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IS 13063 : 1991Code of practice for the structural safety of buildings on shallow foundations on rocks

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EN 1997-1 · IBC 2021 · BS 8004
CurrentSpecializedCode of PracticeBIMGeotechnical · Rock Mechanics
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OverviewValues6InternationalTablesFAQ4Related

IS 13063:1991 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for the structural safety of buildings on shallow foundations on rocks. This code provides guidelines for ensuring the structural safety of buildings founded on shallow foundations resting on rock. It covers site investigation, determination of rock properties, and methods for calculating bearing capacity and permissible settlement. The code addresses both intact and jointed rock masses, offering presumptive values and analytical methods for foundation design.

Code of practice for the structural safety of buildings on shallow foundations on rocks

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Geotechnical — Rock Mechanics
Type
Code of Practice
International equivalents
EN 1997-1:2004+A1:2013 · European Committee for Standardization (CEN), EuropeIBC 2021 · International Code Council (ICC), USABS 8004:2015+A1:2020 · British Standards Institution (BSI), UKCFEM 4th Edition (2006) · Canadian Geotechnical Society, Canada
Typically used with
IS 1892IS 12070IS 9143IS 2131IS 6403
Also on InfraLens for IS 13063
6Key values3Tables4FAQs

BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.

Practical Notes
! Presumptive bearing capacity values from Table 2 are for preliminary design only and must be confirmed by site-specific investigation.
! The presence, orientation, and condition of joints and discontinuities in the rock mass are critical and can govern the foundation's stability over the intact rock strength.
! Accurate assessment of settlement, especially differential settlement, is as important as checking the bearing capacity for safety and serviceability.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 4Site Investigations and Collection of DataCl. 5Engineering Properties of RocksCl. 6Bearing CapacityCl. 7SettlementCl. 8Jointed Rock Masses
Pulled from IS 13063:1991. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.
rockreinforced concretefoundations

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
EN 1997-1:2004+A1:2013European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe
HighCurrent
Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design - Part 1: General rules
Comprehensive geotechnical design code covering shallow foundations on rock using a limit state design philosophy.
IBC 2021International Code Council (ICC), USA
MediumCurrent
International Building Code
Chapter 18 (Soils and Foundations) provides prescriptive requirements and allowable bearing values for foundations on rock.
BS 8004:2015+A1:2020British Standards Institution (BSI), UK
MediumCurrent
Code of practice for foundations
Provides guidance on foundation design in the UK, acting as a complement to Eurocode 7, including specific advice for rock.
CFEM 4th Edition (2006)Canadian Geotechnical Society, Canada
HighCurrent
Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual
A comprehensive manual of practice covering all aspects of foundation engineering, including shallow foundations on rock.
Key Differences
≠IS 13063 uses a Working Stress Method (WSM) with a single global Factor of Safety (typically 3), whereas modern codes like Eurocode 7 use a Limit State Design (LSD) approach with multiple partial factors for actions, material properties, and resistances.
≠The rock mass classification in IS 13063 is qualitative (e.g., 'hard', 'soft', degree of weathering). Eurocode 7 refers to EN ISO 14689, which provides a more detailed, quantitative, and standardized system for rock identification and description based on parameters like UCS.
≠For determining bearing capacity, IS 13063 provides simplified analytical equations and refers to presumptive values. Eurocode 7 and the Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual promote the use of more sophisticated semi-empirical methods like the Hoek-Brown criterion, which better model the behaviour of jointed rock masses.
≠IS 13063 provides very general guidance on settlement. In contrast, Eurocode 7 mandates a formal Serviceability Limit State (SLS) check for settlement and provides more rigorous analytical frameworks based on the rock mass modulus.
Key Similarities
≈All standards fundamentally recognize the critical importance of a thorough geotechnical site investigation, including drilling, coring, sampling, and laboratory testing (e.g., Uniaxial Compressive Strength), as the primary basis for any foundation design on rock.
≈Both IS 13063 and its international counterparts acknowledge that the behaviour of a rock mass foundation is governed by its discontinuities (joints, bedding planes, faults) and not solely by the intact rock's strength.
≈For preliminary design or minor structures, IS 13063 (via reference to the National Building Code of India) and the IBC provide tables of 'presumptive' or 'allowable' bearing capacity values for various rock types, with the caveat that they should be confirmed by site-specific analysis.
≈The general principles for construction, such as cleaning the foundation base, removing loose material, and using blinding concrete to create a level surface, are common recommendations across all the standards.
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Design PhilosophyWorking Stress Method (WSM) with a global factor of safety.Limit State Design (LSD) with partial factors of safety.EN 1997-1:2004
Factor of Safety on Bearing CapacityA minimum global Factor of Safety of 3.0 is recommended.A partial factor on bearing resistance (γR) of 1.4 is applied for Ultimate Limit State (ULS) in Design Approach 1, Combination 2.EN 1997-1:2004
Presumptive Bearing Value (Hard, sound rock)3.2 MPa (3300 kN/m²) for 'Hard rock without lamination and defects' (as per referenced National Building Code of India).0.57 MPa (12,000 psf) for 'Crystalline bedrock'. The US code values are typically more conservative.IBC 2021
Permissible Total Settlement (on Rock)12 mm for both isolated footings and rafts (as per referenced IS 1904).Typically limited to 25 mm (1 inch), but must be determined based on the structure's tolerance to movement as a Serviceability Limit State.Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual
Rock Classification (High Strength)High Strength Rock: Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) of 100-200 MPa (as per related Indian standards like IS 12070).Very Strong Rock: UCS of 100-250 MPa.EN ISO 14689-1:2018
Consideration of Rock Quality Designation (RQD)Recommended as a measure of rock mass quality. RQD > 75% indicates good quality rock.Used widely as a key input parameter for rock mass classification systems (e.g., RMR, Q-system) which are then used to estimate strength and modulus.General practice in Eurocode 7 / CFEM
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values6

Quick Reference Values
Shallow foundation definition (Df/B)<= 1
General Factor of Safety for bearing capacity3
Permissible total settlement for isolated footings on rock12 mm
Permissible total settlement for raft foundations on rock20 mm
Permissible differential settlement for rock foundations0.0015L
Presumptive SBC for Hard Rock (e.g., Granite)3240 kN/m²
Key Formulas
q_ult = c’Nc + qNq + 0.5γBNγ — General bearing capacity of rock

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
Table 1 - Classification of Intact Rock for Engineering Purposes
Table 2 - Presumptive Safe Bearing Capacity of Rocks
Table 3 - Permissible Settlement for Shallow Foundations on Rock
Key Clauses
Clause 4 - Site Investigations and Collection of Data
Clause 5 - Engineering Properties of Rocks
Clause 6 - Bearing Capacity
Clause 7 - Settlement
Clause 8 - Jointed Rock Masses

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 1892:1979Code of practice for site investigations for ...
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IS 12070:1987Code of Practice for Design and Construction ...
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IS 9143:1979Method for the determination of unconfined co...
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IS 2131:1981Method for standard penetration test for soil...
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IS 6403:1981Code of practice for determination of bearing...
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Frequently Asked Questions4

What defines a shallow foundation according to this code?+
A foundation where the depth (Df) is less than or equal to its width (B), i.e., Df/B ≤ 1 (Clause 2.6).
What is the presumptive safe bearing capacity for hard rock like granite?+
3240 kN/m² for hard rock without lamination and defects. This must be verified by site investigation (Table 2).
What is the maximum permissible total settlement for a building foundation on rock?+
12 mm for isolated footings and 20 mm for raft foundations (Table 3).
What is the recommended factor of safety for bearing capacity on rock?+
A minimum factor of safety of 3 is generally recommended (Clause 6.1.1).

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