BUILDING LAWS

Disclaimer: Most of the questions, answers and information posted here were consolidated from review
materials. Answers should be checked for accuracy as standards and data may have changed.

1. Major, minor roads and motor court for economic and socialized housing project shall be
paved with asphalt with minimum thickness of _____ millimeters or concrete with minimum
thickness of _____ millimeters.

a. 50 : 100
b. 50 : 150
c. 75 : 100
d. 75 : 150

2. Any semi-enclosed or enclosed and usable or habitable building projection constructed in the
airspace above the arcade and therefore utilizing the air rights above the road-right-of-way
(RROW).

a. Footbridge
b. Canopy
c. Arcade structure
d. Signage

3. If the Code prescriptions for introducing natural light and ventilation into all basement levels
are first satisfied, the maximum depth of the basement can then be made equal to _____ of
the height of the building above grade.

a. 1/3
b. 1/5
c. 1/4
d. 1/2

4. Descriptive of any material which by its nature or as a result of its reaction with other elements
produces a rapid drop in temperature of the immediate surroundings.

a. Cryogenic
b. Oxidizing Material
c. Combustible Liquid
d. Pyrophonic

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5. As per BP 220, in cases when the two sides of the buildings facing each other are blank walls,
i.e., either there are no openings or only minimal openings for comfort rooms, the minimum
distance between the buildings shall ____ meters.

a. 1.5
b. 3.0
c. 2.5
d. 2.0

6. Combined open and arcaded sidewalks shall provided with a planting strip of not less than
____ millimeters in width up to a maximum of 1/3 of the allowed sidewalk width, as a
separating strip between the arcaded portion and the open portion of the sidewalk.

a. 800
b. 900
c. 700
d. 600

7. Railing where required, shall be built substantially strong and sturdy and shall not be less than
____ in height.

a. 1.10 meters
b. 1.20 meters
c. 1.00 meters
d. 0.90 meters

8. As per Fire Code, what is the maximum travel distance for places of assembly if not protected
by automatic fire suppression system?

a. 60 m
b. 45 m
c. 46 m
d. 61 m

9. (Fire Code) All apartment buildings shall be protected throughout by an approved, supervised
sprinkler system except in building where all guest sleeping rooms or guest suites have a door
opening directly outside at the street or grade level or exterior exit access in buildings up to
and including ____ storeys in height.
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 a. 5
b. 2
c. 4
d. 3

10. Secondary or support natural light and ventilation shaft/s (angular) with a clear distance of at
least ____ meters shall emanate from the front and rear perimeters of the building and shall
traverse the entire depth of the basement.

a. 3.00
b. 1.80
c. 1.20
d. 2.40

11. (Fire Code) The occupant load of mercantile buildings for the upper floor used for mercantile
purposes shall not be less than one (1) person for each ____ square meters gross floor area.

a. 5.2
b. 5.4
c. 5.6
d. 5.8

12. Stairways with less than ____ risers need not have handrails.

a. 5
b. 4
c. 3
d. 6

13. That which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work
artificially built-up or composed or parts joined together in some definite manner.

a. Storey
b. Structure
c. Monument
d. Tower

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14. As per BP 344, if possible, gratings should never be located along walkways. When occurring
along walkways, grating openings shall not project more that ____ above the level of the
walkway.

a. 4.5 mm
b. 2.5 mm
c. 6.5 mm
d. 8.5 mm

15. As per PD 1096, what is referred to by the total number of persons that may occupy a building
or a portion thereof at any one time?

a. Building Usage
b. Building Capacity
c. Building Occupancy
d. Occupant load

16. For buildings of more than two (2) storeys in height, the minimum width of the rear or side
court shall be increased at the rate of ____ millimeters for each additional storey up to the
fourteenth (14th) storey.

a. 200
b. 300
c. 100
d. 400

17. As per BP 220, alley shall have a width of ____ meters intended to break a block and to serve
both pedestrian and for emergency purposes, both ends connecting to streets. It shall not be
used as access to the property.

a. 6.5
b. 3.0
c. 2.0
d. 4.0

18. As per BP 344, what is the maximum length of a ramp if the ramp gradient is 1:12? (in meters)

a. 7.0
b. 4.0
c. 6.0
d. 5.0
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19. (Fire Code) For business occupancies, the clear width of any corridor or passageway serving
an occupant load of fifty (50) or more shall be not less than ____ meters.

a. 1.10
b. 1.12
c. 1.21
d. 1.11

20. (Fire Code) The entrance door to any apartment is within ____ meters in a building protected
by approved, supervised sprinkler system.

a. 46.6
b. 46.5
c. 45.5
d. 45.6

21. (Fire Code) For places of assembly, there shall be a space of not less than ____ centimeters
from the back of one seat and the front of the seat immediately behind it as measured between
plumb lines.

a. 28
b. 30
c. 34
d. 24

22. As per BP 220, minimum lot area for duplex/single-attached units in socialized housing
projects. (in square meters)

a. 38
b. 46
c. 36
d. 48

23. The point of reference on the highest adjoining natural grade (ground surface), as established
by the proper government authority.

a. Natural ground line

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 d. Established grade elevation

24. (Fire Code) Where will you locate rooms used for pre-schoolers, first grade and second grade
pupils?

a. Floor of exit discharge only

25. (Fire Code) Where the total occupant load of all storeys served by the stair is fewer than 50,
the minimum width clear of all obstructions, shall be ____ millimeters.

a. 912
b. 915
c. 812
d. 922

26. As per BP 220, inside curb radii for cul-de-sac.

a. 4.5 m
b. 3.5 m
c. 6.5 m
d. 5.5 m

27. As per BP 220, how many percent of the gross subdivision area shall be allocated for
community facilities if the density is not more than 150 dwelling units per hectare in socialized
housing?

a. 2.0
b. 1.5
c. 2.5
d. 1.0

28. (Fire Code) All business occupancy buildings ____ meters or more in height shall be provided
throughout with approved, supervised sprinkler system, fully electrically supervised designed in
accordance with NFPA 13: Standard for the installation of Sprinklers.

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 a. 15
b. 9
c. 18
d. 12

29. (Fire Code) Any place of assembly used for exhibition or display purposes shall be equipped
with a complete automatic fire suppression system, when the exhibition or display area
exceeds ____ square meters.

a. 1439
b. 1349
c. 1493
d. 1394

30. As per PD 1096, what is the minimum clear ceiling height for mezzanine floors above and
below it?

a. 2.10
b. 2.00
c. 1.90
d. 1.80

31. As per BP 344, how much is the parking slot width for handicapped drivers and passengers
providing sufficient clear space between parked cars to allow them to transfer to a wheelchair?
(in meters)

a. 4.20
b. 3.50
c. 2.70
d. 3.70

32. As per PD 1096, how many percent of parking requirements may be provided if adequate
public parking lots/multi-floor parking garages are available within 200 meters of the proposed
buildings/structures?

a. 30%
b. 20%
c. 40%
d. 50%

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33. If only one (1) RROW services a lot and such is only 3.00 meters wide or less, a Building
Height Limit (BHL) equivalent to ___________ shall be observed regardless of use or
occupancy, lot size, lot dimensions, lot frontage and like.

a. 3 storeys or 9 meters maximum

34. The sign or sign structure must not project more than ____ meter into the public alley where
the sign or sign structure is located more than 4.50 meters above established sidewalk grade.

a. 0.60
b. 0.90
c. 1.00
d. 1.20

35. What is the minimum floor area of the toilet for the handicapped?

a. 1.90 W x 1.80 D
b. 1.70 W x 1.90 D
c. 1.70 W x 1.80 D
d. 1.80 W x 1.70 D

36. As per BP 220, minimum lot area for economic rowhouse units. (in square meters)

a. 32
b. 28
c. 36
d. 34

37. As per NBC, every corner building or solid fence on a public street or alley less than ____
meters in width shall be truncated at the corner.

a. 2.40
b. 3.00
c. 3.60
d. 4.00

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38. A group of firefighters performing fire suppression activities within a specified jurisdiction.

a. Fire volunteers
b. Fire safety practitioners
c. Fire watchers
d. Community fire brigade

39. Eaves over required windows shall not be less than ____ mm from the side and rear property
lines.

a. 750
b. 700
c. 900
d. 1000

40. (Fire Code) Door openings in means of egress shall not be less than ___ centimeters in clear
width.

a. 81
b. 91
c. 92
d. 71

41. Every corner building or solid fence on a public street or alley less than ____ meters in width
shall be truncated at the corner.

a. 3.60
b. 4.00
c. 3.00
d. 5.00

42. A collective term that is used to refer to a group of firefighters, primarily performing fire
suppression activities in areas such as, but not limited to, community/barangay, company, and
other government and non-government establishments.

a. Fire brigade
b. Fire watchers
c. Fire safety practitioners
d. Fire volunteers

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43. (Fire Code) For child day-care centers, travel distance between any room or intended as exit
access and an exit shall not exceed ____ meters.

a. 30.5
b. 31.5
c. 30.0
d. 31.0

44. As per PD 1096, what is the minimum horizontal distance between the curb line and the
outermost face of any part of the arcade that is cantilevered from the building line over the
sidewalk?

a. 700 mm
b. 600 mm
c. 500 mm
d. 800 mm

45. The minimum distance of new signs or signboard structures shall be ___ apart.

a. 4.00 meters
b. 40.00 meters
c. 100.00 meters
d. 20.00 meters

46. As per BP 220, minimum ceiling height for habitable rooms shall be measured from the
finished floor line to the ceiling line. Where ceilings are not provided, a minimum headroom
clearance of ____ meters shall be provided.

a. 2.10
b. 2.40
c. 2.70
d. 2.00

47. As per BP 220, handrails shall be so designed so as to permit continuous sliding of hands on
them and shall be provided with a minimum clearance of ____ millimeters from the wall.

a. 40
b. 48
c. 50
d. 38

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48. In cases where there is no development yet introduced by the lot owner and where maximum
yard and setback ranges from twenty (20.00) meters or more from the outermost board edge
of the RROW, the maximum height of signs/signboard structures will be ____ meters.

a. 12
b. 6
c. 25
d. 18

49. (Fire Code) Every aisle for places of assembly shall be not less than ____ centimeters when
serving seats on both sides.

a. 112
b. 122
c. 121
d. 110

50. (Fire Code) Buildings, structures or facilities ____ meters or more in height are considered are
High Rise Buildings.

a. 18
b. 12
c. 15
d. 21

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