Short answer
What does IS 1893 Part 1 say about a house? IS 1893 (Part 1):2016 is the Indian code for earthquake-resistant design of buildings and other structures. It sets a minimum design force, sends member design to IS 456, IS 1343, IS 13920 and IS 800, and covers additions to existing buildings. It has no exemption for a house, but it is a design code: your structural engineer applies it and sets the numbers.
On this page (10)
Many owners hear “IS 1893” from an engineer or on a drawing and do not know what it asks of a house. It is the Indian code for designing buildings and other structures against earthquakes, and its title is “Criteria for earthquake resistant design of structures”. This page explains what Part 1 covers, what it leaves to other codes, and what an owner should do with it. It gives no zone number, no design force and no factor. Those are the engineer’s to set.
What does IS 1893 Part 1 cover?
The scope in clause 1.1 says Part 1 “primarily deals with earthquake hazard assessment for earthquake-resistant design of” buildings, liquid retaining structures, bridges, embankments and retaining walls, industrial and stack-like structures, and concrete, masonry and earth dams. The code then says that earthquake-resistant design of buildings is dealt with in Part 1, and that the other structures are in Parts 2 to 5.
Clause 1.2 adds that “all structures, like parking structures, security cabins and ancillary structures need to be designed for appropriate earthquake effects as per this standard”. So a house is in scope, and so are the small buildings beside it.
The code does not give a house exemption. The copy read for this page has no clause that says small or ordinary houses are excluded. The foreword says the provisions are intended for “only normal structures”, and that special structures such as large and tall buildings need site-specific study. A house is a normal structure.
What is the minimum design force?
The code’s central rule is a minimum. Clause 6.1.3 says that “actual forces that appear on structures during earthquakes are much higher than the design forces specified in the standard”, but that the ductility a structure can realise is limited, so “structures shall be designed for at least the minimum design lateral force specified in this standard”. Clause 1.5 says the same for critical structures, and that additional studies may raise the requirement.
The forces themselves depend on values the code sets and the engineer applies to a particular site and building. This page gives none of them.
Who designs the members?
The code does not design the members itself. Clause 6.1.4 says reinforced concrete members and connections “shall be designed (as per IS 456 and IS 1343) such that premature failure does not occur due to shear or bond”. It points to IS 13920 for ductile detailing of concrete members, and to IS 800 for steel members.
So IS 1893 sets the earthquake forces and the rule that the structure must not fail early. IS 456 and IS 13920 give the member design and the detailing. The IS 456 explainer covers the concrete code.
What about additions and existing buildings?
Clause 6.1.7 covers additions to existing structures. An addition that is structurally independent of the old building is designed to the rules for new buildings. An addition that is connected to the old building must bring the whole structure to the requirements for new structures, unless three conditions are met: the addition meets the new-structure rules, it does not raise the seismic forces in the old structure by more than the limit the code sets, and it does not reduce the old structure’s resistance. Clause 6.1.8 says a change of use to a higher importance class also brings the structure to the new rules.
IS 1893 does not give a retrofit procedure. Clause 1.4 points to IS 13935 for repair and strengthening of buildings, and to IS 15988 for seismic evaluation and strengthening of existing reinforced concrete buildings. Those are the codes to ask for on an old house.
What is the revision status?
The copy read for this page is labelled the sixth revision on its cover, with two amendments printed in it. The BIS record gives the code as in force to 2031-11-20. The NBCS 2026 foreword says IS 1893 is under revision and that the NBCS keeps the 2016 provisions by reference. Ask your engineer which edition the drawing cites.
| Question | What the code says | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Does it cover a house? | Yes; buildings are in Part 1 and ancillary structures are in scope | 1.1, 1.2 |
| Is it a minimum? | Structures are designed for at least the minimum design lateral force | 6.1.3, 1.5 |
| Who designs the members? | IS 456 and IS 1343 for concrete, with ductile detailing in IS 13920 and steel in IS 800 | 6.1.4 |
| Additions to a building | Independent additions to the new rules; connected additions must bring the structure to the new rules unless three conditions are met | 6.1.7 |
| Change of use | A change to a higher importance class brings the structure to the new rules | 6.1.8 |
| Retrofit | No retrofit procedure of its own; IS 13935 and IS 15988 are referenced | 1.4 |
What is practice, not standard?
The IITK-BMTPC earthquake tips of 2015 are practice guidance for owners, not the code. Their points are useful when you talk to an engineer or a builder:
- Ask for a qualified structural engineer. Tip 21 says owners of existing open-ground-storey buildings “should seek the services of qualified structural engineers” to suggest strengthening. This is practice.
- Keep the load path straight. Earthquake forces must reach the ground by the shortest path, and sudden changes in the building’s shape make it weaker. This is practice.
- Open ground storeys need care. A storey with few walls is a known weak point; the tips suggest walls in the ground storey where possible. This is practice.
- Leave a gap between blocks. Buildings with projecting plan shapes need an adequate gap between blocks so they do not knock together; the code sets minimum separations. This is practice.
What mistakes should I avoid?
- Taking a design value from a web page as the value for your house. A zone factor or drift limit depends on the code edition and on the site. Ask your engineer for the value for your site and check it against the code. This is practice.
- Believing the code does not apply to a house. Clause 1.1 covers buildings, and clause 1.2 covers ancillary structures. This is standard text.
- Changing the building’s layout after design. A new opening, a new floor or a change of use can change the forces, and clause 6.1.7 and 6.1.8 apply. This is standard text.
- Assuming an old house meets the current code. Additions and changes need the checks in clause 6.1.7, and the existing building needs its own evaluation. This is standard text.
Frequently asked questions
Does IS 1893 apply to my house?
Yes, by its scope. Clause 1.2 includes ancillary structures, and the code has no exemption for houses in the copy read. Your engineer applies it.
Can I check my house against IS 1893 myself?
No. The code is a design code for an engineer. The owner’s job is to ask for the design and check that the engineer followed it.
What does the code say about the foundation?
This page does not quote the foundation clauses, because the copy read did not confirm their numbers. Your engineer gives the foundation for your site.
Where can I learn more about earthquake safety for a house?
The IITK-BMTPC earthquake tips are practice guidance. Your engineer and the local building authority are the people to ask for the design.
Related guides
- Earthquake bands in a house: plinth, lintel, roof and gable bands under IS 4326
- IS 456:2000 explained: what the concrete code covers
- IS 13920 explained: what ductile detailing means for a house
This guide is general information. Read the disclaimer. A structural engineer designs the earthquake resistance of your house under the code your authority requires.
Sources
- IS 1893 (Part 1):2016, Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures, Part 1 General Provisions and Buildings: foreword, clauses 1.1 to 1.5 (scope), 6.1.3 (minimum design lateral force), 6.1.4 (member design and ductile detailing), 6.1.7 and 6.1.8 (additions and change of occupancy). The copy read is labelled Sixth Revision on its cover; the BIS record shows the standard in force to 2031-11-20. Amendments 1 (2017) and 2 (2020) are printed in the copy. No numerical design value is quoted on this page.
- SP 7:2026, National Building Construction Standards 2026 (NBCS 2026): a note in the NBCS 2026 text that IS 1893 is under revision and that the NBCS keeps the 2016 provisions by reference. Read from an archive copy.
- IITK-BMTPC Earthquake Tips, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur with BMTPC, August 2015: owner-level practice points (not the code). Used for the practice paragraph only.
Change log
- : Added Related guides link to newly published article(s): is-13920-explained-what-ductile-detailing-means-for-a-house. No other text changed. Approved by the reviewing engineer (owner report, 2026-10-31).
General information only. It is not a structural design or professional advice. Ask a licensed structural engineer or architect to check your plans and site.