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1. Harald this is not contained in the NBR – there are a number of other SANS that deal with plumbing. I suggest you contact the Institute of Plumbing IOPSA and ask their advice. Here is a link to their web site – their contact details are on the Home page.

2. Hi Penny.
   We have just completed a house with a 300 litre heat pump/geyser and a ring main. We specified the use of lagged PEX piping for the ring main which we assumed would be installed in the roof space. The ring main was actually installed in the first floor slab. We suspect the plumber has (a) used copper and (b) not lagged it. The result is huge temperature losses in the water as it travels around the ring main meaning that the last bathroom in the ring main can produce at best a tepid shower. Also, with the circulation pump working the heat pump cannot keep up with the loss of temperature in the returning water. Before we start arguing with the plumber I would like to know what the regulations are concerning the installation of ring mains in concrete slabs (specifically with regard to materials and lagging). I hope you can help.
   Regards, Harald

3. hi penny
   i submiited a plan for approval, and eventually it did not get passed. eventually with all the back and forth with the council, the plan got lappsed.
   i tried to get the file to resubmit, and the council plans department caanot find the file.
   i was told to redo the drawings and resubmit and also repay all the neccessary fees.
   please assist me …..what to i do now ?

4. We did some phoning Karen, and the most helpful comment was not helpful at all! viz that those balustrades are “illegal” – came from the marketing person at one of the company’s that make them! I also found the Aussie site – If you look at Part A of the NBR you will see that the people who put our regs together do cross ref some of the Oz regs. Not sure what to suggest, other than say I doubt I would accept a design that I didn’t want and don’t like. Maybe you should go to the planning dept at your council and ask to see the town planner – and ask whether what you want will be acceptable – after all they are the ones who will accept or reject at the end of the day.

5. Hi Penny,

   Thanks for your response. Nope not able to get the Regulation they refer to from them – just an extract from an Australian website similar to yours. Must admit your website and responses are extremely helpful, informative and down to the point – much appreciated!

   Regards,

   Karen

6. Mark I assume that this would normally be defined in the job – so when the Dept of Public Works appointed engineers for the job they should have been given a clear mandate in terms of their individual responsibilities. Somebody at ECSA may be able to give you generic information in terms of definitions. In terms of water supply itself, this is the responsibility of the qualified, registered plumber/s appointed to the job; and this person would presumably work with whoever designed the system. Of course not including council land/water supply.

7. Hi,

   I am involved with a large Department of Public Works project and there is confusion amongst the professional team of where the responsibilities of the various consulting Engineers begin and end. I am specifically referring to the fire and domestic water supply in the ground external to the buildings. My understanding is that all infrastructure in the ground and external to the buildings is a Civil Engineering responsibility. Is there a guide that specifically defines the responsibility limits between the various Engineers?

   Please advise.

   Thank you.

   Mark Walters

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9. Hi Penny, & thanks.

   Basics about the stairway leading to the upper loft etc all seems to be in place according to requirements – no balustrade at the staircase, there’s walls so only a handrail. My question would, I assume, then be specifically about structural design about the balustrade leading from the staircase along the side of the loft room. The original design was, yes round bar based, with horizontal wire ‘beams’ – a design you actually see quite often (with required heights, fixed to the walls etc. etc.). The builder then commented on the fact that he prefers not to use the wire at the coast, because of rust. And then in short to replace the wire with a thin stainless steal round bar – providing still for a design very similar to my original idea, an essentially horizontally oriented design. After they installed the balustrade I went back to the house. It is now a balustrade with fairly thick approximate 20mm in diameter round steel bars vertically spaced approximately 10cm apart. A design for me which is just totally different from what was in the original specs or what I assumed I would have based on our discussion of replacing the wire with steel These balustrade designs, basically horizontally oriented in design where there is horizontal steel bars instead of wire is also quite common and according to me quite stylish. But now I have this massive construction of closely spaced thick vertical bar – to me it looks like a kind of ‘shimmering Alcatraz’. I went with him to the company who does the steelwork and him and the girl there said to me that I cannot have the design I originally wanted with just the wire replaced by thin steel bars because this is against Building Regulations. Because of the horizontal position of the steel bars they will be building ‘stairs’ into the balustrade – this is what they referred to as the Regulation of 2012 that requires all balustrades to be ‘child proof’. You apparently have to have this specific vertical design of steel bars otherwise it won’t pass inspection for purposes of an occupancy certificate. (PS: I don’t have children). So this is what I want to know – is it a Regulated requirement to have vertical steel bars in balustrades? And is it against the Regulations to have a balustrade with thin horizontal steel bars spaced approximately 15cm apart?

10. Karen, Balustrades are covered in Part M of SANS 10400, Stairways. In addition to what you find on that page on this site, SANS 10400-M: 2011 states:
    “any wall, screen, railing or balustrade to such stairway is in accordance with the requirements of either SANS 10400-B or SANS 10400-K and SANS 10400-T.”
    “The headroom at any point on any stairway shall be not less than 2,1 m, measured vertically from the pitch line, and the width of any stairway, measured to any enclosing wall or balustrade, shall be not less than 750 mm (see figure 1).” Fig. 1 is the drawing on our page about stairs that is captioned: Minimum headroom allowed on stairways.
    Handrails must be “securely fixed to such wall, screen, railing or balustrade at a height of not less than 850 mm and not more than 1 m measured vertically from the pitch line to the upper surface of the handrail”.
    Part B covers Structural design, and unfortunately I don’t have access to a copy of this at this point in time. But you can check it by going to an SABS library.
    Part K covers Walls – and only deals with solid balustrade walls.
    Part T covers Fire protection – not balustrades.
    So it’s not really “child-proofing” but rather a safe design feature.
    But I am a little puzzled. What type of stainless steel have they installed? e.g. Round bar? Many people use stainless steel wire for this type of balustrade (similar to what is often used on yachts). And are you saying that they did what they did to comply? Or are you saying that they have created a “stair”-like balustrade that a child could climb?

11. Hi, I am busy building a small apartment, with an open loft room. I originally planned a type of balustrade with a horizontal design of sortof metal ‘wire’ if I can call it that. The builder advised me not to use the ‘wire’ – it rusts too quickly at the coast. However, with the balustrade now installed, it is a vertical design of closely spaced stainless steel. When I said that this is far from the original design, the builder and the company who did the balustrade informed me that this is apparently a health and safety regulation, as I understand dating to 2012 and pertaining to child safety. You are apparently not allowed to build ‘stairs’ on these balustrades as all have to comply with ‘child-proofing’ a house or you won’t get an occupancy certificate. Is this the case? Are you able to refer me to this regulation prescribing ‘childproofing’ a house / minimum balustrade requirements.

    Sincerest appreciation in advance…

    Karen.

12. Lize if there is anything, you will probably find it in the Electrical Machinery Regulations, 2011. YOu can download the regulations from the page where we have published an article about electric fencing.

13. Can you possibly advise where information can be found if there is in fact legislation in place requiring a stopper to be included in an electric gate installation as safety to prevent the gate from coming off the rail and injuring persons?

14. Hi CPK,
    My first thought with the limited information that you have given is that the external ground has been backfilled too high against the external walls (above the damp-proof course) and this needs to be excavated away. If this is not the case then it does sound as if there cound be a structural defect and you would be covered by the NHBRC warranty (5 years for structural defects). The process is to put the builder to terms, and once that prescribed time frame has passed then you can contact the NHBRC. You can also call in an independant assessor to give you a report before you contact them just to make sure. The NHBRC has a toll free number: 0800 200 824.

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17. Karien, Minimum specifications in terms of the floor area allowed for a certain number of people using a room or building at any one time are in Part C, Dimensions of SANS 10400. Have a look at the link (specifically see under Floor Areas for Buildings). This should answer your question.

18. There is some information in Part C, Dimensions. City by-laws govern maximum heights. Here’s a link to the City of Durban (eThekwini Municipality) building bylaws – though I can’t see anything here. Roofs are covered to some extent in the City’s town planning document.
    However, at the end of the day you should be building according to approved plans, and the maximum height should be on those plans.

19. Hi there I’m currently building in glenashley Durban, I would like to know what the specifications regarding the maximum height from floor to roof apex should be? That is the total height of the building. I’ve searched on the sabs document but cannot find it, please help. Thanks
    Leon

20. Hi, what is the regulation on occupancy – i.e. the number of people allowed to stay in a house / flat? When does it become overcrowding?

21. Hi, what is the specifications for damp proofing? I have a property where the damp seal / damp proofing ( the section where the foundation stops and the house start, if you understand what I mean). I have a property where on some part of the house the damp proofing is on the ground. I have problem in the house that some sections smell of mildew, which worsens in the rainfall season. If this is a problem, what can be done and will the NHBRC cover this? the property is not yet 5 years old.

22. Ada this does not fall under the National Building Regulations. It will be a zoning issue – and this is part of the local authority by-laws. Contact your local municipality or council for advice.

23. Wat is dit spesifikasies waaraan ‘n ontwikkelaar moet voldoen om n begraafplaas te ontwikkel? Ons bure wil n begrafplaas ontwikkel in n landbou gesoeneerde gebied. Kan umy asb help?

24. Joseph, your best bet is to contact one of the many companies that manufacture steel windows. The building regulations do not specify this, and hundreds of different sizes are available. There is no SABS standard that I know of the specifies sizes either.

25. hi I’m studying architectural draughting. I hv an assessment can u plz send me steel window standard measurements