RA Fire Code of the Philippines Reviewer

An Act Establishing A Comprehensive Fire Code of the Philippines, Repealing Presidential Decree No. 1185 And For Other Purposes

The Title of RA 9514 Fire Code of the Philippines

Abatement

Any act that would remove or neutralize a fire hazard

Administrator

Any person that acts as the agent of the owner and manages the use of the building for him

Blasting Agent

Material or mixture composed of fuel and oxidizer used to set off explosives

Cellulose Nitrate

Highly explosive and combustible material compound. The reaction of nictric acid with cellulose material as base

Combustible, Flammable, Inflammable

Descriptive of materials that are easily set on fire

Combustible Fiber

Any readily igniteable and free burning fiber and other similar materials

Combustible Liquid

Flash point of or above 37.8 Degrees Celcius (100 Degrees Fahrenheight)

Corrosive Liquid

Liquid that causes fire when in contact with certain chemicals

Curtain Board

Vertical panel of non-combustible or fire resistive materials extending below bottom chord of roof trusses. Divides roof into separate compartments so heat could be directed to the roof vent.

Cryogenic

Any material that when reacts, with other elements, produces a rapid drop in temperature of the immediate surroundings

Damper

Normally open device installed in air duct which automatically closes to restrict passage of smoke or fire

Distillation

Separation of the volatile from less volatile parts then cooling and condensing resulting vapor to produce a purified substance

Duct System

Continuous passage way for transmission of air

Dust

Finely powdered substance. Whn mixed in air in proper proportion and ignited, will explode

Electrical Arc

An extremely hot luminous bridge. Formed by passage of an electric current across a space between 2 conductors or terminal due to incandescence of conducting vapor

Ember

Hot piece or lump after material has partially burned. Still oxidizing without flames

Finishes

Materials used as final coating of a surface for ornamental or protective surfaces

Fire

Active principle of burning characterized by heat, light and combustion

Fire Trap

Unsafe building that lacks adequate exits or escapes

Fire Alarm

Visual or audible signals produced by a device to warn occupants of the building or firefighters of presence of danger or fire to enable them immediate action to save life and property.

Fire Door

Fire resistive door prescribed for openings

Fire Hazard

Any condition or act which increases or may cause an increase in the probability or occurence of fire. May obsrtuct or interfere fire fighting operations and safeguarding of life and property.

Fire Lane

Portion of roadway or publicway that should be kept open and unobstructed at all times for the operation of firefighting units

Fire Protective Device

Any device intended for the protection of buildings or persons such as sprinklers or automatic extinguishing system, detectors, smoke alarms or other garments that protect from fire

Fire Safety Construction

Design of installation of walls, barriers, doors, windows and means of egress. Integral to a building to minimize danger to life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic before the building is evacuated

Flash Point

Minimum temperature at which any material gives off vapor in sufficient concentration to form igniteable mixture with air

Forging

Process where piece of metal is heated prior to changing its shape

Fulminate

A stable explosive compound explodes by percussion

Hazardous Operation

Manufacturing fabrication conversion that uses produces materials which are likely to cause fires or explosions

Horizontal Exit

Passageway from one building to another or through or around a wall in the same floor level

Hose Box

Box or cabinet where fire hoses, valves and equipment are stored

Hose Reel

A cylindrical device turning on an axis to which a hose is wound and connected

Hypergolic Fuel

Rocket or liquid propellant that ignites upon contact with each other

Industrial Baking and Drying

Industrial process of subjecting materials to heat to remove solvents or moisture or fuse certain chemical salts to form uniform glazing on material surfaces being treated

Jumper

Metal or electric conductor used to bypass a safety device in an electrical system

Occupancy

Purpose for which a building or portion thereof is used or its intended use

Occupant

Any person occupying the building

Organic Peroxide

Strong organic compound which releases oxygen readily. Causes fire when in contact with combustible mat.

Overloading

Use of 1 or more electrical appliance that consume electricity/ current beyond the capacity of the electrical system

Owner

Owns the legal right of possesion of title to a building or real property

Oxidizing Material

Material that readily yields oxygen in quantities sufficient for combustion

Pressurized or Forced Draft Burning Equipment

A burner where the fuel is subjected to pressure prior to discharge into a combustion chamber that includes fans or other provisions for the introduction of air at above normal atm into the same combustion chamber

Public Assembly Building

Building or structure where (50) fifty or more people congregate or assemble in any purpose

Public Way

Any street, alley or other strip of land unobstructed from the ground to the sky, deeded, dedicated or other wise permanently appropriated or public use

Pyrophoric

Any substance that ignites instantly upon contact with air

Refining

A process where impurities are removed from a material. To produce a pure element

Self Closing Doors

Automatic closing doors that are designed to confine smoke and heat and delay spread of fire

Smelting

Melting or fusing or metallic ores or compounds so as to separate impurities from pure metals

Sprinkler System

Integrated network of hydraulically designed piping installed in a building, structure or area with outlets arranged in a systematic pattern which automatically discharges water when activated by hear or combustion products from a fire

Standpipe System

System of vertical pipes to which fire hoses can be attached on each floor, including a system by which water is made available to the outlets as needed

Vestibule

A passage hall or ante chamber between the outer doors and interior parts of a house or building

Vertical Shaft

Enclosed vertical space of passage that extends from floor to floor as well as from the base to the top of the building

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)

Administers and enforces the code

Chief of BFP

Supervises and controls BFP

Fire Safety Inspector

Conducts inspection of every structure within area of responsibility at least once a year and every time the owner administrator or occupant shall renew business permit and permit to operate

Technical Staff

Staff of BFP that are highly quilified persons knowledgeable on fire safety, prevention and fire supression

15 days to comply

Maximum of days after Fire Chief issued that a structure is a fire hazard

Administrative Fine of more than 50,000 Pesos

Fine for violating Fire Code

Class A Fires

A fire class involves ordinary combustible materials wood, cloth, rubber and plastic

Class B Fires

A fire class that identifies as flammable liquids and gases

Class C Fires

A fire class that identifies as energized electrical equipment

Class D Fires

A fire class involving combustible materials such as sodium, magnesium, potassium and similar materials

Class K Fires

A fire class classifying fires in cooking appliances

Class II Liquid

Flash point below 60 degrees celsius

Class III A Liquid

Flash point greater than 60 degrees but less that 93 degrees

Class III B Liquid

Flash point about 93 degrees

Container

Vessel of less than 227L capacity. Used to transport liquids

Crude Oil

Any naturally occuring unrefined petroleum liquid

Derrick

Framework constructed over a mine or oil well for the purpose of boring or lowering pipes

Drum

A container that has a total capacity of 227L used in storing liquid

Fire Wall

-Wall designed to prevent the spread of fire

-Has fire resistance rating of not less than 4 hours

High Rise Building

Buildings of 15 meters or more in height

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

Form that contains data regarding a substance and its properties

Portable Tank

Closed vessel having liquid capacity over 227L and not intended for fixed installation

Fire Safety Inspection Certificate

Meaning of FSIC

Fire Brigade Chief

Head of a company of fire fighters

Municipal Fire Marshal

Conduct inspection of facilities in compliance to the provisions of the fire code where having jurisdiction

Fire Safety Inspections

Pre-Requisites to Occupancy Permit and Business Permit

(FSEC) Fire Safety Evaluation Clearance

Reviewed by building official and municipal fire chief

Fire and Life Safety Assesment Report

FALAR

Fire Safety Checklist

FSC

Notice of Disapproval

NOD

Fire Safety Enforcement Section

FSES

After Inspection Report

AIR

3

Number of sets of FALAR 1

3

Number of sets of FALAR 2

3

Number of sets of FALAR 3

Architect and FSP

FALAR 1 is signed by

Contractor and CM

FALAR 2 is signed by

Building Administrator

FALAR 3 is signed by

FSEC (Fire Safety Evaluation Clearance)

Pre-Requisite of FALAR 1

Occupancy Permit

Pre-Requisite of FALAR 2

Business Permit

Pre-Requisite of FALAR 3

Assembly

All buildings gathering 50 or more people

Educational

All buildings used for gathering of group of 6 or more persons for purposes of instruction

Health Care

Facilities used for medical purposes where occupants are mostly incapable of self preservation because of age, physical or mental disability or because of security measures not under the occupants control

Detention and Correctional

Buildings used to house 1 or more persons under varied degrees of restraint or security

Residential

All buildings designed to provide sleeping accommodations

Mercantile

Buildings and structures for the display and scale of merchandise