Guide for requirements of low-income housing, Part 1: Urban areas

Scope of IS 8888 Part 1 (1993) — Key Points & Specifications

Scope covers:

• Layout planning and construction of low income housing by public/private agencies.
• Provision for incremental housing (horizontal & vertical expansion allowed).
• Applicable to site and services schemes with:
  • Complete infrastructure around individual or cluster plots.
  • Optional service sanitary core, skeletal structure (columns & roof), or developed plinth.
  • Permission for temporary construction on plots.

Plot Sizes:

• Normal areas: 40 m² (including future expansion).
• Metropolitan cities: 25 to 30 m².

Site & Services Scheme Requirements (Clause 8.2):

Additional Notes:

• Public agencies should provide services and maintain open spaces.
• Integration with commercial/industrial land reduces plot costs.
• Minimum plot size must consider built-up space and environment.

Summary Table: Plot Sizes & Infrastructure

Diagram: Incremental Housing Concept

flowchart TD
    A[Initial Plot with Basic Infrastructure] --> B[Add Room Horizontally]
    A --> C[Add Room Vertically]
    B --> D[Complete House Over Time]
    C --> D

References:

• Clause 8.2, IS 8888 Part 1: Site & Services schemes.
• Clause 4.2.1: Plot size including future expansion.
• Incremental housing approach for affordability and flexibility.

IS 8888 Part 1: Key Definitions & Specifications

Definitions (Clause 3.0)

• Standardizes terms used throughout the code for clarity.
• Includes terms related to ventilation, lighting, pathways, and room dimensions.

Important Notes:

• Ventilation/Lighting (Clause 5.5):
  When using jali or grills, calculate total opening area excluding solid portions.

• Ventilation Area (Clause 5.7):
  Minimum ventilation area = 8 m² per dwelling unit (not just 8 m²).

• Pedestrian Pathway Width (Clause 6.1.2):
  Minimum right of way = 3 m if not motorable.

• Floor Area (Clause 4.2.1):
  Minimum floor area per dwelling unit = 40 m² including future expansion.

Minimum Height of Rooms (Clause 5.4)

Summary:

• Calculate ventilation openings net of solid jali parts.
• Maintain minimum room heights as per table.
• Ensure pedestrian pathways are at least 3 m wide if non-motorable.
• Floor area norms include allowance for future expansion.

flowchart TD
    A[Ventilation/Lighting] --> B[Calculate openings excluding solid jali]
    C[Minimum Ventilation Area] --> D[8 m² per dwelling unit]
    E[Pedestrian Pathway] --> F[Minimum 3 m width if non-motorable]
    G[Room Heights] --> H[Habitable: 2.6m, Kitchen: 2.6m, Bath/WC: 2.1m, Corridor: 2.1m]
    I[Floor Area] --> J[Minimum 40 m² including future expansion]

IS 8888 Part 1: Layout Planning Key Points

1. Land Use Distribution (Clause 4.2.3)

• Note: Adjust residential area if community facilities are nearby.
• Statutory provisions may modify these percentages but should be minimized.

2. Cluster Planning (Clause 4.6)

• Follow IS 19 for:
  • Cluster size
  • Open spaces
  • Setbacks
  • Vehicular and pedestrian access

3. Applicability (Clause 1.2)

• Applies to both public and private low-income housing layout planning.

Summary Diagram: Land Use Distribution

pie title Land Use Distribution (General Area)
    "Residential (≥50%)": 50
    "Workplaces/Schools (≤20%)": 20
    "Roads/Open Spaces (≤30%)": 30

This layout ensures balanced land utilization for livability and infrastructure in low-income housing colonies.

IS 8888 Part 1: Key Formulas, Tables & Specifications for Type of Development and Density Norms

1. Type of Development & Density Norms (Clause 4.4.1)

• Exception (Clause 4.4.1.1):
  For covered area per dwelling unit ≤ 15 m², max density = 500 dwelling units/ha.

2. Land Use Distribution (Clause 4.2.3)

• Adjustments permitted if civic/community facilities exist nearby or statutory requirements demand.

3. Type of Development for Low-Income Housing (Clause 4.1)

• Plotted development
• Flatted development as row or group housing on cluster pattern (refer IS 13727:1993)

Summary Formula for Density:

[ \text{Density (units/ha)} = \frac{\text{Total dwelling units}}{\text{Gross area (hectares)}} ]

flowchart TD
    A[Type of Development] --> B[Plotted Development]
    A --> C[Mixed Development]
    C --> D[Small Towns: 75-100 units/ha]
    C --> E[Cities: 100-125 units/ha]
    C --> F[Metro Cities: 125-150 units/ha]
    B --> G[65-120 plots/ha]
    F --> H[Exception: 500 units

IS 8888 Part 1: General Building Requirements Summary

• Scope: Applies to low-income housing with plinth area ≤ 40 m² (Clause 1.1).
• Reference Standards:
  • SP 7:1983 Part III for general building requirements including fire safety, structural design, and services (Clause 5.1, 7.1).
  • IS 19 for cluster planning aspects: open cluster size, open spaces, setbacks, vehicular & pedestrian access (Clause 4.6).

Key Specifications

Typical Formula (Structural Design Reference)

For load calculation (SP 7:1983):

[ \text{Design Load} = \text{Dead Load} + \text{Live Load} + \text{Wind Load} + \text{Seismic Load} ]

Where loads are as per SP 7 and IS codes referenced therein.

Summary Diagram: Cluster Planning Elements

graph TD
  A[Cluster Planning] --> B[Open Cluster Size]
  A --> C[Open Space]
  A --> D[Setbacks]
  A --> E[Vehicular Access]
  A --> F[Pedestrian Paths]
  B --> IS19
  C --> IS19
  D --> IS19
  E --> IS19
  F --> IS19

For detailed tables and exact dimensional values, refer to SP 7:1983 Part III and IS 19.

IS 8888 Part 1: Roads and Pathways - Key Specifications

• Right of Way (ROW) & Pathway Widths:

  • Pedestrian pathways without motorable access:
    • Minimum ROW: 3 m
    • If accessible from one side only: 2 m width
    • Maximum pathway length: 60 m
  • Access where motorized vehicles not expected:
    • ROW: 6 m (to allow emergency vehicles, drains, plantation)
    • Pathway width: 2 m

• Area Allocation:

  • Roads and pathways should not exceed 20% of total land area in housing projects.

• Plot Sizes & Services:

  • Developed plot sizes as per Clause 3.3.
  • Services (water, drainage, etc.) laid as per SP 7:1983.
  • Roads and pathways to align with Clause 6 provisions.

Summary Table

flowchart LR
    A[Housing Project Land] --> B[Roads & Pathways (≤20% area)]
    B --> C[Motorable Access]
    B --> D[Pedestrian Pathways]
    D --> E[ROW 3m (2m if one-side)]
    E --> F[Max Length 60m]
    C --> G[ROW 6m, Path 2m (Emergency access)]

This ensures safe, accessible, and efficient circulation within housing projects per IS 8888 Part 1.

IS 8888 Part 1: Other Requirements - Key Points & References

• General Building Requirements (Clause 5.1 & 5.5)

  • Follow SP 7:1983 Part III for general provisions except where IS 8888 specifies otherwise.
  • For ventilation/lighting through JALI or grills, calculate opening area excluding solid portions.
  • Minimum ventilation area per dwelling unit: 8 m² (updated from 8 m² total).

• Cluster Planning (Clause 4.6)

  • Refer to IS 19 for:
    • Size of open clusters
    • Open space requirements
    • Setbacks
    • Vehicular & pedestrian access paths

• Pedestrian Pathways (Clause 6.1.2)

  • Minimum right of way for pedestrian paths (non-motorable): 3 meters

• Fire Safety & Structural Design (Clause 7.1)

  • Follow SP 7:1983 for fire safety, structural, building services, and plumbing specifications.

Summary Table

flowchart TD
    A[General Building Req. SP 7:1983] --> B[Ventilation: 8 m² per unit]
    A --> C[JALI openings exclude solids]
    D[Cluster Planning IS 19] --> E[Setbacks & Open Space]
    D --> F[Vehicular & Pedestrian Paths]
    G[Pedestrian Pathway] --> H[Min 3 m width]
    I[Fire & Structural Safety] --> J[SP 7:1983 Compliance]

This ensures compliance with IS 888

Key Specifications for Site and Services Schemes (IS 8888 Part 1:1993)

Clause 8.2 Requirements:

• a) Complete infrastructure for permanent housing at plot periphery or cluster.
• b) Service sanitary core within the plot (recommended).
• c) Skeletal structure of columns and roof or developed plinth (recommended).
• d) Permission for temporary construction on the plot.

Provisions (a) and (d) are essential; (b) and (c) are optional based on affordability.

Plot Size Recommendations (Clause 8.1 & 4.2.2)

• Mix of plot sizes to accommodate low-income groups.
• Infrastructure (water, sanitation, roads) must be provided before plot handover (Clause 7.4).
• Roads and pathways should comply with SP 7:1983 and Clause 6 of IS 8888.

Incremental Housing Concept

• Allows horizontal and vertical expansion as family resources permit.
• Skeletal structures or plinths facilitate future growth.

Additional Notes

• Integration with commercial/industrial land reduces plot cost via cross-subsidization.
• Public agencies responsible for maintenance of open spaces and services.

Summary Diagram of Site and Services Scheme Components

graph TD
    A[Site & Services Scheme] --> B[Infrastructure at Plot Periphery]
    A --> C[Service Sanitary Core (optional)]
    A --> D[Skeletal Structure / Developed Plinth (optional)]
    A --> E[Temporary Construction Permission]
    B --> F[Roads & Pathways]
    B --> G[Water Supply & Drainage]
    B --> H[Electricity & Other Services]

This concise guidance helps planners and engineers design affordable, expandable, and serviced housing plots for low-income groups per IS 8888 Part 1.

IS 8888 Part 1: Committee & Contributors — Key Points and Specifications

Committee Composition (Annex A):

• Chaired by Dr. P. S. A. Sundaram
• Members include senior architects, engineers, representatives from DDA, CBRI, NHB, DST, various state housing boards, and private sector experts.
• Secretary: Shri J. K. Prasad (Joint Director, BIS)
• Panel for Low Income Housing Guide led by Shri M. N. Joglekar (HUDCO)

Key Specifications & Recommendations:

• Site & Services Schemes (Clause 8.2):

  • Complete infrastructure on plot periphery or cluster plots.
  • Service sanitary core (recommended).
  • Skeletal structure (columns + roof) or plinth (recommended).
  • Permission for temporary construction (essential).

• Plot Sizes:

  • Normal areas: 40 m²
  • Metropolitan cities: 25–30 m²

• Incremental Housing:

  • Allows horizontal and vertical expansion as family resources permit.

• Ventilation/Openings (Clause 5.5):

  • Area of jali/grill openings calculated excluding solid portions.

• Pedestrian Pathways (Clause 6.1.2):

  • Minimum right of way: 3 m (if no motor access).

• Standards Reference:

  • General building requirements per SP 7:1983 Part III apply unless otherwise specified.

Summary Table: Plot Size & Pathway Width

flowchart LR
    A[Site & Services Scheme] --> B[Complete Infrastructure]
    A --> C[Sanitary Core (Recommended)]
    A --> D[Skeletal Structure/Plinth (Recommended)]
    A --> E[Temporary Construction Permission]

    F[Housing Unit] --> G[Incremental Housing]
    G --> H[Horizontal Expansion]
    G --> I[Vertical Expansion]

    J