Plinth Area in Construction: Definition, Calculation, and Application

Plinth Area Meaning:

The plinth area means we know the built-up covered area at the floor level of the basement or of any story. The plinth area is also referred to as the total area captured by the building along with the interior or exterior wall and also known as the built-up area.

The plinth area length of a building should be calculated to adjacent 1 inch if the measuring unit is in feet. The plinth area of the building normally remains 10 to 20 % over the carpet area.

Plinth Area Definition:

The definition of the plinth area is that the plinth area is a total area captured by the building along with the interior or exterior wall and also known as the built-up area. The plinth area is a built-up covered area at the floor level of the basement or of any story.

What Is Plinth Area?

The Plinth area is the total area from the external wall to the external wall and also to the internal wall to the internal wall which is sometimes related to the Carpet area. The plinth area is also referred to as the total area captured by the building along with the interior or exterior wall and also known as the built-up area.

The plinth area is a built-up covered area at the floor level of the basement or of any story. The plinth area of the building normally remains 10 to 20 % over the carpet area. The plinth area length of a building should be calculated to adjacent 1 inch if the measuring unit is in feet.

Plinth Area Rate:

The Plinth Area Rate is divided into three parts. Which is as follows.

1. For Residential.
2. For Non-Residential Building.
3. Hospital Building.

#1. For Residential-

1. For load-bearing structure, the foundation plinth area rate per 1 sq.m. is 3870, super-structure is 8625, and finishing 1450.
2. And for frame structure, the super-structure plinth area rate per 1 sq.m. is 12025, and the finishing 1530.

#2. For Non-Residential Building-

1. For load-bearing structure, the foundation plinth area rate per 1 sqm is 2980, super-structure is 7310 and finishing is 1495.
2. And for frame structure, the foundation plinth area rate per 1 sqm is 4590, super-structure is 9035, and finishing is 1530.

#3. Hospital Building-

1. For load-bearing structure, the foundation plinth area rate per 1 sq.m. is 2970, super-structure is 8190, and finishing is 1495.
2. And for frame structure, the foundation plinth area rate per 1 sq.m. is 4590, super-structure is 12535, and finishing is 1530.

Plinth Area Estimate:

The plinth area length of a building should be calculated to adjacent 1 inch if the measuring unit is in feet. The plinth area length of a building should be computed adjacent to 0.01 m and the area should be rounded to 0.01 m².

When we estimate the plinth area of a building the following areas should be into consideration.

1. At the floor level the area of the wall without plinth offsets. Half of the area of such walls should be contained in the plinth area if any common walls exist among two buildings.
2. The plinth area is estimate up to the outside of the cladding if the building contains columns that are proposed outside the cladding.
3. The lift well along with landing and the vertical duct for air conditioning are should be estimated.
4. At the floor level the area of the wall without plinth offsets. Half of the area of such walls should be contained in the plinth area if any common walls exist among two buildings.
5. 50% of the area should be taken into consideration if the area is uncovered with projections.
6. The bay window is the perfect instance and the recess by cantilevering apart the exterior walls.
   1. 25% of such an area should be considered when the recess height is up to 1.0 meters.
   2. And when the recess height is 1.0 to 2.0 meters, 50% of such area should be considered. but the recess height is considered 0 meters, 100% of such area should be considered.
7. The estimate of plinth Areas of the internal shaft for sanitary installations and garbage chute, telecom, electrical, and firefighting services under the condition that these do not go beyond 2m² in the area.

How to Calculate Plinth Area of a Flat?

1. The plinth area length of a flat should be calculated to adjacent 1 inch if the measuring unit is in feet. The plinth area length of a flat should be computed adjacent to 0.01 m and the area should be rounded to 0.01 m². When we estimate the plinth area of a flat the following areas should be into consideration-
2. The plinth area is calculated as a flat up to the outside of the cladding if the building contains columns that are proposed outside the cladding.
3. To the calculation of the plinth area of a flat 50% of the area should be taken into consideration if the area is uncovered with projections.
4. The bay window is the instance and the recess by cantilevering apart the exterior walls.
5. To calculate the plinth area of a flat at the floor level the area of the wall without plinth offsets. Half of the area of such walls should be contained in the plinth area if any common walls exist among two flats.
6. And when the recess height is 1.0 to 2.0 meters, 50% of such area should be considered. but the recess height is considered 0 meters, 100% of such area should be considered.
7. The calculate of the plinth area of the flat the internal shaft for sanitary installations and garbage chute, telecom, electrical, and firefighting services under the condition that these do not go beyond 2m² in the area.
8. The lift well along with landing and the vertical duct for air conditioning are should be calculated.

In the Calculation of Plinth Area, Some Things Should Be Considered That’s Are?

1. The plinth area of the ground level of the building should be taken for the calculation of the foundation coast.
2. The plinth area should be taken for the calculation of super-structure cost knows
3. The plinth area at the Ground level of the building is to be taken for the calculation of the roof slab finishing.
4. the Super Structure cost will be 80% of the Super Structure cost of Non-Residential Buildings for the school building.
5. the rates in Annexure-V shall be adopted, For super-structure in earthquake-prone areas.
6. The Sea Water Front – Rs.243/m² up to 10 km distance.
7. the basic rates as approved in the table above the provisions should be taken.
8. an extra 25% over the superstructure cost of the respective type of building is to be added for the basement floor.
9. In the plinth area calculation for the upper floors, an extra Rs.34/ m² should be added towards each lift charge.
10. The schedule of rates for works in Jails, Hills, Reserve forests, and other Special tracts, etc. The additional rates allowed shall be due to the above plinth area rates for works in respective areas.
11. The basic rate of the above data, all the provisions should be added.
12. The following rates over the basic rate as approved in the above data, the concrete provided in a higher grade in the coastal areas.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) that could be included in an article about understanding plinth area in construction:

What is plinth area in construction?

Plinth area refers to the total built-up area of a building measured from the outer edge of the exterior walls to the centerline of the internal walls at the floor level. It includes all covered areas, including walls.

How is plinth area different from carpet area?

Plinth area includes the area covered by walls, whereas carpet area refers only to the area within the walls where carpet or flooring can be laid.

Why is plinth area important in construction projects?

Plinth area estimation is crucial for determining the overall size and scope of a building project. It influences decisions related to material estimation, cost estimation, and compliance with building regulations.

How do you calculate the plinth area of a building?

The plinth area is calculated by measuring the length and width of each floor at the plinth level, including projections and recesses, and multiplying these dimensions to get the area.

What are the components included in the plinth area calculation?

The plinth area calculation includes the floor area of each level, the area occupied by walls (including projections and recesses), and other structural elements like lift wells, staircases, etc.

Why is the plinth area rate important?

The plinth area rate helps in estimating the cost of construction. It is used to calculate expenses related to the foundation, superstructure, and finishing work based on local rates and building type (residential, non-residential, etc.).

How does plinth area impact building regulations and permissions?

Many local building codes and regulations specify limits or ratios based on plinth area, such as maximum floor area ratios (FAR), setback requirements, and permissible heights.

What are the factors that affect the plinth area calculation?

Factors include the shape and layout of the building, presence of projections like balconies or bay windows, and variations in floor levels due to different building sections (like wings or blocks).

Can plinth area estimation vary for different types of buildings?

Yes, plinth area estimation methods and rates can vary for residential, commercial, or institutional buildings based on their structural design, usage, and local building regulations.

How accurate should plinth area measurements be?

Plinth area measurements should be precise, typically rounded to the nearest unit (like square meters or square feet), considering variations due to projections, recesses, and other architectural features