National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) was formed as a decision of Cabinet of Ministers in 1984. The Ministry of Disaster Management initiated the process of formal establishment by an Act of Parliament with a view to enforcing advisory, facilitating and regulatory functions of the government having proper governance over the subjects and functions assigned to it.

A draft bill to establish NBRI as the successor to NBRO has now been prepared. The stakeholder consultation forum on the draft bill is underway.