FIRE SAFETY IN

BUILDINGS,
STRUCTURES
AND
FACILITIES
RULE 10, CHAPTER 2, RA9514, Revised IRR (2019),
 OBJECTIVES
For the cadets to:
1. Gain knowledge on Fire Safety in
Buildings.
2. Identify Means of Egress
3. Differentiate Features of Fire
Protection.
4. Classify Buildings and its Hazards.
Hazard of
Building
Chap. 2, Div.4.
 Low Hazard

 Those of such low combustibility

that no self-propagating fire therein
can occur and that, consequently,
the only probable danger requiring
the use of emergency exits will be
from panic, fumes or smoke or fire
from some external source.
 Moderate Hazard

 Those which are liable to burn with

moderate rapidity or to give off a
considerable volume of smoke but
from which neither poisonous
fumes nor explosions are to be
expected in the event of fire.
 High Hazard

 Those which are liable to

burn with extreme rapidity
or from which poisonous
gases or explosions are to be
expected in the event of fire.
Means of
Egress
Chap. 2, Div.5.
 MEANS OF EGRESS

A continuous and unobstructed

route of exit from one point in a
building, structure or facility to a
public way consisting of three (3)
distinct parts: exit, access and exit
discharge.
 Protective Enclosures of Exit
* Three Storeys or less – Atleast One (1) Hour
Fire Resistance Rating(FHR).
* Four or More Storeys – Atleast Two (2)
Hours FHR
* Any opening shall be protected by an
approved self-closing fire resistive door
* No exit enclosure shall be used for other
purposes
* Shall be constructed of Non Combustible
Materials with Fire Resistance Rating.
Capacity of Means of Egress

Level Components
Stairways
and Ramps
Area (width per person)
(width per person)

mm in mm in

Board and Care 10 0.4 5 0.2

Health Care, Sprinklered 7.6 0.3 5 0.2

Health Care, Non Sprinklered 15 0.6 13 0.5

High Hazards 18 0.7 10 0.4

All Others 7.6 0.3 5 0.4

 Means of Egress
Occupant Load
“Shall be determined by dividing the
floor area by the occupant load
factor assigned to that use”

____________________
Gross Floor Area
OL = Occupant Load Factor
 Occupant Load

TYPE OF OCCUPANCY OCCUPANT LOAD

FACTOR
(square meters per person)
1. Assembly
a. concentrated use without fixed seats 0.65
b. less concentrated use 1.4
c. standing room or waiting space 0.28
2. Educational
a. net classroom area 1.9
b. net area of shops, laboratories and similar 4.6
vocational rooms
3. Health Care
a. sleeping departments 11.1
b. inpatient treatment departments 22.3
Occupant Load
TYPE OF OCCUPANCY OCCUPANT LOAD FACTOR
(square meters per person)
4. Detention and Correctional 11.1

5. Residential 18.6

6. Mercantile
a. Street floor 2.8
b. Upper floors 5.6
7. Business 9.3
8. Industrial 9.3
9. Storage Maximum probable population
 Means of Egress
Minimum Width

shall not be less than nine

hundred fifteen millimeters (915
mm) except when specifically
provided under Division 8 to
Division 17 of this Chapter.
 Means of Egress
Number of Means of Egress

A. The number of means of egress

from any balcony, mezzanine,
storey, or portion thereof shall not
be less than two (2), except when
specifically permitted in Division 8
through 17 of this Chapter.
 Means of Egress
Number of Means of Egress
B. When the occupant load for any storey
or portion thereof is more than five
hundred (500) but not more than one
thousand (1000), the means of egress
shall not be less than three (3); in excess
thereof, the means of egress shall not
be less than four (4).
 Means of Egress
Arrangement of Means of Egress
Shall be remote from each other as possible,
determined as follows:

A. No Sprinkler:
one-half (1/2) of the length of the maximum over-
all diagonal dimension of the building or area to be
served, measured in a straight line between the
nearest edge of the exit doors or exit access
doors.
 Means of Egress
Arrangement of Means of Egress
B. With sprinkler
the minimum separation distance between two
exits or exit access doors shall not be less than
one-third (1/3) the length of the maximum overall
diagonal dimension of the building or area to be
served.
 Means of Egress
Travel Distance
46 m – no sprinkler
61 m – with sprinkler
* unless modified by individual
occupancies

* along the walking surface

* starting from the most remote point
* giving 30 cm clearance from the corner
* ending at the center of the doorway or
other point at which the exit begins
 Means of Egress

Headroom

Minimum headroom shall not be less

than 2 meters.
 Means of Egress
Doors
* min width – 71 cm clear width
* max width – 122 cm
* provision for re-entry mechanism for four (4) or
more storeys in height (every 4 storey)
* NO RE – ENTRY
PROCEED TO _______ FLOOR
AND ________ FLOOR
 Means of Egress
Stairs
Table 2: DIMENSIONAL CRITERIA FOR NEW STAIRS
Dimensional Criteria
Feature
mm in
Minimum Width See Table 4

Maximum height of risers 180 7

Minimum height of risers 100 4

Minimum tread depth 280 11

Minimum headroom 2000 80

Maximum height between landings 3660 144

 Means of Egress
Stairs
Table 3: DIMENSIONAL CRITERIA FOR EXISTING STAIRS
Dimensional Criteria
Feature
mm in
Minimum width clear of all 915 36
obstructions, except projections
not more than 114 mm (4½ in) at or
below handrail height on each side

Maximum height of risers 205 8

Minimum tread depth 230 9
Minimum headroom 2000 80
Maximum height between landings 3660 144
 Means of Egress
Stairs
Table 4: NEW STAIR WIDTH

Total Cumulative Occupant Width

Load Assigned to the Stair
mm in

<2000 persons 1120 44

>2000 persons 1420 56

 Means of Egress

Stairs

Smoke proof enclosures may be by any of the

following means:
 Natural Ventilation
 Mechanical Ventilation
 Stairway Pressurization
 Means of Egress
Ramps
Table 5: DIMENSIONAL CRITERIA FOR NEW RAMPS
Dimensional Criteria
Feature
mm in
Minimum width clear of all 1120 44
obstructions, except projections
not more than 4½ in. (114 mm) at
or below handrail height on each side

Maximum slope 1 in 12

Maximum cross slope 1 in 48

Maximum rise for a single ramp run 760 30
 Fire Escape Stairs
PARTICULARS DIMENSIONS
Minimum widths 60 cm clear between rails
Minimum horizontal dimension any landing
60 cm
of platform
Maximum rise 23 cm
Minimum tread, exclusive of nosing 23 cm
Tread construction Solid, 13 mm diameter per­foration permitted
Winders (spiral) None
Risers None
Maximum height between landings 3.66 m
Headroom, minimum 2.00 m

Door or case­ment windows 61 cm by 1.98 m or double hung

Access to escape
windows 76.20 cm by 91.44 cm clear

Level of access opening Not over 30.50 cm above floor; steps if higher
Discharge to ground Swinging stair section permit­ted
45 per unit* access by door; 20 if access by climbing over
Capacity number of persons
window rail
 Means of Egress
Ladders

* No ladder shall be used as a fire escape

except in single and two family dwellings and
residential apartments of not more than three
(3) storey provided that the height shall not
exceed nine meters (9m).

* For purposes of this subsection, mezzanine

floors shall be counted as ordinary floor.
 Means of Egress
Illumination and Markings of Means of Egress

* Emergency lighting facilities shall be arranged

to maintain the specified degree of illumination
in the event of failure of the normal lighting for
a period of at least one and one half (1½) hour.

* All emergency lighting systems installed in

accordance with this section shall be properly
maintained. Maintenance program shall be
documented and incorporated in FALAR 3.
 Features
of Fire
Protection
Chap. 2, Div.6.
 Features of Fire Protection
Protection of Vertical Openings

openings between storeys shall

be enclosed or protected to
prevent the spread of fire or
smoke, except openings of
building protected by automatic
fire suppression system
 Features of Fire Protection
Protection of Vertical Openings
Exemption:
• building with low or ordinary hazard occupancy
protected with approved, supervised sprinkler
automatic fire suppressions system

• up to three (3) communicating floor levels

• provided all the following conditions are met:

 Features of Fire Protection
Protection of Vertical Openings
Exemption:
a. The arrangement is permitted by the applicable
occupancy section of this Chapter.

b. The lowest or next to the lowest level is a street

floor;

c. The entire area, including all communicating floor

levels, is sufficiently open and unobstructed so
that it may be assumed that a fire or other
dangerous condition in any part will be
immediately obvious to the occupants of all
communicating levels and areas;
 Features of Fire Protection
Protection of Vertical Openings
Exemption:
d. Exit capacity is sufficient to provide
simultaneously for all occupants of all
communicating levels and areas, all
communicating levels in the same fire area
being considered as a single floor area for
purposes of determina­tion of required exit
capacity;
 Features of Fire Protection
Protection of Vertical Openings
Exemption:
e. Each floor level, considered separately, has at
least one-half of its individual required exit
capacity provided by an exit or exits leading
directly out of that area without traversing
another communicating floor level or being
exposed to the spread of fire or smoke
therefrom; and
 Features of Fire Protection
Protection of Vertical Openings

Exemption:
f. All requirements of this Chapter with respect
to interior finish, protection of hazards,
construction and other features are fully
observed, without waivers, except openings
in floors of educational, healthcare, and
detention and correctional occupancies shall
be enclosed as required in Divisions 9, 10
and 11 of this Chapter, respectively.
 Features of Fire Protection
Fire Detection, Alarm and Communication Systems

1. When a required fire alarm system is out of

service for more than 4 hours in a 24-hour
period, the City/Municipal Fire Marshal
having jurisdiction shall be notified within 24
hours, and a fire watch shall be assigned
until the fire alarm system has been
returned to service.
 Features of Fire Protection
Fire Detection, Alarm and Communication Systems

2. the fire alarm system shall have an approved

maintenance and testing program which
shall be developed by the building
management….. Records of conducted
maintenance and testing should be
maintained and submitted together with
FALAR 3 when required by the Chief, BFP
or his duly authorized representative.
 Features of Fire Protection
Fire Detection, Alarm and Communication Systems

3. A positive alarm sequence may be permitted,

provided that it is in accordance with NFPA
72.

4. Notification signals for occupants to evacuate

shall be by audible and visible signals in
accordance with NFPA 72, or other means
of notification subject to the determination
and approval of the City/Municipal Fire
Marshal having jurisdiction.
 Features of Fire Protection
Fire Detection, Alarm and Communication Systems

5. Automatic fire department notification through

central station accredited by the BFP shall be
mandatory to the following types of occupancy:
a. All high rise buildings;
b. All hospitals;
c. All educational institutions, hotels and apartment
buildings (condominium) of at least four (4) storey
in height;
d. All highly hazardous occupancies; and
e. All mall buildings.
 Features of Fire Protection
Automatic Sprinkler
1. All automatic sprinkler and standpipe systems
required by this code shall be inspected,
tested, and maintained in accordance with
NFPA 25. Records of conducted
maintenance and testing should be
maintained and submitted together with
FALAR 3.
 Features of Fire Protection
Automatic Sprinkler
2. Where a required automatic sprinkler
system is out of service for more than 4
hours in a 24-hour period, the owner shall
notify the nearest fire station immediately
upon discovery but not later than 24 hours
and a fire watch shall be assigned until the
sprinkler system has been returned to
service.
 Features of Fire Protection
Dry Standpipe
1. All buildings with required enclosed stairway
or smoke proof enclosure shall have at least
one dry standpipe outlet connection located
at every floor level landing above the first
floor of every required enclosure. No point
within a building, requiring dry standpipes,
shall be more than forty (40) meters (40 m)
travel distance from a dry standpoint outlet
connection.
 Features of Fire Protection
Wet Standpipe
1. Wet standpipe system extending from the
cellar or basement into the topmost storey
shall be required in the following:

a. Assembly occupancies with an occupant

load exceeding one thousand (1,000);
 Features of Fire Protection
Wet Standpipe

b. Educational, healthcare and detention and

correctional, business and mercantile,
industrial, and hotels and apartments
occupancies, four or more storeys in height,
and

c. Hazardous storage and business and

mercantile occupancies having a floor area
exceeding one thousand eight hundred
sixty square meters (1,860 m2) per floor.
 Features of Fire Protection
Portable and Wheeled Fire Extinguishers
1. Class A Hazards

Table 9: FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLASS A HAZARDS

MAX. TRAVEL MAX. AREA (OPEN

MIN.
TYPE OF DISTANCE TO AREA) PER
EXTINGUISHER
HAZARD EXTINGUISHER EXTINGUISHER
RATING
(m) (m2)

Low 2-A 15 200

Moderate 3-A* 12 100
High 4-A* 10 75
 Features of Fire Protection
Portable and Wheeled Fire Extinguishers
2. Class B Hazards

Table 10: FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLASS B HAZARDS

TYPE OF MIN. MAX. TRAVEL MAX. AREA (OPEN
HAZARD EXTINGUISH DISTANCE TO AREA) PER
ER RATING EXTINGUISH EXTINGUISHER
ER (m) (m2)

Low 5-B 10 200

Moderate 10-B 10 100

High 40-B 10 75
 Features of Fire Protection
Class C Hazards
Fire extinguishers with Class C ratings
shall be required where energized
electrical equipment can be encountered
that would require a nonconducting
extinguishing medium.
Classification
of
Occupancy
Chap. 2, Div.3.
 TYPES OF OCCUPANCY
 PLACES OF ASSEMBLY  DETENTION AND
 CORRECTIONAL
EDUCATIONAL
OCCUPANCIES
OCCUPANCIES
 RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES
 DAY CARE OCCUPANCIES
 MERCANTILE OCCUPANCIES
 HEALTH CARE
OCCUPANCIES  BUSINESS OCCUPANCIES
 RESIDENTIAL BOARD  STORAGE OCCUPANCIES
AND CARE  SPECIAL STRUCTURES
 INDUSTRIAL
OCCUPANCIES
 PLACES OF ASSEMBLY
(Division 8)
buildings or portions of buildings used
for gathering together of fifty (50) or
more persons for such purposes as
deliberation, worship, entertainment,
eating, drinking, amusement, awaiting
transportation or similar uses.
Examples
1. theaters; 9. classrooms of 50
persons and over
2. assembly halls; capacity;
3. auditorium; 10. libraries;
4. exhibition halls; 11. internet shops of
5. museum; over 50 persons
capacity;
6. restaurants; 12. dance halls;
7. drinking 13. club rooms;
establishments; 14. skating rinks;
8. places of worship; 15. gymnasiums;
16. cockpit arenas; 20. Recreational
facilities;
17. bowling facilities;
21. piers;
18. pool rooms; 22.court-rooms;
19. passenger stations 23.conference rooms;
and terminals of air, and
surface, underground, 24. mortuary chapels
and marine public or funeral homes.
transportation
facilities;
* Restaurants and drinking establishments with
an occupant load of less than 50 persons shall
be classified as mercantile occupancies.

* Occupancy of any room or space for assembly

purposes by less than fifty (50) persons in a
building of other occupancy and incidental to
such other occupancy shall be classified as
part of the other occupancy and subject to the
provisions applicable thereto.
OCCUPANT LOAD (Section 10.2.8.1)
TYPE OF OCCUPANCY OCCUPANT LOAD
FACTOR
(square meters per
person)
Assembly
a. concentrated use without
fixed seats 0.65
b. less concentrated use 1.4
c. standing room or waiting
space 0.28
* Area having fixed seats – no. of fixed seats installed.

* Posting of occupant load in a conspicuous place near the

main entrance/exit of the room.

* Waiting space shall not encroach upon the required clear

width of exits
PROTECTION (Section 10.2.8.8)
Fire Detection and Alarm System

* All assembly occupancies – manual fire alarm

system

* More than 300 persons – through automatic

detection system
Extinguishing Requirement

1. The following assembly occupancies shall be protected

through by an approved, supervised sprinkler system:
a. bars with live entertainment;
b. dance halls;
c. discotheques; and
d. assembly occupancies.
2. Buildings containing assembly occupancies with occupant load of
more than 300 shall protected by an approved, supervised sprinkler
system:

a. throughout the storey containing the assembly occupancy ;

b. throughout all storeys below the storey containing the

assembly occupancy;

c. in case of assembly occupancy located below the level of exit

discharge, throughout all storeys intervening between that storey
and the level of exit discharge.
EXEMPTION (Section 10.2.8.8 para E no.
3)
1. Single multipurpose room of less than 1115 m2 that are
not used for exhibition or display and are not part of
mixed occupancy;

2. Assembly occupancy with all sides open; and

3. Places of worship at the level of exit discharge with

sufficient means of egress.
EDUCATIONAL OCCUPANCIES
(Division 9)

all buildings or portions thereof used

for the gathering of group of six (6) or
more persons for purposes of
instruction.
Examples
1. Schools;
2. Universities;
3. Colleges;
4. Academies;
5. Nursery schools;
6. Kindergartens; and
7. Child Day Care facilities.
OCCUPANT LOAD (Section 10.2.9.1 para B)
TYPE OF OCCUPANCY OCCUPANT
LOAD
FACTOR
(square meters
per person)
Educational
a. net classroom area 1.9
b. net area of shops, laboratories
and similar vocational rooms
4.6
 For nurseries where sleeping
quarters = 3.3 m2 per person

 For areas with fixed seats = no. of

fixed seats
 PROTECTION (Section 10.2.9.5)
 Vertical Openings
Any interior stairways and other vertical openings in
educational buildings shall be enclosed and protected
except :
1. when it serves only one adjacent floor other than a
basement,
2. it is not connected to other stairway serving other floors
3. it is not connected with corridors or stairways serving
other floors.
 Interior Corridors
*constructed of not less than ½ hour fire resistance rating
and all openings therein protected accordingly
*room doors may be 44 mm solid bonded core wood doors
or the equivalent.
Except:
when all classrooms served by such corridors have at
least one door directly to the outside or to an exterior
balcony or
 Interior Corridors
Any interior corridor more than 91m in length shall be
divided into smoke partitions

 Fire Alarm System

1. Approved fire alarm facilities capable of being manually
operated shall be provided in every educational building.

2. If protected with AFSS the operation of the system shall

automatically actuate electrical school’s fire alarm system.
 Automatic Fire Suppression System

Every portion of educational buildings below the

floor of exit discharge shall be protected with
complete automatic sprinkler protection 
 Hazardous Areas
separated from other parts of the building with
construction having not less than a 1 hour fire resistance
rating and all openings shall be protected with self-
closing fire doors
or
shall be provided with AFSS
 Cooking Equipment

Cooking equipment shall be protected by

automatic kitchen hood fire suppression
SPECIAL PROVISION FOR PRE-SCHOOLS
(SECTION 10.2.9.8)

Rooms used for pre-schoolers, first grade and

second grade pupils shall not be located above
or below the floor of exit discharge.
 DAY CARE OCCUPANCIES
(DIVISION 10)

 occupancies in which more than twelve (12)

clients receive care, maintenance, and
supervision by other than their relative(s) or
legal guardian(s) for less than twenty-four (24)
hours per day.
OCCUPANT LOAD (SECTION 10.2.10.2)

 The occupant load, in number of persons for

whom means of egress and other provisions
are required, either shall be one (1) person
for every three and three tenths square
meters (3.3 m2) or shall be determined as
the maximum probable population of the
space under consideration, whichever is
greater.
PROTECTION (SECTION 10.2.10.6)

 Day care occupancies shall be provided with an

automatic fire detection and alarm system in
accordance with Section 10.2.6.6 of this RIRR,
except day care occupancies housed in one room
having at least one (1) door opening directly to the
outside at grade plane or to an exterior exit access
balcony.
 A smoke detection system shall be installed in day care
occupancies, other than those housed in one (1) room
having at least one (1) door opening directly to the
outside at grade plane or to an exterior exit access,
and such system shall comply with both of the
following:
 Detectors shall be installed on each storey in front
of the doors to the stairways and in the corridors of
all floors occupied by the day care occupancy.
 Detectors shall be installed in lounges, recreation
areas, and sleeping rooms in the day care
occupancy.
 Extinguishing Requirements
 Buildings with unprotected openings, up to five
(5) communicating floor levels not considered as
a high rise building, shall be protected
throughout by an approved, supervised
automatic sprinkler system in accordance with
Section 10.2.6.7 of this RIRR.
 Portable fire extinguishers shall also be
provided pursuant to Section 10.2.6.9 of this
RIRR.
HEALTH CARE OCCUPANCIES
(DIVISION 11)
Health Care
are those used for purposes of medical or
other treatment or care of persons where
such occupants are mostly incapable of self
preservation because of age, physical or
mental disability, or because of security
measures not under the occupants’ control.
Examples
1. hospitals;
2. nursing homes;
3. birth centers; and
4. residential custodial care centers such as
nurseries, homes for the aged and the
like.
ER, OR, ICU, DR (Section 10.2.10.1 para
C)

 ER, OR, ICU, DR and other similar facilities shall

not be located at the 2nd Floor or basement. For
existing it shall be provided with ramps.
 OCCUPANT LOAD (Section 10.2.10.1 para E)
TYPE OF OCCUPANCY OCCUPANT
LOAD FACTOR
(square meters per
person)

Health Care
a. sleeping departments 11.1
b. inpatient treatment departments
22.3
PROTECTION (Section 10.2.10.3)
 Subdivision of Building Spaces
Smoke partitions shall be provided, regardless of
building construction type, as follows:
a. To divide into at least two (2) compartments
every storey used by inpatients for sleeping or
treatment and any storey having an occupant
load of fifty (50) or more persons.
b. maximum area of each smoke compartment to
no more than 2,100 m2, of which both length and
width shall be no more than 46 m.
 Smoke partitions shall be provided on storeys
which are usable but unoccupied.

 Any smoke partition shall be constructed in

accordance with Section 10.2.6.9 of the IRR and
shall have a fire resistance rating of at least one
(1) hour.
 Corridor openings in smoke partitions shall be
protected by a pair of swinging doors, door to
swing in a direction opposite from the other. The
minimum width of each door for hospitals and
nursing homes shall 112 cm, while that for
residential-custodial care institutions shall be 81
cm.
 Vision panels of approved transparent wired
glass not exceeding 0.46 m2 in steel frames shall
be provided in all doors in smoke partitions.

 Stops are required on the head and sides of

door frames in smoke partitions and center
mullions are prohibited.
 Protection of Vertical Opening
Any stairway, ramp, elevator shaft, light and
ventilation shaft, chute and other openings
between storeys shall be enclosed with
noncombustible materials.

A door in a stairway enclosure shall be self-

closing, shall normally be kept in closed position.
 RESIDENTIAL BOARD AND CARE (DIVISION 12)

 occupancies providing sleeping accommodations

for not more than sixteen (16) residents. (small
facility)
 Where sleeping accommodations for more than
sixteen (16) residents are provided, the occupancy
shall be classified as a large facility.
 PROTECTION (SECTION 10.2.12.2)

 Protection of Vertical Opening

 Vertical openings, other than those meeting the
requirement of para C.5 of this Section, shall be
separated by smoke partitions having a minimum of
half-hour (1⁄2-hr) fire resistance rating.
 Hazardous Areas
 Areas for cartoned storage, food or household
maintenance items in wholesale or institutional-type
quantities and concentrations, or mass storage of
residents’ belongings, or other hazardous areas that
are located on a floor where primary means of
egress or sleeping rooms are located shall be
protected by a construction having a minimum fire
resistance rating of one (1) hour and an automatic
detection and alarm system or automatic sprinkler
system.
 Detection, Alarm and Communication
System
 A manual fire alarm system shall be
provided on all small residential custodian
care facilities.
 Single station smoke detectors shall be
provided in all levels including
basements, living areas and sleeping
rooms.
 Extinguishing Requirements
 All buildings of four (4) or more storeys in height
shall be protected with approved, supervised
sprinkler system, using quick-response or
residential sprinklers in accordance with Section
10.2.6.7 of this RIRR.
 Portable fire extinguishers shall be installed in
accordance with Section 10.2.6.9 of this RIRR.
 Construction of Corridor Walls
 a. Walls separating sleeping rooms shall have a
minimum of half-hour (1⁄2-hr) fire resistance
rating. The minimum of half-hour (1⁄2-hr) fire
resistance rating shall be considered to be
achieved if the partitioning is finished on both
sides with lath and plaster or materials providing a
fifteen-minute (15-min) thermal barrier.
 Sleeping room doors shall be substantial doors,
such as those of forty-four millimeters (44 mm)
thick, solid-bonded wood-core construction, or of
other construction of equal or greater stability and
fire integrity.
 Any vision panels shall be fixed fire window
assemblies or shall be wired glass not exceeding
eighty-four hundredths square meter (0.84 m2)
each in area and installed in approved frames.
 DETENTION AND CORRECTIONAL OCCUPANCIES
(DIVISION 13)

 Detention and correctional occupancies

shall include those used for purposes such
as correctional institutions, detention
facilities, community residential centers,
substance abuse or rehabilitation centers,
and other similar facilities where occupants
are confined or housed under some degree
of restraint or security.
 OCCUPANT LOAD

 The occupant load for which means of egress shall

be provided for any floor shall be the maximum
number of persons intended to occupy that floor but
not less than one (1) person for every eleven and
one tenth square meters (11.1 m2) gross floor area.
 PROTECTION (SECTION 10.2.13.3)

 Detention and correctional occupancies

shall be provided with a fire alarm system
in accordance with Section 10.2.6.6 of this
RIRR, except as modified by the
succeeding paragraphs.
 Initiation of the required fire alarm system shall be by
manual means in accordance with Section 10.2.6.6 of this
RIRR, by means of any required detection devices or
detection systems, and by means of water flow alarm in the
sprinkler system.
 Exception No. 1: Manual fire alarm boxes shall be permitted
to be locked, provided that staff is present within the area
when it is occupied and staff has
 keys readily available to unlock the boxes.
 Exception No. 2: Manual fire alarm boxes shall be permitted
to be located in a staff location, provided that the staff
location is attended when the building is occupied and that
the staff attendant has direct supervision of the
 sleeping area.
 Occupant notification shall be accomplished
automatically in accordance with Section 10.2.6.6 of
this RIRR; a positive alarm sequence shall be
permitted.
 Exception: Any smoke detectors required by this
Chapter shall be permitted to be arranged to alarm
at a constantly attended location only and shall not
be required to accomplish general occupant
notification.
 Fire department notification shall be accomplished in
accordance with Section 10.2.6.6 of this RIRR; a
positive alarm sequence shall be permitted.
 Exception No. 1: Any smoke detectors required by
this Chapter shall not be required to transmit an
alarm to the fire department.
 Exception No. 2: This requirement shall not apply
where staff is provided at a constantly attended
location that has the capability to promptly notify the
fire department or has direct communication with a
control room having
 direct access to the fire department.
 An approved automatic smoke detection system
shall be in accordance with Section 10.2.6.6 of this
RIRR, as modified by paras 6 through 8 hereof,
throughout all resident sleeping areas and adjacent
day rooms, activity rooms, or contiguous common
spaces.
 Smoke detectors shall not be required in sleeping
rooms with four (4) or fewer occupants.
 Other arrangements and positioning of smoke detectors shall
be permitted to prevent damage or tampering, or for other
purposes. Such arrangements shall be capable of detecting
any fire, and the placement of detectors shall be such that the
speed of detection is equivalent to that provided by the
spacing and arrangements required by the installation
standards referenced in Section 10.2.6.6 of this RIRR.
Detectors shall be permitted to be located in exhaust ducts
from cells, behind grilles, or in other locations.
 Smoke detectors shall not be required in Use Condition II
open dormitories where staff is present within the dormitory
whenever the dormitory is occupied.
 RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES
(DIVISION 14)

are those occupancies in which sleeping

accommodations are provided for normal
residential purposes and include all
buildings designed to provide sleeping
accommodations.
Examples
1. hotels;
2. motels;
3. apartelles;
4. pension houses;
5. inns;
6. apartments;
7. condominiums;
8. dormitories;
9. lodging or rooming houses;
10. and one- and two-family dwellings
 CLASSIFICATION (Section 10.2.12.1)
A. Hotels – includes buildings or groups of building under
the same management in which there are more than
fifteen (15) sleeping accommodations for hire, primarily
used by transients who are lodged with or without meals,
whether designated as a hotel, inn, motel, or by any
other name. So called appartelle, condotel or pension
houses shall be classified as hotels, because they are
potentially subject to transient occupancy like that of
hotels.
B. Dormitories – includes buildings where group
sleeping accommodation are provided for
persons, not members of the same family group
in one room or in series of closely associated
room under joint occupancy and single
management, as in college dormitories,
convents, fraternity houses, military barracks,
and the like.
 Apartment Buildings – includes buildings
containing three (3) or more living units
independent cooking and bathroom facilities,
whether designated as condominium, row
house, apartment house, tenement, garden
apartment, or by any other name.
 Lodging or Rooming Houses – includes
building in which separate sleeping rooms are
rented providing sleeping accommodations for a
total of fifteen (15) or less persons, on either a
transient or permanent basis; with or without
meals, but without separate cooking facilities for
individual oc­cupants.
 Single-and-Two Family Dwellings – includes
detached dwellings in which each living unit is
occupied by members of a single family.
 OCCUPANT LOAD (Section 10.2.12.2 para A)

TYPE OF OCCUPANCY OCCUPANT LOAD

FACTOR
(square meters per
person)
5. Residential 18.6
MERCANTILE OCCUPANCIES
(DIVISION 15)

include stores, markets, and other rooms,

buildings, or structures for the display and/or
sale of merchandise.
Examples
1. malls;
2. supermarkets;
3. department stores;
4. shopping centers;
5. flea markets;
6. restaurants of less than 50 persons capacity;
7. public/private dry and wet markets;
8. water refilling stations;
9. drugstores;
10. hardwares/construction supplies;
11. showrooms; and
12. auction rooms.
 OCCUPANT LOAD
 1. For purposes of determining required exits, the occupant
load of mercantile buildings or parts of building used for
mercantile purposes shall not be less than the following:
a. Street floor, one (1) person for each two and eight tenths
square meters (2.8 m2) gross floor area. In stores with no
street floor as defined in Rule 3 hereof, but with access
directly from the street by stairs or escalators, the principal
floor at the point of entrance to the store shall be considered
the street floor. In stores where, due to difference in grade of
streets on different sides, there are two (2) or more floors
directly accessible from the street (not including alleys or
similar back streets), each such floor shall be considered a
street floor for the purpose of determining occupant load.
b. Due to differences in grade of streets on different
sides, two (2) or more floors directly accessible from
streets (not including alleys or similar back streets) exist;
each such floor is permitted to be considered a street
floor. The occupant load factor is one (1) person for each
three and seven tenths square meters (3.7 m2) of gross
floor area of sales space.

c. Sales floors below the street floor: same as street

floor.
d. Upper floors, used for sale: one (1) person for
each five and six tenths square meters (5.6 m2)
gross floor area.
e. Floor or sections used only for offices, storage,
shipping and not open to the general public: one (1)
person for each nine and three tenths square meters
(9.3 m2) gross floor area.
f. Floors or sections used for assembly purposes:
occupant load determined in accordance with
Division 8 of this Chapter.
g. Covered Walls: one (1) person for each two and
eight tenths square meters (2.8 m2) gross floor area.
 2. Where any required egress capacity from a
balcony or mezzanine passes through the
room below, that required capacity shall be
added to the required egress capacity of the
room below.
 PROTECTION (SECTION 10.2.15.3)

 Alarm Systems
Class A and Class B stores shall be
provided with an automatic fire alarm
system in
 accordance with Section 10.2.6.6 of this
RIRR.
Automatic Sprinkler Protection
Approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system protection
shall be installed in accordance with Section 10.2.6.7 of this
RIRR in all mercantile occupancies as follows:
 Throughout all mercantile occupancies three (3) or more
storeys in height provided that at least one (1) of the floors
is at least two hundred thirty-two square meters (232 m2).
 Throughout all mercantile occupancies exceeding one
thousand one hundred fifteen square meters (1,115 m2) in
gross area.
 Throughout floor below the street floor having an area
exceeding two hundred thirty-two square meters (232 m2)
when used for the sale, storage or handling of
combustible goods and merchandise.
Hazardous Areas
 An area used for general storage, boiler or furnace
rooms, fuel storage, janitor closet, maintenance shops
including woodworking and painting areas, and kitchens
shall be separated from other parts of the building by
construction having a fire-resistance rating of not less
than one (1) hour, and all openings shall be protected
with self-closing fire doors.
 Areas with high hazard contents as defined in Division 4
of this Chapter shall be provided with both fire-resistive
construction and automatic fire suppression system.
 Cooking equipment shall be protected in accordance
with Section 10.2.7.1 of this RIRR.
 TYPE OF OCCUPANCY OCCUPANT LOAD
FACTOR
(square meters per
person)
6. Mercantile 18.6
 CLASSIFICATION (SECTION 10.2.15.1)
 Class A. AII stores having aggregate gross area of
two thousand seven hundred eighty-eight square
meters (2,788 m2) or more, or utilizing more than
three (3) floor levels for sales purposes.
 2)  Class B. All stores of less than two thousand
seven hundred eighty-seven square meters (2,787
m2) aggregate area, but over two hundred seventy-
nine square meters (279 m2), or utilizing any
balcony, mezzanine or floor above or below the
street floor level for sales purposes, except that if
more than three (3) floors are utilized, the store shall
be considered Class A, regardless of area.
 3)  Class C. All stores of two hundred
seventy-eight square meters (278 m2)
or less gross area used for sales
purposes on the street floor only.
 BUSINESS OCCUPANCIES
(DIVISION 16)

 Business Occupancies shall include all buildings

and structures or parts thereof with occupancy
described in Division 3 of this Chapter.
 The contents of business occupancies shall be
classified as ordinary hazard in accordance with
Division 4 of this Chapter. For purposes of the
design of an automatic fire suppression system, an
office occupancy shall be classified as “light hazard
occupancy”.
OCCUPANT LOAD
 For purposes of determining required exits, the occupant load of
business purposes shall be no less than one (1) person per nine
and three tenths square meters (9.3 m2) of gross floor area. The
occupant load for concentrated use as in the case of Call Centers,
IT Centers, BPO’s, and other similar occupancies, shall not be less
than one (1) person per four and six tenths square meters (4.6
m2) of gross floor area devoted for that use, provided that the
means of egress and other fire safety requirements of RA 9514
and its RIRR are followed or incorporated in the building.
 In the case of mezzanine or balcony open to the floor below of
other unprotected vertical openings between floors, the occupant
load of the mezzanine or other subsidiary floor level shall be
added to that of the street floor for the purpose of determining
required exits.
 PROTECTION (SECTION 10.2.16.3)

 All business occupancy buildings fifteen meters

(15 m) or more in height shall be provided
throughout with approved, supervised sprinkler
system, fully electrically supervised designed in
accordance with NFPA 13.
 A fire alarm system in accordance with Section 10.2.6.4 of this
RIRR shall be provided in
 all business, where any one of the following conditions exists:
 The building is two (2) or more storeys in height above the
level of exit discharge;
 The occupancy is subject to fifty (50) or more occupants
above or below the level of exit discharge. For existing
building, the occupancy is subject to one hundred (100) or
more occupants above or below the level of exit discharge;
or
 The occupancy is subject to three hundred (300) or more
total occupants.For existing building, the occupancy is
subject to one thousand (1,000) or more total occupants.
 Initiation of the required fire alarm system shall be by one of
the following means:
 Manual means in accordance with Section 10.2.6.6 of this
RIRR;
 Means of an approved automatic fire detection system that
complies with Section 10.2.6.6 of this RIRR, and provides
protection throughout the building; or
 Means of an approved automatic sprinkler system that
complies with Section 10.2.6.7 of this RIRR, and provides
protection throughout the building.
 Occupant notification. During all times that the building
is occupied, the required fire alarm system, once
initiated, shall perform one of the following functions:
 For new and existing building, it shall activate a
general alarm throughout the building in accordance
with Section 10.2.6.6 of this RIRR. A positive alarm
sequence in accordance with Section 10.2.6.6 of this
RIRR shall be permitted.
 For existing building, a pre-signal system in
accordance with Section 10.2.6.6 of this RIRR shall
be permitted.
 For new and existing building, it shall activate an alarm signal in a
continuously attended location for the purpose of initiating
emergency action by personnel trained to respond to emergencies
as follows:
 1)  Emergency action shall be initiated by means of live voice
public address system announcements originating from the
attended location where the alarm signal is received, unless
otherwise permitted by para 3 below.
 2)  The live voice public address system shall be permitted to be
used for other announcements, provided that the emergency
action use takes precedence over any other use.
 3)  In lieu of live voice public address system announcements,
any other occupant notification means in accordance with Section
10.2.6.6 of this RIRR shall be permitted.
 Where business occupancies do not fall within the
condition of para D.1 above, it shall be provided
with manual fire alarm system.
 INDUSTRIAL OCCUPANCIES (DIVISION 17)

These are industrial occupancies that conduct

ordinary and low hazard industrial operations in
buildings of conventional design suitable for
various types of industrial process. These
include multi-storey buildings, where floors are
occupied by different tenants or buildings
suitable for such occupancy and are therefore
subject to possible use for types of industrial
process with high density of employee
population.
 Special Purpose Industrial Occupancy
 These are industrial occupancies that
conduct ordinary and low hazard
industrial operations in all buildings,
except high hazard occupancy, designed
and suitable only for particular types of
operations, characterized by a relatively
low density of employee population, with
much of the area occupied by machinery
or equipment.
 High Hazard Industrial Occupancy
These are industrial occupancies that use high hazard
materials or processes, or that house high hazard contents.
 Open Industrial Structures
 These are industrial occupancies that include operations
conducted in open-air as distinguished from enclosure
with buildings, such as those often found in oil refining and
chemical processing plants where equipment is in the
open platforms used for necessary access, sometimes
with roofs or canopies to provide some shelter, but without
walls.
 OCCUPANT LOAD

 The occupant load of industrial occupancies for which

exits are to be provided shall be one (1) person per nine
and three tenths square meters (9.3 m2) gross floor
area; provided that in Special Purpose Industrial
Occupancy and for Open Industrial Structures, the
occupant load shall be the maximum number of persons
to occupy the area under any probable conditions; and
further provided that in existing industrial occupancies,
the C/MFM having jurisdiction may waive requirements
for additional exits if the existing exits are adequate for
the maximum number of persons actually employed.
 Every auditorium, restaurant, office, garage and
medical facility in connection with industrial
occupancies shall have exits in accordance with
the applicable Sections of this RIRR.
 Exit requirements for specific occupancies shall
comply with this Division.
 PROTECTION (SECTION 10.2.17.3)

Detection, Alarm and Communications Systems

 An approved automatic fire detection and alarm system
shall be required in all industrial occupancies, except for
buildings with less than twenty-five (25) occupants where
such building shall be equipped with manual fire alarm
system.
 Not less than one (1) fire alarm box shall be installed for
buildings equipped with automatic fire detection and
alarm system.
 If buildings are equipped with approved, supervised
automatic sprinkler system, the flow of water shall initiate
the fire alarm system.
Extinguishing Requirement
 Every high-hazard occupancy shall be provided
with automatic fire suppression system
appropriate to the particular hazard in
accordance with NFPA or other internationally
accepted standards.
 Portable fire extinguishers shall be installed in
accordance with Section 10.2.6.9 of this RIRR.
 Standpipe systems shall be installed in
accordance with Section 10.2.6.8 of this RIRR.
Explosion Prevention
 Explosion prevention in industrial occupancies shall
be in accordance with NFPA 654,
 Standard for the Prevention of Fires for Dust
Explosions from the Manufacturing, processing, and
Handling of Combustible Particular Solids, and
NFPA 69, Standard on Explosion Prevention
Systems.
 STORAGE OCCUPANCIES
(DIVISION 18)

OCCUPANCY LOAD
 The occupant load, in number of persons for
whom means of egress and other provisions
are required, shall be determined on the
basis of the maximum probable population of
the space under consideration.
 PROTECTION (SECTION 10.2.18.2)

 Protection of Vertical Opening

 Any vertical opening shall be protected in accordance with
Section 10.2.6.5 of this RIRR except for existing open stairs
and open ramps shall permitted where connecting only two
(2) floor levels.
 Existing unprotected vertical opening in buildings protected
throughout by approved supervised sprinkler system in
accordance with Section 10.2.6.7 of this RIRR, vertical
openings not constituting as required means of egress may
be unprotected provided that all required exits shall consist
of smoke-proof enclosure in accordance with Section
10.2.5.4, outside stairway in accordance with Section
10.2.5.5 or horizontal exits in accordance with Section
10.2.5.6 of this RIRR.
Detection, Alarm and Communications Systems
 An approved automatic fire detection and alarm
system shall be required on all storage
occupancies except for buildings with ordinary or
low hazard not exceeding two thousand square
meters (2,000 m2) where such building shall be
equipped with manual fire alarm system.
 Not less than one (1) fire alarm box shall be
installed for buildings equipped with automatic fire
detection and alarm system.
 If buildings are equipped with approved,
supervised automatic sprinkler system, the flow of
water shall initiate the fire alarm system.
Extinguishing Requirement
 1. Every high hazard occupancy shall have automatic fire
suppression system protection such as Sprinkler Systems/Water
Spray Fixed Systems/Water Mist Fire Protection Systems, Hybrid
(Water and Inert Gas) Fire Extinguishing Systems, Carbon
Dioxide Extinguishing Systems, Foam-Water Sprinkler and Foam-
Water Spray Systems, Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems, Wet
Chemical Extinguishing Systems, Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing
Systems, Fixed Aerosol Fire Extinguishing Systems and other
equivalent protection as may be appropriate to the particular
hazard, including Explosion Prevention Systems/Explosion
Protection by Deflagration Venting for any area subject to an
explosion hazard, designed to minimize danger to occupants in
case of fire or other emergency before they have time to utilize
exits to escape.
 Portable fire extinguishers shall be installed in
accordance with Section 10.2.6.9 of this RIRR.
 Standpipe systems shall be installed in accordance
with Section 10.2.6.8 of this RIRR.
 SPECIAL STRUCTURES
(DIVISION 19)

 Any building or structure occupied for purposes not covered by

Division 8 through 18 of this
 RIRR shall have exits and related safeguards in accordance with
the fundamental principles of this Chapter, and shall comply with
the following provisions where applicable.
 example
 AERODROME FACILITIES
 FIXED GUIDEWAY TRANSIT AND PASSENGER
RAIL SYSTEMS
 HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND
STRUCTURES ,AND HISTORIC
CENTERS/HERITAGE ZONES
 WIND TURBINE ENERGY GENERATING
FACILITIES
 IMMOBILIZED VEHICLE AND VESSELS
 MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION
PRODUCTION, STUDIO SOUNDSTAGES AND
APPROVED PRODUCTION FACILITIES
 OFF-SHORE ENERGY FACILITIES
 PIERS AND WATER-SURROUNDED STRUCTURE
 SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEM
 TOWERS
 UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES AND
WINDOWLESS BUILDINGS
 OBJECTIVES
For the cadets to:
1. Gain knowledge on Fire Safety in
Buildings.
2. Identify Means of Egress
3. Differentiate Features of Fire
Protection.
4. Classify Buildings and its Hazards.
“
If safety is a joke then
death is the punchline
By: Paul Laforest
”
Thank you