12.3 Alternative materials, methods of design & construction

AND TESTS

1) The provision of the regulations are not intended to prevent the use of any material or method of design or construction, not specifically prescribed by the regulations, provided any such alternative has been approved.

2) The provision of these regulations is also not intended to prevent the adoption for architectural planning and layout conceived as an integrated development scheme.

3) The authority may approve any such alternative provided it is found that the proposed alternative is satisfactory and conform to the provisions of relevant parts regarding material, design, and construction and that material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least equivalent to that prescribed in the rules in quality, strength, compatibility, effectiveness, fire rating and resistance, durability and safety.

4) Tests : Whenever there is insufficient evidence of compliance with the provisions of the regulations of evidence that any material or method of design or construction does not conform to the requirements of the rules or in order to substantiate claims for alternative materials, design or methods of construction, the Authority may require tests sufficient in advance as proof of compliance. These tests shall be made by an approved agency at the expense of the owner.

5) Test method shall be as specified by the regulations for the materials or design or construction in question. If there are no appropriate test methods specified in the regulations, the Authority shall determine the test procedure. For methods of tests for building materials; reference may be made to relevant Indian standards as given the National Building Code of India, published by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The latest version of the National building Code of India shall be taken into account at the time of enforcement of these rules.

6) Copies of the results of all such tests shall be retained by the authority for a period of not less than two year after the acceptance of the alternative material.