Building Laws

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ALLOWABLE
MAXIMUM BUILDING
FOOTPRINT (AMBF

ALLOWABLE
MAXIMUM VOLUME
OF BUILDING (AMVB)
Above-Grade

AUTOMATIC FIRE
SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

BASEMENT
FOOTPRINT

BASEMENT/BASEMENT
LEVEL

The maximum portion of the lot

that may be occupied by the
building/structure at grade level
after satisfying setback, yard and
court requirement (Rule VIII).
The area of the AMBF is
measured from the outermost face
of the exterior walls of the
proposed building/structure. All
areas outside of the AMBF but
within lot lines shall be
considered open spaces, i.e.,
impervious or unpaved.
The limit of the total volume of
space that can be occupied by a
proposed bUilding/structure
above grade level. the AMVB is an
imaginary prism within the fully
enclosed areas and courts of a
proposed building/structure shall
frt. It is generally determined by
multiplying the AMBF for the lot
by the applicable BHL for the lot
and thereafter deducting the
volume of space at the top part of
the prism to satiSfy natural light
and ventilation requirements for
RROW and front yards and to
satisfy incremental setback
requirements. The AMVB is
expressed in cubic meters (cu. m)
an integrated system of
underground or overhead piping
or both connected to a source of
extinguishing agent or medium
which
The actual land area occupied by
the basement component of the
building/structure at below-grade
level. It is measured from the
outermost face of the basement
walls of the building/structure.
The portion of the
building/structure below
naturallfinished grade; during aU
excavation, construction and
backfill work for basements, the
applicable provisions of the Code
governing protection of adjacent
properties must be strictly
observed.

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BASES FOR
COMPUTING
BUILDING
PERMIT FEES

Type of occupancy or use of building

Cost of construction (per sq. m. based on
classification)
Area
Height

BP 220

Revised Rules and Standards for Economic

and Socialized Housing Projects

BP 220 Scope
of
Application

Economic Housing: house and lot package at

P300,OOO - P1.25M Socialized Housing:
house and lot package at P300,OOO or less
Economic and socialized housing refers to
housing units which are within the
affordability level of average and low-income
earners which is 30% of the gross family
income as determined by NEDA from time to
time.

BP 344

Accessibility Law

Building
Footprint and
Firewall
Requirements
- R1

Absolutely no firewalls are allowed for a low

density residential (R-1) uses or occupancies;
(carport 7mtrs or 50% of side, which ever is
smaller

Building
Footprint and
Firewall
Requirements
- R2

medium density residential (R-2) uses or

occupancies, a firewall can be erected on a
maximum of 80% of the total length of a side
property line (85% side, 65% perimeter) or
(90% side, 100% rear if 4mtrs. wide)

Building
Footprint and
Firewall
Requirements
- R3

high-density residential (R-3) uses or

occupancies, two (2) types of firewall
construction may be permitted (85% side,
50% rear)

Building
Footprint and
Firewall
Requirements
- R4

townhouse residential (R-4) uses or

occupancies, firewalls on the two (2) sides of
each townhouse unit may be permitted (75%
side, 50% perimeter)

Building
Footprint and
Firewall
Requirements
- R5

residential condominium (R-5) uses or

occupancies, two (2) types of firewall
construction may be permitted (65% side,
50% rear)

Building
Height Limit
(BHL)

the maximum height to be allowed for

buildings/structures based on their proposed
use or occupancy;

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Characteristics
of Dangerous
Buildings

structural hazards
fire hazards
unsafe electrical wiring
unsafe mechanical installation
inadequate sanitation/plumbing and
health facilities
architectural deficiency

Classes of Fire
based causes

Class A- ordinary combustible materials

such as wood. cloth. paper, rubber and
plastics
Class B- flammable liquids and gases
Class C- energized electrical equipment
Class 0- combustible metals such as
magnesium. sodium. potassium

Classification
of Building
Height - High
Rise

sixteen (16) storeys or taller in height, i.e.,

from forty eight (48.00) m above
established grade; elevators; fire escapes,
sprinkler systems, arresters, beacons and
other safety systems, particularly if near
airports, are mandatory for all high-rise
buildings/structures.

Classification
of Building
Height - Low
Rise

from one (1) storey up to five (5) storeys in

height. i.e., from three (3.00) m up to a
maximum of fifteen (15.00) m above
established grade; while not generally
requiring an elevator if the
building/structure is for purely residential
use, fire escapes and other safety systems
are mandatory for all lOW-rise
buildings/structures;

Classification
of Building
Height - Med
Rise

from six (6) storeys up to fifteen (15) storeys

in height, i.e., form eighteen (18.00) m up
to a maximum of forty five (45.00) m above
established grade; elevators; fire escapes,
sprinkler systems and other safety systems
are mandatory for all medium-rise
buildings/structures;

COURT

An occupied space between the faces of the

building lines and a yard or another court,
free, open and unobstructed from the
ground upward.
Inner Court - a court bounded on all sides
or around its periphery by building lines.
Open Court - a court bound on three sides
by building lines with one (1) side bounded
by another open space whether public or
private.
Through Court - a court bounded on two
(2) OPPOSite sides by building lines with
the other opposite sides bounded by other
open spaces whether public or private.

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EDUCATIONAL:
No. of Exits

Every room or space with a capacity of

over 50 persons or over 93 sq. m in area
shall have at least 2 doorways providing
access to separate exits; where egress is
through corridors, shall open to a
common corridor leading to separate exits
in opposite directions.

EDUCATIONAL:
occupant load

classroom -1.80 sq. m/person

shops, laboratories, vocational rooms 1.40 sq. m/person
dry nurseries wI sleeping facilities - 3.25
sq. m/person

Fire Safety in
Places of
Assembly

main exit must accommodate 1/2 of

occupant load travel distance not to
exceed 46 meters if not protected by
automatic fire suppression; 61 meters if
protected

FLOOR PLATE

The gross expanse of a floor measured

from the outermost edges of floor slabs
and which mayor may not be
representative of the typical floor of a
proposed building/structure.

FLOOR TO
FLOOR HEIGHT

The perpendicular distance or vertical

measurement between the uppermost
surfaces (finish level) of two (2)
successive floors of a proposed
building/structure. The generally
recommended minimum vertical distance
between such uppermost surfaces (or
finish levels) is three (3.00)m.

FLOOR TO LOT
AREA RATIO
(FLAR) OR
FLOOR AREA
RATIO (FAR)

Is the ratio between the Gross

Floor Area (GFA) of a building/structure
and the Total Lot Area (TLA) of the
lot/property on which it stands.
The FLAR is determined by dividing the
GFA of a building/structure by the TLA.
The GFA of any proposed or
existing building/structure should not
exceed the prescribed FLAR multiplied by
the TLA

GROSS FLOOR
AREA (GFA)

the total floor space within the perimeter

of the permanent external building walls
(inclusive of main and auxiliary
buildings) such as office areas, residential
areas, corridors, lobbies and mezzanine
levells. The GFA shall also include
building projections which may serve as
floors or platforms that are directly
connected to/integrated with areas within
the building/structure, e.g., balconies and
the GFA excludes the following:

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MAXIMUM
ALLOWABLE
CONSTRUCTION
AREA (MACA)

The combined total of the Maximum

Allowable PSO and the Maximum
Allowable ISA expressed as a percentage
(%) of the TLA. The MACA specifically
excludes the USA.

Maximum
Allowable
IMPERVIOUS
SURFACE AREA
(ISA)

The percentage (%) of the maximum

allowable floor area of any paved. tiled or
hardscaped surface at the ground
floor/grade level (located outside the
main building/structure) in relation to
the Total Lot Area or TLA.

Maximum
Allowable
PERCENTAGE
OF SITE
OCCUPANCY
(PSO)

A quality related to the Maximum

Allowable Building Footprint (AMBF)
under Rule VII and the Total Lot Area
(TLA) under this Rule via the equation
"PSO equals ( = ) AMBF divided by ( + )
TLAn. The PSO is expressed as the
percentage (%) of the maximum
allowable enclosed floor area of any
building/structure at the ground
floor/grade level in relation to the TLA.
The PSO includes the footprints of both
the main and auxiliary building but
specifically excludes the basement
footprint

Min. setback for

residential Bldg.
R-1

Front - 4.5
Side - 2
Rear 2

Min. setback for

residential Bldg.
R-2 & R-3

Basic:
Front - 3
Side - 2
Rear - 2
Max:
Front - 8
Side - 2
Rear -2

Min. setback for

residential Bldg.
R-4

Front- 4.5
Side - 2 optional
Rear - 2

Min. setback for

residential Bldg.
R-5

Front -6
Side - 3
Rear - 3

Occupancy
Classification Group A

Residential Dwellings

Occupancy
Classification Group B

Residential, Hotels and appartments

Occupancy
Classification Group C

Educational & Recreation

Occupancy
Classification Group D

Institutional

Occupancy
Classification Group E

Business & Mercantile

Occupancy
Classification Group F

Industrial

Occupancy
Classification Group G

Storage & Hazardous

Occupancy
Classification Group H

Assembly buildings for less than 1000

occupants

Occupancy
Classification Group I

Assembly buildings more than 1000

occupants

Occupancy
Classification Group J

Accessory

OUTERMOST
FACES OF
BUILDINGS
(OFB)

The outermost and topmost vertical or

angular planes of a proposed
building/structure that shall govern the
limits of its walls and roof. It is primarily
determined by first vertically projecting the
outermost lines of the AMBF (wherein the
height of vertical projection is governed by
the BHL). To then set the roof height limit
and configuration (as well as to determine
the limit and configuration (as well as to
determine the limits of incremental setbacks
applicable to the height of the proposed
building/structure), a diagonal line (or
plane) at an allowed angle or slope must
then be drawn from the center of the
RROW. The intersection of the angular
plane and the vertical prism based on the
AMBF (the ''footprint prism") shall
complete the applicable OFB for the lot.

OUTERMOST
LIMITS OF
BUILDING
PROJECTIONS
(OLBP)

The outermost horizontal limit of

projections, i.e., canopies, porte cocheres.
balconies, eaves. roofs, decks, terraces and
the like) from a proposed building/structure
above the first floor. The horizontal
projections must not exceed sixty percent
(60%) of the prescribed setback for a given
property line. The OBLP will result in
another imaginary prism (the "projections
prism") within which the fully enclosed
areas and courts of a proposed
building/structure plus all of its projections
shall frt.

48.

P.D. 1096

National Building Code

49.

P.D. 1185

The fire code of the Philippines

August 26,1977

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P.D. 9514

The revised Fire Code of the

Philippines of 2008
Appproved by GMA dec. 19, 2008

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PD 957

THE SUBDIVISION AND

CONDOMINIUM BUYER'S
PROTECTIVE DECREE AND OTHER
RELATED LAWS

PD 957 : Houses
Min Setbacks

Front - 3m
Side- 2m
Rear - 2m

PD 957 : Land
Allocation

70% saleable
30% openspace

PD 957 : Min
Frontage

8m

PD 957 : SDU Min.

Frontage

Corner - 12m
Reg. - 10m
iregular - 6m
Interior - 3m

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PD 957 : Selling
Price

Open Market ~ Above P2,000,000

Medium-Cost - P500,000-P2,000,000

PD 957: Dup-SA
Lot Area

Open Market 96 sqm

Med Cost 80 sqm

PD 957: Houses
Min. Floor Areas

Open Market - 42 sq.m.

Med Cost - 30 sq.m.

PD 957: Rowhouse
Min Lot areas

Open Market - 60sqm

Medium Cost - 50 sqm

PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY:
OCCUPANT
LOAD

concentrated use wlo fixed seats such as an

auditorium, church, dance floor, lodge
room
- 0.65 sq. m/person
less concentrated use such as conference
room, dining room, exhibit room,
gymnasium
- 1.4 sq. m/person
standing room or waiting space - 0.28 sq.
m/person

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PODIUM

The fully enclosed component of the

building/structure situated between the
established grade and the first of atypical
floor of the bUilding/structure's tower
component; the podium for a C-3 use or
occupancy shall not be higher than twelve
(12) storeys (or 36.00 m from established
grade)

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PROJECTION

Any structurally attached portion of a

building/structure thatis outside its
outermost walls and which perform a utility
or aesthetic function, e.g . roof/eaves,
trellis, canopy (media agua), porte cachere,
balcony, decks, deck/cantilevered terraces
sun-breaker, cantilevers, signage support,
flag and lighting support,
gondolas/window cleaning systems and
the like, a building projection is situated
between the imaginary footprint prism and
projections prism.

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RA 4726

Condominium Act

70.

RA 7279

The Urban Development and Housing Act

71.

RAMPS

Class B ramp - 10-17% every fire section

shall have, in addition to the horizontal
exit or exits at least 1 stairway, doorway
leading outside, or other standard exit

RESIDENTIAL:
Occupant Load

18.6/person

66.

Min. Frontage - 4m
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PD 957: SDU Min.

Lot Areas

Open Market: 120 sq.m.

Med Cost: 100 sq.m.

PD 1151

Philippine Envirinmental Policy

PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY: No. of
exits Class A - 1000
+

4 exits

PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY: No. of
exits Class B - 50 300

2 exits

PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY: No. of
exits Class B 600+

3 exits

PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY: No. of
exits Class B -300600

2 exits

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RROW
Based height
limitation

If only one (1) RROW services a lot and such

is only 6.00 to 7.00 meters wide, a BHL
ofthree (3) storeys (or 9.00 meters maximum)
shall be observed regardless of use or
occupancy, lot size, lot dimensions, lot
frontage and like considerations.
If only one (1) RROW services a lot and such
is only 4.00 to 5.00 meters wide, a BHL
equivalent to 2 Ya storeys (or 7.50 meters
maximum) shall be observed regardless of use
or occupancy, lot size, lot dimensions, lot
frontage and like considerations.
If only one (1) RROW services a lot and such
is only 3.00 meters wide or less, a BHL
equivalent to two (2) storeys (or 6.00 meters
maximum) shall be observed regardless of use
or occupancy, lot size, lot dimensions, lot
frontage and like considerations.

74.

SETBACK

The horizontal distance measured ninety

degrees {90} from the outermost face of the
building/structure to the property lines.

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STOREY

That portion of a building/structure included

between the uppermost surface (or finish
level) of any floor and the uppermost surface
(or finish level) of the next floor above or
below it.

TOTAL
GROSS
FLOOR
AREA
(TGFA)

the total floor space within the main and

auxiliary buildings primarily conSisting of the
GFA and all other enclosed support areas
together with all other usable horizontal
areaS/surfaces above and below established
grade level that are all physically attached to
the building/s which shall consists of the
following:

TOTAL
OPEN SPACE
WITHIN
LOT (TOSL)

The total open space required for each type of

use or occupancy for a given lot. It is the
portion of the lot consisting of the ISA and the
USA combined and expressed as a percentage
(%) of the Total Lot Area (TLA)

TOWER

The fully enclosed component of the

building/structure situated between the
podium component and the roof of the
building/structure; the tower shall not be
higher than five (5) times the height of the
podium.

Types of
Construction
Type I

Wood Construction

Types of
Construction
Type II

Wood with 1 hour fire resistive materials

Types of
Construction
Type III

Masonry & wood

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Types of
Construction
Type IV

Steel, iron concrete masonry, inconbustible

construction for walls ceiling & permanent
partitions

Types of
Construction
Type IV

Structural elements of steel, iron, concrete or

masonry

Window
Openings

NOt provided with Artificial ventilation is

equal or at least 10% of the floor area

YARD

The vacant space left between the outermost

face of the building/structure and the property
lines, e.g., front, rear, right and left side
yards.