Enhancement of Management and Technical Processes for Engineering and Design in DPWH

Volume 6 - Public Buildings and Other Related Structures

Recommended Guidelines for Building

and Grounds Design
The following are the architectural and allied design/ works
guidelines and references that are typically utilised by DPWH:
 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines/ NBCP (P.D. No.
1096), its 2004 Revised IRR, its RCs and its DRs;
 2008 Fire Code (R.A. No. 9514) and its 2009 IRR;
 Architecture Law of the Philippines (R.A. No. 9266 and its 2004
IRR) and the 2000 Architectural Code promulgated by the
DPWH;
 1983 Accessibility Law (B.P. Blg. 344) and IRR;
 Revised National Plumbing Code of the Philippines;
 Relevant DPWH Orders, Memorandum Circulars (MCs), etc.;
 P.D. No. 957 dated July 12, 1976, Regulating The Sale of
Subdivision Lots and Condominiums and its latest IRR
promulgated by the HLURB;
 Various other professional regulatory laws (PRLs) governing
the State-regulated practice of the various allied design
professions (geology, environmental planning, landscape
architecture, master plumbing, interior design, etc.); and
 Batas Pambansa (B.P.) Blg. 220 dated March 25, 1982, An Act
Authorizing the Ministry of Human Settlements to Establish and
Promulgate Different Levels of Standards and Technical
Requirements for Economic and Socialized Housing Projects in
Urban and Rural Areas from Those Provided Under P.D. No.
957, P.D. No. 1216, P.D. No. 1096 (NBCP) and P.D. No. 1185
(old FCP); note that B.P. Blg. 220 space planning and building
design and construction standards are lower than P.D. No.
1096 standards.
The following are the engineering guidelines and references that
are typically utilised by DPWH:
 National Structural Code of the Philippines(NSCP), 2010
edition;
 the DPWH Blue Book;
 Philippine Electrical Code (last updated 2009);

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 Enhancement of Management and Technical Processes for Engineering and Design in DPWH
Volume 6 - Public Buildings and Other Related Structures

 Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineering/ PSME Code;

 1974 Code on Sanitation of the Philippines (CSP) (P.D. No.
856) and relevant Department of Health (DoH) issuances;
 Relevant DPWH Orders, Memorandum Circulars (MCs),
specifically those addressed to Local Building Officials (LBOs),
etc.; and
 Various other professional regulatory laws (PRLs) governing
the State-regulated practice of the various engineering
professions (geodetic, civil, electrical, mechanical, electronic,
sanitary, etc.).
The following are laws that incorporate elements of building and
facility planning/ design references and are NOT utilised by DPWH
as these are under independent agencies such as the PEZA and
the TIEZA, to wit:
 R.A. No. 7916, as amended by R.A. No. 8748, The Special
Economic Zone Act of 1995, also known as An Act Providing
for the Legal Framework and Mechanisms for the Creation,
Operaton, Administration, and Coordination of Special
Economic Zones in the Philippines, Creating for this Purpose,
the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), which also
gave rise to the PEZA OBOs; and
 R.A. No. 9593, The Tourism Act of 2009 which created the
Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA)
and its OBO.
Other applicable building standards i.e. standards that are not
found in the NBCP or that are more detailed than those found in
the NBCP, but which are subject to review by the LGU Office of
the Building Official (OBO) are as follows:
 for hospitals and health care facilities c/o the DoH;
 for primary and secondary school buildings c/o the DepEd;
 for tertiary school buildings c/o the CHED;
 for public markets c/o the DTI and/or the HLURB and HUDCC;
 for recreational facilities c/o the HLURB and HUDCC;
 for sports facilities c/o the PSC;
 for heritage conservation facilities c/o the NCCA;
 for office and residential condominiums c/o the HLURB and
HUDCC;
 for economic housing c/o the HLURB and HUDCC; and
 socialized housing c/o the NHA and HUDCC i.e. following B.P.
Blg. 220 standards rather than P.D. No. 1096 standards.

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 Enhancement of Management and Technical Processes for Engineering and Design in DPWH
Volume 6 - Public Buildings and Other Related Structures

Other applicable building standards i.e. standards that are not

found in the NBCP or that are more detailed than those found in
the NBCP, but which are NOT subject to review by the LGU Office
of the Building Official (OBO) but are instead are instead reviewed
and approved by the respective internal/ independent OBOs, are
as follows:
 for industrial buildings c/o the PEZA; and
 for tourism facilities c/o the TIEZA

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 Enhancement of Management and Technical Processes for Engineering and Design in DPWH
Volume 6 - Public Buildings and Other Related Structures

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