NBC 2016:2016 — National Building Code of India 2016 - Structural Design

NBC 2016 Part 6 : 2016

PDF Google Compare BIS Portal

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

National Building Code of India 2016 - Structural Design

NFPA 101 · IBC 2024 · BS 9999

CurrentFrequently UsedCode of PracticeBIMStructural Engineering · Structural Engineering and Structural Sections

PDF Google Compare BIS Portal

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

Overview

NBC 2016:2016 Part 6 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for national building code of india 2016 - structural design. Part 6 is the structural design Part — the largest and most cross-referenced Part of NBC 2016. It is organised in seven sections: Loads; Soils and Foundations; Timber and Bamboo; Masonry; Concrete; Steel; and Prefabricated and Composite Construction. Each section gives design procedures and anchors them to a parent IS code. For any actual design calculation, Part 6 directs the engineer to the parent IS — IS 456 for RCC, IS 800 for structural steel, IS 875 Parts 1-5 for loads, IS 1893 for earthquake, IS 13920 for ductile detailing. Part 6 is the integrator that tells you which code governs which part of a multi-material structure and how the interfaces are designed.

Covers structural design of buildings through seven sections: Loads, Forces and Effects; Soils and Foundations; Timber and Bamboo; Masonry; Concrete; Steel; and Prefabricated, Systems Building and Mixed/Composite Construction. Each section anchors the corresponding IS design code.

Status: Current
Usage level: Frequently Used
Domain: Structural Engineering — Structural Engineering and Structural Sections
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 456 IS 800 IS 875 IS 1893 IS 13920 IS 1786 IS 1904 IS 1905

Also on InfraLens for NBC 2016

7Key values 5Tables 24QA/QC templates 1Handbook topics 4FAQs

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

Practical Notes

! For any design-office work, the parent IS codes (456, 800, 875, 1893, 13920, 1904, 1905) govern. Use Part 6 as the index and for its summary tables; do not re-derive from it.

! Seismic detailing per IS 13920 is mandatory for all RC structures in Zones III, IV and V and many Zone II cases per Part 6. Do not omit ductile detailing assuming "low seismicity".

! Part 6 Section 2 on Soils and Foundations gives general guidance but IS 1904 (general), IS 1080, IS 2911 (piles), and the project-specific geotechnical investigation report govern final foundation design.

! Part 6 Section 7 on prefab is light on limit-state prescriptions; IS 15916, IS 11447, and project-specific proof documents are usually needed for modern precast and modular systems.

Frequently referenced clauses

Section 1 - Loads, Forces and Effects (refers IS 875 Parts 1-5 and IS 1893)Section 2 - Soils and Foundations (shallow and deep foundations)Section 3 - Timber and Bamboo structural design Section 4 - Masonry (design of load-bearing walls)Section 5 - Concrete (refers IS 456, IS 13920)Section 6 - Steel (refers IS 800, cold-formed IS 801)Section 7 - Prefabricated and Composite Construction

structural designloadsfoundationsconcretesteelmasonrytimberprefabseismicwind

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 Values7

Quick Reference Values

seismic zonesZones II to V (Z = 0.10, 0.16, 0.24, 0.36)

basic wind speed range33-55 m/s by region (IS 875 Part 3)

minimum live load residential2.0 kN/sqm

minimum live load office2.5-3.0 kN/sqm

minimum live load assembly4.0 kN/sqm (with fixed seating) or 5.0 kN/sqm

concrete design referenceIS 456:2000 limit state method

steel design referenceIS 800:2007 limit state method

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables

Table - Imposed Loads for Various Occupancies (from IS 875 Part 2)

Table - Basic Wind Speed (from IS 875 Part 3)

Table - Seismic Zones and Zone Factor (from IS 1893)

Table - Allowable Bearing Capacity Guidance by Soil Type

Table - Design Parameters for Masonry

Key Clauses

Section 1 - Loads, Forces and Effects (refers IS 875 Parts 1-5 and IS 1893)

Section 2 - Soils and Foundations (shallow and deep foundations)

Section 3 - Timber and Bamboo structural design

Section 4 - Masonry (design of load-bearing walls)

Section 5 - Concrete (refers IS 456, IS 13920)

Section 6 - Steel (refers IS 800, cold-formed IS 801)

Section 7 - Prefabricated and Composite Construction

Frequently Asked Questions4

Can I design a building using only Part 6?+

No. Part 6 is an index to the parent IS design codes. All serious calculations cite IS 456, IS 800, IS 875, IS 1893 etc. directly.

Which section of Part 6 covers earthquake design?+

Section 1 on Loads cross-references IS 1893 for seismic forces, and Section 5 on concrete cross-references IS 13920 for ductile detailing.

Does Part 6 cover retaining walls and basements?+

Section 2 (Soils and Foundations) addresses earth pressures and retaining structures in outline; IS 14458 and IS 456 govern detailed design.

Is prefab construction fully covered?+

Section 7 gives a framework. For project execution, additional IS codes (IS 15916, IS 11447) and proof-engineering are typically required.

QA/QC Inspection Templates

Code-Specific Templates for NBC 2016

Overview

International Equivalents

Key Values7

Tables & Referenced Sections

Related Resources on InfraLens

Frequently Asked Questions4

QA/QC Inspection Templates

Overview

International Equivalents

Key Values7

Tables & Referenced Sections

Related Resources on InfraLens

Frequently Asked Questions4

QA/QC Inspection Templates