Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

17% Congress
204 Regular Session

House Bill No. 742.4

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Introduced by HON. RODRIGO A. ABELLANOSA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

News reports on buildings being consumed by fire resulting in numerous
deaths abound all over the world. Here in the Philippines, the death of 37
people in a mall fire remain fresh in our memories. In many, if not most, of
these disasters, the death tolls are caused primarily by suffocation, smoke
inhalation, and/or exposure to toxic fumes.

Smoke inhalation incapacitates victims quickly, before they can reach the
building fire exits. A statistical review conducted based on 2015 data in both
the US and UK showed that 39% and 41%, respectively, of the fatalities are
caused by toxic smoke.'

Ast is the duty of the State to protect its people’s lives, we must do everything
in our powers to ensure that their safety is of utmost importance and that all
possible measures are taken to guarantee such. This bill seeks to compel all
building owners to make available emergency escape hoods to be placed in
visible and accessible areas in the building, especially along the escape routes
to give those inside such buildings enough time and breathable air to enable
them to get out of the building in case of fire.

—
RODRIGO A. ABELLANOSA

“What Kills People in a Fire? Heat or Smoke?" Alarif, AAS, Phylaktou, HN and Andrews, GE. White
Rose University Consortium, Universities of Leeds, Sheffield & York. Presented at the 9th Saudi
students conference, 13-14 February 2016, ICC, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

17% Congress
24 Regular Session

House Bill No? L2.4

Introduced by HON. RODRIGO A. ABELLANOSA

AN ACT
MANDATING THE PROVISION OF SMOKE HOODS
FOR EMERGENCY USE IN ALL HIGH-RISE BUILDING STRUCTURES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

See. 1. Declaration of Policy. It is the duty of the State to safeguard the lives
of its citizens. In this connection, it is the State’s responsibility to promulgate
laws and regulations that ensure the safety of the people in the face of
unforeseen circumstances and disasters.

Sec. 2. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act:

a. Emergency escape hoods ~ refers to a protective device covering the
head and neck equipped with an air filter that allows the user to
breathe without inhaling toxic fumes

b. High-rise buildings — refers to buildings with six (6) or more storeys
or are higher than nineteen meters (19.0m) tall.

See. 2. Emergency Escape Hoods. All building structures, regardless of
occupancy classification, shall make available emergency escape hoods in
conspicuous areas around the structure. The required number of such shall
be determined based on the building’s projected /expected density of human
traffic. Compliance shall be a requisite to the issuance of an occupancy
permit.

See. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Bureau of Fire Protection
and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall
promulgate the implementing rules and regulations that shall be necessary
for the proper implementation of this Act.

See. 4. Severability Clause. If any provision of this Act is subsequently
declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall
remain in full force and effect.


See. 5. Repeating Clause. All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, issuances,
and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and
inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or
modified accordingly.

See. 6. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15 days) after its
complete publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,