Public Safety
Even at Home Public Safety is Paramount-Part D
All home owners have a responsibility to people who visit their homes, or members of the public who are able to access their homes.
According to the National Building Regulations we must be concerned specifically with:
- changes in level,
- pedestrian entrances to parking area in all buildings,
- ramps and driveways,
- swimming pools.
Change in Level
If people can access a level other than ground level on your property, you need to be absolutely certain that they are not likely to fall off. Areas of special concern include balconies, flat roofs and in fact anywhere that is more than one metre above another level.
The most common form of protection in these circumstances will be balustrades, parapet walls, and some sort of handrail.
Pedestrian Entrances
Here the main concern is that people walking to their cars, bikes or whatever form of vehicle they are driving or being transported in can do so safely.
This is generally more of a problem for public buildings rather than private homes. However if there is any possible danger that someone might unintentionally walk in the path of a moving vehicle, make sure there is some sort of warning sign and lighting at night.
Ramps
The building regulations state that any ramp or driveway must be designed in such a way that it is “safe when used and is fit for the purpose for which it is intended”.
Concern here is more for semi-public buildings or places where groups of people are accommodated. However the guidelines suggested in the SANS are relevant for properties where there are two or more dwellings, as well as for other buildings where people live or stay:
- ramps and driveways used by cars and similar vehicles should have a gradient of no more than 1:25 within a distance of 5 m from street boundaries the driveway crosses,
- those used by pedestrians may be considerably steeper than this: a maximum gradient of 1:8 is permitted,
- if ramps and driveways are going to be used by pedestrians and vehicles, there should be a walkway that is at least 1,2 m wide, with a kerb that is at least 150 mm high.
The diagram below shows how this works for ramps and driveways.
Swimming Pools
While the building regulations simply state that property owners must control access to their swimming pools, most local authorities have much stricter rules and regulations. Remember it is ultimately the local authority that will decide whether you must fence the pool.
And if you don’t comply with the local authority requirements and don’t control access, the regulations warn that you will be guilty of an offence. This is not the type of warning that is often seen in the national building regulations – so take it seriously!
SANS 10400 suggests several possible control mechanisms. For instance, you may install or build a fence or wall:
- around the swimming pool and ensure there is a self-closing gate,
- around the house and the pool and make sure that there is a self-closing gate at the entrance – and no other openings,
- around the pool and the house, but in a way that leaves results in the front wall (and therefore the front door) of the house open to any area that is not walled or fenced,
There are also guidelines for protecting children from the potential hazards of swimming pools in SANS 10134: The safeness of private swimming pools. SANS 1390: Steel fencing for private swimming pools details SABS requirements for pool fencing and self-closing gates.
The SANS guidelines may be followed, providing they are in keeping with your local authority requirements.
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Demolition Work
Kobus you can access the building regulations at an SABS library. Unfortunately I cannot even advise which section would relate to your problem, but maybe their librarians can help you. The only possible advice I can offer is that in Part A of SANS 10400 a place of worship is classified as A4 (as you will see in the link I have given you) and in terms of “design population”, there should be at least one square metre allowed for each person using the area. It does not differentiate between different parts of the church. The exit being blocked could be a fire hazard – see Part T, Fire Protection.
Subject:
Public Place entrance and Exit
Message:
Kindly send me the regulation governing the entrance/exit foyer area of a public place example a church where the foyer area might become a extention of the church when this area is filled with chairs resulting in that the exit become blocked and movement of people are extremely clogged and exit is blocked.
Daleen I have emailed the municipality and asked them to send you a copy of the bylaws. I have cc-ed you in the message. Alternatively phone them and ask how you can get a copy. It is not available for download off their website.
Tony this is not a National Building Regulations issue, and I’m not sure it’s a public safety issue either. Rather it has to do with security. And I doubt that they are allowing it willingly – or knowingly.
Good day to you are there any regulations that govern public safety within a retail store, my inquiry is in respect of a major retail store that allows customers to be pickpocketed despite their so called CCTV?
France you will find information about handrails in Part M, Stairways. The classifications relate to occupancy rather than specifically adults or children – see Part A, General Principles and Requirements.
Hey
What is the minimum height a handrail should be for a balcony with a staircase for a building used by children and adults?
Charmain, there is no one body that controls this. You need to phone your local authority.
i need a contact number to report my landlord who does not have a safety net or fence around the swimming pool
I would like to find out more about the Municipal Bylaws regarding the fencing of private swimming pools in East London, Eastern Cape. As far as I can find out it is bylaw PN298/1973, but how do I get hold of a copy?
Rick I am struggling to understand the situation. But I don’t think you would need municipal permission for netting in any circumstance.
Report him to the local authority Theuns
Thanks Penny
Now i needed profesional help the owner that i work is busy with new buildings on the loge and there is no plans for the buildings aswell as buildings that is already in use. the one that is currintly in progress is a very big health and saftey risk when i make him attend on that he tel me that i am (arogant en ek dink ek is slim ek moet my nie kom slim hou nie) n week after that conversation one of the walls was falling appart still is he busy cary on with the construction of the building. what can i do
Yes Theuns definitely.
good day can you help me i just want to know if a farm that is been regstration as a loge and open for the public needed to provide building plans on new structure
Ptrotective golf netting
I was forced to install a protective net nine months ago
I obtained the permission directly from my neighbor.a verbal agreement, which I do not think he will dispute
He has said he did not expect it to be so comprehensive and now says it should come down
Correct correspondence from my body corporate was also obtained and I proceeded
I did not get municipal permission thinking it was not necessary
I would appreciate some comments
Regards
Henry, I have added the classification given in Part A of SANS 10400 for you to see what they cover. I have also added the table that shows numbers in terms of the people who can occupy each building. Let me know if you still have queries.
Thank you for this Penny. Are you telling me that a house with business rights does not fall into the classification of dwelling limitations? Wherre can I see a copy of this part a off SANS 10400?
Henry, Part A of SANS 10400 classifies different occupancies – a house with business rights is not a classification! But bylaws do sometimes allow you to convert or use a dwelling house (H4) or even a domestic residence (H3) and use it for business purposes. Part A also has a table for “Design Population” that says how many people are allowed per x square metre in specific occupancies.
Does anybody know what the limit is regarding people numbers allowed in buildings for public use in relation to height of ceiling and size of the room? We are considering a house with business rights for use as a business where we need to accommodate certain numbers of people.
Irma, Screens, railings and balustrades are covered in Part M of SANS 10400, Stairways, and in this section, Public Safety.
In the section on Changes in Level in Public Safety (Part D), the regulations state:
“The edge of any balcony, bridge, flat roof or similar place more than 1 m above the adjacent ground or floor level shall be provided with a balustrade or parapet wall not less than 1 m in height, unless unauthorized access of persons thereto has been excluded by a physical barrier properly erected and maintained.”
Screens, railings and balustrades are covered in Part M of SANS 10400, Stairways, and in this section, Public Safety.
In the section on Changes in Level in Public Safety (Part D), the regulations state:
“The edge of any balcony, bridge, flat roof or similar place more than 1 m above the adjacent ground or floor level shall be provided with a balustrade or parapet wall not less than 1 m in height, unless unauthorized access of persons thereto has been excluded by a physical barrier properly erected and maintained.”
Subject:
Front balcony wall
Message:
I am concerned that the front balcony wall at my front door is far too low and does not seem safe.
Should there a height restriction on these walls?