NBCP

• The National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP) is a set of rules and regulations governing the design and construction of buildings
• Chapter 1 of the NBCP includes:

  • Section 102: Declaration of Policy to safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare
  • Section 103: Scope and Application, detailing the application of the code to various aspects of building design and construction
• Chapter 2 of the NBCP covers Administration and Enforcement, including:

  • Section 201: Responsibility for Administration and Enforcement by the Secretary of Public Works, Transportation, and Communications
  • Section 204: Professional and Technical Assistance provided by the Secretary's technical staff
  • Section 205: Responsibilities of the Building Official in carrying out the provisions of the Code
• Chapter 3 of the NBCP addresses Permits and Inspection, with:

  • Section 301: Building Permits requirement before any building work
  • Section 302: Application for Permits, detailing the information needed for the application
  • Section 305: Validity of Building Permits, specifying the expiration conditions
• Chapter 4 of the NBCP discusses Types of Construction, categorizing buildings into Type I to Type V based on construction materials and fire resistance
• Chapter 5 of the NBCP focuses on Requirements for Fire Zone, defining fire zones and restrictions on existing buildings within these zones
• Chapter 6 of the NBCP outlines Fire Resistive Requirements in Construction, defining fire-resistive rating and standards for materials and assemblies
• Chapter 7 of the NBCP covers Classification and General Requirement of all Buildings by Use or Occupancy, classifying buildings into groups based on their use or occupancy
• Buildings proposed for construction shall be identified according to their use or the character of its occupancy and classified into different groups:
• Group A Occupancies are residential dwellings
• Group B Occupancies include multiple dwelling units like boarding houses, hotels, apartment buildings, row houses, convents, and monasteries
• Group C Occupancies are buildings used for school or day-care purposes, involving assemblage for instruction, education, or recreation
• Group D Occupancies include mental hospitals, nurseries, hospitals, nursing homes, and homes for children
• Group E Occupancies include gasoline filling stations, wholesale and retail stores, office buildings, and factories
• Group F Occupancies include ice plants, power plants, factories, and storage rooms for incombustible materials
• Group G Occupancies include storage and handling of hazardous and highly flammable materials, flammable materials, wood working establishments, and repair garages
• Group H Occupancies include assembly buildings with different occupant loads and structures like stadia and amusement park structures
• Group I Occupancies are assembly buildings with an occupant load of 1000 or more
• Group J Occupancies include private garages, carports, sheds, agricultural buildings, fences, tanks, and towers
• The maximum height and number of storeys of every building depend on the character of occupancy and the type of construction
• Dwelling locations and lot occupancy regulations include not occupying more than a certain percentage of a lot and being a certain distance from the property line
• Every dwelling must have at least one sanitary toilet and adequate washing and drainage facilities
• Footings of dwellings must be of sufficient size and strength to support the load of the dwelling
• Stairs in buildings must meet specific width, rise, and run requirements
• Ceiling heights in habitable rooms with artificial ventilation must be at least 2.40 meters
• Minimum sizes of rooms for human habitations, kitchens, and bathrooms are specified
• Minimum air space requirements per person are specified for different types of rooms
• Water supply for buildings used for human habitation should be from existing municipal waterworks systems
• Design, construction, and operation of deep wells for groundwater abstraction in the Philippines must adhere to the Water Code of the Philippines
• Independent waterworks systems in private housing subdivisions or industrial estates are governed by existing laws related to local waterworks systems
• Water piping installations inside buildings and premises in the Philippines must conform to the provisions of the National Plumbing Code of the Philippines
• Sanitary sewage from buildings and neutralized or pre-treated industrial wastewater in the Philippines should be discharged directly into the nearest street sanitary sewer main of existing municipal or city sanitary sewerage system
• Rainwater drainage in the Philippines should not discharge to the sanitary sewer system
• Footings located at least 2.40 meters below grade along national roads or public highways may project not more than 300 millimeters beyond the property line
• Foundations may encroach into public sidewalk areas to a width not exceeding 500 millimeters, provided that the top of the foundations is not less than 600 millimeters below the established grade
• Doors, windows, and the like less than 2.40 meters above the pavement or groundline shall not project beyond the property line when fully opened, except fire exit doors
• No person shall use or occupy a street, alley, or public sidewalk for work covered by a building permit except in accordance with the provisions of the Chapter on Protection of Pedestrians during Construction or Demolition
• The mixing of mortar, concrete, or similar materials on public streets is not allowed
• Adequate railings, at least 1.00 meter in height, should be built when required during construction
• Fences during construction should be built of an approved material, not less than 2.40 meters in height above grade, and should enclose entirely the building site