FIRE CODE

OF THE
PHILIPPINES
khristinedc@yahoo.com
PART 1
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1185
FIRE CODE
DEFINITION OF TERMS
ABATEMENT
- Remove/neutralize fire hazard
ADMINISTRATOR
- Agent of the owner; manages the building
BLASTING AGENT
- Fuel + Oxidizer used to set off explosives
CELLULOSE NITRATE/NITRO CELLULOSE
- Highly combustible/explosive cmpd. (nitric aid + cellulose)
CELLULOSE NITRATE PLASTIC (PYROXYLIN)
- Any plastic substance with cellulose nitate
COMBUSTIBLE, FLAMMABLE OR INFLAMMABLE
- Materials easily set on fire
COMBUSTIBLE FIBER
- Free burning fiber (cotton, oakum, hay, straw, etc.)




COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID
- Liquid w/ flash pt. ^37.8 deg.C (100deg.F)
CORROSIVE LIQUID
- Liquid w/c causes fire when in contact w/ organic matter/chemicals
CURTAIN BOARD
- Vertical panel of non-combustible/fire-resistive materials attached
and extending below the bottom chord of roof trusses; divide the
underside of the roof to several compartments so that heat and
smoke will be directed upwards to a roof vent.
CRYOGENIC
- Any material w/c produces rapid drop of temperature to its
immediate surroundings.
DAMPER
- Device installed inside an airduct w/c automatically closes to restrict
smoke or fire.
DISTILLATION
- Raising temperature, cooling & condensing to produce a nearly
purified substance

DUCT SYSTEM
- Continuous passageway for transmission of air
DUST
- Finely powdered substance when mixed w/ air and ignited will cause
explosion.
ELECTRICAL ARC
- Extremely hot, luminous bridge formed by the passage of electric
current across a space between 2 conductors due to the
incandescence of the conducting vapor.
EMBER
- Hot piece or lump partially burned, still oxidizing w/o the
manifestation of flames.
FINISHES
- Final coasting of a surface (ornamental or protective)
FIRE
- Active principle of burning
FIRE TRAP
- Building unsafe in case of fire
FIRE ALARM
- Visual/audible signal, device or system; warn the occupants or fire
fighting elements of presence/danger of fire.
FIRE DOOR
- Fire resistive door
FIRE HAZARD
- condition/act which increase probability of fire; delay/hinder/interfere
fire fighting, safeguarding of life & property.
FIRE LANE
- Portion of road/publicway kept opened/unobstructed for fire fighting
units.
FIRE PROTECTIVE & FIRE SAFETY DEVICE
- Built-in protection system (sprinklers, automatic extinguishing system,
heat/smoke detectors, warning system)
- Personal protective equipment (fire blankets, helmets, fire suits, gloves)
FIRE SAFETY CONSTRUCTIONS
- Design & installation of walls, barriers, windows, vents, means of egress;
treatment of building components with flame retardant chemicals; to
minimize danger of fire and safe evacuation of people.

FLASH POINT
- Minimum temperature a material gives off vapor to form ignition.
FORGING
- Metal is heated prior to changing shape/dimension
FULMINATE
- Stable explosive compund; explodes by percussion
HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS/PROCESS
- manufacturing, fabrication, conversion w/c uses/produces materials
that cause fires or explosions.
HORIZONTAL EXIT
- Passageway from one building to another or through or around the
wall in approximately same floor level.
HOSE BOX
- Box/cabinet where fire hoses, valves and other equipment ware
stored.
HOSE REEL
- Cylindrical device where fire hose is wound and connected

HYPERGOLIC FUEL
- Rocket or liquid propellant
INDUSTRIAL BAKING & DRYING
- Industrial process of heating materials to remove solvents/moisture,
and fuse certain salts to form uniform glazing on the surface of
treated materials.
JUMPER
- Piece of metal or conductor used to bypass a safety in an electrical
system
OCCUPANCY
- Intended use/purpose of a building
OCCUPANT
-Any person occupying/using a building (or portions) by virtue of
lease contract/permission with the owner/administrator
ORGANIC PEROXIDE
- Strong oxidizing organic compound w/c causes fire when in contact
w/ combustible material under condition of high temperature.

OVERLOADING
- Use of electrical appliances/devices beyond the designed capacity of
existing electrical system.
OWNER
- Person who holds the legal right of possession or title to a
building/property.
OXIDIZING MATERIAL
- Yields oxygen; stimulates/supports combustion.
PRESSURIZED/FORCED DRAFT BURNING EQUIPMENT
- Type of burner where pressurized fuel is discharged to combustion
chamber which includes fans for introduction of air.
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY BUILDING
- building/structure; 50 or more people congregate/gather/assemble
PUBLIC WAY
- street, alley, strip of land unobstructed from ground to sky intended for
public use
PYROPHORIC
- Ignites spontaneously when exposed to air
REFINING
-partial distillation & electrolysis; removing impurities/deleterious
materials from mixture
SELF-CLOSING DOORS
- Automatic closing doors; confines smoke & heat; delays spread of fire.
SMELTING
- Melting/fusing metal ores; separate impurities from pure metals.
SPRINKLER SYSTEM
- Integrated network of hydraulically designed piping with outlets w/c
automatically discharges water when activated by heat.
STANDPIPE SYSTEM
- Vertical pipes to which firehoses can be attached on each floor; includes
system where water is made available to outlets as needed.
VESTIBULE
- Passage hall/antechamber between outlet doors and interior parts of
building
VERTICAL SHAFT
- Vertical space/passage extending from floor to floor, base to top of the
building

SEC 5. GRACE PERIOD = 2 YEARS
(Compliance with Fire Safety Constructions, Protective
and Warning Systems as Prescribed by the Director
General)
SEC 6. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF
THE CODE
FIRE SERVICE >DIRECTOR GENERAL of the
Integrated National Police
a. Implements Regulations
b. Reorganize Fire Service
c. Negotiates
d. Enter into MOA w/ other departments, offices,
corporations, agencies & private institutions
PART 2
IMPLEMENTING RULES &
REGULATIONS
GENERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENT
FOR BUILDING, STRUCTURE OR
FACILITY
FIRE SUPPRESSION DEVICES,
EQUIPMENT OR SYSTEMS
FIRE SAFETY CONSTRUCTION
FIRE PROTECTION AND
WARNING SYSTEM
DEFINITIONS
AIRCRAFTS SERVICE STATION
- That portion of an airport were flammable liquids are
stored or dispensed
AUTOMATIC FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
- Integrated system of underground or overhead piping
connected to extinguishing agent actuated by automatic
detecting device to suppress fire.
BOILING POINT
- Temperature at which liquid is transformed to vapor
CHIEF OF THE LOCAL FIRE SERVICE
- Official duly designated to head the local Fire Service (in
cities or municipalities, the Station Commander of the
Integrated National Police)

CLASS A FIRE
- Combustible materials (wood, cloth, paper, rubber &
plastics)
CLASS B FIRE
- Flammable liquids and gases
CLASS C FIRE
- Electrical
CLASS D FIRE
- Combustible metals (magnesium, sodium, potassium, etc.)
COMBINATION STANDPIPE
- Pipeline system filled with water and connected to a
constant water supply for the use of Fire Service and
occupants of the building solely for suppression purposes.
COMBUSTIBLE FIBER LOOSE HOUSE
- Isolated structure where loose fibers are stored.

DIP TANK
- Tank, vat, container of flammable/combustible liquid in which
articles or materials are immersed for the purpose of coating,
finishing, treating, or similr processes.
DRY STANDPIPE
- pipes not filled with water; water is introduced thru Fire Service
connections
EXPLOSIVE MAGAZINE
- Building, structure or facilities used for the storage of explosives,
shells, projectile and ammunition.
FIRE ALERTING SYSTEM
- Fire alarm system transmitted to designated locations instead of
sounding a general alarm to prevent panic.
FIRE PROTECTIVE ASSEMBLY
- An assembly incorporated in a structure designed to prevent the
spread of fire (dampers, curtain board, fire stoppers)
FIRE RESISTANCE RATING
- Time duration a material can withstand the effect of hundred fire
test


FIRE WALL
- A wall designed to prevent the spread of fire w/ fire resistance rating
of not less than 4 hours and structurally stable.
FLAME SPREAD RATING
- Time w/c flame will spread over the surface of a burning material.
FLAME RETARDANT
- Compound/mixture w/c improves fire resistant quality of fabrics
and other materials.
HAZARDOUS FIRE AREA
- Land covered with dry grass, cogon, reeds, brush and other highly
combustible growth that fires are likely to occur and hard to
suppress.
HIGHRISE BUILDING
- Buildings, structures, facilities 15 meters or more in height.
MEANS OF EGRESS
- Continuous unobstructed route of exit from any point in a building,
structure or facility to a public way.


OCCUPANT LOAD
- Maximum number of persons that may occupy a building, structure
or facility or portions thereof.
ORGANIC COATING
- Liquid mixture of binders (alkyd, acrylic) w/c when spread on
surface becomes protective and decorative finish.
PANIC HARDWARE
- Mechanical device consisting of linkages and a horizontal bar across a
door, which when pushed from the inside will cause the door to
open and facilitate exit from a building, structure or facility.
PICKING ROOMS
- Rooms where baled, bundled or piled materials are segregated into
desired sizes or groups.
PLENUM
- Air compartment or chamber w/ one or more ducts are connected to
form part of an air distribution system.
SMOKE DEVELOPED RATING
- density and volume of smoke developed within a certain period of
time.
CLASSIFICATION
OF
OCCUPANCY
A. ASSEMBLY
Theaters
Assembly Halls
Auditorium
Exhibition Halls
Museum
Restaurants
Churches
Terminals of Air
Surface Underground
Recreation Piers
Court Rooms
Conference Rooms

Dance Halls
Club Rooms
Skating Rink
Gymnasium
Bowling Facilities
Pool Rooms
Armories
Passenger Stations
Marine Public
Transportation Facilities
Mortuary Chapels



B. EDUCATIONAL
Schools
Universities
Colleges
Academies
Nursery Schools
Kindergartens
Child Day Care Facilities
C. INSTITUTIONAL
Hospitals
Nursing Homes
Nurseries
Homes for the Aged
Mental Care Institutions
Penal Institutions
Reformatories
Jails
D. RESIDENTIAL
One- & Two-Family Dwellings
Hotels
Motels
Pension House
Inns
Apartments
Dormitories
Orphanages
Lodging or Rooming Houses
E. MERCANTILE
Stores
Markets
Supermarkets
Department Stores
Shopping Centers
Drugstore
Auction Rooms
F. BUSINESS
Office for Lawyers, Doctors, Dentists and other
Professionals
General Offices
City or Town Halls
Court Houses
Libraries

G. INDUSTRIAL
Factories of all kinds
Laboratories
Dry Cleaning Plants
Power Plants
Pumping Stations
Smokehouses

Gas Plants
Refineries
Sawmills
Laundries
Creameries

H. STORAGE
Warehouses
Cold Storages
Freight Terminals
Truck and Marine Terminals
Bulk Oil Storage
Parking Garages
Hangars
Grain Elevators
Harns
Stables
I. MIXED OCCUPANCIES
2 OR MORE CLASSES OF
OCCUPANCY IN ONE BUILDING
J. MISCELLANEOUS
CANNOT BE CLASSIFFIED IN ANY OF
THE PRECEDING OCCUPANCY
GROUPS
Towers
Piers and Water-Surrounded Structure
Vehicle & Vessels
Underground Structures and Windowless
Buildings
DEGREE OF HAZARD
- probability that a building, structure or
facility may catch fire
LOW .. 1
MEDIUM .. 2
HIGH 3
VERY HIGH 4
DEGREE OF HAZARD DEPENDS
UPON THE FOLLOWING FACTORS :
1. Construction Materials
2. Combustibility of Contents
3. Type of Occupancy
4. Load Capacity or Number of Occupants
5. Height from the Ground Level
6. Longest Horizontal Travel Distance
7. Fire Safety Construction
FIRE SAFETY IN
BUILDINGS,
STRUCTURES AND
FACILITIES
MEANS OF EGRESS

PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE OF
EXITS

3 STORIES OR LESS 1 HOUR FIRE
RESISTANCE RATING
4 STORIES OR MORE 2 HOUR FIRE
RESISTANCE RATING
1. TRAVEL DISTANCE TO EXITS
INDIVIDUAL ROOM (Not more than 6 Occupants)
MAX. 15M from any point of the room to
exit door.
2. WIDTH OF ANY WAY OF EXIT ACCESS
- MIN. 71 cm
3. NO DEAD-ENDS IN EXCESS OF 6M
4. SINGLE DOOR WIDTH - MIN. 71 cm
(Fire Exit) - MAX. 122 cm
PANIC HARDWARE
Width = MIN. 2/3 of the door width
Height = MIN. 76mm
= MAX. 112mm
5. HEADROOM (Ceiling Height) = MIN. 2.30M

RAMPS
1.Width 112 cm & greater 76-112 cm
(Outside Ramps = MIN.120 cm)
2. Slope 8-10% 10-17%
3. Maximum height
between landings No Limit 3.66M
4. Capacity in persons (modified)
Down 60 45
Up 45 45
CLASS A CLASS B
(100 Persons) (60 Persons)
INTERIOR STAIRS
1. Minimum width clear of all
obstruction except handrails w/c
may project MAX. 89mm each side
& stringers may project MAX.
38mm each side. ----------------------
2. Maximum height of risers --------------
3. Minimum width of tread exclusive of
nosing or projection -----------------
4. Winders------------------------------------
5. Minimum Headroom -------------------
6. Maximum height between landings --
7. Minimum dimension of landings in
direction of travel ---------------------
8. Doors opening immediately on stairs
without landing (width) --------------
CLASS A CLASS B
112cm 112cm ; 91cm
where total
occupancy of
all floors served
by stairway is less
than 50 persons.


19cm 20cm
25cm 23cm
None None
2M 2M
2.75M 3.70M
112 mm 112mm
NO NO
TREADS, RISERS & HANDRAILS
2R + T = 60cm to 63.5cm
Min. No. of Risers in 1 Flight = 3
Treads width variation = max. 5mm
Tread less than 25cm --- 25mm Nosing
Handrails - Height = 76cm to 86.5cm
- Setback (from the edge) = 25mm
(NOTE: Stairways more than 223mm width shall have
immediate handrails.)
Vertical Balusters (spacing) = max. 15.25cm apart
Longitudinal Rails (top and bottom) = max. 25.5mm