INTRODUCTION

Due to rapid urbanization, shortage of land and continuous growth of population, there has been significant rise in the construction of tall buildings, especially in the urban areas to cater to the associated need for shelter spaces, office spaces and other commercial spaces. Tall buildings are designed not only by considering structural safety criteria but also ensuring the required serviceability aspects, especially under the conditions of lateral loads such as wind and earthquakes.

Although, design of tall buildings in mainly governed by wind loads, in regions of higher seismic zones earthquake loads become prominent which needs to be considered in the planning and design of buildings before construction. In order to ensure safety as well as serviceability aspects of tall buildings, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) had formulated an indigenous standard, IS 16700: Criteria for Structural Safety of Tall Concrete Buildings, which provides prescriptive requirements for the design and construction of RC tall buildings in the country. As far as earthquake resistant design of tall buildings is considered, IS 16700 should be read in conjunction with IS 1893 (Part 1) which lays down general provisions and guidelines for design of all buildings.

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