National Building Code of the Philippines

SECTION 1212. Fire-Extinguishing Systems. (a) Fire-Extinguishing Systems When required, standard automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be installed in the following places, and in the manner provided in this Code. (1) In every storey, basement or cellar with an area of 200 square meters or more which is used for habitation, recreation, dining, study, or work, and which has an occupant load of more than 20. (2) In all dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms, workshops or factories, and other rooms with an occupant load of more than 10 or assembly halls under Group H and I occupancies with occupant load of more than 500, and if the next doors of said rooms are more than 30.00 meters from the nearest safe fire dispersal area of the building or opening to an exit court or street. (3) In all rooms used for storage or handling of photographic x-ray nitrocellulose films and other inflammable articles. (b) Dry Standpipes Every building four or more storeys in height shall be equipped with one or more dry standpipes. (1) Construction and Tests . Dry standpipes shall be of wrought iron or galvanized steel and together with fittings and connections shall be of sufficient strength to withstand 20 kilograms per square centimeter of water pressure when ready for service, without leaking at the joints, valves, or fittings. Tests shall be conducted by the owner of the building contractor in the presence of a representative of the Building Official whenever deemed necessary for the purpose of certification of its proper function. (2) Size . Dry standpipes shall be of such size as to be capable of delivering 900 liters of water per minute from each of any three outlets simultaneously under the pressure created by one fire engine or pumper based on the standard equipment available. (3) Number Required . Every building four or more storeys in height where the area of any floor above the third floor is 950 square meters or less, shall be equipped with at least one dry standpipes and an additional standpipe shall be installed for each additional 950 square meters or fraction thereof. (4) Location . Standpipes shall be located within enclosed stairway landings or near such stairways as possible or immediately inside of an exterior wall and within 300 millimeters of an opening in a stairway enclosure of the balcony or vestibule of a smokeproof tower or an outside exit stairway. (5) Siamese Connections . Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (2) all 100 millimeters dry standpipes shall be equipped with a two-way Siamese fire department connection. All 125 millimeter dry standpipes shall be equipped with a three-way Siamese fire department connection and 150 millimeters dry standpipes shall be equipped with a four-way Siamese fire department connections. All Siamese inlet connections shall be located on a street-front of the building and not less than 300 millimeters nor more than 1.20 meters above the grade and shall be equipped with a clapper-checks and substantial plugs. All Siamese inlet connections shall be recessed in the wall or otherwise substantially protected. (6) Outlets . All dry standpipes shall extend from the ground floor to and over the roof and shall be equipped with a 63 millimeters outlet nor more than 1.20 meters above the floor level at each storey. All dry standpipes shall be equipped with a two-way 63 millimeters outlet above the roof. All outlets shall be equipped with gate valves. (7) Signs . An iron or bronze sign with raised letters at least 25 millimeters high shall be rigidly attached to the building adjacent to all Siamese connections and such signs shall read ; CONNECTION TO DRY STANDPIPE". (c) Wet Standpipes . Every Group H and I Occupancy of any height, and every Group C Occupancy of two more storeys in height and every Group D, D, E, F, and G Occupancy of three or more storeys in height and every Group G and E Occupancy over 1800 square meters in area shall be equipped with one or more interior wet standpipes extending from the cellar or basement into the topmost storey: Provided, that Group H buildings having no stage and having a seating capacity of less than 500 need to be equipped with interior wet standpipes. (1) Construction . Interior wet standpipes shall be constructed of the same materials as those required for dry standpipes. (2) Size (2.1) Interior wet standpipes shall have an internal diameter sufficient to deliver 190 liters of water per minute under 2.0 kilograms per square centimeter pressure at the hose connections. Buildings of Group Hand I Occupancy shall have wet standpipes systems capable of delivering the required quantity and pressure from any two outlets simultaneously; for all other occupancies only one outlet need be figured to be opened at one time. In no case shall the internal diameter of a wet standpipe be less than 50 millimeters, except when the standpipe is attached to an automatic fire-extinguishing system. (2.2) Any approved formula which determined pipe sizes on a pressure drop basis may be used to determine pipe size for wet standpipe systems. The Building Official may require discharge capacity and pressure tests on completed wet standpipe systems. (3) Number require d. The number of wet standpipe when required in this Code shall be so determined that all portions of the building are within 6.00 meters of a nozzle attached to a hose 23.00 meters in length. (4) Location . In Group H and I Occupancies, outlets shall be located as follows: one on each side of the stage, one at the rear of the auditorium and one at the rear of the balcony. Where occupant loads are less than 500 the above requirements may be waived: Provided, that portable fire- extinguishers of appropriate capacity and type are installed within easy access from the said locations. In Group B, C, D, E, F, and G Occupancies location of all interior wet standpipes shall be in accordance with the requirement for dry standpipes: Provided , that at least one standpipe is installed to cover not more than 650 square meters. (5) Outlets . All interior wet standpipes shall be equipped with a 38 millimeter valve in each storey, including the basement or cellar of the building, and located not less than 300 millimeters nor more than 1.20 meters above the floor. (6) Threads . All those threads used in connection with the installation of such standpipes, including valves and reducing fittings shall be uniform with that prescribed by the Secretary. (7) Water Supply . All interior wet standpipes shall be connected to a street main not less than 100 millimeters in diameter, or when the water pressure is insufficient, to a water tank or sufficient size as provided in subparagraph (8). When more than one interior wet standpipe is required in the building, such standpipe shall be connected at their bases or at their tops by pipes of equal size. (8) Pressure and Gravity Tanks . Tanks shall have a capacity sufficient to furnish at least 1,500 litters per minute for period of not less than 10 minutes. Such tanks shall be located so as to provide not less than 2 kilograms per sq. cm. pressure at the topmost base outlet for its entire supply. Discharge pipes from pressure tanks extend 50 millimeters into and above the bottom of such tanks. All tanks shall be tested in place after installation and proved tight at a hydrostatic pressure fifty percent in excess of the working pressure required. Where such tanks are used for domestic purposes the supply pipe for such purposes shall be located at or above the center line of such tanks. Incombustible supports shall be provided for all such supply tanks and not less than a 900 millimeters clearance shall be maintained over the top and under the bottom of all pressure tanks.