UNIT – 2

CONCEPTS OF BUILDING PLANNING

“PROVISIONS OF NATIONAL
BUILDING CODE”
 Introduction to Building
Codes
“Building codes are a series of ordinances
enacted by a state or local governmental
entity, establishing minimum requirements
that must be met in the construction and
maintenance of buildings”.

· The government establishes requirements and

standards to protect people from unsafe living
and working conditions.

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 PURPOSE OF
Codes
✓ Ensure public health and safety throughout a building.
✓ Most have come into play “after-the-fact” as a
learning experience from a major tragedy.
✓ They are primarily concerned with
✓ Construction requirements
✓ Hazardous materials or equipment used in the
building
✓ 75% of all codes and standards deal with fire
✓ Energy conservation
✓ Accessibility

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 What is building
✓
code?
A building code is a document containing standardized requirement for the
design & construction of most types of building.
✓ Codes regulate building construction & building use in order to protect the
health, safety & welfare of the occupant.
✓ Codes express all aspects of construction including structural integrity, fire
resistance, safe exists, lighting, electrical, energy conservation, plumbing,
sanitary facilities, ventilation, seismic design & correct use of construction
materials.
✓ Building codes classify standard by use & apply different standards to
each classification. For example, schools & office buildings are in separate
occupancy category with different performance requirement.

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 What is building
code?
✓ The codes includes various aspect for regulation on
design & construction viz;
✓ For Planning Building/Development work
✓ For Structural Design
✓ For Constructional aspects
✓ For Building Services (HVAC, electrical, Acoustics, lifts etc.)
✓ Plumbing Services (Water supply, Sewerage, Drainage,
waste management)
✓ Landscaping, signs and outdoor display structures

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 What is building
code?
✓ The purpose of all these building codes is to ensure
public safety, health & welfare as affected by
building construction.
✓ This purpose includes:
✓ Structural strength
✓ Sanitary equipment
✓ Light & ventilation
✓ Fire safety

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NATIONAL BUILDING CODE
 What is National building
code?
✓ The National Building Code of India (NBC), (a
comprehensive building Code), is a national instrument
providing guidelines for regulating the building
construction activities across the country.

✓ It serves as a Model Code for adoption by all agencies

involved in building construction works be they Public
Works Departments, other government construction
departments, local bodies or private construction agencies.

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 What is National building
code?
✓ The Code mainly contains administrative regulations,
development control rules and general building
requirements; fire safety requirements; stipulations
regarding materials, structural design and construction
(including safety); and building and plumbing services.

✓ The National Building Code was first published in 1970 at the

instance of Planning Commission and then revised in 1983.
Thereafter three major amendments were issued, two in
1987 and the third in 1997.

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 History and Overview -National
building code
In 1968 A Report on Economies in Construction Cost’ was
published by planning commission.
It revealed that building bylaws and regulations and some of
the prevailing methods of construction were outmoded; some
designs were over burdened with safety factors; building
bylaws of municipal bodies were outdated etc.

These studies resulted in a recommendation that a

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE be prepared to unify the
building regulations throughout the country.
 History and Overview -National
building code
• The Bureau of Indian Standards was established with the
objective of harmonious development of standardization
activity in India.

• This Bureau, Under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act,

1986, established Indian Standards, by a process of
consultation involving consumers, manufacturers,
Government and regulatory bodies, technologists, scientists
and testing laboratories through duly constituted committees.
History and Overview - National
building code
The first version of the NATIONAL BUILDING CODE was
published in 1970. Since the publication in 1970 version of the
NATIONAL BUILDING CODE a large number of comments
and useful suggestions for modifications and additions to
different parts and sections of the code were received.

The revised version of NATIONAL BUILDING CODE of India

was therefore, brought outin 1983
Based on the changes effected in the:
• Steel Code,
• Masonry Code
• Loading Codes
• to update Fire Protection Requirements,

three voluminous amendments were brought out to

the 1983 version of the Code,
Two in 1987 and the third in 1997.
In the last about two decades since the publication of the
1983 version of the Code, substantial further experience had
been gained in the areas of the
• Building planning,
• Designing and
• Construction.

Intensive efforts involving wide consultative process

have resulted in finalization and publication of the

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF INDIA – 2005

reflecting the state-of-the-art and contemporary

applicable international practices.
Provisions of National Building Code

 Inclusion of a complete philosophy and direction for successfully

accomplishing the building projects through integrated
multidisciplinary approach right through conceptual stage to
planning, designing, construction, operation and maintenance
stages.
 A series of reforms in building permit process
Provisions to ensure and certification of safety of buildings against
natural disaster by engineer and structural engineer.
 Provisionfor two stage permit for high rise and special buildings.
Provision for periodic renewal certificate of occupied buildings from
structural, fire and electrical safety point of view.
Provision for empowering engineers and architects for sanctioning
plans of residential buildings up to 500 m2.
 Inclusion of detailed town planning norms for various amenities
such as educational facilities, medical facilities, distribution
services, police, civil defense and home guards and fire services.
 Revision of parking requirements for metro and mega cities.

Up-dation of special requirements for low income housing for

urban areas.

Inclusion of special requirements for low income housing

rural habitat planning.

Revision of the provisions for buildings and facilities for
physically challenged.
Fire safety norms completely revamped through detailed
provisions on fire prevention, life safety and fire protection.
Inclusion of new categories of starred hotels, heritage
structures and archeological monuments for fire safety
provisions.

Substitution of halon based fire/extinguishers

fire fighting system.

Promotion to new/innovative building

materials/technologies.
Inclusion of latest provisions for earthquake resistant design and
construction.
Inclusion of details on multi-disaster prone districts.
Inclusion of new chapter on design and construction using bamboo.

Chapter on prefabricated and composite construction for

speedier construction.

Updation of provision of safety in construction.

Complete revision of provision on building and plumbing
services in line with applicable international practices.
Provisions on rain water harvesting.
Inclusion of new chapter to cover landscaping needs.