NBC 2016:2016 Part 10 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for national building code of india 2016 - landscape planning, design and development; signs and outdoor display structures. Part 10 is a two-section Part. Section 1 covers the landscape design process from site analysis through planting plans, hardscape detailing, irrigation, and post-construction maintenance. Section 2 covers signs and outdoor display structures — hoardings, billboards, and facade signage — addressing their planning placement, structural design under wind loads, electrical safety, and illumination. The Part is used primarily by landscape architects and signage engineers, and by municipal planning officers when reviewing landscape plans and hoarding licences. Detailed structural calculation of hoardings follows IS 875 Part 3 for wind and IS 800 for steel framing.
Covers landscape planning, design, development and maintenance, along with the planning, structural design and safety of signage and outdoor display structures.
Soft-area %, tree planting pits and spacing, signboard height/area limits and outdoor display setbacks.
| Reference | Value | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Min landscape / soft area — residential plot— varies with plot size & city DCR | ≥ 15% of plot area (typical) | |
| Min landscape / soft area — institutional / public | ≥ 20% of plot area | |
| Tree — min planting pit size | 0.9 × 0.9 × 0.9 m (typical) | Annex A, Cl. A-2.1 of Part 10, Section 2 |
| Tree — typical spacing (avenue) | 6 – 9 m centre-to-centre | Annex A, Cl. A-1 of Part 10, Section 2 |
| Tree — min clearance from building face | ≥ 3 m (small); ≥ 6 m (large canopy) | Annex A, Cl. A-1.1 of Part 10, Section 2 |
| Tree — min clearance from underground service line | ≥ 1.5 m | Annex A, Cl. A-1.1 of Part 10, Section 2 |
| Shrub — typical spacing | 0.6 – 1.2 m c/c | Clause 5.3.2 of Part 10, Section 2 |
| Lawn / grass — min topsoil depth | 150 mm | Clause 5.3.4 of Part 10, Section 2 |
| Signage — max height (free-standing, residential area)— State outdoor advertising rules govern | ≤ 6 m above ground | Table 1 of Part 10, Section 3 |
| Signage — max area (façade / on-building) | ≤ 10% of façade area (typ.) | Clause 5.3 of Part 10, Section 3 |
| Outdoor display — min setback from carriageway edge | ≥ 3 m | Cl. 5.3.1.1 c) of Section 2 |
| Outdoor display — min vertical clearance over footpath | ≥ 2.5 m | Cl. 5.3.1.1 e) of Section 2 |
| Hoarding — max area (typical urban) | ≤ 40 m² (state rules govern) | Cl. 5.3.2.1 of Section 2 |
| Soft / hard surface ratio — public open space | ≥ 60% soft (typical) | |
| Trees in surface parking lots— Applies to open/surface parking areas. | ≥ 1 tree per 6 car spaces | Cl. 5.4.3 |
| Min soil depth for rooftop lawn— For extensive green roofs with ground cover/lawn. | 150 – 200 mm | Cl. 5.6.2 & Table 3 |
| Min slope for paved surface drainage— Applies to all external paved surfaces. | 1.5% (1 in 60) | Cl. 5.7.1 |
| Max sign luminance (residential/rural area)— For areas with low ambient brightness. | ≤ 250 cd/m² | Cl. 7.7.1 & Table 6 |
| Min sign setback from road intersection— To maintain traffic sight lines. | ≥ 25 m | Cl. 7.6.2 |
| Min distance between two hoardings— Applies to hoardings on the same side of the road. | ≥ 100 m | Cl. 7.6.2 |
| Min topsoil stripping depth for preservation— Topsoil to be stockpiled for reuse in landscaping. | 150 – 200 mm | Cl. 5.2.1 |
| Water body depth requiring safety railing— Safety measures like fencing/railing required for deeper water bodies. | > 600 mm | Cl. 5.8.1 |
| 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 |