THE REVISED PHILIPPINE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING CODE: FOCUS ON IMPROVING
THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, LIFE, SAFETY AND HEALTH
The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers is the Philippines’ only integrated
technical society in the field of mechanical engineering. Its members, scattered throughout the
world are individuals who share ideas, support research, identify needs, and write the Philippine
industry’s standards for testing and practice. The result is that engineers are better able to keep
indoor environments safe and productive while protecting and preserving the outdoors and the
environment for generations to come.
There are noticeable differences between this Revised Code and the previous versions:
The earlier version/s were written more as a reference manual instead of a code, they
describe theories and practices in operation rather than follow the mandate in accordance with
the National Building Code of the Philippines and, they have not been updated to conform with
current practices in accordance with international standards and norms.
This new code follows stipulated international practices and the uniform mechanical
code, and focuses on the paramount concern in the world today, the environment, life, safety
and health.
The PSME is tasked to safeguard the people by all means in compliance with the
National Building Code of the Philippines, specifically Section 102 Declaration of Policy and
Chapter 13, Section 1302 Mechanical Regulation.
One of the ways that PSME supports its members and the industry’s need for
information is through PSME Research enabling members to benefit from the combined effort of
committee members who have the experience in determining the important information that is
incorporated in this Code.
The 2011 Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code
The 2011 Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code covers basic principles and data
used in the mechanical engineering field. The PSME Technical Committee that prepared these
chapters, strive not only to provide new information, but also to clarify past and existing
information, delete obsolete materials, and reorganize the chapters and their contents to make
the Code more understandable and easier to use.
Unlike a Handbook, this Code is intended not only for mechanical engineers but also to
the general public as well. A code is full of terms, information and guidelines. A handbook helps
to explain things and principles on how an object, a process, and a system functions.
The intent of this Code is to cover mechanical engineering practice for multiple
residential, commercial and industrial edifices, typically where the greater population reside and
work. There is a limit where we cannot cover plant manufacturing processes such as cement
plants, oil refineries, power plants and the like simply because these are business concerns with
proprietary rights to their technology. Further, the people interaction is not with the public but
limited only to experienced personnel and experts with interests to such a facility. For an
engineer to learn the principles on how these plants work and operate, he only has to refer to a
Handbook. Despite this situation, we have endeavored to cover in this Code the minimum
mandatory requirement on how to properly install mechanical equipment to protect the public.
Likewise, the language in this Code is written to be understood by everyone and not only
mechanical engineers, in support of the mandate bestowed upon us by the National Building
Code of the Philippines.
A typical user of this Code, be he a building official, a government engineer, a trade
practitioner who may be a project owner, a consultant, or an engineering supplier, reading,
interpreting or conceptualizing designs, preparing or writing reports, specifications and other
documents related to a project, a contractor who undertakes the scheduling, building and
commissioning of a small or large project, even a foreign entity who joins bids, read the terms of
references and carry out the tasks involved in the project he will be doing refer to such a Code
as mandated by the government for the interest of the general public’s welfare on the
preservation of the environment, the protection of life, the safeguarding of one’s safety and to
shelter each individual’s health within and without the workplace.
The reader will view the chapters as new but, as soon as he comprehends the contents,
knowledge gained will germinate into creative ideas, and applications will come in as second
nature but achieving the wisdom that he is preserving his surroundings and the population that
might be affected with his decisions.
This edition radically departs from the previous editions in that the Technical Committee
adopted the Uniform Mechanical Code which has been in use all over the world by both
developed and developing countries, to suit our local climatic conditions and practical usage.
Chapter Orders
Chapter 1
Administration
Chapter 2
Definitions
Chapter 3
General
Chapter 20
Fire Protection
System
Chapter 21
Requirements
Indirect Waste, Traps
and Interceptors
Chapter 4
Ventilation Air Supply
Chapter 22
Chapter 5
Exhaust Systems
Combustible Liquid
Chapter 6
Duct Systems
Piping Systems and
Chapter 7
Combustion Air
Storage
Chapter 8
Chimneys and Vents
Chapter 23
Pressure Vessels
Chapter 9
Smoke Control
Chapter 24
Building
Systems
Flammable and
Transportation
Chapter 10
Hydronics
Chapter 25
Energy Conservation
Chapter 11
Steam and Hot Water
Chapter 26
Standard Practice for
Boilers
the Control of
Chapter 12
Refrigeration
Flammable and
Chapter 13
Installation of
Combustible Liquids
Equipment
and Gases in
Chapter 14
Water Supply
Manholes, Sewer and
Chapter 15
Drainage Piping
Underground
Chapter 16
Vent Piping
Chapter 17
Storm Drainage
Piping
Chapter 18
Fuel Gas Piping
Chapter 19
Medical Gasand
Vacuum Piping
Chapter 27
Renewable Energy
Source
Chapter 28
Non-Renewable
Energy Source
Chapter 29
Standards