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PREAMBLE(NOTPARTOFTHESTANDARD)

Inordertopromotepubliceducationandpublicsafety,equaljusticeforall,abetter
informedcitizenry,theruleoflaw,worldtradeandworldpeace,thislegaldocumentis
herebymadeavailableonanoncommercialbasis,asitistherightofallhumanstoknow
andspeakthelawsthatgovernthem.
ENDOFPREAMBLE(NOTPARTOFTHESTANDARD)
IS14804:2000

IndianStandard
SITING,DESIGNANDSELECTIONOF
MATERIALSFOR
RESIDENTIALBUILDINGSINHILLYAREAS
GUIDELINES
ICS91.020:91.040.30:91.100
BIS2000
BUREAUOFINDIANSTANDARDS
MANAKBHAVAN,9BAHADURSHAHZAFARMARG
NEWDELHI110002
August2000
PriceGroup6
i

HillAreaDevelopmentEngineeringSectionalCommittee,CED56

FOREWORD
ThisIndianStandardwasadoptedbyBureauofIndianStandards,afterthedraft
finalizedbytheHillAreaDevelopmentEngineeringSectionalCommitteehadbeenapproved
bytheCivilEngineeringDivisionCouncil.
Hillyareasinourcountryarepronetonaturalcalamitieslikehighspeedwinds,heavy
rainfalls,cloudbursts,flashfloods,frequentlandslides,etc,andmostregionsfallunder
seismiczonesIVandV.Thesenaturaldisasterscauseannuallossestolifeandproperty.The
availabilityofdataontypesofhousinganduseofbuildingsmaterialsinhillyregionis
limited.Thebuildingmaterialsemployedinconstructionofresidentialbuildingarelimitedin
theiravailibity.Therefore,conservationofmaterialsassumesimportanceindesignaswellas
constructionactivities.Theuseofnewmaterialsandtechnologiesisimperativeinadditionto
theneedtolaydownstandardsonstrengtheningmeasuresfortheexistingstructures,aswell
asdesignparametersfornewstructures.
Thisstandardonlyprovidesguidelinesinrespectofdisasterresistantconstructions.For
detailscorrespondingcodesofpracticesmaybereferredwhereverapplicable.
Emphasisshouldbelaidwhiledesigningthelayoutofbuildings,soastomeetthe
requirementsforproperdisposalofrainandsewagewaterwithproperspoutsandguttersin

theroofsothattheundueloadingisnotgeneratedinthefoundationorintheretainingwall
duetoaccumulationofwater.
Thecompositionoftechnicalcommitteeresponsiblefortheformulationofthis
standardisgivenatAnnexC.
ThereisnoISOstandardonthesubject.Thisstandardhasbeenpreparedbasedon
practicesprevalentinthefieldinIndia.
Forthepurposeofdecidingwhetheraparticularrequirementofthisstandardis
compliedwith,thefinalvalue,observedorcalculated,expressingtheresultsofatestor
analysis,shallberoundedofinaccordancewithIS2:1960Rulesforroundingoffnumerical
values(revised).Thenumberofsignificantplacestoberetainedintheroundedoffvalue
shouldbethesameasthatofspecifiedvalueinthisstandard.
ii

IndianStandard
SITING,DESIGNANDSELECTIONOFMATERIALSFORRESIDENTIALBUILDINGSIN
HILLYAREAS
GUIDELINES

1SCOPE
1.1
Thisstandardprovidesguidelinesrelatingtoplanninganddesign,aswellasselection
ofbuildingmaterialsforconstructionofresidentialbuildingsinhillyareas.

1.2
Theseguidelinesareapplicabletogeneralresidential,lowrisebuildings,builton
individualplotsofland,eithernonengineeredormarginallyengineeredstructures.However,
forindustrialandspecialbuildingsspecificrequirementsmayhavetobeconsidered.

2REFERENCES
TheIndianStandardsgiveninAnnexAcontainprovisionswhichthroughreferencein
thistextconstituteprovisionofthisstandard.Atthetimeofpublication,theeditions
indicatedwerevalid.Allstandardsaresubjecttorevisionandpartiestoagreementbasedon
thisstandardareencouragedtoinvestigatetheposibilityofapplyingthelatesteditionsofthe
standardsindicatedinAnnexA.

3TERMINOLOGY
Forthepurposeofthisstandard,thefollowingdefinitionsshallapply.

3.1EngineeredConstruction
WherenormalplanninganddesignpracticesofarchitectureandCivilEngineeringare
followedandsupervised.

3.2MarginallyEngineeredConstruction

Wheregeneraldesignrulesofthumbandspecificationsformainbuildingelementsare
followed.

3.3NonEngineeredConstruction
Wherepeopleorhouseholdersthemselvesconstructwiththehelpoflocalartisansand
withtraditionalmethodsandmaterials.

3.4DisasterResistantBuilding
Buildingwhichsufferonlylimiteddamagewhenstruckbyadisasteragent.

3.5EarthquakeResistantBuilding
Buildingwhichpermitsoccupantsadequatetimetoevacuatesafelyintheeventofan
earthquake.

3.6WindResistantBuilding
Buildingwhichprovidesabasicmarginofsafetyagainsthighwind.

3.7Ekra
Straws/reeds/splitbambooorbamboomatbothfacesplasteredwithmudand
cowdungorlimeandsandorcementandsand.

3.8Tarja
Bamboomatwovenindiagonalorobliquetwillpattern.

4ZONES
4.1
HillyareasinIndia,stretchfromKashmirandHimachalPradeshinNorthWestto
ArunachalPradeshandNagalandinextremeNorthEastcoveringthewholeofthe
Himalayanrange.Theentirestretchofhillyregionhaswidevariationsingeology,
geomorphology,climate,altitudeandmaterialsresources.Thevaryinggeologicalsituations
andongoingdevelopmentactivities,climaticvariation,hydrogeologicalconditionsresultin
differenttypesofhazardslikelandslides,avalanches,mudflows,flashfloodsoccurring
frequentlyintheseareas.Amongthevariouscatastrophiccalamities,thesehillyregionsalso
havehighriskduetoearthquakes.Theseareasarepronetoseismicactivityasmostregions
fallunderseismiczonesIVandV(seeIS1893).
4.1.1
UnprecedentedexploitationoftheHimalayasisanotherreasonforoccurrenceof
landslides.North,NorthWestHimalayanareasconsistingofJammuandKashmir,
HimachalPradeshandWesternUttarPradesharemorepronetoavalanches,earthquakes,

floodsandhighspeedwinds.Sikkimishighlypronetolandslidesandseismicactivity.North
EastHimalayanareaconsistingofArunachalPradesh,Mizoram,Nagaland,Meghalaya,
Tripura,ManipurandAssamaremostlyaffectedbyfloodsandfallunderseismiczoneV.
4.1.2
Thesehillyareasarepronetotwoormoretypesofnaturalcalamities,suchasfloods
andlandslides,earthquakesandavalanches,avalanchesandlandslides.Theremaybe
overlappingofoccurancesofdisasters.

5CLIMATE
5.1
HillyregionsoftheHimalayanrangefromNorth
1

WesttoextremeNorthEastfallundercoldhumidandtemperatehumidclimate.The
climaticconditionsshallbecategorisedonbasisofaverageofdailymeantemperatureand
relativehumidityforthemonth.Temperate20C30C,cool1520Candcold<15C
temperature,anddry2530,humid5075andveryhumid75100percenthumidity.

5.2
Thesehillyregionsarehavingfollowingclimaticconditionsduringthestatedmonths.
Month

North

NorthEast

January

Coldhumid

Coldhumid

May

Colddry

Temperatehumid

August

Temperatev ery humid

Temperatev ery humid

Nov ember

Coldhumid

Temperatehumid

5.3
Aresidentialbuildingshallessentiallybeaformofprotectionagainsttheexternal
climate.Theprevailingclimaticconditionshall,therefore,beamajorfactorforconsideration
indesignofahousetoensureareasonabledegreeofthermalcomforttotheoccupants.
5.3.1
Intemperatehumidareashadeisrequiredbutitshallbeobtainedbysegregationof
housesandshadytreeplantationnotveryclosetohouse.Removalofmoisturefromthe
surfaceoftheskinshallbeaprimerequirementforhumancomfort.
5.3.2
Incooluplandregions,thereisashortswingbetweenseasonaltemperaturesandday
andnighttemperatures.Designshallbeinfluencedbythatextremewhichlastthelongestin
theyear.Thedesignofroofandwallthickness,positionofopenings,etc,shallinfluencethe
humancomfortconditionswithinthehouse.

5.3.3
Traditionally,housefacingtheEastdirectionarepreferredbytheinhabitantsinNorth
andNorthEastregionsoftheHimalayas.

6PLANNINGANDDESIGNCONSIDERATIONS
6.1
Existinghousingtypologyshallbekeptinviewforpreparationofdesignsfor
residentialbuildings.Apartfromclimaticconditions,thelifestyles,livinghabits,socio
economiclevels,occupationandculturalpatternofhabitantsshallgovernthehouseforms.
Generallytribalsareinhabitantsoftheseareasandareadheringtotheirtraditionalcustoms
andsystemsofhousebuilding.Theplanninganddesignofahouseshallalsodependupon
criterialikesafetyofdomesticinvasionbypredatorsetc.
6.1.1
Astheterrainofhillyregionshavevalliesorslopes,thehousesshallbeeitherdetached
orsemidetached.Sincelargepocketsofflatlandmaynotbeavailable,itwillnotbepossible
toattaintherowhousingconcept.Moreover,livingstyleandpreferenceofhabitantsmay
notappreciaterowhousingconcept.Clusteroffourtosixhousesarecommonpractice.
Therefore,grouphousingtomatchtheterraincharacteristicsshallbepreferred.
6.1.2
Thedesignanddistributionofvariousfunctionalspacesandserviceareasshallmeet
requirementsoflocalbuildingbyelaws.However,spacedimensionsandshapeofbuilding
shallbecontrolledbybreadthanddepthratio.Therecommendedratio2.5:1.0shallbe
preferredwhereflatland,orientationandwinddirectionmeetstherequirements.
6.1.3
Flatlandisnormallynotavailableinhillyregions.Thehousesarerequiredtobe
constructedonpartiallyslopinglandmadeavailablebycuttingandfilling.Itshallbe
necessarytoprotectthehousebybuildingretainingwalls/breastwalls[seeIS14458(Part
2)]toavoidlandslidesoccurringattimeofearthquakesorheavyrains.
6.1.4
ThehouseformsandpatternsprevailingintheNorth,andNorthEaststatesofhilly
regionshavedifferenttypology.Spaceforstorageoffuelwoodandgranaryisquitecommon
inhillyregions.ThesalientdesignfeaturesofexistingtypologyisdescribedinbriefinAnnex
B.
6.1.5
Theshapeandsizeofthehouseshallbegovernedbythetypeofpitchedroofand
materialsusedforcovering.Theroomdimensionsshallbesmall.

6.1.6
Therearemanydesignfeatureswhichcanreducetheeffectoftheforcesofhighwinds
onahouse.Mostofthebuildingfeaturesarecontrarytoidealrequirementsforawind
resistanthouse,socompromisesinthedesignwillhavetobemade.Followingaresomeof
featureswithrulesofthumb:
a. Donotbuildanyopeningwhichcannotbereachedandclosedoffduringthecalamity.
b. Provideopeningsinsuitablelocationswherewindpressurecanescape.
c. Designtherooftoreducesuctionandbreakingliftingpattern.
d. Designcornerstoreducethepressuresbyallowingwindtosliparoundthecorners.
(Thiscanbedoneoftenbyroundingorbevellingthecornersofahouse.)
e. Avoidcreatingareaswherewindcanbetrappedandexcessivepressurecanbuildup.
f. Avoidcreatingcourtyardsorpatiostoreducecircularorturbulentwinds.
g. Providealldoorsandwindowsnotlessthan1mfromeachotherandalsonotlessthan
1mfromtheendofawall.
2

6.1.7
Followingrulesofthumbshallapplyforearthquakeresistantdesign:
a. Provideuniformopeningareaoppositeeachotherintheparallelexternalwalls.
b. Providealldoorsandwindowsnotlessthan1mfromeachother.
c. Alldoorsininternalandexternalwallsshallbecentered,ornotlessthan1mfromthe
endofthewall.
d. Incaseofleantoroof,thehighestwallofhouseshallnotbemorethanhalfmetre
higherthantheoppositewall.
e. Alldoorsinsidethehouseshouldopeninthedirectionofthenearestdoorleadingtothe
outsideofthehouse.
f. Thethicknessofmortarjointshouldnotbemorethan15mm.

6.2SiteSelection
6.2.1
Thereshallbethreemainobjectivesfortheselectionofsites:
a. Safety,
b. Developabletopography,and
c. Closetoplaceofwork.
6.2.2
Thefollowingpointsshallbeconsideredinmakingapreliminarysurveyofasite
option:
Accessto

a. water,
b. service,and
c. communicationlinksandintegrationwithnatureandneighbourhood.
6.2.3Location
a. Inlocatingahouse,takeadvantageofnaturalwindbreakssuchasstandoftrees,
smallhillsorhedges.
b. Avoidsitesonorneartallhills.Tallhillscanincreasewindspeedbyasmuchas50
percent.
c. Valleystendtofunnelwindscreatingabnormallyhighwindspeeds.Therefore,efforts
shouldbetoavoidsuchsites.
d. Buildingplacesnearoneanothershalldevelopintensesuctiononthegableendof
pitchedroofs.Buildingshallalsobespacedwithsmallgapstostabilisetheflowonthe
leeside.
6.2.4Siting
a. Nohouseshallpreferablybelocatedcloserthan1mtoanotherhouse.
b. Nohouseshallpreferablybelocatedcloserthan10mtoasteepslope.
c. Nohouseshallbebuiltonalandfillorontheedgeofaslopeknowntohavebeen
levelled.
6.2.5
Followingpointsshallbekeptinviewwithreferencetoparticularrisks.
6.2.5.1Earthquake

a. Useavailabledataondispositionoffaultingandspreadofpoorbearingsoilsand
unrestrainedsands.
b. Avoidnarrowridges,steepslopes,narrowvalleysandsitesnearcliffsorlargegullies
thatiswithin150m.
c. Prefersiteswithhardbedrockatornearthesurface.
d. Prefersiteswherelandslidesareunknowninsurroundingarea.
e. Prefersiteswherethereisnosignofactivefaultingandavoidoffsetrocklays,rowof
pondsorswampsanddeeporlongcracksinground.
6.2.5.2Cyclones

a. Prefersitesawayfromseacoast,floodplainsandlakesides.
b. Followingtobeavoided:
1. Lowelevationrelativetolagoon,riverorsurroundingland
2. Lackofnaturaloutlettodischargethevolumeofwaterorrestrictionatthe
outletand

3. Buildingatthefootofslopesreceivingdirectsurfacerunoff.
6.2.5.3Landslides

a. Useallavailabledataondispositionofriskarea.
b. Localgeographicalconditionsshallindicateseverityofrisk.
6.2.5.4Flashfloods

a. Avoidlowlyingareas,wetlandsandlagoonmouths
b. Avoidedgesofinlandlakes
c. Avoidfloodplainsandparticularlythefloodway
d. Avoidhousinginnarrowdefilesupriver
e. Avoiddownstreambanksandflowwaysbelowdamsandparticularlyinearthquake
areasand
f. Provideprotectivemeasuressuchaschannelisation,pondingareas,floodwalls,etc.
3

6.2.5.5Snowavalanches

a. Useallavailabledataondispositionofriskarea.Heavysnowfallmaybeassociated
withheavyrains.
b. Prefersitesawayfromavalanchessites.
c. Avoidformationofsnowpocketsonroofandonsite.
d. Designroofswithslopesgreaterthan50todisregardsnowload.
e. SnowloadshallbeasperIS875(Part4).

6.3ShapeofBuilding
6.3.1
Ahouseplanofcircularshapeshallbeidealforhighwindregions.
6.3.2
Ahouseplanofrectangularshapeshallbeevolved,providedlengthtowidthratiodoes
notexceed2.5:1.
6.3.3
Theparallelwallsofthebuildingsshallbeofequallengthandheight.
6.3.4
Theheightofbuildingshallbeminimum.Maximumheightofdoublesotreyed
buildingshallberestrictedtobe6.0m.

6.4RoofDesign

6.4.1
Apitchedroofhavinghipandfoursideslopesisrecommended.Agableroofhaving
hipandtwosideslopesmaybedesigned,providedadequatediagonalbracingisusedbetween
trussesandgablewallsarereinforced.Flatroofsinreinforcedconcretearerecommended.
Ferrocementshallalsobepermissible.Roofsmadeofearthsupportedbyawoodandtimber
frameshallnotbepreferred.
6.4.2
Theroofpitchangleshallnotbelessthan30oraboutonemetreinthree.Outside
overhangsofmorethanhalfmetreshallbeavoided.Alltrussesshallrestonandbe
structurallysecuredtotheupperringbeamofthewall.Notrussshallrestdirectlyonthe
wallitself.Roofingmaterials,sheetsortilesshallbesecuredrigidlywithtopties.

7DISASTERSRESISTANTCONSTRUCTION
7.1
Humansettlementinurbanorruralareoftensubjectedtothevagariesofnatural
calamitiessuchascyclones,earthquakesandfloods.Hillyareasfacetheriskofgreat
disasterslikelandslides,floods,earthquakeandavalanchesetc.Thereareseveralregions
whicharefacedwithriskofcombineddisasters.Thenatureofdamageduetonatural
disastersincaseoffullyengineeredandpartiallyengineeredarenotsosevereasincaseof
marginallyengineeredornonengineeredbuildings.
7.1.1
Withtheadvancementinthescienceofhydrology,weatherforecastingand
technologicaldevelopmentsinthefieldofbuildingmaterialsandconstructiontechnology,it
shallnowbepossibletouseengineeringprinciplesofdisasterresistantdesignand
constructionswithprofessionalinputintheirplanning,design,constructionandsupervision.
Someofthefollowingprinciplesshallserveasguidelinesfordisasterresistantconstruction.

7.2HighWindResistantBuildings
a. Buildingsshallbewellanchoredtotheirfoundations.
b. Allelementsinastructureshallbetiedtogether.
c. Walltowallframing,posts,beams,rafters,columns,purlins,battensandroof
tiles/sheetsetc.
d. Thefixingmethodbetweenelementsshallbegoodenough.Themethodemployed
shouldstopthestructurefrombreakingupintoseparate.
e. Thestructureshallbediagonallybraced.Thebracingofroofshallalsoberequired.
f. Largeopenverandahsandpartopenareasshallbebraceddiagonallyintheroof,and
alsoinplanesofthewalls.
g. Thenaturalwindbreakssuchasstandsoftrees,smallhillsorhedgesshouldbemade.
h. Dueconsiderationofshapeandwinddirectionshallbetaken.Squareshapeshallbe

avoided.Cornersofbuildingshallpreferablybechamferedtobreakwindpressure.

7.3EarthquakeResistantBuildings
a. Theshapeofhouseplanshallpreferablyberectangular.L,TorUshapeplanningshall
beavoided.Incaseunavoidable,shallbemadebynonstructuralsections/units.
b. Themudoradobewallsandbrickpiers,cornersandperimetersofopeningshallbe
reinforced.
c. Thefoundationsshallbecontinuouslyreinforced.
d. Theprojectionsandparapetwallsshallbewelltiedwithmainstructure.
e. Thewallsshallbecappedbycontinuousringbeamsattopandbottom.
f. Thewallsandcornersshallbestrengthenedbywallplastersorbuttresses.
g. Hippedroofshallbepreferable.
4

h. Verandahanditsroofshallbestructurallyseparatedfromthemainroof.
i. Avoidbuildingonfilleduplandorontheedgeofaslope.
j. Thediaphragmforcesinwallsmustbetransmitteddirectlythroughthewallfloor
connection.

7.4FlashFloodResistantBuildings
a. Selectionofsiteshallbemadeonbasisofgeneralfloodlevel.
b. Thewidthofopeningsshallbeminimumforblockingduringfloodbysandbags.
c. Thestructureshallberaisedonstilts.
d. Lowerpartofstructureshallbebuiltwithpermanentmaterialslikeburntclaybricksin
cementmortar,stonewallsincementmortar.
e. Posts(wood,metalorconcrete)shallbeplacedonstoneorconcretestand.
f. Foundationdesignshouldtakecareofhorizontalandverticalforces.

8STRENGTHENINGFEATURES
8.1
Therewillbeoftengreatsimilaritybetweenrecommendationstoimproveparticular
typesofhouse,againstdifferenttypesofnaturaldisastersprevalentintheregion.Thus
actionstakentoimproveresistanceofthehouseagainstonetypeofdisastershallhave
beneficialresultsinimprovingitsperformanceagainsttheothertype.Thereshallbeno
conflictbetweenrecommendationsforearthquakeorhighwindresistantconstructionfor
newbuildingdesigns.Insuchcircumstancesthemostprevalenttypeofthreatshallbe
decidingfactor.Commonfeaturesaregivenin8.2.

8.2
Followingbasicfeaturesshallbeincorporatedindesignandconstructionofnew
buildings:
a. AnchorageItshallbenecessarytoholdtheroofon.Thismeansthattheroofshallbe
tieddowntothewalls,orfoundationbyanadequateandcontinuouschainofstrength.

Inwindresistantconstruction,thepurposeistoholdtheroofdown.Inearthquake
resistantconstruction,trussesshallbebracedatthebeam.Inavalancheresistant
construction,designofroofandroofingmaterialsshallbestrongenoughtocarrythe
staticloadofsnow.Smallerroofareaandsteppingshallbepreferred.
b. BracingItshallbenecessarytobracethewallstowithstandthelateralwindloading
andrackingeffect.Strengthshallbeaddednotonlyatthecornersofthebuilding,but
alsoatkeylocationsthroughouteachwall.Intimberstructure,diagonalbracing,in
brickorabodestructure,horizontalandcrossedtimberormetalmemberstoactas
bracingattopandinthestructuralwallshallbeprovided.
c. ContinuityItshallbeensuredthatallbuildingcomponentsandelementsareproperly
connectedsothattheirfunctionsareperformedsatisfactorily.Normally,forcesare
oftenmuchlarger,andintheoppositedirectiontheseshallrequireadequateprovision
ofconnectionsbetweenmembersandcomponentsofahouse.

9SAFETY
9.1
Thehazardisanaturalphenomenonandisrelatedtoidentifiablegeographicareas.
Thedesignofsafehousesshallstartwiththeunderstandingofthenatureofthehazardthat
hastoberesisted.Hazardproofingofindividualhouseispossiblebutshallbehighlyinter
relatedtothesocialandeconomiclevelofinhabitants.

9.2SafetyMeasuresAgainstHighWind,SnowStorms
9.2.1
Doorsandwindowsshallbesodesignedthatstormshutterscanbeplacedoverthem
duringwindstorms.
9.2.2
Windowshuttersshallbesodesignedthatglasspanesarerelativelysmall.
9.2.3
Windowframeshallbesodesignedthatifscreensareusedontheoutside,theycanbe
easilyremovedandattachedtotheinsidetoprovideprotectionagainstflyingglassorother
debris.
9.2.4
Anysmallroomofthehouseshallbestrengthenedsothatitcanbeusedasinhouse
shelterduringthehazard.

9.3SafetyMeasuresAgainstEarthquakes
9.3.1

Doorsandwindowsshallbesodesignedthattheywillnotfallorjaminanearthquake.
9.3.2
Allhousesshallhavedoorswhichopenoutward.
9.3.3
Alldoorsinsidethehouseshallopeninthedirectionofnearestexittotheoutside.
9.3.4
Highchimneys,cornicesoranyornamentalstructureshallbeavoidedontherooftop
orelsewherewhichcanfallintothebuildingorobstructadoororwindow.

10APPROPRIATEBUILDINGMATERIALS
10.1
Thechoiceofappropriateconstructionmaterialsandtechnologiesshalldirectlybe
relatedtotheavailabilityofskillsandmaterialsinaparticularregion.Indeterminingthe
choiceofmaterialstobeusedforbuildingahouse,itneedstoberelatedtopasttraditional
usage,availabilityintime,andonrequiredscalethepossibilityofupgradingquality.

10.2
Thetraditional/conventionalbuildingmaterialsusedforwalling,roofingandflooring
areindicatedbelow.
a. WallingEarth,soil,wood,timber,bamboo,bamboomat,corrugatedgalvanizediron
sheets,stone,bricks,concrete,asbestoscementsheets,lime,cement,ekra,slates.
b. RoofingWood,timber,bamboo,bamboomat,corrugatedgalvanizedironsheets,
reinforcedcementconcrete,concrete,thatch,asbestoscementsheets,slates,country
tiles,lime,cement,plasticsheets.
c. FlooringEarth,soil,wood,timber,stone,bricks,concrete,slates,lime,cement.

10.3PropertiesofMaterials
10.3.1
Fromtheseismicviewpointthefollowingmaterialpropertiesandcharacteristicsshall
bemostimportant:
a. UnitweightLightermaterialsconsistentwithstrength,shallbebetter.
b. StrengthCompression,tensionandshearincludingdynamiceffects,ifany,induced
tostrainrates.
c. Modulusofelasticityincludingstrainrateeffects.
d. Dampingvalueatvariousstrainlevel,higherthebetter.

e. Lateralloaddisplacementcharacteristicsofelementsandcomponentsunderreversed
loadingincludingplasticdeformation.
f. DurabilityResistanceagainstweatheringaction,corrosion,insectattacks,etc.
g. Fireresistance.
10.3.2
Thestatusofdeterminationofthepropertiesasstatedin10.3.1forcommonbuilding
materialsshallbepresentedinamatrixformasgiveninTable1.
Table1PropertiesofCommonBuildingMaterialsMatrix
(Clause10.3.2)
SI
No.

Materials
(2)

(1)

Mass Compressive
Tensile
Elastic Damping Hysterosis Highstrain
Density
Strength
andShear Modulus
Shape
Rate
Strength
(7)
Effect
(3)
(4)
(6)
(8)
(5)
(9)

i)

Adobe

ii)

Burntbrickinmud

v ii) Timber

v iii) Cementconcrete

mortar
iii)

Burntbrickin
cementmortar1:6

iv )

Burntbrickin
limesurkhi

v)

Randomrubble,in
cementorlimeor
mudmortar

v i)

Dressedstone

1:2:4

ix)

Mildsteel

*Excellent,oPoor,Fair,Noinformation.

10.4TraditionalConstructionPractices
10.4.1
Traditionalbuildingmaterialsandtheirpropertiesarementionedin10.2and10.3.
Theavailabilityofthesematerialsinhillyregionsofdifferentstatesandtheirpredominant
usageinvarieditemsofworksareindicatedinTable2.

10.5AlternateBuildingMaterials
10.5.1
Newbuildingmaterialsdevelopedforwallingandroofingandfoundsuitableafterfield
testsmaybepermittedinthehillyregions.Theperformanceofsuchmaterials,however,

maybeevaluatedbytheusersaftertakingintoaccountofengineeringprinciplesofdisaster
resistant,designandconstructionpracticeswithprofessionalinputs.
10.5.2WallingMaterials
a. Hollowconcreteblocks[seeIS2185(Parts1and2)].
b. Precaststoneblocks(seeIS12440).
c. Concreteblock[seeIS2185(Part1)].
d. Stabilisedsoilblocks.
10.5.3Floor/RoofingMaterials
a. PrecastreinforcedconcreteLpanel(seeIS14241).
b. Partiallyprecastreinforcedconcreteplanksandjoists(seeIS13990).
c. Precastreinforcedconcretechannelunits(seeIS14201).
d. Fireretardantthatch(seeIS12506).
e. Aluminium/fibrereinforcedplasticroofingsheets.
10.5.4Joinery
a. Precastreinforcedconcreteframesfordoorsandwindows.
b. Ferrocementshutters.
c. PVCDoorshutters.
Table2StatewiseAvailabilityandUsageofMaterialsinHillyAreas
(Clause10.4.1)
State

J&K

Foundation

Brickorstoneworkin
mud/cement/lime
mortar.

Wailing

Roofing

Unburnt/burnt

Gable/hippedroof

bricks/stone,mud/abodein madeofslatestilesof
mud/cementlimemortar.
Timberplanksand

corrugatedgalv anized
sheets

abov ewallswiththicklay er
ofmud/limeplaster.
Himachal

Stoneworkin

Pradesh

mud/cement/lime
mortar.

Slate,stonein
mud/cement/limemortar.
Thickwoodenbeams

Woodenplankswith
thicklay erofmudplaster.
Sharply inclinedgableroof
usingslatesov erwooden
structure.

inbetweeninsidemud
plaster.
Uttar

Stoneworkin

Randomrubblestone

Gabletwosidesslopedwith

Pradesh

mud/cement/lime

masonry in

slates.

mortar.

mud/cement/limemortar.

Stoneworkin

Mudwall,stonein

Gableroofcorrugated

mud/cement/lime

mud/cement,limemortar.

galv anizedironsheetingon

mortar.

Woodenplanks.

woodenframework.

Sikkim

West

Stoneworkin

Bengal

mud/cement/lime
mortar.

Mudwallsstone
masonry in
mud/cement/limemortar.

Gableroofcorrugated
galv anizedironsheetingon
woodenframework.

Woodenplanksand
posts.
Assam

Stiltsofbambooor

Plaitedorsplit

Thatchedsloppedroof.

woodenpolesorposts. bambooorreedswith
equidistantpolesorposts.
Plasteredwithmud
andcowdungorlimeand
sand.
Arunachal

Woodenstiltsorpilesof Wov enbamboomattingor

Slopedthatchedroofusing

Pradesh,

timberpolesor

bamboo/woodwalls

bambooandgrass.

Meghalay a,

bamboos.Random

cov eredwithmudorTarja

Corrugatedgalv anizediron

Manipur,

rubblestonemasonry

wattleanddaubwallsbrick

sheetonwooden

Tripura,

mudwall.

walls.

substructure.

Mizoram
7

11CONSTRUCTIONMATERIALS,SYSTEMSAND
METHODS
Therearethreemaincomponentsofthehousefoundation,wallandroof.The
foundationiscloselyrelatedwiththetypeofwallingmaterialsandsurroundingtypeofsoil
androofstructureisquiteindependent.Thosecommonallyusedforresidentialhousesalong
withsomevariationsintheirmaterialsandmethodsaredescribedin11.1to11.5.3.

11.1EarthenHouses
11.1.1
Thebasicmaterialsforconstructionshallbeclayeyeartheitherinmudlumpform,
rammedearthinwoodenformsorrectangularshapedblocks,calledadobe.Somefibrous
materialslikestraw,hay,humanoranimalshairshallbemixedinnaturalsoil.Normally
300350mmthicknessshallbeadoptedforlowrisehouses.Sometimesthethicknessofwall
shallbetaperedupwards.Insomevariations,woodelementsorsplittedbamboosshallbe
insertedbetweencoursesparticularlyatthecornersandTjunctionsofthewall.
11.1.2
TheDhajjiDiwariconstructioninJ&Kregion,pillarsofadobe600600mminsize
shallbebuiltat1.5to2.0mcentres.Theinterveningspaceshallbefilledwithbricksorstone
11.1.3
Thefloorshallbeofwoodenjoistsandplanks.Thejoistsshallrestonwoodenwall
platesandalsosometimes,willhavewallplatesontopofthem.Thesewoodenwallplates
shallformrunnersallroundthehouse.

11.1.4
Acompositewallconstructioncanbeadopted.Thiswillhaveburntbricksonouter
faceandunburntbricksoninnerface,builtinmudmortarandbotharebondedtogetherby
headerbricks.

11.2BurntBrickHouses
11.2.1
Thebasicmaterialsforconstructionshallbeclayburntbrickshandormachine
mouldedandfiredindifferenttypeofclampsandkilns.Thedimensions,quality,strengthetc,
shallbeasperIS1077.
11.2.2
Theroomsizesshalldependonthetypesofroof.Theroomwidthshallberestrictedto
3.0to3.4mandlengthfrom4.0to8.0mwhereflatroofs/floorsareconstructedwith
woodenjoistsandplanks.
11.2.3
TheEnglishbond,shallbeusedfortheconstructionofonebrickthickwall.Mud
mortarforsinglestoreyedandcementorlimemortarfordoublestoreyedloadbearingwalls
shallbeused.
11.2.4
Foundationsshallconsistsofsteppedtypefootingsoverrammedearthandbrickbats.
Slightlyunderoroverburntbricksshallbepermittedinfoundation.
11.2.5
Theoneandhalfbrickpiersthicknesshavingindependentfootingat3.0mcentreto
centreprojectingbyhalfbricksandinfillunburntbrickpanelsshallbepermittedin
compositeconstruction.Woodenringbeamsontopofwallsshallbeprovidedtoreceivethe
hippedroof.

11.3StoneMasonryHouses
11.3.1
Thenaturalstonesinmasonryworkshallbeusedinformofrandomrubbleorhalf
dressedorfullydressedstate.Themortarsshallbecementorlime.
11.3.2
Thewallthicknessshallvaryfrom400to750mm,dependinguponloadingand
mortarsused.

11.3.3
Singlestoreylateritestoneunitwallsshallbe250to300mmthickwithhippedroof.
Roomsmaybewideandlonghavinginnerrowofwoodenposts.
11.3.4
Singlestoreystonehousewithreinforcedconcreteslabroofand2400mmheight
shallbetypicaldesign.

11.4WoodenHouses
11.4.1
Woodenhousesshallincludethoseinwhichthemainloadbearingstructureconsists
ofwoodenpostsandframesalthoughthecladdingmaybeofbrickorstone.Thewoodused
inconstructionshallalsoincludelogs,sawntimberofdifferentspeciesaswellasbamboo.
11.4.2
Thesystemofconstructionshallbeclassifiedintotwoforms:
a. studwall,and
b. noggedtimberframe.
11.4.2.1

Studwallconstructionshallbeofwoodensillplateslaidatplinthlevelandwooden
postsframedatshortdistanceof800to1200mmcentretocentre.Thestudsshallalso
carrywoodenplatesattheirtop.Thecornersandjunctionsofwallsshallbestabilizedby
connectionsbetweenplatesandframing.Thesillplatesshallberigidlyfixedtomasonry
plinthbymeansofironboltsorwires.Horizontalwoodenmembersoflightercrosssection
shallbeinsertedbetweenthestudsatregularintervalsbynotchingintothestudsorspiking
tothem.Theroofshallbepitchedorhippedtypehavingwoodenraftersandpurlinstowhich
thesheetinginnailedorbolted.Thewallcladdingshallconsistofplanks,sheets,boards,
bamboomats,etc.Thepanelsshallbediagonallybraced.
11.4.2.2

Thebricknoggedtimberframeshallconsistofheavycornercolumns,piersorposts,
sills,intermediateverticalsat1000mmcentres.Thewallplates,horizontalnogging
membersanddiagonalbracesinalternatepanelsshallbeframedintoeachother.Thespace
betweenframingmembersshallbefilled
8

withtightfittingburntorunburnthaltbrickmasonryinstretcherbond.Flatstones
likeslatesorlateriteshallalsobeused.Theroofshallbepitchedorhippedwithsheetingor
tilecovering.Thatchshallalsobeused.
11.4.2.3

Thefoundationofbothtypeofwoodenhousesshallusuallyberandomstonemasonry
inmudmortar.Thesetypeofhousesshallhaveanintermediateandatticfloorfordouble
storeyedconstruction.

11.5ConcreteFrameandInfillConstruction
11.5.1
Concreteconstructedhousesshallincludethemethodofreinforcing,acontinuous,
runningframeofinsitureinforcedcementconcrete.Theadobes,hollowconcreteblocks,
stoneblocks,concreteblocksorstabilizedsoilblocksshallbeusedasanonloadingbearing,
nonstructuralinfill.
11.5.1.1

Thehouseshallbeconstructedonstrong,levelfoundationwithmoisturebarrier.
Reinforcedcementconcretecolumnsshallbeineachcornerandspacedatappropriate
intervalsthroughouteachwallandoneachsideofdoorsandwindows.Allcolumnsshallbe
firmlyimplantedinthefoundationatleast750mmdeep.Reinforcedcementconcretering
beamsatbottom,middleandtipofwallshallbeprovided.Intersectingwallsshallbejoined
toexteriorwallataverticalcolumn.Intersectingwallsshallbemadecontinuousbymeans
ofthebarsandorhorizontalreinforcementthatextendintoneighbouringwallsand
partitions.
11.5.1.2

Incaseofloadbearingstructureusingalternatebuildingmaterialsforwallingas
mentionedin10.5.2theconstructionmethodsshallbeasdescribedin11.3.Additional
reinforcementormildsteelbarsineachthirdlayerandverticalreinforcedoneachsideof
openingshallbeprovided.
11.5.2
Foralternatebuildingmaterialsforroofingasmentionedin10.5.3theconstruction
methodswouldnotdiffer.However,additionalgablewallofbricksonjointsshallbe
provided.
11.5.3
Partiallyprecastreinforcedconcreteplanksandjoistssystemforfloor/roofshall
requireadditionalstrengtheningmeasuresfordiaphragmaction.

ANNEXA
LISTOFREFERREDINDIANSTANDARDS
(Clause2)
ISNo.

Title

87 5(Part4): Codeofpracticefordesignloads(otherthanearthquake)forbuildingsand

1987

structures:Part4Snowloads(secondrevision)

107 7 :1992

Specificationforcommonburntclay buildingsbricks(fifthrevision)

1893:1984

Criteriaforearthquakeresistantdesignofstructures(fourthrevision)

2185

Concretemasonry units:

(Part1):

Hollowandsolidconcreteblocks(secondrevision)

197 9

Hollowandsolidlightweightconcreteblocks(firstrevision)

(Part2):
1983
6523:1983

Specificationforprecastreinforcedconcretedoorandwindowframes(first
revision)

12440:1988

Precastconcretestonemasonry blocks

12506:1988

Codeofpracticeforimprov edthatchingofroofwithrotandfireretardanttreatment

13990:1994

Precastreinforcedconcreteplanksandjoistsforroofingandflooring

14201:1994

Precastreinforcedconcretechannelunitsforconstructionoffloorsandroofs

14241:1995

PrecastreinforcedconcreteLpanelforroofing

14458(Part

RetainingwallforhillareaGuidelines:Part2Designofretaining/breastwalls

2):1997
9

ANNEXB
HOUSEFORMSANDPATTERNSPREVAILINGINDIFFERENTHILLY
REGIONS
(Clause6.1.4)

B1
CommonhousetypesinJammuandKashmirhaveaneastorientation.Thehouses
aresquareorrectangularinplan.Atypicalfeatureinalltheruralhousesistohaveasmall
frontverandah.Plinthisraised.Commonlythehousesaretwoorthreestoreyedandmulti
roomedtenements.Gabledroofarepreponderantinthesehouseswhicharepurposefully
constructedtoshedoffthesnow.

B2
GenerallyinHimachalPradesh,plinthisnotraised,doorsaresmallinsizeand
minimumventilationisprovided.Groundlevel/floorisusedforstoragepurposesand
keepingcattles.ATANDthatis,asmallroombetweentwofloorsisdesignedforretiring
duringextremecoldweather.Besides,aprovisionforaverandahallaroundthecentralarea
ispreferred.

B3
ThehousetypesinhillyregionsofUttarPradesharegenerallydoublestoreyedin
characterandmultiroomtenments.Acoveredverandahongroundfloorinfrontfacadeis
anintegralpartofthehouse.Generallyacoveredbalconyonupperfloorisacommon
feature.Raisedplinthandstoneflabflooringiscommonpractice.

B4
ThehousingtypologyinthestateofSikkimandWestBengalisquitesimilartothe
otherhillyregions.Thehousesaremultiroomed,twoorthreestoreyedstructureserected
withhighplinthrangingfrom600to900mm.Coveredverandahandbalconyonground
andupperfloorsrespectivelyarecommonfeatures.Afewsmallholesorsmallwindowsin
frontwalls,areprovidedforventilation.

B5
Generally,housetypesinAssamareoneroomedhavingtwoorthreelowlevel
partitionstodividetheavailablespaceaccordingtofunctionalusage.Cookingspaceisinside
theroom.Normally,thereisanopencourtyardspaceinfrontdemarcatedwithbamboo
fencing.Thisspaceisusedascattleshedandgranary.Theplinthheightisusually300to900
mmwithfilledupearth.Floorfinishisdonewithmudandcowdung.

B6
InallStatesofNorthEasternregion,thehousetypesbuiltonstiltsarecommon.These
areoneroomedwithscareventilation.Theroomspaceisdesignedforbuiltinbedstead
alongthewalls,kitchen/fireplaceinthecentre.TheprovisionofTAND(projectedshelves)
forstorageismadeinsidetheroom.

B7
InMeghalaya,thestilthutsare900to1200mmabovesurroundinglevel.Theroom
spaceispartitionedin23rooms.TonggharsofTripurahavestiltheightbetween1200to1
800mm.Thehousehaveacoveredbambooplatforminfrontusedasporticoanduncovered
platformattheback.

B8
AOhouseofNagalandareusuallytworoomedunitswithanopenplatformof
interlacedsplitbambooattheback.Mizoramhousesarespacioussingleroomedstructures
withfrontcoveredverandahandbackopenverandah.

B9
ThetribalsofArunachalPradeshconstructtheirstilthouseswithprovisionsoffront
verandah,mainhallandbackverandah.Insomecases,aprovisionsofcorridorallalongthe
housetoconnectfrontandbackismade.
10

ANNEXC
COMMITTEECOMPOSITION
(Foreword)
Chairman
DrGopalRanjan
SA/46,CivilLines,Roorkee

Members

Representing

ShriSheikhNazirAhmed

PublicWorksDepartment,Jammu&Kashmir

ProfA.K.Chakraborty

IndianInstituteofRemoteSensing,DehraDun

ShriR.C.Lakhera(Alternate)
ChairmancumManagingDirector

NationalBuildingsConstructionCorporation,NewDelhi

ShriB.B.Kumar(Alternate)
ChiefEngineer(DamDesign)

UttarPradeshIrrigationDesignOrganization,Roorkee

SuperintendingEngineer(TehriDamDesignCircle)(Alternate)
ChiefEngineer(Roads)

Ministry ofSurfaceTransport,NewDelhi

SuperintendingEngineer(Roads)(Alternate)
Deputy DirectorGeneral(D&S

IndianRoadsCongress,NewDelhi

Directorate,DGBR)
Deputy Secretary (T),IRC(Alternate)
Director,HCD(N&W)

CentralWaterCommission,NewDelhi

Director(SardarSarov ar)(Alternate)
DrR.K.Dubey

IndianMeteorologicalDepartment,NewDelhi

DrD.S.Upadhy ay (Alternate)
ShriT.N.Gupta

BuildingMaterials&Technology PromotionCouncil,New
Delhi

ShriJ.K.Prasad(Alternate)
ShriM.M.Harbola

ForestSurv ey ofIndia,DehraDun

ShriP.K.Pathak(Alternate)
ShriB.C.Borthakur

RegionalResearchLaboratory .Jorhat

ShriU.C.Bora(Alternate)
ShriS.Kaul

Ministry ofRailway s,NewDelhi

ShriKireetKumar

G.B.PantInstituteofHimalay anEnv ironmentand


Dev elopment.Almora

ShriR.S.Rawal(Alternate)
ProfA.K.Maitra

SchoolofPlanningandArchitecture,NewDelhi

ProfArv indKrishan(Alternate)
ShriN.K.Shangari

CentralBuildingResearchInstitute,Roorkee

ShriK.D.Garg(Alternate)
ShriP.L.Narula

GeologicalSurv ey ofIndia,Calcutta

ShriS.Dasgupta(Alternate)
ShriK.K.Maitra

EngineerinChiefsBranch,Army Headquarters.New
Delhi

ShriT.V.K.Sriv astav a(Alternate)


ShriD.P.Pradhan

SikkimHillAreaDev elopmentBoard.Gangtok

ShriD.S.Tolia

CentralRoadResearchInstitute,NewDelhi

ShriSatishKumar(Alternate)

DrK.S.Rao

IIT,NewDelhi

DrBhawaniSingh

Univ ersity ofRoorkee,Roorkee

DrP.C.Jain(Alternate)
ShriBhoopSingh

DepartmentofScienceandTechnology ,NewDelhi

ShriB.L.Tikee

DirectorateGeneralBorderRoads(D&S),NewDelhi

ShriJ.Gopalakrishna(Alternate)
11

ShriR.D.Singh

NationalInstituteofHy drology ,Roorkee

DrSudhirKumar(Alternate)
Director

NorthEasternRegionalInstituteofWaterandLand
Management,Assam

Adv iser(Alternate)
ShriLakhbirSinghSonkhla

PublicWorksDepartment,Shimla

ShriA.K.Soni

CentralMiningResearchInstitute,Dhanbad

DrP.Sriniv asulu

StructuralEngineeringResearchCentre,Chennai

ShriG.Jay ramarao(Alternate)
SuperintendingSurv ey orofWorks(NZ) CentralPublicWorksDepartment,NewDelhi
Surv ey orofWorksI(NZ)(Alternate)
ShriV.Suresh

Housing&UrbanDev elopmentCorporation(HUDCO),
NewDelhi

ShriD.P.Singh(Alternate)
ShriS.C.Tiwari

U.P.HillAreaDev elopmentBoard,Lucknow

ShriK.Venkatachalam

CentralSoil&MaterialResearchStation,NewDelhi

ShriS.K.Babbar(Alternate)
DrN.S.Virdhi

WadiaInstituteofHimalay anGeology ,DehraDun

DrR.L.Chauhan

RegionalEngineeringCollege,Hamirpur

ProfC.L.Dhar(Alternate)
ShriS.S.Sethi,

DirectorGeneral,BIS(ExofficioMember)

Director(Civ Engg)

MemberSecretary
ShriD.K.Agrawal
JointDirector(CivEngg),BIS
12

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