SANS 10400-Part T refers to SANS 10400-Part T: Fire Protection. As part of the wider Application of the National Building Regulations, this standard sets important technical guidelines for the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings with regards to fire prevention and fire risk management. Complying with SANS 10400-Part T is a critical aspect of complying with the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993.
In this article, we’ll unpack what SANS 10400-Part T covers and explain how it ties into the OHS Act.
What are SANS codes?
‘SANS’ stands for South African National Standards. SANS codes are developed and published by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). The purpose of SANS codes is to set technical guidelines and quality standards for various materials, equipment, processes, systems, and practices in South Africa.
SANS codes aim to ensure:
- Quality: Adhering to SANS codes ensures that products, processes, and systems are of a sufficiently high quality.
- Safety: An important aspect of SANS codes is ensuring the safety of employees, the public, and consumers.
- Compliance: SANS codes provide practical guidelines for complying with the requirements set out in legislation like the OHS Act.
- Compatibility: SANS codes align with global standards (such as ISO standards) to ensure that South African products are compatible with international products, thereby facilitating global trade.
SANS codes cover the following industries and sectors:
- Construction and the Built Environment
- Mining
- Energy and Utilities
- Environmental Management
- Transport and Logistics
- Health and Safety
- Healthcare
- Food, Agriculture, and Consumer goods
- Consumer Protection and Quality
- Information, Technology, and Telecoms
What is SANS 10400?
SANS 10400 is officially titled SANS 10400 – The Application of the National Building Regulations. The National Building Regulations (NBR) are a set of requirements that fall under the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act 103 of 1977. These regulations exist to promote safety, accessibility, and sustainability in buildings, protecting occupants from risks relating to fire, collapse, poor ventilation, sanitation problems, etc. SANS 10400 provides clear, practical guidelines for meeting the requirements set out by the NBR.
What does SANS 10400-Part T cover?
SANS 10400 consists of a series of sections or ‘Parts’. Each Part is identified by a letter (from A to XA) and deals with a particular aspect of building compliance. SANS 10400-Part T deals with Fire Protection. As such, it outlines the practical measures for complying with the fire safety requirements of the NBR.
How does SANS 10400-Part T impact health and safety compliance in South Africa?
In South Africa, the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993 is the law that governs occupational health and safety and seeks to protect the wellbeing of everyone at work. SANS 10400-Part T provides employers with clear instructions for complying with aspects of the OHS Act relating to the management of fire risks.
OHS Act Section 8: General duties of employers to their employees
Section 8 states that employers have a duty to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of employees, including fire risks. SANS 10400-Part T provides concrete guidelines for reducing and managing fire risks, including:
- Minimum fire resistance ratings for building materials and elements.
- Building rules for fire walls, barriers, and compartments to contain the spread of fire and smoke.
- Rules for service shafts and ducts.
- Requirements for sprinklers, hose reels, hydrants, extinguishers, and fire alarms.
- Requirements for the placement of firefighting equipment.
- Requirements for the provision of water for firefighting.
- Extra requirements that apply to schools, hospitals, high-rise buildings, etc.
OHS Act, Environmental Regulations for Workplaces, Section 9: Fire protections and means of egress
Section 9 of the Environmental Regulations for Workplaces requires employers to ensure that workplaces provide sufficient emergency escape routes and fire exits, and that fire exit escape routes are constructed of non-combustible materials. SANS 10400-Part T provides clear technical standards for fire escapes, including:
- Required number of emergency escape routes.
- Limitations on how far occupants may be expected to travel to reach an emergency escape route.
- Minimum widths for escape routes.
- Design requirements for escape route corridors and stairways.
- Ventilation requirements for escape routes.
- Fire-resistance requirements for escape routes.
- Requirements for fire doors and smoke barriers in high-risk buildings.
- Design requirements for emergency exit lighting and signage.
- Requirements for places of safety that emergency escape routes must discharge to.
What are the consequences of non-compliance with SANS 10400-Part T?
Under the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act 103 of 1977, complying with SANS 10400-Part T is a legal requirement. The onus is on building owners and developers, as well as architects, designers, engineers, and builders, to ensure that all buildings comply with SANS codes, including SANS 10400-Part T.
The consequences of non-compliance with SANS 10400-Part T include:
- Unsafe buildings and workplaces that endanger the lives of employees and the public.
- Non-compliance with the OHS Act, leading to possible fines and penalties from the Department of Employment and Labour.
- Inability to secure building plan approval.
- Stop-work orders.
- Possible civil and criminal liability.
Rejection of insurance claims.
Don’t leave your occupational health and safety compliance status to chance – get expert help.
Non-compliance with the OHS Act, SANS codes, and local by-laws can result in serious legal, financial, reputational, and moral consequences for South African business owners. If you’re concerned about your current occupational health and safety compliance status, book an OHS Compliance Assessment from Absolute Health Services.
We assess your holistic OHS compliance status, including assessment of your current OHS system, documentation, risk assessments, training, equipment, etc. We then provide a report detailing your OHS compliance rating percentage, which can be used to improve your OHS compliance status. Contact us for more information or to book an OHS Compliance Assessment.
