COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Building System Design Activity Manual
ACTIVITY NO. 1: Design Criteria and Requirements
1.1. Program Outcomes (POs) Addressed by the Activity
a) ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
b) ability to communicate effectively
1.2. Activity Intended Learning Outcomes (AILOs)
At the end of the activity, the students shall be able to:
a) Familiarize with design criteria for building design
b) Determine applicable standards specified in the National Building Code of the Philippines
c) Apply architectural, structural, safety, sustainability, and sanitation design requirements in
buildings
1.3. Aims of the Activity
The aim of this activity is to introduce the codes, standards, and specification requirements as
stipulated in the National Building Code of the Philippines being used in building system design.
1.4. Principle of the Activity
Research on the following topics to familiarize yourself with the background of the activity:
a) National Building Code (NBC)
b) Building Design Criteria and Specifications
c) Requirements for Buildings Design
Architectural
Structural
Safety
Sustainability
Sanitation
1.5. Procedures/Instruction
The activity comprises of the following steps:
A. Plans
1. Assume that you are a construction firm. Come up with a name to your company as agreed by
the group.
2. Given a complete building design sample, draw your own building design as specified below:
a. Architectural Plan
b. Structural Plan
3. Consider the standards and codes specified in the NBC for your assigned design project.
B. Design Specifications
1.Indicate all design specifications related to the structural and architectural plans of your
project.
2. Provide detailed summary of important specifications needed in completing the project.
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C. Design Requirements
1. Provide the following compliance requirements for any project:
Safety
Sanitation/Environmental
Sustainability/Technical Capacity
2. These requirements can be borrowed from actual construction firms
3. Provide company information, registration, and license to operate.
1.6. Data and Discussion
1.6.1. Principle of the Activity
Company Name: AHJNR Company
Project Engineers: Engr. Nicole Bermejo Engr. Helianiza Bustillo
Engr. Alys Marie Dela Cruz Engr. Raechell Navalta
Engr. Mistral Julian Haravata
I. SECTION 701: Occupancy Classified
Buildings proposed for construction shall be identified according to their use or the
character of its occupancy and shall be classified as follows:
Group A. Residential Dwellings
Group B - Residentials, Hotels and Apartments
Group C - Education and Recreation
Group D - Institutional
Group E - Business and Mercantile
Group F - Industrial
Group G - Storage and Hazardous
Group H - Assembly Other Than Group I
Group I - Assembly Occupant Load 1000 or More
Group J - Accessory
II. SECTION 704: Location of Property
No Building shall be constructed unless it adjoins or has direct access to a public space
yard or street on at least one of its sides.
For the purpose of this Section, the center line of an adjoining street or alley shall be
considered an adjacent property line.
Eaves over required windows shall not be less than 750 millimeters from the side and
rear property lines.
III. SECTION 707: Maximum Height of Buildings
The maximum height and number of storeys of every building shall be dependent upon
the character of occupancy and the type of construction as determined by the Secretary
considering population density, building bulk, widths of streets and car parking
requirements.
Building Height Limit (BHL)
Character of Use or Type of Building/ Number of Meters above
Occupancy Structure allowable highest
storeys/floors grade
above
established grade
1. Residential Residential 1 (R-1) 3 10.0
Residential 2 (R-2)
a. Basic 3 10.0
b. Maximum 5 15.0
Residential 32 (R-3)
a. Basic 3 10.0
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12 36.0
Residential 4 (R-
4)/ Townhouses 3 10.0
(individual
lots/units)
The height shall be measured from the highest adjoining sidewalk or ground surface:
Provided, that the height measured from the lowest adjoining surface shall not
exceed such maximum height by more than 3.00 meters:
Except, that towers, spires, and steeples, erected as part of a building and not
used for habitation or storage are limited as to height only by structural design
if completely of incombustible materials, or may extend not to exceed 6.00
meters above the height limits for each occupancy group if of combustible
materials.
IV. SECTION 801: Light and Ventilation
Every building shall be designed, constructed, and equipped to provide adequate
light and ventilation.
All buildings shall face a street or public alley or a private street which has been
duly approved.
No building shall be altered nor arranged so as to reduce the size of any room or
the relative area of windows to less than that provided for buildings under this Code.
No building shall be enlarged so that the dimensions of the required court or yard
would be less than that prescribed for such building.
V. SECTION 805: Ceiling Heights
a.) Habitable rooms provided with artificial ventilation shall have ceiling heights not less
than 2.40 meters measured from the floor to the ceiling;
Provided that for buildings of more than one (1) storey, the minimum ceiling
height of the first storey shall be 2.70 meters and that for the second story 2.40
meters and the succeeding stories shall have an unobstructed typical head-room
clearance of not less than 2.10 meters above the finished floor. Above-stated
rooms with natural ventilation shall have ceiling height of not less than 2.70
meters.
b.) Mezzanine floors shall have a clear ceiling height not less than 1.80 meters above and
below it.
VI. SECTION 806: Size and Dimensions of Rooms
Minimum sizes of rooms and their least horizontal dimensions shall
be as follows:
a) Rooms for Human Habitations. 6.00 square meters with at least dimensions of 2.00
b) Kitchens. 3.00 square meters with at least dimension of 1.50 meters
c) Bath and toilet. 1.20 square meters with at least dimension of 0.90 meters.
VII. SECTION 808: Window Openings
Shall be provided with a window or windows with a total free area of openings equal to at
least ten percent of the floor area of room, and such window shall open directly to a court,
yard, public street or alley, or open water courses.
VIII. SECTION 1001: General Requirements
No part of any building or structure or any of its appendage shall project beyond
the property line of the building site, except as provided in this Code.
The projection of any structure or appendage over a public property shall be the
distance measured horizontally from the property line to the outermost point of the
projection.
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IX. SECTION 1003: Projection of Balconies and Appendages over Streets
The clearance between the established grade of the street and/or sidewalk and the
lowest under surface of any part of the balcony shall not be less than 3.00 meters.
X. SECTION 1007: Doors, Windows and the Like
Doors, windows, and the like less than 2.40 meters above the pavement or groundline
shall not, when fully opened or upon opening, project beyond the property line except
fire exit doors.
XI. SECTION 1202: Excavation, Foundation and Retaining Walls
The design and quality of materials used structurally in excavation, footings, and in
foundations shall conform to accepted engineering practice.
XII. SECTION 1203: Veneer
Veneer is a nonstructural facing of brick, concrete, tile, metal, plastic, glass, or other
similar approved materials attached to a backing or structural component of the
building for the purpose of ornamentation, protection, or enclosure that may be adhered,
integrated, or anchored either on the interior or exterior of the building or structure.
XIII. SECTION 1207: Stairs, Exits and Occupant Loads
a.) Doors. The provisions herein shall apply to every exit door serving an area having an
occupant load of more than ten (10), or serving hazardous rooms or areas.
Type of Lock or Latch. Exit door shall be openable from the inside without
the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort.
Width and Height. Every required exit doorway shall be of a size as to
permit the installation of a door not less than 900 millimeters in width and not
less than
2.0 meters in height.
1.6.2. Design Attachments/Illustrations (See attached)
Attachment 1: Architectural Plan (Site Plan)
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Attachment 2: Architectural Plan (Floor Plan)
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Attachment 3: Architectural Plan (Tile Layout)
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Attachment 4: Architectural Plan (Elevation)
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Attachment 5: Architectural Plan (Section)
Attachment 6: Architectural Plan (Ceiling Plan)
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Attachment 7: Architectural Plan (Schedule of doors and Windows)
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Attachment 8: Structural Plan
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1.6.3. Observation
I. SECTION 701: Occupancy Classified
Buildings proposed for construction shall be identified according to their use or the
character of its occupancy therefore it is classified as Residential Dwellings (Group A)
and it is a three-Unit Two Storey construction project that is to be constructed at 836
Negros St. Balic Balic, Sampaloc, Manila.
II. SECTION 704: Location of Property
In accordance with the National Building Code of the Philippines, No Building shall be
constructed unless it adjoins or has direct access to a public space yard or street on at least
one of its sides. Correspondingly the house has no fence blocking the street so it has clear
access to a public space or street.
III. SECTION 707: Maximum Height of Buildings
In line with standards of the National Building Code of the Philippines, a residential
building height limit should be 10 meters above the highest grade. The height of the plan
we proposed is 9.65 meters, fits with the requirement of this section.
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IV. Light and Ventilation
The location of the townhouse shows that it is facing a street creating the optimal flow of
light and air.
V. Ceiling Heights
The total height measured from the ground floor finishing level to the tip of the concrete
roof is 8.45 m. For the first floor of the townhouse, which has approximately 3 m height,
the second floor, which has approximately 3 m height, and lastly, the roof deck has
approximately 2.45 m height. The buildings' heights were acceptable to the requirement
of NBC Section 805; to have a minimum of 2.70m for the first storey, 2.40m for the
second storey, and 2.10m for the succeeding storeys.
VI. Size and Dimension of Rooms
The sizes and dimensions of the rooms such as the room for human habitations, kitchen,
and bath and toilet as shown in the given table, all passed in the requirements of the NBC
Section 806 to have a 6.00 sq. meters with a least dimension of 2.00 meters for the room
of human habitation, 3.00 sq. meters with a least dimension of 1.50 meters for kitchen,
and lastly, 1.20 sq. meters with a least dimension of 0.90 sq. meters for bath and toilet.
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DIMENSIONS QUANTITY FLOOR TOTAL
(m2) AREA (m2)
(m2)
First Floor:
Toilet and Bathroom 2.0 x 2.0 2 4 8
Living Area (left side) 3.1 x 5.5 1 17.05 17.05
Living Area (right side) 3.1 x 4.5 1 13.95 13.95
Dining area with 3.1 x 5.5 1 17.05 17.05
Kitchen
(left side)
Dining area with 3.1 x 4.5 1 13.95 13.95
Kitchen
(right side)
Second Floor:
Bedroom 3.1 x 3.2 2 9.92 19.84
Master’s Bedroom 5.5 x 3.1 1 17.05 17.05
(left side)
Master’s Bedroom 4.5 x 3.1 1 13.95 13.95
(right side)
Toilet and Bathroom 2.0 x 2.01 1 4.02 4.02
(left side)
Toilet and Bathroom 2.0 x 1.425 1 2.85 2.85
(right side)
Roof Deck:
Toilet and Bathroom 2.0 x 2.01 1 4.02 4.02
(left side)
Toilet and Bathroom 2.0 x 1.425 1 2.85 2.85
(right side)
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VII. SECTION 808: Window Openings
In accordance with the National Building Code of the Philippines, windows of the room
are provided with a total floor area of 10 m and approximately 3 m for the window
openings. All windows are disclosed in public compliance.
VIII. SECTION 1001: General Requirements
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The proposed plan of the house has complied with all the requirements as stated on the
National Building Code of the Philippines and shall not exceed to the maximum allowable
space provided. Considering the parking space to ensure that no part of the house shall
project beyond the property line.
IX. SECTION 1003: Projection of Balconies and Appendages over Streets
As provided with parking lot, the under surface of any openings of the house will not
exceed to the property line leaving a thorough space between the house and an established
grade of the street and/or sidewalk.
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X. SECTION 1007: Doors, Windows and the Like
In line with standards of the National Building Code of the Philippines, the doors,
windows, and the like comply in less than 2.40 meters above the pavement or ground line.
Correspondingly the main entrance of a two-story townhouse has a measure of 1.2 m in
height above the ground line.
XI. Excavation, Foundation and Retaining Walls
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The construction quality and material used for the excavation foundation, and walls
conforming to the NBC 1202. Therefore, those were assumed to be accepted relying on
their soil bearing potential.
XII. SECTION 1203: Veneer
In detail, the plan for the townhouse used a brick accent wall to add depth and character to
the house. Also, it will keep the house from being bland. A brick veneer is used only on
the exterior of the townhouse. It is good to maintain simplicity and not get overboard.
XIII. Stairs, Exits and Occupant Loads
The illustration clearly show that the main door is openable from the inside since it is a
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swing type of door, which conformed in the NBC; to have an exit door which is
openable from the inside without the use of a keny or effort.
Based on the illustration below, the main entry door has a width of 1.991 m and
height of 4.181 m, which be eligible in the NBC Section 1207; to have a minimum
0.9 m width and 2 m height.
1.6.4. Conclusion
The Design Criteria and the Building Codes or standards acted as the guidelines when
planning and creating a safe, sustainable and desirable living space or buildings. It served as
like the backbone in the designing process where we take into consideration the standards to
achieve an ideal and safe plan. In this activity we were able to familiarize ourselves with the
building codes of different sections and learned how to work through and incorporate these
criteria and standards in designing the building. We can further improve the plan by studying
more these criteria and understanding more each plan/layout and learning how these work
well with each other. By considering the standard specifications and incorporating it to the
preference, we were able to come up with an ideal and desirable living space that takes into
consideration the safety, sustainability and long-term
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