Download Regulations

209 Comments

1. Hi there, I own a pet parlour alongside a fast food restaurant. Do you know what the building/health regulations are in this regard? This is in the Tshwane region. Thanks for your help

2. Kobus unfortunately only your local authority can answer this question because it depends on zoning requirements. You will, in any case, need approved plans.

3. Good day. We have been building our house, and I mean building it ourselves, myself, my wife and our two sons are the labour involved in this project. So far we have mainly worked over week ends and after hours. Unfortunately, we have a neighbour who is not at all happy with the fact that we are building in front of her, thereby partly obstructing her view, and she has begun complaining about our after hours noise to other neighbours and the local authority. As we can only work at these odd hours, if we want to complete our house any time soon, we are at a loss as to how to proceed. Have you got any info on our situation?
   Regards

4. Hi Jaco, These are the paragraphs that I think you are looking for:
   Section B6 – Installation of cables, 3.11 Backfilling, 3.11.2 For high voltage cables (1 kV to 11 kV) a coloured plastic marking tape shall be installed 400 mm above the cable. The tape shall be yellow, marked with the words “ELECTRIC CABLE/ELEKTRIESE KABEL” in red. These markings shall not be more than 1m apart from centre to centre.
   AND Section 4.1 Installation Depths, 4.1.1 Cables shall be installed at the following minimum depths below final ground level: Up to 11kV : 8OOmm
   The full document can be downloaded here: download-regulations Scroll down to “General Electrical Specification PartA and PartB”

5. Please can you tell me what is the minimum depth of main electrical cable to house in the ground?{the trench or ditch for cable}

6. How many houses can I build on 2 ha of agricultural land without subdividing the property and doing town planning? I heard a rumor that there is a way to have a maximum of 7 households and this is enough to start our eco-community. Local government is impossible to reach, Madibeng, and I can’t find anything online. Any advice please!?!

7. Hi Guys,
   We are a prefab house company in China. My client asked me to make school design. Our house’s life span is over 50 years, is made by our foam cement board, wall panel thickness is 90mm-140mm, it’s totally fireproof, waterproof, and can resist 150km/hour wind and 8-9 grade earthquake. So can you tell me if we do the project, our house is qualified or should make some test.
   Thanks for your kind reply
   Henry Zhang

8. Hi Candice, All the rules are exactly the same as those that apply to a brick and mortar house. You need plans done by a “competent person” and they must be submitted to the council in the normal way. Then you will have to declare a “competent person” who will oversee the build. Some timber frame house builders have plans that they include with the house when you get them to supply and erect the house, but these will need to be adapted according to your site, and site plans will need to be included. If it is a new house then you will also have to register the house with the NHBRC and pay the required fees (or apply for a exemption if you are owner building). By law this has to be done with all new homes. This is briefly the process for a timber frame house. Please feel free to ask more questions anytime.

9. Can anyone help with what are the building regulations with building a wooden home? Like the Americans do… Its 13m x 8m.
   Do we have to have plans? any sort of certificates?
   Please need some urgent advice or help on this topic.

   Thanks

10. Hi Cathy, An emergency exit is just that—an emergency exit—and cannot be locked at any time. If you have a mechanism that prevents unauthorised entrance and allows free exit in an emergency then that is the way it is supposed to operate.

11. In an office building or factory, can the emergency exit door be locked if there is a mechanism for opening it in the event of an emergency?

12. Ask your local authority.

13. Hi,

    I am looking for vacant property in midrand or randburg to erect a funeral parlour.

    How can I find out if the land area is zoned for funerals parlours or not?

14. Kevin you don’t necessarily have to link it to the house, unless of course the local authority won’t approve plans for a second dwelling on the property. I suggest you ask them before you have plans drawn up by a competent person.

15. Hi,

    We are looking into maybe building a granny flat type building in the back of our yard.

    I’ve seen that something like that needs to be linked to the main house. Is that true? Since where we want to build it, isn’t close to the house?

    Can we link it with a porch to the garage that’s to the side of the proposed new building?

    Thanks in advance

16. Manfred, the National Building regulations and Standards Act is available for download on this site, HERE.
    The only place you will find the latest SANS is at the SABS.

17. Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

    I am working as Building Instructor in a Vocational Training Centre in Namibia and would be grateful to receive Building Standards and latest developments in the field of building construction to enhance the Quality of our Training delivery.

    Sincerely

    Manfred Petruttis

18. Pingback: Space Heating » Building Regulations South Africa

19. Anzebet a toboggan is what you use on a toboggan track. You would then have such a track at a theme park or whatever. A toboggan is NOT a bobsled run above, below or on the ground! It is what you use on … You will need to consult a competent person – probably an engineer – for advice. This is not covered in the building regulations.

20. A Toboggan is a bobsled run….above ground. There is already one in Cape Town. It wil be akin to a Theme Park…bob sledding, with restaurants etc.

21. Anzebet, a toboggan is a “narrow sledge for sliding over snow” and not something that could be adapted to incorporate restaurants, toilets etc. I have no idea what you are talking about. Contact your local authority for assistance.

22. GOOD DAY,

    CAN ANYONE HELP ME WRT THE REGULATIONS/REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDING A TOBOGGAN IN THE TSHWANE AREA?

    IT WILL BE ABOVE GROUND AND WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY RESTAURANTS, PUBLIC TOILETS, PARKING BAYS ETC.

    ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

23. Tanya you will need permission and licenses from the local authority and you will need plans from the local authority, These must be drawn up by a competent person who will have all the answers to your questions. Part A of SANS 10400 – General Requirements – specifies the number of toilets required. Have a look at the Q (comments) and answers on that page – I have answered similar questions many times.
    “Handicap access” is a separate issue, and this is dealt with in Part S, Facilities for disabled persons.
    Issues like kitchen facilities do not fall under the National Building Regulations and Standards Act. You need someone who is qualified in kitchen design to help you.
    This project is not something you can do on a DIY basis.

24. Good Morning

    We live in the Eastern Cape near Addo and want to convert an old milk shed into a coffee shop. What regulations would govern this? Do we need to submit building plans? Also, how many toilets would be required (it will be a 25-30 seater coffee shop). Could we have one unisex (with handicap access) instead of a male and female, as we are restricted with size. Also, where will I find guidelines on how to best do the kitchen facilities? – We do not intend to serve alcohol at all.

    Thank you

25. Hi Nashid,
    This is a huge problem in Johannesburg. As you can see from this story (http://tinyurl.com/nuahbnm) they were supposed to appoint an Ombudsman in March2013. Cape Town has a tracking number that they give to all plans and you know where they are at ANY time. This is horrendous and bordering on criminal. I would contact the City Managers office and complain to him, his name is Mr Trevor Fowler. You can quote the THE PROMOTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE ACT, 2000 (ACT 3 OF 2000) (PAJA) where public servants BY LAW have to take responsibility for their poor performance and must rectify any damage or loss suffered by their actions against any member of the public. Otherwise you will have to approach an attorney. Unfortunately the Joburg Advocacy Group (JAG) closed in January and as volunteers they would have taken on your case. Keep fighting for your rights.