NBC’s Rule 7 & 8: Focusing on

Residential Buildings
Lecture facilitated by
Arch. Mary Catherine A. Diaz, pia
During the Panigurado Workshop Series 1, August 4,
2014 at PUAN, Davao City to the Community of
Churchgoers

Rule VII

(some of the images presentation slides and notes are

prepared by CDEP)
http://cdep.org.ph/
 Rule VII - Location on Property

street

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.
 Rule VII - Location on Property

The centerline of an adjoining street or alley

shall be considered an adjacent property line.
 Rule VII - Location on Property

750mm

Eaves over required windows shall not be less than 750

millimeters from the side and rear property lines.
 Rule VII - Location on Property
1/3 of x
x

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.
 Rule VII - Location on Property

Buildings on Same Property and Buildings Containing Courts:

Buildings on the same property and court walls shall be
assumed to have a property line between them.
 Rule VII - BUILDING FOOTPRINT AND FIREWALL
REQUIREMENTS
• ABUTMENT – A form of a
semi-permanent or
permanent structure
constructed along a property
line, usually of masonry or
reinforced concrete or other
fire-rated material. A firewall
define in Rule VII is a form of
abutment where absolutely no
form of permitted opening,
whether temporary /
permanent or operable /
inoperable is allowed on it. A FIREWALL - Reinforced masonry or RC
vent well with a clear width of separator w/ appropriate fire-resistive
one (1.00) m is the only rating and positioned between dwellings/
buildings/structures;
permitted opening in an
abutment or firewall. No openings; Cannot be shared
Rule VII - BUILDING FOOTPRINT AND FIREWALL
REQUIREMENTS
ABUTMENT
Abutments for Basic Uses/Occupancies forming part of new developments shall
be basically similar to the restrictions prescribed for firewalls under Rule VII, to
wit:

i. Absolutely no abutments are allowed at any property line for any R-1 lot
type/location.

ii. Abutments shall be allowed on only one (1) side for any R-2 lot type/location.
There shall be no firewalls/abutments on the front and rear property lines for
any R-2 lot type/location.

iii. Abutments shall be allowed on two (2) sides only or on one (1) side and the
rear
property line/ boundary for any R-3 lot type/location. There shall be no
abutments on the front property line for any R-3 lot type/location.
Rule VII - BUILDING FOOTPRINT AND FIREWALL
REQUIREMENTS
ABUTMENT
Abutments for Basic Uses/Occupancies forming part of new developments shall
be basically similar to the restrictions prescribed for firewalls under Rule VII, to
wit:

iv. Abutments shall be allowed on two (2) sides only for any R-4 lot
type/location. There shall be no firewalls/abutments on the front and rear
property line for any R-4 lot type/location.

v. Abutments shall be allowed on two (2) sides only or on one (1) side and the
rear
property line/boundary for any R-5 lot type/location. There shall be no
abutments on the front property line for any R-5 lot type/location.

vi. Abutments shall be allowed on two (2) sides only or on one (1) side and the
rear
property line/boundary for any C-3 lot type/location. There shall be no
abutments on the front property line for any C-3 lot type/location.
 Rule VII: BUILDING FOOTPRINT AND
FIREWALL REQUIREMENTS
R-1

7mtrs. or 50% of total side

3.20 mtrs. abutment

Absolutely no firewalls are allowed for a low density residential (R-1)

uses or occupancies; (carport-7mtrs or 50% of side, whichever is smaller)
 Rule VII - BUILDING FOOTPRINT AND
FIREWALL REQUIREMENTS
R-2

80% of total side

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 & only 1 side property line is used for a firewall
 Rule VII - BUILDING FOOTPRINT AND
FIREWALL REQUIREMENTS
R-3

4mtrs.
high-density
residential (R-3) uses
or occupancies, two
(2) types of firewall
construction may be
permitted (85% total
side, 65% perimeter)
or (90% side/rear,
100% side/rear if
4mtrs. wide provided
85% of total 90% of side and 100% of side
side and 65% rear and rear not to side/rear does not
perimeter exceed 50% of exceed 50%
perimeter
perimeter)
 Rule VII - BUILDING FOOTPRINT AND
FIREWALL REQUIREMENTS
R-4

85% of total
side and 50%
perimeter

townhouse residential (R-4) uses or occupancies, firewalls on the two

(2) sides of each townhouse unit may be permitted (85% side, 50%
perimeter)
 Rule VII - BUILDING FOOTPRINT AND
FIREWALL REQUIREMENTS
R-5

75% of total
side and 50% 65% of side and
perimeter 50% rear

Residential condominium (R-5) uses or occupancies, two (2) types of

firewall construction may be permitted (2 sides=75% side, 50%
perimeter) (side and rear=65% side, 50% rear)
 Rule VII - BUILDING FOOTPRINT AND
FIREWALL REQUIREMENTS

All existing openings on all firewalls shall be

sealed completely to maintain the fire
integrity of adjoining buildings/structures.

PD 1096
THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE