NBC 2016:2016 — National Building Code of India 2016 - Landscape Planning, Design and Development; Signs and Outdoor Display Structures

NBC 2016 Part 10 : 2016

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National Building Code of India 2016 - Landscape Planning, Design and Development; Signs and Outdoor Display Structures

NFPA 101 · IBC 2024 · BS 9999

CurrentSpecializedCode of PracticeArchitectural · Building Planning and Design

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Overview

NBC 2016:2016 Part 10 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for national building code of india 2016 - landscape planning, design and development; signs and outdoor display structures. Part 10 is a two-section Part. Section 1 covers the landscape design process from site analysis through planting plans, hardscape detailing, irrigation, and post-construction maintenance. Section 2 covers signs and outdoor display structures — hoardings, billboards, and facade signage — addressing their planning placement, structural design under wind loads, electrical safety, and illumination. The Part is used primarily by landscape architects and signage engineers, and by municipal planning officers when reviewing landscape plans and hoarding licences. Detailed structural calculation of hoardings follows IS 875 Part 3 for wind and IS 800 for steel framing.

Covers landscape planning, design, development and maintenance, along with the planning, structural design and safety of signage and outdoor display structures.

Status: Current
Usage level: Specialized
Domain: Architectural — Building Planning and Design
Type: Code of Practice

International equivalents

NFPA 101:2024 · NFPA (US)IBC 2024 · ICC (US)BS 9999:2017 · BSI (UK)BCA 2022 · ABCB (Australia)

Typically used with

IS 875 IS 10440

Also on InfraLens for NBC 2016

4Key values 3Tables 24QA/QC templates 1Handbook topics 3FAQs

Practical Notes

! Landscape plans are often reviewed at occupancy-certificate stage. Include a species list with climate-zone and maintenance classification up front; late substitutions cause delays.

! Hoarding structural failure under cyclonic winds is a recurring issue along the east coast. Design for the regional wind speed per IS 875 Part 3, not the nominal NBC value.

! Outdoor signage also falls under municipal signage licensing rules which may tighten Part 10 on placement, size, illumination, and digital display operating hours.

! Part 10 does not address the traffic-engineering aspects of roadside signs; IRC 67 governs road signs.

Frequently referenced clauses

Section 1 - Landscape Planning, Design and Development Section 2 - Signs and Outdoor Display Structures Site analysis and landscape programming Planting design and species selection Hardscape materials and paving Irrigation system design Structural design of hoardings under wind loads Lighting and illumination of signs

landscapesoftscapehardscapesignagehoardingsoutdoor displayurban greeneryplanting design

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards

NFPA 101:2024NFPA (US)

HighCurrent

Life Safety Code

Both provide comprehensive requirements for life safety from fire, including egress, features of fire protection, and building services.

IBC 2024ICC (US)

HighCurrent

International Building Code

Both are broad building codes with extensive chapters on fire resistance, means of egress, fire protection systems, and occupancy classification.

BS 9999:2017BSI (UK)

MediumCurrent

Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings — Code of practice

Both address fire safety design, but BS 9999 provides a more flexible, risk-based approach versus the largely prescriptive nature of the NBC.

BCA 2022ABCB (Australia)

MediumCurrent

Building Code of Australia (National Construction Code Volume One)

Both are national building codes covering fire safety, but differ in climate-specific considerations and classification systems.

Key Differences

≠The threshold for a building to be defined as 'High-Rise' is significantly lower in the NBC (15 meters) compared to the IBC (75 feet / ~23 meters). This subjects a much wider range of mid-rise buildings in India to stringent high-rise requirements like mandatory refuge areas and specific staircase provisions.

≠NBC 2016 places a strong emphasis on providing 'Areas of Refuge' at regular vertical intervals (e.g., every 15m above 24m) in high-rise buildings. This is a prescriptive requirement that is not typically found in US codes like the IBC or NFPA 101, which instead focus on protected egress routes, occupant evacuation elevators, or other performance-based solutions.

≠While both codes have detailed occupancy classifications, the grouping and terminology differ. For example, NBC's 'Group A - Residential' is sub-divided into five categories, which may not directly map to the 'R' (Residential) classifications in the IBC, leading to different requirements for buildings that seem similar.

≠NBC 2016 contains specific prescriptive requirements for external staircases as a second means of egress in certain building types, a practice less common in international codes which tend to focus on protected internal stairwells. The design and acceptance of external stairs under codes like NFPA 101 have different criteria.

Key Similarities

≈Both the NBC and its international counterparts (NFPA 101, IBC) are fundamentally structured around occupancy classification. The fire and life safety requirements are tailored based on the risks associated with the building's use (e.g., residential, institutional, assembly).

≈All codes mandate a balanced approach to fire safety, relying on a combination of passive protection (e.g., fire-rated walls and doors to compartmentalize fire) and active systems (e.g., sprinklers, fire alarms, smoke detectors) to ensure occupant safety and limit fire spread.

≈The core concept of 'Means of Egress' is central to all codes, with detailed requirements for its three components: Exit Access (e.g., corridors), the Exit itself (e.g., a protected stairwell), and the Exit Discharge (e.g., a door to the outside). Regulations on travel distance, exit capacity, and number of exits are common to all.

≈For high-rise buildings, both the NBC and international standards like the IBC require a minimum 2-hour fire resistance rating for primary structural elements and exit enclosures, recognizing the increased risk and evacuation time.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	IS Value	International	Source
High-Rise Building Definition Threshold	Building height ≥ 15 m	Building with an occupied floor > 75 ft (≈ 23 m) above lowest level of fire dept. vehicle access	IBC 2024
Mandatory Refuge Area Requirement	Yes, for buildings > 24m, at 24m and then every 15m. Area is 0.3 m²/person or 15 m² min.	No specific prescriptive requirement; addressed by other means like evacuation elevators or additional stairwells.	IBC 2024
Min. Corridor Width (Institutional/Hospitals)	2.0 m for non-ambulatory patients; 2.4 m if for stretcher movement	96 inches (≈ 2.44 m) in new healthcare occupancies	NFPA 101:2024
Max. Travel Distance (Business Occupancy, Sprinklered)	45 m	300 ft (≈ 91 m)	NFPA 101:2024
Fire Resistance of Exit Stair Enclosure (High-Rise)	2 hours	2 hours	IBC 2024
Automatic Sprinkler Trigger (New Hotels)	Mandatory if height > 15 m	Required in all new hotels, regardless of height (with few exceptions for small buildings)	NFPA 101:2024
Ramp Slope (Means of Egress)	Maximum 1 in 10 (10%)	Maximum 1 in 12 (≈ 8.3%)	IBC 2024

⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values4

Quick Reference Values

hoarding wind design referenceIS 875 Part 3

minimum topsoil depth turf150 mm

minimum topsoil depth shrubs450 mm

minimum topsoil depth trees900 mm

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables

Table - Recommended Plant Species by Climate Zone

Table - Wind Pressures on Sign Structures

Table - Minimum Clearances for Hoardings

Key Clauses

Section 1 - Landscape Planning, Design and Development

Section 2 - Signs and Outdoor Display Structures

Site analysis and landscape programming

Planting design and species selection

Hardscape materials and paving

Irrigation system design

Structural design of hoardings under wind loads

Lighting and illumination of signs

Frequently Asked Questions3

Does Part 10 specify minimum landscape area on a plot?+

It recommends ratios but minimum landscape area and tree cover are enforced by State Bye-Laws and municipal development control rules.

What governs the structural design of a large hoarding?+

IS 875 Part 3 for wind, IS 800 for steel framing, and local bye-laws on setbacks and heights. Part 10 indexes these.

Are digital/LED billboards covered?+

Part 10 covers illuminated signs in general; operating and illumination-level rules specific to LED displays are usually in municipal signage policies.

QA/QC Inspection Templates

Code-Specific Templates for NBC 2016

Overview

International Equivalents

Key Values4

Tables & Referenced Sections

Related Resources on InfraLens

Frequently Asked Questions3

QA/QC Inspection Templates

Overview

International Equivalents

Key Values4

Tables & Referenced Sections

Related Resources on InfraLens

Frequently Asked Questions3

QA/QC Inspection Templates