National Building Code for Residential Apartments in India

National Building code is a document containing standardized requirementforthedesign&constructionofmosttypesofbuilding inthecountry.Althoughcodesmaysometimesseemfussy,theyare theresultofyearsofexperienceandtesting.Buildingcodesexistto protect the publics health, safety and welfare.National Building Codes(NBC)regulatebuildingconstruction&buildinguseinorder to protect the health, safety & welfare of the occupant. You must alwaystakethecorrectprecautionarymeasurestoassurethesafety ofyourfamilymembers. NationalBuildingCode National Building code is a document containing standardized requirement for the design & construction of most types of buildinginthecountry.TheCodewasfirstpublishedin1970atthe 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 thefieldofbuildingconstructionincludingthelessonslearntinthe 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, stipulationsonuseofmaterials,structuraldesignandconstruction andbuildingandplumbingservices.

GeneralBuildingRequirements TheNationalBuildingCode(NBC)isnowanationalinstrumentthat willguidetheregulationsforconstructionactivity.Itcontainsallthe important aspects relevant for safe and orderly building development. The building that does not satisfy building code or violationofNationalbuildingcodewillleadtopenalty,cancellation ofsanctionordemolitionofthebuilding. 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 providedfromgroundfloorandshallhaveminimumcapacityofsix persons.Onthebasisofdetailedcalculationsbasedontherelevant provisions of National Building Code the number of lifts can be varied. Fire Safety or Fire Protection:In the case of apartment buildings exceedingthreestoreysabovegroundlevel,acertificateofapproval fromtheDirectorofFireForceoranofficerauthorizedbyhimshall be obtained before issue of the building permit. All other requirements in respectof fire protection shall conform to part IV, FireProtectionNationalBuildingCodeofIndia.Everyfloorofaflat, 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 doorways as remote as practicable from each other.At least one staircase shall be providedasafirestaircaseasdefinedintheNationalBuildingCode. This shall not be applicable if any two sides of astaircase are kept

totally open to external open air space. The detailed plan showing the arrangement of pipe lines, booster pumps and watertanks at various levels shall be submitted for approval of the concerned authority along with the plans and sections of the buildings. Every buildinghavingaheightofmorethan25Mts.shallbeprovidedwith diesel generators which can be utilized in case of failure of the electricity. Foundation & Structural design:All materials and workmanship shallbeofgoodqualityconforminggenerallytoacceptedstandards 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 standardsofBureauofIndianStandardspecification&codesas includedinNationalBuildingCodeofIndia.Nobuildingorpartof a building shall be constructed or reconstructed or no addition or alterationshallbemadetoanyexistingbuildingintheintervening spacesbetweenthebuildingandanyoverheadelectricsupplyline. Theheightofthehandrailinthestaircaseshallnotbelessthan90 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 shallbeprovidedwithparapetwallsorguardrailsofheightnotless than 1.20 meters and such guard rails shall be firmly fixed to the walls. PlumbingServices:Aplumbingorsanitationcodeisasetofrules 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 accidentsandspreadofdisease.Waterconservationandthehealth 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 thebuilding.Manytechnicalaspectssuchaswaterpressure,venting

andconceptsofwetanddryareasintoiletshavetobelookedintoin any structure. Recently, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) developed a Plumbing Code for India.The Indian Plumbing Association (IPA), countrys apex bodyofplumbingprofessionals,haslaunchedUniformPlumbing Code(UPC).TheWorldPlumbingCouncilsuniformplumbingcode wasmendedasperIndianneedsandcreatedthecodeforIndia. Lightning Protection:Locations, surrounded partially or fully by unbroken metallic surfaces or nets do not allow lightning to penetratetotheinteriorandhenceapersonissafeinside.Lightning preferstostrikethetallestofallobjectsinthelocationofstrike.Also itprefersmetalobjects.Thelargerthemetalmoreisthepreference. Avoidusingmetallicpipestofixlampsonterraceofbuildings.Also fordryingclothesontheterrace,ironpoleswithmetallicorplastic wires are used.The Lightning Conductor which is also known as LightningRodorAirTerminalisoneofthebestknownformsof shieldingdeviceandhasbeeninuseinprotectingbuildingsand 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 downpipes, watermains,railsforelevators,verticalmetalstrips,steelbracesor reinforcement, electrical installations and wires, etc. Electrical and electronic equipments can be protected to a considerable extent fromdamagebyinstallingaLightningArrestor. Building Services:The planning, design and installation of electrical installations, airconditioning and heating work shall be carriedoutinaccordancewithpartVIIIBuildingServiceSection2 Electrical installations, Section 3 Air conditioning and Heating of NationalBuildingCodeofIndia.Theplanning,designincludingthe number of lifts, type of lifts, capacity of lifts, depending on occupancy of building, population on each floor and height of building.

OtherBuildingRequirements:

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&buildinguseinordertoprotectthehealth,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 concernedAuthorities.Otherbuildingrequirementsareasfollows.

Every room that intended for human habitation shall abut on an interior or exterior open space or to a verandah open to such interiororexterioropenspace. Everyinterior,exteriororairspace,unlessthelaterisastreet, shallbemaintainedforthebenefitofsuchbuildingexclusivelyand shallbeentirelywithintheownersownpremises. Every person who intends to erect, reerect or make alternationinanyplaceinabuildingordemolishanybuildingshall givenoticeinwritingtotheconcernedAuthorityofhisintentionin theprescribedformandsuchnoticeshallbeaccompaniedbyplans andstatementsinsufficientcopies. No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Fire Service, Pollution Control Board, Electrical safety department, Water Supply and SewageDepartmentandotherconcerneddepartment.

Nolandshallbeusedasasitefortheconstructionofbuildingif the Competent Authority considers that the site is unsanitary or thatitisdangeroustoconstructabuildingonit. Building should be safe for occupant and it is important to inspect when your site is getting marked for dimensions. Inspect constructionaftereverytwofeetprogress. The building will be inspected by concern authorities and you will getcompletioncertificateforyourapartmentorbuilding.Issuingof 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 infrastructuredepartments,municipaladministrators,publicbodies andprivateagencies. 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 planorviolationofNationalBuildingCode(NBC)willleadtocharge penalty,cancellationofapprovalsordemolitionofproperty.