Fire Protection module 15-16

FIRE SAFETY ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS

RULE 8. FIRE SAFETY ENFORCERS

CHAPTER 1. QUALIFICATIONS OF FIRE SAFETY ENFORCERS

DIVISION 1. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS BFP personnel duly designated as Fire Safety Enforcers shall possess minimum required qualification standard stated herein.

SECTION 8.1.1.1 FIRE SAFETY INSPECTORS

A. UNIFORMED PERSONNEL

1. Licensed Engineer (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Sanitary and Electronic and Communication); or Architect with at least one (1) year in the BFP service; or Graduate of any baccalaureate degree course with at least three (3) years in the BFP service;

2. Shall have completed Fire Arson Investigation and Inspection Course (FAIIC); or have undergone at least forty (40) hours of relevant seminars/workshops on the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 and other relevant fire safety seminars/workshops; and

3. Non-licensed and non-engineering graduate must pass the written fire safety inspection examination conducted by the BFP.

B. NON- UNIFORMED PERSONNEL

1. Appointed as Engineers (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Sanitary and Electronics and Communication); or Appointed as Electrical/Building Inspectors; and

2. Shall have undergone at least forty (40) hours of relevant seminars/workshops on the Fire Code of the Philippines and other relevant fire safety seminars/workshops.

3. Electrical/building inspectors must pass the written examination conducted by the BFP, otherwise they can only conduct inspection relative to their appointment's duties and functions.

SECTION 8.1.1.2 PLAN EVALUATORS

A. Must be a licensed Architect or Engineer; and

B. Shall have undergone at least forty (40) hours of relevant training on the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 and other relevant fire safety seminars/workshops.

C. In cases where there is no licensed engineer or architect in a specific jurisdiction, a graduate of any baccalaureate degree with FAIIC training shall be designated as plan evaluator.

CHAPTER 2. FUNCTIONS OF FIRE SAFETY ENFORCERS

DIVISION 1. RESPONSIBILITIES OF DESIGNATED FIRE SAFETY ENFORCERS

SECTION 8.2.1.1 FIRE SAFETY INSPECTORS The following shall be the main duties and responsibilities of Fire Safety Inspectors:

A. Inspect any building, structure or facility and/or any part thereof, hazardous operations, storage facilities and transportation vehicles of hazardous materials to ensure compliance of the Fire Code of the Philippines, this IRR and other related laws, regulations, standards and ordinances within the area of responsibility;

B. Assess compliance with the fire safety requirements, identify and recommend corrective actions for violations/defects and deficiencies and inform the owner/building administrator/occupants of such actions to comply with the provisions of the Fire Code of the Philippines, this IRR and other related laws, regulations, standards and ordinances; 33

C. Testify in any judicial and quasi-judicial bodies regarding matters relating to the Fire Code of the Philippines and this IRR, and/or the performance of his/her duties related thereto, when needed;

D. Conduct fire safety lectures, seminars/workshop and drills; and

E. Prepare necessary documents and maintain files and/or records.

SECTION 8.2.1.2 PLAN EVALUATORS

The following shall be the main duties and responsibilities of Plan Evaluators:

A. Review and evaluate building plans and specifications including fire protection system to determine compliance to the requirement of the Fire Code, this IRR, Building Code of the Philippines and other Life and Safety Standard; and

B. Conduct site verification and inspection on buildings under construction to determine compliance with the approved plans and specifications.

RULE 10. FIRE SAFETY MEASURES

CHAPTER 1. COVERAGE

This Rule covers the Fire Safety Measure for Buildings, Structures and Facilities, Hazardous Materials and Wastes, Hazardous Operations and Processes and Miscellaneous Hazardous Premises and/or conditions, that by its very nature or relation to life, property and environment poses threat or danger.

CHAPTER 2. FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES

DIVISION 1.SCOPE

A. This Chapter deals with life safety from fire and like emergencies in buildings, structures and facilities. It covers construction, protection and occupancy features to minimize danger to life from fire, smoke, vapor and fumes before buildings are vacated. It also discusses procedures and guidelines in fire drills required for all types of occupancies to prevent panic in times of emergencies. It specifies the number, size, and arrangement of means of egress sufficient to permit prompt and safe escape of occupants from buildings, or structures or facilities in case of fire or other conditions dangerous to life and property.

B. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prohibit a better type of design, building construction, more exits, or otherwise safer conditions than the requirements specified in this Chapter.

DIVISION 2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

A. Every building or structure, new or old, designed for human occupancy shall be provided with exits sufficient to permit the fast and safe escape of occupants in case of fire or other emergency. The design of exits and other fire safety construction shall be such that reliance for safety to life in case of fire or other emergency will not depend solely on any single fire safety construction. Additional safeguards shall be provided for life safety in case any single safeguard is ineffective due to some human or mechanical failure.

B. Every building or structure shall be designed, constructed, equipped, maintained and operated to avoid danger to the lives and ensure safety of its occupants from fire, smoke, vapor and fumes, during the period of escape from the building or structure.

C. Every building or structure shall be provided with exits of kind, number, location and capacity appropriate to the individual building or structure, with due regard to the character of the occupancy, the number of persons exposed, the fire protection available and the height and type of construction of the building or structure, to afford all occupants convenient facilities for escape.

D. Every exit of buildings or structures shall be arranged and maintained to provide free and unobstructed egress from all parts thereof at all times. No lock or fastening device that would prevent escape from the inside of any building shall be installed except in mental, penal, or correctional institutions where personnel are continually on duty and effective provisions are made to evacuate occupants in case of fire or other emergencies.

E. Every exit shall be clearly visible. The route to the exit shall be conspicuously marked in such a manner that every occupant of a building or structure will readily know the direction of escape. Each route of escape, in its entirety, shall be so arranged or marked that the way to a place of safety outside is unmistakable. Any doorway not constituting an exit shall be marked to minimize its possible confusion as an exit. Likewise, passage constituting a way to reach an exit shall be marked to minimize confusion.

F. All means of egress shall be provided with adequate and reliable illumination.

G. Fire alarm systems or devices shall be provided in every building or structure of such size, arrangement, or occupancy, to provide adequate warning to occupants.

H. Every building or structure, section, or area thereof of such size, occupancy and arrangement such that the reasonable safety of a number of occupants may be endangered by the blocking of any single means of egress due to fire or smoke, shall have at least two means of egress remote from each other, so arranged as to minimize any possibility that both may be blocked by any one fire or other emergency conditions.

I. Every vertical way of exit and other vertical openings between floors of a building shall be suitably enclosed or protected to afford reasonable safety of occupants while using exits and to prevent spread of fire, smoke, or fumes through vertical openings from floor to floor before occupants have entered exits.

J. Required Fire Safety Programs/Measures

1. In addition to the requirements, lessees or occupants of buildings, structures or facilities shall observe all pertinent fire safety measures;

2. All occupants or lessees of buildings, structures or facilities shall organize themselves and develop and implement fire safety programs to include among others, fire prevention in the premises, notification of the BFP on the existence of a fire, evacuation of persons and initial fire fighting. The building owner shall take the initiative of formulating the fire safety program for his building and of organizing the occupants to implement the programs.

3. In buildings, leased to and used by one or several companies or persons, the management of each company or each person shall be responsible for fire safety measures within the leased or occupied areas. The building owner shall be responsible for the common areas in the building such as the means of egress, utilities and building service equipment or systems.

4. In building structures or facilities, such as condominiums and the like, where some units of the building are not yet sold, the provisions of paragraph "J" sub-para "3" above shall apply. When all condominium units have been sold, responsibility for fire safety measures in the common areas such as the means of egrees, utilities, building equipment/system and the building, shall devolve jointly upon all individual unit owners or occupants.

K. Compliance with this Chapter shall not be construed as eliminating or reducing the necessity from complying with the other provisions for safety of persons using a structure under normal occupancy conditions. Also, no provision of the Fire Code of the Philippines and this IRR shall be construed as requiring or permitting any condition that might be hazardous under normal occupancy conditions.

L. Construction and Repair Operations

1. New Construction

a. No building or structure under construction shall be occupied in whole or in part until all required means of egress required for the part to be occupied are completed, inspected and approved for occupancy.

b. Adequate escape facilities shall be maintained at all times in buildings under construction for the use of construction workers. These facilities shall consist of doors, walkways, stairs, ramps, fire escapes, or other arrangements in accordance with the general guidelines of the Fire Code of the Philippines and this I in so far as they can reasonably be applied to buildings under construction.

2. Repairs or Alterations

a. Existing buildings may be occupied during repairs or alterations provided that all existing fire protection systems/devices are continuously maintained or, in lieu thereof, other measures are taken to provide equivalent safety.

b. Flammable or explosive substances or equipment necessary for the repair or alteration of a building or structure may be introduced therein while it is occupied, only if the conditions of use and the safeguards therefore provided will not create any additional danger or impair the use of the means of egress.

DIVISION 3. CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY

A. A building or structure shall be classified as follows:

1. Assembly

a. Assembly occupancies include, but are not limited to, all buildings or portions of buildings used for gathering together of fifty (50) or more persons for such purposes as deliberation, worship, entertainment, eating, drinking, amusement, awaiting transportation, or similar uses.

b. Assembly occupancies include: theaters; assembly halls; auditorium; exhibition halls; museum; restaurants; drinking establishments; places of worship; classrooms of 50 persons and over capacity; libraries; internet shops of over 50 persons capacity; dance halls; club rooms; skating rinks; gymnaslums; cockplt arenas; bowllng facilities; pool rooms; armories; passenger stations and terminals of air, surface, underground, and marine public transportation facilities; recreational facilities; piers; court-rooms; conference rooms; and mortuary chapels or funeral homes.

c. Restaurants and drinking establishments with an occupant load of less than 50 persons shall be classified as mercantile occupancies.

d. Occupancy of any room or space for assembly purposes by less than fifty (50) persons in a building of other occupancy and incidental to such other occupancy shall be classified as part of the other occupancy and subject to the provisions applicable thereto.

2. Educational

a. Educational occupancies include all buildings or portions thereof used for the gathering of group of six (6) or more persons for purposes of instruction.

b. Educational occupancies include: Schools; Universities; Colleges; Academies; Nursery schools; Kindergartens; and Child Day Care facilities.

c. Other occupancies associated with educational institutions shall be in accordance with the appropriate parts of this Chapter, except licensed day care facilities of any capacity.

d. In case where instruction is incidental to some other occupancy, the Section of the Chapter governing such other occupancy shall apply.

3. Health Care

a. Health care facilities are those used for purposes of medical or other treatment or care of persons where such occupants are mostly incapable of self-preservation because of age, physical or mental disability, or because of security measures not under the occupants' control.

b. Health care facilities include: hospitals; nursing homes; birth centers; and residential custodial care centers such as nurseries, homes for the aged and the like.

4. Detention and Correctional

a. Detention and correctional buildings are those used to house one or more persons under varied degrees of restraint or security where such occupants are mostly incapable of self-preservation because of security measures not under the occupants' control.

b. Detention and correctional occupancies shall include those used for purposes such as correctional institutions, detention facilities, community residential centers, training schools, work camps, and substance abuse centers where occupants are confined or housed under some degree of restraint or security.

5. Residential

a. Residential occupancies are those occupancies in which sleeping accommodations are provided for normal residential purposes and include all buildings designed to provide sleeping accommodations

b. Residential buildings, structures or facilities are treated separately in this Rule in the following groups: hotels; motels; apartelles; pension houses; inns; apartments; condominiums; dormitories; lodging or rooming houses; and one- and two-family dwellings; and the likes.

6. Mercantile

a. Mercantile occupancies include stores, markets, and other rooms, buildings, or structures for the display and/or sale of merchandise.

b. Mercantile occupancies include: malls; supermarkets; department stores; shopping centers; flea markets; restaurants of less than 50 persons capacity; public/private dry and wet markets; water refilling stations; drugstores; hardwares/construction supplies; showrooms; and auction rooms.

c. Minor merchandising operation in building predominantly of other occupancies, such as newsstand in an office building, shall be subject to the exit requirements of the predominant occupancy.

d. Office, storage, and service facilities incidental to the sale of merchandise and located in the same building should be considered part of the mercantile occupancy classification.

7. Business

a. Business buildings are those used for the transaction of business other than that covered under Mercantile, for the keeping of accounts and records and similar purposes.

b. Included in this occupancy group are: offices for lawyers; doctors; dentists and other professionals; general offices; City/Municipal halls; internet shops; massage parlors, beauty parlors, barbershops of less than 50 occupants and court houses;

c. Minor office occupancy incidental to operations in other occupancy shall be considered as a part of the dominant occupancy and shall be subject to the provisions of the Chapter applying to the dominant occupancy.

8. Industrial

a. Industrial occupancies include factories that make products of all kinds and properties which shall include but not limited to product processing, assembling and disassembling, mixing, packaging, finishing or decorating, repairing and material recovery including, among others, the following: factories of all kinds; laboratories; dry cleaning plants; power plants; pumping stations; smokehouses; gas plants; refineries; and sawmills, laundries; creameries

9. Storage

a. Storage occupancy includes all buildings or structures utilized primarily for the storage or sheltering of goods, merchandise, products, vehicles, or animals. Included in this occupancy group are: warehouses; cold storages; freight terminals; truck and marine terminals; bulk oil storage; LPG storage; parking garages; hangars; grain elevators; bars; and stables.

b. Minor storage incidental to other occupancy shall be treated as part of the other occupancy.

10. Mixed Occupancies

a. Refers to two or more classes of occupancies occurring/located/situated/existing in the same building and/or structures so intermingled that separate safeguards are impracticable.

b. The means of egress shall be sufficient to meet exit requirements for the occupants of each individual room or section, and for the maximum occupant load of the entire building. Fire safety construction, protective and warning systems and other safeguards shall met requirements of the most hazardous occupancy unless otherwise specified in Division 8 through 17 of this Chapter.

11. Miscellaneous

a. This class of occupancy includes buildings or structures which cannot be properly classified in any of the preceding occupancy groups. Such miscellaneous buildings and structures shall conform to the fundamental guidelines provided for in Division 2 and to any specific provisions applicable thereto in Division 17 both of this Chapter.

b. In case of conflict as to the type or classification of occupancy, the same shall be determined by the Chief, BFP or his duly authorized representative.