BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

S/Y 2019 - 2020

RESEARCH IN
DESIGN 04
PLATE NO. 2
(SUSTAINABLE MODERN
MUNICIPAL BUILDING)
NACHOR, ARNEL

SAYNO, JOHN MARTIN

BSA – 2A

ARCH. ELEANOR D. BARSAGA, Ph.D

  PROFESSOR
I. INTRODUCTION
II. OBJECTIVES
III. DEFINITION OF TERMS
IV. RELATED LITERATURE
V. DESIGN FRAMEWORK
I. INTRODUCTION

II. OBJECTIVES

 What is the present condition of the site?

 What are the laws, theories, and principles to be considered in this
problem?
 What is the design solution of this problem?

III. DEFINITION OF TERMS

 Community – an interacting population of various kinds of individuals in a

common location
 Development – the act or process of growing or becoming more
advanced
 Distinctive – having a quality or characteristic that is different from others
 Ecology – the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their
environment
 Integrate – to combine, form, or blend into a functioning or unified whole
 Modern – having the characteristics of the present or most recent
development
 Municipal Building – are official building to a town, or city. It usually
function as a base of the mayor and the local government personnel of a
municipality.
 Natural Resource – materials or substances such as minerals, forests,
water, and fertile land that occurs in nature and can be used for economic
gain
 Non-renewable Energy – is a natural resource that cannot be readily
replaced by natural means at a quick enough pace to keep up with
consumption
 Sustainable – minimizes the negative environmental impact of buildings
by efficiency
 IV. RELATED LITERATURE
TYPE OF LOT AND THE SITE

Location

The proposed municipal hall is located along Mercedes (4601), Camarines Sur.
Mercedes is a 2nd class and coastal municipality in the province of Camarines Norte,
Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 50, 841 people. The
municipality has a land area of 173.69 km^2 or 64 square miles which constitutes 7.49% of
Camarines Norte province, or 0.88% of the overall population of the Bicol region. Based on
this density is computed 293 inhabitants per square kilometers or 758 inhabitants per square
miles.
CLIMATE

The climate type on the location of Mercedes, Camarines Sur is tropical rainforest
climate. The region has a tropical climate. The rainfall in Mercedes is significant throughout
the year, with precipitation even during the driest month. This location is classified as Af by
Köppen and Geiger. The average annual temperature is 26.7 °C | 80.1 °F in Mercedes. The
annual rainfall is 2428 mm | 95.6 inch.
Terrain

Camarines Sur lies at the center of the Bicol Peninsula. The province is also the
largest in the Bicol Region with a land area of 5,266.8 square kilometers. At the center of the
province is Bicol Plain. Surrounding it are mountains, two of which are Mount Isarog and
Mount Iriga. The eastern part of the province lies on the mountainous Caramoan Peninsula,
which faces the island of Catanduanes to the east.

The Bicol River drains the central and southern parts of the province into San Miguel
Bay. Mt. Asog is surrounded by three lakes: Buhi, Bato, and Baao.

TYPE OF LOT

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES (Presidential Decree No.

1096)
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION

The proposed municipality hall of Mercedes is a Type IV building that is made up of

steel, iron, concrete, or masonry construction. Walls, ceilings, and permanent partitions shall
be of incombustible fire resistive construction: Except, that permanent non-bearing partitions
of one-hour fire resistive construction may use tire-retardant treated wood within the framing
assembly.

FIRE-RESISTIVE REQUIREMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION

SECTION 601. Fire-Resistive Rating defined

Fire-resistive rating means the degree to which a material can withstand fire as
determined by generally recognized and accepted testing methods.

SECTION 602. Fire-Resistive Time Period Rating

Fire-resistive time period rating is the length of time a material can withstand being
burned which may be one-hour, two-hours, three-hours, four-hours, etc.

SECTION 603. Fire-Resistive Standards

All materials of construction, and assemblies or combinations thereof shall be

classified according to their fire-retardant or flame-spread ratings as determined by general
accepted testing methods and/or by the Secretary.

CLASSIFICATION AND GENERAL REQUIREMENT OF THE PROPOSED MUNICIPALITY

HALL

GROUP E: Business Buildings

These are the buildings which are used for transaction of business, for keeping of
accounts and records. The buildings used for professional establishments, service facilities,
etc., also come under this class of buildings. City halls, town halls, court houses and
libraries are also classified in this group so far as the principal function of these is
transaction of public business and keeping of books and records. The following are the
subdivisions of business buildings:

E–1: Offices, banks, professional establishments, like offices of engineers, architects,

doctors, lawyers, etc., belong to this subdivision.

E–2: Laboratories, research establishments and test houses belong to this subdivision.

E–3: Computer installations belong to this subdivision.

SECTION 709. Requirements for All Group Occupancies Except Group A Type of
Occupancy

Subject to the provisions of this Code, the Secretary shall promulgate rules and
regulations for each of the other Group Occupancies covering: allowable construction,
height, and area; location on property, exit facilities, light, ventilation, and sanitation;
enclosures of vertical openings; fire extinguishing systems; and special hazards.

Table 1. SETBACKS FOR COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND

RECREATIONAL BUILDINGS
Road Right-of-Way Front Side Rear
(RROW) Width (Meters) (Meters) (Meters)
(Meters)
30.00 & above 8.00 5.00 5.00
25.00 to 29.00 6.00 3.00 3.00
20.00 to 24.00 5.00 3.00 3.00
10.00 to 19.00 5.00 2.00 2.00
Below 10.00 5.00 2.00 2.00

For buildings of more than two (2) storeys in height, the minimum width of the rear or
side court shall be increased at the rate of 300 millimeters for each additional storey up to
the fourteenth (14th) storey (Figure VIII.20 showing incremental setbacks). For buildings
exceeding fourteen (14) storeys in height, the required width of the court shall be computed
on the basis of fourteen (14) storeys.

Uncovered Driveways, Access Roads and Parking Spaces may be considered part of
the open space provide<t that they are open and unobstructed from the ground upward as in
courts and yards.

A front yard may be partly paved/hardscaped (converted into a courtyard) to serve as

a carport but only for a basic R~2 or basic R~3 or R-4 (individual lot) use or occupancy, i.e.
all for single-family dwelling units only. All other uses/occupancies shall not be allowed to
use the front yard for a car port nor for parking.

PARKING SLOT, PARKING AREA AND LOADING/UNLOADING SPACE

REQUIREMENTS

a. The parking slot, parking area and loading/unloading space requirements listed
hereafter are generally the minimum off-street cum on-site requirements for specific
uses/occupancies for buildings/structures, i.e., all to be located outside of the road right-of-
way (RROW).

b. The size of an average automobile (car) parking slot must be computed at 2.50
meters by 5.00 meters for perpendicular or diagonal parking and at 2.15 meters by 6.00
meters for parallel parking. A standard truck or bus parking/loading slot must be computed
at a minimum of 3.60 meters by 12.00 meters. An articulated truck slot must be computed
at a minimum of 3.60 meters by 18.00 meters which should be sufficient to accommodate a
12.00-meter container van or bulk carrier and a long/hooded prime mover. A jeepney or
shuttle parking/loading/unloading slot must be complied at a minimum of 3.00 meters by
9.00 meters. The parking slots shaft be drawn to scale and the total number of which shall
be indicated on the plans and specified whether or not parking accommodations are
attendant-managed.
 c. The parking space ratings listed below are minimum off-street/off-RROW cum on-
site requirements for the proposed municipality hall of Mercedes, Camarines Norte:

Table 2. Minimum Required Off-Street (Off-RROW) cum On-Site Parking Slot, Parking-
Area and Loading/Unloading Space Requirements
Specific Uses or of Occupancy Reference Uses or Character of Minimum Required Parking Slot,
(refer to Section.1.3 of this Rule) Occupancies or Type of Parking Area and Loading
Building/Structure Space Requirements

Group E
E-1 Terminals, Inter-modals or One (1) car slot for every
Multi-modals. Depots and the 500.00 sq. meters of gross
like (UTS) floor area or for a fraction
thereof; and one (1) off-RROW
(or off-street) passenger
loading space that can
accommodate two (2) queued
jeepney/shuttle slots or two (2)
queued bus slots whichever is
applicable; maneuvering area
of buses, trucks and like
vehicles shall be outside of the
RROW (within property or lot
lines only)
Transit Stations and the like Provide on each side of the
(UTS) RROW one (1) off-RROW (or
off-street) passenger loading
space that can accommodate
four (4) queued jeepney/shuttle
slots or three (3) queued bus
slots whichever as applicable,
in case of elevated mass
transit stations, on-roadway,
terminals or on-RROW
terminals on both sides of the
RROW may be considered
E-2 Neighborhood shopping One (1) car slot for every
center/supermarket (C-1) 100.00 sq. meters of shopping
floor area
Restaurants, fast-food centers, One ( 1) car slot for every
bars and beerhouses (C) 30.00 sq. meters of customer
area
Units located in office, Units with a gross floor area of
commercial or mixed-use from 18.00 to 40.00 sq. meters
condominium buildings/ - provide one (1) pooled
structures regardless of parking slot for every two (2)
number of storeys units or tor a fraction thereof
Unit with a gross floor area of
from 41.00 to 70.00 sq. meters
- provide one (1) parking slot
 for each unit and
Unit with a gross floor area of
more than 70. 00 sq. meters
provide one (1) parking slot for
every 70.00 sq. meters and for
a fraction thereof

PHILIPPINE GREEN BUILDING CODE: A Referral Code of the NATIONAL

BUILDING CODE (P.D.  1096)  

SECTION 6.  GREEN BUILDING CONCEPT

Green building is the practice of adopting measures that promote resource

management efficiency and   site sustainability while minimizing the negative impact of
buildings on human health and the   environment.  This practice complements the
conventional building design concerns of economy, durability, serviceability and comfort.

SECTION 8.  BUILDING USE / OCCUPANCY COVERAGE AND APPLICATION      

The provisions of the GB Code shall apply to all new construction and/or with alteration of
buildings in   the following classification with the required minimum Total Gross Floor Areas
(TGFA) as indicated in the Table below:  

 Table 3. Minimum TGFA for Building Use / Occupancy

Use/Occupancy Classification of any TGFA as Defined by NBC

Jurisdiction
Residential Dwelling: Condominium 20,000 sq.m.
Hotel/Resort 10,000 sq.m.
Educational: School 10,000 sq.m.
Institutional: Hospital 10,000 sq.m.
Business: Office 10,000 sq.m.
Mercantile: Mall 15,000 sq.m.
Mixed Occupancy 2 10,000 sq.m.
Sources:  NBC, Baseline Studies, IFC Philippine Green Building Code Project, May 2013    

1.  For Residential Dwelling:  Condominium, the TGFA is the sum of the dwelling

areas, common and   accessory areas within the building.    

2. The areas for Mixed Occupancy classification shall have a total aggregate area equal to
the TGFA.
SECTION 9. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

The GB Code shall be subject to the following performance standards:

9.1 Energy Efficiency

9.2 Water Efficiency

9.3 Material Sustainability

9.4 Solid Waste Management

9.5 Site Sustainability

9.6 Indoor Environmental Quality

SECTION 10. BUILDING ENVELOPE

SECTION 10.1.1 AIR TIGHTNESS AND MOISTURE PROTECTION    

a. General  

As the humidity levels are very high in the Philippines, the unwanted infiltration and
humidity   ingress into the spaces can cause additional load on the air conditioning system
and a detrimental impact on air quality.  Buildings must be planned and designed with
specific details to ensure that   air tightness is maximized.  Details should precisely include
joints, service entry points, windows and   doors.  The implementation of these measures
requires only increased attention to the construction   details and it can be implemented at
practically no cost.    

b. Applicability  

This measure applies to all building occupancies as indicated in Table 3.    

c. Requirements  

Buildings shall be planned and designed with:

i. Complete gaskets, weather‐stripping, door bottom sweeps and seals within and

around window   and door assemblies, ii.  Moisture protection on the surface of the external
façade to reduce vapor or moisture migration   from external spaces    

d. Exceptions

Buildings and spaces without provisions for air conditioning systems are exempt.  

SECTION 10.2 NATURAL VENTILATION    

a. General  

This measure will give building occupants the flexibility and opportunity to use natural
ventilation for   free cooling and fresh air in regularly occupied spaces.  This measure will
limit the tendency to create   glass-sealed box type buildings.  Size of each room and space
shall be consistent with the occupancy   load of the NBC.    
b. Applicability  

This measure applies to all building occupancies as indicated in Table 3

c. Requirements

i. Operable windows or balcony door shall be provided in regularly occupied spaces.

The size of the   opening shall be equal to at least ten percent (10%) of the floor area of
regularly occupied spaces.    

ii.   All operable windows shall be provided with safety features for protection against
strong winds, water penetration and protection for building occupants including child safety
and security.    

10.3 BUILDING ENVELOPE COLOR

Light‐colored building envelope, especially the roof areas which are the most vulnerable, can
reduce heat transfer from the outside to the inside of the building by having surfaces with
high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI).

Table 4.  Solar Reflectance Index Values of Basic Colored Coatings  

METAL  SURFACE SRI  

Reflective  white     86  to  92  
Basic  white   80  to  88
Beige  /  Tan   74  to  80
Dark  brown 0  to  33
Light  to  medium  brown   45  to  56  
Light  to  medium  grey   39  to  63  
Dark  grey   0  to  41  
Blue 23  to  30  
Light  to  medium  blue   35  to  38  
Red   28  to  36  
Terracotta  red   38  to  40  
Green   25  to  32  
Light  to  medium  green   30  to  48  

10.4 ROOF INSULATION

Insulation can help reduce heat gain in a building thus improving thermal comfort,
acoustic quality and reducing the load on the air conditioning system.

Table 5.  R-Value of Common Roof Insulation    

Insulation R-Value / inch (25.4 mm)    

Polyisocyanurate     5.6  to  8.0    
Polyurethane     5.6  to  6.5    
 Closed  cell  spray  foam     5.5  to  6.0    
Phenolic  foam     4.8     
Urea  formaldehyde  foam   4.6    
Plastic  fiber     4.3    
Mineral  fiber     4.2  to  4.5    
Cementitious  foam     3.9    
Polystyrene     3.8  to  5.0    
Fiberglass     3.7    
Rockwool     3.7    
Rigid  foam     3.6  to  6.7    
Cellulose     3.6  to  3.8    
Open  cell  spray  foam     3.6    
Sheep’s  wool     3.5    
Hemp     3.5    
Cotton     3.4     
Loose  cellulose   3.0  to  3.7    
Mineral  wool     2.8  to  3.7    
Straw     2.4  to  3.0    
Vermiculite  /  Perlite     2.4    
Reflective  bubble  foil     1 to1.1
Source:  US Department of Energy –  insulation materials

Insulation can help reduce heat gain in a building thus improving thermal
comfort, acoustic quality   and reducing the load on the air conditioning system. Buildings
shall be provided with roof insulation so that the average thermal resistance value (R-
Value) of the roof is at least R-8.    

10.6 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

10.6.1 DAYLIGHT PROVISION

Building should be planned and designed to maximize the use of natural light so to
reduce the use of artificial illumination.

All regularly occupied spaces inside the building shall have a view of any
combination of the following features that can allow daylight into the room space:

i. Window

ii. Light shelf

iii. Clerestory

iv. Skylight

v. Light monitor / light scoop

vi. Other devices that can allow daylight inside

SECTION 11. WATER EFFICIENCY

Water efficiency requires the adoption of efficient practices, plan, design, materials,
fixtures, equipment and methods that reduce water consumption resulting in cost savings.

SECTION 11.1 WATER FIXTURES

Efficient water fixtures include faucets, showerheads and water closets that use less
water in order to perform the same function of cleaning as effectively as standard models.
Water efficiency is an important aspect, especially as fresh water resources start getting
depleted at a rate faster than they are replenished. Use of efficient plumbing fixtures,
sensors, auto control valves, aerators, flow control and pressure-‐reducing devices,
wherever possible, can result in significant reduction in water consumption.

SECTION 13. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Efficient waste management requires the adoption of efficient waste management

practices and use of eco-friendly materials.

Buildings shall be provided with a minimum area for Material Recovery Facility (MRF)

Material Recovery Facility (MRF) shall be fully enclosed and easily accessible from
within the building and from the outside for easy collection of waste.

SECTION 14. SITE SUSTAINABILITY

Site sustainability requires the adoption of planning, design, construction and

operation practices that minimize the adverse impact of buildings on ecosystems and water
resources.

SECTION 14.2 OPEN SPACE UTILIZATION

The inclusion of green areas or landscaped areas for indigenous or adaptable species of
grass, shrubs and trees will help in providing more permeable surface for the building
development’s open space and thus allow the re-‐charging of natural ground water reservoir,
control storm water surface run off, cool the building surroundings, and provide indoor to
outdoor connectivity for the building occupants.\

SECTION 15. INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Indoor Environmental Quality requires the adoption of efficient design and operation
practices that take into consideration the building environment to improve occupant health,
productivity and safety.

FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

DIVISION 2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

A. Every building or structure, new or old, designed for human occupancy shall be
provided with exits sufficient to permit the fast and safe escape of occupants in case
of fire or other emergency. The design of exits and other fire safety construction shall be
such that reliance for safety to life in case of fire or other emergency will not depend solely
on any single fire safety construction. Additional safeguards shall be provided for life safety
in case any single safeguard is ineffective due to some human or mechanical failure.

B. Every building or structure shall be designed, constructed, equipped,

maintained and operated to avoid danger to the lives and ensure safety of its occupants
from fire, smoke, vapor and fumes, during the period of escape from the building or
structure.

C. Every building or structure shall be provided with exits of kind, number,

location and capacity appropriate to the individual building or structure, with due
regard to the character of the occupancy, the number of persons exposed, the fire protection
available and the height and type of construction of the building or structure, to afford all
occupants convenient facilities for escape.

D. Every exit of buildings or structures shall be arranged and maintained to provide

free and unobstructed egress from all parts thereof at all times. No lock or fastening
device that would prevent escape from the inside of any building shall be installed
except in mental, penal, or correctional institutions where personnel are continually on duty
and effective provisions are made to evacuate occupants in case of fire or other
emergencies.

E. Every exit shall be clearly visible. The route to the exit shall be conspicuously
marked in such a manner that every occupant of a building or structure will readily know the
direction of escape. Each route of escape, in its entirety, shall be so arranged or
marked that the way to a place of safety outside is unmistakable. Any doorway not
constituting an exit shall be marked to minimize its possible confusion as an exit. Likewise,
passage constituting a way to reach an exit shall be marked to minimize confusion.

F. All means of egress shall be provided with adequate and reliable illumination.

G. Fire alarm systems or devices shall be provided in every building or

structure of such size, arrangement, or occupancy, to provide adequate warning to
occupants.

H. Every building or structure, section, or area thereof of such size, occupancy and
arrangement such that the reasonable safety of a number of occupants may be endangered
by the blocking of any single means of egress due to fire or smoke, shall have at least two
means of egress remote from each other, so arranged as to minimize any possibility that
both may be blocked by any one fire or other emergency conditions.

I. Every vertical way of exit and other vertical openings between floors of a
building shall be suitably enclosed or protected to afford reasonable safety of occupants
while using exits and to prevent spread of fire, smoke, or fumes through vertical openings
from floor to floor before occupants have entered exits.

J. Required Fire Safety Programs/Measures

1. In addition to the requirements, lessees or occupants of buildings, structures or

facilities shall observe all pertinent fire safety measures;
 2. All occupants or lessees of buildings, structures or facilities shall organize
themselves and develop and implement fire safety programs to include among others, fire
prevention in the premises, notification of the BFP on the existence of a fire, evacuation of
persons and initial firefighting. The building owner shall take the initiative of formulating the
fire safety program for his building and of organizing the occupants to implement the
programs.

3. In buildings, leased to and used by one or several companies or persons, the

management of each company or each person shall be responsible for fire safety measures
within the leased or occupied areas. The building owner shall be responsible for the common
areas in the building such as the means of egress, utilities and building service equipment or
systems.

4. In building structures or facilities, such as condominium and the like, where some
units of the building are not yet sold, the provisions of paragraph “J” sub-para "3" above shall
apply. When all condominium units have been sold, responsibility for fire safety measures in
the common areas such as the means of egress, utilities, building equipment/system and the
building as a whole, shall devolve jointly upon all individual unit owners or occupants.

K. Compliance with this Chapter shall not be construed as eliminating or reducing the
necessity from complying with the other provisions for safety of persons using a structure
under normal occupancy conditions. Also, no provision of the Fire Code of the Philippines
and this IRR shall be construed as requiring or permitting any condition that might be
hazardous under normal occupancy conditions.

L. Construction and Repair Operations

1. New Construction

a. No building or structure under construction shall be occupied in whole or in part

until all required means of egress required for the part to be occupied are completed,
inspected and approved for occupancy.

b. Adequate escape facilities shall be maintained at all times in buildings under

construction for the use of construction workers. These facilities shall consist of doors,
walkways, stairs, ramps, fire escapes, or other arrangements in accordance with the general
guidelines of the Fire Code of the Philippines and this IRR in so far as they can reasonably
be applied to buildings under construction.

2. Repairs or Alterations

a. Existing buildings may be occupied during repairs or alterations provided that all
existing fire protection systems/devices are continuously maintained or, in lieu thereof, other
measures are taken to provide equivalent safety.

b. Flammable or explosive substances or equipment necessary for the repair or

alteration of a building or structure may be introduced therein while it is occupied, only if the
conditions of use and the safeguards therefore provided will not create any additional danger
or impair the use of the means of egress.

DIVISION 3. CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY

Business

a. Business buildings are those used for the transaction of business other than that covered
under Mercantile, for the keeping of accounts and records and similar purposes.

b. Included in this occupancy group are: offices for lawyers; doctors; dentists and other
professionals; general offices; City/Municipal halls; internet shops; massage parlors, beauty
parlors, barbershops of less than 50 occupants and court houses;

c. Minor office occupancy incidental to operations in other occupancy shall be considered as

a part of the dominant occupancy and shall be subject to the provisions of the Chapter
applying to the dominant occupancy.

DIVISION 5. MEANS OF EGRESS

SECTION 10.2.5.2 GENERAL PROVISIONS

Protective Enclosure of Exits

No exit enclosure shall be used for any purpose other than for means of egress.

The egress capacity for approved components of means of egress shall be based on the
capacity factors shown in the table.

STAIRWAYS LEVEL COMPONENTS AND RAMPS

(width per person) (width per person)
AREA mm in mm in
Board and Care 10 0.4 5 0.2
Health Care, Sprinklered 7.6 0.3 5 0.2
Heath Care, Non-sprinklered 1.5 0.6 13 0.5
High Hazards 18 0.7 10 0.4
All Others 7.6 0.3 5 0.4

The required capacity of a corridor shall be the occupant load that utilizes the corridor
for exit access divided by the required number of exits to which the corridor connects, but
the corridor capacity shall be not less than the required capacity of the exit to which the
corridor leads.

OCCUPANT LOAD

Where exits serve more than one floor, only the occupant load of each floor
considered individually need be used in computing the capacity of the exits of that floor.
Provided, that exit capacity shall not be decreased in the direction of exit travel. When
means of egress from the floor above and below converge at an intermediate floor, the
capacity of the means of egress from the point of convergence shall not be less than the
sum of the two.
 When any required egress capacity from a balcony or mezzanine passes through the
room below, that required capacity shall be added to the required egress capacity of the
room below.

NUMBER OF MEANS OF EGRESS

The number of means of egress from any balcony, mezzanine, storey, or portion
thereof shall not be less than two (2).

ARRANGEMENT OF EXIT

1. Exits shall be located and exit access shall be arranged so that exits are readily
accessible at all times.
2. Corridors shall provide exit access without passing through any intervening rooms other
than corridors, lobbies, and other spaces permitted to be open to the corridor.
3. Interlocking or scissor stairs shall be considered only as a single exit for new buildings.

DEAD-END LIMITS

Means of egress shall be so arranged that there are no dead-end pockets, hallways,
corridors, passage ways, or courts whose depth exceeds the limits

ACCESS TO EXITS

1. A door from a room to an exit or to a way of exit access shall be of the side-
hinged, swinging type. It shall swing with exit travel.
2. Ways of exit access and the doors to exits to which they lead shall be designed and
arranged to be clearly recognizable as such. Decorations or draperies shall not be placed
on exit doors. Mirrors shall not be placed in or adjacent to any exit in such a manner as to
confuse the direction of exit.
3. Exit access shall be arranged that it will not be necessary to travel toward any area of high
hazard occupancy in order to reach the nearest exit, unless the path is protected by
suitable partitions.

SECTION 10.2.5.4 STAIRS

MINIMUM NEW STAIR WIDTH

Where the total occupant load of all storey served by the stair is fewer than 50, the
minimum width clears of all obstructions, except projections not more than one hundred
fourteen millimeters (114 mm) at or below handrail height on each side, shall be nine
hundred fifteen millimeters (915 mm).

DIVISION 14. BUSINESS OCCUPANCIES

SECTION 10.2.14.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

OCCUPANT LOAD

1. For purposes of determining required exits, the occupant load of business

purposes shall be no less than one (1) person per nine and three tenths square meters (9.3
m2) of gross floor area.
 2. In the case of mezzanine or balcony open to the floor below of other unprotected
vertical openings between floors, the occupant load of the mezzanine or other subsidiary
floor level shall be added to that of the street floor for the purpose of determining required
exits. However, in no case shall the total number of exit units be less than would be required
if all vertical openings were enclosed.

CAPACITY OF MEANS OF EGRESS

The clear width of any corridor or passageway serving an occupant load of fifty (50)
or more shall be not less than 1.12 meters.

a. It is not the intent that this provision applies to non-corridor or non-

passageway areas of exit access, such as the spaces between rows of
desks created by office layout or low-height partitions.

NUMBER OF EXITS

1. Not less than two (2) separate exits shall be accessible from every part of every
storey.
2. The total distance of travel from any point, including travel within the exit, shall not
exceed 30 meters.

THE LAW TO ENHANCE MOBILITY OF DISABLED PERSONS - BATAS

PAMBANSA BLG. 344
RULE I - SCOPE AND APPLICATION

APPLICATIONS

4.1.1 Building and related structures to be constructed -

a) At the space where the primary function is served and where facilities and ingress/egress
of the building or structure are located, as to make such space accessible to the disabled
persons; provided, however, that where the primary function can be served at the ingress
level and where such level is provided with facilities, requirements for accessibility at other
levels may be waived.

b) Ten percent (10%) of the total number of units of government-owned living

accommodations shall be accessible and fully usable by the disabled persons with any
fractional part in excess of one-half (1/2) in the computation thereof, to be considered as one
unit; for privately-owned living accommodations the number of accessible units shall be as
provided in Section 3 of Rule III thereof.

c) Ingress/egress from the street to the building or structure shall be made accessible.

d) Accessible slots in parking areas shall be located as near as possible to ingress/egress

spaces of the building or structure.

4.1.3 Streets, highways and transport related structures to be constructed -Streets, highways
and transport related structures shall be provided with the following barrier-free facilities and
accessibility features at every pedestrian crossing: ramps and other accessible features in
buildings of the sectoral offices and attached agencies of DOTC; transportation terminals
and passenger waiting areas for use of disabled persons;

a) Cut-out curbs and accessible ramps at the sidewalks.

DESIGN CRITERIA:

1. CATEGORIES OF DISABLED PERSONS. The categories of disability dictate the varied

measures to be adopted in order to create an accessible environment for the handicapped.
Disabled persons under these Rules may be classified into those who have:

1.1.1 Impairments requiring confinement to wheelchairs; or

1.1.2 Impairments causing difficulty or insecurity in walking or climbing stairs or requiring the
use of braces, crutches or other artificial supports; or impairments caused by amputation,
arthritis, spastic conditions or pulmonary, cardiac or other ills rendering individuals semi-
ambulatory; or

1.1.3 Total or partial impairments of hearing or sight causing insecurity or likelihood of

exposure to danger in public places; or

1.1.4 Impairments due to conditions of aging and incoordination;

1.1.5 Mental impairments whether acquired or congenital in nature.

1.3 BASIC PHYSICAL PLANNING REQUIREMENTS

No group of people shall be deprived of full participation and enjoyment of the

environment or be made unequal with the rest due to any disability. In order to achieve this
goal adopted by the United Nations, certain basic principles shall be applied:

1.3.1 ACCESSIBILITY. The built environment shall be designed so that it shall be

accessible to all people. This means that no criteria shall impede the use of facilities by
either the handicapped or non-disabled citizens.

1.3.2 REACHABILITY. Provisions shall be adapted and introduced to the physical

environment so that as many places or buildings as possible can be reached by all.

1.3.3 USABILITY. The built environment shall be designed so that all persons,
whether they be disabled or not, may use and enjoy it.

1.3.4 ORIENTATION. Finding a person's way inside and outside of a building or

open space shall be made easy for everyone.

1.3.5 SAFETY. Designing for safety insures that people shall be able to move about
with less hazards to life and health.

1.3.6 WORKABILITY AND EFFICIENCY. The built environment shall be designed to

allow the disabled citizens to participate and contribute to developmental goals.

RULE III: SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS AND RELATED STRUCTURES

FOR PUBLIC USE
1. CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDING BY USE OF OCCUPANCY:

1.1 Occupancy classified by categories enumerated in Section 701 of the National Building
Code (PD 1096) are hereby adapted.

1.1.1 Category I - Residential -This shall comprise Group A and partly Group B Buildings

1.1.2 Category II - Commercial and Industrial -This shall comprise partly Groups B, C, E, F,
G, H, and I Buildings

1.1.3 Category III - Educational and Industrial - This shall comprise partly Group C, D, E, and
H Buildings

1.1.4 Category IV - Agricultural - This shall comprise partly Group J Buildings.

1.1.5 Category V - Ancillary - This shall comprise partly Group J Buildings

2. ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES AND FACILITIES:

Where the following features and facilities are: architectural design requirements in
accordance with generally accepted architectural practice, the same include the
corresponding graphic signs.

2.1 ARCHITECTURAL FACILITIES AND FEATURES:

2.1.1 A - Stairs

2.1.2 B - Walkways

2.1.3 C - Corridors

2.1.4 D - Doors and Entrances

2.1.5 E - Washrooms and Toilets

2.1.6 F - Lifts/Elevators

2.1.7 G - Ramps

2.1.8 H - Parking Areas

2.1.9 I - Switches, Controls, Buzzers

2.1.10 J - Handrails

2.1.12 K - Thresholds

2.1.12 L - Floor Finishes

2.1.13 M - Drinking Fountains

2.1.14 N - Public Telephones

2.1.15 O - Seating Accommodations

4. CATEGORY II

The following requirements shall apply to both government and privately-owned

buildings.
4.4 GROUP E-2

4.4.4 Office Buildings

Barrier-free facilities and features required in A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, and N.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCESSIBILITY ILLUSTRATIONS FOR MINIMUM

REQUIREMENTS

A. OUTSIDE AND AROUND BUILDINGS

DROPPED CURBS

1.3 Dropped curbs at crossings have a width corresponding to the width of the crossing;
otherwise, the minimum width is 0.90 m.

1.4 Dropped curbs shall be ramped towards adjoining curbs with a gradient not more than
1:12.

1.5 Dropped curbs shall be sloped towards the road with a maximum cross gradient of 1:20
to prevent water from collecting at the walkway.

WALKWAYS AND PASSAGEWAYS

3.2 Whenever and wherever possible, walkways should have a gradient no more than 1:20
or 5%.

3.7 In lengthy or busy walkways, spaces should be provided at some point along the route
so that a wheelchair may pass another or turn around. These spaces should have a
minimum dimension of 1.50 m and should be spaced at a maximum distance of 12:00 m
between stops.

3.10 Walkway headroom should not be less than 2.0 m and preferably higher.

HANDRAILS

Handrails shall be installed at 0.90 m and 0.70 m above steps or ramps. Handrails for
protection at great heights may be installed at 1.0 m to 1.06 m.

PARKING AREAS

1.1 Parking spaces for the disabled should allow enough space for a person to transfer to a
wheelchair from a vehicle.

1.2 Accessible parking spaces should be located as close as possible to building entrances
or to accessible entrances.

1.3 Whenever and wherever possible, accessible parking spaces should be perpendicular or
to an angle to the road or circulation aisles.

1.4 Accessible parking slots should have a minimum width of 3.70 m.

1.5 A walkway from accessible spaces of 1.20 m. clear width shall be provided between the
front ends of parked cars.

RAMPS
2.2 Ramps shall have a minimum clear width of 1.20 m.

2.3 The maximum gradient shall be 1:12.

2.4 The length of a ramp should not exceed 6:00 m. if the gradient is 1:12; longer ramps
whose gradient is 1:12 shall be provided with landings not less than 1.50 m.

2.5 A level area not less than 1.80 m. should be provided at the top and bottom of any ramp.

2.6 Handrails will be provided on both sides of the ramp at 0.70 m. and 0.90 m. from the
ramp level.

DOORS

3.1 All doors shall have a minimum clear width of 0.80 m.

3.8 Doorknobs and other hardware should be located between 0.82 m. and 1.06 m. above
the floor; 0.90 is preferred.

3.9 Vertical pull handles, centered at 1.06 m. above the floor, are preferred to horizontal pull
bars for swing doors or doors with locking devices.

CORRIDORS

7.1 Corridors shall have minimum clear width of 1.20 m.; waiting areas and other facilities or
spaces shall not obstruct the minimum clearance requirement.

7.2 Recesses or turnabout spaces should be provided for wheelchairs to turn around or to
enable another wheelchair to pass; these spaces shall have a minimum area of 1.50 m x
1.50 m. and shall be spaced at a maximum of 12.00 m.

7.3 Turnabout spaces should also be provided at or within 3.50 m. of every dead end.

TIME-SAVER STANDARDS FOR BUILDING TYPES

General Building Layout Building arrangement is the next step in planning a city hall or
municipal building. It is helpful as a starting point to use the following checklist of
departments, offices, special-purpose rooms, and service areas in analysing interior building
requirements:

1. Departments requiring constant contact with the general public and the collection or
payment of money-for example, the finance department and tax collector

2. Departments requiring contact with special classes of the public-for example, city-owned
utilities, building permits, personnel, city planning, and city clerk

3. Other departments including public works, recreation, police, fire, etc.

4. City council chamber and office space for use by the mayor and councilmen

5. Offices for the chief administrator

6. Courtrooms

7. Storage vaults and record rooms

8. Locker rooms, rest rooms, janitor closets, public telephones, and space for heating,
ventilating, plumbing, and electrical equipment

9. "Circulating areas" for lobbies, corridors, elevators, and stairways

Departments related in function should be located near one another and consecutive
operations planned in production-line style. Excessive lobbies and hall space add to the cost
of construction without adding usable space. The height of the building will depend upon the
amount of ground available and the amount of office space needed

Departmental Layout will depend on the activities carried on by the department and
the tools or special equipment used. For example, a finance department layout may require
an open area for accounting clerks and collectors with one or two private offices, a machine
room, and a vault. The public works department, on the other hand, may require private
offices for the director, the engineer, and individual inspectors, a drafting room, a vault, a
plan or map room, and conference rooms.

Private Offices More space is required for private offices; space utilization is
restricted through segregation of areas for private offices; and considerable expense is
involved in rearranging and re-erecting partitions. Ventilation, lighting, and heating problems
are complicated by a number of small offices; supervision and coordination of work, flow of
work, and communications are made more difficult. An open, wall-arranged office has a
more orderly and business-like appearance then a series of small offices.

Chief Administrator's Office The location of the chief administrator's office is

important to good public relations. It should be located so as to give the impression of being
easily reached and open to any caller, but it should not be too prominent. The second floor
ordinarily is a good location since some effort must be expended to visit it, and the casual or
merely curious individual is less likely to intrude.

Council Members The council meeting room should be carefully planned if full use
is to be made of it. Location of the council chamber is important because of the public nature
of the business transacted there. Most of the cities with multi-storied buildings have located
the council room on the first or second floor.

Finance Activities The collection activities of the finance department have more
contact with the public than any other municipal activity with the possible exception of the
police and building departments. A prominent location near the front entrance is therefore
desirable. Collection functions should be located near the public counter with billing,
assessing, accounting, budgeting, and purchasing at a greater distance.

Police Department The police department is singled out for discussion because of
the special facilities it needs other than regular office space. As noted, the police department
is frequently not included in the city hall. When it is, however, it should be basically separate
from other city hall activities, and public and criminal activities should be separated.

In planning police station facilities, several basic needs should be considered by all
cities. Jail cells should be away from public areas. Prisoner retention for any period requires
toilets, kitchen facilities, and separation of men and women prisoners. The communications
center should be isolated from the general public and other work areas. In such a case the
communications section might be located in a glass enclosure with a sliding panel.
Fingerprinting, photographic, identification, and booking areas should be located together,
although not necessarily in the same room. Provide plenty of space for storage. Firearms
and other equipment should be stored in locked cabinets. Room for confiscated, lost, and
abandoned articles is necessary if such items are to be kept properly.

In the medium-sized department, the detective squad room can be used for
interrogation. A separate room for the use of prisoners and their attorneys or visitors is
important when the station has facilities for housing prisoners. Finally, the large city should
have a courtroom near the jail or detention facilities of the police department.

Design of the Municipal Building The municipal building is essentially an office

building, not a monument or an ornament. The building should be so designed as to be
economical in construction and maintenance. True long-range economy is achieved by a
judicious balance between original cost and maintenance cost. A building with cheap
materials and equipment for the sake of low first cost may be quite expensive in
maintenance and replacement. Even though the city hall should be basically functional and
not a monument, originality in design is not precluded.