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IS 14804 : 2000Siting, Design and Selection of Materials for Residential Buildings in Hilly Areas - Guidelines

Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details

IBC 2021 · EN 1997-1 · NZS 3604

CurrentSpecializedGuidelinesBIMGeotechnical · Hill Area Development Engineering

Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details

IS 14804:2000 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for siting, design and selection of materials for residential buildings in hilly areas - guidelines. This standard provides guidelines for the siting, planning, design, and selection of materials for residential buildings in hilly areas. It emphasizes safety against natural hazards like landslides, earthquakes, and floods, and promotes construction practices that are in harmony with the fragile hill environment.

Siting, Design and Selection of Materials for Residential Buildings in Hilly Areas - Guidelines

Overview

Status: Current
Usage level: Specialized
Domain: Geotechnical — Hill Area Development Engineering
Type: Guidelines

International equivalents

IBC 2021 · International Code Council (ICC), USA EN 1997-1:2004 · European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe NZS 3604:2011 · Standards New Zealand, New Zealand ASCE/SEI 7-22 · American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), USA

Typically used with

IS 456 IS 1904 IS 4326

Also on InfraLens for IS 14804

6Key values 4FAQs

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

Practical Notes

! Prioritize a thorough geotechnical investigation to assess slope stability, soil type, and groundwater conditions before any design or construction.

! Effective site drainage is paramount. Ensure proper diversion of surface runoff away from the building and foundations to prevent soil saturation and instability.

! Prefer lightweight construction materials (e.g., timber, steel frames, lightweight concrete blocks) to reduce the building's seismic mass and load on foundations.

Frequently referenced clauses

Cl. 4Site Selection and Development

Cl. 5Planning and General Building Requirements

Cl. 6Structural Design Considerations

Cl. 7Selection of Materials

Annex A - Checklist for Siting of Buildings in Hills

Annex B - Landslide Hazard Zonation

stonetimberreinforced concretemasonrylightweight materials

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards

IBC 2021International Code Council (ICC), USA

HighCurrent

International Building Code

Covers foundations on slopes, grading, and design loads (wind, snow, seismic), but is a mandatory code, not a guideline.

EN 1997-1:2004European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe

MediumCurrent

Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design - Part 1: General rules

Provides detailed rules for slope stability, foundations, and retaining walls, covering the geotechnical aspects of IS 14804.

NZS 3604:2011Standards New Zealand, New Zealand

HighCurrent

Timber-framed buildings

Offers prescriptive solutions for low-rise timber buildings in high wind and seismic zones, many of which are hilly, similar to the guideline nature of the IS code.

ASCE/SEI 7-22American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), USA

MediumCurrent

Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures

Focuses on determining environmental loads like snow, wind, and seismic forces, which are critical inputs for design in hilly areas mentioned in IS 14804.

Key Differences

≠IS 14804 is a consolidated 'guideline' covering siting, design, and materials, whereas international practice typically segregates these into a primary building code (e.g., IBC), a geotechnical code (e.g., Eurocode 7), and load standards (e.g., ASCE 7).

≠The Indian standard is largely qualitative and prescriptive (e.g., 'prefer symmetrical plans'), while international codes are more quantitative and performance-based, requiring engineering analysis to prove compliance.

≠IS 14804 explicitly promotes the use of local materials like stone and timber, reflecting the local context. International codes are material-agnostic, focusing on performance criteria that any material must meet.

≠For construction on steep slopes, international codes like the IBC often mandate a site-specific geotechnical investigation report by a qualified professional, a requirement that is less stringently formalized in IS 14804.

Key Similarities

≈Both IS 14804 and international standards (e.g., Eurocode 7, IBC) place a strong emphasis on ensuring slope stability and avoiding construction in landslide-prone zones as a primary siting consideration.

≈The principle of using stepped foundations that follow the natural slope, rather than large-scale cut-and-fill operations, is a fundamental and shared concept for minimizing site disturbance and maintaining stability.

≈All standards advocate for simple, symmetrical, and compact building layouts, recognizing that such configurations offer superior performance against seismic and high wind loads common in mountainous regions.

≈There is a universal consensus on the critical importance of managing surface and sub-surface drainage around the building to prevent soil saturation, which can compromise foundation integrity and slope stability.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	IS Value	International	Source
Recommended Max. Natural Slope for Building	Should preferably not exceed 30 degrees.	No absolute limit, but slopes over 1:3 (approx. 18.5°) typically require an engineered design and geotechnical report.	IBC 2021 (Jurisdictional practice)
Foundation Setback from Slopes	Qualitative advice to avoid crest/toe of slope.	Must be set back from the slope face by at least H/3 (H=slope height), up to a maximum of 40 ft (12.2 m).	IBC 2021 (Sec 1808.7)
Maximum Slope for Man-made Fills	Generally 1V:1.5H (approx. 34 degrees).	Shall not be steeper than 1V:2H (approx. 27 degrees or 50% grade) unless justified by a geotechnical engineer.	IBC 2021 (Appendix J)
Roof Design for Snow	Sloping roofs > 22.5 degrees recommended to facilitate sliding of snow.	Design is based on calculated snow load which decreases with increasing slope (significant reduction for slopes > 30 degrees).	ASCE/SEI 7-22 (Chapter 7)
Retaining Wall Height Requiring Design	Prescribes gravity walls for up to 3-4m; implies engineering is needed above this.	Any retaining wall with a retained height > 4 ft (~1.2 m) must be designed by a registered professional.	IBC 2021 (Sec 1807.2)
Building Configuration for Seismic Areas	Recommends simple rectangular, compact and symmetric plans.	Quantifies penalties for plan irregularities (e.g., torsional effects, re-entrant corners) in seismic force calculations.	ASCE/SEI 7-22 (Chapter 12)

⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values6

Quick Reference Values

Maximum recommended slope for building30 degrees

Preferred building location on slopeMiddle one-third of the slope

Recommended building shapeSimple, compact, and symmetrical (e.g., square, rectangle)

Maximum building length to width ratio1.5:1

Recommended maximum building height2 storeys or 7.5 m

Minimum foundation depth on slopes1.2 m below ground level

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables

No tables data

Frequently Asked Questions4

What is the safest place to build on a hill according to this code?+

On gentle slopes (less than 30 degrees), preferably in the middle third of the slope, avoiding ridge tops, valley bottoms, and areas with evidence of past instability (Clause 4).

What type of foundation is recommended for sloped ground?+

Stepped foundations that follow the natural slope are recommended over cut-and-fill methods that create large, flat benches, which can destabilize the hillside (Clause 6.2).

What building shapes should be avoided in hilly, seismic areas?+

Long, narrow buildings and complex shapes like 'L', 'T', or 'U' should be avoided. If complex shapes are necessary, they should be separated into simple rectangular blocks by crumble sections (Clause 5.2).

Are there restrictions on building height in hilly areas?+

Yes, buildings should be kept low-rise. The code recommends a maximum height of two storeys or 7.5 meters to maintain stability and reduce visual impact (Clause 5.1.2).

QA/QC Inspection Templates

📋

QA/QC templates coming soon for this code.

Browse all 300 templates →

BOQ Builder·Auto-BOQ from dimensions, DSR ratesNEW→BidEasy·Government tenders, searchableLIVE→

IS 14804 : 2000Siting, Design and Selection of Materials for Residential Buildings in Hilly Areas - Guidelines

PDF Google Compare BIS Portal

Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details

IBC 2021 · EN 1997-1 · NZS 3604

CurrentSpecializedGuidelinesBIMGeotechnical · Hill Area Development Engineering

PDF Google Compare BIS Portal

Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details

Siting, Design and Selection of Materials for Residential Buildings in Hilly Areas - Guidelines

Overview

Status: Current
Usage level: Specialized
Domain: Geotechnical — Hill Area Development Engineering
Type: Guidelines

International equivalents

Typically used with

IS 456 IS 1904 IS 4326

Also on InfraLens for IS 14804

6Key values 4FAQs

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

Practical Notes

! Prioritize a thorough geotechnical investigation to assess slope stability, soil type, and groundwater conditions before any design or construction.

! Effective site drainage is paramount. Ensure proper diversion of surface runoff away from the building and foundations to prevent soil saturation and instability.

! Prefer lightweight construction materials (e.g., timber, steel frames, lightweight concrete blocks) to reduce the building's seismic mass and load on foundations.

Frequently referenced clauses

Cl. 4Site Selection and Development

Cl. 5Planning and General Building Requirements

Cl. 6Structural Design Considerations

Cl. 7Selection of Materials

Annex A - Checklist for Siting of Buildings in Hills

Annex B - Landslide Hazard Zonation

stonetimberreinforced concretemasonrylightweight materials

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards

IBC 2021International Code Council (ICC), USA

HighCurrent

International Building Code

Covers foundations on slopes, grading, and design loads (wind, snow, seismic), but is a mandatory code, not a guideline.

EN 1997-1:2004European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe

MediumCurrent

Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design - Part 1: General rules

Provides detailed rules for slope stability, foundations, and retaining walls, covering the geotechnical aspects of IS 14804.

NZS 3604:2011Standards New Zealand, New Zealand

HighCurrent

Timber-framed buildings

Offers prescriptive solutions for low-rise timber buildings in high wind and seismic zones, many of which are hilly, similar to the guideline nature of the IS code.

ASCE/SEI 7-22American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), USA

MediumCurrent

Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures

Focuses on determining environmental loads like snow, wind, and seismic forces, which are critical inputs for design in hilly areas mentioned in IS 14804.

Key Differences

Key Similarities

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	IS Value	International	Source
Recommended Max. Natural Slope for Building	Should preferably not exceed 30 degrees.	No absolute limit, but slopes over 1:3 (approx. 18.5°) typically require an engineered design and geotechnical report.	IBC 2021 (Jurisdictional practice)
Foundation Setback from Slopes	Qualitative advice to avoid crest/toe of slope.	Must be set back from the slope face by at least H/3 (H=slope height), up to a maximum of 40 ft (12.2 m).	IBC 2021 (Sec 1808.7)
Maximum Slope for Man-made Fills	Generally 1V:1.5H (approx. 34 degrees).	Shall not be steeper than 1V:2H (approx. 27 degrees or 50% grade) unless justified by a geotechnical engineer.	IBC 2021 (Appendix J)
Roof Design for Snow	Sloping roofs > 22.5 degrees recommended to facilitate sliding of snow.	Design is based on calculated snow load which decreases with increasing slope (significant reduction for slopes > 30 degrees).	ASCE/SEI 7-22 (Chapter 7)
Retaining Wall Height Requiring Design	Prescribes gravity walls for up to 3-4m; implies engineering is needed above this.	Any retaining wall with a retained height > 4 ft (~1.2 m) must be designed by a registered professional.	IBC 2021 (Sec 1807.2)
Building Configuration for Seismic Areas	Recommends simple rectangular, compact and symmetric plans.	Quantifies penalties for plan irregularities (e.g., torsional effects, re-entrant corners) in seismic force calculations.	ASCE/SEI 7-22 (Chapter 12)

⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values6

Quick Reference Values

Maximum recommended slope for building30 degrees

Preferred building location on slopeMiddle one-third of the slope

Recommended building shapeSimple, compact, and symmetrical (e.g., square, rectangle)

Maximum building length to width ratio1.5:1

Recommended maximum building height2 storeys or 7.5 m

Minimum foundation depth on slopes1.2 m below ground level

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables

No tables data

Frequently Asked Questions4

What is the safest place to build on a hill according to this code?+

On gentle slopes (less than 30 degrees), preferably in the middle third of the slope, avoiding ridge tops, valley bottoms, and areas with evidence of past instability (Clause 4).

What type of foundation is recommended for sloped ground?+

Stepped foundations that follow the natural slope are recommended over cut-and-fill methods that create large, flat benches, which can destabilize the hillside (Clause 6.2).

What building shapes should be avoided in hilly, seismic areas?+

Are there restrictions on building height in hilly areas?+

Yes, buildings should be kept low-rise. The code recommends a maximum height of two storeys or 7.5 meters to maintain stability and reduce visual impact (Clause 5.1.2).

QA/QC Inspection Templates

📋

QA/QC templates coming soon for this code.

Browse all 300 templates →

IS 14804 : 2000Siting, Design and Selection of Materials for Residential Buildings in Hilly Areas - Guidelines

Overview

International Equivalents

Key Values6

Tables & Referenced Sections

Related Resources on InfraLens

Frequently Asked Questions4

QA/QC Inspection Templates

More related

IS 14804 : 2000Siting, Design and Selection of Materials for Residential Buildings in Hilly Areas - Guidelines

Overview

International Equivalents

Key Values6

Tables & Referenced Sections

Related Resources on InfraLens

Frequently Asked Questions4

QA/QC Inspection Templates

More related