With South Africa moving towards a far more regulated building industry, it is becoming evident that sub-contractors are finding themselves on the wrong side of these regulations. We at Steel Studio have spent the last two years testing our balustrade systems and understanding the South African National Standards with regards to balustrades.
With the technology, innovation and knowledge we have gained from understanding SANS, we have designed, engineered and developed a range of balustrade systems that comply with SANS 10160 and SANS 10400, thus making our balustrades safe for all that utilise them in Commercial and Residential applications. On completion of each balustrade installation we submit a professional engineers certificate stating that the balustrades meet or exceed SANS 10160 and SANS 10400.
As a client, it is important to take note of the following:
- If you are appointing a balustrade sub-contractor, you need to make sure which SANS codes the balustrades comply with. If it is stated that the balustrades comply with SANS 10400, it is simply not covering all of the regulatory codes in regards to balustrades.
- The installation must also comply with SANS 10160 and where glazing is present in the balustrade installation, the balustrades also need to comply with SANS 1263-1:2006 and SANS 10137:2011. We urge homeowners to look out for this generally overlooked area in regards to balustrades where balustrade installations are only complying with one of the SANS codes as there are many more that are important in balustrade installations.
- For professionals in the industry: Often the drawings and/or BOQ’s state that the balustrades must comply with SANS 10400. Unfortunately, this is just one of the many SANS codes relating to balustrades. Another code, which is very critical, is the loading code SANS 10160, which ensures that the balustrades structurally meet the loading requirements for the different occupation categories.
- There are many different codes relating to balustrades, and stating that the balustrades must comply with SANS 10400 simply does not cover all the requirements set out by SANS.
- Currently there is no regulatory body governing balustrade specialists.
We at Steel Studio will assist you in limiting your liability and ensuring that you receive a product that, most importantly complies with the requirements as set out by SANS. Steel Studio will continue to design beautiful balustrades with your safety in mind.