Republic of the Philippines

Department of Health
HEALTH FACILITIES AND SERVICES REGULATORY BUREAU
ANNEX-B
A.O. No. 2016- ______

PLANNING AND DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTH

FACILITIES

A hospital and other health facilities shall be planned and designed to observe
appropriate architectural practices, to meet prescribed functional programs, and to
conform to applicable codes as part of normal professional practice. References shall be
made to the following:
 P.D. 1096 – The National Building Code of the Philippines and its Revised
Implementing Rules and Regulations
 R.A. 9514 – Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 and its Implementing
Rules and Regulations of 2009
 P.D. 856 – Code on Sanitation of the Philippines and its Implementing Rules and
Regulations
 B.P. 344 – Accessibility Law and Its Amended and Original Implementing Rules
and Regulations
 R.A. 1378 – National Plumbing Code of the Philippines and Its Implementing
Rules and Regulations
 The National Structural Code of the Philippines, 2010
 The Philippine Electrical Code, 2009
 Manual on Technical Guidelines for Hospitals and Health Facilities Planning and
Design 100-Bed Hospital (Level 2). Department of Health, Manila. 2015
 Signage Systems Manual for Hospitals and Offices. Department of Health, Manila.
1994
 Health Facilities Maintenance Manual. Department of Health, Manila. 1995
 Healthcare Waste Management Manual. Department of Health, Manila. 2012
 Safe Hospitals in Emergencies and Disasters. Department of Health, Manila. 2011
 District Hospitals: Guidelines for Development. World Health Organization
Regional Publications, Western Pacific Series. 1998
 Guidelines for Construction and Equipment of Hospital and Medical Facilities.
American Institute of Architects, Committee on Architecture for Health. 1992
 De Chiara, Joseph. Time-Saver Standards for Building Types. McGraw-Hill Book
Company.4th edition. 2001

1. Environment: A hospital and other health facilities shall be so located that it is readily
accessible to the community and reasonably free from undue noise, smoke, dust, foul
odor, flood, and shall not be located adjacent to railroads, freight yards, children’s
playgrounds, airports, industrial plants, disposal plants.

2. Occupancy: A building designed for other purpose shall not be converted into a
hospital. The location of a hospital shall comply with all local zoning ordinances.

3. Safety. A hospital and other health facilities shall provide and maintain a safe
environment for patients, personnel and public. The building shall be of such
construction so that no hazards to the life and safety of patients, personnel and public
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 Exist. It shall be capable of withstanding weight and elements to which they may be
subjected.

3.1. Exits shall be restricted to the following types: door leading directly outside the
building, interior stair, ramp, and exterior stair.

3.2. A minimum of two (2) exits, remote from each other, shall be provided for each
floor of the building.

3.3. Exits shall terminate directly at an open space to the outside of the building.

4. Security: A hospital and other health facilities shall ensure the security of person and
property within the facility.

5. Patient Movement: Spaces shall be wide enough for free movement of patients,
whether they are on beds, stretchers, or wheelchairs. Circulation routes for
transferring patients from one area to another shall be available and free at all times.

5.1. Corridors in areas not commonly used for bed, stretcher, and equipment
transport may be reduced in width to 1.83 meters (or 6 feet) in clear width.

5.2. Corridors for access by patient using bed or stretcher and equipment shall be at
least 2.44 meters (or 8 feet) in clear width.

5.3. A multi- level ramp or elevator shall be provided for ancillary, clinical, and nursing
areas located on the upper floor of the hospital or health facility.

5.4. An elevator capable of accommodating at least a patient bed shall be provided in

case there is no multi-level ramp.

5.5. An entry ramp shall be provided as access to the entrance of the hospital or
health facility that is not on the same level as the ground.

5.6. A ramp shall have a minimum clear width of 1.22 meters (or 4 feet) in one
direction (or 2.44 meters or 8 feet in two opposite directions).

5.7. The slope of the ramp shall not be steeper than 1:12 meters.

6. Lighting: All areas in a hospital and other health facilities shall be provided with
sufficient illumination to promote comfort, healing and recovery of patients and to
enable personnel in the performance of work.

7. Ventilation: Adequate ventilation shall be provided to ensure comfort of patients,

personnel, and public.

8. Auditory and Visual Privacy: A hospital and other health facilities shall observe
acceptable sound level and adequate visual seclusion to achieve the acoustical and
privacy requirements in designated areas allowing the unhampered conduct of
activities.

9. Water Supply: A hospital and other health facilities shall use an approved public water
supply system whenever available. The water supply shall be potable, safe for
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 drinking and adequate, and shall be brought into the building free of cross
connections.

10. Waste Disposal: Liquid waste shall be discharged into an approved public sewerage
system whenever available, and solid waste shall be collected, treated and disposed
of in accordance with applicable codes, laws, or ordinances.

11. Sanitation: Utilities for the maintenance of sanitary system, including approved water
supply and sewerage system shall be provided through the buildings and premises to
ensure a clean and healthy environment.

12. Housekeeping: A hospital and other health facilities shall provide and maintain a
healthy and aesthetic environment for patients, personnel, and public.

13. Maintenance: There shall be an effective building maintenance program in place. The
buildings and equipment shall be kept in a state of good repair. Proper maintenance
shall be provided to prevent untimely breakdown of buildings and equipment.

14. Material Specification: Floors, walls and ceilings shall be of sturdy materials that shall
allow durability, ease of cleaning and fire resistance.

15. Segregation: Wards shall observe segregation of sexes. Separate toilet shall be
maintained for patients and personnel, male and female, with a ratio of one (1) toilet
for every eight (8) patients or personnel.

16. Fire Protection: There shall be measures for detecting fire such as fire alarms in
walls, peepholes in doors or smoke detectors in ceilings. There shall be devices for
quenching fire such as fire extinguishers or fire hoses that are easily visible and
accessible in strategic areas.

17. Signage: There shall be an effective graphic system composed of a number of

individual visual aids and devices arranged to provide information, orientation,
direction, identification, prohibition, warning and official notice considered essential to
the optimum operation of a hospital and other health facilities.

18. Parking: A hospital and other health facilities shall provide a minimum of one (1)
parking space for every twenty-five (25) beds.

19. Zoning: The different areas of a hospital shall be grouped according to zones as
follows:

19.1. Outer Zone – areas that are immediately accessible to the public emergency
service, outpatient service, and administrative service. They shall be located near
the entrance of the hospital.

19.2. Second Zone – areas that receive workload form the outer zone: laboratory,
pharmacy, and radiology. They shall be located near the outer zone.

19.3. Inner Zone – areas that provide nursing care and management of patients:
nursing service. They shall be located in private areas but accessible to guests.

19.4. Deep Zone – areas that require asepsis to perform the prescribed services:
surgical service, delivery service, nursery, and intensive care. They shall be
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 segregated from the public areas but accessible to the outer, second and inner
zones.

19.5. Service Zone – areas that provide support to hospital activities: dietary service,
housekeeping service, maintenance and motor pool service, and mortuary. They
shall be located in areas away from normal traffic.

20. Function: The different areas of a hospital shall be functionally related with each
other.

20.1. The emergency service shall be located in the ground floor to ensure immediate
access. A separate entrance to the emergency room shall be provided.

20.2. The administrative service, particularly admitting office and business office, shall
be located near the main entrance of the hospital. Offices for hospital
management can be located in private areas.

20.3. The surgical service shall be located and arranged to prevent non-related traffic.
The operating room shall be as remote as practicable from the entrance to
provide asepsis. The dressing room shall be located to avoid exposure to dirty
areas after changing to surgical garments. The nurse station shall be located to
permit visual observation of patient movement.

20.4. The delivery service shall be located and arranged to prevent non-related traffic.
The delivery room shall be remote as practicable from the entrance to provide
asepsis. The dressing room shall be located to avoid exposure to dirty areas after
changing to surgical garments. The nurse station shall be located to permit visual
observation of patient movement. The nursery shall be separate but immediately
accessible from the delivery room.

20.5. The nursing service shall be segregated from public areas. The nurse station
shall be located to permit visual observation of patients. Nurse stations shall be
provided in all inpatient units of the hospital with a ratio of at least one (1) nurse
station for every thirty-five (35) beds. Rooms and wards shall be sufficient size to
allow for work and patient movement. Toilets shall be immediately accessible
from rooms and wards.

21. Space: Adequate area shall be provided for the people, activity, furniture, equipment
and utility.

Space Area in Square Meters

Administrative Service
Lobby
Waiting Area 0.65/person
Information and Receiving Area 5.02/staff
Toilet 1.67
Business Office 5.02/staff
Medical Records
Work Area 5.02/staff
Storage Area 4.65
Office of the Hospital Administrator 5.02/staff
Office of the Chief of Hospital 5.02/staff
Conference Room 1.40/person
Space Area in Square Meters
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Staff Toilet 1.67
Housekeeping Area 5.02/staff
Laundry and Linen Area 5.02/staff
Maintenance Area 5.02/staff
Garage Area 9.29
Supply Room 5.02/staff
Waste Holding Room 4.65
Pharmacy 15.00
Dietary
Dietitian Area 5.02/staff
Supply Receiving Area 4.65
Cold and Dry Storage Area 4.65
Food Preparation Area 4.65
Cooking and Baking Area 4.65
Serving and Food Assembly Area 4.65
Washing Area 4.65
Garbage Disposal Area 1.67
Dining Room 1.40/person
Staff Locker Room and Toilet 2.32
Social Service Area 5.02/staff
Cadaver Holding Room 7.43/bed
Clinical Service
Emergency Room
Waiting Area 0.65/person
Toilet 1.67
Nurse Station 5.02/staff
Examination and Treatment Area with Lavatory/Sink 7.43/bed
Observation Area 7.43/bed
Equipment and Supply Storage Area 4.65
Wheeled Stretcher Area 1.08/stretcher
Outpatient Department
Waiting Area 0.65/person
Toilet 1.67
Admitting and Records Area 5.02/staff
Consultation Area 5.02/staff
Examination and Treatment Area with Lavatory/Sink 7.43/bed
Dental Clinic 8.36/dental chair
Surgical and Obstetrical Service
Major Operating Room 33.45
Recovery Room 9.29
Delivery Room 33.45
Labor Room and Toilet 9.29
Sub-sterilizing Room 4.65
Sterile Instrument, Supply and Storage Area 4.65
Anesthesia Storage Area 4.65
Scrub-up Area 4.65
Clean-up Area 4.65
Male Dressing Room and Toilet 2.32
Female Dressing Room and Toilet 2.32
Nurse Station 5.02/staff
Wheeled Stretcher Area 1.08/stretcher
Janitor’s Closet 3.90
Nursery
Pathologic Room 3.72/bassinet
Space Area in Square Meters
Premature Room 3.72/bassinet
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 Work Area with Sink 4.65
Viewing Area 3.90
Breastfeeding Area 3.72/bassinet
Nursing Unit
Private Room with Toilet 9.29
Semi-Private Room with Toilet 7.43/bed
Female Ward with Toilet 7.43/bed
Male Ward with Toilet 7.43/bed
Isolation Room with Toilet 9.29
Nurse Station with Work Area and Lavatory/Sink 5.02/staff
Treatment Room with Lavatory/Sink 7.43/bed
Central Sterilizing and Supply Room
Receiving and Releasing Area 5.02/staff
Work Area 5.02/staff
Sterilizing Room 4.65
Sterile Supply Storage Area 4.65
Nursing Service
Office of the Chief Nurse 5.02/staff
Staff Locker Room and Toilet 2.32
Ancillary Service
Laboratory
Toilet 1.67
Clinical Work Area with Sink 10.00
Pathologist Area 5.02/staff
Radiology
Waiting Area 0.65/person
Dressing Area 1.67
Toilet 1.67
X-ray Room with Control Booth 14.00
Dark Room 4.65
Film File and Storage Area 4.65
Radiologist Area 5.02/staff
Pharmacy 15.00

Notes:

1. 0.65/person – Unit area per person occupying the space at one time
2. 5.02/staff – Work area per staff that includes space for one (1) desk and one (1) chair, space
for occasional visitor, and space for aisle
3. 1.40/person - Unit area per person occupying the space at one time
4. 7.43/bed – Clear floor area per bed that includes space for one (1) bed, space for occasional
visitor, and space for passage of equipment
5. 1.08/stretcher – Clear floor area per stretcher that includes space for one (1) stretcher
6. 8.36/dental chair – Clear floor area per dental chair that includes space for one (1) dental
chair, space for movement of person, and space for passage of equipment
7. 3.72/bassinet – Clear floor area per bassinet that includes space for one (1) bassinet, space
for movement of person, and space for passage of equipment

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