India Climate Zone Map — NBC 2016 Part 11
Five climate zones — Hot-Dry, Warm-Humid, Composite, Temperate, Cold — that drive envelope U-value, SHGC, and ENS / ECBC 2017 compliance for any Indian city. Click any location for the climate zone and the corresponding passive design strategy.
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About NBC climate zones
NBC 2016 Part 11 (Approach to Sustainability) Annex A divides India into five climate zones based on temperature, humidity, and seasonal cycle. The zone determines passive-design priorities (orientation, shading, ventilation, thermal mass) and sets the envelope performance targets in ECBC 2017 + ENS 2018.
ECBC envelope targets (commercial)
- Hot-Dry: U-value ≤ 0.40 W/m²K (wall), SHGC ≤ 0.25 (glazing). Avoid east/west glazing; deep shading.
- Warm-Humid: U-value ≤ 0.40, SHGC ≤ 0.27. Cross-ventilation primary; reflective roof; minimize thermal mass.
- Composite: U-value ≤ 0.40, SHGC ≤ 0.25-0.30 by orientation. Balance summer and winter — shading + insulation.
- Temperate: Relaxed targets. Passive design dominates; mechanical conditioning supplementary.
- Cold: U-value ≤ 0.40, focus on insulation + south-facing glazing for solar heat gain.
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NBC 2016 — National Building Code · Wind Speed Zone Map · Seismic Zone Map
Frequently asked questions
What is the climate zone of Mumbai?
Mumbai is in the Warm-Humid climate zone per NBC 2016 Part 11. Year-round high humidity (70-90%), mild summer (24-32°C), monsoon-driven. Design priority: cross-ventilation, shading, reflective roof. ECBC SHGC ≤ 0.27 for west/east glazing.
What is the climate zone of Delhi?
Delhi sits in the Composite zone — long hot-dry summer (40-45°C), cool dry winter (0-15°C), heavy monsoon. Design must balance summer (shading + thermal mass) and winter (passive solar + insulation). ECBC SHGC 0.25-0.30 by orientation.
How do climate zones drive ECBC compliance?
ECBC 2017 sets envelope U-value, SHGC, and air-leakage targets that vary by climate zone. Hot-Dry: U ≤ 0.40 W/m²K, SHGC ≤ 0.25. Warm-Humid: U ≤ 0.40, SHGC ≤ 0.27. Composite: similar to Hot-Dry. Temperate: relaxed (passive design dominant). Cold: U ≤ 0.40, focus on insulation + south glazing for solar gain.
What are the 5 NBC climate zones?
Per NBC 2016 Part 11 Annex A: (1) Hot-Dry — Rajasthan, Kutch, west MP; (2) Warm-Humid — coasts, Bengal, NE plains; (3) Composite — north India interior, central India; (4) Temperate — Bangalore, southern peninsular plateau; (5) Cold — Himalayas, Ladakh, J&K, Sikkim, Arunachal hills.
Why is Bengaluru classified as Temperate?
Bengaluru's elevation (~920 m) gives it moderate temperatures year-round (15-30°C) with comfortable humidity (50-70%). Per NBC 2016, this qualifies as the Temperate climate zone — even though the city sits in tropical southern India. Passive design and ventilation handle 60-80% of cooling need; mechanical AC is supplementary.
Climate zones follow NBC 2016 Part 11 Annex A. Hill stations and high-altitude sites (above 1,500m) may transition between Temperate and Cold zones; check site elevation and local micro-climate (urban heat island, coastal cooling, etc.) for actual design decisions.