SAVING

COST ON
BUILDING
 How to save on Cost of Building
Buildings can be made cost-effective by:
Sourcing land at most competitive price
By adopting optimum Design solutions- architecturally, structurally,
Services etc
By using cost-effective local materials, pre-cast, pre- fabricated , re-cycled
materials , materials requiring minimum maintenance, having longer
life
Using state of art technology in construction to save on time , labour,
space materials and money
Managing construction in most optimum manner
Using minimum Time for construction and completion of
building/project
Designing Green Buildings –to reduce cost of electricity/water and
generating its own energy
Keeping cost of money minimum- based on rates and time
Keeping Builders, contractor margins at lowest level
Reducing Government levies and fees
 Reducing Construction Cost
Design properly with least amount of wastage & negative spaces.

Stick to right angles and simple room shapes to minimize the
complexity of construction.

.Build multi- storied construction- since foundation and roofing
costs per square foot are high.
Use local & contemporary materials
Don't increase slab heights
Plan to use lightweight bricks to CC blocks ---reduces load in
structural design
Don't design for additional floors if not required
Use UPVC or Aluminium Windows instead of teak wood, same goes
for doors, use flush doors instead.
Use same flooring in all rooms/ toilets, this reduces wastage.
Plan properly Electrical/Plumbing-- can save a lot .
Don't compromise on quality, reduce your requirements to fit your
budget
 Reducing Cost of Building-Land
Making land market more efficient by:
 streamlining the land ownership record,
rationalising stamp duties,
minimising benami transactions,
eliminating speculation by taxing vacant urban lands,
minimising monopolisation,
regulating land use conversion,
 rationalising building bye-laws,
zoning regulations ,
 development controls,
rationalising densities,
 ground coverage,
Floor area ratio,
 height etc
Promoting Economy through Good Design

The project should be designed to be effective for the purposes
for which it is intended.
A well designed building need not be to a high level of
specification.
Buildings when over specified and thus unnecessarily costly.
A well deigned project will impact upon the—
-- satisfaction,
-- comfort and
-- well being of its occupants,
-- and, if it is a commercial building,
--upon their productivity and performance. …
--Quality should be the overriding consideration.
Promoting Economy through Good Design
While constructing building -- consider impact of design throughout lifetime of
buildings on:
-- place in which building is located and
-- on all stakeholders/ who will use the building.
 building’s costs /benefits expressed as impact upon its occupiers/ users
 Good building design involves creating places/ buildings/ spaces that :
--work well for everyone
-- look good
-- last well and
-- will adapt to the needs of future generations
A well designed hospital-- helps patients get better quickly
• A well designed school --- improves educational achievement of
its pupils
• A well designed department store-- have direct impact on stock
turnover
• A well designed neighbourhood -- benefits from lower crime and
higher house value
Promoting Economy through Good
Design
Good building design important because it :
--promotes sustainable development
-- Improves aesthetic of our environment
-- Improves quality of life and economic growth.
-- creates successful and sustainable society
-- Puts land, water, drainage, energy, community, economic, infrastructure and other such
resources to the best possible use – over the long as well as the short term
-- makes building highly
i cost effective,
ii energy efficient
Iii more livable,
iv promotes highest order of building efficiency
v promoting optimum utilization of land
Vi Requiring minimum maintenance and upkeep
Three key principles of creating well designed building :
•-- Good design ---does not cost more when measured across the lifetime of the building or place
•-- Good design--- flows from the employment of skilled and multidisciplinary team
• --Starting point of good design is client commitment
Promoting Economy through Good
Design
The main design factors which impact on cost are:
 Plan shape,
Size of building,
Wall to floor ratio
Degree of circulation space,
Storey heights
total height of the building
Grouping of buildings
--It can be said that larger buildings with --simple, rectangular, regular
floor plans and elevations will be less expensive per sq.m. of floor area
-- than smaller, complex shaped, curved or angular buildings.
.
Promoting Economy through Good Design
 Good Architectural design is the best instrument to achieve most
economical building based on the principles of—
Design a compact building with minimum footprints
Design buildings based on specified norms and standards to avoid their
over/under-designing
Adopt a shape of building which leads to minimum length and area of walls
Building must achieve high space efficiency ie carpet area x100/gross area
with minimum area under walls, circulation and amenities
Minimising area under walls-- using pre-cast concrete blocks, 71/2 “ walls
instead of 9” walls
Evolving design having low wall area/floor area ratio
Evolving design on optimum structural grid
Design lean to reduce structural load to minimise use of steel/concrete
Use innovative technologies-- Rat-Trap brick walls to reduce number of
bricks and mortar used
Used new cost- effective materials ---aerated cement concrete blocks to
reduce the width of walls, number/ size of joints, use of cement etc
Site Planning-impact of buildings- minimising
Building Footprints
Economy through Good Design
Adopt a system of building common walls between adjoining houses to
economise on space, materials, time and structure
Club all public health services together---- on a floor to minimise their cost.
 In case of multi-storeyed buildings--- repeat them one above the other ie
Keep your spaces that need plumbing close together or above each other to
minimize plumbing
Design all public health services near to the supply and drainage network
to reduce length of pipes and cost
Design Green Buildings since they save lot of water and electric energy-
makes building cost- effective over entire life cycle
Provide standard sized doors with limited variations
All finishing/fittings- floor, windows, glass, paneling etc designed based on
standard size products available in market- to minimise wastage etc Build
to match standard material dimensions- for example   Plywood is 4' x 8'. 
Thus it is best to build in 4' modules..
Using pre-caste /pre-fabricated products to the extent possible- doors/
windows cupboards etc
Avoid fancy/false/decorative structures in building
Economy through Good Design
  Make your rooms versatile to optimise space utilisation—
-- As example - do you really need a living  --same space can serve many
uses.  A guest room can be an expensive luxury

Avoid corridors to the extent possible- Corridors can be dead space.  They
are only used for moving between adjacent spaces

Think long term as the cost of ownership spans ay be many years. Some
extra insulation and passive heating / cooling may be beneficial over the
length of your home ownership. .
  Select your window placement well-- they are costly - in first cost and in
energy loss---select standard window sizing.

Keep bathrooms to a minimum, ----they are by far most expensive room per
square foot in your home.
Try to design multi use bathrooms--- with private enclosures for the
shower, toilet and sink-- you can have 3 people using one bathroom at the
same time.
 Reducing Cost of Building- Taxes
Reducing and rationalising government levies, charges, fees and
taxes
Government charges, fees, taxes etc form considerable
proportion of the total cost of housing.
 to reduce building cost -- desirable these charges are
rationalised
 Rationalising these charges would involve redefining:
 land use conversion charges,
 plan scrutiny fee,
 Internal Development Charges
 External development charges.
Service Tax
VAT
Sale Tax
Goods and Services Tax ( GST)
Energy efficiency- Embodied &Operating energy
 Material
Efficiency
 Cost efficiency through Building Materials
No mode of creation is more direct or naturally
arrived at than the accumulation and agglomeration
of materials found close at hand.
• Using Local Materials
• reduces transportation cost ,
• Saves time, --
• Makes products more cost effective
--Reduces embodied energy requirement of building
• Buy low-maintenance building materials —
--Even if more expensive at installation
-- pay in long run due to less repair, replace, or repaint
•. Use salvaged materials from demolition sites. –
Old wood, used bricks, distinctive wood doors add inexpensive
character to home without exorbitant cost– One can have
materials at no cost, if willing to haul them away.
•Use low energy materials
Building Materials
Using Green Building materials :
-- rapidly renewable plant materials --
bamboo and straw,
  stone, recycled stone, recycled metal ,
--- Non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and/or
recyclable Products include--
- Recycled industrial goods,
-- Coal combustion products, foundry sand,
--Demolished debris in construction projects.
Green Material - Fly Ash Bricks
 Fly Ash Bricks- Advantages
 Reduced Embodied Energy: using Fly ash- lime- Gypsum
bricks-- 40% reduction in embodied energy of masonry.
 Environment Friendly: Fly ash brick uses unfired Fly Ash
technology hence the CO2 emissions in manufacturing process
limited..
 Excellent Thermal Insulation: The buildings using fly ash
bricks are cool in summers and warm in winters.
• Fire Resistance: very high-- as these bricks composed of fly
ash as its major constituents, which is un-burnt residue of the
coal fired in a thermal power plant.
• No Efflorescence: Fly ash bricks resist salt and other sulphate
attack, ensuring no efflorescence in structure.
- Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (sand,
calcined gypsum, lime (mineral), cement,
water and Aluminum powder,)-- versatile
lightweight construction material used
as blocks which are:
- Lightweight
- low density with
--excellent insulation properties.
-- good acoustic properties
-- durable
--- good resistance to :
--sulfate attack and
-- damage by fire and frost.
-- used to form inner leaf of a cavity
wall.
-- also used in outer leaf, when they are
usually rendered and in foundations.
Autoclaved aerated concrete is easily
cut to any required shape.
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
•quick and easy to install
•can be routed, sanded, or cut to size on site using
standard carbon steel power tools 
•suited for urban areas with high rise buildings
and those with high temperature variations 
•Due to its lower density-- high rise buildings
require less steel and concrete for structural
member
•requirement of mortar for laying of AAC blocks is
reduced due to the lower number/thickness of
1/8” of joints
•material required for rendering is also lower due
to dimensional accuracy of AAC
•suitable for extreme temperatures, --eliminates
need for separate materials for construction and
insulation--- faster construction and cost savings 
•can be coated with a stucco/plaster compound to
guard against the elements, or covered with siding
materials such as brick or vinyl.
- Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
UPVC( Unplastisized Polyvinyl
chloride) doors and Windows
The Vinyl windows
--- excellent insulators :
--Reduce heating and cooling
loads by:
- preventing thermal loss
through frame / sash material .
-- not affected by :
-- weather/ air pollution /
--salt, acid rain
--industrial pollution
--pesticides
-smog
--discoloration and
-- structural damage .
- user friendly and Eco-
Friendly ,-- readily accepted and
safe .
 Bamboo
i . Strength at par with hard wood--- Bamboo extremely strong natural
fibre, on par with hardwoods-- when cultivated, harvested, prepared and
stored properly
-- Bamboo, like true wood, is a natural composite material with a high
strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures.
--Bamboo has higher compressive strength than wood, brick or
concrete and a tensile strength that rivals steel
ii High Flexibility - Bamboo highly flexible--during growth trained to
grow in unconventional shapes.
-- After harvest, may be bent /utilized in archways / curved areas.
iii. Earthquake- Resistance - Great capacity for shock absorption, --
makes it useful in earthquake- prone areas.
iv. Lightweight - Bamboo extremely lightweight.
 -- Building with bamboo can be accomplished faster with simple tools
than building with other materials.
-Cranes and other heavy machinery rarely required.
v. Cost-effective – Economical--- especially in areas where cultivated and
readily available.
--Transporting cost is also much lesser.
-- Helps achieve cost effective construction.
 Bamboo
. vi. Durable - Long-lasting --as its wooden correlates, when properly harvested
vi

and maintained.

·vii. Fast Growing--Bamboo fast growing species / renewable resource which can
be cultivated in most types of soil. ·

viii. Simple designing- Designs of Bamboo components being simple, there is no
need of highly skilled labour.

·ix Reducing use of wood-- Dependency on natural forests for wood reduced thus
contributing to the protection of the environment.

·x Eco- friendly-- As it can grow in many types of soil, bamboo cultivation is
suitable for rehabilitation of degraded forests and other waste lands thus converting
them into fertile lands to some extent.

xi Promoting Employment– Creating employment opportunities especially for
rural people --as Bamboo mats manually woven before making them into Bamboo
Mat / Boards, Bamboo Mat Veneer Composites and Bamboo Mat Corrugated Sheets.

·xii Promoting Welfare of society/poor- Promotes overall welfare of the
society, particularly of economically weaker section.

xiii Reducing GLOBAL warming- Captures 17 mts CO2 per hectare per year-
more than any specie

xiv Improves indoor air Quality- By removing carbon and adding oxygen when
used as Indoor plant
Promoting Economy – Green Buildings
Designing and constructing Buildings on the concept of Green
Buildings will help in:
 considerable reduction of operational
 over the entire life cycle of the building
due to
 reduced energy and
 water consumption besides
 lower generation of waste
 makes Buildings really cost-effective and sustainable.
Economic Advantages of Green Buildings
Reducing Cost of Building- Modular
construction
'Modular construction' is a term used to describe the-
use of factory-produced
pre-engineered building units
that are delivered to site and
assembled as large volumetric components
or as substantial elements of a building
Requires selection of most suitable dimensions of structural elements- slab , walls, beam,
columns etc
Promotes simplification and speedier construction leading to economy.
Creates possibility of using alternatives materials in difficult terrain or areas of non-
availability
Offer off- the- shelf standard components for buildings- Reduced construction time,
materials and cost
Adopting modular components in planning and designing helps in -
 simplifying working,
saving time,
 reducing wastage,
 improving building performance and
 saving money
Reducing Cost of Building- Standardization and Pre- Fabrication
Standardisation and Pre-fabrication of building components brings--Speed,
safety, quality and sustainable construction
Using Pre-fabrication technologies also promote cost- effectiveness , economy in time
and cost ,
Adopting standardisation and pre-fabrication, of various building components
based on available size of materials promotes:
Reduces cost of construction many time
Ensures highest degree of Quality control
Ensures less waste and
high consistency in strength- steam curing instead of manual/water curing
Suited to mass Construction/ Housing
-- promotes quality of construction and
-- achieves economy of scale
-- reduces time frame of construction and
--Reduces labour component.
Ensures mass production of products
Eliminates need for on site fabrication- requiring collection of ,material,
machinery and labour
Advantages of Pre- Fabrication
Factory made products provide assured quality of products—
rational/efficient mechanical processes, skilled workers, repetitive
processes, quality controls etc
Self-supporting, ready made components- reduces formwork,
shuttering and scaffolding
Reduced Construction time- due to mechanical processes and use
of moulds number of time
 Allowing earlier return of the capital invested- due to lesser time
Assured Quality Control- Assembly line setting Vs Site line setting
Minimize Time lost during bad weather/ hazardous environment
--
Produces Less waste due to recycling of the waste
Pre- fabrication units are normally located- where there is
demand, availability/cost of skilled labour, power, materials, space
and overheads are minimum
Dis-Advantages of Pre- Fabrication
 Requires Careful handling of the products –
concrete, glass, steel panels
 Issue of Joining of the pre-fabricated Units – to avoid
failure
Leakages /corrosion at the joints- if not handled
properly
Higher Transportation cost- particularly heavy
components
Mechanical equipment required for Loading,
unloading, erection- cranes
Skilled manpower requirement- involving higher cost
In case of damage/breaking- replacement time and
higher cost
 Reducing Cost of Building
Building Technologies
•Promoting state of art and
• cost-effective building technologies
will be critical in
-----reducing not only period of
construction but
-----also lowering the cost of
construction.
Cost –Effectiveness --- Project Management
For promoting economy, critical to adopt
--strong project and
-- cost- management approach
in planning, designing and construction of the project.
Promoting strong project and cost- management helps
in:
 minimising time span for completion of project,
 bringing high degree of operational efficiency
 eliminating time overrun
 eliminating cost-over run,
Optimizing manpower and resources
Minimizes material inventory
Minimizes wastage
RAT TRAP BOND
RAT TRAP BOND
 Reducing Cost of Building
Long term tie up of conventional
materials
Due to longer gestation period of projects/ other externalities
-- Cost of essential materials invariably goes up
-- sometimes their supply also disrupted
 adversely impacting sustainability of project.
 To hedge project against the:
 cost-escalation and
assured supply
----of essential materials --cement, steel, bricks, tiles sand,
wood etc during project life cycle,
 have long term tie up with producers/suppliers of such
materials.
 Lauri Baker
factors which are involved in
Architecture.
Site,
Topography
Geology
climate
vegetation
available local materials
Religious & cultural-- patterns of living
 Cluster Planning
CLUSTER PLANNING AROUND A COMMON OPEN SPACE Helps in
:
OPTIMUM UTILIZATION OF SAPCE
-PROVIDING SPACE FOR COMMUNAL WORK
- PLAY AND
- FOR BULLOCK CART PARKING ETC
CUTS DOWN PUKKA ROAD LENGTHS,
ALLOWS FOR A VARIETY OF HOUSE DESIGNS,
AND ENCOURAGES NEIGHBOURLINESS.
AN OPEN NARROW SPACE BETWEEN CLUSTERS
CAN CONTAIN FUEL AND FODDER AND
FRUIT TREES,
 SPACE FOR SANITATION
COMMUNAL GAS PLANTS ETC
Cluster Planning
 COST EFFICIENCY
 With millions homeless families-- money available used ONLY for
essentials, and not it for fancy frills!-
 Aim- “ Cost Efficiency” – Which can be achieved through following
things;
 MATERIALS – use materials for building LOCALLY AVAILABLE?
 Must ALWAYS keep CLIENT in mind
 Remember CLIENT is the beneficiary – not a Government Department
 --Will he be able to accommodate comfortably all his dependants?
 --Will he be able to extend the house when, later, his sons grow up and
earn money?
 --Will the house be STRONG and SECURE?
 --Can sheds or verandas be added by him for home occupations, like
carpentry or weaving etc?
 --Does plan allow for local cultural / religious ways of living?
 What about water and sanitation?
 And what about approachability?
 If there are any trees – keep them – incorporate them in Plan
RAT TRAP BOND
RAT TRAP BOND
BUILDING
CODE
 BUILDING CODE- DEFINITION
Building code -also building control or building regulations is a:
-- set of rules which
-- specify standards for constructed objects such as buildings and non-building structures.
Main purpose of building codes is to:
--Ensure provision of basic amenities and services
--Ensures appropriate air , light and ventilation in buildings
-- Creating Design on specified space standards
Ensures provision of basic public health amenities-
--water supply,
--sewerage,
--sanitation,
--storm water drainage
Provision of electricity/power/
-- Promote safety of building- natural/manmade disasters—Earthquake and fire
Specifies who can design / supervise the building
--Regulate use of materials in Construction
- means of movement horizontal and Vertical
-- Promote general/users welfare
relating to the construction / occupancy / structures of building.
Building code becomes law when formally enacted by the appropriate government
 HISTORY OF BUILDING CODE
Building codes have long history.
Earliest written building code --  Code of Hammurabi-- dates from
1772 BC.
Book of Deuteronomy  in  Hebrew Bible stipulated
---that parapets must be constructed on all houses to prevent people
from falling off.
Modern Era
After  Great Fire of London in 1666-- Rebuilding of London of
London Act passed same year -- first significant building regulation
by Sir Matthew Hale,
Act regulated rebuilding of city, required
housing to have --
-- fire resistance capacity and
-- to reopen and widen roads.
 The Laws of the Indies  passed in 1680s by  Spanish Crown-- 
regulated the-- urban planning for colonies throughout Spain's
worldwide imperial possessions.
 HISTORY OF BUILDING CODE
First systematic national building standard was established
in UK--- London Building Act of 1844 providing for:
--builders required to give district surveyor two days' notice
before starting construction of building :
 Code regulated
-- thickness of walls,
-- height of rooms,
-- materials used in repairs,
-- dividing existing buildings .
-- placing and designing of
 ---chimneys,
 -- fireplaces and
--- drains 
--- streets to be built to minimum requirements
 PURPOSE OF BUILDING CODE
The purpose of building codes are to provide minimum standards for:
safety,
health, and
general welfare including
--structural integrity,
--mechanical integrity (including sanitation, water supply, light, and ventilation),
--means of egress,
--fire prevention and
--control, and
--energy conservation.
So the purpose of code is to promote/ensure—
 quality, strength, compatibility, effectiveness, fire and water resistance, durability and
safety
 Building code helps in bringing uniformity in building operations- Planning, designing,
construction
Prevents under/over designing in the buildings
Prevents subjectivity of designer and brings objectivity
Promotes economy in buildings through adopting standards in designing and
construction
Provides guidelines for the Architect to design the building and provide necessary
supportive infrastructure
Ensures building meets the needs of the end- user.
 BUILDING CODE Provides for

Building codes generally include:
Norms for Ground coverage
Building Height, Floor Area Ratio, Set backs, Height, basement
Standards for structure,
placement, size, usage, wall assemblies
fenestration size/locations, egress rules
size/location of rooms
foundations
floor assemblies
roof structures/assemblies
energy efficiency
stairs and halls,
mechanical, electrical, plumbing
site drainage & storage, appliance
lighting, fixtures standards,
occupancy rules, and
Rules regarding parking and traffic impact
 PURPOSE OF BUILDING CODE
Fire code Rules—
 to minimize risk of a fire and
 to ensure safe evacuation in the event of such an emergency
Requirements for earthquake (seismic code, hurricane, flood,
and tsunami resistance
in disaster prone areas or
 for very large buildings where a failure would be catastrophic
Requirements for specific building uses
-- storage of flammable substances/housing a large number of people)
Energy provisions and consumption.
Specifications of components
Allowable installation methodologies
Minimum and maximum room and exit sizes and location
Qualification of individuals or corporations doing the work
 PURPOSE OF BUILDING CODE
Designers use building code standards as reference books during
design
 Building departments review plans submitted before
construction, issue permits
 Inspectors verify compliance to these standards at the site
during construction.
There are additional codes/ sections of the same building code that
have more specific requirements that apply to
-- dwellings or places of business and
-- special construction objects such as:
-- canopies,
 signs,
 pedestrian walkways,
 parking lots, and
 radio and television antennas.
 BUILDING CODE- Users
Building codes intended to be applied by----
-- Architects, Engineers, Builders and Regulators 
--- also used for various purposes–
---by safety inspectors,
--- environmental scientists,
---real estate developers,
--- sub--contractors,
-- manufacturers of building products and materials
--- insurance companies,
 ---facility managers
-- tenants, and others.
 Codes regulating the design and construction of
structures are adopted into law.