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Building House Extensions
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….
Excavations
Safety and Stability When Doing ExcavationsAre Top Priorities – Part G Excavations are not always necessary when we build our homes, but it often is, even if the ground is reasonably flat and level. Part G of the National Building Regulations deals with excavations and their safety. The Importance of Stability One of the reasons…
Are High Ceilings a Waste of Money?
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Tree Damage to Walls & Foundations – SANS10400-H Annex-D
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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.
Does the building code (especially for public buildings) have standards that address the risks associated with extreme climate-related events, such as hailstorms, flooding, lightning, wildfires (buildings located on the urban edge) and high winds?
SANS 10400-XA (2011) The application of the National Building Regulations Part X: Environmental sustainability & Part XA: Energy usage in buildings (which are “new” parts of SANS 10400) add to climate-related factors that must be taken into account when building. However I don’t know whether they take these factors specifically into account.
In terms of SANS 10400, Part T deals with fire protection. Many of the other parts explain how to build so that floods, fire, wind and so on do not damage the structure.
SANS 10313 (2010) Protection against lightning – Physical damage to structures and life hazard – is lightning specific. There may be other SANS that relate specifically to other risks – I suggest you contact the SABS and ask them.