Fourteenth Congress

Second Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-eight day of July, two thousand eight.

REPUBLIC ACT No. 9514 December 19, 2008

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPEALING PRESIDENTIAL

Section 1. This Act shall be known as the "Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008".

Section 2. It is the policy of the State to ensure public safety and promote economic development
through the prevention and suppression of all kinds of destructive fires and promote the
professionalization of the fire service as a profession. The State shall enforce all laws, rules and
regulations to ensure adherence to standard fire prevention and safety measures, and promote
accountability for fire safety in the fire protection service and prevention service.

Section 3. A list of terms used in the act and their definitions.

Section 4. Applicability of The Code. - The provisions of the Fire Code shall apply to all persons and all
private and public buildings, facilities or structures erected or constructed before and after its effectivity.

Section 5. Responsibility for the Enforcement of this Code. - The Code shall be administered and
enforced by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), under the control of the Chief of BFP. With the approval
of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the BFP, is hereby
authorized to:

a. Issue implementing rules and charge administrative penalties provided in the pertinent provisions of
this Code;

b. Reorganize the BFP as may be necessary and appropriate;

c. Support and assist fire volunteers, practitioners and fire volunteer organizations

d. Enter into long term agreement, either through public biddings or negotiations in accordance with the
provisions of Republic Act No. 9184, for the acquisition of fire prevention and fire related emergencies.

e. Enter into Memoranda of Agreement with other departments, in order to define areas of cooperation
and coordination

f. Call on the police, other law enforcement agencies, and local government assistance to render
necessary assistance in the enforcement of this Code;

g. Designate a fire safety inspector to conduct inspection every year wherein the occupant must renew
their permit to operate

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 h. Inspect at reasonable time, any building, structure, installation or premises for dangerous or
hazardous conditions or materials as set forth in this Code

i. to order the owner of a building to remove hazard causing conditions if deemed necessary

j. Require the building owner/occupant to submit documents of the building to ensure compliance with
the code

k. Issue a written notice to the of any work if in violation of plans as approved by the Chief, BFP or
his/her duly authorized representative. No work shall be done until the violation is corrected

Section 6. Technical Staf. - The Chief, BFP shall constitute a technical staff of highly qualified persons
who are knowledgeable on fire prevention, fire safety, and fire suppression.

Section 7. Inspections, Safety Measures, Fire Safety, Constructions, and Protective and/or Warning
Systems. - As may be defined in the Rules and Regulations, owners of buildings shall be required to
comply with the following:

a. Inspection Requirement - A fire safety inspection shall be conducted as prerequisite to the grants of
permits by local governments concerned, for the:

(1) Use of buildings including the installation or fire protection and fire safety equipment and electrical
system in any building

(2) Storage, use of hazardous materials;

b. Safety Measures for Hazardous Materials – A list of hazardous materials wherein fire safety measures
shall be required for its manufacture, storage, and use

c. Safety Measures for Hazardous Operation/Processes – A list of hazardous operations shall require fire
Safety measures

d. Provision on Fire Safety Construction, Protective and Warning System – A list of fire safety
construction, protective and warning system, and shall develop and implement fire safety programs
Owners of buildings shall provide

Section 8. Prohibited Acts. - A list of prohibited acts including Obstructing exits, constructing gates that
obstruct fire fighting vehicles, obstructing designated fire lanes/ access to fire hydrants, overcrowding
buildings, locking fire exits, obstruction of smoke partitions, use of fire fighting equipment for unrelated
purposes, giving false fire alarms, smoking in prohibited areas, leaving without safety measures,
tampering with signs posted require by the fire service and use of jumpers.

Section 9. Violation, Penalties and Abatement of Fire Hazard. - Fire hazards shall be abated
immediately. Upon the report of a violation, The BFP shall issue notice to the owner of the building to
comply within (10) to (15) days after the receipt of notice.

If, after the lapse of the aforesaid period, the owner failed to comply, the BFP shall put up a sign in front
of the building that it is fire hazard which shall remain posted until the owner abates the same but shall
not exceed fifteen (15) days from the lapse of the initial period given

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 Finally, with the failure of the owner of the building to comply within the period specified above, the BFP
may issue order for such abatement. If the owner of the building does not abate the same within the
period fixed in said order, the building shall be ordered closed by the BFP notwithstanding any permit
clearance or certificate earlier issued by the local authorities.

Any building or structure assessed and declared by the BFP as a firetrap shall be declared a public
nuisance, as defined in the Civil Code of the Philippines. If the assessed value of the nuisance is less than
One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00), the owner shall abate the hazard within fifteen (15) days,
or if the assessed value is more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00), within thirty (30) days;
otherwise, the BFP shall forthwith cause its summary abatement. failure to comply within five (5) days
from the receipt of the notice shall cause the BFP to put up a sign in front of the building or structure, at
or near the entrance of such premises, notifying the public that such building or structure is a
"FIRETRAP", which shall remain until the owner of the building abate the same within the specified
period.

Summary abatement as used herein shall mean all corrective measures undertaken to abate hazards.
The expenses incurred by the government for such summary abatement shall be borne by the owner.
These expenses shall constitute a prior lien upon such property.

Section 10. Enforcement of The Lien. - If the owner fails to reimburse the government of the expenses
incurred in the summary abatement within ninety (90) days, the building shall be sold at public auction.
The property shall be forfeited in favor of the government if the highest bid is not at least equal to the
abatement expenses.

Section 11. Penalties. -

1. Against the private individual:

a) Administrative fine - Any person who violates any provision of the Fire shall be penalized by an
administrative fine of not exceeding Fifty thousand (P50,000.00) pesos or by stoppage of operations
which do not comply with the to be imposed by the Chief, BFP.

b) Punitive - In case of willful failure to correct the deficiency the violator shall, upon conviction, be
punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than six (6) years, or by a fine of not
more than One hundred thousand (P100,000.00) pesos or both such fine and imprisonment.

Any person who, without authority, maliciously removes the sign that a building or structure is a fire
hazard/firetrap shall be liable for imprisonment for thirty (30) days or a fine not exceeding One hundred
thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or both in the discretion of the court.

Any person, who disobeys the lawful order of the fire ground commander during a firefighting operation
shall be penalized with imprisonment of one (1) day to thirty (30) days and a fine of five thousand pesos
(P5,000.00).

2. Against the public officer/employee

a) Administrative - The following acts or omissions shall render the public officer in charge of the
enforcement of this Code, its implementing rules and shall be punished by reprimand, suspension or

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 removal in the discretion of the disciplining authority, depending on the gravity of the offense and
without prejudice to the provisions of other applicable laws

b) Punitive - In the case of willful violation the public officer shall, upon conviction, be punished by
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than six (6) years or by a fine of not more than
One hundred thousand (P100,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment.

Section 12. Appropriation and Sources of Income. – lists the income and finance of BFP to ensure fire
protection services that includes percentages of taxes given.

Section 13. Collection of Taxes, Fees and Fines. - All taxes, fees and fines provided in this Code, shall be
collected by the BFP.

"Sec. 13-A. Assessment of Fire Code Taxes, Fees and Fines. - The assessment of fire code taxes, fees and
fines is vested upon the BFP. The BFP shall, subject to the approval of the DILG, prescribe the procedural
rules for such purpose.

Sec. 13-B. Collection and Assessment of Local Taxes, Fees and Fines. - The collection and assessment of
taxes, fees and fines as prescribed in the Local Government Code, except those contained in this Code,
shall be function of the concerned local government units.

Sec. 13-C. Use of Income Generated from the Enforcement of the Fire Code. - The Chief, BFP is
authorized, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, to use the
income generated for procurement of fire protection.

Sec. 13-D. Monitoring the Implementation of the Fire Code and the Amount of the Fees Collected. - The
Chief, BFP shall, within six (6) month from the effectivity of this Code, submit to the Secretary of the
Interior and Local Government for his/her approval, a management that would ensure effective
monitoring of the enforcement of the Fire Code to include the amount of Fire Code fees collected.

Section 14. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and Local
Government shall issue the rules and regulations for its effective implementation.

Section 15. Presidential Decree No 1185 is hereby repealed. All laws, presidential decrees, letters of
instructions, executive orders, rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act, are
hereby repealed or amended as the case may be.

Section 16. In case any provision of this Act or any portion thereof is declared unconstitutional by a
competent court, other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

Section 17. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two
(2) national newspapers of general circulation.

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