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IS 14243 (Part 2) : 2000Guidelines for selection and development of the site for building in hill areas, Part 2: Selection and development

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CGS Special Publication 117A · EN 1997-1 · JGS 0051
CurrentSpecializedGuidelinesBIMGeotechnical · Rock Mechanics
PDFGoogleCompareBIS Portal
Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
OverviewValues6InternationalTablesFAQ4Related

IS 14243:2000 (Part 2) is the Indian Standard (BIS) for guidelines for selection and development of the site for building in hill areas, part 2: selection and development. This standard provides guidelines for the selection and development of building sites in hilly areas, focusing on site-specific evaluation. It covers site investigation, geotechnical assessment, slope stability analysis, and best practices for site development like cutting, filling, and drainage to ensure the safety of structures built on or near slopes.

Guidelines for selection and development of the site for building in hill areas, Part 2: Selection and development

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Geotechnical — Rock Mechanics
Type
Guidelines
International equivalents
CGS Special Publication 117A · California Geological Survey (CGS), USAEN 1997-1:2004 · European Committee for Standardization (CEN), EuropeJGS 0051-2006 · Japanese Geotechnical Society, JapanAGS (2007) Guidelines · Australian Geomechanics Society, Australia
Typically used with
IS 1893IS 2720
Also on InfraLens for IS 14243
6Key values3Tables4FAQs

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

Practical Notes
! Drainage is the single most critical factor for ensuring slope stability in hill areas; prioritize comprehensive surface and sub-surface drainage planning.
! The guideline to avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees is a crucial starting point. Developing on steeper slopes is technically possible but significantly increases complexity and cost.
! This document is a 'guideline', not a mandatory 'code'. Its application requires significant engineering judgment and must be supplemented by detailed site-specific geotechnical investigations.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 4Site Investigation and Data CollectionCl. 5Evaluation of Site and SelectionCl. 6Development of Site (Cutting and Filling)Cl. 7Slope Stability and Protection MeasuresAnnex A - Checklist for Site SelectionAnnex B - Slope Instability Potential (SIP)
Pulled from IS 14243:2000. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.
soilrocknatural slope materials

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
CGS Special Publication 117ACalifornia Geological Survey (CGS), USA
HighCurrent
Guidelines for Evaluating and Mitigating Seismic Hazards in California
Provides a framework for zonation of geological hazards (seismic) to guide land-use planning and construction permitting.
EN 1997-1:2004European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe
MediumCurrent
Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design — Part 1: General rules
Covers the geotechnical investigation and design principles that form the basis for assessing site stability, a key input for microzonation.
JGS 0051-2006Japanese Geotechnical Society, Japan
MediumCurrent
Method for Zonation of Seismic Ground Motion
Focuses on the methodology of microzonation based on geotechnical properties, although specifically for seismic response rather than landslide risk.
AGS (2007) GuidelinesAustralian Geomechanics Society, Australia
HighCurrent
Guideline for Landslide Susceptibility, Hazard and Risk Zoning for Land Use Planning
Directly addresses landslide hazard zonation for land-use planning, which is the core purpose of IS 14243-1.
Key Differences
≠IS 14243 is a guideline with a prescriptive methodology using a Total Estimated Hazard (TEHD) score. In contrast, international practices like those in California (CGS SP 117A) are often tied to legal mandates and trigger site-specific quantitative analysis rather than providing a pre-defined hazard score.
≠The Indian standard is specifically focused on landslide hazards in hill areas. Many international equivalents have a broader or different focus, such as seismic hazards (liquefaction, fault rupture) in CGS SP 117A or general geotechnical design principles in Eurocode 7.
≠IS 14243 aims to produce a single, composite Landslide Hazard Zonation (LHZ) map. In contrast, frameworks like CGS SP 117A produce separate, hazard-specific maps (e.g., one for liquefaction, one for earthquake-induced landslides), which are then used in combination.
≠The recommended mapping scale in IS 14243 (1:5,000) for urban areas is significantly more detailed than the typical regional hazard mapping scale used in some international standards, such as the 1:24,000 scale for California's official Seismic Hazard Zone Maps.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 14243 and its international counterparts share the primary objective of reducing risk to life and property from geohazards through systematic land classification and planning.
≈The core methodology of using a GIS-based overlay of multiple thematic maps (e.g., geology, slope, hydrology, land use) is a fundamental and common practice across both the Indian standard and international guidelines for any hazard zonation.
≈All standards utilize a multi-tiered classification system to define hazard levels (e.g., 'Very High Hazard' to 'Low Hazard' in IS 14243), which helps planners and engineers apply graduated development controls.
≈The process in both IS 14243 and international standards relies on the integration of diverse datasets, including geological maps, geotechnical investigations, topographical data (DEMs), and hydrological conditions to build a comprehensive hazard model.
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Primary Hazard FocusLandslides (debris flows, rockfalls, etc.) in hill areas.Earthquake-induced hazards (liquefaction, landslides).CGS Special Publication 117A
Recommended Map Scale (Urban)1:5,0001:24,000 for official regulatory maps.CGS Special Publication 117A
Final Zonation OutputA single composite 'Landslide Hazard Zonation (LHZ) Map'.A set of separate maps for each specific hazard (e.g., liquefaction map, landslide map).CGS Special Publication 117A
Hazard Categorization5 levels based on a calculated Total Estimated Hazard (TEHD) score (Very High, High, etc.).Binary 'Zone of Required Investigation' for each hazard type. The level of hazard is then determined by a site-specific study.CGS Special Publication 117A
Key Geotechnical Input for ZonationThematic maps including lithology, structure, slope, and hydrology.Shear Wave Velocity in the top 30m (Vs30), soil classification, depth to groundwater.JGS 0051-2006
Slope Angle Threshold for High HazardOften considers slopes >35° as having a high to very high hazard rating.Generally, slopes >30° are considered to require detailed slope stability analysis.Australian Geomechanics Society (AGS) Guidelines
Project Risk ClassificationRisk is defined by the hazard zone the site falls into (e.g., 'High Hazard Zone').Defines 'Geotechnical Categories' (1, 2, 3) based on project complexity and ground risk, which dictates the level of investigation required.EN 1997-1:2004
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values6

Quick Reference Values
Maximum recommended general site slope30 degrees (Clause 5.4.1)
Minimum factor of safety for permanent cut slopes (static)1.5
Minimum factor of safety for permanent cut slopes (seismic)1.1
Maximum height of unsupported vertical cut in hard rock6 m (Clause 7.2.1)
Minimum berm width on cut slopes1.0 m to 1.5 m (Clause 7.2.1)
Recommended slope for benches/berms1 in 10 towards the drain (Clause 7.2.1)
Key Formulas
F.S. = Σ Resisting Forces / Σ Driving Forces — Fundamental formula for Slope Stability Analysis

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
Table 1 - Checklist for Data Collection
Table 2 - Qualitative Expression for Slope Instability Potential (SIP)
Table 3 - Guideline for Maximum Slope for Cut and Fill in Different Soils/Rocks
Key Clauses
Clause 4 - Site Investigation and Data Collection
Clause 5 - Evaluation of Site and Selection
Clause 6 - Development of Site (Cutting and Filling)
Clause 7 - Slope Stability and Protection Measures
Annex A - Checklist for Site Selection
Annex B - Slope Instability Potential (SIP)

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 1893:2016Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of S...
→
IS 2720:1973Methods of test for soils - Determination of ...
→

Frequently Asked Questions4

What is the maximum slope considered safe for building construction?+
The code advises against sites with a general slope steeper than 30 degrees. Such slopes are considered prone to instability and require extensive, costly stabilization measures (Clause 5.4.1).
What factor of safety (FoS) is needed for a cut slope?+
A minimum FoS of 1.5 for permanent slopes under static conditions is the standard practice recommended. For seismic conditions, this can be reduced to around 1.1 to 1.2.
What is the difference between Part 1 and Part 2 of IS 14243?+
Part 1 covers large-scale landslide hazard zonation (macro-zonation), while Part 2 provides guidelines for site-specific selection and development (micro-zonation).
Does this code specify how to perform slope stability analysis?+
It doesn't specify formulas but recommends methods like the limit equilibrium method (e.g., Swedish circle method, Bishop's method) and advises considering factors like geology, hydrology, and seismic forces (Clause 7.1).

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