THE REVISED PHILIPPINE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING CODE: FOCUS ON IMPROVING

THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, LIFE, SAFETY AND HEALTH

The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers is the Philippines’ only integrated

technical society in the field of mechanical engineering. Its members, scattered throughout the
world are individuals who share ideas, support research, identify needs, and write the Philippine
industry’s standards for testing and practice. The result is that engineers are better able to keep
indoor environments safe and productive while protecting and preserving the outdoors and the
environment for generations to come.

There are noticeable differences between this Revised Code and the previous versions:

The earlier version/s were written more as a reference manual instead of a code, they
describe theories and practices in operation rather than follow the mandate in accordance with
the National Building Code of the Philippines and, they have not been updated to conform with
current practices in accordance with international standards and norms.

This new code follows stipulated international practices and the uniform mechanical
code, and focuses on the paramount concern in the world today, the environment, life, safety
and health.

The PSME is tasked to safeguard the people by all means in compliance with the
National Building Code of the Philippines, specifically Section 102 Declaration of Policy and
Chapter 13, Section 1302 Mechanical Regulation.

One of the ways that PSME supports its members and the industry’s need for
information is through PSME Research enabling members to benefit from the combined effort of
committee members who have the experience in determining the important information that is
incorporated in this Code.

The 2011 Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code

The 2011 Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code covers basic principles and data
used in the mechanical engineering field. The PSME Technical Committee that prepared these
chapters, strive not only to provide new information, but also to clarify past and existing
information, delete obsolete materials, and reorganize the chapters and their contents to make
the Code more understandable and easier to use.
 Unlike a Handbook, this Code is intended not only for mechanical engineers but also to
the general public as well. A code is full of terms, information and guidelines. A handbook helps
to explain things and principles on how an object, a process, and a system functions.

The intent of this Code is to cover mechanical engineering practice for multiple
residential, commercial and industrial edifices, typically where the greater population reside and
work. There is a limit where we cannot cover plant manufacturing processes such as cement
plants, oil refineries, power plants and the like simply because these are business concerns with
proprietary rights to their technology. Further, the people interaction is not with the public but
limited only to experienced personnel and experts with interests to such a facility. For an
engineer to learn the principles on how these plants work and operate, he only has to refer to a
Handbook. Despite this situation, we have endeavored to cover in this Code the minimum
mandatory requirement on how to properly install mechanical equipment to protect the public.

Likewise, the language in this Code is written to be understood by everyone and not only
mechanical engineers, in support of the mandate bestowed upon us by the National Building
Code of the Philippines.

A typical user of this Code, be he a building official, a government engineer, a trade

practitioner who may be a project owner, a consultant, or an engineering supplier, reading,
interpreting or conceptualizing designs, preparing or writing reports, specifications and other
documents related to a project, a contractor who undertakes the scheduling, building and
commissioning of a small or large project, even a foreign entity who joins bids, read the terms of
references and carry out the tasks involved in the project he will be doing refer to such a Code
as mandated by the government for the interest of the general public’s welfare on the
preservation of the environment, the protection of life, the safeguarding of one’s safety and to
shelter each individual’s health within and without the workplace.

The reader will view the chapters as new but, as soon as he comprehends the contents,
knowledge gained will germinate into creative ideas, and applications will come in as second
nature but achieving the wisdom that he is preserving his surroundings and the population that
might be affected with his decisions.

This edition radically departs from the previous editions in that the Technical Committee
adopted the Uniform Mechanical Code which has been in use all over the world by both
developed and developing countries, to suit our local climatic conditions and practical usage.
Chapter Orders

Chapter 1 Administration Chapter 20 Fire Protection

Chapter 2 Definitions System
Chapter 3 General Chapter 21 Indirect Waste, Traps
Requirements and Interceptors
Chapter 4 Ventilation Air Supply Chapter 22 Flammable and
Chapter 5 Exhaust Systems Combustible Liquid
Chapter 6 Duct Systems Piping Systems and
Chapter 7 Combustion Air Storage
Chapter 8 Chimneys and Vents Chapter 23 Pressure Vessels
Chapter 9 Smoke Control Chapter 24 Building
Systems Transportation
Chapter 10 Hydronics Chapter 25 Energy Conservation
Chapter 11 Steam and Hot Water Chapter 26 Standard Practice for
Boilers the Control of
Chapter 12 Refrigeration Flammable and
Chapter 13 Installation of Combustible Liquids
Equipment and Gases in
Chapter 14 Water Supply Manholes, Sewer and
Chapter 15 Drainage Piping Underground
Chapter 16 Vent Piping Chapter 27 Renewable Energy
Chapter 17 Storm Drainage Source
Piping Chapter 28 Non-Renewable
Chapter 18 Fuel Gas Piping Energy Source
Chapter 19 Medical Gasand Chapter 29 Standards
Vacuum Piping