CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION
OF INDIA
As per National Building Code (NBC)
5
Characteristics of 6 Climatic Zones
in India
• HOT and DRY
• WARM and HUMID
• MODERATE
• COMPOSITE
• COLD and CLOUDY
COLD
• COLD and SUNNY
FIVE CLIMATIC ZONES
As per National Building Code (NBC)
CLIMATIC ZONES
Bansal versus NBC
HOT and DRY Zone
JAISALMER JODHPUR SOLAPUR
• LANDSCAPE: Sandy or Rocky , dry , low water table
• VEGETATION: Sparse -grass, cactii,thorny trees/bushes
• SOLAR RADIATION: Intense- upto 800-950 W/m2
• TEMPERATURE: Summer 40-45 deg day,20-30 deg night Winter
5-25 deg day,0-10 deg night. Large diurnal range
• RELATIVE HUMIDITY: Low-25-40%
• PRECIPITATION- <500mm
• WIND: Hot Dusty local winds in afternoons, isolated whirlwinds
in evenings. Nights calm
• SKY CONDITION: Cloudless causing glare
• Ground and surrounding objects emit heat and glare in
afternoons causing thermal discomfort
WARM and HUMID Zone
MUMBAI CHENNAI KOLKATA
• LANDSCAPE: Generally flat, poor soil with high water table
• VEGETATION:Abundant and fast growing
• SOLAR RADIATION:Intense on clear days, diffused in monsoons
• TEMPERATURE: Summer 30-35 deg day,25-30 deg night Winter
25-30 deg day,20-25 deg [Link] diurnal range
• RELATIVE HUMIDITY: Very High-75-90%
• PRECIPITATION- >1200mm concentrated in monsoons
• WIND: From one/two prevailing directions with velocities very
low to very high
• SKY CONDITION: Overcast in monsoons.60-90% Cl cover
• Absence of Air movement, high Humidity, low diurnal
temperature range cause discomfort
MODERATE Zone
PUNE BENGALURU
• LANDSCAPE: Hilly or high Plateau
• VEGETATION:Fairly abundant
• SOLAR RADIATION:Same through the year
• TEMPERATURE: Summer 30-34 deg day,17-24 deg night Winter
27-33 deg day,16-18 deg night
• RELATIVE HUMIDITY:25-55% in dry periods,55%-90% in
monsoons
• PRECIPITATION- >1000mm
• WIND: High during summer, Intensity and direction depends on
topography
• SKY CONDITION: Mostly clear, with dense low clouds in
summer
COMPOSITE Zone
NEW DELHI KANPUR ALLAHABAD
• LANDSCAPE: Extremely variable ,Fertile soil
• VEGETATION: Rapid seasonal changes
• SOLAR RADIATION: High in summer, low & diffused in
monsoons
• TEMPERATURE: Summer 32-43 deg day,27-32 deg night Winter
10-25 deg day,4-10 deg night
• RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 20-25% in dry periods,55-95% in wet
periods
• PRECIPITATION- Variable- 500-1300mm
• WIND: Hot Dusty winds in summers, dry NE cold winds in
winter, strong SE winds in monsoons.
• SKY CONDITION: Clear in winter, overcast in monsoon,
occasional haze in summer.
COLD and CLOUDY Zone
DALHOUSIE SHIMLA SHILLONG
• LANDSCAPE: Highland region
• VEGETATION: Abundant in Summer
• SOLAR RADIATION: Low in winter, high %age of diffused
radiation
• TEMPERATURE: Summer 20-30 deg day,17-27 deg night Winter
4-8 deg day,-3-4 deg night
• RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 70-80%
• PRECIPITATION: 1000mm evenly distributed thru year
• WIND: Intense in monsoons.
• SKY CONDITION: Overcast most of the year, except during the
brief summer.
COLD and SUNNY Zone
LEH MOUNT ABU
• LANDSCAPE: Mountainous region
• VEGETATION: Very little
• SOLAR RADIATION: Intense, with low %age of diffused
radiation
• TEMPERATURE: Summer 17-24 deg day,4-11 deg night Winter -
7-8 deg day,-14-0 deg night
• RELATIVE HUMIDITY: Low 10-50%
• PRECIPITATION: Low < 200 mm
• WIND: Occasionally.
• SKY CONDITION: Fairly clear most of the year, with cloud cover
<50%.
• Harsh cold desert climatic conditions.
COMFORT REQUIREMENTS & DESIGN STRATEGIES
• HOT and DRY Zone Resist heat gain
• Decrease exposed Surface area Orientation
• Increase thermal resistance Roof and Wall insulation
• Increase thermal capacity (time lag) Thicker Walls
• Increase Buffer spaces Air locks / Lobbies
• Decrease air exchange rate Weather stripping
• Increase Shading Walls, glass surfaces protected by
overhangs, fins, trees
Promote heat Loss
Ventilation of Appliances
Increase air exchange rate Courtyards/ Wind towers/
(Ventilation ) arrangement of openings
Evaporative cooling Trees and water bodies
COMFORT REQUIREMENTS & DESIGN STRATEGIES
• WARM and HUMID Zone
Resist heat gain
• Decrease exposed Surface area Orientation /shape of building
• Increase thermal resistance Roof and Wall insulation
Reflective surfaces of roof
• Increase Buffer spaces Balconies and verandahs
• Increase Shading Walls, glass surfaces protected by
overhangs, fins, trees
Promote heat Loss
Ventilation of Appliances
Increase air exchange rate Ventilated roof construction
(Ventilation ) Courtyards/ Wind towers
arrangement of openings
COMFORT REQUIREMENTS & DESIGN STRATEGIES
• MODERATE Zone Resist heat gain
• Decrease exposed Surface area North Orientation of bedrooms
• Increase thermal resistance Roof and E/ W Wall insulation
• Increase Shading Walls, glass surfaces protected by
overhangs, fins, trees
Promote heat Loss
Ventilation of Appliances
Increase air exchange rate Courtyards
(Ventilation ) arrangement of openings
COMFORT REQUIREMENTS & DESIGN STRATEGIES
• COMPOSITE Zone Resist heat gain in Summer & Heat loss in Winter
• Decrease exposed Surface area Orientation/ Shape of building
Use trees as wind barriers
• Increase thermal resistance Roof and Wall insulation
• Increase thermal capacity (time lag) Thicker Walls
• Increase Buffer spaces Air locks / Balconies
• Decrease air exchange rate Weather stripping
• Increase Shading Walls, glass surfaces protected by
overhangs, fins, trees
Promote heat Loss in Summer
Ventilation of Appliances
Increase air exchange rate Courtyards/ Wind towers/
(Ventilation ) arrangement of openings
Evaporative cooling Trees and water bodies
COMFORT REQUIREMENTS & DESIGN STRATEGIES
• COLD and CLOUDY / SUNNY Zone
Resist heat Loss
• Decrease exposed Surface area Orientation/ Shape
Use trees as wind barriers
• Increase thermal resistance Roof and Wall insulation
Double glazing
• Increase thermal capacity (time lag) Thicker Walls
• Increase Buffer spaces Air locks / Lobbies
• Decrease air exchange rate Weather stripping
Promote heat Gain
Reduce Shading Walls and Glass surfaces
Utilize heat from appliances
Trapping Heat Sun spaces/ Green houses/
Trombe walls