Chapter 16&17

SECTION 1601. Approved Plastics (introduction for this section which includes the approved ratings in
which these plastics must possess for safety)

Approved plastic materials shall be those which have a flame-spread rating of two hundred twenty
five (225) or less and a smoke density not greater than that obtained from the burning of untreated
wood
under similar conditions when tested in accordance with generally accepted engineering practices. The
products of combustion shall be no more toxic than the burning of untreated wood under similar
conditions.

SECTION 1602. Installation (this contains two categories for installation allowed for safety)

1. Structural Requirements – All plastic materials shall be of adequate strength and durability to
withstand the prescribed design loads. Sufficient and substantial technical data shall be submitted to
establish stresses, maximum unsupported spans, and such other information as may be deemed
necessary for the various thicknesses and forms used.

2. Fastenings – Fastenings shall be adequate to withstand design loads and internal and external
stresses required of the assembly. Proper allowances of plastic materials in conjunction with other
materials with which it is assembled or integrated shall be provided. (when we say design loads, these
are the loads generated either live load (moving) or dead loads that could cause the plastic to withstand
stresses)

SECTION 1603. Glazing of Openings

1. The location of doors, sashes and framed openings glazed or equipped with approved plastics at
the exterior walls of a building shall be so arranged that in case of fire, the occupants may use
such openings to escape from the building to a place of safety. The travel distance from any
point of the building towards the location of such openings should not be over 45.00 meters in
any place ofassembly for spaces not protected by automatic fire suppression and 60.00
meters in areas so
protected. (glazing of entrance/exits and/or openings must be able to withstand fire as it must
be used as fire exit with an adequate distance)

2. Openings glazed with approved plastics at the ground floor shall be so located such that it shall
open directly to a street or into an exit court. Such openings at the upper floor shall be so
located at a horizontal distance not less than 3.00 meters from the enclosed stairway, outside
stairway or exit passageway leading to a street or into an exit court.
 3. The use of plastic doors, sashes and framings of openings for Group A to I Occupancies may be
allowed except for entrance doors and exit doors which should be of materials other than
plastics permitted by the Code.

4. The size of openings glazed with approved plastics shall have a minimum dimension where one
person could pass through or 600 millimeters square.

5. The maximum size of such openings depends upon the structural strength and the fastening
adequacy requirements of approved plastics being used.

6. The spacing between openings glazed with approved plastics shall have a minimum distance
such that the materials used in between can withstand the vertical and lateral forces within the
influence of such openings. The minimum distance shall be 2.00 meters for all spans.

SECTION 1604. Skylights

1.

1. General – Approved plastics may be used in skylights installed on roofs of Types I, II or III
Constructions and all buildings in these categories shall be equipped with an approved
automatic fire-extinguishing system in Groups A, B, C, E, F, J, H-3 and H-4 Occupancies;
Except, that:
a. Approved plastics may be used in any type of construction or occupancy as a fire
venting system when approved by the Building Official.b. Plastics may be used in
approved skylights in Type II one-hour fire-resistive construction which are located 300
millimeters or more above the lower flange of the ceiling. The walls of the skylight well
shall be no less fire-resistive than the adjacent ceiling.
c. Where a fire-resistive ceiling is not required in one-storey buildings, approved plastics
may be used in skylights.

2. Installation Requirements
a. Except in Group A Occupancies, no skylight shall be installed within 3.00 meters of a
property line.
b. The edges of dome-type skylights shall be properly flashed.
c. Plastic skylights shall be separated from each other by at least 2.50 meters laterally
and 3.00 meters along the slope of the roof.

3. Allowable areas – The area of individual plastic skylights shall not exceed 10.00 square
meters. The total aggregate area of plastics used in skylights, monitors, and sawtooth
glazing shall not exceed 20% of the floor area of the room or occupancy sheltered.

4. Curb Requirements – Plastic skylights in roofs having a slope of less than 1 in 3 shall
have a 100 millimeters high curb. The curb may be omitted where a wire screen not
smaller than No. 12 U.S. gauge with a mesh not larger than 25 millimeters is provided
immediately below the skylight. The
screen shall be substantially mounted below the skylight.
SECTION 1605. Light-Transmitting Panels in Monitors and Sawtooth Roofs

1. General - Where a fire-resistive rating is not required for the roof structure, and in all buildings
provided with an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system, approved plastics may be used
with or without sash as the light-transmitting medium in monitors and sawtooth; Except, that
plastics used in monitors or sawtooth roofs of Type II Construction shall be of materials
appropriate to be used according to flame-spread characteristics.

2. Allowable Areas – The area of individual plastic glazing used in monitors and sawtooth glazing
shall not exceed 15.00 square meters. The total aggregate area of plastics used in skylights,
monitors, and sawtooth glazing shall not exceed 20% of the floor area of the room or occupancy
sheltered.

3. Area Separation – The area of such plastic panels shall be separated from each other by a
section of incombustible material or by a section of the roofing material of the structure not less
than 1.50 meters in length. The lower edge of the plastic material shall be at least 150
millimeters above the
surface of the adjoining roof surface.

SECTION 1606. Plastic Light Diffusers in Ceilings

1. General – Ceiling light diffusers having an area greater than 10% of any 10.00 sq. meters of room
area shall be of approved plastics conforming to the requirements specified in the Code.

2. Installation – Plastic light diffusers shall be installed in such a manner that they will not readily
become detached when subjected to room temperature of 80°C for 15 minutes, Except, for
plastic light diffusers which are installed in the first floor area of Group C Occupancies having
egress directly to the exterior of the building; and plastic light diffusers which are located
between an approved automatic Fire-extinguishing system and the area to be protected other
than public corridors for Group A, B, C, D, E, G, H, and I Occupancies if tests required by the
Secretary have established that such installation will not interfere with the efficient operation of
such automatic fire-extinguishing systems.

SECTION 1607. Partitions

Where partitions are not required to be of fire-resistive or incombustible construction, approved
plastics conforming to the requirements specified in the Code may be used.

SECTION 1608. Exterior Veneer

1. General - Exterior veneer may be of approved plastic materials, and shall conform to the
provisions of this Section.
 2. Height - Plastic veneer shall not be attached to any exterior wall above the first storey; Provided,
that plastic veneer may be attached to exterior walls above the first storey of buildings located
outside of highly restrictive Fire Zones; Provided, further that the height of veneer is not in
excess of 10.00 meters above the adjacent grade of elevation.

3. Area - Sections of plastic veneer shall not exceed 15.00 sq. meters in area, Except, that in less
restrictive Fire Zones, the area may be increased by 50%.

4. Separation - Sections of plastic veneer shall be separated by a minimum of 1.20 meters vertically
and 600 millimeters horizontally.

SECTION 1609. Awnings and Canopies

1. Plastic materials appropriate for use according to Flame Spread characteristics may be utilized in
awnings and canopies, provided such awnings and canopies are constructed in accordance with
provisions governing projections and appendages as specified in the Code.

2. Approved plastics may be used in awnings where untreated canvass is permitted.

3. Approved plastics may be used in lieu of plain glass in greenhouses in less restrictive Fire Zones.

This section covers Chapter 17 of the NBCP. This lesson is about sheet metal paint
spray booths which can be hazardous due to the material that it mainly uses. With this
provsions, the code emphasizes the safety and control the risks.

SECTION 1701. Sheet Metal Paint Spray Booth

1. Paint spray booths shall be constructed of steel of not less than No. 18 U.S. gauge in
thickness and shall be designed in accordance with the Code.
2. The area of a paint spray booth shall not exceed 150 sq. meters nor 10% of the basic
area permitted for the major use of the building according to its Occupancy Group.
3. The floor of the spray booth and operator’s working area, if combustible, shall be
covered with noncombustible, non sparkling material of such character as to facilitate the
safe cleaning and removal of residue.
4. Paint spray booths shall be designed to permit the free passage of exhaust air from all
parts of the
interior and all interior surfaces shall be smooth and continuous without outstanding
edges.

SECTION 1702. Fire Protection

1. Every spray booth having an open front elevation larger than 1.00 sq. meters and which
is not equipped with doors, shall have a fire curtain or metal deflector not less than 100
millimeters deep installed at the upper outer edge of the booth opening.
 2. Each paint spray booth shall be separated from other operations by not less than 91
centimeters, or by a greater distance, or by such partition or wall as the Local Fire
Service Marshall may require.

SECTION 1703. Light

1. Paint spray booths shall be illuminated through hammered wire or heat-treated glass
panels. The glass panels shall be located in such a manner as to reduce the hazard of
ignition caused by paint spray deposit.
2. When spraying areas are illuminated through glass panels or other transparent
materials, only light units shall be used as source of illumination.
3. Panels shall effectively isolate the spraying area from the area in which the lighting unit
is located and shall be of non-combustible material or such a nature or so protected that
breakage will be unlikely.
4. Panels shall be arranged so that normal accumulations of residue on the exposed
surface of the panel will not be raised to a dangerous temperature by radiation or
conduction from the source of illumination.

SECTION 1704. Ventilation

1. Mechanical ventilation shall be provided direct to the exterior of the building. The
mechanical exhaust system shall be designed to move the air through any portion of the
paint spray area at the rate of not less than 30.00 lineal meters per minute.
2. The blades of exhaust fans shall be constructed of non-ferrous material and shall be
mounted in such a manner as to prevent contact with the exhaust duct.
3. The motor shall not be mounted in the spray booth or the duct system and belts shall be
enclosed where they enter the booth or duct system.
4. The discharge point for ducts in a paint spray booth shall be not less than 2.00 meters
from the adjoining combustible construction nor less than 8.00 meters from adjoining
exterior wall openings; except, that the discharge point for exhaust ducts is not regulated
in a waterwash spray booth.