Classification of buildings as per National Buildings Organization is dealt in Section 14.3. Irrespective of the type of building, some of the terminologies and basic requirements for certain components of building (discussed in the next section) are necessary to know which are discussed below.
Building Line
This is the line corresponding to the plinth (discussed in next section) of a building which adjoins the street or extension of the street. As per the municipal regulations, a minimum distance has to be maintained between the building line and the nearest edge line of the street.
14.5.2 Set Back Line
This is a line usually parallel to the plot boundaries, marked by the municipal regulations beyond which nothing can be constructed.
Covered Area
This is the ground area covered immediately above the plinth level by the building.
Plinth Area
This is the built-up covered area measured at the floor level by taking the external dimensions of the building, excluding the plinth offset.
Floor Area and Floor Area Ratio
It is the plinth area minus the area occupied by wall, door, openings, etc. Floor area ratio (FAR) is also known as floor space index (FSI) which is given as
An FSI of 1.5 is now-a-days allowed for flats in most cities.
Carpet Area
This is the usable area of a building. In a residential building, it will exclude verandah, bathrooms, staircases, etc., and is about 50–65% of the total area.
Building Height
The height of a building is its height above the ground level. For a flat roof construction adjoining a street, the height is defined as the vertical distance from the highest point of the roof of the building to the average level of the centre line of the adjoining street. For a sloped roof without gables the building height is from the point where the external surface of the outer wall intersects the finished surface of the sloping roof (for the gabled roof, the reference point for height on the building is the mid-point between the eves level and the ridge) to the average level of the centre line of adjoining street.
Room Height
It is the clear vertical distance from the finished floor surface to the finished ceiling surface. In case there is no finished ceiling surface, the underside of the joints or beams or tie beams shall determine the upper point of measurement.
Habitable Rooms
Any room which is occupied or designed for occupancy by one person or more persons for the conventional usage is called as habitable room. The minimum height of these rooms should not be less than 2.74 m. Area of habitable room shall not be less than 9.5 m2 with a minimum width of 2.4 m, if there is of only one room. If there are two rooms, one of these shall not be less than 9.5 m2 and the other of 7.5 m2 with a width of 2.4 m.
Bathroom
The size shall not be less than 1.5 m × 1.2 m or 1.8 m2 and height shall not be less than 2.2 m. If it is combined with a water closet, the area shall not be less than 2.8 m2 with a minimum width of 1.2 m.
Water Closet
The minimum floor area shall not be less than 1.1 m2 and height 2.2 m. This does not include a bathroom. Privacy is needed with arrangement for flushing the pan with water.
Balcony
This is a horizontal projection facing the open area including a handrail or balustrade to serve as passage or sitting out place.
Leave a Reply