Building Bye-Laws

(13) Stairs:
 Standard
Stair Dimension
Rise in residential building = 130 mm to 190 mm.

Rise in office building = 125 mm to 150 mm.

Going – 275 mm to 350 mm for public buildings.

Going 250 mm to 300 mm for residential buildings.

For selecting rise and tread of a building, the following thumb rules are followed:

2T X R = 550 to 650

T x R = 39000 to 48000

Width of steps is 900 mm for residential buildings and is 1000 mm for public buildings.

Number of Riser = (Total Height of floor / Height of riser)

Number of treads = Number of riser – 1

Building Bye-Laws

(14) Thickness of R.C.C. I lintel beam 100 mm to 250 mm and 150 mm is more common.

(15) Thickness of R.C.C. roof slab is 100 mm to 150 mm (100  mm is more common) and that of
sunshades is 25 mm to 50 mm.
16) Sunshade projection length in cm: sunshade projection through 450 mm or 500 mm beyond
the facing of external wall.

RCC Lintel and Chhajja

(17) Width of verandah is from 1.8 m to 3 m and width of passage is 0.8m to 1.2 m in residential
houses.

 (18) The height of parapet wall should not be less than 0.60 m and not more than 1.2 m above the
finished floor level.

Parapet
Wall
 Building Bye-Laws

19) Height of various building component and Standard height of a building:

Sr.No. Description Height(mm)

1 Plinth Level 450 to 600 from GL

2 Window Sill Level 900 from floor level

3 Lintel Level 2100 from floor level

4 Roof Slab Level 3000 to 3600 from floor level

5 Parapet Wall 600 to 900

6 Courtyard or Garage 1500 from GL

7 Foundation for Single Story 1000 below GL

8 Foundation for Double Story 1000 to 1200 below GL

9 Railing Height 850 from thread

10 Rise of Step 150 to 190

1. Area Limitation:
The limitation of area and height of the buildings of different types of construction and occupancy
is achieved by satisfying floor area ratio (FAR). FAR is  taking into account the following aspects:

o Occupancy class
o Type of construction
o Width of the street fronting the building and the traffic load
o The density & Locality where the building is proposed and.
o Parking facilities
o Local fire fighting facilities
o Water supply and drainage facilities.
Read More:   Minimum Ceiling Height Standards For Residential House

Floor Area Ratio(FAR) = (Total cover area of all floors/  Plot area)

The floor area ratio for residential buildings is ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 depending on the type ‘of
construction. It restricts the height of the building and the number of stories provided. For example,
if a plot measures 15 m x 20 m and building bye-laws stipulates permissible FAR as 2.00, then the
maximum built-up area which can be put on the plot is 600 m 2. If the area covered at ground floor
is 150 m2, the total number of floors that can be constructed is (600 / 150) = 4

Thus, with these bye-laws, the height of the building cannot be more than 4 stories. FAR is also
used in classifying the type of construction on the basis of resistance offered by building against
the fire

FSI Calculator

2. Height of the Building:  

The height and number of the storey for a building are related to FAR and the provisions of open
spaces are already explained earlier. Where the building height is not covered by FAR, the
maximum height should be limited to the width of the street as follows.                

(i) The maximum height of the building shall not exceed 2 times the width of road abutting plus the
front open space.

(ii) If a building abuts on two or more streets of different widths, the building shall be deemed to
face upon the street that has the greater width and the building height shall be regulated by the
width of that street and may be continued to this height to a depth of 24 m along the narrower
street subject to the conformity of open spaces.

Standard Room Size & Location in residential building

(iii) In the vicinity of aerodromes, the maximum height fixed in consultation with civil aviation
authorities.

Appurtenances like a water tank on the roof, ventilating and air conditioning appliances, lift room,
chimneys and parapet walls not exceeding 1.2 m in height are not included in the height of the
building.

Read More: 17 TIPS FOR HOW TO REDUCE CONSTRUCTION COST

The Standard Room Size & Their Location:

Following are some standard size of room in residential house.

1) Standard Room Size for Bed Room, Living Room, Drawing

Room, Dining Room, Study Room:
 Bed
Room
Minimum Area: 9.5 Sq.m.

Standard living room size 9 feet x 10 feet

Minimum Size of Side :

i) For one Room minimum width should be 2.4 m.
ii) Where there are two rooms, one of these shall not be less than 9.5 sq. m. and others not less
than 7.5 sq. m. with a minimum width of 2.1m.

The height of Room: The of all room for human habitation shall not be less than 2.75
m. measure from the surface of all floors.

Other Requirement: For Air Conditioning-room height should not less than 2.4 m.

The recommended Standard Room Size & Location for the living room of various sizes are
as below:

DIMENSIONS IN MT.+ DIMENSIONS IN FT.+

SIZE
(AREA) (AREA)
 LARGE 6.71 × 8.53(57.24) 22 × 28(616)

MEDIUM 4.88 × 6.01(29.33) 16 × 20(320)

SMALL 3.66 × 5.49(20 12 x 18(216)

VERY
3.05 × 3.66(11.16) 10 × 12(120)
SMALL

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2) Standard Room size of Kitchen:

Kitchen Design
Minimum Area: 5 Sq.m.

Minimum Size of Side: The width of the room is not less than 1.8 m. Where there is a separate
store, the area of the kitchen may be reduced to 4.5 sq. m. A kitchen that is intended to use as
dining also shall have a floor area of not less than 7.5 sq. m. with minimum width 2.1m.

The height of Room: The Kitchen height shall not less than 2.75 sq. m.

Other Requirement: 

1. Its floor should be impermeable.

2. Unless separately provided in a pantry, means for washing of kitchen utensils which shall
lead directly or through the sink to a grated and trapped connection to the waste pipe.
The recommended Standard Room Size & Location for the kitchen of various sizes are as
below:

SIZE
DIMENSIONS IN MT.+(AREA) DIMENSIONS IN FT.+(AREA)

LARGE 3.65 x 6.09(22.23) 12 x 20(240)

MEDIUM 3.05 x 4.87(14.85) 10 x 16(160)

SMALL 3.05 X 2.44(6.10) 10 x 08(80)

VERY SMALL 2.13 X 2.75(5.85) 07 x 09(63)

Read More: HOW TO CALCULATE STEEL QUANTITY FOR SLAB

3) Standard Room size of Bath Room and Water Closet:

 Bath
+ WC Design
Minimum Area: 1.8 Sq.m. (bath room), 1.1 Sq.m. (W. C.)

Minimum Size of Side : If bath and water closet are combined, its floor area shall not be less than
2.8 Sq.m. with minimum side width of 1.2m.

The height of the Room:   Shall not less than 2 m.

Other Requirement:

1. It should be located such that at least one of its walls open to the external wall.
2. It should not be directly over or under any other room than another latrine, washing place,
bath or terrace, in case of multi-storeyed buildings unless the floor is watertight.
3. It should have a platform or seat of watertight, non- absorbent materials.
4. It should be provided with the impervious floor sloping towards the drain with a suitable
grade and not towards verandah or any other room.
The recommended standard dimensions of common bathroom of various sizes are:

SIZE DIMENSIONS IN MT.+(AREA) DIMENSIONS IN FT.+(AREA)

LARGE 2.13 × 3.66(7.80) 7 x 12(84)

 MEDIUM 1.83 × 3.05(5.60) 6 x 10(60)

SMALL 1.52 × 2.75(4.20) 5 x 9(45)

VERY SMALL 1.06 × 1.98(2.04) 3.5 x 6.5(22.75)

Standard Room Size

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4) Standard Room Size for Store Room:

Store Size in Kitchen

Minimum Area:  The minimum area of store room should not be less than 3 sq. m.

The height of Room: The Storeroom should not be less than 2.2 m.

The recommended standard dimensions of store room of various sizes are as below:
 SIZE DIMENSIONS IN MT.+(AREA) DIMENSIONS IN FT.+(AREA)

LARGE 3.65 x 4.26(15.55) 12 x 14(168)

MEDIUM 2.44 x 3.05(7.42) 8 x 10(80)

SMALL 1.52X1.83 (2.80) 5 x 6(30)

5) Standard Room Size for Garage:

Minimum Car Garage Size

Minimum Area:  The minimum area of garage should not be less than 12.5  sq. m.

The height of Room: The Garage should not be less than 2.4 m.

6) Standard Room Size for Staircase Room:

Watch Video: Building Bye Law for Civil Engineers

Minimum Size of Side:  The minimum width of the stair is 1 m.

The height of Stair: The minimum clear headroom shall be 2.2 m.

Other Requirement:

1. The minimum width of tread without nosing shall be 250 mm for residential buildings.
2. The maximum height of rising shall be 190 mm for residential buildings.

7) Standard Plinth Height:
The height of the plinth shall not be less than 450 mm from the surrounding ground level. A height
of 600 mm is the best from drainage or other considerations.

8) Standard Parapet Wall Size:

Parapet walls and hand-rails provided on the edges of roof terraces, balcony, verandah, etc. shall
be not less than 1.05 m and not more than 1.20 m in height from the finished floor level.

9) Standard Boundary Wall Size:

The requirements of the boundary wall are given below:
 Compound
Wall
Except with the special permission of the authority, the maximum height of the compound wall
shall be 1.5 m above the centerline of the front street. Compound wall up to 2.4 m height may be
permitted if the top 0.9 m is of open type construction of a design to be approved by the authority.

In the case of a corner plot, the height of boundary wall shall be restricted to 0.75 m for a length of
10 m on the front and side of the intersection and the balanced height may be made up of open
type construction (through railings) and of design to be approved by the authority.

Post Contents  hide 
How Ceiling Height is Decided:
Human Height in Different Position:
Minimum Ceiling Height in Habitable Room:
Minimum Ceiling Height in Sunken Slab of Bath and W/C:
Minimum Ceiling Height for Various Rooms in House:
1. Living Room/Drawing Room:
2. Kitchen:
3. Bed Room:
4. Store Room:
5. Bath and Water Closet:
6. Garage:
7. Mezzanine floor:
8. Minimum Ceiling Height Basement:

How Ceiling Height is Decided:

Human Height in Different Position:
Human Height in Different Position
Before deciding the minimum ceiling height, we need to understand human height in different
positions in a room.  As seen in the figure, the average human height is around 5 feet 5
inches. But, we raise our hand upward it’s around 6 feet 6” maximum. So, considering this fact the
minimum height of the ceiling is taken.

Minimum Ceiling Height in Habitable Room:

Minimum Ceiling Height

As we know that the minimum height of door height is about 7 feet for all doors in the house.
Each door of the house must have a minimum height of 7 feet. This is because of the fact
that human average height is about 5.5 feet and when we raise hand upward is about 6 feet 6
inches. So, there must be a gap between our hand and door frame bottom of the top frame.

Nowadays, Architects and engineers keep the floor to ceiling height about 10 feet in most cases.
Again let’s understand this fact also.

Total floor top to ceiling top is about 10 feet. Deducting the thickness of the slab becomes 9 feet 6
inches.

Let’s, consider fan handing from the bottom of the ceiling is about 1.5 feet downward side and
when any men raise its hand toward ceiling straight is height becomes 7 feet.

So, the gap remains between men’s hand and bottom of the ceiling fan will be

= 9 ft. 6 in. – 7 ft. – 1.5 ft. = 1 ft. or 12 inches.

Therefore from the above fact, we can conclude that the minimum ceiling height should at least 9
ft. 6 inches for any habitable room in residential building.

Read More: HOW TO DRAW A HOUSE PLAN BY HAND

Minimum Ceiling Height in Sunken Slab of Bath and W/C:

Generally, Sunken slab for bath and W/C is about 1 to 1.5 feet sunken below the slab. So, if total
ceiling height is about 9 feet 6 inches then space left below will be around 7 ft. 6 inches.

Therefore, the Minimum Ceiling height for bath and W/C sunken slab should be 7 ft. 6 in.

Minimum Ceiling Height for Various Rooms in House:

1. Living Room/Drawing Room:
The living room of any house is a place or area where the homeowners and family members
gather to spend time together. It’s an area designed for recreation but also for entertainment,
space where guests are welcomed whey visit. The living room also termed as drawing-room.

o The minimum ceiling height for the living room from the top of floor to bottom of the
ceiling should be not less than 2.75m or 9 feet 6 inches.
o In the case of an air-conditioned room, the minimum height should not less than 2.4 m or
7 feet 8 inches measured from the top of the floor to the lowest point of AC duct or the
false ceiling should be provided.

2. Kitchen:
The kitchen is the most important and essential room in any house because it is the center of
your family’s day-to-day living. Everyone’s day starts in your kitchen with a cup of coffee or
energizing breakfast to start your day. Kitchen space used to make meals for your family in your
kitchen and probably even eat in your kitchen.

o As the kitchen area is a continuously used area of any house, its ceiling height should not
be less than 2.75m or 9 feet 6 inches.
3. Bed Room:
A bedroom of any house is one of a private room where people usually sleep for the night or relax
during the day. It is estimated that humans spent are one-third life by sleeping and most of the
time we are asleep, we are sleeping in a bedroom.

The minimum ceiling height of the bedroom should not less than 2.3 m or 7 feet 6

inches measure from top tiles to the bottom of the ceiling.

4. Store Room:
The Store Room sometimes attached to the kitchen is the place for storing grains, foodstuff and/or
junk in the house for their ready availability and use in an emergency.

The minimum ceiling height of the Storeroom should not less than 2.3 m or 7 feet 6

inches measured from top tiles to the bottom of the ceiling.

Read More: BUILDING BYE-LAWS AND STANDARD DIMENSIONS OF BUILDING UNITS

5. Bath and Water Closet:

It is an area sometimes attached toiled and often a bathtub and a shower.

The minimum ceiling height of the bath and Toilet should not less than 2.3 m or 7 feet
6 inches measured from top tiles to the bottom of the ceiling.

6. Garage:
It is a place where house owner vehicle repaired, perked, serviced and also used for storing used
parts and accessories of the vehicle.

The minimum ceiling height of the garage should not be less than 7 feet. But generally, it is
kept more than 7 feet.

7. Mezzanine floor:
A mezzanine floor is an extra floor between two main floors, and therefore it is not counted on the
main floors of any building.

The minimum ceiling height of the room with the mezzanine floor from ceiling to top flooring of
the ground floor is about 14 feet 4 m.

8. Minimum Ceiling Height Basement:

The minimum ceiling height of the basement should be at least 7 feet to 10 feet.

Post Contents  hide 
Building and Construction Material Price List:
1. Cement:
2. TMT or TMX Steel:
3. Sand / Fine Aggregates:
4. Ready Mix Concrete:
5. TMT Binding Wires:
6. Coarse Aggregates:
7. Bricks/Blocks:

Building and Construction Material Price List:

Following is the Construction Material Price List or Building Materials List and Price required
for any construction work.

1. Cement
2. TMT or TMX Steel
3. Sand / Fine Aggregates
4. Ready-mix concrete
5. TMT Binding Wires
6. Coarse Aggregates
7. Bricks/Blocks

1. Cement:

Cement Bags
Portland cement is the basic and most essential ingredient of concrete. Concrete is made when
Portland cement creates a paste with water that binds with sand and rock to harden. Cement is a
material like the glue that can bind together all other building materials and get harden too. The
cement is available in different like, 53 grades, 43-grade cement, OPC (ordinary Portland
cement), PPC (Portland pozzolana cement), etc. It is the most expensive construction materials
Cement Price: 4 to 5 dollars per 50 kg bag or 320 to 400 Rs. Per 50 kg bag.

Construction Material Price List

2. TMT or TMX Steel:

Construction and
Building Materials Market PriceConstruction and Building Materials Market PriceThe steel
used in Construction
TMT bars or Thermo-Mechanically Treated bars are high-strength reinforcement bars having a
tough outer core and a soft inner core. Steel is a high-strength material compared to concrete.
The reinforcing steel is strong in tension as well in compression. It plays an important role in
giving strength to structure in the construction projects.

TMT steel bars are available in Fe 500 grade, Fe 500 D grade and Fe 550 grade which signifies
the strength of the steel.

TMT/TMX Price: 42 to 55 Rs. Per Kg or 0.75 to 1 $ per Kg.

Read More: The Standard Room Size & Location in residential building

Read More: How to Draw House Plan by Hand

Construction Material Price List

3. Sand / Fine Aggregates:

Fine Aggregate or Sand

Sand is a naturally-occurring material consisting of very small, loose particles of
decomposed rocks, corals, or shells. Sand is used to strength, bulk and other properties to
construction materials like asphalt and concrete. Sand is also used as a decorative material in
landscaping. Some types of sand are used in the manufacture of glass and as a molding material
for metal casting. 

Generally, sand is extracted from the river bed and cleaned to be used construction. There is also
available manufactured sand also well-known as the M-sand is gaining popularity due to the
recommendation from the government and its fineness and dust-free quality.

Sand Aggregate Price Per Kg: 1600 to 3300 Rs. Per Tonne.

Construction Material Price List

4. Ready Mix Concrete:

 Ready Mix Concrete Plant
Ready-mix concrete is the plant manufactured and directly delivered at the construction site. It is
preferred when a workspace is limited on construction site and making concrete on site is too
difficult tasks. Some time Ready Mix Concrete used because the quality of concrete is more
important.

As per the requirement and use RMC is categorized into M-20, M-25, M-30, M-35, etc.

RMC Price: 3000 to 7500 Rs. As per grade of Concrete.

Construction Material Price List

5. TMT Binding Wires:

 Binding Wire
Binding wires are the thin iron steel wire that used to bind or tight the TMT Steel bars and help in
providing proper structure to the construction due to the stability of the TMT Steel Bars.
Approximately, 1 tone of steelwork on-site consumes 8 to 10 kg of binding wires.

TMT Binding Wires Price: 40 to 50 Rs. per Kg.

Construction Material Price List

6. Coarse Aggregates:

Coarse Aggregates
Coarse aggregate extracted by breaking from rocks using explosives & crushed into pieces using
machines & coarse aggregate sizes 6mm, 12mm, 20mm, 40mm, 60mm is divided using big sieves
in machines & coarse aggregate like 6,12,20mm is used to mix in concrete for construction
purposes & 40mm is used for railroads. The coarse aggregate provides the main structure to the
concrete and load-bearing ingredient of the concrete.

Coarse Aggregates Price Per Kg: 60 to 70 Rs. per Cubic Feet.

Building Materials List and Price

7. Bricks/Blocks:

Bricks
Bricks and Blocks are mainly used for building walls. Bricks come in various shapes, sizes, and
strengths-based on different construction requirements. Nowadays, Light Weight Fly ash concrete
block for the wall, parapet, and boundary wall construction. They are light in weight compared to
conventional bricks.

Bricks: 6 to 10 Rs. per Piece.

Light Weight Blocks: 40 to 50 Rs. per Piece