REPUBLIC ACT 9514

Fire trap – a building that is unsafe in case of fire

because it will burn easily or because it lacks
Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 adequate exits

Quick Facts: RULE 9: ENFORCEMENT

• Signed by Former President Gloria Arroyo on (Read: Fire safety for businesses and other establishments |
December 18, 2008 Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines)
• RA 9514 repeals Presidential Decree No.
1185 Evaluation and Inspection:

OUTLINE: Building Plan Review

1. Interpretation
2. Coverage
3. Definition of Terms*
4. Authority of the BFP
5. Reorganization of the BFP
6. Fire brigades; safety practitioners
7. Assistance to the BFP
8. Fire safety enforcers
9. Enforcement and administration*
10. Fire safety measures*
11. Prohibited acts
12. Fire code taxes
13. Administrative courses of action
14. Miscellaneous provisions
*Important for architectural practice
RULE 3: DEFINITION OF TERMS
Abatement – any act that would remove or
neutralize a fire hazard
Automatic fire suppression system – an
integrated piping system connected to a source of
extinguishing agent which suppresses fires when
actuated by its automatic detecting device.
Fire Marshall - The head of the City Fire Station or
the Municipal Fire Station
Standpipe system – A system of vertical pipes in a
building to which fire hoses can be attached to each
floor
Firewall – a wall designed to prevent the spread of
fire, having a fire resistance rating of not less than
four hours with sufficient stability to remain standing
even if construction on either side collapses under
fire conditions.
High rise building – buildings 15 meters or more in
height
Means of egress – a continuous and unobstructed
route of exit from one point in a building to a public
way
Occupancy – the purpose for which a building or
space is used
Occupant load – the maximum number of persons
that may be allowed to occupy a particular building
or space.
• Six sets of plans are sent from the Building
Official to the Fire Marshall for review
• A plan evaluator reviews the drawings
• Based on the findings, the FSEC will either
be released or denied (Note: FALAR 1 is
required before plan review)
Construction Inspection
• The Fire Marshall shall conduct inspections
during construction to ensure that plans are
being followed.
Inspection after Completion
• The Fire Marshall needs to conduct another
inspection before the Building Official can
issue an occupancy permit.
• When the Building Official receives an
application for occupancy permit, the Fire
Marshall shall be notified.
• Fire Marshall conducts inspection
• If OK, the Fire Marshall issues the FSIC and
notifies the Building Official (Note: FALAR 2
is required for issuance of FSIC)
Uhm... what is FALAR?
FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY ASSSESSMENT
REPORT
FALAR 1 – documentation on safety features of the
facility
FALAR 2 – documentation submitted by the
Contractor/CM certifying that construction was in
accordance with FALAR 1
FALAR 3 – documentation of periodic maintenance
Application
For all buildings
• FALAR 1
• FALAR 2
For all buildings with occupant load of at least 50
• FALAR 3 (annually)
FALAR 1
 •
Documentation on fire and life safety
features of the facility
• A written report prepared by the Architect Prepare Conduct FSIC will be

3
and his Fire Protection Consultant FALAR 2 for inspection used for
FALAR 2 issuance of and FSIC acquiring
• Documentation submitted by Contractor/CM FSIC will be occupancy
released permit
certifying that construction was in after the
accordance with FALAR 1 inspection
• A compilation report of all approved
submittals, test forms, acceptance forms
• Shall be included in the as-built documents
given by the Contractor to Owner BUSINESS PERMIT
FALAR 3
• Documentation of required periodic
maintenance and upkeep of facility Prepare Conduct FSIC will be

3
• Written report prepared by the building owner FALAR 3 for inspection used for
and his Fire Safety Officer issuance of and FSIC acquiring or
• A compilation of the maintenance and testing FSIC will be renewing
records released business
after the permit
inspection
FSEC and FSIC

FSEC
• Fire Safety Evaluation Clearance
• Released once building plans and specs are RULE 10: FIRE SAFETY
found to be in accordance with the Fire Code MEASURES
• Required for building permits

FSIC Means of egress

• Fire Safety Inspection Certificate • A continuous, unobstructed route of exit from
• Certifies that the building was inspected and any point in the building to a public way
was found to be OK • Shall be integral or permanently affixed to a
• Required for occupancy permits, business building
permits, permits to operate, PHILHEATH • Minimum width of 915 mm
accreditation for hospitals, DOH License to
Operate Number of Exits
For any storey, mezzanine, balcony, etc.
BUILDING PERMIT • 0-499 occupant load (OL) – 2 exits
• 500-1000 OL – 3 exits
• 1000-more OL – 4 exits
Prepare Once FSEC will
1

FALAR 1 reviewed, be used for Travel distance to exits depends on occupancy.

and other FSEC will acquiring
For individual rooms with max OL of 6:
req's for be either be building
building granted/deni permit • 15 meters from any point in the room (line of
plan review ed travel)

Minimum headroom of 2 meters

Doors
OCCUPANCY PERMIT • Provide a self-closing mechanism for exit
doors
• Clear opening of 710-1220 mm
• Maximum threshold height of 13 mm
Stairs
 • All stairways designated as a means of
egress should be continuous from the
uppermost floor level to the ground floor.
Wet Standpipes
Wet standpipes are required for the following:
• Assembly occupancies with at least 1000 OL
• Schools, hospitals, businesses, hotels,
apartment with 4 storeys or higher
• Hazardous occupancies exceeding 1860
sqm per floor
• EXCEPTIONS: buildings with an approved
sprinkler system

All portions of the building must be within 6 meters

of a nozzle attached to a 22 m long hose.

Places of assembly

Occupant Load
• Concentrated use without fixed seats, such
as places of worship, dance floors:
0.65sqm/person
• Less concentrated use such as conference
rooms, dining rooms, gyms:
1.40sqm/person
• Standing rooms/waiting space: 0.28
sqm/person
Handrails should be 760-865 mm from upper Minimum corridor width of 1120 mm if serving 50 or
surface of tread. more persons.
Fire Escape Stairs Travel distance to exits
• Allowed as means of egress only in existing • 46 meters if without sprinkler system
buildings
• 61 meters if with sprinkler system
• Should not constitute more than 50% of
required exit capacity Seating
• Rows of seats back-to-back: 830 mm
Ladders are not allowed as fire escape or means of
• At least 300 mm from back of one seat to
egress.
front of the next seat
• Seats between aisles: 14 max.
Features of Fire Protection
• Seats between wall and aisle: 7 max.
• Seats without arms: 600 mm/person
Fire Alarms
• Notifies occupants of the building and when
required, emergency forces
• Automatic fire department notification is
required for:
o High rise buildings
o Hospitals
o Schools, hotels, apartments 4
storeys or higher
o Malls1

1
The contents of this document are based on the work of Ar. Pedro Santos for
Republic Act 9514, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-
Noncommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Study Questions for RA 9514:

1. What is the difference between RA 9514 and

PD 1185?
2. In case a building collapsed due to a fire
emergency, who will be held accountable?
3. What do you think is the most important
technique in ensuring fire protection in a
specific building project?
4. What are the penalties for non-compliance
with RA 9514?
5. What is the prescribed training ion fire safety
enforcement?
6. In your own words, what do you think is the
main reason why many establishments do
not follow basic rules set forth by RA 9514?

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