RULE 9.

ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF FIRE SAFETY MEASURES

DIVISION 1. GENERAL

Inspection of all buildings, structures, facilities and premises, hazardous

operations, storage facilities and transportation vehicles of hazardous
materials and the determination of compliance of provisions of the Fire
Code of the Philippines and this IRR shall be done by City/Municipal Fire
Marshal having jurisdiction.

Fire safety inspections shall be conducted as a pre-requisite to grants of

permits and/or licenses by local governments or other government
agencies. No occupancy permit, business or permit to operate shall be
issued without securing a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) from the
City/Municipal Fire Marshal having jurisdiction.

In coordination with the Building Official, the City/Municipal Fire Marshal

having jurisdiction shall review, evaluate and assess plans, design
calculations and specifications, and issue the necessary building Fire Safety
Evaluation Clearance (FSEC) upon determination that design and
specification is in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Code of the
Philippines and this IRR.
SECTION 10.2.18.3 EDUCATIONAL OCCUPANCIES

Drills

Fire exit drills shall be conducted regularly in accordance with the

applicable provisions of the following paragraphs.

There shall be at least four (4) exit drills a year in consultation and
coordination with the City/Municipal Fire Marshal having jurisdiction
over the area.

Drills shall be conducted during class hours; during the changing of

classes; when the school is at assembly; during the recess or gymnastic
periods; etc., so as to avoid distinction between drills and actual fires. If
a drill is called when pupils are going up and down the stairways, as
during the time classes are changing, the pupils shall be instructed to
form in line and immediately proceed to the nearest available exit in an
orderly manner.

Every fire exit drill shall be an exercise by the school management.

Teachers shall have a complete control of the class. Great stress shall
be laid upon the execution of each drill in a brisk, quiet, and orderly
manner. Running shall be prohibited. In case there are pupils incapable
of holding their places in a line moving at a reasonable speed,
provisions shall be made to have them taken care of by the more sturdy
pupils, moving independently of the regular line of march.

BFP personnel shall be appointed to assist in the proper execution of all

drills. The searching of toilets and other rooms shall be the duty of the
teachers or other members of the staff.

As drills simulate an actual fire condition, pupils shall not be allowed to

obtain anything after the alarm is sounded, even when in classrooms,
which would contribute to the confusion.

Each class or group shall proceed to a primary predetermined point

outside the building and remain there while a check is made to make
sure that all are accounted for, leaving only when a recall signal is given
to return to their classrooms, or when dismissed. Such points shall be
sufficiently far away from the building and from each other as to avoid
danger from any fire in the building, interference with fire department
operations, or confusion between different classes or groups. An
alternate assembly point shall be planned for and used during other
drills to ensure safety of the children if and when the primary assembly
point cannot be used by any reason.

Where necessary for drill lines to cross roadways, signs reading "STOP!
SCHOOL FIRE DRILL" or equivalent shall be carried by assigned

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 personnel to the traffic intersecting points in order to stop the flow
traffic during the period of the drill.

Signals

All fire exit drill alarms shall be sounded on the fire alarm system and not
on the signal system used to dismiss classes.

Whenever any of the school authorities determine an actual fire exists,

they shall immediately call the nearest fire station. At the same time,
they shall try to extinguish the fire as circumstances permit.

In order to ensure that pupils will not return to a burning building, the
recall signal shall be one that is separate and distinct from and cannot
be mistaken for any other signals.

Child Day Care Centers

Fire prevention inspection shall be conducted monthly by a trained

senior member of the staff. A copy of the latest inspection form shall be
posted in a conspicuous place in the day care facility.

An approved fire evacuation plan shall be implemented at least once

every two (2) months.

Furnishing and decorations in child day care centers shall be in

accordance with the provisions of Section 10.2.18.1 of this IRR.

Waste baskets and other waste containers shall be made of non-

combustible materials and provided with close fitting covers.

Child-prepared artwork and teaching materials may be attached

directly to the walls but shall not exceed twenty (20%) percent of the
wall area.
SECTION 10.2.18.4 HEALTH CARE OCCUPANCIES

Evacuation Plan and Fire Exit Drills

The administration of every hospital, nursing home and residential-

custodial care institution shall have an approved evacuation plan for
the guidance of all persons in the event of fire. Copies of such plans shall
be made available to all supervisors and personnel. All employees shall
be instructed and kept informed of their detailed duties under the plan.
A copy of the plan shall be readily available at all times, in the
telephone operator’s position, or at the security center.

Every bed intended for use by institutional occupants shall be easily

movable under conditions of evacuation and shall be equipped with
the type and size of casters to allow easy mobility, especially over ele-
ments of the structure such as expansion plates and elevator thresholds.
The City/Municipal Fire Marshal having jurisdiction may make
exceptions in the equipping of beds intended for use in areas limited to
patients such as convalescent, self-care or psychiatric patients.

Fire exit drills in hospitals shall include the transmission of a fire alarm
signal and simulation of emergency fire conditions except that the
movement of infirm or bed-ridden patients to safe areas or to the
exterior or the building is not required. Drills shall be conducted quarterly
on each shift to familiarize hospital personnel (nurses, interns,
maintenance personnel and administrative staff) with signals and
emergency action required under varied conditions.

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SECTION 10.2.18.5 RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES

Hotel Emergency Organization

All employees of hotels shall be instructed and drilled in the duties they are to
perform in case of fire, panic, or other related emergencies.

Drills of the hotel emergency organization shall be held twice a year covering
such points as the operation and maintenance of the available first aid fire
appliances, the testing of guest alerting devices, and a study of instruction for
emergency duties.

Dormitories, Lodging and Rooming Houses

Fire exit drills shall be regularly conducted at least twice a year.

SECTION 10.2.18.6 MERCANTILE, BUSINESS, AND INDUSTRIAL OCCUPANCIES

In every mercantile, business and industrial occupancies subject to occupancy with

fifty (50) or more persons, fire exit drills shall be held at least twice a year.