A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE

PHILIPPINES AND (US) LEED FOR HOMES

Submitted by:

Rafols, Trave ¹

Submitted to:

Asst. Prof. Ar. Matacubo, Richard

2023
Introduction

Lighting design can be defined as the practice of considering all the various lighting factors that influence a cer

tain location.A lighting designer is a professional who uses their technical knowledge and artistic talent to guarantee tha

t illumination achieves a certain goal.But they also go by a set of guidelines that the government has legislated in order t

o guarantee and establish standards for the protection of the general welfare of the clients as well as the public health an

d safety as they relate to the building and occupant of structures.

The National Building Code of the Philippines, which is only used and practiced in the Philippines, and the

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED for Homes, a certification that is available and used

internationally by several countries, are two of the sets of rules and regulations that are being used and followed by all

designers specifically on the field of building construction.

The Presidential Decree (PD) 1096, usually referred to as the National Building Code of the Philippines, is a

law that governs the building industry in the country.Since its adoption in 1977, it has worked to advance sustainability,

safeguard building occupants' health and safety, and aid the nation's infrastructure development efforts.

There are two volumes in the code: Book I comprises general provisions, while Book II is for building rules.

regulations on structural design, fire protection, electrical systems, plumbing, and sanitation are among the topics cover

ed in Book II. It also contains regulations on building permits and occupancy permits.As technology and building meth

ods changed over time, the code was modified to reflect those changes.In order to promote resource conservation, the P

hilippine Green Building Code, for instance, was released in 2010.

On the other hand, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a rating system created by the

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to advance environmentally friendly construction techniques.

The voluntary rating system known as LEED for Homes, which is used to certify residential structures, encourages the

design and construction of high-performance green homes. In order to protect the tenants' comfort and well-

being, LEED-certified homes are built to provide clean indoor air, plenty of natural light, and safe building materials.

Along with other financial advantages, they assist in lowering monthly utility expenses by reducing energy and water co

nsumption.
Different regulations to the illumination level of space and communities according to the NBC

According to the The Presidential Decree No. 1096, also known as the National Building Code of the Philippines, has a

section on Light and Ventilation, which includes regulations on the illumination level of space and communities. These

regulations are as follows:

 Every building shall be designed, constructed, and equipped to provide adequate light and ventilation.

 The illumination level of space to the provisions of the Civil Code of the Philippines on Easement of Light and

View and to the provision of the National Building Code. (Easement of light and view or also known as Article

624 of the Civil Code refers to an easement whereby the dominant estate enjoys the right to have free access to

light, a little air, and a view overlooking the adjoining estate, i.e., the servient estate.)

Chapter 8 Light and Ventilation Section 801 General Requirements of Light and Ventilation states that

a. Subject to the provision of the Civil Code of the Philippines on Easement 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 was has been duly approved

c. No buildings 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 any buildings under this Code, or to create an additional room, unless such

additional room conforms to the requirement 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.

Illumination level requirements for residential spaces under PD 1096:

 Every building shall be designed, constructed, and equipped to provide adequate light and ventilation.

 Every dwelling shall be so constructed and arranged as to provide adequate light and ventilation as provided

under Section 805 of the National Building Code.

 Section 805 of the National Building Code states that every habitable room shall have at least one openable

window equivalent device to outdoors, and the total area of the window or equivalent device shall not be less

than 10% of the floor area of the room. The minimum dimension of the openable part of the window or

equivalent device shall be 45 centimeters in one direction.

Different regulations to the Illumination level of space and communities according to (US) LEED for Homes

 Minimum illumination level required for regularly occupied spaces according to LEED for Homes is 25 foot-

candles or 300 lux. This level should be achieved in at least 75% of all regularly occupied spaces.

 Interior Lighting: For 75% of the total connected lighting load, use light sources that have a rated life (or L70

for LED users) of at least 24,000 hours (at least 3-hour per start).

 Interior Finishes: For at least 90% regularly occupied spaces, use interior finishes with a surface reflectance

greater or equal to 80% for ceilings and 55% for walls.

 Interior Lighting Quality: For all regularly occupied spaces, use light fixtures with a luminance of less than

2,500cd/m² between 45 and 90 degrees from nadir.

 Clean Indoor air and Natural Light: LEED –certified homes are designed to provide clean indoor air and ample

natural light.

 Lighting controls: Controlled lightings shall have at least one control step between 30% and 70% in addition to

all-off. This can be accomplished via dimming.

 Daylight level and view: Providing a minimum daylight level in at least 75% and a view to perimeter glazing

in at least 90% of the space can earn LEED points.

Conclusion:

While complying with and adhering to the rules and regulations stated in the Code, the National Building Code

of the Philippines places more emphasis on the structural integrity and standard measurements for the infrastructure. In

contrast, LEED for Homes places more emphasis on sustainability, how to reduce costs, and how to maximize the use

of natural resources.

The two set of regulations aims to give and ensure wellness to all occupants and users of the building

constructed. One benefit of LEED-certified buildings is the potential for lower operating cost. Due to their reduced

energy consumption, water efficiency, and waste management practices, LEED-certified buildings typically have lower

utility bills than their non-certified counterparts while on the other hand National Building Code of the Philippines aims

to ensure the safety and wellness of all occupants and users of the building.

Overall, this set of rules and regulations strives to ensure public health and safety through responsible building

design and construction and to reduce casualties, costs, and damage by designing disaster-resistant buildings.

References:

https://chanrobles.com/republicactno6541.htm

https://www.academia.edu/33748962/
The_National_Building_Code_of_the_Philippines_and_Its_Revised_Implementing_Rules_and_Regulations

https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/references/laws_codes_orders/national_law

https://www.usgbc.org/resources/leed-homes

Chuck Ross,The Light Stuff: Efficiency is only part of the story for LEDs’ future, Apr 14, 2023

JOHN YOON, PE, LEED AP ID+C; MCGUIRE ENGINEERS, CHICAGO AUGUST 16, 2017 Lighting requirements
in LEED v4 have become more holistic, with a greater emphasis on improving the quality of illumination for building
occupants.