✅[H] FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES OF 2008 (copy)

RA 9514

What is the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008?

Abatement

Any act that would remove or neutralize a fire hazard.

Boiling Point

The temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the surrounding atmospheric pressure.

Automatic Fire Suppression System

An integrated system of underground or overhead piping or both connected to a source of extinguishing agent or medium and designed in accordance with fire protection engineering standards which, when actuated by its automatic detecting device, suppresses fires within the area protected.

City/Municipal Fire Marshal

The duly designated head of the City or Municipal Fire Station including those designated as "Officer-in-Charge" or in an "Acting" capacity.

Class A Fires

Fires involving ordinary combustible materials such as wood, cloth, rubber and plastics.

Class B Fires

Fires involving flammable liquids and gases.

Class C Fires

Fires involving energized electrical equipment.

Class D Fires

Fires involving combustible materials, such as sodium, magnesium, potassium, and other similar materials.

Class K Fires

Fires in cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media (vegetable or animal oils and fats).

Combination Standpipe

A pipeline system filled with water and connected to a constant water supply for the use of the BFP and the occupants of the buildings solely for fire suppression purposes.

Combustible Fibres

Any readily ignitable and free-burning fibers, such as but not limited, to cocoa fiber, cotton, excelsior, hay, hemp, henequen, istle, jute, kapok, oakum, rags, sisal, Spanish moss, straw, tow, waste cloth, waste paper, certain synthetic fibers commonly used in commerce, or any material in a fibrous or shredded form that will readily ignite when heat sources are present.

Combustible Liquid

Any liquid having a flash point at or above thirty seven and eight tenths degrees Celsius (37.8 C)

Combustible Waste

Also known as loose waste material, are those generated by an establishment or process and, being salvageable, are retained for scrap or reprocessing on the premises where generated.

Community/Barangay Fire Brigade

A group of firefighters performing fire suppression activities within a specified jurisdiction.

Compressed Gas system

One that exists solely in the gaseous state under pressure in the range of two hundred seventy three kilopascal (273 KPa) to twenty four thousand nine hundred twenty three kilopascal (24,923 KPa) at all normal atmospheric temperature ranging from twenty degrees Celsius (20 C) to thirty seven and eight tenths degrees Celsius (37.8 C) inside its container.

Container

Any vessel of less than two hundred twenty seven liters (227 L) capacity used for transporting or storing liquids.

Corrosive Liquid

Any liquid which causes fire when in contact with organic matter or with certain chemicals.

Curtain Board

A vertical panel of non-combustible or fire resistive materials attached to and extending below the bottom chord of the roof trusses to divide the underside of the roof into separate compartments so that heat and smoke will be directed upwards to a roof vent.

Damper

A normally open device installed inside air duct systems which automatically closes to restrict the passage of smoke or fire.

Dry Standpipe

A type of standpipe system in which the pipes are normally not filled with water. Water is introduced into the system thru fire service connections when needed

Duct System

A continuous passageway for the transmission of air.

Duct

Any finely divided solid, four millimeters (4 mm) or less in diameter (that is, material capable of passing through a U.S. No. 40 standard sieve) which, if mixed with air in the proper proportion, becomes explosive and may be ignited by a flame or spark or other source of ignition.

Electrical Arc

An extremely hot luminous bridge formed by the passage of an electric current across a space between two conductors or terminals.

Ember

A hot piece or lump that remains after a material has partially burned, and is still oxidizing without the manifestation of flames.

Enclosed Platform

A partially enclosed portion of an assembly room the ceiling of which is not more than one hundred fifty five centimeters (155 cm) above the proscenium opening that is designed or used for the presentation of plays, demonstrations, or other entertainment wherein scenery, drops, decorations or other effects may be installed or used.

Explosive Magazines

Buildings, structures, or facilities used for the storage of explosive, shells, projectiles and ammunition.

Explosive

Includes any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion.

Finishes

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

Fire Alarm

Any visual or audible signal produced by a device or system to warn the occupants of the building or fire fighting elements of the presence or danger of fire.

Fire Alarm System

A fire alarm system activated by the presence of fire, where the signal is transmitted to designated locations instead of sounding a general alarm.

Fire Brigade

A collective term that is used to refer to a group of firefighters, primarily performing fire suppression activities in areas such as, but not limited to, community/barangay, company, and other government and non-government establishments.

Fire Door

A fire resistive door prescribed for openings in fire separation walls or partitions.

Fire Hazard

Any condition or act which increases or may cause an increase in the probability of the occurrence of fire, or which may obstruct, delay, hinder or interfere with fire fighting operations and the safeguarding of life and property.

Fire Lane

The portion of a roadway or public way that should be kept opened and unobstructed at all times for the expedient conduct of fire fighting operations.

Fire Protective and Fire Safety Device

Any device intended for the protection of buildings or persons to include, but not limited to, built-in protection system such as sprinklers and other automatic extinguishing system, detectors for heat, smoke and combustion products and other warning system components, personal protective equipment such as fire blankets, helmets, fire suits, gloves and other garments that may be put on or worn by persons to protect themselves during fire.

Fire Protective Assembly

An assembly incorporated in the structure designed to prevent the spread of fire, such as dampers, curtain boards, fire stoppers and the like.

Fire Resistance Rating

The time duration that a material or construction can withstand the effect of a standard fire test.

Fire Safety Constructions

Refers to the design and installation of walls, barriers, doors, windows, vents, means of egress and other elements integral to and incorporated into a building or structure in order to minimize danger to life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic before the building is evacuated.

Fire Trap

A building unsafe in case of fire because it will burn easily or because it lacks adequate exits or fire escapes.

Fire Volunteer Oranization (FVO)

An organized group of private firefighters recognized by the BFP, who have voluntarily formed themselves to perform fire-related activities.

Fire Volunteer

A person who voluntarily enters into firefighting service through a Fire Volunteer Organization (FVO) and undergoes the same discipline as that of BFP firefighters.

Fire Wall

A wall designed to prevent the spread of fire, having a fire resistance rating of not less than four (4) hours with sufficient structural stability to remain standing even if construction on either side collapses under fire conditions.

Fire

The active principle of burning, characterized by the heat and light of combustion.

Flame Retardant

Any compound or mixture which when applied properly improves the resistivity or fire resistance quality of fabrics and other materials.

Flame Spread Rating

The time in which flame will spread over the surface of a burning material.

Flammability

The characteristic of a material on how easily it will burn or ignite, causing fire or combustion.

Flammable Finshes

Are material coatings in which the material being applied is a flammable liquid, combustible liquid, combustible powder or flammable or combustible gel coating.

Flammable Vapor Area

An area in which the concentration of flammable constituents (vapor, gas, fume, mist or dust) in air exceeds twenty five percent (25%) of their lower flammable limit (LFL) because of the flammable finish processes operation.

Government Fire Brigade

A group of firefighters rendering firefighting activities in the premises of a public office.

Hazard Evaluation

Identification of potential hazards which includes risk evaluation that takes into account the likelihood of the hazard resulting in a fire or explosion.

Hazardous Fire Area

Any area covered with dry grass, cogon, reeds, brush, and other highly combustible growth or any area used for stockpiling of used or waste materials that, by virtue of exposure to environment, may cause its deterioration, decomposition or other conditions that fires are likely to occur therein and hard to suppress.

Hazardous Operation/Process

Any act of manufacturing, fabrication, conversion, or other similar operations that use or produce materials which are likely to cause fires or explosions.

High Piled Storage

Include combustible materials on pallets or in racks more than four meters (4 m) high.

Horizontal Channel

Any uninterrupted space between horizontal layers of stored commodities. Such channels may be formed by pallets, shelves, racks or other storage arrangements.

Horizontal Exit

A passageway from one building to another, or through or around a wall in approximately the same floor level.

Hose Box

A box or cabinet where fire hoses, valves and other equipment are stored and arranged for fire fighting.

Hose Reel

A cylindrical device turning on an axis around which a fire hose is wound and connected.

Impact Barriers

Are structures installed for the protection of dispensing devices against possible collision damage/s.

Jumper

Any piece of metal or an electrical conductor used to bypass a safety device in an electrical system.

Limited Spraying Space

An area in which operations for touch-up or spot painting of a surface area not exceeding of one square meter (1 m) or less are conducted.

Loose Fibers

Fibers that are not bundled or packaged in suitable bales.

Loose House

A separate detached building in which unbaled combustible fibers are stored.

Machinery Room

A specific room which is permanently installed and used for the operation of machineries. Closets solely contained within and opening only into a room shall be considered a part of such room.

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

Is a form that contains data and information regarding the properties of a particular substance.

Means of Egress

Is a continuous and unobstructed route of exit from one point in a building, structure or facility to a public way.

Medical Air

A type of air product produced through the blending of compressed nitrogen and oxygen and used in variety of patients' application.

Medical Gas

A type of gas used in medical and similar facilities, including oxygen, nitrous oxide, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, helium, medical air and mixtures of these gases.

Occupancy

The purpose for which a building or portion thereof is used or intended to be used.

Occupant

Any person actually occupying and using a building or portions thereof by virtue of a lease contract with the owner or administrator or by permission or sufferance of the latter.

Occupant Load

The maximum number of persons that may be allowed to occupy a particular building, structure, or facility, or portions hereof.

Oil Burning Equipment

An oil burner of any type together with its tank, piping, wiring controls, blower, and related devices, and shall include all oil-fired units, heating and cooking appliances.

Organic Coating

A liquid mixture of binders such as alkyd, nitrocellulose, acrylic, or oil, and flammable and combustible solvents such as hydrocarbon, ester, ketene or alcohol, which when spread on a surface becomes a durable protective and decorative finish.

Overloading

The use of one or more electrical appliances or devices which draw or consume electrical current beyond the designed capacity of the existing electrical system.

Ozone Depleting Refrigerant/Substance

Any group of halogenated hydrocarbon chemicals which photochemically reacts in the stratosphere in a way which destroys the ozone layer.

Panic Hardware

A mechanical device consisting of linkages and horizontal bars across a door, which when pushed from the inside will cause the door to open and facilitates exit from the building, structure or facility.

Picking Rooms

Rooms where baled, bundled or piled materials are segregated into desired sizes or groups.

Group A Plastics

Plastic materials having heat of combustion much higher than that of ordinary combustibles and burning rate higher than that of Group B plastics.

Group B Plastics

Plastic materials having heat of combustion and burning rate higher than that of ordinary combustibles, but not as high as those of Group A plastics.

Group C Plastics

Plastic materials having heat of combustion and burning rate similar to those of ordinary combustibles.

Plenum

An air compartment or chamber to which one or more ducts are connected and which form part of an air distribution system.

Fire Safety Practitioner

Any qualified person, recognized by the BFP, engaged in, but not limited to, the design, construction, installation, repair and maintenance, assessment, and rehabilitation of fire safety construction, suppression and control systems, protective and warning systems and life safety related services, or employed as a safety officer of public and private establishments/companies.

Proscenium Wall

A fire resistive wall which separates a stage or enclosed platform from the public or spectators' area of an auditorium or theater.

Pyrophoric

Descriptive of any substance that ignites spontaneously when exposed to air.

Refrigerating System

An assembly of four (4) major components, namely the compressor, condenser, expansion valve, the evaporator, through which a very low boiling point substance (refrigerant) flow in cycle, and absorbs heat from the immediate surroundings, thereby producing the cooling effect.

Roll Coating

A process of coating, spreading and impregnating fabrics, paper or other materials as they are passed directly through a tank or trough containing flammable or combustible liquids, or over the surface of a roller revolving partially submerged in a flammable or combustible liquid.

Self-closing Doors

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

Smoke Developed Rating

Refers to the rating of a combustible materials based on the density and volume of smoke developed within a certain period of time when its surfaces are ignited.

Smoking Area

A designated area where smoking is permitted within premises where smoking is otherwise generally prohibited.

Source of Ignition

A source of energy sufficient to ignite a flammable atmosphere and includes open flames, smoking, incandescent material, electrical welding arcs, and electrical or mechanical equipment not suitable for use in a particular hazard zone.

Spray Booth

A mechanically ventilated appliance of varying dimensions and construction provided to enclose or accommodate a spraying operation and to confine and limit the escape of spray vapor and residue and to exhaust it safely.

Spraying Area

Any area in which dangerous quantities of flammable vapors or mists, or combustible residues, dusts or deposits are present due to the operation of spraying processes.

Sprinkler System

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

Standpipe System

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

Thrust Stage

The portion of a stage which projects into the audience on the audience side of a proscenium wall or opening.

Toxicity

The degree to which a substance is able to damage an exposed organism.

Used Water

Liquid waste generated by treatment plants, housekeeping, operation and maintenance, and laboratory activities, including but not limited to washing, flushing, and cleaning activities.

Ventilation

The process of supplying or removing air by natural or mechanical means to or from any space. Such air may or may not have been conditioned.

Vertical Shaft

An enclosed vertical space of passage that extends from floor to floor, as well as from the base to the top of a building.

Vestibule

A passage hall or antechamber between the outer doors and the interior parts of a house or building.