RA 6541: National Building Code of the Philippines

Section 8.01.02:. Excavations, Foundations, and Retaining Walls

  1. General. Subject to the provisions of Articles 684 to 686 of the Civil Code of the Philippines on lateral and subjacent support, the quality of materials and design used structurally in excavations, footings and shall conform to the internationally recognized and accepted principles of engineering.

  2. Excavation or Fills

    1. Excavation or fills for any building structure and excavations or fills accessory thereto shall be so constructed or protected that they do not endanger life and property.

    2. Whenever or wherever the depth of any excavation for a new construction is such that the lateral and subjacent support of the adjoining property or existing structure thereon would be affected in a manner that the stability of safety of the same is in endanger, the person undertaking or causing the excavation to be undertaking or causing the excavation to be undertaken shall be responsible for the expense of underpinning or extending the foundation or footings of the aforementioned property or structure only when such underpinning is necessary for the safety of the same during excavation.

    3. Excavations and other similar disturbances made on public property caused by public utilities shall be repaired immediately and returned to its former condition within 48 years from the start of such excavations and disturbances by the public utility franchise owner and the duly constituted officials thereof. Adequate signs and safeguards shall be installed around and near the excavation to protect the public from any danger of falling into the excavation. Repeated and flagrant violations of this Section shall be the basis of revocation of any public utility franchise. This provision shall not exempt the franchise owner and the duly constituted officials thereof from any criminal or civil liabilities arising from such excavations and disturbances to third persons.

  3. Footings and Foundations, and Retaining Walls

    1. Footings and foundations shall be of the appropriate type, of adequate size, and capacity in order to safely sustain the superimposed loads under seismic or any condition to external forces that may affect the safety or stability of the structure. It shall be the responsibility of the architect and/or engineer to adopt the type and design of the same in accordance with generally accepted principles and standards of engineering.

    2. Whenever or wherever there exists in the site of the construction on abrupt change in the ground levels or levels of the foundation such that instability of the soil could result, retaining walls shall be provided and such shall be of adequate design and type of construction in accordance with generally accepted standards and principles of engineering.