Item/
Element Building Law Source
number
PD 1096 National Building Code
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of the Philippines
2 Fire Code (R.A. No. 9514)
3 Fire Code (R.A. No. 9514)
PD 1096 National Building Code
4 masonry and wood construction.
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5 adjoins or has direct access to a public
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6 light and ventilation to easily
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7 The floor areas hereinabove provided
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Statement of the Law
Minimum Corridor
Width
Section 1207. Stairs, Exits, and
Occupant Loads
a. Exits Door Leaf Width –
max of 1.20
The minimum width of any corridor or
passageway serving as a required exit or
means of travel to or from required exit
shall be one hundred twelve centimeters
(112 cm) in the clear.
Number of Exits
At least two (2) exits shall be provided for
every floor or section, including floors
below the floor of exit discharge used for
industrial purposes or incidental thereto.
At least one of which shall be reached
without traversing another storey.
Section 401. Types of Construction:
Type III – Type III buildings shall be of
Structural elements may be any of the
materials permitted by this.
SECTION 704. Location on Property
No building shall be constructed unless it
space, yard or street on at least one of its
sides.
Eaves over required windows shall not be
less than 750 millimeters from the side
and rear property lines.
SECTION 808. Window Openings
Every room intended for any use, not
provided with artificial ventilation system
as herein specified in this Code, shall be
provided with a window or windows with
a total free area of openings and equal to
at least ten percent of the floor area of
room, and such window shall open
directly to a court, yard, public street or
alley, or open water courses.
SECTION 706. Allowable Floor Area
Increases
may be increased in certain specific
instances and under appropriate
Remarks
The wider the leaf, the
greater support the leafs
provide for the rotating
hinge knuckle.
An appropriate corridor
width enables the structure
to have a tight feel and
provides a proper circulation
of the user.
Having 2 exits are essential
especially during
emergency. If the windows
and doors are blocked,
people can easily access
their way out with the other
door
Masonry provides strength
to the building while wood is
a good absorbent of sound
and light. Both building
materials also coincide with
the client’s requirements, to
showcase an indigenous
and modern environment.
Optimizing spaces that is
adequate for the client’s use
and requirement.
An appropriate
measurement of openings
such as windows allows
enter the house enabling
the user to feel peace and
comfortable.
An increase floor area
allows the user to be more
flexible with their property.

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9 Every dwelling shall be provided with at
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conditions, based on the existence of
public space, streets or yards extending
along and adjoining two or more sides of
the building or structure subject to the
approval of the Building Official.
SECTION 707. Maximum Height of
Buildings Different users has different
The maximum height and number of preferences. This law allows
storeys of every building shall be the user to choose the type
dependent upon the character of of storey they want based
occupancy and the type of construction on their likings. Provides
as determined by the Secretary high quality control and
considering population density, building enables user to freely utilize
bulk, widths of streets and car parking the property.
requirements.
An adequate amount of
SECTION 708. Minimum Requirements
sanitation provides a
for Group A Dwellings (c) Sanitation
healthy environment for
everyone. It manages their
least one sanitary toilet and adequate
physical and emotional state
washing and drainage facilities.
in a safe environment.
SECTION 708. Minimum Requirements Keeps the user away from
for Group A Dwellings (h) Stairs hazard. It has a specific
Stairs shall be at least 750 millimeters in minimum requirements for
clear width, with a rise of 200 millimeters Filipinos also have a distinct
and a minimum run of 200 millimeters. foot measurement.
SECTION 708. Minimum Requirements
An appropriate amount of
for Group A Dwellings (i) Entrance
entrance and exit allows
and Exit
and operative access and
There shall be at least one entrance and
security
another one for exit.
(a) Habitable rooms provided with
artificial ventilation shall have ceiling
heights not less than 2.40 meters
measured from the floor to the ceiling; The adaptability of the room
Provided that for buildings of more than to various uses in the future
one storey, the minimum ceiling height of would also be influenced by
the first storey shall be 2.70 meters and the ceiling height. Ceilings
that for the second storey 2.40 meters have a significant effect on
and succeeding storeys shall have an the understanding of space
unobstructed typical head-room and the overall environment
clearance of not less than 2.10 meters produced since they cover
above the finished floor. Above stated vast surfaces.
rooms with a natural ventilation shall
have ceiling heights not less than 2.70
meters.
SECTION 806. Size and Dimension of
Rooms
Minimum sizes of rooms and their least
An appropriate dimension of
horizontal dimensions shall be as follows:
a room enables the user to
1. Rooms for Human Habitations – 6.00
utilize the space depending
square meters with a least dimension of
on its function.
2.00 meters;
2. Kitchens – 3.0 square meters with a
least dimension of 1.50 meters;

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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
3. Habitable rooms – 14.00 cubic meters
of air space per person.
SECTION 810. Ventilation Skylights
Skylights shall have a glass area not less
than that required for the windows that
are replaced. They shall be equipped
with movable sashes or louvers with an
aggregate net free area not less than that
required for operable parts in the window
that are replaced or provided with
approved artificial ventilation of
equivalent effectiveness.
SECTION 1205. Floor Construction
(a) 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.
(b) All floors shall be so framed and
secured into the framework and
supporting walls as to form an integral
part of the whole building.
(c) The types of floor construction used
shall provide means to keep the beam
and girders from lateral buckling.
Railings shall be provided for balconies,
landings, or porches which are more than
750 millimeters above grade.
(f) Regulation of Equipment – All shelves,
fixtures, and fixed equipment in a
projection room shall be constructed of
incombustible materials. All films not in
actual use shall be stored in metal
cabinets having individual compartments
for reels or shall be in generally accepted
shipping containers. No solder shall be
used in the construction of such cabinets.
SECTION 1209. Bays, Porches, and
Balconies
Habitable rooms should
consider the number of user
as it assures an ease of
accommodation and
environment.
Artificial means of
ventilation must be installed
in rooms or spaces
containing manufacturing or
heating equipment to avoid
unnecessary accumulation
of hot and/or contaminated
air.
Choosing the type of floor is
a crucial part of a residential
house since it is where the
user circulates at, an
abused surface of the
building. The floor has a
huge effect on the aesthetic
of your home because it is
underfoot and takes up too
much room. Adjust the
floors in a space to change
its appearance. Flooring will
instantly transform your
room, making it appear
cooler, warmer, larger,
smaller, more intimate,
cozier, and luxurious.
The railing’s dimensions is
an important part that an
architect has to consider. It
is mostly dependent on the
user on their characteristics
if the user is an adult, a kid,
a person with disability or
whatever his or her
characteristics. It provides
stability, support, and
protection.
Furniture and equipment are
a substantial factor in a
residential house. A wide
range of variety of furniture
gives meaning to the overall
function of the house.
However, it should last for
the long run and should not
give harm to the user.
Appropriate materials and
dimensions provides a long
 Exterior balconies attached to or lasting space. It gives
supported by wall required to be of strength and good comfort
masonry, shall have brackets or beams yielding an outdoor access
constructed of incombustible materials. to a relaxing view and fresh
Railings shall be provided for balconies, air.
landings, or porches which are more than
750 millimeters above grade.
Current drywall is given a
SECTION 1215. Lathing, Plastering,
durable and solid finish.
and Installation of Wall Boards
When water escapes from
PD 1096 National Building Code The installation of lath, plaster and
20 the cement mixture, a
of the Philippines gypsum wall board shall conform to the
chemical reaction occurs
fire-resistive rating requirements and the
that helps in maintaining its
type of construction of building.
good finish.
SECTION 1802. Area Limitation
Exterior glass and glazing shall be
capable of safely withstanding the load The best materials for
due to wind pressures for various height windows should be efficient
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of the Philippines outward. The area of individual lights wind and heat, regulating
shall not be more than the maximum the overall temperature of
allowable area of glass according to the the building.
wind load multiplied by the appropriate
adjustment factor.