WHEREAS, it is a well-entrenched constitutional principle that œThe maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy  (Sec. 5, Art. 11, 1987 Philippine Constitution);

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Fire Protection shall be responsible for the prevention and suppression of all destructive fires on buildings, houses and other structures, forest, land transportation  vehicles  and equipment,  ships or vessels  docked  at piers or wharves or anchored in major seaports, petroleum industry installations, plane crashes and other similar incidents, as well as the enforcement of the Fire Code and other related laws (Sec. 54, R.A. 6975);

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is mandated to enforce the provisions  of the Fire Code of the Philippines  (FCP)  pursuant  to Republic  Act
6975 and Republic Act 9514;

WHEREAS,  the  Fire  Code  Technical  Staff  (FCTS)  was  created  pursuant  to Section 6 of RA 9514 and Division 2, Rule 5 of its Implementing Rules and Regulations   (IRR)  to  study,  review  and  evaluate   latest  developments   and standards on fire technology and to advise the Chief, BFP on any matter brought to his attention as among its functions;

WHEREAS, there are issues raised before the FCTS from the United Architects of the Philippines  and  other  major  stakeholders  seeking  approval  to design  a theater  and  performing  arts  center  particularly  on  seating  capacity,  with  the recent NFPA 101-Life Safety Code and the National Building Code as their reference;

WHEREAS, Section 10.2.8.2 para H (1) of the IRR of RA 9514 limits the number of seats  for  public  assembly  buildings,  structures  or facilities  to fourteen  (14) seats between aisles and seven (7) rows of seat opening onto an aisle at one side only;

WHEREAS, NFPA 101-Life Safety Code of 2015, allows more than fourteen (14) seats  between  aisles  provided  that  the  aisle  access  way  are  increased  as  a function of row length, thus:

Section 12.2.5.5.2  The aisle access way between rows of seating shall have a clear width of not less than 12 in. (305mm), and this minimum shall be  increased  as  a  function  of  row  length  in  accordance  with  Sections
12.2.5.5.4, 12.2.5.5.5 and 12.2.5.5.6.

Section 12.2.5.5.5.1 The 12 in. (305 mm) minimum clear width of aisle access way specified in 12.2.5.5.2 shall be increased by 0.3 in (7.6mm) for every  seat  over  a  total  of  14  but  shall  not  be  required  to  exceed  22  in (560mm)

Section 12.2.5.5.6 Rows of seating served by an aisle or doorway at one end only shall have a path of travel not exceeding 30 ft (9. 1m) in length from any seat to an aisle.

12.2.5.5.6.1  The 12 in. (305 mm) minimum  clear width of aisle access way specified  in 12.2.5.5.2  shall be increased  by 0.6 in. (15mm)  for every seat over a total of seven.

WHEREAS, the National Building Code of the Philippines provides that:

œThe  number  of seats  between  aisles  may  be increased  to thirty  (30) where exit doors are provided along each side aisle of the row of seats at the rate of one (1) pair of exit doors for every five (5) rows of seats, provided further that the distance between seats back to back is at least 1.00 meter. Such exit doors shall provide a minimum clear width of 1.70 meters .

WHEREAS,  the  increase  of number  of seats  to more  than  fourteen  in a row would mean an increase of occupants and it will decrease the movement of the occupants   during  fire  evacuation.   Chapter  12.4.2.1  of  the  NFPA  101-UFE SAFETY  CODE requires Smoke Control as one of the safety features for New Places of Assembly.

WHEREAS,   Smoke  management   or  smoke  control  is  meant  to  protect  its occupants from the adverse effect of smoke inhalation when there is delay in the movement  during  fire  evacuation.   In  order  to  simplify  and  provide  uniform application of smoke control, the FCTS patterned the smoke control requirement for high-rise building as provided under Section 10.2.19.3 of the IRR of RA 9514, otherwise known as the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 as part of the smoke management  requirement  for  the  Places  of  Assembly  with  increased  seating capacity  in rows of seating served by aisles as it will affect occupants  mobility during evacuation.

WHEREAS, as can be gleaned from the aforementioned  standards, both NFPA 101 and National  Building  Code allows number  of seats that is more than the limit prescribed by the FCP provided that aisles between seats are increased in width;

WHEREAS,  there is a need to harmonize  the provision of the FCP with that of other Internationally Accepted Standard in order to cope up with recent trends in building  design  on  theaters  and  to  be  at  par  with  international  standards  on theater type seating;

WHEREFORE,    after   careful   study   and   deliberation,    the   FCTS,   hereby RESOLVED,  as it is hereby resolve, to recommend  the amendment  of Section 10.2.8.2  para  H  (1)  and  Section  10.2.8.8  of  the  IRR  of  RA  9514  to  read  as follows:

Section 10.2.8.2

H.  Seating, Aisles and Railings

1.     Seating

a.  The aisle access way between rows of seating shall have a clear width  of  not  less  than  305  mm  and  this  minimum  shall  be increased by 7.6 mm for every seat over a total of 14 but shall not exceed 560 mm;
b.  Rows of seating served by aisles or doorways at both ends shall not exceed 100 seats per row;
c.   Rows of seating served by an aisle or doorway at one end only shall have a path of travel not exceeding 9m in length, measured from the farthest seat to an aisle.

Section 10.2.8.8 PROTECTION

A. xxx
B. xxx

C. xxx

D. xxx

E.   xxx
F.   SMOKE MANAGEMENT

Public  assembly  buildings,  structures  or facilities  with  more  than  fourteen (14) seats shall be provided with smoke management system in such a way that the atmosphere shall not induce more than one percent (1%) by volume of the contaminated atmosphere emanating from the fire area.

This amendment  to the Implementing  Rules  and Regulations  of RA. 9514 shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  after  its  complete  publication  in the  Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Done this December 20, 2017, Quezon City Philippines.

INSP MARLO H. SERITO Member (On OBC Training)	SINSP EDNA M. CONSULTA Member (On OAC Training)
(SGD) SINSP BRANDO T. BALLEDO Member	(SGD) SINSP RODOLFO D. PFLEIDER, JR Member
(SGD) CINSP JAN GARRY D. LUNAS Member	(SGD) CINSP CESAR M. PATROCINIO, JR Member
(SGD) ENGR. ARIEL T. MIRANDA Member	(SGD) SSUPT ROMEL C. TRADIO Member
(SGD) SSUPT JESUS P. FERNANDEZ Member	(SGD) SSUPT JERRY D. CANDIDO Member
(SGD) SSUPT JOSE S. EMBANG, JR Member	SSUPT ALAN N. ALADANO Vice-Chairman
(SGD) SSUPT FELIXBERTO F. ABRENICA Director for Fire Safety and Prevention Chairman, FCTS/TWG
Recommend Approval:
(SGD) LEONARD R. BANAGO Fire Director (DSC) Chief, BFP
Approved:
(SGD) USEC. CATALINO S. CUY OIC, DILG