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NBCS 2026 (National Building Code for hospitals)
What it is
The National Building Construction Standards 2026, notified by the Bureau of Indian Standards to replace the National Building Code 2016. The change of consequence for hospitals is removal of the 45-metre height cap, subject to enhanced fire safety provisions
The 2016 code limited hospitals to ~45 m or 12-15 floors with ICUs within 30 m; ICUs may now sit above 45 m
Impact on industries
- Unlocks vertical expansion on land already owned - the binding constraint for chains in metros where large parcels are unaffordable or unavailable
- Improves capex economics directly, since brownfield towers avoid land cost and mature faster than greenfield projects
- Applies to existing structures as well as new projects, so incumbents with under-utilised urban sites benefit first
- Enhanced fire safety and evacuation engineering add cost and design complexity, and building standards remain a state subject, so benefits land unevenly