The NHBRC – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (Q&A’S) The NHBRC used to have a page with a number of Q&A’s (questions and answers) that we now give you on this website. The most common questions and answers we have listed here below. We must point out to all homeowners and potential homeowners, as well…
Did you know, Regulations for Effective Lightning Conductors on Thatch Roofs Save Lives
SABS contact numbers countrywide. SANS-10400-The application of the National Building Regulations is available for purchase from offices nationwide (See the contact numbers and addresses below) or from the SABS online website store. OFFICES OF THE SABS & The National Call Centre 0861 27 7227email: info@sabs.co.za HEAD OFFICE PRETORIA012 428 7911email: info@sabs.co.za 1 Dr Lategan RoadGroenkloofPretoria…
Proven Ways of Waterproofing Roofs Waterproofing roofs is perhaps the most important factor when it comes to roof construction. The National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act states that roofs must be designed and constructed safely so that they are not damaged by wind or any other natural force. The law also states that they…
Picture Above: The roof with dark tiles absorbs heat and is not energy efficient Cool Roofs Reduce Energy Bills by up to 70 percent On site research proves that it is possible to save as much as 70 percent on energy with a “cool roof”. This is because cool roofs reduce roof temperatures by reflecting…
Green Roofs are Energy Efficient and Environmentally Friendly One of the most exciting emerging roof technologies that are gaining popularity worldwide is the green roof, an energy-efficient concept that is guaranteed to keep your home cool when the weather is hot, and warm when temperatures plummet. And it doesn’t end there. Green roofs are attractive…
By PENNY SWIFT Are you Ready to go Green? South Africa, as a country, has been incredibly slow to take up the challenge of sustainable living. Yet we really do need to embrace this challenge and build using sustainable materials and sustainable methods, so that we have sustainable homes. We also need to live a…
Developing Outdoor Spaces for an Outdoor Lifestyle Whatever the size of your property, there will always be outdoor spaces – big or small – that need to be developed. This may be in the form of a verandah, patio or porch, or it might be a garden that needs to be landscaped and planted. In…
Some Good Reasons to Owner Build The Pros and Cons of Owner Building: A personal review Perhaps you see the owner build exercise as a challenge. Or maybe it is an opportunity for you to prove you can do it better than we did. Maybe you’d decide to owner build just because you can! After all…
To Your Anchor Roof Structure is Important The roof of a house is ultimately what keeps us protected from the elements. This is why roofs need to be waterproof and able to prevent water from accumulating on the surface. But it is just as important for any roof to be able to resist any forces…
SANS 10400 Governs the Design, planning and supervision of all construction work Each section of SANS 10400, the Code of Practice for The application of the National Building Regulations (NBR) is presented with the relevant extract from the building regulations (which is the law), and is then followed by a general commentary explaining how the…
Swimming Pools May be Built Many Different Ways Most Swimming Pool Companies Specialise in One Pool Construction Method, but which one is the Best for You? Swimming pools may be built in a myriad of shapes and sizes and they can be constructed using a variety of different methods (see below). The question is which…
Caption for pool above: Empty and cracked, the rock pool went from being a dream to a disaster. Conned by a Fly-by-Night Pool Builder Why you should use a pool contractor who belongs to the NSPI South Africa’s building industry is rife with problems, so whether you are building a house or a swimming pool,…
After many years of allowing visitors to their website to download “out-of-date” regulations, the SABS changed its policy. Even though these were out of date, they contained the basic information homeowners need to know. And since most find it is too costly to pay for SANS, we directed our visitors to the old regs and…
Picture Above: A homemade treehouse built just for fun.NOTE THAT THERE IS INFORMATION ABOUT MINOR BUILDING WORK AND THE LAW AT THE END OF THIS POST. Build a Treehouse the Easy Way This blog post is dedicated to Alexander (our boy who learnt to use a hammer at an early age) … and to Simon…
EXCLUSIVE OFFER As an Owner Builder this Building a Carport the Easy Way does what it says with this book. This digital A4 ebook (PDF) with 64 pages is packed with full-color ideas and pictures including step-by-step instructions and sketch plans.How To Build a Carport the easy way will guide you through all stages of…
You Don’t Need Plans for Minor Building Work … But you DO Need Permission to Build Anything you build on your property needs plans unless it is defined as “minor building work”. However, the Act states very clearly in Part A: General Principles and Requirements (this was previously Part A: Administration), that any structural building…
Take Charge of Your Home Building Venture as Project Manager Anybody who is serious about owner building will want to have a degree of control to ensure that the project stays on track. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be hands-on. Taking on the role of project manager simply means that you are…
How far from the boundary wall must I build? We get a number of questions asking “What are my building lines” and “How close to the boundary am I (or my neighbour) allowed to build?” The site plan above is a sample and is only a guide to the approximate building lines and distances that…
Planning House Extensions Whether you are building a new home or planning house extensions to an existing home, you are going to need building approval from your local authority. Even if you are simply opening up a wall or partitioning a room by erecting a new internal wall, most councils will insist on working drawings….
The Importance of Facilities forDisabled People in our Buildings-Part S The National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act was amended and published by the Department of Trade and Industry in May 2008. Some parts of the Act were affected more than others; some changed very little. Part S, which deals with facilities for disabled people…
Dozens of Residents Die When Building Collapses January 20, 2012: A badly maintained apartment block which was home to some 50 people, collapsed like a pack of cards in Beirut this week, killing at least 25 people. A teenage girl and her grandmother, an elderly man (73), and several labourers from Sudan, Egypt, Jordan and…
Construction News, Views and Interviews There’s always something going on in the world of construction, whether it’s a new building material affected by the building regulations, an innovative technique, an accident on a building site, or an achievement of somebody in the industry that is worthy of attention. While we endeavour to share as much…
Burst Pipe Plumbing Problems can Result in Water Water Everywhere It was a case of water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink recently when a burst pipe began to flood our rented home. Tensions were high as water dribbled out from under the fridge. Another appliance was clearly about to give up the…
Building Regulations Section 2: Part J to Part Q As there are a total 23 Parts to the SANS 10400 Building Regulations we have divided them into three sections to improve the ease of navigation. The order in which the different Parts of the regulations are displayed follows the same order as the regulations themselves…
