© SABS.

This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to ARUP in accordance with copyright exploitation
agreement no. 014/009/17-057, valid until 2022-05-31. Only staff members employed by ARUP may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be
photocopied or reproduced in any way.

ISBN 978-0-626-40746-9
SANS 10400-D:2022
Edition 4.1

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

The application of the National Building

Regulations

Part D: Public safety

WARNING
This document references other
documents normatively.

Published by the South African Bureau of Standards

1 Dr Lategan Road Groenkloof  Private Bag X191 Pretoria 0001
Tel: +27 12 428 7911 Fax: +27 12 344 1568
www.sabs.co.za
 SABS

This product is copyrighted by SABS, 1 Dr Lategan Road, Groenkloof, 0181, South Africa. All rights reserved.
© SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to ARUP in accordance with copyright exploitation
agreement no. 014/009/17-057, valid until 2022-05-31. Only staff members employed by ARUP may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be
photocopied or reproduced in any way.

This page has been left blank intentionally

This product is copyrighted by SABS, 1 Dr Lategan Road, Groenkloof, 0181, South Africa. All rights reserved.
© SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to ARUP in accordance with copyright exploitation
agreement no. 014/009/17-057, valid until 2022-05-31. Only staff members employed by ARUP may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be
photocopied or reproduced in any way.

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT

© SABS

In terms of the Standards Act 8 of 2008, the copyright in all South African National Standards or any
other publications published by the SABS Standards Division, vests in the SABS. Any use of
South African National Standards is limited to use specifically prescribed by the SABS. In the case of a
South African National Standard based on an international standard, ownership of the copyright vests in
the organization from which the SABS adopted the standard, whether it be under licence or
membership agreement. The SABS is obliged to protect such copyright and is authorized to make the
relevant international organization aware of any misuse thereof. Unless exemption has been granted,
no extract or full text of any South African National Standard may be copied, reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the
SABS Standards Division. This does not preclude the free use, in the course of implementing the
standard, of necessary details such as symbols, and size, type or grade designations. If these details
are to be used for any purpose other than implementation, prior written permission must be obtained.

Details, advice and limitations of use can be obtained from the Manager: Standards Sales and
Information Services. Tel: +27 (0) 12 428 6883 email: [email protected]

SABS – Standards Division

The objective of the SABS Standards Division is to develop, promote and maintain South African
National Standards. This objective is incorporated in the Standards Act, 2008 (Act No. 8 of 2008).

The SABS continuously strives to improve the quality of its products and services and would therefore
be grateful if anyone finding an inaccuracy or ambiguity while using this standard would inform the
secretary of the technical committee responsible, the identity of which can be found in the foreword.

Buying Standards

Contact the Sales Office for South African and international standards, which are available in both
electronic and hard copy format. Tel: +27 (0) 12 428 6883 email: [email protected]

South African National Standards are also available online from the SABS Webstore
www.store.sabs.co.za

Information on Standards

SABS Customer Services provide comprehensive standards-related information on national, regional

and international standards. Tel: +27 (0) 12 428 7911 / 0861 27 7227 email: [email protected]

This product is copyrighted by SABS, 1 Dr Lategan Road, Groenkloof, 0181, South Africa. All rights reserved.
© SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to ARUP in accordance with copyright exploitation
agreement no. 014/009/17-057, valid until 2022-05-31. Only staff members employed by ARUP may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be
photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 10400-D:2022
Edition 4.1

Table of changes
Change No. Date Scope
Amdt 1 2022 Amended to update the subclause on change in level.

Foreword
This South African standard was prepared by National Committee SABS/TC 060, Standards which
address the National Building Regulations (NBRS), in accordance with procedures of the
South African Bureau of Standards, in compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement.

This document was approved for publication in January 2022.

This document supersedes SANS 10400-D: 2020 (edition 4).

A vertical line in the margin shows where the text has been technically modified by amendment
No. 1.

Compliance with this document cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

Compliance with the requirements of this document will be deemed to be compliance with
the requirements of part D of the National Building Regulations, issued in terms of the
National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act No. 103 of 1977).

SANS 10400 consists of the following parts, under the general title The application of the National
Building Regulations:

Part A: General principles and requirements.

Part B: Structural design.

Part C: Dimensions.

Part D: Public safety.

Part F: Site operations.

Part G: Excavations.

Part H: Foundations.

Part J: Floors.

Part K: Walls.

Part L: Roofs.

Part M: Stairways.

Part N: Glazing.

Part O: Lighting and ventilation.

Part P: Drainage.

Part Q: Non-water-borne means of sanitary disposal.

© SABS

This product is copyrighted by SABS, 1 Dr Lategan Road, Groenkloof, 0181, South Africa. All rights reserved.
© SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to ARUP in accordance with copyright exploitation
agreement no. 014/009/17-057, valid until 2022-05-31. Only staff members employed by ARUP may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be
photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 10400-D:2022
Edition 4.1

Foreword (concluded)
Part R: Stormwater disposal.

Part S: Facilities for persons with disabilities.

Part T: Fire protection.

Part V: Space heating.

Part W: Fire installation.

Part XA: Energy usage in buildings.

Introduction
The functional regulations contained in part D of the National Building Regulations are as follows:

NATIONAL BUILDING REGULATIONS

PART D – PUBLIC SAFETY
D1 CHANGE IN LEVEL
The protection of the edge of any balcony, bridge, flat roof of similar place shall be
designed to prevent any person from falling from such balcony, bridge, flat roof or similar
place.
D2 PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCES TO PARKING AREAS IN BUILDINGS
Where any pedestrian entrance is provided to a vehicle parking area in any building, such
entrance shall be so positioned, marked or protected that no pedestrian can unintentionally
walk into the path of any moving vehicle: Provided that this requirement shall not apply in
respect of any building classified as H4 in terms of regulation A20.
D3 RAMPS
Any ramp or driveway shall be so designed that it is safe when used and is fit for the
purpose for which it is intended.
D4 SWIMMING POOLS AND SWIMMING BATHS
(1) The owner of any site which contains a swimming pool shall ensure that access to such
swimming pool is controlled.
(2) Any owner who fails to comply with the requirement of sub-regulation 1 shall be guilty of
an offence.
D5 DEEMED-TO-SATISFY REQUIREMENTS
The requirements of regulations D1, D3 and D4 shall be deemed to be satisfied where
change in level, the design of ramps and driveways, or access to swimming pools, as the
case may be, complies with SANS 10400-D.

© SABS
1

This product is copyrighted by SABS, 1 Dr Lategan Road, Groenkloof, 0181, South Africa. All rights reserved.
© SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to ARUP in accordance with copyright exploitation
agreement no. 014/009/17-057, valid until 2022-05-31. Only staff members employed by ARUP may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be
photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 10400-D:2022
Edition 4.1

Contents
Page

Foreword

Introduction

1 Scope ..................................................................................................................................... 3

2 Normative references ............................................................................................................. 3

3 Definitions .............................................................................................................................. 3

4 Requirements ......................................................................................................................... 4

4.1 General .......................................................................................................................... 4

4.2 Change in level ............................................................................................................... 5
4.3 Ramps and driveways .................................................................................................... 5
4.4 Swimming pools and swimming baths............................................................................ 6

© SABS
2

This product is copyrighted by SABS, 1 Dr Lategan Road, Groenkloof, 0181, South Africa. All rights reserved.
© SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to ARUP in accordance with copyright exploitation
agreement no. 014/009/17-057, valid until 2022-05-31. Only staff members employed by ARUP may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be
photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 10400-D:2022
Edition 4.1

The application of the National Building Regulations

Part D:
Public safety

1 Scope
This part of SANS 10400 provides deemed-to-satisfy requirements for compliance with part D
(Public Safety) of the National Building Regulations.

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this
document and are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited
applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document including any
amendments applies. Information on currently valid national and international standards can be
obtained from the South African Bureau of Standards.

SANS 10400-A, The application of the National Building Regulations – Part A: General principles
and requirements.

SANS 10400-B, The application of the National Building Regulations – Part B: Structural design.

SANS 10400-S, The application of the National Building Regulations – Part S: Facilities for persons
with disabilities.

3 Definitions
For the purposes of this document, the definitions given in SANS 10400-A (some of which are
repeated for convenience) and the following apply.

3.1
arresting device
permanent device forming part of the pool design to prevent injury to a person falling from an
outside edge of a rimless pool

3.2
barrier
all walls, curtain walls, partitions, balustrades and all glazed areas, whether permanent or
temporary, intended to act as a barrier to prevent people from falling

© SABS
3

This product is copyrighted by SABS, 1 Dr Lategan Road, Groenkloof, 0181, South Africa. All rights reserved.
© SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to ARUP in accordance with copyright exploitation
agreement no. 014/009/17-057, valid until 2022-05-31. Only staff members employed by ARUP may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be
photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 10400-D:2022
Edition 4.1

3.3
deemed-to-satisfy requirement
non-mandatory requirement, the compliance with which ensures compliance with a functional
regulation

3.4
functional regulation
regulation that sets out in qualitative terms what is required of a building, building element or a
building component in respect of a particular characteristic, without specifying the method of
construction, dimensions or materials to be used

3.5
handrail
rail used in circulation areas, such as corridors, passageways, ramps or stairways, to provide
support and assist continuous and safe movement of the occupants of a building

3.6
rimless pool
reflecting or swimming pool where the water flows over one or more edges, producing a visual
effect of water with no boundary

NOTE Such pools are often designed such that the edge appears to merge with a larger body of water or with
the sky.

3.8
site
erf, lot, plot, stand or other piece of land on which a building has been, is being or is to be erected

3.9
street boundary
boundary of a site which abuts any street

4 Requirements
4.1 General
4.1.1 The functional regulations contained in part D of the National Building Regulations (depicted
in the foreword) shall be deemed to be satisfied where a change in level, the design of ramps
and driveways, or access to swimming pools and swimming baths comply with the requirements of
4.2, 4.3 and 4.4, respectively.

4.1.2 Barriers shall be designed to resist the corrosivity of the environment in which they are
erected.

4.1.3 Barriers shall be inspected at regular intervals. Any element, connection or anchorage
showing any possible loss of effectiveness or structural integrity shall be restored or replaced.

4.1.4 Barriers shall not include components with sharp projections or edges that may cause injury
or tear clothing.

4.1.5 Barriers in public areas and open spaces shall be clearly visible from a distance of 7,5 m so
as to avoid injury to persons running into them. The minimum dimension clearly visible from 7,5 m is
20 mm element thinner than 20 mm to have signs attached, at regular intervals so as to be visible
from 7,5 m.

4.1.6 Flexible elements e.g. cables and ropes, shall be maintained under tension so as not to
impinge on the spacing requirements of elements.

© SABS
4

This product is copyrighted by SABS, 1 Dr Lategan Road, Groenkloof, 0181, South Africa. All rights reserved.
© SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to ARUP in accordance with copyright exploitation
agreement no. 014/009/17-057, valid until 2022-05-31. Only staff members employed by ARUP may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be
photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 10400-D:2022
Edition 4.1

4.2 Change in level

4.2.1 Any barrier provided to protect a change in a n y level shall comply with the requirements
of SANS 10400-B.

4.2.2 The edge of any balcony, bridge, flat roof, floor, walkway or similar accessible thoroughfare
more than 1 m above the adjacent level shall be provided with a barrier not less than 1 m in height,
unless unauthorized access of persons thereto has been excluded by a permanent physical barrier
properly erected and maintained.

NOTE Deleted by amendment No. 1.

4.2.3 The edge of any balcony, bridge, flat roof, floor, walkway or similar accessible thoroughfare
more than 600 mm above the adjacent ground or floor level shall be provided with a handrail not less
than 900 mm in height unless unauthorized access of persons thereto has been excluded by a
permanent physical barrier properly erected and maintained.

NOTE Deleted by amendment No. 1.

4.2.4 In the case of an interior balcony or a mezzanine floor, such balcony or floor shall be provided
with a barrier not less than 1 m in height, provided that where such balcony or floor is used for public
seating in rows such height may be reduced to not less than 800 mm immediately opposite the
seating in the front row.

4.2.5 A barrier provided as protection at a change in level in any occupancy excluding those
classified as A5, B1, B2, B3, D1, D2, D3, D4 and E1 (as defined in SANS 10400-A) shall not have
any opening that permits the passage of a 100 mm diameter ball. Amdt 1

4.2.6 A barrier provided in occupancies listed as A5, B1, B2, B3, D1, D2, D3, D4 and E1 shall
consist of at least a handrail and one other rail midway between such handrail and the floor. Amdt 1

NOTE Complying with 4.2 might not prevent children from climbing onto or over such barrier and the designer
should take cognizance of this.

4.3 Ramps and driveways

In any building that is not a building classified as H4, or on any site on which such building is
situated, any

a) ramp or driveway used by motor vehicles shall have a gradient of not more than 1 in 25 within a
distance of 5 m from any street boundary crossed by such ramp or driveway (see figure 1);

b) ramp or driveway used by pedestrians shall be in accordance with the requirements of

SANS 10400-S; and

c) ramp designed for use by both vehicles and pedestrians shall have a walkway not less than
1,2 m wide which shall be provided with a kerb not less than 150 mm high between the walkway
and the vehicle ramp.

NOTE Access provided to properties classified as H4 from the street cannot in all aspects satisfy the
requirements for ramps and should be considered to be access to the property only.

© SABS
5

This product is copyrighted by SABS, 1 Dr Lategan Road, Groenkloof, 0181, South Africa. All rights reserved.
© SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to ARUP in accordance with copyright exploitation
agreement no. 014/009/17-057, valid until 2022-05-31. Only staff members employed by ARUP may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be
photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 10400-D:2022
Edition 4.1

Figure 1 — Motor vehicle ramp or driveway

4.4 Swimming pools and swimming baths

4.4.1 A wall, fence or barrier shall be provided by the owner of a H4 site which contains a
swimming pool or a swimming bath to ensure that no person can have access to such pool or bath
from any street or public place or any adjoining site other than through (see figure 2),

a) a self-closing and self-latching gate with provision for locking in such wall or fence, or

b) a building where such building forms part of such wall or fence.

4.4.2 A wall, fence or barrier shall be provided in any complex or building that is not classified as
H4 which contains a swimming pool or swimming bath to ensure that no person can have access to
such pool or bath from any street or public place or anywhere within the complex other than through
a self-closing and self-latching gate with provision for locking in such wall or fence.

4.4.3 Such wall, fence or barrier and any such gate therein shall be not less than 1,2 m high
measured from the adjacent level and shall not contain any opening that will permit the passage of
a 100 mm diameter ball and shall not provide any form of foothold.

4.4.4 The design of a gate shall be such, that after its installation, it shall not be possible to open
the gate towards the swimming pool.

4.4.5 Each gate shall be fitted with a rising hinge, a spring or other acceptable self-closing device,
self-latching device and locking device.

4.4.6 The hinges of a gate shall be positioned at least 900 mm apart and the latching and locking
device shall be fitted to the pool side of the gate in the highest position possible.

4.4.7 Rimless pools, where the change in level between the edge of the pool rim and the adjacent
natural ground level exceeds 1 m, shall have a permanent arresting device incorporated as part of
the pool design.

© SABS
6

This product is copyrighted by SABS, 1 Dr Lategan Road, Groenkloof, 0181, South Africa. All rights reserved.
© SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to ARUP in accordance with copyright exploitation
agreement no. 014/009/17-057, valid until 2022-05-31. Only staff members employed by ARUP may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be
photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 10400-D:2022
Edition 4.1

a) Enclosure around pool b) Enclosure around boundary of property

c) Enclosure formed on part of property d) Enclosure linked to house

Figure 2 — Examples of safe swimming pool enclosure

______________

© SABS
7

This product is copyrighted by SABS, 1 Dr Lategan Road, Groenkloof, 0181, South Africa. All rights reserved.