NATIONAL BUILDING CODE (PD 1096)

CHAPTER 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

• TITLE
This Decree shall be known as the “National Building Code of the Philippines” and shall hereinafter be referred to as the
“Code”.
• SCOPE AND LIMITATION
(a) The provisions of this Code shall apply to the design, location, siting, construction, alteration, repair, conversion, use,
occupancy, maintenance, moving, demolition of, and addition to public and private buildings and structures, except
traditional indigenous family dwellings as defined herein.
(b) Buildings and/or structures constructed before the approval of this Code shall not be affected thereby except when
alterations, additions, conversions or repairs are to be made therein in which case, this Code shall apply only to portions to
be altered, added, converted or repaired.
• GENERAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS
(a) All buildings or structures as well as accessory facilities thereto shall conform in all respects to the principles of safe
construction and must be suited to the purpose for which they are designed.
(b) Buildings or structures intended to be used for the manufacture and/or production of any kind of article or product shall
observe adequate environmental safeguards.
(c) Buildings or structures and all parts thereof as well as all facilities found therein shall be maintained in safe, sanitary and
good working condition.

CHAPTER 2: ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

• RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

The administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Code including the imposition of penalties for administrative
violations thereof is hereby vested in the Secretary of Public Works, Transportation and Communications, hereinafter
referred to as the “Secretary”.
• GENERAL POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE SECRETARY UNDER THIS CODE
(1) Formulate policies, plans, standards and guidelines on building design, construction, use, occupancy and maintenance,
in accordance with this Code.
(2) Issue and promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Code and ensure compliance with
policies, plans, standards and guidelines formulated under paragraph 1 of this Section.
(3) Evaluate, review, approve and/or take final action on changes and/or amendments to existing Referral Codes as well as
on the incorporation of other referral codes which are not yet expressly made part of this Code.
(4) Prescribe and fix the amount of fees and other charges that the Building Official shall collect in connection with the
performance of regulatory functions.
• BUILDING OFFICIALS
Due to the exigencies of the service, the Secretary may designate incumbent Public Works District Engineers, City Engineers
and Municipal Engineers to act as Building Officials in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
• QUALIFICATIONS OF BUILDING OFFICIALS
1. A Filipino citizen and of good moral character.
2. A duly registered architect or civil engineer.
3. A member of good standing of a duly accredited organization of his profession for not less than two years.
4. Has at least five years of diversified and professional experience in building design and construction.
• EXEMPTIONS OF BUILDING PERMIT
Public buildings and traditional indigenous family dwellings shall be exempt from payment of building permit fees. As used
in this Code, the term “traditional indigenous family dwelling” means a dwelling intended for the use and occupancy by the
family of the owner only and constructed of native materials such as bamboo, nipa, logs, or lumber, the total cost of which
does not exceed fifteen thousand pesos

CHAPTER 3: PERMITS AND INSPECTION

• APPLICATION FOR PERMITS

(1) A description of the work to be covered by the permit applied for;
 (2) Certified true copy of the TCT covering the lot on which the proposed work is to be done. If the applicant is not the
registered owner, in addition to the TCT, a copy of the contract of lease shall be submitted;
(3) The use or occupancy for which the proposal work is intended;
(4) Estimated cost of the proposed work.

To be submitted together with such application are at least five sets of corresponding plans and specifications prepared,
signed and sealed by a duly registered mechanical engineer in case of mechanical plans, and by a registered electrical
engineer in case of electrical plans, except in those cases exempted or not required by the Building Official under this Code.

• ISSUANCE OF BUILDING PERMIT

15 DAYS upon payment
• VALIDITY OF BUILDING PERMITS
Null and void- not commenced in a period of 1 year
Abandoned work for 120 days
• NON-ISSUANCE, SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF BUILDING PERMITS
(a) Errors found in the plans and specifications;
(b) Incorrect or inaccurate data or information supplied;
(c) Non-compliance with the provisions of this Code or of any rule or regulation.
• APPEAL
Within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of advice of the non-issuance, suspension or revocation of permits, the
applicant/permittee may file an appeal with the Secretary who shall render his decision within fifteen days from date of
receipt of notice of appeal. The decision of the Secretary shall be final subject only to review by the Office of the President.
• CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
A Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued by the Building Official within thirty (30) days if after final inspection and
submittal of a Certificate of Completion referred to in the preceding Section, it is found that the building or structure
complies with the provisions of this Code.

CHAPTER 4: TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION

• TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
(1) Type I –wood construction.
(2) Type II –wood construction with protective fire-resistant materials and one-hour fire-resistive throughout.
(3) Type III –masonry and wood construction. one-hour fire-resistive throughout..
(4) Type IV –steel, iron, concrete, or masonry construction
(5) Type V –fire-resistive.

CHAPTER 5: REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE ZONES

• FIRE ZONES DEFINED

Fire zones are areas within which only certain types of buildings are permitted to be constructed based on their use or
occupancy, type of construction, and resistance to fire.
• BUILDINGS LOCATED IN MORE THAN ONE FIRE ZONE
A building or structure which is located partly in one fire zone and partly in another shall be considered to be in
the more highly restrictive fire zone, when more than one-third of its total floor area is located in such zone
• CENTER LINES OF STREETS
the center line of an adjoining street or alley may be considered an adjacent property line. Distances shall be
measured at right angles to the street or alley.

CHAPTER 6: FIRE-RESISTIVE REQUIREMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION

• FIRE-RESISTIVE RATING
Fire-resistive rating means the degree to which a material can withstand fire as determined by generally
recognized and accepted testing methods.
• FIRE-RESISTIVE TIME PERIOD RATING
Fire-resistive time period rating is the length of time a material can withstand being burned which may be one-
hour, two-hours, three-hours, four-hours, etc.
CHAPTER 7: CLASSIFICATION AND GENERAL REQUIREMENT OF ALL BUILDINGS BY USE OR OCCUPANCY

• OCCUPANCY CLASSIFIED

• LOCATION ON PROPERTY
-eaves over required windows not < 750 mm. minimum over from the side & rear property lines
-sum of areas of openings must not exceed 50% of sum of areas of walls
• MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUP A DWELLINGS

CHAPTER 8: LIGHT AND VENTILATION

• SIZE AND DIMENSIONS OF COURTS

- MINIMUM HORIZONTAL COURT DIMENSION: shall be not less than 2.00 meters
- All inner courts shall be connected to a street or yard, either by a passageway with a minimum width of 1.20
meters or by a door through a room or rooms
• CEILING HEIGHTS
*HABITABLE ROOM
a. Natural Ventilation- min. of 2.70 m 2nd storey – 2.40 m
Artificial Ventilation – 2.40 3rd storey – 2.10 m
1st storey – 2.70 m b. Mezzanine – 1.80 m
• SIZE AND DIMENSION OF ROOMS
1. Rooms for Human Habitations – 6.00 square meters with a least dimension of 2.00 meters;
2. Kitchens – 3.0 square meters with a least dimension of 1.50 meters;
3. Bath and toilet – 1.20 square meters with a least dimension of 0.90 meter.
• AIR SPACE REQUIREMENTS IN DETERMINING THE SIZE OF ROOMS
1. School Rooms – 3.00 cubic meters with 1.00 square meter of floor area per person;
2. Workshops, Factories, and Offices – 12.00 cubic meters of air space per person;
3. Habitable rooms – 14.00 cubic meters of air space per person
• WINDOW OPENINGS
at least 10 % of floor area (not provided with artificial ventilation system)
• VENT SHAFTS
a. Ventilation or vent shafts – horizontal cross-sectional area not less than 0.10 sq.m per meter height of shaft
b. Air Ducts – 0.30 sq.m with atleast dimension of 300 mm
• ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION
MINIMUM REQUIREMENT
1. Office, Administrative purposes – 3 changes of air per hour
2. Bakeries, Hotels, Restaurants , Kitchens –10 changes of air per hour
3. Auditorium, Assembly purposes – 0.30 cu.m of air per minute
4. Wards, dormitories of institutional buildings – 0.45 cu.m of air per minute,
supplied each person