SANS 10400 Part A - Forms 1 to 4 - Introduction - Difference between NBR and SANS 10400

Sep 17, 2026

PIA Detail Hour session materials explain the relationship between South Africa’s National Building Regulations (NBR) and SANS 10400, highlighting that the NBR sets mandatory functional requirements while SANS 10400 provides deemed-to-satisfy prescriptive guidance published by SABS. The notes then focus on why Forms 1 to 4 must be completed under SANS 10400-A:2022 (Edition 4) and how each form aligns with specific NBR regulations and clauses for appointments, compliance declarations, and building occupancy classification, including roles and responsibilities.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatPDF

Pages28

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Detail Hour

SANS 10400 Part A - Forms 1 to 4: Introduction

Forms 1 to 4: Why we have to deal with them

Overview of Forms 1 to 4: What they cover

Role players & responsibilities

Form 1: Declaration by an appointed person

Every 3rd Thursday │ 12:00 │ Online Members Only Free 0.1 CPD Cat 1 DETAIL HOUR "From code compliance to construction conundrums—get the answers at PIA Detail Hour!" 20 August 2025 “Form-alities That Matter-The Forms That Can Make or Break Your Submission.” - in conversation with Meyer de Beer HOUSEKEEPING Free 0.1 CPD (Category 1) Register via the PIA website by 12:10 if you require a CPD certificate. No need to register if a certificate is not required. Recording Available – The session recording will be accessible on the PIA website. We will allow live Q&A – Questions will be answered as we go. Ask in the Chatbox – Submit your questions via the chat. DETAIL HOUR DETAIL HOUR SANS 10400 PART A-FORMS 1 TO 4 Introdution What is the difference between the National Building Regulations and SANS 10400? IN SHORT: The NBR tells you what’s required ; SANS 10400 shows you how to get to compliance National Building Regulations (NBR)– WHAT to comply with • The NBR forms part of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act No. 103 of 1977. It’s the law — meaning compliance is mandatory. • Sets out functional requirements for buildings, such as safety, health, and environmental protection. • Is divided into parts (A to XA), structured into distinct Parts, each addressing a speciﬁc aspect of building design, -construction, and -safety. e.g. , Part K for Walls, Part T for Fire Protection, Part S for Accessibility, etc. • The regulations are non-prescriptive —they state WHAT must be achieved, but not necessarily HOW. SANS 10400 (South African National Standards)– HOW to achieve compliance • Is a technical companion: SANS 10400 provides the “deemed-tosatisfy” rules — practical guidelines that show how to comply with the NBR. • Is Published by The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) . • Standards are Prescriptive-Offers speciﬁc methods, dimensions, materials, and design standards to meet the functional requirements of the NBR. • Part-by-Part Match: Each part of the NBR typically has a corresponding SANS 10400 section —e.g. , NBR Part K (Walls) aligns with SANS 10400-K. Summary of the Relationship: | Aspect | NBR | SANS 10400 | | --- | --- | --- | | Legal Status | Legislation | National standard (Guideline) | | Enforceability | Mandatory | Optional (but widely accepted) | | Nature | Functional Requirements | Prescriptive Solutions | | Publisher | Government | South African Bureau of Standards | | Purpose | Defines what must be achieved | Shows how to achieve it | Notes: · The SANS 10400-A:2022 document has grey pages from p.6 to p.64 . This is a duplication of the PartA of the NBR for ease of reference. · The NBR DOES NOT FORM PART of SANS 10400-A, which thus starts on p. 65 Q: Forms 1, 2, 3 and 4 – Why do we have to deal with them? Under SANS 10400-A:2022 (Edition 4) , the completion of Forms 1 to 4 is a statutory requirement aligned with the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act (Act 103 of 1977) . These forms are not just bureaucratic paperwork—they are the backbone of a legally sound and professionally managed building process. They ensure that each stakeholder is accountable and that the built environment meets South Africa’s safety, environmental, and heritage standards. Q: WHERE do they come from, WHAT do they cover? Overview of Forms 1 – 4: Each form corresponds to speciﬁc clauses in Regulations A2, A19, and A20 of the NBR, which govern: • Appointment of professionals • Declaration of compliance with functional regulations • Classiﬁcation of building occupancy Completion and certiﬁcation of the building ROLE PLAYERS & RESPONSIBILITIES Form 1: Required under NBR Regulation A2 TITLE: DECLARATION* by a Person appointed to accept responsibility for an application for approval of a building plan, as per (in terms of) Section 4 of the NBR. *DECLARATION = legal (binding) and procedural afﬁrmation of

FAQs

What is the difference between the NBR and SANS 10400?

The NBR tells what must be complied with by setting mandatory functional requirements, while SANS 10400 shows how to achieve compliance using deemed-to-satisfy rules and prescriptive solutions.

Why must Forms 1 to 4 be completed?

Completion of Forms 1 to 4 under SANS 10400-A:2022 (Edition 4) is a statutory requirement aligned with the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act (Act 103 of 1977).

Where do Forms 1 to 4 come from, and what do they cover?

Each form corresponds to specific clauses in NBR Regulations A2, A19, and A20 governing appointment of professionals, declarations of compliance, classification of building occupancy, and completion and certification of the building.

Sep 17, 2026

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