EASEMENTS ▪ No building shall be constructed unless it adjoins

EASEMENT IS PUBLIC LAND or has direct access to a public space, yard, or

▪ Situated outside of private property limits
▪ Should be equally enjoyed by all members of the
community
▪ The only uses allowed are those that support its public
recreational character
road on at least one side.
▪ Interior or rear lots shall have an access road with
a minimum width of 3.00m. Provide a 4.00m wide
chaflan at the intersection with the main RROW.

MINIMUM EASEMENTS

THREE RROW LEVELS

▪ RROW above grade
▪ RROW at grade
▪ RROW below grade

RROW

VIEW CORRIDORS + SIGHTLINES

▪ The carriageway shall be free of structures,
particularly commercial signs that will impede the view
corridor and sightlines within the RROW
▪ To dignify important public/historical buildings, all
forms of commercial signs intruding into the RROW
leading to or away said structures shall be disallowed

RROW ABOVE GRADE

▪ From the finished surface of the roadway all the
way up to the air
▪ If utilized for whatever purpose, the use or air
rights must be compensated for (leased from the
government)
▪ Minimum clear height: 4.27m from crown of
carriageway
ACCESS TO PROPERTY RROW AT GRADE
▪ From natural grade line to the finished surface of
the carriageway or sidewalk
▪ Generally utilized for the movement of the general
public (motorists and pedestrians)
▪ If utilized for whatever purpose, proponent must
lease/pay the government

RROW BELOW GRADE

▪ From finished surface of roadway all the way
down into the ground
▪ If utilized for whatever purpose, proponent must
lease/pay the government

SIDEWALKS DRIVEWAYS ACROSS SIDEWALKS

▪ The local planning authority shall determine which ▪ If curb height = 200mm or lower, the driveway and
streets shall have an open sidewalk or an arcaded the sidewalk shall be on the same plane. Provide
sidewalk, or a combination of both entry ramp of slope 1/3 to ¼ connecting the
▪ For a RROW width of 9.00m or more, the carriageway to the sidewalk/curb.
minimum sidewalk width shall be 1.20m on each
side of the RROW. For RROW less than 9.00m,
refer to Table VIII.G.3

DRIVEWAYS ACROSS SIDEWALKS

▪ If curb height = greater than 200mm, a curb
cutout for the driveway may be allowed and the
driveway may be constructed along the entire
width of the sidewalk. The sidewalk and the
driveway shall be joined by a ramp with a slope of
not more than 1/8.

GRADE OF SIDEWALKS
▪ As much as possible, sidewalks shall be level and of
uniform grade throughout the length of the street
▪ When the street slope does not exceed 1/12, the
sidewalk shall follow the street slope
▪ When the street slope is 1/10, the sidewalk shall be
maintained level for every 20-40 meters of run, each
level joined by a ramp of a slope not exceeding 1/6.
PLANTING STRIPS
▪ Sidewalks 2.00m or more in width shall include on
its outer side a planting strip of not less than
800mm wide up to a maximum of 1/3 of the
sidewalk width
▪ The planting strip is meant to separate the curb
from the sidewalk, and must always be placed
near the curbline.
RULE 9 SANITATION
BASIC SANITATION PROVISIONS
▪ All buildings shall be provided with the ff:
▪ Adequate and potable water supply
▪ Adequate plumbing installation
▪ Suitable wastewater treatment/disposal system
▪ Storm water drainage
WATER SOURCE
▪ Potable water shall be sourced from the existing
municipal waterworks system whenever possible
WATER QUALITY
▪ Shall conform to the criteria in the National
Standards for Drinking Water
WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
▪ Sanitary sewage from buildings shall be
discharged directly into the nearest street sanitary
sewer main
▪ If no sanitary sewerage system is available, septic
tanks may be used
STORM DRAINAGE
▪ Rainwater drainage shall not discharge into the
sanitary system
NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE
▪ All plumbing installations (water supply and
drainage) shall conform to the National Plumbing
Code
RULE 10
Building Projections Over Public
Streets
ARE PROJECTIONS BEYOND THE
PROPERTY LINE ALLOWED?
▪ No. Unless otherwise allowed by the Code.
PROJECTIONS INTO THE RROW
▪ National roads or public highways: footings
located at least 2.40m below grade may project
300mm (maximum) beyond the property line
▪ Public sidewalk: Foundations may encroach
500mm into the sidewalk if top of foundation is at
least 600mm below grade
PROJECTIONS INTO THE RROW
▪ In all cases, these projections shall not obstruct
any utilities/services, unless the owner is willing to
pay for the rerouting of said utilities/services
BALCONIES
▪ Clearance between sidewalk grade and lowest
portion of balcony = 3.00m minimum
ARCADES
▪ Arcades may be constructed on sidewalks of
streets whenever allowed or required by existing
building and zoning regulations.
▪ Arcades shall be at least 3.00m above the
sidewalk grade.
DOORS + WINDOWS
▪ Unless at least 2.40m above the pavement, no
door or window shall project beyond the property
line when fully opened or upon opening.
CHAFLANS
▪ Every corner building or fence on a public street
less than 3.60m wide shall be truncated at the
corner to form a chaflan.
▪ The chaflan shall be at least 4.00m wide
RULE 11
Protection of Pedestrians

PROTECTION OF PEDESTRIANS
▪ No person shall use or occupy a street or sidewalk
RULE 12
for the performance of work except in accordance General Design Requirements
with this rule
▪ No work shall be performed adjacent to a public
way unless pedestrians are protected as specified EXCAVATIONS
in this rule ▪ Excavations must not endanger life or property
▪ Any person undertaking an excavation shall
STORAGE IN PUBLIC PROPERTY ensure that the soil of the adjoining property will
▪ Shall not obstruct utility provisions (fire hydrants, not cave in or settle.
fire alarm box, manholes) ▪ Cut slopes shall be no steeper than 2:1
▪ Shall not interfere with drainage (horizontal:vertical).
▪ Shall not interfere with vehicular and pedestrian
Traffic OCCUPANT LOAD
▪ The maximum number of persons that may be
MORTAR MIXING allowed to occupy a certain room, floor, or area
▪ The mixing of mortar or concrete shall not be ▪ Shall be determined by dividing the floor area
allowed on public streets. assigned to that use by the unit area allowed per
occupant as shown on Table XII.1.
TEMPORARY WALKWAYS ▪ Floor area/unit area per occupant
▪ When the Building Official authorizes a sidewalk
to be closed, a temporary walkway at least 1.20m
wide shall be provided
▪ If the street has no sidewalk, width may be
reduced to 600mm.
▪ If RROW is 5.00m wide or less, no temporary
walkways are allowed

FENCES + CANOPIES
▪ Fences shall entirely enclose a construction site
▪ Minimum height: 2.40 meters above curb

FENCES + CANOPIES
▪ When the horizontal distance between the OFB
and the inner edge or the sidewalk is more than ½
the building height, only a 2.40m high fence is
required.
▪ When the horizontal distance between the OFB
and the inner edge or the sidewalk is equal or less
than ½ the building height, a canopy will be also
be required in addition to the fence.

FENCES + CANOPIES
▪ For canopies: provide a clear unobstructed height
of 2.40m above the walkway
NUMBER OF EXITS
▪ Every building shall have at least one exit
▪ Upper floors with occupant load of more than 10
shall have at least two exits
▪ A mezzanine floor bigger than 185sqm or having
more than 18.00m in any dimension shall have at
least two stairways to an adjacent floor
NUMBER OF EXITS
▪ Every floor with occupant load of 500-999 shall
have at least 3 exits.
▪ Every floor with occupant load of 1000 or more
shall have at least 4 exits.
WIDTH OF EXITS
▪ Total width of exits = Occupant load/165
▪ Note: This is the total width in meters
ARRANGEMENT OF EXITS
▪ If two exits are required, the two exits must be
apart by at least 1/5 of the perimeter of the area
served.
▪ If three or more are required, they shall be
arranged a reasonable distance apart
DISTANCE TO EXITS
▪ If without a sprinkler system, 45.00m maximum
▪ If with a sprinkler system, 60.00m maximum
▪ Measured from any point in a building, measured
along the line of travel
EXITS DOORS
▪ When serving an occupant load of 50 or more,
must swing in the direction of exit travel
▪ Double acting doors shall not be used as exits
when serving a tributary load of more than 100.
Must be provided with a view panel of not less
than 1300 sq. cm.
TYPE OF LOCKS
▪ Exit doors shall be openable from the inside
without the use of a key or any special knowledge
or effort
SIZE OF DOORS
▪ Minimum width of doorway: 0.90mm
▪ Minimum height of doorway: 2.00m
▪ Shall be capable of opening at least 90 degrees
BASEMENT STAIRWAYS
▪ If a basement stairway and a stairway to an upper
storey terminate at the same exit enclosure, a
barrier shall be provided to prevent persons from
continuing into the basements
▪ Also provide directional exit signs
▪ Maximum door leaf width: 1.20m
PROHIBITED DOORS
▪ The following shall not be used as exit doors:
▪ Revolving doors
▪ Sliding doors
▪ Overhead doors
FLOOR LEVEL CHANGE AT DOORS
▪ There shall be a floor or a landing on each side of an
exit door
▪ The floor/landing shall not be more than 50mm lower
than the door threshold
▪ Exception: For Group A or B occupancies, a door may
open over the top step provided that the landing is
not more than 200mm from the floor level and the
door does not swing over the top step.
CORRIDORS
▪ Minimum width: 1.10m
▪ This width shall be unobstructed, except that trim
handrails and doors when fully opened shall not
reduce the required with by more than 200mm.
▪ Doors in any position shall not reduce the width by
more than ½.
DEAD ENDS
▪ Maximum length: 6.00m
STAIRWAY WIDTHS
▪ 1.10m for occupant load more than 50
▪ 0.90m for occupant load of 50 or less
▪ 0.75m for occupant load of less than 10 (private)
▪ Handrails shall not reduce the width of stairways
by more than 100mm
RISER AND TREAD
▪ Maximum riser: 200mm
▪ Minimum tread: 250mm
▪ Note: Always keep in mind that the NBC requirement
is a maximum for risers, and a minimum for treads
STAIRWAY HEADROOM
▪ Not less than 2.00m measured from the nosing
LANDINGS
▪ Length = stairway width
▪ If the stairway has a straight run, landing length
does not need to exceed 1.20m
▪ Landing width shall not be reduced by more than
100mm by any door when fully opened
▪ Max. vertical distance between landings: 3.60m
HANDRAILS
▪ Stairways shall have handrails on each side
▪ If a stairway is more than 3.00m in width, at least
one intermediate handrail shall be provided
▪ Height of handrails: 800-900mm above the nosing
of treads
HANDRAILS
▪ Exceptions:
▪ In Group A or B occupancies, stairways 1.10m or less
in width serving one individual dwelling may have one
handrail only
▪ Stairways having less than four risers need not have
Handrails
WINDING STAIRWAYS
▪ Allowed as exits as long as the required tread
(250mm) is provided at a point 300mm away
from the narrow end
▪ However, the tread must not be narrower than
150mm at any point
CIRCULAR STAIRWAYS
▪ May be used as exits provided that the minimum
width of run is not less than 250mm
AISLES
▪ Aisles leading to an exit shall be provided for all
portions with installed seats, tables, etc.
▪ Shall be at least 0.80m wide if serving only one
side, or 1.00m if serving both sides
▪ This minimum width shall be measured at the
point farthest from the exit, and shall be increased
by 30mm for every meter in length towards the
exit
AISLE TRAVEL DISTANCE
▪ The line of travel to an exit door by an aisle shall
not be more than 45.00m
▪ Maximum 7 seats between wall and aisle
▪ Maximum 14 seats between two aisles
▪ Maximum slope: 1 in 8
AISLE TRAVEL DISTANCE
▪ The number of seats between aisles may be
increased to 30 if:
▪ Exit doors are provided along each aisle at the rate of
1 ▪ Residential buildings 5 storeys or higher shall
pair of exit doors for every 5 rows of seats
▪ The back-to-back distance between seats is 1.00m
minimum
▪ Minimum clear width of exit doors is 1.70m
FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS
▪ Automatic fire extinguishing systems are required
for the following:
▪ Habitable storeys with an area of 200 sqm or more
with an occupant load of more than 20
▪ Dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms, workshops or
factories with occupant load of more than 10
▪ Assembly halls under Group H and I with occupant
load of more than 500
DRY STANDPIPES
▪ All buildings 4 or more storeys in height shall be
equipped with one or more dry standpipes
▪ Standpipes shall be located within enclosed
stairway landings
▪ Siamese connections shall be located on the
street-front of a building 300mm-1200mm above
grade
WET STANDPIPES
▪ The following shall have wet standpipes:
▪ Group H or I occupancy of any height
▪ Group C occupancy 2 or more storeys in height
▪ Groups B, D, E F and G 3 or more storeys in height
▪ Group G and E occupancy over 1800 sqm in area
▪ Exemption:
▪ Group H buildings without stage whose seating
capacity is less than 500
LOCATIONS OF WET STANDPIPES
▪ All portions of the building are within 6.00m of a
nozzle attached to a hose 23.00m in length
(standpipes 58.00m apart)
▪ For assembly occupancies:
▪ 1 outlet on each side of the stage
▪ 1 at the rear of the auditorium
▪ 1 at the rear of the balcony
RULE 13 Electrical + Mechanical
REFERRAL CODES
▪ All electrical systems and installations shall
conform to the provisions of the Philippine
Electrical Code pursuant to RA 7920 (Electrical
Engg. Law)
▪ All mechanical systems and installations shall
conform to the provisions of the Philippine
Mechanical Code pursuant to RA 8495 (Mech.
Engg. Law)
CLEARANCE OF SERVICE DROPS
▪ 2.50m from highest point of roofs
▪ 3.00m from the ground
▪ 1.00m (horizontal) from windows/porches
▪ 5.50m from the crown of the street or sidewalk
▪ No service drop conductors or any other wiring
shall pass over swimming pools
ELEVATORS
▪ Hoistway pit: minimum 600mm from underside of
car to bottom of pit
▪ Maximum four elevators in a single hoistway
have at least one passenger elevator on 24-hour
constant operation
ESCALATORS
▪ Maximum inclination: 30° from horizontal
▪ Width between ballustrades: 560mm-1200mm.
Shall not exceed the width of the step by more
than 330mm
▪ Speed: 38 meters per minute maximum (common
rule is 90-120 fpm/27.5-36.5mpm)
AIR CONDITIONING
▪ Comfortable cooling standards:
▪ Temperature: 20°-24° Celsius
▪ Humidity: 50% - 60%
▪ Air movement: 4.60-7.60 meters per minute
WATER PUMPING
▪ Installation of pumping equipment directly from
the public water supply system is prohibited
RULE 14
Photo Films + X-ray Films
FILM STORAGE ROOMS
▪ Provide automatic fire extinguishing systems for
the following:
▪ When unexposed films in shipping containers exceed
14.00 cubic meters
▪ When shelving used for storing film exceeds 1.40
cubic meters in capacity
FILM STORAGE ROOMS
▪ No films shall be stored within 600mm of steam
pipes, chimneys, or other sources of heat
RULE 15
Prefabricated Construction
PREFABRICATED ASSEMBLY
▪ A structural unit, the integral parts of which have
been built-up or assembled prior to incorporation
in the building
▪ To determine structural adequacy, they shall pass
special tests conducted by accredited material
testing laboratories
RULE 16 Plastics

APPROVED PLASTICS
▪ Those which have a flame-spread rating of 225 or
less
▪ Those with a smoke density not greater than that
obtained from the burning of untreated wood
▪ Those whose products of combustion are no
more toxic than those of untreated wood
PLASTIC DOORS
▪ Plastic doors are allowed except for entrance
doors and exit doors, which should be of materials
other than plastics
RULE 17
Sheet Metal Spray booths
SPRAY PAINT BOOTHS
▪ Paint spray booths shall be constructed of not
less than No. 18 US Gauge in thickness
▪ The area of a spray paint booth shall not exceed
150sqm
▪ The floor of the booth, if combustible, shall be
covered with non-combustible material
▪ Shall permit the free passage of exhaust air
RULE 18
Glass + Glazing
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
▪ Applies to all exterior glass/glazing except Groups
A, B, and J not taller than three storeys
▪ Each glass panel shall bear the manufacturer’s
label designating the type and thickness of glass
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
▪ Glass panels with special performance
characteristics shall bear the manufacturer’s label
indicating said characteristics
▪ Measures shall be taken to keep persons from
walking into fixed glass panels where the floor on
both sides of the glass are the same level
(guardrails, etching, flower bins)
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
▪ Glass in large areas along shopping malls,
commercial buildings, institutional buildings, etc.
RULE 19
Use of Computers
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
▪ The use of computers for all or any part of
building design is permitted provided that all
programs to be used are documented
PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION
▪ File with the OBO a reference to a publication
accessible to him where a detailed description of
the program including a description of the
algorithms are found
▪ The software name, version number and the
developer and its address shall be provided as
part of documentation
RULE 20
Signs
SIGNS
▪ No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to
confuse or obstruct the view or interpretation of
any official traffic sign/device
▪ Signs in any foreign language shall have a
translation in English or the local dialect
ROOF SIGNS
▪ No signs shall be installed on rooftops of
buildings of wooden structures or of buildings
with wooden roof framing
▪ Provide grounding of metallic parts of roof signs
exposed to lightning
GROUND SIGNS
▪ Shall be located within the property line and under
no circumstances shall they occupy the RROW
PROJECTING SIGNS
▪ On non-arcaded RROW:
▪ Signs shall not project more than 1.20m
▪ On arcaded RROW:
▪ Signs shall not project more than 0.60m
▪ Buildings abutting RROW without sidewalks:
▪ Signs shall not project more than 0.30m
PROJECTING SIGNS
▪ Minimum vertical clearance
▪ Non-arcaded RROW: 3.00m from road surface to
lowest part of signs
▪ Arcaded RROW: 5.00m from road surface to lowest
part of signs