CHAPTER 10: BFP

ORGANIZATION AND
FUNCTIONS
FIRE TECHNOLOGY AND ARSON INVESTIGATION
 OBJECTIVES

AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER, THE STUDENTS SHOULD BE

ABLE TO
• UNDERSTAND THE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
• FAMILIARIZE THE DIFFERENT TERMS IN R.A. 9514
• R.A. 6975 - CREATED THE BFP. BUREAU OF FIRE
PROTECTION (BFP) – ADMINISTERS AND ENFORCES THE
FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES.
• THE FIRE BUREAU SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO
INVESTIGATE ALL CAUSES OF FIRES AND, IF NECESSARY,
FILE THE PROPER COMPLAINTS WITH THE CITY OR
PROVINCIAL PROSECUTOR WHO HAS JURISDICTION OVER
THE CASE.
 BFP POWERS/FUNCTIONS

1. PREVENTIONS AND SUPPRESSION OF ALL DESTRUCTIVE FIRES ON

A. BUILDINGS
B. HOUSES
C. OTHER STRUCTURE
D. FOREST
E. LAND TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES
F. SHIPS/VESSELS
G. PETROLEUM INDUSTRY INSTALLATIONS
H. PLANE CRASHES AND SIMILAR INCIDENTS
2. ENFORCEMENT OF THE FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
3. INVESTIGATE ALL CAUSES OF FIRE
4. FILE PROPER COMPLAINTS WITH THE PROSECUTORS OFFICE
BFP ORGANIZATION
• HEADED BY A CHIEF WHO SHALL BE ASSISTED BY A DEPUTY CHIEF.
• IT SHALL COMPOSED OF A PROVINCIAL, DISTRICT, CITY AND MUNICIPAL STATIONS.
• IN LARGE PROVINCES, DISTRICT OFFICES MAY BE ESTABLISHED TO BE HEADED BY
A DISTRICT FIRE MARSHALL.
• THERE SHALL BE AT LEAST ONE FIRE STATION IN EVERY PROVINCIAL, CAPITAL,
CITY AND MUNICIPALITY.
• THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT SHALL PROVIDE THE SITE OF THE FIRE STATION.
 KEY POSITIONS - QUALIFICATIONS
1. MUNICIPAL FIRE MARSHAL
• SHOULD HAVE THE RANK OF SENIOR INSPECTOR.
• MUST HAVE FINISHED AT LEAST 2ND YEAR BACHELOR OF LAWS OR EARNED AT LEAST 12
UNITS IN A MASTERS DEGREE PROGRAM IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT,
ENGINEERING, PUBLIC SAFETY, CRIMINOLOGY OR OTHER RELATED DISCIPLINE.
• MUST HAVE SATISFACTORY PASSED THE NECESSARY TRAINING OF CAREER COURSES FOR
SUCH POSITION AS MAY BE ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRE BUREAU.
2. CITY FIRE MARSHAL
• SHOULD HAVE THE RANK OF CHIEF INSPECTOR.
• MUST HAVE FINISHED AT LEAST 2ND YEAR BACHELOR OF LAWS OR EARNED AT LEAST 24
UNITS IN A MASTERS DEGREE PROGRAM IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT,
ENGINEERING, PUBLIC SAFETY, CRIMINOLOGY OR OTHER RELATED DISCIPLINES.
• MUST HAVE SATISFACTORY PASSED THE NECESSARY TRAINING OR CAREER COURSES FOR
SUCH POSITION AS MAY BE ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRE BUREAU.
3. DISTRICT FIRE MARSHAL /PROVINCIAL FIRE MARSHAL/ ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR
ADMINISTRATION/ ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS/ CHIEF OF DIRECTORIAL
STAFF
• SHOULD HAVE THE RANK OF SUPERINTENDENT.
• MUST BE A GRADUATE OF BACHELOR OF LAWS OR A HOLDER OF A MASTERS DEGREE IN PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING, PUBLIC SAFETY, CRIMINOLOGY, OR OTHER
RELATED DISCIPLINES.
• MUST HAVE SATISFACTORY PASSED THE NECESSARY TRAINING OR CAREER COURSES FOR SUCH
POSITION AS MAY BE ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRE BUREAU.
4. DISTRICT FIRE MARSHAL FOR THE NCR/REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR FIRE
PROTECTION/DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTORATE OF THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OFFICE
• SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST THE RANK OF SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT.
• MUST BE A GRADUATE OF BACHELOR OF LAWS OR A HOLDER OF MASTERS DEGREE IN PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING, PUBLIC SAFETY, CRIMINOLOGY, OR OTHER
RELATED DISCIPLINES.
• MUST HAVE SATISFACTORY PASSED THE NECESSARY TRAINING OR CAREER COURSE FOR SUCH
5. DEPUTY CHIEF FOR ADMINISTRATION AND DEPUTY CHIEF FOR OPERATION OF THE FIRE
BUREAU
• SHOULD HAVE THE RANK OF CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT.
• MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE PHILIPPINE BAR OR MUST BE A HOLDER OF A MASTERS DEGREE IN
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING, PUBLIC SAFETY, CRIMINOLOGY OR
OTHER RELATED DISCIPLINES.
• MUST HAVE SATISFACTORY PASSED THE NECESSARY TRAINING OR CAREER COURSES AS MAY
BE ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRE BUREAU.
6. CHIEF OF THE FIRE BUREAU
• SHOULD HAVE THE RANK OF DIRECTOR.
• MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE PHILIPPINE BAR OR A MASTERS DEGREE IN PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING, PUBLIC SAFETY, CRIMINOLOGY OR OTHER
RELATED DISCIPLINE.
• MUST SATISFACTORY PASSED THE NECESSARY THE TRAINING OR CAREER COURSES FOR SUCH
POSITION AS MAY BE ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRE BUREAU.
• REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9514
• -APPROVED ON DECEMBER 19, 2008
• - REPEALED PD 1185
- KNOWN AS THE “REVISED FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES OF 2008”.
• DEFINITION OF TERMS
ABATEMENT – ANY ACT THAT WOULD REMOVE OR NEUTRALIZE A FIRE HAZARD.
ADMINISTRATOR – ANY PERSON WHO ACTS AS AGENT OF THE OWNER AND MANAGES
THE USE OF A BUILDING FOR HIM.
BLASTING AGENT -ANY MATERIAL OR MIXTURE CONSISTING OF A FUEL AND OXIDIZER
USED TO SET OFF EXPLOSIVES.
CELLULOSE NITRATE OR NITRO CELLULOSE – A HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE AND
EXPLOSIVE COMPOUND PRODUCED BY THE REACTION OF NITRIC ACID WITH A
CELLULOSE MATERIAL.
CELLULOSE NITRATE PLASTIC (PYROXYLIN) – ANY PLASTIC SUBSTANCE, MATERIALS
OR COMPOUND HAVING CELLULOSE NITRATE (NITRO CELLULOSE) AS BASE.
COMBUSTIBLE, FLAMMABLE OR INFLAMMABLE – DESCRIPTIVE OF MATERIALS THAT
ARE EASILY SET ON FIRE.
COMBUSTIBLE FIBER – ANY READILY IGNITABLE AND FREE BURNING FIBER SUCH AS
COTTON, OAKUM, RAGS, WASTE CLOTH, WASTE PAPER, KAPOK, HAY, STRAW, SPANISH
MOSS, EXCELSIOR AND OTHER SIMILAR MATERIALS COMMONLY USED IN COMMERCE.
COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID – ANY LIQUID HAVING A FLASH POINT AT OR ABOVE
37.8_C(100_F). CORROSIVE LIQUID – ANY LIQUID WHICH CAUSES FIRE WHEN IN
CONTACT WITH ORGANIC MATTER OR WITH CERTAIN CHEMICALS.
CURTAIN BOARD – A VERTICAL PANEL OF NON-COMBUSTIBLE OR FIRE RESISTIVE
MATERIALS ATTACHED TO AND EXTENDING BELOW THE BOTTOM CHORD OF THE ROOF
TRUSSES, TO DIVIDE THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ROOF INTO SEPARATE COMPARTMENTS SO
THAT HEAT AND SMOKE WILL BE DIRECTED UPWARDS TO A ROOF VENT.
CRYOGENIC – DESCRIPTIVE OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH BY ITS NATURE OR AS A RESULT OF
ITS REACTION WITH OTHER ELEMENTS PRODUCES A RAPID DROP IN TEMPERATURE OF THE
IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS.
DAMPER – A NORMALLY OPEN DEVICE INSTALLED INSIDE AN AIR DUCT SYSTEM WHICH
AUTOMATICALLY CLOSES TO RESTRICT THE PASSAGE OF SMOKE OR FIRE.
DISTILLATION – THE PROCESS OF FIRST RAISING THE TEMPERATURE IN SEPARATE THE
MORE VOLATILE FROM THE LESS VOLATILE PARTS AND THEN COOLING AND CONDENSING
THE RESULTING VAPOR SO AS TO PRODUCE A NEARLY PURIFIED SUBSTANCE.
DUCT SYSTEM – A CONTINUOUS PASSAGEWAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF AIR.
DUST – A FINELY POWDERED SUBSTANCE WHICH, WHEN MIXED WITH AIR IN THE PROPER
PROPORTION AND IGNITED WILL CAUSE AN EXPLOSION.
ELECTRICAL ARC – AN EXTREMELY HOT LUMINOUS BRIDGE FORMED BY PASSAGE OF AN
ELECTRIC CURRENT ACROSS A SPACE BETWEEN TWO CONDUCTORS OR TERMINALS DUE
TO THE INCANDESCENCE OF THE CONDUCTING VAPOR.
EMBER – A HOT PIECE OR LUMP THAT REMAINS AFTER A MATERIAL HAS PARTIALLY BURNED,
AND IS STILL OXIDIZING WITHOUT THE MANIFESTATION OF FLAMES.
FIRE TRAP – A BUILDING UNSAFE IN CASE OF FIRE BECAUSE IT WILL BURN EASILY OR BECAUSE
IT LACKS ADEQUATE EXITS OR FIRE ESCAPES.
FIRE ALARM – ANY VISUAL OR AUDIBLE SIGNAL PRODUCED BY A DEVICE OR SYSTEM TO WARM
THE THE OCCUPANTS OF THE BUILDING OR FIREFIGHTING ELEMENTS OF THE PRESENCE OR
DANGER OF FIRE TO ENABLE THEM TO UNDERTAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO SAVE LIFE AND
PROPERTY AND TO SUPPRESS THE FIRE.
FIRE DOOR – A FIRE RESISTIVE DOOR PRESCRIBED FOR OPENINGS IN FIRE SEPARATION WALLS OR
PARTITIONS.
FIRE HAZARD – ANY CONDITION OR ACT WHICH INCREASES OR MAY CAUSE AN INCREASE IN THE
PROBABILITY OF THE OCCURRENCE OF FIRE, OR WHICH MAY OBSTRUCT, DELAY, HINDER OR
INTERFERE WITH FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS AND THE SAFEGUARDING OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.
FIRE LANE – THE PORTION OF A ROADWAY OR PUBLIC WAY THAT SHOULD BE KEPT OPENED AND
UNOBSTRUCTED AT ALL TIMES FOR THE EXPEDIENT OPERATION OF FIREFIGHTING UNITS.
FIRE PROTECTIVE AND FIRE SAFETY DEVICE – ANY DEVICE INTENDED FOR THE PROTECTION
OF BUILDINGS OR PERSONS TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO BUILT-IN PROTECTION SYSTEM
SUCH AS SPRINKLERS AND OTHER AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM, DETECTORS FOR
HEAT, SMOKE AND COMBUSTION PRODUCTS AND OTHER WARNING SYSTEM COMPONENTS,
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SUCH AS FIRE BLANKETS, HELMETS, FIRE SUITS, GLOVES
AND OTHER GARMENTS THAT MAY BE PUT ON OR WORN BY PERSONS TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES DURING FIRE.
FIRE SAFETY CONSTRUCTIONS – REFERS TO DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF WALLS,
BARRIERS, DOORS, WINDOWS, VENTS, MEANS OF EGRESS, ETC. INTEGRAL TO AND
INCORPORATED INTO A BUILDING OR STRUCTURE IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE DANGER TO LIFE
FROM FIRE, SMOKE, FUMES OR PANIC BEFORE THE BUILDING IS EVACUATED. THESE FEATURES
ARE ALSO DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE, AMONG OTHERS, SAFE AND RAPID EVACUATION OF PEOPLE
THROUGH MEANS OF EGRESS SEALED FROM SMOKE OR FIRE, THE CONFINEMENT OF FIRE OR
SMOKE IN THE ROOM OR FLOOR OF ORIGIN AND DELAY THEIR SPREAD TO OTHER PARTS OF THE
BUILDING BY MEANS OF SMOKE SEALED AND FIRE RESISTANT DOORS, WALLS AND FLOORS. IT
SHALL ALSO MEAN TO INCLUDE THE TREATMENT OF BUILDINGS COMPONENTS OR CONTENTS
WITH FLAME RETARDANT CHEMICALS.
HAZARDOUS OPERATION/PROCESS – ANY ACT OF MANUFACTURING, FABRICATION,
CONVERSION, ETC., THAT USES OR PRODUCES MATERIALS WHICH ARE LIKELY TO
CAUSE FIRES OR EXPLOSIONS.
INDUSTRIAL BAKING AND DRYING – THE INDUSTRIAL PROCESS OF SUBJECTING
MATERIALS TO HEAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF REMOVING SOLVENTS OR MOISTURE
FROM THE SAME, AND/OR TO FUSE CERTAIN CHEMICAL SALTS TO FORM A UNIFORM
GLAZING THE SURFACE OF MATERIALS BEING TREATED.
JUMPER – A PIECE OF METAL OR AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR USED TO BYPASS A
SAFETY DEVICE IN AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
OCCUPANCY – THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH A BUILDING OR PORTION THEREOF IS USED
OR INTENDED TO BE USED.
OCCUPANT – ANY PERSON ACTUALLY OCCUPYING AND USING A BUILDING OR
PORTIONS THEREOF BY VIRTUE OF A LEASE CONTRACT WITH THE OWNER OR
ADMINISTRATOR OR BY PERMISSION OR SUFFERANCE OF THE LATTER.
PRESSURIZED OR FORCED DRAFT BURNING EQUIPMENT – TYPE OR BURNER WHERE THE
FUEL IS SUBJECTED TO PRESSURE PRIOR TO DISCHARGE INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER
AND/OR WHICH INCLUDES FANS OR OTHER PROVISIONS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF AIR AT
ABOVE NORMAL ATMOSPHERE PRESSURE INTO THE SAME COMBUSTION CHAMBER.
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY BUILDING – ANY BUILDING OR STRUCTURE WHERE FIFTY (50) OR
MORE PEOPLE CONGREGATE, GATHER, OR ASSEMBLE FOR ANY PURPOSE.
PUBLIC WAY – ANY STREET, ALLEY OR OTHER STRIP OF LAND UNOBSTRUCTED FROM THE
GROUND TO THE SKY, DEEDED, DEDICATED OR OTHERWISE PERMANENTLY APPROPRIATED
FOR PUBLIC USE.
REFINING – A PROCESS WHERE IMPURITIES AND/OR DELETERIOUS MATERIALS ARE
REMOVED FROM A MIXTURE IN ORDER TO PRODUCE A PURE ELEMENT OF COMPOUND. IT
SHALL ALSO REFER TO PARTIAL DISTILLATION AND ELECTROLYSIS.
SELF-CLOSING DOORS – AUTOMATIC CLOSING DOORS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO CONFINE
SMOKE AND HEAT AND DELAY THE SPREAD OF FIRE.
SPRINKLER SYSTEM – AN INTEGRATED NETWORK OF HYDRAULICALLY DESIGNED
PIPING INSTALLED IN A BUILDING, STRUCTURE OR AREA WITH OUTLETS
ARRANGED IN A SYSTEMATIC PATTERN WHICH AUTOMATICALLY DISCHARGES
WATER WHEN ACTIVATED BY HEAT OR COMBUSTION PRODUCTS FROM A FIRE.
STANDPIPE SYSTEM – A SYSTEM OF VERTICAL PIPES IN A BUILDING TO WHICH
FIREHOSES CAN BE ATTACHED ON EACH FLOOR, INCLUDING A SYSTEM BY WHICH
WATER IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE OUTLETS AS NEEDED.
VESTIBULE – A PASSAGE HALL OR ANTECHAMBER BETWEEN THE OUTER DOORS
AND THE INTERIOR PARTS OF A HOUSE OR BUILDING.
VERTICAL SHAFT – AN ENCLOSED VERTICAL SPACE OF PASSAGE THAT EXTENDS
FROM FLOOR TO FLOOR, AS WELL AS FROM THE BASE TO THE TOP OF THE
BUILDING.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!