FIRE CODE 8/22/2016

BACKGROUND

LEVEL OF FIRE SAFETY is defined through requirements

directed at:

PD 1185/ RA 9514 Prevention of Ignition

THE FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Detection of Fire
Control of the Fire Department
AND REGULATIONS Confinement of the Effects of Fire
Extinguishing of Fire
Provision of Refuge and/or Evacuation Facilities
Staff Reaction
Provision of Fire Safety Information

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
LEVEL OF FIRE SAFETY is defined BUILDING SERVICE AND FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT:
through requirements directed at:
Utilities
Prevention of Ignition ARCHITECTURAL
Detection of Fire INTERVENTIONS Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning
Control of the Fire Department Smoke Control
Confinement of the Effects of Fire Elevators, Escalators
Extinguishing of Fire BUILDING
SERVICE & FIRE Rubbish Chutes, Incinerators and Laundry Chutes
Provision of Refuge and/or Evacuation PROTECTION
Facilities EQUIPMENT Fire Detection, Alarm, Communication Systems
Staff Reaction
ARCHITECTURAL
Automatic Sprinklers and other Extinguishing
Provision of Fire Safety Information COMPONENTS Equipment

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FIRE CODE 8/22/2016

BACKGROUND Title

FIRE-CONTAINING ARCHITECTURAL COMPONENTS

Declaration of Policy
Scope and
Application
Firewalls General Building
Requirements
Resistive Floors Site Requirements

Resistive Walls
Definitions

Curtain Boards
Shutters
Dampers
Self-closing Doors
LIGHT & VENTILATION

PD 1096

THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE/ IRR RULE XI

BACKGROUND
THE FIRE EXIT PLAN
The door in itself is not a fire exit

The Egress System is made up of:

1. THE EXIT/EGRESS ACCESS: leads to an exit
2. THE EXIT: separated from all other spaces of the
building or structure by construction or equipment to
provide a protected way of travel to the exit
discharge
3. THE EXIT DISCHARGE: means of egress between the
termination of an exit and a public way

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FIRE CODE 8/22/2016

Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

Division 1 - GENERAL Division 1 - GENERAL

GENERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:

CLASSES OF FIRE
Fire Suppression Devices, Equipment, Systems
Class A: ordinary combustible materials such as
Fire Safety Construction wood, cloth, paper, rubber and plastics
Class B: flammable liquids and gases
Fire Protection and Warning System
Class C: energized electrical equipment
Class D: combustible metals such as magnesium,
sodium, potassium

Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

Division 1 - GENERAL Division 1 - GENERAL Division 1 - GENERAL
DEGREE OF HAZARD Automatic Fire Suppression System Dry Standpipe
probability that a an integrated system of underground or overhead piping standpipe system in which pipes are not filled with water.
building, structure or or both connected to a source of extinguishing agent or Water is introduced thru fire service connections when
facility may catch fire medium which when actuated by its automatic detecting needed
difficulty in evacuating DETERMINANTS device suppresses fire Fire Wall
people construction materials used Fire Alerting System designed to prevent spread of fire, having a fire resistance
difficulty in suppressing combustibility of contents
fire a fire alarm system activated by the presence of a fire, of not less than 4 hours with sufficient structural stability
type of occupancy and load where the signal is transmitted to designated locations to remain standing even if construction on either side
capacity collapses under fire conditions
instead of sounding a general alarm, in order to prevent
height from ground level panic Means of Egress
firefighters travel distance
Fire Protective Assembly a continuous and unobstructed route of exit from any point
fire safety construction ;
protective/warning systems incorporated in a structure to prevent spread of fire. in a building, structure or facility to a public way
Examples are dampers, curtain boards, fire stoppers

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FIRE CODE
Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Division 1 - GENERAL
Fire Retardant
any compound or mixture, which when applied properly
improves the fire resistant quality of fabrics and other
materials
Panic Hardware
a mechanical device consisting of linkages and a horizontal
bar across a door, which when pushed from inside will case
the door to open and facilitate exit from a building
Organic Coating
a liquid mixture of binders and combustible solvents, which
when spread on a surface becomes a durable protective
and decorative finish
Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Division 4 MEANS OF EGRESS
The TRAVEL DISTANCE to an exit shall be measured on the
floor or other walking surface along the center line of the
natural path of travel, starting 30cm from the remote
point, curving around any corner or construction with a
30cm. Clearance therefrom, and ending at the center of
the doorway or other point at which the exit begins.
Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Division 1 - GENERAL
Fire Resistance Rating
time duration that a material or construction can
withstand the effect of a hundred fire test
Flame Spread Rating
time in which flame will spread over the surface of a
burning material
Smoke Developed Rating
a rating of combustible material based on the density and
volume of smoke developed within a certain period of time
when its surface is ignited
Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Division 4 MEANS OF EGRESS
A DOOR FROM A ROOM TO AN EXIT or to a way of exit access:
side-hinged, swinging type, swing with exit travel when
occupied by 50+ persons or used for high hazard occupancy
Exit: not be through a bathroom, bedroom or other room
subject to locking, except where the exit is required to serve
only the bedroom or other room subject to locking or
adjoining rooms constituting part of the same dwelling or
apartment used for single family occupancy
8/22/2016
Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Division 4 MEANS OF EGRESS
EXIT COMPONENTS shall be constructed as an integral part
of the building or shall be permanently affixed thereto.
SEPARATION OF EXITS
1-hour fire resistance rating for 3 stories or less
2-hour fire resistance rating for 4 or more stories
any opening in the separation shall be enclosed by an
approved self-closing fire door
Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Division 4 MEANS OF EGRESS
Decorations or draperies shall not be placed on exit
doors.
Mirrors shall not be placed in or adjacent to any exit in
such a manner as to confuse the direction of exit.
All exits shall terminate directly at a public way or at an
exit discharge.
In no case shall the ceiling height (headroom) be less
than 2.3 meters nor any projection from the ceiling be
less than 2.0 meters from the floor
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Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

Division 4 MEANS OF EGRESS Division 4 MEANS OF EGRESS Division 4 MEANS OF EGRESS
UNITS OF EXIT WIDTH UNITS OF EXIT WIDTH TREADS AND RISERS
only the clear width of the single door in a doorway shall not be less than .71m and sum of 2 risers and a tread exclusive of nosing projection
doorway when the door is in not more than 1.22m should be between 0.60m to 0.635m
the open position shall be minimum number of risers in any 1 flight is 3
measured; any projections into treads and landing floor shall be solid
CHANGES IN LEVEL
the doorways by doorstops or
by the hinge stile shall be floor on both sides of a door shall have the same
disregarded elevation on both sides, for a distance at least equal to LOADS
where a doorway is divided by the width of the widest single door
Stair, platform, landing, balcony and stair hallway shall
mullions, the exit width shall when a door discharges to the outside, change in floor carry a load of 88 kg per sqm or a concentrated load of
be the sum of the units of exit level shall not be more than .205m 136 kg
width measured separately for
each individual door

Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

Division 4 MEANS OF EGRESS Division 4 MEANS OF EGRESS Division 4 MEANS OF EGRESS
HORIZONTAL EXIT EXIT PASSAGEWAY FIRE ESCAPE STAIRS
is a way of passage from one building to an area of refuge any hallway, corridor, passage or tunnel protected by may be used as required means of egress only for existing
in another building on approximately the same level separation, and with solid floor buildings
or a way of passage through or around a wall or partition shall not constitute more than 50% of required exit
to an area of refuge on approximately the same level in capacity
the same building Class A ramp: 8-10% slope LADDERS
Class B ramp: 10-17% slope cannot be used as fire escape, spaced at 3m, positively
inclined
every fire section shall have, in addition to the horizontal SLIDE ESCAPES
exit or exits at least 1 stairway, doorway leading outside, where permitted as required exits, shall be rated at 1 exit
or other standard exit unit per slide, with rated travel capacity of 60 persons per
minute

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FIRE CODE 8/22/2016

Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS Rule 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

Division 4 MEANS OF EGRESS
EMERGENCY LIGHTING
shall be arranged to maintain specified level of
illumination in the event of failure of the normal lighting
for a period of at least 1.5 hours in buildings more than
36.5 meters in height
EXIT SIGNS
every exit shall have the word EXIT in plainly legible
letters not less than 15cm height with principal strokes of
letters at least 19mm wide
Division 4 FEATURES OF FIRE PROTECTION
SPRINKLER VENT METHOD
combination of an automatic or smoke detection system,
automatic exhaust system and an automatic water curtain
SPRAY NOZZLE METHOD
combination of an automatic fire or smoke detection
system and a system of high velocity water spray nozzle
ROLLING SHUTTER METHOD
automatic self-closing rolling shutter which completely
encloses the top of each escalator
Division 4 FEATURES OF FIRE PROTECTION
PARTIAL ENCLOSURE METHOD
kiosk designed to provide an effective barrier to the
spread of smoke from floor to floor
FIRE-STOPPING CONCEALED SPACES
concealed space in which exposed materials with flame-
spread rating greater than class A are fire-stopped

Rule 3: FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES & FACILITIES Rule 3: FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES & FACILITIES Rule 3: FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES & FACILITIES
Division 3 - CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY & HAZARD OF CONTENTS Division 7 PLACES OF ASSEMBLY Division 7 PLACES OF ASSEMBLY
CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY
Assembly Assembly main exit must accommodate 1/2 of occupant Assembly Class A: 1000 or more 4 exits
Educational Educational load Educational Class B: 600 or more 3 exits
Institutional Institutional travel distance not to exceed 46 meters if not Institutional 300-600 2 exits
protected by automatic fire suppression; 61
Residential Residential meters if protected Residential Class C: 50- 300 2 exits
Mercantile Mercantile Multiple Seating Mercantile OCCUPANT LOADS
Business Business rows of seats between aisles shall not have Business concentrated use w/o fixed seats such as an
Industrial Industrial more than 14 seats; 7 seats if row opens to 1 Industrial auditorium, church, dance floor, lodge room:
aisle only 0.65sq.m./person
Storage Storage back to back spacing, not less than 0.83 m
Storage less concentrated use such as conference
Mixed Occupancies Mixed Occupancies seats w/o dividing arms must allow 0.60m per Mixed Occupancies room, dining room, exhibit room, gymnasium:
Miscellaneous Miscellaneous person Miscellaneous 1.4 sq.m./person
aisle width: 0.91-1.00 m for more than 60 standing room or waiting space:
seats: 0.76 m for less than 60 seats 0.28 sq.m./person

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FIRE CODE 8/22/2016

Rule 3: FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES & FACILITIES Rule 3: FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES & FACILITIES Rule 3: FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES & FACILITIES
Division 8 EDUCATIONAL OCCUPANCIES Division 9 INSTITUTIONAL OCCUPANCIES Division 10 RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES
CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY
Assembly every room or space with a capacity of over Assembly CLASSIFICATION Assembly CLASSIFICATION
Educational 50 persons or over 93 sq.m. in area shall Educational Health Care Facilities (Hospitals & Nursing Educational Hotels (more than 15 sleeping accommodations for
have at least 2 doorways providing access to Homes) hire
Institutional separate exits; where egress is through Institutional Institutional Apartment Buildings (3 or more living units w/
Residential Custodial Care (Nurseries, Home
Residential corridors, shall open to a common corridor Residential for the Aged, Mentally-retarded Care) Residential independent cooking and bathroom facilities)
leading to separate exits in opposite
Mercantile directions Mercantile Residential-Restrained Care (Penal Mercantile Dormitories (group sleeping accommodations for
persons not members of the same family)
Business Business Institutions, Reformaries, Jails) Business Lodging or Rooming Houses (separate rented living
OCCUPANT LOADS
Industrial Classroom: 1.80 sq.m./person
Industrial OCCUPANT LOADS Industrial rooms for 15 or less, on transient or permanent
basis)
sleeping departments : 11 sq.m./person
Storage shops, laboratories, vocational rooms: Storage Storage Single and 2-family Dwelling (detached dwellings
in-patient treatment departments:
Mixed Occupancies 1.40 sq.m./person Mixed Occupancies 22 sq.m./person Mixed Occupancies where each unit is occupied by family members)
Miscellaneous Miscellaneous Miscellaneous OCCUPANT LOADS
18.60 sq.m/ person (except for single & 2-
family dwellings

Rule 3: FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES & FACILITIES Rule 3: FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES & FACILITIES Rule 3: FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES & FACILITIES
Division 11 MERCANTILE OCCUPANCIES Division 12 BUSINESS OCCUPANCIES Division 13 INDUSTRIAL OCCUPANCIES
CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY
Assembly CLASSIFICATION Assembly Assembly CLASSIFICATION
Educational Class A: stores with gross area of 2,787 sq.m. Educational Educational General Industrial: all except high hazard
or more or utilizing more than 3 levels for manufacturing operations
Institutional sales purposes
Institutional Institutional Special Purpose: contents liable to burn with
Residential Class B: stores with gross area of 287 to less Residential Residential extreme rapidity or from which poisonous
Mercantile than 2,787 sq.m. Utilizing floor above or Mercantile Mercantile fumes or explosions are feared
CLASSIFICATION
below street floor level for sales purposes Open Industrial: operations conducted in open
Business Business office occupancy shall be classified as Light Business air
Class C: stores with gross area of less than
Industrial Industrial Hazard Occupancy Industrial
287sq.m. utilizing street floor only for sales.
OCCUPANT LOADS
Storage OCCUPANT LOADS Storage OCCUPANT LOADS Storage Industrial: 9.3 sq.m./person
Mixed Occupancies street floor/ below street floor: 2.8 sq.m./person Mixed Occupancies Business: 9.3 sq.m./person Mixed Occupancies
every high hazard occupancy shall have
Miscellaneous upper floor: 5.6 sq.m./person Miscellaneous Miscellaneous automatic fire suppression system protection or
floors not open to public: 9.3 sq.m./person such other protection appropriate to the
covered malls: 2.8 sq.m./person particular hazard

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FIRE CODE 8/22/2016

Rule 3: FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES & FACILITIES Rule 3: HAZARDOUS CONTENTS Rule 4: MAINTENANCE OF EXIT WAYS
Division 14 STORAGE OCCUPANCIES CLASSIFICATION OF HAZARD OF CONTENTS
CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY Low hazard EXIT OBSTRUCTION
Assembly Are those of such low combustibility that no self propagating obstruction
Educational fire therein can occur & that consequently the only probable overcrowding
danger requiring the use of emergency exits will be from panic,
Institutional fumes or smoke or fire from external source aisles
CLASSIFICATION OF HAZARD OF CONTENTS
Residential Ordinary hazard fire escapes
ordinary hazard
Mercantile high hazard Are those which liable to burn with moderate rapidity or to storage of materials
Business low hazard give off a considerable volume of smoke, but from which
Industrial neither poisonous fumes nor explosions are likely to occur in
Parking garages of closed or open type, above case of fire
Storage or below ground
High hazard
Mixed Occupancies storage of servicing areas
Are those which are liable to burn with extreme rapidity or
Miscellaneous from which gases or explosions are to be expected in the
events of fire

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FIRE CODE 8/22/2016

Rule 4: MAINTENANCE OF EXIT WAYS Rule 4: MAINTENANCE OF EXIT WAYS Rule 4: MAINTENANCE OF EXIT WAYS
STAIRWAYS
DOORS CORRIDORS AND EXTERIOR EXIT BALCONIES handrail projection up to 9cm from each side
openable from inside without keys, effort and special any covered or enclosed exit passageways including headroom clearance: 195cm
knowledge walkways, tunnels, walls 1-hour resistive construction for storage underneath
approved bolting devices can include foyers, lobbies and reception room
readily distinguishable do not include railings and partitions below 1.5m.
handrails & fully opened doors should not reduce width
by 8cm; doors in any position should not reduce width by
more than half
required 2m clearance
access to all exits

Rule 4: MAINTENANCE OF EXIT WAYS Rule 4: MAINTENANCE OF EXIT WAYS Rule 4: MAINTENANCE OF EXIT WAYS
RAMPS EXIT ENCLOSURES SMOKEPROOF ENCLOSURES
1/8 or 12.5% slope include landings, floors connecting flights of stairs, consist of vestibule/open exterior balcony and stairway
handrails required for slopes of 1/10 or higher ground floor corridor from stairs to building exterior from highest to lowest point
rough, non-slip material no openings except doorways and exterior wall openings exit to public way or exit passageway to public way
self-closing and automatic doors should not go beyond grade level
HORIZONTAL EXIT should not continue beyond grade level with adequate ventilation
may be considered as a required exit no enclosed usable space under stairs in exit enclosure
fire-resistance, opening protection and discharge areas
shall be maintained

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FIRE CODE 8/22/2016

Rule 4: MAINTENANCE OF EXIT WAYS Rule 6: FIRE PROTECTION APPLIANCES

EXIT COURTS COMBINATION STANDPIPE
width reduction to be effected by a 90cm high guard rail a fire line system with a constant water supply and
making an angle of not more than 30 degrees with exits installed for the use of the Fire Service and the occupants
of the building
EXIT PASSAGEWAY
no opening except for required exits
fire-resistance, widths, heights to be maintained DRY STANDPIPE
a fire line system without a
SIGNS AND ILLUMINATION constant water supply, is
light intensity of at least 1 footcandle at floor level equipped with a fire service
inlet and outlet connections
exit signs with letters of at least 12.7cm high
and installed exclusively for
main exit doors need not be sign posted the use of the Fire Service
exit signs illuminated with 2 electric lamps of not less
than 5 watts each

Rule 6: FIRE PROTECTION APPLIANCES Rule 6: FIRE PROTECTION APPLIANCES Rule 6: FIRE PROTECTION APPLIANCES
WET STANDPIPE INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS
is an auxiliary fire line system with a constant water
supply installed primarily for emergency fire use by the DRY STANDPIPE DRY STANDPIPE
occupant of the building
1 outlet connection at every floor level landing above the all 102mm dry standpipes to be equipped with a four-way
floor of every required enclosed stairway or smokeproof connection
enclosure fire service connections on street front 46cm to 122cm
FIRE DEPARTMENT HOUSE CONNECTION
will withstand 21kg/sqcm of water pressure above grade
is a hose connection at grade or street level for use by
the Fire Service only 20% slope for horizontal runs for each standpipe, a 6.4cm outlet, 61cm-122cm above
102mm where highest outlet is 23m or less above fire floor level of each storey
service connection for less than 34% roof slope, 2-way 6.4cm outlet above
153mm where highest outlet is higher that 23m above the roof line
fire service connection

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FIRE CODE 8/22/2016

Rule 6: FIRE PROTECTION APPLIANCES Rule 6: FIRE PROTECTION APPLIANCES Rule 6: FIRE PROTECTION APPLIANCES
INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS

WET STANDPIPE WET STANDPIPE COMBINATION STANDPIPE

required from cellar to topmost story for assembly
buildings of more than 1000 occupants
required for hazardous storage, business and mercantile
occupancies with more than 1,860sq.m per floor
not required in buildings with automatic fire suppression
system
not required in assembly areas for worship
all portions of building must be within 6m of a nozzle at least 15cm diameter
attached to 22m of hose
each side of stage , balcony or rear of auditorium
64mm when height of riser is 15m or more above the
source
51mm when height of riser is less than 15m above the
source
38mm valve per story, 91cm-192cm above floor
water supply at 132liters/minute with 1/8kg/sqcm
residual pressure from each outlet for 30 minutes
hose of not less that 38mm required per standpipe
4-way service connection required for combination of 2
systems
Two 4-way service connections for combinations of 3 or
more systems
for each standpipe, a 64mm outlet, 61cm-122cm above
floor level at each storey
sign saying COMBINATION STANDPIPE AND TEST
CONNECTIONS

Rule 37: FIRE EXTINGUISHER Rule 37: FIRE EXTINGUISHER Rule 40: HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
FIRE EXTINGUISHER PROHIBITED ACTS HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
a device that contains within it chemicals, fluids, or gases removal of inspection tags attached to fire extinguishers one which is at least 15 meters high measured from the
for extinguishing fires, the means for application of its refilling a discharged extinguisher with an extinguishing floor of the topmost level to the ground level
contents for that purpose, and is capable of being readily agent other than what the unit was designed to contain shall be protected with approved type of automatic fire
moved from place to place suppression systems installed in accordance with
selling extinguishers not appropriate to the hazard
internationally recognized standards; must protect all
selling prohibited types of extinguisher
Servicing portable fire extinguishers includes any or all of the spaces including every closet and concealed spaces
following selling defective or substandard extinguishers
Charging using/installing 2 or more thermatic special hazard
Filling vaporizing liquid units in rooms with volume greater than
Maintaining the nominal capability of 1 unit
Recharging use of uncalibrated gauges
Refilling
Repairing
Testing

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FIRE CODE 8/22/2016

Rule 40: HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
Exits: all stairwells shall be enclosed and protected
all doors on stairwells shall be kept closed
First aid protection: each floor shall be provided with at
least 19mm lightweight flexible hose providing water at
19-38liters per minute for 30 minutes
Emergency escape: capable of attachment and use for
escape from windows; this means of escape shall not
exceed 25% of the required number of units of exit
widths

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