National Building code is a document containing standardized requirement for the design & construction of most types of building in the country. Although codes may sometimes seem fussy, they are the result of years of experience and testing. Building codes exist to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare. National Building Codes (NBC) regulate building construction & building use in order to protect the health, safety & welfare of the occupant. You must always take the correct precautionary measures to assure the safety of your family members.
National Building Code
National Building code is a document containing standardized requirement for the design & construction of most types of building in the country. The 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. Considering a series of further developments in the field of building construction including the lessons learnt in the aftermath of number of natural calamities. As a culmination of the Project, the revised NBC has now been brought out as National Building Code of India 2005 (NBC 2005). The NBC 2005, formulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards, spells out new regulations for adoption by infrastructure departments, municipal administrators, public bodies and private agencies. It contains mainly administrative regulations, development control rules and general building requirements, fire safety requirements, stipulations on use of materials, structural design and construction and building and plumbing services.
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General Building Requirements
The National Building Code (NBC) is now a national instrument that will guide the regulations for construction activity. It contains all the important aspects relevant for safe and orderly building development. The building that does not satisfy building code or violation of National building code will lead to penalty, cancellation of sanction or demolition of the building.
Lift shall be provided in all building: In case of Building having height more than 13.0 Mts. lift shall be provided. Lift shall be provided from ground floor and shall have minimum capacity of six persons. On the basis of detailed calculations based on the relevant provisions of National Building Code the number of lifts can be varied.
Fire Safety or Fire Protection: In the case of apartment buildings exceeding three storeys above ground level, a certificate of approval from the Director of Fire Force or an officer authorized by him shall be obtained before issue of the building permit. All other requirements in respect of fire protection shall conform to part IV, Fire Protection National Building Code of India. Every floor of a flat, apartment or residential accommodation exceeding 150 sq. meters of floor area with a capacity for accommodating more than 20 persons shall have at least 2 door ways as remote as practicable from each other. At least one stair-case shall be provided as a fire staircase as defined in the National Building Code. This shall not be applicable if any two sides of a staircase are kept totally open to external open air space. The detailed plan showing the arrangement of pipe lines, booster pumps and water-tanks at various levels shall be submitted for approval of the concerned authority along with the plans and sections of the buildings. Every building having a height of more than 25 Mts. shall be provided with diesel generators which can be utilized in case of failure of the electricity.
Foundation & Structural design: All materials and workmanship shall be of good quality conforming generally to accepted standards of Bureau of Indian Standard specification & codes as included in National Building Code of India. All materials and workmanship shall be of good quality conforming generally to accepted standards of Bureau of Indian Standard specification & codes as included in National Building Code of India. No building or part of a building shall be constructed or reconstructed or no addition or alteration shall be made to any existing building in the intervening spaces between the building and any overhead electric supply line. The height of the handrail in the staircase shall not be less than 90 cms and if balusters are provided, no gap in the balusters shall be more than 10 cms wide. Every slab or balcony overlooking any exterior or interior open space which are 2 meters or more below shall be provided with parapet walls or guard rails of height not less than 1.20 meters and such guard rails shall be firmly fixed to the walls.
Plumbing Services: A plumbing or sanitation code is a set of rules and regulations imposed by cities or counties. Anyone doing work on drinking water and sewer or toilet facilities systems are responsible to make the work in a specific, safe manner to avoid accidents and spread of disease. Water conservation and the health aspects of plumbing have become important in the construction sector now. The National Building Code offers only guidelines for construction. Plumbing has to be attuned to the general design of the building. Many technical aspects such as water pressure, venting and concepts of wet and dry areas in toilets have to be looked into in any structure. Recently, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) developed a Plumbing Code for India. The Indian Plumbing Association (IPA), country’s apex body of plumbing professionals, has launched ‘Uniform Plumbing Code’ (UPC).The World Plumbing Council’s uniform plumbing code was mended as per Indian needs and created the code for India.
Lightning Protection: Locations, surrounded partially or fully by unbroken metallic surfaces or nets do not allow lightning to penetrate to the interior and hence a person is safe inside. Lightning prefers to strike the tallest of all objects in the location of strike. Also it prefers metal objects. The larger the metal more is the preference. Avoid using metallic pipes to fix lamps on terrace of buildings. Also for drying clothes on the terrace, iron poles with metallic or plastic wires are used. The Lightning Conductor which is also known as Lightning Rod or Air Terminal is one of the best known forms of shielding device and has been in use in protecting buildings and facilities where protection is mandatory. The protective value of Inside buildings is better when at least some unbroken vertical metallic conductors exist, such as rain gutters with down-pipes, water mains, rails for elevators, vertical metal strips, steel braces or reinforcement, electrical installations and wires, etc. Electrical and electronic equipments can be protected to a considerable extent from damage by installing a Lightning Arrestor.
Building Services: The planning, design and installation of electrical installations, air-conditioning and heating work shall be carried out in accordance with part VIII Building Service Section 2 – Electrical installations, Section 3 Air conditioning and Heating of National Building Code of India. The planning, design including the number of lifts, type of lifts, capacity of lifts, depending on occupancy of building, population on each floor and height of building.
Other Building Requirements
As a property owner you can choose your designs, products or building methods, as long as your building consent application demonstrates that your proposal meets National Building Code requirements. National Building Code regulates building construction & building use in order to protect the health, safety & welfare of the occupant. In order to learn which codes are being used and how they will affect you and your construction project, contact your local building inspection department, developers and concerned Authorities. Other building requirements are as follows.
- Every room that intended for human habitation shall abut on an interior or exterior open space or to a verandah open to such interior or exterior open space.
- Every interior, exterior or air space, unless the later is a street, shall be maintained for the benefit of such building exclusively and shall be entirely within the owner’s own premises.
- Every person who intends to erect, re-erect or make alternation in any place in a building or demolish any building shall give notice in writing to the concerned Authority of his intention in the prescribed form and such notice shall be accompanied by plans and statements in sufficient copies.
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Fire Service, Pollution Control Board, Electrical safety department, Water Supply and Sewage Department and other concerned department.
- No land shall be used as a site for the construction of building if the Competent Authority considers that the site is unsanitary or that it is dangerous to construct a building on it.
- Building should be safe for occupant and it is important to inspect when your site is getting marked for dimensions. Inspect construction after every two feet progress.
The building will be inspected by concern authorities and you will get completion certificate for your apartment or building. Issuing of Completion Certificate will ensure that the owner has constructed the building as per approved plan. Without the occupancy certificate, it is difficult to get the electricity, water and sanitary connection. The NBC 2005, formulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards, spells out new regulations for adoption by infrastructure departments, municipal administrators, public bodies and private agencies.
Rain water harvesting system and solar water heater are mandatory for newly constructed building in some states. National Building Code will soon be updated with energy saving methods in construction methods. In order to learn which codes are being used and how they will affect you, contact developers and concerned Authorities in your locality for construction of building or apartment. Deviation from approved plan or violation of National Building Code (NBC) will lead to charge penalty, cancellation of approvals or demolition of property.
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Quite a useful and interesting article.
Every building (residential or commercial) must ‘SENIOR CITIZEN FRIENDLY’. This includes: Hand rails for all stairs and corridors, ramps at all points alongside the steps being erected for entry and exit, enough lighting to provide requisite visibility in all common areas, and skid-proof tiles in all bathrooms and walkways exposed to rain and water.
I can’t think of any more now.
There is nothing in the world that terms things as ‘SENIOR CITIZEN FRIENDLY’….there are not only political but quite other connotation to make things senior citizen friendly..the right word for your problems is accessibility requirements for buildings.
There are exhaustive codes for Accessibility ..unfortunately India is only just beginning to adpot those.
I wanted to know is there a rule for having a fire safety area in an 11 floor building. Which also connects to the building next door? Ours has been used by the builder to get extra bucks, is he violating the law?
I heard about this code somewhere recently. Good to read complete article on it.
very informative….. thnx !
It is time that a Standards or Code of practice is established to make it mandatory that Individual Metering of consumprtion of water by each apartment in an multistorey building becomes possible, especially by regulating the number of water pipe inlets from diiferent dirctions in an apartment
does anybody know if vgn minerva is complaint with these guidelines?????????????
NBC is implemented by Govt.depts,but private buiilders use them as guidance and not for strict compliance. They try insted to get their processes conform to GMPs, as for eg. conformance to ISO 9001 and advertise that they are ISO certified. Once registered with ISO conformance,regular surveillance has to be done by the certifying agency. Whether they do that is a moot point
I haven’t read this fully but it is good to know that such code exists. Along with the above mentioned one, we need more clauses to protect the consumers. like, necessary steps should be taken to prevent seepage, which is a common sight,rather eyesore in almost all apartments, carpet area should be mentioned even before beginning of the construction etc.
Its informative thanks
1.what is the ratio of carpet area, floor area,common areas(transformer,corridors,lift etc,). in an apartment. I heard that a100sqm apartment in an in 10floor flat to 80 units, will have 80sq.m built up area (floor area) and 60sqm carpet area. terrace is common area? can any one supply rules for this. 2. how to prove in case of disputes, whther we have paid for 100sq.m. How to vacate the builder if he occupies a extended stair case lobby in the terrace.or workshed/site office made in the parking area if he claims that it is not in your 100sq.m or 100x80units 8000sq.m. can any one help me?
The builder cannot charge you for 100sqft BUP and provide you with 60sqft CPA and 80sqBUP unless he stated this explicitly in his documents provided to you. The number he has used 100sq BUP is called a super-built up area.
For more info write to me on bose.dzine@gmail.com
I want to know Indian stanadard for toilet and test for toilet in india?
I am unsure of your question..but if you write to me ..I can clarify?
Som
Sir,
I am a senior citizen , age 74 yrs, residing in a 11 storey building having two wings.Building was occupied on 1 st Dec 2002.There are two wings, each with 21 flats, an entry a,d top terrace at 12 th floor. Only one lift for a wing is provided. Lifts in both wings troubled from start.Finally they were replaced, at Society’s cost in seventh year. On an average lifts failed twice a month from 2002.
How many lifts should have been there ? Was Fire Lift mandatory in addition? Was anoother Service lift essential?
I will appreciate to have an early response.
Thanks and regards,
Maslekar.
There are couple on things in the works
1) No mandatory fire lift is required….cos lift are not to be used in case of fire.
2) The product manufacturer of the elevator is in violation is the lifts did not work more than 2 times a year. The builder usually have to cover the lift for the warranty period of the lift which means that the builder is responsible to have the lift replaced from the manufacturer in case of problems with the lift.
If you need more info write to bose.dzine@gmail.com
please email me the guidelines of water wand santation for multistorey building in Tamilnadu.
thanks Mohideen
NBC is implemented by Govt.depts,but private buiilders use them as guidance .please email me the guidelines of Fire.Ps_jpr@yahoo.co.in. Pls. sand Standards or Code of Fire.
i woud like to know the formula provided under national building code about distance between 2 bldgs depending upon the hieght of the bldgs
What you are asking is the building seperation by NBC 2005. It depends on occupancy, contsruction type and heights of buildings. One cannot create a formula for this..for your specific question …write to bose.dzine@gmail.com
This is a Good Article about the NBC . But This is only the outline. The Major Risk in Hotels,High Rise Buildings,Apartments,Schools is Fire . All other Risks can be Controlled to the Extent. But Once the Fire Broke up .. It stops only with its on wish … i.e after eating all lifes and destroying valuable property.
Curremtly in In India, no one is concerned about this. Source of Major Fires are Short circuits,Mishandling of Cigrettes,Matchstick,Candles.
First item which catches the Fire is Curtains,Upholstrey or any textile item ,As they are easily combustible . They carry the fire with them and make it big and after wards.. Wood…other combustible material etc… and steel.. iron …. life every thing destroyed.
There are norms in NBC to use Fire Resistant material …. but no body is complying on this part… they are using normal material and put the life of people in danger.
Thanks
Sandeep
Can anyone tell me whether the minimum set back provided in “special Building” category – ground floor + 3 floors apartment bldg with 4 flats per floor – total 15 flats, can be used to park cars?
NBC ststes NO to above for high rise bldgs that are 15 m and above height but is silent on shorter bldgs.
I am yet to recieve a response to my query. Can someone pl help me?
calculation of no of lift reqd for any residential building (high rise)?
If any building has been constructed is such a way that it violates the code(NBC), according to NBC what further action can be taken besides serving violation notice to the concern client. further, according to NBC what is the minimum set back for a building from its neighboring boundaries, public footpath & motorable road, can a septic tank be constructed by the side of a public road?.
Hi,
Can anyone point to a specific document which states the kind of material used for e.g glass doors in the apartment and it is mandatory??
Hi,
Please go through the link here….
http://www.glazette.com/national-building-code-159.html
This outlines the clauses / parts and what each one contains.
I also read some where that the document is available for purchase costing about 11 K.
I think we need to make this available freely for the end users , consumers to look at.
If any one knows where to get this document from please let all of us know about it…
Thanks in advance…
Sudeep A. Raikar
i was wondering where to find building guidelines that are for mitigation of earthquake purposes. i saw some ads about building width and stuff, but can’t remember them. and am not getting them anywhere by searching on google.
The code of conduct for owners and occupants, dos and do nots, formation of association, their powers etc – whether formulated by the Central or State Govts?
Statutory guidelines more particularly in the states of Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh may kindly be provided.
Details by NBC is ok. Kindly, let me know whether a purchaser owned an apartment on ownership basis shall have the rights on top roof or terrace of the whole apartment. If the land owner who is also owning few apartments is deneid, what is the solution? Pl clarify.
Thankyou
I want to know the minimum requirements to get permission for an apartment
What are the minimum requirements to get permission to construction an apartment in Visakhapatnam, A.P
codes of basement of residential apartmets not provided. whether basement car parking can be converted into kitchen-go down. whether diesel generater set can be installed in the basement of apartments. whether ramps of basement can be closed. whether bricks construction in the basement car parking area is allowed.
If the Plinth area of a Farmhouse is around 19200 Sq.ft., then my question is, does this type of Farm House requires to have a Under Ground Water Tank, or a overhead Water Tank, whereas the height of the building doesn’t exceed 15m’s.
Please mail me standard systems code of Fire & Acoustics on Gypsum partition wall & Ceiling system.
THANK’S…..
Can somebody tell me where can I get the National Building Code of India 2005 or 2009 edition in Mumbai?
Thanks
Kindly let me know as per National Building Code wheather the ground floor area of a residential flat can be used for commercial purpose or not? In this regard order from the Supreme court of India is highly solicited please.
Yes..the ground floor cab be used if Commercial taxes are paid to the corporation and the entity conforms to all applicable liscensing norms.It’s operation cannot be stopped.
as per laws of our country the ground floor of a residential flat can be used commercially or not?
Need your advice please. We stay in an apartment with 7 Floors and about 140flats in the building. There are two Common Passenger lifts which stops on all the floors. Please advice if we make the lifts to stop on alternate floors will save us energy and electricity costs?
Wthr somebody able to tell me about the standardised tolerance for checking the plum of a building??I m actuly looking for the reference code where standards are mentioned.
Does the external ramp area of a five storeyed carparking building included in built up area?
Sir,
I am a Resident of Central Chennai and I am construction on 3 ground, Ground floor for car park and above 4 floors. Each floor has 4 bedroom with attached toilet and a servant living room drawing dinning, kitchen,Utility, Sevants ets. As per my consideration per floor,the main power load= 7 Nos. of 2 ton split AC. 4 geezer 25lts, Fridge 1x350lts, & 1x250lts; Microve 30lts, Grinder-2lts, Mixti, Washing M/C 6 KG, all other loads are light, fan loads considering as 100W per point. Kindly let me know the power of these equipments and is it necessary for me to go in for HT , MV, or LT. as per rules.
I will highly appreciate an early detailed reply in this regard.
Thanking You, With regards, Rajie
I am the Secretary of a Society in Mumbai. The building was constructed in 1978. It has been structurally surveyed several times and has undergone periodic ( every five years ) structural repairs. One of the flats has a ceilingb which is badly deteriorated due to mositure as the flat above it has changed hands many times and each new owner has changed the tiles in the kitchen and hall. Now the ceiling is in such bad shape that the structural consultant has frrecommended that it be completely demolished and recast. The members have agreed and the Society is bearing the cost.
Question : Do we have to take the permission of the BMC for this. No alteration, addition, extension of any sort being made. Just the ceiling ( and the floor of thee flat above) is being recast.
In India as per law/norms how many (number of persons) passenger lifts are required in a building of 14 floors and 8 flats on each floor for residents.If builder have installed only two lifts with capacity of 13 & 8 persons only then is it o.k. or number of lift or capacity should be increased.
under the present circumstances , when echofriendly construction has become basic need
for any project,at least energy saving methods must be mandatory across the nation.
Is there any specific percentage of area for commercial use in a Residential building in Maharashtra? If so how much? Will the building still be categorised under Residential building for tax purpose?
as per indian / Pune laws what is the guaranteed water supply from PMC for each bldg with 11 floors– a society of 8 such bldgs.
Will anyone tell me when is the new NBC getting released for public use?
defination of hollow plinth
DEAR ALL
i want’s HAND BOOK of civil engineering practical
As per NBC define the cafeteria building which type of group, please someone help me
All this is okay on paper and has no meaning as long as there is also regulation to complete the construction of the building as per original plans indicated to the buyer and also that construction is completed within time scale as per original commitment.
Ethics and moral is what is lacking in the Real estate sector in India as the builders can get away with anything by bribing the legal system and politicians.
what should be the safe distance of two pole structure with ht transformer from domestic building to prevent from fire & blasting hazard of the transformer. If found authentic answer mail it to me on raju.khandekar@rediffmail.com
As per NBC,the distance between, an outdor substation and main building shall not be less than 6m. But this safety clearance is required for movement of Fire Tanker in case of emergecy. No idea about the effect if transformer blast if happen
There is a regulation to complete the construction of the building as per original plans.This is great.I like this content.Thanks to share this blog.