GB 55038-2025Project code for residential building (English PDF)

2.3 Clause 2.3, provisions 2.3.2 to 2.3.8 (the heading of 2.3 falls on a page outside those examined)

2.3.2 The common parts of a residential building, its common entrance halls, common corridors, common staircases and roof among them, shall not be demolished, altered or occupied without authorisation.

2.3.3 The load-bearing structure, the main functions of use and the external appearance of a residential building shall not be altered without authorisation.

2.3.4 The seismic members, the isolation trenches, the isolation joints and the seismic isolation and damping devices of a residential building, and their marking, shall not be altered, damaged or removed without authorisation.

2.3.5 The water supply and drainage, heating, gas, electricity supply and communication installations serving common purposes in a residential project shall not be demolished or altered without authorisation.

2.3.6 The common spaces and grounds and the common equipment and facilities of a residential project shall be maintained, inspected and managed at regular intervals, and the common equipment and facilities shall be kept in normal operation.

2.3.7 The fire protection facilities of a residential project shall be kept intact and effective, and the escape routes and the fire engine access routes shall be kept clear.

2.3.8 Heavy objects that affect structural safety shall not be piled on the floors or the roof of a residential building.

3.1 Spatial environment

3.1.1 A residential project shall provide residents with a liveable living environment, and the spatial environment control indicators of its residential block shall comply with Table 3.1.1-1. Where the residential buildings adopt a low-rise or a multi-storey high-density layout, the spatial environment control indicators of the residential block shall comply with Table 3.1.1-2. Table 3.1.1-1 fixes, for each building climate zone and for each class of average number of storeys of the residential buildings, the plot ratio of the residential land, the maximum building density as a percentage, the minimum green space ratio as a percentage and the maximum controlled height of the residential buildings in metres; the classes of storeys run from low-rise, one to three storeys, through multi-storey class I, four to six storeys, multi-storey class II, seven to nine storeys, and high-rise class I, ten to seventeen storeys, to high-rise class II, eighteen to twenty-six storeys. Table 3.1.1-2 fixes the same quantities for low-rise and multi-storey class I buildings in a high-density layout and adds the residential land area per person in square metres per person. The values of the two tables are not reproduced here.

3.1.2 The spacing between residential buildings shall be controlled according to the insolation standard set by Table 3.1.2. The insolation standard for newly built residential buildings inside an old-area redevelopment project shall not be lower than 1 h of insolation on Great Cold day. Table 3.1.2 fixes, for the building climate zones and for the permanent population of the urban district or town district, the standard insolation day, the number of hours of insolation, the effective insolation time band expressed in local true solar time, and the point from which the calculation starts; a note states that the sill of a ground floor window means the position on the external wall 0.9 m above the indoor floor. The numerical values of that table are not reproduced here.

3.2 Site

3.2.1 The site of a residential project shall be safe and shall comply with the following: on a plot affected by noise pollution or light pollution, corresponding protective measures shall be taken and the acoustic environment and light environment quality requirements for residential land shall be met; on a plot with soil contamination, effective measures shall be taken to render it harmless and the soil environment quality requirements for residential land shall be met; and the site design shall satisfy the requirements of emergency evacuation.

3.2.2 Concentrated green space shall be provided inside the residential block, and shall comply with the following: the concentrated green space per person shall not be less than 0.50 m2 in a newly built project and not less than 0.35 m2 in an old-area redevelopment project; the width of the concentrated green space shall not be less than 8 m; and within the concentrated green space the area of green space lying outside the standard building shadow line shall not be less than one third of the whole, and grounds for the activities of elderly people and children shall be provided there.

3.2.3 A residential project shall be provided with ancillary roads, which shall comply with the following: they shall connect with the urban or town road system and shall satisfy the passage requirements of emergency, fire-fighting and transport vehicles; they shall connect without barriers with the pedestrian entrances of the residential project site, with the entrances of the residential units and with the grounds for the activities of elderly people and children, and shall connect with the footways of the urban or town roads so as to form a barrier-free pedestrian system; and the pedestrian paving shall meet the anti-slip requirements.

3.2.4 Where the natural slope of the site of a residential project is steeper than 8.0 %, a terraced layout shall be adopted, and it shall comply with the following: retaining structures such as slope protection or retaining walls shall be provided between the terraces; and where the slope protection or retaining wall is more than 2.0 m high, the horizontal clear distance between its top edge and a building on the upper terrace shall not be less than 3.0 m, and the horizontal clear distance between its bottom edge and a building on the lower terrace shall not be less than 2.0 m.

3.2.5 The vertical design of the site of a residential project shall favour the control of rainwater runoff and the use of rainwater as a resource, and shall meet the requirements of flood control and waterlogging drainage. The design slope for surface drainage of the site shall not be less than 0.2 %.

3.2.6 Where a residential building is more than 10 m high, the minimum distance from its external wall face to the edge of the road shall comply with Table 3.2.6. That table gives, for each relation between building and road, the distance from an urban or town road and the distance from an ancillary road, both in metres: where the face of the building towards the road has no public entrance, 3.0 and 2.0; where the face of the building towards the road has a public entrance, 5.0 and 2.5; and where the gable wall of the building faces the road, 2.0 and 1.5. The notes state that the edge of an urban or town road means the road boundary line, and that the edge of an ancillary road means the edge line of the carriageway.

3.2.7 The night-time lighting illuminance values and the general colour rendering index of the outdoor public areas of a residential project shall not be lower than the limits set by Table 3.2.7. That table gives, for each place, the average horizontal illuminance, the minimum horizontal illuminance, the minimum vertical illuminance, the minimum semi-cylindrical illuminance, all in lux, and the general colour rendering index: main ancillary roads, 15, 3, 5, 3 and 60; other ancillary roads, 10, 2, 3, 2 and 60; fitness footpaths, 20, 5, 10, 5 and 60; and activity grounds, 30, 10, 10, 5 and 60. A note states that the reference plane for horizontal illuminance is the ground, and that the calculation point or measuring point for vertical illuminance and semi-cylindrical illuminance is 1.5 m high.

3.3 Supporting facilities

3.3.1 The supporting facilities of a residential project shall be determined jointly from the resident population size and the service radius of the facilities, and shall be provided and built at the same time as the project, in accordance with the graded configuration standard of the residential area in which it lies.

3.3.2 A residential project shall be provided with domestic waste collection points, which shall comply with the following: they shall meet the requirement of separate waste collection; they shall carry signs that are easy to recognise; and the containers collecting kitchen waste shall be capable of being closed.

3.3.3 A residential project shall be provided with parcel boxes or lockers, or the conditions for installing them shall be reserved.

4.1 Space inside the dwelling unit

4.1.1 The usable floor area of a bedroom shall comply with the following: the usable floor area of a bedroom shall not be less than 5 m2; the usable floor area of a bedroom that doubles as a living room shall not be less than 9 m2; and the clear width of the short side of a bedroom shall not be less than 1.80 m.

4.1.2 The storey height and the indoor clear height of a newly built residential building shall comply with the following: the storey height shall not be less than 3.00 m; the indoor clear height of bedrooms and living rooms shall not be less than 2.60 m, the local clear height shall not be less than 2.20 m, and the area whose local clear height is below 2.60 m shall not exceed one third of the indoor usable floor area; where the space inside a pitched roof is used as a bedroom or a living room, the usable floor area with an indoor clear height not less than 2.20 m shall not be less than one half of the indoor usable floor area; and the indoor clear height of kitchens and bathrooms shall not be less than 2.20 m.

4.1.3 Bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens shall not be placed in a basement. Where they are placed in a semi-basement, the layout shall be reasonable and the necessary measures for ventilation, damp-proofing, drainage and safety protection shall be taken.

4.1.4 The usable floor area of a kitchen shall not be less than 3.5 m2.

4.1.5 A kitchen shall be fitted with a sink, a tap, a worktop, a cooker and a range hood, or the positions for installing them shall be reserved.

4.1.6 The bathroom of each dwelling unit shall be fitted with at least the three sanitary appliances of water closet, bathing appliance and washbasin, or the positions and conditions for installing them shall be reserved. The door of a bathroom containing a water closet shall not open directly into the kitchen. Where the water closet, the bathing appliance and the washbasin are placed together, the usable floor area of the bathroom shall not be less than 2.5 m2.

4.1.7 A bathroom shall not be placed directly above the bedroom, living room, kitchen or dining room of another household.

4.1.8 The provision of bathrooms shall comply with the following: in a dwelling unit on several levels, at least one bathroom fitted with a water closet and a washbasin, or with the positions and conditions for installing them reserved, shall be provided on each floor on which a living room or a bedroom is placed; grab rails shall be provided beside the water closet and the bathing appliance of the bathroom, or the conditions for installing them shall be reserved; and where the bathroom door opens inwards, the spatial conditions for it to be changed to open outwards or to slide shall be reserved.

4.1.9 The waterproofing and damp-proofing of a bathroom shall comply with the following: the floor of the bathroom shall be given a waterproof layer and a floor drain, and shall have a drainage fall towards the floor drain of not less than 1 %; the height of the waterproof layer on the wall of the shower area shall not be less than 2.00 m and shall not be lower than the height of the shower head, the remaining wall surface and the ceiling being given a damp-proof layer or damp-proofing measures; the height of the waterproof layer on the wall at the washbasin shall not be less than 1.20 m; and on the walls of the other parts of the bathroom, apart from those covered by items 2 and 3 of this clause, the turn-up height of the floor waterproofing shall not be less than 0.25 m.

4.1.10 The floor of a bathroom shall be given anti-slip paving, and the static coefficient of friction of the floor shall not be less than 0.6.

4.1.11 Each dwelling unit shall be provided with a position for a washing machine, together with the water supply and drainage installations for the washing machine and the other conditions for its use.

4.1.12 The difference in floor level between a kitchen, a bathroom or an enclosed balcony and the adjoining space shall not exceed 0.015 m, and shall be resolved with a ramp; the height of the threshold of the entrance door of the dwelling and the difference in level inside and outside that door shall likewise not exceed 0.015 m.

4.1.13 The clear width of the entrance passage inside the dwelling unit shall not be less than 1.10 m; the clear width of a passage leading to a bedroom or a living room shall not be less than 1.00 m; and the clear width of a passage leading to a kitchen, a bathroom or a store room shall not be less than 0.90 m.

4.1.14 The clear passage width of the entrance door of a newly built residential building shall not be less than 0.90 m, and that of the entrance door of a residential building undergoing renovation shall not be less than 0.80 m. The clear passage width of a bedroom door shall not be less than 0.80 m, and that of a kitchen door and a bathroom door shall not be less than 0.70 m, the conditions for barrier-free adaptation being reserved.

4.1.15 Where a balcony is provided, it shall comply with the following: the clear height of the balcony railing shall not be less than 1.20 m, the clear distance between the vertical members of the railing shall not exceed 0.11 m, and the balcony railing shall be given measures to prevent climbing; where the balcony railing carries a fitting for placing objects or flowerpots, measures shall be taken to prevent those objects or flowerpots from falling; an open balcony shall be given organised drainage and waterproofing measures; the floor of a balcony on which a washing machine is placed shall be given organised drainage and a waterproof layer; and adjoining balconies of neighbouring dwelling units shall be given a dividing partition.

4.1.16 Where the clear height from the sill of an external window overlooking a void to the indoor floor is less than 0.90 m, protective fittings shall be provided; the height of the protective fitting shall be measured from the indoor floor or from a surface that can be climbed onto and shall not be less than 0.90 m. Where the sill of a bay window is at a height of 0.45 m or less, the height of its protective fitting shall be measured from the sill surface and shall not be less than 0.90 m; where the sill of a bay window is higher than 0.45 m, the height of its protective fitting shall be measured from the sill surface and shall not be less than 0.60 m; the protective fitting of a bay window shall be set against the external window.

4.1.17 Where the ratio between the clear width and the clear depth of a recess in a residential building is less than 1 to 3 and the clear width is less than 1.20 m, the external windows of bedrooms and living rooms shall not be placed inside that recess.

4.2 Common space

4.2.1 Where a common corridor is provided, it shall comply with the following: the clear width of the corridor shall not be less than 1.20 m and its clear height shall not be less than 2.20 m; and where an enclosed external corridor is provided, openable window sashes shall be provided.

4.2.2 The provision of common stairs shall comply with the following. Where the height from the floor of the highest entrance level to the outdoor design ground does not exceed 15 m, the clear width of a flight of a common stair with a railing on one side shall not be less than 1.00 m, and where the common stair is bounded by walls on both sides the clear width of the flight shall not be less than 1.10 m; where the height from the floor of the highest entrance level to the outdoor design ground exceeds 15 m, the clear width of the flight of the common stair shall not be less than 1.10 m. The width of a step of a common stair shall not be less than 0.26 m and its height shall not exceed 0.175 m, the widths and heights of the steps of one flight shall be consistent, and the first and the last step of each flight shall be given a clear marking. The height of the stair handrail shall not be less than 0.90 m; where the length of the railing of a horizontal section of the stair exceeds 0.50 m, the handrail height of that horizontal section shall not be less than 1.20 m, and the clear distance between the vertical members of the stair railing shall not exceed 0.11 m. Where the clear width of the stair well exceeds 0.11 m, measures shall be taken to prevent people from falling and children from climbing.

4.2.3 Rooms that generate noise or vibration, such as lift shafts, lift machine rooms and pump rooms, shall not be placed immediately next to a bedroom.

4.2.4 The provision of lifts in a newly built residential building shall comply with the following: in a residential building whose highest entrance level is the fourth storey or above, or whose highest entrance level floor is more than 9 m above the outdoor design ground, at least one lift shall be provided for each residential unit; in a residential building whose highest entrance level is the twelfth storey or above, or whose highest entrance level floor is more than 33 m above the outdoor design ground, at least two lifts shall be provided for each residential unit; in a residential unit provided with lifts, at least one lift shall meet the following dimensional requirements, the clear width of the car door being not less than 0.90 m, and, where a wide car is used, the long side of the car being not less than 1.60 m and the short side not less than 1.50 m, while where a deep car is used the width of the car shall not be less than 1.10 m and its depth not less than 2.10 m; and the centre of the emergency call button of the lift shall be 0.85 m to 1.10 m above the floor.

4.2.5 The addition of a lift to an existing residential building shall not affect the safety of the building structure nor its normal functions of use. The rated load of an added lift shall not be less than 320 kg, and the clear width of its car door shall not be less than 0.80 m.

4.2.6 A lift shaft shall be provided on its own, and cables and wires unrelated to the lift shall not be laid in it. Apart from the lift door openings, the inspection door openings and the ventilation openings, no other openings shall be made in the wall of the lift shaft.

4.2.7 The provision of common entrances shall comply with the following: each residential unit shall have at least one barrier-free common entrance; the clear passage width of the external door of a common entrance shall not be less than 1.10 m, and where the external door is a double-leaf door at least one leaf shall have a clear passage width of not less than 0.80 m; apart from a flat-slope entrance, the clear depth of the platform of a common entrance, measured from the furthest point reached by the door leaf when it opens to the edge of the platform, shall not be less than 1.50 m; where a common entrance lies beneath a balcony, an external corridor or an open stair landing, safety measures shall be taken against injury from falling objects, and a canopy shall be provided above the common entrance whose width shall not be less than the width of the door opening and whose projection shall exceed the furthest point reached by the door leaf when it opens and shall not be less than 1.00 m; and where the total height of the steps of a common entrance exceeds 0.70 m and the side faces a void, protective fittings shall be provided on the void side of the steps and the platform, their clear height being not less than 1.20 m.

4.2.8 Protective railings shall be provided at places overlooking a void, such as external corridors, indoor galleries, internal light wells, outdoor stairs and accessible roofs, and they shall comply with the following: the clear height of the railing shall not be less than 1.20 m; and the railing shall be given measures against climbing and against objects falling, the clear distance between its vertical members being not more than 0.11 m.

4.2.9 The floor inside and outside common entrances, in common corridors, on common stairs and in lift lobbies shall be given anti-slip paving, and the static coefficient of friction of the floor shall not be less than 0.6.

4.2.10 The following equipment and facilities shall be placed inside the common space of a residential building: the water supply main riser, the fire-fighting riser, the rainwater riser other than a rainwater riser placed on an open balcony, the heating or air conditioning flow and return mains, and the power and extra-low-voltage distribution trunk lines or conduits; the valves of common pipework, apart from the gas service pipe valve which has to be inside the dwelling unit, the electrical equipment and the parts used for overall adjustment and maintenance, apart from the inspection opening of the drainage riser inside the dwelling unit; and the inspection openings of the indoor heating trenches and cable trenches.

4.2.11 The cable shafts and pipe shafts of a residential building shall be tightly sealed at every floor slab.

4.2.12 Where a residential building uses split air conditioners, the position and the installation of the outdoor units shall comply with the following. A dedicated accessible platform slab convenient for the installation and maintenance of the outdoor unit shall be provided, or the space for it shall be reserved; the connection between that dedicated platform slab and the main building structure shall be structurally designed, and its design working life shall be the same as that of the main structure. The position of the outdoor unit shall secure unobstructed ventilation and shall not be placed in a poorly ventilated position such as an internal light well of the building. The clause continues beyond this point on a page outside those examined.

Relationship to previous standards Relationship to previous standards

No superseded-standard entry appears on the frontispiece of this code, so no superseded code is recorded in the edition field.

The announcement of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of 2025, No. 39, printed at the front of the volume, states that GB 55038-2025 is a full-text mandatory engineering construction code all of whose provisions shall be strictly enforced, that where the provisions of a current engineering construction standard differ from it its own provisions prevail, and that the current national standard GB 50368-2005, Residential building code, is abolished at the same time.

The same announcement abolishes, at the same time, the following mandatory provisions of current engineering construction standards: clause 4.0.1 of GB 50033-2013; a list of clauses of GB 50096-2011 running from 5.1.1 to 8.7.9; clauses 4.2.1, 4.2.2 and 4.2.5 of GB 50118-2010; clauses 3.1.3, 3.1.7, 3.2.2, 4.1.1, 4.3.4, 4.3.6, 4.3.7 and 10.1.6 of GB 50327-2001; clauses 1.0.3 and 3.0.1 of GB 50631-2010; clauses 4.3.2, 8.4.3, 10.1.1 and 10.1.2 of JGJ 242-2011; clauses 3.0.4 and 3.0.7 of JGJ 367-2015; and clauses 4.1.1 and 4.2.1 of JGJ 286-2013.