Occupancy and Occupant Load square meters (11.

1 m2) gross floor area in

1. Health care occupancies in buildings health care sleeping
housing other occupancies shall departments and not less than one (1)
be completely separated from them by persons for each twenty two
noncombustible construction square meters (22.3 m2) of gross floor area
having at least a two (2)-hour fire-resistance of inpatient health care
rating. All means of egress treatment departments. Gross floors areas
from health care occupancies that traverse shall be measured within
non-health care spaces the exterior building walls with no
shall conform to requirements of this deductions.
standard for health care SECTION 10.2.10.2 EXIT DETAILS
occupancies. Any occupancy with a hazard A. Number and Types
of contents classified 1. Exits shall be restricted to the following
higher than that of the health care and permissible types;
located in the same building a. Doors leading directly outside the building
as health care occupancies shall be b. Stairs and smoke-proof enclosures
protected. Industrial, office, c. Ramps
mercantile and storage occupancies d. Horizontal exits
categorized as high hazard shall e. Exit Passageways
not be permitted in buildings housing health 2. At least two (2) exits of the above types,
care occupancies. remote from each other, shall
2. Sections of health care buildings may be be provided for each floor or fire section of
classified as other occupancies the building.
if they meet at the following conditions: 3. Elevators constitute a supplementary
a. They are not intended to serve health facility, but-shall not be counted
care occupants for purposes as required exits.
of housing, treatment, customary access, or B. Capacity of Exits
means of egress. The capacity of means of egress shall be in
b. They are adequately separated from areas accordance with Section
of health care occupancies 10.2.5.2 para “C” of this IRR.
by construction having a two-(2) hour fire C. Access to Exit
resistance rating. 1. Every aisle, passageway, corridor, exit
3. Auditoriums, chapels, staff residential discharge, exit location and
areas, garages or similar occupancies access shall be in accordance with Section
provided in connection with health care 10.2.5.2 of this IRR, except
occupancy shall as modified in the succeeding paragraphs of
have exits provided in accordance with this subsection.
other applicable sections of 2. Travel distance shall comply with the
this Chapter. following:
4. The occupant load for which means of a. Between any room door intended as exit
egress shall be provided for access and an exit shall
any floor shall be the maximum number of not exceed thirty (30) meters;
persons intended to b. Between any point in a room and an exit
occupy that floor but not less than one (1) shall not exceed forty six
persons for each eleven (46) meters;
153 c. Between any point in a health care
sleeping room or suite and an
exit access door of that room or suite shall 5. Any rooms and any suite or rooms of
not exceed fifteen (15) more than ninety three square
meters. meters (93 m2) shall have at least two (2)
154 exit access doors remote
d. Travel distance shall be measured in from each other.
accordance with Section 6. Every exit or exit access shall be so
10.2.5.2 of this IRR. arranged that no corridor or aisle
e. The travel distances in para (2) (a) and (b) has a pocket or dead-end exceeding six
above may be meters (6 m).
increased by fifteen meters (15 m) in 7. Any health care sleeping room which
buildings completely complies with the requirements
equipped with an automatic fire suppression previously set forth in this section may be
system. subdivided with non firerated,
3. Every health care sleeping room, unless it non-combustible partitions, provided, that
has a door opening at the arrangement
ground level, shall have an exit access door allows for direct and constant visual
leading directly to a supervision by nursing personnel.
corridor which leads to an exit. One adjacent Rooms which are so subdivided shall not
room such as a sitting or exceed four hundred sixty five
anteroom may intervene if all doors along square meters (465 m2).
the path of exit travel are D. Doors
equipped with non-lockable hardware, and 1. Doors shall be in accordance with Section
this intervening room is 10.2.5.3, except as modified
not intended to serve more than eight (8) in this subsection. For door requirements in
health care sleeping beds. horizontal exits and smoke
However, special nursing suites or nurseries partitions, see Section 10.2.5.6, Section
permitted in this Division 10.2.6.Error! Reference source
shall not be limited to eight (8) cribs or not found.9 and this Section.
bassinets. 2. Locks shall not be permitted on patient
4. Aisles, corridors and ramps required for sleeping room doors.
exit access of exit in hospitals or 155
nursing homes shall be at least two hundred Exception No. 1: Key-locking devices that
forty four (244) centimeters restrict access to the room
in clear and unobstructed width. Aisles, from the corridor and that are operable only
corridors and ramps by staff from the corridor
required for exit access or exit in a side shall be permitted. Such devices shall
residential-custodial care institution not restrict egress from the
shall be at least one hundred eighty three room.
centimeters (183 cm) in Exception No. 2: Door-locking arrangements
clear and unobstructed width. Corridors and shall be permitted in
ramps in adjunct areas health care occupancies, or portions of
not intended for the housing, treatment, or health care occupancies,
use of inpatients, shall be at where the clinical needs of the patients
least one hundred eighty three centimeters require specialized security
(183 cm) in clear and measures for their safety, provided that keys
unobstructed width. are carried by staff at all
times.
3. Exit access doors from hospital and provided on each side of the horizontal exit
nursing home sleeping rooms, for the total number of
diagnostic and treatment rooms or areas 156
such as X-ray, surgery and occupants in adjoining compartments.
physical therapy, all doors between these 2. A single door may be used as a horizontal
spaces and the required exit if it serves one direction,
exits, and all exit doors serving these spaces only and is at least one hundred twelve
shall be at least one centimeters (112 cm) wide for
hundred twelve (112) centimeters. Doors to a hospital or nursing home or at least ninety
residential-custodial one centimeters (91 cm)
sleeping rooms and door to nursery sleeping wide for residential-custodial care
rooms and all exit doors institutions. The swing shall be in the
serving these spaces shall be at least ninety direction of exit travel.
one centimeters (91 cm) 3. A horizontal exit involving a corridor two
wide. and four tenths (2.40) meters
4. Any door in a fire separation, horizontal or more in width serving as means of egress
exit or a smoke partition may from both sides of the
be held open only by an electrical device doorway shall have the opening protected
which complies with by a pair of swinging
Section 10.2.5.3. Each of the following doors, each door having a clear width of
systems shall be so arranged as 1055 mm and swinging in
to initiate the self-closing action throughout the opposite direction from the other.
the entire health care 4. An approved vision panel is required in
facility. each horizontal exit door.
a. The required alarm system Center mullions are prohibited.
b. The required automatic fire detection G. Ramps
system Ramps in accordance with Section 10.2.5.7
c. An approved automatic fire suppression shall be permitted.
system, H. Emergency Lighting, Exit Markings, Alarms
5. Doors in stair enclosures and in walls and Communication Systems
surrounding hazardous areas shall 1. Each hospital shall be provided with
not be equipped with hold-open devices. emergency lighting as described
E. Stairs and Smokeproof Enclosures in Section 10.2.5.11 and exit markings as
Every stair and smokeproof enclosure shall described in Section 10.2.5.12
be in accordance with Section of this IRR. Such emergency lighting and the
10.2.5.4. illumination of required
F. Horizontal Exits exits and directional signs shall be supplied
A horizontal exit shall be in conformance by the Life Safety Branch of
with Section 10.2.5.6and/or as the hospital electrical system as described in
modified in this subsection. NFPA 99, Standard for
1. At least two and eight-tenths (2.80) Health Care Facilities. The Life Safety Branch
square meter per occupant in a shall also serve alarms,
hospital or nursing home or one and four- emergency communication systems and the
tenths (1.40) square meter illumination of generator
per occupant in a residential-custodial care set locations as described in paragraph (c),
institution shall be (d) and (e), Section 312 of
the same reference.
2. Each nursing home and residential- least one half square meter (0.5 m2) per
custodial care facility shall have occupant shall be provided
emergency lighting in accordance with on each side of the smoke partition for the
Section 10.2.5.11 of this IRR. total number of occupants
Emergency lighting with at least 1 ½ hour in adjoining compartments.
duration shall be provided. 5. Corridor openings in smoke partitions
3. Exit signs shall be provided in each shall be protected by a pair of
hospital, nursing home, and swinging doors, door to swing in a direction
residential custodial care facility in opposite from the other.
accordance with Section 10.2.5.12 The minimum width of each door for
of this IRR. hospitals and nursing homes shall
SECTION 10.2.10.3 PROTECTION be one hundred twelve centimeters (112
A. Subdivision of Building Spaces cm), while that for residentialcustodial
1. Smoke Partitions Required - Smoke care institutions shall be eighty one
partitions shall be provided, centimeters (81 cm).
regardless of building construction type, as 6. Doors in smoke partitions shall comply
follows: with Section 10.2.6.9 of this IRR
a. To divide into at least two (2) and shall be self-closing and held open only
compartments every storey used by if they meet the
157 requirements of this section.
inpatients for sleeping or treatment and any 7. Vision panels of approved transparent
storey having an wired glass not exceeding forty
occupant load of fifty (50) or more persons. six-hundredth square meter (0.46 m2) in
b. To limit on any storey the maximum area steel frames shall be provided
of each smoke compartment in all doors in smoke partitions.
to no more than two thousand one hundred 8. Stops are required on the head and sides
square meters of door frames in smoke partitions
(2,100 m2), of which both length and width and center mullions are prohibited.
shall be no more than B. Minimum Construction Standards
forty six meters (46 m). 1. Health care buildings of one (1) storey
Note: Protection may be accomplished in only may be constructed of
conjunction with the protected non-combustible construction,
provisions of horizontal exits. fire-resistive construction,
2. Smoke partitions shall be provided on protected ordinary construction, protected
storeys which are usable but wood frame construction,
unoccupied. heavy timber construction or unprotected
3. Any smoke partition shall be constructed noncombustible
in accordance with Section construction. For the purpose of this
10.2.6.9 of this IRR and shall have a fire subsection, storeys shall be
resistance rating of at least one 158
(1) hour. counted starting at the lowest floor of exit
4. At least two and eight-tenths square discharge. All levels below
meters (2.8 m2) per occupant for the floor of exit discharge shall be separated
the total of bed or litter patients shall be from the floor of exit
provided on each side of the discharge by at least protected non-
smoke partition. On other storeys not combustible construction.
housing bed or litter patients at
2. Health care buildings two (2) storeys or be provided with latches of a type suitable
more shall be at least fireresistive for keeping the door tightly
construction. closed.
3. Health care occupancies two (2) or more 4. Transfer grills, whether protected by
storeys shall have enclosure fusible link-operated dampers or
walls of non-combustible materials having a not, shall not be used in these walls or
fire resistance rating of at doors.
least two (2) hours around stairways, 5. Fixed wired glass vision panels may be
elevators, chutes, and other placed in corridor walls,
vertical openings between floors. provided they do not exceed eighty four-
4. All interior walls and partitions in hundredth square meters
buildings of fire-resistive and (0.84 m2) in size and are installed in
noncombustible approved steel frames. Fixed wired
construction shall be composed on non- glass vision panels may be installed in
combustible wooden doors, provided they
materials. do not exceed forty six-hundredth square
5. Every health care sleeping room shall meters (0.46 m2) size and
have an outside window or are installed in approved steel frames.
outside door arranged and located so that it 159
can be opened from the 6. Waiting areas of twenty three square
inside without the use of tools or keys to meters (23 m2) or less on an
permit the products of institutional sleeping floor of fifty six square
combustion and to permit any occupant to meters (56 m2) or less on
have direct access to other floors may be open to the corridor,
fresh air in case of emergency. The provided that they are
maximum allowable sill height shall located to permit direct supervision by the
not exceed ninety one centimeters (91 cm) institutional staff so
above the floor except arranged as not to obstruct any access to
that in special nursing care areas the required exits. Such areas
window sill may be one and a shall be equipped with an electrically
half meters (1.5 m) above the floor. supervised automatic smoke
C. Construction of Corridor Walls detection system installed in accordance
1. Corridors shall be separated from use with this Section. Not more
areas by partitions having a fireresistance than one such waiting area is permitted in
rating of at least one (1) hour. each smoke compartment.
2. These walls shall be continuous from the D. Protection of Vertical Openings and Fire-
floor slab to the underside of stopping
the floor or rood slab above, through any 1. Any stairway, ramp, elevator shaft, light
concealed spaces such as and ventilation shaft, chute
those above the, suspended ceilings and and other openings between storeys shall be
through interstitial structural enclosed with
and mechanical spaces. noncombustible materials in accordance
3. Doors with a twenty (20) minute fire with Section 10.2.5.2.,
protection rating shall be used on Section 10.2.6.2 of this IRR and this Section.
openings other than those serving exits or 2. A door in a stairway enclosure shall be
hazardous areas. Doors shall self-closing, shall normally be
kept in closed position and shall be marked 3. Approved, supervised sprinkler system
in accordance with shall be provided throughout all
Section 10.2.5.3 of this IRR. hospitals, nursing homes, and residential-
3. Fire-stopping shall be provided in custodial care facilities.
accordance with Section 10.2.6.5 of Replenishment of water supplies shall be
this IRR. strictly considered in the
E. Interior Finish design. Quick-response sprinklers shall be
Interior finish of walls and ceilings in means required in smoke
of egress and of any room shall compartments containing patient sleeping
be Class A in accordance with Section rooms.
10.2.6.3 of this IRR, while floor finish 4. Approved, supervised sprinkler system
material shall be Class A or B throughout all shall be in accordance with the
hospitals, nursing homes and requirements of Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR.
residential-custodial care facilities. 5. In light hazard occupancies, required
F. Alarm, Detection and Extinguishment automatic fire suppression
Systems systems shall be in accordance with Section
1. Every building shall have an electrically 10.2.6.5 of this IRR for
supervised automatic fire systems and shall be electrically
alarm system capable of being manually interconnected with the fire alarm
operated in accordance system. The main automatic fire suppression
with Section 10.2.6.4 of this IRR. The fire control valve shall be
alarm system shall be installed electrically monitored so that at least a local
with provisions for future connection to the alarm will sound when
nearest BFP station in the the valve is closed.
locality. Internal audible alarm devices shall 6. If the fire suppression system is an
be provided in automatic sprinkler, its piping serving
accordance with Section 10.2.6.4 of this IRR. no more than six (6) sprinklers for any
Pre-signal systems shall not isolated hazardous area, may be
be permitted in healthcare occupancies. connected directly to a domestic water
2. An approved automatic heat and/or supply system having a
smoke detection system shall be capacity sufficient to provide six (6) liters per
installed in all corridors of hospitals, nursing minute per square meters
homes, and residentialcustodial of floor area throughout the entire enclosed
care facilities, such systems shall be installed area. As outside-screwand-
in accordance yoke shutoff valve shall be installed in an
with the applicable standards of the NFPA accessible location
72, but in no case shall between the sprinklers and the connection
smoke detectors be spaced further apart to the domestic water
than nine (9) meters on centers supply.
or more than four and six-tenths meters 7. Portable fire extinguishers shall be
(4.60 m) from any wall all provided in all institutional occupancies
automatic heat and/or smoke detection in accordance with Section 10.2.6.5 of this
systems required by this IRR.
section shall be electrically inter-connected G. Hazardous Areas
to the fire alarm system. Any hazardous area shall be segregated and
160 protected in accordance
with Section 10.2.6.8 of this IRR. Hazardous case of either excessive temperatures or
areas include, but are not ignition failure. Fire-places
limited to the following: may be installed and used only in areas
Boiler and heater rooms other than patient sleeping
Laundries areas, provided that these areas are
Kitchens separated from patient sleeping
Repair shops spaces by construction having a one-hour
Handicraft shops fire resistance rating. In
Employee locker rooms addition thereto, the fireplace shall be
*Soiled linen rooms equipped with a hearth that
*Paint shops shall be raised at least ten centimeters (10
*Rooms or spaces, including shops, used for cm), and a heat tempered
the storage of combustible supplies and glass fireplace enclosure guaranteed against
equipment in quantities deemed breakage up to a
hazardous by the Chief, BFP or his duly temperature of three hundred forty three
authorized representative. (343°C) degrees Celsius. If
Trash collection rooms special hazards are present, a lock on the
Gift shops enclosure and other safety
Those areas marked by asterisk (*) shall be precautions may be required.
both separated and provided 3. Combustion and ventilation air for Boiler,
with automatic fire suppression system. incinerator or heater rooms
SECTION 10.2.10.4 BUILDING SERVICE shall be taken directly from and discharged
EQUIPMENT directly to the outside air.
A. Air Conditioning, Ventilating, Heating, 4. Any rubbish chute and linen chute
Cooking and Other Service including pneumatic systems shall
161 be safeguarded in accordance with Section
Equipment 10.2.6.2and 10.2.7.4 of
1. Air-conditioning, ventilating, heating, this IRR. An incinerator shall not be directly
cooking and other service flue-fed nor shall any floor
equipment shall be in accordance with charging chute directly connect with the
Division 7 of this Chapter. combustion chamber. Any
2. Any heating device other than a central rubbish chute shall discharge into a rubbish
heating plant shall be so collecting room used for
designed and installed that combustible no other purpose and protected in
material will not be ignited by accordance with Section 10.2.6.8
it or its appurtenances. If fuel fired, such of this IRR
heating devices shall be DIVISION 11. DETENTION AND
chimney or vent connected, shall take air for CORRECTIONAL OCCUPANCIES
combustion directly from SECTION 10.2.11.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
outside, and shall be so designed and A. Definition
installed to provide for Detention and correctional occupancies
complete separation of the combustion shall include those used for
system from the atmosphere purposes such as correctional institutions,
of the occupied area. The heating system detention facilities, community
shall have safety devices to residential centers and substance abuse or
immediately stop the flow of fuel and shut rehabilitation centers where
down the equipment in
occupants are confined or housed under spaces, and other occupied areas within the
some degree of restraint or smoke compartment
security. to another smoke compartment.
B. Occupancy 2. To be classified as Use Condition III or Use
162 Condition IV, the
1. For the application of the life safety arrangement, accessibility, and security of
requirements of this Division, the the release mechanism(s)
resident user category shall be divided into used for emergency egress shall be such
the following five groups. that the minimum available
a. Use Condition I — Free Egress. Free staff, at any time, can promptly release the
movement is allowed from locks.
sleeping areas and other spaces where 3. Areas housing occupancies corresponding
access or occupancy is to Use Condition I shall
permitted to the exterior via means of conform to the requirements of residential
egress that meet the occupancies under this
requirements of this IRR. Chapter.
b. Use Condition II — Zoned Egress. Free Exception: Use Condition I facilities shall be
movement is allowed from permitted to conform to
sleeping areas and any other occupied the requirements of this Division for Use
smoke compartment to Condition II facilities, provided
one or more other smoke compartments. that said facilities is provided with a 24-hour
c. Use Condition III — Zoned Impeded Egress. on-duty staff.
Free movement is C. Occupant Load
allowed within individual smoke The occupant load for which means of
compartments, such as within a egress shall be provided for any
residential unit comprised of individual floor shall be the maximum number of
sleeping rooms and a group persons intended to occupy that
activity space, with egress impeded by 163
remote-controlled release floor but not less than one (1) person for
of means of egress from such a smoke each eleven and one-tenth
compartment to another square meters (11.1 m2) gross floor area.
smoke compartment. SECTION 10.2.11.2 EXIT DETAILS
d. Use Condition IV — Impeded Egress. Free A. Types
movement is restricted 1. Exits shall be restricted to the following
from an occupied space. Remote-controlled permissible types;
release is provided to a. Doors
allow movement from all sleeping rooms, b. Stairs and smoke-proof enclosures
activity spaces, and other c. Horizontal exits
occupied areas within the smoke d. Exit passageways
compartment to another smoke B. Capacity of Exits
compartment. The capacity of means of egress shall be
e. Use Condition V — Contained. Free calculated in accordance with
movement is restricted from an Section 10.2.5.2 para “C” of this IRR.
occupied space. Staff-controlled manual C. Number of Exits
release at each door is 1. At least two (2) exits of the above types,
provided to allow movement from all remote from each other, shall
sleeping rooms, activity
be provided for each floor or fire section of meters (46 m); and
the building. 3. Any point in a sleeping room to the door
2. Exit access travel shall be permitted to be in that room shall have a
common path not maximum travel distance of ten meters (10
exceeding thirty meters (30 m). m).
D. Access to Exit G. Discharge from Exits
Every aisle, passageway, corridor, exit 1. Exits shall be permitted to discharge into
discharge, exit location and access a fenced or walled courtyard,
shall be in accordance with Section 10.2.5.2 provided that not more than two walls of
of this IRR. the courtyard are the
E. Arrangement of Means of Egress building walls from which egress is being
1. Every sleeping room shall have a door made. Enclosed yards or
leading directly to an exit courts shall be of sufficient size to
access corridor, unless otherwise permitted accommodate all occupants at a
by the following: distance of not less than fifteen meters (15
a. If there is an exit door opening directly to m) from the building while
the outside from the room providing a net area of one and four-tenths
at the ground level. square meters (1.4 m2)
b. One adjacent room, such as a day room, per person.
group activity space, or 2. All exits shall be permitted to discharge
other common space shall be permitted to through the level of exit
intervene. Where discharge. This requirement shall be waived,
sleeping rooms directly adjoin a day room or provided that not more
group activity space than 50 percent of the exits discharge into a
that is used for access to an exit, such single fire compartment
sleeping rooms shall be separated from other compartments by
permitted to open directly to the day room construction having not less
or space and shall be than a 1-hour fire resistance rating.
164 H. Emergency Lighting and Exit Markings
permitted to be separated in elevation by a 1. Means of egress shall be illuminated in
one-half or full storey accordance with Section
height. 10.2.5.11 of this IRR.
2. No exit or exit access shall contain a 2. Emergency lighting shall be provided in
corridor, hallway, or aisle having a accordance with Section
pocket or dead end exceeding six meters (6 10.2.5.11 of this IRR.
m). 3. Exit signs shall be provided in areas
3. A sally port shall be permitted in a means accessible to the public.
of egress where there are 165
provisions for continuous and unobstructed SECTION 10.2.11.3 PROTECTION
travel through the sally port A. Protection of Vertical Opening
during an emergency egress condition. 1. Any vertical opening shall be enclosed or
F. Travel Distance to Exits protected.
1. Between any room door intended as exit Exception no. 1: Unprotected vertical
access and an exit shall not openings in accordance with
exceed thirty meters (30 m); Section 10.2.6.2 of this IRR shall be
2. Between any point in a room and an exit permitted.
shall not exceed forty six
Exception no. 2: In sleeping quarters smoke accordance with Section 10.2.6.4 of this IRR,
compartments, a positive alarm
unprotected vertical openings shall be sequence shall be permitted.
permitted in accordance with Exception: any smoke detectors required by
the conditions of 10.2.6.2of this IRR, this chapter shall be
provided that the height between permitted to be arranged to alarm at a
the lowest and highest finished floor levels constantly attended location
does not exceed seven only and shall not be required to accomplish
meters (7 m). The number of levels shall not general occupant
be restricted. Sleeping 166
quarters subdivided in accordance with this notification.
section shall be permitted 4. Fire department notification shall be
to be considered as part of the accomplished in accordance
communicating space. The separation with section 10.2.6.4 of this IRR, a positive
shall not be required to have a fire alarm sequence shall be
resistance rating. permitted .
B. Interior Finish Exception no. 1: Any smoke detectors
Interior finish shall be Class A or Class B required by this chapter shall
C. Detection, Alarm and Communication not be required to transmit an alarm to the
Systems fire department.
1. Detention and correctional occupancies Exception no. 2: This requirement shall not
shall be provided with a fire apply where staff is
alarm system in accordance with Section provided at a constantly attended location
10.2.6.4 of this IRR, except as that has the capability to
modified by the succeeding paragraphs. promptly notify the fire department or has
2. Initiation of the required fire alarm direct communication with
system shall be by manual means in a control room having direct access to the
accordance with Section 10.2.6.4 of this IRR, fire department.
by means of any required 5. An approved automatic smoke detection
detection devices or detection systems, and system shall be in
by means of waterflow accordance with Section 10.2.6.4 of this IRR,
alarm in the sprinkler system. as modified by the para 6
Exception No. 1: Manual fire alarm boxes through 8 hereof throughout all resident
shall be permitted to be sleeping areas and adjacent
locked, provided that staff is present within day rooms, activity rooms, or contiguous
the area when it is common spaces.
occupied and staff has keys readily available 6. Smoke detectors shall not be required in
to unlock the boxes. sleeping rooms with four or
Exception No. 2: Manual fire alarm boxes fewer occupants.
shall be permitted to be 7. Other arrangements and positioning of
located in a staff location, provided that the smoke detectors shall be
staff location is attended permitted to prevent damage or tampering,
when the building is occupied and that the or for other purposes.
staff attendant has direct Such arrangements shall be capable of
supervision of the sleeping area. detecting any fire, and the
3. Occupant notification shall be placement of detectors shall be such that
accomplished automatically in the speed of detection is
equivalent to that provided by the spacing b. Class III standpipe and hose systems shall
and arrangements be provided for all
required by the installation standards nonsprinklered buildings over two storeys in
referenced in Section 10.2.6.4of height.
this IRR. Detectors shall be permitted to be Exception No. 1: Separate Class I and Class II
located in exhaust ducts systems shall be
from cells, behind grilles, or in other permitted in lieu of a Class III system.
locations. E. Subdivision of Building Spaces
8. Smoke detectors shall not be required in 1. Every storey used for sleeping by
Use Condition II open residents, or any other storey with an
dormitories where staff is present within the occupant load of fifty (50) or more persons,
dormitory whenever the shall be subdivided into
dormitory is occupied. compartments by means of smoke barrier.
D. Extinguishment Requirements 2. The requirement for subdivision of
1. All buildings classified as Use Condition II, building space shall be permitted as
Use Condition III, Use follows:
Condition IV, or Use Condition V shall be a. By smoke compartments having exit to
protected throughout by an the public way, provided
approved, supervised automatic sprinkler that such exit serves only one area and has
system in accordance with no opening to other
Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR. areas;
2. The automatic sprinkler system required b. A building separated from the resident
by the preceding paragraph housing area by 2 – hour fire
shall be fully supervised and electrically resistance rating or 14 meters of open area ;
connected to the fire alarm and
system. c. Secured open area holding a space
3. Portable fire extinguishers shall be located 15 meters from the
provided in accordance with housing area that provides 1.4 m2 or more
Section 10.2.6.5 para “C” of this IRR. of refuge area for each
167 person.
Exception No. 1: Access to portable fire F. Hazardous Areas
extinguishers shall be 1. Any hazardous area shall be protected in
permitted to be locked, provided that accordance with Section
personnel are on duty on a 24- 10.2.6.8 The areas described in Table 13
hour basis and keys are readily available to shall be protected as
unlock access to the indicated.
extinguishers. 168
Exception No. 2: Portable fire extinguishers Table 13: HAZARDOUS AREA OPERATION
shall be permitted to be HAZARDOUS AREA DESCRIPTION
located at staff locations only. SEPARATION/PROTECTION
4. Standpipe and hose systems shall be Areas not incidental to resident housing 2
provided in accordance with hours
Section 10.2.6.5 “C” of this IRR as follows: Boiler and fuel-fired heater rooms 1 hour
a. Class I standpipe systems shall be Central or bulk laundries > 9.3 m2 1 hour
provided for any building over Commercial cooking equipment In
two storeys in height. accordance with 3.601
Commissaries Smoke resistant
Employee locker rooms Smoke resistant per occupant shall be provided on each side
Hobby/handicraft shops Smoke resistant of the smoke barrier for
Maintenance shops Smoke resistant 169
Padded cells 1 hour the total number of occupants in adjoining
Soiled linen rooms 1 hour compartments. This space
Storage rooms >4.6 m2 in area but 9.3 m2 in shall be readily available wherever
area storing combustible material Smoke occupants are moved across the
resistant smoke barrier in a fire emergency.
Storage rooms >9.3 m2 storing combustible 6. Doors shall provide resistance to the
materials 1 hour passage of smoke. Swinging doors
Trash collection rooms 1 hour shall be self-latching, or the opening
Doors used to access the areas specified resistance of the door shall be not
above shall meet the less than 22 N.
requirements for doors at smoke barriers for 7. Doors in smoke barriers shall conform to
the applicable use the requirements for doors in
condition. means of egress and shall have locking and
2. Where smoke barriers are required, they release arrangements
shall limit the occupant load according to the applicable use condition.
to not more than 200 residents in any 8. Vision panels shall be provided in smoke
smoke compartment and limit barriers at points where the
the travel distance to a door in a smoke barrier crosses an exit access corridor.
barrier as follows: 9. Smoke dampers shall be provided.
a. The distance from any room door SECTION 10.2.11.4 BUILDING SERVICE
required as exit access shall not EQUIPMENT
exceed forty five meters (45 m). A. Air-conditioning, ventilating, heating,
b. The distance from any point in a room cooking and other service
shall not exceed sixty meters equipment shall be in accordance with
(60 m). Division 7 of this Chapter, and
3. Any required smoke barrier shall be shall be installed in accordance with the
constructed in accordance with manufacturer's specifications,
Section 10.2.6.9. Barriers shall be of except as modified in the following
substantial construction and shall paragraphs.
have structural fire resistance. B. Combustion and ventilation air for boiler
4. Openings in smoke barriers shall be or incinerator shall be taken
protected in accordance with directly from and discharged directly to the
Section 10.2.6.9 of this IRR, provided, that, outside air.
there shall be no restriction C. Any rubbish chute and linen chute
on the total number of vision panels in any including pneumatic systems shall be
barrier. Provided, further, safeguarded in accordance with Sections
that sliding doors in smoke barriers that are 10.2.6.2 and 10.2.7.4 of this IRR.
designed to normally be An incinerator shall not be directly flue-fed
kept closed and are remotely operated from nor shall any floor charging
a continuously attended chute directly connect with the combustion
location shall not be required to be self- chamber. Any trash chute
closing. shall discharge into a trash collecting room
5. Not less than fifty six hundredths square used for no other purpose and
meters (0.56 m2) of net area
protected in accordance with Section without meals, but without separate cooking
10.2.6.8 of this IRR. facilities for individual occupants.
DIVISION 12. RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES E. Single-and-Two Family Dwellings –
SECTION 10.2.12.1 CLASSIFICATION includes detached dwellings in which
Residential occupancies shall include all each living unit is occupied by members of a
occupancies so classified in Division 3 of single family.
this IRR. They shall be classified in the SECTION 10.2.12.2 REQUIREMENTS
following groups, subject to determination A. Occupant Load
by the Chief, BFP or his duly authorized The occupant load of residential
representative. occupancies in number of persons for
A. Hotels – includes buildings or groups of whom exits are to be provided except in
building under the same detached single-and-two-family
management in which there are more than dwellings shall be determined on the basis
fifteen (15) sleeping of one (1) person per eighteen
accommodations for hire, primarily used by and six-tenths square meters (18.6 m2)
transients who are lodged gross floor area, or the maximum
with or without meals, whether designated probable population of any room or section
as a hotel, inn, motel, or by under consideration,
any other name. So-called appartelle, whichever is greater. The occupant load of
condotel or pension houses shall any open mezzanine or
be classified as hotels, because they are balcony shall be added to the occupant load
potentially subject to transient of the floor below for the
170 purpose of determining exit capacity.
occupancy like that of hotels. B. Capacity of Exits
B. Dormitories – includes buildings where Capacity of means of egress shall be in
group sleeping accommodation accordance with Section 10.2.5.2
are provided for persons, not members of paragraph “C” of this IRR.
the same family group in one C. Maintenance of Exits
room or in series of closely associated room 1. No door in any means of egress shall be
under joint occupancy and locked against egress when
single management, as in college the building is occupied.
dormitories, convents, fraternity houses, 2. No residential occupancy shall have its
military barracks, and the like. means of egress pass through
C. Apartment Buildings – includes buildings any nonresidential occupancy in the same
containing three (3) or more living building, except in
units independent cooking and bathroom buildings provided with approved,
facilities, whether designated supervised sprinkler system provided
as condominium, row house, apartment that the means of egress shall not pass
house, tenement, garden through a high hazard content
apartment, or by any other name. 171
D. Lodging or Rooming Houses – includes area as determined by the City/Municipal
building in which separate sleeping Fire Marshal having
rooms are rented providing sleeping jurisdiction and the means of egress shall be
accommodations for a total of separated by a
fifteen (15) or less persons, on either a construction of not less than 1 hour.
transient or permanent basis; with or 3. No guest room or guest suite shall be
permitted to be located above a
nonresidential occupancy except when the and used only for mechanical equipment,
guest room or guest suite storage, and service
and its exits are separated from the operations (other than kitchens which are
nonresidential occupancy by considered part of the
construction having a fire resistance rating hotel occupancy) shall have exits
of not less than 1 hour or appropriate to its actual
when the nonresidential occupancy is occupancy in accordance with applicable
protected throughout by sections of this
approved, supervised sprinkler system. Chapter.
SECTION 10.2.12.3 HOTELS AND 172
DORMITORIES d. The same stairway or other exit required
A. Requirements to serve any one upper
1. Any ballroom assembly or exhibition hall, floor may also serve other upper floor,
and other space used for except that no inside open
purposes of public assembly shall be in stairway, escalator, or ramp may serve as a
accordance, with Division 7 of required egress from
this Chapter. Restaurant having a capacity of more than one floor.
fifty (50) or more persons 2. Types of Exits
shall be treated as places of assembly. Exits, arranged in accordance with Division 5
2. Any dormitory divided into suites of of this Chapter, shall be
rooms, with one or more bedrooms one or more of the following types:
opening into a living room or study that has a. Doors, provided that doors in any means
a door opening into a of egress shall not be
common corridor serving number of suites, locked against egress when the building is
shall be classified as an occupied. Delayed
apartment building. egress locks may be permitted, provided
B. Exit Details that not more than one
1. Requirements such is located in any one egress path.
a. Any room having a capacity of less than b. Stairs and smokeproof enclosures.
fifty (50) persons with an c. Ramps.
outside door at street or ground level may d. Horizontal exits.
have such outside door 3. Minimum Corridor Width
as a single exit provided that no part of the Corridors, other than those in within
room or area is more individual guest rooms or individual
than fifteen and one-fourth meters (15.25 guest suites, shall be of sufficient width to
m) from the door accommodate the required
measured along the natural path of travel. occupant load and shall not be less than one
b. Any floor below the floor of exit discharge hundred twelve
occupied for public centimeters (112 cm).
purposes shall have exits arranged in 4. Number of Exits
accordance with the Not less than two (2) exits shall be accessible
subsequent paragraph of this Section, with from every floor,
access thereto in including floors below the floor of exit
accordance with Section 10.2.5.2 of this IRR. discharge and occupied for
c. Any floor below the floor of exit discharge public purposes.
not open to the public 5. Travel Distance to Exits
a. Any exit shall be such that it will not be through areas on the floor of exit discharge
necessary to travel more provided:
than thirty meters (30 m) from the door of i. Such exits discharge to a free and
any room to reach the unobstructed way to the
nearest exit. exterior of the building, which way is readily
b. Travel distance within a guest room or visible and
guest suite to a corridor door identifiable from the point of discharge from
shall not exceed twenty three meters (23 m) the exit.
in buildings not ii. The floor of discharge into which the exit
protected by an approved, supervised discharge is provided
automatic sprinkler system. with automatic fire suppression system and
c. Travel distance within a guest room or any other portion of
guest suite to a corridor door the level of discharge with access to the
shall not exceed thirty eight meters (38 m) discharge area is
in buildings protected by provided with automatic fire suppression
an approved, supervised sprinkler system. system or separated
173 from it in accordance with the requirements
6. Access to and Arrangement of Exits for the enclosure of
a. Access to all required exits shall be in exit. (See Section 10.2.5.2 of this IRR),
accordance with Section iii. The entire area on the floor of discharge
10.2.5.2 of this IRR, shall be unobstructed, is separated from
and shall not be veiled areas below by construction having a
from open view by ornamentation, curtain, minimum fire-resistance
or other appurtenance. rating of two (2) hours.
b. Means of egress shall be so arranged that, 8. Lighting and Signs
from every point in any a. Each public space, hallway, stairway, or
open area or from any room door, exits will other means of egress
be accessible in at least shall have illumination in accordance with
two (2) different directions. Section 10.2.5.11 of this
c. Doors between guest rooms and corridors IRR. Access to exit shall be continuously
shall be self-closing. illuminated at all times. Any
d. Common path of travel shall not exceed hotel and dormitory shall have emergency
ten meters (10 m). lighting installed in
e. Dead end corridors shall not exceed six individual guest rooms or guest suites,
meters (6 m). hallways, landings of
7. Discharge from Exits stairways and other appropriate areas as
a. At least half of the required number of determined by the
units of exit from upper C/MFM having jurisdiction.
floors, exclusive of horizontal exits, shall 174
load directly to the street or b. Every exit access door from public
through a yard, court, or passageway with hallways or from corridors on
protected openings floors with sleeping accommodations shall
and separated from all parts of the interior have an illuminated sign
of the buildings. in accordance with Section 10.2.5.12 of this
b. A maximum of fifty percent (50%) of the IRR. Where exits are not
exits may discharge visible in a hallway or corridor, illuminated
directional signs shall be
provided to indicate the direction of exit. iii. Places of assembly – See Section 10.2.8.1
C. Protection of this IRR;
1. Protection of Vertical Openings iv. Individual guest rooms – B, or C; and
a. Every stairway, elevator shaft and other b. Existing Interior Finish
vertical openings shall be i. Exits – Class A or B;
enclosed or protected in accordance with ii. Lobbies and Corridors;
Section 10.2.6.2 of this ii.a. Used as exit access – Class A or B
IRR. ii.b. Not used as required exit access – Class
b. Any required exit stair which is so located A, B or C
that it is necessary to pass iii. Places of Assembly – See Section
through the lobby or other open space to 10.2.8.16 of this IRR;
reach the outside of the iv. Individual guest rooms – Class A, B or C;
building shall be continuously enclosed and
down to the lobby level. v. Other rooms – Class A, B or C.
c. No floor below the floor of exit discharge, 4. Fire Detection and Alarm System
used only for storage, a. An automatic fire detection and alarm
heating requirements, or other than hotel system, in accordance with
occupancy open to Section 10.2.6.4 of this IRR, shall be
guest or the public, shall have unprotected provided for any hotel or
openings to floors used dormitory having accommodations for
for hotel purposes. fifteen (15) or more guests.
2. Protection of Guest Rooms For less than 15 guests, a manual fire alarm
a. In any new hotel building every corridor system shall be installed.
shall be separated from b. Every sounding device shall be of such
guest rooms by partitions having at least a character and so located
one (1) hour fire as to arouse all occupants of the building or
resistance rating. section thereof
b. Each guest room shall be provided with a endangered by fire.
door having a fire c. An alarm-sending station and manual fire
protection rating at least twenty (20) alarm box shall be
minutes. provided at the hotel desk or other
c. Openings in corridor partitions other than convenient central control
door openings shall be point under continuous supervision of
prohibited. responsible employees.
d. Doors that open directly onto exit access d. Suitable facilities shall be provided for
corridors shall be selfclosing immediate notification of the
and self-latching. BFP.
3. Interior Finish e. Positive fire alarm sequence may be
Interior finish, in accordance with Section permitted.
10.2.6.3 of this IRR and f. Hotels and dormitories including its guest
subject to the limitations and modifications rooms and guests suites
therein specified, shall be shall be required to be equipped with both
as follows: audible and visible
a. For new construction or new Interior Finish notification appliance.
i. Exits – Class A or Class B; g. In hotels and dormitories not equipped
ii. Lobbies, corridors – Class A or Class B; with automatic fire
175
detection and alarm system, guest rooms, a. Any room containing high pressure
living area and sleeping boilers, refrigerating machinery,
rooms within a guest suite shall be installed transformers, or other service equipment to
with single-station possible explosion shall
smoke detectors. not be located directly under or directly
176 adjacent to exits. All such
5. Extinguishing Requirements rooms shall be effectively cut off from other
a. All buildings shall be protected parts of the building as
throughout by an approve, specified in Section 10.2.6.8 of this IRR.
supervised sprinkler system except in b. Every hazardous area shall be separated
buildings where all guest from other parts of the
sleeping rooms or guest suites have a door building by construction having a fire-
opening directly resistance rating of at least
outside at the street or grade level or one (1) hour and communicating openings
exterior exit access arranged shall be protected by
in accordance with Section 10.2.5.2 of this approved automatic or self-closing fire
IRR in buildings up to doors, or such area shall be
and including three (3) storeys in height. equipped with automatic fire suppression
b. Listed quick response or listed residential system. Where a hazard
sprinklers shall be used is high as determined by the City/Municipal
throughout guest rooms and guest room Fire Marshal having
suites. jurisdiction, both fire-resistive construction
c. Portable fire extinguishers shall be and automatic fire
installed in accordance with suppression system shall be used. Hazardous
Section 10.2.6.7 of this IRR. areas include, but are
6. Subdivision of Building Spaces not limited to:
a. In buildings not protected by an 177
approved, supervised automatic i. Boiler and heater rooms
sprinkler system, each hotel guest room, ii. Laundries
including guest suites, and iii. Repair shops
dormitory rooms shall be separated from iv. Rooms or spaces used storage of
other guest rooms or combustible supplies and
dormitory rooms by walls and floors having equipment in quantified deemed hazardous
fire resistance ratings of by the
not less than one (1) hour. City/Municipal Fire Marshal having
b. In buildings protected throughout by an jurisdiction.
approved, supervised D. Building Service Equipment
automatic sprinkler system, each hotel guest 1. Air-Conditioning and Ventilation
room, including guest a. Every air conditioning installation shall
suites, and dormitory room shall be comply with Division 7 of this
separated from other guest Chapter.
rooms or dormitory rooms by walls and b. No transom/windowpane shall be
floors constructed a fire installed in partition of sleeping
barriers having fire resistance ratings of not rooms in new buildings. In existing buildings
less than one half (½) transoms shall be fixed
hour. in the closed position and shall be covered
7. Hazardous Areas or otherwise protected
to provide a fire-resistance rating at least other area not a part of the apartment
equivalent to that of the served, may have a single
wall in which they are installed. exit.
2. All other building services equipment Exception 2: Apartment buildings of not
installed or used in hotels and more than three storeys in
dormitories shall comply with Division 7 of height with not more than six (6) living units
this Chapter. per floor, with a smokeproof
SECTION 10.2.12.4 APARTMENT BUILDINGS enclosure or an outside stairway as the exit,
A. General Requirements immediately
1. Any apartment building which complied accessible to all apartments served thereby,
with all of the preceding may have a single
requirements of this Section for hotels may exit.
be considered as a hotel Exception 3: Any building not more than
and as such, the following requirements for three (3) storeys in height
apartment buildings will with no floor below the floor of exit
not be applicable. discharge or, in case there is
2. Every individual unit covered by this such a floor, with the street floor
Section shall at least comply with construction of at least one-hour
the minimum provisions of Section 10.2.12.6 fire resistance, may have a single exit, under
of this IRR entitled Single the following
and Two-Family Dwellings. conditions:
B. Exit Details i. The stairway is completely enclosed with a
1. General Types and Capacities of Exits partition having a
a. Exits of the same arrangement, types and fire resistance rating of at least one (1) hour
capacities, as required with self-closing fire
by Section 10.2.12.3 of this IRR shall be doors protecting all openings between the
provided. stairway enclosed
b. Street floor exits shall be sufficient for the and the building.
occupant load of the ii. The stairway does not serve any floor
street floor plus the required capacity of below the floor of exit discharge,
stairs and ramps iii. All corridors serving as access to exits at
discharging onto the street floor. least a one (1) hour fireresistance
178 rating.
2. Number of Exits iv. There is not more than six and one-tenth
a. Every living unit shall have access to at meters (6.10 m) of
least two (2) separate exits. travel distance to reach an exit from
Exception 1: Any living unit, which has an exit entrance door of any living
directly to the street unit.
or yard at ground level or by way of an 3. Minimum Corridor Width
outside stairway that serve a. Corridors with a required capacity of more
a maximum of two units or an enclosed than 50 persons shall be
stairway with fire-resistance of sufficient width to accommodate the
rating of one (1) hour or more serving that required occupant load
apartment only and not but have a width of not less than one
communicating with any floor below the hundred twelve centimeters
floor of exit discharge or (112 cm).
b. Corridors with a required capacity of not IRR. All apartment buildings shall have
more than 50 persons shall emergency lighting.
not be less than ninety one centimeters (91 b. Signs in accordance with Section
cm). 10.2.5.12 of this IRR shall be
179 provided in all apartment buildings .
4. Access to Exits C. Protection
a. Exits shall be remote from each other, as 1. Segregation of Dwelling Units
required by Section Dwelling units in row apartments shall be
10.2.5.2 of this IRR. separated from each other
b. Exits shall be so arranged that there are by partition walls having a fire resistance
no dead-end pockets, rating of four (4) hours. Such
hallways, corridors, passageways or courts. walls shall be constructed solidly and
c. Exits and exit access shall be so located continuously from the ground to
that: level one (1) meter above the ridge line of
i. It will not be necessary to travel more than the roof.
fifteen and one-half 180
meters (15.50 m) within any individual living 2. Protection of Vertical Openings
unit to reach the Protection of vertical openings shall be the
nearest exit, or to reach an entrance door of same as required for hotels.
the apartment (See Section 10.2.12.3 of this IRR) There
which provides access through a public shall be no unprotected
corridor to an exit on vertical opening in any building or fire
the same floor level. section with only one exit.
ii. Within any individual living unit it will not 3. Interior Finish
be necessary to a. For new construction and new interior
traverse stairs more than one (1) storey finish
above or below the floor i. Exits - Class A or Class B;
level of the apartment to the nearest exit or ii. Lobbies, corridors and public spaces -
entrance door. Class A or B; and
iii. The entrance door to any apartment is iii. Individual living units - Class A or B or C
within thirty one meters b. Existing Interior Finish
(31 m) of an exit of within forty six and a half i. Exits - Class A or B
meters (46.50 m) in ii. Other spaces - Class A or B or C.
a building protected by approved, 4. Alarm Systems
supervised sprinkler system in a. Every apartment building of four (4)
accordance with Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR. storeys or more in height, or
d. Doors between apartments and corridors more than twelve (12) apartment units shall
shall be self-closing. have an automatic fire
5. Discharge from Exits detection and alarm system in accordance
Discharge from exits shall be the same as with Section 10.2.6.4 of
required for hotels. (See this IRR, except buildings provided with
Section 10.2.12.3 of this IRR) approved, supervised
6. Lighting and Signs sprinkler protection in accordance with
a. Every public space, hallway, stairway, and Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR.
other means of egress b. Apartment buildings of not more than
shall have illumination in accordance with three (3) storeys in height
Section 10.2.5.11 of this
shall be provided with manual fire alarm suppression system shall be provided.
system, provided that D. Building Service Equipment
dwelling units shall be installed with single – 1. Air-Conditioning and Ventilation – Air
station or multi –station conditioning and ventilation,
smoke detectors. when provided, shall be in accordance with
5. Extinguishing Requirements Division 7 of this Chapter.
a. All buildings shall be protected 2. All other building services equipment
throughout by an approve, installed or used in hotels and
supervised sprinkler system except in dormitories shall comply with Division 7 of
buildings where all guest this Chapter.
sleeping rooms or guest suites have a door SECTION 10.2.12.5 LODGING OR ROOMING
opening directly HOUSES
outside at the street or grade level or A. General
exterior exit access arranged 1. This Section applies only to lodging or
in accordance with Section 10.2.5.2 of this rooming houses providing
IRR in buildings up to sleeping accommodations for less than
and including three (3) storeys in height. fifteen (15) persons, as
b. Listed quick response or listed residential specified in Section 10.2.12.1 of this IRR.
sprinklers shall be used 2. In addition to the following provisions,
throughout all dwelling units. every lodging or rooming house
c. Portable fire extinguishers shall be shall comply with the minimum
installed in accordance with requirements for detached single and
Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR. two family dwellings.
181 B. Means of Escape Requirement
6. Hazardous Areas 1. Every sleeping room and living area shall
a. Every hazardous area shall be separated have access to two means of
from other parts of the escape complying with that of single or two
building construction having a fire-resistance family dwelling.
rating of at least one 2. Every sleeping room above or below the
(1) hour. Communicating openings shall be street floor shall have access
protected by to two (2) separate means of exit, at least
approved automatic or self-closing fire one (1) of which shall consist
doors. Hazardous areas of an enclosed interior stairway, an exterior
include, but shall not be limited to: stairway, a fire escape or a
• Boiler and heater horizontal exit.
rooms 182
• Rooms or spaces used for 3. All exits shall be arranged to provide a
storage of combustible supplies safe path of travel to the
and equipment in quantities outside of the building without traversing
deemed hazardous by the any corridor or space
C/MFM having jurisdiction. exposed to an unprotected vertical opening.
• Laundries 4. Any sleeping room below the street floor
• Repair Shops shall have direct access to
b. Where the hazard is high as determined the outside or the building.
by the C/MFM having C. Alarm System
jurisdiction, both fire-resistant construction A manual fire alarm system shall be
and automatic fire provided in accordance with Section
10.2.6.4 of this IRR. through another room or apartment not
SECTION 10.2.12.6 SINGLE AND TWO FAMILY under the immediate
DWELLINGS control of the occupant of the first room or
A. General his family, not through a
This Section covers detached single and two bathroom or other space subject to locking.
family dwellings as specified d. No exit access from sleeping rooms to
in Section 10.2.12.1 of this IRR. Where the outside shall be less than
occupancy is so limited, the only ninety centimeters (90 cm) wide.
requirements applicable are those in this 183
Section. 2. Doors
B. Means of Escape Requirements a. No doors in the path of travel providing
1. Number, Type and Access to Means of means of escape shall be
Escape less than seventy centimeters (70 cm) of
a. In any dwelling of more than two (2) clear width.
rooms, every room used for b. Every closet door latch shall be such that
sleeping, living or dining purposes shall have children can open the
at least two (2) means door from inside the closet.
of escape at least one (1) of which shall be a c. Every bathroom door lock shall be
door or stairway designed to permit the opening
providing a means of unobstructed travel to of the locked door from the outside in an
the outside of the emergency.
building at street or ground level. No room 3. Stairs
or space shall be The width, risers, and treads of every stair
occupied for living or sleeping purposes shall comply at least with the
which is accessible only by minimum requirements for stairs, as
a ladder, folding stairs or through a trap described in Section 10.2.5.4 of this
door. IRR.
b. Every sleeping room shall have at least C. Interior Finish
one (1) outside window. Interior finish of occupied spaces of new
Such window could be opened from the buildings shall be Class A, B or C
inside, without the use of as defined in Section 10.2.6.3 of this IRR and
tools, keys or special effort or knowledge to in existing buildings the interior
provide a clear finish shall be Class A, B, C or D.
opening of not less than five hundred sixty D. Building Service Equipment
millimeters (560 mm) in No heating equipment such as stove or
width and eight hundred millimeters (800 combustion heater shall be so
mm) in height. The located as to block escape in case of fire
bottom of the opening shall be not more arising from malfunctioning of
than one hundred twenty the stove or heater.
two centimeters (122 cm) above the floor, DIVISION 13. MERCANTILE OCCUPANClES
except if the room has SECTION 10.2.13.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
two (2) doors providing separate ways of A. Classification of Occupancy
escape or has a door 1. Mercantile occupancies shall include all
leading directly outside of the building. buildings and structures or
c. No required path of travel to the outside parts thereof with occupancy as described in
from any room shall be Division 3 of this
Chapter.
2. Sub-classification of Occupancy c. A balcony or mezzanine floor having an
a. Mercantile occupancies shall be classified area less than one-half
as follows: (1/2) of the floor below shall not be counted
i. Class A. AII stores having aggregate gross as a floor level for the
area of two thousand purpose of applying the classification, but if
seven hundred eighty seven square meters there are two (2)
(2,787 m2) or more, balconies or mezzanine floors, one (1) shall
or utilizing more than three (3) floor levels be counted.
for sales purposes. d. Storeys not used for sales above or below
ii. Class B. All stores of less than two sales floor are not
thousand seven hundred counted in the height classification.
eighty seven square meters (2,787 m2) e. A mezzanine less than or equal to 1/3 the
aggregate area, but area (new) or less than or
184 equal to ½ the area (existing) of the floor
over two hundred eighty seven square below is permitted.
meters (287 m2), or f. Where a number of stores under different
utilizing any balcony, mezzanine or floor management are
above or below the located in the same building or in adjoining
street floor level for sales purposes except buildings with no fire
that if more than wall or other standard fire separations in
three (3) floors are utilized, the store shall between, the aggregate
be considered Class A, gross of all such stores shall be used in
regardless of area. determining classification.
iii. Class C. All stores of two hundred seventy B. Classification of Hazard
eight square meters The contents of mercantile occupancies
(278 m2) or less gross area used for sales shall be classified in accordance
purposes on the street with Division 4 of this Chapter.
floor only. Exception: Mercantile occupancies classified
b. For the purpose of Class A and Class B, C, as high hazard in
the aggregate gross accordance with Division 4 of this Chapter
area shall be the total area of all floors used shall meet the following
for mercantile additional requirements:
purposes and, where a store is divided into 1. Exits shall be located not more than
sections by fire walls twenty three (23) meters of travel
shall include the area of all sections used for from any point is needed to reach the
sales purposes. Areas nearest exit.
of floors not used for sales purposes, such as 2. From every point there shall be at least
a floor below the street two (2) exits accessible by
floor used only for storage and not open to 185
the public, shall not be travel in different directions (no common
counted for the purpose of the above path of travel).
classifications, but exits shall 3. All vertical opening shall be enclosed.
be provided for such non-sales area in C. Occupant Load
accordance with their 1. For purposes of determining required
occupancy, as specified by other Divisions of exits, the occupant load of
this Chapter. mercantile buildings or parts of building
used for mercantile purposes
shall not be less than the following: g. Covered Walls: one (1) person for each
a. Street floor, one (I) person for each two two and eight-tenths
and eight-tenths square square meters (2.8 m2) gross floor area.
meters (2.8 m2) gross floor area. In stores 2. Where any required egress capacity from
with no street floor as a balcony or mezzanine
defined in Division 2 of this Chapter, but passes through the room below, that
with access directly from required capacity shall be
the street by stairs or escalators, the added to the required egress capacity of the
principal floor at the point of room below.
entrance to the store shall be considered 186
the street floor. In stores SECTION 10.2.13.2 EXIT DETAILS
where due to difference in grade of streets A. General
on different sides, there 1. All exit facilities shall be in accordance
are two (2) or more floors directly accessible with Division 5 of this Chapter
from the street (not and this Division. Only types of exits
including alleys or similar back streets), each specified in this Section shall be
such floor shall be used as required exit facilities in any
considered a street floor for the purpose of mercantile occupancy.
determining occupant 2. Where a stairway, escalator, outside stair,
load. or ramp serves two (2) or
b. Due to differences in grade of streets on more upper floors, the same stairway or
different sides, two or other exit required to serve
more floors directly accessible from streets anyone (1) upper floor may also serve other
(not including alleys or upper floors.
similar back streets) exist; each such floor is Exception: No inside open stairway,
permitted to be escalator, or ramp may serve as
considered a street floor. The occupant load required egress facility from more than one
factor is one person (1) floor.
for each 3.7 square meters of gross floor 3. Where there are two (2) or more floors
area of sales space. below the street floor, the same
c. Sales floors below the street floor: same stairway or other exit may serve all floors,
as street floor. but all required exits from
d. Upper floors, used for sale: one (1) person such areas shall be independent of any open
for each five and six stairways between street
tenths square meters (5.6 m2) gross floor and the floor below it.
area. 4. Where a level outside exit from upper
e. Floor or sections used only for offices, floors is possible owing to hills,
storage, shipping and not such outside exits may serve instead of
open to the general public: one (1) person horizontal exits. If, however,
for each nine and such outside exits from the upper floor also
three-tenths (9.3) square meters gross floor serve as an entrance from
area. a principal street, the upper floor shall be
f. Floors or sections used for assembly classified as a street, and is
purposes: occupant load subject to the requirements of this Section
determined in accordance with Division 8 of for street floors.
this Chapter. B. Types of Exits
1. Exits shall be restricted to the following occupancy, provided that the travel distance
permissible types: to the exit or to a mall
a. Doors; does not exceed thirty meters (30 m), and
b. Stairs and Smokeproof Enclosures; the storey on which the
c. Horizontal exits; and occupancy is located, and all communicating
d. Ramps. levels that are
2. In existing interior stair or fire escape not traversed to reach the exit or mall, are
complying with Section protected throughout by an
10.2.5.4 or Section 10.2.5.10 of this IRR may approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
be continued in use, subject system in accordance with
to the approval of the City/Municipal Fire Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR.
Marshal having jurisdiction. 5. A single means of egress to an exit or to a
C. Capacity of Means of Egress mall shall be permitted from
1. The capacity of means of egress shall be a mezzanine within any Class A, Class B, or
in accordance with Section Class C mercantile
10.2.5.2 of this IRR. occupancy, provided that the common path
2. In Class A and Class B mercantile of travel does not
occupancies, street floor exits shall exceed thirty meters (30 m) if protected
be sufficient for the occupant load of the throughout by an approved,
street floor plus the required supervised automatic sprinkler system in
187 accordance with Section
capacity of stairs and ramps discharging 10.2.6.5 of this IRR.
through the street floor. E. Arrangement and Access of Exits
D. Number of Exits 1. Exits shall be remote from each other and
1. Exits shall comply with the following, shall be arranged to
except as otherwise permitted by minimize the possibility that both may be
paragraphs (2) through (5) below: blocked by an emergency.
a. The number of means of egress shall be in Exception: A common path may be
accordance with Section permitted for the first fifteen (15)
10.2.5.2 of this IRR. meters from any point. (See Section
b. Not less than two separate exits shall be 10.2.13.1 of this IRR, if there are
provided on every storey. high hazard contents).
c. Not less than two separate exits shall be 2. The aggregate width of all aisles leading
accessible from every part to each exit shall be equal to
of every storey. 188
2. Exit access as required by para (1) (c) at least the required width of the exit.
above, shall be permitted to 3. In no case shall aisle be less than eighty
include a single exit access path for the centimeters (80 cm) in clear
distances permitted as width.
common path of travel. 4. In Class A stores, at least one (1) aisle of
3. A single means of egress shall be one and one-half meters (1.5
permitted in a Class C mercantile m) minimum width shall lead directly to an
occupancy, provided that the travel distance exit.
to the exit or to a mall 5. In the only means of entrance of
does not exceed twenty meters (23 m). customer is through one (1) exterior
4. A single means of egress shall be wall of the building, two-thirds (2/3) of the
permitted in a Class C mercantile required exit width shall be
located in this wall, H. Doors
6. At least one-and one-half (1.5) of the 1. Every street floor door shall be in
required exits shall be so located accordance with Section 10.2.5.3of
as to be reached without going through this IRR, and a horizontal exit door, if used,
check-out stands In no care in accordance with Section
shall checkout stands or associated railings 10.2.5.6 of this IRR.
or barriers obstruct exits or 2. All doors at the foot of stairs from upper
required aisles or approached thereto. floors or at the end of stairs
F. Measurement of Travel Distance to Exits leading to floors below the street floor shall
Travel distance to exits shall be measured in swing with the exit travel.
accordance with Section I. Exit Signs and Lighting
10.2.5.2 of this IRR. 1. Every mercantile occupancy shall have
Exception: An increase in the above travel exit illumination and signs in
distance to forty six (46) meters accordance with Section 10.2.5.11 and
shall be permitted in a building completely 10.2.5.12 of this IRR.
protected by an approved, 2. Every Class A and Class B store shall have
supervised sprinkler system in accordance emergency lighting facilities
with Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR. conforming to Section 10.2.5.11 of this IRR.
G. Discharge from Exits SECTION 10.2.13.3 PROTECTION
In buildings with automatic fire suppression A. Protection of Vertical Openings
system in accordance with 1. Any stairway, elevator shaft, escalator
Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR, one-half (0.5) of opening or other critical
rated number of exit units of opening shall be enclosed or protected in
stairways, escalators or ramps serving as accordance with Section
required exits from floors above 10.2.6.2 of this IRR, except as permitted in
or below the street floor, may discharge this Section.
through the main street floor 2. Exceptions for Class A or Class B stores
area, instead of directly to the street, a. In any Class A or Class B store, openings
provided that: may be unprotected
1. Not more than one-half (0.5) of the between any two (2) floors, such as open
required exit units from any single stairs or escalators
floor considered separately discharge between street floor and the floor below, or
through the street floor area. open stairs to second
2. The exits are enclosed in accordance with floor or balconies or mezzanines above the
Section 10.2.6.2 of this IRR, street floor level (not
to the street floor. both to the floor below the street floor and
3. The distance of travel from the above unless protected
termination of the enclosure to an throughout by an approved, supervised
outside street door is-not more than fifteen automatic fire suppression
and one-half meters (15 .5 system).
m). b. In any Class A or Class B store protected
4. The street floor doors provide sufficient throughout by an
units of exit width to serve exits approved, supervised sprinkler system in
discharging through the street floor in accordance with Section
addition to the street floor itself, 10.2.6.5 openings may be unprotected
per Section 10.2.13.1 o f this IRR. under the conditions
189
permitted by Section 10.2.6.2 of this IRR or 4. In a Class C store, interior finish shall be
between the street floor Class A, B or C in accordance
and the floor below the street and between with Section 10.2.6.3 of this IRR.
street floor and C. Alarm Systems
second floor or, if no openings to the floor Class A and Class B stores shall be provided
below the street floor, with an automatic and
between street floor, street floor balcony, or manual fire alarm system in accordance with
mezzanine, and Section 10.2.6.4of this IRR.
second floor, but not between more than D. Automatic Sprinkler Protection
three (3) floor levels. Approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
c. In existing Class A or Class B stores only system protection shall be
one (1) floor above those installed in accordance with Section 10.2.6.5
otherwise permitted may open if such floor of this IRR in all mercantile
is not used for sales occupancies as follows:
purposes and the entire building is 1. Throughout all mercantile occupancies
protected by an approved, three or more storeys in height.
supervised automatic fire suppression 2. Throughout all mercantile occupancies
system. exceeding one thousand one
190 hundred fifteen square meters (1,115 m2) in
3. Exceptions for Class C stores gross area.
In any Class C store, openings may be 3. Throughout floor below the street floor
unprotected between street having an area exceeding two
floor and balcony or mezzanine. hundred thirty two square meters (232 m2)
B. Interior Finish when used for the sale,
1. Interior finish of exits of all stores shall be storage or handling of combustible goods
Class A and Class B in and merchandise.
accordance with Section 10.2.6.3 of this IRR. E. Hazardous Areas
2. In any Class A or Class B store, interior 1. An area used for general storage, boiler or
finish of the ceiling shall be Class furnace rooms, fuel
A or Class B in accordance with Section 191
10.2.6.3 of this IRR, unless storage, janitor closet, maintenance shops
completely protected by an approved, including woodworking
supervised automatic fire and painting areas, and kitchens shall be
suppression system in accordance with separated from other parts
Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR, in of the building by construction having a fire-
which case Class C interior finish may be resistance rating of not less
used in any Class A or Class B than one (1) hour, and all openings shall be
store, interior finish of the' walls shall be protected with self-closing
Class A, Class B or Class C in fire doors.
accordance with Section 10.2.6.3 of this IRR. 2. Areas which high hazard contents as
3. In any mercantile occupancy, exposed defined in Division 4 of this
portions of structural members Chapter, shall be provided with both fire-
complying with the requirements for heavy resistive construction and
timber construction may automatic fire suppression system.
be permitted. Laminated wood shall be 3. Cooking equipment shall be protected in
delaminate under the accordance with NFPA 96,
influence of heat.
Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire 1. Open-air mercantile, operations, such as
Protection of Commercial open-air markets, gasoline
Cooking Operations, unless the cooking filling stations, auto LPG refilling stations,
equipment is one of the roadside stands for the sale of
following types: farm produce and other outdoor mercantile
a. Outdoor equipment; operations shall be so
b. Portable equipment; arranged and conducted as to maintain free
c. Equipment used only for food warming. and unobstructed ways
SECTION 10.2.13.4 BUILDING SERVICE of travel at all times to permit prompt
EQUIPMENT escape from any point of
A. Air conditioning, ventilating, heating, danger in case of fire or other emergency,
cooking, and other service with no dead ends in which
equipment shall be in accordance with persons might be trapped due to display
Division 7 of this Chapter. stands, adjoining buildings,
B. An elevator shall not constitute required fences, vehicles, or other obstructions.
means of exit. When mercantile 2. If mercantile operations are conducted in
occupancies are more than three (3) storeys roof-over areas, they shall
or more than three (3) be treated as mercantile buildings, provided
storeys above the street floor and equipped that canopies over
with automatic elevator, individual small stands to protect
one (1) or more elevators and escalators merchandise from the weather shall
shall be designed and not be construed to constitute buildings for
equipped for fire emergency use by fire the purpose of this
fighters as specified in Division 7 Chapter.
of this Chapter. Key operation shall transfer C. Combined Mercantile and Residential
automatic elevator Occupancies.
operation to manual and bring elevator to No dwelling unit shall have its sole means of
the street floor for use of fire exit through any mercantile
service. The elevator shall be situated so as occupancy in the same building.
to be readily accessible by Exception No. 1: Where the dwelling
firefighters. occupancy and exits therefrom are
SECTION 10.2.13.5 SPECIAL PROVISIONS separated from the mercantile occupancy by
A. Self-Service Stores construction having a fire
1. In any self-service store, no check-out resistance rating of at least one (1) hour.
stand or associated railings or Exception No. 2: Where the mercantile
barriers shall obstruct exits or required occupancy is protected by
aisles or approaches thereto. automatic fire suppression system in
2. In every self-service store where, wheeled accordance with Section 10.2.6.5 of
carts or buggIes are used by this IRR.
customers, adequate provision shall be Exception No. 3: Where an existing building
made for the transit and with not more than two (2)
parking of such carts to minimize the dwelling units above the mercantile
possibility that they may obstruct occupancy is protected by an
exits. automatic fire detection systems in
192 accordance with Section 10.2.6.4 of
B. Open-Air Mercantile Operations this IRR.
D. Covered Malls and Walkway.
A covered or roofed interior area used as a The contents of business occupancies shall
pedestrian public way and be classified as ordinary
connecting buildings housing individual or hazard in accordance with Division 4 of this
multiple tenants. Use of the Chapter. For purposes of the
term covered mall shall include covered design of an automatic fire suppression
walkways. system, as office occupancy shall
1. Covered Mall and Walkways. - A covered be classified as "Light hazard occupancy".
or roofed interior area used C. Occupant Load
as a pedestrian public way and connecting 1. For purposes of determining required
buildings housing exits, the occupant load of
individual or multiple tenants. Use of the business purposes shall be no less than one
term covered mall shall (1) person per nine and
include covered walkways. three tenths square meters (9.3 m2) of gross
2. A covered mall and all buildings floor area.
connected to it shall be treated as a 2. In the case of mezzanine or balcony open
single mercantile building and shall be to the floor below of other
subject to the requirements for unprotected vertical openings between
193 floors, the occupant load of
mercantile occupancies, except as provided the mezzanine or other subsidiary floor level
herein. shall be added to that of
3. Exit Details the street floor for the purpose of
a. Every covered mall shall have no less than determining required exits. However,
two (2) exits located in no case shall the total number of exit
remote from each other. units be less than would be
b. No less than one-half (0.5) the required required if all vertical openings were
exit widths for each Class A enclosed.
or Class B store connected to a covered mall 194
shall lead directly SECTION 10.2.14.2 EXIT DETAILS
outside without passing through the mall. A. General
c. Every mall shall be provided with 1. All exit facilities shall be in accordance
unobstructed exit access, parallel with Section 10.2.5.10 of this IRR
to and adjacent to the connected buildings: and this Division. However, only types of
This exit access shall exits specified in Subsection b
extend to each mall exit. on types of exits may be used as required
d. In no case shall an exit access through a exit facilities in any business
covered mall be less than occupancy with access thereto and ways of
three (3) meters and sixty six centimeters travel therefrom in
(66 cm) in clear width. accordance with Section 10.2.5.2 of this IRR.
DIVISION 14. BUSINESS OCCUPANCIES 2. If, owing to differences in grade level, any
SECTION 10.2.14.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS street floor exits are at points
A. Classification of Occupancy above or below the street or ground level,
Business Occupancies shall include all such exits shall comply with
buildings and structures or parts the provisions for exits from upper floors or
thereof with occupancy described in Division floors below the street floor.
3 of this Chapter. 3. Stairs and ramps serving two (2) or more
B. Classification of Hazard of Contents floors below a street floor
occupied for business use shall be permitted floor plus the required capacity of stairs and
in accordance with para ramps discharging
(4) and (5) below. through the street floor.
4. Where two (2) or more upper floors D. Number of Exits
below the street floor are occupied 1. Exits shall comply with the following,
for business use, the same stairs or ramps except as otherwise permitted by
shall be permitted to serve para (2) through (6) below:
each. a. The number of means of egress shall be in
5. An inside open stairway or inside open accordance with Section
ramp shall be permitted to 10.2.5.2 of this IRR.
serve as a required egress facility from not b. Not less than two (2) separate exits shall
more than one (1) floor level be provided on every
below the street floor. storey.
6. Floor levels below that are below the c. Not less than two (2) separate exits shall
street floor; are used only for be accessible from every
storage, heating, and other service part of every storey.
equipment; and are not subject to 2. Exit access, as required by para (D) (1) (a)
business occupancy shall have means of through (c) above, shall be
egress in accordance with permitted to include a single exit access
Division 16 (Storage Occupancies) of this path for the distances
IRR. permitted as common paths of travel.
B. Types of Exits 3. A single exit shall be permitted for a room
1. Exits shall be restricted to the following or area with a total
permissible types: occupant load of fewer than 100 persons,
a. Doors. provided that the following
b. Stairs and smoke proof enclosures. criteria are met:
c. Horizontal exits. a. The exit shall discharge directly to the
d. Ramps. outside at the level of exit
e. Exit Passageways discharge for the building.
f. Fire escape ladders b. The total distance of travel from any
195 point, including travel within
C. Capacity of Means of Egress the exit, shall not exceed 30 meters.
1. The capacity of means of egress shall be c. The total distance of travel specified in
in accordance with Section para (3) (b) above shall be
10.2.5.2 of this IRR. on the same floor level or, if traversing of
2. The clear width of any corridor or stairs is necessary, such
passageway serving an occupant stairs shall not exceed four thousand five
load of fifty (50) or more shall be not less hundred seventy
than 1.12 meters. millimeters (4570) mm in height and the
a. It is not the intent that this provision apply stairs shall be provided with
to non-corridor or nonpassageway complete enclosures to separate them from
areas of exit access, such as the spaces any other part of the
between rows building, with no door openings therein.
of desks created by office layout or low- 196
height partitions. d. A single outside stair in accordance with
3. Street floor exits shall be sufficient for the Section 10.2.5.4 of this IRR
occupant load of the street
shall be permitted to serve all floors 2. Dead-end corridors shall be permitted in
permitted within the 4570 mm accordance with the
vertical travel limitation. following:
4. Any business occupancy not exceeding a. In buildings protected throughout by an
three (3) storeys, and not approved, supervised
exceeding an occupant load of 30 people automatic sprinkler system in accordance
per floor, shall be with NFPA 13, Standard
permitted a single separate exit to each for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems,
floor, provided that the dead-end corridors shall not
following criteria are met: exceed fifteen meters (15 m).
a. This arrangement shall be permitted only b. In buildings other than those complying
where the total travel with para (c) below, deadend
distance to the outside of the building does corridors shall not exceed six meters (6 m).
not exceed thirty c. It is recognized that dead ends exceeding
meters (30 m) and where the exit is the permitted limits exist
enclosed in accordance with 197
Section 10.2.6.2of this IRR, serves no other and, in some cases, are impractical to
levels, and discharges eliminate. The
directly to the outside. City/Municipal Fire Marshal having
b. A single outside stair in accordance with jurisdiction might permit such
Section 10.2.5.5 of this IRR dead ends to continue to exist, taking into
shall be permitted to serve all floors. consideration any or all
5. A single means of egress shall be of the following:
permitted from a mezzanine within a i. Tenant arrangement
business occupancy, provided that the ii. Automatic sprinkler protection
common path of travel does iii. Smoke detection
not exceed twenty three meters (23 m), or iv. Exit remoteness
thirty meters (30 m) if 3. Limitations on common path of travel
protected throughout by an approved, shall be in accordance with the
supervised automatic sprinkler following:
system in accordance with NFPA 13, a. Common path of travel shall not exceed
Standard for the Installation of thirty meters (30 m) in a
Sprinkler Systems. building protected throughout by an
6. A single exit shall be permitted for a approved, supervised
maximum two-storey, single-tenant automatic sprinkler system in accordance
space/building that is protected throughout with NFPA 13, Standard
by an approved, for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
supervised sprinkler system in accordance b. Common path of travel shall not exceed
with NFPA 13, Standard for thirty meters (30 m) within
the Installation of Sprinkler Systems and a single tenant space having an occupant
where the total travel to the load not exceeding 30
outside does not exceed thirty meters (30 persons.
m). c. In buildings other than those complying
E. Arrangement of Means of Egress with para (3) (a) or (b)
1. Means of egress shall be arranged in above, the common path of travel shall not
accordance with Section 10.2.5.2 exceed twenty three
of this IRR. meters (23 m).
d. It is recognized that common paths of occupants.
travel exceeding the 3. Emergency lighting in accordance with
permitted limits exist and, in some cases, 10.2.5.11 of this IRR shall be
are impractical to provided for all underground and limited
eliminate. The authority having jurisdiction access structures.
might permit such 4. Means of egress shall have signs in
common paths of travel to continue to exist, accordance with Section 10.2.5.12
taking into of this IRR.
consideration any or all of the following: SECTION 10.2.14.3 PROTECTION
i. Tenant arrangement; A. Protection of Vertical Openings
ii. Automatic sprinkler protection; and 1. Vertical openings shall be enclosed or
iii. Smoke detection. protected in accordance with
iv. Exit remoteness section 10.2.6.2of this IRR, unless otherwise
F. Travel Distance to Exits permitted by the following:
1. In buildings protected throughout by an a. Unenclosed vertical openings in
approved, supervised accordance with Section 10.2.6.2
sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA of this IRR shall be permitted.
13, Standard for the b. Exit stairs shall be permitted to be
Installation of Sprinkler Systems, the travel unenclosed in two-storey, single
distance shall not exceed tenant spaces that are provided with a single
sixty one meters (61 m). exit in accordance
198 with Section 10.2.14.2 para “D” (6) of this
2. In buildings other than those complying IRR.
with para (1) above, the travel c. Unprotected vertical openings shall be
distance, measured in accordance with permitted in existing
Section 10.2.5.2 of this IRR, buildings complying with all of the following:
shall not exceed forty-six meters (46 m). 199
G. Discharge from Exits i. Where protected throughout by an
Exit discharge shall comply with Section approved automatic
10.2.5.2 of this IRR. sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA
H. Exit Signs and Lighting 13, Standard for the
1. Exit illumination shall be provided in Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
accordance with Section 10.2.5.11 ii. Where no unprotected vertical opening
of this IRR. serves as any part of
2. Emergency lighting shall be provided in any required means of egress.
accordance with Section iii. Where required exits consist of exit doors
10.2.5.11 of this IRR in any building where that discharge directly
any one of the following to grade in accordance with Section
conditions exists: 10.2.5.3, outside stairs in
a. The building is two (2) or more storeys in accordance with Section 10.2.5.4,
height above the level of smokeproof enclosures in
exit discharge. accordance with Section 10.2.5.4, or
b. The occupancy is subject to fifty (50) or horizontal exits in
more occupants above or accordance with Section 10.2.5.6 of this IRR.
below the level of exit discharge. d. Floors that are below the street floor and
c. The occupancy is subject to three hundred are used for storage or
(300) or more total
other than a business occupancy shall have a. Manual means in accordance with Section
no unprotected 10.2.6.4of this IRR.
openings to business occupancy floors. b. Means of an approved automatic fire
B. Interior Finish detection system that
1. Interior finish shall be in accordance with complies with Section 10.2.6.4 of this IRR,
Section 10.2.6.3 of this IRR. and provides protection
2. Interior wall and ceiling finish. throughout the building.
a. Interior wall and ceiling finish material c. Means of an approved automatic sprinkler
complying with Section system that complies
10.2.6.3 of this IRR shall be Class A or Class B with Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR, and
in exits and in exit provides protection throughout
access corridors. the building.
b. Interior wall and ceiling finishes shall be 3. Occupant notification. During all times
Class A, Class B, or Class C that the building is occupied,
in areas other than those specified in para the required fire alarm system, once
(a) above. initiated, shall perform one of the
3. Interior floor finish following functions:
a. Interior floor finish shall comply with a. For new and existing building, it shall
Section 10.2.6.3 of this IRR. activate a general alarm in
b. Interior floor finish in exit enclosures shall accordance with Section 10.2.6.4
be Class I or Class II. throughout the building. A
C. Detection, Alarm, and Communications positive alarm sequence in accordance with
Systems Section 10.2.6.4 of this
1. A fire alarm system in accordance with IRR shall be permitted.
Section 10.2.6.4 of this IRR shall b. For existing building, a pre-signal system
be provided in all business occupancies in accordance with
where any one of the Section 10.2.6.4 of this IRR shall be
following conditions exists: permitted.
a. The building is two (2) or more storeys in c. For new and existing building, it shall
height above the level of activate an alarm signal in a
exit discharge. continuously attended location for the
b. The occupancy is subject to fifty (50) or purpose of initiating
more occupants above or emergency action by personnel trained to
below the level of exit discharge. For existing respond to
building, the emergencies as follows:
occupancy is subject to one hundred (100) i. Emergency action shall be initiated by
or more occupants means of live voice
above or below the level of exit discharge. public address system announcements
200 originating from the
c. The occupancy is subject to three hundred attended location where the alarm signal is
(300) or more total received, unless
occupants. For existing building, the otherwise permitted by para (iii) below.
occupancy is subject to one ii. The live voice public address system shall
thousand (1000) or more total occupants. be permitted to be
2. Initiation. Initiation of the required fire used for other announcements, provided
alarm system shall be by one of that the emergency
the following means:
action use takes precedence over any other accordance with NFPA 96, Standard for
use. Ventilation Control and Fire
iii. In lieu of live voice public address system Protection of Commercial Cooking
announcements, Operations, unless the cooking
any other occupant notification means in equipment is one of the following types:
accordance with a. Outdoor equipment
Section 10.2.6.4 of this IRR shall be b. Portable equipment not flue connected
permitted. c. Equipment used only for food warming
201 SECTION 10.2.14.4. BUILDING SERVICE
D. Protection from Hazard UTILITIES
1. Hazardous areas including, but not limited Utilities shall comply with the provisions of
to, areas used for general Section 10.2.7.1 of this IRR.
storage, boiler or furnace rooms, and A. Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning.
maintenance shops that include Heating ventilating, and airconditioning
woodworking and painting areas shall be equipment shall comply with the provisions
protected in accordance of Section
with Section 10.2.6.8 of this IRR. 10.2.7.2 of this IRR.
2. It is not the intent of this provision that B. Elevators, escalators, and conveyors,
rooms inside individual tenant elevators, escalators, and
spaces that are used to store routine office conveyors shall comply with the provisions
supplies for that tenant be of Section 10.2.7.5 of this IRR.
required to be either separated or 202
sprinklered. C. Rubbish chutes, incinerators, and laundry
3. High hazard contents areas. High hazard chutes. Rubbish chutes,
contents areas, as classified incinerators, and laundry chutes shall
in Division 4, shall meet the following comply with the provisions of
criteria: Section 10.2.7.4 of this IRR.
a. The area shall be separated from other SECTION 10.2.14.5 COMBINED BUSINESS
parts of the building by fire AND MERCANTILE OCCUPANCY
barriers having a fire resistance rating of not In any building occupied for both business
less than 1 hour, with and mercantile purposes, the entire
all openings therein protected by ¾-hour, building shall have exits in accordance with
fire protection-rated, Division 14 of this Chapter.
self-closing fire door assemblies. Exception: If mercantile occupancy sections
b. The area shall be protected by an are effectively segregated from
automatic extinguishing system business section, exit facilities may be
in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for treated separately.
the Installation of SECTION 10.2.14.6 HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
Sprinkler Systems. All business occupancy buildings fifteen (15)
4. The requirement for separating high meters or more in height shall be
hazard contents areas from other provided throughout with approved,
parts of the building is intended to isolate supervised sprinkler system, fully electrically
the hazard, and Section supervised designed in accordance with
10.2.6.8 of this IRR is applicable. NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation
5. Cooking Equipment. Cooking equipment of Sprinklers (latest edition); or shall be
shall be protected in designed with a system that will provide
equivalent safety. Building height shall be open air as distinguished from enclosure
measured from the ground level to with buildings, such as
floor of the topmost storey. those often found in oil refining and
In addition to the above requirements, all chemical processing plants
buildings regardless of height shall where equipment is in the open platforms
comply with other applicable provisions of used for necessary
the Fire Code of the Philippines and access, sometimes with roofs or canopies to
this IRR. provide some shelter,
DIVISION 15. INDUSTRIAL OCCUPANCIES but no walls.
SECTION 10.2.15.1 REQUIREMENTS 2. Occupant Load
A. Sub – Classification of Occupancy and a. The occupant load of industrial
Occupant Load occupancies for which exits are to
1. Sub – Classification of Occupancy be provided shall be one (1) person per nine
a. General Industrial Occupancy. Industrial and three-tenths
occupancies that square meters (9.3 m2) gross floor area,
conduct ordinary and low hazard industrial provided that in Special
operations conducted Purpose Industrial Occupancy and for Open
in buildings of conventional design suitable Industrial Structures,
for various types of the occupant load shall be the maximum
industrial process. number of persons to
This include multi-storey buildings where occupy the area under any probable
floors are occupied by conditions, and further
different tenants, or buildings suitable for provided that in existing industrial
such occupancy and occupancies, the Chief, BFP or his
therefore subject to possible use for types of duly authorized representative may waive
industrial process with requirements for
a high density of employee population. additional exits if the existing exits are
b. Special Purpose Industrial Occupancy. adequate for the maximum
Includes industrial number of persons actually employed.
occupancies that conduct ordinary and low b. Every auditorium, restaurant, office,
hazard industrial garage and medical facility in
operations in buildings all except high connection with industrial occupancies shall
hazard occupancy, have exits in
designed for and suitable only for particular accordance with the other applicable
types of operations, Sections of this IRR.
203 c. Exit requirements for specific occupancies
characterized by a relatively low density of shall comply with this
employee population Division.
with much of the area occupied by SECTION 10.2.15.2 EXIT DETAILS
machinery or equipment. A. General
c. High Hazard Industrial Occupancy. Includes Each required exit shall be in accordance
industrial occupancies with the applicable Sections of
that use high hazard materials or processes Division 4 of this Chapter, with access
or house high hazard thereto and ways of travel
contents. therefrom in accordance with Section
d. Open Industrial Structures. - Includes 10.2.5.2 of this IRR.
operations conducted in the B. Types of Exits
1. Exits shall be restricted to the following will not be necessary to travel more than
permissible types: thirty one meters (31 m)
a. Doors from any point to reach the nearest exit for
b. Stairs, or smokeproof enclosures buildings not protected by
204 a complete automatic fire suppression
c. Horizontal exits system, or forty six meters (46
d. Ramps m) in a building protected by an approved,
e. Slide Escapes supervised sprinkler
C. Minimum Corridor Width system in accordance with Section 10.2.6.5
The minimum width of any corridor or of this IRR.
passageway serving as a required 2. From every point there shall be at least
exit or means of travel to or from required two (2) separate exits
exit shall be one hundred accessible, so arranged as to be reached by
twelve centimeters (112 cm) in the clear. different paths of travel
D. Capacity of Exits in different directions.
Capacity of means of egress shall be Exception: A common path of travel may be
determined in accordance with permitted for the first
Section 10.2.5.2 of this IRR. fifteen meters (15 m) from any point; i.e., no
E. Number of Exits dead-end may be more
At least two (2) exits shall be provided for 205
every floor or section, including than fifteen and one-half meters (15.5 m)
floors below the floor of exit discharge used deep.
for industrial purposes or uses G. Discharge from Exits
incidental thereto. At least one of which A maximum of fifty (50%) percent of the
shall be reached without exits may discharge through
traversing another storey. areas on the floor of exit discharge provided:
Exception: For rooms or areas with a total 1. Such exits discharges to a free and
capacity of less than twenty five unobstructed way to the exterior
(25) persons having direct exit to the street of the building, which way is readily visible
or to an open area outside the and identifiable from the
building at ground level, with a total travel point of discharge from the exit.
distance from any point of not 2. The floor of discharge into which the exit
over fifteen and one-half meters (15.5 m), a discharges is provided with
single exit may be permitted. automatic fire suppression system and any
Such travel shall be on the same floor level. other portion of the level of
If the traversing of stairs is discharge with access to the discharge area
required, there shall not be a vertical travel is provided with
or more than four and sixtenths automatic fire suppression system
meters (4.6 m) and such stairs shall be protection or separated from it in
provided with complete accordance with the requirements for the
enclosures to separate them from any other enclosure of exits (see
part of the building with no Section 10.2.6.2 of this IRR).
door openings therein. Exception: If the discharge area is a vestibule
F. Travel Distance to Exits or foyer with no
1. Exits shall be as remote from other as dimension exceeding three (3) meters and
practicable, so arranged that it separated from the
remainder of the floor or discharge by of egress may be unprotected provided,
construction providing that, all required exits shall
protection at least the equivalent of wired consist of smoke-proof enclosure or outside
glass in steel frames, and stairway in accordance
serving only for means of egress including with Section 10.2.5.5 or horizontal exits in
exits directly to the outside, accordance with Section
the requirements of Section 10.2.6.2 of this 10.2.5.6 of this IRR.
IRR may be waived. B. Interior Finish.
3. The entire area on the floor of discharge Interior finish shall be Class A, Class B or
is separated from areas Class C.
below by construction having a minimum of C. Detection, Alarm and Communications
two (2) hour fireresistance Systems
rating. 1. An approved automatic fire detection and
H. Signs, Lighting, and Exit Signages alarm system shall be
1. Signs designating exits or ways of travel required on all industrial occupancies except
there to shall be provided in for buildings with less
accordance with Section 10.2.5.12 of this than 25 employees where such building shall
IRR. be equipped with
2. Exit lighting shall be provided in manual fire alarm system.
accordance with Section 10.2.5.11 of 2. Not less than one (1) fire alarm box shall
this IRR. be installed for buildings
3. Emergency lighting shall be provided in equipped with automatic fire detection and
accordance with Section alarm system.
10.2.5.11 of this IRR. 3. If buildings are equipped with approved,
SECTION 10.2.15.3 PROTECTION supervised automatic
A. Protection of Vertical Openings sprinkler system, the flow of water shall
1. Every stairway, elevator shaft, escalator initiate the fire alarm system.
opening and other vertical D. Extinguishing Requirement
opening shall be enclosed or protected in 1. Every high hazard occupancy shall have
accordance with Section automatic fire suppression
10.2.6.2 of this IRR. system protection or other equivalent
Exception No. 1: Unprotected vertical protection as may be
openings connecting not more appropriate to the particular hazard,
206 including explosion venting for
than three (3) storeys used for industrial any area subject to an explosion hazard,
occupancy only maybe designed to minimize danger
permitted in accordance with the conditions to occupants in case of fire or other
of Section 10.2.6.2 of this emergency before they have
IRR, with approved, supervised sprinkler time to utilize exits to escape.
system. 2. Portable fire extinguishers shall be
Exception No.2: In any existing building only, installed in accordance with Section
where provided with 10.2.6.7 of this IRR.
approved, supervised sprinkler system in 3. Standpipe systems shall be installed in
accordance with Section accordance with Section
10.2.6.5 of this IRR, vertical openings not 10.2.6.6 of this IRR.
constituting as required means 207
DIVISION 16. STORAGE OCCUPANCIES
SECTION 10.2.16.1 GENERAL STORAGE doors may be opened manually in case of
OCCUPANCIES power failure
A. Occupancy Load to permit exit travel.
The occupant load, in number of persons for 208
whom means of egress and 4. Travel Distance to Exits
other provisions are required, shall be Every area used for the storage of high
determined on the basis of the hazard commodities shall have
maximum probable population of the space an exit within twenty three meters (23 m) of
under consideration. any point in the area
B. Exit Details where persons may be present, except
1. Types of Exits where automatic fire
Means of egress for storage occupancies suppression system protection is provided,
shall be restricted to the distances may be increased
following types: to thirty meters (30 m).
a. Doors 5. Signs, Lighting and Exit Signages
b. Stairs and Smokeproof Enclosures a. Means of egress shall be installed with
c. Horizontal Exits signs that comply with
d. Ramps Section 10.2.5.12 of this IRR.
e. Slide Escapes b. Means of egress shall be properly
2. Capacity of means of egress illuminated in accordance with
The capacity of means of egress shall be Section 10.2.5.11 of this IRR.
determined in accordance c. Emergency lighting shall be provided on
with Section 10.2.5.2, para “C” of this IRR. normally occupied areas
3. Number of Exits and on component of means of egress.
a. Every building or structure used for SECTION 10.2.16.2 PROTECTION
storage and every section A. Protection of Vertical Opening
thereof considered separately shall have at 1. Any vertical opening shall be protected in
least two (2) separate accordance with Section
means of egress, as remote from each other 10.2.6.2 of this IRR except for existing open
as practicable. stairs and open ramps shall
Exception: In rooms or spaces of less than permitted where connecting only two floor
one thousand three levels.
hundred ninety four square meters (1,394 2. Existing unprotected vertical opening in
m2) gross area where less buildings protected
than ten (10) persons may normally be throughout by approved supervised
present, at least one (I) sprinkler system in accordance
means of egress shall be provided for any with Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR, vertical
person employed openings not constituting as
therein. required means of egress may be
b. Every storage area shall have access to at unprotected provided, that, all
least one (1) means of required exits shall consist of smoke-proof
exit which can be readily opened, not enclosure or outside stairway
subject to locking at any in accordance with Section 10.2.5.5 or
time that any persons are therein, and not horizontal exits in accordance
dependent on any with Section 10.2.5.6 of this IRR.
power-operated doors except where the B. Detection, Alarm and Communications
design of the poweroperated Systems
1. An approved automatic fire detection and comply with the rules on Industrial
alarm system shall be Occupancies, except if the parking
required on all industrial occupancies except and repair sections are effectively separated
for buildings with by not less than 1-hour fire
ordinary or low hazard not exceeding 2,000 resistive construction, the parking and repair
square meters where such sections shall be treated
building shall be equipped with manual fire separately.
alarm system. B. Exit Details
2. Not less than one (1) fire alarm box shall 1. Number and Types of Exits
be installed for buildings Every floor of every parking structure shall
equipped with automatic fire detection and have access to at least two
alarm system. (2) separate exits. Such exits shall be
3. If buildings are equipped with approved, provided with doors, interior stairs
supervised automatic of smokeproof towers, outside stairs or a
sprinkler system, the flow of water shall horizontal exit in accordance
initiate the fire alarm system. with this IRR.
209 Exception No. 1: In an open -type parking
C. Extinguishing Requirement structure with open ramps
1. Every high hazard occupancy shall have not subject to closure, the ramp may serve
automatic fire suppression in lieu of the second exit,
system protection or other equivalent provided the ramp discharges directly
protection as may be outside at the street level.
appropriate to the particular hazard, Exception No. 2. For parking structure
including explosion venting for extending only (1) floor level
any area subject to an explosion hazard, below the floor of exit discharge, a ramp
designed to minimize danger leading directly to the
to occupants in case of fire or other outside may serve in lieu of the second exit.
emergency before they have 2. Arrangement of and Travel Distance to Exit
time to utilize exits to escape. a. Exits in parking structures shall be so
2. Portable fire extinguishers shall be arranged that no point in the
installed in accordance with Section area will be more than forty five meters (45
10.2.6.7 of this IRR. m) from the nearest exit
3. Standpipe systems shall be installed in 210
accordance with Section other than a ramp on the same floor level.
10.2.6.6 of this IRR. Exception no. 1: travel distance may be
SECTION 10.2.16.3 SPECIAL PROVISION FOR increased to ninety one
PARKING STRUCTURES meters (91 m) for open floors of open
A. General Requirements parking structures.
The following provisions apply to parking Exception no 2: travel distance may be
structures of closed or open type, increased to sixty meters
above or below ground, but not to (60 m) for enclosed parking structures
mechanical or exclusively attendant completely protected by an
parking facilities, which are not occupied by approved, supervised sprinkler system in
customers and thus require a accordance with Section
minimum of exits. Where repair operations 10.2.6.5 of this IRR.
are conducted the exits shall b. Exits shall be so arranged that from any
point in the parking
structures, the paths of travel to the two (2) m). Dwarf or "smash" doors in doors
exits will be in different accommodating aircraft may be
directions, except that a common path of used to comply with these requirements. All
travel may be permitted doors designated as exits
for the first fifteen (l 5) meters from any shall be kept unlocked in the direction of
point. exit travel while the area is
c. If fuel pumps are located within any occupied.
closed parking garage, exits 211
shall be so located that travel away from the 2. Exits from mezzanine floors in aircraft
fuel pump in any storage or servicing areas shall be
direction which leads to an exit, with no so arranged that the maximum travel to
dead end in which reach the nearest exit from
occupants might be trapped by fire or any point on mezzanine shall not exceed
explosion at any fuel pump. twenty three meters (23 m).
Such exit shall lead to the outside of the Such exits shall lead directly to a properly
building on the same level enclosed stairwell
or down stairs: no upward travel permitted discharging directly to the exterior or to a
unless direct outside suitably cut-off area or to
exits are available from that floor. outside stairs.
Any storey below the storey at which is B. Signs
being dispensed shall have Exits signs shall be provided above all doors
exits direct to the outside via outside stairs and exit ways in accordance
or doors at ground level. with Section 10.2.5.12 of this IRR.
C. Illumination of Means of Egress SECTION 10.2.16.5 SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR
Every public space, hallway, stairway and GRAIN ELEVATORS
other means of egress shall A. In grain elevators, there shall be at least
have illumination and emergency lighting one (1) stair tower from storeys
facilities in accordance with below the floor of exit discharge to the floor
Section 10.2.5.11 of this IRR. of exit discharge and from
D. Exit Marking the floor of exit discharge to the top floor of
Signs in accordance with Section 10.2.5.12 the working house enclosed
of this IRR shall be provided for on a dust tight non-combustible shaft.
all required exits and exit access. B. Noncombustible doors of the self-closing
SECTION 10.2.16.4 SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR type shall be provided at each
AIRCRAFT HANGARS floor landing.
A. Exit Details C. An exterior stair or basket ladder type fire
1. Exits from aircraft storage of servicing escape accessible from all
areas shall be provided at working levels of the head house that
intervals of not more than forty (40) meters provides access to the top of the
on all exteriors waIls or adjoining structure and that provides a
aircraft hangars. There will be a minimum of continuous path to the means of
two (2) exits serving each egress.
aircraft storage or servicing area. Horizontal D. An exterior stair or basket ladder type fire
exits through interior fire escape accessible from all
walls shall be provided at intervals of not working levels of the head house that
more than thirty meters (30 provides passage to the ground
level.
DIVISION 17. MISCELLANEOUS STRUCTURES employed therein, may be of any type of
Any building or structure occupied for construction, and may be
purposes not covered by Division 8 served by ladders instead of stairs. However,
through 17 of this IRR shall have exits and if used for living or sleeping
related safeguards in accordance with purposes, it shall at least comply with exit
the fundamental principles of this Chapter, requirements of Section 10.2.12.6
and shall comply with the following for family dwellings.
provisions where applicable. E. Utility/transmitter building shall be
SECTION 10.2.17.1 TOWERS provided with appropriate type of
A. Any tower utilized for such purposes as automatic fire extinguishing system and, if
observation, signaling, either as an subject to occupancy by
independent structure or on top of a technician/authorized personnel, automatic
building, shall be permitted to have fire alarm system and
a single stairway or ramp exit if all of the portable fire extinguishers shall also be
following conditions are met: provided.
1. The tower is of such size as not to be F. Advertisement structures shall be made of
subject to occupancy by more fire-resistant materials including
than twenty five (25) persons at any floor its signage components.
level. SECTION 10.2.17.2 PIERS AND WATER-
2. The tower shall not be used for living or SURROUNDED STRUCTURE
sleeping purposes. A. This Section applies to water-surrounded
212 structures or piers occupied as a
3. The construction shall be fire-resistant, place of amusement, passenger terminal or
noncombustible or constructed used for any purpose other
of heavy timber. The interior finish, if any, is than for the mooring of vessels and handling
Class A or Class B, and of cargo. Such piers shall be
there shall be no combustible materials in, provided with means of exit from any
under, or in the immediate structures thereon and to the shore
vicinity of the tower except necessary appropriate to the character or occupancy
furniture such as bare wooden of the pier in general
or metal chairs or benches. accordance with the applicable sections of
B. In each tower where there is no Division 8 through 17 of this
occupancy below the top floor level and IRR.
the conditions required by para “A” (1) B. Any pier so occupied, extending more
through (3) above are met, stairs than forty six meters (46 m) from
may be open with no enclosure required or, the shore, shall be so arranged as to
where the structure is entirely minimize the possibility that fire in or
open, fire-escape type stairs may be used. under the pier, may block escape of
C. Stairs shall be Class B for new occupants to shore by one or more
construction. For existing towers, outside of the following measures:
stairs or fire-escape type stairs may be 1. It must be provided with two (2) separate
allowed ways of travel to shore, by
D. A tower such as a forest observation two (2) well-separated walkways or
tower and a railroad signal tower, independent structures.
designed for occupancy only of not more 2. The pier deck must be open fire-resistant
than three (3) persons and supported with noncombustible
materials.
213 1. Any area subject to occupancy by fifty
3. The pier deck must be provided with (50) or more persons, from
automatic fire suppression system which there is no direct access to outdoors
protection for combustible structure and for or to another area and no
superstructure, if any. outside light or ventilation through
4. It should be completely open and windows, shall be equipped with
unobstructed and is fifteen meters approved, supervised automatic fire
(15 m) in width if less than one hundred fifty suppression system protection in
two meters (152 m) long; or accordance with Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR.
its width is not less than ten (10%) percent 2. Any underground structure, building, or
of its length if over one floor area lacking direct
hundred fifty two meters (152 m) long. outside access or windows and having
C. Any building or structure surrounded by combustible contents, interior
water such as a lighthouse shall finish, or construction, if subject to
have sufficient outside area of ground as on occupancy by more than one
an island, or fire-resistant hundred (100) persons shall have automatic
platform, to provide an adequate area of smoke venting facilities in
refuge from any fire in the accordance with Division 6 of this Chapter in
structure. Means shall be available for addition to automatic
transportation of occupants away fire suppression system protection.
from such structures to the shore or other 3. Any underground structure or windowless
places of safety such as by boat building, for which no
or helicopter, in case of fire or other 214
emergency, within a reasonable natural lighting is provided, shall be
period of time. provided with emergency lighting
SECTION 10.2.17.3 IMMOBILIZED VEHICLE in accordance with Section 10.2.5.11 of this
AND VESSELS IRR.
A. Any house trailer or similar vehicle, B. Underground Structures
railroad car, street car, truck or bus Where required from underground
from which the wheels have been removed, structure involving upward travel such
provided with a permanenttype as ascending stairs or ramps, such upward
foundation, or otherwise fixed so that it is exits shall be cut off from main
not mobile shall be floor areas and shall be provided with
considered as a building and shall be subject outside smoke venting facilities or
to the requirements of this other means to prevent the exits serving as
Rule which are applicable to buildings of flues for smoke from any fire in
similar occupancy. the area served by the exits, thereby making
B. Any ship, barge, or other vessel, which is the exits impassable.
permanently moored or aground C. Windowless Buildings
and is occupied for purposes other than Every windowless building shall be provided
navigation, shall be subject to with outside access panels on
the requirements of this Rule applicable to each floor level. Such panels shall be
buildings or similar occupancy. designed for use of firefighters.
SECTION 10.2.17.4 UNDERGROUND DIVISION 18. OPERATING FEATURES
STRUCTURES AND WINDOWLESS BUILDINGS SECTION 10.2.18.1 GENERAL
A. General Fire exit drills shall be conducted in
coordination with the Office of the
City/Municipal Fire Marshal. fire exit drills.
A. Fire Exit Drills B. Furnishing and Decorations
1. Fire exit drills conforming to the 1. No furnishing, decorations, or other
provisions of this Division shall be objects shall be so placed as to
regularly conducted in schools and in other obstruct exits, access thereto, egress
occupancies where therefrom, or visibility thereof.
specified by the provisions of Divisions 8 2. Furnishing or decorations shall be treated
through 17 of this Chapter, or with flame retardant where
by appropriate action of the City/Municipal required by the applicable provisions of the
Fire Marshal having Fire Code and this IRR.
jurisdiction over the area. The Chief, BFP or 3. No furnishing or decorations of an
his duly authorized explosive or highly flammable
representative shall exercise discretion for character shall be used in any place of
the necessary modifications assembly or other occupancy.
in detail of procedures to make the drills C. Automatic Fire Suppression System
more effective for their All automatic fire suppression systems
intended purposes. required by this Chapter shall be
2. Fire exit drills, where required, shall be continuously maintained in reliable
held with sufficient frequency to operational condition at all times and
familiarize all occupants with the drill such periodic inspections and tests shall be
procedure and to have the made to assure proper
conduct of the drill a matter of established maintenance.
routine. D. Alarm and Fire Detection Systems
3. Drills shall be held at unexpected times 1. Systems shall be under the supervision of
and under varying conditions qualified and competent
to simulate the unusual conditions obtaining persons, who shall cause proper tests to be
in case of fire. made at specified intervals
4. Planning and conduct of drills shall be the and have general charge of all alternations
responsibility of the and additions.
management and/or owners of business 2. Systems shall be tested at intervals as
establishments. Such recommended by the
planning and drill shall be made in City/Municipal Fire Marshal having
consultation and coordination with jurisdiction.
the City/Municipal Fire Marshal having 3. Fire alarm signaling equipment shall be
jurisdiction. restored to service as promptly
5. In the conduct of drills, emphasis shall be as possible after each test or alarm and shall
placed upon orderly be kept in normal
evacuation under proper discipline rather conditions ready for operation. Equipment
than upon speed. As such, requiring rewinding or
no running or horse play shall be permitted. replenishing shall be rewound or
215 replenished as promptly as possible
6. Drills shall include suitable procedures to after test or alarm.
make sure that all persons in E. Fire Retardant Paints
the building, or all persons subject to the Fire retardant paints or solutions shall be
drill, actually participate. reapplied at such intervals as
7. Fire alarm facilities, where available, shall necessary to maintain the necessary flame
be used in the conduct of retardant properties.
F. Recognition of Means of Egress jurisdiction are taken to prevent ignition or
Hangings or draperies shall not be placed any combustible materials.
over exit doors or otherwise C. Special Food Service Devices
located as to conceal or obscure any exit. Portable cooking equipment shall be
Mirrors shall not be placed on permitted only as follows:
exit doors nor in or adjacent to any exit in 1. Equipment fueled by small heat sources
such a manner as to confuse which can be readily
the direction of exit. extinguished by water, such as candles or
216 alcohol-burning equipment
G. Preventive Maintenance Record (including "solid alcohol") may be used.
Preventive maintenance records shall be Adequate precautions
prepared and submitted to the satisfactory to the City/Municipal Fire
City/Municipal Fire Marshal every after Marshal having jurisdiction are
inspection and test. taken to prevent ignition of any combustible
SECTION 10.2.18.2 PLACES OF ASSEMBLY materials.
A. Drills 2. Candles may be used on tables for food
The employees or attendants of places or service if securely supported
public assembly shall be trained on substantial non-combustible bases, so
and drilled in the duties they are to perform located as to avoid danger
in case of fire, panic, or other of ignition of combustible materials and only
related emergencies in order to be of if approved by the
greatest service in effecting the City/Municipal Fire Marshal having
orderly exit of occupants. jurisdiction. Candle flames shall be
B. Opens Flame Devices protected.
No open flame lighting devices shall be used 3. "Flaming Sword" or other equipment
in any place of assembly. involving open flames and flamed
Exception No. I: Where necessary for 217
ceremonial or religious purposes, the dishes such as cherries jubilee, crepes
City/Municipal Fire Marshal having suzette, etc., may be permitted
jurisdiction may permit open flame provided that necessary precautions are
lighting under such restrictions as are taken, and subject to the
necessary to avoid danger of approval of the City/Municipal Fire Marshal
ignition of combustible materials or injury to having jurisdiction.
occupants. D. Smoking
Exception No. 2: Open the flame devices 1. Smoking in places of assembly shall be
may be used on stages where a regulated by the
necessary part of theatrical performances City/Municipal Fire Marshal having
provided that adequate jurisdiction.
precautions, satisfactory to the 2. In rooms or areas where smoking is
City/Municipal Fire Marshal having prohibited, plainly visible "NO
jurisdiction, are taken to prevent ignition of SMOKING" signs shall be posted.
any combustible materials. 3. No person shall smoke in prohibited
Exception No. 3: Gas lights may be permitted areas.
provided that adequate 4. Where smoking is permitted, suitable ash
precautions satisfactory to the trays or receptacles should
City/Municipal Fire Marshal having be provided in convenient locations.
E. Decorations and Stage Scenery
1. Combustible materials shall be treated 1. Fire exit drills shall be conducted regularly
with an effective flame in accordance with the
retardant material. Stage settings made of applicable provisions of the following
combustible materials shall paragraphs.
likewise be treated with flame retardant 2. There shall be at least four (4) exit drills a
materials. year in consultation and
2. Only noncombustible materials or fire coordination with the City/Municipal Fire
retardant pressure treated wood Marshal having jurisdiction
may be used for stage scenery or props, on over the area.
the audience side of the 3. Drills shall be conducted during class
proscenium arch. hours; during the changing of
3. The City/Municipal Fire Marshal having classes; when the school is at assembly;
jurisdiction over the area shall during the recess or gymnastic
impose controls on the volume and periods; etc., so as to avoid distinction
arrangement of combustible between drills and actual fires. If
contents (including decorations) in places of a drill is called when pupils are going up and
assembly to provide down the stairways, as
adequate level of safety to life from fire. during the time classes are changing, the
F. Seating pupils shall be instructed to
1. Seats in assembly occupancies form in line and immediately proceed to the
accommodating more than two nearest available exit in
hundred (200) persons shall be securely an orderly manner.
fastened to the floor except 4. Every fire exit drill shall be an exercise by
together in groups of not less than three (3) the school management.
or more than seven (7) and Teachers shall have a complete control of
as permitted by the next paragraph. All seats the class. Great stress shall
in balconies and be laid upon the execution of each drill in a
galleries shall be securely fastened to the brisk, quiet, and orderly
floor, except in places of manner. Running shall be prohibited. In case
worship. there are pupils
2. Seats not secured to the floor may be incapable of holding their places in a line
permitted in restaurants, night moving at a reasonable
clubs, and other occupancies where the speed, provisions shall be made to have
fastening of seats to the floor them taken care of by the
may be impractical; Provided, that in the more sturdy pupils, moving independently
area used for seating of the regular line of march.
(excluding dance floors, stage, etc.), there 5. BFP personnel shall be appointed to assist
shall be not more than one in the proper execution of all
(1) seat for each one and four-tenths square drills. The searching of toilets and other
meters (1.4 m2) of net rooms shall be the duty of the
floor area and adequate aisles to reach exits teachers or other members of the staff.
shall be maintained at all 6. As drills simulate an actual fire condition,
times. pupils shall not be allowed to
218 obtain anything after the alarm is sounded,
SECTION 10.2.18.3 EDUCATIONAL even when in classrooms,
OCCUPANCIES which would contribute to the confusion.
A. Drills
7. Each class or group shall proceed to a senior member of the staff. A copy of the
primary predetermined point latest inspection form shall
outside the building and remain there while be posted in a conspicuous place in the day
a check is made to make care facility.
sure that all are accounted for, leaving only 2. An approved fire evacuation plan shall be
when a recall signal is implemented at least once
given to return to their classrooms, or when every two (2) months.
dismissed. Such points shall 3. Furnishing and decorations in child day
be sufficiently far away from the building care centers shall be in
and from each other as to accordance with the provisions of Section
avoid danger from any fire in the building, 10.2.18.1 of this IRR.
interference with fire 4. Waste baskets and other waste containers
department operations, or confusion shall be made of noncombustible
between different classes or materials and provided with close fitting
groups. An alternate assembly point shall be covers.
planned for and used 5. Child-prepared artwork and teaching
during other drills to ensure safety of the materials may be attached
children if and when the directly to the walls but shall not exceed
primary assembly point cannot be used by twenty (20%) percent of the
any reason. wall area.
8. Where necessary for drill lines to cross SECTION 10.2.18.4 HEALTH CARE
roadways, signs reading "STOP! OCCUPANCIES
SCHOOL FIRE DRILL" or equivalent shall be A. Evacuation Plan and Fire Exit Drills
carried by assigned 1. The administration of every hospital,
219 nursing home and residentialcustodial
personnel to the traffic intersecting points in care institution shall have an approved
order to stop the flow evacuation plan for
traffic during the period of the drill. the guidance of all persons in the event of
B. Signals fire. Copies of such plans
1. All fire exit drill alarms shall be sounded shall be made available to all supervisors
on the fire alarm system and and personnel. All employees
not on the signal system used to dismiss shall be instructed and kept informed of
classes. their detailed duties under the
2. Whenever any of the school authorities plan. A copy of the plan shall be readily
determine an actual fire exists, available at all times, in the
they shall immediately call the nearest fire telephone operator’s position, or at the
station. At the same time, security center.
they shall try to extinguish the fire as 2. Every bed intended for use by institutional
circumstances permit. occupants shall be easily
3. In order to ensure that pupils will not 220
return to a burning building, the movable under conditions of evacuation and
recall signal shall be one that is separate and shall be equipped with
distinct from and cannot the type and size of casters to allow easy
be mistaken for any other signals. mobility, especially over elements
C. Child Day Care Centers of the structure such as expansion plates
1. Fire prevention inspection shall be and elevator
conducted monthly by a trained
thresholds. The City/Municipal Fire Marshal DIVISION 19. SPECIAL PROVISION FOR HIGH
having jurisdiction may RISE BUILDINGS
make exceptions in the equipping of beds SECTION 10.2.19.1 SCOPE
intended for use in areas This Division deals with life safety from fires
limited to patients such as convalescent, and similar emergencies in high rise
self-care or psychiatric buildings. It covers fire safety features in
patients. construction and protection of exits
3. Fire exit drills in hospitals shall include the and passageways, and provisions for fire
transmission of a fire alarm protection.
signal and simulation of emergency fire SECTION 10.2.19.2 DEFINITION
conditions except that the A high rise building is one in which the
movement of infirm or bed-ridden patients distance between the floor of the
to safe areas or to the 221
exterior or the building is not required. Drills topmost storey and the ground level is
shall be conducted fifteen meters (15 m) or more. Building
quarterly on each shift to familiarize hospital height shall be measured from the lowest
personnel (nurses, interns, level of fire department vehicle
maintenance personnel and administrative access to the floor of the highest occupiable
staff) with signals and storey.
emergency action required under varied SECTION 10.2.19.3 SMOKE CONTROL
conditions. High rise buildings shall be designed in such
SECTION 10.2.18.5 RESIDENTIAL a manner that the levels of smoke
OCCUPANCIES concentration in protected spaces can be
A. Hotel Emergency Organization maintained within values that can
1. All employees of hotels shall be instructed be tolerated by occupants. The protected
and drilled in the duties they spaces shall include stairwells, at
are to perform in case of fire, panic, or other least one elevator shaft, and floor spaces
related emergencies. readily accessible to all occupants
2. Drills of the hotel emergency organization and large enough to accommodate them. In
shall be held twice a year the spaces to which the
covering such points as the operation and requirement for control of smoke level
maintenance of the applies, the atmosphere shall not
available first aid fire appliances, the testing include more than one (1%) percent by
of guest alerting devices, volume of the contaminated
and a study of instruction for emergency atmosphere emanating from the fire area.
duties. SECTION 10.2.19.4 SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
B. Dormitories, Lodging and Rooming Houses PROTECTION
Fire exit drills shall be regularly conducted at High rise buildings shall be protected with
least twice a year. approved, supervised sprinkler
SECTION 10.2.18.6 MERCANTILE, BUSINESS, systems designed and installed in
AND INDUSTRIAL OCCUPANCIES accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for
In every mercantile, business and industrial Installation of Sprinkler Systems. The
occupancies subject to approved, supervised sprinkler systems
occupancy with fifty (50) or more persons, must protect all floor spaces including every
fire exit drills shall be held at least closet and concealed spaces
twice a year. and plenums of certain configuration and
construction – particularly where
combustible materials are located such as b. Fire alarm systems.
exposed electrical wiring, c. Automatic fire detection systems.
combustible duct work, and combustible d. Elevator car lighting.
sound/thermal insulation. The e. Escape route lighting.
system shall be interconnected to a fire f. Exit sign illumination.
command center of the building. g. Stairway doors
SECTION 10.2.19.5 FIRE COMMAND CENTER 7. Controls for unlocking stairway doors
A. For buildings ten (10) storeys or more, a simultaneously.
fire command center shall be 8. Telephone for fire department use with
provided in a location approved by the controlled access to the public
City/Municipal Fire Marshal telephone system.
having jurisdiction and shall contain the 9. Fire pump status indicators.
following features: 10.Status indicators and controls for air
1. The emergency voice/alarm handling systems.
communication system unit must have 11.The fire fighters control panel for smoke
the following features: control systems.
a. Provide a predetermined message to the 12.Emergency power and standby power
fire area where the alarm status indicators.
originated, actuated by a smoke detector, 13.Schematic building plans indicating the
sprinkler head, water typical floor plan and
flow device, or manual fire alarm. The detailing the building core, means of egress,
message must provide fire protection systems,
applicable information and directions to firefighting equipment and fire department
occupants. access.
b. The fire department two-way 14.Public address system, where specifically
communication system must operate required by other rules of this
between the fire command center and every code.
elevator, elevator B. Shut off valves and water flow devices at
lobby, exit stairway, and exit access corridor. the riser connection must be
A telephone station provided on each floor. Combined
or jack shall be provided in each fire pump sprinkler/standpipe systems must have
room. an individual control valve and check valve
2. The fire department communication unit. at each sprinkler connection.
3. Fire detection and alarm system
annunciator unit
222
4. Elevator floor location and operation
annunciator.
5. Sprinkler valve and water flow display
panels.
6. Emergency generator supervision devices,
manual start and transfer
features. Emergency power must be
available within ten (10) seconds
to operate the following:
a. Emergency voice/alarm communication
systems.