This
blog is to inform Interior Design students and professionals about the Building
Referral code.To be permitted and authorized for an interior construction
is important so that every technical, architectural and artistic plans
are carefully and properly met. This is simply in compliance and required by
the National Building Code.
CHAPTER 2
ADMINISTRATION and ENFORCEMENT
Section 201 of the Building code of the Philippines
focuses on the powers vested by the code to the appointed “Secretary of Public
Works, Transportation and Communication”. These powers include the prerogative
of the appointed Secretary to charge penalties to violators, administer and
enforce the codal provisions provided.
Interior designers like us should know these powers
provided to the secretary, so that we will know where and who to talk if ever
there are some problems or inquiries arising from our line of work.
Section
202 gives another power to the appointed secretary: to choose people
(architects, engineers and technicians) who would serve as staff of the
Department. This power is freely exercised by the Secretary as long as the
chosen staffs are considerably intelligent and professional, and possess the
proper skills in the field mentioned in this section.
It is important that we, interior designers, should
know who is the appropriate person to appoint us as staffs of the department
that our line of study is linked with. This is also to raise awareness about
the proper authority to give such appointments.
Section
203 enumerates the work of an appointed Secretary of the Department of
Public Works, Transportation and Communication. As such, the section entails
the Secretary to the following functions; policy formulation, planning and
making designated guidelines and qualifications of building infrastructures
given that these duties agree with the Codal provisions of the Building Code;
to execute the formulated policies and other instrumentalities as mentioned in
the first function; to approve, make or repeal other policies which shall be
part of the Building Code and; the secretary's power to set a specific amount
that is to be charged when there are building operations.
This section is important, because the functions of the
Secretary mentioned above are vital in our field. The policies, plans and
guidelines provided thereafter by the appointed Secretary affects our work as
interior designers. These crucial elements are things that we always should be
aware. Our dignities and future as interior designers rely on how we can
lawfully qualify the requirements of building.
The provisions of the code and their applications are secured in the 204th section of this
code. The appointed secretary shall, with his technical staff, make several assistance for
the compliance of the provisions of the code. The section also provides
the payment of the resources used(people or staffs) when it is necessary. The
section extends the acquisition of resources for the applications to other
departments of the government given that there is compensation for the resource
given by the other departments.
Since this code covers the national level. The authority of the Secretary will
be limited to other places, especially in remote areas. That is why,
the section 205 of this code provides for the existence of Building
Officials. The Building Official should carry duties such as implementation of
the policies made by the secretary and other guidelines provided as mentioned
in Section 203 paragraph 1. The people appointed as Building Officials are
Engineers in different respects (example, city engineers, public works
engineers and etc.) and such appointment is made with the designation of a
place to act as Building Official. The vested appointing power is also coupled
with the termination of the appointments, whether by a decree, a law or
disqualification of an incumbent.
A Building Official should also possess adequate skills and knowledge, as what
is provided by the 206th section. This section
enlists the characteristics that a nominee should have in order to become a
Building Official. Among the qualifications include Filipino citizenship, good
records, competency, and others provided in such provision.
This section is important
because we are informed of what we should have or accomplish if ever, later in
our expertise, we want to become a Building Official.
When a person qualifies and has been chosen to become a Building Official,
he/she shall then on carry out his/her duties and responsibilities explained
in Section 207 of this code. The main function of building officials,
same with the secretary, is to ensure that the provisions of this code will be
duly observed by architects, engineers and other people who wish to build
infrastructures. Specifically, building officials are the ones authorized to
issue building permits. The determination whether a building or any
infrastructure is safe and standard is solely in the hands of the building
official. The section also provides that the issuance of the building permit is
when the building official approves the manner with which the building is made
(example, use of standard materials, lawful resources and etc.). On the other
hand, if the building official sees any problem with the building (causing
possible evils if left tolerated) then the operation is stopped. Note, that the
building official has the authority to access any buildings or construction
sites for investigation and observation that standards and guidelines provided
in this Code is observed by the operation.
Section 207 make us aware of the possible situations
we can meet if we are already doing our expertise. This is also to inform that
the building official is somebody who can continue or discontinue our
operations, so proper professionalism should in his/her presence be at the
greatest extent possible.
Section
208 ensures that the money garnered from the fees and charges of
operations are recorded. The section also gives an opportunity for the Building
Official to provide funds for his office (the 20% mentioned in the section)
which will be appropriated to some of the affiliations of the department. The
80% of the said total fees and charges are then given to the treasury of the
municipality he/she is assigned in.
The section gives another work and privilege to the
chosen building official. Sooner in our lives, some of us will be chosen as
building officials. And it is just right that we know these lawful practices
and protocols.
While construction of buildings are subject to charges issued by the building
official, the 209th section of this code gives some
exemption to this rule. Since the department is a government agency, it is
understood that public constructions are exempted to pay for the charges and
fees, but are still subject to inspection, approval and observation by the
building official. Another exemption is the construction of “additional
indigenous family dwelling” - defined in the section to be an infrastructure
owned by a private entity and made up of indigenous materials such as nipa and
logs. The section also specifies that it can be considered an “indigenous
family dwelling” if the construction cost of such building is less than 15,000
Philippine Peso.
In this section, we are informed of the possible
exemptions we can be meeting once we handle some projects in the future.
Section
211 is the promulgation of rules and regulations made by the Secretary of
the department. These rules and regulations contain the definition of a
standard and 'fit' construction. The sets of rules and regulations will take
effect after the official publication of the rules in a newspaper. Note that
the publication should be once a week in three consecutive weeks.
This section allows us to be fully observant of the
passing of these rules and regulations – something that must be followed to
continue our work.
As mentioned in the preceding sections, those who are found guilty of
disobedience to the provisions provided in this code shall be fined. The
fines, according to Section 212, should not be more than 10,000 Philippine
Peso.
As future interior designers, we should be keen of our
actions, as one possible wrong move could lead to a disqualification or fine as
stated above.
Section
213 accentuates the importance of the observance of due process when
constructing infrastructures. The unruly construction, alteration or removal of
such buildings – without observing the guidelines as provided by the provisions
of this code – will be subject to such punishments mentioned in the section.
People found doing unlawful exercises connected to construction shall be fined
with not more than 20,000 Philippine Pesos or be imprisoned for less than 2
years or by both. In case of a corporation, the officials will be held
responsible. If the penalty is imposed upon an alien or foreigner, he/she shall
be escorted back to his/her country after paying the fine or serving his/her
sentence.
This provision serve as a warning to us,
architects, engineers and designers alike. As products of an honorable academe,
we should place high regards to the proper execution of law. And we are enticed
to follow what is right and lawful in our activities.
Section
214 provides the definition of a “dangerous and ruinous building or structures”.
These are any structures that has a possibility to concur potential evils or
accidents brought about by the use of either substandard materials or improper
operations. If a building has the capacity to endanger human lives or torture
them in different respects, then it can be considered as a dangerous building.
This is to make us fully responsible for the
operations we accept and do. As builders of the nation, the great power we have
is equaled with the great challenge to provide infrastructures that are
resilient and long-lasting. Our reputations rely on what buildings we
accomplish and prove how strong they are when the situation demands.
When
declared a dangerous building, the building official has the power to either
repair it, vacate it or demolish it. The 215th section emphasizes
that the decision by the official is based in which extent the building pose
threat to human security and life. The section also connects with some
provisions of the Civil Code of the Philippines, Articles 482 – 707.
The Section 216 of this Code enables future laws to add other
provisions, make codal changes or amendments, as long as it's in observance to
the provisions of this code.
CHAPTER 3
PERMITS AND INSPECTION
Section 301. Building
Permits.
This code
shall apply to professionals who have been permitted to architectural and
design reconstruction, repair or renovation. The Ancillary Permits duly signed and sealed by the corresponding professionals and the plans and specifications shall be submitted together with the duly notarized application for Building Permit. This
is particularly to original provision needed to cope up with technical and
artistic development and enhancement.
Section 302. Application for
permits.
General
reconstruction and alteration application shall comply with the requirements. This includes the floor plan, ceiling, electrical and utility plan. This is completed by obtaining an Interior
Design Construction Permit therefore from the Office of the
Building Official of the LGU having jurisdiction over the locality.
The interior designer shall be responsible and should
sign and affix the seal approved by the Board of Interior Design on all plans
and specifications prepared by him, or under his direct supervision.
Section 303.
Processing of Building Permits.
An Interior Designer should
accomplish all the requirements and process the application. Importantly, the assigned professional shall submit the
Ancillary Permit for Interior Design Construction to the Office of the Building
Official (OBO).
Section 304. Issuance
of Building Permits
The issuance of the permit
shall not violate or disregard any of the approved provisions. Any alteration or corrections shall be notified and
authorized only by the designated Interior Designer.
Section 305. Validity
of Building Permits.
Incomplete information or data in the above application for an Ancillary Permit for Interior Design Construction shall be returned to the Interior Designer until satisfactorily completed. Invalidity of the Ancillary Permit will occur if there
are errors found in construction documents and such situations
which are non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the permit.
Section 308. Inspection and
Supervision of Work.
The office of the Building Official (OBO) shall monitor the progress of the Construction operations or work for the faithful compliance with all the conditions, rules and regulations governing the issuance of the Interior Design Construction Permit. Interior
Designers are given the rights and responsibility to periodically inspect the
design construction to
record and check if it is in compliance with the permit and other approved
documents.
CHAPTER 4
TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
Section 403. Requirements on Type of
Construction.
This section is applicable for interior design in such cases
like interior renovation. It is expected for the
designer to comprehend the scope and limitations of the project before doing
such alterations to avoid complication and to meet the intended function and
movement for which the building is designed.
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CHAPTER 5
REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE ZONES
Section 501. Fire zones defined
This part of the Code
deals with safety from fire. It specifies the demarcation of fire zones,
restrictions on construction of buildings in each fire zone, classification of
buildings based on occupancy, types of building construction according to fire
resistance of the structural and non-structural components and other
restrictions and requirements necessary to minimize danger to life from fire,
smoke, fumes or panic before the buildings can be evacuated. The Code recognizes that safety of life is more than a
matter of means of exits and accordingly deals with various matters which are
considered essential to the safety of life.
Section 506. Restrictions on existing
buildings
The
existing buildings in any fire zone shall not be required to comply with the requirement
of the Code unless these are altered, or in the opinion of the Authority such
building constitutes a hazard to the safety of the adjacent property or the
occupants of the building itself or is an unsafe building. In the event of
alteration, it shall be necessary to obtain permission of the Authority for
such alteration consistent with fire
Section 506. Designations of fire zones
It is the duty of the
secretary to make known of the specific restrictions for each types of fire
zones. Areas shall be divided in accordance
with local, physical, and spatial framework plans submitted by city or
municipal planning and/or development bodies.
Sources:
http://www.intra.piid.org.ph/pdf/idcode.pdf
http://www.architectureboard.ph
http://www.intra.piid.org.ph/pdf/idcode.pdf
http://www.architectureboard.ph
