NBCs Rule 7 & 8: Focusing on

Residential Buildings
Lecture facilitated by
Arch. Mary Catherine A. Diaz, pia
During the Panigurado Workshop Series 1, August 4,
2014 at PUAN CHURCH OF CHRIST, Davao City to the
Community of Churchgoers

Rule VIII Light and Ventilation

(some of the images presentation slides and notes are
prepared by CDEP)
http://cdep.org.ph/)

RULE VIII
LIGHT AND VENTILATION

Rule VIII - BUILDING SETBACKS

Table VIII.2. Minimum Setbacks for Residential Buildings/Structures

Notes:
a) The setback requirements in Table VIII.2. above are for newly-developed
subdivisions.
b) * Total setback only at grade (or natural ground) level, i.e., 3.00 meters + 5.00
meters = 8.00 meters (to accommodate part of the minimum parking requirement
outside the designated area for the front yard). The second and upper floors and
mezzanine level shall thereafter comply with the minimum 3.00 meters setback
unless otherwise provided under the Code.

Rule VIII - BUILDING SETBACKS

Table VIII.2. Minimum Setbacks for Residential Buildings/Structures

Notes:
c) ** Setback required for only one (1) side. Setbacks on two sides shall be optional.
d) *** Abutments on two sides and rear property lines may be allowed with conditions
as enumerated under Section 804, Subsection 10 of this Rule.
e) **** Mixed-Use Buildings/Structures in R-5 lots shall be considered a commercial use
or occupancy if a substantial percentage, i.e., 55% of the Gross Floor Area (GFA) is
commercial.
f) In cases where yards/setbacks are impossible to attain or where frontage and depth of
lots are similar to that of Open Market or Medium Cost Housing Projects, abutments on
the sides and rear property lines may be allowed and 1.50 meters front yard is left open
as transition area.

Rule VIII - BUILDING SETBACKS

BUILDING/STRUCTURE
A 3-dimensional physical development erected
within a lot or property

DEVELOPMENT LEVELS
Above grade
At grade
Below grade

LOT

The physical setting for any building whereby the level or intensity of
development covering such property is regulated by development controls.

Rule VIII: LIGHT AND VENTILATION

NEW DEVELOPMENT

New physical development within a lot that is open for

development, vacant, unutilized, developmentcommitted or other lots that are similarly situated
REDEVELOPMENT
Physical development consisting mainly of renovation,
rehabilitation, retrofit, upgrading, expansion within a lot
or property that is under-utilized or unfit for habitation

Rule VIII: LIGHT AND VENTILATION

DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS
A set of inter-acting regulations concerning the physical utilization of a lot;

Governs planning and design of spaces and the use or occupancy of a building
ALLOWABLE MAXIMUM BUILDING FOOTPRINT (AMBF)
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE CONSTRUCTION AREA (MACA) = PSO + ISA
ALLOWABLE MAXIMUM VOLUME OF BUILDING (AMVB)
FLOOR TO LOT AREA OR FLOOR AREA RATIO (FLAR/ FAR)
PERCENTAGE OF SITE OCCUPANCY (PSO) = AMBF/TLA
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE AREA (ISA)
UNPAVED SURFACE AREA (USA)
TOTAL OPEN SPACE WITHIN LOT (TOSL)
PD 1096

TOTAL LOT AREA (TLA) = MACA + USA

THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE

Rule VIII: LIGHT AND

VENTILATION

ALLOWABLE MAXIMUM BUILDING FOOTPRINT (AMBF)

PERCENTAGE OF SITE OCCUPANCY (PSO)

Building footprint ; excludes basement footprint

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE CONSTRUCTION AREA (MACA)

PSO + ISA ; excludes USA

FLOOR TO LOT AREA OR FLOOR AREA RATIO (FLAR/ FAR)

total floor area / total lot area

TOTAL OPEN SPACE WITHIN LOT (TOSL)

= ( ISA + USA ) / TLA

IMPERVIOUS SURFACE AREA (ISA)

UNPAVED SURFACE AREA (USA)

TLA = PROPERTY LINE

PSO

ISA

USA

BASEMENT
FOOTPRINT

Rule VIII: LIGHT AND VENTILATION

BUILDING FOOTPRINT
PD 1096

Measured horizontally from the property line to the outermost

THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE
faces of the exterior walls of the building/structure

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE PSO/ISA, MACA & MINIMUM USA, OSL, AMBF

2 MTRS.
2 MTRS.

10 MTRS.

2 MTRS.

TOTAL LOT AREA (TLA)

= 14 x 21.5 = 301 sqm

ALLOWABLE MAXIMUM

BUILDING FOOTPRINT (AMBF)

= 10 x 15 = 150 sqm
ALLOWABLE MAXIMUM
PERCENTAGE OF SITE
15 MTRS.

OCCUPANCY (PSO) = AMBF / TLA

= 150 / 301 = 50% (of TLA)

4.5 MTRS.

FOR A RESIDENTIAL R-1 LOT (SINGLE DETACHED DWELLING UNIT)

Rule VIII: LIGHT AND VENTILATION

FLOOR-TO-FLOOR HEIGHT
Perpendicular distance or vertical measurement between the
uppermost surfaces (finish level) of two successive floors.
STOREY

Portion of structure between the uppermost surface (finish

level) of any floor and the uppermost surface (finish level) of
the next floor above or below it.

Rule VIII: LIGHT AND VENTILATION

GRADE the lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground
between the exterior wall of a building and a point one and one-half (1.50) m
distant from said wall (Figure VII.1.3a), or the lowest point of elevation of the
finished surface of the ground between the exterior wall of a building and a
property line, if it is less than one point fifty (1.50) m distant from said wall
(Figure VII.1.3b). In case walls are parallel to and within one point fifty (1.50)
m of a public sidewalk, or alley or other public way, the grade shall be the
elevation of the sidewalk, alley or public way (Figure VII.1.3c).

Rule VIII: LIGHT AND VENTILATION

Building Height Limit (BHL) - the maximum height to be allowed for
buildings/structures based on their proposed use or occupancy; the BHL is
generally determined after the application of other development controls
(DC) and certain other parameters, i.e., considerations of site conditions,
view, etc. The BHL shall be generally measured from the established grade
line to the topmost portion of the proposed building/structure.
BHL excludes the height of permitted/allowed projections above the roof of
the building/structure, e.g., signage, mast, antenna, telecom tower,
beacons and the like.

CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDING HEIGHT

LOW-RISE

- 1-5 storeys

3-15 meters

MEDIUM-RISE - 6-15 storeys

18-45 meters

HIGH-RISE

48 + meters

-1 6 + storeys

Rule VIII: LIGHT AND VENTILATION

RROW-based limitations:
If only one (1) RROW services a lot and such is only 6.00 to 7.00
meters wide, a BHL of three (3) storeys (or 9.00 meters maximum)
shall be observed regardless of use or occupancy, lot size, lot dimensions,
lot frontage and like considerations.
If only one (1) RROW services a lot and such is only 4.00 to 5.00
meters wide, a BHL equivalent to 2 storeys (or 7.50 meters
maximum) shall be observed regardless of use or occupancy, lot size, lot
dimensions, lot frontage and like considerations.
If only one (1) RROW services a lot and such is only 3.00 meters wide
or less, a BHL equivalent to two (2) storeys (or 6.00 meters maximum)
shall be observed regardless of use or occupancy, lot size, lot dimensions,
lot frontage and like considerations.
PD 1096
THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE

A height clearance certificate shall be first secured from the Air

Transportation Office (ATO) before a building permit may be issued
for the construction of buildings/structures located:

Establish the Outermost Faces of Building (OFB) to help

determine the Allowable Maximum Volume of Building
THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE
(AMVB)
PD 1096