PP - Fire Code (RA 9514)

Republic Act no 9514

an Act establishing a comprehensive Fire Code of the Philippines, repealing Presidential Decree no. 1185, and for other purposes.

Anesthetics Gas

A medical gas used as anesthetic agents for surgical procedures
that could either be flammable or non-flammable.

cyclopropane and ethylene

Examples of flammable anesthetics

nitrous oxides and
halothane

Examples of nonflammable anesthetic gases

Arena stage

A stage or platform that opens on at least three (3) sides to audience seating. It may be with or without overhead scene handling
facilities.

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, sup-
presses fires within the area protected.

Baffle

A non liquid-tight transverse partition in a cargo tank.

Bale

A large bundle or package of hay or a raw material such as
cotton, tightly bound with string or wire to keep it in shape during
transportation or storage.

2.00 m

Minimum height of doors

710 mm (minimum)
1220 mm (maximum)

Minimum and maximum width of doors

2.30 m

(however, follow the min. 2.40 m of NBCP)

Minimum height for habitable rooms

Min. of 100-180mm

Dimensions of stair risers

Min. of 280mm

Dimensions of stair run/tread

760-865mm from nosing

Handrail Height

1.12 m

Dimension of landings in the direction of travel

1:12

Maximum slope of ramps

1:48

Maximum cross slope of ramps

1.12 m

Minimum width of ramps

760 mm vertical distance

Distance between landings

at LEAST 2 exits

Number of exits for occupant load 0-500

at LEAST 3 exits

Number of exits for occupant load 501-900

at LEAST 4 exits

Number of exits for occupant load 1000 above

Max. of 46 m

Distance to exits w/o sprinkler system

Max. of 61 m

Distance to exits w/ sprinkler system

Cryogenic Fluids

Fluids produced or stored at very low temperatures and that have
normal boiling point below negative fifty five degrees Celsius (-
55°C).

Class I-A Liquids

include those flammable liquids having flash points below twenty
two and eight tenths degrees Celsius (22.8°C), and having a
boiling point below thirty seven and eight tenths degrees Celsius
(37.8°C).

Class I-B Liquids

include those flammable liquids having flash points below twenty
two and eight tenths degrees Celsius (22.8°C), and having a
boiling point at or above thirty seven and eight tenths degrees
Celsius (37.8°C).

Class I-C Liquids

include those liquids having flash points at or above twenty two
and eight tenths degrees Celsius (22.8°C), and below thirty seven
and eight tenths degrees Celsius (37.8°C).

Fumigants

Any substance which, by itself or in combination with any other
substance, emits or liberates a gas, fume or vapor used for the
destruction or control of insects, fungi, vermin, germs, rats, or
other pests, and shall be distinguished from insecticides and
disinfectants which are essentially effective in the solid or liquid
phases.

Refrigerating System

An assembly of four (4) major components, namely the compres-
sor, 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 produc-
ing the cooling effect (also known as the refrigerating effect).

Means of Egress

A continuous and unobstructed route of exit from any point in a
building to a public way.

Class A

Class of fire involving ordinary combustible materials, such as
wood, papers, cloth,
rubber, and plastics.

Class D

Class of fire involving combustible metals, such as magnesium,
sodium, potassium, and
other similar materials.

14

Maximum number of seats in a row in between aisles.

0.83 mtr.

Minimum spacing of rows of seats from back to back for a public
assembly building.

0.915 m

Minimum width of means of egress

Floor Area Assigned / Occupant Load Factor

Formula for occupant load computation

1 hour fire resistance rating

Protective enclosure of exits shall have at least \______ fire resistance rating when connected to 3 storeys or less.

2 hour fire resistance rating

Protective enclosure of exits shall have at least \______ fire resistance rating when connected to 4 storeys or more.

Assembly

Under what classification of occupancy does MUSEUMS fall?

Business

Under what classification of occupancy does town HALLS fall?

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 nongovernment establishments.

Flame Retardant

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

Flame Spread Rating

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

Flash Point of a Liquid

The lowest temperature a liquid at which sufficient vapor is given
off to form an ignitable mixture with air, near the surface of the
liquid or within the vessel used, as determined by appropriate
laboratory test,

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.

Sump Pit

The lowest part of a mine, vault, tank or a hole in the ground used
to collect water, waste water and sludge for purposes of draining
through a submersible pump.

0.28 sqm

Unit area per person for waiting areas or standing rooms.

91 cms.

Minimum width of an aisle serving an occupant of 60.

2.00 mts

Minimum headroom created by any projection from the ceiling.

56 cms.

Minimum clear width of turnstiles.

112 cms

Minimum dimension of landings in direction of travel for class A &
B stairs.

3

Minimum number of risers in any one (1) flight of stairs.

76 cms.

Minimum height of a handrail above the upper surface of the tread.

38 mm

Minimum clearance of a handrail from any wall.

91 cms

Minimum height of a guard rail.

106 cms

Maximum height of a guard rail.

7.50 mt

Minimum inner radius of a monumental stair.

112 cms

Minimum width of any balcony or bridge.

112 cms.

Minimum width of a class A ramp.

20.3 cms

Maximum rise of any floor from the balcony floor to which an
access door leads.

55.9 cms (same size for landings)

Minimum width of a fire escape stair for existing stairs.

15.25 cms.

Minimum tread for a fire escape stair for SMALL buildings.

30.5 cms.

Maximum rise of fire escape stair for a SMALL building.

22.9 cms.

Maximum rise of fire escape stair for existing stairs.

2.13 mts

Minimum headroom clearance for a fire escape stair for existing
stairs.

1.98 mts.

Minimum headroom clearance for a fire escape stair for SMALL
buildings.

50-300

Maximum occupant load for a class C public assembly.

2

Minimum number of exit for an INSTITUTIONAL type of structure.

30 mts

Maximum travel distance between ROOM door intended as exit
access and EXIT WITH SPRINKLER system for INSTITUTIONAL use.

30 mts

Maximum travel distance from the DOOR of any room to EXIT for
HOTELS WITH SPRINKLER

2.5 cms.

Minimum increase in width for an aisle per linear meter.

91 cms.

Minimum width of an aisle serving an occupant of 60 or more serving one side for a public assembly building.

1.00 mtr.

Minimum width of an aisle serving an occupant of 60 or more serving two sides for a public assembly building.

76 cms.

Minimum width of an aisle serving an occupant of below 60 for a
public assembly building.

1.80 mts

Minimum width of an aisle for an EDUCATIONAL use building.

2.44 mts.

Minimum width of an aisle for HOSPOTALS or nursing homes

112 cms.

Minimum width of an aisle for BUSINESS and INDUSTRIAL use structure.

Picking rooms

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

Plenum

An air compartment or chamber to which 1 or more ducts are
connected and which form
part of an air distribution system

37.8 degrees Celsius / 100 Fahrenheit

Temperature rating at flash point.

4 hrs.

MIN. fire resistance rating for a FIREWALL.

Flash Point

The minimum temperature at which any material gives off vapor in sufficient
concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air.

4.50 mts

Minimum width of any driveway in and around a lumber yard /
piles.

3.70 mts.

Maximum width of sumps for the retention of oil and petroleum
products.

15.00 mts.

Minimum travel distance from any individual room subject to occupancy by not more 6 persons.

23.00 mts.

Maximum distance of travel from the high hazard area to an exit.

3.00 mts.

Minimum distance of an incinerator from any structure used other
than a single family
dwelling

9 cms.

Maximum reduction in width of a stair by a handrail.

20.5 cms.

Maximum CHANGE IN ELEVATION between the INTERIOR of a door to the
OUTSIDE of it other than
a balcony

7 kgs.

Maximum force in kilograms required for a panic hardware.

76 cm - 112 cm (min./max.)

Height required for a panic hardware installation.

20

Maximum number of occupant for a subdivided room or space by
a FOLDING partition.

91 cms.

Minimum stair width for a class B stair serving an occupant load
of less than 50.

25 mm

Length of a NOSING or effective projection over the level immediately below it for tread BELOW 25 cms in dimension.

86.5 cm

Maximum height of a handrail.

30.5 meters

Classified as MERCANTILE occupancies, the travel distance from
exits shall be.

1 (1.5 mts WIDE)

Minimum number of aisles for Class 'A' stores.

3.66 mts.

Minimum CLEAR WIDTH of an EXIT access through a covered mall.

15 mts

Minimum height of buildings requiring automatic sprinkler protection.