Chapter 5Genera L Building Requirements and Services

Karnataka Municipal Corporations Model Building Bye-laws 2017 (Notification UDD 14 TTP 2017 (P-4))

2017 · PDF page 147

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5.1 Requirements for Parts of Buildings

5.1.1 Plinth

5.1.1.1 The plinth or any part of a building or outhouse shall be so located with respect to the surrounding ground level that adequate drainage of the site is assured. The height of the plinth shall be not less than 450 mm from the surrounding ground level, in case of independent houses and not less than 300mm in case of other buildings.

5.1.1.2 Interior Courtyards and Covered Parking: Every interior courtyard shall be raised at least 150 mm above the determining ground level and shall be satisfactorily drained.

5.1.2 Habitable Rooms

5.1.2.1 Height

The clear height of all rooms for human habitation shall not be less than 2.75 m measured from the surface of the floor to the lowest point of the ceiling (bottom of slab) provided that the minimum clear headway under any beam shall not be less than 2.4m In the case of pitched roof, the average height of rooms shall not be less than 2.75m. The minimum clear head room under a beam, folded plates or eaves shall be 2.4m. In the case of air-conditioned

rooms, a height of not less than 2.4mmeasured from the surface of the floor to the lowest point of air-conditioning duct or the false ceiling shall be provided.

5.1.2.2 The requirements of clause 5.1.2.1 shall apply to residential, business and mercantile buildings. For educational and industrial buildings, the following minimum requirements apply:

Table 5.1Minimumheight requirement for educational and industrial buildings

Sl. No	Type of Occupancy	Ceiling height
1	Educational Buildings	Ceiling height 3.6m for all regions
2	Industrial Buildings	Ceiling height 3.6m, except when air-conditioned, 3m (Factory Act 1948 and Rules therein shall govern such heights, where applicable)

5.1.2.3 Size

The area of habitable room shall not be less than 9.5Sq.m, where there is only one room with a minimum width of 2.4m. Where there are two rooms, one of these shall not be less than 9.5Sq.m and the other not less than 7.5Sq.m, with a minimum width of 2.1m.

5.1.3 Kitchen

5.1.3.1 Height

The height of a kitchen measured from the surface of the floor to the lowest point in the ceiling (bottom of slab) shall not be less than 2.75 m, except for the portion to accommodate floor trap of the upper floor.

5.1.3.2 Size

The area of a kitchen where separate dining area is provided shall be not less than 5.0 Sq. m with a minimum width of 1.8m. Where there is a separate store, the area of the kitchen may be reduced to 4.5Sq.m. A kitchen, which is intended for use as a dining area also, shall have a floor area of not less than 7.5 Sq. m with a minimum width of 2.1m.

5.1.3.3 Other Requirements

Every room to be used as kitchen shall have:

(a) Unless separately provided in a pantry, means for the washing of kitchen utensils which shall lead directly or through a sink to a grated and trapped connection to the waste pipe

(b) An impermeable floor

5.1.4 Bathrooms and Water-Closets

5.1.4.1 Height

The height of a bathroom or water-closet measured from the surface of the floor to the lowest point in the ceiling (bottom of slab) shall not be less than 2.1m.

5.1.4.2 Size

The area of a bathroom shall not be less than 1.8Sq.m with a minimum width of 1.2m. The floor area of water-closet shall be 1.1Sq.m with a minimum width of 0.9m. If bath and watercloset are combined, its floor area shall not be less than 2.8Sq.m with a minimum width of 1.2m.

5.1.4.3 Other Requirements

Every bathroom or water-closet shall:

(a) Be so situated that at least one of its walls shall face a shaft or open space

(b) Not be directly over or under any room other than another water-closet, washing place, bath or terrace, unless it has a water-tight floor;

(d) be enclosed by walls or partitions and the surface of every such wall or partition shall be finished with a smooth impervious material to a height of not less than 1 m above the floor of such a room;

(e) Be provided with an impervious floor covering, sloping towards the drain with a suitable grade and not towards VERANDAH or any other room; and

(f) Have a window or ventilator, opening to a shaft or open space, of area not less than 0.3Sq.m with side not less than 0.3m.

5.1.4.4 No room containing water closets shall be used for any purpose except as a lavatory and no such room shall open directly into any kitchen or cooking space by a door, window or other opening. Every room containing water-closet shall have a door completely closing the entrance to it.

5.1.5 Loft

5.1.5.1 Height

The minimum head-room of loft shall be 2.2m.

5.1.5.2 Size

A loft in a habitable room shall not cover more than 25 percent of the area of the floor on which it is constructed and shall not interfere with the ventilation of the room under any circumstances.

5.1.6 Mezzanine Floor

5.1.6.1 Height

It shall have a minimum height of 2.2m.

5.1.6.2 Size

The minimum size of the mezzanine floor, if it is to be used as a living room, shall not be less than 9.5Sq.m. The aggregate area of such mezzanine floor in a building shall in no case exceed one third the plinth area of the building.

5.1.6.3 Other Requirements

A mezzanine floor may be permitted over a room or a compartment provided:

(a) it conforms to the standard of living rooms as regards lighting and ventilation in case the size of mezzanine floor is 9.5Sq.m or more

(b) It is so constructed as not to interfere under any circumstances with the ventilation of the space over and under it;

(d) Such mezzanine floor or any part of it shall not be used as a kitchen; and

(e) In no case shall a mezzanine floor be closed so as to make it liable to be converted into unventilated compartments.

5.1.7 Store Room

5.1.7.1 Height

The height of a store room shall be not less than 2.1m.

5.1.7.2 Size

The size of a store room, where provided in a residential building, shall be not less than 3 Sq.m

5.1.8 Garage

5.1.8.1 Height

The height of a garage shall be not less than 2.4m.

5.1.8.2 Size

The size of garages shall be as below:

(a) Private Garage - 3.0 m × 6.0 m, minimum; and

(b) Public Garage - Based on the number of vehicles parked by ECS

5.1.9 Basement

5.1.9.1 The Authority in accordance with the land use and other provisions specified under the Zonal Regulations shall allow the construction and usage of the basement

5.1.9.2 The basement shall have the following requirements:

(a) Every basement shall be in every part at least 2.4 m in height from the floor to the underside of the roof slab/beam joists and at any part shall not exceed 4.5m in height;

(b) Adequate ventilation shall be provided for the basement. The ventilation requirements shall be the same as required by the particular occupancy according to byelaws. Any deficiency may be met by providing adequate mechanical ventilation in the form of blowers, exhaust fans, air-conditioning systems, etc.

(c) The maximum height at the top of the roof slab of the basement floor shall not be more than 1.2m above the average surrounding ground level;

(d) Adequate arrangements shall be made such that surface drainage does not enter the basement;

(e) The walls and floors of the basement shall be watertight and be so designed that the effects of the surrounding soil and moisture, if any, are taken into account in design and adequate damp proofing treatment is given; and

(f) The access to the basement shall be separate from the main and alternative staircase providing access and exit from higher floors.

(g) Where the staircase is continuous in the case of buildings served by more than one staircase, the same shall be of enclosed type serving as a fire separation from the basement floor and higher floors. Open ramps shall be permitted if they are constructed within the building line subject to the provision of (d). The exit requirements in basements shall comply with the provisions of these Byelaws.

5.1.10 Chimneys

The chimneys shall be built at least 0.9 m above flat roofs, provided the top of the chimneys is not below the top of the adjacent parapet wall. In the case of sloping roofs, the chimney top shall not be less than 0.6 m above the ridge of the roof in which the chimney penetrates.

5.1.11 Parapet

Parapet walls and handrails provided on the edges of roof terraces, balcony, verandah, etc. shall not be less than 1.0 m and not more than 1.2 m in height from the finished floor level.

(i) The above shall not apply where roof terrace is not accessible by a staircase.

(ii) However on terrace floor in the portion where installations like DG Set, Water Tank and other, screening parapet of a suitable height may be constructed to hide such equipment’s etc. and there is no need to have uniform increase in the height of the parapet.

5.1.12 Boundary Wall

The requirements of the boundary wall shall be as follows:

(a) Except with the special permission of the Authority, the maximum height of the compound wall shall be 1.5 m above the Centre line of the front street. Compound wall up to 2.4 m height may be permitted if the top 0.9 m is of open type construction of a design to be approved by the Authority.

(b) In the case of a corner plot, the boundary wall shall be constructed as specified by the ULB or the Government. and

(c) However, the provisions of (a) and (b) are not applicable to boundary walls of jails. In electric sub-stations, transformer stations, institutional buildings like sanatoria, hospitals, industrial buildings like workshops, factories and educational buildings like schools, colleges, including hostels and other uses of public utility undertakings and strategically sensitive buildings, a height up to 2.4 m may be permitted by the Authority.

5.1.13 Septic Tanks

Where a septic tank is used for sewage disposal, the location, design and construction of septic tank shall conform to requirements as notified by the Government.

5.1.14 Office-cum-Letter Box Room

In the case of multi-storeyed multi-family dwelling apartments constructed by existing and proposed Apartment Owners Associations, limited companies and proposed societies, an office-cum-letter box room of 10Sq.m shall be provided on the ground floor. In case the number of flats is more than 20, the minimum size of the office-cum-letter box room shall be 20Sq.m and shall not exceed 40Sq.m. If the area of the office-cum-letter box room exceeds 40Sq.m, the additional area shall be considered for FAR calculation.

In case of Business buildings provisions shall be made for letter boxes on the entrance floor as per the requirements of the postal department.

5.1.15 Meter Rooms

For all buildings above 15 m in height and in special occupancies, like educational, assembly, institutional, industrial, storage, hazardous and mixed occupancies with any of the aforesaid occupancies having area more than 500 m² on each floor, provision shall be made for an independent and ventilated meter (service) room, as per requirements of electric (service) supply undertakings on the ground floor with direct access from outside for the purpose of termination of electric supply from the licensee’s service and alternative supply cables. The door/doors provided for the service room shall have fire resistance of not less than two hours.

5.1.16 Roofs

5.1.16.1 The roof of a building shall be so designed and constructed as to effectively drain water by means of sufficient rain-water pipes of adequate size, wherever required, so arranged, jointed and fixed as to ensure that the rain-water is carried away from the building without causing dampness in any part of the walls, roof or foundations of the building or an adjacent building

(1) The Authority may require rain-water pipes to be connected to a drain or sewer to a covered channel formed beneath the public footpath to connect the rainwater pipe to the road gutter or in any other approved manner.

(2) Rain-water pipes shall be affixed to the outside of the external walls of the building or in recesses or chases cut or formed in such external walls or in such other manner as may be approved by the Authority.

(3) It is desirable to conserve rain water using suitable rain water harvesting techniques including by roof water collection. In this context, reference may be made to Part 9 ‘Plumbing Services, Section 1 Water Supply, Drainage and Sanitation (Including Solid Waste Management)’ of NBC, 2016.

5.2Other general requirements

5.2.1 Swimming Pool

(1) Definition: A constructed pool or a tank indoor or outdoor, used for the purpose of swimming, bathing, aquatic sports or games, training, treatment (Therapy) or recreation, meant exclusively for human being, having a depth of water not less than that 60cm and the surface area exceeding 23.25Sq.m both for the use of public or the institution concerned.

a. ‘Capacity of Pools in Relation to Bathers’: The maximum number of persons in bathing attire within the pool enclosures of the bathing area shall not exceed one person per 20 Sft. (1.86Sq.m) of pool i.e. the area of the water surface.

(2) ‘Hand Rail’: A side handrail extending up above and returning to the horizontal surface of the pool deck curb or coping shall be provided at each side of each ladder.

(3) ‘Depth Markers’: Depth of water shall be clearly marked at or above the water surface on the vertical pool wall and on the edge of the deck or walk-way next to the pool, at maximum points and at the points of break between the deep and shallow portions and at intermediate increments of depth, spaced at not more than 2.5’ (7.62cm) intervals. Depth markers, contrasting with background shall be on both sides of the pool.

(4) ‘Lighting and wiring’: Where submarine lightning is used, not less than 0.5 watts shall be employed per sq. ft. of pool area.

(5) ‘Area Lightning’: Where submarine lightning is employed, area lightning shall be provided for the deck areas and directed towards the deck areas and away from the pool surface so far as practicable, in a total capacity of not less than 0.6 watt per Sft of deck area.

Where submarine lighting is not provided and night swimming is not permitted combined pool lightning shall be provided in an amount of not less than 2 watts per Sft. of total area. All submarine lightning shall be individually earthed and must be water tight and damp proof.

(6) ‘Over Head wiring’: No electrical wiring for electrical or power shall be permitted to pass over within 20 feet of the pool enclosure.

(7) ‘Shallow Minimum Depth’: Every swimming pool shall have a minimum depth in the shallow area of the main swimming area of not less than 0.9m (3 feet), but not more than 1.07m (3’-6’) from the overflow level to the floor.

(8) ‘Shallow Areas’: In a swimming pool with a diving area, the shallow area of the pool shall be defined as the portion between the shallow end and the break point between the shallow area and the diving area. The slope of the floor shall be uniform from the break point between the diving area and the shallow portion to the outside edge of the shallow portion and shall not be greater than 1 in 2m.

(9) ‘Vertical Wall Depth’: The pool walls shall be vertical at all points for a depth of not less than 0. 76m.

5.2.2Means of access

5.2.2.1 No Building shall be erected as to deprive any other building of its means of access.

5.2.2.2 Every person who erects a building shall not at any time erect or cause or permit to erect or re- erect any building, which in any way encroaches upon or diminishes the area set apart as means of access.

5.2.2.3 The Means of Access prescribed in the Zonal Regulations shall be considered while sanctioning Building Licence. The portion of the plot required for widening the road to the proposed width shall be relinquished free of cost without claiming any compensation (including DR), before sanctioning Building Licence.

5.2.3Staircase Requirements

5.2.3.1 The minimum clear width, minimum tread width and maximum riser of staircases for buildings shall be as given as below (see also Part 4 ‘Fire and Life Safety of NBC 2016).

5.2.3.2 Minimum width

Table 5.2The minimum width of staircase

A	i) Residential buildings (dwellings) ii) Apartment buildings NOTE - For row housing with 2 storeys, the min. width shall be 0.75m	1.0m1.25m
B	Hotel buildings/Lodging House	1.5m
C	Assembly buildings like auditoria, theatres and cinemas	2.0m
D	Educational building	1.5m
E	Institutional buildings	2.0m
F	All other buildings	1.5m

5.2.3.3 Minimum tread

The minimum width of tread without nosing shall be 250 mm for residential buildings. The minimum width of tread for other buildings shall be 300mm.

5.2.3.4 Maximum riser

5.3.2.4.1 The maximum height of riser shall be 190 mm for residential buildings and 150 mm for other buildings and these shall be limited to 12 per flight. The maximum height of riser shall be 190 mm for residential buildings and 150 mm for other buildings and these shall be limited to 12 per flight.

5.3.2.4.2 The minimum head-room in a passage under the landing of a staircase shall be 2.1m. The minimum clear head-room in any staircase shall be 2.1m.

5.2.4Exit Requirements

All aspects of exit requirements for corridors, doors, stair cases, ramps, etc. in respect of widths, travel distance shall be as prescribed in these Byelaws.

5.2.4.1 Occupant Load

The following occupant load shall be considered for calculating the exit requirement of the building

Table 5.3Occupant Load

Sl. No.	Type of Occupancy	Occupant Load per 100Sq.m of Carpet Area (in persons)
1	Residential	8.0
2	Educational	25.0
3	Institutional	6.60
4	Assembly With fixed or loose seats and dance floor without seating facilities including dining rooms	166.666.6
5	Mercantile Street floor and sales basement Upper sale floor	33.316.6
6	Business and industrial	10.0
7	Storage	3.3
8	Hazardous	10.0

(1) The occupant load in dormitory potions of homes for the aged, orphanages or mental hospitals etc. where sleeping accommodation is provided shall be calculated at not less than 13.3 persons per 100Sq.m

(2) In case of assembly occupancy, all rooms, toilets Model areas connected to the assembly occupancy shall be included in the carpet area for calculating the occupancy load.

5.2.4.2 Number and size of Exits

The requisite number and size of various exits shall be provided, based on the occupants in each room and floor based on the occupant load, capacity of exits, travel distance and height of buildings as prescribed in these Byelaws.

At least one primary entrance to each building shall be usable by individuals in wheelchairs and shall be indicated by a sign. At least one entrance usable by individuals in wheelchairs shall be on a level that would make the elevators accessible.

5.2.4.3 Arrangement of Exits

(1) Exits shall be so located so that the travel distance on the floor shall not exceed 30m for residential, educational, institutional assembly, business, mercantile and storage occupancies, 45.0m for industrial occupancy and 22.5m for hazardous building. For fully sprinklered building, the travel distance may be increased by 50 percent of the above values. Whenever more than one exit is required for a floor of a building they shall be placed as remote from each other as possible. All the exits shall be accessible from the entire floor area at all floor levels, where separate fire separation walls are not provided.

(2) The travel distance to an exit from the dead end of the corridor, if applicable, shall not exceed half the distance as stated above except in the case of institutional occupancy in which case it shall not exceed 6.0m.

5.2.4.4 Capacity of Exits

The capacity of exits (staircase, ramps and doorways) indicating the number of persons that could be safely evacuated through a unit exit width of 50 cm shall be as given below:

Table 5.4Occupants per unit Exit width

Sl. No.	Group of Occupancy	Number of Occupants
Sl. No.	Group of Occupancy	Stairways	Ramps	Doors
1	Residential	25	50	75
2	Educational	25	50	75
3	Institutional	25	50	75
4	Assembly	40	50	60
5	Business	50	60	75
6	Mercantile	50	60	75
7	Industrial	50	60	75
8	Storage	50	60	75
9	Hazardous	25	30	40

5.2.4.5 Minimum Width Provisions for Passageway/Corridors

The following minimum width provisions shall be made for each passage way/corridor.

(a) Residential buildings, upto 4 dwelling units 1.00m.

(b) Apartment buildings, hostels, etc. 1.25m.

(d) All other buildings including hotels 1.50m.

(e) Hospital, Nursing Homes, etc. 2.40m.

5.2.5Ramps

(1) The ramp to basement and parking floors shall be as prescribed in the Zonal Regulations.

(2) Ramps may also be provided in the setbacks to function as fire drive cum ramp for basements, which can be sloped considering unhindered movement of fire engine and in no case the gradient shall be steeper than 1 in 10 for Plains and steeper than 1 in 8 for Hilly areas.

(3) All structural design/safety aspects as per latest BIS Codes & NBC 2016 shall be complied along with consideration of weight of Fire Engine & its manoeuvrings.

(4) The minimum width of the ramps in hospitals shall be 2.4m for stretcher and not for vehicular movement.

(5) In this case Handrails shall be provided on both sides of the ramp.

(6) Ramps shall lead directly to outside open space at ground level or courtyards or safe place

5.2.6Doorways

(1) Every doorway shall open into an enclosed stairway, a horizontal exit, on a corridor or passageway providing continuous and protected means of egress

(2) No exit doorways shall be less than 1m in width except assembly and institutional buildings where Doorway shall not be less than 2m.

(3) Exit doorways shall open outwards, that is away from the room but shall not obstruct the travel along any exit. No door when opened shall reduce the required width of stairway or landing to less than 0.90m Overhead or sliding door shall not be installed.

Note: In the case of buildings where there is a central corridor, the doors of rooms shall open inwards to permit smooth flow of traffic in the corridor

(4) Exit door shall not open immediately upon a flight of stairs. A landing equal to at least, the width of the door shall be provided in the stairway at each doorway. Level of landings shall be the same as that of the floor, which it serves.

(5) Exit doorways shall be open-able from the side, which they serve without the use of a key.

(6) Revolving doors shall not to be provided as means of fire exit.

(7) Mirrors shall not be placed in exit ways or exit doors to avoid confusion regarding the direction of exit.

5.2.7Provision of exterior open spaces and height limitation around the building

5.2.7.1 The open spaces/setbacks, coverage, FAR, parking requirements shall be as per Zonal regulations of the Master Plan

5.2.7.2 Every room that is intended for human habitation shall abut on an interior or exterior open space or on to a verandah open to such interior or exterior open space. In case of High rise the driveway in exterior open spaces around a building shall be of green or hard surface capable of taking load of fire engine weighing up to 45 ton

5.2.7.3 In case, kitchen and toilets do not about either interior or exterior open spaces, mechanical ventilation would be accepted.