This document provides guidelines for hazard reduction measures in school buildings. It discusses fire prevention through using fire-resistant materials. It recommends designating open spaces as evacuation areas that are a safe distance from buildings. It also discusses adhering to building standards, providing water and sanitation facilities, road safety measures, proper chemical use in science labs, and ensuring lab safety through planning, training, supervision and emergency procedures.

1. HAZARD SPECIFIC
REDUCTION
MEASURES
Sittie Jannah
P. Mama
Prepared BY:

2. 1. Fire Prevention and Safety Measures
Section 601-604 of the National Building Code of the
Philippines (2005 Edition) – Resistive Rating of material
to be used in constructing school buildings shall be
classified according to fire resistive standards.
All materials of construction, and
assemblies or combinations thereof shall
be classified to their fire-retardant or
flame-spread ratings as determined by
general accepted testing methods.

3. The design and construction of school
buildings basically conform to the
standards of safe construction where:
OFF
LIMITS
INSPECTED
SIGN
RESTRICTED
USED

4. In case of emergencies that will require students to
immediately evacuate from their classrooms (such as
in case of fire or earthquake), there should be a
provision for an open space within in the school
compound which will be designated as temporary
evacuation area.
It must be SAFE DISTANCE from buildings, electric
poles, and hanging objects that might fall and
injure people.
It should be BIG ENOUGH to hold the total
population of the school.
2. Provision for Open Spaces as Temporary Evacuation
Sites for Earthquake, Fire and other Emergencies.

5. School Buildings and other structures
must strictly follow standard engineering
technical specifications (e.i. Building Code
of the Philippines, 2005, National
Structural Code of the Philippines, 2001).
The National Code of the Philippines,
2001 has specific sections for wind load/
wind effects and earthquake design.
3. Adherence to Building Design
Standards and Structural Soundness.

6. 4. Provision of Water, Sanitation
and Hygiene Facilities
Every school shall have a standard water
system and its regular inspection and
maintenance important and necessary.
Regular and continuous checking
of the water system for possible
wear and tear will ensure the
optimum and continued services of
the water system.

7. Section 901 states that all buildings shall
be provided with adequate and potable water
supply, plumbing installation and suitable
wastewater treatment or disposal system,
storm water drainage, pest and vermin
control, noise abatement device, and such
other measures for the protection and
promotion of health of persons occupying the
premises.
A. Water System and Wastewater
Disposal system
Schools shall be provided with RESERVE WATER in
water tank reserve to be used in case of fire.

8. B. Ideal Water Supply System
Section 902 of the Code prescribes an ideal water
supply system with the following guidelines:
The potable water requirements for school
buildings shall be supplied from existing
municipal or city waterworks system.
The quality of drinking water from meteoric,
surface or underground sources shall conform to
the criteria set in the latest approved National
Standard for Drinking Water Standards.
The design, construction and operation of
deep wells for the abstraction of groundwater
shall be subject to the provisions of the
Water Code of the Philippines (PD 1067)

9. The water piping installations for water supply and
distribution to each fixture including the wastewater
drainage with proper venting inside school buildings and
premises, shall conform to the provision of the Revised
National Plumbing Code of the Philippines.
Sanitary sewage from buildings shall be discharged
directly into the nearest street sanitary sewer main of
existing municipal or city sanitary sewerage system in
accordance with the criteria set by the Code on
Sanitation of the Philippines and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
All school buildings located in areas where there
is no available sanitary sewerage system shall
dispose their sewage to septic tank and
subsurface absorption field or to a suitable
disposal system in accordance with the Code of
Sanitation of the Philippines and the Revised
National Plumbing Code of the Philippines.

10. 5. Road Safety
Segregate
vehicular
routes from
pedestrian
routes.
Traffic
aide/enforcer
shall assist the
children in
crossing the
streets to avoid
accidents.
Pedestrian
crossing for
safety of
schoolchildren
shall be
established in
front of school
gates.
Make routes
as direct as
possible and
use clear,
obvious
signs.
Multilingual
signs may be
an advantage
in some
schools.

11. Chapter IV, Article I of R.A. No.
4136 (An Act To Complete the Laws
Relative To Land Transportation and
Traffic Rules to Create a Land
Transportation Commission and For
Other Purposes)
No person shall drive any motor
vehicle upon a school zone at
such a speed as to endanger the
life, limb of any person, nor
at a speed greater than will
permit him to bring to a stop
within the assured clear
distance ahead.

12. 6. Proper Use of Chemicals and Gases in
the Science Laboratories. (DepED Order
No. 48, s. 2006)
Science laboratories
are facilities used by
students where
activities require the
use of gases and
chemicals.
Combustible or inflammable
materials stored in the
laboratory or in its immediate
vicinity shall be used during
experiment in science with
close supervision of the
teacher.
It shall be
provided with
sufficient hood or
devices for the
irritating or
poisonous gases
and chemicals.
Dangerous chemicals shall be
labeled appropriately and
shall always be visible for
students/pupils to ensure
proper use and storage.
Warning signs shall be
legible and written in
bold/big letters.

13. Suggested design guidelines and safety
considerations for science laboratory are:
A. Designing/Constructing a Science
Laboratory
The science laboratory should be designated as a wide
space(7 x 18m) to allow mobility inside the room.
There should be at least two (2) entry/exit doors for
easy access and egress. The doors should be swing out to
facilitate exit of students in case of emergency.
The science laboratory should have provisions
for laboratory counter, control room and storage
room.
Chemical solutions should be located or kept on
the base cabinets of the storage/stockroom. The
storage and control room should be equipped with
built-in cabinets not higher than 1.90m.

14. Science laboratory buildings should provide with
neutralization tank/drain pit for proper disposal of
chemical’s waste.
Stock/storage room should be provided with security
grills on the windows to ensure the safekeeping of
chemicals and other apparatus of the science laboratory.
The working tables inside the science lab
should be fixed on the floor. It should be
made of reinforced concrete with mosaic
tiles topping and should be acid resistant.
Each working table should be provided with
a lab sink and faucet.
Waste pipes should be also acid resistant.

15. Every Science Laboratory room should have a
notice/reminder posted on conspicuous side of the
room for student’s awareness and shall be provided
with a First Aid Kit.
Single storey, science laboratory building
should be located far from academic
classrooms.
In case of multi-storey building, the science
laboratory should be located on the highest
floor possible for proper ventilation.
The Science Laboratory should have a 24-hour
clean water supply.
Laboratory working areas should be well lighted
and have a bilateral fenestration for
ventilation and fume extraction.

16. B. Guides/Steps to ensure that learning in the
laboratory will always be safe.
Plan your work.
Familiarize students with
the rules and regulations
when using the laboratory.
Orient the students with the properties of the
chemicals to be used, particularly their
hazards.
In using chemicals for experiments, only
authorized person should have the access
in getting the chemicals/apparatus in
the stock/storage room.

17. Know emergency
procedures and the
location of the first
kit, wash area, and
exit points.
Notify immediately
the proper authority
to deal with such
incidence.
Always make sure of the
presence of a science
teacher before and
during experiments.
Wash immediately
with clean water to
lessen the intensity
of solutions.
Good housekeeping is important when it
comes to laboratory safety. Make sure that
science laboratory rooms and tables after
experimental activities are cleaned to
reduce accidents.

18. The following considerations will
help to eliminate accident in the
laboratory.
Ensure that class sizes in
science laboratories do not
exceed the allowance safe
maximums for space and
facilities.
Design and implement a contingency plan
for laboratory emergency situations.
Inform all pupils/students where to get help
in case of accidents or injury.
Ensure that safety
equipment is present and
functioning properly.

19. Ensure that master shut-offs
are present in every laboratory
for gas, electricity, or any
other service that might
involve danger should an
accident occur.
Ensure that adequate
lighting for experimentation
is available. Impaired
vision is an invitation to
accidents.
Make sure that there is adequate ventilation to the
outside for each laboratory in which noxious fumes
might be generated.
Make sure that each science lab is equipped with a
safety shower and eyewash that are periodically
checked for proper operation.
Ensure that all electrical
outlets are grounded and
facilities are available
for grounding all
electrical apparatus.
Make sure fire extinguisher
are available in each science
class. It should be checked at
least twice a year to insure
proper functioning.

20. The following steps shall be taken by
the teacher to fulfill safety
objectives
Make the safety program a major emphasis in the
science curriculum.
Provide a list of safety rules which must be read and
signed by the student and parent or guardian.
Show the students where the safety equipment is
located, and how it works. Explain under what condition
it is to be used.
Explain the consequences for violating safety
regulations in detail.
Instruct students on how to evacuate the lab
in the proper, fasting in case of emergency.

21. Explain possible hazards in handling and
disposing of chemicals used in an experiment.
Point out specific safety considerations in a
particular experiment.
Never leave students alone and/or unsupervised
in the lab.
Frequently remind the students often that they are not
allowed in chemical storerooms or lab preparation areas
Prohibit students from bringing any food or
drink into the lab.
Instruct students to never put any chemicals in
their lab drawers unless told specifically to
do so.

22. Discuss the lab with students the day before the
experiment is to be done so that safety
situations and possible hazards can be clarified.
Notify the administration, in writing, of any
possible safety hazard that exists in the
laboratory, especially the overcrowding of the
science lab room.
Provide only immediate care in case of an
accident to prevent additional complications
from arising.
Science fair projects should be
scrutinized for safety hazards and
corrected before teacher approval is
given.

23. 7. Proper Use of Computer/Laboratory Room
Computer/Laboratory rooms are special instructional
spaces designed to meet the current and future demand
of modern technology.
a. Recommended Security and safety
Measures
Fastening of each
PC unit to the
computer table
(optional)
Hiring of security
guard
Installing fire
alarms/fire
extinguishers.
Engaging the
assistance of
barangay tanods.

24. To sustain the package and services of the
PCs public-private assistance is encouraged,
such as:
b. Public-Private Assistance
Local Adopt-A-School
Program through the
Local School Board,
PTCA Alumni Association
Internet Café inside the School,
etc.
Community e-center
Teachers Coop
Store/School
Canteen

25. Following are recommended best practices to help
maintain and protect computers used at work.
Install all updates required by the
ICT Office.
Install only licensed programs.
Do not install different versions of
software.
Let ICT know when hardware is not
working.

26. Do not download programs from
internet sites you do not trust.
Let ICT know when you need
something.
Use online support resources.
Be aware of suspicious e-mails.

27. 8. School Canteen
Only nutritious
foods/drinks of known
origin shall be sold in
the school canteen.
Junk foods intoxicating
beverage are strictly
prohibited.

28. 9. Proper Garbage Disposal
Waste segregation policy
stipulated in R.A. No. 9003
(Clean Air Act) shall be followed
by providing separate garbage
cans for dry waste, wet waste,
and hazardous, toxic wastes.
Burning of garbage shall be
discouraged in compliance to the
provisions of said Act.

29. 10. Pergolas shall be constructed in such
a way that these shall allow the passage of big
vehicles like fire trucks, dumb trucks and
ambulance.
12. Waiting sheds shall be
constructed to protect school
children from heavy rains and the heat
of the sun while waiting for their
parents and vehicles in going home.
11. Compulsory use of Identification
Cards must be imposed within the school
premises.

30. 13. Organizing a School Disaster/Risk
Disaster Management Program
The organization of a
school safety program
shall be established in
an environment where the
tools and machines are
safe and manned by
safety-conscious
individual who will
perform safe operations
and processes.

31. The school administration in
coordination with the Local Disaster
Coordinating Council shall:
Initiate/formulate sound policies and
procedures;
Assign safety conscious staff members to
implement said policies effectively;
Conduct effective-in-service
training activities for teachers and
community assemblies for parents;
Provide safety training/drill
exercises for staff and
pupils/students;

32. Involve parents and adult volunteers in
safety campaign
Keep a record of pupil/student accidents,
dates, causes and preventive measures;
Organize safety committee/team in
different levels such as
Calamity/Disaster and Fire Control
Group, Safety Committee, Junior
Police, MKB Tanod, Kiddie/Junior Fire
Marshall, etc.
Provide responsible security guards
through the Local Government (if
possible)