Fire Installation-Keeping People and Property Safe

52 Comments

1. Pingback: Parts of the South African National Building Regulations (NBR)
2. Pingback: Fire Protection

3. Good day;

   What can i do to have a fire hydrant removed from my private property. Apparently there is a fire hydrant next to my freehold house, such hydrant has robbed me of future development space.

4. good day.
   I want to know if there is any height Regulation on external hydrant coupling installations please.
   thanks.

5. Does air control towers require a sprinkler installation if so where is sabs/sans is it stated.

6. Good Day, I am working for a Global organisation and we are currently doing a fire systems audit. There is one line which requires the Fire Pump to be tested annually. Does our legislation segregate the pump inspection from the rest of the system?

7. Pingback: Building Regulations Section 3: Part R to Part X & XA

8. I own a industrial factory. The copper pipes which feed my Fire Hose reels keeps getting stolen. Can I get the plumber to use another type of pipe?
   Will it work out more expensive or less expensive compared to copper?

9. our company went under care and maintenance now they are saying all extinguishers inside and out side the plant must be removed ,can you please advise us what is correct procedure that must be done

10. I’m renting a premises and the landlord has connected water to the building from a fire suplly is it allowed and will I be held liable because the reel is in the building which I rent

11. Hello, I have a 100mm water feed onto my premises. The feed is running to the building, must the Hydrants be on a separate feed, or can we also connect the domestic usage into the hydrant line.

12. Good Day. Must all the reticulation pipework inn the ceiling void or open ceiling areas be painted RED?

13. Hi
    I would like to find out about the laws regarding a medium size building used as a production facility with office on the floor above. Ceilings are concrete.
    Up to now our insurance has been happy with the fact that we have a water source from the municipality. Fire extinguishers in all areas that are serviced annually,
    Markings showing where the exits are. Fire doors at exits.
    We have changed insurance companies and the new company says that we need to put in a sprinkler system and fire detection system. With concrete floors this is going to be a very expensive exercise as well as disruption to business whilst they are doing it. What are the legal aspects

14. Good day

    How do we establish if our warehouse must have a fire sprinkler system installed/is needed or not?

15. GOOD AFTERNOON

    MAY THE COUNCIL COME AND REMOVE MY FIRE REELS WATER METER AND MAKE ME FIT IT IN
    MY MAIN METER GOING INTO THE BUILDING . THERE PIPE SIZE 1 INCH WATER INTO METER ONLY 1/2 INCH

16. Hi,
    I have a fire hose outside my unit in a complex and would like to move the fire hose a few meters to accommodate alterations I intend on making, its current water connection will be maintained, it will simply be extended to the new location – where do I find the guidelines to the new placement of the fire hose?
    Thanks in advance
    Tinus

17. Good day

    We as the body corporate have been requested by our insurance company to obtain a Fire Compliance certificate for our complex. Whom can I contact on the process of obtaining one.

    Thanks and regards
    Ever

18. Hi Desiree, Any fire related issues are not part of the SANS10400 regulations, this falls under the fire protection laws. I suggest you contac your local fire department and ask them.

19. I noticed fire hydrants at a property which seems they have not been tested in ages. Who can assist me in having these checked for safety requirements and if they actually work and are still linked to water supply?

20. I don’t believe so.

21. Probably Part W of SANS 10400 that covers fire installations. I will add content to this page asap. However, stranger, the term “fire extinguisher” doesn’t feature… Part T – Fire protection – is another possibility. If you can explain more clearly what you mean by “size of demarcation” I’ll see if I can answer the question for you. Do you mean how much space it needs or how big it must be – or what?

22. Hi

    Where can I find the details of the size of demarcation underneath a fire extinguisher? Is it a sans regulation?
    thank you

23. Hi. Is it a sans/ fire requirement that computer server rooms must have raised/ false floors.

24. AS far as I am aware you cannot combine a fire and domestic water system.

25. Totally illegal. You cannot use the water that forms part of a fire installation for anything other than fighting fires. Refer to Part T of Sans 10400.
    It is doubtful if the owners would be forced to close the centre without prior warning not to do this.

26. Part W: Fire Installation of SANS 10400 is very clear on this: “W2 Supply of Water
    Water shall not be taken from a supply system for use in any fire installation, unless ––
    (a) an application has been made to the local authority for the supply of such water and such application has been granted; and
    (b) the use of such water and such fire installation complies with any conditions imposed by the local authority.”
    So you need to report your tenants to the local authority because they are breaking the law.

27. Please advise – as Landlord we have placed a number of fire hose reels in demarcated areas in the unlikely event of a fire.

    However – the tenants keep breaking the seal’s meant to avoid misuse of these fire hose reels (they use the water to clean their butchery/bakery floors) ==> what defense does the Landlord have and is there a governing body we can report these tenants to?

28. Are you allowed to take copper water pipes of a system connected to a Fire Hose and sprinkler system to provide water for Shops.
    Is illegal and can the owners be forced to close the centre.
    James

29. Hi
    Could someone pls help , I need a specification on what class copper tube to use in a combined fire and domestic system

30. Please advise.

    We manage a Sectional Title Complex.
    They have sufficient fire equipment.
    It is not a Sectional Act Requirement to install signs etc. nor is a requirement to have an emergency evacuation plan.
    Is there such regulation i can be referred to?

31. It is not prescribed who is responsible that would be something that you have to write in to all of your lease agreements.

32. Hi . I own a building with several separate shops. I installed fire extinguishers in all shops. Is it my responsibility to service them annualy or the tenant’s.

33. Johann, Barend Esterhuizen has this reply for you, I hope it helps:

    SAQCC (South African Qualification & Certification Committee) registration is a legal requirement for persons designing or working on any fire detection system
    The level that persons may register for various between levels 1 to 5 (1) Cabler (2) Installer (3) Service man (4) Commissioner (5) Designer
    The design, installation and commissioning must therefore be carried out by the registered persons above who must CERTIFY that the installation was installed in accordance with the design specifications etc
    Acceptance certificate is also normally issued by the responsible person appointed by the client to oversee the design and installation and who certify that the system was installed as designed
    Verification certificate (Optional) can be requested by the owner of the building through a third party to ensure compliance
    Examples of the above certificates is inside the SANS 10139 code available from SANS [I think he means the SABS]
    SAQCC Fire contact details: 011 455 3157

34. Johann I have forwarded your query to someone who should be able to help. Unfortunately I don’t have a copy of SANS 10139, you can access this free at an SABS library or buy a copy from the SABS online store. I’ll add to this when I get a response.

35. Subject:
    Commissioning documents for a Fire Alarm system

    Message:
    Dear Penny
    Kindly advise if there is a document or a process available which
    should be followed before the newly installed Fire Alarm system can be
    handed over to the client? I have a mining background and for each new
    system and or equipment / plant a commissioning document had to be
    tabled and signed off before startup or hand over to the operational
    team. I am also looking for a SANS 10139 copy.

    looking forward to your speedy reply.

    Kind Regards
    Johann

36. Hi Andrea, The National Building Regulations has guidelines for equipment and installations and these have to be read together with a whole list of other regulations and by-laws. Then there is the clause that states that every site shall be inspected on a “case by case” basis. What this means is that you will have to get in contact with your local authority building inspector and request an inspection and recommendations.

37. The building I work in does not have a Sprinkler system or smoke detection system or any fire alarm system. What is the Health and Safety requirements for the building. What needs to be installed and what is the minimum requirement? We have fire hoses and Fire extinguisers allocated. Please assist

    Thank you very much

38. Hi Gerald,
    Firstly I think that you need to get advice from your local authority on this. Having said that here is an extract from the Building Regulations SANS 10400-T “Fire Pretection”:
    4.52 Installation of liquid fuel dispensing pumps and tanks
    4.52.1 No liquid fuel dispensing pump or storage tank shall be situated less than 3,5 m from any
    lateral boundary or street boundary of any site except where there is a boundary wall and such wall a) has a fire resistance of 120 min,
    b) is not less than 1,8 m in height, and
    c) extends not less than 2 m on either side of such pump.

    These regulations are always subject to other local by-laws so as I have said above, get hold of your local authority for clarity on this.

39. Subject:
    Diesel Storage Requirements
    Message:
    Hi,
    Can you please advise us here. We are a construction company, we usually keep Diesel on site in a drum 210 liters, 420 Maximum. I want to know that how far can you keep this from building and offices and what are the other requirements for storing such chemicals.
    Thanks

40. Gavin the regs don’t discuss fish tanks … You may need council approval.

41. Hi

    I am wanting to install a fish tank between my lounge and garage through the 230mm firewall dividing the lounge from the garage. I believe because the burn time of the water will be > 2 Hours this would be all right to go ahead with? Does anyone know what the regulation are in this regard?

    Thanks

42. Christo, SANS 10400, Part W, Fire installation is what you need. Part T deals with fire Protection and is also valid. You can buy these from the SABS.

43. Hi, where can I find a document for the standards to install a fire system in a building? for example must the fire resistant cable be ran inside bosal pipe inside the roof or could it be open etc.

    reg,
    Christo

44. Part W, Fire installation does cover sprinkler systems, but doesn’t give much information at all. It states that fire installations must be “the subject of a rational design prepared by a competent person (wet services) or a competent person (fire engineering) in accordance with the general principles and requirements contained in SANS 10252-1 and, if relevant, SANS 10287” – These “competent persons” must be professional engineers or engineering technologists.
    Information that is supplied in regard to W3 Design of Fire Installations includes fire pump connections and pipework (including a diagram with tables that shows how to size pipework). Manufacturers of suitable sprinkler systems may have additional information; the fire department may also have more info.

45. where can i find the specific act or regulations that stipulate sprinkler system requirement for
    buildings? (ie minumum m2 for a fire sprinkler system)

46. Hi Piet,
    Your question falls outside the standard Building Regulations that we cover here. I suggest you contact the SABS directly, all their contact numbers are on our SABS-Contact page.

47. What is the latest SANS regulation regarding voice evacuation in hospitals?

48. As a qualified from NOSA, the height off floor for hydrants,etc are 1metre

49. The National Building Regulations contain two sections that relate to fire protection and installations: Part T: Fire protection & Part W: Fire installation. There are also additional SANS that relate to more specific elements – the SABS would be able to advise what these are.

50. I have been in the installation of Fire detecion for the last 3 years and the incompetency of some fire companies i find very poor and disgusting. I would like to know what are the regulations on actually making sure these systems work 100%, to the final detail of testing each fire detector and how often do buildings or companies have to test these systems, are there regulations that they have to meet?

51. https://sans10400.org.za/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2011/11/SANS10400.pdf

52. please advise where I can find detailed dimensions, heights off floor etc., of hosereel and hydrant installation in a factory situation