National Building Code of the Philippines

(b) LOW-HEAT APPLIANCE TYPE A factory-built masonry or metal chimney suitable for removing the product of combustion from fuel-burning low- heat appliances producing combustion gases not in excess of 538ºC under normal operating conditions but capable of producing combustible gases of 760ºC during intermittent forced firing for periods up to one hour. All temperatures are measured at the appliance flue outlet. (c) MEDIUM-HEAT APPLIANCE TYPE A factory built masonry or metal chimney suitable for removing the products of combustion from fuel-burning medium-heat appliances producing combustion gases not in excess of 1093ºC measured at the appliance flue outlet. CHIMNEY CONNECTOR The pipe which connects a flue burning appliance to a chimney. CHIMNEY LINEAR The lining materials of fire clay or other approved material. CHIMNEY MASONRY The chimney of solid masonry units bricks, stones, listed hollow unit masonry units, or reinforced concrete. CONCRETE BLOCK A hollow or solid concrete masonry unit made from portland cement and suitable aggregates such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, bituminous or anthracite cinders, burned clay, pumice, volcanic scoria, air  cooled or expanded blast furnace slags. COPING The material or units used to form a cap of finish on top of a wall, pier, or pilaster. CORROSION-RESISTANT The non-ferrous metal, or any metal having an unbroken surface of non-ferrous metal, or steel with not less than 10 percent chromium or with less than 0.20 percent copper. CORROSION-RESISTANT MATERIAL Materials that are inherently rust-resistant or materials to which an approved rust-resistive coating has been applied either before or after forming or fabrication. COURSE A continuous horizontal layer of masonry units. COURT An occupied space between building lines and lot lines other than a yard; free, open, and unobstructed by appendages from the ground upward. DISPERSAL AREA (SAFE) An area which will accommodate a number of persons equal to the total capacity of the stand and building it serves, in such a manner that no person within the area need be closer than 15.00 meters from the stand or building. Dispersal areas shall be based upon the area of not less than 0.28 square meter per person. DWELLING Any building or any portion thereof which is not an "apartment house", "lodging house", or a "hotel" as defined in this Code which contained one or two "dwelling units" or "guest rooms", used, intended or designed to be built, used, rented, leased, let or hired out to be occupied, or which are occupied for living purposes. DWELLING, INDIGENOUS FAMILY A dwelling intended for the use and occupancy by the family of the owner only. It is one constructed of native materials such as bamboo, nipa, logs, or lumber, the total cost of which does not exceed fifteen thousand pesos. DWELLING, MULTIPLE A building used as a home or residence of three or more families living independently from one another, each occupying one or more rooms as a single housekeeping unit. DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY A detached building designated for, or occupied exclusively by one family. DWELLING UNIT One or more habitable rooms which are occupied or which are intended or designated to be occupied by one family with facilities for living, sleeping, cooking, and eating. EXIT A continuous and unobstructed means of egress to a public way, and shall include intervening doors, doorways, corridors, exterior exit balconies, ramps, stairways, smokeproof, enclosures, horizontal exits, exit passageways, exit courts, and yards. An exit shall be deemed to be that point which open directly into a safe dispersal area or public way. All measurement are to be made to that point when determining the permissible distance of the travel. EXIT COURTS A yard or court providing egress to a public way for one or more required exits. EXIT HORIZONTAL A means of passage from one building into another building occupied by the same tenant through a separation wall having a minimum fire resistance of one-hour. EXIT PASSAGEWAY An enclosed means of egress connecting a required exit or exit court with a public way. FACING Any masonry, forming an integral part of a wall used as a finished surface. (as contrasted to veneer, see definition). FIREBRICK A refractory brick. FIRECLAY A finely ground clay used as a plasticizer for masonry mortars; varies widely in physical properties. FIREPLACE A hearth and fire chamber or similarly prepared place in which a fire may be made and which is built in conjunction with a chimney. FIRE RETARDANT TREATED WOOD Lumber of plywood impregnated with chemicals and when tested in accordance with accepted fire standards for a period of 30 minutes shall have a flame-spread of not over 25 and show no evidence of progressive combustion. The Fire-retardant properties shall not be considered permanent when exposed to the weather. FIRST STOREY The floor of which is at or above the level of the sidewalk or adjoining ground, the remaining storeys being numbered in regular succession upward. FLOOR AREA The area included within the surrounding exterior walls of a building or portion thereof, exclusive of vent shafts and courts. The floor area of a building or portion thereof not provided with surrounding exterior walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above. FOOTING That portion of the foundation of a structure which spreads and transmits loads directly to the soil or the pile. FOUNDATION All the portions of the building or structure below the footing, the earth upon which the structure rests. GARAGE A building or portion thereof in which a motor vehicle containing gasoline, distillate, or other volative, flammable liquid in its tank, is stored, repaired, or kept. GARAGE COMMERCIAL A garage where automobiles and other motor vehicle are housed, cared for, equipped, repaired or kept for remuneration, hire, or sale. GARAGE, OPEN PARKING A structure of one or more tiers in height which is at least 50 percent open on two or more sides and is used exclusively for the parking or storage of passenger motor vehicles having a capacity of not more than nine persons per vehicle. Open parking garages are further classified as either ramp-access or mechanical-access. Ramp-access, open parking garages are those employing a series of continuously rising floors permitting the movement of vehicles under their own power from and to the street level. Mechanical access parking garages are those employing parking machines, lifts, elevators, or other mechanical services for vehicles moving from and to street level and in which public occupancy is prohibited above the street level. GARAGE PRIVATE A building or portion of a building in which only motor vehicles used by the tenants of the building or buildings on the premises are stored or kept. GIRDER A horizontal structural piece which supports in end of the floor beams or joists or walls over opening. GRADE (ADJACENT GROUND ELEVATION) The lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground between the exterior wall of a building and a point 1.50 meters distant from said wall, or the lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground between the exterior wall of a building and a property line if it is less than 1.50 meters distant from sidewall. In case walls are parallel to and within 1.50 meters of a public sidewalk, alley, or other public way, the grade shall be the elevation of the sidewalk, alley, or public way.