BUILDING SYSTEM DESIGN

NATIONAL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES (R.A. 654 & P.D. 1906)

R.A. – 6541 entitled “An Act to Ordain and Institute a National Building Code of The
Philippines” was passed by the defunct congress in its last session in August 26,972.
The organizational structure and machinery conceived in the code to oversee the
implementation of its provisions were vested in the Jont Building and environmental Planning
Research and Standards Commission.
When the Martial Law was declared on September 21,1972, the enforcement and administration
of RA-6541 was deemed nullified with the abolition of congress from which most of the
Commission’s membership was drawn.
A new National Building Code therefore was promulgated under PD-1096 that revised RA6541
By Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Last February 19,1977.
SUMMARY
1972—RA 6541 -> An Act to Ordain and Institute a National Building Code of The
Philippines
1977 – PD 1096 – National Building Code of The Philippines
2005 – Revised PD 1096 “Implementing Rules and Regulations of the National Building
Code of the Philippines (PD 1096)
2023 – House Bill No. 8500, 19 th Congress – the proposed “new Philippine Building
Act,”
An act regulating the planning, design, construction, occupancy, maintenance, and
demolition of buildings, promoting building resilience against earthquake fire, flood, landslide,
storm, volcanic eruption, and multiple hazards within an all-hazards approach to resilience
building, ENACTING A NEW PHILIPPINE BUILDING ACT, repealing for the purpose republic act no.
6541 and PD 1096.

IMPLEMENTATION RULES AND REGULATIONS (2005 REVISED PD1096)

RULE 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
This Decree shall be known as the “National Building Code of the Philippines” and still hereinafter
be referred to as the “Code”
It is hereby declared to be policy of the State to safeguard life, health, property and public
welfare, consistent with the principles of sound environmental management and control, and to
this end make it the purpose of this Code to provide for all buildings and structures, a framework
of minimum standards and requirements to regulate and control their location, site, design,
quality of materials, construction, use, occupancy and maintenance.
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.
Traditional indigenous family dwellings – a building used as a dwelling for the use and
occupancy of 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
(P15,000) pesos.
General Building Requirements
1.) All building or structures, as well as accessory facilities thereto, shall conform in all respect to
the safe construction and must be suited to the purpose for which they are designed.

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2.) Buildings or structures intended for the manufacture and/or production of any kind of article
or product shall observe adequate environmental safeguard.
3.) Buildings or structures and all parts thereof, as well as all facilities found therein, shall be
maintained in safety, sanitary and good working condition.
Site Requirements
The land or site upon which will be constructed will be any building or structure, or any ancillary
or auxiliary facility thereto, shall be sanitary, hygienic or safe.
DEFINITIONS
STRUCTURES - that which is built or constructed, or any piece of work built up or composed of
parts joined together in some definite manner.
BUILDING – Any structure built for support shelter or enclosure if persons, animals, chattels, or
properties of any kind.
CONSTRUCTION – installation in place of components of building/structure.
ADDITION – any new construction which increases height or area of an existing
building/structures.
ALTERATION – construction in a building/structure involving changes in the materials used,
partitioning, location/size of openings, structural parts, existing utilities and equipment’s
but does not increase the overall are thereof.
RENEVOTION – any physical change made on a building/structure to increase its value, utility
and or to improve its aesthetic quality.
CONVERSION – a change in the us or occupancy of building/structure or any portion/s thereof
which has different requirements.
REPAIR – remedial work done on any damaged or deteriorated portion/s of a building/ structure
to restore its original position.
MOVING – the transfer of any building/structure or portion/s thereof from its original
location or position to another, either within the same lots or to a different one.
DEMOLITION – the systematic dismantling or destruction of a building/structure, in whole or in
part.
ANCILLARY BUILDING/STRUCTURE– A secondary building/structure located within the same
premises, the use of which is incidental to that of the main building/structure.

RULE 2 - ADMINISTRATION & ENFORECEMENT

Responsibility
The administration and enforcement of this Code, including the imposition of penalties for
administrative violations thereof is vested in the Secretary, DPWH, herein after referred to
as the “SECRETARY”
OFFICE OF THE BUILDING (OBO)
The office authorized to enforce the provisions of the Code and its IRR in the field as well as the
enforcement of orders and decisions made pursuant thereto.
The SECRETARY
1. Formulate policies, plans standards and guidelines on building design, construction, use,
occupancy and maintenance.
2. Issue and promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Code and
ensure compliance with the policies, plans, standards and guidelines as formulated.

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3. Evaluate, review, approve and/or take final action changes and/or amendments to existing
referral Codes, as well as on the incorporation of other referral Codes which are not yer
expressly made part of this Code; and
4. Prescribe and fix the amount of fees and other charges that the Building Official shall conduct
in connection with the performance of regulatory functions.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the Building Official shall be responsible for carrying out
the provisions of this Code in the field as well as the enforcement of orders and decisions
made pursuant thereto.

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Building officials
Qualification
1. A Filipino citizen and of good moral character

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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
five (5) years endorsed or recommended by the accredited professional organization.
4. Has at least five(5) years of diversified and professional experience in building design and
construction.
5. has attended and successfully completed a seminar workshop on PD1096 and its IRR
conducted by the DPWH.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Be primarily responsible for the enforcement of the provision of the Code and its IRR, as well
as circulars, memoranda, opinions and decisions/orders issued pursuant thereto. His actions shall
always be guided by appropriate orders/directives from the SECRETARY.
2. Have overall administrative control and/or supervision over all works pertinent to
buildings/structures in his area of responsibility and shall be charged with the processing of all
permit applications and certificates as well as the issuance of the same.
3. Ensure that all changes, modifications, and alterations in the design plans during the
construction phase shall not start until the modified design plan has been evaluated and the
necessary amendatory permit used.
4. Undertake annual inspections of all buildings/structures and keep an up-to-date record of their
status.
5. Upon complaint or motu propio and after due notice/s and hearing, initiate actions towards.
a. non-issuance, suspension, revocation and/or invalidation of a building permit or certificate of
occupancy.
b. Issuance of work stoppage order or an order for discontinuance of the use of occupancy of the
building/structure or portion thereof
c. Declaration of a building/structure as remous or dangerous
d. the imposition of appropriate fines/penalties.
6. Submit a quarterly situational report to the Secretary through the National Building Code
Development Office (NBCDO), on the status of all existing on-going, and proposed public as well
as private building/structure activities.
7. Undertake such other duties and task as may be assigned by the Secretary from timre to time.
RULE 3 PERMITS AND INSPECTION (to be discussed in CHAPTER2)
RULE 4 TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
1. TYPE I – Shall be of wood construction. The structural elements may be any of the
materials permitted by the Code.
2. TYPE II – shall be of wood construction with protective fire-resistant materials and
one-hour fire resistive throughout, except that permanent non-bearing partitions may use fire-
retardant treated wood within the framing assembly with one-hour resistivity.
3. TYPE III – shall be a masonry and wood construction. Structural elements may be any of the
materials permitted by the Code provided, that the buildings shall be one-hour fire-resistive
throughout. Exterior walls shall be of combustible fire-resistive construction.
4. TYPE IV – shall be steel, iron, concrete, or masonry construction and walls, ceiling and
permanent partitions shall be of incombustible fire-resistive construction, except, that permanent
non-bearing partitions of one-hour fire-resistive construction may use fire-retardant treated wood
within the framing assembly.
5. TYPE V – shall be four-hour fire-resistive throughout and the structural elements shall be of
steel, iron, concrete, or masonry construction
Changes in Types
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No change shall be made in the type of construction of any building which would place the
building in a different sub-type or type of construction unless such buildings is made to
comply with the requirements for such sub-type of construction.
When a building is of mixed occupancy or used for more than one occupancy, the whole building
shall be subject to the most restrictive requirements pertaining to any type of the occupancy
found therein except in the following;
1. When a one-storey building houses more than one occupancy, each portion of the building
shall conform to the requirement of the particular occupancy housed therein and,
2. Where minor accessory uses do not occupy more than ten percent (10%) of the are f any floor
or a building, nor more than ten percent (10%) of the basic are permitted in the occupancy
requirements, in which case, the major use of the building shall determine the occupancy
classification.
Location on Property
a.) No building shall be constructed unless it adjoins or has direct access to public space, yard or
street on at least one its sides.
b.) For the purposes of this Section, the centerline or an adajoining street or alley shall be
considered an adjacent property line.
c.) Eaves over required windows shall not be less than 750 millimeters from the side and rear
property lines.
FIREWALL

A reinforced masonry or reinforced concrete

separator with the appropriate fire -resistive
rating and which sall be positioned between
dwelling units or between building/structures to
maintain the fire integrity of eaxh
building/structures.
Firewalls particulary those erected above or along
property lines shall have absolutely no openings,
except for permitted vented wall.
Firewalls shall extend above the roof from
400mm to 1000mm

BUILDING FOOTPRINTS AND FIREWALL REQUIREMENTS

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 RULE VI - FIRE-RESISTIVE REQUIREMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION

CLASSIFICATION AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF ALL BUILDINGS BY USE OR

OCCUPANCY
Dwelling Location and Lot Occupancy
The dwelling shall occupy not more than 90% of a corner lot and 80% of an inside lot
and subject to the provisions on Easements of Light and view of the Civil Code of the Philippines,
shall be at least 2.00 meters from the property line.
Foundation
Footing shall be of sufficient size such 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.
FloorThe 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.
Roof
The wind load for roofs shall be at least 120 kilograms per square meter for vertical
projection.
Ceiling Heights
Habitable rooms provided artificial ventilation have ceiling
heights not less than 2.40 meters measured from the floor
ceiling
Provided that for buildings of more than one-storey, the
minimum ceiling height of the first storey shall be 2.70
meters and for that for the second storey 2.40 meters and
succeeding storeys shall have an unobstructed typical
head-room clearance of not less than 2.10meters above
the finished floor.

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Stairs

Stairs shall be at least 750 millimeters in

clear width with a rise of 200millimeters and a
minimum run of 200 millimeters.

Sanitation
Every dwelling shall be provided with at least one sanitary toilet and adequate washing and
drainage facilities.
Entrance and Exit
There shall be at least one entrance and another one for exit.
Electrical Requirements
All electrical installation shall conform to the requirements of the Philippine Electrical Code.
Mechanical Requirements
Mechanical systems and/or equipment installation shall be subject to the requirement of the
Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code.

RULE VII - CLASSIFICATION AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF ALL BUILDINGS BY USE

OR OCCUPANCY

10 GROUPS OF OCCUPANCIES
Group A – Residential Dwellings
Group B – Residentials, Hotels and Apartments
Group C – Education and Recreation
Group D – Institutional
Group E - Business and Mercantile
Group F – Industrial
Group G - Storage and Hazardous
Division 4- Repair garages
Division 5- Aircraft repair hangars
Group H - Assembly Other Than Group I
Group I – Assembly Occupant Load 1000 or More
Group J – Accessory

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 OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION / MATRIX

GROUP A RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS

DIVISION CHARACTER PRINCIPAL ZONING
CLASSIFICATI
ON
 Executive Use/Single  Single Detached
Fam.  School/Company
 Operated By Housing R-1
A-1 Gov./Private as  Place of Worship EXCLUSIVE
membership as  Community LOW DENSITY
ORG. Facilities
 Not Operated  Recreational
Primarily for Gain Uses for The
 Not Operated Prim. Benefits of its
For Gain Members
 Exclusive Use
 Non-Leasing  Attached / R-2
Occupants (private Duplex (Lo-rise
Owned)  Dormitories single-
 Not More than 10  Outpatient atttached
A-2 persons/16 Clinics Duplex
Classrooms  Museum Basic: 1-3
 Multiple Dwelling Storey
Units Single Family
 Lesser than 10 Max:3-5
persons Storey
Multiple
Family

Single Attached means that a house shares a common wall typically

on both sides of the property. While on the other hand a Single
Detached property stands alone and with extra spaces of lot
round it.

A Duplex can be considered as an attached one. It is composed of two

dwelling in generally one structure.

DIVISION RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS

GROUP B CHARACTER PRINCIPAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION
Multiple  Hotel
Dwelling Units  Lodging
 MORE THAN  Apartment R-3
Residential 10 PERSON  Rowhouse (Low-Rise/Medium-Rise with
s, Hotels  PRIVATE off- Mixed Housing types)
and Campus Commercial in Nature & Scale
Apartment Dormitories HIGH-DENSITY
s  Not
exceeding BASIC: ROWHOUSE 1-3Storey
20 Single Family
Classrooms
 Multiple-Housing Unit MAX: 6-12 Storey
For Lease Multiple Family
 Townhouse (Privately R-4
Owned) (Low-rise Townhouse as
 Multiple Priva- Multiple family Dwellings)
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 Owned Rows of Structure within
Condominium/teneme Subdivided Lot
nts &Apartments
 Bourding Houses Exclusive Use Medium-High
Density

Rowhouse style of housing is also known as clustered

housing. These are homes that are in a row and share
common walls, but each unit has the same floor area.
Usually, the developer clustered 4,6,8 up to 10units per
row. Normally the end unit lots benefit from larger
areas.

A townhouse is a residential property that generally

shares a wall with the townhouses next to it with shared
land between the dwellings. These homes typically have 2
to 3 floors in more modern designs.

DIVISION RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS

GROUP B CHARACTER PRINCIPAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION
 CONDOMINUIM
 High-Rise
Residential R-5
Residentia Dwellings (Medium Rise-High-Rise
ls, Hotels MULTI-FAMILY  Multi-level Condominuim as Multiple
and RESIDENTIAL Apartment Family Dwellings)
Apartment  Taller Than 5, Not
s more than 12 EXCLUSIVE VERY HIGH
Storey DENSITY
DIVISION CHARACTER PRINCIPAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION

GROUP C EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATION

EDUCATIONAL  Seminar/
INSTITUITON Workshop Facilties
C-1  Training Center
 Civic/Government
Centers
 Government
Buildings
 AMUSEMENT/  Massage & Sauna
RECREATIONA Parlor
L  Health Studious GI (General Institution)
 Sports Complex Low-rise to medium-rise/High rise
 Amusement hall Bldgs.
 Gymnasium School related Activities

DIVISION CHARACTER PRINCIPAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION

GROUP D INSTITUTIONAL
GOVERNMENT & HEALTH SERVICES
 RESTRAINED  Mental Hospitals
 PUBLIC  Jail, Prisons, &
D-1 ASSISTANCE & Correctional GI (General Institution)
MAITAINING Institution Low-rise to medium-rise/High rise
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 PEACE &  Rehabilitation
ORDER  Quarantine
Station
 Guard house,
police & fire
station
 HOSPITAL
HEALTHCARE  HOME FOR THE
NON-AMBULATORY AGED
D-2 PATIENTS  NURSES Bldgs.
CHILDREN OF For Medical government service
KINDERGARTEN AGE administrative related activities.
MORE THAN 5
PERSON
 HEALTHCARE  NURSING HOMES
 AMBULATORY  SCHOOL & HOME\
PATIENT ORPHANAGE
D-3 KINDERGARTE
N AGE/OVER

DIVISION CHARACTER PRINCIPAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION

GROUP E BUSINESS AND MERCANTILE

 NO WORK IS  Gasoline filling &

DONE EXCEPT service station
E-1 EXCHANGE OF  Storage garage
PARTS AND  Commercial
MAINTENANC garage, Parking C-1
E building, (Light Commercial)
 NO OPEN Terminal, Neighborhood/community level
FLAME Ports/Public Low-Rise bldgs.
 USES service Low Intensity Commercial/Trade
ALLOWED IN  Pawnshop 1-3 storey
B-1/(R-3  Bakeshop
CLASS)  Store for
Construction
Supplies
 Wholesale & retail
Stores C-2
Business &  Shopping Centers, (Medium Commercial)
E-2 mercantile in Mall & Municipal/City Level Medium-Rise
Nature Supermarket Bldgs.

Medium-High Intensity.
3-5 storey

 WET & DRY SPE(Special)

MARKET Not mentioned under Regular
uses (centeries, memorial, parks
& the like)
C-3
 NO REPAIR (Metropolitan Commercial)
WORKS IS Metropolitan Level
E-3 DONE  Aircraft garage Medium-High-Rise Bldgs.
 EXCHANGE OF  Open Parking Large-Very Large Intensity
PARTS & garages
MAINTENANC  University Mixed Use/Occupancy
E REQUIRING Complexes
 NO OPEN
FALMES
 USES
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 ALLOWED E-1
DIVISION CHARACTER PRINCIPAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION

 Ice Plant & Cold

Storage
I-1
GROUP F LIGHT INDUSTRIAL  Power plants
(Light Industrial Use)
Non-  Pumping plants
Low-rise but Sprawling Bldgs.
Pollutive/Non-  Diaries &
Low Intensity manufacturing
hazardous Creameries
 Factories
DIVISION CHARACTER PRINCIPAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION

GROUP G STORAGE AND HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIAL

MEDIUM INDUSTRIAL
 Storage &  Storage tanks
handling (gasoline,oxygem, I-2
hazardous & etc) (Medium Industrial)
Highly  Armories Low-rise but Sprawling bldgs.
flammable  Firework Medium Intensity
materials  Plastic Resin Manufacturing
G-1  Acetylene
 Cooking oil UTS
 High flammable UTILITIES, TRASPORTAION &
chemical SERVICES
 Large Complexes Utilitarian/Functional uses
for Public Utilities
 Storage &  All uses allowed in
G-2 handling I-1
Flammable  Dry Cleaning
materials plants using
flammable liquids
 Paint Shop
 Sign & Billboards
painting Shop
 Wood working  Planning mills
G-3 Establishment  Wood drying kilns Low-rise/medium-rise buildings
s  Textile & fibre Low-high Intensity
 Highly spinning mills community
combustible  Grain & cement
Fires silos Excludes: Terminals/Inter-
 Loose modals/Multi-modals & depot
combustible
fibers
 Factories for
G-4 Repair Garage engine & turbine
& attached testing
facilities
 Hangars
G-5 Aircraft repair  Repair & testing
Shops for aircraft
DIVISION CHARACTER PRINCIPAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION

GROUP H ASSEMBLY
LESS THAN 1000
 LESS THAN  Theater & PRE(Park, Structures,
1000 auditoriums Recreation & Entertainment)
H-1  WITH STAGE  Concert halls & LOW-RISE/ MEDIUM RISE
Open house INTENSITY(Recreational/
 Conventional halls Entertainment
 Little theater, Functions Related to Educational
audio-visual room Uses)
ASSEMBLY ON CAMPUS
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 CUL-CULTURAL
(Low-rise/Medium-rise
building Community-national
Level of
 300/MORE  Dance Hall
H-2  WITHOUT  Skating rinks
STAGE  Cockfighting
arena
 300/LESS  Dance halls,
H-3  WITHOUT ballrooms
STAGE  Skating rinks
 TOURISM-  Sports stands,
H-4 ORIENTED Grandstand,
ESTABLISHME Reviewing stand
NTS  Covered
 NOT amusement
INCLUDED IN  Boxing Arena
GROUP I or  All types of
H 1-3 amusement &
entertainment
complexes
DIVISION CHARACTER PRINCIPAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION

GROUP I ASSEMBLY OF OCCUPANT

MORE THAN 1000
 RECREATIONA  Colisea & Sports CUL-CULTURAL
L ASSEMBLY Complexes (Low-rise/medium-rise
 1000 OR  Theaters & building Community-national
I MORE Convention Level of Cultural Use)
Centers PRE(Park, Structures,
 Concert Halls & Recreation & Entertainment)
Open Houses LOW-RISE/ MEDIUM RISE
 Convention INTENSITY(Recreational/
Centers Entertainment
Functions Related to Educational
Uses)
ASSEMBLY ON CAMPUS
DIVISION CHARACTER PRINCIPAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION

GROUP J ACCESSORY

 AGRICULTURA  Sheds A (AGRICULTURAL

L  Barns Low-rise to medium-rise Bldgs.
STRUCTURES  Poultry houses LOW-RISE TO HIGH INTENSITY
J-1  Piggeries AI (AGRO-INDUSTRIAL)
 Hatcheries Low-rise Bldg.
 Stable LOW-RISE TO HIGH INTESITY
 Greenhouses Agro-industrial/related activities
 Granaries
 Silos
 Private garage, PUD (Planned Unit
carports Development)
J-2 CARPORTS/  Towers, Land development
GARAGE, smokestacks & CDMP
FENCES, TOWERS locker room (Comprehensive
& POOLS  Fence 1.8 m, Development master Plan)
separate firewalls URBAN DESIGN
 Steel & Concrete
Tanks

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 J-3 STAGES, COURTS, TOMBS, MAUSOLEUMS, ZOOS, & BANKS

RULE VIII – LIGHT AND VENTILATION

General Requirements
1. Subject the provision of the Civil Code of the Philippines on Easements of Light and
view, and to specific provisions of the Code, every building shall be designed,
constructed, and equippedto provide adequate light and ventilation.
2. All building shall face a street or public alley or a private street which has been duly
approved.
3. No building shall be altered nor arranged so as to reduce the size of any room or the
relative areas of windows to less than that provided for buildings under this Rule or to
create an additional room, unless such additional conforms to the requirements of this
Rule.
4. No building shall be enlarged so that the dimensions of the required court or yard
would be less than what it is prescribed for such building lot.
Size and Dimensions of Court
COURT
An occupied space between the faces of the building lines and a yard or another court,
free, open and unobstructed from the ground upward.
YARD
The vacant space left between the outermost face of the building/structure and the
property line, e.g. front rear, right, and left side yards.
1. Minimum sizes of courts and yards and their least dimensions shall be governed by
the use, types of construction and height of the building provided hereunder, provided
that the minimum horizontal dimension of said courts and yards shall be not less than
2.00 meters. All inner courts shall be connected to a street or yard, either by
passageway with a minimum width of 1.20 meters or by a door through a room or
rooms.
2. The required open spaces shall be located totally or distributed anywhere within the
lot in such a manner as to provide maximum light and ventilation into the building.
3. YARD – the required open space left between the outermost face of the
building/structure and the property lines, e.g. front, rear, right and left side yards. The
width of the yard is the setback.

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 REQUIRED OPEN SPACE LOCATIONS

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 Sizes and Dimensions of Rooms

Ceiling Heights
1. Habitable rooms provided with artificial ventilation shall have
ceiling heights not less than 2.40 meters measured from the floor to
the ceiling; provided that for buildings of more than one (1) storey, the
minimum ceiling height of the first storey shall be 2.70 meters and

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that for the second story 2.40 meters and the succeeding stories shall
have an unobstructed typical head-room clearance of not less than 2.10
meters above the finished floor. Above-stated rooms with natural
ventilation shall have ceiling heights of not less than 2.70 meters.
2. Mezzanine floors shall have a clear ceiling
height not less than 1.80 meters above and
below it.
ROOM FOR HUMAN HABITAITONS
6.0 SQUARE METERES WITH AT LEAST
DIMENSIONS OF 2.00

KITCHEN
3.00 square meters with at least
dimensions of 1.50 meters

Air Space Requirements

School Rooms – 3.00 cu. Meters with 1.00 sq meter of floor area per person.
Workshop, Factories, and Offices – 12.00 cu. Meters of air space per person, and
Habitable Rooms – 14.00 cu. Meters of air space per person

Window Openings
Rooms intended for any use, not provided with artificial ventilation system, shall be
provided
with a window or windows with a total free area of openings equal to at least 10%
of the floor
area of the room, provided that such opening shall be not less than 1.00 sq. meter.
However,
toilet and bathrooms, laundry rooms and similar rooms shall be provided with window or
windows with an area not less than 1/20 of the floor area of such rooms, provided that
such
opening shall not be less than 240 sq. millimeters. Such window or windows shall open
directly to a court, yard, public street or alley, or open watercourse.
In locating window openings, it should be borne in mind that in cases of extreme
emergencies windows must serve as emergency egress to vacate the premises or
access for rescue operations. Such windows shall meet the following requirements:
a. They can be opened from the inside without the use of any tools;
b. the minimum clear opening shall have a width not less than 820 millimeters and a
height

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of 1 meter;
c. The bottom of the opening should not be more than 820 millimeters from the floor;
d. Where storm shutters, screens or iron grilles are used, these shall be provided with
quick
opening mechanism so that they can be readily opened from the inside for emergency
egress and shall be so designed that when opened they will not drop to the ground;
e. All areas immediately outside a fire exit window/grille must be free of obstacles and
must
lead to a direct access down into the ground or street level.

BATASANG PAMBANSA 344 / ACCECIBILTY LAW

(Supplementary Notes)
Accebility
Refers to design and constructing spaces to be inclusive and usable by as
many individuals as possible including those with incapabilities.
INTENT
In order to promote the realization of the rights of disabled personals, no permit for the
construction, repair, or renovation of buildings for the public use shall be
granted or issued unless facilities or features to enhance the mobility of
disabled persons are incorporated.
The Implementing Rules and Regulations of BP 344 provides for minimum requirements
and standards to use make buildings, facilities, and utilities for public use accessible for
disabled persons.

SUMMARY
Batasang Pambansa Bilang 344 National Building Code of the
(Accessibility Law) Philippines (NBCP)
Focuses on ensuring accessibility for Serve as a comprehensive set of
persons with disabilities (PWDs) in regulations for the design, construction,
buildings, institutions, establishments, and use, occupancy, and demolition of
public utilities. buildings in the Philippines.

Mandates specific accessibility features Covers various aspects like structural

like ramps, elevators, accessible safety, fire, safety, sanitation, health, and
restrooms, and braille signage environmental considerations

Enforced by the Department of Public Includes accessibility requirements for

Works and Highways (DPWH) and the PWDs, but these are more general and
National Council on Disability Affairs often reference BP344 for specific details.
(NCDA)

OUTSIED AND AROUND BUILDINGS(BP 344)

DROPPED CURBS
 Changes in level walkways should be by a dropped curb.
 Dropped Curbs should be provided at pedestrian crossings and at end
of walkways of a private street or access road.
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  Dropped curbs at crossing have a width cropped corresponding to the
width of the crossing; otherwise, the minimum with is 0.90m

CURB CUT-OUTS
 Curb cut-outs should only be allowed when it will not obstruct a walkway or in any
way lessen than width of a walkway.
 The minimum width of a curb cut-out should be 0.90 m
 Curb cut-outs should have a gradient not more than 1:12.

WALKWAYS AND PASSAGES

 Walkways
- A pedestrian route within a building or its exterior space
- Likely refers to covered or uncovered pathways
- Examples: Sideways, corridors, hallways, ramps, and pedestrian bridges
Passage:
- A general term for a route or means of going from one place to another

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 - Walkways should be kept as level as possible and provided with slip-resistant
material.
- Whenever and wherever possible, walkways should have a gradient no more
than 1:20 or 5%
- Walkways should have a maximum cross gradient of 1:100
- Walkways should have a minimum with of 1.20 meters.

 In length or busy walkways, spaces should be provided at some point along the
route so that a wheelchair may pass another or turn around (Rest Stop or
Turning Space).
 These spaces should have a maximum dimension of 1.50 m and should be
spaced at a a maximum distance of 12.00 m between stops.

 Walkway headroom should not be less than 2.0 m and preferably higher.
 Passageways for the disabled should not be obstructed by street furniture,
bollards, sign posts or columns along the design route, as they can be hazardous.

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HANDRAILS
 Handrails should be installed at both sides of ramps and stairs and at the outer
edges of dropped curbs. Handrails at dropped curbs should not be installed beyond
the width of any crossing so as not to obstruct pedestrain flow
 Handrails shall be installedat 0.90 m and 0.70 m above steps or ramps.
Handrails for protection at great heights may be installes at 1.0 m to 1.06 m.
 A 0.30 m long extension of the handrail should be provided at the start
and end of ramps and stairs.
 Handrails that require full grip should have a dimension of 30 mm to 50mm.
 Handrails attached to walls should have a clearance no less than 50mm from
the wall. Handrails on ledges should have a clearnace not less than 40mm.

OPEN SPACES
 Where open spaces provided, the blind can become particularly disoriented.
Therefore, it is extremely helpful if any walkway or paths can be given defined
edges either by the use of planters with draft walls, or grass verge, or
similar, which provides a texture different from the path.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCESSIBILITY / BP 344

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SIGNAGES
 Directional and informational sign should be located at points conveniently
seen even by a person on a wheelchair and those with visual impairments.
 Signs should be kept simple and easy to understand; signage should be
made of contrasting colors and contrasting gray matter to make detection and
reading easily.
 The international symbol for access should be used to designate routes and
facilities that are accessible.
Signs on walls and doors should be located at a maximum heights of 1.60 meters and a
minimum heights of 1.40 meters
Signages labelling public rooms and places rooms and places should have raised
symbols, letters or numbers with minimum heigh of 1mm; braille symbols should be
included in signs indicating public places and safety routes;

 Accessibility Features;
 Tactile Warning Surfaces: International Orange (Pantone 17-1438) with
diagonal stripes in contrasting color (not black)
 Accessible Toilets: White Pictogram on blue background
 Accessible parking: Blue Background with white symbol
 Braille and Tactile Signage: Black raised lettering and symbols on a light,
non-glare background.

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 CROSSINGS
 In order to reduce the exposure time to vehicular traffic, all at grade
crossing should;
 Be as near perpendicular to the caregiver as possible.
 Be located at the northwest, most convenient part of the
CARRIAGEWAY
 Have central refuges of at least 1.5m in depth and preferably 2m
provided as a midcrossing shelter, where the width of carriageway
to be crossed exceeds 10m.
 Provide tactile blocks in the immediate vicinity of crossing as an
aid to be blind. The tactile surface has to be sufficiently high
enough to be left through the sole of the shoe but low enough not
to cause pedestrian to trip, or to effect the mobility of wheelchair
users.

PARKING AREAS
 Parking space for the disabled should allow enough space for a person
to transfer to a wheelchair from a vehicle.

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  Accessible parking space should be located as close as possible tp building
entrances or to accessible entrances.
 Whenever and wherever possible accessible parking spaces should be
perpendicular or to an angle to the road or circulation aisles.
 Accessible parking slots should have a minimum width of 3.70 m.
 A walkway from accessible spaces of 1.20m width shall be provided
between the front ends of parked cars.
 Provide dropped curbs or curb cut-outs to be parking level where access
walkways are raised.
 Pavements markings, signs or other means shall be provided to delineate
parking spaces for the handicapped
 Parking spaces for disabled should never be located at ramped or sloping
areas.

ENTRANCES
 Entrances should be accessible from arrival and departure points to the
interior lobby.
 In case entrances are not on the same level of the site of arrival grade,
ramps should be provided as access to the entrance level.
 Entrances with vestibules shall be provided a level are with at least a 1.80
m, depth and a 1.50 m width.

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RAMPS
 Changes in level require a ramp except when served when served by a
dropped curb, an elevator or other mechanical device.
 Ramps shall have a minimum clear width of 1.20m.
 The maximum gradient shall be 1:12
 The length of a ramp should not exceed 6;00 m. if the gradient is 1:12 longer
ramps whose gradient is 1:12 shall be provided with landings not less than
1.50m

 A level area not less than 1.80m should be provided at the top and
bottom of any ramp.
 Handrails will be provided on both sides of the ramp at 0.70m and 0.90 m
from the ramp level.
 Ramps shall be equipped with curbs on both sides with a minimum height
of 1.0m.
 Any ramp with a rise greater than 0.20m and leads down towards an area
where vehicle traffic is possible, should have a railing across the full width of
its lower end, not less than 1.80 meter from the foot of the ramp.

DOORS
 All doors shall have a minimum clear width of 8.0
 Clear openings shall be measured between the surface of the fully open door
at the hinge and the door jamb at the stop.
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  A minimum clear level space of 1.50 m x 1.50m shall be provided before
and extending beyond door.
 Protection should be provided from doors that swing into corridors.
 Outswinging doors should be provided at storage room, closets and
accessible restroom stalls.

 Latching or non-latching hardware should not require wrist action or fine

finger manipulation.
 Doorknobs and other hardware should be located between 0.82m
and 1.06m above the floor; 0.90 is preferred.
 Vertical pull handles, centered at 1.06 m. Above the floor, are preferred to
horizontal pull bars for swing doors or doors with locking devices.
 Doors along major circulation routes should be provided with kick plates
made of durable materials at a height of 0.30 m to 0.40m.

CORRIDORS
 Corridors shall have minimum clear width of 1.20m; and other facilities
or spaces shall not obstruct the minimum clearance requirements.
 Recess or turnaboyt should be provided for wheelchairs to turn around or to
enable another wheelchair to pass; these spaces shall have a minimum
area of 1.50m x 1.50m and shall be spaced at a maximum of 12.00m
 Turnabout spaces should also be provided at or within 3.50 m of every
dead end;

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WASHROOMS AND TOILETS
 Accessible water closet stalls have a minimum area of 1.70 x 1.80
meters. One movable grab bar and one fixed to the adjacent wall shall
be installed at the accessible water closet stall for lateral mounting; fixed
grab bars on both sides of the wall shall be installed for stalls for frontal
mounting.
 A turning space of 2.25sq m. with a minimum dimension of 1.50
m. for wheelchair shall be provided for water closet stalls for lateral
mounting.

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  In order to aid visually persons to readily determine whether a washroom is
for men or for women, the signage of men’s wash rooms door shall be
an equilateral triangle with a vertex pointing upward and those for
women shall be a circle; the edges of the triangle should be 0.30 m long
as should be the diameter of the circle; these signages should at least 7.5
mm thick; the color and gray value of the doors; the word “men” and
“women” or the appropriate stick figures should still appear on the
washrooms doors for the convenience of the fully sighted.

 The maximum height of water closets should be 0.45; flush control

should have a maximum height of 1.20m.
 Maximum height of lavatories should be 0.80 m with a knee recess of 0.60 –
0.70 M. vertical clearance and a 0.50 m. depth.
 Urinals should have an elongated lip or through type; the maximum height of
the lip should be 0.48m.
STAIRS
 Tread surfaces should be a slip-resistant material; nosings may be provided
with slip-resistant strips to further minimize slipping.
 Slanted nosings are preferred to projecting nosings so as not to pose
difficulty for people using crutches or braces whose feet have a tendency to
caught in the recessed space or projecting nosings. For the same reason,
open stringers should be avoided

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  The leading edge of each step on both runner and riser should be marked
with a paint or non-skid material that has a color and gray value which is in
high contrast to the gray value of the rest of the stairs.
 A tactile strip 0.30m wide shall be installed before hazardous areas such
as sudden changes in floor levels and at the top and bottom of stairs.
ELEVATORS
 Accessible elevators should be located not more than 30.00 m from the
entrance and should be easy to locate with the aid of signs.
 Accessible elevators shall have minimum dimension of 1.10 m x 1.40m.
 Control panels and emergency system of accessible elevators shall be within
reach of a seated person; centerline heights for the topmost buttons shall
between 0.90m and 1.20 from the floor.
 Button sizes at elevator control panels shall have a minimum diameter of
20mm and should have a maximum depression depth of 1mm.

BATASANG PAMBSAN 344

SAFETY (MINIMUM ACCESSIBILTY REQUIREMNETS)
FENCING FOR ROADWORKS
- All excavations, whether on the road or footway must be adequately protected,
 The height of the top of the rail should be at least 1.00M. above the adjacent
surface.
 The railing should incorporate a tapping rail to assist the blind, and this should not
be greater tna 0.35 M. above adjacent surface.
 The fence should be strong enough to offer resistance should a blind person walk
into it.
 Gaps should not occur between adjoining fencing lengths.

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COVERS FOR EXCAVATIONS
 Excavations in the footway or carriageway where pedestrian may walk are
covered over temporarily with properly constructed and supported boards to
provide a temporary path for pedestrians.
 If the footway width will be reduced to less than 1.20 because of the
excavation, the temporary covering should extend across the whole of the
footway.

 Effective width of footways past any obstruction should not be less than
1.20m.
 If unavoidable, loose materials temporarily stored on footways must be
properly fenced and prevented from encroaching onto the main footway by
the use of kickboard at least 0.20m. high which will also serve as a tapping
board for the blind.

SIGNAGE FOR ROADWORKS

 Temporary signs used to warn of
roadworks should be carefully
located and should not cause any
inconvenience to pedestrians,
particularly the disabled.

NATIONAL STRUCTURAL CODE OF THE

PHILIPPINES
(NSCP 2015)
ASSOCIATION OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEES OF THE PHILIPPINES (ASEP)

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  The ASEP is the premier structural engineering organization in the
Philippines.
 It was established in 1961 and now in its 59 th year of existence.
 Institution of Special Structural Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (ISSEP)
 Autonomous specialist organization under ASEP composed of accredited PICE
Specialist Members
 Exist to advance the structural engineering practice
 A proactive voice in the development of codes and standards
 Contributes to nation building by advocating public safety and welfare
and sustainability of built structures.
For nearly five(5) decades, ASEP has been the developer and author,
recognized by DPWH, of the NSCP, a referral code of the National
Building Code for structural design of buildings.
STRUCTURAL CODE
 a set of rules, provisions, and standards for structural designers, to use a
guide in the design, detailing and construction of a structure.
 Minimum requirements in the design and detailing of structures.
 Minimum requirements of the code is for life safety.
NSCP EDITIONS
National Structural Code for Buildings
National Structural Code for Buildings
 1972 – 1st edition
 1982 – 2nd edition
 1987 – 3rd edition
 1992 – 4th edition
 2001 – 5th edition
 2010 – 6th edition
 2015 – 7th edition
NSCP Effectivity of NSCP 2015/April 2017
2015, 7th Edition
 Earthquake Load Provisions based in UBC 1997 and updated Active Fault
Maps presented by region
 Wind Load Provision based in ASCE – 10 and Wind Contour Maps for the
entire Philippine Archipelago
Need to Update
ASEP has been the sole developer/author, recognized by the DPWH, of the National
Structural Code of the Philippines, a referral code of the National Building Code.
Since 2010, our country have experienced numerous natural disaster affecting
building structures – Onday (165kph) etc…
Keep the NSCP updated with new findings borne out of research and experience, from
previous disasters.

NSCP CHAPTERS
 CHAPTER 1 – GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
 CHAPTER 2 – LOADS AND ACTIONS
 CHAPTER 3 – EARTWORKS AND FOUNDATION
 CHAPTER 4 – STRUCTURAL CONCRETE
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  CHAPTER 5 – STRUCTURAL STEAL
 CHAPTER 6 – WOOD
 CHAPTER 7 – MASONRY
 APPENDICES
-Design Peer Review
-Building Instrumentation

SECTION / DESIGN
REQUIREMENTS
Strength Requirements
Design shall be in accordance with Strength Design, Load and Resistance Factor
Design (LRFD) and Allowable Strength Design methods (ASD)
Serviceability Requirements
Structural systems and members thereof shall be designed to have adequate stiffness
to limit deflections, lateral drifts, vibration, or any other deformation that adversely
affect the intended use and performance of buildings, towers and other vertical
structures.
General

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Copies of design calculations, reports, plans, specifications and inspection program for all
constructions shall bear the signature and seal og the engineer-of-record.
Specifications
The specifications shall contain information covering the material and construction
requirements. The materials and construction requirements shall conform to the
specifications referred to in Chapters 1 to 7 of this code.
Required Information
The design drawings shall contain but shall not be limited to the general information
listed in Section [Link] and material specific information listed in Sections 106.3.2
and [Link] as applicable.
Section/Specifications, Drawings and Calculations
General Information
1. Name and date of Issue of Buildings and supplements, if any, to which the design
conforms.
2. Strength or designations of materials to be used
3. Deign strengths of underlying soil or rock. The soil or rock profile, when available shall
be provided.
4. Live loads and other loads used in design and clearly indicated in the floor plans.
5. Seismic design basis including the total base shear coefficient; a description of the
lateral load resisting system; and the fundamental natural period in the design in each
direction under consideration.
6. Provisions for dimensional changes resulting creep, shrinkage, heave and temperature
7. Camber of trusses, beams and girders, if required
8. Explanation or definition of symbols and abbreviations used in the drawings
9. Engineer-of-Record’s professional license number and expiration date of the
current Professional Regulation Commission registration (PRC).

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SCOPE
This Chapter Provides minimum design load requirements for the design of buildings,
towers and other vertical structures. Loads and appropriate load combinations
which have been developed to be used together for strength design and allowable stress
design are set forth.

SECTION / COMBINATIONS OF LOADS

Symbols and Notations
F - dead load
E – earthquake load
Em – estimated maximum earthquake load that can be developed in the
structure
F – load due to fluids with well-defined pressures and maximum heights
H – load due to lateral pressure of soil and water in soil
L – live load, except rood live load, including any permitted live load reduction
Lr - roof live load, including any permitted live load reduction
P – ponding load
R – rain load on the underflected roof
T – self-restraining force and effects arising from constraction or expansion
resulting from temperature change, shrinakafe, moisture change, creep in
component materials, movements due to differential settlement or
combinations thereof
W – load due to wind pressure
Load Combinations Using Allowable Stress or allowable strength design

203.4.1 basic Load Combination

Where allowable stress or allowable strength design is used, structures and all portions
thereof shall the most critical effects from the following combinations of loads.
 D + F
 D + H+F+L+T
 D + H + F + 0.75 (L + T(Lr or R)
 D + H + F + (0.6W or E/1.4)

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SECTIONS / DEAD LOADS
Dead Loads consist of the weight of all materials of construction incorporated
into the building or structure.
SECTION / LIVE LOADS
Live loads shall be the maximum loads expected by the intended use or
occupancy but in no case shall be less than the loads required by this section.
Live loads shall be the maximum loads expected by the intended use or
occupancy but in no case shall be less than the loads required by this section.
STRUCTURAL DESIGN PROCESS
1. Preparation of Model based on AR plans
2. Preparation of the Design Criteria (Chapter 2)
3. Structural Analysis for Gravity, Wind, and Earthquake (Chapter 2)
4. Foundation Requirements, Soil Investigation and Bearing Capacities (Chapter 3)
5. Structural Design of Individual member for Reinforced Concrete (Chapter 4),
Structural Steel (Chapter 5), Wood (Chapter 6) (Chapter 7).

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