation of one or more wheels, whether power driven or freely rotating, and whether in one or more seg- Inents, and regardless of the number of wheels carried thereon. 3.2, Axle Group An assemblage of two or more consecutive axles considered together in determining their combined load effect on a pavement structure. 3.3. Gross Weight ‘The weight of a vehicle and/or vehicle combination without Joad plus the weight of any load thereon. 2 IRC: 31983, 3.4, Length, Overall ‘The total longitudinal dimension of any vehicle or combina~ tion of vehicles, including any load or load-holding devices thereon. 3.5. Height, Overall ‘The total vertical dimension of any vebicle above the ground surface including any load and load holding device thereon. 3.6. Semi-Trailer A. vehicle designed for carrying persons or property and drawn by a truck-tractor on which part of its weight and load rests. 3.7. Single Axle An assembly of two or more wheels whose centres are in one transverse vertical plane or may be included between two parallel transverse vertical planes one metre apart extending across the full idth of the vehicles. 3.8, Tandem Axle ‘Any two or more consecutive axles whose centres are_more than ‘1.2-m_ but not_more than 2.5 m apart and are individually attached to and/or articulated from a common attachment to the Yehiele including & connecting, mechanism to equalise the load yetween axles. 3.9, Tandem Axle Weight ‘The total weight transmitted to the road by two or more consecutive axles whose centres may be included between parallel transverse vertical planes spaced not less than 1.2 m but not more than 2.5 m apart, extending the full width of the vehicle. 3.10. Trailer A vehicle designed for carrying persons or goods and drawn by a motor vehicle which carries no part of the weight and load of the trailer on its own wheels. 3.11, Truck ‘A motor yehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of goods.IRC : 3.1983 3.12 Truck-Tractor ‘A motor vehicle designed for drawing other vehicles, but not for a load other than part of the weight of the vehicle and load 3.13. Truck-Trailer Combination A truck or a tractive unit with a trailer, 3.14, Width Overall The total outside transverse dimension of a vebicle i any load or load holding devices thereon, but exclu safety devices and tyre bulge due to load. 4. NOTATIONS FOR VEHICLE TYPES “The Figure shows the outline of the vehicle types covere this Standar “The Hot digit nicates the number states of he truck or truck.tractor. The letter “S” indicates a sem-traler and the letter immediately following an +S” indicates the number of axle onthe emits, "Any dig othr than the hist in 9 gome ination, when not preceded by""S” indkates a traler and the AJ J cb oJ AG] ab aL Adie Liked “TYPE 2-2 TYPE 3-2. TYPE 2-3 * etoded Fig. Vehicle Types 4 number of its axles. For instance, a 2-82 combin axle truck-tractor_ with a tandem-axle semi nation 2-2 is a two-axle truck with a two-axle trailer. 5, DIMENSIONS OF ROAD DESIGN VEHICLES Sa. Width No vehicle shall have a width exceeding 2.5 m. 5.2. Height No vehicle other than a double-decker bus shall have a height exceeding 3.8 m for normal application and 4.2 m when carrying 180 series 1 freight containers. Double decker buses may, however, have a height not exceeding 4.75 m. 5.3. Length 5.3.1. The maximum overall length of a single unit truck, exclusive of front and rear bumpers, having two or more axles, shall be LI m. 5.3.2. The maximum overall length of a single unit bus, exclusive of front and rear bumpers, having two or more axles shall be 12m. 53.3. The maximum overall length of a truck-tractor semitrailer combination, exclusive of front and rear bumpers, shall be 16 m. 5.3.4. The maximum overall length of a trucketrailer combination, exclusive of front and rear bumpers, shall be 18 m. 5.3.5. two vehicles. ‘No combination of vehicles shall comprise more than 6. MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE WEIGHTS 6.1. Single Axle Weight ‘The total gross weight imposed on the highway by a single axle fitted with dual wheels shall not exceed 10.2 tonnes. In the tease of axles with single wheels, the axle weight shall not exceed 6 tonnes. 6.2, Tandem Axle Weight The total gross weight imposed on the highway by two axles in tandem articulated from a common attachment to the vehicle or 5IRC: 31983 individually attached to the vehicles and spaced not less then 1.2 m but not more than 2.5 m apart, shall not exceed 18 tonnes. 6.3. Maximum Permissible Gross Weight The maximum permissible gross weight for a given vehicle or vehicle combination would be equal to the sum of the individual single axle and tandem axle weights indicated above. For typical vehicles, maximum permissible gross weights are given in the Table. ‘Tame: Maxinom Pemsstaue Gross Weronts AND MAXIMUM, ‘Axte Werouts or Transron® Visticuts Vehicle ype | Maximum gross Maximum axle weight (tonnes) ‘weight (tonnes) aaa ‘Trailer raw | RAW ‘Type 2 n 6 6 Both axles Single tyre) ‘Type 2 162 6 102 AsSingle tyre RA-Dual tyre) Type3 ™ 6 187A) Type 281 264 6 102 102 Type 282 342 ‘ 102 18(TA) Type 381 42 6 18 (TA) 102 ‘Type 382 2 6 18(TA) 18 (TA) ‘Type 22 366 6 102 102 102 ‘Type 3-2 444 6 18(TA) 102 102 ‘Type 23 484 6 102 102 18 (TA) Type 33 522 6 18(TA) 102 18(TA) FA — Front Axle RA — Rear Axle FAW — Weight on Front Axle RAW — Weight on Rear Axle TA. — Tandem axle fitted with 8 tyres 46, a. 48, %. 30, st. 2, 3. J. Maj, Gen. JM. Re 5 Brig. LV. Ramakrishna . TK. Natarajan AC. Padhi Satish Prasad 3. YR. Phull . G. Raman . Rajinder Singh AR. Rao TS. Reddy . Prof. N. Ranganathan Dr. 0.8, Saghal CD. Thatte 1 N. Sen 1 RP. Sikka 1. Shivalingaiah 1S. Sodhi Dr. NS. Srinivasan GM. Shonthu Prof. C.G. Swaminathan BT. Unwalla MG. Uppal Mc. Vakil ‘The Director (S.A. Latheet) IRC: 31983 Deputy Director and Head, Soil Mechanics Division, Central Road Research Institixe ‘Chairman, Orissa Public Service Commission Manager, Indian Oil, AI-103, Safdarjung Enclave, New Det Head, Rigid Pavements Division, Research Institute Director General Border Roads Director of Usiltes, Ein-C’s Branch, Army Head- quarters Director (Civil Engineering), Indian Standards Institu- toa, New Delhi ‘Chief Engineer, Jammu P.W.D., B&R (Chairman, Bhubaneswar Regional Improvement Trust Project Co-ordinator, Central Road Research Institute Head, Traffic and Transportation Planning, School of Planning & Architecture Principal, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh Director, Gujarat Engineering Research Institute Chief Engincer (Reid) 12-A, Chitaranun Pak, New Chief Engineer (Roads), Ministry of Shipping & rans ort Central Road Chaisman-cum-Managiog Ditector, Karnataka State Construction Corporation Director, Quality Control, Punjab P.W.D. Chandigarh Executive Ditector, National Transportation Plann ‘& Research Centre, indrum a ao Chet Engineer, Keshimir, PW.D. B&R Director, Cental Road Research Insitute Chief Enger (Reta) 15, Rustom Baug, Sant Savta Marg, Byeuila, Bombay 400 027 Enginecrin-Chie, Haryana P.W.D. B&R Superintending Engineer, HLP.P.W.D. Highways Research Station, Madras