FIRE CODE

OF THE
PHILIPPINES
 PART 1
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1185
“FIRE CODE”
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
ABATEMENT
- Remove/neutralize fire hazard
ADMINISTRATOR
- Agent of the owner; manages the building
BLASTING AGENT
- Fuel + Oxidizer used to set off explosives
CELLULOSE NITRATE/NITRO CELLULOSE
- Highly combustible/explosive cmpd. (nitric aid + cellulose)
CELLULOSE NITRATE PLASTIC (PYROXYLIN)
- Any plastic substance with cellulose nitate
COMBUSTIBLE, FLAMMABLE OR INFLAMMABLE
- Materials easily set on fire
COMBUSTIBLE FIBER
- Free burning fiber (cotton, oakum, hay, straw, etc.)
COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID
- Liquid w/ flash pt. ^37.8 deg.C (100deg.F)
CORROSIVE LIQUID
- Liquid w/c causes fire when in contact w/ organic
matter/chemicals
CURTAIN BOARD
- Vertical panel of non-combustible/fire-resistive materials
attached and extending below the bottom chord of roof trusses;
divide the underside of the roof to several compartments so that
heat and smoke will be directed upwards to a roof vent.
CRYOGENIC
- Any material w/c produces rapid drop of temperature to its
immediate surroundings.
DAMPER
- Device installed inside an airduct w/c automatically closes to
restrict smoke or fire.
DISTILLATION
- Raising temperature, cooling & condensing to produce a nearly
purified substance
DUCT SYSTEM
- Continuous passageway for transmission of air
DUST
- Finely powdered substance when mixed w/ air and ignited will
cause explosion.
ELECTRICAL ARC
- Extremely hot, luminous bridge formed by the passage of electric
current across a space between 2 conductors due to the
incandescence of the conducting vapor.
EMBER
- Hot piece or lump partially burned, still oxidizing w/o the
manifestation of flames.
FINISHES
- Final coasting of a surface (ornamental or protective)
FIRE
- Active principle of burning
FIRE TRAP
- Building unsafe in case of fire
FIRE ALARM
- Visual/audible signal, device or system; warn the occupants or fire
fighting elements of presence/danger of fire.
FIRE DOOR
- Fire resistive door
FIRE HAZARD
- condition/act which increase probability of fire; delay/hinder/interfere
fire fighting, safeguarding of life & property.
FIRE LANE
- Portion of road/publicway kept opened/unobstructed for fire fighting
units.
FIRE PROTECTIVE & FIRE SAFETY DEVICE
- Built-in protection system (sprinklers, automatic extinguishing system,
heat/smoke detectors, warning system)
- Personal protective equipment (fire blankets, helmets, fire suits, gloves
FIRE SAFETY CONSTRUCTIONS
- Design & installation of walls, barriers, windows, vents, means of
egress; treatment of building components with flame retardant
chemicals; to minimize danger of fire and safe evacuation of people.
FLASH POINT
- Minimum temperature a material gives off vapor to form ignition.
FORGING
- Metal is heated prior to changing shape/dimension
FULMINATE
- Stable explosive compund; explodes by percussion
HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS/PROCESS
- manufacturing, fabrication, conversion w/c uses/produces materials
that cause fires or explosions.
HORIZONTAL EXIT
- Passageway from one building to another or through or around the
wall in approximately same floor level.
HOSE BOX
- Box/cabinet where fire hoses, valves and other equipment ware
stored.
HOSE REEL
- Cylindrical device where fire hose is wound and connected
HYPERGOLIC FUEL
- Rocket or liquid propellant
INDUSTRIAL BAKING & DRYING
- Industrial process of heating materials to remove
solvents/moisture, and fuse certain salts to form uniform glazing
on the surface of treated materials.
JUMPER
- Piece of metal or conductor used to bypass a safety in an electrical
system
OCCUPANCY
- Intended use/purpose of a building
OCCUPANT
-Any person occupying/using a building (or portions) by virtue of
lease contract/permission with the owner/administrator
ORGANIC PEROXIDE
- Strong oxidizing organic compound w/c causes fire when in
contact w/ combustible material under condition of high
temperature.
OVERLOADING
- Use of electrical appliances/devices beyond the designed capacity of
existing electrical system.
OWNER
- Person who holds the legal right of possession or title to a
building/property.
OXIDIZING MATERIAL
- Yields oxygen; stimulates/supports combustion.
PRESSURIZED/FORCED DRAFT BURNING EQUIPMENT
- Type of burner where pressurized fuel is discharged to combustion
chamber which includes fans for introduction of air.
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY BUILDING
- building/structure; 50 or more people congregate/gather/assemble
PUBLIC WAY
- street, alley, strip of land unobstructed from ground to sky intended
for public use
PYROPHORIC
- Ignites spontaneously when exposed to air
REFINING
-partial distillation & electrolysis; removing impurities/deleterious
materials from mixture
SELF-CLOSING DOORS
- Automatic closing doors; confines smoke & heat; delays spread of
fire.
SMELTING
- Melting/fusing metal ores; separate impurities from pure metals.
SPRINKLER SYSTEM
- Integrated network of hydraulically designed piping with outlets w/c
automatically discharges water when activated by heat.
STANDPIPE SYSTEM
- Vertical pipes to which firehoses can be attached on each floor;
includes system where water is made available to outlets as needed.
VESTIBULE
- Passage hall/antechamber between outlet doors and interior parts of
building
VERTICAL SHAFT
- Vertical space/passage extending from floor to floor, base to top of
SEC 5. GRACE PERIOD = 2 YEARS
(Compliance with Fire Safety Constructions, Protective
and Warning Systems as Prescribed by the Director
General)
SEC 6. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF
THE CODE
FIRE SERVICE >DIRECTOR GENERAL of the
Integrated National Police
a. Implements Regulations
b. Reorganize Fire Service
c. Negotiates
d. Enter into MOA w/ other departments, offices,
corporations, agencies & private institutions
 PART 2
IMPLEMENTING RULES &
REGULATIONS
GENERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENT
FOR BUILDING, STRUCTURE OR
FACILITY

 FIRE SUPPRESSION DEVICES,

EQUIPMENT OR SYSTEMS
 FIRE SAFETY CONSTRUCTION
 FIRE PROTECTION AND
WARNING SYSTEM
 DEFINITIONS
AIRCRAFTS SERVICE STATION
- That portion of an airport were flammable liquids are
stored or dispensed
AUTOMATIC FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
- Integrated system of underground or overhead piping
connected to extinguishing agent actuated by
automatic detecting device to suppress fire.
BOILING POINT
- Temperature at which liquid is transformed to vapor
CHIEF OF THE LOCAL FIRE SERVICE
- Official duly designated to head the local Fire Service
(in cities or municipalities, the Station Commander of
the Integrated National Police)
CLASS A FIRE
- Combustible materials (wood, cloth, paper, rubber &
plastics)
CLASS B FIRE
- Flammable liquids and gases
CLASS C FIRE
- Electrical
CLASS D FIRE
- Combustible metals (magnesium, sodium, potassium, etc.)
COMBINATION STANDPIPE
- Pipeline system filled with water and connected to a
constant water supply for the use of Fire Service and
occupants of the building solely for suppression
purposes.
COMBUSTIBLE FIBER LOOSE HOUSE
- Isolated structure where loose fibers are stored.
DIP TANK
- Tank, vat, container of flammable/combustible liquid in which
articles or materials are immersed for the purpose of coating,
finishing, treating, or similr processes.
DRY STANDPIPE
- pipes not filled with water; water is introduced thru Fire Service
connections
EXPLOSIVE MAGAZINE
- Building, structure or facilities used for the storage of
explosives, shells, projectile and ammunition.
FIRE ALERTING SYSTEM
- Fire alarm system transmitted to designated locations instead of
sounding a general alarm to prevent panic.
FIRE PROTECTIVE ASSEMBLY
- An assembly incorporated in a structure designed to prevent the
spread of fire (dampers, curtain board, fire stoppers)
FIRE RESISTANCE RATING
- Time duration a material can withstand the effect of hundred
fire test
FIRE WALL
- A wall designed to prevent the spread of fire w/ fire resistance
rating of not less than 4 hours and structurally stable.
FLAME SPREAD RATING
- Time w/c flame will spread over the surface of a burning material.
FLAME RETARDANT
- Compound/mixture w/c improves fire resistant quality of fabrics
and other materials.
HAZARDOUS FIRE AREA
- Land covered with dry grass, cogon, reeds, brush and other highly
combustible growth that fires are likely to occur and hard to
suppress.
HIGHRISE BUILDING
- Buildings, structures, facilities 15 meters or more in height.
MEANS OF EGRESS
- Continuous unobstructed route of exit from any point in a
building, structure or facility to a public way.
OCCUPANT LOAD
- Maximum number of persons that may occupy a building, structure
or facility or portions thereof.
ORGANIC COATING
- Liquid mixture of binders (alkyd, acrylic…) w/c when spread on
surface becomes protective and decorative finish.
PANIC HARDWARE
- Mechanical device consisting of linkages and a horizontal bar
across a door, which when pushed from the inside will cause the
door to open and facilitate exit from a building, structure or
facility.
PICKING ROOMS
- Rooms where baled, bundled or piled materials are segregated into
desired sizes or groups.
PLENUM
- Air compartment or chamber w/ one or more ducts are connected to
form part of an air distribution system.
SMOKE DEVELOPED RATING
- density and volume of smoke developed within a certain period of
time.
CLASSIFICATION
OF
OCCUPANCY
 A. ASSEMBLY
 Theaters  Dance Halls
 Assembly Halls  Club Rooms
 Auditorium  Skating Rink
 Exhibition Halls  Gymnasium
 Museum
 Restaurants
 Bowling Facilities
 Churches  Pool Rooms
 Terminals of Air  Armories
 Surface Underground  Passenger Stations
 Recreation Piers  Marine Public
 Court Rooms
Transportation Facilities
 Conference Rooms
 Mortuary Chapels
B. EDUCATIONAL
 Schools
 Universities
 Colleges
 Academies
 Nursery Schools
 Kindergartens
 Child Day Care
Facilities
C. INSTITUTIONAL
 Hospitals
 Nursing Homes
 Nurseries
 Homes for the Aged
 Mental Care Institutions
 Penal Institutions
 Reformatories
 Jails
D. RESIDENTIAL
 One- & Two-Family Dwellings
 Hotels
 Motels
 Pension House
 Inns
 Apartments
 Dormitories
 Orphanages
 Lodging or Rooming Houses
E. MERCANTILE
 Stores
 Markets
 Supermarkets
 Department Stores
 Shopping Centers
 Drugstore
 Auction Rooms
 F. BUSINESS
 Office for Lawyers, Doctors, Dentists and
other Professionals
 General Offices
 City or Town Halls
 Court Houses
 Libraries
 G. INDUSTRIAL
 Factories of all kinds  Gas Plants
 Laboratories  Refineries
 Dry Cleaning Plants  Sawmills
 Power Plants  Laundries
 Pumping Stations  Creameries
 Smokehouses
H. STORAGE
 Warehouses
 Cold Storages
 Freight Terminals
 Truck and Marine Terminals
 Bulk Oil Storage
 Parking Garages
 Hangars
 Grain Elevators
 Harns
 Stables
I. MIXED OCCUPANCIES
 2 OR MORE CLASSES OF
OCCUPANCY IN ONE BUILDING
 J. MISCELLANEOUS
CANNOT BE CLASSIFFIED IN ANY OF
THE PRECEDING OCCUPANCY
GROUPS
 Towers

 Piers and Water-Surrounded Structure

 Vehicle & Vessels

 Underground Structures and

Windowless Buildings
 DEGREE OF HAZARD
- probability that a building, structure or
facility may catch fire

 LOW ………….. 1
 MEDIUM …….. 2
 HIGH ………… 3
 VERY HIGH … 4
DEGREE OF HAZARD DEPENDS
UPON THE FOLLOWING FACTORS :
1. Construction Materials
2. Combustibility of Contents
3. Type of Occupancy
4. Load Capacity or Number of Occupants
5. Height from the Ground Level
6. Longest Horizontal Travel Distance
7. Fire Safety Construction
 FIRE SAFETY IN
BUILDINGS,
STRUCTURES AND
FACILITIES
MEANS OF EGRESS
PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE OF
EXITS
3 STORIES OR LESS – 1 HOUR FIRE
RESISTANCE
RATING
4 STORIES OR MORE – 2 HOUR FIRE
RESISTANCE RATING
1. TRAVEL DISTANCE TO EXITS
INDIVIDUAL ROOM (Not more than 6 Occupants) –
MAX. 15M from any point of the room to
exit door.
2. WIDTH OF ANY WAY OF EXIT ACCESS
- MIN. 71 cm
3. NO DEAD-ENDS IN EXCESS OF 6M
4. SINGLE DOOR WIDTH - MIN. 71 cm
(Fire Exit) - MAX. 122 cm
PANIC HARDWARE
Width = MIN. 2/3 of the door width
Height = MIN. 76mm
= MAX. 112mm
5. HEADROOM (Ceiling Height) = MIN. 2.30M
 RAMPS
CLASS A CLASS B
(100 Persons) (60 Persons)
1.Width 112 cm & greater 76-112 cm
(Outside Ramps = MIN.120 cm)
2. Slope 8-10% 10-17%
3. Maximum height
between landings No Limit 3.66M
4. Capacity in persons (modified)
Down 60 45
Up 45 45
 INTERIOR STAIRS
CLASS A CLASS
1. Minimum width clear of all
obstruction except handrails w/c B112cm 112cm ;
91cm where total
may project MAX. 89mm each side
occupancy of
& stringers may project MAX. all floors
38mm each side. ---------------------- served by stairway is
less than 50
2. Maximum height of risers -------------- 19cm
persons. 20cm
3. Minimum width of tread exclusive of
nosing or projection ----------------- 25cm 23cm
4. Winders------------------------------------ None None
5. Minimum Headroom ------------------- 2M 2M
6. Maximum height between landings -- 2.75M 3.70M
7. Minimum dimension of landings in
direction of travel --------------------- 112 mm 112mm
8. Doors opening immediately on stairs
without landing (width) -------------- NO NO
TREADS, RISERS & HANDRAILS
 2R + T = 60cm to 63.5cm
 Min. No. of Risers in 1 Flight = 3
 Treads width variation = max. 5mm
 Tread less than 25cm --- 25mm Nosing
 Handrails - Height = 76cm to 86.5cm
- Setback (from the edge) = 25mm
(NOTE: Stairways more than 223mm width shall have
immediate handrails.)
 Vertical Balusters (spacing) = max. 15.25cm apart
 Longitudinal Rails (top and bottom) = max. 25.5mm