BUILDING SYSTEM DESIGN

CE 409
NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE
PHILIPPINES
• NBCP is a law that aims to answer the growing demand for
urbanization. As more economic activities move towards the
real estate and industrial sector, there is a growing need for a
standardized set of rules and regulations governing the
appropriate building design for safety purposes.

• Since they primarily relate to the proper planning, construction,

and occupancy of buildings and structures, building codes, are
highly vital in protecting public safety, health, and general
welfare.
HISTORY
• From 1970 to 1972 – RA 6541 to PD 1096
• While RA 6541 exists to regulate the construction industry, it still does
not conform to the country’s developmental goals, infrastructure
programs, and technological requirements at that time.
• Republic Act 6541 provides a more specified section discussing the
code’s application on a city or municipal-scale. It was applied to all
chartered cities, municipal poblaciones and districts, and barrios of
urban areas garnering populations of at least 2,000 people. It also
applies to spaces where each hectare is occupied by 50 or more
families. (these provisions were then removed in the next versions)
• To keep the country’s building standards at par with the on-going
technological advancements in building design and construction from all
over the world, the nullification of RA 6541 took place in 1972.
• It was then replaced in 1977 by Presidential Decree 1096, more commonly
known as the official National Building Code of the Philippines.
• Nearly three decades later, the continuous rise in technological
advancements both locally and globally again placed the need to revise the
then in-practice 1977 National Building Code. This led to the formulation of
its latest revision published in 2005, which is currently being used by the
local building design and construction industry.
• It is now entitled “Implementing Rules and Regulations of the
National Building Code of the Philippines (PD 1096)” with its rules and
regulations mimicking the same formatting of its 1977 counterpart.
Exceptions for Traditional Indigenous
Family Dwellings and Public Buildings
- Traditional indigenous family dwellings are exempted from following the
coverage of Republic Act 6541 to a certain degree. That is if their
construction cost per dwelling does not reach more than Php 5,000.00 and is
exclusively used for residential purposes of the owner and his immediate
family.

- While the 1977’s PD 1096 exempts all traditional indigenous family

dwellings, regardless of their construction cost, from following the provisions
of this code. Their allowable construction cost to be exempted from the code
also rose from Php 5,000.00 to Php 15,000.00. They are also exempted from
paying building permit fees along with public building application projects.
• House Bill 5607 “An Act Strengthening Presidential
Decree No. 1096, The National Building Code of the
Philippines, as Amended, by Mandating a Comprehensive
Nationwide Inspection of Buildings and Imposing Stiff
Penalties Against Building Officials who violate the
Pertinent Provisions of the said Code”

• Senate Bill 2087 “An Act to Ordain the New Building Code
of the Philippines”
• SB 2087 altogether seeks to provide a New Building Code which
contains progressive regulations such as the “Green Building”
paradigm and its institutionalization, preservation of sight-lines and
vistas, integrating disaster resiliency standards, and the stronger
implementation of the right-of-way.
• However, the structure of the 1977 PD 1096 shall be maintained to
prevent the disruption of the architectural profession and to maintain
existing developments adhering to previous versions of the code.
NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE
PHILIPPINES
• CHAPTER I – GENERAL PROVISIONS

• CHAPTER II – ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

• CHAPTER III – PERMITS AND INSPECTION

• CHAPTER IV – TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION

• CHAPTER V – REQUIREMENT FOR FIRE ZONES