SANS 10400 -- The Parts, Part by Part
SANS 10400 -- The Parts, Part by Part
SANS 10400 is the family of national standards that turns the National Building Regulations into technical practice. Build to the part and you comply with the matching regulation. What each part on your job covers.
The parts that matter on site
| Part A -- general principles | Definitions, occupancy classes (A to G) and the plan-submission framework; every other part hangs off the occupancy class |
| Part B -- structural design | Foundations, floors, walls and roofs for dead, live, wind and seismic loads; outside its prescriptive rules you need an engineer |
| Part K -- walls | Wall construction and panel rules |
| Part L -- roofs | Minimum slopes per material, fixings, eaves and barge details, weatherproofing laps (the most common small-builder plan non-conformance) |
| Part P -- drainage | Sanitary and stormwater drainage, traps, gradients, rodding eyes, venting |
| Part T -- fire protection | Fire-resistance ratings, compartment sizes, travel distances, exit widths (current edition SANS 10400-T:2020) |
| Part W -- fire installations | Sprinklers, hose reels, detection and extinguishers, triggered by Part T |
| Part XA -- energy efficiency | Mandatory for new builds and additions needing plan approval; at least 50% of domestic hot water from energy-efficient means |
| Part X -- environmental sustainability | The broader sustainability framework that supports XA |
The plumbing standards next door
| SANS 10252 -- water supply | Pipe sizing, materials, pressure, pressure-limiting and isolation valves |
| SANS 10254 -- geysers | Hot water cylinder positioning, drains, overflow, and the balanced-pressure PCV on the main supply |
Reference only -- not design advice. The individual SANS 10400 parts are sold by the SABS and are NOT free; editions change (Part T already has). Always work from the current edition, because the inspector and building control officer will. Confirm editions at sabs.co.za.
Sources: SANS 10400 series (National Building Regulations) · SABS · National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act
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