Besides all the fundamentals of planning discussed, the following practical points should be additionally considered: Strength, stability, convenience, and comfort of the occupants of the building, should be considered first. Provisions for future extensions without dismantling should be made in the planning. The building should be strong and capable to withstand the likely adverse effects of natural agencies (earthquake, flood, storm, etc.) Elevation should be simple yet attractive. Too many porches may give good elevation for some time, but in the end, simple designs fit better for generations. Larger size of the room should always be considered as far as possible as it can be shortened by providing partitions, but smaller rooms cannot be enlarged easily.

1. PRACTICAL
CONSIDERATION OF
RESIDENTIAL
BUIDLING

2. • Besides all the fundamentals of planning discussed, the following practical points should be
additionally considered:
• Strength, stability, convenience, and comfort of the occupants of the building, should be
considered first.
• Provisions for future extensions without dismantling should be made in the planning.
• The building should be strong and capable to withstand the likely adverse effects of natural
agencies (earthquake, flood, storm, etc.)
• Elevation should be simple yet attractive. Too many porches may give good elevation for
some time, but in the end, simple designs fit better for generations.
• Larger size of the room should always be considered as far as possible as it can be shortened
by providing partitions, but smaller rooms cannot be enlarged easily.

3. Standard Size Of Building Components For Single Dwelling
Table no:1 Plot category by income group
Income group Plot categories* Sq. m Area:
appx.eq.sq.yds
High A B** 500
312
600
375
Middle C D 250
160
300
190
Low E F 105
72
125
85

4. *In a privet housing scheme, no plot should exceed 1000 sq. m
**Plot category “A” may also be 420 sq. m (500 sq. yds.)
Standard dimension:
Front-depth ratios in the ranges of 1:2 to 1:2:5 are generally recommended to minimize lengths
of service runs. However, plot dimensions need to be considered climatic zone, topography,
permissible building area, and stipulated building lines.
Source: NRM book

5. Standard Plot Dimension For Single Dwelling With Variants For Climate And Topography
Table no:2 plot dimension for single dwelling
Plot dimension Front x Depth (meters)
Plot
category
Size
sq.m
Standard In extra dry hot warm
composite and island
maritime climate*
Hill side
plots**
A 500 15.50x32.25 15.50x32.25 32.2515.50
A1 420 14 x 30 14 x 30 30 x 14
B 312 12 x 26 12 x 26 26 x 12
C 250 10 x 25 10 x 25 25 x 10
D 160 8 x 20 10 x 16 20 x 8
E 105 7 x 15 10 x 10.5 15 x 7
F 72 6 x 12 8 x 9 12 x 6

6. *Large plots governed by services length minimization criterion, small plots by internal
courtyard criterion.
**High percentage of hillside plots may be irregular owing to topography.
Maximum Coverage of Plot Size:
The maximum percentage of coverage of the plot is related to plot size.
small plot necessitates a higher percentage coverage area to meet the minimum indoor space
requirements.
on a large plot, the maximum covered area may be restricted to 65% to achieve lower densities
in keeping with higher-income residential zone to allow space for outdoor activity,
landscaping, gardening, and outside vehicle parks.
Source: NRM Book

7. Table no:3 maximum coverage of plot
Category Sq.m Most prevailing
by-laws (%)
Recommended maximum
ground coverage (%)
Recommended
maximum aggregated
floor area (%)
A 500 50-60 60-65 125
A1 420 50-60 65 130
B 312 60 65 130
C 250 60 65 130
D 160 70 70 140
E 105 70 75 150
F 72 70 75 150

8. Building Line and Space Around Building:
• Spaces around the buildings are used to achieve the following objectives:
• All the buildings can be erected along a common line thus improving the general vista of the
road.
• The space can be used for parking and/or gardening.
• The fire risk can be reduced by stipulating the distance between neighboring buildings.
• The indoor light and air circulation etc. Can be increased when desired.
• Street noise and dust can be reduced.

9. Building Line in General:
1. In the case of plots A and B, a front space of 3m, a rare space of 3m, and a single side space is 1.5m are
recommended. For category C, the front rarer and single side should be 3m, 1.5m, and 1.5m respectively.
2. In maritime climate zone, large front rear spaces are required. The depth of one of these spaces should be
4.5m (15’) and the other 1.5m (5’) for plot categories A and B. For category C either front or rear space
4.5m (15’) deep should be stipulated
3. In cool/cold composite and an extra dry cool zone, only south-facing spaces are required to invite sun
rays into the house. The space should be 3m (10’) deep in the case of plot categories A and B and 1.5m
(5’) in the case of category C.

10. Multi-Unit-Dwelling
• Set back from plot line = height of the building
divided by tan60
• For example, if height = 15m then setback from plot
line = 15 divided by 1.732 = 8.66m appx.
• The standard composition of the plot is given
below:
• Table no:4 Composition of Plot
Category Area (sq.m)
Percentage of
plot required
A/A1 500/420 5%
B 312 5%
C 250 20%
D 160 20%
E 105 75%
F 72 75%

11. Building Height:
Minimum clear floor ceiling heights shall be 3.0m (9’–10”)
Minimum floor-to-ceiling height of out-house, store, and bathroom shall be 2.3m (7’- 6”)
Maximum floor-to-floor height of a single story should not exceed 4.25m (14’)
Two-story dwelling should not exceed 7.6m (25’)
and three-story dwelling should not exceed 11.6m (38’) including the parapet wall.
Plot Relationship:
As a guide, a continuous row of plots should not be exceeding 150m because of monotony and blockading effects.
Beyond 100m, a break crosswalk is desirable. There may be cases where these guidelines cannot have achieved.
As a guide, a straight row of a plot should not be less than 75m as this increase the number of sewer man-holes
unnecessarily.