Wind loading on tall buildings: Review of Indian Standards and recommended amendments

Abstract

The new Indian wind loading standard (IS 875 (Part 3), 2015) was brought out after a gap of 28 years. There are several changes especially on the front of calculating wind loading on tall buildings. Among them, one of the noticeable changes is by bringing the equations to calculate along wind gust factors replacing the complex figures from the earlier version of the IS875. Further, the new IS875 instigated across wind provisions for the first time. The earlier versions of the Australian wind loading standard (AS 1170.2, 1989; AS/NZS 1170.2, 2011) were the basis for most of these changes. This paper critically reviews each one of these new updates and reminds the users of the IS875 about potential issues of adopting the current standard as published for determining local pressures on facades as well as overall wind loading on tall buildings. Several amendments are recommended.