16/04/2022
Applicable Philippine Law and Regulations on Light and Ventilation Wells
2019 Architecture Advocacy International Foundation (AAIF)
Administrator of this Page
I. P.D. No. 1096, the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP)
“SECTION 802. Measurement of Site Occupancy
x x x
(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.”
Note: The term “light well” also refers to a “ventilation well” i.e. the “natural light and ventilation well”, in full.
“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.”
x x x
Note: Figure VIII.14 of Section 804 of the 2004 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (RIRR) of P.D. No. 1096, the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP), clearly shows a ventilation well at its rear yard i.e. marked as open space “a”. The rear property line shown in the said figure shows a firewall, albeit with an open portion enclosing the ventilation well, whereby said open portion of the firewall is technically a perimeter wall, requiring a setback of 2.0 meters (m) for the wall running parallel to the rear firewall. Operable windows are permitted at said parallel wall. The two (2) walls that run perpendicular to the rear firewall must be fire-rated walls and must be without operable/fixed windows.
“SECTION 809. Vent Shafts
(a) Ventilation or vent shafts shall have a horizontal cross-sectional area of not less than 0.10 square meter for every meter of height of shaft but in no case shall the area be less than 1.00 square meter. No vent shaft shall have its least dimension less than 600 millimeters.”
x x x
Note: The term “ventilation or vent shaft” also refers to a “ventilation well” or “vent well”.
II. 2004 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (RIRR) of P.D. No. 1096, the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP)
“SECTION 802. Measurement of Site Occupancy
x x x
(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.”
Note: The term “light well” also refers to a “ventilation well” i.e. the “natural light and ventilation well”, in full.
“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 hereunder, provided that the minimum horizontal dimension of said courts and yards shall be not less than 2.00 meters. x x x
“SECTION 809. Vent Shafts
(a) Ventilation or vent shafts shall have a horizontal cross-sectional area of not less than 1.00 sq. meter for every meter of height of shaft but in no case shall the area be less than 1.00 square meter. No vent shaft shall have its least dimension less than 600 millimeters.”
x x x
Note: The term “ventilation or vent shaft” also refers to a “ventilation well” or “vent well”.
“GLOSSARY”
x x x
“FIREWALL - A reinforced masonry or reinforced concrete separator with the appropriate fire-resistive rating and which shall be positioned between dwelling units or between buildings/structures to maintain the fire integrity of each building/structure. Firewalls, particularly those erected above or along property lines, shall have absolutely no openings, except for permitted vent wells and shall extend above the roof from 400 millimeters to 1000 millimeters.”
x x x
“VENT WELL - A permitted minimal opening along a specified vertical portion of the firewall that shall not be more than 3.00 meters in clear width and a minimum depth of 1.50 meters.”
x x x
III. 2019 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (RIRR) of R.A. No. 9514, the Revised Fire Code of the Philippines (RFCP) of 2008
Very Important Note: The RFCP is only a referral code of the NBCP i.e. the NBCP is the main code insofar as building design, construction, use and occupancy is concerned.
“DIVISION 6. FEATURES OF FIRE PROTECTION
Section 10.2.6.1 CONSTRUCTION AND COMPARTMENTATION
C. The design and construction of firewalls and fire barrier that are required to separate the buildings or subdivide the building to prevent the spread of fire shall comply with Section 602, Fire Resistive Standards of the latest edition of NBCP, and NFPA 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code.”
x x x
“Rule 3
Firewall. An Exterior wall designed to prevent the spread of fire, having a fire resistance rating of not less than four (4) hours with sufficient structural stability to remain standing even if construction on either side collapses under fire condition. Firewalls particularly erected above or along property lines shall have absolutely no openings and shall extend above the roof to one meter (1 m).”
Very Important Note: The GLOSSARY section of the 2004 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (RIRR) of P.D. No. 1096, the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP) i.e. the main code insofar as building design, construction, use and occupancy is concerned, defines the “firewall” as follows:
“FIREWALL - A reinforced masonry or reinforced concrete separator with the appropriate fire-resistive rating and which shall be positioned between dwelling units or between buildings/structures to maintain the fire integrity of each building/structure. Firewalls, particularly those erected above or along property lines, shall have absolutely no openings, except for permitted vent wells and shall extend above the roof from 400 millimeters to 1000 millimeters.”
Nothing follows.
