AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 1

UNIT III HOUSING STANDARDS

UD PFI – guide lines, standard and regulations – DCR – performance standards for housing.

INTRODUCTION
• Planning is a continuous process & planning system should be such that it ensures continuity.
• Earlier town planning was a piecemeal process but after Independence the city planning experienced tremendous growth & challenges
for resettlement due to political changes.
• Several resettlements, new Industrial base towns & urban centers were under process of planning & masters & town planners conclude
that land use plans are needed to guide development of urban centers to promote orderly development & healthy living environment.
• For this purpose, the ministry of Urban affairs & employment, governing of India organized a national workshop on master plan approach
during February 24-25, 1995. The research study of this workshop awarded as UDPFI – Urban development plans formulation and
implementation guidelines.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REGULATION AND STANDARD

Regulation
• A Rule that we must follow
• Rules that the Government makes under an Act
• Rules are made “real” and “enforceable” by the power that the Government gives itself under an Act
• e.g. Health & Safety Act Regulation for Hearing Protection
Standards
• Not written by Government
• Are written by organizations such as CSA, ANSI, CGSB, etc.
• Typically refer to product performance or how to do a job
• Have no authority on their own, but may be adopted into regulations making them legal requirements
• May be referred to specifically in a regulation or through a “General Duty Clause”
• Regulatory bodies may adopt all or a part of an existing standard.

1. URDPFI- URBAN & REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

The Need of guidelines: The study of UDPFI norms and standards is needed to evolve:

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 2

• System that is dynamic, flexible and efficient.

• Process that is less time consuming.
• Innovative ideas of land assembly and fiscal resource mobilization
• Simple & effective form of laws, rules and regulations.

Urban Development Planning system it consists of

a. Perspective plan: 20-25 years duration.
• Includes Maps & Diagrams.
• State government’s goal, policies, strategies of urban local authority regarding socio-economic development.
b. Development plan
• Conceived within Frame work of approved Perspective plan. Medium Duration for 5 years.
• Proposals for socio-economic & spatial development of urban centers including land use.
•
c. Annual plan
• Conceived within the frame work of Development plan. Details of new & ongoing projects for local authority to implement in financial
year Necessary fiscal resources mobilization.

d. Plan of Projects/schemes
• Conceived within the frame work of approved development Plan.
• Includes detailed working layouts with cost of development, source of Finance & recovery instruments for Execution by a public or
private agency.

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 3

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 4

Case Study: Affordable Housing Norms, Rajasthan

Sustainable human development cannot be achieved without adequate & affordable housing to the vulnerable population res
iding in the ever‐

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 5

growing urban settlements currently. Affordable shelter for the masses or creation of productive and responsive housing is a co
mplex amalgam of a host of factors, which need to be tackled at all levels and in a synchronized manner. Department of Urban
Development, Housing and Local Self Government, Government of Rajasthan has developed Affordable Housing Policy, 2
009 after studying and dovetailing various housing schemes of Government of India. With the help of the policy framework an
d the inbuilt incentives it is aimed to motivate various agencies, including private developers to take up construction of affordable h
ousing for EWS/LIG categories in various urban centres of Rajasthan. Under the said Policy, five models for developing Affordabl
e Housing have been advanced.

Model No1: Mandatory Provisions

Model No2: Private developers on land owned by them

• Developers to take up construction of EWS/LIG flats on minimum 40% of the total land.
• The built up EWS/LIG flats to be handed over to Avas Vikas Limited at pre‐determined prices.
• Several incentives are offered like double of the normal FAR, TDR facility, waiver of EDC, Building plan approval fee, c
onversion charges, 10% of the total land allowed for commercial use, fast track approval.

Model No3: Private developers on acquired land

• The land would be made available to the developer on payment of compensation (Land Acquisition cost + 10% A
dministration charges). All other parameters as per Model No. 2.

Model No4: Private developers on Government land

• Earmarked Government land to be offered free of cost to the developer selected through an open bidding process. The
developer offering the maximum number of EWS/LIG flats free of cost to the ULB would be awarded the project. At least
50% houses should be of EWS category.
• The developer shall be free to use the remaining land as per his choice for residential purpose with 10% for commerc
ial use. All other parameters as per Model No. 2.

Model No5: Slum Housing

• The model is based on various schemes approved by Government of India and also on the lines of "Mumbai Model" of sl
um redevelopment with private sector participation.

The Policy document also provides for the tentative land use breakup, ground coverage, time period for finishing project, ad
ditional FAR and Use of TDR as a result of additional FAR.
Integrated Townships developing in the periphery of cities lead to formation of enclaves once city grows and once
peripheral area is accommodated in city planning area. These enclaves can be assimilated with the city character and
structure by realising needs of the main city, promoting required activities in the townships and developing policies to
accommodate needs of development.

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 6

2. HOUSING STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS

Compatibility Of Other Land Uses With Housing:

Listing Compatibility with housing
Parks and playgrounds Desirable
Elementary school Desirable
Churches and temples Desirable
Local shopping Desirable
Medical facilities Desirable

Highway with buffer strips Acceptable

Industrial park Acceptable
High school Acceptable
Stores and shops Acceptable

Airports Not acceptable

Highway without buffer strips Not acceptable
Industrial uses not screened Not acceptable
Ware houses , railroad ,tracks Not acceptable
Detoriated housing Not acceptable

Residential Density:
1. Governing criteria for density:
Density should be limited to provide:
• Adequate daylight. Sunlight,air, and usable open spaces.
• Adequate spaces for all community facilities.
• General feeling of openness and privacy.

2.Types of density measurements:

Dwelling Density:
The number of dwelling units per acre of net residential land. (land devoted to residential buildings and accessory uses on the
same lots, such as informal open spaces, drives, service areas, excluding land for streets, public parking, playgrounds and non
residential buildings.
Neighbourhood density:
The number of dwelling units per acre of total neighborhood land (new residential land plus streets and land used for schools
recreation and other community purpose.)

3.Net dwelling density for one and two family dwelling units:

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 7

Dwelling type Lot size or equivalent ,ft Net residential area per family
,Sq.ft
One -family detached 60 x 80 6000
One -family semidetached 80 x 100 for 2 families 4000
Two - family detached 80 x 100 for two families 4000
One - family attached 20 x 100 plus 40-ft side yard 2400
between each ten units
Two – family semi detached 48 x 100 for two families 2400

For multi dwelling units:

Height of building Assumed gross floor area – Sq.ft Area covered by building – Sq.ft
( stories)
2 870 per family 435 per family
3 870 per family 290 per family
6 870 per family 145 per family
9 945 per family 105 per family
13 945 per family 75 per family

Intensity Of Development ( Land Use Intensity):

Land area (LA):
Sum of site land area for residential use plus one – half of the area of any abutting walk . alley or street.

Building area (BA):

Building area is the total land area covered by residential buildings , measured horizontally from the faces of the exterior walls . (
entrance platforms , steps and terraces are not countable)

Open space(OS):
Open space is the sum of the uncovered open space and one half of the covered open space.
Uncovered open space:
The horizontal area of the site not covered by buiIlding Is the uncovered open space.
Covered open space
The usable open space that is closed to the sky, having two clear unobstructed open or partially opened sides (min. – 50%).

Open space ratio(OSR):

OSR = OS/LA
Livability space (LS):
Non vehicular open spaces including the lawns, planting space, walks , paved terraces, sitting areas and the unpaved areas of streets.
Livability space ratio (LSR):

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 8

LSR = LS/LA
Recreational space(RS):
It is the private or public exterior area improved for recreation of all residents , having the least dimension of 50 ft and a minimum area
of 10,000 Sq.ft.

Recreational space ratio(RSR):

RSR = RS/LA
Occupant car space (OCS):
It is the garage, carport or other parking spaces available to the residents without time limits.

Occupant car ratio (OCR):

The occupant car ratio (OCR)times the number of living units (LU) equals the minimum number of car parking spaces(CPS) for
residents in the development of a property.
Total Car space (TCS):
Occupant car space plus other parking space that is available for unlimited time period.
Total car ratio(TCR)_:
The total car ratio(TCR) times the number of living units (LU) equals the minimum number of car parking spaces(CPS).

ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS”

Infant Recreation
Preschool Children’s Play Area From Dwelling. Adjacent
Play Areas (2-6Yrs) From face of Buildings. 300-400ft
A) RECREATIONAL FACILITIES & NON RESIDENTIAL SPACES

Children’s Recreation
Minimum Distance of (5-13Years) Play Area From 1300ft
Dwelling
Minimum Walking Distance To Playground ¼ - ½ mile
Adult Recreation
Minimum Walking Distance To Athletic Play Field 1-1/4mile
Minimum Walking Distance To Park ¼-1/2mile

Non Residential Built Space

Minimum Walking Distance To Community Centre ½ mile
Minimum Walking Distance To Community Facilities ½ mile
For Old People
Minimum Distance To Schools ½ mile
Minimum Distance To Nursery Schools ¼ mile
Minimum Distance To Kindergarden ¼ - ½ mile

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 9

Minimum Distance To Elementary School ¼ - ½ mile

Minimum Distance To Schools ½ mile
Minimum Distance To Junior Schools ½ mile
Minimum Distance To Senior Schools 1mile
Minimum Distance To high schools 1-1 ½ mile
Minimum Distance To Shopping Centre ¼ - ½ mile
Minimum Distance To Health Centre 1/2mile

Roads(Residential)
Minimum Distance To Setting Down Points From One 100ft
and Two Person
Minimum Dwelling
Distance To Setting Down Points From 150ft
Three Or More Person
Minimum Distance FromDwellings
Car To House 300ft
Minimum Distance To Vehicular Way 200ft
Minimum Distance To Dwelling From Street Or 100ft
Parking Area
B) COMMUNITY FACILITIES:
1.Educational facilities:
Nursery school: Number of children – 3.25 / household
No. of classes Area No. of children
2 2000 Sq.ft 30
4 4000 Sq.ft 60
6 6000 Sq.ft 90
Additional facilities:
• Play lot.
• Accessible by footpaths from dwelling units without crossing streets.

Elementary school: Number of children -125 -175 / 1000 person.

Radius of area to be served – ¼ - ½ mile.
Number of students Area of school required
250 7-8 acres
800 12-14 acres
1200 16-18 acres
Additional facilities:
• Playground well equipped wide range of activities.
• Play ground area completely away from street.

High school: Radius of area to be served: ½ mile – ¾ mile

Number of students Families served Area of school required
800 2750 - 3000 18 – 20 acres

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 10

1200 4500 - 5000 24 – 26 acres

1600 5800 - 6000 30 – 32 acres
C) SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES:-
Facility Location And Distance Number Served
Church Central To Congregation, 500-2500
Branch Library Central,
1mile Max UPTO 5000
Recreation Centre ¼ - ½ Max
1mile mile Up To 5000
Social centre ¼ - ½ mile Up To 5000
Health centre Centre Up To 5000
Multiservice Centre Centre
¼ - ½ mile Up To 5000
¼ - ½ mile
D) OTHER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES:-
Service Population Acres Per 1000
Population
Facility Distance Served(in
thousands)
Neighbhourhood Recreation Complex
-(Playground-Play area And Paved Game Courts) ¼ - ½ mile 8-12 1.0
Community Recreation Complex
-(Community Centre Building,Playlot,Playarea,Paved Game 1mile Varies 0.5-1.0
Courts,Sportsfield,Swimming pool,Passive Park And Parking)

CityWide Recreation And Parks

-(Recreation Park,Amusement Centre And Sports Centre 5miles Varies 5.0

HOUSING CODES

▪ A Housing is one of a series of ordinances created to protect health, safety, and general welfare through
the exercise of the police power.

▪ It is primarily a regulatory device designed to effect the preservation of acceptable dwellings and the
rehabilitation of salvageable units.

▪ A comprehensive housing code normally specifies the required living space per person, minimum
standards for lighting and ventilation, structural soundness and safety, fire protection, basic equipment,
and the provision of services, and spells out, preferably in considerable detail, the maintenance
responsibilities of owners and occupants.

▪ The housing code generally defines the precise conditions for legal occupancy of dwelling units and, in
most but not all cases, prescribes the manner in which compliance with locally adopted requirements is
to be obtained.

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 11

3. DEVELOPMENT CONTROL REGULATION

• Development Control is the process involving land use control in which the development carried out by any agencies both private and
public is checked in the benefit of whole society.
• Modern town planning helps in a systematic regulation to be followed in the use of land.

Factors to be considered in the complex urban system

1. Physical factor – based on size and density of population
2. Functional factor – based on predominance of activities
3. Administrative factor

Certain issues to be considered

1. Sporadic growth of private properties
2. Sprawl of slums
3. Major transportation congestion
4. Crowding of residential and industrial zones
5. Availability of land for reclamation and thus offering new opportunities for development.

Aims and Objectives of development control

1. Guides development or the use of land and preserves other sites from the undesirable development
2. Prevents the misuse of land so that it will not injuriously affect the interests of the community
3. It sets certain frame work of the development process – help in the improvement of the total environment
4. The rules should be flexible enough for the changing population and the complex needs of urban society.
Need for Development Control
• Control over development and use of land and buildings by local authorities.
• It helps to avoid the chaotic growth of towns and to promote – Health Safety morals

TOOLS OF DEVELOPMENT CONTROL

The most common tools are
1. Sub division control
2. Height control
3. Plot coverage control
4. Set back control
5. Floor Area Ratio (FAR) control
6. Density control
7. Building line control
8. Architectural control
9. Advertisement control

1. Sub division control

• Due to increasing demand for plots for erection of houses, factories and other structures, the owners of agricultural and vacant lands in
the outside of the towns subdivide their lands in to plots and streets and sell them.
• The local authorities can exercise control over this land sub- division.
• The streets showed in the layout should be properly leveled, paved, skewered, drained and lighted.

2. Height control
• This is ensured to provide adequate supply of light and air.
• Regulations are adopted for tall buildings because they cut off light and air from neighbors.

3. Plot coverage control

• Open space which is compulsory to be left to secure sufficient light and ventilation.

4. Set back control

These rules are beneficial because
• Gives space for trees and lawns

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 12

• Keeps the building away from dust, noise of the street

• Reduce fire hazard
• Can be used for parking.

5. Floor Area Ratio (FAR) control

• FAR is the ratio of the total gross floor area of all the stories of a building to the total area of the plot.
• It can be applied to all buildings and any alterations can be easily done.

6. Density control
• It checks the number of persons in the area.
• It helps to maintain optimum living standards.

7. Building line control

• Building lines are made on one or both sides of a street and thus prevent the creation of any new structure between building line and
street.
• It helps in future widening of streets and roads.

8. Architectural control
• The primary objective is to prevent excessive uniformity of the buildings and poor design while extension of buildings.
• It also helps conserving historic areas.

Advertisement control
• It is a recent development and helps towards public interest in controlling outdoor advertisement or structure in a dwelling space to full
fill its usage.

• For e.g. – a ramp for the vehicles to access the building, materials to with stand fire for minimum hours, columns to carry the load etc.

DCR RELEVANT TO HOUSING

Primary Residential Use Zone :
(a) In the Primary Residential use zone, buildings or premises shall be normally permitted only for the following
purposes and accessory uses. Permissible nonresidential activity shall be limited to one in a sub division.

(i) Any residence including dwelling detached, semi-detached, tenements or flats.

(ii) Professional consulting offices of the residents and incidental uses there to occupying a floor area not
exceeding 40 square metres.
(iii) Petty shops dealing with daily essentials including retail sale of provisions, soft drinks, cigarettes,
newspapers, tea stalls, confectionary retail shops, mutton stall and milk kiosks, cycle repair shops, tailoring
shops and trades, not exceeding 20 square metres.
(iv) Nursery, primary and high schools.
(v) School of commerce including tutorial institutions occupying a floor area not exceeding 40 square meters.
(vi) Parks and playgrounds occupying an area not exceeding 2 hectares.
(vii) Taxi stands and car parking.
(viii) Farms, gardens, nurseries occupying an area not exceeding 2 hectares.
(ix) Installations of motor for pumping water, air conditioning and lifts.
(x) Cottage industries. Also craft centres and assembly of electronic parts for manufacture of radios, transistors, television
sets, computer chips and the number of employees not exceeding 25.
(xi) Storage of domestic cooking gas cylinders

(b) The following uses may be permitted with special sanction of the Authority.

(i) Hostels, dormitories, restaurants not exceeding 300 square metres in floor area.

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 13

(ii) Public utility buildings like sewage pumping stations, water works, fire stations, telephone exchanges, Government and semi-
Government offices serving the local needs, libraries, bus terminals and depot yard occupying a site area not exceeding 1 hectare
and Banks occupying a floor area not exceeding 300 square metres.
(iii) Community halls, clubs, religious buildings,
gymnasia, welfare institution occupying a floor area not exceeding 300 square metres.
(iv) Clinics, Hospitals, dispensaries and nursing homes occupying floor area not exceeding 300 square metres and departmental
stores with a floor area not exceeding 100 square metres.
(v) Parks and playgrounds occupying a site area not exceeding 4 hectares.
(vi) Petrol filling stations and service stations with installation not exceeding 5 horse power.
(vii) Markets and area for shops occupying an area of not more than 0.25 hectares.
(viii) Installation of motor incidental to the permissible uses noted above not exceeding 5 horse power.

(c) All uses not specifically permitted under sub rules (a) and (b) above shall be prohibited in the zone.
(d) The extent of plot size, plot frontage, floor space index, plot coverage, height and set back lines for residential uses
and other specified uses may be allowed with specific conditions.

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 14

Layout and sub-division:

(a) The laying out and sub-division of land for building purposes shall be carried out only in accordance with the provisions
specified below.

(i) The width of the streets and roads in the layouts shall conform to the minimum requirements given below and be in conformity
with the development plan, if any, for the area except in group housing, flats or in area reserved for Economically Weaker Sections.

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 15

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 16

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 17

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 18

4. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

It denotes the performance of any space, material

Reference for performing standards of the building NATIONAL BUILDING CODE
• Permissible size of plots
• Built-up-area
• Margins
• Plinth height
• Area of rooms
• Height of floors
• Projections in margin
• Cellar
• Loft
• Lift
• Ventilation
• Stair
• Minimum requirements
• Water supply
• Drainage
• Compound wall and gate
• Structural aspect
• Specifications for materials and workmanship
• Rain water harvesting
• Solar panels

DWELLING UNIT OCCUPANCY STANDARDS

The amount of floor space required in habitable rooms is 150 sq.ft for the first person and 100 sq.ft more for each
additional person. If no of occupants five or more the additional space required for each occupant is 75 sq.ft. The minimum amount
of habitable space in the dwelling unit can be determined that 200 sq.ft. for one or two person occupancy of a dwelling unit. Two
persons may occupy a two-room dwelling unit with 200 sq.ft of habitable space distributed as follows:

Combination of living & bed room 150 sq.ft

Kitchen 50 sq.ft
200 sq.ft

Three persons may occupy a two-room dwelling unit with 290 sq.ft of habitable space distributed as follows:

Kitchen & living 150 sq.ft

Bed room (triple occupancy) 140 sq.ft
290 sq.ft

Four persons may occupy a three-room dwelling unit with 330 sq.ft of habitable space distributed as follows:

Kitchen & living 150 sq.ft

Bed room (double occupancy) 90 sq.ft
Bed room (double occupancy) 90 sq.ft
330 sq.ft

Five persons may occupy a three-room dwelling unit with 380 sq.ft of habitable space distributed as follows:

Kitchen & living 150 sq.ft

Bed room (triple occupancy) 140 sq.ft
Bed room (double occupancy) 90 sq.ft
380 sq.ft

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 19

BATHROOM FACILITIES
The substantive provision that shows the greatest uniformity in the codes is the bathroom facilities
requirement. All the housing codes require a private flush toilet, a lavatory sink, and a bath tub or shower with hot and cold running
water under pressure. These facilities, located inside the dwelling unit, constitute minimum requirements for sanitary housing.

ELECTRICAL SERVICE AND FACILITIES

The requirement that dwelling units be provided with electrical service if the connection is available within a reasonable or specified
distance(usually 300ft) from the dwelling unit is basic.
The APHA-PHS housing code requires an electrical service,outlets and or fixtures capable of providing 3w of electrical power per
square foor\t of the total area.
▪ Each dwelling unit must have atleast one 15-A and such circuit should not be shared with another dwelling unit.
▪ Temporary wiring or extension cords should not be used as permanent wiring.
▪ Every habitable room including toilets and bathrooms should be provided with either a ceiling or wall type electric light
fixture.
▪ All electric lights and fixtures provided in the bathrooms should be controlled by switches which are designed to minimize
electric shock.
▪ Every habitable rooms must have atleast two wall type electric convenience duplex outlets.

SOLID AND LIQUID WASTE DISPOSAL

All housing codes has provision concerning the handling of liquid wastes (sewage).connection to either a public sewer or an
approved septic tank is required. Most housing codes require storage and or disposal.

LIGHTING
Day lighting for habitable rooms is minimum requirements of code. most codes require need at least one window per habitable
room and stipulate the number of minimum area to be provided .
Most housing codes require artificial lighting to all habitable rooms, and areas such as bathrooms hallways etc.this specification is
usually represented in the percent of floor areas of the rooms to be day lighted. the minimum total widow or skylight area measured
between the stops for every habitable rooms should be atleast 10% of the total floor area.
VENTILATION
All housing codes require natural ventilation for all habitable rooms and bathrooms. But some permit mechanical ventilation. The
most common specification is that 45%of window area must be openable.
ACCEPTABLE EXIT ARRANGEMENTS
▪ Exit should be remote from each other. The distance between two exits should not be greater than 60m.
▪ Two interior staircase such as the scissors staircase can be used when arrangement of the corridor system is similar to
the design shown. since the Stair and wall construction separates the two stairs, the construction should not allow the
passage of smoke from one to other.
▪ Dead end corridors can be used when the length of the corridors is small.

LOCATION OF EXIT STAIRS

ESCAPE AND REFUGE- BUILDING ESCAPE STRATEGIES
Escape routes should be evaluated to see that alternate routes are available in case one route is untenable due to
▪
fire or smoke.
CENTRAL STAIR
The central stair is an undesirable escape strategy because the corridors become smoke filled.
REMOTE STAIRS

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 20

Stairway located at the ends of corridor can offer alternate escape routes and shorter travel distance to most occupants.
EXTERIOR ESCAPES
Protected outdoor stairway exit can provide smoke free escape routes.There are alternate routes to remotely located stairs.
Maximum distance of travel from the door of any dwelling unit to the door opening to any exit in the same storey should be 50ft.
Distance between dwelling unit entrance door and stairway in corridor affording exit in two directions should not be greater than
100ft or 150ft in buildings with automatic sprinkler system.

FIRE SAFETY /APARTMENT ALARM SYSTEMS

An alarm system connecting each dwelling unit to the central control point is needed in new
constructions. There should be two terminals located in a dwelling unit .well marked and
illuminated so that they can be seen at night. Buttons or pull cords must be provided
600mm above the floor level. An alternative is to use to employ a telephone switch board,
using a telephone alarm system.

The basic fire safety principles that has to be used in the design of an single family home
are
▪ two ways out should be provided from all living and sleeping rooms, the
second means of escape may be the suitable window

▪ The spatial arrangement should minimize the spread of smoke, particularly

from living and other utility space to the sleeping room.

▪ The construction should minimize the the development for spread of fire.

▪ Automatic smoke detectors must be used to safeguard the means of escape

from bedrooms.

SITE SECURITY
Symbolic barriers define areas or relate them to particular building without physical preventing intrusions. the success of symbolic
versus real barriers in restricting entry rests on four conditions
▪ The capacity of the intruder to read the symbols
▪ The capacity of the inhabitants or their agents to maintain
controls and reinforce the space definition as symbolically
expressed.
▪ The capacity of the defined space to require the intruder to
make obvious his or her intentions.
▪ The capacity of the inhabitants or their agents to challenge the
presence of the intruder and to take subsequent action.
▪ Teen play area should not be located in a isolated area of a
development, dissociated from the dwelling. Teen area should
be bordered by dwellings of residence.

EXTERIOR DOORS
• All outdoor doors including the back door should be able to withstand the degree of attack anticipated.

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 21

• Where security problems are very serious doors with glass panels should not be used. All exterior solid core construction
with a minimum thickness of 1¾ inches.
• If panel doors are desired the panel thickness should be minimum of ½ inch thickness.
• Door hinges should be of heavy duty construction and located inner side of the doors so that burglars cannot remove the
entire door.
• Door locks are the one element in the entire security picture about which a standard recommendation can most validly be
made for every multiple housing project. Every exterior dwelling unit should be equipped with a dead bolt mortise lock with
a throw of atleast 1inch.
• Door frame is often overlooked as a component of the security of the complete door systems. All frames shall be of heavy
duty construction. Metal covered wooden frames provided optimum cost effectiveness.

WINDOWS
▪ The dwelling unit windows are vulnerable to attack are those situated in the first floor or accessible from the ground.
▪ Windows glass can be protected by the use of unbreakable glass made of polycarbonate materials.
▪ The only reliable window locks are those key operated variety. However such locks provide problems of fire safety.
▪ Gates locks and grilles afford reliable protection for vulnerable windows where security problems are great. such
fixtures should be of heavy duty construction should be securely attached with machines are round headed bolts
which cannot be easily removed.

ELECTRONIC ALARM SYSTEMS

The above said measures can be reinforced with electronic alarm systems.
Types of alarm systems
Alarm devices can be divided into two categories contact devices and motion devices. in simple terms contact devices are
mechanical switches which detect the movement of doors or windows. Foil strips are related to a mechanism to detect breakage of
door and window glass.
Motion detecting systems include seismographic devices, photoelectric cells, and ultrasonic detectors.

SITE AND ACCESS CRITERIA

The fire department is severely hampered if it cannot gain rapid access to the building in which fire is there. The follo0wing are
guidelines for streets and access to buildings.

▪ The developed areas should be accessible from atleast two separate connecting points or one connecting roadway of
divided design.
▪ Streets should be paved and be capable of supporting heaviest load permitted.
▪ Total street width should provide a 22ft. clear excluding of the parking.
▪ Intersection should have minimum curb radius of 20ft.
▪ Grades should not exceed 10% grades of 15%are permitted for distance less than 600ft.
▪ Fences should have gates to provide access to the rear side buildings.

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS

 AR8803 URBAN HOUSING 22

WATER SUPPLY CRITERIA

▪ An inadequate water supply for fire fighting may result in loss of life and property. The following minimum fire flow should
be available at a residual pressure of 20lb/insq.
▪ Piping should be lined as required to resist corrosion and tuberculation.
▪ Water mains should be less than 8in nominal inside diameter.
▪ dead end mains should not exceed 600ftin length.
▪ hydrant should be located at each street intersection.
▪ Hydrant should be located 5ft-10ft of street or driveway pavement.
▪ Hydrants shall not be provided 50ft close to the building to be protected.

QUANTITY OF WATER
With quality water supplies becoming more difficult to find and water demands increasing. This limited source must be conserved.
Airports (per person) - 3-5 gallons /day
Apartments - 60
Bath house - 10
Luxury camps - 100-150
Boarding house - 50
Luxury - 100-150
Swimming pool - 10

FLOOR AREA
Floor area is the sum of the gross area of the several floors of a building, measured from the exterior face of the exterior walls .it
generally includes
▪ Basement space
▪ Elevator shafts or stairwells at each floor
▪ Floor space in pent house
▪ Attic space providing structural headroom of 8ft or more
▪ Floor space in interior balconies or mezzanines
▪ Any floor space used for dwelling.

The floor area of a building should not include

▪ Cellar space except that cellar space used for retailing should be included for the purpose of calculating requirements for
accessory.
▪ Uncovered steps
▪ Accessory water tanks
▪ Floor space used for mechanical equipments
▪ Elevator or stair bulk heads

UNIT 3 – HOUSING STANDARDS