Section 24 in Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority Building Rules, 2013
24. Basement.
- The minimum height of basement shall be 2.50 meters measured from the finished level of the floor to the under surface of the beam, joist girders or any other horizontal structural member. The multi level basement shall be allowed maximum upto the zoned area of the site leaving the minimum 6 meters required setbacks as per provisions of the National Building Code, 2005. The structural safety of the adjoining buildings and the movement of fire tender should be ensured while allowing the basement. It shall be allowed subject to following conditions;(a)First level basement upto the extent of 75 percent basement area may be used for habitable purposes in commercial, institutional and residential buildings only subject to the condition that mandatory parking area norms are fulfilled and it shall adequately ventilated and conforming to fire safety norms, public health and structural safety norms . The minimum two entry or exits shall be mandatory for habitable use of basement. Such area shall be counted towards floor area ratio.(b)The remaining 25 percent area of first level basement may be put to following uses.-(i)Storage of household or other goods of non-combustible material; or(ii)Strong rooms, bank cellars, or(iii)Air conditioning equipment and other machines used for services and utilities of the building; or(iv)ParkingBasement, if used for purposes mentioned at (i) to (iv) shall not be counted towards floor area ratio.(c)The basement shall have the following requirements:(i)Basement shall be at least 2.5 meter in height from the floor to the underside of the roof slab or ceiling;(ii)Adequate ventilation shall be provided for the basement. Any deficiency may be met by providing adequate mechanical ventilation in the form of blowers, exhaust fans, air conditioning system;(iii)The minimum height of the ceiling of first level basement shall be 0.9 meters and maximum 1.2 meters above the average surrounding ground level;(iv)Adequate arrangement shall be made such that surface drainage does not enter the basement;(v)There shall be provisions of sufficient doors in case the basement is used for office or commercial purposes and maximum travel distance from any point to the door shall not exceed 15 meters; and(vi)In case, the basement is allowed beyond the building envelope then the level of the basement shall be at the ground floor level and the slabs should be designed to bear the load of fire tenders.
