DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS (Summary)

A. RESIDENTIAL

1. Light and Ventilation:

Section 808 of the National Building Code on windows

“… at least 10% of the room floor area and shall open directly to a court, yard, public street or alley or
open water courses.”

2. Sizes and Dimensions of Rooms

Section 806 of the National Building Code on Size and Dimensions of rooms:
“… the minimum size of rooms and their least horizontal dimensions shall be as follows:

a. Room for human habitations shall be 6m2 with a least dimension of 2m;
b. Kitchen shall be 3m2 with a least dimension of 1.5m; and
c. Bath and Toilet shall be 1.2m2 with a least dimension of 0.9m.”

3. Height

Section 807 of the National Building Code on Air Space Requirements in determining size of the rooms:
“… the minimum air space shall be provided as follows:

a. Habitable room - 14m3 of air space per room;

b. School room - 3m3 with 1m2 of floor area per person;
c. Office workshop and facilities - 12m3 of air space per person

Section 805 of the National Building Code on Ceiling Heights:

“…
a. Habitable Rooms with Natural Ventilation shall have a ceiling height not less than 2.7m;
b. Habitable Rooms with Artificial Ventilation shall have ceiling heights not less than 2.4m
measured from the floor to the ceiling. For buildings more than one story high, the minimum
ceiling height of the first floor shall be 2.7m and 2.4m for the second floor. The succeeding
floors shall have an unobstructed typical head room clearance of not less than 2.1m above
the finished floor;
c. Mezzanine Floors shall have a clear ceiling height not less than 1.8m above and below it.
…”

4. Electrical Layout

Convenience outlet is installed 30cm above floor line and not more than 1m away from the appliances
served.

5. Minimum Clearances / Spaces

a. For simple passage between low objects such as sofa and coffee table, the pathway
should have a minimum clearance of 40cm;
b. For a single passage between tall objects from the hip height or over, provide minimum clearance
of 60cm;
c. For general traffic lane, the minimum recommended pathway clearance is 100cm;
d. For seating area to permit one person to be passing at the back of an occupied chair, a minimum
clearance of 90cm is acceptable.
e. Furniture clearances on the living room:
i. 150cm between facing seating;
ii. 50cm where circulation occur between
furniture;
iii. 75cm for use of desk;
iv. 90cm for main traffic;
v. 150cm between television set and seating
vi. 45cm (min.) for single passage not a traffic lane
between low objects such as sofa and coffee
tables;
vii. 75cm (min) for single passage not a traffic lane
between all objects hip height or over;
viii. 100cm (min.) for general traffic lane. As room
increases in sizes, this minimum distance also
increases to maintain the space scale of the
room;
ix. 90cm (min.) for confined seating areas. For
instance, between desk and a wall which
permits one person to pass at the back of an
occupied chair. The minimum distances
constitute no major traffic lane.
f. Clearance/recommended space dimensions for the dining room:
i. Size of Place Setting. For greater freedom of movement, a minimum width of 50cm is
acceptable, although 75cm is desirable but 60cm width is adequate that could permit 45cm
wide chair at 15cm apart;
ii. For a Place Setting. Provide a minimum clearance of 35cm.
iii. Table Requirement per person.
1. For Crowded Seating – 50 to 55cm on table perimeter;
2. For Comfort Seating – 60cm. on the table perimeter.
iv. Furniture Clearances. From the edge of the dining table:
1. 80cm for chair plus access thereto;
2. 95cm for chair plus access and passage;
3. 105cm for serving from behind chair;
4. 120cm from table to base cabinets (in dining – kitchen)
v. Clearance behind Chairs. Minimum space recommended is 50cm but 60cm is
preferable. If passage behind chair is not desired, a minimum of 12cm to 15cm plus the
depth of the chair is satisfactory table clearance for pushing back the chair when leaving
the table.