If you are a civil engineer in India, there is a very good chance that IS 456 is one of the first code books you learned about.
From concrete grades and durability requirements to reinforcement detailing, development length, slabs, beams, columns and foundations, IS 456:2000 has remained one of India’s most important concrete standards for more than two decades.
But recently, civil engineers have started seeing terms such as:
“New IS 456”
“IS 456:2025”
“IS 456 Fifth Revision”
“CED 2 (27096)”
“CED 2 (27096) – Cover Letter“
“Structural Concrete Code”
So, has a new IS 456 already been released?
The short answer is:
No. IS 456:2000 is still the current published version of IS 456. However, BIS is working on its Fifth Revision under document/project number CED 2 (27096).
The current BIS programme of work lists IS 456:2000 – Plain and Reinforced Concrete – Code of Practice (Fourth Revision) as the published standard and separately identifies CED 2 (27096) as the project for the fifth revision of IS 456, titled Structural Concrete – Code of Practice.
This article explains what that means, how IS 456 has evolved since 1953, what may change in the upcoming revision and, most importantly, what practising civil engineers should follow today.
Quick Answer: What Is the Current Status of IS 456?
| Question | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Current published IS 456 | IS 456:2000 |
| Revision | Fourth Revision |
| New revision under development | Fifth Revision |
| BIS project/document number | CED 2 (27096) |
| Proposed title | Structural Concrete – Code of Practice |
| Is “IS 456:2025” officially published? | No |
| Can the draft replace IS 456:2000? | No |
| Is IS 1343 expected to be integrated? | Yes, according to BIS draft material |
CED 2 (27096) is NOT a new IS code number.
It is the BIS project/document associated with revising IS 456:2000 into its Fifth Revision.
Think of it like this:
IS 456:2000 → CED 2 (27096) revision process → Future Fifth Revision of IS 456
Why Is IS 456 Being Revised?
IS 456:2000 was published more than two decades ago.
Since then, concrete construction in India has changed significantly.
Today, engineers routinely work with:
- Higher-strength concrete
- Higher-strength reinforcement
- Prestressed concrete
- High-rise buildings
- Long-span structures
- Advanced concrete materials
- Modern durability requirements
- Performance-based design concepts
- Existing-structure assessment
- Repair and rehabilitation
- New reinforcement materials such as FRP
- More sophisticated structural analysis
Modern concrete codes therefore need to address much more than simply whether a beam or column has sufficient ultimate strength.
The upcoming revision represents a broader move toward treating concrete structures throughout their entire lifecycle – design, construction, service, deterioration, abnormal events and possible restoration.
IS 456 Revision History
IS 456 has undergone several major changes since its first publication.
IS 456 Timeline
1953 → 1957 → 1964 → 1978 → 2000 → Upcoming Fifth Revision
Let us understand what happened at each stage.
1953 – Original IS 456
The first edition of IS 456 was published in 1953.
It provided standardised guidance for using plain and reinforced concrete in building construction in India.
At the time, concrete technology, reinforcement grades, construction practices and design approaches were far simpler than those used today.
This was the starting point for what eventually became one of India’s most widely used structural engineering standards.
1957 – First Revision
IS 456 received its first revision in 1957.
The revision reflected developments in concrete construction and practical experience gained after implementation of the original code.
1964 – Second Revision
The second revision was published in 1964.
The scope and technical provisions continued to expand as reinforced concrete became increasingly important for a wider range of structures.
1978 – Third Revision
The 1978 revision was a major milestone in the history of IS 456.
One of its most important developments was the introduction of the:
Limit State Method of Design
This changed the way generations of Indian engineers approached reinforced concrete design.
Instead of relying only on traditional working-stress concepts, designers could consider separate limit states related to:
Safety/collapse
and
Serviceability
The Limit State Method later became the dominant design philosophy for reinforced concrete structures in India.
2000 – Fourth Revision
The version most civil engineers use today was published in 2000.
IS 456:2000
Plain and Reinforced Concrete – Code of Practice
Fourth Revision
BIS continues to list IS 456:2000 as the published Fourth Revision.
Compared with the earlier edition, IS 456:2000 placed considerably greater emphasis on areas such as:
- Durability
- Exposure conditions
- Minimum concrete grade
- Nominal cover
- Concrete quality
- Serviceability
- Crack control
- Deflection control
- Reinforcement detailing
- Development and anchorage
- Quality control
- Construction practices
This edition has subsequently been supported by amendments.
Even today, IS 456:2000 remains a fundamental reference for RCC design and construction across India.
What Is CED 2 (27096)?
This is where much of the current confusion starts.
You may have seen a document reference such as:
CED 2 (27096)
Some engineers assume this is a new code book that will work alongside IS 456.
It is not.
BIS officially lists:
CED 2 (27096)
Revision of: IS 456:2000
Structural Concrete – Code of Practice – Fifth Revision of IS 456
Therefore:
CED 2 (27096) = the revision project for IS 456
It is part of the standards-development process that is expected to eventually lead to the Fifth Revision of IS 456.
Is IS 456:2025 Released?
No.
This is an important clarification.
At present, calling the new code “IS 456:2025” is misleading because BIS has not published a final Fifth Revision under that designation.
The year attached to an Indian Standard corresponds to its official publication.
Until BIS completes the revision process and formally publishes the standard, we should refer to it as:
Upcoming Fifth Revision of IS 456
or
CED 2 (27096) – Fifth Revision of IS 456 under development
BIS’s current programme of work still lists IS 456:2000 as the Fourth Revision while separately listing CED 2 (27096) as the revision project.
The Biggest Change: From “Plain and Reinforced Concrete” to “Structural Concrete”
The current title is:
IS 456:2000
Plain and Reinforced Concrete – Code of Practice
The revision project is being described as:
Structural Concrete – Code of Practice
That title itself gives us an important clue.
The future standard is intended to cover a significantly broader structural-concrete framework rather than focusing primarily on conventional plain and reinforced concrete.
IS 456 + IS 1343: A Major Proposed Integration
One of the most significant developments is the relationship between:
IS 456
Plain and Reinforced Concrete
and
IS 1343
Prestressed Concrete
A May 2025 BIS draft for the National Building Code states that IS 456:2000 and IS 1343:2012 are under revision and are being merged into the fifth revision of IS 456, titled “Structural Concrete – Code of Practice.”
This means that the future standard is expected to bring conventional reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete into a more unified structural-concrete framework.
Simple Explanation
Current system:
IS 456 → Plain & Reinforced Concrete
IS 1343 → Prestressed Concrete
Proposed direction:
IS 456 + IS 1343
↓
Structural Concrete – Code of Practice
This could make the future IS 456 much broader than the code engineers currently use.
Why Could the Fifth Revision Be a Major Change?
This does not appear to be simply a few modified clauses or updated numbers.
BIS draft material describes major changes being envisaged in the revision of IS 456 and its amalgamation with IS 1343.
The future standard may therefore affect multiple areas of concrete engineering.
These include:
Plain Concrete
Provisions relating to structural plain concrete are expected to remain part of the broader structural-concrete framework.
Reinforced Concrete
Conventional RCC design and detailing will continue to form a major part of the standard.
Prestressed Concrete
Prestressed-concrete requirements are expected to become integrated into the larger IS 456 framework.
High-Strength Materials
Modern projects increasingly use higher concrete grades and high-strength reinforcing steels.
The revised code is expected to better reflect contemporary materials and construction practices.
FRP and Non-Traditional Reinforcement
Modern structural concrete increasingly uses non-traditional reinforcement materials.
BIS CED 2’s programme itself has liaison areas covering non-traditional reinforcing materials and FRP material properties, highlighting the increasing importance of these technologies within concrete standardisation.
Maintenance and Existing Structures
Modern codes increasingly consider structures beyond their initial construction.
Assessment, deterioration, maintenance, repair and continued service life are becoming important parts of structural engineering.
A New Way of Looking at Structural Design
Perhaps one of the most interesting ideas described in BIS material is a broader design philosophy.
The BIS draft of NBC Part 6/Section 5 states that the fifth revision of IS 456 introduces six design criteria:
Strength
Can the structure safely resist the required actions?
Serviceability
Will deflection, cracking, deformation and other behaviours remain acceptable during normal use?
Durability
Can the structure withstand deterioration from its environment during its intended service life?
Robustness
Can the structure avoid disproportionate collapse or excessive damage if a local failure or abnormal event occurs?
Integrity
Can structural members and connections continue to function together as a complete structural system?
Restorability
Can the structure be restored to an acceptable level of performance following adverse events?
The BIS draft describes these six criteria as part of a lifecycle-oriented structural-design approach.
CPK Engineer Note
This represents an important shift in thinking.
A structure is no longer viewed only as:
“Is the section strong enough?”
The broader question becomes:
“Will the structure remain safe, usable, durable and resilient throughout its lifecycle – and what happens after an abnormal event?”
Six Design Criteria at a Glance
| Design Criterion | Simple Meaning |
|---|---|
| Strength | Prevent structural failure |
| Serviceability | Control deflection, cracks and usability |
| Durability | Maintain performance throughout service life |
| Robustness | Avoid disproportionate damage |
| Integrity | Keep the structural system connected and functional |
| Restorability | Enable recovery following adverse events |
This section alone could represent one of the most significant philosophical differences between the current code and the future revision.
What Technical Areas Should Engineers Watch?
Until the final standard is published, exact clause requirements should not be treated as final.
However, based on the direction of the revision, civil and structural engineers should closely watch the following areas.
Concrete Materials and Grades
Possible areas of development include:
- Higher-strength concrete
- Updated material properties
- Modern cementitious materials
- Concrete durability
- Special concretes
- Performance-related requirements
Concrete technology has developed dramatically since 2000, so material provisions are an obvious area for modernisation.
Reinforcing Steel
Engineers should watch for developments relating to:
- Higher-strength reinforcing steels
- Material properties
- Bond behaviour
- Anchorage
- Development length
- Detailing rules
- Lap splices
Any changes here would directly affect day-to-day RCC design and site execution.
Development Length and Lap Splices
This is likely to attract particular interest from site engineers.
IS 456:2000’s familiar provisions relating to:
Ld
anchorage
lap length
tension reinforcement
and
compression reinforcement
are used almost every day on RCC projects.
If the new code modifies these provisions, reinforcement detailing practices may also change.
Important
Draft values or equations circulating online should not be treated as final IS requirements until BIS officially publishes the revised standard.
Prestressed Concrete
The expected integration of IS 1343 makes prestressed concrete one of the most important areas to watch.
The unified code could cover requirements related to:
- Pre-tensioning
- Post-tensioning
- Prestressing steel
- Tendons
- Anchorage systems
- Prestress losses
- Serviceability
- Ultimate strength
- Grouting
- Detailing
This is one reason the proposed name “Structural Concrete” makes sense.
Serviceability Could Become Even More Important
Modern concrete structures often have:
- Longer spans
- Slender members
- Higher-strength materials
- More complex geometry
- Higher performance expectations
Therefore, controlling:
deflection
and
cracking
can be just as important as ultimate strength.
Engineers should therefore watch future provisions relating to:
- Deflection calculations
- Crack-width control
- Long-term deformation
- Creep
- Shrinkage
- Service stress limits
Durability and Service Life
Durability became significantly more prominent in IS 456:2000.
Future codes are increasingly expected to treat durability as an integral part of structural design rather than simply a construction consideration.
Possible focus areas may include:
- Exposure classification
- Concrete quality
- Cover
- Chlorides
- Carbonation
- Aggressive environments
- Service life
- Inspection
- Maintenance planning
Robustness and Structural Integrity
These concepts are especially important for structures exposed to abnormal or accidental events.
Instead of designing individual members independently, engineers must also consider whether local damage could spread through the structure.
This may involve concepts related to:
- Continuity
- Tying
- Alternate load paths
- Connection behaviour
- Progressive-collapse resistance
Restorability: A Particularly Interesting Concept
Restorability is less familiar to many practising engineers.
The basic idea is that structural design should consider not only how a structure behaves during an adverse event but also whether it can reasonably be repaired, restored and returned to service afterwards.
For critical infrastructure, this can be particularly important.
Construction and Quality Assurance
Structural performance depends on more than design calculations.
Poor concrete production, placement, curing or reinforcement detailing can destroy the assumptions made by the designer.
Therefore, engineers should expect continued emphasis on:
- Material control
- Concrete production
- Placement
- Compaction
- Curing
- Reinforcement placement
- Prestressing operations
- Inspection
- Testing
- Quality assurance
Existing Structures and Assessment
India has an enormous stock of ageing concrete infrastructure.
Many structures now require:
- Condition assessment
- Strength evaluation
- Repair
- Rehabilitation
- Retrofitting
- Life-extension decisions
A modern structural-concrete framework therefore needs to consider not only new structures but also the performance of existing ones.
IS 456:2000 vs Upcoming Fifth Revision
The following comparison gives a simple picture of the direction of change.
| IS 456:2000 | Upcoming Fifth Revision |
|---|---|
| Plain & reinforced concrete focus | Wider structural-concrete framework |
| Prestressed concrete mainly under IS 1343 | Proposed integration of prestressed concrete |
| Conventional reinforcement focus | Broader consideration of modern materials |
| Strength, serviceability and durability prominent | Six-criteria lifecycle philosophy described in BIS draft |
| Primarily new-design oriented | Greater lifecycle perspective |
| Existing concrete technology of its period | Intended to reflect modern concrete engineering |
| Fourth Revision | Fifth Revision under development |
Important: The right-hand column describes the direction indicated by BIS revision material and should not be interpreted as final clause requirements.
CONFIRMED vs DRAFT: Know the Difference
This is extremely important when reading information about the new IS 456.
CONFIRMED
BIS officially lists:
CED 2 (27096) as the revision of IS 456:2000 and identifies it as the fifth revision of IS 456 – Structural Concrete – Code of Practice.
BIS also continues to list:
IS 456:2000 – Plain and Reinforced Concrete – Code of Practice – Fourth Revision as the published standard.
DRAFT / UNDER DEVELOPMENT
Technical provisions associated with the revision are still part of a standards-development process.
Requirements, equations, limits, detailing rules and wording may therefore change before publication.
NOT YET CONFIRMED
At present, engineers should not assume the final standard will officially be called:
IS 456:2025
or
IS 456:2026
The final year designation will depend on the actual BIS publication.
Can Engineers Start Using the New Draft Instead of IS 456:2000?
No.
Until BIS formally publishes the Fifth Revision, engineers should continue using the currently applicable published standards for their projects.
Draft documents are useful for:
- Understanding future direction
- Professional learning
- Preparing for upcoming changes
- Technical discussion
- Reviewing proposed provisions
But they should not automatically replace the currently published IS requirements.
CPK Engineer Note
Draft ≠ Published Code
A value mentioned in a draft today could be revised before the final standard is issued.
Always verify the final published BIS document before applying new provisions to design or construction.
So What Should Civil Engineers Do Now?
There is no need to panic or immediately change current RCC design practice simply because a fifth revision is under development.
Instead:
Continue following the applicable published IS codes.
At the same time:
Start understanding the direction of the upcoming revision.
Pay particular attention to:
- Prestressed-concrete integration
- Higher-strength materials
- Development and lap requirements
- Durability
- Crack and deflection control
- Structural robustness
- Integrity
- Restorability
- Quality assurance
- Assessment of existing structures
Engineers who understand the concepts before publication will find it much easier to adapt when the final Fifth Revision is released.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IS 456:2025 released?
No. BIS currently continues to list IS 456:2000 as the Fourth Revision. The Fifth Revision is under development through CED 2 (27096).
What is the latest IS 456 code?
The currently published version is:
IS 456:2000
Plain and Reinforced Concrete – Code of Practice, Fourth Revision
What is CED 2 (27096)?
CED 2 (27096) is the BIS project/document associated with revising IS 456:2000 into its Fifth Revision.
Is CED 2 (27096) a separate code book?
No.
It should not be treated like an independent IS number such as IS 456, IS 1343 or IS 13920.
It is part of the revision process for IS 456.
What will the new IS 456 be called?
The revision project is titled:
Structural Concrete – Code of Practice
However, engineers should wait for the final BIS publication for the exact published title and year designation.
Is IS 1343 being merged into IS 456?
BIS’s May 2025 draft of NBC Part 6/Section 5 states that IS 456:2000 and IS 1343:2012 are being revised and merged into the fifth revision of IS 456.
Will IS 1343 disappear immediately?
Not while the new standard remains under development.
Engineers should continue using the currently applicable published standards until BIS formally issues replacement/supersession information.
Will lap length change in the new IS 456?
Potential revisions to reinforcement detailing are an important area to watch, but engineers should not treat values circulating from draft material as final until the Fifth Revision is officially published.
Can I design a project using CED 2 (27096)?
CED 2 (27096) represents an ongoing revision project rather than the final published Fifth Revision.
For actual project design, engineers should follow applicable published codes, statutory requirements, project specifications and approvals.
When will the Fifth Revision of IS 456 be released?
BIS is actively working on the revision, but the final publication year should not be assumed until BIS officially publishes the revised standard.
Final Takeaway
IS 456 has evolved alongside the development of concrete engineering in India:
1953
Original Code
↓
1957
First Revision
↓
1964
Second Revision
↓
1978
Third Revision
Limit State Method becomes a major feature
↓
2000
Fourth Revision
Current Published Code
↓
Fifth Revision Under Development
↓
Future IS 456
Structural Concrete – Code of Practice
The important message for civil engineers today is simple:
IS 456:2000 remains the current published IS 456. CED 2 (27096) represents the work toward its Fifth Revision – not a separate new code that has already replaced IS 456:2000.
The upcoming revision could be one of the most significant changes to India’s structural-concrete framework in decades, particularly because of its broader structural-concrete approach and the proposed integration of prestressed-concrete provisions.
Keep This Page Bookmarked
Civil Practical Knowledge will update this article whenever BIS releases significant new information regarding CED 2 (27096) and the Fifth Revision of IS 456.
Important Disclaimer
This article is intended for educational and informational purposes. Draft standards and standards-development documents may change before final publication. For actual design, construction or contractual use, always refer to the latest officially published Bureau of Indian Standards documents and applicable project requirements.