CHAPTER 1

1.1. INTRODUCTION

A convention Hotel is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where

individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers

typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees. Very large

venues, suitable for major trade shows, they are sometimes known as exhibition centers.

(Cambridge Dictionaries, 2015) Convention centers typically have at least one auditorium and

may also contain bon Concert halls, lecture halls, meeting rooms, and conference rooms. Some

large resort area hotels include a convention center. (Cambridge Dictionaries, 2015) Convention

is bringing together, for the purpose of discussion and sometimes decision, of representatives of

sovereign states or of delegates of all sorts of bodies and societies (Lawson, 2010) .

Convention are sometimes classified political or bargaining and non-political; legislative

diplomatic and technical; and periodic and ad hoc. Non-political convention is subdivided into

administrative, economic, humanitarian, social, communications, scientific, educational, and

cultural. Legislative, if they result in the development of Law, and diplomatic/technical

depending on whether attended by diplomats/technical experts. Such classifications are of

relative value as some conferences, notably peace conferences, embrace a wide range of

objectives and include diplomatic along with technical representatives. (Lawson, 2008)

A convention center is a building or group of buildings designed, in most cases, for the

purpose of conducting meetings, rallies, or seminars. It may also be adapted for specific events,

such as appearances by well-known speakers or musicians. In some cases, meetings or other

1
events take place in centers or buildings not specifically designed for conventions, but large

enough to accommodate attendees. (Bhandari, 2012)

Convention hotel means a hotel with 50 rooms or greater that provides facilities and

services designed to host meetings or gatherings within or upon the same premises of the hotel or

within a facility (for example: convention centers, auditoriums, outdoor venues, etc.) that is in

close proximity of the hotel.

A convention hotel presents a unique opportunity to test the limits of energy-efficient and

sustainable technologies and materials. It must host numerous events with a variety of needs on a

daily basis, and presents a great environment to test new technologies and materials in a variety

of ways. The flexible program will push the boundary of sustainable design into the interior

workings of the convention center. A convention center also must have a sense of transparency

about it, which will expose the self-efficiency of the structure calling for the sustainable

technologies and materials to present themselves in an artistic manner.

The primary usage of a convention hotel can range from weddings, graduations, concerts,

organizational conventions and more. Convention centers usually have a mixture of large spaces,

such as exhibition halls, ballrooms, and auditoriums, and smaller spaces like meeting rooms.

Most convention centers are owned by the cities they are constructed in; rarely are they privately

owned. Income for a convention center comes from renting out space, so making it valuable or

desirable is important to consider while designing a convention center.

2
The MICE Industry

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) is a type of tourism industry

in which large groups, usually planned well in advance are brought together for a particular

purpose. Nowadays, meetings and exhibitions are not only the trend of publicity but also it is

proved beneficial for society and economy. The development of an international convention

center encourages tourism industries, business sectors, artists, handicraft departments etc. as

well. Thus the idea of international convention center has been derived from the present scenario

of rapid growth of innovation, technology, art and cultures. Therefore, a convention center is a

building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote

and share common interests.

1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The primary purpose of this research is to design a facility of hotel convention and

exhibition center in Bacolod City that capture the unique sense of space and create a building

that is sustainable. Specifically, the research will aim to answer the following questions:

1. What lacks in the space and design of convention and exhibition center in the Philippines that

must be improved especially in sustainability aspect?

2. What are the advantages of an integrated hotel with a convention and exhibition center?

3. What are the possible effects that must consider in the circulation of the users?

4. What are the structural, lighting, acoustical considerations in designing convention hotel?

3
5. How will the culture and traditions of the province of Bacolod apply in the hotel convention

and exhibition center through architectural approach?

6. What are the innovations through sustainability that must apply?

1.3. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Cross-Cultural Theory of Architecture

Theory that can be objectively applied to understanding the interactions between the

architectural values of different structure and cultures. Integrating the cultural context through

architecture without biasing one from another.

Sustainability Theory

Theory that seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by

efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space.

Convention Center Facilities

Convention centers and Exhibition spaces evolved from the open-air amphitheaters of the

Greek Agoras and Roman Forums, which were initially intended for large commercial fair. The

first convention centers can be traced back to mid19th century Britain. Commonly known as

exhibition halls, the centers were designed to bring together people to discuss and explore their

mutual interest of a subject. These imposing Victorian buildings often covered several acres and

were multi-functional incorporating lecture halls, libraries, galleries, theatres and exhibition

areas

Evolution of the Convention Industry

4
 For centuries, people have been meeting in cities and states with defined spaces for

gathering people for such meetings. In ancient Rome, meetings were held in the Forum, usually

located in the center of the city for public discussions, judicial issues and other matters. The

Rostra was known for hosting public debates and historical speeches while, the Comitias was the

meeting place for the Senate in Rome. However, just recently have the Convention industry been

established. The most famous examples of ancient meeting places still found today include the

Agora of Athens (5th Century BC), the Roman Forum (7th century BC) and the Coliseum.

During the Industrial Revolution and advancement in technology, these spaces were replaced as

meeting places to indoor spaces as a means of showcasing the improved technology. At this

point, the city/town halls were used as convention centers. During the 1950s -1970s, the meeting

industry grew larger and the whole idea of the indoor meeting places was replaced with

fairgrounds, stadia, Expo hall and then convention centers.

Why a convention center and for whom

The predominant factor that contributes to the increase demand for meeting and meeting

places is the need for people to communicate through physical reading to exchange views, ideas

and thoughts on matters usually by problem solving and innovative individuals. The convention

industry is one that’s dynamic in nature and growing at a fast rate. The fact that it’s a young

industry means that it lacks some characteristics of well-developed industries, including well

defined terminologies, adequate training process, adequate market intelligence and the likes. The

main functions of a convention center include:

1. Conduct organization’s business

2. Pass information to delegates

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3. Train; and

4. Solve problems

Hotel theoretical position

Elaborated from the perspective of economic geography, the dissertation is grounded in

the global production networks (GPN) perspective (Henderson et al 2002), which, as a typically

geographical approach, is seen as a highly effective theoretical platform from which both

dimensions of the globalisation of the hotel industry can be explored. Due to the fact that the

GPN perspective is based upon a relational view of the phenomenon of globalisation (Amin

1997) and is therefore sensitive to the multi-actor, multi-scalar and multi-layered nature of the

global economy (Coe and Yeung 2001, Dicken 1998, 2004), the insights provided by the GPN

approach are believed to help tackle the investigated phenomenon in a comprehensive way. In

the same vein, due to its inherent focus upon regional development (Coe et al 2004, Yeung

2009), the GPN perspective is viewed as a promising avenue for exploring the influence that

expanding hotel corporations have on the host economies in the CEE region.

1.4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study will be deemed significant and will benefit the following:

To the Department of Tourism, this research helps on the architectural consideration of

the convention and exhibition center for the increase rate of tourism and economic of the

Philippines.

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 To the local government of Bacolod City, this research encourages to have a convention

and exhibition center for it will be an advantage for the development of the Bacolod to the

tourists and local citizens of Negros Occidental, this proposed study will be a benefit for

introducing the cultures and traditions of Negros. And also, to share experience of differences

places through the content of a conference to the future researcher, this proposal will benefit as a

reference and guide of hotel convention and exhibition center to the future researcher.

1.5. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study is to provide facility of the hotel convention and exhibition hotel

for the Negrosanon that will impact to the tourism aspect and will facilitate major events can

held of Bacolod City, and as well as events other local and international tourists. Also, by

designing and planning the facilities that accommodate the future development and can broaden

their marketability substantively. This will also scope on applying a sustainable application

through its design and materials that can be found in site.

The aim of the research is to design unique spaces to make people visit from different

cities

and countries to attend conference and exhibitions.

To create a landmark through unique architectural design.

To evolve a design with forms and spaces with distinct architectural characteristics

focusing on space utilization and functions. This project deals with the design which is well

adoptable in terms of typology, function and climatic conditions. The project will be design

7
oriented and detailing of structural elements and services detailing are come under the

limitations.

1.6. DEFINITION OF TERMS

Convention Center- is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals

and groups gather to promote and share common interests.

Exhibition center- Very large venues, suitable for major trade shows.

Facility- a place, especially including buildings, where a particular activity happens.

Hotel- A hotel is somewhere where one can sleep away from their home. This could be for a

holiday or for business purposes, or for convenience when travelling for any other reason such as

a hospital appointment in a different area. They are short-term lets ranging from one night to a

few weeks.

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions)

Sustainable- able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed.

Tourism- is travel for recreation, leisure, religious, family or business purposes, usually for a

limited duration.

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 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Convention is the name given to a general or formal meeting of a legislative body, social

or economic group in order to provide information on a particular economic situation and in

order to deliberate and consequently, establish consent on policies among the participants,

usually of limited duration with set objectives, but no determined frequency. - Lawson Fred,

Congress, Convention and Exhibition facilities: planning design and Management (Architectural

press: London, page 9)

The conference industry is one of tourism industry’s lead revenue generators for many

destinations worldwide. Continental ranking of conference tourism pits Europe and Asia as the

leaders while North America and Africa follow suit. This has accelerated change and economic

growth and more importantly the product development to embrace emerging needs and thus

making the (tourism) sector the 29th largest contributor to the gross national product globally.

(Wekesa, 2006).

Providing conference equipment for accommodation facilities incurs high costs, which

means that conference hotels must be supported by public funding. (Nelson, Baltin, & Feighner,

2012)

Equipping accommodation infrastructure, especially hotels, with conference amenities is

a major issue in the analysis regarding the choice of business travel destinations. Organizers of

such trips indicate that apart from the overall cost and spatial accessibility of such places, the

availability of the highest standard hotels (the presence of conference rooms and good location),

9
restaurants, exhibition spaces and accompanying services are important factors in choosing them

as business meetings venues. (Kachniewska, 2014)

In Polish literature, the problem of providing tourism facilities specifically hotels with

conference equipment has been discussed rarely. There have been few studies approaching these

issues globally and only a small number of publications regarding individual topics. The problem

of providing conference equipment for tourism facilities in Poland, based on the materials

collected by the Central Statistical Office in 2009, was presented by Jagusiewicz (2013). Many

authors writing about tourism MICE included the hotel conference equipment among several

other issues they discussed (e.g. Jankowska, 2011; Sidorkiewicz, 2011).

Going green has been a growing trend within the hotel industry. Hotels have numerous

drive for going green including: a feeling of social responsibility, governmental regulations, and

economic benefits. However, as the number of green hotels continues to increase, current

research about consumers’ perceptions of them is lacking. (Lee, Hsu, Han & Kim, 2010)

Since the start of the new millennium, little research has been conducted on green consumers’

attitudes and perceptions within the lodging industry. Very few recent studies focusing on

consumer’s perceptions of green hotels have been published. (Han, Hsu, Lee & Sheu, 2011; Lee

et al., 2010)

The Researches on Sustainable Development of Urban Waterfront

According to Wang Ying, the urban waterfront is one of the most sensitive zones in city

ecology and city life. With the awareness of the importance of environment protection and

10
sustainable development, the distinct status of urban waterfront, which is becoming the focus in

the exploration and development of internal and external cities, is focused by more and more

attention. The development of the urban waterfront is an approach to improve the level of

townscape, city image and city economy. It is about trying to create a holistic, coherent and

flexible urban waterfront development zone in the view of sustainable development from two

aspects of planning and management of urban waterfront.

Therefore, urban waterfront planning and design should program within the whole water

system areas, including resuming bank ecosystem, waterfront landspace naturalism designing,

exploiting and protecting local characters, and etc. The core consists in harmonizing the relation

of ecology, human and water and achieving human and nature coexisting, flourishing and

sustainable development to make the waterfront areas environmentally special and comfortable

in the city. Build city features and increase city landscape impressions, and thereby guarantee the

sustainable development of society, economy and environment in urban waterfront.

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2.1. HISTORY OF HOTEL

The history of hotel is intimately connected to that of civilizations. Or rather, it is a part

of that history. Facilities offering guest hospitality have been in evidence since early biblical

times.

The first hotels:

Picture

Picture 2.1.1

Hotels go back to ancient times. Not in the way we know them, but right back to the

early days of civilisation.

In those days there were places where you could exchange money or goods for a roof

over your head for the night. This was especially important at this time because journeys were

taken by foot (or horse and cart, later), so getting places took much longer than it does now.

While this matches the concept of a hotel as we know it, it was often just a room in

somebody’s home. Often it was actually an outhouse! At this point, hotels were somewhere to

stay out of necessity as part of a journey – rather than somewhere to make a journey to.

12
 However, savvy ancient business men realised that this was something they could expand

on.

In the Ancient Roman times, society began to see more of what we would equate to

today’s hotels.

Hospitia, derived from the word hospitality, was used to describe rooms rented in private

homes, as explained above. Over time these were commercialized. The hospitia started to offer

food and drink as well as somewhere to sleep, and became somewhere that people would travel

to for relaxation and holiday purposes – the upper classes, that is!

The history of hotels: the middle ages

Picture 2.1.2

13
The history of hotels is a slow one.

During the middles ages inns and staging posts were established as rest spots for

travellers, while abbeys and cloisters also offered places for tired travellers to spend the night.

Inns cropped up around Europe and the rest of the world, but travelling during this time

wasn’t particularly safe and/or common. Pilgrims, couriers and government workers were most

likely to uses these services.

The modern hotel industry

Picture 2.1.3

The hotel industry as we know it started around the fifteenth century.

14
 In France and England, laws were introduced that meant inn keepers and hotel owners

must keep a guest register. Around 600 inns were registered in England at this time.

These were precursors to the modern hotel, and very similar to what was offered in

Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. There were just more laws in place now!

These inns provided food and somewhere to sleep as well as stabling and fodder for any

horses within the travelling party.

Typically, an inn would consist of an inner court with bedrooms on either side, kitchen

and parlour at the front, and stables at the back.

Coaching inns were vital before the introduction of rail travel. In England, these were

about 7 miles apart and there were up to 10 in any one town.

They allowed horses to be switched out so the journey went as smoothly as possible.

Still, at this point, few people were travelling for ‘leisure’ purposes except for the very wealthy.

It was mostly the mail coaches and business trips.

In order to adapt and try to become the inn of choice in any one town, inn owners started

running their lodgings in a more professional manner. This meant proper timetables and fixed

food menus.

15
Hotels in the 18th and 19th centuries

Picture 2.1.4

The history of hotels has not changed massively since the 18th century.

During the middle of the 1700s, hotels simply grew and provided more. As wealthy

people were beginning to explore further afield and travel became more of a leisure activity than

it ever had been (e.g. the upper classes of ancient Greco-Roman culture), hotels had to become

grander and give their guests something else.

One of the first modern hotels to open was in Exeter in 1768. This was followed by the

City Hotel in NYC. However, it wasn’t until the early 1800s that people took the idea on board

and hotels started to pop up throughout Europe and North America.

Mivart’s Hotel opened in London in 1812 (later becoming Claridges), while Tremont

House in Boston, USA opened a few years later in 1829. Tremont House holds the record for

many industry firsts. It was the first hotel to have indoor plumbing with toilets and baths, as well

16
as free soap (a tourist favourite) and a proper reception desk area which did more than just take

payment. As time went on, more and more hotels opened.

With the invention of trains and cars as well as reduced working hours and other benefits,

travel was no longer something only the wealthy could do! Demand lead to a turning point in the

history of hotels as they increased in popularity hugely. By the 1900s, there were many hotels

around the globe.

The history of hotels: the 20th century

Picture 2.1.5

As the physical aspect of travelling got easier and became more commonplace, the hotel

industry boomed.

The second half of the 20th century saw a massive boom in the economy, too. This meant

that the population grew, demographics completely changes and many places became more

urban. As the desire to travel increased, so did the different types of hotels.

17
 The boom in hotels was a prominent part of the history of tourism. With travel becoming

a more popular activity, there had to be plenty of variety. This is why we now see beach resorts

and motels, golf resorts and budget hostels around the globe.

The diversity within business meant that different target audiences were catered to! It is

also meant prices could vary depending on what particular hotels were offering. Hotel

categorization brought a whole new level to the industry.

The post modern hotel industry

Picture 2.1.6

In recent years we have seen a significant growth in the sharing economy. The concept is

simple- peer to peer transactions are becoming increasingly popular over traditional consumer

purchases.

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The first hotel in the world: Nisiyama Onsen Kiunkan

Picture 2.1.7

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, this is the oldest operational hotel

in existence. You can find it Yamanashi, Japan. It opened in AD 707 and has been open ever

since, run by the same family for forty-six generations. The hotel was given the title in 2011.

The Nisiyama Onsen Kiunkan is a four-star hotel with 35 rooms decorated in

beautifully Japanese-style decor. The rooms have free-flowing baths and stunning views of

the Kai Mountains as well as the Hayakawa and Yukawa Valleys. 

2.2. CONVENTION HOTELS IN THE PHILIPPINES

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1. Henann Crystal Sands Resort

Picture 2.2.1
2. Okada Manila Resort & Casino

20
 Picture 2.2.2

3. Azumi Boutique Hotel

Picture 2.2.3
4. Solaire Resort & Casino

21
 Picture 2.2.4

5. Hyatt Regency Manila, City of Dreams

Picture 2.2.5
2.3 BEST HOTELS IN THE WORLD
ASIA:
1. The Oberoi, New Delhi

Picture 2.3.1

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 2. Capella Hanoi

Picture 2.3.2

3. Raffles Singapore

Picture 2.3.3
AFRICA
1. Ellerman House – South Africa

Picture 2.3.4

23
 2. Kaya Mawa – Malawi

Picture 2.3.5

3. The Oyster Box South Africa

Picture 2.3.6
NORTH AMERICA
1. Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort

24
 Picture 2.3.7

2. Shutters on the Beach

Picture 2.3.8

3. The Peninsula Chicago

Picture 2.3.9
SOUTH AMERICA
1. Iberostar Selection Miraflores

25
 Picture 2.3.10

2. Hotel Fioreze Centro

Picture 2.3.11

3. Summerville Resort - All Inclusive

Picture 2.3.12
ANTARCTICA
1. Hebridean Sky

26
 Picture 2.3.13

2. The Ushuaia

Picture 2.3.14

3. Ocean Nova

Picture 2.3.15
EUROPE
1. Masseria Moroseta Hotel

27
 Picture 2.3.16

2. Borgo Santo Pietro

Picture 2.3.17

3. Meneghetti Wine Hotel and Winery

Picture 2.3.18
AUSTRALIA
1. Four Seasons Bora Bora

28
 Picture 2.3.19

2. Kauri Cliffs Lodge

Picture 2.3.20

3. QT Newcastle

Picture 2.2.21
2.4. FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
TYPES / CLASSIFICATION

29
 Table 2.4.1

Hotels offer lodging as well as amenities including food and drink service, leisure,

conference and training planning, and party planning for both official and private events. Every

hotel has a certain characteristic that goes with it.

Location, the number of guest rooms, unique services like valet parking, travel help, and

concierge, as well as amenities like specialty restaurants, pubs, and business centers, are some

examples of the characteristics. swimming pools, conference spaces, etc.

It is challenging to categorize hotels using a single standard because of the variety of

amenities and services each one offers. If we use several categorization criteria, some hotels

would be included in more than one category. The following are the classification criteria for

hotels:

Standard Classification of Hotels

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 The star rating system is one of the most often used to rate hotels globally. In many

nations, the government or quasi-government entities, independent rating organizations, or even

the hotel owners themselves, rate hotels.

The following is a brief overview of the various star categories:

Table 2.4.2

Heritage Hotels

Heritage hotels are establishments housed in tiny forts, palaces, or havelis, the homes of

former royal and aristocratic families. They are a recent addition to the hotel sector. They've

included a new the cultural tourist component.

A guest to a historic hotel may stay in rooms with their own histories, enjoy regional food

that has been scaled down to suit worldwide tastes, be entertained by folk artists, take part in

activities that give them an insight into the history of the area, and take in the environment that is

alive with history. 

Three categories further separate heritage hotels:

31
1. Heritage 

2. Heritage Classis 

3. Heritage Grand

One-star Hotels

These properties often have a family feel and are tiny and individually owned. The

amenities could be few, and the food might be straightforward. For instance, there might not be

lunch service or en-suite bathrooms in all of the guestrooms. However, the level of upkeep,

cleanliness, and comfort would be adequate.

Two-star Hotels

Hotels in this category are usually modest to medium-sized and provide more costly

amenities than one-star lodging. Guests may anticipate pleasant, well-equipped lodging,

often with a bath and shower in the en suite.

The front desk employees will strive to present themselves in a more professional manner

than at the one-star level and will provide a greater choice of basic amenities, including food and

beverages.

Three-star Hotels

In comparison to hotels with lower star ratings, these establishments often have a larger

capacity to accommodate higher workforce levels, as well as a wider choice and higher-quality

amenities. The restaurant often serves non-residents as well as residents, and the reception and

other public rooms will be roomier.

32
 A direct dial phone and toiletries in the bathrooms are only a couple of the amenities that

all bedrooms will feature in addition to an en-suite bath and shower. Other than hotel services,

various accommodations for business travelers are possible.

Four-star Hotels

This standard calls for a certain level of luxury as well as excellence in the hotel's

equipment, furnishings, and décor. Additionally, bedrooms will often be larger than at lesser star

levels. They will be tastefully decorated with matched furniture.

Both a bath and a shower will be in each en suite bathroom. With a large employee to

guest ratio, porter services, round-the-clock room service, and laundry and dry-cleaning services

are all offered. The eateries will show that they take their cuisine seriously.

Five-star Hotels

Five-star hotels provide luxurious, roomy lodging that meets the highest international

standards all across the establishment. With its high quality, meticulous attention to detail,

comfort, and elegance, the interior design should wow. The furniture should be spotless.

The services should be formal, carefully managed, and faultless in their attention to the

needs of the visitor while being unobtrusive. The restaurant will show a high degree of technical

proficiency. The employees will be proficient in all facets of customer service and will combine

efficiency and civility with knowledge and helpfulness.

Classification of Hotels on the Basis of Size

One factor used to categorize hotels is the quantity of guest rooms. Based on their size or

number of rooms, hotels can be divided into the following categories:

33
 Table 2.4.3

Small Hotel

Small hotels in Asia are defined as those having 25 rooms or fewer. However, hotels with

fewer than 100 rooms are regarded as tiny in industrialized nations in Europe and America.

These hotels offer tidy and pleasant lodging but might not have upscale amenities like bars,

restaurants, and swimming pools.

Medium Hotel

Hotels with 26 to 100 rooms are referred to as medium hotels. However, hotels with up to

300 rooms are considered medium-sized in industrialized countries.

Large Hotel

In Asia, Hotels are categorized as big if they have 101 to 300 guest rooms. In contrast,

major hotels in the developed world are defined as those with 400 to 600 rooms.

Very Large Hotel

In our nation, hotels with more than 300 guest rooms are referred to be extremely large hotels.

Hotels with 600 to 1,000 rooms may be regarded as being quite large in industrialized countries.

34
Classification of Hotels on the Basis of Location

One of the most important factors influencing a traveler's decision to choose and use a

hotel is its location. Hotels may be found in the heart of the city, in the suburbs, or in scenic

regions like a hill stations, seashores, close to a country's port of entry, etc. Based on where they

are, they may be divided into the following categories:

Table 2.4.4

Downtown Hotel

A downtown hotel is situated in the city's heart, close to the commercial district, retail

districts, theater, government buildings, etc. Although it may not always be the physical center,

the term "city center" designates a region that is thought to represent the area's commercial hub

of the city.

35
 These hotels may charge higher room rates than comparable hotels in other locations in

order to offset the significant land investment. Due of how handy it is for them to be near to

where their company operations take place, they are typically desired by business clients.

Sub-Urban Hotel

Some business owners construct their hotel close to the city's outskirts since land costs

are greater and space is more limited in the city core. Offering comparable amenities to the city's

hotels, these Hotels are located in suburban locations benefit from the peace and quiet of their

surroundings. These lodgings are perfect for those who want to avoid the bustle of the city.

Visitors' stays in these hotels could last longer than they would in a hotel in the city. Such hotels'

reasonable lodging prices may entice guests on a tight budget.

Resort Hotel

Resort hotels are hotels that are situated in a popular tourist area, such as a hill station, a

seaside, or a rural area. The atmosphere in these motels is incredibly serene and natural. They are

generally located outside of cities in an area free of pollution. Depending on the added amenities,

the cost of a night at these hotels may range from modest to expensive.

These hotels integrated accommodations with recreational features like golf, outdoor and

indoor activities, etc. Some of these hotels are portrayed as the ideal vacation spots for those who

want to have a pleasant vacation and take in the beauty of nature. When visitors desire to take a

break from their regular weekly schedule, occupancy rates at resorts are often higher during the

weekend and during the holiday season.

36
Motel

The terms "motor" and "hotel" are combined to create the word "motel." They are mostly

found along roads and offer cheap housing to motorists. Early in the 20th century, when vast

road networks were built, more individuals began to use their own automobiles for

transportation.

The American and European continents saw a lot of this occurrence. The hotel idea

originated because travelers who were driving their own cars wanted a tidy and clean place to

stay for the night.

Airport Hotel

The airport hotel is located close to different ports of entry. These hotels, which provide

all the facilities of a commercial hotel, are typically used by travelers who require a layover en

route.

Floatel

Floatels are, as their name indicates, hotel establishments that float on the water. This

category comprises cruise liners and houseboats as well as all accommodation establishments

that are constructed on top of rafts or semi-submersible platforms. 

Some of them offer guests opulent lodging as well as food and beverage options.

Classification of Hotels on the Basis of Clients

37
 The hotel takes care of its visitors' needs. Each person or group of individuals that stays

at a hotel has a unique set of needs. While some people might desire opulent lodging, others

would choose a straightforward, inexpensive room. If their trip is business-related, some people

might need amenities like conference rooms, business centers, and meeting rooms.

Because the hospitality sector requires a lot of cash, hotels are discouraged from

accommodating all kinds of visitors. Because of this, hotels decide to target particular guest

categories in order to carve out a niche for themselves. Based on its patrons, the hotel may be

divided into the following groups:

Table 2.4.5

Business or Commercial Hotel

Commercial hotels are often found in the heart of the city because they are built to

accommodate business travelers. These hotels provide high-quality accommodations and

services, as well as high-speed internet access, business centers, and meeting spaces.

38
Additionally, they offer internal secretarial services and resources including letter writing,

typing, faxing, and document photocopying for clients. the comfort of their visitors.

The commercial hotel may offer free newspapers, free coffee in the morning, cable

television, and access to channeled music and movies as part of its guest services. 

The average length of the guest's stay in these hotels is quite brief. Weekdays see a

greater occupancy rate, while weekends see a little decline. These lodgings are also referred to as

downtown lodgings.

Transient Hotel

People who are traveling and require a layover might find accommodations in transient

motels. These hotels are frequently used by transitory travelers as they are situated close to major

railway stations, airports, and seaports, which are ports of entry.

They provide all the amenities of a business hotel and operate a coffee shop and room

service around the clock. Target customers for transient hotels, which are often five-star

establishments, include business travelers, passengers with long layovers or delayed flights, and

airline staff.

Due to the fact that rooms can be sold more than once on a given day, the occupancy rate

is sometimes quite high, perhaps exceeding 100%.

Suite Hotel

Guest service at Suite Hotels is at the best quality possible. The typical guest room has a

sitting space, a small kitchenette with a microwave and a refrigerator, an adjacent bedroom with

a bathroom, and occasionally even a dance floor.

39
 The facilities are highly customized and may include in-room safety locker facilities.

These

hotels are patronized by affluent people and tourists who are fond of luxury.

Residential Hotel

Residential hotels offer accommodations for a longer period of time, as the name implies.

People who are on a temporary official deputation to a city where they do not have their own

home housing typically use these motels. A minimum of one month and a maximum of two

years are allowed for guests' stays.

These motels provide just basic services. The layout of the room is often comparable to

suite hotels. Typically, guest rooms have a sitting area, bathroom, and a kitchenette. They

resemble a little one-bedroom apartment.

These hotels may include facilities such daily housekeeping, telephone, front desk, and

uniformed services, as well as fully functional restaurants or a dining room for the resident

guests. The visitor has the option to use all or some of the facilities offered by the apartment

hotel. The lodging signs a lease with the visitor, who pays the rent either quarterly or monthly.

Bed and Breakfast Hotel

Bed and breakfast (B&B) hotels are a European idea that are typically run out of big

family homes. These include tiny commercial buildings with 20 to 30 guest rooms as well as

converted residences with a few rooms. the business generally resides on the property and is in

charge of giving visitors breakfast.

40
 Travelers are housed in guestrooms, and breakfast is occasionally provided in the dining

room. The restrooms could be shared or connected to the guest rooms. Budget-conscious guests

will find these hotels convenient because their rates are typically less expensive than those of a

full-service hotel.

Casino Hotel

Casino hotels, like the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, provide gaming amenities.

These hotels draw guests by encouraging gambling, hosting lavish floor shows, and in certain

cases, offering charter jet services. They provide cutting-edge gambling facilities, as well as

restaurants, bars, 24-hour room service, and luxuriously decorated accommodations for their

visitors.

These days, the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) market is also

drawn to these hotels. The casinos in Las Vegas, USA, rank among the most well-known ones

worldwide.

Conference Centers

The definition of a conference is "a gathering, sometimes spanning several days, in which

individuals with similar interests take part in discussions or pay attention to presentations to learn

knowledge." Accordingly, a conference center is a hotel that provides for a conference

delegation. 

Conference delegates staying at these hotels can take advantage of amenities like flip

charts, whiteboards with markers, overhead projectors, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, slide

41
projectors, LCD projectors with screens, computers, public address systems, and conference

rooms with the ideal seating arrangements for meetings.

There are more than 400 guest rooms in these big hotels. The quality of the services is

quite great. Conventionally, conferences are priced as packages that include lodging and meeting

space.

Convention Hotels

A formal assembly or meeting of members, representatives, or delegates of a group

seeking general agreement on or approval of specific practices or attitudes is what is meant by

the definition of the convention. There are several attendees at this kind of conference.

Convention hotels are hotels that cater to this market sector.

To accommodate a huge number of attendees, these hotels may contain more than 2,000

rooms. They have modern conference venues with all the amenities needed, including seating

arrangements, video equipment, and public address systems to suit convention demands.

Classification of Hotels on the Basis of Duration of Guest Stay

The following hotel classifications may be determined by the length of the guest's stay:

42
 Table 2.4.6

Commercial Hotel

The average guest stay in these hotels is only a few days to a week long.

Transient Hotel

Transient hotels are typically used by travelers as pit stops along their route, and guests'

stays there are typically just one day or fewer.

Semi-residential Hotel

People who are staying at one spot while traveling to another frequently use these motels.

The length of the visit might be anywhere from a few weeks to many months. They included

elements from both temporary lodgings and long-term lodgings.

Residential/Apartment Hotel

Residential hotels, as its name indicates, offer lodging for extended stays and are

frequently used by those who do. The length of the stay might be anywhere between a few

months and a few years.

Extended Stay Hotel

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 Business executives nowadays frequently spend lengthy stretches of time away from their

hometowns due to downsizing, outsourcing, and mobility, necessitating more than just a hotel

room. 

These hotels are for visitors who want to remain for an extended amount of time (from a

few days to weeks), and they provide them with particular services, amenities, and facilities,

such full-fledged kitchens with cookware and dishes, a place to wash clothes apart, housekeeping

and shopping delivery, and recreational amenities. The duration of the stay affects these hotels'

room pricing.

Classification of Hotels on the Basis of Level of Services

The following categories can be applied to hotels based on the services they provide:

Table 2.4.7

Upmarket/World Class Luxuries Hotels

44
 Hotels in the premium category cater to the wealthy sector of society by providing top-

notch goods and individualized services of a higher caliber. The focus is on quality and style.

These hotels provide high-end dining options, luxurious interior design, concierge services, and

more. lavish accommodations with many of facilities.

Mid-Market/Mid-range Services Hotels

The majority of guests are drawn to these hotels because they provide basic amenities

without the luxuries and individualized care of luxury hotels. They could provide amenities like

room service, a 24-hour coffee shop, pick-up and drop-off services for the airport and train

station, and a multi-cuisine restaurant with a bar.

Budget/Economy Hotels

By offering tidy, cozy, and affordable rooms, budget hotels concentrate on satisfying

their customers' most fundamental requirements. These hotels, which are sometimes referred to

as limited-service or economy lodging, cater mostly to tourist groups on a tight budget.

Families with young children, bus tour groups, business travelers, tourists, retirees, and

organizations may also use low-cost lodgings. These hotels provide a coffee shop, a multi-

cuisine restaurant, an in-room telephone, piped music, and pleasant, clean guest rooms.

Classification on the Basis of Ownership

45
They can be divided into the following groups based on who owns the hotel:

Table 2.4.8

Proprietary Ownership

Direct ownership of one or more properties by an individual or business is known as

proprietary ownership. Small accommodation facilities owned by an individual or business.

Small hotels run and owned by a couple or family are typical examples of proprietary ownership.

Franchis

Before we discuss the franchise, let's clarify the following terms associated to it:

A franchise is the authorization a business grants to another business or individual to

market and use its trademark in accordance with the latter's rules for a predetermined period of

time and at a predetermined location.

46
 The entity that owns the trademark, the product, or the business model is the franchisor. 

this is a franchise

Franchisee The franchisee is the firm or person who has been granted the right to operate

under the franchisor's name under the terms and conditions established.

Franchising is a long-term partnership in which the franchisor grants the franchisee a

business license and offers support with planning, hiring employees, marketing, and management

in exchange for a fee from the franchisee.

We frequently come across several large chains that run on a franchising basis in the

hospitality sector. The franchisor permits the franchisee to do business using the company's ideal

procedures, trademarks, and brand emblem under this type of arrangement, which is

advantageous to both sides.

Management Contract

Hotel management demands specialized knowledge. Any well-known hotel chain may be

franchised by a new company owner with little to no prior expertise in the industry.

Because the franchisor offers a well-known brand, a tried-and-true operating system, a training

program, marketing, advertising, and reservation systems, but not the cadre of an experienced

manager and the staff required to run the business on a daily basis, there may still be difficulties

operating the business.

Time-share Hotels

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 The concept of time-share hotels, also known as vacation-interval hotels, is new to the

hospitality sector. As the name implies, it comprises renting a vacation rental at a well-liked

location for a specific period of time each year.

After then, if the purchaser cannot use the facilities, they may occupy the property for the

predetermined period of time or rent it out to other tourists. They must pay a one-time price for

the time slot, an annual fee to cover maintenance costs and associated fees, and a percentage of

the profit from the revenue earned if they are not using their time slot.

Condominium Hotels

In contrast to timeshare hotels, which often have numerous owners sharing a hotel,

condominium hotels have a single owner. The owner of a condominium hotel notifies the

management firm of their intended date of occupancy.

The remaining rental income from the unit goes to the owner and is at the management

company's discretion. The management business that looks after the property, including

landscaping, cleaning of common areas, water and electricity supply, etc., often receives a

monthly or annual maintenance charge from the owner of the property.

REQUIRED FACILITIES FOR DOT ACCREDITATION 

Hotel classifications as determined by the Department of Tourism

Hotels are divided into the following groups for accrediting reasons, namely:

a. De Luxe Class 

b. First Class 

c. Standard Class 

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d. Economy Class 

Shall provide airport transfer upon request.

TWO CATEGORIES OF SERVICES

The hotel's two primary offerings are eating and lodging. Therefore, the primary offering

of businesses involved in the hospitality sector is rooms (or formal hotel accommodations).

There are 24-hour check-in and check-out times available. In addition to housing for brief stays,

ancillary services are also offered, including laundry, towel and hygiene distribution, equipment

and TV usage, cleaning, and sanitary facilities. All of with some restrictions, these services are

bundled with hotel room rates.

GUEST RESERVATION

Reservations are described as "blocking or reserving a certain room type for a guest, for a

specific guest, for a specific amount of time." In order to guarantee a safe and secure location to

stay when visiting another town, tourists typically prefer to make bookings in advance for hotels

and other sorts of lodging. Reservations are routinely accepted by all hotels in an effort to

optimize occupancy and room income. By way of a contract between the hotel and the visitor, it

is assumed that when a guest makes a reservation for a specific amount of time, the hotel will

accept and keep its pledge.

Therefore, a reservation is a bilateral contract between a hotel and a visitor, under which

the hotel is required to offer the guest the designated room type and the guest is required to agree

49
to pay all applicable fees. In addition, If either the hotel or the visitor desires to change or cancel

the reservation, this may only be done with a mutual agreement and is known as CONTRACT

OF BOOKING. A hotel may elect to keep the advance payment it has received from a visitor if

he or she fails to notify the establishment of his or her cancellation. to make up for any income

loss from a later visitor. RETENTION CHARGES are the sums lost when a guest fails to notify

the hotel of his cancellation. Instead, if a hotel is unable to give a visitor a room upon his arrival,

the establishment is required to offer substitute housing of an equivalent level in another hotel

and to compensate for any price discrepancies in rooms as well as for additional costs the

passenger may have to bear. The reservation department responds to all inquiries about lodging

reservations, engages with clients, and continuously checks on the reservation and room statuses.

Importance of Reservation

Making reservations is just one aspect of the reservation department's responsibilities.

Additionally, it keeps track of hotel occupancy, which is useful for preparing sales and marketing

plans.

1. The importance of reservations for visitors: They guarantee a room when they arrive.

Visitors who make reservations in advance are guaranteed the kind and quantity of rooms

they need for their whole stay in the city. This prevents him from having a difficult time

obtaining lodging when he arrives, especially during the busiest times of the year when

most hotels are booked. Budgeting - Because the guest is aware of the accommodation

rate at the time of booking, he or she may plan a budget for his or her trip, taking into

50
 consideration how much they will be spending on lodging, food, entertainment, etc.

Without having to worry about his basic necessities for food and lodging, he may plan his

vacation or trip. Other amenities – 

The visitor is guaranteed access to a number of hotel amenities, which can be verified by

making a reservation, such as iron and ironing board on loan, hotel laundry services, Wi-

Fi, a tea and coffee maker, a kids' area, the availability of a babysitter, etc. A business

traveler can also provide his colleagues with the hotel address for meetings,

communication, and transportation to and from the hotel.

2. Importance for the hotel: Prior reservation gives the hotel an indication of the level of 

business likely to be encountered during any particular period. The reservation manager

knows the amount of business ensured during that period from the confirmed

reservations.

Gives the first impression of the hotel to the guest. Sells the main product of hotel

(accommodation).

Generate customers for other departments. Provide important management information to

the guest. Reservation department updates the room availability record and thus maximizes

the revenue generated from room booking. Reservation department prepares the housekeeping

and front desk for arrival by communicating the arrival details taken at the time of reservation. 

Reservation department helps in planning the distribution of the staff at the front desk-the

roaster 

for the staff can be prepared according to the number of confirmed reservations for the day. 

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Reservation department provides reservation data to the finance department, which forecasts the

volume of business on the basis of confirmed reservation. It generates the customer for the hotel-

first time customer as well as repeat customer-by handling the reservation queries and requests

politely.

Types of Reservation 

a) Tentative Reservation 

b) Confirmed Reservation – 

i) Non- Guaranteed Reservation 

ii) Guaranteed Reservation 

c) Waitlisted Reservation

ADMINISTRATIVE AREA

The administration of a hotel enterprise is totally dependent on its scale. A manager's

office will almost certainly exist in a small hotel, and he or she may share the space with his

secretary. His office door opens to the public lobby, and there is a second door that he may use to

access the front desk. Only in the simplest operations, like this one, smaller lodgings.

A larger, medium-sized hotel will have a manager and an assistant manager and, as a

rule, there will be a reception office where one or two typist receptionists will be acting as a

buffer between the public and the manager. As a hotel project grows larger, the administrative

area grows more complex.

Lobbies

No of its size, every hotel is required to feature a public lobby. The number of guest

rooms and the kind of hotel that the architect is designing have a big role in determining the size

52
of the lobby. It goes without saying that a hotel's lobby will be larger the bigger the hotel. An

additional need for a resort or convention hotel is a bigger lobby. A huge lobby will be necessary

for a resort hotel. due to the fact that visitors would gather there in the evening.

Elevators

All hotels and motels, with the exception of those with one or two stories, have elevators

that transport visitors from the area where they check in to the floor where their room is located.

Elevators should be placed where they are easily seen, either from the hotel's entrance or from

the registration or check-in area. Another aspect to take into account when planning

The position of elevators in relation to the floors housing guest rooms. They should be

positioned in the center of the area to minimize the amount of walking that guests must do. The

elevators shouldn't be located at the end of a long corridor, of course.

Guest Floor Corridor

Hotel hallways and corridors may not seem like the most crucial areas to take into

account when choosing floors, but they are those that receive the most activity and may

discreetly alert visitors to the transition from one area to another. Ben Anicet, CEO of

nanimarquina, a Spanish rug maker, noted that hotels are looking about the interior design of the

building as a whole more than ever before rather than just individual bedrooms vs corridors,

lobbies, restaurants, and lounges. The corridor ought to be a logical extension of the brand. You

may bring the flooring to life and show off the hotel's charm. Adding patterns or neutrals can

soften it while maintaining durability.

Ben Anicet, CEO of nanimarquina, a Spanish rug maker, noted that hotels are looking

about the interior design of the building as a whole more than ever before rather than just

53
individual bedrooms vs corridors, lobbies, restaurants, and lounges. The corridor ought to be a

logical extension of the brand. You may bring the flooring to life and show off the hotel's charm.

Adding patterns or neutrals can soften it while maintaining durability. 

According to Anicet, corridors are a logical extension of the guestroom and, by

extension, the entire hotel. In order to provide a "cohesive style and mood," Lydia Day,

marketing executive of British carpet producer Brintons Americas, agreed that the hallway

flooring must make a "seamless transition" from the lobby to the guestroom. She said that, if not

designed properly, hallway carpets might be "wasteful," observing that we often see smaller,

more condensed design repeats in which texture plays a significant part. "Different loom

widths... may be a terrific tool for owners to cut costs, she added.

According to Lisa Herreth, design director for Encore Hospitality Carpet, "there has been

a significant rise in recent years to move away from the conventional aesthetic of having distinct

patterns for the door drop and runner and instead create a seamless run of a vast repeating

pattern." She said, "This action makes the area seem friendly." 

Banquet Space

Because of the nature of the event or the number of people attending, a banquet service is

usually nothing more than a more extravagant lunch. Logistically, banquet service makes sense

because you can't fit a conference room's worth of people around a regular dining room table.

The style of a banquet may be as varied as the event itself, and the size of the event, the

cuisine, and the number of guests typically influence the kind of service. Here are a few

examples of standard banquet service agreements used by caterers, hotels, and other banquet

providers.

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Convention Facilities

A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, were

individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers

typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees. Very large

venues, suitable for major trade shows, are sometimes known as exhibition halls. Convention

centers typically have at least one auditorium and may also contain concert halls, lecture halls,

meeting rooms, and conference rooms. Some large resort area hotels include a convention center.

2.5. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

PD 1096: National Building Code of the Philippines 

Pursuant to the National Building Code of the Philippines, stated below are the

standards, rules and regulations that the researchers considered in planning and designing a

conventional hotel: 

55
A.    Rule VII: Classification and General Requirements of All buildings by Use or Occupancy 

● Section 701 (Classification Based on Occupancy:

Group B. Residentials, Hotels and Apartments 

Group B Occupancies shall be multiple dwelling units including boarding or lodging houses,

hotels, apartment buildings, rowhouses, convents, monasteries, and other similar building each of

which accommodates more than ten persons. 

● Zoning Classification

C-1 (Commercial One or Light Commercial)- a place or community of commercial use or

occupancy. It usually has low-rise building/structure for low intensity commercial/trade, services

and business activities. 

● Section 705. Allowable Floor Areas: For Commercial Groups B, C, D, E, H, I 

Commercial 1

Table 2.5.1

● Section 706 - Allowable Floor Area Increases. 

Now and again, the previously mentioned floor regions might be augmented. explicit

conditions and under the right conditions, in view of the presence of public space, streets, or

yards that reach out along and around the edge at least two sides of a structure or development

that are dependent upon The Structure Official's endorsement is required. 

56
● Section 707. Maximum Height of Buildings: 

For Commercial 1 Type of Building/Structure: 

Number of Allowable storeys/floors above-established grade: 

3-5 floors/storeys

Meters above highest grade: 10.00-15.00 meters 

● Section 707- Maximum Height of Buildings. 

The greatest stature and number of accounts of each building will be reliant upon the

personality of inhabitants and the kind of development as controlled by the Secretary thinking

about populace thickness, building mass, widths of roads and vehicle leaving necessities. The

tallness will be estimated from the most elevated connecting walkway or ground surface: Gave,

that the stature estimated from the most reduced connecting surface will not surpass such greatest

stature by more than 3.00 meters: Aside from, that pinnacles, towers, and steeples, raised as a

component of a structure and not utilized for residence or capacity are restricted as to tallness

simply by primary plan if totally of incombustible materials, or may broaden not to surpass 6.00

meters over as far as possible for every inhabitant’s bunch if of flammable materials.

Right circumstances, based on the existence of public space, roadways, or yards that

extend along and around the perimeter two or more sides of a building or construction that are

subject to The Building Official’s approval is required. 

Rule VIII: Light and Ventilation 

● Section 803 

The percentage (%) of site occupancy (or lot occupancy) shall be measured at the ground

level and shall exclude courts, yards, and light wells. It shall all be measured clear in all

57
projections from the walls that it encloses which are wells or yard with the exception of roof

leaders, wall copings, sills or steel fire  escapes not exceeding 1.20 in width.

In addition to this, in cases where a proposed addition is in construction on a lot on

which another building/structure already stands, it is necessary to provide the computation of the

PSO (Percentage of Site Occupancy) for the TLA (Total Lot Area). On the other hand, if there

are discrepancies in construction between the Maximum Allowable PSO and the other light

and ventilation provisions under this Rule. The result with a lesser building/ structure footprint or

gross floor area at the ground level must prevail. 

● Floor to Lot Ratio (FLAR) 

3.60 up to 9.00 (at a 15-storey or 45.00m BHL) 

● Allowable Maximum Building Footprint (AMBF) 

AMBF = maxPSO% / TLA = sqm 

Allowable Maximum Building Footprint or AMBF (in sq. Meters) = [Total lot area 

(TLA)] - [land area required for yards/courts (prescribed under Rule VIII)] + 

[Additional lot area that is buildable due to Firewall construction (if permitted under this

Rule)] 

● Section 804. Sizes and Dimensions of Courts 

The use, type of construction, and height of the building as provided shall govern the

minimum sizes of courts and yards and their least dimensions. 

Provided that the minimum horizontal dimension of the said courts and yards shall be not

less than 2.00 meters. There must be a connection to a street or award from all inner courts, it can

be either passage with a minimum width of 1.20 meters or by a door through a room or rooms. 

58
YARD- The required open space left between the outermost face of the structure and the

property line, e.g., front, rear, right, left side yards.

Table2.5.2

Setbacks for Commercial, Industrial, Institutional and Recreational Buildings 

● Section 808. Window Openings 

Window openings, explains that normally ventilated rooms ought to have window/s with a

singular least opening region of 1.00 square meter and a complete free space of openings

identical to at least 10% of the floor space of the room, while restrooms, pantries, also,

comparative rooms ought to have window/s with a singular least opening space of 240 square

millimeters and a complete free space of openings comparable to somewhere around 1/20 of

the floor space of said rooms. Further, windows ought to be arranged at an essential area opening

straightforwardly to a court, a yard, public road/back street, an untamed water course, or if there

59
should be an occurrence of crises,promptly outside a fire leave window/grille that leads

straightforwardly to the road or ground level. 

● Section 810. Ventilation Skylights 

(a) Skylights will have a glass region at the very least that is required for the windows that are

supplanted. They will be prepared with versatile scarves or louvers with a total net free region at

least that needed for openable parts in the window that are supplanted or given endorsed fake

ventilation of comparable viability. 

A. Rule X: Building Projection Over Public Streets 

● Section 1001. General Requirements 

No piece of any structure or structure or any of its limbs will project past the property

line of the building site, besides as given in this Code. 

The projection of any construction or extremity over a public property will be the

distance estimated on a level plane from the property line to the peripheral mark of the

projection. 

● Section 1003.Projection of Balconies and Appendages Over Streets 

The degree of any projection over a rear entryway or road will be uniform inside a square

and will adjust to the restrictions laid out in Table 1003-A; Projection of Overhangs and

Members (Extension B-2); 

The leeway between the set up level of the road and additionally walkway and the most

minimal underneath any piece of the overhang will not be under 3.00 meters.

● Section 1007. Doors, Windows and the like. 

60
Under this section states that doors, windows and the like, that are 2.40 meters above the

pavement of ground line when it is fully opened shall not project beyond the property line except

for fire exit doors.

A. Rule XII 

● General Design and Construction Requirements 

The proposed building shall comply with all the regulations and specification herein forth

under order of quality, characteristics and properties of materials, methods of design and

construction as well as the type of occupancy and classification. 

● Section 1207. Stairs, Exits and Occupant Loads 

This section states that exit doors should be at least 0.90 meters by 2.00 meters high and

should swing in the direction of exit travel. While the width of every corridor or exit balcony

should be at least 1.10 meters. Likewise, dead ends should not exceed 6.00 meters in length. 

The width for stairways that serve an occupant load of more than fifty (50) shall not be

less than 1.10 meters. The maximum rise for the steps of a stairway is 0.20 meters while the

minimum measurement for the run is 0.25 meters. In addition to this, landings for stairways

should have dimensions in the direction of travel equivalent to its width, not exceeding 1.20

meters. 

There must also be a vertical clearance of 3.60-meter should be provided between

landings.

B. Rule XIII - Electrical and Mechanical Regulations 

● Section 1301 

61
 Electrical Guidelines, require regions/spaces for electrical rooms, administration

hardware, and metering offices. 

● Section 1302 

Mechanical Guidelines require a lift/s to be introduced in all private and public structures

for public use, in accordance with the Batas Pambansa Bilang 344. Then again, lifts ought to

have a point of tendency not surpassing 30° from the level. In addition, the width of its means

ought not surpass 330 millimeters, and the width between balustrades ought to be between

0.56 meters to 1.20 meters. 

2.6. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Electrical Regulations 

Section 1301. Electrical Regulations 

All electrical systems, equipment and installations mentioned in the Code shall conform

to the provisions of the Philippine Electrical Code Part 1 (PEC-1) and Part 2 (PEC-2), as adopted
62
by the Board of Electrical Engineering pursuant to Republic Act 7920, otherwise known as the

Philippine Electrical Engineering Law. 

851. Overhead Service Entrance In Subdivisions, Housing Projects, Commercial and Industrial

Buildings, overhead transmission and distribution voltages are required to supply power source

including transformers, poles and supporting structures. 

2. Attachments on and Clearances from Buildings 

a. An Attachment Plan approved by a professional electrical engineer shall cover power 

lines and cables, transformers and other electrical equipment installed on or in buildings

and shall be submitted to the local Building Official. 

b. Where building/s exceed 15.00 meters in height, overhead lines shall be arranged

where 

practicable so that clear space or zone at least 1.80 meters (horizontal) will be left

adjacent to the building or beginning not over 2.45 meters (horizontal) from the building,

to facilitate the raising of ladders where necessary for fire fighting. 

EXCEPTION: This requirement does not apply where it is the rule of the local fire department

to 

exclude the use of ladders in alleys or other restricted places, which are generally occupied

by supply lines. 

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3. Open Supply Conductors Attached to Buildings Where the permanent attachment of open

supply conductors to any class of buildings is necessary for service entrance, such conductors

shall meet the following requirements: 

A. Conductors of more than 300 volts to ground shall not be carried along or near the 

surface of the building unless they are guarded or made inaccessible. 

B. To promote safety to the general public and to employees not authorized to approach 

conductors and other current-carrying parts of electric supply lines, such parts shall be arranged 

so as to provide adequate clearance from the ground or other space generally accessible, or shall 

be provided with guards so as to isolate persons effectively from accidental contact. 

C. Ungrounded service conduits, metal fixtures and similar noncurrent carrying parts, if 

located in urban districts and where liable to become charged to more than 300 volts to ground, 

shall be isolated or guarded so as not to be exposed to accidental contact by unauthorized

persons. 

As an alternative to isolation or guarding noncurrent-carrying parts shall be solidly or effectively 

grounded. 

D. Service drops passing over a roof shall be securely supported by substantial

structures. 

Where practicable, such supports shall be independent of the building. 

4. Conductors Passing by or Over Buildings 

64
 A.  Unguarded or accessible supply conductors carrying voltages in excess of 300 volts

may be either beside or over buildings. The horizontal clearance governs above the roof level to

the point where the diagonal equals the vertical clearance requirements. This Rule should not be 

interpreted as restricting the installation of a trolley contact conductor over the approximate 

centerline of the track it serves. 

B.  Supply conductors of 300 volts or more, when placed near enough to windows,

verandas, fire escapes, or other ordinarily accessible places, shall be properly guarded by

grounded conduit and barriers. 

C. Where the required clearances cannot be obtained, supply conductors shall be grouped

D. or bundled and supported by grounded messenger wires. 

875. Clearance of Service Drops 

A.  Service drop conductors shall not be readily accessible and when not in excess of 600 volts,

shall conform to the following: 

i. Conductors shall have a clearance of not less than 2.50 meters from the highest point

ofroofs over which they pass with the following exceptions: 

Where the voltage between conductors does not exceed 300 volts and the roof has a slope

of not less than 100 millimeters in 300 millimeters, the clearance may not be less than 1.00

meter. 

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Service drop conductors of 300 volts or less which do not pass over other than a maximum

of 1.20 meters of the overhang portion of the roof for the purpose of terminating at a through-

the-roof service raceway or approved support may be maintained at a minimum of

500 millimeters from any portion of the roof over which they pass. 

B.  Conductors shall have a clearance of not less than 3.00 meters from the ground or from any

platform or projection from which they might be reached.

C.  Conductors shall have a horizontal clearance of not less than 1.00 meter from

windows, doors, porches, fire escapes, or similar locations and shall be run less than 1.00 meter

above the top level of a window or opening. 

D.  Service drop of conductors, when crossing a street, shall have a clearance of not less

than 5.50 meters from the crown of the street or sidewalk over which it passes; and shall have

a minimum clearance of 3.00 meters above ground at its point of attachment to the building

or pedestal. 

E.  No parts of swimming and wading pools shall be placed under existing service

drop conductors or any other overhead wiring; nor shall such wiring be installed above the

following:

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67
68
 Table 2.6.1

6. Wiring Methods 

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Service entrance conductors extending along the exterior or entering buildings or other structures

shall be installed in rigid steel conduit or concrete encased plastic conduit from point of service

drop to meter base and from meter base to the disconnecting equipment. However, where the

service entrance conductors are protected by approved fuses or breakers at their terminals

(immediately after the service drop or lateral) they may be installed in any of the recognized

wiring methods as provided by PEC-1. 

a. Abandoned lines and/or portions of lines no longer required to provide service shall be 

removed. 

b. Power pole, lines, service drop and other line equipment shall be free from any 

attachment for antennas, signs, streamers and the like. 

7. Transformers 

a. Oil-insulated transformers rated more than 15 kV between conductors shall be installed inside

a transformer vault. 

b. Dry-type and other transformers with non-flammable insulation shall be installed in a 

transformer room. 

c. Transformers shall be guarded as follows: 

i. external causes where the transformers are located exposed to physical damage. 

ii. Dry-type transformers shall be provided with a non-combustible moisture resistant case or 

enclosure which will provide reasonable protection against accidental insertion of foreign

objects. 

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iii. The transformer installation shall conform to the provisions for guarding of live parts in 

PEC-1. 

iv. The operating voltage of exposed live parts of transformer installations shall be indicated by 

signs or visible markings on the equipment or structures 

928. Provisions for Transformer Vault 

a. A transformer vault when required, shall be constructed in accordance with PEC-1 latest

edition. 

b. Transformers and transformer vaults shall be accessible only to qualified personnel for

inspection and maintenance. 

c. Adequate ventilation shall be provided for the transformer vault. 

9. Capacitor 

a. This applies to installation of capacitors on electric circuits in buildings. 

EXCEPTION: 

1. Capacitors that are components of other apparatus shall conform to the requirements for such 

apparatus. 

2. Capacitors in hazardous locations shall comply with additional requirements as prescribed in

PEC-1. 

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b. Installation of capacitors in which any single unit contains more than 11 liters of flammable

liquid shall be in a vault or outdoor fence enclosures complying with PEC-1. 

c. Capacitors shall be protected from physical damage by location or by suitable fences, barriers

or other enclosures. 

d. Capacitors shall be provided with non-combustible cases and supports. 

10. Emergency Power Systems 

a. Shall provide electric power for the safety to life and property when normal electric power

supply is interrupted. 

b. Shall have adequate capacity for the operation of the emergency load. 

c. For hospitals, the transition time to transfer power supply from the instant of interruption of 

normal power supply to the emergency supply shall not exceed 10 seconds. 

9311. Electrical Room 

a. An adequate space or area shall be provided at load centers where panel boards, breakers, 

switchgears and other electrical equipment are installed. 

12. Service Equipment 

a. An adequate space or area shall be provided for the service equipment that shall be located in

a 

readily accessible area, either inside or the outside walls of the building. 

13. Metering Facilities 

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a. Metering Vault, when required for primary service, shall be provided with natural or

artificial ventilation.

b. Metering space shall be provided for single metering or multi-metering centers for secondary 

service. 

Sanitation 

● Section 901. 

Subject to the provisions of Book II of the Civil Code of the Philippines on Property, Ownership,

and its Modification, all buildings hereafter erected, altered, remodeled, relocated or repaired for

human habitation shall be provided with adequate and potable water supply, plumbing

installation, and suitable wastewater treatment or disposal system, storm water drainage, pest and

vermin control, noise abatement device, and such other measures required for the protection and

promotion of health of persons occupying the premises and others living nearby. 

● Section 902. Water Supply System 

941. Whenever available, the potable water requirements for a building used for human

habitation shall be supplied from existing municipal or city waterworks systems. 

2. 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 Standards. 

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3. 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 (PD 1067). 

4. The design, construction and operation of independent waterwork systems of private housing 

subdivisions or industrial estates shall be governed by existing laws relating to the local

waterworks system. 

5. The water piping installation for water supply and distribution to each fixture including the

wastewater drainage with proper venting inside building and premises, shall conform to the

provision of the Revised National Plumbing Code of the Philippines. 

● Section 903. Wastewater Disposal System 

1. 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 of the

Philippines and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). 

2. All buildings located in areas where there are no available sanitary sewerage system shall

dispose their sewage to “Imhoff” or septic tank and subsurface absorption field or to a suitable

waste water treatment plant or disposal system in accordance with the Code on Sanitation of the

Philippines and the Revised National Plumbing Code of the Philippines. 

3. Sanitary and industrial plumbing installations inside buildings and premises shall conform to

the provisions of the Revised National Plumbing Code of the Philippines. 

● Section 904. Storm Drainage System 

1. Rainwater drainage shall not discharge to the sanitary sewer system. 

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2. Adequate provisions shall be made to drain rainwater from low areas in buildings and their

premises. 

3. The drainage pipe installation and sewerage system of any premises and/or connection with

any public disposal or any acceptable terminal shall conform to the Revised National Plumbing

Code of the Philippines. 

● Section 905. Pest and Vermin Control 

1. All buildings with hollow and/or wood construction shall be provided with rat-proofing. 

2. Garbage bins and receptacles shall be provided with ready means for cleaning and with

positive protection against entry of pests and vermins. 

3. Dining rooms for public use without artificial ventilation shall be properly screened. 

● Section 906. Noise Pollution Control 

1. Industrial establishments shall be provided with positive noise abatement devices to tone down

the noise level of equipment and machineries to acceptable limits set down by the Department of

Labor and Employment and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 

2. Noise as an unwanted sound both in quality and intensity and excessive vibration whose

sources in building/structure construction shall conform to acceptable limits the required

emission standards of DENR. 

● Section 907. Pipes Materials All pipe materials to be used in buildings/structures shall conform

to the standard specifications of the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) of the Department of

Trade and Industry (DTI)  

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Mechanical Regulations 

Section 1302. Mechanical Regulations 

All mechanical systems, equipment and installations mentioned in the Code shall conform to the 

provisions of the Philippine Mechanical Code, as adopted by the Board of Mechanical

Engineering pursuant to RA 8495 as amended, otherwise known as the Philippine Mechanical

Engineering Law. 

1. Hoists 

a. Operating control shall be plainly marked to indicate the direction of travel and provided with

an effective warning device. 

b. Each hoist designed to lift its load vertically shall have its rated load legibly marked on the

hoist or load block or at some easily visible space. 

c. A stop, which shall operate automatically, shall be provided at each switch, dead end rail or

turntable to prevent the trolley running off when the switch is open. 

d. Each electric hoist motor shall be provided with electrically or mechanically operated brakes

so arranged that the brake will be applied automatically when the power is cut off from the

hoist. 

2. Elevators 

Elevators shall be installed in all private and public buildings for public use accessible to

disabled persons, pursuant to the objectives of Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 (Accessibility Law). 

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a. Hoistways for elevators shall be substantially enclosed throughout their height, with no

openings allowed except for necessary doors, windows or skylights. 

b. Ropes, wires or pipes shall not be installed in hoistways, except when necessary for the

operation of the elevators. 

c. Hoistway pits shall be of such depth that when the car rests on the fully compressed buffers, a

clearance 97of not less than 600 millimeters remains between the underside of the car and the

bottom of the pit. 

d. When four (4) or more elevators serve all or the same portion of a building, they shall be

located in not less than two (2) hoistways and in no case shall more than four (4) elevators be

located in any one hoistway. 

e. Where a machine room or penthouse is provided at the top of a hoistway, it shall be

constructed with sufficient room for repair and inspection. Access shall be by means of an iron

ladder or stairs when the room is more than 600 millimeters above the adjacent floor or roof

surface. The angle of inclination of such a ladder or stairs shall not exceed 60° from the

horizontal. This room shall not be used as living quarters or depository of other materials and

shall be provided with adequate ventilation. 

f. Minimum number of hoisting ropes shall be three (3) for traction elevators and two (2) for

drum type elevators. 

g. The minimum diameter of hoisting and counterweight ropes shall be 30 millimeters. 

h. Elevators shall be provided with Fall-Free Safety Device, overload switch and reverse polarity

relay. 

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i. In apartments or residential condominiums of five (5) storeys or more, at least one (1)

passenger elevator shall be kept on twenty-four (24) hour constant service 

3. Escalators 

a. The angle of inclination of an escalator shall not exceed 30° from the horizontal. 

b. The width between balustrades shall not be less than 560 millimeters nor more than 1.20

meters. This width shall not exceed the width of the steps by more than 330 millimeters. 

c. Solid balustrades of incombustible material shall be provided on each side of the moving

steps. If made of glass, it shall be of tempered type glass. 

d. The rated speed, measured along the angle of inclination, shall be not more than 38 meters per

minute. 

4. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning 

a. The effective temperature and relative humidity of the air to be used for comfortable cooling

shall be maintained at 20°Celsius to 24°Celsius and 50% to 60%, respectively, with 4.60 to 7.60

meters per minute air movement within the living zone. 

98b. Water from evaporators, condensers and other machinery shall be properly collected into a

suitable water or drainage system. 

c. Ducts shall be constructed entirely of non-combustible materials such as steel, iron, aluminum

or other approved materials. Only fire-retardant lining shall be used on the inside of ducts. 

d. Access doors shall be provided at all automatic dampers, fire dampers, thermostats and other

apparatus requiring service and inspection in the duct system. 

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e. Where ducts pass through walls, floors or partitions, the space around the duct shall be sealed

with fire resistant material equivalent to that of the wall, floor or partition, to prevent the passage

of flame or smoke. 

f. When ducts or their outlets or inlets pass through firewalls, they shall be provided with

automatic fire dampers that automatically close on both sides of the firewall through which they

pass. 

g. Fire doors and fire dampers shall be arranged to close automatically and remain tightly closed,

upon the operation of a fusible link or other approved heat actuated device, located where readily

affected by an abnormal rise of temperature in the duct. 

h. Window type air conditioners shall be provided with drain pipe or plastic tubing for

discharging condensate water into a suitable container or discharge line. 

i. Window type air conditioners shall be provided with exhaust ducts if the exhaust is discharged

into corridors/hallways/arcades/sidewalks, etc., and shall be installed at not less than 2.10 meters

above the floor level. 

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE ZONES 

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. 

79
SECTION 502. Buildings located in more than One Fire Zone A building or structure which is

located partly in one fire zone and partly in another shall be considered to 99be in the more

highly restrictive fire zone, when more than one-third of its total floor area is located in such

zone. 

SECTION 503. Moved Building 

Any building or structure moved within or into any fire zone shall be made to comply with all

the requirements for buildings in that fire zone. 

SECTION 504. Temporary Buildings Temporary buildings such as reviewing stands and other

miscellaneous structures conforming to the requirements of this Code, and sheds, canopies and

fences used for the protection of the public around and in conjunction with construction work,

may be erected in the fire zones by special permit from the Building Official for a limited period

of time, and such buildings or structures shall be completely removed upon the expiration of the

time limit stated in such permits. 

SECTION 505. Center Lines of Streets 

For the purpose of this Chapter, the center line of an adjoining street or alley may be considered

an adjacent property line. Distances shall be measured at right angles to the street or alley. 

SECTION 506. Restrictions on Existing Buildings 

80
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 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-section 604 100(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. 

SECTION 507. Designation of Fire Zones 

The Secretary shall promulgate specific restrictions for each type of Fire Zone. Cities and

municipalities shall be divided into such Fire Zones in accordance with local, physical, and

spatial framework plans submitted by city or municipal planning and/or development bodies. 

FIRE-RESISTIVE REQUIREMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION 

SECTION 601. Fire-Resistive 

Rating defined Fire-resistive rating means the degree to which a material can withstand fire as

determined by generally recognized and accepted testing methods. 

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SECTION 602. Fire-Resistive Time Period Rating Fire-resistive time period rating is the length

of time a material can withstand being burned which may be one-hour, two-hours, three-hours,

four-hours, etc. 

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 general accepted

testing methods and/or by the Secretary. 

SECTION 604. Fire-Resistive Regulations 

The Secretary shall prescribe standards and promulgate rules and regulations on the testing of 

construction materials for flame-spread characteristics, tests on fire damages, fire tests of

building construction and materials, door assemblies and tin clad fire doors and window

assemblies, the 

installation of fire doors and windows and smoke and fire detectors for fire protective signaling

system, application and use of controlled interior finish, fire-resistive protection for structural

members, fire-resistive walls and partitions, fire-resistive floor or roof ceiling, fire-resistive

assemblies for 101protection of openings and fire-retardant roof coverings. 

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: 

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(2) Group B – 1 

One (1) car parking slot for every three (3) rooms or a fraction thereof for highly urbanized areas

and one (1) car parking slot for every seven (7) rooms or a fraction thereof for all other areas;

and two (2) tourist bus parking slots for each hotel; provide at least one (1) loading slot for

articulated truck or vehicle 

SECTION 702. Change in Use 

No change shall be made in the character of occupancy or use of any building which would place

the building in a different division of the same group of occupancy or in a different group of

occupancies, unless such building is made to comply with the requirements of this Code for such

division or group of occupancy. The character of occupancy of existing buildings may be

changed subject to the approval of the Building Official and the building may be occupied for

purposes set forth in other Groups: Provided the new or proposed use is less hazardous, based on

life and fire risk, than the existing use. 

SECTION 704. Location on Property 

(a) General 

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. For the purpose of this Section, the center line of an adjoining

street or alley shall be considered an adjacent property line. Eaves over required windows shall

not be less than 750 millimeters from the side and rear property lines. 

(b) Fire Resistance of Walls 

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Exterior walls shall have fire resistance and opening protection in accordance with the

requirements set 102forth by the Secretary. Projections beyond the exterior wall shall not exceed

beyond a point one-third the distance from an assumed vertical plane located where the fire-

resistive protection of openings is first required to the location on property whichever is the least

restrictive. Distance shall be measured at right angles from the property line. When openings in

exterior walls are required to be protected due to distance from property line, the sum of the

areas of such openings in any storey shall not exceed 50 percent of the total area of the wall in

that storey. 

(c) Buildings on Same Property and Buildings Containing Courts 

For the purpose of determining the required wall and opening protection, buildings on the same

property and court walls shall be assumed to have a property line between them. When a new

building is to be erected on the same property with an existing building, the assumed property

line from the existing building shall be the distance to the property line for each occupancy as set

forth by the Secretary: 

Provided, that two or more buildings on the same property may be considered as one building if

the aggregate area of such building is within the limits of allowable floor areas for a single

building, and when the buildings so considered, house different occupancies or are of different

types of construction, the area shall be that allowed for the most restrictive occupancy or

construction. 

SECTION 705. Allowable Floor Areas 

The allowable floor areas for one-storey buildings and buildings over one-storey shall not exceed

the limits prescribed by the Secretary for each occupancy groups and/or types of construction. 

84
For purposes of this Section, each portion of a building separated by one or more area separation

walls may be considered a separate building provided the area separation walls meet the

requirements prescribed therefore by the Secretary. 

SECTION 706. Allowable Floor Area Increases The floor areas hereinabove provided may be

increased in certain specific instances and under appropriate 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 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 709. Requirements for Other Group Occupancies 

Subject to the provisions of this Code, the Secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations for

each of the other Group Occupancies covering: allowable construction, height, and area; location

on property, exit facilities, light, ventilation, and sanitation; enclosures of vertical openings; fire

extinguishing systems; and special hazards. 

LIGHT AND VENTILATION 

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SECTION 801. General Requirements of Light and Ventilation 

(a) Subject to the provisions of the Civil Code of the Philippines on Easements of Light and

View, and to the provisions of this part of the Code, every building shall be designed,

constructed, and equipped to provide adequate light and ventilation. 

(b) All buildings shall face a street or public alley or a private street which has been duly

approved. 

(c) No building shall be altered nor arranged so as to reduce the size of any room or the relative

area of windows to less than that provided for buildings under this Code, or to create an

additional room, unless such additional room conforms to the requirements of this Code. 

(d) No building shall be enlarged so that the dimensions of the required court or yard would be

less than that prescribed for such building. 

SECTION 802. Measurement of Site Occupancy 

(a) The measurement of site occupancy or lot occupancy shall be taken at the ground level and

shall be exclusive of courts, yards, and light wells. 

(b) Courts, yards, and light wells shall be measured clear of all projections from the walls

enclosing such wells or yards with the exception of roof leaders, wall copings, sills, or steel fire

escapes not exceeding 1.20 meters in width. 

SECTION 803. Percentage of Site Occupancy 

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(a) Minimum site occupancy shall be governed by the use, type of construction, and height of the

building and the use, area, nature, and location of the site; and subject to the provisions of the

local zoning requirements and in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the

Secretary. 

SECTION 804. Size and Dimensions of Courts 

(a) Minimum size of courts and their least dimensions shall be governed by the use, type of

construction, and height of the building as provided in the rules and regulations promulgated by

the Secretary, provided that the minimum horizontal dimension of court shall be not less than

2.00 meters. 

(b) All inner courts shall be connected to a street or yard, either by a passageway with a

minimum width of 1.20 meters or by a door through a room or rooms. 

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 natural

ventilation shall have ceiling heights not less than 2.70 meters. 

87
(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 2.00 meters; 

2. Kitchens – 3.0 square meters with a least dimension of 1.50 meters; 

1053. Bath and toilet – 1.20 square meters with a least dimension of 0.90 meter. 

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 809. Vent Shafts 

(a) Ventilation or vent shafts shall have a horizontal cross-sectional area of not less than 0.10

square meter for every meter of height of shaft but in no case shall the area be less than 1.00

square meter. No vent shaft shall have its least dimension less than 600 millimeters. 

(b) Skylights – Unless open to the outer air at the top for its full area, the vent shaft shall be

covered by a skylight having a net free area or fixed louver openings equal to the maximum

required shaft area. 

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(c) Air ducts shall open to a street or court by a horizontal duct or intake at a point below the

lowest 

window opening. Such duct or intake shall have a minimum unobstructed cross-sectional area of

not less than 0.30 square meter with a minimum dimension of 300 millimeters. The openings to

the duct or intake shall be not less than 300 millimeters above the bottom of the shaft and the

street surface or level of court, at the respective ends of the duct or intake. 

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 openable parts in the window that are replaced or provided with approved

artificial ventilation of equivalent effectiveness. 

SECTION 811. Artificial Ventilation 

(a) Rooms or spaces housing industrial or heating equipment shall be provided with artificial

means of ventilation to prevent excessive accumulation of hot and/or polluted air. 

106(b) Whenever artificial ventilation is required, the equipment shall be designed and

constructed to meet the following minimum requirements in air changes: 

1. For rooms entirely above grade and used for office, clerical, or administrative purposes, or as 

stores, sales rooms, restaurants, markets, factories, workshops, or machinery rooms, not less

than 

89
three changes of air per hour shall be provided. 

2. For rooms entirely above grade and used as bakeries, hotel or restaurant kitchens, laundries 

other than accessory to dwellings, and boiler rooms – not less than ten changes of air per hour 

shall be provided. 

3. For auditoriums and other rooms used for assembly purposes, with seats or other 

accommodations – not less than 0.30 cubic meter of air per minute shall be supplied for each 

person. 

4. For wards and dormitories of institutional buildings – not less than 0.45 cubic meter of air per 

minute shall be supplied for each person accommodated. 

5. For other rooms or spaces not specifically covered under this Section of the Code, applicable 

provisions of the Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code, shall be followed.

90