31-10-2023

GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVING

THE CYCLONIC RESISTANCE OF LOW
RISE HOUSES AND OTHER
BUILDINGS/STRUCTURES
(IS 15498:2004)

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GUIDELINES FOR PLANNING

 As far as possible, the building shall be founded on good ground.

Part of building good and partly on made up ground shall be
avoided.

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Regular plan shapes are preferred.

Re entrant corners are to be avoided

• For individual buildings, a circular or

polygonal plan is preferred over rectangular
or square plans but from the view point of
functional efficiency, often a rectangular plan
is commonly used.

• Where most prevalent wind direction is

known, a building should be so oriented,
where feasible, that its smallest facade faces
the wind.

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A symmetrical building with a compact planform is more stable than an

asymmetrical building with a zig-zag plan, having empty pockets as the
latter is more prone to wind/cyclone related damage

Less Preferred or Undesirable Preferred/ Improved

In case of construction of group of buildings with a row type or cluster

arrangement, cluster arrangement can be followed in preference to row
type. However, in certain cases, both may give rise to adverse wind
pressure due to tunnel action and studies need to be conducted to look into
this aspect.
Less Preferred or Undesirable Preferred/ Improved

Row Planning creates wind Zig Zag Planning avoids wind

tunnel effects tunnel effects

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Buildings are not to be located in low-lying

areas as cyclones are invariably associated
with floods.

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In hilly regions, construction along ridges should be avoided since they

experience an accentuation of wind velocity whereas valleys
experiences lower speeds in general.
Less Preferred or Undesirable Preferred/ Improved

Low pitches for roofs should be avoided

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Hipped roofs are preferred to gabled roofs for non-engineered and semi-
engineered buildings as the peak suction pressures for all angles of
attack are lower in the former case, and may be taken as 80 percent of
those on pitched gabled roof in the absence of more detailed
information.

• The percent of the total opening in the cross section of the frontal
wall shall be less than 50 percent of the width of the wall.
• Opening in load bearing walls should not be within a distance of
h/6 from the inner corner for the purpose of providing lateral
support to cross walls, where his the storey height up to cave Level.
Less Preferred or Undesirable Preferred/ Improved

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Dos’ and Don’ts’ For Cyclones

Before & During

Listen to radio or TV weather reports and alert everyone through
a loud speaker or by going home to home.

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Identify safe shelter in your area. These should be cyclone resistant and also
find the closest route to reach them. Move domestic animals to safety as
well.

Keep your emergency kit and basic food supply, medicines, torch and
batteries etc.

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Doors, windows, roof and walls should be strengthened

before the cyclone season through retrofitting and repairing.

• Store adequate food grains and water in safe places. Check that doors
to garden sheds and garages are also secure.

• Keep flashlights, candles and matches in case of power outages.

.
• Do not venture into the sea. Stay Indoors and stand below the
strongest part of the house if you have not moved to the cyclone
shelter.

• Remain indoors until advised that the cyclone has passed away.

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Do not take shelter close to trees because branches may break off
or trees may even be uprooted, and fall on top of you or heavy
constructions such as bridges etc.

• During the eye of the storm, move to the other side of

your shelter, since the wind will now come from the
opposite direction.

• Write each child’s name, address, and contact number on

a piece of paper and place it in the child’s pocket.

• If you are outside, be aware of the dangers of flying

objects, falling trees, buildings that may collapse, and
damaged power lines.

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If you are in a car, do not try to outdrive a cyclone or heavy

winds: if it changes course you will be in danger of being
picked up in your vehicle. Remain in the car preferable
halting at a safe place.

Conduct Mock Drills for yourself and the community

for evacuation.

After Cyclones
• After the winds die down, wait for at least 12 hours before leaving your
shelter.
• Do not go out till officially advised that it is safe. If evacuated, wait till
advised to go back.

• Do not use power points until they have been checked.

• Use the recommended route to return to your home.
Do not rush.
• Be careful of fallen powers lines, damaged roads and
houses, fallen trees.


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PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST-AID IN ALL DISASTERS

SHARE AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION WITH FAMILY AND

COMMUNITY .
USE LOCAL MEDIUM AND FOLK ART TO COMMUNICATE

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PURIFYING WATER
If water supplies run low and main water is contaminated, you will have to
purify water.

MAIN MITIGATION MEASURES

Structural measures refer to any physical (natural or artificial)

construction to reduce or avoid possible impacts of hazards.
Structural measures can range from engineering structures that
are added to the landscape to protect from hazards.

Non-structural measures refer to policies, regulations and plans

that promote good coastal management practices to minimize
risks from coastal hazards. Education and outreach campaigns
that increase the public’s awareness of risks, vulnerability and
preparedness responses can be considered as non-structural
measures

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STRUCTURAL MEASURES:
• Construction of cyclone shelters,
• construction of cyclone resistant buildings
• road links, bridges, canals, drains
• saline embankments
• communication and power transmission networks etc.

NON-STRUCTURAL
The effects of cyclones can be mitigated through effective mitigation
policies and strategies:
• Early warning dissemination systems,
• Management of coastal zones
• Awareness generation and disaster risk management and
• capacity building of all the stakeholders involved.
• Developing shelter belts: Shelter belts with plantations of trees can
act as effective wind-and tide-breakers.

The effects of cyclones can be mitigated through effective mitigation policies and strategies.
• Installation Of Earth Warning Systems : Such systems fitted along the coastlines can greatly
assist forecasting techniques, thus helping in early evacuation of people in the storm surge
areas.
• Developing communication infrastructure Amateur Radio has today emerged as second line
unconventional communications systems and is an important tool for disaster mitigation.
• Developing shelter belts: Shelter belts with plantations of trees can act as effective wind-
and tide-breakers. Apart from acting as effective windbreakers and protecting soil crops
from being damaged, they also prevent soil erosion.
• Developing community cyclone shelters: Cyclone shelters at strategic locations can help in
minimizing the loss of human life. In the normal course of life, these shelters can be used as
public utility buildings.
• Construction of permanent houses: There is a need to build appropriately-designed concrete
houses that can withstand high winds and tidal waves.
• Training and education: Public awareness programs that inform the population about their
response to cyclone warnings and preparedness can go a long way in reducing causalities.
• Land use control and settlement planning: Ideally, no residential and industrial units should
be permitted in the coastal belt of 5 km from the sea, as it is the most vulnerable belt. No
further growth of settlements in this region should be permitted. Major settlements and
other important establishments should be located beyond 10 km from the sea.

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