RA 9514 - FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

RA 9514 repeals PD 1185; RA 9514 passed into law on December 19, 2008, latest IRR is the 2019 IRR

OUTLINE OF RA 9514
1. Interpretation
2. Coverage
3. Definition of Terms
4. Authority of the BFP Chief
5. Fire Code Technical Staff
6. Fire Brigades, Volunteer Orgs, Safety Practitioners
7. Assistance & Support to the BFP
8. Fire Safety Enforces
9. Enforcement & Administration of Safety Measures
10. Fire Safety Measures
11. Prohibited Acts
12. Fire Code Taxes, Fees, & Fines
13. Administrative Courses of Action
14. Miscellaneous Provisions

FOCUS ON THREE (3) RULES

 RULE 3 : Definition of Terms

 RULE 9 : Enforcement of Fire Safety Measures
- Inspections & evaluations
- FSCR, FSCCR, FSMR
- FSEC & FSIC
 RULE 10 : Fire Safety Measures
- Various design requirements

RULE 3 - DEFINITION OF TERMS

 Basic needs of human settlements:
Water

RULE 8 - FIRE SAFETY ENFORCES

FIRE SAFETY ENFORCERS
 Fire Safety Inspectors
 Plan Evaluators
 Chief of Fire Safety Enforcement Section/ Unit

FIRE SAFETY INSPECTOR

 Inspector of buildings to assess/ ensure compliance with the Fire Code & its fire safety requirements &
other related laws & ordinances
 Recommendation of corrective actions for violations & defects
 Preparation of documents

PLAN EVALUATOR
 Review of plans & specifications including the fire protection system to determine compliance with the
Fire Code, Building Code, & other life & safety standards
 Inspection of building during construction to determine compliance w/ approved plans & specs
CHIEF OF FSES
 Review reports of Fire Safety Enforcers & recommend approval to Fire Marshall
 Assist the Fire Marshall in Fire Code implementation
 Supervise the Fire Safety Inspectors
 Recommend to Fire Marshall filing of appropriate charges against violators

RULE 9 - ENFORCEMENT & ADMINISTRATION

OF FIRE SAFETY MEASURES
GENERAL
 All buildings must be inspected
 Fire safety inspection is required for:
Certificate of Occupancy
Business Permit
Permit to Operate
 Evaluation of plans is required for:
Building Permit

FIRE SAFETY EVALUATION & INSPECTION

1. Building Plan Review
2. Inspection During Construction
3. Inspection After Completion of Construction
4. Business Inspection & Routine/ Annual Inspection

THE EVALUATION & INSPECTION PROCESS

BUILDING PLAN REVIEW

 The building plans & specs are endorsed to the Fire Department. The Plan Evaluator will review these
plans to determine compliance w/ the requirements of the Fire Code.
 Based on the findings, an FSEC or a Notice of Disapproval will be issued
Important Notes:
The FSEC is a requirement for the issuance of the Building Permit
No building plan will be evaluated without the FSCR

INSPECTION DURING CONSTRUCTION

 During construction, renovation, modification, or alteration, the Fire Marshall inspect the project to
determine whether the plans & specification are being followed & fire safety precautions are being
observed.

INSPECTION AFTER COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION

 After the completion of construction & prior to the occupancy of the building, a Fire Safety Inspector
must inspect the building to determine conformance with the Fire Code & the approved plans.
 Based on the findings, an FSIC or an Notice of Disapproval will be issued.
Important Notes:
The FSIC is required for the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy
The FSCCR is required for the issuance of the FSIC
Testing & commissioning of the fire protective & warning system must witnessed by the FSI
BUSINESS INSPECTION & ROUTINE/ ANNUAL INSPECTION
 Business Inspection (Applicable to industrial, commercial, & business operations)
FSIC is required for the issuance of the Building Permit; Mayor’s Permit; & PEZA Certificate of
Annual Inspection
Inspection will be conducted, after which either an FSIC/ an NTC will be issued
Note: FSMR is required for issuance of FSIC.

 Routine/ Annual Inspection (Not for Business Permit purposes)

For buildings NOT classified as industrial, commercial, or business operations, routine inspection
will be conducted to determine compliance w/ thew IRR.

FSCR, FSCCR, FSMR

 FALAR stood for Fire & Life Safety Assessment Report
 The three (3) FALARs are NOW known in the 2019 IRR as:
FALAR 1 = FSCR (Fire Safety Compliance Report)
FALAR 2 = FSCCR (Fire Safety Compliance & Commissioning Report)
FALAR 3 = FSMR (Fire Safety Maintenance Report)

APPLICABILITY OF FSCR, FSCCR, FSMR

 For buildings that are required to install a wet standpipe system or an automatic fire suppression system or
an automatic fire detection & alarm system:
Submit FSCR when obtaining FSEC for Building Permit
Submit FSCCR when obtaining FSIC for Certificate of Occupancy
Submit FSMR when obtaining FSIC for Business Permit, Certificate of Annual Inspection for
PEZA, DOH License to Operate, etc.

THE THREE (3) REPORTS

 FSCR : A detailed design analysis of the fire safety features to be installed in the building. (Design)
 FSCCR : A certification that the approved plans & specs were duly implemented. (Construction)
 FSMR : A report on conducted annual maintenance on fire safety & protection systems. (Maintenance)

FSCR (Fire Safety Compliance Report)

 Report submitted by the Engineer-of-record or the Architect-of-record containing a detailed analysis of
all fire safety features to be installed & certifying that the design complies with the Fire Code.
 Required for the FSEC for Building Permit*
*For buildings that are required to install a wet standpipe system or an automatic fire suppression system or
an automatic fire detection & alarm system.
 The FSCR includes, but NOT limited to:
Codes & standards used in the design
Project description, building classification, occupancy, hazards of contents
Descriptions of exits, travel distances, fire suppression, FDAS, evacuation systems, smoke control
management, emergency power supply, emergency lighting, fire department access
Basis of design, calculations, design criteria, etc.

FSCCR (Fire Safety Compliance & Commissioning Report)

 Report submitted by the Contractor/ CM certifying that:
the plans & specs prescribed in the FSCR were duly implemented;
all fire protection & life safety features were property installed; &
the completed building complies w/ the requirements of the Fire Code
 Required for the FSIC for Occupancy*
*For buildings that are required to install a wet standpipe system or an automatic fire suppression system or
an automatic fire detection & alarm system.
 The FSCCR includes, but NOT limited to:
Certification that the fire safety features in the FSCR were implemented & that the completed
building complies w/ the Fire Code
As-built plans
Testing & commissioning certificates
Description of changes made in the design, if any. Standards used for these changes, if any.

FSMR (Fire Safety Maintenance Report)

 Report submitted by the Building Owner or his authorized representative on the conducted annual
maintenance of fire safety & fire protection systems, certifying that all fire safety systems are installed &
maintained in operational condition
 Required for the FSIC for Business Permits*
*For buildings that are required to install a wet standpipe system or an automatic fire suppression system or
an automatic fire detection & alarm system.
 The FSMR includes, but NOT limited to:
Building classification, occupancy, hazards of contents, number of active exits
Maintenance & testing records for fire pumps, sprinkler systems, portable extinguishers, standpipes,
FDAS, smoke management system, pressurization fans, emergency power supply.
Results of annual fire pump flow test, annual main drain test, standpipe water flow test

FSEC (Fire Safety Evaluation Clearance)

 Prerequisite for the Building Permit
 Requires review of the plans by the Plan Evaluator. Issued by the Fire Marshall upon determination that
the design & plans are in accordance with the Fire Code.

FSIC (Fire Safety Inspection Certificate)

 Prerequisite for Certificate of Occupancy, Business Permit, Permits to Operate, etc.
 Requires inspection of the building by the Fire Safety Inspector. Issued by the Fire Marshall based on the
findings from the inspection.

PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER

SCENARIO 1 : BUILDING PERMIT

 Prerequisite for Construction : BUILDING PERMIT
 Prerequisite for Building Permit : FSEC (Fire Safety Evaluation Clearance)
 Prerequisite for FSEC : BUILDING PLAN REVIEW
 Prerequisite for Building Plan Review : FSCR (Fire Safety Compliance Report)

SCENARIO 2 : CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY

 Prerequisite for Construction : CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
 Prerequisite for Certificate of Occupancy : FSIC (Fire Safety Inspection Certificate)
 Prerequisite for FSIC : FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION + FSCCR (Fire Safety Compliance & Commissioning Report)

SCENARIO 3 : BUSINESS PERMIT

 Prerequisite for operating a Business : BUSINESS PERMIT
 Prerequisite for Business Permit : FSIC (Fire Safety Inspection Certificate)
 Prerequisite for FSIC : FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION + FSMR (Fire Safety Maintenance Report)
 RULE 10 - SAFETY MEASURES
OUTLINE OF RULE 10
1. Coverage
2. Fire Safety in Buildings
- General Requirements
- Classification of Occupancy
- Hazard of Buildings
- Means of Egress
- Features of Fire Protection
-...
3. Fire Safety for Hazardous Materials
4. Fire Safety for Hazardous Operations (Car-wrecking, explosives, fireworks)
5. Miscellaneous Safety Measures

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
 Provide sufficient exits for all buildings.
 Protect escaping occupants from fire, smoke, vapor, & fumes
 Exits must provide free & unobstructed egress from all parts of the building
General rule : no lock or fastening device (subject to certain exceptions, like penal institutions)
 Exits should be clearly visible & the route to an exit should be conspicuously marked to make the
direction of escape obvious.
 Provide adequate illumination.
 Vertical openings between floors should be suitably enclosed/ protected.
 For buildings of such size/ occupancy such that the reasonable safety of a number of occupants may be
endangered by blocking of only one means of egress due to fire or smoke: provide at least (2) two means
of egress.

CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY in the FIRE CODE

1 ASSEMBLY 8 MERCANTILE
2 EDUCATIONAL 9 BUSINESS
3 DAY CARE 10 INDUSTRIAL
4 HEALTH CARE 11 STORAGE
5 RESIDENTIAL BOARD & CARE 12 MIXED
6 DETENTION & CORRECTIONAL 13 SPECIAL STRUCTURES
7 RESIDENTIAL

1. ASSEMBLY
 Building used for gathering 50 or more persons
 Building used as special amusement buildings

2. EDUCATIONAL
 Buildings used for gathering of 6 or more persons for the purposes of instruction.

3. DAY CARE
 Buildings in which 4 or more clients receive care, maintenance, & supervision by people who are not their
relatives/ guardians for less than 24 hours per day.
 Example : Child day care center

4. HEALTH CARE
 Buildings used for purposes of medical/ other treatment/ care of persons who are mostly incapable of self-
preservation because of age, physical/ mental disability
Hospitals
Nursing homes
Birth centers
5. RESIDENTIAL BOARD & CARE
 Buildings used for lodging & boarding of 4 or more residents, not related by blood/ marriage to the
owners, for the purpose of providing personal care services (NO nursing care)
Group housing for physically/ mentally handicapped persons who attend school in the community
Group housing for the elderly providing personal care services but NOT providing nursing care
Assisted living facilities
Rehabilitation facilities for alcoholism, drug abuse

6. DETENTION & CORRECTIONAL

 Buildings used to house one (1) or more persons under varied degrees of restraint/ security. Occupants are
mostly incapable of self-preservation because of security measures not under their control
Hospitals

7. RESIDENTIAL
 Occupancies in which sleeping accommodations are provided for normal residential purposes & include
buildings designed to provide sleeping accommodation
Single & two-family dwellings, & the like
Apartments, lodging houses, dormitories
Condominiums
Hotels, motels, apartelles, pension houses, inns

8. MERCANTILE
 Stores, markets, & other buildings used for the display & sale of merchandise
Malls, supermarkets, department stores, shopping centers
Dry & wet markets, flea markets
Restaurants w/ capacity of less than 50 persons (otherwise Assembly)
Office, storage, & service facilities incidental to the sale of merchandise

9. BUSINESS
 Buildings used for the transaction of business other than that covered under mercantile
General offices, offices for professionals
City & municipal halls
Call centers, BPO, internet shops
Massage parlors, beauty parlors, barbershops (less than 50)

10. INDUSTRIAL
 Factories of all kinds, dry cleaning plants, power plants, pumping stations, smokehouses, gas plants,
sawmills, laundries

11. STORAGE
 Buildings used primarily for the storage of goods, merchandise, products, vehicles, animals
Ware houses Parking garage
Cold storage Hangar
Truck & marine terminals Barns, stables
Bulk oil storage

12. MIXED OCCUPANCIES

 Two or more classes of occupancies occurring in the same building so intermingled that separate
safeguards are impracticable

13. SPECIAL STRUCTURES

 Buildings which cannot be properly classified in any of the preceding occupancy groups
HAZARD OF BUILDINGS
CLASSIFICATION OF HAZARD CONTENTS
The hazard of contents of any building shall be classified as:
1. Low Hazard
2. Moderate Hazard
3. High Hazard

LOW HAZARD
 Contents of such low combustibility that no self-propagating fire can occur in the building

MODERATE HAZARD
 Contents which are liable to burn with moderate rapidity or to give off a considerable volume of
smoke, but in case of fire:
NO poisonous fumes
NO explosions

HIGH HAZARD
 Contents which are liable to burn with extreme rapidity
 Contents from which poisonous gases or explosions are to be expected in the event of a fire

OCCUPANT LOAD
 The maximum number of persons that may occupy any space at any time
 Computed by dividing the floor area by the occupant load factor indicated per occupancy type in
Divisions 8-20 of Rule 10 Chapter 2
 Where exits serve more than one (1) floor, only the occupant load of that floor needs to be used in
computing the capacity of exits of that floor, but the exit capacity shall not be decreased in the direction
of exit travel

OCCUPANCY-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

ITEMS TO PICK OUT FROM EACH OCCUPANCY

 General Requirements
 Occupant Load Factors
 Maximum Travel Distances to Exits
 Exit details
 Unique Requirements Applicable to Each Occupancy

OCCUPANT LOAD FACTORS

 Used to determine the occupant load
 The maximum number of persons that may be allowed to occupy a particular building/space)
OCCUPANT LOAD = FLOOR AREA/ OCCUPANT LOAD FACTOR

OCCUPANT LOAD
OCCUPANCY TYPE
(sqm./person)
Place of Assembly
Concentrated use 0.65
Less concentrated use 1.40
Standing room 0.28
Educational
Classroom 1.90
Shops, laboratories, vocational rooms 4.60
Dry nurses with sleeping facilities 3.30
Day Care 3.30
Health Care
Sleeping Departments 11.10
Inpatient healthcare treatment 22.30
Residential Board & Care
Large facilities 18.60
Detentional & Correctional 11.10
Residential (except single & 2 family dwellings) 18.60

OCCUPANT LOAD
OCCUPANCY TYPE
(sqm./person)
Mercantile
Street floor 2.80
Below street floor 2.80
Upper floors 5.60
Any floor used for offices, storage, not
9.30
open to general public
Business
Default 9.30
Concentrated use (BPO, call centers) 4.60
Industrial 9.30
No occupant load factor
provided. Det. on the
Storage
basis of maximum
probable population