What are the energy usage regulations for building?

The National Building Regulations and Buildings Standards Act (Act 103 of 1977) was amended in 2021 to include the updated requirements for energy usage in buildings and building construction. This amendment is called SANS 10400 XA 2021(Ed 2.) and refers to energy efficiency. 

All building plan submissions need to illustrate compliance with the current version.  

What's new?

SANS 10400 XA 2021(Ed 2.) includes:

Shading:

• Fenestration formulas no longer exist 
• Simple tables for shading and glazing now included 
• Glazing calculations have been omitted and same shading depth is accepted for North; East and West facades.

Fenestration:

• Fenestration formulas no longer exist 
• Simple tables for shading and glazing now included 
• Minimum glazing ratio for single glaze increased from 15% to 20%

Floors:

• Insulation requirements for exposed floors included
• External Walls: What’s new in Edition 2 
• Solariums added to the list of spaces that may be excluded from assessment
  

Roof assembly:

• Additional requirements to bulk insulation to roofs (no compression allowed)
  
• Building Sealing: What’s new in Edition 2
  
• Building sealing can be done by caulking, adding skirting, architraves or cornices 
  
• Wall plates and roof junctions sealed 
• Tile roofs require underlay/radiant barrier with joints sealed 
• Chimney/flue damper required 
• External doors and windows sealed with rubber or fibrous seal 
• It is a requirement to seal external doors and windows with rubber or fibrous seal to seal the building against drafts
  

General:

• Energy use intensity (EUI) targets for almost all building typologies mean the standard needs to be applied to more buildings. 
• EUI targets are more stringent meaning buildings need to be designed with greater efficiency. 
• Updates to the energy zone map 
• It remains a requirement to heat water with max 50% grid electricity; with the remainder from renewable sources. 
• All lighting needs to be LED 
• Air conditioning units have minimum efficiency requirements

In order to support driving energy efficiency at home the City developed a non-technical guide for homeowners and built environment professionals. This document aims to support the City’s efforts to encourage energy efficiency in new buildings and extensions/additions of existing buildings by simplifying and explaining the South African National Standard (SANS) 10400–XA 2021 ed.2.

If you are a professional working in the building and planning environment, we recommend that you visit our building and property development section for a full breakdown of regulations and compliances necessary for new sites of construction or renovation. 

If you are a business owner or working in an office, why not learn how to make your building smarter with tips on how to make your everyday working environment more sustainable and eco-friendly.

Document downloads

• 1. SANS Forms Guide and Checklist (BDM 16)

     22/04/2022, Checklist,Guideline - 1.8 MB