BP 344 SUMMARIZED NOTES

AND COMPILED ILLUSTRATIONS

Compiled by: TapNatser Review

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Download your copy of DPWH-uploaded BP 344 here:

https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/references/laws_codes_orders/bpb344

Amended Implementing Rules and Regulations

o promulgated by DPWH, DTC and the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons

RULE I – SCOPE AND APPLICATION

o Purpose – provide minimum requirements and standards for facilities, building and utilities FOR

PUBLIC USE.

o Definition of Terms – see Annex A

o Scope – this IRR applies to construction, repair and renovation of PUBLIC-USE BUILDINGS (either

public or private owned); streets, highways and public utilities; public transportation (i.e. bus, jeepney,

trains, domestic inter-island vessels, domestic aircraft or air carriers); public telephones; public

transport terminals

o Application – all CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR AND RENOVATION of PUBLIC-USE BUILDINGS shall

provide barrier-free facilities and accessibility features in the plans and specifications following this

criteria:1

o For new construction:

▪ Provide accessibility features at the primary space (serving the primary function) and in

the ingress/egress of buildings (if done, accessibility at other levels may be waived).

▪ 10% of units of government-owned living accommodations shall be accessible and fully-

usable by disabled persons (for privately-owned buildings, use Section 3 of BP 344)

▪ Accessible parking slots near the ingress or egress of the building

o For repair, renovations and change of occupancy:

▪ follow considerations for new construction

▪ consider adding or not adding barrier-free facilities and accessibility features:

• if the primary space serving the primary function is repaired or renovated

• if public facilities are added at other levels, provide elevator w/ 800mm min.

width

• if the primary space will not be diminished by more than 10% of its original area

• if the structural capacity will not be affected

• if the repair or renovation cost exceeds 20% of the total building cost

• if no legal constraints

▪ note: fire-safety, explosion-safety and HVAC repair or renovations are not subjected

o For new streets, highways and transport related structures, provide barrier-free facilities and

accessibility features at every pedestrian crossing; ramps and accessibility features in DOTC

buildings and transportation terminals

▪ cut-out curbs and ramps on sidewalks

▪ audio-visual aids for crossing

▪ Note: pedestrian grade separations, overpasses and underpasses may be waived

o For repair or renovation of existing streets and highways, provide BFF&AF

o For public transport vehicles:

▪ issuance of license or franchise of buses, boats, ships and airplanes shall require

provisions of PWD seats and audio-visual aids (including government operated tranport

such as trains and planes)

▪ existing public transport vehicles must follow the minimum accessibility requirements

▪ public telephones – 1:4 units shall be accessible with visual aids

▪ public transport terminals shall follow requirements for public buildings

o Special Standards of Accessibility – can be allowed if alternatives are approved by the National

Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons

o Design Criteria

o Categories of PWDs:

▪ impairments requiring wheelchairs

▪ impaiments causing difficulty in walking or climbing stairs (i.e. braces, crutches, artificial

supports, amputation, arthritis) or semi-ambulatory

▪ impairments of hearing or sight (partial or total)

▪ impairments due to aging and incoordination

▪ mental impairments (acquired or congenital)

o Anthropometrics and Dimensional Date as Guides of Design – use anthropometric concepts

and measurements (difference of sexes, sitting and reaching heights etc.); use dimensional and

technical data (i.e. wheelchairs dimensions, minimum space for leg braces etc);

▪ Typical anthropometric data:

• Length of wheelchair – 1.10m to 1.30m

• Width of wheelchair – 0.60m to 0.75m

• Wheelchair turning space – 1.50m diameter

• Comfortable reach when sitting in wheelchair – 0.70m to 1.20m above the floor,

not less than 0.40 from room corners

• Knee and leg clearance for wheelchair – 0.70m under the table or counter

o Basic Physical Planning Requirements

▪ Accessibility – shall not impede the use of facilities by PWDs

▪ Reachability –

▪ Usability –

▪ Orientation – easy way-finding

▪ Safety – less hazards to life and health

▪ Workability and Efficiency

RULE III – SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS AND RELATED STRUCTURES FOR PUBLIC
USE

o Classification of Occupancy (based on Section 701 of NBCP):

o Category I – Residential (Group A & party Group B of NBCP)

o Category II – Commercial and Industrial

o Category III – Educational and Industrial

o Category IV – Agricultural

o Category V – Ancillary

o Architectural Features and Facilities

o Architectural featues and facilities – (A) stairs; (B) walkways; (C) corridors; (D) doors and

entrances; (E) washrooms and toilets; (F) lifts and elevators; (G) ramps; (H) parking areas; (I)

switches, controls and buzzers; (J) handrails; (K) thresholds; (L) floor finishes; (M) drinking

fountains; (N) public telephones; (O) seating accommodations

o Category I – Residential (only those government-owned buildings)

o Single-Detached – 10% of the total units shall be accessible & barrier-free (ABCDEGHIJKL)

o Duplexes – 10% of the total units shall be accessible and barrier-free (ABCDEGHIJKL)

o Company or School Staff Housing Units – 1 unit for 26 to 50 units & 1 additional unit for every

100 units thereafter shall be accessible and barrier-free (ABCDEGHIJKL)

o Multiple dwelling units or high-rise residential condominiums or tenement houses – 1 unit for 26

to 50 units & 1 additional unit for every 100 units thereafter shall be accessible and barrier-free;

all units shall be at ingress level if no elevator provided (ABCDEFGHIJKLM required)

o Category II – Commercial and Industrial (both public and privately-owned)

o Group B (units are rented)

▪ accessories, tenement houses or row houses, apartment houses, townhouses – 1 unit

per 50-150 units and 1 per 100 additional thereafter shall be barrier-free

(ABCDEGHIJKL)

▪ hotels, motels, inns, pension houses and/or apartments – 1 unit per 50-150 units shall

be barrier-free and 1 per 100 units additional thereafter shall be at ingress level (if no

elevator, provide at least 1 unit at ingress level) (ABCDEFGHIJKLMN required)

▪ private or off-campus dormitories - 1 unit per 50-150 units shall be barrier-free and 1 per
100 units additional thereafter shall be at ingress level (ABCDEFGHIJKLMN required)

o Group C

▪ amusement halls and parlor; concert halls and opera houses; coliseum, stadium and

sports complexes – ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO

▪ massage and sauna parlors – ABCDEFGHIJKLM

o Group F – dairies and creameries; factories and workshops using incombustible or non-

explosive materials; breweries, bottling plants, canneries and tanneries – ABCDEGHIJKLM

o Group G-3 – wood working establishments, lumber and timber yards; pulp, paper and paper

board factories; textile and fiber spinning mills; garment and undergarment factories-

ABCDEGHIJKLM

o Category III – Educational and Institutional

o Group C – Educational institutions (including school auditoriums, gymnasium, reviewing stands,

little theaters and concert halls); libraries, museum, exhibition halls and art galleries; civil

centers; clubhouses lodges – ABCDEGHJKLMNO required

o Group D-1 – Mental hospitals, mental sanitaria, mental asylums; jails, prisons, reformatories,

correctional institutions; rehabilitation centers; leprosaria – ABCDEGHIJKLM required

o Group D-2 – Homes for the Aged; Hospitals and Sanitaria – ABCDEGHIJKLM required

o Group D-3 – Nursing Homes for Ambulatory Patients; Orphanages – ABCDEGHIJKLM required

o Group E-7 – police and fire stations – ABCDEGHIJKLM required

o Group H – churches, tempels, chapels and similar places of worship – ABCDEGHIJKLMO

o Category IV – Agricultural Buildings – ABCDGHIJKL required

o Standard of Accessibility for Special Type of Facilities

o Auditoriums, assembly halls, theaters and related facilities

▪ PWD seating and toilet facilities shall be accessible from the main lobby to primary

entrances

▪ Required PWD spaces in all assembly places:

• 4 to 50 capacity – 2 wheelchair space

• 51 to 300 capacity – 4 wheelchair space

• 301 to 500 – 6 wheelchair space

▪ Readily removable seats can be used instead of spaces

o Computation of Accessible Units – greater than 0.5 is considered as 1 unit; absolute minimum is 1

accessible unit

o Application of Barrier-free Facilities and Features

o graphic signs shall be bold and conspiciously installed in every access from point of entry to

connecting destination

o walkways shall be provided with adequate passageway

o width of corridors and circulation system integrating both and vertical access to ingress/egress

level of the building

o doors and entrances provided herein used as entry points at entrance lobbies as local points of

congregation shall be designed to open easily or accessible from floor to floor or to any point of

destination

o washroom and toilets shall be accessible and with adequate turning space

o minimum requirements for elevators shall be followed when provided

o ramps shall be provided as means of access to level of change going to entry points and

entrances, lobbies influenced by condition of location or use

o parking areas shall be provided with sufficient space for the disabled persons to allow easy

transfer from carpark to ingress/egress levels

o height above the floor or switches and controls shall be in accordance with the provisions

o handrails shall be provided at both sides of ramps

o floors provided for wheelchair route shall be non-skid material

o install water fountains as required

RULE IV – REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

o Classification of Public Tranport:

o Land Transportation – refer to buses with minimum seating capacity of 50 persons (regular) and

40 persons (for aircon buses); includes regular city buses, provincial and tourist buses

o Rail Transportation – refer to three railway systems (PNR, PRC and LRTA)
o Water Transportation – refers to domestic passenger ships, ferry boats and other water vessels

o Air Transportation – refers to domestic passenger airplanes

o Issuance of franchise and permit to operate shall require compliance to BP 344; if feasible, all existing

transport utilities shall be modified and renovated

o Construction and renovation of public transport utilities shall comply to body designs and
specifications

provided under the IRR

o posters and stickers shall be conspicuously displayed inside the units

o Designated Seats for Disabled Persons

o Regular buses – 5 seats near exit or entrance doors (can be occupied if no PWD)

o First class/aircon buses – 4 seats near the exit or entrance doors (can be occupied if no PWD)

o Passenger trains – 6 seats per car nearest to the door

o Passenger airplanes – 2 seats near front exit/entrance per aircraft

o Jeepneys – 2 seats preferable the front seats

o Domestic shipping – per class basis, located near the entrance or exit doors

▪ 20 minute PWD embarkation ahead of the 3-hour regular embarkation time and 1-hour

disembarkation after the ship’s arrival

o Designated seats shall be identified by the International Symbol of Access

o City buses in highly urbanized cities shall have audiovisual aids (buzzer, bell, flashing light) for alighting

o At least one deck in passenger ships shall be provided with accessible ramps, passageways, access to

gangways, galleys, safety equipment and bunks/berths/cabins with dimensions conforming with

requirements

RULE V – ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

o administration and enforcement vested to secretaries of DPWH and DTC

o for buildings, public transport terminals, streets and highways – BP 344 is administered and

enforced by the secretary of DPWH (including its attached agencies, building research

development staff and the local building official according to RA 7160)

o for transportation – BP 344 is administered by the secretary of DTC (including the attached
agencies) i.e.

▪ Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) – for the issuance of

Certificate of Public Conveyance (CPC) and Provincial Authority (PA) for the operation

of public road transportation utilities and services

▪ Land Transportation Office – registration of buses and jeepneys and enforcement of

regulations related to land transport

▪ Philippine National Railways and the Light Rail Transit Authority – for the operation of

passenger trains and including stations and terminals

▪ Maritime Industry Authority – for the development, promotion and regulation of all

enterprises engaged in business of designing, constructing, manufacturing, acquiring,

operating, supplying, repairing and/or maintaining vessels or components thereof; of

managing and/or operating shipping lines, shipyards, dry docks, marine railway, marine

repair shops, shipping and freight forwarding agencies and similar enterprises; issuance

of license to all water transport vessels.

▪ Philippine Ports Authority – for the planning, development, financing, construction,

maintenance and operation of ports, port facitilies, port physical plants and all

equipment used in connection with the operation of a port.

▪ Civil Aeronautics Board – for the supervision and regulation of, the jurisdiction and

control over air carriers, general sales agents, cargo sales agents and air freight

forwarders and issuance of certificates/licenses to aircrafts.

▪ Air Transportation Office – for the maintenance, operation and development, of all

government airports (other than the NAIA, Mactan International Airport) as well as air

navigation facilities (excluding meteorology).

o Criminal Liability (as stipulated in Section 46 of RA 7277 or Magna Carta for Disabled Persons) – any

person who violates BP 344 and its IRR shall suffer the following penalties:

▪ for first violation – minimum fine of 50,000php to 100,000php or imprisonment of 6

months to 2 years (or both)

▪ for subsequent violations – fine of 100,000php to 200,000php or imprisonment of 2 to 6

years (or both)

imprisonment of minimum 6 months (or both)

▪ if violator is a corporation, organization or similar entity, the officials are liable

▪ if violator is an alien or a foreigner, he/she shall be deported immediately after service of

sentence without further deporation proceedings.

o For buildings/establishments/structures – owner, operator, contractor, engineer, building official

or public official-in-charge issuing the permits/certificate can be liable

o For air, land and sea transportation – owner, operator, body builders, safety

officers/engineers/managers, drivers/conductors or public official-in-charge issuing the

permit/certificates can be liable

o Effectivity – 30 days after the publication in the Official Gazette

APPENDIX A – MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCESSIBILITY

o Requirements Outside and Around the Building

o Dropped Curbs – use slight ramps and dropped curbs for changes in level at walkways

▪ provide dropped curbs at pedestrian crossing – length is equal to width of crossing;

minimum length is 0.90m

▪ dropped curbs shall be ramped to adjoining curbs – maximum 1:12 gradient

▪ dropped curbs shall slope towards road (for drainage) – maximum 1:20 gradient, lowest

point shall be maximum of 25mm above the road or gutter

▪ provide dropped curbs at the ends of footpaths in a private street or access road

o Curbed Cut-Outs – only allowed if not causing obstruction and does not reduce walkway width

▪ minimum width of curb cut-out – 0.90m

▪ maximum gradient – 1:12

o Walkways

▪ shall be kept level as possible and with slip-resistant material

▪ maximum gradient of walkways – 1:20 or 5%

▪ if possible, no gratings along walkways; if not possible, maximum grating openings is

13mm x 13mm and maximum height of 6.5mm above or below the walkway level (also

applies to cracks and breaks)

▪ In longer and busier walkways, rest stop or turning space for wheelchair shall be

provided at 12m maximum interval (minimum dimension is 1.5m x 1.5m)

To guide the blind, straight forward walkways and right angle turns are recommended

▪ If planting and trees are provided adjacent to walkways, regular maintenance is

necessary for safety and to prevent reduction of walkway width

▪ walkway headroom minimum of 2.0m

▪ avoid obstructions to walkways such as street furniture, bollards, sign posts or column

o Handrails

▪ shall be installed at both sides of ramps and stairs and the outer edges of dropped

curbes at crossings

▪ shall be installed at 0.90m and 0.70m above steps or ramps; for higher levels/floors,

handrails can be 1.00 to 1.06m for safety

▪ provide 0.30m handrail extension at start and end of ramps and stairs

▪ full grip handrails shall be 30cm to 50cm with 50mm minimum wall clearance or 40mm

clearance above ledges

o Open Spaces

▪ To prevent disorientation of blind people, provide a walkway with defined edges in open

spaces using planters with dwarf walls, grass verge or similar and with texture different

from the path

o Signages

▪ locate directional and informational signs so easily seen by person on a wheelchair

▪ signs should be simple and easy to understand; with contrasting colors and gray values

for easy detection and reading

▪ use the International Symbol for Access for designating accessible facilities and routes

▪ if protruding a walkway, maintain the minimum 2.0m headroom clearance

▪ signs on walls and doors should be 1.40m (minimum height) to 1.60m (maximum)

signages labeling public rooms and places should have raised symbols, letters or

numbers with a minimum height of 1mm; braille symbols should be included in signs

indicating public spaces and safety routes

▪ texts on signboards shall be of a dimension that people with less than normal visual

acuity can read at a certain distance

o Crossings

▪ To reduce exposure to vehicles, all at grade crossing should:

• perpendicular as possible to the carriageway

• located at the narrowest, most convenient part of the carriageway

• have central refuge spaces (1.5m minimum depth, 2.0m preferred width)

provided as mid-crossing shelter, where the width of carriageway exceeds 10m

All crossings should be located close/contiguous with the normal pedestrian desire line

▪ Provide tactile blocks in immediate vicinity for the blind; tactile blocks must be high

enough to be felt the shoe sole but not too high to trip or affect mobility; brushed or

grooved concrete surfaces are not enough

•
▪ Light controlled crossings with pedestrian phases and audible signals are recommended

▪ Audible signals used for crossins should be easily distinguished from other sounds

▪ Provide sufficient time for crossing – 0.90m/s instead of 1.20m/s should be considered;

minimum crossing period of 6.0 seconds or the crossing distance times the crossing

speed (0.90m/s) whichever is greater

o Parking Requirements

o Parking Areas

▪ spaces should allow transfer from vehicle to wheelchair

▪ accessible parking spaces located as close as possible to the entrances

▪ perpendicular or angle parking spaces are recommended

▪ accessible parking slots should have minimum of 3.70m width

▪ provide 1.20m walkway between the front end of parked cars

▪ provide dropped curbs or curb cut-outs if access walkways are raised

▪ pavement markings, signs or other means shall be provided for delineating parking

spaces for the handicapped

▪ parking space should be level, not located in ramped or sloping areas

o Location of Emergency Exits

o wall mounted or free standing tablets with an embossed configuration of the building which

would also indicate locations of lobbies, washrooms and emergency exits (through the use of

different textures to symbolize the spaces) should be provided at the main lobby of each floor or

other strategic locations; the markings on this tablet should be readable by both the blind and

the fully sighted

o Flashing light directional signs indicating the location(s) of fire exits shall be provided at every

change in direction with sufficient power provided in accordance with the provisions for

emergency lighting under Section 3.410 of PD 1185 (Fire Code of the Philippines)
ANNEX A of the OLD BP 344 – Definition of Terms

o Accessible – refers to features that enable disabled persons to make use of the primary functions for

which a structure is built

o Alcove – a small recessed space in a room or wall

o Anthropometric – pertaining to the measurement of the human body

o Barrier-free – unhindered, withour obstructions to enable disabled persons free passage or use of the

facilities

o Buildings – private and public buildings and other related structures for public use. Those designed to

accommodate and server persons in the pursuit of educational, commercial, recreational, religious,

occupational, medical, political, social activities and others of similar nature as enumerated and

provided herein

o Corridor – a long interior passageway providing access to several rooms; a public means of access

from several rooms or spaces to an exit

o Curb – a raised rim of concrete, stone or metal which forms the edge of street, sidewalk, planted area

etc.

o Curb Cut-out – a break in the sidewalk or traffic island provided with an inclined surface to facilitate

mobility of wheeled chairs, carriages and other similar conveyances

o Disabled Persons – those suffering from restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in the
manner

or within the range considered normal for a human being as a result of a mental, physical or sensory

impairment

o Door – an entrance way; a barrier which swings, slides, tilts or folds to close an opening in a wall or

cabinet or the like

o Egress – an exit, or a means of going out

o Elevator – a hoisting and lowering mechanism equipped with a car or platform which moves in glides,
in

a vertical directions serving two or more floors of a building or structure

o Floor – the surface within a room or area on which one walks

o Gradient of Ramp – the degree of inclination of the sloped surface expressed as a percentage or ratio

o Graphic sign – a drawing, painting, diagram, engraving, etching or other similar illustrations from
which

a single glance conveys a given message; a visual aid

o Handrail – a hand support along a stairway or ramp consisting of rails and their supporting posts,

balusters or pillarsand constituting an enclosure or a line of division

o Height above Floor – distance between two points aligned vertically with one of the points on the floor

o Parking Area – allocated space composed of marked-off portions for single motor vehicles on a short-

time storage basis

o Passageway or Passage – a space connecting one area or room of a building with another

o Pedestrian Crossing – part of road where pedestrians going across the road have priority over traffic

o Public Telephones – a shelf-unit telephone with coin operating functions for the use of the public

o Ramp – a sloped surface connecting two or more planes at different levels

o Sidewalk – a paved footwalk at the side of a street or roadway

o Threshold – a strip fastened to the floor beneath a door, usually required to cover the joint where two

types of floor materials meet; may provide weather protection at exterior doors

o Toilet – the room containing the water of closet

o Vestibule – a small entranceway or transitional space from the exterior to the interior of a building and

opens into a larger space

o Walkway – an exterior passage for walking along, especially one connecting adjoining buildings and

related structures

o Washroom – a room providing facilities for washing; a lavatory or toilet room

o Water Fountain – a fixture consisting of a shallow basin, together with a water jet designed to provide

potable water fro human consumption

o Width of Corridor – the linear width of the unobstructed path in corridors