A one-page site checklist of the most-used mandatory rules of thumb from NBC 202 and related codes. Print it, laminate it, and check every item before concreting or closing up walls.
Walls
- Wall thickness: minimum 110 mm (half-brick), maximum 230 mm (one brick).
- Building limited to two storeys plus attic for rules-of-thumb design.
- Use cement-sand mortar 1:4 or richer; no mud mortar for load-bearing walls.
- Limit unsupported wall length; add cross-walls or piers for long walls.
Seismic Bands (all four levels)
- Provide continuous bands at plinth, sill, lintel, and roof levels.
- Each band: 2–4 longitudinal steel bars with stirrups in 75 mm (150 mm for wide walls) concrete.
- Bands must run unbroken around the whole building, including across openings.
Openings
- Keep openings away from inside corners: clear distance ≥ 1/4 of opening height, minimum 600 mm.
- Limit total opening length as a proportion of wall length.
- Provide vertical steel beside large openings, anchored into bands.
Configuration
- Keep plans compact and symmetric; avoid re-entrant corners.
- No soft storeys; keep stiffness uniform up the height.
- Anchor roof/floor to walls for diaphragm action.
- Provide seismic gaps between adjacent buildings.
Distilled from NBC 202 and related NBC provisions. For the full legal requirements, always refer to the official NBC documents published by the Government of Nepal.