#archcompre2

MISCALCULATION

He’s one hell of a killer.

In 1981, Hyatt Regency, a famous hotel in Kansas City, took the life of 114 people. It’s not the whole building that collapsed on them, but a couple of walkways.

Pair of suspended walkways over an atrium.

A tea dance was happening on the said atrium. Of course, who wouldn’t want to catch a glimpse of the classy event? With that, several people have paved their way to the walkways that gave wonderful view of the happenings below. Little do they know that the walkways would be the last thing their feet would print on.

The fourth-floor walkway bridge collapsed creating a domino effect on the other walkways below until it reached the ground floor. 114 people was killed.

As per the investigation, a change in the structural design of the walkways and miscalculation of live load were the reason for the demise of 114 people.

Before an architect draw his design, he first must ensure the structural capacity of the site, studying and consulting the earthworks and the appropriate foundation to a geodetic and structural engineer, respectively. There are also structural engineers who focuses on their specialization e.g., concrete, steel, masonry, or wood design.

This is why structural design code and conduct is of utmost importance in the building and construction field. This code and conduct ensure the minimum standards that can ensure safety and stability for the future infrastructures, if followed. Minimum design loads are incorporated in this code. Live load, wind load, dead load, earthquake load, name it.

 Any mishaps in infrastructures can revoke the designer’s license and even ensure a bad reputation. To avoid this together with being liable to any accident or death of somebody, think twice thrice before signing contract documents. Ensure that the design conforms to any codes.

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Photo courtesy of The Business Insider.

Underrated Weapon

To plan is the first step.

Singapore City, Singapore.

Chandigarh, India.

Copenhagen, Denmark.

Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Seoul, South Korea.

These are just five of the best-planned cities in the world. What’s their weapon. Urban planning.

A planned city is a well-prepared city. Urban planning has long been considered as a powerful tool in shaping cities worldwide. A well-planned city responds to the demands of economic growth without compromising the condition of the natural environment. This field is often underappreciated due to the lack of knowledge about its importance plus the bad politics on a specific country.

Planning a city is not actually new in the Philippine landscape, pre-colonial settlements have been practicing the proper planning of their town with accordance to their organizational patterns. Barangay was the term for these territory states. Usually, the town ruler’s home and social places were located at the center surrounded by households that were grouped according to their importance in the society.

The arrival of the Spanish colonials further strengthened the plan of future towns by incorporating Laws of the Indies. The church and the plaza were the main element and is a focal point in this planning law. It is then surrounded by houses and streets following a grid layout. The city is enclosed with walls. After the colonization of Spain, the America asserts its control over the country.

This is where Daniel Burnham and the City Beautiful Movement was personified in the Philippine Landscape. Main focal point in this plan was a grand plaza surrounded by wide avenues with terminating landscapes. Designs should be symmetrical with huge monumental structures. Aesthetic or beautification was the main point because for them, this improves the social and moral character of its citizen. The current Rizal Park was the only remnant of Burnham’s grand plan for Manila.

As a battleground in the Pacific theater of second world war, countless structures of utmost importance have been destroyed in the Philippines. The aftermath has put the Philippines in its worst nightmare. With the goal of rising fast from the ruins, the relocation of the seat of the Philippine president to Quezon City became the end of Burnham’s plan for Manila.

Since then, the Philippine landscape drastically grew. Without proper planning laws or codes, and bad politics, the country was fed up with poor urban plan and design up until this century.

But don’t get me wrong, there are few planning frameworks in the Philippines but are mandated and regulated by different government agencies with accordance to their field. An example would be National Economic Development Authority’s National Framework for Physical Planning for the year 2001-2030; National Integrated Protected Areas Systems Act that aides in planning and development inside, outside, near, or adjacent to a protected area; Several planning frameworks for housing developments regulated by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

Unlike the listed best planned cities on the first part of this paper, Philippines and its capital region, Metro Manila, has been populated with people more than it could handle. Hence, informal settlers and high unemployment and crime rates dominated the once glorious pearl of the orient. We never had our own urban planning framework nor any laws and codes to support the beautification of cities while considering the growth and sustainability.

I believe that our generation has the power to change and bring back the glorious landscape of this country. It just takes a proper politician, dedicated educator, and knowledge-hungry mentee. With this, we can respond to the demands of economy while living a sustainable way of life.

To plan is the first step.

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Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

TO WIPE OUT AN ENTIRE CIVILIZATION

Would you like to be added to the death toll?

During the Spanish occupation, buildings were created by friar engineers with accordance to their own plumbing installations. The Philippines took a turn in plumbing when the Americans introduced sanitation and hygiene because the country is being wiped by contagious diseases caused by uncleanliness. Fast forward, according to World Health Organization, Diarrhea remains a major killer in terms of bacterial diseases, this is because of the inadequate clean water, sanitation, and hygiene whereas two of the basic commodities of humans involves water and sanitation.

The first law of plumbing in the Philippines was passed during the 1950s and it has been updated up until now to fit into the society’s need. According to Jaime Cabase, plumbing systems includes water supply, sewage collection and disposal and stormwater drainage involve the right choice of materials, the economical design of the systems and their proper operation and maintenance. Abiding by the standards will help prevent waterborne diseases.

All pipes shall have a minimum of 2% slope this is to prevent dirt on water to remain. There are two drainage system, the public one which is the sewer line is maintained by the local government. Most urban areas have sewage treatment plants unlike from rural areas which has a private one or the septic tank. Septic tanks are underground tanks that has chambers that filters sludge from waste waters.

There are minimum plumbing fixtures established by this code. Like in office buildings, there should be at least 3 water closets for male and female toilet (min of 200 persons), a urinal for male, and one lavatory for each gender’s toilet (min of 10 persons). In institutional buildings, there should be at least 1 water closets for male and female toilet (20-25 persons), a urinal for male, and one lavatory for each gender’s toilet (min of 10 persons).

 Practicing proper plumbing system can prevent us from unsafe water and bacterial-induced diseases, it also prevents us from spending millions of dollars on medicines trying to be cured. As of this century, there are lots of technology that helps us in having safe water for drinking and hygienic means. If you’re planning on having your dream home, better hire a master plumber or a licensed plumber for a bona fide plumbing plan.

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EXPERIENCING INFERNO HEAD ON

People only takes action when everyone’s dead.

  “It is better to be a victim of theft 10 times than to be a victim of fire.”               - Kenneth Gatchalian, WPI President.

 The Philippines continues to experience fire incidents which some marked the Philippine history. Every year, thousands of lives and billions worth of property are lost due to negligence.

The worst fire incident in the Philippines is the 1996 Ozone Disco Tragedy where at least 162 people were killed. An investigation revealed that this is since the place doesn’t have fire suppression system such as water sprinklers and fire exits are also absent in the said establishments. It has one door which is not suitable for emergency because it swings inward, preventing people from the inside to egress out of panic. Another tragedy, the Manor Hotel which burned in 2001, swept at least 75 people. The budget hotel has inadequate fire safety. Most patrons of the hotel were trapped in the room because the windows are equipped with anti-burglar iron bars. The hotel failed to establish fire alarms, emergency lights, and proper firs exits.

Before the establishment of the RA 9514 or the Fire Code of the Philippines, designers often refer to the National Building Code, but many still don’t follow the latter especially the importance of fire prevention despite the passage of Proclamation No. 360 in 1989 which is the Burn Prevention Month on March. Many casualties lead to the enforcement and standalone code for fire prevention. General standards include types of fire extinguishers, details of fire exit doors and stairs, even the establishment of fire alarm and suppression systems.

Before buying fire extinguishers, make sure that you have the right classification because each one has a specific material to smother. Class A is for solids, Class B for flammable liquids, Class C for electrical equipment, Class D for combustible metals, and Class K for kitchen incidents involving oils and fats.

It is also highly recommended that fire exits swings outward and has a panic hardware. It’s also highly preferred to have fire exit staircase over fire exit ladders for easy egress.

One important factor of all is the establishment of fire alarm and suppression system. Fire alarms help notify building occupants that a fire is currently sparking somewhere in the building then the suppression system could help in reducing or eliminating the fire.

The Fire Code of the Philippines is so much more than just a book, by abiding to the standards, it helps save thousands of lives and billions of properties instead of losing them.

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Photo courtesy of ..jennifer.. from Flickr.

SPARKS FLY

Don’t be that kite labrat that Franklin toasted in the lightning.

Ever since the discovery of electricity from lightning by Franklin up to the first successful invention of modern power grid, many have taken part in innovating the emergence of electrical power. It led to the creation of electricians, electrical contractors, and eventually and association. But even up to this day and age, while electricity provides, it shouldn’t be forgotten that this is one of the most dangerous killer. There are specific conditions on where and how to contain them. This is when the Electrical Code was born. 

The Electrical Code has sets of rules and regulations on how to ensure safety to the people and the property. From the safety measures to be taken up by the electricians up to the building users, everyone should be wary of the hazards brought upon by the use of electricity. Every country has its own Electrical Code and sometimes most are being adopted by the one being used internationally, tweaking some parts when it doesn’t suit the current conditions of the specific country.

Included in the code are safety precautions such as the minimum load a certain electrical outlet could have, protection coat for wirings, and even standard measurements to and from the wirings and the parts of the buildings. Some are things that could be useful on my thesis.

Receptacle outlets. According to the code, every dwelling unit shall have receptacle outlets. It even has a minimum requirement of spacing which is that an outlet shall not be more than 1800mm away from the other receptacle outlet. Floor receptacles are not counted as a required number unless it’s 450mm away from the wall. Floor receptacles on my project will be counted as one because some electronic devices are found in the middle of the space which could be 450mm or more away from the certain space’s wall.

Outlet Boxes. Outlet boxes shall be not less than 13mm in internal depth.

Service Drops. Currently, there is an existing service pole along my site. It’s 5.5 meters high as per the CPDO. And it’s a minimum as per the electrical code that service poles shall have a clearance of 5500mm-6000mm over public streets or roads which are subject to vehicular traffics and driveways.

Meter Enclosures. As for electric meters, it is highly favorable that each lessee should have their own meter. It is favorable to not be installed in damp, wet, and combustible locations.

Those are just pieces of the many many many provisions within the code. Hopefully, before we do anything electrical related in our homes, we have at least read the electrical code or seek a professional like an electrician for safety reasons.

 Prevention of danger is always better than curing the aftermath.

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LET’S COME AND JOIN THE SAFE SIDE

How much does it really worth to play safe?

The National Building Code of the Philippines or Presidential Decree 1096 has been the standard book of the country after its passing that covers several requirements in constructing buildings and other structures that aims to secure the life, health, property, and welfare of its people. Being a student of architecture, this shall be one of our guides in order to have a proper and legally acceptable structure. I am not on my 5th year in architecture school and upon reading the book, I’d like to share some pointers that I have incorporated on my study.

First, I identified where my project belongs according to its occupancy. By classifying the project, we will have a better understanding of what rules should we follow in the vast number of sentences there is in this code. Find your project classification on Rule VII Sec 701.

Second, I identified the lot type of my project. This gave me a more precise set of rules to follow especially in establishing setbacks, how much should the impervious and unpaved surfaces cover the site, how big the building footprint could be, and more. You can find these on Rule VIII Sec 803.

Third, I identified the basic utilities needed on site. So far, I have sanitation and electrical-mechanical. Sanitation covers the water supply, wastewater disposal, and storm drainage system. Electrical-mechanical covers electrical and mechanical systems pursuant to the Philippine Electrical Engineering Code and Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code. These can be found on Rules IX and XIII of PD 1096.

Fourth, is to identify the standard number of ingress and egress base on occupant loads. There shouldn’t be any obstruction for the occupants whether they are coming in or coming out of the building most especially during emergency time in order to avoid casualties. Can be found on Rule XII Sec 1207.

Lastly, signs. Way-finding is one of the most important factors in designing. Having some importance, signage should be properly designed or constructed that shouldn’t be any nuisance to the users but at the same time can help them in finding their path to wherever they wish to go within the development. More were discussed on Rule XX.

How much does it really matter to be on the safe side? Standards are basic rules and we shouldn’t fall short on sizes, but we can exceed as long as it’s justifiable. As a designer, we should be able to foresee the past, present, and future experiences of our development’s users in order to provide them a safe, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing structure.