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IS 18881 : 2018Seismic Design of Buildings Using Base Isolation - Code of Practice

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ASCE/SEI 7 · EN 1998-1 · BSL & Notification No. 1461
CurrentSpecializedCode of PracticeBIMStructural Engineering · Disaster Resilience and Retrofitting
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OverviewValues5InternationalTablesFAQ4Related

IS 18881:2018 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for seismic design of buildings using base isolation - code of practice. This code provides guidelines for the seismic design of buildings using base isolation systems. It covers the design principles, analysis methods, design of the isolated structure and the isolation system, and mandatory testing requirements for isolator units to ensure performance during an earthquake.

Specifies criteria for the seismic design of buildings incorporating base isolation systems.

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Structural Engineering — Disaster Resilience and Retrofitting
Type
Code of Practice
International equivalents
ASCE/SEI 7-22 · American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), USAEN 1998-1:2004 · European Committee for Standardization (CEN), European UnionBSL & Notification No. 1461 · Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), JapanNZS 1170.5:2004 · Standards New Zealand, New Zealand
Typically used with
IS 456IS 800IS 16700IS 13920
Also on InfraLens for IS 18881
5Key values4Tables4FAQs

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

Practical Notes
! Strict adherence to the prototype and quality control testing protocols in Clause 11 is critical for the success of a base-isolated project.
! The 'seismic gap' or 'moat' around the building must be carefully detailed to accommodate large design displacements and prevent pounding, including provisions for services and access.
! Base isolation is most effective for stiff, low to mid-rise buildings on firm soil; its effectiveness diminishes for tall, flexible structures or buildings on very soft soil.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 6Design Basis and PrinciplesCl. 7Methods of AnalysisCl. 8Design of Seismically Isolated StructureCl. 10Requirements for Isolation SystemCl. 11Testing of Isolation System
Pulled from IS 18881:2018. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.
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International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
ASCE/SEI 7-22American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), USA
HighCurrent
Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures
Chapter 17 provides comprehensive design requirements for seismically isolated structures, which is directly analogous.
EN 1998-1:2004European Committee for Standardization (CEN), European Union
MediumCurrent
Eurocode 8: Design of structures for earthquake resistance - Part 1: General rules, seismic actions and rules for buildings
Section 10 provides rules for seismic isolation, forming a part of the overall seismic design code.
BSL & Notification No. 1461Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan
HighCurrent
Building Standard Law of Japan & related technical notifications for base-isolated structures
Prescribes the performance-based design and approval process for base-isolated buildings in Japan.
NZS 1170.5:2004Standards New Zealand, New Zealand
MediumCurrent
Structural design actions - Part 5: Earthquake actions - New Zealand
Provides the main seismic actions, and is used with specific engineering guidelines for the design of isolated structures.
Key Differences
≠IS 18881 specifies a factor of 1.5 to scale the Design Displacement (DD) to the Total Maximum Displacement (DTM). In contrast, ASCE 7 requires separate calculations for Design Displacement (DD) and Maximum Displacement (DM) based on the Design Earthquake (DE) and Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE_R) response spectra, respectively, without a fixed multiplicative factor.
≠IS 18881 mandates time history analysis for structures in high seismic zones (IV and V) or for irregular buildings. ASCE 7's triggers for mandatory nonlinear response history analysis are based on Seismic Design Category (e.g., SDC E, F), site class, and characteristics of the isolation system, which can be more nuanced.
≠The definition of the maximum considered seismic event differs. IS 18881 uses the Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) as defined in IS 1893 (Part 1), which is generally a uniform hazard-based event. ASCE 7 uses the Risk-Targeted Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE_R), which is adjusted for the risk of structural collapse.
≠While both codes require peer review, ASCE 7 outlines more detailed and prescriptive requirements for the scope and process of the mandatory peer review for all seismically isolated structures, whereas IS 18881's clause on 'Review' is more general.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 18881 and international counterparts like ASCE 7 are founded on the same principle of lengthening the structure's fundamental period to reduce seismic acceleration response and incorporating damping to dissipate energy.
≈All standards employ a two-level seismic design philosophy: ensuring the structure remains essentially elastic under a frequent 'Design Basis Earthquake' (DBE) and preventing collapse under a rare 'Maximum Considered Earthquake' (MCE).
≈The permitted analysis methods are analogous, offering a tiered approach from Equivalent Static Analysis for simple, regular buildings to more complex Response Spectrum Analysis and mandatory Nonlinear Time History Analysis for important or irregular structures.
≈The use of a damping modification factor to account for high hysteretic damping from isolators is a common feature. The values for this factor (R_I in IS 18881, B_D in ASCE 7) are numerically very similar for equivalent damping levels.
≈All codes mandate extensive prototype and production testing of isolation devices to verify their mechanical properties (stiffness, damping, stability) before they are used in construction.
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Damping Modification Factor (for Spectrum Reduction)RI; Value is 1.5 for 20% effective damping (Table 2)BD; Value is 1.5 for 20% effective damping (Table 17.5-1)ASCE/SEI 7-16
Analysis method for displacementTotal Maximum Displacement DTM = 1.5 * DD (Clause 7.5.3)Maximum Displacement DM is calculated independently using MCE_R spectral ordinates (Sec 17.5.1.2)ASCE/SEI 7-16
Minimum Superstructure Design ShearVs must be at least 1.5 times the calculated base shear of the isolated structure, Vb (Clause 7.6.2)Vs must not be less than various criteria, including the seismic force for a fixed-base building at the isolated period (Teff) (Sec 17.5.4.1)ASCE/SEI 7-16
Mandatory Time History Analysis TriggerRequired for buildings in Seismic Zone IV and V (Clause 7.2.2)Required for buildings in Seismic Design Category D, E, or F, with some exceptions (Table 17.3-1)ASCE/SEI 7-16
Accidental Torsion EccentricityTotal design eccentricity includes 5% of the building's plan dimension (Clause 7.4.2)Accidental mass eccentricity shall be 5% of the building's dimension perpendicular to the direction of analysis (Sec 17.5.3.3)ASCE/SEI 7-16
Minimum Number of Ground Motion Pairs (Time History)A minimum of 3 pairs of ground motion components (Clause 7.5.1.1)A minimum of 3 pairs if using maximum response, or 7 pairs if using average response (Sec 16.2.2)ASCE/SEI 7-16
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values5

Quick Reference Values
Minimum Effective Period Ratio (Ti/Tf)≥ 3.0
Response Modification Factor for Isolation System (R I)2.0
Maximum Response Modification Factor for Superstructure (R)≤ 2.5
Minimum Separation (Seismic Gap)≥ Total Maximum Displacement (DTM)
Minimum Restoring ForceForce at Dd should be greater than force at 0.5Dd by W/80
Key Formulas
Ti = 2π * sqrt(W / (Keff * g)) — Effective period of isolated structure
Dd = (g / (4 * π^2)) * SaD * Td^2 — Design displacement of isolation system
Vb = (W * Ah) / R_I — Design seismic base shear for the superstructure
DTM = Dm * [1 + y * (12e / (b^2 + d^2))] — Total Maximum Displacement including torsion

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
Table 1 - Minimum Lateral Seismic Design Force for Super-structure (Vb)
Table 2 - Design Displacement (Dd) and Design Force (Fd) for Isolation System
Table 3 - Minimum Requirements for Prototype Tests of Isolators
Table 4 - Minimum Requirements for Quality Control Tests of Isolators
Key Clauses
Clause 6 - Design Basis and Principles
Clause 7 - Methods of Analysis
Clause 8 - Design of Seismically Isolated Structure
Clause 10 - Requirements for Isolation System
Clause 11 - Testing of Isolation System

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 456:2000Plain and Reinforced Concrete - Code of Pract...
→
IS 800:2007General Construction in Steel - Code of Pract...
→
IS 16700:2017General Principles of Design for Structures
→
IS 13920:2016Ductile Design and Detailing of Reinforced Co...
→

Frequently Asked Questions4

What is the primary goal of base isolation?+
To lengthen the natural period of the structure to shift it away from the dominant earthquake frequencies, thereby reducing the seismic forces transmitted to the superstructure (Clause 4.1).
What analysis methods are permitted?+
Equivalent Lateral Force Method, Response Spectrum Method, and Time History Method, with specific conditions for each (Clause 7).
Is testing of isolators mandatory?+
Yes, both prototype tests on a sample set and quality control tests on all production isolators are mandatory (Clause 11).
What is the minimum period shift required?+
The effective period of the isolated structure (Ti) must be at least 3 times the fundamental period of the fixed-base structure (Tf) (Clause 6.2.2).

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