Republic of the Philippines

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)

Office of the Secretary
National Building Code Review Committee (NBCRC
(NBCRC)) and the Board of Consultants (BoC
(BoC))

AAIF

The Architect and the

National Building Code

(featuring the Architectural Rules under the

2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096)
July 2008
Quezon City
City, Metropolitan Manila

by Archt. Armando N. ALLÍ, fuap, hfpia, aaif

Co-Vice Chair & Member
DPWH Board
B d off Consultants
C lt t (2002-2008)
(2002 2008)
(Resource Person)
Material from the DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

1. What is generally considered by Architects as the most

important architectural provision of the 2004 Revised IRR?
Under Sec. 302.3 (Application
pp for Permits) of the 2004 Revised IRR, the
signing and sealing of architectural documents shall be limited to
Architects*, a provision fully harmonized with stipulations of RA9266:
SEC. 302.
SEC 302 Application for Permits.
Permits
1. Any person desiring to obtain a building permit XXX . . . XXX shall file applications therefore on
the prescribed application forms
2. XXX . . . XXX
3. Five (5) sets of survey plans, design plans and specifications and other documents prepared, signed
and sealed over the printed names of the duly licensed and registered professionals:
a. XXX . . . XXX;
b Architect,
b. Architect in case of architectural documents; in case of architectural interior/ interior design
documents, either an architect or interior designer may sign;
c. Civil Engineer, in case of civil/ structural documents;
d. XXX . . . XXX
*Important Notes: 1) Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) replaced by Writ of Preliminary
Injunction (WPI) dated 24 May 2005 issued by Manila RTC Branch 22 with the Decision date 29
January 2008; and 2) the QC RTC Branch 219 in its order dated 23 May 2005 dismissed claims
by Civil Engineers (CEs) that they can sign and seal architectural documents.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
Material from the DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

2. What is RA 9266 and its relation to

Sec.302.3 of the 2004 Revised IRR?
1) Republic Act or RA 9266 is The Architecture Act of 2004 which took effect
10 April 2004, while its IRR took effect 01 December 2004;
2) Section 302.3 of the 2005 Revised IRR of the NBC (PD1096) is already fully
harmonized with RA9266 and its provisions limiting the preparation,
signing and sealing of architectural documents only to Registered
Architects;
3)) Civil Engineers
g ((CEs)) who shall continue to sign
g and seal architectural
plans, specifications and documents shall still be subject to the application
of the severe penalties under RA 9266 & its IRR (reference Sec. 29 of RA 9266);
4) The DPWH must bar CEs from signing and sealing architectural plans, plans
specifications and documents by invoking multiple provisions under RA
9266 (Sections 20, 29, 31, 32, 34, etc.) and its IRR, specifically Sec. 20.2 of
RA 9266 which prohibits acting Building Officials/ Building Officials (or
any other officer or employee of the republic) from accepting or approving
any architectural plans or specifications not prepared in accordance with
RA9266 and d Sec.
S 44 which hi h mandates
d t all ll public
bli officials
ffi i l to
t enforce
f RA9266
RA9266.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
Material from the DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

3. What are the Architectural (A) Documents

under the 2004 Revised IRR?
Following is a list of architectural documents appearing under Sec. 302.4 of the
Revised IRR of PD 1096 which took effect 01 May 2005. The definitions are omitted
for brevity.

a Architectural Plans/ Drawings

a.
i. Vicinity Map/ Location Plan . . . XXX.
ii. Site Development Plan . . . XXX.
iii Perspective . . . XXX.
iii. XXX
iv. Floor Plans . . . XXX.
v. Elevations, at least four (4) . . . XXX.
vi. Sections, at least two (2) . . . XXX.
vii. Reflected Ceiling Plan . . . XXX.
viii.Details, in the form of plans, elevations/ sections:
( ) accessible ramps
(a) p . . . XXX
(p) all types of partitions.
ix. Schedule of Doors and Windows . . . XXX.
x. Schedule of Finishes . . . XXX.
xi. Details of Other Major Architectural Elements.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
Material from the DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

4. What are the Architectural Interior (AI)

Documents under the 2004 Revised IRR?
Following is a list of architectural interior/ interior design documents appearing under
Sec. 302.4 of the Revised IRR of PD 1096 which took effect 01 May 2005. The definitions
are omitted for brevity.

b Architectural
b. A hit t l Interiors/
I t i / Interior
I t i Design
D i
i. Space Plan/s or layout/s of architectural interiors.
ii. Architectural interior perspective/s.
p p
iii. Furniture/ furnishing/ equipment/ process layout/s.
iv. Access plan/s, parking plan/s and the like
v. Detail design of major architectural interior elements.
vi. Plan and layout of interior, wall partitions, furnishing, furniture, equipment/
appliances . . . XXX.
vii Interior wall elevations . . . XXX.
vii. XXX
viii.Floor/ ceiling/ wall patterns and finishing details . . . XXX.
ix. List of materials used.
x. Cost
C t estimates.
ti t
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

5. What are the Other Architectural (OA)

Documents under the 2004 Revised IRR?
Following is a list of other architectural documents appearing under Sec.
Sec 302.4
302 4 of the
Revised IRR of PD 1096 which took effect 01 May 2005. The definitions are omitted for
brevity.

c. Pl
Plans andd specific
ifi locations
l ti off allll accessibility
ibilit facilities
f iliti . . . XXX.
XXX
d. Detailed design of all such accessibility facilities outside and
around buildings/ structures including parking areas, areas and their
safety requirements . . . XXX.
e. Fire Safetyy Documents
i. XXX
ii. XXX
iii. XXX
iv. XXX
v. XXX
f Other related documents
f.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

6. What do the terms carrying capacity, development

control and development potential actually mean (under
the 2004 Revised IRR of the NBCP/ PD 1096)?
Carrying Capacity of Lot – the optimized extent of physical development that may be
introduced into the lot without causing undue damage, effects or hardship on the end-users
of the proposed development or on neighboring occupants,
occupants entities,
entities properties,
properties lands,
lands
developments or the environment (whether man-made or natural) and with the proposed
building/structure capable of being supported by existing utility, transportation and service
systems or by proposed expansions/upgrading of such systems within the immediate future;

Development Control (for Lots and Buildings/ Structures) – a set of inter-acting

regulations concerning the physical utilization of a lot and likewise governing the
planning/design of spaces and/or the use/occupancy of a building/structure to be introduced
(or already existing) on a lot; development controls help determine in detail the development
potential and/or the carrying capacity of all lots and/or of proposed developments on lots;
and
Development Potential of Lot – the maximum extent of physical development that may be
introduced into the lot, i.e., the erection of the proposed buildings/ structures, after full
compliance with the applicable regulations that need to be satisfied, specifically those found
in the Code i.e. the NBCP.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

7. What are the architectural features

under Rule VII of the 2004 Revised IRR?
1. Under Rule VII (Classification & Requirements of Buildings by Use and
Occupancy), a schedule of principal, accessory and conditional uses/ occupancies
for buildings was prepared and matched with specific zoning classifications;
2. Rule VII, Sec. 704 : firewalls relative to foot
foot-printing
printing of buildings/ structures
shall be strictly implemented; for instance, firewalls are explicitly prohibited for
low density residential uses (R-1); allowed lengths of firewalls in relation to lot
perimeter dimensions are p
p prescribed for all other uses,, specifically
p y for residential
condominium uses (R-5);
3. Rule VII, Sec. 705 - 707 : prescribes Allowable Maximum Total Gross Floor
Areas (TGFAs),
(TGFAs) which is the product of the Building Height Limit (BHL),
(BHL) i.e.,
ie
defined in both number of storeys and height in meters, and the Allowable
Maximum Building Footprint (AMBF) for each type of building use/ occupancy;
44. Rule VII, Sec.
S 707,
0 Subsection
S i 4 : prescribes
i more detailed
i parking
i
requirements for each type of building use/ occupancy; parking must be integral
parts of building projects and all parking located outside shall be considered
b ff parking;
buffer ki
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

8a.What are the architectural features

under Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR?
1. Rule VIII ((Light
g and Ventilation),
), Section 803 : maximum Percentage g of
Site Occupancy (PSO) is discussed at length; the identifiable Total Open Space
within a Lot (TOSL) are sub-classified and limits prescribed for all building
uses and occupancies,
occupancies e.g.,
e g the Maximum Allowable Impervious Surface Area
(ISA), the Minimum Unpaved Surface Area (USA);
2. Rule VIII, Section 804 :
a) prescribes a minimum front setback of only 4.50 meters for a low
density residential (R-1) structure on a minimum lot size of 301 sq.m.
((14.0 m frontage
g x 21.5 m depth);
p );
b) prescribes a minimum front setback of 8.00 meters at the ground floor
level only for medium and high density residential (R-2 and R-3)
buildings/ structures that are more than 3 storeys/ 9.0
9 0 m in height; and
c) prescribes front setbacks of from 5.0 to 8.0 meters for all types of
commercial, industrial, institutional and recreational developments plus
incremental side and rear setbacks for such buildings/ structures.
structures
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

8b.What are the architectural features

under Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

8c.What are the new architectural features

under Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

8d. What are the architectural features

under Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

9. What are the architectural features

under Rule XX of the 2004 Revised IRR?
Rule XX (Signs), Section 2004, Subsection
1.c.ii : Ground sign structures shall be
located within the property line and under no
circumstances shall these occupy the RROW/
street or sidewalk/ arcade or similar access-
ways.
Rule XX (Signs), Section 2004, Subsection
1.d.i : On non-arcaded RROW/ streets, signs
shall not extend more than 1.20 meters over
the sidewalk measured horizontally from the wall
line or building line. On arcaded RROW/ streets,
the signs shall not project more than 00.60 60
meters from the outermost portion of the
wall line of the allowed structure over the
arcade.
d
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

10a.What are the architectural features

of the Guidelines under Rule VII of the 2004 Revised IRR?
1. Under Rule VII Guidelines,, buildingg bulk limitations are suggested
gg through
g the
interaction of Floor-Lot Area Ratios (FLAR), the Allowable Maximum Building Foot-
print (AMBF), the Outermost Faces of the Building (OFB), the width of the road right-
of-way (RROW) and all other applicable provisions for natural light and ventilation;
2. Under Rule VII Guidelines, examples are shown as to the manner of sizing
buildings or establishing the development potentials of a lot/ property with the proper
interactive application of the foregoing development controls; and
3. Under Rule VII Guidelines, the following are also included:
a) floor to lot area (FLAR) designations for all major building occupancies;
b) factors are also suggested to convert Gross Floor Areas (GFA) to Total Gross Floor Area
(TGFA);
(TGFA)
c) determination of the outermost face of building (OFB) and outermost limit of building
projection (OLBP) using angles drawn from the centerline of the road right-of-way
(
(RROW); );
d) establishing the OFB through the interactive use of the allowed maximum building
footprint (AMBF), the building height limit (BHL), the allowable maximum volume of
building (AMVB) and the angular plane along the RROW; and
e)) buildings
b ildi and
d accessory structures
t t within
ithi cemeteries
t i & memorial i l parks.
k
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

10b. What are the architectural features

of the Guidelines under Rule VII of the 2004 Revised IRR?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

10c. What are the architectural features

of the Guidelines under Rule VII of the 2004 Revised IRR?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

11a. What are the architectural features

of the Guidelines under Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR?
Under Rule VIII Guidelines,, the followingg are included:
a) suggested treatments for easements/ waterside rights-of-way (ROW),
e.g., esplanades and promenades and stipulations on structures
allowed/ disallowed along or within designated easement areas ;
b) view corridors/ sight lines along road rights-of-way (RROWs);
c) suggested median and lane widths within RROWs;
d) suggested minimum RROW provisions for developments with
multiple dwelling units;
e) access to interior lots;
f) suggested t d development
d l t components t within
ithi RROWs
RROW att all ll its
it levels;
l l
g) use, treatment and development of arcades, sidewalks, curbs and
driveways;
h) incremental front setbacks for tall structures using RROW widths;
i) detailed open space requirements for all building types/ occupancies;
j) basement configurations g for tall buildings; g ; and
k) design of public buildings and structures.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

11b. What are the architectural features

of the Guidelines under Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

11c. What are the architectural features

of the Guidelines under Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

11d. What are the architectural features

of the Guidelines under Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

11e. What are the architectural features

of the Guidelines under Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

11f. What are the architectural features

of the Guidelines under Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

11g. What are the architectural features

of the Guidelines under Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR?

Rule VIII
R l VIII
Rule Guidelines
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

11h. What are some of the architectural

of the Guidelines under Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR?

R l VII
Rule
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
Material from the DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC AAIF

12.Caveat
To prevent illegal rule insertions in the printed version of
the 2004 Revised IRR ((which happenedpp so manyy times in the past
p to
previous editions of the NBCP IRR), the following steps should be
taken:
a) the DPWH must be the only and solely designated
copyright holder to the 2004 Revised IRR;
b) the only official source of the document (in either hard or
soft versions)) should be the DPWH;; and
c) the only official publisher should be the National Printing
Office (NPO) located along EDSA in Quezon City (between East Ave.
& Quezon Blvd.) i.e. not the National Bookstore!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)
 Material from the DPWH Office of the Secretary BOC & NBCRC
AAIF

Thank You
and
a Pleasant Afternoon
to You All!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The National Building Code (featuring the Architectural Rules under the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096) by Arch. Armando N. ALLI, fuap, hfpia, aaif
July 2008, Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Co-Vice Chair & Member, DPWH Board of Consultants (2002-2008)