PSS

PSS

Progress Mark 2: Desmond Jackson

1.     The new National Building Regulations was launched in the latter part of 2011, stimulating a new thought process, as an aspiring architectural technologist, it would be a requirement that you become au fait with all the new rules and regulations as set out in the publication.  Comparing the old and new regulations (1st year task) briefly describe some observations of changes brought about in SANS 10400A2010.

There was a sub regulation introduced for the energy efficiency of buildings by the minister of Trade and Industry. Energy  usage in buildings were changed due to the in cooperation of ‘green’ building regulations. Here are some examples of what has been added in part A:

A1 Application:

Instead of being “Architects act 1970(act no.35 0f 1970)” it has now become “Architectural Profession Act, 2000 (Act No. 44 of 2000), Engineering Profession Act, 2000 (Act No. 46 of 2000), Natural Scientific Professions Act, 2003 (Act No. 27 of 2003), or Professional and Technical Surveyors’ Act, 1984 (Act No. 40 of 1984), or any other relevant Act”.

There have been a few more parts added to number 3 such as:

(b) Such notification shall accompany the application for approval of the erection of the building in terms of section 4 of the Act.

(c) For the purposes of this Regulation “existing building” shall include a partly erected building.

(d) Any structural support provided by the existing building shall be deemed to be part of the structural system of the building to be erected.

(e) The local authority may require that the above notification be accompanied by a documented rational assessment of the adequacy of the structural support.

A2 plans and particulars to be furnished

Another sub regulation has been added to number 1:

(g) a declaration by a person registered in a professional category of registration in terms of one of the councils for the professions identified in the Council for the Built Environment Act, 2000 (Act No. 43 of 2000) in the relevant portion of Form 1 contained in SANS 10400-A as to how the applicable functional regulations shall be satisfied.

Number 2 has changed and become more descriptive in order to comply with number 1(g) as seen here:

(2) The owner of a building shall appoint and retain the services of the person responsible for submitting the declaration required in sub regulation (1)(g) and shall advise such person after such declaration has been submitted to the local authority of any changes made in the manner in which any functional regulation shall be satisfied or if the services of the competent person are for whatever reason terminated prior to the conclusion of his/her obligations in terms of these Regulations, or the appointment of any other competent person. Such person shall within one month of being notified by the owner or becoming aware of any change submits an amended declaration to the local authority.

A19 Appointment of Persons Responsible for Design, Inspection and Assessment Duties

There has been added a lot to part A19 as seen below because originally there were only 5 sub regulations:

(6) (a) Where any building is to be extended, the local authority may on receipt of the application for such extension and before granting approval require that the approved competent persons who have accepted responsibility for such work timeously prepare and submit rational assessments as to the adequacy of the existing systems and installations in combination with the contemplated extensions to comply with the relevant requirements of these Regulations for the whole building including the extensions.

(b) If the local authority is satisfied that any such rational assessment meets the requirement of these Regulations and in particular of sub regulation 6(a) it shall accept such assessment which shall be deemed to be part of the application submitted.

(c) If the local authority is not so satisfied it may after first consulting with the competent person who has submitted such assessment and subject to appeal to the Review Board decline to accept the assessment for reasons which it shall furnish in writing to such competent person and require him or her to submit a revised assessment to the satisfaction of the local authority.

(7) Where in a building any element of the structural, fire protection, artificial ventilation, storm water disposal or non-water- borne sanitary disposal, fire installation or drainage installation system as provided for in sub regulation (1) is or is required to be the subject of a rational design or rational assessment, the person appointed as an approved competent person shall assume responsibility for satisfying the functional regulation relating to that particular system in its entirety.

(8) (a) Where an approved competent person is required in terms of sub regulation (7) to assume responsibility for the system in its entirety and where parts of the system are to be undertaken by other competent persons, the approved competent person shall assume overall responsibility for the design of such system and shall ensure that:

(i) The component designs are generally in accordance with the approved application and in accordance with the requirements of these Regulations.

(ii) The component designs will achieve the necessary co-ordination and interaction of the different elements so as to achieve the objectives of the systems.

(iii) in the case of the structural system, the interaction of the various component elements will be such that the structural adequacy of all the parts of the building and the overall stability of the building is assured but in all cases excluding responsibility for the detailed design of elements carried out by the other competent persons, provided that such exclusion shall not preclude the approved competent person from taking any action which he or she considers necessary in terms of sub regulation (8)(b).

(b) (i) For the purpose of satisfying him or herself of the adequacy of any design or designs contemplated in sub regulation (8)(a) and of their compatibility with any system, measure or installation in its entirety, the approved competent person may at any time after his or her appointment, require the designer or designers of the different elements of the system referred to in sub regulation (8)(a) to complete Form 3 contained in SANS 10400-A as he or she may deem necessary, and return it timeously, or in any event before building construction or installation proceeds. Each such designer shall, when called upon so to do, provide the information and document concerned in respect of the work he or she has designed.

(ii) The person appointed as approved competent person may further require, after consultation with the designer concerned, modifications to the relevant designs, plans and specifications, if in his or her opinion they do not comply with the provisions of these Regulations.

(iii) Copies of designs, plans and specifications accepted by the approved competent person shall be submitted if so required to the local authority counter-signed by the approved competent person.

(iv) Each designer of a part of a system shall on completion of the erection or installation thereof, if called upon to do so by the approved competent person, complete and submit the section of Form 3 relating to inspection contained in SANS 10400-A.

(c) The provisions of sub regulation (8) (a) and (b) for designs shall also apply in the case of any applicable rational assessments.

(9) (a) Any person appointed by the owner in terms of sub regulations (1) or (2), shall apply to the local authority for acceptance as an approved competent person and shall –

(i) Make an application, and

(ii) Declare his or her competence to undertake the relevant duties in the manner prescribed in the Regulations on Form 2 contained in SANS 10400-A and shall complete all applicable sections of such form.

(b) The owner shall also complete the applicable section of Form 2 contained in SANS 10400-A

c) The local authority may, subject to appeal to the Review Board, decline to accept the appointment of any person who:

(i) In completing any portion of Form 2 provides incorrect or incomplete information which in the opinion of the local authority is material to the determination of such applicant’s competence;

(ii) is not an employee of the owner of the building and is not in possession of professional indemnity insurance cover;

(iii) Is not professionally registered in terms of the Engineering Profession Act, 2000

(Act No. 46 of 2000), the Architectural Profession Act, 2000 (Act No. 44 of 2000), or the Natural Scientific Professions Act, 2003 (Act No. 27 of 2003);

(iv) is in the opinion of the local authority inadequately qualified or has insufficient experience or contextual knowledge to make the determinations that are required in terms of these Regulations, provided however that any person that satisfies the relevant definition for a competent person provided in a part of SANS 10400 in relation to the duties contemplated in this sub regulation, is deemed to satisfy this sub regulation; and

(v) is under investigation by a disciplinary tribunal of the Engineering Council of South Africa, the South African Council for the Architectural Profession or the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions and the chief executive officer of such a Council has expressed an opinion in writing that the applications made by such persons should not be approved in the public interest.

(10) (a) Where in respect of any building the local authority, after consideration of –

(i) the details of registration in respect of category, date and discipline in which the applicant is registered, qualifications, experience, training and contextual knowledge provided in terms of this Regulation by any person seeking acceptance of his or her appointment as a competent person, and

(ii) The declaration of competence provided by such person in terms of sub regulation (9), considers that such person does not possess the degree of competence necessary to undertake the relevant duties, it may decline to accept the appointment of such person, who may appeal to the Review Board.

b) If the appeal is upheld, the local authority shall accept the appointment of the appellant as a person competent to undertake such duties or any part thereof in respect of such building as the Review Board may decide.

(11) Where the local authority is satisfied with an application in respect of the matters specified in sub regulations (10)(a)(i) and (ii) it shall indicate acceptance of the application in the manner specified in Form 2 as contained in SANS 10400-A.

(12) (a) On completion of the structural, fire protection or fire installation system for which an approved competent person has been appointed in terms of sub regulations

(1) or (2), such competent person shall complete and submit to the local authority a fully completed Form 4 as contained in SANS 10400-A in respect of each such system for which such person has accepted responsibility in terms of section 14(2A) of the Act 103.

(b) The local authority may require from the owner that an approved competent person submit a copy of the certification of the specific work, other than the structural, fire protection or fire installation, for which he has been appointed on completion of the building.

(13) Where any person provides any information or certificate required in terms of this Regulation or which he or she knows to be incomplete or false, such person shall be guilty of an offence.

2.     In your own words, describe the role of the architect, with regards to duties and responsibilities.

An architect maintains control over the architectural lifecycle as well as to the project’s software development lifecycle. Not only does the architect go through the design stages of a project lifecycle, but also monitors the implementation to the chosen architecture during all iterations. A plan on paper is useless unless it is implemented with proficiency.

Spaces must be designed economically correct and habitable by the architect. While doing so, it is of utmost importance that the architect follows the SANS 10400A2010 (building regulations), as this is the new South African guideline to all architectural designing.

The client gives a new project to the architect, which must be analyzed and understood in terms of what the client wants and needs. A good balance must be found to support his own vision, the National Building Regulations, the client’s ideas and the nature of the site, as well as the energy efficiency of the habitable space.

A huge duty of an architect is to solve problems, in any kind: structurally, design, etc. An architect has to make difficult decision if it comes to a specific direction for a system in terms of implementation, operations and maintenance. Alternative options and a lot of understanding is required while doing so. All decisions must be well documented, so that it is understood by others. If any legally approved plans by the council fail, the architect is held responsible.

The new National Building Regulations requires that the architect is in cooperated more into ‘green’ architecture, where as architects have to consider a minimum of carbon admission while designing. This is mainly to ‘save energy’ and to take our environment into consideration.

It is important that the architect follows the building process to ensure the structures to be built according to his/her plans after they were approved. Changes can occur while the building is in process, which than requires rider plans.

It is the architects responsibility to educate, inspire and inform other architects or students to apply intelligently customized industry’s best practices and systematically organized architecture.

An architects acts as an agent for change as well

3.     What is understood by the following terms:

a.  Tender Documents

The council approves drawings of the architect. The architect ten draws up a more detailed version of the plans and hands this to a quantity surveyor, who calculates an estimate of the materials and labour  costs needed. A tender document begins the tender process where a business choses qualified and interested suppliers. This is based on price, availability and delivery terms.

b.  Bills of Quantities
This is a list of items, that goes with the tender documents which are done completely by the quantity surveyor. He confirms all confirms all the labour and material costing needed to build the structure, according to the working drawings (plans).

c.  Signing of Contracts

The signing of contracts is a legal document that is signed, declaring services, while undertaking an written oath to comply with the rules and regulations set out in the contract or by the client.

This usually includes an agreed price for an agreed amount of work, which is detailed in the tender documents or/and the bill of quantities.