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The NHBRC reviews its T The NHBRC reviews Home Building Manualits T Home Building Manual
ousing is a major issue facing South Africans today. For most people, a home is the single largest purchase they will ever make. In the past, before regulation of the home building industry, consumers couldAfricans find themselves ousing is a major issue facing South today. unprotected against unscrupulous cashing in on For most people, a home is thebuilders single largest purchase the need for housing and constructing defective houses. they will ever make. In the past, before regulation of the Consumers no recourse for their grievances. This led home buildinghad industry, consumers could find themselves to customeragainst dissatisfaction and rent boycotts, which unprotected unscrupulous builders cashing in in on turn discouraged banks funding low-cost the need for housing and from constructing defectivehousing. houses. There was had a clear urgentforneed a central authority Consumers no and recourse theirfor grievances. This led to oversee standards in the home building industry. to customer dissatisfaction and rent boycotts, which in
turn discouraged banks from funding low-cost housing. The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) There was a clear and urgent need for a central authority to was established in terms of the Housing Consumers oversee standards in the home building industry. Protection Measures Act (Act no. 95 of 1998) to protect the interests of housing consumers and to regulate home The National Home Builders Registration Councilthe (NHBRC) building industry. Home Builders are required by law was established in terms of the Housing Consumers to register with the NHBRC andno. to comply with the NHBRCthe Protection Measures Act (Act 95 of 1998) to protect Technical Requirements and provisions stipulated the interests of housing consumers and to regulate theinhome Home Building building industry.Manual. Home Builders are required by law to register with the NHBRC to comply with the NHBRC The Act further requires and the NHBRC to establish a Warranty Technical Requirements and provisions stipulated in the Fund for the purpose of providing assistance to consumers Home Building Manual. where a home builder fails to rectify a major structural defect or roof leak attributable to poor workmanship, design or The Act further requires the NHBRC to establish a Warranty materials, within a period of 5 years or 12 months from the Fund for the purpose of providing assistance to consumers date of occupation, respectively. where a home builder fails to rectify a major structural defect orThe roofNHBRC leak attributable toembarking poor workmanship, design or is currently on a process to review materials, within a period of 5and years or 12 months from the its Technical Requirements Home Building Manual to date of occupation, ensure alignment torespectively. current legislation and industry needs.
The is currently embarking on a process to review TheNHBRC updating of NHBRC building standards documents itsprovide Technical Requirements and Home Manual to an opportunity to tackle areasBuilding which have in recent ensure to current legislationrisk andtoindustry needs. years alignment been identified as a significant the NHBRC Warranty Scheme. The updating of NHBRC building standards documents provide an opportunity to tackle WHeRe We STANd NoW No areas which have in recent years been identified as a significant risk to the NHBRC The current NHBRC Technical Requirements and Home Warranty BuildingScheme. Manual provide rules to enable valid defects to be interpreted on a noncompliance basis and provide
WHeRe We STANd NoW a framework for the NHBRC warranty cover. They
The current NHBRC Technical Requirements and Home frame performance-orientated design and construction Building Manual provide rules to enable valid defects to can requirements on the assumption that defects in housing bebeinterpreted on a noncompliance basis and provide minimised, if not eliminated. a framework for the NHBRC warranty cover. They To minimise or altogether eliminate those frame performance-orientated designdefects, and construction responsible for the design and construction requirements on the assumption that defectsof in dwelling housing units can be minimised, if not eliminated.
are required to adopt design practices and specifications that provide satisfactory performance; use materials, products and building systems that are suited for their intended purpose; anddesign to ensure that alland work is carried out are required to adopt practices specifications in a proper, and workmanlike manner. that provide neat satisfactory performance; use materials, products and building systems that are suited for their Although the main focus of the Technical Requirements and intended purpose; and to ensure that all work is carried out Home Building Manual are on structural strength, stability in a proper, neat and workmanlike manner. as well as weather tightness, they also deal with protection against harmful substances andTechnical behaviourRequirements in fire, insofar and as Although the main focus of the they relate to the structural stability of the housing unit. Home Building Manual are on structural strength, stability
as well as weather tightness, they also deal with protection The NHBRC design requirements can be met by: against harmful substances and behaviour in fire, insofar as adopting certain prescribed rules or • adopting certain prescribed rules or they relate to the structural stability of the housing unit. preparing a rational design based on engineering • preparing a rational design based on engineering principles or The NHBRC design requirements can be met by: obtaining Agrément certification from Agrément South • adopting certain prescribed rules or obtaining certification from Agrément South • Africa • preparing a rational design based on engineering principles Similarly, the or NHBRC construction requirements can be met • obtaining Agrément certification from Agrément South by complying with: construction of elements using the ‘design • Africa construction elements using the ‘design by rule’ by rule’ approach or Similarly, the NHBRC construction requirements can be met the standards and specifications referred to in the rational • the standards specifications referred in the rational by complying with: design or • construction of elements using the ‘design by rule’ the relevant requirements set out in the Agrément • the relevant requirements set out in Agrément approach or certification documentation • the standards and specifications referred to in the rational design orpersons (a person registered in terms of either Competent • engineering thethe relevant requirements set out in the Agrément ngineering Professions of South Africa Act or in terms certification of section 11 ofdocumentation the Natural Scientific Professions Act) are required in terms of the NHBRC Warranty Scheme to: Competent persons (a person registered in terms of either • classify individual sites in accordance with the NHBRC individual sites with the NHBRC the engineering Professions of South Africa Act or in terms site class designations of section 11 of the Natural Scientific Professions Act) are • assess risks associated with areas underlain by dolomites by dolomites required in terms of the NHBRC Warranty Scheme to: and limestones and to designate areas in accordance • classify individual sites in accordance with the NHBRC with the NHBRC’s dolomitic designations classthat designations monitor that the mandatory precautions on sites underlain • site monitor mandatory precautions on sites underlain • assess risks associated with areas underlain by dolomites by dolomites / limestones are correctly implemented limestones and to designate areas in accordance • and specify precautionary measures to be taken when trees with the NHBRC’s dolomitic designations are to be removed • • monitor that the mandatory precautions on sites underlain advise on subsurface drainage, and dolomites / limestones are correctly implemented • by specify materials and construction methods where the • specify precautionary measures to be taken when trees construction rules are not utilised are to be removed The enrolment of homes in the NHBRC Warranty Scheme is • advise on subsurface drainage, and subject to home builders submitting a site soil classification, • specify materials and construction methods where the duly certified by rules a competent person. It is permissible construction are not utilised
The enrolment of homes in the NHBRC Warranty Scheme is Toll-free: 0800 200to824 To minimise or altogether eliminate defects, those subject home builders submitting a site soil classification, responsible for the design and construction of dwelling units duly certified by a competent person. It is permissible
Toll-free: 0800 200 824 Untitled-2 2
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