National Building Code of the Philippines

(c) Buildings on Same Property and Buildings Containing Courts For the purpose of determining the required wall and opening protection,  buildings on the same property and court walls  shall  be assumed to have a property line between them. When a new building is to be erected on the same property  with  an existing building, the assume property line from the existing building shall be the distance to the property  line for each occupancy as set forth by the Secretary. Provided, that two or more buildings on the same  property  may be considered as one building if the aggregate area of such building is within the limits of allowable floor areas for a single building, and when the buildings so considered, house different occupancies or are of different types of construction, the area  shall be that allowed for the most restrictive occupancy or construction. SECTION 705. Allowable Floor Areas. The allowable floor areas for one-storey building and buildings over one-storey shall not exceed the limits prescribed by the Secretary for each occupancy groups and/or types of construction. For purposes of this Section, each portion of a building separation by one or more area separation walls may be considered a separate building provided the area separation walls meet the requirements prescribed therefor by the Secretary. SECTION 706. Allowable Floor Area Increases. The floor areas hereinabove provided may be increased in certain specific instances and under appropriate conditions, based on the existence of public space, streets or yards extending along and adjoining two or more sides of the building or structure subject to the approval of the Building Official. SECTION 707. Maximum Height of Buildings. The maximum height and number of storeys of every building shall be dependent upon the character of occupancy and the type of construction as determined by the Secretary considering population density, building bulk, widths of streets and car parking requirements. The height shall be measured from the highest adjoining sidewalk or ground surface: Provided, that the height measured from the lowest adjoining surface shall not exceed such maximum height by more than 3.00 meters: Except, that towers, spires, and steeples, erected as part of a building and not used for habitation or storage are limited as to height only by structural design if completely of incombustible materials, or may extend not to exceed 6.00 meters above the height limits for each occupancy group if of combustible materials. SECTION 708. Minimum Requirements for Group A Dwellings. (a) Dwelling Location and Lot Occupancy. The dwelling shall occupy not more than ninety percent of a corner lot and eighty percent of an inside lot, and subject to the provisions on Easement on Light and View of the Civil Code of the Philippines, shall be at least 2 meters from the property line. (b) Light and Ventilation. Every dwelling shall be so constructed and arranged as to provide adequate light and ventilation as provided under Section 805, of this Code. (c) Sanitation . Every dwelling shall be provided with at least one sanitary toilet and adequate washing and drainage facilities. (d) Foundation . Footing shall be of sufficient size and strength to support the load of the dwelling and shall be at least 250 millimeters thick and 600 millimeters below the surface of the ground. (e) Post . The dimensions of wooden post shall be those found in Table 708-A Dimensions of Wooden Posts (Annex B-1). Each post shall be anchored to such footing by strap and bolts of adequate size. (f) Floor . The live load of the first floor shall be at least 200 kilograms per square meter and for the second floor, at least 150 kilograms per square meter. (g) Roof . The wind load for roofs shall be at least 120 kilograms per square meter for vertical projection. (h) Stairs . Stairs shall be at least 750 millimeters in clear width, with a rise of 200 millimeters and a minimum run of 200 millimeters. (i) Entrance and Exit . There shall be at least one entrance and another one for exit. (j) Electrical Requirements . All electrical installation shall conform to the requirements of the Philippine Electrical Code. (k) Mechanical Requirements . Mechanical systems and/or equipment installation shall be subject to the requirement of the Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code. SECTION 709. Requirements for Other Group Occupancies. Subject to the provisions of this Code, the Secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations for each of the other Group Occupancies covering: allowable construction, height, and area; location on property, exit facilities, light, ventilation, and sanitation; enclosures of vertical openings; fire extinguishing systems; and special hazards. CHAPTER 8 LIGHT AND VENTILATION SECTION 801. General Requirements of Light and Ventilation. (a) Subject to the provisions of the Civil Code of the Philippines on Basement of Light and View and to the provisions of this part of the Code, every building shall be designed, constructed, and equipped to provide adequate light and ventilation. (b) All buildings shall face a street or public alley or a private street which has been duly approved. (c) No building shall be altered nor arranged so as to reduce the size of any room or the relative area of windows to less than that provided for buildings under this Code, or to create an additional room, unless such additional room conforms to the requirements of this Code. (d) No building shall be enlarged so that the dimensions of the required court or yard would be less than that prescribed for such building. SECTION 802. Measurement of Site Occupancy. (a) The measurement of site occupancy or lot occupancy shall be taken at the ground level and shall be exclusive of courts, yards, and light wells. (b) Courts, yards, and light wells shall be measured clear of all projections from the walls enclosing such wells or yards with the exception of roof leaders, wall copings, sills, or steel fire escapes not exceeding 1.20 meters in width. SECTION 803. Percentage of Site Occupancy. (a) Maximum site occupancy shall be governed by the use, type of construction, and height of the building and the use, area, nature, and location of the site; and subject to the provisions of the local zoning requirements and in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary. SECTION 804. Size and Dimensions of Courts. (a) Minimum size of courts and their least dimensions shall be governed by the use, type of construction, and height of the building as provided in the rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary, provided that the minimum horizontal dimension of court shall be not less than 2.00 meters. (b) All inner courts shall be connected to a street or yard, either by a passageway with a minimum width of 1.20 meters or by a door through a room or rooms. SECTION 805. Ceiling Heights. (a) Habitable rooms provided with artificial ventilation have ceiling heights not less than 2.40 meters measured from the floor to the ceiling; Provided that for buildings of more than one-storey, the minimum ceiling height of the first storey shall be 2.70 meters and that for the second storey 2.40 meters and succeeding storeys shall have an unobstructed typical head-room clearance of not less than 2.10 meters above the finished floor. Above stated rooms with a natural ventilation shall have ceiling height not less than 2.70 meters.