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​National Building Regulatory ​Overview

​The National Building Regulation Unit is responsible for ensuring uniform understanding and implementation of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act No.103 of 1977) (NBR & BS Act).

The Building Regulations Business Unit also protects the interests of SA citizens through:

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  • Pro-actively engaging with built environment practitioners and the relevant building industries for regulatory awareness, and developing and enhancing a culture of voluntary compliance

  • Identifying gaps in the enforcement and compliance to the building legislation

  • Adopting a risk-based approach that informs all of the NBR’s regulatory activities

  • Collaborating with strategic partners and Building Control Officers as implementers of the building legislation

  • Building a competent team that oversees the implementation of the National Building Regulations and Standards Act.

The strategic roles of the NBR are:​​

  • Administering the NBR Review Board, an appeal mechanism provided to allow aggrieved parties to challenge local authorities’ building departments’ decisions and interpretations of the National Building Regulations

  • Providing technical advice and interpretation of the (NBR and BS Act) to the built environment practitioners and other interested parties, such as homeowners, local authorities, government departments, and the public

  • Performing building defects investigations that can be described as forensic architectural investigations.

  • These investigations are performed to determine why and how building failures occurred

  • Evaluation of the qualifications of Building Control Officers who do not satisfy the required minimum qualifications as prescribed by legislation

  • Providing technical support and guidance to the SABS technical committees responsible for providing solutions to satisfy the legislative requirements in terms of developing the SANS 10400 range of documents

  • To inform the building industry’s stakeholders of the role and function of the NBR ​​​


​Part of National Building Regulations
​Location deemed-to-satisfy requirements
​B: Structureal Design​SANS 10400-B, Structural design 
C: Dimension​
​SANS 10400-C, Dimensions 
​D: Public Safety
​SANS 10400-D, Public safety
​F: Site Operations
​SANS 10400-F, Site operations 
​G: Excavations
SANS 10400-G, Excavations
​H: Foundations
​SANS 10400-H, Foundations 
​J: Floors
​SANS 10400-J, Floors 
​K: Walls
SANS 10400-K, Walls 
​L: RoofsSANS 10400-L, Roofs ​
​M: StairwaysSANS 10400-M, Stairways ​
​N: GlazingSANS 10400-N, Glazing ​
​O: Lighting and VentilationSANS 10400-O, Lighting and ventilation ​
​P: DrainageSANS 10400- P, Drainage ​
​Q: Non-water-borne Means of Sanitary DisposalSANS 10400-Q, Non-water-borne means of sanitary disposal ​
​R: Stormwater DisposalSANS 10400-R, Stormwater disposal ​
​S: Facilities for Persons with DisabilitiesSANS 10400-S, Facilities for persons with disabilities. ​
​T: Fire ProtectionSANS 10400-T, Fire protection ​
​V: Space HeatingSANS 10400-V, Space heating ​
W: Fire InstallationSANS 10400-W, Fire installation ​
​X: Sustainable BuildingsSANS 10400- XA Energy Efficiency in Buildings​ ​

List of VC's and Regulated Products

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​​National Building Regulator Application Process and Forms


DATABASE OF APPROVED PRODUCTS

Frequently Asked Question​s

Q. How does the NRCS ensures that the buildings occupied are safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly?

A. The National Building Regulations Business Unit is responsible to ensure that the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act No.103 of 1977) (NBR & BS Act) is;

  • current, relevant and is kept up to date with new building developments and that it addresses all aspects of the building industry

  • is understood and uniformly implemented by the Local Authorities as the implementers and enforcers of the Act on behalf of the Minister of the dti

    The National Building Regulations Business Unit also ensures the following:

  • the building environment practitioners are informed of changes to the legislation and provide them with a technical interpretation of the legislation and forms part of the SANS 10400 development committees and provide technical advice to assist these committees to develop

    suitable national building standards

  • the qualifications of the Local Authorities Building Control Officers (BCO) satisfy stringent

    requirements in terms of the NBR & BS Act

  • the general understanding and implementation of the Act, through conducting workshops with

    Industry Practitioners and Building Control Officers

  • forensic architectural investigations used for litigation are conducted as an impartial party.

Q. How do I know that the building I am occupying meets the building regulations and that it is therefore safe?

A. The National Building Regulations are implemented and administered by the Local Authority. The Act requires that, any person who wants to engage in any building activity must first get written approval from the Local Authorities Building Control Officer. The Building Control Officer will request the submission of building plans and also monitor the building process during construction. When the building is complete, the officer will issue the owner with an Occupancy Certificate which allows the owner to move into his/her new building.

If you bought an existing building, then the approved drawings and accompanying Occupancy Certificate will indicate that the Building Control Officer was engaged and that the law that protects you as an occupier was utilized during the establishment of your building.

Q. What do I do when the Local Authority does not approve my building plans and yet I want to comply with the Building Regulations?

A. If the Local Authority does not approve your building plans it means that your building application does not satisfy the minimum requirements set within the legislation that ensures your building is healthy, safe to inhabit, and structurally stable. The Local Authority’s Building Control Officer

. will assist you in getting the problem resolved and he/she will help you to realize your dream of building your own building. They are there to assist you and are generally not approving any building application if such a building application is contravening the law.

If however, you believe the Building Control Officer is unreasonable and interpreting the regulations incorrectly, you have the right to appeal the decision made by the Local Authority and the decision can be challenged in a Court of Law and as such, a civil case has to be launched ​


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​Contact Detail​​

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