Introduc on to the Na onal Building Code

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) under Chapter 2 of the Na onal Building Code of the Philippines (PD 1096),
the following Rules and Regula ons are hereby promulgated and issued:

CHAPTER 1 –GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 101. Title

These Rules shall be known and cited as the “Revised Implemen ng Rules and Regula ons of
the Na onal Building Code of the Philippines (P.D. 1096)” and shall be referred to as the “IRR”.

SECTION 102. Declara on of Policy

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to safeguard life, health, property, and public
welfare, consistent with the principles of sound environmental management and control. To this
end, the purpose of this Code is to provide a framework of minimum standards and
requirements to regulate and control the loca on, site, design, quality of materials,
construc on, use, occupancy, and maintenance of all buildings and structures.

SECTION 103. Scope and Applica on

1. The scope of this IRR shall cover the following disciplines: architectural, civil/structural,
electrical, mechanical, sanitary, plumbing, and electronics. This shall also apply to the design,
loca on, si ng, construc on, altera on, repair, conversion, use, occupancy, maintenance,
moving, demoli on of, and addi on to public and private buildings and structures, except
tradi onal indigenous family dwellings, and those covered by Batas Pambansa Bilang 220
otherwise known as the “Economic and Socialized Housing Projects”.
2. Exis ng buildings or structures without appropriate building permits/cer ficates and
regula ons shall be subject to the imposi on of penal es, surcharges, fines, and other
appropriate measures.
3. The applicable and consistent provisions of the allied professional codes shall serve as the
referral codes of PD 1096 and this IRR.
General Building Requirements
1. All buildings or structures as well as accessory facili es shall conform in all respects to the
principles of safe construc on and must be suited to the purpose for which they are designed.
2. Buildings or structures intended for the manufacture and/or produc on of any kind of ar cle
or product shall observe adequate environmental safeguards.
3. Buildings or structures and all parts thereof as well as all facili es found therein shall be
maintained in safe, sanitary, and good working condi on.

SECTION 105. Site Requirements

The land or site upon which any building or structure, or any ancillary or auxiliary facility, will be
constructed shall be sanitary, hygienic, or safe. In the case of sites or buildings intended for
habita on, the same shall be at a safe distance, as determined by competent authori es, from
streams or bodies of water and/or sources of air considered to be polluted; from a volcano or
volcanic site and/or any other building considered to be a poten al source of fire or explosion.

Building Officials
According to Rule II of the IRR,
Sec on 206, the qualifica ons for a building official are as follows:
- Must be a Filipino ci zen and of good moral character
- Must be a duly registered architect or civil engineer
- Must be a member in good standing of an accredited professional organiza on for at least 5
years (endorsed and recommended)
- Must have at least 5 years of diversified and professional experience in building design and
construc on
- Must have a ended and completed a seminar workshop on PD 1096 and its IRR by the DPWH

Sec on 207 outlines the du es of a building official, which include:

- Being primarily responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the Code and its IRR
- Having overall administra ve control and/or supervision over all works per nent to
buildings/structures
- Processing and issuing all permit applica ons and cer ficates
- Conduc ng annual inspec ons of all buildings/structures and maintaining an up-to-date record
of their status

In addi on to these general du es, the Building Official is specifically tasked with:
1. Enforcing the provisions of the Code and its IRR and any related orders or direc ves.
2. Exercising administra ve control and/or supervision over all building/structure works in their
area and processing permit applica ons and cer ficates.
3. Ensuring that any changes, modifica ons, or altera ons to design plans during construc on
are evaluated and the necessary amendatory permit is issued before the work begins.
4. Conduc ng annual inspec ons of all buildings/structures and maintaining current records of
their status.
Building Permits
Rule III of the IRR
Sec on 301.1
“No person, firm, or corpora on, including any government agency or instrumentality, shall
construct, alter, repair, convert, use, occupy, move, demolish, or add any building/structure or
any por on thereof without first obtaining a building permit from the Building Official
assigned."
Sec on 301.3: Exemp ons from Building Permits
1. Minor Construc ons
o Sheds, outhouses, greenhouses, and similar structures not exceeding 6.00 sq.m.,
completely detached, and intended for private use by the owner.
o Addi on of open terraces or pa os directly on the ground, not exceeding 20.00
sq.m. and for private use only.
o Installa on of window grills.
o Garden pools for water plants and/or aquariums not exceeding 500 mm in depth.
o Garden masonry walls not exceeding 1.20 m in height, footpaths, garden walks.
2. Repair Works
o Works not affec ng any structural member (e.g., roofing sheets, gu ers, ceilings).
 o Repair of non-load-bearing par on walls, interior por ons, doors and windows,
flooring, perimeter fences, and walls.
o Repair of plumbing fixtures, fi ngs, or piping for single detached dwellings and
duplexes.

Sec on 302: Applica on for Permits

1. Requirements:
o Completed prescribed applica on forms.
o Proof of lot ownership.
o Five sets of plans, specifica ons, and other documents prepared, signed, and
sealed by licensed and registered professionals:
 Geode c Engineer
 Architect
 Civil Engineer
 Professional Electrical Engineer
 Professional Mechanical Engineer
 Sanitary Engineer
 Master Plumber
 Electronics Engineer
o Clearances from other relevant agencies.
2. Architectural Plans (Sec on 302.4)
o Vicinity Map/Loca on Plan
o Site Development Plan
o Perspec ve
o Floor Plan
o Eleva ons (at least 4)
o Sec ons (at least 2)
o Reflected Ceiling Plan
 o Blow-up Details (if applicable)
o Schedule of Doors and Windows
o Schedule of Finishes
3. Structural Plans (Sec on 302.5)
o Founda on Plan
o Floor Framing Plan
o Roof Framing Plan
o Other Technical Documents:
 Structural Analysis
 Boring/Soil Load Test
 Seismic Analysis

Sec on 304.5: Terms and Condi ons of Permits

 According to Ar cle 1732 of the Civil Code of the Philippines, the engineer or architect
who prepared the plans and specifica ons for a building is liable for damages if, within
15 years from comple on, the structure collapses due to defects in the plans,
specifica ons, or ground condi ons.
 The engineer or architect who supervises the construc on is jointly liable with the
contractor if the building collapses due to construc on defects or the use of inferior
materials.
 The permit must be accompanied by the relevant ancillary and accessory permits, plans,
and specifica ons compliant with the Code and its IRR.

Sec on 308: Inspec on and Supervision of Work

 Full- me inspec on and supervision of construc on work must be carried out by a
licensed architect or civil engineer (who may or may not be the designer).
 A logbook must be kept on-site at all mes, recording the progress of construc on,
including tests conducted, weather condi ons, and other per nent data.
 Upon comple on of the construc on, the licensed architect or civil engineer must
submit the logbook, duly signed and sealed, to the Building Official. A Cer ficate of
 Comple on sta ng that the construc on conforms to the Code provisions and the
approved plans and specifica ons must also be submi ed.

Sec on 309: Cer ficate of Occupancy

 The owner/permi ee must submit an applica on for a Cer ficate of Occupancy to the
OBO (Office of the Building Official), along with:
1. A duly notarized Cer ficate of Comple on with the construc on logbook.
2. As-built plans and specifica ons that faithfully reflect all changes, modifica ons,
and altera ons made to the original plans.
3. Building Inspec on Sheet signed by the contractor (if the construc on is done by
contract).
4. All documents signed and sealed by the owner’s duly licensed architect or civil
engineer who conducted the full- me inspec on and supervision.
 The OBO will conduct the final inspec on, prepare the corresponding fees and order of
payment, and issue the Cer ficate of Occupancy.
Rule V of the IRR: Fire Zones
Sec on 501: Fire Zones Defined
Fire zones are areas within which only certain types of buildings or structures are permi ed,
depending on their use, occupancy, type of construc on, and resistance to fire.
Sec on 502: Buildings Located in More Than One Fire Zone
A building or structure located partly in one fire zone and partly in another is considered to be
in the more highly restric ve fire zone if more than one-third (1/3) of its total floor area is
located in that zone.

Sec on 507: Designa on of Fire Zones

1. Non-Fire Resis ve Zones
o Buildings and structures may be constructed without fire-resis ve measures.
o These zones are o en found in rural areas or countryside se ngs and may
include small groups like farmlands with dwellings made of indigenous materials.
2. Fire Resis ve Zones
o Buildings and structures are permi ed only if they comply with prescribed fire-
resis ve measures, with exterior walls having at least two-hour fire resis vity.
o These zones are usually located in suburban areas.
3. Highly Fire Resis ve Zones
o Only buildings and structures made of highly fire-resis ve or non-combus ble
materials are allowed. Construc on assemblies must have three to four-hour fire
resis vity, especially for exterior walls.

Sec on 506: Restric ons on Exis ng Buildings

Exis ng buildings that do not meet fire zone requirements cannot be enlarged, altered,
remodeled, repaired, or moved unless one of the following condi ons is met:
 The building is en rely demolished.
 The building is moved outside the limits of the more restric ve fire zone.
 Changes made within any 12-month period do not exceed a specific percentage of the
building’s value.
 repair from damage due to fire, earthquake, typhoons, or any fortuitous event, that use
the same kind of material as the original and the cost of repair

Rule VI of the IRR: Fire Resis ve Requirements in Construc on

Sec on 601: Fire-Resis ve Ra ng Defined
Fire-resis ve ra ng refers to the degree to which a material can withstand fire, as determined
by recognized and accepted tes ng methods.
Sec on 602: Fire-Resis ve Time Period Ra ng
The fire-resis ve me period ra ng is the length of me a material can endure exposure to
fire before failing or losing its structural integrity. The ra ng is a measure of how long the
material can resist being burned, as determined through standardized tes ng

Rule IV of the IRR: Types of Construc on

Sec on 401: Types of Construc on
1. Type I
o Consists of wood construc on.
o Structural elements can be made from any materials allowed by the Code.
2. Type II
o Wood construc on with protec ve fire-resistant materials.
o Requires one-hour fire resis vity throughout, except for permanent non-bearing
par ons, which may use fire-retardant treated wood within the framing
assembly with one-hour fire resis vity.
3. Type III
o A combina on of masonry and wood construc on.
o Structural elements can be any material permi ed by the Code, provided the
building has one-hour fire resis vity throughout.
o Exterior walls must be constructed using incombus ble, fire-resis ve materials.
 4. Type IV
o Construc on primarily made of steel, iron, concrete, or masonry.
o Walls, ceilings, and permanent par ons must be incombus ble and fire-
resis ve, except for permanent non-bearing par ons, which may use fire-
retardant treated wood within the framing assembly with one-hour fire
resis vity.
5. Type V
o Requires four-hour fire resis vity throughout.
o Structural elements must be made of steel, iron, concrete, or masonry.

Sec on 402: Changes in Types of Construc on

No changes can be made to the type of construc on of any building that would result in it being
classified under a different sub-type or type of construc on unless the building is modified to
meet the requirements for the new type.
Excep on:
Changes may be approved by the Building Official if it can be demonstrated that the new or
proposed construc on poses less risk to life and fire safety than the exis ng structure.

FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Rule 10: Fire Safety Measures
Chapter 2: Fire Safety in Buildings, Structures & Facili es
Division 1: Scope
 Focuses on life safety from fire and similar emergencies in buildings, structures, and
facili es.
 Covers procedures and guidelines for conduc ng fire drills required for all types of
occupancy to prevent panic during emergencies.
 Specifies the number, size, and arrangement of means of egress to ensure the prompt
and safe escape of occupants from buildings, structures, or facili es in case of fire or
other life-threatening condi ons.

Division 2: General Requirements

 Every building or structure, whether old or new, must have exits that are sufficient to
allow the quick and safe evacua on of occupants in case of fire.
 All exits must be clearly visible.
 Fire alarm systems or devices must be installed in every building or structure.
 Every ver cal exit and other ver cal openings between floors must be properly enclosed
or protected to prevent the spread of fire.

Rule VII of the IRR: General Requirements

Sec on 704: Loca on on Property
704.1 General Requirements
  No building shall be constructed unless it adjoins or has direct access to a public space,
yard, or street on at least one of its sides.
 Eaves over required windows must be at least 750 mm from the side and rear property
boundaries.
704.4 Building Footprint and Firewall Requirements
 Medium Density Residen al (R-2):
o A maximum of 80% of the total length of a side property line may be used for the
building footprint or firewall construc on.