Fire is a common hazard in real estate. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported 13,029 fires (1) throughout the Philippines in 2022, emphasizing the importance of protecting your property from such a devastating disaster.

Since knowledge of the Fire Code of the Philippines is vital to your investment’s safety, this blog reviews the legislation's essential fire safety tips in the Philippines to help you ensure your dream home’s safety from fire-related damage.

What is the Fire Code of the Philippines?

The Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008, or Republic Act No. 9514 (2), aims to protect the public and promote economic development by preventing and suppressing destructive fires. It also establishes strict fire safety standards and measures for building owners like yourself. As such, the Fire Code should be one of your top considerations when buying a house.

7 Things You Should Know About the Fire Code of the Philippines

Familiarizing yourself with the Fire Code’s provisions equips you with the knowledge to avoid risky properties when buying real estate.

1. Operations requiring fire safety measures

While the BFP requires strict adherence to the Fire Code, some establishments are more at risk than others. Section 7, Subsection C enumerates the following operations requiring specific fire safety protocols:

• Welding

• Industrial baking and drying

• Waste disposal

• Pressurized or forced-draft burning equipment

• Smelting and forging

• Movie projectors with electrical arc lamps

• Refining, distillation, and solvent extraction

• Other operations prescribed by the Code's Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) (3)

2. Fire safety systems

The Fire Code requires building owners to install fire safety systems for preventing and mitigating fire-related incidents. While specific requirements vary depending on the structure's occupancy, size, and use, they generally include some of the equipment and fixtures below:

• Sprinklers, hose boxes, and other fire protection features

• Fire alarms

• Firewalls, fire-resistive floors and walls (4), and other fire-containing or stopping components

• Stairways and other exits that are safe from smoke and heat

• A fire exit plan for each building floor

  3. Hazardous materials

Some substances and materials increase the risk of fires from dangerous spills and leaks. As such, the Fire Code requires safety precautions and measures for establishments that manufacture, store, handle, and use hazardous materials like the following:

• Flammable and combustible materials (5) and substances

• High-piled or widely spread combustible stock

• Any form of metallic magnesium

• Corrosive liquids, oxidizing materials, and other material compounds that conduct fire or generate excessive smoke or toxic gases upon contact with heat or flame

• Blasting agents and explosive materials

  4. Fire safety measures

The Fire Code's IRR outlines safety measures to protect your real estate investment and its occupants from fire-related incidents.

For starters, every residential building must have sufficient means of egress for fast and safe escape during fires and other emergencies. The exits mustn't have obstructions or any locks preventing escape from the inside. They must also be easily accessible, with emergency lights illuminating the doors for better visibility.

Likewise, building owners must design, construct, equip, maintain, and operate their property following the Fire Code to prevent endangering lives. Installing fire alarm systems is necessary to warn occupants of growing fires and other emergencies.

5. Inspection

Regular inspection is essential to fire safety enforcement, so the Fire Code also enumerates required building inspection procedures. The BFP Chief or authorized representatives must examine the following features before government units and agencies issue operating permits and licenses to building owners.

• Fire protection

• Fire safety equipment

• Electrical system

• Storage (6), handling, and use of explosives or combustible, flammable, toxic, and other dangerous substances and materials

  6. Prohibited acts

Under the Fire Code, prohibited actions endanger the safety of a building's occupants and undermine fire service operations during fire incidents. Section 8 enumerates these activities, which include the following:

• Obstructing or blocking exits

• Constructing gates, entrances, and walkways that prevent the easy passage of firefighting vehicles and equipment

• Prevention, interference, or obstruction of fire service operations

• Obstructing fire lanes or access to hydrants

• Overcrowding public assembly buildings, excluding those with open sides and doors

7. Penalties

The Fire Code imposes penalties for those violating its provisions.

• Any person violating the Code is liable to an administrative fine not exceeding ₱50,000 and must halt operations or close down the building.

• Willful failure to correct violations or mitigate fire hazards subjects violators to six months of imprisonment, a fine not exceeding ₱100,000, or both. Furthermore, violators are subject to the Revised Penal Code (7) if their disobedience results in injury, death, or property damage.

• Removing a sign indicating that a building is a fire hazard or firetrap is subject to 30 days of imprisonment, a fine not exceeding ₱100,000, or both.

• Disobeying a lawful order of a fire ground commander during a firefighting operation subjects violators to up to 30 days of jail time and a fine of ₱5,000.

Fulfilling these penalties doesn't absolve violators of fire safety responsibilities. They must resolve or mitigate any fire hazards in the building or face another penalty.

Protect Your Dream Home

The Fire Code of the Philippines serves as a vital framework for protecting real estate property from fire-related harm. It helps mitigate risks, develops fire safety preparedness, and contributes to a safer community. As such, you must familiarize yourself with its provisions and diligently follow its guidelines to secure your home.

Indeed, fire safety must be part of your new home. Fortunately, OnePropertee's listings offer a wide selection of new, second-hand, and foreclosed properties in the Philippines that comply with all safety standards.

Visit our blog page to learn more real estate tips!

Sources

1. Caliwan, Christopher Lloyd. BFP records 13k fire incidents for 2022 | Philippine News Agency, December 28, 2022. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191573.

2. “Republic Act No. 9514: Govph.” Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, December 19, 2008. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2008/12/19/republic-act-no-9514/.

3. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS (IRR) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9514 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES OF 2008. Accessed August 10, 2023. https://cdn.ymaws.com/psme.org.ph/resource/collection/BA8381FC-BDA5-4DC3-B68A-C05F8AC9A961/Fire-Code-of-the-Philppines-2008.pdf.

4. “Fire Resistant Construction: Walls, Columns, Floors & More.” Dream Civil : Civil Engineering & Construction Informations, December 22, 2021. https://dreamcivil.com/fire-resistant-construction/.

5. Murphy, Nicole. “Combustible Materials.” CPD Online College, April 21, 2023. https://cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/health-and-safety/combustible-materials/.

6. “Flammable and Combustible Liquids Storage Requirements.” UC San Diego. Accessed August 10, 2023. https://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/research-lab/chemical/liquids/storage/.

7. “Act No. 3815.” The LAWPHIL Project. Accessed August 10, 2023. https://lawphil.net/statutes/acts/act_3815_1930.html.