What is the best orientation for a building in a hot and dry climate like Jaipur?

The longest axis should be East-West to minimize wall area on East and West facades. Main openings should ideally face North and South, with appropriate shading for South-facing windows (Clause 6.2).

How does this code classify India's climatic zones?

It classifies them into five major zones: Hot-Dry, Warm-Humid, Composite, Temperate, and Cold, based on temperature, humidity, and rainfall (Clause 4 and Table 1).

For natural ventilation, which direction should openings face?

Openings should be placed on opposite walls, aligned with the prevailing wind direction for the season when ventilation is most needed. This creates cross-ventilation (Clause 7).

Why is it important to have smaller East and West facing walls?

To minimize exposure to low-angle morning and evening sun, which is intense, difficult to shade, and causes significant heat gain and glare (Clause 6.1).

IS 7662

: 2000

Recommendations for orientation of buildings, Part 1: Non-industrial buildings

CurrentFrequently UsedGuidelinesBIMArchitectural · Functional Requirements in Buildings

Download PDF BIS Portal Google

This standard provides recommendations for the orientation of non-industrial buildings in India to improve indoor comfort and reduce energy consumption. It offers guidance on positioning buildings based on India's different climatic zones, considering solar radiation, prevailing wind directions, and rainfall. The core principle is to minimize heat gain in hot climates and maximize it in cold climates, while ensuring adequate natural ventilation and daylight.

Recommendations for orientation of buildings, Part 1: Non-industrial buildings

Quick Reference Values

Ideal orientation of longest building axisEast-West to minimize solar gain

Recommended window placement in hot-dry climateNorth-facing walls, with shaded openings on the South

Angle of wall to be considered West-facingWithin 45 degrees of the West direction

Minimum desirable indoor air speed for comfort1 km/h

Practical Notes

This is a recommendation, not a mandatory code. However, applying its principles is fundamental for climate-responsive and sustainable architecture.

The 'ideal' orientation should always be balanced with site-specific constraints such as topography, access roads, surrounding buildings, and desired views.

Use in conjunction with the National Building Code (SP 7) and local meteorological data for a comprehensive design approach.