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Fire Code of The Philippines Chap1 Div7 14
Fire Code of The Philippines Chap1 Div7 14
THE PHIPPINES
DIVISION 7-14
DIVISION 7
Building Service
Equipment
7 Building Service
Equipment
UTILITIES
➢ Equipment using gas and related gas piping
shall be in accordance with NFPA 54, National
Fuel Gas Code, or NFPA 58, Liquefied
Petroleum Gas Code, as the case may be.
➢ Electrical wiring and equipment shall be in
accordance with the Philippine Electrical Code.
7 Building Service
Equipment
UTILITIES
➢ Cooking equipment shall be protected by
automatic kitchen hood fire Suppression in
accordance with NFPA 96, Standard for
Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of
Commercial Cooking Operations.
7 Building Service
Equipment
SMOKE VENTING
➢ Design and installation of smoke venting
facilities in accordance with the Philippine
Mechanical Code.
➢ Natural draft smoke venting shall utilize roof
vents in walls at or near the ceiling level.
7 Building Service
Equipment
SMOKE VENTING
➢ Where smoke venting facilities are installed for
purposes of exit safety in accordance with the
requirements of this Rule, they shall be adequate to
prevent dangerous accumulations of smoke during
the time necessary to evacuate the area served
➢ The discharge apertures of all natural draft smoke
vents shall be so arranged as to be readily opened
from the exterior.
7 Building Service
Equipment
SMOKE VENTING
➢ The required natural draft vents may be
substituted by a power-operated smoke exhaust
system subject to the approval of the
City/Municipal Fire Marshal having jurisdiction.
7 Building Service
Equipment
INSTALLATION CLEARANCE
➢ All equipment/utilities/facilities mentioned in
Section 10.2.7.1 to 10.2.7.5 of this IRR shall not
be installed without first securing an installation
clearance from the C/MFM having jurisdiction.
This installation clearance shall be a pre-
requisite for the issuance of permits required by
law for these installations.
DIVISION 8
Places of
Assembly
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
INSTALLATION CLEARANCE
➢ The occupant load permitted in any assembly
building, structure, or portion thereof shall be
determined by dividing the net floor area or
space assigned to that use by the square meter
per occupant as follows:
❑ As assembly area of concentrated use without
fixed seats: 0.65 square meter per person
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
INSTALLATION CLEARANCE
❑ An assembly area of less concentrated use: 1.4
square meter per person
❑ Standing room or waiting space: 0.28 square
meter per person
❑ The occupant load of an area having fixed seats
shall be determined by the number of fixed seats
installed. Required aisle space serving the fixed
seats shall not be used to increase the occupant
load.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
INSTALLATION CLEARANCE
❑ In theaters and similar places of assembly where
person are admitted to the building at times when
seats are not available for them and are allowed to
wait in a lobby or similar space until seats are
available.
❑ In areas not in excess of 930 m2, the occupant
load shall not exceed one person 0.46 m2; in areas
in excess of 930 m2, the occupant load shall not
exceed one person 0.65 m2.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Capacity of Exits
• Minimum clear width of aisles and other means of egress
serving theater-type seating, or similar seating arranged in
rows, shall be in accordance with Table 11 below.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Capacity of Exits
• The minimum clear widths shown in Table 11 shall be
modified in accordance with all of the following:
✓ If risers exceed one hundred 178 mm in height,
multiply the stair width in Table 8 by factor A, where
A = 1 + (RISER HEIGHT – 178/125)
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Capacity of Exits
✓ Stairs without a handrail located within a 760 mm
horizontal distance shall be 25 percent wider than
otherwise calculated, that is, multiply by factor B =
1.25.
✓ Ramps steeper than 1 in 10 slope where used in ascent
shall have their widths increased by 10 percent, that is,
multiply by factor C = 1.10
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Location of Exits
• Main Exit
The main exit shall be of sufficient width to accommodate
one-half (1/2) of the total occupant load, but shall be not
less than the total required width of all aisles, exit
passageways and stairways leading thereto, and shall
connect to a stairway or ramp leading to a street.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Location of Exits
• Other Exits
Each level of an assembly occupancy shall have access to the
main exit and an addition shall be provided with exits of
sufficient width to accommodate two-thirds (2/3) of the total
occupant load served by that level. Such exits shall open directly
to a street or into an exit court, enclosed stairway, outside
stairway, or exit passageway leading to a street.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Minimum Corridor Width
• The width of any exit access corridor serving 50 or more persons
shall not be less than 112 cm.
➢ Travel Distance to Exit
• Exits shall be so arranged that the total length of travel from any
point to reach an exit will not exceed 46 meters in any place of
assembly for spaces not protected by approved, supervised
sprinkler system and 61 meters in areas so protected.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Types of Exits
• Doors of the swinging type leading directly outside or through a
lobby or passageway leading to the outside of the building.
• Horizontal exits
• Smokeproof enclosures
• Stairs
• Ramps
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Types of Exits
Turnstiles
No turnstiles or other devices to restrict the movement of
persons shall be installed in any place of assembly in such
a manner as to interfere in any way with required exit
facilities.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Panic Hardware
• An exit door from an assembly occupancy shall not be
provided with a latch or lock unless it is panic hardware.
➢ Seating, Aisles and Railings
• An exit door from an assembly occupancy shall not be
provided with a latch or lock unless it is panic hardware.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Seating, Aisles and Railings
Seating
✓ The spacing of rows of seats from back to back shall be not less
than 83 cm, nor less than 68 cm plus the sum of the thickness of
the back and inclination of the back. There shall be a space of not
less than 30 cm from the back of one seat and the front of the seat
immediately behind it as measured between plumb lines.
✓ Rows of seats between aisles shall have not more than fourteen
(14) seats.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Seating, Aisles and Railings
Seating
✓ Rows of seats opening onto an aisle at one side only shall have not
more than seven (7) seats.
✓ Seats without dividing arms shall have their capacity determined
by allowing 60 cm per person.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Seating, Aisles and Railings
Aisles
✓ When serving more than sixty (60) seats; every aisle shall be
not less than 915 mm when serving seats on one side only
and not less than 122 cm when serving seats on both sides.
✓ When serving sixty (60) seats or less, aisles shall be not less
than 76 cm wide.
✓ Aisles shall terminate in a cross aisle, foyer, or exit.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Seating, Aisles and Railings
Aisles
✓ No dead-end aisle shall be greater than 6.1 m in length.
✓ The length of travel to an exit door by any aisle shall be not
greater than 46 m.
✓ Steps shall not be placed in aisles to overcome differences in
level unless the gradient exceeds 12.5% percent.
✓ The gradient of sloping aisles shall not exceed 12.5%
percent.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Seating, Aisles and Railings
Railings
✓ The fasciae of boxes, balconies and galleries shall have
substantial railings not less than 66 cm high above the floor.
✓ The railings at the ends of aisles extending to the fasciae
shall be not less than 76 cm high for the width of the aisle,
or 91 cm high if at foot of steps.
✓ Cross aisles shall be provided with railings not less than 66
cm high.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Lighting and Signs
• All places of assembly shall have exit lighting.
• All places of assembly shall be provided with emergency
lighting.
• In every auditorium or other places of assembly where pictures,
motion pictures or other projections are made by means of
directed light, the illumination of the floors of exit access may
be reduced during such period projection to values of not less
than 0.0002 lumen per square centimeter.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Exits Common to Other Occupancies
• Places of assembly in building of other occupancy may
use exits common to the place of assembly and the
other occupancy provided that the assembly area and
the other occupancy considered separately each have
exits sufficient to meet the requirements of this Chapter.
• Exits shall be sufficient for simultaneous occupancy of
both the place of assembly and other parts of the
building.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
PROJECTION BOOTH
✓ Every place of assembly in which pictures are projected from
cellulose acetate, or other safety film using electric arc, xenon,
or other light sources, which generate hazardous gases, dust,
or radiation, shall have a projection room.
✓ There shall be posted on the outside of each projection room
door and within the projection room proper, a conspicuous
sign in block letters twenty (25) millimeters stroke stating:
"Safety Film Only Permitted in This Room."
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
DECORATIVE MATERIAL
✓ No decorative material, which will ignite and allow flame to
spread over the surface when exposed to a flame test shall be
allowed to be used in places of assembly.
✓ The method of test shall be as follows: the piece shall be
exposed to the flame from a common match and held in
horizontal position 12.7 millimeters underneath the piece,
and a constant location for a minimum of 15 seconds.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
DECORATIVE MATERIAL
✓ Treatments may be applied to decorative material to
accomplish flame proofing. Such treatments shall be renewed
as often as may be necessary to maintain the flame-proofed
condition of the material.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
PROTECTION
➢ Protection of Vertical Opening - Any vertical opening shall be
enclosed or protected
➢ Interior Finish - Interior finish in all means of egress in all
places of assembly shall be Class A.
➢ Protection from Hazards - Rooms or spaces used for
hazardous equipment, operations and process shall not be
directly located under or abutting required exits and shall be
separated from other parts of the building by fire barriers by
construction of not less than 1 hour fire resistance rating.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
PROTECTION
➢ Fire Detection and Alarm System
1. All assembly occupancies shall be provided with fire alarm
system with manual initiation, provided, however that where
occupants of the building exceed 300 persons, the initiation
shall be through an automatic detection system.
2. The required fire alarm system shall activate an audible and
visible alarm in a constantly attended receiving station within
the building when occupied for purposes of initiating
emergency action.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
PROTECTION
➢ Extinguishing Requirement
1. The following assembly occupancies shall be protected
throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
system: bars with live entertainment; dance halls; discotheques;
and assembly occupancies with festival seating
2. Buildings containing assembly occupancies with occupant loads
of more than 300 shall be protected by an approved, supervised
automatic sprinkler system
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
OVERCROWDING
➢ No person shall permit the overcrowding or admittance of any
person beyond the approved capacity of any place of public
assemblage. The City/Municipal Fire Marshal, upon finding
any overcrowding condition or obstruction in aisles,
passageways or other means of egress; or upon finding any
condition which constitutes a serious menace of life, shall
cause the performance, presentation, or entertainment to be
stopped until the condition or obstruction is corrected..
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
STANDBY FIREMEN
➢ It is essential for public safety to deploy standby firemen in
any place of public assembly, or any other place where people
congregate, due to the number of persons, or the nature of
the performance, exhibition, display contest or activity, is
authorized to detail standby firemen at such place.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
STANDBY FIREMEN
➢ The said firemen shall be in uniform and remain on duty during
the time such places are open to the public, or when the activity
is being conducted. Before each performance or the start of the
activity, the said firemen shall inspect the required fire
appliances provided, to see that they are in proper place and in
good working order, and shall keep diligent watch for fires during
the time such place is open to the public or such activity is being
conducted and take prompt measures for the extinguishment of
fire that may occur.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY
➢ All grandstands, tents, and other places of outdoor assembly
shall comply with the requirements of NFPA Pamphlet No.
102, “Standards for Tents, Grandstands, and Air-Supported
Structures used for Public Assembly”.
➢ Grandstand and bleacher type seating may be used as indoor
type seating only when it meets with the requirements of this
Division.
8 PLACES OF
ASSEMBLY
OPEN FLAME
➢ No person shall cause or permit any open flame to be used in
any place of public assemblage, or drinking or eating
establishments, except when used in conjunction with
approved heating or cooking appliances or under a written
permit from the City/Municipal Fire Marshal having
jurisdiction.
DIVISION 9
Educational
Occupancies
9 Educational
Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Minimum Number of Exits
– Every room or space with a capacity of fifty (50) or more
persons. shall have at least two (2) doorways as remote
from each other as practicable.
– Not less than two separate exits shall be provided on every
storey and accessible from every part of every storey.
9 Educational
Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Travel Distance to Exits
– without an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
system shall not exceed 46 meters.
– any building protected throughout by an approved,
supervised automatic sprinkler system shall not exit 61
meters
9 Educational
Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Exit Arrangement
– Exits shall be so arranged that at least two (2) separate
exits will be available from every floor area.
– Every classroom or room used for educational purposes or
student 137 occupancy below the floor of exit discharge
shall have access to at least one (1) exit which leads
directly to the exterior at level of discharge without
entering the floor above.
9 Educational
Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ Vertical Opening - Any interior stairways and other vertical
openings in educational buildings shall be enclosed and
protected.
➢ Interior Corridors - Every interior corridor shall be of
construction having not less than a one-half fire resistance
rating, and all openings therein protected accordingly.
➢ Interior Finish - Interior finish shall be Class A in corridors,
stairways and other means of egress and may be Class B or Class
C elsewhere
9 Educational
Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ Fire Alarm System
– Approved fire alarm facilities capable of being manually
operated
– In building provided with automatic fire suppression
system the operation of the system shall automatically
actuate electrical school fire alarm system.
9 Educational
Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ Automatic Fire Suppression System
– Every portion of educational buildings below the floor of
exit discharge shall be protected with complete automatic
sprinkler protection.
➢ Hazardous Areas
– An area used for general storage, boiler or furnace rooms,
fuel storage, janitors closets, maintenance shops including
woodworking and painting areas, laundries and kitchen
9 Educational
Occupancies
PROTECTION
– shall be separated from other parts of the building with
construction having not less than a one-hour fire
resistance rating, and all openings shall be protected with
self-closing fire doors, or such area shall be provided with
automatic fire suppression system.
➢ Cooking Equipment
– Cooking equipment shall be protected by automatic
kitchen hood fire suppression
9 Educational
Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ Air Conditioning
– Every air-conditioning, heating, and ventilating installation
shall comply with Division 7 of this Chapter.
➢ Electrical Wiring and Equipment
– Electrical wiring and equipment shall be in accordance
with provisions of the Philippine Electrical Code, and all
cooking, heating, incinerating and other building service
equipment shall be installed.
9 Educational
Occupancies
FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
➢ Dormitory and Classroom
For all health care buildings protection from the fire shall be
provided by appropriate arrangement of facilities, adequate
staffing, and careful development of operating and
maintenance procedure composed of the following:
✓ Proper design, construction, and compartmentation;
✓ Provisions for detection, alarm, and extinguishment; and
Health Care
10 Occupancies
FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
✓ Fire prevention and the planning, training, and drilling in
programs for the isolation of fire and transfer of occupants
to areas of refuge or evacuation of the building.
DIVISION 10
HEALTH CARE
OCCUPANCIES
Health Care
10 Occupancies
Fundamentals
➢ Hospitals
– A building or part thereof used for the medical, psychiatric,
obstetrical or surgical care, on a 24-hour basis, of four (4)
or more inpatients.
– Shall include general hospitals, mental hospitals,
tuberculosis hospitals, children's hospitals, and any such
facilities providing inpatient care.
Health Care
10 Occupancies
DEFINITION
➢ Nursing Home
– A building or part thereof used for the lodging, boarding and
nursing care, on a 24-hour basis, of four (4) more persons
who, because of mental or physical incapacity, maybe unable
to provide for their own needs and safety without the
assistance of another person.
– shall include nursing and convalescent homes, skilled nursing
facilities, intermediate care facilities, and infirmaries of
homes for the aged.
Health Care
10 Occupancies
Fundamentals
➢ Residential-Custodial Care Facility
– A building, or part thereof, used for the lodging or
boarding of four (4) or more persons who are incapable of
self-preservation because of age, or physical or mental
limitation.
– This includes facilities such as homes for the aged,
nurseries (custodial care for children under six (6) years of
age), and mentally retarded care institutions
Health Care
10 Occupancies
Protection
➢ Alarm, Detection and Extinguishment System
– The fire alarm system shall be installed with provisions for
future connection to the nearest BFP station in the locality.
Internal audible alarm devices shall be provided in
accordance with Section 10.2.6.4 of this IRR.
– An approved automatic heat and/or smoke detection
system shall be installed in all corridors of hospitals,
nursing homes, and residential custodial care facilities.
Health Care
10 Occupancies
Protection
➢ Alarm, Detection and Extinguishment System
– Approved, supervised sprinkler system shall be provided
throughout all hospitals, nursing homes, and residential-
custodial care facilities.
– In light hazard occupancies, required automatic fire
suppression systems shall be in accordance with Section
10.2.6.5 of this IRR for systems and shall be electrically
interconnected with the fire alarm system.
Health Care
10 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Emergency Lighting, Exit Markings, Alarms and
Communication Systems
– Each hospital shall be provided with emergency lighting as
and exit markings.
– Each nursing home and residential-custodial care facility
shall have emergency lighting
– Exit signs shall be provided in each hospital, nursing home,
and residential custodial care facility
Health Care
10 Occupancies
Protection
➢ Hazardous Areas
DIVISION 11
DETENTION &
CORRECTIONAL
OCCUMPANCIES
Detention & Correctional
11 Occupancies
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
➢ Definition
– Detention and correctional occupancies shall include those
used for purposes such as correctional institutions,
detention facilities, community residential centers and
substance abuse or rehabilitation centers where occupants
are confined or housed under some degree of restraint or
security.
Detention & Correctional
11 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ Detection, Alarm and Communication Systems
✓ Detention and correctional occupancies shall be provided
with a fire alarm system
✓ nitiation of the required fire alarm system shall be by
manual means
✓ Occupant notification shall be accomplished automatically
✓ Fire department notification shall be accomplished
Detention & Correctional
11 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ Detection, Alarm and Communication Systems
✓ An approved automatic smoke detection system
throughout all resident sleeping areas and adjacent day
rooms, activity rooms, or contiguous common spaces.
✓ Smoke detectors shall not be required in sleeping rooms
with four or fewer occupants.
Detention & Correctional
11 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ Extinguishing Requirements
✓ The automatic sprinkler system required by the preceding
paragraph shall be fully supervised and electrically
connected to the fire alarm system.
✓ Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided
✓ Standpipe and hose systems shall be provided
Detention & Correctional
11 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Travel Distance from Exits
✓ Between any room door intended as exit access and an exit
shall not exceed thirty meters (30 m);
✓ Between any point in a room and an exit shall not exceed
forty six meters (46 m); and
✓ Any point in a sleeping room to the door in that room shall
have a maximum travel distance of ten meters (10 m)
Detention & Correctional
11 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ Discharge from Exits
✓ Exits shall be permitted to discharge into a fenced or
walled courtyard, provided that not more than two walls of
the courtyard are the building walls from which egress is
being made
DIVISION 12
RESIDENTIAL
OCCUPANCIES
Residential
12 Occupancies
CLASSIFICATION
❖ Hotels
❖ Dormitories
❖ Apartment Buildings
❖ Lodging or Rooming Houses
❖ Single-and-Two Family Dwellings
Residential
12 Occupancies
REQUIREMENTS
➢ Capacity of Exits
Capacity of means of egress shall be in accordance with
Section 10.2.5.2 paragraph “C” of this IRR.
Residential
12 Occupancies
APARTMENT BUILDINGS
➢ GENERAL REQUIREMENT
– Every individual unit covered by this Section shall at least
comply with the minimum provisions of Section 10.2.12.6
of this IRR entitled Single and Two-Family Dwellings.
➢ EXIT DETAILS
– Exits of the same arrangement, types and capacities, as
required by Section 10.2.12.3 of this IRR shall be provided.
Residential
12 Occupancies
APARTMENT BUILDINGS
➢ NUMBER OF EXITS
– Every living unit shall have access to at least two (2)
separate exits.
➢ MINIMUM CORRIDOR WIDTH
– Not less than 112 cm
Residential
12 Occupancies
APARTMENT BUILDINGS
➢ ACCESS TO EXITS
– Exits shall be remote from each other
– Exits shall be so arranged that there are no dead-end
pockets, hallways, corridors, passageways or courts.
– Doors between apartments and corridors shall be self-
closing.
Residential
12 Occupancies
APARTMENT BUILDINGS
➢ LIGTHINGS AND SIGNS
– All apartment buildings shall have emergency lighting.
– Signs in accordance with Section 10.2.5.12 of this IRR shall
be provided in all apartment buildings .
Residential
12 Occupancies
APARTMENT BUILDINGS
➢ SEGREGATION OF DWELLING UNITS
– Dwelling units in row apartments shall be separated from
each other by partition walls having a fire resistance rating
of four (4) hours. Such walls shall be constructed solidly
and continuously from the ground to level one (1) meter
above the ridge line of the roof.
Residential
12 Occupancies
APARTMENT BUILDINGS
➢ ALARM SYSTEMS
✓ Every apartment building of four (4) storeys or more in
height, or more than twelve (12) apartment units shall
have an automatic fire detection and alarm system
✓ Apartment buildings of not more than three (3) storeys in
height shall be provided with manual fire alarm system,
provided that dwelling units shall be installed with single –
station or multi –station smoke detectors.
Residential
12 Occupancies
APARTMENT BUILDINGS
➢ EXTINGUISHING REQUIREMENTS
✓ All buildings shall be protected throughout by an approve,
supervised sprinkler system
✓ Listed quick response or listed residential sprinklers shall
be used throughout all dwelling units.
✓ isted quick response or listed residential sprinklers shall be
used throughout all dwelling units.
Residential
12 Occupancies
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
➢ CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY
– Mercantile occupancies shall include all buildings and
structures or parts thereof with occupancy as described in
Division 3 of this Chapter.
Mercantile
13 Occupancies
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
➢ SUB-CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY
i. Class A - AII stores having aggregate gross area of 2,787
m2 or more, or utilizing more than three (3) floor levels
for sales purposes.
ii. Class B - AII stores of less than 2,787 m2 aggregate area,
but over 287 m2, or utilizing any balcony, mezzanine or
floor above or below the street floor level for sales
purposes.
Mercantile
13 Occupancies
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
➢ SUB-CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY
iii. Class C - All stores of 278 m2 or less gross area used for
sales purposes on the street floor only.
➢ CLASSIFICATION OF HAZARD
❖The contents of mercantile occupancies shall be classified
in accordance with Division 4 of this Chapter.
Mercantile
13 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ GENERAL
✓ All exit facilities shall be in accordance with Division 5 of
this Chapter.
✓ where a stairway, escalator, outside stair, or ramp serves
two (2) or more upper floors, the same stairway or other
exit required to serve anyone (1) upper floor may also
serve other upper floors.
Mercantile
13 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ GENERAL
✓ Where there are two (2) or more floors below the street
floor, the same stairway or other exit may serve all floors,
but all required exits from such areas shall be
independent of any open stairways between street and
the floor below it.
➢ TYPES OF EXITS
✓ Doors, stairs, horizontal exits, ramps
Mercantile
13 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ NUMBER OF EXITS
✓ Not less than two separate exits shall be provided on
every storey.
✓ Not less than two separate exits shall be accessible from
every part of every storey.
➢ EXIT SIGNS AND LIGHTING
✓ Every mercantile occupancy shall have exit illumination
and signs.
Mercantile
13 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ PROTECTION OF VERTICAL OPENINGS
✓ Any stairway, elevator shaft, escalator opening or other
critical opening shall be enclosed or protected in accordance
with Section 10.2.6.2 of this IRR, except as permitted in this
Section.
➢ ALARM SYSTEM
✓ Class A and Class B stores shall be provided with an
automatic and manual fire alarm system in accordance with
Section 10.2.6.4of this IRR.
Mercantile
13 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION
✓ Approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system
protection shall be installed in accordance with Section
10.2.6.5 of this IRR in all mercantile occupancies
➢ HAZARDOUS AREAS
▪ General storage, boiler or furnace rooms, fuel storage,
janitor closet, maintenance shops, kitchens etc.
Mercantile
13 Occupancies
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
➢ SELF-SERVICE STORES
✓ In any self-service store, no check-out stand or associated
railings or barriers shall obstruct exits or required aisles or
approaches thereto
✓ In every self-service store where, wheeled carts or
buggIes are used by customers, adequate provision shall
be made for the transit and parking of such carts to
minimize the possibility that they may obstruct exits.
Mercantile
13 Occupancies
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
➢ OPEN-AIR MERCANTILE OPERATIONS
✓ Open-air mercantile, operations, such as open-air markets,
gasoline filling stations, auto LPG refilling stations, roadside
stands for the sale of farm produce and other outdoor
mercantile operations shall be so arranged and conducted as to
maintain free and unobstructed ways of travel at all times to
permit prompt escape from any point of danger in case of fire
or other emergency, with no dead ends in which persons might
be trapped due to display stands, adjoining buildings, fences,
vehicles, or other obstructions.
Mercantile
13 Occupancies
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
➢ OPEN-AIR MERCANTILE OPERATIONS
✓ If mercantile operations are conducted in roof-over areas,
they shall be treated as mercantile buildings, provided
that canopies over individual small stands to protect
merchandise from the weather shall not be construed to
constitute buildings for the purpose of this Chapter.
Mercantile
13 Occupancies
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
➢ COMBINED MERCANTILE & RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES
✓ No dwelling unit shall have its sole means of exit through
any mercantile occupancy in the same building.
➢ COVERED MALLS & WALKWAY
✓ A covered or roofed interior area used as a pedestrian
public way and connecting buildings housing individual or
multiple tenants. Use of the term covered mall shall
include covered walkways.
DIVISION 14
BUSINESS
OCCUPANCIES
Business
14 Occupancies
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
➢ CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY
✓ Business Occupancies shall include all buildings and
structures or parts thereof with occupancy described in
Division 3 of this Chapter.
Business
14 Occupancies
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
➢ CLASSIFICATION OF HAZARD OF CONTENTS
✓ The contents of business occupancies shall be classified as
ordinary hazard in accordance with Division 4 of this
Chapter. For purposes of the design of an automatic fire
suppression system, as office occupancy shall be classified
as "Light hazard occupancy".
Business
14 Occupancies
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
➢ OCCUPANT LOAD
✓ shall be no less than one (1) person per 9.3 m2 of gross
floor area.
➢ EXIT DETAILS
✓ All exit facilities shall be in accordance with Section
10.2.5.10 of this IRR and this Division
✓ Stairs and ramps serving two (2) or more floors below a
street floor occupied for business use shall be permitted
Business
14 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ GENERAL
✓ All exit facilities shall be in accordance with Section
10.2.5.10 of this IRR and this Division
✓ Stairs and ramps serving two (2) or more floors below a
street floor occupied for business use shall be permitted
Business
14 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ EXIT DETAILS
✓ An inside open stairway or inside open ramp shall be
permitted
➢ TYPE OF EXITS
✓ Doors, ramps, stairs and smoke-proof enclosures,
horizontal exits, exit passageways, fire escape ladders.
Business
14 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ NUMBER OF EXITS
✓ Not less than two (2) separate exits shall be provided on
every storey.
✓ Not less than two (2) separate exits shall be accessible
from every part of every storey.
✓ shall be permitted to include a single exit access path for
the distances permitted as common paths of travel.
Business
14 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ NUMBER OF EXITS
✓ A single exit shall be permitted for a room or area with a
total occupant load of fewer than 100 persons
✓ Any business occupancy not exceeding three (3) storeys,
and not exceeding an occupant load of 30 people per
floor, shall be permitted a single separate exit to each
floor
Business
14 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ TRAVEL DISTANCE TO EXITS
✓ the travel distance shall not exceed 61 meters
➢ EXIT SIGNS AND LIGHTING
✓ Exit illumination shall be provided in accordance with
Section 10.2.5.11 of this IRR.
✓ Emergency lighting shall be provided in accordance with
Section 10.2.5.11 of this IRR in any building
Business
14 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ EXIT SIGNS AND LIGHTING
✓ Emergency lighting in accordance with 10.2.5.11 of this
IRR shall be provided for all underground and limited
access structures.
Business
14 Occupancies
EXIT DETAILS
➢ EXIT SIGNS AND LIGHTING
✓ Emergency lighting in accordance with 10.2.5.11 of this
IRR shall be provided for all underground and limited
access structures.
Business
14 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ VERTICAL OPENINGS
✓ . Vertical openings shall be enclosed or protected in
accordance with section 10.2.6.2of this IRR
➢ Detection, Alarm, and Communications Systems
✓ A fire alarm system in accordance with Section 10.2.6.4
of this IRR shall be provided in all business occupancies
Business
14 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ DETECTION, ALARM, AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
✓ Initiation. Initiation of the required fire alarm system
shall be by one of the following means:
1. Manual means
2. Means of an approved automatic fire detection system that
complies
3. Means of an approved automatic sprinkler system
Business
14 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ OCCUPANT NOTIFICATION
✓ During all times that the building is occupied, the
required fire alarm system, once initiated, shall perform
one of the following functions:
1. it shall activate a general alarm; a positive alarm sequence
2. Pre-signal system
3. it shall activate an alarm signal in a continuously attended
location for the purpose of initiating emergency action by
personnel trained to respond
Business
14 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ PROTECTION FROM HAZARD
✓ Hazardous areas including, but not limited to, areas used
for general storage, boiler or furnace rooms, and
maintenance shops that include woodworking and
painting areas shall be protected in accordance with
Section 10.2.6.8 of this IRR.
Business
14 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ BUILDING SERVICE UTILITIES
– Heating ventilating, and air-conditioning equipment shall
comply with the provisions of Section 10.2.7.2 of this IRR.
– Elevators, escalators, and conveyors shall comply with the
provisions of Section 10.2.7.5 of this IRR.
– Rubbish chutes, incinerators, and laundry chutes shall
comply with the provisions of Section 10.2.7.4 of this IRR.
Business
14 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ COMBINED BUSINESS AND MERCANTILE OCCUPANCY
In any building occupied for both business and mercantile
purposes, the entire building shall have exits in accordance
with Division 14 of this Chapter.
Exception: If mercantile occupancy sections are effectively
segregated from business section, exit facilities may be
treated separately.
Business
14 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
All business occupancy buildings fifteen (15) meters or more
in height shall be provided throughout with approved,
supervised sprinkler system, fully electrically supervised
designed in accordance with NFPA 13: Standard for the
Installation of Sprinklers (latest edition); or shall be designed
with a system that will provide equivalent safety. Building
height shall be measured from the ground level to floor of
the topmost storey.
Business
14 Occupancies
PROTECTION
➢ HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
In addition to the above requirements, all buildings
regardless of height shall comply with other applicable
provisions of the Fire Code of the Philippines and this IRR.