IS codes for construction — the list a civil engineer actually uses
Indian Standards (IS codes) are published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). A civil engineer does not need all of them — they need the twenty or thirty that govern design, materials, detailing, measurement and site work. This is that list, grouped by what you are doing, with the edition most offices work to.
Concrete and RCC design
| Code | Title | Used for |
|---|
| IS 456:2000 | Plain and reinforced concrete — code of practice | Design, durability, cover, laps, minimum cement and w/c |
| IS 1343:2012 | Prestressed concrete — code of practice | Prestressed members |
| SP 16:1980 | Design aids for reinforced concrete to IS 456 | Charts and tables for members |
| IS 3370 (Parts 1–4) | Concrete structures for the storage of liquids | Water tanks |
Loads and earthquake
| Code | Title | Used for |
|---|
| IS 875 (Part 1):1987 | Design loads — dead loads | Unit weights of materials |
| IS 875 (Part 2):1987 | Design loads — imposed loads | Floor and roof live loads |
| IS 875 (Part 3):2015 | Design loads — wind loads | Wind on buildings, sheds and towers |
| IS 875 (Part 5):1987 | Design loads — special loads and combinations | Load combinations |
| IS 1893 (Part 1):2016 | Earthquake resistant design — general provisions and buildings | Seismic zones and forces |
| IS 13920:2016 | Ductile design and detailing of RC structures subjected to seismic forces | Seismic detailing of beams, columns, joints |
| IS 4326:2013 | Earthquake resistant design and construction of buildings | Masonry and other buildings |
Steel
| Code | Title | Used for |
|---|
| IS 800:2007 | General construction in steel — code of practice | Steel and PEB design |
| IS 1786:2008 | High strength deformed steel bars and wires for concrete reinforcement | TMT bar grades Fe 415, Fe 500, Fe 550 |
Reinforcement detailing
| Code | Title | Used for |
|---|
| IS 2502:1963 | Bending and fixing of bars for concrete reinforcement | Bar bending schedule, hooks, bends |
| SP 34:1987 | Handbook on concrete reinforcement and detailing | Detailing practice, laps, BBS |
Materials and mix design
| Code | Title | Used for |
|---|
| IS 10262:2019 | Concrete mix proportioning — guidelines | Design mixes |
| IS 383:2016 | Coarse and fine aggregate for concrete | Aggregate grading and quality |
| IS 269:2015 | Ordinary Portland cement | OPC 33, 43 and 53 grades |
| IS 1489 (Part 1):2015 | Portland pozzolana cement — fly ash based | PPC |
| IS 1077:1992 | Common burnt clay building bricks | Brick classes and tests |
Masonry and foundations
| Code | Title | Used for |
|---|
| IS 2212:1991 | Brickwork — code of practice | Brick masonry work |
| IS 1905:1987 | Structural use of unreinforced masonry | Load-bearing walls |
| IS 1904:1986 | Design and construction of foundations in soils — general requirements | Foundations |
| IS 6403:1981 | Determination of bearing capacity of shallow foundations | Bearing capacity |
| IS 2911 (Part 1/Sec 2):2010 | Pile foundations — bored cast in-situ concrete piles | Bored piles |
Measurement, estimates and building rules
| Code | Title | Used for |
|---|
| IS 1200 (all parts) | Method of measurement of building and civil engineering works | How items are measured for estimates and bills |
| IS 7272 (Part 1):1974 | Labour output constants for building works | Rate analysis |
| NBC 2016 | National Building Code of India 2016 (SP 7) | Planning, fire, structure, services |
Services and lighting
| Code | Title | Used for |
|---|
| IS 1172:1993 | Basic requirements for water supply, drainage and sanitation | Plumbing demand and fixtures |
| IS 732:2019 | Electrical wiring installations — code of practice | Wiring |
| IS 3646 (Part 1):1992 | Interior illumination — general requirements | Lux levels |
Roads
| Code | Title | Used for |
|---|
| IRC:37-2018 | Guidelines for the design of flexible pavements | Bituminous roads |
| IRC:58-2015 | Guidelines for the design of plain jointed rigid pavements | Concrete roads |
| MoRTH Specifications | Specifications for road and bridge works | Road and bridge construction |
How to read a code reference
A reference has three parts: the number, the part or section if the code is split, and the year of the edition — IS 1893 (Part 1):2016. The year matters: clauses, tables and even symbols change between editions, and a figure quoted from a superseded edition is a figure from a different rule. Amendments are issued between editions and change the text too.
Which codes for which job
- Designing an RCC building: IS 456, IS 875 (Parts 1–3, 5), IS 1893 (Part 1), IS 13920, SP 16 and SP 34.
- Making a BBS: IS 2502, SP 34, IS 456 (cover, laps, anchorage) and IS 13920 for seismic detailing.
- Mix design and materials: IS 10262, IS 383, IS 269 or IS 1489, IS 456 Table 5 for minimum cement and maximum w/c.
- Preparing an estimate or bill: IS 1200 for the mode of measurement, with the CPWD specifications and schedule of rates.
- Steel and PEB: IS 800, IS 875 (Part 3) for wind.
Always confirm the current edition and its amendments with BIS before you rely on a clause. Where your contract names a specification, that specification governs.
CivilOS works to these codes in the tools that need them: the BBS follows IS 2502 and SP 34, measurement sheets apply IS 1200's deduction rules, QA/QC checklists cite the code each item checks, and Consult to Engineer answers with the code, edition and clause.
Ask an IS code question in CivilOS →
Frequently asked questions
What is the IS code for RCC design?
IS 456:2000, Plain and Reinforced Concrete — Code of Practice. For buildings in seismic zones, IS 13920:2016 adds the ductile detailing rules and IS 1893 (Part 1):2016 sets the earthquake forces.
Which IS code is used for bar bending schedules?
IS 2502:1963 for bending and fixing of bars, with SP 34:1987 (the handbook on reinforcement and detailing) and IS 456 for cover, laps and anchorage.
What is the IS code for concrete mix design?
IS 10262:2019, Concrete Mix Proportioning — Guidelines, used with IS 383:2016 for aggregates and IS 456 for durability limits.
What is IS 1200?
The Indian Standard method of measurement of building and civil engineering works, published in many parts — earthwork, concrete, brickwork, plastering, painting and others — that says how each item is measured for an estimate or a bill.