Eskom to push ahead with maintenance despite load-shedding
Read More »Builders’ Holidays 2020
Annual Builders’ Holidays changes December 2020 to January 2021 2020 has seen a major upheaval in terms of many of the normal functions in the building industry because of the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic. After months of not being able to operate, the usually welcome idea of the traditional shut-down over …
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Here is a list of all the categories on the site that should make it easier for you to find what you are looking for.
Read More »Reduce Your Energy Costs by 90%
You Can Reduce Your Energy Costs by up to 90% After signing up for “My Green Home” four years ago the Makalima-Ngewana family family saw their house in the middle-class suburb of Pinelands (a suburb of Cape Town) retrofitted with energy saving LED lights, low-flow showerheads and roof-top solar panels, …
Read More »The Dutch are Forging Ahead With 3D Printed Houses
Five 3D concrete houses planned for the Netherlands By this time next year a town in The Netherlands, Eindhoven, will have its first few 3D printed homes built and ready for people to live in. There are a few companies working together with Eindhoven University of Technology and the local …
Read More »Tree Damage to Walls & Foundations – SANS10400-H Annex-D
Danger of Tree Damage to Walls & Foundations – SANS 10400-H Annex-D Cracks and damage to walls and foundations are caused primarily by soils that contract and expand due to moisture content when the soil absorbs water and swells up and then shrinks when it dries out. This puts pressure on …
Read More »Is This Electric Fence Legal and Compliant?
Can you spot the electric fence violations in this picture? We spotted this electric fence installation recently and were shocked to think that a compliance certificate might have been issued. The alternative is that the owners or administrators of the wall used an unqualified electric fence installer, in which case …
Read More »Consumers Pay For Fresh Air On Their Water Bills
By JANEK SZYMANOWSKI Every time a water pipe bursts, there’s a good chance that the municipality will rake in thousands of rands from false water meter readings. This is because air passing through consumers’ water meters and water pipes gives false readings that are charged automatically on all water bills. …
Read More »Contractors All Risk-Insurance Policy Explained
What is a Contractors All Risk Insurance policy? Contractor’s All Risk Insurance is a policy which insures the principal/employer and covers the contract works undertaken by the contractor and sub contractors. CivilSure offers 2 types of Contractor’s All Risk Insurance policies: 1. Contractors All Risk Once Off This Contractor’s Insurance …
Read More »Did you Know the NHBRC Can Send You to Jail?
The NHBRC CAN Send You to Jail. If you are in the home building industry then this is a must read. Here are some important things you and housing consumers should take into consideration regarding the NHBRC and how it will affect your home building process. The National Home Builders …
Read More »How to Register to Download
How Do I Register to Download? We get a number of questions from our viewers as to how to register to download documents. Here is a brief explanation with a few screenshots that we hope will help you get the documents that you would like to download. Firstly on our …
Read More »Construction Laws & SANS 10400
How Construction Laws, National Building Regulations and South African National Standards Affect Homeowners Prior to 1985, various provinces and municipalities in South Africa had their own construction laws and regulations which, although similar, were not the same. Over a period of years a committee of experts, including architects, builders, developers, and the Bureau of Standards …
Read More »House Without Approved Plans
The Implications of Selling a House Without Approved Plans If you are selling your house, and don’t have approved plans, you could find yourself in a lot of trouble. And if you are buying a house, and don’t ask whether the seller has approved plans, you might end up inheriting …
Read More »Owner Builder Requirements – NHBRC
What Are You Required to Do with the NHBRC as an Owner Builder? All new homes, by law, have to be registered with the NHBRC, some RDP houses are exempt from this. As an owner builder you may apply for an exemption from the Housing Consumer Protection Measures Act with …
Read More »Advertise With Us
Advertise On Our Website Please Contact: Janek : admin@sans10400.co.za >
Read More »What Is the SABS?
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 …
Read More »NHBRC Technical Requirements Review
NHBRC Review of the Technical Requirements A major revision of the Technical Requirements and Home Building Manual will affect the home builders and may affect the rights of housing consumers and those engaged in the housing supply chain. Housing consumers and key players in the housing industry will therefore also …
Read More »NHBRC Warranty Scheme Review
NHBRC Review of the Warranty Scheme The NHBRC recently embarked upon a review process of the Warranty Scheme which will result in three new documents being published, namely a set of Technical Requirements for issue as regulations by the Minister in terms of the Act; a Home Building Manual containing …
Read More »Classic Film Clip on How to Build a House
Here is a Classic Film Clip on How to Build a House This film clip that was made back in 1946 on how to build a house is a must watch for anyone contemplating doing any sort of building. Even though it was made so many years ago the process …
Read More »Looking for Clean, Fresh Air
All About Insulation and Ventilation for Clean, Fresh Air We all need fresh air to live, but how can we ensure that there is always fresh, clean air in the buildings that we live and work in? The answer lies in well-designed ventilation systems that are developed by professionals to …
Read More »Black Minimalist House
A Fashionable Black Minimalist House In fashion, black is the colour that will always get a load of attention and recognition because of its depth of colour can simply make people and the place they live look fashionable. In home designing, black is the colour that can be said to …
Read More »House Plan Submissions
House Plan Submissions – What is the Process? The City of Cape Town have created an easy to follow infographic to explain how the process of house plan submissions work. Plans cannot be submitted by post or on-line, they have to be “walked through” personally by the owner or his …
Read More »City of Cape Town Planning Joins Digital Age
City of Cape Town Planning Departments Now Accept Plans On a Memory Stick After at least two years of development the City of Cape Town has implemented and introduced its new DAMS (Development Application Management System). This new Development Application Management System allows all new development applications to be made and processed …
Read More »Welding the Easy Way
This offer is now available EXCLUSIVELY to you at more than 50% off the normal retail price
Read More »Electric Fences Rules & Regulations
Electric fences are governed by the Electrical Machinery Regulations which are part of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. In addition, local authorities and municipalities have their own by-laws that must be complied with. You can download the Electrical Machinery Regs from the link above. Below is an explanation extracted from …
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