SPECIFICATIONS

SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE (DETAILED ENGINEERING DESIGN AND/OR

SPECIAL STUDIES) STANDARD TWO-STOREY SCHOOL BUILDING (8, 10, 12 -
CLASSROOMS) located at Various DPWH Proposed Projects
PROJECT: Standard Two-Storey School Building (8, 10, 12 - Classrooms)
PROCURING ENTITY:
LOCATION: Various DPWH Proposed Projects

OUTLINE SPECIFICATIONS FOR GENERAL CONSTRUCTION:

INTENT AND APPLICATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION
A. The Scope of Work covered within these Specifications is the complete construction of
the VARIOUS DPWH PROPOSED (DETAILED ENGINEERING DESIGN AND/OR
SPECIAL STUDIES) STANDARD TWO-STOREY SCHOOL BUILDING (8, 10, 12 -
CLASSROOMS)
B. This section is prepared in a concise manner, the intention of which is to save time and
effort in locating important contents within these Specifications.
C. Execution of this Section shall be coordinated and harmonized to each corresponding
elaborated section of these same specifications.
D. In case discrepancies exist between this Section and its corresponding elaborated
sections, notify the Procuring Entity immediately for clarification; their decision shall be
final.
E. The Contractor shall bear the responsibility of checking all the numbers and units as
indicated in the Bill of Quantities. It is understood that the Contractor shall supply and
install the required units in accordance with the Plans and the Specifications.
F. In their bid proposal, the bidders may propose materials or equipment or makes other
than those specified in the BOQ and/or Specifications, provided they are of equivalent
specifications and functionalities.
G. During project implementation, the winning bidder/contractor may propose substitution
of materials or equipment or makes other than those specified in the Contract documents
shall be subject to the approval of the Procuring Entity for the following reasons only:
1. That the materials or equipment proposed for substitution is equal or superior to
the materials or equipment specified in construction efficiency and utility provided
that any and all costs relative thereof shall be shouldered by the Contractor.
2. Or that the materials or equipment specified cannot be delivered to the job site
on time to complete the work of the other Contractors due to conditions beyond the
control of the Contractor.
3. In case of a price difference, the Procuring Entity shall receive all benefits of the
difference in cost involved in any substitution and the Contract shall be altered by
Change Order to credit the Procuring Entity with any savings so obtained.
H. To receive consideration, request(s) for substitution shall be accompanied by
documentary proof of equality or difference in price and delivery, if any, in the form of
certified quotations and guaranteed date of delivery from suppliers of either the proposed
substituted materials or equipment.
 ESTABLISHING THE MINIMUM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND
SPECIFICATIONS FOR DPWH SCHOOL BUILDINGS
1. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) issues this DPWH Order
on Establishing the Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications (MPSS)
for DPWH School Buildings to guide the Department and other stakeholders in the
preparation of plans— architectural, structural, electrical, fire protection and
sanitary— to ensure the comfort and safety of the would-be occupants of the school
buildings.
2. A well-designed school building, that considers ergonomics, anthropometries,
thermal comfort, illumination, ventilation, acoustics, color, and compliance with
the law, contributes to improved student performance, and makes a lasting
impression on the community with regard to importance of education.
3. All DPWH Orders and other related issuances, rules and regulations that are
inconsistent with these minimum performance standards and specifications are
hereby repealed, rescinded, or modified accordingly.
4. This Order shall take effect immediately upon its approval.
5. Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.

I. Rationale
With the passage of Republic Act. No. 9155, otherwise known as the “Governance of Basic
Education Act”, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was vested with
the authority, accountability and responsibility of ensuring access, promoting equity, and
improving the quality of basic education.
With the issues on education becoming more complex with the passage of time, there is a
need to synchronize, harmonize, and unify existing provisions on order to fast track the
DPWH delivery of basic services.
This Order specifically aims to establish the acceptable minimum performance standards
and specifications (MPSS) in the design of DPWH school buildings, whether single-storey,
medium-rise or high-rise to be constructed in the various school sites across the country.
The MPSS will serve as the basic instrument of the Central and field offices as well as the
stakeholders towards the standardization of school buildings wherever schools are located.
The Department believes that quality school buildings contribute greatly to the attainment
of education goals.
II. Background
It is not uncommon at the Education Facilities Division (EFD) Office that calls are received
seeking answers to queries such as the classroom size in public schools, how to establish a
pre-school, as well as what are acceptable building materials and modifications to a
programmed school building. In addition to these are communications forwarded through
letters, e-mail and the like, which may originate from an ordinary resident or a high ranking
official, on issues pertaining to school buildings.
These issues and concerns build up for the EFD Technical Team, particularly the Planning
and Design Unit, which necessitates the formulation of a workable means to disseminate
information not only to the field offices but also to the public interested in DPWH School
Building Program. With modern technology impinging on the architecture and engineering
of future school buildings, the EFD faces the challenge of releasing/issuing a mini-
literature establishing the minimum specification and standards for school buildings guided
by the principle of comfort, safety, and security of occupants at all times.
III. Scope of Policy
This Order provides for the establishment of minimum performance standards and
specifications (MPSS) in the design of the Department’s schoolbuildings whether to be
implemented by co-partners in government (DepEd) or by non-government
agencies/entities, such as foreign-assisted school building projects. It covers such elements
as architectural design standards, structural design standards as well as electrical design
standards which may concern DPWH stakeholders within and outside the DPWH CO.

IV. Policy Statement

A well-designed school building (which considers ergonomics, anthropometries, thermal
comfort, illumination, ventilation, acoustics, color and compliance with laws) contributes
to improved student performance and makes a lasting impression on the community with
regard to the importance of education.
The Department established the Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications
(MPSS) in the design of DPWH schoolbuildings to guide the Department and other
stakeholders constructing schoolbuildings in the preparation of plans – architectural,
structural, electrical, and sanitary – to ensure the comfort and safety of the would-be
occupants of the schoolbuildings.

V. Architectural Design Standards

a. Classroom Size
1) The size of the classroom must be 7.0 meters in width/depth x 9.00 meters in length
or 9.00 meters in width/depth x 7.00 meters in length measured from the centers of
the walls.
b. Windows
1) The windows must be of bilateral fenestration (transparent or translucent), operable
louver type. The window must allow the entry of daylight even if it is closed.
2) The total area of window openings must be at least 10.00 square meters to provide
for natural ventilation and illumination.
3) The window sill must not be lower than 0.60 meter for single-storey buildings or
higher than 0.90 meter for multi-storey buildings from the finished floor line (FFL).
4) The minimum height of the fixed louver or transom window above the operable
windows is 0.30 meter.
5) The window panels, when opened, must not be an obstruction along the corridor.
6) The window metal frames and jalousie holders must be sturdy enough to withstand
vandalism.
c. Doors
1) There shall be two (2) doors for every classroom.
2) The swing-out should be 180 degrees.
3) The doors must be 0.90 meter in clear width and 2.10 meters in clear height.
4) The doors must withstand normal wear and tear and shall be provided with keyed
lever-type locksets.
d. Floor
 1) The floor must be of non-skid finish (grayish color).
2) The classroom FFL should be higher than the corridor FFL by 25 millimeters.
3) The first-floor finish elevation must not be less than 225 millimeters and 325
millimeters for multi-storey school buildings. The elevation may be increased
depending on the history of flood level.
4) A ramp must be provided with a maximum slope of 1:12 in compliance with the
Accessibility Law (B.P. No. 344), of non-skid finish and properly labeled.
e. Ceiling
1) The ceiling must be a drop-type ceiling.
2) The clear height of rooms from FFL to the finished ceiling line (FCL) must be at
least 2.70 meters.
3) Materials to be used for the ceiling must provide thermal comfort inside the
classroom.
4) Maintenance access to the ceiling cavity must be through the corridor.
f. Roofing
1) The roofing material must be adequately protected from rust/oxidation, salt air, acid
rain, or other sources and forms of corrosion. If made of metal, the roofing sheets
shall be of 0.40 mm base metal thickness (BMT) and securely fastened to the roof
frames.
2) For multi-storey school buildings, the roof must be provided with concrete gutter
and eaves which shall be at least 1.10 meters from the corridor.
g. Partitions
1) The partitions must be from floor to ceiling.
h. Corridors
1) For multi-storey school buildings the corridors must not be less than 2.50 meters
and should be provided with steel railings at a height not less than 1.50 meters.
i. Stairways
1) For multi-storey school buildings, concrete stairs must have a width of not less than
1.50 meters.
2) Number of stairways per school building shall comply with the requirements
stipulated in the National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP).
3) Handrails with steel railings must be provided.
j. Fire Protection
1) All school buildings shall comply with R.A. No. 9514, otherwise known as the Fire
Code of the Philippines (FCP) and its latest Implementing Rules and Regulations
(IRR). The requirements shall include a fire alarm system, a standpipe system,
pressure and gravity tanks, hose boxes/reels, extinguishers and other firefighting
equipment, including an automatic sprinkler system (NFPA 13). In addition, 3-
storey and 4- storey school buildings should be compliant with NFPA 25.
2) Fire escapes must be provided for multi-storey school buildings following the
requirements of the Fire Code of the Philippines.
k. Chalkboard
1) The classroom must be provided with a built-in curved chalkboard measuring 4.88
meters wide by 1.22 meters tall, with mounting heights and specifications as per
DepEd standards.
l. Painting
1) The standard paint/color schedule of DepEd school buildings shall be as follows:

2) Paint materials for internal finish must be independently certified lead-safe

paints/coatings.
3) All new schoolbuildings should follow the standard color scheme above, except in
the following cases:
i. A different dominant color scheme already exists. In such cases, the
dominant color scheme may be applied.
ii. Designs and/or accents depicting local culture or school approach are
practiced. In such cases, the same design/accents may be adopted.
iii. In both cases above, no additional cost may be charged.
4) No new design, accent, or color scheme different from what is hereby prescribed
and/or from what already predominantly exists under Item 3 above may be
proposed/introduced.
5) There is a need to ensure, as far as practicable, the uniformity of all public
schoolbuildings essentially to provide an environment for educational activities,
and effective teaching and learning. At the same time, the DepEd encourages and
promotes regional diversity and cultural identity.

m. Ventilation
1) Natural ventilation shall be primarily supplied by the windows and vents. Artificial
ventilation inside each classroom shall be supplied by two (2) units of oscillating
ceiling fans.
n. Illumination
1) Illumination falling at desk or arm rest should be taken with combined artificial and
natural lighting.
2) Illumination at all staircases and fire exit stairs shall comply with R.A. No. 9514
and its IRR.
VI. Structural Design Standards
a. The structural design must be in accordance with the revised IRR of the 1977 NBCP and
the latest edition of the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP), Volume 1,
2010.
b. Classification of Structure
In accordance with the NSCP, buildings under the Project shall be designed in accordance
to the classification, based on the nature of occupancy, of “Essential Facilities.”
c. Wind Load
For all schoolbuildings, the roofing and walls shall be designed to withstand a minimum
BASIC wind speed (as defined in Sec. 207 of the NSCP) of 250 kilometers per hour (kph).
The year-round effects of the southwest monsoon (“habagat”) wind and the northeast
monsoon (“amihan”) wind as well as of the easterly winds must be taken into consideration
due to the extensive damage these may cause to roofing, walls, and fenestrations.
A Wind Importance Factor (WIF) of 1.15, based on the NSCP, shall be used.
The structure should be fully sealed against rainwater intrusion during typhoons and heavy
rains to protect sensitive materials and equipment. Doors and windows should be fully
sealed against strong vertical and lateral rains.
d. Seismic Load
For all schoolbuildings, the structure shall be designed to withstand earthquakes for
Seismic Zone 4 with a corresponding Seismic Zone Factor of 0.4, or as otherwise specified
in the NSCP.
A Seismic Importance Factor (SIF) of 1.5 shall be used.
As the FFL shall be elevated to 0.20 meter above the level of flood indicated/identified in
the Site Appraisal Reports (SAR), the use of “containment wall” is prescribed to ensure the
safety of the structure during the rainy season.
e. Live Loads
The minimum occupancy or live loads shown in the table below shall be used in the design.
f. Design Life
The school building and its structure shall have a design life of at least twenty-five (25)
years.
g. Building Foundation
The foundation shall be designed for a net allowable soil bearing pressure of 96 kPa (2,000
pounds per square foot or psf). Consistent with best practices, the Proponent shall
undertake the prior appropriate studies/investigations for use as basis/bases for the
foundation and structural design of each Sub-Project.
h. Wall Vibration
Walls must not unduly vibrate due to impact caused by any part of an adult human body
and must neither be dented nor punctured by deliberate punches or kicks by adult humans.
VII. Electrical Design Standards
The electrical design must be in accordance with the latest edition of the Philippine
Electrical Code (PEC). It must be provided with the basic electrical power and lighting
layout, general notes, riser diagram, single line diagram, legends and symbols, load
schedule and auxiliary layouts.
a. Lighting and Fixtures
1) Each classroom of dimension 7m x 9m or 9m x 7m must be provided with at least
six (6) units of double T-5 36 watts fluorescent lamp with reflector or a minimum
of 104 Lumens per Watt (LPW).
2) A duplex convenience outlet (CO) of the grounding type must be provided on each
windowless side of the classroom.
3) Two ceiling outlets for ceiling fans for every classroom must be provided.
b. Wires and Wiring Devices
1) Wires shall be properly designed in accordance with Article 3.10 and the grounding
system shall conform to Article 2.50 of the PEC.
2) Wiring devices must be of modern type and approved for both location and purpose.
3) Service Entrance wires for a standard 7m x 9m or 9m x 7m described above must
have a size of 8.0 sq.mm minimum and properly protected by circuit breaker
protection.
c. Roughing-ins
Service Entrance
The service entrance shall be at least 1.60 meters above the natural grade line (NGL)
or 0.30 meter above the established high flood level, whichever is higher.

VIII. Sanitary and Plumbing Design Standards

a. Provision of Toilets and Sanitary Facilities
Toilets and sanitary facilities shall be in accordance with the Plumbing Code and the
Sanitary Code of the Philippines.
b. Waste and Vent Line Piping System
The drain, waste, and vent line piping system must be aligned with the American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D-2729, International Standards Organization (ISO)
4435 and ISO 3633.
c. Waterline Piping System
The system must be aligned with the Deustche Industrie-Norm (DIN) 1988 for
Polypropylene Random Copolymer (PP-R) type 3 pipe and ASTM A53/ A53M. The
system must provide for a waterline service entrance.
d. Plumbing Fixtures
These must be aligned with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) / American
Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), A112.19.4m, A112.19.3, A112.19.5.
e. Drainage System
The storm drainage system must be sized in consideration of the rainfall intensities, slope,
and roof areas of the schoolbuildings. Provision shall be made for the future installation of
rainwater collection system in compliance with R.A. No. 6716 “An Act Providing for the
Construction of Water Wells, Rainwater Collectors, Development of Springs and
Rehabilitation of Existing Water Wells in all Barangays in the Philippines”.
f. Septic Vault
All concrete septic tanks, if used as the sanitation solution, shall be protected from
corrosion by coating with an approved bituminous coat or by other acceptable means.

IX. Mechanical / Fire Protection Design Standards

All Mechanical System equipment and installation mentioned shall conform to the
provisions of the Mechanical Code of the Philippines, latest edition.

X. MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Expected Outcome
Comfortable and safe school children in school buildings turned over and accepted by
DPWH from government or private implementers.
Success Indicators
All school buildings constructed are compliant with the Minimum Performance Standards
and Specifications (MPSS) for school buildings as mandated in this Order.
Office in-Charge of M&E per governance level:
Mechanics and Timetable for Progress Monitoring and Evaluation Based on the timetable
submitted by the Project Implementor, DPWH Engineers (Regional, Division, and Project
Engineers) shall coordinate and prepare schedule of visits to monitor school building
projects.
Feedback Mechanisms
All feedback relayed to DPWH are referred to the office concerned for reply/action as
necessary.

XI. REFERENCES
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the DepEd and DPWH On the
Implementation of CY 2017 Basic Educational Facilities Fund (BEFF) dated March 20,
2017
National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP) and its revised Implementing Rules and
Regulation (IRR)
National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP), latest edition
Philippine Electrical Code (PEC), latest edition
Plumbing Code of the Philippines, latest edition
Sanitary Code of the Philippines, latest edition
Mechanical Code of the Philippines, latest edition
Fire Code of the Philippines (R.A No. 9514) and its revised Implementing Rules and
Regulation (IRR)