The Bureau of Indian Standards developed the National Building Code (NBC) in the early 1980s as a guiding code for municipalities and development authorities to follow in formulating and adopting building by-laws. The voluntary code covers most aspects of building design and construction, with a small part dedicated to energy efficiency. Most cities and municipalities use the NBC for developing the local bylaws and standards.
In the latest version, the code provides guidance on aspects of energy conservation (related to Daylighting and Natural Ventilation) and sustainable development in various parts and sections concerning appropriate design, usage and practices with regard to building materials, construction technologies, and building and plumbing services. NBC provides general guidance on potential energy-efficiency aspects of such factors as
daylight integration, artificial lighting requirements, and HVAC design standards NBC is the reference standard for most construction design and documents in the country.