Orientation is the positioning of a building in relation to seasonal variations in the sun's path

as well as prevailing wind patterns. Good orientation can increase the energy efficiency of
home, making it more comfortable to live in and cheaper to run. Orientate your home to make
best use of sunlight and winds.
Orientation of Building using Aspect and Prospect:
Sr. No. Unit Aspect Remarks
1 Kitchen or E/NE/SE Morning sun should enter
Kitchen cum
Dinning
2 Bed Room W/SW/NW Evening sun should come to remove dampness and germs.
Sun rays in evening are cool in nature so bed room becomes
pleasant till its time of use. Good breeze comes from west.
3 Living room SE/NE For all the time of day, good sunlight should come.
4 Study room North This room should be well lighted.
5 Store Room North This room should be well lighted.
6 verandah N/S Should be well lighted.
7 WC and Bath - Must be located near bedroom.
• Doors and windows are indicated by following letters.
• D = Door W = Window
• V = Ventilator S = Single shutter
• T = Double Shutter P = Two Panels
• R = Three Panels Q = Four Panels

IS 1003 RECOMMENDED SIZES FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS

Space requirement and norms for minimum dimension of
different units in the residential buildings:
• Building Bye-Laws are legal tools used to regulate coverage, height, building bulk,
and architectural design and construction aspects of buildings so as to achieve
orderly development of an area.

A bye-law is the local law framed by a competent authority. Every locality has its
own peculiarities with respect to the climatic conditions; geological conditions i.e.
availability of materials for construction, labour etc.

The building regulations are generally uniform in character, covering the entire town
or city. The regulations are drawn by a panel of experts in different fields as
Engineering, Public health Law, General Administration & Town planning. It is the
Municipality or the Corporation which forms the building bye-laws as per the
Municipal Act or Corporation Act.

It is therefore, necessary that the planning persons must have knowledge of the
building bye-laws & regulations. Only those plans are approved which comply with
the requirements of building bye-laws & license for construction is issued.
• Object of Bye-laws
• To give guide lines to the designer, architect or engineer.
• To prevent haphazard development.
• To control land development & to check un-authorized construction i.e.
encroachment on public & private land.
• To limit or define the way the new structures are to be built.
• To specify the type of materials to be used.
• To provide open spaces, air, breeze etc.
• To afford safety against fire, noise & smoke etc.
 • Important bye-laws:
(I) Building & Control Lines
(II) Open Space Requirements
(III) Built-up Area
(IV) Floor Space Index (F.S.I.) or Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) :
F.S.I. means floor space index. It is defined as the ratio of total built-up area (total area of all floors) to the area
of the plot. It is also called as floor area ratio (F.A.R.) it regulates population density and overcrowding in
dwelling units.

(I) Height of Building

Floor Area: This is the usable covered area of the building at any floor level. Floor area is calculated
by deducting area of walls from plinth area.

Carpet area: - This is the floor area of the usable rooms at any floor. (Actually where carpet can be laid.) Carpet area can be
calculated from floor area deducting sanitary accommodation, kitchen, pantries, verandah, corridors, passages, stores etc.
• Building line refers to the front line up to which the building can lawfully extend.
• It is also called as set- back or font building line. a minimum distance of this building line from the
center line of the accompanying road is laid down as the limit beyond which no construction is
allowed towards the road.

The line which accounts for this extra margin is

known as the control line

In case of a public building such as cinemas, a

commercial concern, factories, which attract a
large number of vehicles, should be set back
at a further distance apart from the building
line.
Built up area - It is the area covered by all floors of the building. It covers everything
under roof but excludes balconies, staircases etc. It includes floor area of all rooms plus
wall thickness.

The built-up area is the constructed area which includes wall thickness.
Therefore, built-up area is the area remaining after deducting open space
area from plot area i.e. the total area purchased for the proposed building
plan.
Carpet area is the built-up area less the area occupied by walls.
When open space area is restricted then the built-up area of any building is
automatically restricted.
According to use there are restrictions on built-up areas, as given below. In a
bazaar or market area, the built up area shall not exceed 75 % of the site area
provided ample space for parking in available on the same site.
• Floor Space Index (F.S.I.) or Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) Floor space index is
defined as a ratio of total built-up area of all floors to the plot area.

• FSI= Total built-up area of all floor /Area of Plot

Plot Plinth Area = Carpet area + Wall thickness of all units + Area which is
excluded in calculation of carpet area.

The ratio of total built-up area of all floors to the plot area of the building is
called Floor Space Index, abbreviated to F.S.I. It is a pure number.
The F.S.I. is fixed by the local authority & is different for different areas &
different buildings in the city. As such the builtup areas are governed by F.S.I.
The F.S.I. therefore, checks the height of the building & as a consequence, it
controls the density of population.
• Important rules and bye laws of sanctioning authorities for
constriction in rural area are.-
• 1) The prospered building must be in residential zone.
• 2) The minimum Front margin should be 3.00m
• 3) The minimum side and rear margins should be 1.50 m.
• 4) The maximum number of storey should be (G+1).
• 5) The maximum allowable built up area should be 60% of total plot
area.
• 6) The minimum Height of plinth should be 450 mm.
• 7) The Maximum Height of Slab should be 2.75 m.
• 8) The FSI in rural area is one
• Plinth height: - Plinth height should be more than 300mm.
• Generally it is taken from 450mm to 750mm.
• For garages plinth height is 150mm.
• Ceiling height:-
• 1. For habitable rooms: 2.75m
• 2. For habitable rooms if air-conditioned: 2.4m
• 3. For habitable rooms under row housing scheme: 2.6m
• 4. Kitchen: 2.75m
• 5. WC and Bath: 2.2m
• 6. Basement: 2.4m
• 7. Headroom in staircase: 2.2m