National Building Code of the Philippines

PLASTICS, APPROVED Plastic materials which have a flame spread rating of 225 or less. PLATFORM, ENCLOSED A partially enclosed portion of an assembly room the ceiling of which is not more than 1.50 meters above the proscenium opening and which is designed or used for the presentation of plays, demonstrations, or other entertainment wherein scenery, drops, decorations, of the effects may be installed or used. PUBLIC WAY A parcel of land unobstructed from the ground to the sky, more than 3.00 meters in width, appropriated to the free passage of the general public. REPAIR The construction or renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of its maintenance. The word "repair" shall not apply to any change of construction. SHAFT A vertical opening through a building for elevators, dumbwaiters, mechanical equipment, or similar purposes. SHOW WINDOW A store window in which goods are display. SLUM Blighted Area: Eyesore; An area where the values of real estate tend to deteriorate because of the dilapidated, obsolescent, and insanitary condition of the building within the area. Any eyesore is a building or area which is markedly unpleasant to look at. SOCALO, MASONRY The wall between the bottom of the window sill and the ground. SOFFIT The underside of a beam. lintel, or reveal. STABLE Any structure designed and intended for the enclosure, shelter, or protection of any horse, carabao, or other cattle. STABLE, COMMERCIAL A stable wherein the animals kept are for business, racing or breeding purposes. STAGE A partially enclosed portion of an assembly building which is designed or used for the representation of plays, demonstrations, or other entertainment wherein scenery, drops or other effects may be installed or used, and where the distance between the top of the prosecenium openings and the ceiling above the stage is more than 1.50 meters. STAIRWAY Two or more risers shall constitute a stairway. STAIRWAY, PRIVATE A stairway serving one tenant only. STOREY That portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost storey shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above. If the finished floor level directly above a basement, cellar or unused underfloor space is more than 3.60 meters above grade as defined herein at any point. Such basement, cellar or unused underfloor space shall be considered as a storey. STOREY, HEIGHT OF The perpendicular distance from top to top of two successive of floors, floor beams, or joists. The clear height of a storey or a room is the distance from the floor to the ceiling. The clear height of balconies is measured from the highest point of the sidewall grade to the underside of the balcony floor joists. If these joists are sealed, this clear height is measured to the underside of the sealing. STREET Any thoroughfare of public space which has been dedicated or deeded to the public for public use. STRUCTURE That which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner. STRUCTURAL FRAME The framing system including the columns and the girders, beams, trusses, and spandrels having direct connections to the columns and all other members which are essential to the stability of the building as a whole. The members of floor or roof which have no connection to the column shall be considered secondary and not a part of the structural frame. SUPORTALES The vertical supports, such as posts or stanchions, as used in indigenous or traditional type of construction. These may be freestanding as stilts or integrated into the wall structure. In the case of former, pie de gallos (knee braces) or crosettas (cross bracing) are sometimes used. SURFACE, EXTERIOR Weather-exposed surface. SURFACE, INTERIOR Surfaces other than weather-exposed surfaces. SURFACE, WEATHER-EXPOSED All surfaces of walls, ceilings, floors, roofs, soffits, and similar surfaces exposed to the weather except the following: (a) Ceiling and roof soffits by walls, or by beams extend a minimum of 300 millimeters below such ceiling or roof soffit; (b) Walls or portions of walls within an unenclosed roof area, when located a horizontal distance from an exterior opening equal to twice the height of the opening; and (c) Ceiling and roof soffits beyond a horizontal distance of 3.00 meters from the outer edge of the ceilings or roof soffits. VALUE OR VALUATION OF A BUILDING The estimated cost to replace the building in kind, based on current replacement costs. VAULT Any surface or underground construction covered on top, or any fire-roof construction intended for the storage of valuables. VENEER ADHERED Veneer secured and supported by approved mechanical fasteners attached to an approved backing supported through adhesion to an approved bonding material applied over an approved backing. VENEER, EXTERIOR Veneer applied to weather-exposed surfaces. VENEER, INTERIOR Veneer applied to surfaces other than weather-exposed surfaces. WALL BEARING A wall which supports any load other than its own weight. WALL, CROSS A term which may be used synonymously with a partition. WALL, CURTAIN The enclosing wall of an iron or steel framework or the nonbearing portion of an enclosing wall between pier. WALL, DEAD A wall without openings. WALL, EXTERIOR Any wall or element of a wall or any number or group of members, which defines the exterior boundary or courts of a building. WALL, FACED A wall in which the facing and backing are so bonded together that they act as a composite element, and exert a common action under load. WALL, FIRE Any wall which subdivided a building so as to resist the spread of fire, by starting at the foundation and extending continuously through all storeys to, or above the roof. Extension above the roof is 1.00 meters. WALL, FOUNDATION That portion of an enclosing wall below the first tier of floor- joists. WALL, HEIGHT OF The perpendicular distance measured from its base line either at the grade or at the top of the girder to the top of the coping thereof. Foundation and retaining walls are measured from the grade downward to the base of the footing. WALL, NONBEARING A wall which supports no load other than its own weight. WALL, PARAPET That part of any entirely above the roof line. WALL, PARTY A wall separating two or more buildings, and used in common by the said buildings. WALL, RETAINING Any wall used to resist the lateral displacement of any material; a subsurface wall built to resist the lateral pressure of internal loads. WALL, THICKNESS OF The minimum thickness measured on the bed. WINDOW An opening through a wall of a building to the outsider for the purpose of admitting natural light and air. WINDOW, ORIEL A projecting window similar to a bay window, cut curried on brackets or corbels. The term "bay window" may also be applied to an oriel window projecting over the street line. WIRE BACKING Horizontal strands of tautened wire attached to surfaces of vertical wood supports which, when covered with building paper, provide a backing for portland cement plaster.