Handout for CE104 (BUILDING SYSTEM DESIGN)

General Building Requirements

GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR NATIONAL
BUILDING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES As stated by the National Building Code of the
Philippines:
Codes and Standards are the essential foundations of
any building. These are the guidelines that designers • All buildings or structures as well as
strictly adhere to when it comes to their designs. These accessory facilities shall conform in all
provide safeguards against anonymity in designs since respects to the principles of safe construction
these codes and standards are proven to be effective in and must be suited to the purpose for which
their own respective fields of specialization. These they are designed
standards create uniformity in various designs based • Buildings or structures intended to be used
on what reference they sourced their standards. for the manufacture and/or production of any
In the Philippines, we have the National Building kind of product shall observe adequate
Code of the Philippines as the governing standard environmental safeguards
when it comes to building design. It was formerly • Buildings or structures and all its parts as
signed as a Presidential Decree 1096 Links to an well as all facilities found within it shall be
external [Link] the former president Ferdinand E. maintained in safe, sanitary and good
Marcos in February 19, 1977 which decrees and act to working condition
adopt a national building code in the Philippines as
implemented by the Republic Act 6541. Site Requirements

The National Building Code of the Philippines is the Aside from the building itself, the site in which the
policy of the Philippines to safeguard life, health, building stands should conform with the National
property, and public welfare, that is consistent with Building Code of the Philippines. This land or site
the principles of sound environmental management upon which will be constructed with any building or
and control. The purpose of this Code is to provide for structure, or any ancillary or auxiliary facility, should
all buildings and structures, a framework of minimum be sanitary, hygienic or safe. In the case of sites or
standards and requirements to regulate and control buildings intended for human habitation, the land or
their location, site, design, quality of materials, site should also be sanitary, hygienic or safe within a
construction, use, occupancy, and maintenance. safe distance, as determined by competent authorities,
from streams or bodies of water and/or sources
Scope and Application considered to be polluted; from a volcano or volcanic
site and/or any other building that is considered to be
The provisions of this Code shall apply to the design, a potential source of fire or explosion.
location, sitting, construction, alteration, repair,
conversion, use, occupancy, maintenance, moving,
demolition of, and addition to public and private GENERAL DESIGN PROVISIONS FOR
buildings and structures, except traditional indigenous NATIONAL STRUCTURAL CODE OF THE
family dwellings as defined in the Code. PHILIPPINES

Building and/or structures constructed before the National Building Code of the Philippines is applied
approval of this Code shall not be affected thereby for the over-all design of a building including its key
except when alterations, additions, conversions or functional areas, site location, inclusion for provisions
repairs are to be made therein in which case, this Code in water, sanitation, etc. On the other hand, National
shall apply only to portions to be altered, added, Structural Code of the Philippines focuses on the
converted or repaired. specific aspects of the structural design of a building.
This provides standards in properly designing a safe,
sturdy, and long-lasting structure.
The National Structural Code of the Philippines has Serviceability defines how good the structure could be
gone many versions, from its first release in 1972 as of use based on its purpose such that the structure
National Structural Code for Buildings (NSCB) then maintains its usability once it is operational. The
on its third edition in 1987 as the National Structural general serviceability requirement of the code
Code of the Philippines (NSCP), up to the current 7th provides that structural systems and its structural
edition of NSCP 2015. members shall be designed to have adequate stiffness
to limit deflections, lateral drifts, vibrations, or any
The purpose of this code is to provide minimum other deformations that adversely affect the intended
requirements for the design of buildings, towers, and use and performance of buildings, towers, and other
other vertical structures, and minimum standards and vertical structures.
guidelines to safeguard life or limb, property and
public welfare by regulating and controlling the In designing structures, proper analysis should be
design, construction, quality of materials pertaining to strictly undergone to ensure that certain factors
the structural aspects of all buildings and structures affecting the structures i.e. imposed loads are
within its jurisdiction. considered in the calculation of the analysis with
tolerable allowance for uncertainties that would
Scope of NSCP possible affect the structure throughout its lifespan.
The structural analysis applied for the structure,
The provisions of the code applies to the construction, system or method of construction, shall be based on a
alteration, moving, demolition, repair, maintenance, rational analysis in accordance with well-established
and use of buildings, towers, and other vertical principles of mechanics that take into account
structures within its jurisdiction. equilibrium, general stability, geometric
compatibility, and both short-term and long-term
Special structures such as, but not limited to single material properties. Some structural members tend to
family dwellings, storage silos, liquid product tanks, accumulate residual deformations under repeated
and hydraulic flood control structures, should be service loads and should include in its analysis the
referred to special state of practice literature but shall added eccentricities expected to occur during their
refer to provisions of this code as a minimum service life. This structural analysis shall result in a
whenever applicable since these structures requires system that provides a complete load path capable of
special design provisions due to various design transferring all loads and forces from their point of
aspects i.e. hydraulic forces, etc. origin to the load-resisting elements. The structural
analysis should also include considerations in
Design Requirements resisting overturning forces; self-restraining forces
including restrained dimensional changes i.e. due to
There are five general design requirements based on temperature, moisture, shrinkage, heave, creep; and
the NSCP, these are: strength requirement, the uplift and sliding forces in the roof, columns, and
serviceability requirement, structural analysis, walls.
foundation investigation, and design review.
Soil explorations shall be required or buildings,
Based on the strength requirement, buildings, towers, towers, and other vertical structures as required by
and other vertical structures and all portions of it shall the Building Official to properly conduct foundation
be designed and constructed to sustain, within the investigation in order to effectively design the
limitations of the code, all loads imposed in it i.e. dead foundation that these structures would be built in.
loads, live loads.
Lastly, design calculations, drawings, specifications,
and other design-related documents for buildings,
towers, and other vertical structures shall be subject to
a design review by an independent recognized
structural engineer or engineers to be employed by the
owner.
This design review shall, as a minimum, verify the The Building Official is the official charged with the
general compliance with the NSCP which shall duties of issuing building permits. In the
include, but not be limited to, the review of the design performance of his/her duties, a Building Official
load criteria, the design concept, mathematical model may enter any building or its premises at all
and techniques. The following may also be verified, reasonable times to inspect and determine
that there are no major errors in pertinent calculations, compliance with the requirements of this Code,
drawings, and specifications and may also ensure that and the terms and conditions provided for in the
the structure as reviewed, meet minimum standards building permit when it was issued. When
for safety, adequacy and acceptable standard design any building work is found to be contrary to the
procedure. provisions of this Code, the Building Official
may order the work to be stopped and prescribe the
PLAN ENFORCEMENT terms and/or conditions when the work will be
allowed to resume. The Building Official is
The National Building Code of the Philippines is authorized to order the discontinuance of the
enforced and implemented by the Building Official occupancy or use of any building or structure or
governing a specific area of jurisdiction. These portion found to be occupied or used contrary to the
building officials are responsible in carrying out the provisions of this Code.
provisions of the code in the field and the enforcement Building Permit
of orders and decisions made in implementing this
code. These building officials are the following: No entity shall erect, construct, alter, repair, move,
convert, or demolish any building or structure
• Public Works District Engineer (from the without first obtaining a building permit from
Department of Public Works and Highways, the Building Official in the place where the subject
DPWH) building is located or the building work is done. This
• City Engineer (from a city local government), is the mandate from the National Building Code of
and the Philippines which allows for those
• Municipal Engineer (from a municipal local aforementioned works to be done in a building or
government). project construction. But what does a building permit
have regarding a building or project construction?
Qualifications of Building Officials A building permit, specifically its application form
which can be acquired from the Office of the
As stated in the National Building Code of the Building Official (OBO), contains at least the
Philippines, no person shall be appointed as a following information:
Building Official unless he/she possesses the
following qualifications: o description of the work to be
covered by the permit applied
• A Filipino citizen and of good moral character for
• A duly registered architect or civil engineer o description and ownership of
• A member of good standing of a duly the lot on which the proposed
accredited organization of his profession for work is to be done
not less than two years o use or occupancy for which
• Has at least five years of diversified and the proposed work is intended
professional experience in building design and o estimated cost of the proposed
construction work

Duties of a Building Official

Within their respective territorial jurisdiction (under
DPWH, city local government, or municipal local
government), the Building Official shall be primarily
responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of
the National Building Code of the Philippines
including its implementing rules and regulations.
Aside from filling up the building permit application • approved standard requirements on zonings
form, sufficient documents substantiating your and land use
building or project construction work should be
• lines and grades
presented as attachments to your application form.
• structural design
These documents include, but are not limited to, the
following: • sanitary and sewerage
• environmental, health, electrical and
• Barangay Clearance; Association Certificate; mechanical safety
Consent of Owner/SPA
Issuance and Validity of Building Permits
• Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT); Tax
Declaration; Deed of Absolute Sale When satisfied that the work described in an
• Contract/Agreement with the General application for building permit and the plans and
Contractor (contract price included); specifications submitted conform to the requirements
Contract/Agreement with the Subcontractors of this Code and other pertinent rules and
(contract price included) regulations, the Building Official
• Fire Safety Certificate Checklist shall, within fifteen days from payment of the
• Location Clearance required fees by the applicant, issue the building
• DENR Environmental Compliance permit applied for. Approved plans and
Certificate specifications shall not be changed, modified or
• Laguna Lake Development Authority altered without the approval of the Building Official.
(LLDA) Certificate
The issuance of a building permit shall not be
• Fully accomplished application forms for:
construed as an approval or authorization to the
permittee to disregard or violate any of the
▪ Building Permit
provisions of this Code. Whenever the issuance of a
▪ Sanitary/Plumbing Permit
permit is based on approved plans and specifications
▪ Electrical Permit
which are subsequently found defective, the Building
▪ Mechanical Permit
Official is not precluded nor prevented from
requiring permittee to effect the necessary
• sets of technical plans: corrections in said plans and specifications or from
preventing or ordering the stoppage of any or all
▪ Architectural/Building Plans building operations being done in the building or
▪ Structural Plans project construction which are in violation of this
▪ Plumbing/Sanitary Plans Code.
▪ Electrical Plans
▪ Mechanical Plans A building permit issued under the provisions of this
Code shall expire and become null and void if the
• Structural Design Computations (structural building or work authorized is not commenced
analysis) within a period of one year from the date of the
• Bill of Materials permit, or if the building or work so authorized
• Project Specifications is suspended or abandoned at any time after it has
been commenced, for a period of 120 days.
Processing of Building Permits
The processing of building permits shall be under the
overall administrative control and supervision of the
Building Official and his technical staff of qualified
professionals. In processing an application for a
building permit, the Building Official shall see to it
that the applicant satisfies and conforms with at least
the following, but not limited to:
 OCCUPANCY PERMIT
Non-issuance, Suspension, or Revocation of
Building Permits As previously stated based on the National Building
Code of the Philippines, the licensed architect or
The Building Official may order or cause the non- civil engineering in-charge with the inspection and
issuance, suspension or revocation of building supervision of the project shall prepare and submit
permits on any or all of the following reasons or a Certificate of Completion of the project stating that
grounds: the construction of building conforms to the
provisions of this Code and its approved plans and
1. Errors found in the plans and specifications specifications.
2. In correct or inaccurate data or information
supplied After submitting the Certificate of Completion to the
3. Non-compliance with the provisions of this Building Official along with various documents
Code or of any rule or regulation supporting this document, the Building Official
shall conduct its final inspection prior to an issuance
Notice of non-issuance, suspension or revocation of of a Certificate of Occupancy. This Certificate of
building permits shall always be made in writing, Occupancy (or Occupancy Permit) certifies that the
stating the reason or grounds for such action. finished building or structure or its portion, after its
inspection by an inspector or enforcer from the
Inspection and Supervision of Work Office of the Building Official, has been successfully
The owner of the Building who is issued or granted a completed in compliance with the standards set by
building permit under this Code shall engage the the National Building Code of the Philippines.
services of a duly licensed architect or civil As mandated by the National Building Code of the
engineer to undertake the full time inspection and Philippines, no building or structure shall be used or
supervision of the construction work. This architect occupied and no change in the existing use or
or civil engineer conducting the inspection and occupancy classification of a building or structure or
supervision of the construction work may or may not its portion shall be made until the Building Official
be the same architect or civil engineer who is has issued a Certificate of Occupancy. A certificate
responsible for the design of the building. of Occupancy shall be issued by the Building
It is understood however that in either case, the Official within thirty days if, after final inspection
designing architect or civil engineer is not precluded and submittal of a Certificate of Completion, it is
not prevented from conducting inspection of the found that the building or structure complies with the
construction work to check and determine provisions of this Code. The Certificate of
compliance with the plans and specifications of the Occupancy shall be posted or displayed in a
building as submitted. conspicuous place on the premises and shall not be
removed except upon order of the Building Official
There shall be kept at the jobsite at all times
a logbook wherein the actual progress of
construction including tests conducted, weather
conditions and other pertinent data are to be
recorded. Upon completion of the construction, the
said licensed architect or civil engineer shall submit
the logbook, duly signed and sealed, to the Building
Official. He shall also prepare and submit
a Certificate of Completion of the project stating that
the construction of building conforms to the
provisions of this Code as well as with the approved
plans and specifications.
 TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION Changes in the type of construction
The National Building Code of the Philippines The National Building Code of the Philippines
provides the classification of buildings according to strictly mandates that no change shall be made in
their corresponding type of construction to properly the type of construction of any building which
determine various facets affecting the building i.e. would place the building in a different sub-type or
fire susceptibility, structural integrity. type of construction unless such building is made to
comply with the requirements for such sub-type of
TYPE I Type I buildings shall be a wood construction.
construction. The structural elements An exception is provided by the code when such
may be any of the materials permitted changes in the type of construction has been
by this Code. approved by the Building Official upon showing that
the new or proposed construction is less hazardous,
TYPE II Type II buildings shall be of wood based on life and fire risk, than the existing or
construction with protective fire- current type of construction.
resistant materials and one-hour fire-
resistive throughout: FIRE PROVISIONS

Except, that permanent non-bearing Ensuring the building's longevity through strict
partitions may use fire-retardant treated adherence to structural analysis i.e. sustaining
wood within the framing assembly. various loads imposed in the building, is one of the
reasons why building and structural code are
essential. Aside from the loads being sustained
TYPE III Type III buildings shall be of masonry throughout the building's lifespan, the building
and wood construction. Structural should also be withstand various incidents that would
elements may be any of the materials likely affect the performance of the building; for
permitted by this Code: Provided, that instance, fire incidences.
the building shall be one-hour fire-
resistive throughout. The Fire Code of the Philippines, as enacted by
RA9514, is implemented to ensure that buildings are
Exterior walls shall be of equipped with fire safety features which enables the
incombustible fire-resistive building and its occupants to be safe in case of fire.
construction. But that's another topic to discuss upon your
succeeding module related to this.
TYPE IV Type IV buildings shall be of steel,
iron, concrete, or masonry The National Building Code of the Philippines also
construction. Walls, ceiling, and provides some basic guidelines in incorporating fire
permanent partitions shall be of safety in buildings. The provisions for fire zone
incombustible fire-resistive requirements and fire-resistive requirements in the
construction: code provides some basic insight on these fire safety
features.
Except, that permanent non-bearing
partitions of one-hour fire-resistive Requirements for Fire Zone
construction may use fire-retardant Fire zones are areas within which only certain types
treated wood within the framing of buildings are permitted to be constructed based on
assembly. their use or occupancy, type of construction, and
resistance to fire. A building or structure which is
TYPE V Type V buildings shall be fire- located partly in one fire zone and partly in another
resistive. The structural elements shall shall be considered to be in the more highly
be of steel, iron, concrete, or masonry restrictive fire zone, when more than one-third of its
construction. total floor area is located in such zone.

Walls, ceilings, and permanent

partitions shall be of incombustible
fire-resistive construction
Fire-Resistive Requirements in Construction
• Group D: Institutional
Fire-resistive rating means the degree to which a
material can withstand fire as determined by ▪ Division 1
generally recognized and accepted testing methods.
On the other hand, fire-resistive time period rating is o Mental hospitals, mental sanitaria,
a much more measurable than the previous one jails, prisons, reformatories, and
which defines the length of time a material can buildings where personal liberties of
withstand being burned which may be one-hour, two- inmates are similarly restrained
hours, three-hours, four-hours, etc. All materials of
construction, and assemblies or combinations of ▪ Division 2
these materials shall be classified according to their
fire-retardant or flame-spread ratings as determined o Nurseries for full-time care of
by general accepted testing methods i.e. Tunnel test children under kindergarten age,
for flame-spread rating. hospitals, sanitaria, nursing homes
with no ambulatory patients, and
OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS similar buildings each
accommodating more than five
Aside from the previously discussed types of
persons
construction, the National Building Code of the
Philippines also provides classification of buildings
▪ Division 3
according to their use or occupancy. This
classification provides proper distinction between
o Nursing homes for ambulatory
buildings. This also provides insights on special
patients, homes for children of
requirements that each occupancy type needs i.e.
kindergarten age or over, each
hazardous storage facilities require greater fire
accommodating more than five
resistance.
persons
Classification of Occupancy o Provided, that Group D Occupancies
shall not include buildings used only
• Group A: Residential Dwellings for private or family group dwelling
purposes
▪ This includes residential houses i.e.
bungalow, two-storey house • Group E: Business and Mercantile

• Group B: Residentials, Hotels, and ▪ Division 1

Apartments
o Gasoline filling and service stations,
▪ Group B Occupancies shall be multiple storage garages and boot storage
dwelling units including boarding or structures where no work is done
lodging houses, hotels, apartment except exchange of parts and
buildings, row houses, convents, maintenance requiring no open flame,
monasteries, and other similar building welding, or the use of highly
each of which accommodates more than flammable liquids
ten persons
• Division 2
• Group C: Education and Recreation
o Wholesale and retail stores, office
▪ Group C Occupancies shall be buildings buildings, drinking and dining
used for school or day-care purposes, establishments having an occupant
involving assemblage for instruction, load of less than one hundred persons,
education, or recreation printing plants, police and fire
▪ This also includes those not classified in stations, factories and workshops
Group I or in Division 1 and 2 or Group using not highly flammable or
H Occupancies combustible materials and paint
stores without bulk handlings
• Division 3 • Group H: Assembly other than Group I

o Aircraft hangers and open parking ▪ Division 1

garage with no repair work is done
except exchange of parts and o Any assembly building with a
maintenance requiring no open flame, stage and an occupant load of
welding or the use of highly less than 1000 in the building
flammable liquids
▪ Division 2
• Group F: Industrial
o Any assembly building
▪ Occupancies shall include: ice plants, without stage and having an
power plants, pumping plants, cold occupant load of 300 or more
storage, and creameries, factories and in the building
workshops using incombustible and
non-explosive materials, and storage ▪ Division 3
and sale rooms for incombustible and
nonexplosive materials o Any assembly building
• Group G: Storage and Hazardous without a stage and having an
▪ Division 1 occupant load of less than 300
in the building
o Storage and handling of
hazardous and highly ▪ Division 4
flammable material
o Stadia, reviewing stands,
▪ Division 2 amusement park structures
not included within Group I or
o Storage and handling of in Division 1, 2, and 3 of this
flammable materials, dry Group
cleaning plants using
flammable liquids; paint • Group I: Assembly with Occupant
stores with bulk handling, Load of 1000 or more
paint shops and spray painting ▪ Occupancies shall be any
rooms assembly building with an age
and an occupant load of 1000
▪ Division 3 or more in the building
• Group J: Accessory
o Wood working
establishments, planning ▪ Division 1
mills and box factories, shops,
factories where loose o Private garage, carports,
combustible fibers or dust are sheds and agriculture
manufactured, processed or buildings
generated; warehouses where
highly combustible material is ▪ Division 2
store
o Fences over 1.80 meters high,
▪ Division 4 tanks, and towers

o Repair garages

▪ Division 5

o Aircraft repair hangers

Change in Use MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR A
DWELLING UNIT
As previously discussed in the previous modules, the
National Building Code of the Philippines strictly We've previously discussed the requirements in
mandates that no change shall be made in the obtaining a building permit, in identifying the proper
character of occupancy or use of any type of construction as well as the occupancy type of
building which would place the building in a a building, and in adhering with the fire provisions of
different division of the same group of occupancy or the code. With all these requirements, we still haven't
in a different group of occupancies, unless such had the chance to specifically determine what makes
building is made to comply with the requirements of up a building unit. How do we define a building? In
this code for such division or group of occupancy. preview, there are a lot of factors intricately required
The character of occupancy of existing buildings that defines a building but for now let's focus on a
may be changed subject to the approval of the much simpler building, a dwelling unit. The National
Building Official and the building may be occupied Building Code of the Philippines provided these
or purposes in other Groups: Provided the new or minimum requirements which comprises a dwelling
proposed use is less hazardous, based on life and fire unit belonging to the Occupancy Group A.
risk, than the existing use.
Dwelling Location and Lot Occupancy
Mixed Occupancy
All buildings should be constructed on a lot; that's an
There are cases that a building is used for various inevitable fact. The code states that the dwelling unit
purposes i.e. the ground floor has been intended for a shall not occupy not more than 90% of a corner lot,
commercial establishment such as a mini grocery and not more than 80% of an inside lot, and subject
while the upper floors are used as residential units. to the provisions on Easements of Light and View of
For this case, these buildings are considered mixed- the Civil Code of the Philippines Links to an external
use buildings or mixed-occupancy. The National site., shall be at least 2meters offset from the
Building Code of the Philippines has provided some property line.
guideline in dealing with these types of buildings. Light and Ventilation
When a building is of mixed occupancy or used for Proper lighting is required to facilitate activities
more than one occupancy, the whole building shall inside the building. Proper ventilation is also
be subject to the most restrictive required to provide air circulation and comfort for all
requirement pertaining to any of the type of its inhabitants. The code states that every dwelling
occupancy found in the building except in the should be constructed and arranged to provide
following: adequate light and ventilation under the provisions of
the code which will be discussed in the next module.
• When a one-storey building houses more
than one occupancy, each portion of the Sanitation
building shall conform to the requirement of This refers to the proper waste water disposal in the
the particular occupancy building which includes an efficient plumbing and
• Where minor accessory uses do not occupy sanitary system. The code states that every dwelling
more than ten percent of the area of any floor should be provided with at least one toilet and
or a building, nor more than ten percent of the adequate washing and drainage facilities in
basic area permitted in the occupancy accordance with existing codes and standards which
requirements, in which case, the major use of will be discussed in the succeeding module.
the building determine the occupancy
classification.
Foundation Roof
This structural member is essential in providing a Roofs provides protection from rain, gusty winds,
safe and sturdy building. It transmits all the loads and heat of sunlight. These forces of nature,
imposed in the structural members of a building into including earthquakes, induces forces on the roof
the underlying soils. Foundations should be properly area which are transmitted towards the structural
structurally designed in accordance with the National members of the building. These factors are
Structural Code of the Philippines. But the National considered in its design in accordance with the
Building Code of the Philippines has provided a National Structural Code of the Philippines. On the
minimum requirement for foundations stated that other hand, the National Building Code of the
these should be of sufficient size and strength to Philippines also provided basic requirements in terms
support the loads of the dwelling unit and should be of roof. As stated, the wind load for roofs shall be at
at least 250millimeters thick least 120 kilograms per square meter for vertical
and 600millimeters below the surface of the ground. projection.
Post Stairs
Aside from the aforementioned foundations, posts Proper access to the various areas in a building is an
(columns) are also essential in providing a safe and essential requirement in the design. Access does not
sturdy building. Concrete posts/columns are designed only include the front door access and the back door
based on strict adherence with the Structural Code of egress that is primarily evident in a design. Access in
the Philippines. On the other hand, the National buildings greater than one storey or for multi-level
Building Code of the Philippines has provided a buildings, stairs is required. The National Building
basic requirement applicable to wooden posts in a Code of the Philippines stated that these stairs should
dwelling unit in reference to a tabulated data from be at least 750millimeters in clear width, with a
the code i.e. Table 708-A: Dimensions of Wooden minimum rise of 200millimeters and a minimum run
Posts (Annex B-1). As such, it is also stated that of 200millimeters. These rise and run corresponds to
each post should be anchored to a proper footing the dimensions of a step in the stairs.
(foundation) through the use of straps and bolts of
adequate size. Entrance and Exit

Floor As previously mentioned, access in a building

includes a front door and a back door. In relation to
Floor slabs (or floor) is a structural member that this, the National Building Code of the Philippines
supports the dead loads i.e. equipment, furniture, stated that there should be at least one entrance and
machines, various materials, and the live loads i.e. another one for exit. Why should there be two means
people, applied on a particular floor. The structural of access or egress in a building? This is to ensure
design of such floor shall be based in accordance that in times of emergency, even if one of the doors
with the National Structural Code of the Philippines. is blocked, there should be an alternative means to
But the National Building Code of the Philippines exits the building. This is also in compliance with the
provided basic requirements in terms of floor. The provisions from the Fire Code of the Philippines.
code stated that the live load of the first floor i.e.
ground floor, should be at least 200 kilograms per Electrical Requirements
square meter, and; for the second floor, at least 150 Electricity is important in every building. It is
kilograms per square meter. This values defines the required to enable the use of various appliances and
minimum loads that should be used in designing a other electrical devices in the building. Proper
floor in terms of kilograms per square meter. In electrical system should be installed in a building. As
layman's term, a square meter of floor should be able such, the National Building Code of the Philippines
to sustain in minimum a 200kg live load on the first stated that all electrical installation shall conform
floor, and 150kg live load for the second floor. with the requirements of the Philippine Electrical
Code.
Mechanical Requirements Court, or courtyard, is an open area or an open space
surrounded by walls or buildings. An illustration of
In relation to the aforementioned electrical system, what a court would look like is shown below. Notice
mechanical systems in a building should also be the space/area outside the building which is actually
properly installed i.e. large air-conditioning units, surrounded by the building's perimeter. In relation to
complex air shafts and vent ducts, escalators and courts as stated by the National Building Code of the
elevators. As such, National Building Code of the Philippines, the minimum size of courts, and their
Philippines stated that the mechanical systems and/or least dimensions shall be based by the use, type of
equipment installation shall be subject to the construction, and the height of the building, provided
requirements of the Philippine Mechanical that the minimum horizontal dimension of the court
Engineering Code. shall be not less than 2meters. All inner courts
should be connected to a street or yard by
REQUIREMENTS FOR LIGHT AND
a passageway with a minimum width of
VENTILATION
1.2meters or by a door through a room or rooms.
Based from the previously discussed minimum On the other hand, the generic term Yard is any area
requirements for a dwelling unit, light and ventilation of land that is immediately adjacent to a building or
are both important requirements in a building which even a group of buildings which could either be
may pose a lot of similarities in terms of placement, enclosed or open. Since the word has been so general
materials used, and even its functionality. that it has been derived into various words which
General Requirements of Light and Ventilation denotes a new definition of its generic term. Some
examples of these are backyard, which means an area
As a general requirement stated in the National of land found directly at the back of a
Building Code of the Philippines, every building house/building; junkyard, which means an area or lot
shall be designed, constructed, and equipped to used for the collection of various scraps, and;
provide adequate light and ventilation. In relation to graveyard, which means an area or lot used for
the building's design and orientation to lot, all burying graves. The image below depicts an example
buildings shall face a street or public alley or a of a yard found at the back of the house.
private street which serves as its access to and fro the
building. It is somehow off to design a building On a lighter note, light well is an unenclosed space
facing the back of a lot with its rear side serving as within a building which allows light and air pass
its facade. Alterations, renovations, or reduction of inside the building. These light wells are used to
room areas are not allowed including that if the allow light and air reach the areas in the building that
activity would reduce the window area, unless the would otherwise be dark or unventilated due to
final output of these changes would still be in various factors, one of which would be the internal
compliance with the code and its minimum and/or external design of the building. The images
standards; and as approved to do so. In relation to below shows examples of a light well.
this, no building should be enlarged so that the Courts, yards, and light wells shall be measured clear
dimensions of a required court or yard would be less of all projections or protrusions of any kind from the
than the prescribed for the building. walls enclosing such wells or yards with the
Measurement of Site Occupancy exception of roof leaders, wall copings, sills, or steel
fire escapes not exceeding 1.2meters in width.
How do we measure the area which will be occupied
in your lot for the building? How do we measure the Ceiling Heights
floor area of your building? Which of the features Since we're done with measuring the extents of the
shown in plan is included in its site occupancy? Up lot, let's focus on measuring the insides of the
to what extents does these measurements should be? building. Ceiling is important in almost any building
The National Building Code of the Philippines states since it adds up to the over-all ambiance of the room,
that the measurement of site occupancy or lot it provides certain feeling of spaciousness or
occupancy shall be taken at the ground level and narrowness in a room by how the ceiling are
shall be exclusive of courts, yards, and light wells. designed, and it could also conceal various utilities
installed underneath the floor slab on the upper floor
level. The National Building Code of the Philippines
provided the minimum standards in defining an
appropriate ceiling height in a building.
Habitable rooms provided with artificial ventilation of the Philippines provided provisions for window
shall have ceiling heights not less than openings as source of ventilation. As stated in the
2.40meters measured from floor to the ceiling. For code, every room not provided with artificial
buildings more than one storey, the minimum ceiling ventilation system shall be provided with windows
height of the first storey shall be 2.70meters and for with a total free area of openings equal to at
the second storey shall be 2.40meters, and for the least 10% of the floor area of room. This window
succeeding storeys shall have a typical unobstructed shall open directly to a court, yard, public street,
headroom clearance of not less than alley, or any open space for natural ventilation to
2.10meters above the finished floor line. On the take place. This natural ventilation is mostly applied
other hand, rooms with natural ventilation shall have in residential and some minute (or small) commercial
ceiling heights not less than 2.70meters. Mezzanine units.
floors shall have a clear ceiling height not less than
1.80meters above and below it. A mezzanine floor is On the other hand, artificial ventilation is vastly used
an intermediate floor in a building which is partly in most commercial and industrial buildings such as
open to a very high floor level with ceiling below. centralized air-conditioning units, vent shafts, or air
These mezzanine floors are not considered a full ducts. Based on the National Building Code of the
floor level since they do not extend over the whole Philippines, these vent shafts shall have a horizontal
floor space of the building. cross-sectional area of not less than 0.10m2 for every
meter of height of shaft, but in no case that this area
Size and Dimension of Rooms shall be less than 1m2. No vent shaft shall have any
least dimension that is less than 600millimeters.
Aside from considering the ceiling heights in the
design of a building, proper measurement of a room On the other hand, air ducts shall be open to a street
is essential in the over-all living experience of the or court by a horizontal duct or intake at a point
building's occupants. As such, the National Building below the lowest window opening. These ducts or
Code of the Philippines provided that the minimum intakes shall have a minimum unobstructed cross-
size of rooms for human habitation should be at sectional area of not less than 0.30m2 with a
least 6m2 with a least dimension of 2meters; kitchens minimum dimension of 300millimeters. These
should be at least 3m2 with a least dimension openings to the duct or intake shall be not less
of 1.5meters, and; bathrooms and toilets should be at than 300millimeters above the bottom of the shaft
least 1.2m2 with a least dimension of 0.9meters. and the street surface or the level of the court at the
respective ends of the duct or intake.
Air Space Requirements in Determining the Size
of Rooms SANITATION PROVISIONS
Compliance in the code for the minimum sizes of One of the requirements in a minimum dwelling unit
rooms and other functional areas is deemed void is proper sanitation. It is stated not only in the
without proper air space. Adequacy in air space National Building Code of the Philippine but also
ensures that the occupants would feel the comfort of subject to the provisions of Book II of the Civil Code
working or living in the building provided by the of the Philippines on Property, Ownership, and its
inner space allotted by the building. The National Modification, that all buildings for human habitation
Building Code of the Philippines provided that the shall be provided with adequate and potable water
minimum air space for a school room shall be have supply, plumbing installation, and suitable
least 3m3 of air space with a 1m2 of floor area per wastewater treatment or disposal system, storm water
person; workshops, factories, and offices shall have drainage, pest and vermin control, and noise
at least 12m3 of air space per person, and; habitable abatement devices. These are required to ensure the
rooms shall have have least 14m3 of air space per protection and promotion of health of persons
person. A simple calculation of this air space is done occupying the premises and others living nearby.
by multiplying the allotted floor area of a room with
the provided ceiling height on that particular room. Water Supply System
Artificial Ventilation As stated in the National Building Code of the
Philippines, the potable water requirements for a
Ventilation is important in any building, whether it building used for human habitation shall be supplied
may be a natural ventilation i.e. openable windows, from existing municipal or city waterworks system.
or even artifical ventilation i.e. air-conditioning
units. In relation to this, the National Building Code
The quality of drinking water should conform to the
criteria set in the latest approved National Standards Pest and Vermin Control
for Drinking Water. In terms of the sources of water
from various wells, the design, construction, and As stated in the National Building Code of the
operation of deep wells for the abstraction of Philippines, industrial establishments shall be
groundwater shall be subject to the provisions of provided with positive noise abatement devices to
the Water Code of the Philippines. The design, tone down the noise level of equipment and
construction, and operation of independent machineries to acceptable limits set down by the
waterworks systems in private housing subdivisions Department of Labor and the National Pollution
or industrial estates shall be governed by existing Control Commission.
laws relating to local waterworks system. The water
BUILDING PROJECTION OVER PUBLIC
piping installations made inside buildings and
STREET
premises shall conform to the provisions of
the National Plumbing Code of the Philippines. Based on your first plate activity which is plotting a
Wastewater Disposal System lot plan, your lot defines initially how your building
project would be once it is constructed. Your lot
As stated in the National Building Code of the defines specific limits on how you would design your
Philippines, sanitary sewage from buildings shall be project like its orientation from where the sun rises
discharged directly into the nearest street sanitary or sets, and the entities that surround your lot that
sewer main of existing municipal or sanitary might affect your project. It also defines the
sewerage system in accordance with the criteria set boundaries on how far your project could be
by the Code on Sanitation and the National constructed. You must never go beyond your lot.
Pollution Control Commission. As such, all You only have your jurisdiction within your lot as
buildings located in areas where there are no defined by its land title. As mandated by the National
available sanitary sewerage system shall dispose Building Code of the Philippines, no part of any
their sewage in approved private sewage disposal building or structure or any of its appendages shall
systems i.e. septic tanks. Sanitary and industrial project beyond the property line of the building site,
plumbing installations inside buildings and its except as provided in the code. Certain projections or
premises shall conform to the provisions of protrusions from the property line to a public street is
the National Plumbing Code of the Philippines. discerningly allowed by the Building Official on
utmost cases. These projections of any structure or
Storm Drainage System appendages over a public property shall be the
As stated in the National Building Code of the distance measured horizontally from the property
Philippines, rainwater drainage shall not be discharge line to the outermost point of the projection.
to the sanitary sewer system. As such, adequate Projection into Alleys or Streets
provisions shall be made to drain low areas in
buildings and its premises. As stated in the National Building Code of the
Philippines, no part of any structure shall project into
Pest and Vermin Control any alley, street, national road, or public highway,
As stated in the National Building Code of the except as provided in the provisions of the code. In
Philippines, all buildings with hollow and/or wood cases where foundations (or footings) that are
construction shall be provided with rat proofing. This embedded in the ground were to be projected outside
may come in various forms i.e. installing steel rat the property line of the lot due to various
guards or screens fitted to drainpipes, hard metal circumstances i.e. design, project implementation,
strips fitted to the bottom of opening in doors and the code provides that footings located at least
windows. Garbage bins and receptacles shall be 2.4meters below grade along national roads or public
provided with ready means for cleaning and with highways may project not more than
positive protection against entry of pest and vermin. 300millimeters beyond the property line.
Dining rooms for public use without artificial
ventilation shall be properly screened.
As such, foundations may be permitted to encroach As stated in the National Building Code of the
into public sidewalk areas to a width not exceeding Philippines, the horizontal clearance between the
500millimeters; provided that the top of the said outermost edge of the canopy and the curb line
foundation is not less than 600millimeters below the shall not be less than 300millimeters. This means
established grade. This provision is under a condition that from the edge of the sidewalk (curb) up to the
that the projection does not obstruct any existing edge of the canopy, its horizontal distance must not
utility i.e. power, communication, water or sewer be less than the aforementioned value. Aside from
lines unless the owner concerned shall pay the this, the vertical clearance between the pavement or
corresponding entities for the rerouting of the parts ground line, and the undersurface of any part of the
of the affected utilities. canopy shall not be less than 3meters.
Projection of Balconies and Appendages over
Streets
Movable Awnings or Hoods
As stated in the National Building Code of the
Philippines, the extent of any projection over an alley An awning is a movable shelter supported entirely
or street shall be in uniform within a block, in from an exterior wall of a building and of a type
conformance with the limitations set in the Table which can be retracted, folded, or collapsed against
1003-A: Projection of Balconies and Appendages the face of a supporting building.
(Annex B-2) of the code. The table has been As stated in the National Building Code of the
provided below for reference. The clearance between Philippines, the horizontal clearance between the
the established grade of the street and/or sidewalk awning and the curb line shall not be less than
shall not be less than 3meters. 300millimeters. The vertical clearance between the
undermost surface of the awning and the pavement
or ground line shall not be less than 2.4meters.
Collapsible awnings should not block a required exit
when collapsed or folded.
Doors, Windows, and the like

Arcades Doors and windows in buildings are sometimes

projected towards the outside extent of a building
An arcade, from the word arch, is an arched covering especially when these features are opened outwards.
over a passage or walkway that is structurally part of These projections are not excluded from exemption.
its building. These provide both aesthetics and As stated in the National Building Code of the
structurally sound design on the building. As stated Philippines, the doors, windows, and the like less
in the National Building Code of the Philippines, than 2.4meters above the pavement or ground
arcades shall be constructed on sidewalks of streets. line should not project beyond the property
The width of the arcade and its height shall be line when these are fully opened or upon opening
uniform throughout the street provided that the them. Fire Exit Doors are exempted to this rule since
arcade shall not be less than 3meters above the fire exit doors are opened outwards especially during
established sidewalk grade. times of emergency which is supported by the Fire
Code of the Philippines.
Canopies (Marquees)
A canopy is a permanent roofed structure above a
door attached to and supported by the building and
projecting over a wall or sidewalk. These are used
to provide weather protection, identity or decoration.