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IS 16352 : 2015Energy Conservation in Buildings - Guidelines for

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ASHRAE 90.1 · ISO 50001 · LEED v4.1 BD+C
CurrentFrequently UsedGuidelinesBIMArchitectural · Green Building and Sustainability
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OverviewValues6InternationalTablesFAQ4Related

IS 16352:2015 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for energy conservation in buildings - guidelines for. This standard provides comprehensive guidelines for energy conservation in the design and construction of new buildings. It covers passive design strategies for the building envelope, efficient HVAC and lighting systems, and the integration of renewable energy, with specific recommendations tailored to India's five diverse climatic zones.

Provides comprehensive guidelines for energy conservation measures in various aspects of building design, construction, and operation.

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Frequently Used
Domain
Architectural — Green Building and Sustainability
Type
Guidelines
International equivalents
ASHRAE 90.1-2019 · ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers), USAISO 50001:2018 · ISO (International Organization for Standardization), InternationalLEED v4.1 BD+C · USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council), USAEN 15232-1:2017 · CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
Typically used with
IS 3792
Also on InfraLens for IS 16352
6Key values5Tables4FAQs

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

Practical Notes
! Correctly identifying the project's climatic zone from Table 1 is the first and most critical step for applying these guidelines.
! While these are 'guidelines', they closely align with the mandatory requirements of the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), making this a valuable reference for achieving ECBC compliance.
! Prioritize optimizing the building envelope (orientation, shading, insulation, glazing) as passive measures have the largest and most permanent impact on reducing energy demand.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 5Climatic ZonesCl. 6Building Envelope DesignCl. 7Building Services — Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)Cl. 8Building Services — Lighting and AppliancesCl. 10On-site Renewable Energy Systems
Pulled from IS 16352:2015. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.
insulationglazingconcreteroofing materialsshading devices

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
ASHRAE 90.1-2019ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers), USA
HighCurrent
Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
Both provide comprehensive minimum requirements for building envelope, HVAC, lighting, and service water heating.
ISO 50001:2018ISO (International Organization for Standardization), International
MediumCurrent
Energy management systems — Requirements with guidance for use
Focuses on the management process (Plan-Do-Check-Act) for energy use rather than specific technical building design values.
LEED v4.1 BD+CUSGBC (U.S. Green Building Council), USA
MediumCurrent
LEED v4.1 Building Design and Construction
A broader green building rating system where energy efficiency (often referencing ASHRAE 90.1) is a major prerequisite and credit category.
EN 15232-1:2017CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
LowCurrent
Energy performance of buildings - Part 1: Impact of Building Automation, Controls and Building Management
Focuses specifically on classifying the impact of building controls and automation, a subset of the broader IS 16352 scope.
Key Differences
≠IS 16352 is explicitly a 'guideline' providing recommendations, whereas ASHRAE 90.1 is a 'standard' written in mandatory, code-enforceable language, intended for direct adoption by jurisdictions.
≠The standard is tailored to the five Indian climate zones (Hot-Dry, Warm-Humid, Composite, Temperate, Cold) as defined by the National Building Code of India, which differ from the 8 primary climate zones used in ASHRAE 90.1.
≠While both offer prescriptive and performance paths, the calculation methodologies in ASHRAE 90.1 (e.g., Energy Cost Budget Method, Appendix G baseline modeling) are significantly more detailed and complex than the framework described in IS 16352.
≠IS 16352 provides broad guidance on renewable energy systems like solar water heating, whereas ASHRAE 90.1 contains more specific prescriptive requirements and credits for on-site renewable energy generation as part of its performance path calculations.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 16352 and ASHRAE 90.1 adopt a holistic approach, addressing the building's primary energy-consuming systems: building envelope, HVAC systems, lighting, and service water heating.
≈Both standards offer two main compliance pathways: a prescriptive path, where each component must meet a minimum requirement, and a whole building performance path, which allows for trade-offs between components as long as the overall energy target is met.
≈A strong emphasis is placed on the performance of the building envelope, with both standards providing specific criteria for insulation (U-value), fenestration performance (U-value and SHGC), and controlling air leakage.
≈Both use the concept of Lighting Power Density (LPD), measured in W/m², as a primary metric for regulating lighting energy efficiency, providing tables of maximum allowable LPDs for various space types (e.g., office, corridor, retail).
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Wall U-Value (Composite Climate)≤ 0.44 W/m²K≤ 0.57 W/m²K (Mass Wall, Climate Zone 4A)ASHRAE 90.1-2019
Roof U-Value (Composite Climate)≤ 0.261 W/m²K≤ 0.267 W/m²K (Insulation above deck, Climate Zone 4A)ASHRAE 90.1-2019
Fenestration Max SHGC (Composite Climate, WWR ≤ 40%)≤ 0.25≤ 0.25 (Vertical Fenestration, Climate Zone 4A)ASHRAE 90.1-2019
Fenestration Max U-Value (Composite Climate, Metal Frame)≤ 3.0 W/m²K≤ 2.55 W/m²K (Fixed Metal Frame, Climate Zone 4A)ASHRAE 90.1-2019
Lighting Power Density (LPD) - Open Plan Office≤ 7.5 W/m²≤ 7.2 W/m²ASHRAE 90.1-2019
Chiller Efficiency (Water-cooled, Screw)6.1 COP / 0.576 kW/ton (Path 1 ECBC)6.355 COP / 0.554 kW/ton (Path A)ASHRAE 90.1-2019
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values6

Quick Reference Values
Maximum U-value for roofs in Composite climate0.261 W/m²K
Maximum U-value for walls in Composite climate0.440 W/m²K
Maximum Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) for windows (WWR ≤ 40%) in Composite climate0.27
Maximum Lighting Power Density (LPD) for office space8.3 W/m²
Minimum Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) for low-sloped roofs in Hot-Dry, Warm-Humid, Composite climates78
Minimum roof insulation R-value for air-conditioned buildings in Composite climate2.1 m²K/W

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
Table 1 - Climatic Zones of India for Energy Conservation in Buildings
Table 2 - Maximum Assembly U-value for Walls
Table 3 - Maximum Assembly U-value for Roofs
Table 4 - Maximum Assembly SHGC for Vertical Fenestration
Table 13 - Maximum Lighting Power Density (LPD) for Interior Areas
Key Clauses
Clause 5 - Climatic Zones
Clause 6 - Building Envelope Design
Clause 7 - Building Services — Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Clause 8 - Building Services — Lighting and Appliances
Clause 10 - On-site Renewable Energy Systems

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 3792:1978Guide for estimation of thermal performance o...
→

Frequently Asked Questions4

What are the five climatic zones defined by the code?+
Hot-Dry, Warm-Humid, Composite, Temperate, and Cold (Table 1).
What is the recommended maximum U-value for a wall in a Composite climate like Delhi?+
0.440 W/m²K (Table 2).
What is the Lighting Power Density (LPD) limit for a general office area?+
8.3 W/m² (Table 13).
Does this code apply to existing buildings?+
The code is primarily intended for new buildings, but its principles can be applied for retrofitting existing buildings to improve energy performance.

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