Development Controls OFB = Outer Faces of the Building

Terms Defined: FLAR = Floor and Lot Area Ratio

TLA = Total Lot Area RULE 8: LIGHT AND
PSO = Percentage of Site Occupancy
(the part of lot occupied by the building) VENTIILATION
TOSL = Total Open Space Within Lot
(the part of lot NOT occupied by the building)
Goal: Every building shall be designed, constructed,
and equipped to provide adequate light and
ventilation.

Variables:
• Setbacks
• Site occupancy
• Room sizes
• Ceiling heights
• Window sizes
• Courts

TLA = PSO + TOSL Lot Types:

• Inside lot
USA = Unpaved Surface Area • Interior lot
ISA = Impervious Surface Area • Corner lot
• Through lot
TOSL = USA + ISA • Corner through lot
• Corner through lot abutting 3 or more streets
MACA = Maximum Allowable Construction Area • End lot
(Refer to NBCP Rule 8 for drawings and figures.)
MACA = PSO + ISA
YARD – the required open space left between the
TLA = MACA + USA outermost face of the building and the property lines
SETBACK – the width of the yard

COURTS:
• Minimum dimension of 2.00 m
• All inner courts shall be connected to a street
or yard by a passageway at least 1.20 m
wide.

AMBF = Allowable Maximum Building Footprint

GFA = Gross Floor Area
• Total enclosed area including balconies
• Excludes parking, service utilities, balconies • Minimum dimension may be reduced to 1.50
exceeding 10 sqm., fire escape structures, m in cluster living units with adjacent courts.
etc. • Minimum area per court: 3.00 sqm.
TGFA = Total Gross Floor Area • Separation wall: 2.00 m maximum height
AMVB = Allowable Maximum Building Volume
If a carport is roofed, it will be considered part of Workshops, 12.00 cu.m.
the building footprint and not the TOSL. factories,
offices
Habitable 14.00 cu.m.
rooms
Note: Only allowed for single family dwelling units
falling under the following zoning classifications:
• Basic R-2
• Basic R-3
• R-4 Minimum area of windows
Minimum Absolute
Firewall Extensions window area minimum
• Above the roof line: 400 mm Habitable 10% of floor 1.00 sqm
• Under the eaves: 300 mm rooms area
• From the building edges: 600 mm Bathrooms, 5% of floor 240 sq.mm.
laundry rooms, area
etc.

Easements
• PUBLIC LAND
• 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

Minimum Ceiling Heights

Artificially Naturally
ventilated ventilated
GF 2.70 m 2.70 m
2F 2.40 m 2.70 m
Succeeding 2.10 m 2.70 m
floors
Mezzanines 1.80 m 2.70 m

Minimum Room Sizes

Minimum area Minimum dim.
Room for 6.00 sqm 2.00 m
human
habitation
Kitchen 3.00 sqm 1.50 m
T&B 1.20 sqm 0.90 m

Air space requirements

Air Floor
space/person area/person
School rooms 3.00 cu.m. 1.00 sqm

RROW
• 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.
Access to Property
• No building shall be constructed UNLESS it
adjoins or has direct access to a public
space, yard, or road on at least one side.
• Interior or rear lots shall have an access road
with a MINIMUM width of 3.00 m. Provide a
4.00 m wide chaflan at the intersection with
the main RROW.
(Refer to NBCP Rule 8 for drawings and figures.)
Three RROW Levels
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: 4.27 m from crown
of carriageway.
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 furnished surface of roadway all the
way down into the ground.
• If utilized for whatever purpose, proponent
must lease/pay the government.
SIDEWALKS
The local planning authority shall determine which
streets shall have an open sidewalk or an arcaded
sidewalk, or a combination of both. For a RROW
width of 9.00 m or more, the minimum sidewalk width
shall be 1.20 m on each side of the RROW. For
RROW less than 9.00 m, refer to NBCP Table
VIII.G.3.
 • 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.

RULE 9: SANITATION
All buildings shall be provided with the following:
• Adequate and potable water supply
• Adequate plumbing installation
• Suitable waste water treatment/disposal
system
• Storm water drainage

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.

Driveways across sidewalks Waste Disposal System

• If curb height is 200 mm or lower, the Sanitary sewage from buildings shall be discharged
driveway and the sidewalk shall be on the directly into the nearest street sanitary sewer main.
same plane. Provide entry ramp of slope 1/3
to ¼ connecting the carriageway to the If no sanitary sewage is available, septic tanks may
sidewalk/curb. be used.
• If curb height is greater than 200 mm, a curb
cutout for the driveway may be allowed and Rainwater drainage shall not be discharged into the
the driveway may be constructed along the sanitary system.
entire width of the sidewalk. The sidewalk
and the driveway shall be joined by a ramp All plumbing installations (water supply and
with a slope of not more than 1/8. drainage) shall conform to the National Plumbing
Code.
Planting Strip
The planting strip is meant to separate the curb from
the sidewalk, and must always be placed with the RULE 10: BUILDING
curb line. Sidewalks 2.00 m or more in width shall PROJECTIONS OVER
include on its outer side a planting strip of not less
than 800 mm wide up to a maximum of 1/3 of the PUBLIC STREETS
sidewalk width.
Projections beyond the property line are not allowed
unless stated by the Code.
 Every corner building or fence on a public street less
than 3.60 m wide shall be truncated at the corner to
Projections in RROW form a chaflan.
• The chaflan shall be at least 4.00 m wide.
National roads or public highways
• Footings located at least 2.40 m below grade
may project 300 mm (maximum) beyond the
property line
Public sidewalk
• Foundations may encroach 500 mm into the
sidewalk if top of foundation is at least 600
mm below grade

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 is 3.00 m minimum.

Arcades
Arcades may be constructed on sidewalks of streets RULE 11: PROTECTION OF
whenever allowed or required by existing building PEDESTRIANS
and zoning regulations.
• Arcades shall be at least 3.00 m above the
sidewalk grade. No person shall use or occupy a street or sidewalk
for the performance of work except in accordance
with this rule.

No work shall be performed adjacent to a public way

unless pedestrians are protected as specified in this
rule.

Storage in Public Property

• Shall not obstruct utility provisions (fire
hydrants, fire alarm box, manholes)
• Shall not interfere with vehicular and
pedestrian traffic

Doors & Windows Mixing of mortar or concrete shall not be allowed on

Unless at least 2.40 m above the pavement, no door public streets.
or window shall project beyond the property line
when fully opened or upon opening.

Chaflans
Temporary Walkways
RULE 12: GENERAL DESIGN
When the Building Official authorizes a sidewalk to REQUIREMENTS
be closed, a temporary walkway of at least 1.20 m
wide shall be provided.
Excavations
If the street has no sidewalk, width may be reduced
to 600 mm. Excavations must not endanger life or property.

If RROW is 5.00 m wide or less, no temporary Any person undertaking an excavation shall ensure
walkways are allowed. that the soil of the adjoining property will not cave or
settle.
Fences & Canopies
Cut slopes shall be no steeper than 2:1
Fences shall entirely enclose a construction site. (horizontal:vertical)
• Minimum height shall be 2.40 m above curb.
Occupant Load
When the horizontal distance between the OFB and • The maximum number of persons that may
the inner edge or the sidewalk is more than ½ the be allowed to occupy a certain room, floor, or
building height, only a 2.40 m high fence is required. area.
• Shall be determined by dividing the floor area
When the horizontal distance between the OFB and assigned to that use by the unit area allowed
the inner edge of the sidewalk is equal or less than per occupant as shown on Table XII.1
½ the building height, a canopy will also be required • Floor area/unit area per occupant
in addition to the fence.
Use Area/occupant 2 exits
Canopies shall provide a clear unobstructed height required if
of 2.4o m above the walkways. more than
Dwellings 28 sqm 10
Hotels, 18.60 sqm 10
apartments
Classrooms 1.80 sqm 50
School 4.60 sqm 50
shops/labs
Hospitals 8.40 sqm 50
Stores- 2.80 sqm 50
basement
Stores-ground 2.80 sqm 50
floor
Stores-upper 5.60 sqm 10
floors
Stores-offices 9.30 sqm 30
Auditoriums, 0.65 sqm 50
theaters,
churches

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 185 sqm or having
more than 18.00 sqm in any dimension shall have at
least two stairways to an adjacent floor.
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
Total width of exits in meters shall be:
OCCUPANT LOAD/165
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 of Exits
• If without a sprinkler system, 45.00 m
maximum
• If with a sprinkler system, 60.00 m maximum
• Measured from any point of the building and
along line of travel
Exit Doors
When serving an occupant load of 50 or more, must
swing in the direction of the 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.
Exit doors shall be openable from the inside without
the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort.
Door Sizes
• Minimum width of doorway – 0.90 m
• Minimum height of doorway – 2.00 m
• Maximum door leaf width – 1.20 m
• Shall be capable of opening at least 90
degrees.
Revolving doors, sliding doors, and overhead
doors are not allowed to be used as exit 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 50
mm lower than the threshold
• For Group A or B occupancies, a door may
open over the top step provided that the
landing is not more than 200 mm from the
floor level and the door does not swing over
the top step.
Corridors
Shall have a minimum width of 1.10 m.
• This width shall be unobstructed, except that
trim handrails and doors when fully opened
shall not reduce the required with by more
than 200 mm.
• Doors in any position shall not reduce the
width by more than ½.
Maximum length of dead ends is 6.00 m.
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.
Maximum riser: 200mm
Minimum tread: 250mm
Stairway headroom shall not be less than 2.00 m
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.
(Note: In Group A or B occupancies, stairways 1.10
m or less in width serving one individual dwelling may
have one handrail only. Stairways having less than
four risers need not have handrails.)
STAIRWAYS
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.
Winding Stairways
• Allowed as exits as long as the required
tread of 250 mm is provided at a point
300 mm away from the narrow end.
• However, the tread must not be narrower
than 150 m at any point.
Circular Stairways
• May be used as exits provided that the
minimum width of run is not less than 250
mm.
Aisles
• Aisles leading to an exit shall be provided
for all portions with installed seats,
tables, etc.
• Shall be at least 0.80 m wide if serving
only one side, or 1.00 m if serving both
sides.
• The minimum width shall be measured at
the point farthest from the exit, and shall
be increased by 30 mm 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 45.00 m.
• Maximum 7 seats between wall and aisle
• Maximum 14 seats between two aisles
• Maximum slope: 1 in 8
The number of seats between aisles may be
increased to 30 if:
• Exit doors are provided along each aisle at
the rate of 1 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 Extinguisher 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)
All portions of the building are within 6.00 m of a
nozzle attached to a hose 23.00 m in length
(standpipes 58.00 m 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
All electrical systems and installations shall conform
to the provisions of the Philippine Electrical Code
pursuant to RA 7920.
All mechanical systems and installations shall
conform to the provisions of the Philippine
Mechanical Code pursuant to RA 8495
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
• Hoist way pit: minimum 600mm from
underside of car to bottom of pit.
• Maximum four elevators in a single hoist way
• Residential buildings 5 storeys or higher shall
have at least one passenger elevator on 24-
hour constant operation.
Escalators
• Maximum inclination: 30° from horizontal
• Width between balustrades: 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:
• 20-24 degrees Celsius
• 50%-60% humidity
• 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,
XRAY 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.
No films shall be stored within 600 mm of steam
pipes, chimneys, or other sources of heat.
RULE 15: PREFABRICATED
CONSTRUCTION
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 are allowed except for entrance doors
and exit doors, which should be of materials other
than plastics.
RULE 17: SHEET METAL
SPRAYBOOTHS
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
 • 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 (guard rails, etching, flower bins)
• Glass in large areas along shopping malls,
commercial buildings, institutional buildings,
etc.
Projecting Signs
On non-arcaded RROW
• Signs shall not project more than 1.20 m.
On arcaded RROW
• Signs shall not project more than 0.60 m.
Buildings abutting RROW without sidewalks
• Signs shall not project more than 0.30 m.
Minimum vertical clearance
• 3.00m from road surface for non-arcaded
RROW
• 5.00 from road surface for arcaded RROW

-END-

RULE 19: USE OF

COMPUTERS
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

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.

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.