Chapter 3.

Code Provisions
Residential Envelope Transmittance Value (RETV) for building
envelope (except roof) for four climate zones, viz. Composite
Climate, Hot-dry Climate, Warm-humid Climate and Temperate
Climate

Residential Envelope Transmittance Value ( ) for building envelope (except roof)

for four climate zones, viz. Composite Climate, Hot-dry Climate, Warm-humid Climate
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and Temperate Climate, shall comply with the maximum of 15 W/m2.

Residential Envelope Heat Transmittance ( ) is the net heat gain rate (over the cooling
period) through building envelope (excluding roof) divided by the area of building envelope
(excluding roof). Its unit is W/m2.

characterizes thermal performance of the building envelope (except roof). Limiting the
value helps in reducing heat gains from building envelope, thereby improving thermal
comfort and reducing the electricity required for cooling.

formula takes into account following:

i. Heat conduction through opaque building envelope components (wall, opaque

panels in doors and windows, etc.),
ii. Heat conduction through non-opaque building envelope components (transparent/
translucent panels of windows, doors, etc.),
iii. Solar radiation through non-opaque building envelope components (transparent/
translucent panels of windows, doors, etc.)

where,
: residential envelope transmittance value (W/m2)
: window-to-wall ratio; it is the ratio of the non-opaque building
envelope components area to the envelope area (excluding
roof) of dwelling units
: thermal transmittance of opaque building envelope components
(wall, opaque panels in doors and windows, etc.) (W/m2.K)
: thermal transmittance of non-opaque building envelope
components (transparent/ translucent panels of windows, doors,
etc.) (W/m2.K)
: equivalent solar heat gain coefficient; it is the fraction of incident
solar radiation admitted through a non-opaque building
envelope component including permanent external shading

4
BEE plans to improve the RETV norm to 12 W/m2 in near future and the building industry & regulating agencies
are encouraged to aim for it.
 projection, both directly transmitted, and absorbed and
subsequently released inward through conduction, convection
and radiation (for calculation, refer to Annexure 2)
: coefficients (values given in Table 1)

is calculated using the formula (Equation 1), with coefficients given in Table 1, for
different climate zones (for classification, refer to Annexure 6).

Thermal transmittance of building envelope (except roof) for cold

climate (Uenvelope,cold)
Thermal transmittance of building envelope (except roof) for cold climate shall comply
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with the maximum of 1.8 W/m2.K.

Thermal transmittance ( ) characterizes thermal performance of the building

envelope (except roof). Limiting the helps in reducing heat losses from building
envelope, thereby improving thermal comfort and reducing the energy required for heating.

takes into account the following:

i. Heat conduction through opaque building envelope components (wall, opaque
panels in door and window, etc.),
ii. Heat conduction through non-opaque building envelope components
(transparent/translucent panels in windows, doors, etc.),

where,
: thermal transmittance of building envelope (except roof) for cold climate
(W/m2.K)
: thermal transmittance of opaque building envelope components
(W/m2.K)
: area of opaque building envelope components (m2)
: thermal transmittance of non-opaque building envelope components
(W/m2.K)
: area of non-opaque building envelope components (m2)

5
BEE plans to improve the weighted U-value norm to 1.2 W/m2.K in near future and the building industry &
regulating agencies are encouraged to aim for it.
Thermal transmittance of roof (Uroof)
Thermal transmittance of roof shall comply with the maximum value of 1.2 W/m2.K.

Thermal transmittance ( ) characterizes thermal performance of the roof of the building.

Limiting the helps in reducing heat gains or losses from the roof, thereby improving
thermal comfort and reducing the energy required for cooling or heating.

Openable window-to-floor area ratio (WFRop)

Openable window-to-floor area ratio shall comply with the minimum values as
given in Table 2.

Openable window-to-floor area ratio indicates potential of using external air for
ventilation. Ensuring minimum helps in ventilation, improvement in thermal comfort
and reduction in cooling energy.

The openable window-to-floor ratio is the ratio of openable area to the built-up area
of dwelling units.

where,
: openable window-to-floor ratio
: openable area (m2); openable area of all windows and
ventilators area, excluding doors, opening directly to the
external air or into an open balcony or
: built-up area of dwelling units (m2); the covered area of all
dwelling units, including the area covered by walls, but
excepting the balcony area

The openable window-to-floor area ratio, , shall not be less than the values given in
Table 2.
Visible Light Transmittance (VLT)
Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of the non-opaque building envelope components
shall comply with the minimum VLT values as given in Table 3.

Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of the non-opaque building envelope components

(transparent/translucent panels in windows, doors, etc.), indicate the potential of using
daylight. Ensuring minimum VLT helps in improving daylighting, thereby reducing the energy
required for artificial lighting.

The glass used on non-opaque building envelope components (transparent/translucent panels

in windows, doors, etc.) shall comply with the requirements given in Table 3. The VLT
requirement is applicable as per the window-to-wall ratio of the building.
Chapter 4. Code Compliance
Each building block in a project is required to comply with the code. For compliance following
conditions shall be met.

Composite Climate, Hot-dry Climate, Warm-humid Climate and

Temperate Climate

Step 1: Openable window-to-floor area ratio shall comply with the minimum values as
given in Table 2 of section 3.4. For calculation of refer to Annexure 4.

Step 2: Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of the non-opaque building envelope components
shall comply with the minimum VLT values as given in Table 3 of section 3.5.
a) For calculation of WWR refer to Annexure 3.
b) Refer product specifications to know VLT of the transparent / translucent panels in
windows and doors.

Step 3: Thermal transmittance of roof shall comply with the maximum value of 1.2
2
W/m .K (refer section 3.3). For checking the U value of typical roof or to calculate U values of
roof, refer to Annexure 1.

Step 4: Residential Envelope Transmittance Value (RETV) for building envelope (except roof),
shall comply with the maximum RETV of 15 W/m2 (refer section 3.1)
a) Equation 1 is to be used for the calculation of RETV, with coefficients selected from
Table 1 as per the climate zone.
b) For calculation of U values refer to Annexure 1.
c) For calculation of Equivalent SHGC refer to Annexure 2.
d) For calculation of WWR refer to Annexure 3.

An example of code compliance is given to Annexure 5 (Example 1).

Cold Climate

Step 1: Openable window-to-floor area ratio shall comply with the minimum values as
given in Table 2 of section 3.4. For calculation of refer to Annexure 4.

Step 2: Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of the non-opaque building envelope components
shall comply with the minimum VLT values as given in Table 3 of section 3.5.
a) For calculation of WWR refer to Annexure 3.
b) Refer product specifications to know VLT of the transparent / translucent panels in
windows and doors.
Step 3: Thermal transmittance of roof shall comply with the maximum value of 1.2
2
W/m .K (refer section 3.3). For checking the U value of typical roof or to calculate U values of
roof, refer to Annexure 1.

Step 4: Thermal transmittance of building envelope (except roof) for cold climate shall comply
with the maximum of 1.8 W/m2.K (refer section 3.2).
a) Equation 2 is to be used for the calculation of .
b) For calculation of U values refer to Annexure 1.

An example of code compliance is given to Annexure 5 (Example 2).

Annexure 1. Calculation of Thermal Transmittance (U
value) of roof and wall
U values for typical wall and roof can be taken from Table 4 and Table 5. In case, U value has
to be calculated, the procedure for calculation has been explained in A1.1.

Source:
(1) Handbook on Functional Requirements of Buildings (Other than Industrial Buildings) SP: 41 (S & T) -1987
(2) https://wienerberger.in/facts/wall-solutions-porotherm-smart-bricks
Source:
(1) NBC 2016: Part 11 Approach to Sustainability (Page.27)

A1.1 Calculation procedure for U value of wall and roof

a) Calculate thermal resistance of each uniform material layer which constitutes the
building component, as follows:

where, is the thermal resistance of material , m2.K/W

is the thickness of material , m
is the thermal conductivity of material , W/(m.K)

b) Find the total thermal resistance, , as follows:

where, is the total thermal resistance, m2.K/W

is the inside air heat transfer coefficient, W/(m2.K)
is the outside air heat transfer coefficient, W/(m2.K)
is the thermal resistance of material , m2.K/W
is the thermal resistance of material , m2.K/W
is the thermal resistance of material , m2.K/W

Use these default values6 for calculation,

Thermal conductivity of commonly used building material7 is given in Table 6, which can be
used to calculate thermal resistance (R value).

6 Source: Handbook on Functional Requirements of Buildings (Other than Industrial Buildings) SP: 41 (S & T) -
1987
7
ibid
c) Calculate the thermal transmittance (or the overall heat transfer coefficient or U value) of
a wall or roof assembly, as follows:

where, is the overall heat transfer coefficient, W/(m2.K)

In case, thermal conductivity values measured using the appropriate IS codes is available,
those can also be used for calculations.
Source:
(1) ASHRAE Fundamental, 2009
(2)
Procedia 122 (2017) 104-108
(3) Handbook on Functional Requirements of Buildings (Other than Industrial Buildings) SP: 41 (S & T) -1987
 (4) ECBC 2017
(5) -
Building Simulation Applications BSA 2015

In case, the construction also has air layer, use values of thermal resistance of air layer given
in Table 7 for U value calculation.

Source: Handbook on Functional Requirements of Buildings (Other than Industrial Buildings) SP: 41 (S & T) -1987

A1.2 Calculation procedure for U value of fenestration (non-opaque

building envelope component)

U-values, SHGC, or visible light transmittance of fenestration systems (non-opaque building

envelope components) certified, and labeled in accordance ISO 15099 shall be assigned the
certified values.

Unlabeled fenestration (non-opaque building envelope component), both operable and fixed,
shall be assigned the U-factors as per Table 8.

(Source: ECBC 2017)

Annexure 2. Calculation of Equivalent SHGC
(As per ECBC 2017)

The calculation needs to be done for fenestration located in 8 cardinal directions i.e. North,
East, South, West, North-east, South-east, South-west & North-west. Vertical fenestration on
non-cardinal direction, shall be categorized under a particular cardinal direction if its
orientation is within ± 22.5° of that cardinal direction.

a) Calculate the projection factor (PF) for permanent external projection, including but not
limited to overhangs, side fins, box frame, verandah, balcony, and fixed canopies, using
the formula:
i. Projection factor, overhang: the ratio of the horizontal depth of the external
shading projection ( ) to the sum of the height of the fenestration and the distance
from the top of the fenestration to the bottom of the farthest point of the external
shading projection ( ), in consistent units.

ii. Projection factor, side/vertical fin: the ratio of the horizontal depth of the external
shading projection to the distance from the window jamb to the farthest point of the
external shading projection, in consistent units.
iii. Projection Factor, overhang and side/vertical fin: average of ratio projection factor
for overhang only and projection factor of side fin only.

b) Calculate the Shading Equivalent Factors (SEF), using the formula:

This formula is developed for ranging from 0.25 to 1.0. If the calculated for the shading
is below 0.25, then a value of 0.25 shall be used. Similarly, If the calculated for the shading
is above 1.0, then a value of 1.0 shall be used.
 , , and are the coefficient of SEF, listed in Table 9 and Table 10

c) Calculate the equivalent SHGC of the fenestration ( ), by dividing the SHGC

of the unshaded fenestration product ( ) with the Shading Equivalent Factor
( ), using the formula:
Annexure 3. Calculation of window-to-wall ratio (WWR)
a) Calculate total non-opaque (transparent/ translucent panels of windows, doors, etc.) area
for the dwelling units of the building, excluding those on roof: For each wall, exposed to
ambient8, calculate the total non-opaque area by adding the glazed area of windows,
glazed area (if any) of the doors and any other non-opaque area. Add the non-opaque
area for all the walls to get the total non-opaque area for the building.

b) Calculate the total envelope area (excluding roof) of dwelling units: For each wall, exposed
to ambient, calculate the gross wall area (i.e. overall area of a wall including openings such
as windows and doors, with measurement taken horizontally from outside surface to
outside surface and measured vertically from top of the floor to the top of the roof). Add
the gross wall area for all walls to get the total envelope area (excluding roof) for the
building. Walls facing semi-open common areas like corridors, lift lobbies, staircases etc.
are to be excluded.

c) Calculate the window-to-wall ratio (WWR) by calculating the ratio of total non-opaque area
to the total gross wall area.

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exposed to ambient: exposed directly to external air. Does not include walls facing open corridors and enclosed
shafts
Annexure 4. Calculation of window operable area to floor
area ratio (WFRop)
a) Calculate the openable area by adding the openable area of windows and ventilators
(excluding doors) of all the dwelling units, which opens directly to the external air,
ventilation shaft or into an open balcony or .

If case exact openable area is not known, following default values can be used:

b) Calculate the built-up area by adding the built-up area of all the dwelling units (DU). This
includes area covered by the walls but excludes the balcony area.

c) Calculate the window operable area to floor area ratio (WFRop) by calculating the ratio of
openable area to the built-up area.
Annexure 7. Terminology and Definitions
Building Envelope: The elements of a building that separate conditioned spaces from the
exterior or from unconditioned space.

Built-up area (for calculation of WFRop) of dwelling units: the covered area of all dwelling
units, including the area covered by walls, but excepting the balcony area.

Group housing: Building unit or units constructed or to be constructed with one or more floors
having more than two dwelling units having common service facilities where land is shared
and commonly used by the dwelling units, and the construction is undertaken by one agency.

Non-opaque building envelope components: It includes transparent/translucent panels in

windows, doors, etc.

Opaque building envelope components: It includes wall, opaque panels in door and
window, etc.

Openable Window-to-Floor Ratio (WFR)op: The openable window-to-floor ratio (WFR)op is

the ratio of total openable area (addition of openable area of all windows and ventilators area,
excluding doors, opening directly to the external air or into an open balcony or ) to
the total built-up area of dwelling units (the covered area of all dwelling units, including the
area covered by walls, but excepting the balcony area).

Projection Factor, overhang: the ratio of the horizontal depth of the external shading
projection to the sum of the height of the fenestration and the distance from the top of the
fenestration to the bottom of the farthest point of the external shading projection, in consistent
units.

Projection Factor, side fin: the ratio of the horizontal depth of the external shading projection
to the distance from the window jamb to the farthest point of the external shading projection,
in consistent units.

Projection Factor, overhang and side fin: average of ratio projection factor for overhang
only and projection factor of side fin only.

RETV: Residential Envelope Heat Transmittance ( ) is the net heat gain rate (over the
cooling period) through building envelope (excluding roof) divided by the area of building
envelope (excluding roof). Its unit is W/m2.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)9: SHGC is the fraction of incident solar radiation
admitted through a fenestration, both directly transmitted, and absorbed and subsequently
released inward through conduction, convection and radiation.

9
Source: NBC 2016
Equivalent SHGC10: SHGC for a fenestration with a permanent external shading projection.
It is calculated using the Projection Factor (PF) of the permanent external shading projection
and Shading Equivalent Factor (SEF).

U value: Thermal transmittance (U value) is the heat transmission in unit time through unit
area of a material or construction and the boundary air films, induced by unit temperature
difference between the environments on either side. Unit of U value is W/m2.K. U value for the
wall/roof/glazing indicates its ability to transfer heat through conduction.

VLT: The visible light transmittance (VLT) is a measure of the transmitted light in the visible
portion of the spectrum through a material.

Window to Wall Ratio (WWR): It is the ratio of the non-opaque building envelope components
area to the envelope area (excluding roof) of dwelling units. Envelope area (excluding roof) of
dwelling units is the overall area of external walls of dwelling units (including openings such
as windows and doors, with measurement taken horizontally from outside surface to outside
surface and measured vertically from top of the floor to the top of the roof).

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Source: ECBC 2017