Lecture 4

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE

OF THE PHILIPPINES
(Presidential Decree 1096)
<Chapters 5 – 8>

By: DR. J. Berlin P. Juanzon CE, MBA, MSCM

 Part 2

CHAPTERS 5 to 8
{
  Define the basic specification
under Chapters 5 to 8 of the
National Building Code of the
Philippines

LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Chapter – 5 Requirements for Fire Zones
Section 501. Fire Zones Defined
Fire Zones are areas within which only
certain types of building are permitted to be
constructed based on their used or occupancy,
type of construction and resistance to fire.

The zones are kept

small enough to be "bite
sized;" small enough that
in a fire the zone can be
dealt with as a whole.
Chapter – 5 Requirements for Fire Zones
Section 502. 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
Chapter – 5 Requirements for Fire Zones
Section 503. Moved Building
Any building or structure moved within or
into any fire zone shall be made to comply with
all the requirements for buildings in that fire
zone.
Section 504. Temporary Buildings
Temporary buildings may be erected in the
fire zones by special permit from the Building
Official for a limited period of time, and such
buildings or structures shall be completely
removed upon the expiration of the time limit
stated in such permits.
 Section 505. 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 – 5 Requirements for Fire Zones
Section 506. Restrictions on Existing Buildings
Existing buildings or structures in fire zones that
do not comply with the requirements for a new building
erected therein shall not hereafter be enlarged, altered,
remodeled, repaired or moved except as follows:

(a) Such building is entirely demolished;

(b) Such building is to be moved outside the limits of the

more highly restrictive Fire Zone to a zone where the
building meets the minimum standards;
Chapter – 5 Requirements for Fire Zones
(c) Changes, alterations and repairs may be made
provided that in any 12-month period, the value of the
work does not exceed twenty percent of the value of the
existing building, and provided that, such changes do not
add additional combustible material, and do not, in the
opinion of the Building Official, increase the fire hazard;

(d) Additions thereto are separated from the existing

building by fire walls, as set forth in Sub-section 604 (b);

(e) Damage from fire or earthquake, typhoons or any

fortuitous event may be repaired, using the same kind of
materials of which the building was originally
constructed.
Chapter – 5 Requirements for Fire Zones
Section 507. Designation of Fire
Zones
The Secretary shall
promulgate specific restrictions
for each type of Fire Zone.
Cities and municipalities shall
be divided into such Fire Zones
in accordance with local,
physical, and spatial framework
plans submitted by city or
municipal planning and/or
development bodies.
Chapter – 6 Fire-resistive requirements on
construction
Section 601. Fire-resistive rating Defined
Fire resistive ratings means the degree to which a
material can withstand fire as determined by generally
recognized and accepted testing methods.
Section 602. 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.
Section 603. Fire-Resistive Standards
All materials of construction, and assemblies or
combinations thereof shall be classified according to
their fire-retardant or flame-spread ratings.
Chapter – 6 Fire-resistive requirements on
construction
Section 604. Fire-Resistive Regulations
The Secretary shall prescribe standards and
promulgate rules and regulations on the testing of
construction materials for flame-spread characteristics,
tests on fire damages, fire tests of building construction
and materials, door assemblies and tinclad fire doors and
window assemblies, the installation of fire doors and
windows and smoke and fire detectors for fire protective
signaling system, application and use of controlled interior
finish, fire-resistive protection for structural members,
fire-resistive walls and partitions, fire-resistive floor or
roof ceiling, fire-resistive assemblies for protection of
openings and fire-retardant roof coverings.
Chapter – 7 Classification and General
requirement of all buildings by use or
occupancy
Section 701. Occupancy Classified
1) Group A – Residential dwellings
2) Group B – Residential, Hotels and Apartments
3) Group C – Education and Recreation
4) Group D – Institutional
1) Mental Hospitals
2) Nurseries for full-time care of children
3) Nursing homes for ambulatory patients
Section 701. Occupancy Classified
5) Group E – Business and Mercantile
1. Gasoline Filling Station
2. Wholesale and Retail store
3. Aircraft hangars and open parking
6) Group F – Industrial
1. Ice plants, Power plants, pumping plants, cold
storage and creameries, factories and workshops.
7) Group G – Storage and Hazardous
8) Group H – Assembly other than group I
9) Group I – Assembly occupant load 1000 or more
10) Group J – Accessory
1. Private garage, carports, sheds and agricultural
buildings.
2. Fences over 1.80 meters high, tanks and towers.
Section 702. Change in Use
No change shall be made in the character of
occupancy or use of any building which would place the
building in a different division of the same group of
occupancy or in a different group of occupancies, unless
such building is made to comply with the requirements
of this Code for such division or group of occupancy. The
character of occupancy of existing buildings may be
changed subject to the approval of the Building Official
and the building may be occupied for purposes set forth
in other Groups: Provided the new or proposed use is
less hazardous, based on life and fire risk, than the
existing use.
Section 703. Mixed Occupancy

- When a building is of mixed occupancy or

used for more than one occupancy, the whole
building shall be subject to the most restrictive
requirement pertaining to any of the type of
occupancy found therein.
- Occupancy separations shall be vertical or
horizontal or both, or when necessary, of such
other forms as may be required to afford a
complete separation between the various
occupancy divisions in the building.
Section 704. Location on Property

No building shall be
constructed unless it
adjoins or has direct
access to a public
space, yard or street
on at least one of its
sides.

The center line of an

adjoining street or alley
shall be considered an
adjacent property line.
Section 704. Location on Property
Section 704. Location on Property
- Exterior walls shall have fire resistance and
opening protection.
Section 705. Allowable Floor Area

The allowable floor areas for one-storey

building and buildings over one-storey shall not
exceed the limits prescribed by the Secretary for
each occupancy groups and/or types of
construction.
For purposes of this Section, each portion of a
building separated by one or more area
separation walls may be considered a separate
building provided the area separation walls meet
the requirements prescribed therefor by the
Secretary.
Section 705. Allowable Floor Area
From Table VII-1 Allowable Maximum Total
Gross Area (TGFA)
Based on the Allowable Percentage of Site
Occupancy (PSO)
Example:
Type-Residential Group A-1 (without firewalls)
Inside Lot (Regular)
3 Storey - 60% of TLA
For lot area = 120sm
TGFA = 60% of 120 = 72sm
Section 707. Maximum Height of Building

1.0 The maximum height of and number of

storeys of proposed building shall be dependent
upon the character of use or occupancy and the
type of construction, considering end-user
population density, light and ventilation, width of
RROW…
Refer to Table VII.2 Building Height Limit
(BHL) by Type of Use and Occupancy
Section 707. Maximum Height of Building

2.0 Determination of Building Height

a. Building Height Limit (BHL)
Refer to Table VII.2 Building Height Limit
(BHL) by Type of Use and Occupancy

3.0 Other Considerations in Height

Determination
Section 707. Maximum Height of Building
4.0 Parking Slot, parking Areas and
loading/unloading space
Refer to Table VII-4
Minimum Required Off-Street (Off-RROW) cum On-Site
Parking Slot
Example:
Group D-2 Public Hospitals
One(1) off-street cum on-site parking slot for every
25beds and one(1) off-RROW passenger loadin space that can
accommodate two(2) queued jeepney/shuttle slots
Section 708. Minimum requirement for a Group A
Dwellings

(a) Dwelling Location and Lot Occupancy.

The dwelling shall occupy not more than ninety
percent of a corner lot and eighty percent of an inside
lot, and subject to the provisions on Easement on Light
and View of the Civil Code of the Philippines, shall be at
least 2 meters from the property line.
Section 708. Minimum requirement for a Group A
Dwellings
(b) Light and Ventilation.
Every dwelling shall be so constructed and
arranged as to provide adequate light and ventilation as
provided under Section 805, of this Code.

(c) Sanitation.
Every dwelling shall be provided with at least one
sanitary toilet and adequate washing and drainage
facilities.
Section 708. Minimum requirement for a Group A
Dwellings
(d) Foundation.
Footing shall be of sufficient size and strength to
support the load of the dwelling and shall be at least
250
millimeters thick and 600 millimeters below the surface
of the ground.
(e) Post.
The dimensions of wooden post shall be those found in
Table 708-A Dimensions of Wooden Posts (Annex B-1).
Each post shall be anchored to such footing by strap and
bolts of adequate size.
Section 708. Minimum requirement for a Group A
Dwellings
(f) Floor.
The live load of the first floor shall be at least 200
kilograms per square meter and for the second floor, at
least 150 kilograms per square meter. .

(g) Roof .
The wind load for roofs shall be at least 120 kilograms
per square meter for vertical projection.
Section 708. Minimum requirement for a Group A
Dwellings
(h) Stairs.
Stairs shall be at least 750 millimeters in clear width,
with a rise of 200 millimeters and a minimum run of 250
millimeters

(i) Entrance and Exit.

There shall be at least one entrance and another one for
exit.
Chapter – 8 Light and Ventilation
Section 801. General requirements
a) Subject to the provisions of the Civil Code of
the Philippines on Basement of Light and View and to
the provisions of this part of the Code, every building
shall be designed, constructed, and equipped to provide
adequate light and ventilation.

b)All buildings shall face a street or public alley or

a private street which has been duly approved.
Chapter – 8 Light and Ventilation
Section 803. Percentage of Site Occupancy
Maximum site occupancy shall be governed by the
use, type of construction, and height of the building and
the use, area, nature, and location of the site; and
subject to the provisions of the local zoning
requirements and in accordance with the rules and
regulations promulgated by the Secretary.
Refer to Table VIII.1
Reference table of Maximum Allowable PSO…
Chapter – 8 Light and Ventilation
Section 804. Sizes and dimensions of Courts
Table VIII.2
Minimum Setbacks for Residential
Building/Structures

Table VIII.3
Setbacks for Commercial, Industrial, Institutional
and Recreational Buildings
Chapter – 8 Light and Ventilation
Section 805. Ceiling Heights
Habitable rooms provided with artificial ventilation have
ceiling heights not less than 2.40 meters measured from the floor to
the ceiling; Provided that for buildings of more than one-storey, the
minimum ceiling height of the first storey shall be 2.70 meters and
that for the second storey
2.40 meters and succeeding storeys shall have an
unobstructed typical head-room clearance of not less than 2.10
meters above the finished floor. Above stated rooms with a natural
ventilation shall have ceiling height not less than 2.70 meters.
Mezzanine floors shall have a clear ceiling height not less
than 1.80 meters above and below it.
Chapter – 8 Light and Ventilation
Section 806. Sizes and Dimensions of Rooms
Minimum sizes of rooms and their least horizontal
dimensions shall be as follows:

1. Rooms for Human Habitations. 6.00 square meters with at

least dimensions of 2.00

2. Kitchens. 3.00 square meters with at least dimension of

1.50 meters;

3. Bath and toilet. 1.20 square meters with at least

dimension of 0.90 meters.
Chapter – 8 Light and Ventilation
Section 807. Air space requirements in
Determining sizes of rooms
Minimum space shall be provided as follows:
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

space per person;

3. Habitable rooms. 14.00 cubic meters of space per

person.
Chapter – 8 Light and Ventilation
Section 808. Window Openings

Every room intended for any use, not provided with

artificial ventilation system as herein specified in this
Code, shall be provided with a window or windows with a
total free area of openings equal to at least ten percent of
the floor area of room, and such window shall open
directly to a court, yard, public street or alley, or open
water courses.
Chapter – 8 Light and Ventilation
Section 809.Vent Shafts

Ventilation or vent shafts shall have a horizontal

crosssectional area of not less than 0.10 square meter for
every
meter of height of shaft but in no case shall the area be
less than 1.00 square meter. No vent shaft shall have its
least dimension less than 600 millimeters..
Chapter – 8 Light and Ventilation
Section 810.Ventilation Skylights

Skylights shall have glass area not less than that

required for the windows that are replaced. They shall be
equipped with movable sashes or louvers with an
aggregate net free area not less than that required for
openable parts in the window that are replaced or
provided with approved artificial ventilation of equivalent
effectiveness.
Chapter – 8 Light and Ventilation
Section 811. Artificial Ventilation

Rooms or spaces housing industrial or heating

equipment shall be provided with artificial means of
ventilation to prevent excessive accumulation of hot
and/or polluted;

Refer to Table VIII.4

Minimum Requirement for Air Changes