BATAS PAMBANSA BLG.

344
(Accessibility Law)

An Act to Enhance the Mobility

of Disabled Persons
by Requiring Certain Buildings,
Institutions, Establishments,
Public Utilities
to Install Facilities and Devices
Signed / Approved: February 25, 1983
by the late Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos
Responsibility for Administration and
Enforcement (Rule V, Section 1, Amended IRR of BP 344)
The administration and
enforcement of the provisions of
these Rules and Regulations shall be
vested in the Secretary of Public
Works and Highways and the
Secretary of Transportation and
Communications, in accordance with
the functions and jurisdiction of their
respective Departments xxx
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Responsibility for Administration and
Enforcement (Rule V, Section 1, Amended IRR of BP 344)
The Secretary thru the Heads of attached
agencies of the DPWH, with the technical
shall
assistance of the BRDS (now NBCDO),
administer and enforce the
provisions of these Rules and
Regulations thru the City/
Municipal Engineer who shall also
act as Local Building Official pursuant
to Section 477 of R.A. 7160, otherwise known as
the Local Government Code of 1991 xxx
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Responsibility for Administration and
Enforcement of the NBC (Rule II, Revised IRR of PD1096)

Section 201-Responsibility for

Administration and Enforcement
The administration and en-
forcement of the provisions of
the Code (PD 1096) and this
IRR, including the imposition of penalties for
administrative violations thereof, is hereby
vested in the DPWH Secretary.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Responsibility for Administration and
Enforcement of the NBC (Rule II, Revised IRR of PD1096)
Section 205 - Building Officials
xxx the Building Official shall
beresponsible for carrying out
the provisions of the Code in
the field as well as the enforcement
of orders and decisions made
pursuant thereto.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / BP 344
Provisions of BP 344 (Accessibility Law)
Scope: (Rule I, Section 3, Amended IRR of BP 344)
1. Public and private buildings and
related structures for public use
and which shall be constructed,
repaired or renovated;
2. Streets and highways and
public utilities;
3. Public transport terminals
including those of LRTA / MRTA
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / BP 344
Application: (Rule I, Section 4, Amended IRR of BP 344)

No permit for the construction, repair

or renovation of public and private
buildings and related structures for
public use, whether owned or leased,
shall be granted or issued unless the
owner thereof shall have provided in the
places and specifications submitted for
approval barrier-free facilities and
accessibility features as provided in
these Rules and in accordance with the
following criteria:
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / BP 344
Application: (Rule I, Section 4, Amended IRR of BP 344)

1. New Buildings/structures for public

use
• primary function
• ingress / egress
• 10% of total number of living
accommodations
• parking areas

Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344

Application: (Rule I, Section 4, Amended IRR of BP 344)

2. Existing buildings/structures for

public use to be repaired or
renovated including those proposed
for a change of occupancy
• Work to be done at primary function
• Facilities accessible by elevator / level
• Primary function not lessen by >10%
• Not affect major structural components
• Cost not more than 20% of the total
cost of the building
• No legal constraints
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Application: (Rule I, Section 4, Amended IRR of BP 344)
Conditions:
EXCEPTION:
Repair or renovation work which
consist only of heating, ventilating
and air-conditioning systems

Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344

Application: (Rule I, Section 4, Amended IRR of BP 344)

3. Streets, highways and transport

related structures (i.e. terminals,
waiting areas) to be constructed –
• Cut-out curbs and accessible ramps
• Audio-visual aids for crossing
EXCEPTION: Requirements for accessibility at
pedestrian grade separations or overpasses and
underpasses may be waived.

Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344

Application: (Rule I, Section 4, Amended IRR of BP 344)

4. Existing streets and highways

to be repaired and renovated
-- accessibility requirements shall
be provided where the portion of
existing streets and highways to
be repaired or renovated which
includes part or the entire
pedestrian crossing.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Rule III, Section 2, Amended IRR of BP 344

Architectural Features & Facilities:

1. Stairs 9. Switches,
2. Walkways Controls, Buzzers
3. Corridors 10. Handrails
4. Doors & Entrances 11. Thresholds
5. Washrooms & 12. Floor Finishes
6. Toilets
Lifts / Elevators 13. Drinking Fountains
7. Ramps 14. Public Telephones
8. Parking Areas 15. Seating
Accommodations
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Special Standards of Accessibility
(Rule I, Section 5, Amended IRR of BP 344)

Where the requirements for accessibility

in the Rules will create an unreasonable
hardship in design/construction, special
standards of accessibility thru the use of
other methods and/or materials shall be
allowed if better facilities can be
provided subject to the approval of
the National Council on Disability
Affairs (NCDA).
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
PERSONS/INDIVIDUALS LIABLE
FOR ANY VIOLATION OF THE
ACT
For Buildings/Establishments/Structure
1. Owner or Operator of the Building,
Establishment or Structure
2. Contractor
3. Architect
4. Engineer
5. Building Official or Other Public
Official in-charge with the issuance of
building permit, registration, certification
and/or inspection of the building,
establishment or structure
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
CRIMINAL LIABILITY (PENAL PROVISIONS)
As stipulated in Section 46 of R.A. 7277 (Magna Carta for
Disabled Persons)
(a) Any person shall suffer the following
penalties:
1. First violation – a fine of not less than
P50,000.00 but not exceeding P100,000.00
or imprisonment of not less than 6 months
but not more than 2 yrs., or both at the
discretion of the court.
2. For any subsequent violation – a fine of
not less than P100,000.00 but not
exceeding P200,000.00 or imprisonment
for not less than 2 yrs. but not more than 6
yrs., or both at the discretion of the court.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
CRIMINAL LIABILITY (PENAL PROVISIONS)
As stipulated in Section 46 of R.A. 7277 (Magna Carta for
Disabled Persons)
(b) Any person who abuses the privileges
granted herein shall be punished with
imprisonment of not less than 6 months or a
fine of P5,000.00, or both at the discretion
of the court.
(c) If the violator is a corporation, organization
or any similar entity, the officials thereof
directly involved shall be liable therefor.
(d) If the violator is an alien or a foreigner, he
shall be deported immediately after service
of sentence without further deportation
proceedings.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Section 301 - Building Permits, Rule III-
Permits and Inspection, Revised IRR of PD 1096
No person, firm or corporation, including
any agency or instrumentality of the
government shall construct, alter, repair,
convert, use, occupy, move, demolish and
add any building/structure or any portion
thereof or cause the same to be done,
without first obtaining a building permit
therefor from the Building Official assigned
in the place where the subject
building/structure is located or to be done.
Revised IRR of PD 1096
Architectural Regulations / Administration & Enforcement - Revised IRR of PD 1096
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / BP 344
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Revised IRR of PD 1096 / BP 344
 COMPARATIVE DIMENSIONS OF
WHEELCHAIR USER AND DISABLED PERSON
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
DIMENSIONAL DATA ON WALKING AIDS,
WALKING STICK USERS
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
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Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
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 A 0.30 m long extension of the handrail
should be provided at the start and end
of ramps and stairs
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
A 0.30 m long extension of the handrail should be
provided at the start and end of ramps and stairs
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Accessible toilet cubicles/stalls shall
have a minimum area of 1.70 x 1.80
m. One movable grab bar and one
fixed to the adjacent wall shall be
installed for lateral mounting; fixed
grab bars for frontal mounting.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
  Preferably split-
level for standing
and seated users
 Higher lavatory
top at 800 mm
from floor.
 Lower lavatory (for
kids and
wheelchair-users)
at 700-750 mm. (A
priority for PWD
toilets)
 Must have open
UNIVERSALLY-DESIGNED space underneath
ACCESSIBLE LAVATORIES for wheelchair
footrest.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Recesses or turnabout spaces (1.50m x 1.50m min.
area) should be provided for wheelchairs to turn
around or to enable another wheelchair to pass, and
shall be spaced at a maximum of 12.00m.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
 Tread surfaces should be of slip-resistant
material; nosings should be provided with
slip-resistant strips to further minimize
slipping.
 Slanted nosings are preferred to protruding
nosings so as not to impose difficulty for
people using crutches or braces.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
 Accessible elevators should be located
not more than 30.00m from the entrance
and should be easily located with the aid
of signs.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Dropped curbs should be provided at pedestrian
crossings and at the end of footpaths of a private street
or access roads; no dropped curbs shall be provided
at corners of sidewalks.
Dropped curbs at pedestrian crossings should have a
length corresponding to the width of the crossing if the
sidewalk width is less than 3.50m ; otherwise, the
minimum width should be 0.90 m
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Dropped curbs shall be ramped towards
adjoining curbs with a gradient not more
than 1:12.
Dropped curbs shall sloped towards the
road with a maximum cross gradient of
1:20 to prevent water from collecting at the
sidewalk.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
VARIATIONS OF DROPPED
CURB AT CORNERS

Curb cut-outs should only be

allowed when it will not obstruct
a sidewalk or in any way lessen
the width of a sidewalk or if the
sidewalk width is less than
3.50m. No curb cut-outs shall be
provided at corners of sidewalks.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
 Sidewalks should be kept as level as possible and
provided with slip-resistant material;
 Whenever and wherever possible, sidewalks should
have a gradient no more than 1:20 or 5%;
 Sidewalks should have a maximum cross gradient of
1:100; xxx should have a minimum width of 1.20 m.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
 Sidewalk headroom should not be less than
2.00m. and should preferably be higher.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
 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.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
 To guide the blind, walkways should as
much as possible follow straight forward
routes with right angle turns.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
 Where open
spaces are
provided, the
blind can become
particularly
disoriented.
Therefore, it is
helpful if any
walkway or path
can be given
defined edges
(i.e. planters or
grass verge)
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
In order to reduce the exposure to vehicular traffic, all at grade
crossings should:
 be as perpendicular as possible to the carriageway;
 be located at the narrowest, most convenient part of the
carriageway;
 have a central refuge of at least 1.50m in depth, preferably 2.00m,
provided as a mid-crossing shelter, where the width of the
carriageway to be crossed exceeds 10.00m.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
 TACTILE BLOCKS
Provide tactile blocks in the immediate vicinity of the
crossing as an aid to the blind; the tactile surface should be
high enough to be felt by the sole of the shoe but low
enough so as not to cause pedestrians to trip or to affect
the mobility of wheelchair users.
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Thank You
and
a Pleasant
Day
To All!