Module 1: Lesson 1 – Codes and Regulations
National Building Code of the Philippines
National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP) or the Presidential Degree No. 1096 (P.D. 1096) is a set of
rules and regulations or the code in the design and construction of buildings.
The following are the important discussions of the Code:
Chapter 1 – General Provision
Section 102: Declaration of Policy
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; and to this end,
make it the purpose of this Code to provide for all buildings and structures, a framework of
minimum standards and requirements to regulate and control their location, size, design, quality of
materials, construction, use, occupancy, and maintenance.
Section 103: Scope and Application
(a) Code shall apply to the design, location, siting, construction, alteration, repair,
conversion, use, occupancy, maintenance, moving, demolition of, and addition to public and
private buildings and structures, except traditional indigenous family dwellings as defined
herein.
(b) Buildings and/or structures constructed before the approval of this Code shall not be affected
thereby except when alterations, additions, conversions or repairs are to be made therein in which
case, this Code shall apply only to portions to be altered, added, converted or repaired.
Chapter 2 – Administration and Enforcement
Section 201: Responsibility for Administration and Enforcement
The administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Code including the imposition of
penalties for administrative violations thereof are hereby vested in the Secretary of Public Works,
Transportation, and Communications hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary”.
Section 204: Professional and Technical Assistance
The Secretary with the assistance of his technical staff shall provide such professional,
technical, scientific, and other services including testing laboratories and facilities as may be
required to carry out the provisions of this Code.
Section 205: Building Officials
the Building Official shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this Code in the
field as well as the enforcement of orders and decisions made pursuant thereto.
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Chapter 3 – Permits and Inspection
Section 301: Building Permits
No person, firm or corporation, including any agency or instrumentality of the government, shall
erect, construct, alter, repair, move, convert or demolish any building or structure or cause the
same to be done without first obtaining a building permit therefor from the Building Official
assigned in the place where the subject building is located or the building work is to be done.
Section 302: Application for Permits
the applicant shall file an application therefor in writing and on the prescribed form from the Office
of the Building Official. Every application shall provide at least the following information:
(1) A description of the work to be covered by the permit applied for;
(2) Certified true copy of the TCT covering the lot on which the proposed work is to be
done.
If the applicant is not the registered owner, in addition to the TCT, a copy of the contract of
lease shall be submitted;
(3) The use or occupancy for which the proposal work is intended;
(4) Estimated cost of the proposed work.
To be submitted together with such application are at least five sets of corresponding plans
and specifications prepared, signed and sealed by a duly registered mechanical engineer in case
of mechanical plans, and by a registered electrical engineer in case of electrical plans, except in
those cases exempted or not required by the Building Official under this Code.
Section 305: Validity of Building Permits
A building permit issued under the provisions of this Code shall expire and become null and void if
the building or work authorized therein is not commenced within a period of one year from the date
of such permit, or if the building or work so authorized is suspended or abandoned at any time
after it has been commenced, for a period of 120 days.
Section 309: Certificate of Occupancy
No building or structure shall be used or occupied and no change in the existing use or occupancy
classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made until the Building Official
has issued a Certificate of Occupancy therefor as provided in this Code.
A Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued by the Building Official within thirty (30) days if
after final inspection and submittal of a Certificate of Completion referred to in the preceding
Section, it is found that the building or structure complies with the provisions of this Code.
The Certificate of Occupancy shall be posted or displayed in a conspicuous place on the
premises and shall not be removed except upon order of the Building Official.
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Chapter 4 – Types of Construction
Section 401: Types of Construction
For purposes of this Code, all buildings proposed for construction shall be classified or identified
according to the following types:
(1) Type I – Type I buildings shall be of wood construction. The structural elements may be any
of the materials permitted by this Code.
(2) Type II – Type II buildings shall be of wood construction with protective fire- resistant
materials and one-hour fire-resistive throughout: Except, that permanent non-bearing
partitions may use fire-retardant treated wood within the framing assembly.
(3) Type III – Type III buildings shall be of masonry and wood construction. Structural
elements may be any of the materials permitted by this Code: Provided, that the building shall be
one-hour fire-resistive throughout. Exterior walls shall be of incombustible fire- resistive
construction.
(4) Type IV – Type IV buildings shall be of steel, iron, concrete, or masonry construction.
Walls, ceilings, and permanent partitions shall be of incombustible fire- resistive construction:
Except, that permanent non-bearing partitions of one-hour fire- resistive construction may use
fire-retardant treated wood within the framing assembly.
(5) Type V – Type V buildings shall be fire-resistive. The structural elements shall be of
steel, iron, concrete, or masonry.
Chapter 5 – Requirements for Fire Zone
Section 501. Fire Zones Defined
Fire zones are areas within which only certain types of buildings are permitted to be constructed
based on their use or occupancy, type of construction, and resistance to fire.
Section 506. Restrictions On Existing Buildings
Existing buildings or structures in fire zones that do not comply with the requirements for a new
building erected therein shall not hereafter be enlarged, altered, remodeled, repaired or moved
except as follows:
(a) Such a building is entirely demolished;
(b) Such building is to be moved outside the limits of the more highly restrictive Fire Zone to a
zone where the building meets the minimum standards;
(c) Changes, alterations and repairs may be made provided that in any 12-month period, the
value of the work does not exceed twenty percent of the value of the existing building, and
provided that, such changes do not add additional combustible material, and do not, in the
opinion of the Building Official, increase the fire hazard;
(d) Additions thereto are separated from the existing building by fire walls, as set forth in Sub-
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section 604 (b);
(e) Damage from fire or earthquake, typhoons, or any fortuitous event may be repaired, using
the same kind of materials of which the building or structure was originally constructed, provided
that, the cost of such repair shall not exceed twenty percent of the replacement cost of the building or
structure.
Chapter 6 – Fire Resistive Requirements in Construction
Section 601. Fire-Resistive Rating Defined
The fire-resistive rating means the degree to which a material can withstand fire as determined by
generally-recognized and accepted testing methods.
Section 603. Fire-Resistive Standards
All materials of construction and assemblies or combinations thereof shall be classified according
to their fire-retardant or flame-spread ratings as determined by generally accepted testing
methods and/or by the Secretary.
Chapter 7 – Classification and General Requirement of all Buildings by Use or Occupancy
Section 701. Occupancy Classified
(a) Buildings proposed for construction shall be identified according to their use or the
character of its occupancy and shall be classified as follows:
(1) Group A – Residential Dwellings
Group A Occupancies shall be dwellings.
(2) Group B – Residentials, Hotels and Apartments
Group B Occupancies shall be multiple dwelling units including boarding or lodging
houses, hotels, apartment buildings, row houses, convents, monasteries and other
similar building each of which accommodates more than 10 persons.
(3) Group C – Education and Recreation
Group C Occupancies shall be buildings used for school or day-care purposes,
involving assemblage for instruction, education, or recreation, and not classified in
Group I or in Division 1 and 2 or Group H Occupancies.
(4) Group D – Institutional
Group D Occupancies shall include:
Division 1 – Mental hospitals, mental sanitaria, jails, prisons, reformatories,
and buildings were personal liberties of inmates are similarly restrained.
Division 2 – Nurseries for full-time care of children under kindergarten age,
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hospitals, sanitaria, nursing homes with non-ambulatory patients, and similar
buildings each accommodating more than five persons.
Division 3 – Nursing homes for ambulatory patients, homes for children of
kindergarten age or over, each accommodating more than five persons:
Provided, that Group D Occupancies shall not include buildings used only for
private or family group dwelling purposes.
(5) Group E – Business and Mercantile
Group E Occupancies shall include:
Division 1 – Gasoline filling and service stations, storage garages and boat
storage structures where no work is done except exchange of parts and
maintenance requiring no open flame, welding, or the use of highly flammable
liquids.
Division 2 – Wholesale and retail stores, office buildings, drinking and dining
establishments having an occupant load of less than one hundred persons,
printing plants, police and fire stations, factories and workshops using not highly
flammable or combustible materials and paint stores without bulk handlings.
Division 3 – Aircraft hangars and open parking garages where no repair work
is done except exchange of parts and maintenance requiring no open flame,
welding or the use of highly flammable liquids.
(6) Group F – Industrial
Group F Occupancies shall include: ice plants, power plants, pumping plants, cold
storage, and creameries, factories and workshops using incombustible and non-
explosive materials, and storage and sales rooms for incombustible and non-
explosive materials.
(7) Group G – Storage and Hazardous
Groups G Occupancies shall include:
Division 1 – Storage and handling of hazardous and highly flammable material.
Division 2 – Storage and handling of flammable materials, dry cleaning plants
using flammable liquids; paint stores with bulk handling, paint shops and spray
painting rooms.
Division 3 – Wood working establishments, planning mills and box factories,
shops, factories where loose combustible fibers or dust are manufactured,
processed or generated; warehouses where highly combustible materials is
stored.
Division 4 – Repair garages.
Division 5 – Aircrafts repair hangars.
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(8) Group H – Assembly Other Than Group I
Group H Occupancies shall include:
Division 1 – Any assembly building with a stage and an occupant load of less
than 1000 in the building.
Division 2 – Any assembly building without stage and having an occupant load
of 300 or more in the building.
Division 3 – Any assembly building without a stage and having an occupant
load of less than 300 in the building.
Division 4 – Stadia, reviewing stands, amusement park structures not included
within Group I or in Division 1, 2, and 3 of this Group.
(9) Group I – Assembly Occupant Load 1000 or More
Group I Occupancies shall be any assembly building with a stage and an occupant
load of 1000 or more in the building.
(10) Group J – Accessory
Group J Occupancies shall include:
Division 1 – Private garage, carports, sheds and agricultural buildings. Division 2 –
Fences over 1.80 meters high, tanks and towers.
(b) Other subgroupings or divisions within Groups A to J may be determined by the Secretary.
Any other occupancy not mentioned specifically in this Section, or about which there is any
question, shall be included in the Group which it most nearly resembles based on the existing or
proposed life and fire hazard.
SECTION 707. Maximum Height of Buildings
The maximum height and number of storeys of every building shall be dependent upon the
character of occupancy and the type of construction as determined by the Secretary considering
population density, building bulk, widths of streets and car parking requirements. The height shall
be measured from the highest adjoining sidewalk or ground surface: Provided, that the height
measured from the lowest adjoining surface shall not exceed such maximum height by
more than 3.00 meters: Except, that towers, spires, and steeples, erected as part of a building
and not used for habitation or storage are limited as to height only by structural design if
completely of incombustible materials, or may extend not to exceed 6.00 meters above the
height limits for each occupancy group if of combustible materials.
Section 708. Minimum Requirements for Group A Dwellings
(a) Dwelling Location and Lot Occupancy
The dwelling shall occupy not more than ninety percent of a corner lot and eighty
percent of an inside lot, and subject to the provisions on Easements of Light and View of
the Civil Code of Philippines, shall be at least 2 meters from the property line.
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(c) Sanitation
Every dwelling shall be provided with at least one sanitary toilet and adequate washing and
drainage facilities.
(d) Foundation
Footings shall be of sufficient size and strength to support the load of the dwelling and shall
be at least 250 millimeters thick and 600 millimeters below the surface of the ground.
(f) Floor
The live load of the first floor shall be at least 200 kilograms per square meter and for the
second floor, at least 150 kilograms per square meter.
(g) Roof
The wind load for roofs shall be at least 120 kilograms per square meter for vertical
projection.
(h) Stairs
Stairs shall be at least 750 millimeters in clear width, with a rise of 200 millimeters and
a minimum run of 200 millimeters.
(i) Entrance and Exit
There shall be at least one entrance and another one for exit.
Chapter 8 – Light and Ventilation
Section 801. General Requirements of Light and Ventilation
(b) All buildings shall face a street or public alley or a private street which has been duly
approved.
Section 805. Ceiling Heights
(a) Habitable rooms provided with artificial ventilation shall have ceiling heights not less than
2.40 meters measured from the floor to the ceiling; Provided that for buildings of more than
one storey, the minimum ceiling height of the first storey shall be 2.70 meters and that for
the second storey 2.40 meters and succeeding storeys shall have an unobstructed typical
head-room clearance of not less than 2.10 meters above the finished floor. Above stated
rooms with a natural ventilation shall have ceiling heights not less than 2.70 meters.
(b) Mezzanine floors shall have a clear ceiling height not less than 1.80 meters above and
below it.
Section 806. Size and Dimension of Rooms
Minimum sizes of rooms and their least horizontal dimensions shall be as follows:
1. Rooms for Human Habitations – 6.00 square meters with a least dimension of
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2.00meters;
2. Kitchens – 3.0 square meters with a least dimension of 1.50 meters;
3. Bath and toilet – 1.20 square meters with a least dimension of 0.90 meter.
Section 807. Air Space Requirements in Determining the Size of Rooms
Minimum air space shall be provided as follows:
1. School Rooms – 3.00 cubic meters with 1.00 square meter of floor area per person;
2. Workshops, Factories, and Offices – 12.00 cubic meters of air space per person;
3. Habitable rooms – 14.00 cubic meters of air space per person.
Chapter 9 – Sanitation
Section 902. Water Supply System
(a) lWhenever available, the potable water requirements for a building used for human
habitation shall be supplied from existing municipal or city waterworks system.
(b) The quality of drinking water from meteoric, surface or underground sources shall conform
to the criteria set in the latest approved National Standards for Drinking Water.
(c) The design, construction and operation of deepwells for the abstraction of
groundwater shall be subject to the provisions of the Water Code of the Philippines.
(d) The design, construction and operation of independent waterworks systems private
housing subdivisions or industrial estates shall be governed by existing laws relating to
local waterworks system.
(e) The water piping installations inside buildings and premises shall conform to the
provisions of the National Plumbing Code of the Philippines.
Section 903. Wastewater Disposal System
Sanitary sewage from buildings and neutralized or pre-treated industrial wastewater shall be
discharged directly into the nearest street sanitary sewer main of existing municipal or city
sanitary sewerage system in accordance with the criteria set by the Code on Sanitation and the
National Pollution Control Commission.
SECTION 904. Storm Drainage System
(a) Rainwater drainage shall not discharge to the sanitary sewer system.
Chapter 10 – Building Projection over Public Streets
Section 1002. Projection into Alleys or Streets
(b) Footings located at least 2.40 meters below grade along national roads or public
highway may project not more than 300 millimeters beyond the property line.
(c) Foundations may be permitted to encroach into public sidewalk areas to a width not
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exceeding 500 millimeters; provided, that the top of the said foundations is not less than
600 millimeters below the established grade;
Section 1007. Doors, Windows, and the Like
Doors, windows, and the like less than 2.40 meters above the pavement or groundline shall
not, when fully opened or upon opening, project beyond the property line except fire exit doors.
Chapter 11 – Protection of Pedestrian during Construction or Demolition
Section 1101. General Requirements
(a) No person shall use or occupy a street, alley or public sidewalk for the
performance of work covered by a building permit except in accordance with the
provisions of this Chapter.
Section 1103. Mixing Mortar on Public Property
The mixing of mortar, concrete, or similar materials on public streets shall not be allowed.
Section 1106. Pedestrian Protection
(b) Railings. Adequate railings when required shall be built substantially strong and should
be at least 1.00 meter in height.
(c) Fences. Fences shall be built of an approved material, not less than 2.40 meters in height
above grade, and be placed on the side of the walkway nearest to the building site. Fences shall
enclose entirely the building site. Openings in such fences shall be provided with doors which
shall be kept closed at all times.
(d) Canopies. The protective canopy shall have a clear height of 2.40 meters above the
railway, and shall be structurally safe.
Chapter 12 – Design and Construction Requirements
Section 1201. General Requirements
All other matters relative to the structural design of all buildings and other structures not provided
for in this Chapter shall conform with the provisions of the National Structural Code of Buildings,
as adopted and promulgated by the Board of Civil Engineering pursuant to Republic Act Number
544, as amended, otherwise known as the “Civil Engineering Law”.
Section 1202. Excavation, Foundation, and Retaining Walls
(c) Footings, Foundations, and Retaining Walls
(1) Footings and foundations shall be of the appropriate type, of adequate size, and
capacity in order to safely sustain the superimposed loads under seismic or any
condition of external forces that may affect the safety or stability of the structure. It
shall be the responsibility of the architect and/or engineer to adopt the type and design of
the same in accordance with the standards set forth by the Secretary.
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Section 1205. Floor Construction
Floors shall be of such materials and construction as specified under Chapter 5 Fire Zones and
Fire-Resistive Standards and under Chapter 6 – Types of Construction.
Section 1206. Roof Construction and Covering
(a) Roof Covering. Roof covering for all buildings shall be either fire-retardant or
ordinary depending upon the fire-resistive requirements of the particular type of construction.
(b) Roof Trusses. All roofs shall be so framed and tied into the framework and
supporting walls so as to form an integral part of the whole building.
Section 1207. Stairs, Exits, And Occupant Loads
(a) General. The construction of stairs and exits shall conform to the occupant load
requirements of buildings, reviewing stands, bleachers, and grandstands.
(2) Exit Requirements. Exist requirements of a building or portion thereof used for
different purposes shall be determined by the occupant load which gives the largest
number of persons. No obstruction shall be placed in the required width of an exit
except projections permitted by this Code.
(4) Changes in Elevation. Except in Group A Occupancies, changes in floor
elevations of less than 300 millimeters along any exit serving a tributary occupant
load of 10 or more shall be by means of ramps.
(b) Exits
(1) Number of Exits. Every building or usable portion thereof shall have at least one
exit. In all occupancies, floors above the first storey having an occupant load of more
than 10 shall not have less than two exits. Every storey or portion thereof, having an
occupant load of 500 to 999 shall have at least three exits. Every storey or portion
thereof having an occupant load of 1000 or more shall have at least four (4) exits.
(2) Width. The total width of exits in meters shall not be less than the total
occupant load served divided by 165..
(4) Distance to Exists. No point in a building without a sprinkler system shall be more
than 45.00 meters from an exterior exit door, a horizontal exit, exit passageway, or an
enclosed stairway, measured along the line of travel. In a building equipped with a
complete automatic fire extinguishing system the distance from exits may be
increased to 60.00 meters.
(c) Doors
(1) Swing. Exit door shall swing in the direction of exit travel when serving any
hazardous areas or when serving an occupant load of 50 or more. It shall not be used
as exits serving a tributary occupant load of more than 100;
(3) Width and Height. Every required exit doorway shall be of a size as to permit the
installation of a door not less than 900 millimeters in width and not less than 2.00
meters in height. When installed in exit doorways, exit doors shall be capable of
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opening at least 90 degrees and shall be so mounted that the clear width of the exit
way is not less than 700 millimeters.
(4) Door Leaf Width. No leaf of an exit door shall exceed 1.20 meters in width.
(d) Corridors and Exterior Exit Balconies.
(1) Width. Every corridor or exit balcony shall not be less than 1.10 meters in width.
(3) Access to Exits. When more than one exit is required, they shall be so arranged to
allow going to either direction from any point in the corridor or exterior exit balcony to a
separate exit, except for dead ends permitted by this Code.
(5) Construction. Walls and ceilings of corridors shall not be less than one- hour fire
resistive construction.
(e) Stairways.
(1) Width. Stairways serving an occupant load of more than 50 shall not be less than
1.10 meters. Stairways serving an occupant load of 50 or less may be 900 millimeters
wide. Private stairways serving an occupant load of less than 10 may be 750
millimeters.
(2) Rise and Run. The rise of every step in a stairway shall not exceed 200
millimeters and the run shall not be less than 250 millimeters. The maximum
variations in the height of risers and the width of treads in any one flight shall be 5
millimeters.
(5) Landings. Every landing shall have a dimension measured in the direction of travel
equal to the width of the stairway. Such dimension need not exceed 1.20 meters when the
stairs has a straight run. Landings when provided shall not be reduced in width by more
than 100 millimeters by a door when fully open.
(7) Distance Between Landings. There shall be not more than 3.60 meters vertical
distance between landings.
(8) Handrails. Handrails shall be placed not less than 800 millimeters nor more than
900 millimeters above the nosing of treads, and ends of handrails shall be
returned or shall terminate in newel posts or safety terminals.
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