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National Building Code (NBC)

It is a comprehensive guideline issued by the Bureau of Indian

Module 4 Standards (BIS) to ensure safety, functionality, and
sustainability in building construction.
INTRODUCTION TO BUILDING CODES AND BYELAWS

The NBC provides a standardized set of guidelines for

planning, designing, and constructing buildings in India to
ensure health, safety, and public welfare.

Key provisions Structure and key sections

Part 0: Integrated Approach
Part 1: Definitions
• Structural Safety
Part 2: Administration

• Fire and Life Safety Part 3: Development Control Rules and General Building Requirements
Part 4: Fire and Life Safety
• Building Services Part 5: Building Materials
Part 6: Structural Design
• Accessibility and Inclusivity
Part 7: Construction Management and Practices

• Environmental Sustainability Part 8: Building Services

Part 9: Plumbing Services(including solid waste management)
• Space Utilization Part 10: Landscape development, Signs and outdoor display structures
Part 11: Approach to Sustainability
Part 12: Asset and Facility Management

Implementation and compliance BUILDING BYELAWS

• Bylaws are region-specific regulations framed by local
• NBC serves as a model code, and while it is not legally
municipal bodies and urban development authorities to
binding, local municipal authorities can adopt it, or portions of
regulate building construction in cities and towns.
it, to create enforceable bylaws.
• These rules vary across states and cities, with adjustments for
• Regular updates reflect advancements in technology,
climate, population density, infrastructure, and socio-cultural
environmental needs, and safety standards.
needs.
• They are legal tools used to regulate coverage, height, building
bulk, and architectural design and construction aspects of
buildings so as to achieve orderly development of an area.

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Key aspects Implementation and Compliance

• Zoning and Land Use
• Enforcement of building codes and bylaws is the
• Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
responsibility of local municipal corporations and urban
• Height Restrictions and Setbacks development authorities.

Approval Process
Open Spaces
•
•

• Penalties
• Parking Requirements

• Construction Permits and Approvals

Types of Buildings Landuse

GROUP A - Residential Buildings • Land use is the term used to describe the human use of
GROUP B - Educational Buildings land.(Ref:USEPA)
GROUP C - Institutional Buildings • It represents the economic and cultural activities (e.g.,
GROUP D - Assembly Buildings agricultural, residential, industrial, mining, and recreational
GROUP E - Business Buildings uses) that are practiced at a given place.

GROUP F - Mercantile/Commercial Buildings • Land use corresponds to the socio-economic description

GROUP G - Industrial Buildings - functional dimension of areas: areas used for residential,

GROUP H - Storage Buildings industrial or commercial purposes, for farming or forestry, for
recreational or conservation purposes, etc.(Ref:EEA)
GROUP I - Hazardous Buildings

Landuse Coverage

The percentage of the plot area covered by the building foot

print.
It does not include:
I. garden, rockery, well and well structures, plant, nursery,
water tank, swimming pool (if uncovered), platform round
a tree, tank, fountain, bench and the like;
II. drainage, culvert, conduit, catch-pit, gully pit, drainage
chamber, gutter and the like; and
III. compound wall, gate, slide, swing, uncovered staircase,
areas covered by sunshade.

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Coverage Carpet area

GROUP A - Residential - 65 % Built -up area
GROUP B - Educational Buildings - 35 % Super built-up area
GROUP C - Institutional Buildings - 40 %

GROUP D - Assembly Buildings - 40 %

GROUP E - Business Buildings - 40 %

GROUP F - Mercantile Buildings - 65 %

GROUP G - Industrial Buildings - 40 %

GROUP H - Storage Buildings - 40 %

GROUP I - Hazardous Buildings: - 60 %

Floor area ratio (FAR)

National Building code(NBC)
Part 0: Integrated Approach
Part 1: Definitions
Part 2: Administration
Floor area ratio (FAR) is the ratio of a building's total floor area (gross floor
area) to the size of the piece of land upon which it is built. Part 3: Development Control Rules and General Building Requirements
Part 4: Fire and Life Safety

 Total area of the building Part 5: Building Materials
 Floor area Ratio =
 Plotarea
Part 6: Structural Design
Part 7: Construction Management and Practices
Part 8: Building Services
Part 9: Plumbing Services(including solid waste management)
Part 10: Landscape development, Signs and outdoor display structures
Part 11: Approach to Sustainability
Part 12: Asset and Facility Management

Part 0: Integrated approach Part 1: Definitions

Thisapproachinvolvesusingtheknowledgeandexperienceofqualified It lists the terms appearing in all Parts/Sections of NBC.

professionals(multi-disciplinaryteam)throughoutthelifecycleofabuilding
Some common definitions are reproduced in this part
project.
also.
• Applicationbytheownerincludesbuildingplan,serviceplan,specifications
• Structuraldesignsufficiencycertificate-engineer
• Certificateofengagement-Builder
• Certificateofsupervision- architectorengineer
• Verificationofbuildingplansandspecifications- bytheauthority

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Part 2: Administration Part 3: Development Control Rules and

General Building Requirements
This covers the administrative aspects of the code: • This covers the development control rules and general
• The applicability of the code building requirements for proper planning and design of
• Organization of building department for enforcement of the layout and building levels to ensure health and
the code safety, public safety and desired quality of life.
• Procedure for obtaining developments and building
permit • Requirements for Accessibility in buildings and built
• Responsibility of owner and all professionals involved in environment for elders and persons with
planning, design and construction disabilities.

Part 3: Development Control Rules and Part 4: Fire and Life Safety
General Building Requirements

• This covers the development control rules and general This covers,
building requirements for proper planning and design of • Requirements for fire protection, life safety in relation
the layout and building levels to ensure health and to fire and the fire protection of buildings.
safety, public safety and desired quality of life. • Specifies occupancy-wise classification, constructional
aspects, egress requirements and protection
features that are necessary to minimize danger to life
• Requirements for Accessibility in buildings and built
and property from fire.
environment for elders and persons with
disabilities.

Part 5: Building materials Part 6: Structural design

• Provides structural adequacy of buildings to deal with
both internal and external environment
This covers,
• Provides guidance to engineers/structural engineers for
• Requirements of building materials and components.
varied usage of material/technology types for building
• Criteria for accepting new or alternative building design.
materials and components. 6.1 - Loads forces and effects
6.2 - Soils and foundations
6.3 - Timber and Bamboo
6.4 - Masonry
6.5 - Concrete - Plain and reinforced cement concrete
- Prestressed concrete
6.6 - Steel
6.7 - Prefabrication, systems buildings and mixed composite construction.
6.8 - Glass and glazing

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Part 6: Structural design Part 7: Construction Management

• Provides structural adequacy of buildings to deal with • practices and safety
both internal and external environment
Includes,
• Provides guidance to engineers/structural engineers for
• Project management
varied usage of material/technology types for building
design. • Construction planning
6.1 - Loads forces and effects • Site management
6.2 - Soils and foundations • Building construction practices
6.3 - Timber and Bamboo
6.4 - Masonry
• Storage, stacking and handling of materials
6.5 - Concrete - Plain and reinforced cement concrete • Safety during operations
- Prestressed concrete • Guidelines for repairs, retrofitting and strengthening
6.6 - Steel of materials
6.7 - Prefabrication, systems buildings and mixed composite construction.
6.8 - Glass and glazing

Part 8: Building Services Part 8: Building Services

• Lighting and natural ventilation • Lighting and natural ventilation

• Electrical and allied installations • Electrical and allied installations
• Air-conditioning heating and Mechanical ventilation • Air-conditioning heating and Mechanical ventilation
• Acoustics , sound installation and Noise control • Acoustics , sound installation and Noise control
• Installations of lifts, Escalators and Moving walks • Installations of lifts, Escalators and Moving walks
• Information and communication enabled installations • Information and communication enabled installations
.

Part 9: Plumbing Services Part 10: Landscape development, Signs

(including solid waste management)
and outdoor display structures
• Water supply
• Drainage and sanitation • Landscape planning design and development
• Solid waste management • Signages and outdoor display units
• Gas supply

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Part 11: Approach to sustainability Part 12: Asset and Facility Management

• It covers provisions relating to management of building

• Planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance assets and associated facilities
from a sustainability point of view. • Includes various aspects relating to maintenance of all
• It is a supplement to all parts/sections of the code. types of facilities and fixed assets, such as buildings and
building services.
• Does not cover assets other than physical assets.

Special Regulations and Codes CRZ – Coastal Regulation Zone

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Required for certain types of
projects, especially those with a large environmental footprint, such as
industrial complexes and large commercial buildings.
• Coastal Regulation Zone, a term used in India to refer to coastal
areas that are subject to regulations to protect the environment
• Real Estate Regulation and Development) Act (RERA): Enacted to
regulate the real estate sector, RERA protects buyers interests by and regulate development.
ensuring transparency and compliance with approved plans.
• These zones include the coastal stretches of seas, bays,
• Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC): Establishes energy estuaries, creeks, rivers, and backwaters influenced by tidal
efficiency standards, especially for commercial buildings, encouraging
energy-saving techniques and renewable energy integration. action up to a defined distance from the High Tide Line (HTL).

• Green Building Certifications: Standards like GRIHA (Green Rating for

Integrated Habitat Assessment) and IGBC (Indian Green Building
Council) provide certifications for sustainable building practices.

CRZ - Zoning and Classification Coastal Zone Management Plans(CZMPs)

• CRZ-I: Ecologically sensitive areas (such as mangroves, coral reefs, and
turtle nesting grounds) and areas lying between the low tide line and high tide
line. Strict restrictions apply, with minimal human interference allowed. • Prepared by each coastal state and union territory.

• CRZ-II: Urban or developed areas close to the shoreline, such as • CZMPs outline specific guidelines for land use in each CRZ
municipalities. Some development is permitted, but it must align with the local
zone and incorporate both ecological and socio-economic
town planning regulations and cannot encroach on the buffer zones.
considerations.
• CRZ-III: Rural or relatively undisturbed areas, often including village
settlements. These areas have development restrictions up to 200 meters • These plans are based on the national guidelines but are
from the high tide line, while controlled development is allowed beyond this tailored to each states coastal landscape.
zone.

• CRZ-IV: Water area up to 12 nautical miles from the low tide line. Fishing and • CZMPs are revised periodically to reflect environmental
other regulated maritime activities are permitted, with restrictions on mining, changes, community needs, and urbanization.
dredging, and discharge of untreated sewage.

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CRZ under new Management plan CRZ under new Management plan for Kerala
• CRZ IA: Ecologically sensitive areas which play a role in maintaining the
integrity of the coast. Mangroves with 1,000sqm area will have a 50m buffer
zone.
• CRZ IB: Intertidal zone between Low Tide Line and High Tide Line, which is a
• State specific Zones and Demarcations
no development zone
• Local Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs)
• CRZ II:
• Development Permissions and Local Regulations - Developed Land areas up to or close to the shore line within existing
municipal limits or legally designated urban areas.
• Buffer Zones and Setback Lines - Area up to 50m from high tide line or approved structure to be
earmarked no development zone.

• CRZ III A: Areas with population density of over 2161 person per sq km. No
development zone of 50m from high tide line.
• CRZ III B: All areas with population density less than 2161 person per sq km.
No development zone up to 200m from high tide line