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IS 11134:1984 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for setting out of buildings. This standard provides guidance on the procedures for accurately setting out a building from the design drawings onto the ground. It covers the establishment of a reference grid and benchmarks, methods for marking building lines, and the permissible tolerances for horizontal and vertical control to ensure the structure is built in its correct location and alignment.
Code of practice for setting out of buildings
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Essential
Domain
Structural Engineering — Building Construction Practices incl. Painting, Varnishing
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Always establish at least two permanent benchmarks on stable ground outside the building footprint and protect them from disturbance.
! For rectangular layouts, always check the diagonal measurements after setting out the grid. They should be equal within the allowable tolerance to ensure squareness.
! Ensure surveying instruments are properly calibrated before starting work to prevent systematic errors.
ISO 9044:2016ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
MediumCurrent
Industrial woven wire cloth — Technical requirements and tests
Broader scope. IS 11134 specifies a finished product for a single application (mosquito proofing). ISO 9044 is a general framework for all industrial woven wire cloth, defining technical terms, weaves, and testing methods, but does not specify combinations for particular applications.
ASTM E2016-15ASTM International
MediumCurrent
Standard Specification for Industrial Woven Wire Cloth
Similar to ISO 9044, this is a broad specification for industrial wire cloth, not specific to insect screening. It covers the material type and construction but requires the user to specify the mesh, wire, and material for a given application.
RR-W-365CU.S. General Services Administration
HighWithdrawn
Wire Fabric (Insect Screening)
This former US federal specification had a very similar scope, covering the requirements for insect screening made from steel, bronze, and aluminum. It was a direct counterpart in purpose before being cancelled.
ASTM D3656 / D3656M - 13(2021)ASTM International
LowCurrent
Standard Specification for Insect Screening and Louver Cloth Woven from Vinyl-Coated Glass Yarns
The application (insect screening) is identical, but the material is completely different (vinyl-coated fiberglass vs. galvanized steel). It represents the modern material preference for this application in many regions.
Key Differences
≠IS 11134 is highly specific to galvanized mild steel, whereas modern international standards for insect screening often focus on non-corroding materials like aluminum or vinyl-coated fiberglass (e.g., ASTM D3656).
≠The Indian standard is prescriptive, defining specific combinations of mesh count and wire diameter (e.g., 16 mesh with 0.28 mm wire). General standards like ISO 9044 are frameworks, allowing purchasers to specify any combination.
≠IS 11134 includes detailed requirements for zinc galvanization by referencing IS 4826. General wire cloth standards like ISO 9044 do not specify coatings, as this is considered a material property to be defined by the purchaser.
≠IS 11134 specifies tolerances on the mesh count itself (±1%), while ISO 9044 more fundamentally specifies tolerances on the aperture size (the opening), which is a different but related approach to quality control.
Key Similarities
≈All standards specify the use of a plain weave as the standard construction for insect screening cloth.
≈The core technical parameters used to define the product are the same: mesh count (wires per unit length), wire diameter, and the resulting aperture size.
≈The primary purpose is identical: to create a physical barrier against insects, particularly mosquitoes, while allowing for airflow and visibility.
≈All standards provide specifications for the finished product form, including standard roll widths, lengths, and associated tolerances to ensure consistency.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Primary Material
Galvanized Mild Steel Wire
Applicable to any metallic material (stainless steel, aluminum, copper, etc.). Material must be specified by the purchaser.
ISO 9044:2016
Standard Weave
Plain Weave
Defines multiple weaves, but Plain Weave is the most common and is specified for this type of application.
ISO 9044:2016
Mesh Count (per 25.4 mm)
Specifies 14, 16, 18
Does not mandate specific meshes; provides a system for classifying any mesh count as specified by the purchaser.
ISO 9044:2016
Wire Diameter for 16 Mesh
0.28 mm (Nominal)
Not specified. The purchaser selects a wire diameter from a list of preferred sizes for a given aperture.
ISO 9044:2016
Aperture (Opening) for 16 Mesh, 0.28mm wire
1.31 mm (Calculated: 25.4/16 - 0.28)
Aperture (w) is a primary design parameter specified by the purchaser.
ISO 9044:2016
Tolerance on Mesh Count
Average mesh count not to vary by more than ±1%
Tolerances are placed on the average aperture size, e.g., ±3% for apertures >1 mm.
ISO 9044:2016
Coating Specification
Specifies zinc coating requirements per IS 4826
Not specified. Coating is treated as a material characteristic to be defined by the purchaser.
ISO 9044:2016
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values4
Quick Reference Values
Permissible deviation in setting out columns at any floor±5 mm
Permissible deviation in setting out cross-section dimensions±5 mm
Permissible deviation in established benchmark level±3 mm
Permissible deviation from verticality (plumb) for total height of building > 30mNot more than 15 mm
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Permissible Tolerances for Setting-out of Buildings
A stable reference point whose Reduced Level (RL) is accurately known, typically a concrete pillar, from which levels for the construction can be transferred (Clause 4.3).
What is the acceptable tolerance for positioning a column?+
The permissible deviation in setting out columns at any floor is generally ±5 mm, as specified in tolerance tables (e.g., Table 1).
How should right angles be checked during setting out?+
By using precise instruments like a Theodolite, or for simpler checks, by using the 3-4-5 method or by ensuring diagonals of a rectangle are equal (Clause 6).