Air Requirements to be Indicated on MV Drawings

NOISE CONTROL

• Show the position and noise levels of all fans and ancillary equipment in dBA (free field levels measured at a distance of 3m from such equipment). Kindly indicate the make, model, size, speed and type of every fan.
•  Artificial ventilation must not emit a noise, the level of which causes the ambient to exceed 50 dBA measured at the boundary of the property concerned. In the case of proximity to residential premises, the allowable ambient sound level must not exceed 45 dBA (Refer to SABS 0103 for recommended noise levels for residential premises).
• If a possibility exists of a noise nuisance being generated on the property, please submit a Noise Impact Report in terms of Regulation 2(d) of the Noise Control Reugulations (NCR).
• If an area is designated as a discoteheque, night club or other area where noise activities are likely to occur, your attention is invited to Regulation 3(c) of the NCR which requires that precautionary measures be taken, to the satisfaction of the City of Cape Town, to prevent noise disturbances.
• In order to enable sound proofing of the premises to be designed, you are requested to adopt a design sound level of 120 dBA inside the premises and achieve no more than 45 dBA at the external boundaries of the property.
• In such circumstances, a letter of guarantee, and noise impact assessments in terms of the NCR 2(d), signed by a recognised Acoustic Consultant which embrace the above acoustic criteria and take cognisance of the full dynamic audio spectrum (including bass note attenuation), shall be forwarded to ther City of Cape Town, before approval of the plans can be considered.

Air Quantities Required Per Occupational Classification

NOTE: The use of a dash in the above table signifies no requirement

The above table has been extracted from the SABS Code 0400 of 1990 and has been recreated for the purpose of this web site.

Kitchen Canopy Extract Systems

When submitting plans for kitchen canopy extract systems, the following shall be indicated:-

• Indicate the dimensions of canopies and the height above floor level. Canopies should be 150 mm larger than the appliances served and at least 2,1 m from underside to floor level.
• Readily removable cleaning and inspection panels must be indicated at regular intervals at each change in duct direction.
• State the extract rates, (at least 0,5 m/s over the face of the canopy), positions, make, model number and types of grease removing devices to be installed in kitchen canopy. Approved activated carbon filters and scrubbers may be necessary in applications where a nuisance may be caused. Canopy extract systems shall be designed and operated in such a way as to eliminate nuisance-especially odour and noise.

Kitchen extract systems shall not contain sound attenuators unless:-

• Such attenuators have been favourably evaluated by the CSIR or SABS as being suitable for such application.
• They cannot accumulate grease or other condensate.
• Indicate the heights of the points of discharge, which shall be not less than 1 m above the eaves of a flat roof or higher if the roof is of the pitched type. The effect of the discharge plume on all surrounding buildings, fresh air intake positions and the topography of the area must be taken into account in assessing the heights and locations of points of discharge.
• It is recommended that kitchen extracts discharge vertically upwards.
• "Tea Kitchens" should have an extract system capable of extracting at least 50 l/s of air each and should be independent of toilet and similar air systems.
• If any fire risk is attached to a kitchen canopy system, a "rational design" may be required in terms of Regulation T1 (2) of the National Building Regulations.

GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN OF A SMOKING ROOM

It should now be common knowledge that in terms of the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act No. 83 of 1993, smoking is not allowed in any public places, only in designated smoking areas or rooms.

Smoking areas or rooms

The object is to supply fresh air and to extract smoke from a smoking area or room in order to maintain a negative pressure in such smoking area or room (so that air is prevented from passing back into the building), and to supply the necessary signage, in accordance with the National Building Regulations and the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act.

Definitions

“Smoking room” in terms of the National Building Regulations, means a dedicated room for smoking purposes only.

“Smoking area” in terms of the Tobacco Products Control Amendments Act, means an area that is partitioned off with a solid partition from floor to ceiling, and may not exceed 25 % of the total floor area of the public place.

Guidelines

• Smoking areas must be separated by a solid partition with an entrance door on which “SMOKING AREA” is displayed, written in black letters, at least 2 cm in height and 1,5 cm in width, on a white background.
• The message: “SMOKING OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS IS HARMFULL TO YOUR HEALTH AND TO THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN, PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING WOMEN AND NON-SMOKERS”, is to be displayed at the entrance to the designated smoking area or smoking room, written in black letters at least 2 cm in height and 1,5 cm in width on a white background.
• Notices and signs indicating where smoking is permitted must be permanently displayed and signs indicating that smoking is not permitted, must carry the warning: "ANY PERSON WHO FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THIS NOTICE SHALL BE PROSECUTED AND MAY BE LIABLE TO A FINE”.

Artificial ventilation that serves the smoking area or smoking room must comply with the following:-

• Maximum occupancy rate must be 1 person per m², or equal to the number of seats.
• 7,5 l/s minimum fresh air supply required per person in a smoking area and 20 l/s minimum fresh air supply per person in a smoking room.
• The rate of extraction must exceed the rate of supply to such an extent that the area or room, will maintain a negative pressure i.e. air will not pass back into the building. Extract air must exhaust directly to the outside air in such a way that it will not cause a nuisance.

Example 1

In the event of a smoking area or room adjoining an external wall, fresh air may be introduced via openable windows, but the smoke must be extracted via an independent extract system. A registered or competent person must submit a certificate of compliance. No plans are necessary unless structural changes are proposed or a ducted extract system is installed.

Example 2:

In the event of a smoking area or room not having an external wall with an openable window, fresh air may be introduced from an existing, if any, air supply system. Such existing system must not be used to extract from such area or room (i.e. return air inlets blanked off). An independent extract system must be installed. Building and Ventilation plans must be submitted to the Environmental Health Section for approval – such plans must be endorsed by a registered person as contemplated in terms of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act before any work commences).

Example 3:

Where no external wall adjoins the area or room, and where no artificial ventilation system exists, fresh air must be supplied by means of an artificial ventilation system. An independent extract system must be installed.

NB: Building and Ventilation plans must be submitted to the Environmental Health Section for approval (examples 2 and 3) – such plans must be endorsed by a registered person as contemplated in terms of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977, before any work commences. In any public assembly occupancy, the escape routes must not be compromised by the provision of a smoking area or room, and a smoking area or room capable of containing 25 or more people, will be required to have a minimum of 2 escape routes.