House building – Page 4 – SANS10400.org.za are the Building regulations in South Africa

Lighting and Ventilation

Good Lighting and Ventilation is Vital for Healthy Living-Part O In terms of the National Building Regulations Part O, all habitable rooms, including bathrooms, showers and toilets (and interestingly enough garages!) must have some form of lighting and ventilation that will enable people to use these rooms safely. The most important aspect is that it…

Glazing | National Building Regulations (SA) | SANS10400-NBR (SA)

Glazing

Glazing and the Glass You Use for It-Part N Part N is the section on glazing in the National Building Regulations & Building Standards Act and is short and reasonably sweet. Essentially you need to be sure that any material used for glazing in buildings is secure and durable and that it is fixed so…

House building | National Building Regulations (SA) | safety | SANS10400-NBR (SA)

Stairways

Safety is Paramount when it comes to Stairways-Part M It stands to reason that stairways must be safe. If stairs are too steep, and they don’t have railings, or if screens and balustrades are not strong and secure, people may fall with disastrous consequences. What the National Building Regulations say about Stairs and Stairways “Any…

House building | National Building Regulations (SA) | Roofs | SANS10400-NBR (SA) | Waterproofing

Roofs-Part L

Building Regulations as They Apply to Roofs-Part L When the South African National Building Regulations were updated by the Department of Trade and Industry in May 2008, the General Requirement relating to Roofs was changed to incorporate certain safety elements. For example, instead of simply having to “resist any forces” to which the roof might…

Walls

It is vital that walls are strong, stable, waterproof and fireproof. The way that the roof is affixed to the wall is also very important.

Floors

Building Regulations that Apply to Floors-Part J The Application of the National Building Regulations that apply to floors (Part J of SANS 10400) are certainly not exhaustive. In fact, if you think of how much of our house is floor, it’s what we might, in South Africa, describe as a biekie min. But the authorities have,…

Building | Concrete & Masonry | Foundations | National Building Regulations (SA) | SANS10400-NBR (SA)

Foundations

Regulations for Foundations-Part HA Focus on Safety Foundations, Part H, of any structure, large or small, must be built to safely transmit all loads of the building to the ground. If foundations are not correctly built, walls may crack and at worst, could even collapse. While the National Building Regulations specify general requirements for foundations,…

Building | House building | National Building Regulations (SA) | safety | SANS10400-NBR (SA)

Site Operations

Site Operations – Part F – Building Regulations Site operations must be carried out in a safe, responsible manner. It is for this reason that Part F: Site Operations of the National Building Regulations specifies how the public and property belonging to the local authority must be safeguarded. Other site operations issues that are addressed…

Plumbing

The Plumbing Saga Continues

IT’S PLUMBER PLUMBING CRAZY Not being a registered plumber, or even someone who would try to work with pipes and fittings, all I can do is read the relevant national standards when I want to check the legality of fixtures and fittings. Not that the owner of the property cares. Pipes and fittings have been…

Burst Pipes

THE NEED FOR PROPER PLUMBING Burst pipes are unnecessary. I never cease to be amazed by people who ignore building rules and regulations, particularly when the regulations apply to plumbing or electrics. Not only are plumbing and electricity two of the most basic facilities in our homes, and vital for everyday life, but when installed…