What Is the SABS? Official Standards Set Here.

What Is the SABS? What Does the SABS Do?

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) was established in terms of the Standards Act, 1945 (Act No. 24 of 1945) and now operates under the latest edition of the Standards Act, 2008 (Act No. 29 of 2008). This national body promotes and maintains the standards and quality of all commodities and services that are available in South Africa.

The SABS maintains a database of more than 6,500 national standards, and as part of its mandate it develops new standards and reviews and amends standards as well as withdrawing existing standards if needed.

The SABS experts also represent South Africa in the development of international standards, in cooperation with other groups such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). South Africa was a founding member of the ISO and has an involvement with these bodies for many years. The SABS is the holder of the Regional Secretariat for the standardisation body for the Southern African Development Community of 14 nations (SADCSTAN).

On a commercial level, the South African Bureau of Standards does certification, testing, consignment inspection, and other services, mostly for industry. Besides doing product testing and systems certifications that must meet the requirements of South African National Standards (SANS), the South African Bureau of Standards also awards the SABS Mark of Approval – this is an internationally recognised icon in South Africa, assuring buyers that products that have this mark are fit for the purpose and are safe,  they also offer remedy and redress.

The South African Bureau of Standards used to regulate the standards industry in South Africa until they split the regulation function and the standardization function into two and formed the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), this was made law by the promulgation of the new Standards Act and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act in September 2008. This new organisation now resides under the Department of Trade and Industry.

Headquartered in Groenkloof, Pretoria, the South African Bureau of Standards also maintains offices in eThekwini (Durban), Cape Town, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), and Gompo (East London), and operates specialised facilities at uMhlathuze (Richards Bay), Secunda, Middelburg and Saldanha. With the opening of the SABS representative office in Shanghai, China, during April 2009, the SABS expanded its international footprint to 46 countries.

The SABS is accredited by both the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) and the Raad voor Accreditatie (RvA) of the Netherlands.

SABS, SANS and Building & Construction

The SABS is responsible for compiling and maintaining all the SANS standards that relate to the building and construction industry. The SANS are coded with a suffix number and the principal one is the SANS 10400. SANS 10400 is divided up into 22 sections (parts) and are:

Part A: General principles and requirements.
Part B: Structural design.
Part C: Dimensions.
Part D: Public safety.
Part F: Site operations.
Part G: Excavations.
Part H: Foundations.
Part J: Floors.
Part K: Walls.
Part L: Roofs.
Part M: Stairways.
Part N: Glazing.
Part O: Lighting and ventilation.
Part P: Drainage.
Part Q: Non-water-borne means of sanitary disposal.
Part R: Stormwater disposal.
Part S: Facilities for persons with disabilities.
Part T: Fire protection.
Part V: Space heating.
Part W: Fire installation.
Part X: Environment Sustainability.
Part XA: Energy Use In Buildings.

There are other SANS that must be adhered to when building, this article only refers to the SANS 10400.

These Standards have to be adhered to by law. And the law is the National Building Regulations, known as the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act No. 103 of 1977). These are the laws that enforce the standards and all building inspectors around South Africa are mandated to strictly enforce them.