Republic Act No.

6541
National Building Code of the Philippines
Annex A - Definitions
Accessoria or Row House. A house of not more type which be retracted, folded, or collapsed
than two stories, composed of a row of against the face of a supporting building.
dwelling units entirely separated from one
Backing. The surface or assembly to which
another by party wall or walls and with an
veneer is attached.
independent entrance for each dwelling unit.
Balcony. A portion of the seating space of an
Accessory Building. A building subordinate to
assembly room, the lower part of which is
the main building on the same lot and used for
raised 1.20 meters (4 feet) or more above the
purposes customarily incidental to those of the
level of the main floor.
main building, such as servants' quarters,
garage, pumphouse, laundry, etc. Balcony, Exterior Exit. A landing or porch
projecting from the wall of a building, and
Alley. Any public space or thoroughfare which
which serves as a required means of egress.
has been dedicated or deeded to the public
or of public use as a passageway. The long size shall be at least 50 per cent open,
and the open area above the guardrail shall
Alter or Alteration. Any change, addition, or
be so distributed as to prevent the
modification in construction or occupancy.
accumulation of smoke or toxic gases.
Apartment. A room, or suite of two or more
Barbecue. A stationary open hearth or brazier,
rooms, designed and intended for, or
either fuel-fired or electric, used for food
occupied by one family for living, sleeping,
preparation.
and cooking purposes.
Basement. A portion of a building between
Apartment House. Any building or portion
floor and ceiling which is partly below and
thereof, which is designed, built, rented,
partly above grade but so located that the
leased, let, or hired out to be occupied, or
vertical distance from grade to the floor below
which is occupied as the home or residence
is less than the vertical distance from grade to
of three or more families living independently
ceiling.
of each other and doing their own cooking in
the said building, and shall include flats and Bay or Panel. One of the intervals or spaces
apartments. into which the building front is divided by
columns, buttresses, or division walls.
Arcade. Any portion of a building above the
first-floor projecting over the sidewalk beyond Boarding House. A house with five or more
the first-story wall used as protection for sleeping rooms where boarders are provided
pedestrians against rain and sun. with lodging and meals for fixed sum paid by
the month, or week, in accordance with the
Area. An open subsurface adjacent to a
previous arrangement.
building or lot line.
Boiler Room. Any room containing a steam or
Assembly Building or Hall. A building or a
hot water boiler.
portion of a building used for the gathering
together of fifty or more persons for such Buildable Are. The remaining space in a lot
purposes as deliberation, worship, after deducting the required minimum open
entertainment, amusement, or awaiting spaces.
transportation or of a hundred or more persons
in drinking and dining establishments. Building. Any structure built for the support,
shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals,
Attic Story. Any story situated wholly or part in chattels, or property of any kind.
a roof, so designed, arranged, or built as to be
used for business, storage, or habitation. Building, Existing. A building erected prior to
the adoption of this Code or one for which a
Awning. A movable shelter supported entirely legal building permit has been issued.
from the exterior wall of a building and of a
Building Height. The vertical distance from the fuel-burning medium-heated appliances
established grade elevation to the highest producing combustion gases not in excess of
point of the coping of a flat roof, to the 1093ºC (2000ºF) measured at the appliance
average height of the highest gable of a pitch flue outlet.
or hip roof, or to the top of the parapet if the
Chimney Connector. The pipe which
roof is provided with a parapet. In case of
connects a flue-burning appliance to a
sloping ground, the average ground level of
chimney.
the buildable area shall be considered the
established grade elevation. Chimney, Factory-Built. The listed chimney.
Building Length. Its general linear dimension, Chimney Liner. The lining material of fire clay
usually measured in the direction of the or other approved material.
bearing wall for girders.
Chimney, Masonry. The chimney of solid
Building Official. The officer charged with the masonry units, bricks, stones, listed hollow unit
administration and enforcement of this Code; masonry units, or reinforced concrete.
the City Engineer or the City Public Works
Supervisor in the case of chartered cities, and City. A political subdivision usually governed
the Municipal Engineer, the Land and Building by a mayor and a council having local
Official, or the Public Works Engineer in the legislative authority with broad powers of self-
case of provinces and municipalities. government granted to it by its charter.

Building Width. Its shortest linear dimension, Concrete Block. A hollow or solid concrete
usually measured in the direction of the floor, masonry unit made from portland cement
beams or joists. and suitable aggregates such as sand, gravel,
crushed stone, bituminous or anthracite
Cellar. The portion of a building between floor cinders, burned clay or shale, pumice,
and ceiling which is wholly partly below grade volcanic scoria, air-cooled or expanded blast
and so located that the vertical distance from furnace slags.
grade to the floor below is equal to or greater
than the vertical distance from grade to Coping. The material or units used to form a
ceiling. cap of finish on top of a wall, pier, or pilaster.

Chimney Classifications: Corrosion-Resistant. The non-ferrous metal, or

any metal having an unbroken surface of non-
(a) Residential Appliances Type. A factory- ferrous metal, or steel with not less than 10 per
built or masonry chimney suitable for removing cent chromium or with not less than 0.20 per
products of combustion from residential type cent copper.
appliances producing combustion gases not
in excess of 538C (1000F) measured at the Corrosion-Resistant Materials. Materials that
appliance flue outlet. are inherently rust-resistant or materials to
which an approved rust-resistive coating has
(b) Low-Heat Appliance Type. A factory-built, been applied either before or after forming or
masonry or metal chimney suitable for fabrication.
removing the products of combustion from
fuel-burning low-heat appliances producing Course. A continuous horizontal layer of
combustion gases not in excess of 538ºC masonry units.
(1000ºF) under normal operating conditions Court. An unoccupied space between
but capable of producing combustible gases building lines and lot lines other than a yard
of 760ºC (1400ºF) during intermittent forced free, open, and unobstructed by
firing of period up to one hour. All appendages from the ground upward.
temperatures are measured at the appliance
flue outlet. Dispersal Area (Safe). An area which will
accommodate a number of persons equal to
(c) Medium-Heat Appliance Type. A factory- the total capacity of the stand and building it
built masonry or metal chimney suitable for serves, in such a manner that no person within
removing the products of combustion from
the area need be closer than 15.00 meters (50 Facing. Any masonry, forming an integral part
feet) from the stand or building. Dispersal of a wall, used as a finished surface. (As
areas shall be based upon an area of not less contrasted to veneer, see definition).
than 0.28 square meter (3 square feet) per
Firebrick. A refractory brick.
person.
Fire Clay. A finely ground clay used as
Dormitory. A room occupied by more than
plasticizer for masonry mortars; varies widely in
two guests.
physical properties.
Dwelling. Any building or any portion thereof
Fireplace. A heart and fire chamber or similarly
which is not an "apartment house', "lodging
prepared place in which a fire may be made
house" or a "hotel" as defined in this Code,
and which is built in conjunction with a
which contains one or two "dwelling units" or
chimney.
"guest rooms", used, intended or designed to
be built, used, rented, leased, let or hired out Fire Resistance or Fire-Resistive Construction.
to be occupied, or which are occupied for A construction to resist the spread of fire,
living purposes. details of which are specified in this Code.
Dwelling Multiple. A building used as a home Fire-Resistiveness. The degree to which a
or residence of three or more families living material can withstand fire as determined by
independently from one another, each internationally recognized and accepted
occupying one or more rooms are as a single testing methods. The fire-resistive time period
housekeeping unit. rating is the length of time a material can
withstand being burned and is usually
Dwelling, One-Family. A detached building
classified as one-hour, two-hour, three-hour,
designated for, or occupied exclusively by
four-hour, etc.
one family.
Fire-Retardant Treated Wood. Lumber or
Dwelling Unit. One or more habitable rooms
plywood impregnated with chemicals and
which are occupied or which are intended or
when tested in accordance with accepted
designed to be occupied by one family with
fire standards for a period of 30 minutes shall
facilities for living, sleeping, cooking, and
have a flame-spread of not over 25 and show
eating.
no evidence of progressive combustion. The
Exit. A continuous and unobstructed means of fire-retardant properties shall not be
egress to a public way, and shall include considered permanent where exposed to the
intervening doors, doorways, corridors, weather.
exterior exit balconies, ramps, stairways,
First Story. The story the floor of which is at or
smokeproof enclosures, horizontal exits, exit
above the level of the sidewalk or adjoining
passageways, exit courts, and yards. An exit
ground, the remaining stories being numbered
shall be deemed to be that point which opens
in regular succession upward.
directly into a safe dispersal area or public
way. All measurements are to be made to that Floor Area. The area included within the
point when determining the permissible surrounding exterior walls of a building or
distance of travel. portion thereof, exclusive of vent shafts and
courts.
Exit Court. A yard of court providing egress to
a public way for one or more required exits. The floor area of a building or portion thereof,
not provided with surrounding exterior walls
Exit, Horizontal. A means of passage from one
shall be the usable area under the horizontal
building into another building occupied by
projection of the roof or floor above.
the same tenant through a separation wall
having a minimum fire resistance of one-hour. Footing. That portion of the foundation of a
structure which spreads and transmits loads
Exit. Passageway. An enclosed means of
directly to the soil or the pile.
egress connecting a required exit or exit court
with a public way.
Foundation. All the portions of the building or grade shall be the elevation of the sidewalk,
structure below the footings, the earth upon alley, or public way.
which the structure rests.
Ground Floor. The story at or near the level of
Garage. A building or portion thereof in which the grade. The other stories, beginning with
a motor vehicle containing gasoline, distillate the second, for the first next above, shall be
or other volatile, flammable liquid in its tank, is designated by successive floor numbers
stored, repaired, or kept. counting upward.

Garage, Commercial. A garage where Guest Room. Any or rooms used, or intended
automobiles and other motor vehicles are to be used by a guest for sleeping purposes.
housed, cared for, equipped, repaired or kept Every 9.30 square meters (100 square feet) of
for renumeration, hire or sale. superficial floor area in a dormitory shall be
considered to be a guest room.
Garage, Open Parking. A structure of one or
more tiers in height which is at least 50 per cent Habitable Room. Any room meeting the
open on two or more sides and is used requirements of this Code for sleeping, living,
exclusively for the parking or storage of cooking, or dining purposes, excluding such
passenger motor vehicles having a capacity enclosed spaces as closets, pantries, bath or
of not more than nine persons per vehicle. toilet rooms, service rooms, connecting
Open parking garages are further classified as corridors, laundries, unfinished attics, storage
either ramp access or mechanical-access. spaces, cellars, utility rooms, and similar space.
Ramp-access open parking garages are
Hall Common. A corridor or passageway used
those employing a series of continuously rising
in common by all the occupants within a
floors permitting the movement of vehicles
building.
under their own power from and to the street
level. Mechanical-access parking garages Hall, Stair. A hall which includes the stair, stair
are those employing parking machines, lifts, landings, and those portions of the common
elevators, or other mechanical devices for halls through which it is necessary to pass in
vehicles moving from and to street and in going between the entrance floor and the
which public occupancy is prohibited above room.
the street level.
Heliport. An area of land or water or a
Garage, Private. A building or portion of a structural surface which is used, or intended
building in which only motor vehicles used by for use, for the landing and takeoff of
the tenants of the building or buildings on the helicopters, and any appurtenant areas
premises are stored or kept. which are used, or intended for use, for
heliport buildings and other heliport facilities.
Garage, Public. Any garage other than a
private garage. Helistop. The same as a heliport except that
no refueling, maintenance, repairs, or storage
Girder. A horizontal structural piece which
of helicopters is permitted.
supports the end of the floor beams or joists or
walls over openings. Hotel. A building or part thereof with rooms
occupied or intended to be occupied for hire
Grade (Adjacent Ground Elevation). The
as temporary aboding place of individuals
lowest point of elevation of the finished
with a general kitchen and public dining room
surface of the ground between the exterior
service, but no provision for cooking in any
wall of a building and a point 1.50 meters (5
individual suite or room.
feet) distant from said wall, or the lowest point
of elevation of the finished surface of the Hotel Apartment. An apartment house which
ground between the exterior wall of a building may furnish dining room service and other
and the property line if it is less than 1.50 meters services for the exclusive use of its tenants.
(5 feet) distant from said wall. In case walls are
parallel to and within 1.50 meters (5 feet) of a Incombustible. As applied to building
public sidewalk, alley, or other public way, the construction material, a material which, in the
form it is used, is either one of the following:
(a) Materials of which no part will ignite and Load, Lateral. That load caused by winds,
burn when subjected to fire; or earthquakes, or other dynamic forces.

(b) Material having a structural base of Load, Live. The weight of the contents of a
incombustible material as defined in item (a), building or structure; it includes all loads
above, with a surfacing material not over 3.2 except dead and lateral loads, and weight of
millimeters (1/8 inch) thick which has a flame- temporary partitions, cases, counters, and
spread rating of 50 or less. similar equipment, and all loads imposed due
to the occupancy of the building or structure.
"Incombustible" does not apply to surface
finish materials. Material required to be Load Occupant. The total number of persons
incombustible for reduced clearances to that may occupy a building or portion thereof
flues, heating appliances, or other materials at any one time.
shall refer to material conforming to the
Lodging House. Any building or portion
provisions of this Code. No material shall be
thereof, containing not more than five guest
classed as incombustible which is subject to
rooms which are used by not more than five
increase in combustibility or flame-spread
guests where rent is paid in money, goods,
rating beyond the limits herein established,
labor, or otherwise.
through the effects of age, moisture, or other
atmospheric condition. Lot. A parcel of land on which a principal
building and its accessories are placed or may
Incombustible Material. When referred to as
be placed together with the required open
structural material, means brick, stone,
spaces. A lot may or may not be the land
terracotta, concrete, iron steel, sheet metal,
designated as lot on recorded plot.
or tiles used either singly or in combination.
Lot, Corner. A lot situated at the junction of
Incombustible Roofing. A covering of not less
two or more streets forming an angle of not
than two thickness of roofing felt and a good
more than one hundred thirty-five degrees
coat of tar and gravel of tin, corrugated iron,
(135º)
or other approved fire-resisting material with
standing seam or lap joint. Lot, Depth of. The average horizontal distance
between the front and the rear lot lines.
Incombustible Stud Partition. A partition
plastered on both sides upon metal lath or Lot, Front. The front boundary line of a lot
wire cloth for the full height, and fire-topped bordering on the street and in the case of a
between the studs with incombustible corner lot, it may be either frontage.
material, 20 centimeters (8 inches) above the
floor and at the ceiling. Lot, Inside. A lot fronting on but one street or
public alley and the remaining sides bounded
Line, Building. The line formed by the by lot lines.
intersection of the outer surface of the
inclosing wall of the building and the surface Lot Line. The line of demarcation between
of the ground. either public and private property.

Lintel. The beam or girder placed over an Lot, Open. A lot bounded on all sides by street
opening in a wall, which supports the wall lines.
construction above. Lot, Width of the average horizontal distance
Load Dead. The weight of the permanent between the side lot lines.
portions of a building or structure; it includes Masonry. A form of construction composed of
the weight of the walls, permanent partitions, stone, brick, concrete, gypsum, hollow clay
framing, floors, roofs, and all other permanent tile, concrete block or tile, or other similar
and stationary fixtures, mechanisms, and other building units or materials or combination of
construction entering into and becoming a these materials laid up unit by unit and set in
part of a building or structure. mortar.
Masonry, Solid. Masonry of solid units built Pilaster. A portion of the wall which projects on
without hollow spaces. one or both sides and acts as a vertical beam,
a column, or both.
Masonry Unit. Brick, block, tile, stone, or other
similar building unit or combination thereof, Plaster, Portland Cement. A mixture of
made to be bonded together by a portland cement, or portland cement and
cementitious agent. lime, and aggregate and other approved
materials as specified in this Code.
Marquee. A permanent roofed structure
above a door attached to and supported by Plastics, Approved. Plastic materials which
the building and projecting over a walk or side have a flame-spread rating of 225 or less.
walk.
Platform, Enclosed. A partially enclosed
Mezzanine or Mezzanine Floor. A partial, portion of an assembly room the ceiling of
intermediate floor in any story or room of a which is not more than 1.50 meters (5 feet)
building having an area not more than one- above the proscenium opening and which is
half of the area of the room or space in which designed or used for the presentation of plays,
it is constructed. demonstrations, or other entertainment
wherein scenery, drops, decorations, of the
Non-Conforming Building. A building which
effects may be installed or used.
does not conform with the regulations of the
district where it is situated as to height, yard Public Way. A parcel of land unobstructed
requirements, lot area and percentage of from the ground to the sky, more than 3.00
occupancy. meters (10 feet) in width, appropriated to the
free passage of the general public.
Non-Conforming Use. The use of a building or
land or any portion of such building or land Repair. The reconstruction of renewal of any
which does not conform with the use part of an existing building for the purpose of
regulation of the zone where it is situated. its maintenance. The word "Repairs" shall not
apply to any change of construction.
Occupancy. The purpose for which a building
shall also include the building or room housing Shaft. A vertical opening through a building for
such use. Change of occupancy is not elevators, dumb-water, mechanical
intended to include change of tenants or equipment, or similar purposes.
proprietors.
Show Window. A store window in which goods
Owner. Any person, company, or corporation are displayed.
owning the property or properties under
Site, Sanitary, Hygienic or Safe. Shall be
consideration or receivers, trustees, or other
understood to mean, among others:
duly authorized persons.
(a) Surface condition of the site, such as being
Panic Hardware. A bar which extends across
swampy, improperly drained, or filled with
at least one-half the width of each door leaf,
refuse, garbage, or filthy materials;
which will open the door if subjected to
pressure. (b) Subsurface condition of the site, such as
when the soil substrata will not support safely a
Partitions. An interior subdividing wall.
construction or inadequate filing of an
Person. A natural person, his heirs, executors, excavation or which a construction will be
administrators or assigns, and also includes a undertaken; or
firm, partnership, or corporation, its or their
(c) Nearness to certain hazardous places such
successors or assigns or their agents.
as to constitute a danger to the proposed site,
Pier. An isolated mass of masonry forming such as airports, heliports, or volcanoes.
support for arches columns, girders, lintels,
Slum: Blighted Area; Eyesore. An area where
trustees, and similar structural parts.
the values of real estate tend to deteriorate
because of the dilapidated, obsolescent, and
insanitary condition of the building within the Street. Any thoroughfare or public space
area. An eyesore is a building or area which is which has been dedicated or deeded to the
markedly unpleasant to look at. public for public use.

Socalo, Masonry. The wall between the Structure. That which is built or constructed, an
bottom of the window sill and the ground. edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of
work artificially built up or composed of parts
Soffit. The underside of a beam, lintel or reveal.
joined together in some definite manner.
Stable. Any structure designed and intended
Structural Frame. The framing system including
for the enclosure, shelter, or protection of any
the columns and the girders, beams, trusses,
horse, carabao, or other cattle.
and spandrels having direct connections to
Stable, Commercial. A stable wherein the the columns and all other members which are
animals kept are for business, racing, or essential to the stability of the building as a
breeding purposes. whole. The members of floor or roof panels
which have no connection to the columns
Stage. A partially enclosed portion of an shall be considered secondary members and
assembly building which is designed or used not a part of the structural frame.
for the presentation of plays, demonstrations,
or other entertainment wherein scenery, drops Suportales. The vertical supports, such as posts
or other effects may be installed or used, and or stanchions, as used in indigenous or
where the distance between the top of the traditional type of construction. These may be
proscenium opening and the ceiling above free-standing as stilts or integrated into the
the stage is more than 1.50 meters (5 feet). wall structure. In the case of the former, pie de
gallos (knee braces) or crosettas (cross
Stairway. Two or more risers shall constitute a bracings) are sometimes used.
stairway.
Surface, Exterior. Weather-exposed surfaces.
Stairway, Private. A stairway serving one
tenant only. Surfaces. Interior. Surfaces other than
weather-exposed surfaces.
Story. That portion of a building included
between the upper surface of any floor and Surface, Weather-Exposed. All surface of walls,
the upper surface of the floor next above, ceilings, floors, roofs, soffits, and similar
except that the topmost story shall be that surfaces exposed to the weather excepting
portion of a building included between the the following:
upper surface of the topmost floor and the
(a) Ceiling and roof soffits enclosed by walls or
ceiling or roof above. If the finished floor level
by beams which extend a minimum of 30
directly above a basement, cellar or unused
centimeters (12 inches) below such ceiling or
underfloor space is more than 50 per cent of
roof soffits;
the total perimeter or is more than 3.60 meters
(12 feet) above grade as defined herein at (b) Walls or portions of walls within an
any point, such basement, cellar or unused unenclosed roof area, when located a
underfloor space shall be considered as a horizontal distance from an exterior opening
story. equal to twice the height of the opening; and

Story, Height of. The perpendicular distance (c) Ceiling and roof soffits beyond a horizontal
from top to top of two successive tiers of floors, distance of 3.00 meters (10 feet) from the
floor beams, joists. The clear height of a story outer edge of the ceiling or roof soffits.
or a room is distance from the floor to the
Wall, Bearing. A wall which supports any load
ceiling. The clear height of balconies is
other than its own weight.
measured from the highest point of the
sidewalk grade to the underside of the Wall, Cross. A term which may be used
balcony floor joists. If these joists are sealed, synonymously with a partition.
this clear height is measured to the underside
of the sealing.
Wall, Curtain. The inclosing wall of an iron or applied to an oriel window projecting over the
steel framework or the nonbearing portion of street line.
an inclosing wall between piers.
Wire Backing. Horizontal strands of tautened
Wall, Dead. A wall without openings. wire attached to surfaces vertical wood
supports which, when covered with building
Wall, Exterior. Any wall or element of a wall or
paper, provide a backing for portland
any number or group of members, which
cement plaster.
defines the exterior boundaries or courts of a
building. Yard or Patio. The vacant space left in a lot
between the building and the property line.
Wall, Faced. A wall in which the facing and
backing are so bonded together that they act Yard, Rear. The yard lying between the side lot
as a composite element, and exert a lines and the nearest lot line and the nearest
common action under load. building line.

Wall, Fire. Any wall which subdivides a building Yard, Side. The yard lying between the side
so as to resist the spread of fire, by starting at line and the nearest building line and
the foundation and extending continuously between the front and the rear yards.
through all stories to, or above, the roof.
Extension above the roof is 1.00 meter (3 feet,
3 inches).

Wall, Foundation. That Portion of an inclosing

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 thereon. Foundation and retaining
walls are measured from the grade downward
to the base of the footing.

Wall, Nonbearing. A wall which supports no

lead other than its own weight.

Wall, Parapet. That part of any wall entirely

above the roofline.

Wall, Party. A wall separating two or more

buildings, and used or intended to be 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 adjoining earth, or enclosing wall
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 outside air for the purpose of
admitting natural light and air.

Window, Oriel. A projecting window similar to

a bay window, but carried on brackets or
corbels. The term "bay window" may also be