As the South African Building Industry becomes more and more regulated, Home and Building Owners are often finding themselves on the wrong side of the law in terms of their balustrade installations. Unfortunately, unsuspecting Owners automatically assume that balustrades, being a safety feature in their new home or building, should comply with the National Building Codes. They also accept that the balustrade system they are paying hard earned money for is safe for those utilising the building. Building Owners who don’t Insist on a Certified Engineers Form 3 upon completion of their balustrade installation will have no guarantee that their balustrades are structurally sound and safe for its intended use, which is to protect those utilising the building, from falling from elevated and dangerous levels.
What is a Certified Engineers Form 3?
The Form 3 is a document that is a declaration by a competent person, appointed to design a component or an element of a system, from the National Building Regulations: SANS 10400 – A:2010 and the Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act No. 103 of 1977).
In layman’s terms, a balustrade contractor must submit a Certified Engineers Form 3 for every balustrade installation they have installed. This Form 3 needs to be completed and signed off by a professional, structural engineer with a professional indemnity policy in place.
Why Should You Insist on a Form 3 on completion of your balustrade project?
Your safety and the safety of those living or working in your new home or new building is of utmost importance. It is the building Owner’s responsibility to Insist on a Certified Engineers Form 3 on completion of their balustrade installation, and also before the Form 4 or occupation certificate can be issued.
If a contractor is unable to provide this Form, you can be assured that your balustrade system has not been tested and signed off by a professional structural engineer, thus leaving you and those utilising your building in a dangerous and unsafe situation, exposing you to the risk of personal liability.
The National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act are very specific in stating that the building inspector needs to have this Form 3 for any structural element in the building before submitting an occupation certificate. Unfortunately, some building inspectors have been ignorant around this specialised trade and are completely unaware of what complies and what doesn’t comply in terms of balustrade codes and regulation.
You, as the building owner now have the tools in order to ensure that your balustrade installation consists of the right material thicknesses and that it has been installed to the South African National Safety Standards by a professional balustrade contractor, in order to keep you safe from possible dangerous situations.
When deciding on your next balustrade contractor, don’t allow price to be your only deciding factor. A cheap balustrade system is just that. Insist on a Certified Engineers Form 3 before paying for your balustrade installation.