1

Karmela L.

Tables of Contents

I. Project Introduction

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Statement of the Problem

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Terms of Reference

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

III.1 Review of Related Literature ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

III.1.1 Fire Station

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. 1.2 Barangay Hall

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

23

III.2 Review of Related Study

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

27

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

27

III.2.1 Fire Station

III.2.1.1 Foreign Study

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

27

III.2.1.2 Local Study

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

28

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

29

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

29

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

30

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

30

III.2.2 Barangay Hall

III.2.2.1 Local Case Study
IV. Site Presentation and Analysis
IV.1 Site Analysis

IV.1.1 Site Investigation and Analysis

IV.1.1.1 Micro-climate Analysis

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

31

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

32

IV.1.1.2 Hydrology and Surface Drainage Analysis ---------------------------------------------------------------

33

IV.1.1.3 Visual Analysis

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

34

IV.1.1.4 Vegetation Analysis

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

35

IV.1.1.5 Vegetation Analysis

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

36

IV.1.1.6 Site Features and Amenities Analysis

---------------------------------------------------------------------

37

IV.1.2 Site S.W.O.T Analysis

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

38

IV.1.3 Conceptual Site Development Plan

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

39

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

40

V. 2 Bubble Diagram

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

41

V. 3 Development of Space Requirements

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

42

V. Space Programming
V.1 Space Matrix

VI. Design Framework

VI. 1 Design Philosophy

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI.1.1 Architect Admired for Vernacular Architecture

----------------------------------------------------------------------

43
44

VI. 2 Project Design Concept

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

45

VI.2.1 Community Center

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

46

VI. 2.2 Use of Community Center

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

46

VI. 2.3 Nature of the Project

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

47

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

48

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

49

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

50

VI. 5.1 Interior

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

51

VI. 5.2 Exterior

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

51

VI.3 Form inspiration

VI.3.1 Evolution of Form
VI. 4 Subtractive, Additive or Objective/object Inspired
VI. 5 Architecture style

VII. References

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

52

I. Project Introduction
A fire station (also called a fire house, fire
hall, or firemen's hall) is a structure or other area
set aside for storage of fire fighting apparatus
such as fire engines and related vehicles, personal
protective equipment, fire hoses and other
specialized

equipment.

It

may

also

have

dormitory living facilities and work areas for the

use of fire fighters. Living areas are sometimes
arranged above the garage bays where personnel
without specific station duties during the night
shift are allowed to sleep unless a dispatch is
called. In that situation, fire fighters may have
special means to allow entry to the ground floor
quickly when a call for help is received.

A barangay hall is the seat of local

The earliest residents of Apayao Province

government for the barangay, the lowest elected

(Cordillera Administrative Region) and one of the

administrative division of the Philippines, below

remaining tribes in Luzon, the Isneg are a small

that

ethnoliguistic

of

Philippine

city

or

Philippine

group

inhabiting

the

wide

municipality. The barangay captain, the head of

mountains of the area. They are concentrated

the barangay government, will often hold office

mainly in the municipalities of Kabugao, Conner,

there.

the

Luna, and Pudtol. Various names have been used

Sangguniang Barangay, will also hold its

to differentiate the Isneg. The Spaniards referred

meetings there. The barangay hall also serves as a

to them as los Apayaos (referring to the river

local community center often providing space for

along which they live) and los Mandayas (taken

both permanent and temporary services and

from the Isneg term meaning upstream). Isnag,

events. The barangay's day care center and office

the Isneg language, is spoken by around 300,000

space for the tanods and the barangay health

people. They also speak Ilocano.

workers

The

are

elected

often

barangay

located

council,

there.

Medical

missions, religious services, fiestas, and sports

contests are often held at or next to the barangay
hall.

The Isneg settlements are mostly along

the river, but they do farming up the hills at
certain times of year. Their villages are small and

houses,

close

and

Having fire station, means having a

companionship. The traditional house sits on four

protection to people's property and life against

large

the calamity of fire. A community in the midst of

wooden

together,
posts

for
and

security
has

colourful

adornments.

the mountain will have a hard time extinguishing

fire. The fire fighting apparatus greatly help in

Tribe settlements in mountains lacks of

the service from the town, thus some emergencies

subduing the fire also, this lower the possibility

Barangay hall serves as the meeting hall

firemen in the fire station. Going down the

of the barangay officers, having a meeting place

mountain to attend meeting causes inconvenience

encourages the officers to attend thus some

since it would take a lot of time and energy.

problems in the community will be discussed and

Having their own barangay hall would properly

proposed idea will come up. Also, having

benefit them.

barangay hall invite medical missions and

religious services. Furthermore, it can also add to
the entertainment of the people due fiesta events
that can be held in the barangay hall.

387 km) North of Manila. The location is near the

Dibagat river which is only accesible by canoe or

1. Why is there a need for this kind of facility?

2. Is there is enough space allocations for the
project?
3. Is the project suitable to be build on the

tribe lack the means of subduing the fire like a

Kabugao, Apayao Philippines. about 241 mi (or

follow as:

of total destruction of the houses.

were not responded resulting to casualties. The

The project's location will be in Dibagat,

in a community. Furthermore some question may

II. Statement of the Problem

location in terms of;

3.1 Environment
3.2 Terrain and;
3.3Community?
4. Is there a solution from the following
rxisting problems on the Philippines'
4.1 Water pipe system

by specialized aircraft. The Kabugao is a

mountainous area thereforoe Dibagat is in the
midst of the mountain on which Isneg settlements
located at.

The research paper aims to discuss the

4.2 Maintenance

joint building of a fire station and barangay hall

4.3 Enough racks for the fire stations
equipment and;

4.4 Division between the Males and

A. Design Considerations

Females in the living quarters?

textures, and colors.

Key design goals and considerations for fire

stations include the following:

Avoid institutional and unnatural finishes,

A.2 Maintain a Safe and Healthy Environment

As

A.1 Promote Occupant Quality of Life

above,

due

to

the

continuous

occupation of the facility by firefighters and the

Fire stations are occupied 24 hours a day,

presence of hazardous materials, special attention

seven days a week by personnel in continuous

must be given to designing the facility to

24-hour shifts. Therefore, ensuring a comfortable

accommodate

living

strategies to both protect the occupants and

environment

for

the

firefighters

is

paramount:

equipment

and

operational

maintain a healthy environment. Consider the

following critical elements:

III. Review of the Related Literature and

Provide ample natural light.

secure

facility

for

both

personnel and materials such as controlled

allows.

medical supplies and hazardous fire

suppression agents.

Provide ample recreation areas and

separate noisy areas (such as a game
room) from quieter areas (such as a
television room).

III.1.2 Fire Station

Provide individual dorm rooms, if budget

Study
III.1 Review of the Related Literature

Provide

Use non-toxic building materials and

improved maintenance practices.

Ensure good indoor air quality and

Design for the changing nature of work.

bureau, the personnel department, the fire

and administrative areas.

investigation bureau, and the medical officer. The

Ensure good ventilation of industrial areas

contamination of clean spaces such as the
SCBA maintenance areas.

exact facilities needed will very with the

B. Design Guidelines

organization of the individual department. It is

B.1 Fire Department Stations and Buildings

Fire

department

buildings

include

administrative offices; "stations," "houses," or

Ensure that equipment, furnishings, and

"halls" housing the apparatus and equipment; fire

finishes do not contain asbestos or lead.

alarm and communications centers; fire training

facilities; and maintenance and supply facilities,

A.3 Ensure Flexibility

including shops and storerooms. In some

As fire fighting technology evolves, fire

relatively small fire departments, all or several of

stations need to evolve as well. Consider the

these functions, insofar as provided, may be

following areas:

housed in one facility.

Plan for potential expansion, both in the

apparatus bay area and the residential
areas.

planning and research staff, the budget or fiscal

abundant natural light in the residential

such as the apparatus bay and prevent

Ensure

appropriate

integration.

product/systems

B.2 Administrative Offices

desirable to arrange the headquarters offices so

that the general public will not have to pass
through the apparatus room or fire fighters'
quarters to reach the offices.
B.3 Fire Stations
B.3.1 General
There are two types of fire houses: one is
operated by a paid fire department, the other by
volunteers. Equipment for both is essentially the
same. Differences occur in facilities provided for
personnel.

.Modern practice is to group

The administrative offices may be housed

companies and apparatus needed to protect a

in a municipal office building or city hall, or et a

given neighborhood in order to provide better

headquarters or central fire station. Headquarters

teamwork and administrative control. Most fire

may include offices and facilities for the chief of

stations house at least one pumper company, with

department, the fire prevention division, the

its assigned first line and reserve apparatus, and

10

other companies, including aerial ladder, aerial

Elements of fire house design are shown

alarms. Space is needed along walls for clothing

platform, squad, rescue, salvage, and various

in Fig. 1 . All facilities indicated are desirable but

racks, slop sinks, battery chargers, water tank fill

auxiliary types of apparatus. Ample space is

not

one

connections, etc. Space should be provided for

needed for reserve apparatus, both to provide a

company generally consists of 14 men ; in a

hose storage racks without obstructing access to

replacement when needed and as equipment for

volunteer department, quarters are provided for

apparatus.

use by off-duty personnel recalled in an

paid drivers only.

Table

gives

sizes

mandatory. In

paid

departments,

emergency.
Far too many fire stations have outgrown

B.3.2 Apparatus Rooms

of apparatus.

their usefulness because inadequate consideration

It is preferable that the apparatus floor be

Floor

was given to the future needs of the district . The

unobstructed by columns. Future use of the space

should be of

cost of providing adequate apparatus storage

should not be circumscribed by having major

concrete,

space is relatively modest when compared with

rooms protrude into the apparatus storage area .

designed to

the total cost of a fire station facility . A desirable

For multitrack stations, a minimum width of 20 ft

carry a load

policy is to provide an apparatus room large

per track is

of 125 Ib per

enough to house at least six major fire department

recommended. This should be increased to at

aq ft .

vehicles. Even where it is intended initially to

least 24-ft width for a single-track station. A

house a single first line piece of apparatus, a

suggested desirable unobstructed depth is 80 ft,

surfaces should be of an easily cleaned material,

prudent minimum would be a two-track station

with ceiling height of 13 ft (minimum).

and floor should have sufficient drains to permit

Wall

capable of housing two first line and two reserve

Ample space is needed to permit work

flushing with hose . Hot and cold water

or special-duty pieces. Space should also be

around the apparatus, changing of hose, putting

provided for additional men, who will be needed

on fire clothing when responding, and to permit

If apparatus room is to be used for repairs,

when further apparatus is obtained .

free movement of personnel when answering

provide a repair pit. Also, carbon monoxide gases

connections are needed at center of aide walls.

11

have to be exhausted to outside, usually by means

platform raised 6 in . above apparatus room floor

of under-floor piping to which motor exhaust

Figure 1 Elements of a Firehouse

may be connected with flexible tubing .

to allow man on duty to remain during cleaning .

(Recreation room on first floor should be raised

Floors of closets, toilets, oil room, stair landings,

at least 6 in . for protection against gas.)

etc., should also be raised for same reason .

Fire stations should have adequate office

Volunteer fire departments frequently

space and facilities for all officers on duty. This

require other facilities at their stations including

includes not only the various company officers

social halls

but offices and quarters for district and deputy

facilities, and ladies' club rooms or lounges,

chiefs . Among the other facilities needed in fire

particularly where the volunteer fire company's

stations are a watch room, a dormitory, a locker

quarters serve as a community center.

and washroom, storerooms, study rooms, a

B.3.3 Apparatus Room Doors

kitchen, recreation room, and hose drying

facilities.
The watch room should be so located that
the man on patrol can see the apparatus floor,
observe all persons entering the building, and
preferably see the street in front of the property. It
should be the center of the station's fire alarm
facilities and have facilities for turning on house
lights and alerting and dispatching fire fighters .
If a watch desk is to be used, it should be on

or meeting rooms, recreation

Doors for fire apparatus should be large

enough to permit quick passage without accident.
An opening at least 14 ft by 14 ft is
recommended.

12

Table 1 Fire Apparatus Sizes

Note: Turning radius varies from 26 to 48 ft, according to type and make. "Cabover- engine" type of apparatus is slightly shorter over all.
Village-Size Pumping Engine, 500 g.p .m .
Length over all
Width over all
Height over all
Triple Combination Pumping Engine, 750 g.p .m . (most used)
Length over all
Width over all
Height over all
Hook-and-ladder Truck (removable hand-raised ladders)
Length over all
Width over all
Height over all
Hook-and-ladder Aerial Truck (4-wheel type)
Length over all
Width over all
Height over all
Hook-and-Lodder Aerial Truck (tractor-drawn type, 6-wheel)
Length over all
Width over all
Height over all
Clearance required

24'-0"
24'-0"
24'-0"
28'-0"
28'-0"
28'-0"
41'-3"
8'-0"
7'-3"
58'-9"
8'-0"
8'-7"

Figure 2 shows suggested minimum space

B.3.4 Designs for Stations

63'-6"
8'-0"
8'-7"
12'-0"
shape

of

the

lot

may

very

with

local

requirements for a district fire station intended

circumstances, but it is considered very poor

for urban or suburban service where the station is

practice to start with a lot of inadequate size . A

to be mainly manned by full-paid personnel . The

larger lot tends to have considerably more reuse

13

or resale value at such time as it may be desired

to add to the fire department facilities or to
relocate the station .
The plan for an urban station shown in
Fig .4 provides space for two pumper companies

Fig . 2 Plot plan for a typical district fire

station for urban and suburban services.
Minimum recommended

Fig . 3 Plot plan for a typical rural fire

station . Minimum recommended plot
size is 43,200 sq ft.

(or a pumper company and a squad company)

plus an aerial ladder or aerial platform company.
Space is provided for reserve apparatus to be
manned by off-shift personnel when needed . If

desired, two-piece engine or truck companies can

Unless required by the terrain or grade, a

be operated out of such a station. Separate

basement is not recommended under the main

quarters with a garage are provided for the

apparatus room as this tends to add materially to

district fire chief so that he can come and go

the cost . However, where the terrain snakes a

basement necessary, the main apparatus room
may be reduced in size and a garage for reserve
apparatus provided on the lower level. A

without opening up or lighting the main station

basement may be desirable under the living

and so that major apparatus can be taken out

quarters to provide room for heating equipment,

without moving the chief's car.

storage, and other facilities.

14

The apparatus area should be of modern

their stations and have been forced to leave part

line can leave the building in event of mechanical

garage-type construction . It is good practice to

of their apparatus

failure of a first-line piece . In some cases, where

provide automatic sprinklers for a fire department

outside or in a private garage where it is not

the lot has a long road frontage, it may be

station . This has training value as well as

readily available for use or under close fire

desirable to provide more apparatus doors facing

providing fire protection for a type of garage

department supervision .

the road and to reduce the depth of the building to

occupancy which has a rather poor fire record .

Adequate meeting room space is needed,

about 50 ft . However, care should be taken to

The heat for the garage area (where required)

with proper exit facilities . The station should be

allow ample depth for major apparatus which

may be controlled by a separate thermostat from

located on a plot large enough to permit doubling

may be purchased, such as large "nurse tankers"

the company quarters . Where a hose drying

the apparatus room when the department grows

or apparatus with long ladders or an aerial

tower is provided (see NFPA No. 198) it may also

and to provide future office space and quarters

platform . Normally, fire stations are expected to

be equipped as a drill For a rural fire station

for

give 50 to 60 years of service, and what starts as

manned chiefly by call or volunteer firemen

subsequently employed .

paid

apparatus

drivers

who

may

be

a purely rural district fire\ station often has major

(Fig . 5), space should be provided initially for

It is bad practice to crowd three pieces of

properties to protect as business and industry

not less than four pieces of major apparatus

apparatus abreast in space designed for two

move into the area . This may require facilities to

including a pumper, water tanker, booster squad

trucks ; this slows response and makes it difficult

house additional

or forest fire truck, and a reserve pumper or

to properly service apparatus .

major apparatus and manpower .

second tanker . Often a rescue truck or

In Figs . 4 and 5 apparatus doors are

ambulance also must be housed . Far too many

shown at the front and rear of the stations . These

rural fire departments have quickly outgrown

are desirable so that the apparatus in the second

15

Fig. 4 Elevation and plan view of a typical

urban fire station

Fig. 5 Elevation and plan view of a typical rural

fire station.

16

B.3.5 Parking Facilities

alarms. Where the fire alarm office is part of a

D. Fire Training Facilities

Parking areas for firemen's cars should

fire station or administration building, it should

not be overlooked . The station should have a

be isolated from the rest of the structure and

parking area large enough to provide off-street

protected against all hazards both internal and

parking for each fireman on duty or scheduled to

external. Ample emergency power should be

facilities in each fire station . A fire training

respond to fires . Where call or volunteer firemen

provided so that the station and communications

center should include adequate classrooms and

are to respond to the station to man apparatus,

equipment can continue to operate should outside

training aids . The better training centers have an

ample parking space should be provided adjacent

power fail .

apparatus room where major apparatus can be

to the front of the station . With paid departments,

parking should be at the sides or rear . Additional
yard space should be provided for company drill
work . Figures 2 and 3 show plot plans for urban
and rural stations respectively .
The apron or ramp in front of the station
should be large enough to permit washing of
apparatus and safe entry of vehicles into traffic .
C. Fire Alarm and Communications Buildings
The communications building or fire

The communications office includes the

operating room where all alarms are received and
transmitted to the department . It also should
have

the

telephone

switchboard

for

the

department, the radio control console, voice

amplification controls, fire alarm circuit panels,
and test equipment . Frequently, a central console
is provided containing all communications
controls

and

information

needed

by

the

Facilities needed for the fire department

training program include study rooms and library

brought indoors for instruction purposes, and the

operation of various items of fire protection
equipment (hydrants, fire alarm, and automatic
sprinklers) can be demonstrated .

Other

desirable features include an auditorium where

various fire protection conferences and training
meetings can be held, facilities for preparation
and reproduction of training manuals and
bulletins, and a fire protection library.
Outdoor training facilities should include

dispatchers . There should be an office for the fire

alarm superintendent, drafting room for plans,

large

fire-resistive

battery room, storerooms for fire alarm supplies,

demonstrations and practice fires, a drill tower

construction and isolated from all hazards that

garage for fire alarm vehicles, and facilities for

for hose and ladder evolutions, tanks for practice

might interfere with the prompt transmission of

fire alarm personnel .

on flammable liquids fires, electrical and gas

alarm

office

should

be

of

grounds

with various

structures

for

17

utility installations for fire training purposes,

Years of study and experience

hydrants and pumper suction facilities, and other

have made it apparent that by planning a

purposes in firefighting needs, into the firehouse

equipment duplicating situations that may be

firehouse properly, a safer and quicker turnout

plan.

encountered at fires . When an individual fire

can be made. This is accomplished primarily by

department is too small to provide all the

arranging traffic flow patterns within the

necessary training facilities, the practice is to

firehouse to be as direct as possible. The

supplement the local training program by use of

integration of the "primary adjacency" concept

regional or state fire schools which do provide

for

more adequate facilities and curricula . The

considerably from the turnout time by "grouping"

NFPA book, Firemen's Training Centers, gives

the firefighting personnel in the "highest activity"

additional suggestions for planning such facilities

areas of the firehouse. Turnout time along with

and contains illustrations of some typical centers .

dispatching time and travel time are three of the

All of the support functions for this plan

key elements in the successful containment of

type are located to the left or right of the

fire which is one of the primary goals of a

apparatus area. This plan type is the least

firefighting unit. The improvements in firehouse

desirable in that the plan has the longest travel

planning have created a total upgrading of human

distances to reach the apparatus area and

comforts with great emphasis on physical fitness.

therefore odds to the turnout time of the fire

These

company.

E. Maintenance Facilities and Shops

Facilities for maintenance and repair work
on fire apparatus should be provided . A repair
shop includes an area where major apparatus,
including ladder trucks, can be serviced and
repaired .
F. Firehouse Planning

planning

include

the

firehouse

well-planned

will

deduct

kitchens,

air

conditioning, better lighting, well-planned toiletshower facilities and dormitory spaces, acoustical
improvements,

safety

planning

the

and

features

in

building

integration

of

small

gymnasium-like

area,

for

physical

fitness

F.1 Concept Planning for the Firehouse and

Plan Types
The one-story firehouse has a series of
plan types which can be categorized in the
following manner:
F.1.2 One-Way Straddle of the Apparatus Area

F.1.2 Two-Way, U Wraparound of Apparatus Area

This plan type is the most desirable for
purposes of minimizing the turnout time in
firehouse planning. Using the same gross area for

18

the standard two-company unit, it places all areas

Wherever possible the land should possess empty

at the shortest possible distance from the

lot for emergency purposes.

responding apparatus. Another key element in

F.2. Adjacency Relationships for Space

this type of planning concept is that it separates

Planning of a Firehouse

the noisy areas of the firehouse from the quiet

The key concept in planning a firehouse

areas by the natural separation of the apparatus

area.

for the shortest turnout time possible is the

F.1.3 Two-Way Straddle of the Apparatus Area

development of an adjacency planning concept.

The main purpose of this concept is an in-depth

This plan type is the second most

study of spaces in a firehouse which require an

desirable for purposes of minimizing the turnout

time in firehouse planning. The plan clearly
separates the noisy areas of the firehouse from
the quiet areas and may create circulation
patterns in the support areas by not taking
advantage of the back of the firehouse for support
area use.
(D) L Wraparound of the Apparatus Area

from the leg of the L to the toe. The key turnout

spaces are placed in normal sequence by virtue of
its form. One of the advantages of this plan type
is the flexibility for expansion along the
apparatus area and the toe of the L. This plan
type is the third most desirable with the
advantage of potential for expansion. The apron
area shall have smallest possible way to drain

This plan type is unique in that the

water. It should also possess parking area to

location of the L arrangement allows for the

accommodate personnel on duty at any times.

natural progression in locating the primary

The main arterial street should accommodate the

adjacency areas through the third-level adjacency

apparatus with the biggest turning radius.

areas as the L wraps around the apparatus area

"adjacency rating" for purposes of functional

planning of the firehouse to verify where the
greatest amounts of activity occur. These
"activity locations" will then be joined in such a
manner that a minimum amount of grouping time
is required for the firefighting personnel to
respond to the fire. This grouping time is
extremely valuable to the response action. At this
time the company officers develop a response
strategy for the shortest route to the fire location
and the problems of the fire condition.
F.2.1 Primary Adjacency

19

Spaces in this category must be directly

areas) Dormitory areas Turnout gear storage Icon

Prior to site selection it is essential that an

connected in a physical manner to each other or

be third-level adjacency according to response

architect/space-planning analyst be retained for

directly to the apparatus area which is the key

action strategy)

purposes

turnout location in the response action.

General

Spaces in this category must be placed at

a midway location in the fire house plan because
of the dependency of function during day-to-day

shop,

storage,

ascertaining

the

gross

area

requirements for the firehouse. As pace-planning

F.3.2 Secondary Adjacency Spaces

F.2.2 Secondary Adjacency

of

repair

area

Cleanup areas Hose storage/drying area

F.3.3. Third-Level Adjacency Spaces

analyst is a new breed of expert whose main

responsibility is to arrive at the most efficient
total gross space required for the building. High
building costs have necessitated the use of a

Apparatus parts storage Boiler plant,

space-planning analyst to obtain the least gross

utilities, and emergency generator area Locker

area for the building function with maximum

room area Miscellaneous storage areas Major

efficiency. The space-planning analyst will make

Spaces in this category are the least used

toilet-shower area, clothes washing and drying

in-depth studies of equipment, personnel, utility

in a firehouse and have no direct day-to-day

area Administrative area-not related to the

needs, and circulation and arrive at the optimum

operational relationship to the primary and

response action Conference/public areas Any

gross area requirements for the building. Prior to

secondary adjacency spaces.

other function not directly related to the response

planning a firehouse, it is essential that all

action

equipment and personnel needs are clearly

operations that are not of primary importance.

F.2.3 Third-Level Adjacency

F.3.1 Primary Adjacency Spaces

Dispatcher-house watch area, lobby area
Administrative-company

offices

Kitchen/recreation area/gym area/training area

Lounge

area

accommodations

Classroom
for

facility

television,

with

videotape

teaching Basic toilet area (close to high-use

Note: Adjacency levels must be ascertained

delineated in numbers and size so that proper

through in-depth interviews with fire department

circulation allowances can be made for the proper

administrators and may change accordingly.

functioning of the firehouse; these in turn will

F.4 Space-Planning Analysis to obtain the

Gross Area Requirements for the Firehouse

give the gross area requirements. As part of the

study by the space planning analyst many options
will be offered which will examine the level of

20

maximizing or minimizing the space needs and

time is absolutely necessary, plus a minimum

integrating the drive-through apparatus area

the ultimate advantage and disadvantage of each

of50

for

arrangement in the floor plan. This method of

as they relate to the function of the building.

administrative personnel. Beyond this point the

returning from the response action creates less

parking requirement is a subjective judgment

disruption in the street and potential for accident

which may include parking spaces for public and

during the backing up of apparatus.

F.4.1 Building and Site relationship

Three of the major considerations related
to the building and site relationship are the
building setback, training area requirements, and
the onsite parking requirement for firefighting
personnel. The minimum setback is 30 ft. and
should ideally be standard at 65 ft. to
accommodate the largest piece of apparatus in the
fire service. This will give optimum visibility for
apparatus exiting from the firehouse. The apron
area shall have the smallest possible slope to
drain water and may include a hot-water
underground piping system or electrical cable deicing system to clear the apron for response
purposes. All building sites require an open area
to one side of the firehouse for purposes of
training with the largest piece of apparatus
available to the firefighting unit. A parking area
to accommodate all personnel on duty at any one

percent

more

as

extra

space

social functions. The parking area is to be located

adjacent to the dispatcher-house watch area with
visual control of the activity in the parking area.
The main arterial street shall be wide enough to

F.4.2 Various Space Components in Firehouse

Planning
F.4.2.1 Dispatcher House Watch Area

accommodate the apparatus with the largest

This key communication area is being

turning radius. It is also essential that traffic

formed as an independent operating space,

controls be installed on extreme ends of the front

completely sound-controlled for optimum hearing

property line to stop traffic during a response

ability. It must be completely air-conditioned and

action. As a secondary consideration, any

have maximum visual control of the quarters and

responding of apparatus directly into the low sun

street conditions. Glass areas in the front of the

orientations shall be eliminated to do away with

house watch are arranged in such a manner, that

the vision problem of the quick transition from

180 of visibility in front of the firehouse is

basic darkness to brightness and the ensuing

possible. The alarm lights button at the fire

accident potential, by orienting the building

communications console is not limited to

properly.

activating the alarm lights as in the past. The

Wherever possible additional land should

alarm button also activates the apparatus fume-

be allocated to the site footage for purposes of

exhaust system and a series of floodlights

21

mounted on the front face of the building. These

lights illuminate the apron area and street for a

5. Alarm lights for various parts of the

building during response action

safer response. An adjustable timer turns off the

6. Daily-use light control

floodlights and the fume-exhaust system after the

7. Control of overhead doors with up and

overhead doors have been electrically secured

stop buttons only for safety purposes; down

shut. They can be activated manually through an

button located at overhead door location only

override switch by the house watch man in other

than response situations.

8. A complete intercom system for

immediate verbal communication to all areas of
the firehouse plan.

F.4.2.1.1 Control Functions of the DispatcherHouse watch Area

F.4.2.1.2 Management Adjacency

The planned adjacency of the house watch

This key communication area is also the

and the company offices affords excellent audible

center of all electronic switching devices which

communication between the dispatcher-house

control the security and functioning of the

watch

firehouse and include:

management arm of the firehouse. Both areas

1. Gasoline and diesel pump operation

2.

Manual

operation

of

floodlights

mounted on the front of the building

3. Security lights surrounding the problem
areas of the building
4. Manual control of fume-exhaust system

area

and

the

company

offices-the

also face the apparatus storage area and have

glass walls, allowing for visual control of the
apparatus floor. This adjacency of space is ideal
for all aspects of communication and decision
making during initial turnout action.

22

access from all areas in the four major concepts

operators, springs, track, turning shafts, and other

in planning a firehouse. These factors will

accessory equipment of a single size will simplify

provide the firefighting units with a good

the storage of ports while minimizing the

functional design for response purposes. The

inventory burden. It is recommended that all

single open space offers greater flexibility in the

overhead doors be opened with electrical

apparatus storage area and may also function as

operators for purposes of decreasing the turnout

an area for training and for storage of spare or

fine. Electrical operators shall have the capability

down apparatus. Apparatus storage areas are now

of manual operation in case of breakdown of the

being equipped with a sophisticated fume exhaust

motorized equipment. It is essential that the over

system. Our goal is for the maximum elimination

hood-dooroperating equipment be put on the

of fume-exhaust gases on the apparatus floor. It is

emergency generator in case of electrical failure

recommended that all apparatus areas utilize

in the community. Generally throughout the fire

single apparatus doors approximately 12 ft. wide

service, the hose tower is being eliminated as a

by 14 ft. high. A pair of doors is more functional

functional need in the operation of a firehouse.

in that a breakdown in one door will allow the

responding apparatus to maneuver through the

F.4.2.3 Turnout Gear Storage

other door. It is essential to include a totalizer on

The turnout gear storage area shall be

all. Apparatus doors so that tension springs may

secured with a pull-down see through mesh gate

be replaced on a preventive maintenance

arrangement and locking device to secure the

This is the heart of every firehouse; its

schedule based on predictive breakdown of the

area while the company is out of quarters.

location, shape, flexibility, size, layout, and

equipment so this will simplify the storage of

Included as part of the equipment for this area

columnfree approach will provide for easy, quick

spare parts for repair purposes. All door

shall be an electric heater for drying and an

F.4.2.2 The Apparatus storage area

23

exhaust fan to clear out the humidity in the area.

primary adjacency and shall have direct access to

level, with his office and dormitory having direct

The wall and ceiling finishes shall include

the firefighting apparatus area.

access to his response vehicle. In the typical two-

maintenance-free finishes such as permanently

glazed surfaces.

story firehouse, the chief's quarters are located at

F.4.2.6 Kitchen-Dining Room-Recreation Area

Each component shall be planned for the
level of commercial use completely in stainless

F.4.2.4 Slide Pole and Enclosures

steel. Included also are a large refrigerator and a

There is a movement in the fire service to
generally eliminate the slide pole as a means of
circulation from the second floor of a firehouse.
Serious injuries have occurred in the use of slide
poles. Their use is generally discouraged in favor

six-burner range with a grill unit and oven. The

ceilings are of washable acoustical tile and the
floor and wall are finished In a ceramic or quarry
tile, which has eliminated maintenance except for
simple cleaning.

of a stairway or the trend toward the one-story

firehouse, wherever the land value permits, in all

F.4.2.7. Dormitory-Locker Room

New

areas of the country.

planning

concepts

have

the

dormitory and locker-room spaces straddling the

F.4.2.5 Classroom-TV Amphitheater for Training
Purposes
The

toilet-shower and clothes-washing core areas.

This provides sound isolation between the noisy

space

will

require

complete

locker room and quiet dormitory area.

acoustical treatment, theater type viewing chairs,

a sloped floor arrangement for viewing purposes,

F.4.2.8 Chief's Quarters

and a desk top writing surface. In terms of

The chief's car and his turnout gear

adjacency level, this space is classified as a

storage closet are located at the base of the egress

stair or circulation corridor at the apparatus floor

the head of the stair at the second floor and he

goes directly into his suite of rooms from the
egress stair. There is a continuity of function
between the chief's car area, the chief's turnout
gear storage, the egress stair, and the responding
chief's office and dormitory; the adjacency of
these spaces indicates a minimum circulation
pattern.

24

25

G. The Advantages of One-Storey Firehouse

Over Two-storey Firehouse

adjacent parcels as allowed by the zoning

regulations in the particular municipality.

1. Injuries to members of the responding fire

companies resulting from the use of stairs and
slide poles will be eliminated.
2. Elimination of the physical exertion required in
the constant up and down activity of a high
activity firefighting unit.
3. It is apparent that the most economical solution
to fire house design is the one-story fire house.
It is approximately 10 percent lower in cost
than the twostory firehouse and becomes a
trade-off when evaluating low land cost and the
difference in construction cost between the onestory firehouse and the two-story firehouse.
4. As a secondary option for high land cost, the
value of the land can always be recouped by
selling the air rights over the property for future
development or for additional floor area to

III. 1.2 Barangay Hall

26

A. Standards Space Requirements and Design

Considerations
A.1 Offices/ Workstation Spaces
The standards and guidelines incorporate the

2. Standards and guidelines should be

4. Space should be flexible. This principle

simplified. This principle recognizes that

recognizes that fewer barriers to change,

simplified, minimum standards and broad

less disruption when change does occur,

guidelines

and lower costs in money and time can be

written

in

non-technical

language will enable departments to plan

following key principles:

1. Departments should be empowered to

their own office.

3. Space should be allocated according to

plan their office space. This principle

functional requirements. This principle

recognizes that, if office space is treated

recognizes that the simply allocating

as

and

office space to people based on their

managers are given the opportunity to

position or rank in an organizational

plan

simplified

hierarchy rather than the functional needs

standards and guidelines, more creative,

of their work may result in a less

cost-effective

productive

an

administrative

office

space

resource

using

solutions

to

office space needs will result.

satisfying

workplace

and

accomplished by:
using open space planning
whenever practical
reducing the number of different
sizes of spaces
standardizing the sizes of as
many spaces as possible.

additional

costs.

Table 2. The following is a list of recommended workstation sizes for various job functions. Using these workstation sizes will promote efficient space
planning within building grids and provide flexibility for accommodating future organizational changes.

27

Space Type

Enclosed Type A

Enclosed Type B

Functional Assignment

Space Allocation
Square meter

Square feet

22.5

240

visual and acoustical privacy. Typical assignment for Assistant Deputy Minister, 13.9

150

Frequent meetings with up to four others and/or requiring confidentiality, security,

visual and acoustical privacy. Typical assignment for Deputy Minister or equivalent.
Frequent meetings with up to two others and/or requiring confidentiality, security,
Director, senior position in charge of a regional or district office or equivalent.
Frequent meetings with up to two others and/or requiring confidentiality, security,

Enclosed Type C

visual and acoustical privacy. Typical assignment for position involved with
counseling, human resources management or other sensitive situations requiring

9.3

100

9.3

100

ongoing visual and acoustical privacy.

Concentrated multi-source paperwork: compiling information, reading, writing,
OpenType D

analyzing, calculating and referencing multiple sources of material; allows for

manual and automated drafting functions. Typical assignment for managerial,
professional or technical staff.
Multi-task paper intensive work: telephone work, keyboarding, filing, sorting

Open Type E

Open Type F

documents, handling mail, editing, operating equipment, scheduling, receiving 6.5

visitors. Typical assignment for secretary and administrative support staff.
Specific, task-oriented work, focusing on data input into electronic media. Typical
assignment for clerical and data-entry staff.

Table 3. The following is a list of recommended space planning allowances for office support function

4.5

70

50

28

Support Space

Typical Space Allocation and Functional Assignment

Filing Cabinet
Plan Cabinets
Storage Shelf Units, Storage Rooms
Photocopier Area

Allow 1.0 m2 (11 ft2 ) per filing cabinet.

Allow 1.5 m2 (15 ft2) per plan storage cabinet.
Allow up to 1 m2 (10 ft2 ) per shelving unit either free-standing or within storage rooms.
Allow 5 m2 (50 ft2 ) for standard photocopying requirements to include paper storage and work

General Work Area

surface.
Allow up to 5 m2 (50 ft2 ) for common/shared workstation for functions such as mail sorting,

Reference Library

computer equipment, facsimile machine, etc.

Allow up to 1 m2 (10 ft2) per shelving unit.

Local Area Network (LAN) Computer Room

Allow 5 m2 (50 ft2 ) per reading and work table

Space allocation determined on a case by case basis taking into account equipment footprint and

First Aid Room

other functional requirements.

First Aid Room will be provided based on regulations under the Safety Act. For buildings with
multiple departments, space for First Aid Room will be allocated based on number of FTEs in each

Reception Area

department.
Space allocation based on functional needs; e.g., visitor/customer traffic, security requirements,

Quiet Rooms
Meeting Rooms

reception activities, etc.

Allow 1 Quiet Room of 9.3 m2 (100 ft2 ) for every 10 open workstations.
Meetings of 4 to 5 people allow 11.15 m2 (120 ft2 )
Meeting of 6 to 7 people allow 13.90 m2 (150 ft2 )

Coffee Counter/Nook

Meetings of 12 people allow 22.30 m2 (240 ft2 )

Allow 1 counter/nook of 1.16 m2 (12.5 ft2 ):
per 30-FTE department; or
per floor, where departments each have less than 30 FTEs.
B. Lobbies
Use of a lobby can reduce the effect of
external

conditions

on

the

interior

of

29

a building and may also contribute to fire safety.

However where two sets of doors are located in
close proximity, this can present a hazard and a
potential barrier to access.

Any lobby provided at the entrance to or

within a building should allow a person to pass
through whilst remaining clear of the swing of
doors. A rectangular area, of at least 1.6m long
by 750mm wide, outwith any door swing, would
permit safe passage of, for example, a person in a
wheelchair and a companion.

III.2 Review of the Related Study

III.2.1 Fire Station
III.2.1.1 Foreign Case Study I
Foreign Case Study I
According to Baldwin in his study entitled
Recommendations for Fire station Design "In the
past twenty years, City of Clearwater, Florida has
progressed considerably. Due to this, Clearwater
Fire and Rescue was recommending that the City
build two additional fire stations to better serve

C. Function Hall
A Function Hall or Reception Hall is a
room designated for hosting events and other
reception or social events.

the increased population. The problem was

Clearwater had not built or refurbished a fire
station since 1978.
The purpose of this research was to
develop fire station design recommendations that
would meet the needs of future construction
projects. The action research method was utilized
to research the following questions:

30

1. What design changes have taken place

over the last twenty years to improve

design by incorporating the features found in

residential design." (Baldwin, B. 1999)

Based on the case study conducted by

station functionality?
2.

To

what

guidelines

Local Case Study I

must

new

construction or refurbishment adhere?

Cabales,

Foreign Case Study II

Based on the case study

Little

3. What are fire departments in Pinellas

Rock Fire Station 23 by the Jackson Brown

County doing to meet their needs?

Palculict Architects. The Little Rock Fire Station

23 is located at the corner of Rahling and Taylor

The literature review examined current

Loop, the new 8,586 square foot sub-station was

trends in fire station design and the suggested

built in response to the rapid residential and

guidelines for new construction. Data was also

commercial growth in the West Little Rock area

gathered by interviewing John C. Kelly, a local

over the last decade. This is the first fire station

architect. Fire stations located in Pinellas County

in the state to achieve LEED certification.

which had been built or refurbished within the

past two years were visited.

The city annexed portions of land to the

area therefore lengthing the distance that

The findings of this research indicate the

firefighters had to travel. The new station was

need to address an ever growing coed workforce

built within .5 miles of a major east/west corridor

in the area of station design. The National Fire

(state highway) in Little Rock and it is on a major

Protection Associations 1500 Series is an

north/south thoroughfare that will enable a quick

excellent guide to meeting health and safety

response time. (Palculict, J.B. 2005)

researchers

Aguillera,
on

the

Gumabon,
Fire

and

Station

other
naming

Masambong Fire Sub-Station located at Malac St.

cor Del Monte Ave. Brgy. Masambong Quezon
City. Philippines. "In 2009, its construction
started and was completed on 2010. For so many
years, the inadequacies of having a lesser fire
station and personnel in a strategic location were
have always been the major problem in the vast
land area of Quezon City. General Enrique
Linsangan, the then Fire Chief of the Bureau of
Fire Protection visualized the idea of creating a
Fire Sub-station in a very accessible, strategic
and specifically located in the area where it may
serve and meets the needs of the greater public.
Based on the research conducted and statistics
information concludes that the La Loma Fire
Sub-Station and Frisco Fire Sub-Station shared

issues when designing a fire station. Movement

the largest coverage are where the most number

has been away from an institutional building

III.2.1.2 Local Case Study

of popular situated and primarily cited as a Fire

31

Prone/Hazard. On 2009, the Masambong Fire

researchers noticed some existing problems on

sub-station begun its creation and little by little it

the building and also proposed some solutions.

was built strong and established that even

The problems noticed in the building are water

earthquakes and typhoon Ondoy measure its firm

leakage inside the premises from the fire trucks,

the Philippines, called the barangay, refers to

foundation and the structures but still persevere.

causes unnecessary puddles of water on the floor

an inner

2010, after its completion, the vision comes into a

which may attract mosquitoes and other insects

great inauguration. In their visit on the fire

and also the researchers notice that there is no

station, the researchers notices some problems

proper maintenance for all active and passive

functional branches in the political system, the

and listed them. The problems are the water pipe

spaces. The researcher's proposed solution was

barangay plays a vital role in the society and

leakage from the second floor, the sliding the

the fire station's administer should hire more

pole was too high, the fire station has no proper

employees to clean up the puddles of water and

racks for equipment and there is no division of

have the unsanitary areas renovated if they have

reinforces societys social norms, structure, and

female and male in the fire station's toilet and

the budget. Also the researcher proposed that the

development; as well as providing clear cut

bath." (Cabales, K. Aguillera, P. Gumabon, J.

fire station's current employee should replace the

and et al. 2016)

floor that is made of cement to gravel for the

water to seep into the gravel instead of creating

Local Case Study II

In the case study of Herna, Bravo,
Hipolito and the other researchers on the fire

The smallest administrative division in

city neighbourhood,

a suburb or

suburban neighborhood. Being one of the most

amongst its people. It is also the one who

political divisions and areas of jurisdiction per

Barangay officials.

puddles on the cement floors and to avoid

accident from slipping." (Herna, E, Bravo, K,
Hipolito, V and et al. 2016)

station located at A. Soriano Ave. Corner General

The researchers have decided to conduct a

case study specifically on Barangay Kasilawan in
Makati, Metro Manila. This study aims not only

Luna St. named Intramuros Fire Station. It was

built in 1901. In the researcher's visit the

Local Case Study

Barangay Hall

to produce a deeper understanding of the

32

Barangay system that is used in the Philippines

researchers chosen ethnic tribal community, The

barangay hall also seems to receive the same

but also shed some light on the possible relation

Tausugs in Sulu, Mindanao.

feedbacks in terms of its structure which can

between a Barangays location, community,

structure, development and systems and most
specifically, in its barangay hall on the existing
problems and its possible solutions for the

Barangay Kasilawan is known for its

minuscule but award winning community, as to
why the researchers have chosen the barangay for
a local case study. In line with this, their

p/efo30790.pdf on January 14,

2016.
Palculict J.B (2005) Little Rock Fire Station 23.
Dayco

Construction.

Retrieved

from
VII. References
Baldwin, B. (1999) Recommendations for Fire
Station Design. Executive Fire
Officer Program. Retrieved from
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/pdf/efo

http://jbparchitects.com/singleproject/little-rock-fire-station-no23/ on January 14, 2016.

elevate the researchers knowledge about a good

barangay hall.

33