G.O. (Ms.) No. 57, Energy Efficiency and Climate Resilience Guidelines, 2022
The Housing and Urban Development [UD4(1)] Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 57, dated 19 April 2022, directing the Tamil Nadu Housing Board and Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board to apply energy efficiency and climate resilience standards to specified construction projects. The standards apply to projects under construction and future projects, pending amendments to the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019.
What the document governs
G.O. (Ms.) No. 57 of the Housing and Urban Development [UD4(1)] Department sets building envelope requirements for construction by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board and Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board. The Government issued the requirements after considering a proposal from the Member-Secretary, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.
The requirements apply, in the first instance, to buildings under construction and construction taken up in future by the two Boards. They operate pending amendments to the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019.
Buildings covered
G.O. (Ms.) No. 57 applies the listed requirements to buildings of the Tamil Nadu Housing Board and Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board that have:
- A connected load of 100 kW or more.
- A contract demand of 120 kVA or more.
- A built-up area of 2,000 square metres or more.
The source also sets separate envelope performance limits for all affordable housing developments undertaken in this context.
Key technical requirements
G.O. (Ms.) No. 57 requires covered Board projects to meet the following standards:
- External vertical walls, including external walls tilted at 60 degrees or more from horizontal, must have a maximum U value of 0.41 W/m².K.
- External windows and curtain walls must have a 600 mm horizontal projection at 2,100 mm from each floor, or at lintel level. Alternatively, the glass must have a maximum Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of 0.27.
- External windows and curtain walls must have a maximum U value of 3.00 W/m².K and minimum visible light transmittance of 0.27.
- Roofs must have a maximum U value of 0.33 W/m².K.
- Roofs must have an initial solar reflectance of at least 0.70 and an initial emittance of at least 0.75, using the identified ASTM standards.
- Affordable housing developments must have a maximum Residential Envelope Transmittance Value of 15 W/m² for the building envelope excluding the roof. The roof must have a maximum U value of 1.2 W/m².K.
Who is responsible
G.O. (Ms.) No. 57 instructs the Tamil Nadu Housing Board and Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board to engage suitable experts with adequate domain knowledge on an outsourcing basis. These experts are to ensure that the requirements are followed in the Boards' respective construction projects.
For buyers or owners, the document is directly relevant where a property forms part of a covered project developed by either Board. The source does not state that these requirements already apply generally to all private construction.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Does G.O. (Ms.) No. 57 apply to private residential buildings?
The source directs the Tamil Nadu Housing Board and Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board to follow the requirements in their construction projects. It does not state that the requirements already apply generally to private buildings.
Do the requirements cover projects already under construction?
Yes. The Housing and Urban Development [UD4(1)] Department states that the requirements apply to buildings under construction and to construction taken up in future by the two Boards.
What size of Board building is covered?
The listed requirements cover Board buildings with a connected load of 100 kW or more, a contract demand of 120 kVA or more, or a built-up area of 2,000 square metres or more.
Who checks compliance in Tamil Nadu Housing Board projects?
The Tamil Nadu Housing Board and Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board must engage suitable experts with adequate domain knowledge on an outsourcing basis to ensure compliance in their respective projects.
