Importance of Building Regulations to
Industrial Development
Prepared for the BCO 2014
T. Demana
Structure of the Presentation
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Industrial Policy
NBRBS Act
Industry support through Building Regulations
NBRBS Review
Conclusions
Industrial Policy
• The Department of Trade and industry is responsible for
implementing industrial policy
• Flagship programme is Industrial Policy Action Plan
(IPAP)
• The technical quality infrastructure that we simply refer to
as “technical infrastructure” is a key tool in industrial
policy
• The National Building Regulations and Building Standards
Act work forms part of this infrastructure
Technical Infrastructure framework
Importance of Technical Infrastructure
• Standards, quality assurance, accreditation and metrology activities are
instrumental in developing and growing manufacturing capabilities
(industrial policy).
• They are an objective measure of competitiveness of firms based on
their products or services.
• They provide, usually as mandatory regulations, risk based
requirements for the protection of health, safety, environment and the
consumer.
• Thus a vital link to market access and global trade.
National Building Regulations and Building Standards
Act, 103 of 1977
• The Act is administered by the NRCS and its purpose is to
- promote uniformity in the law relating to the erection of
buildings
- for the prescribing of building standards
- require that building be approved by local authorities prior
to erections
- require local authorities to employ building control officers
- establishes an appeal mechanism against decisions of
local authorities
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NBR as Vehicle for Safety and Industry
development
• Safety
• Advancing manufacturing capabilities
Review of NBRBS Act
• The Act was promulgated in 1977, 37 years ago
• Substantial development in South Africa since
- 75% of population is now urbanized, in 1990 50%
were in rural areas
- there are 278 municipalities covering the country
- the population is now around 54 million people this year
- a number of new legislation including municipal
municipal systems, town planning, water acts etc,
may not be aligned.
• The current SA landscape, including the informal settlements, require
changes in this Act
Why Review the NBRBS Act
• The NBRBS system is very fragmented, various
departments and organs of state have roles that at times are
not optimized.
• Local Authorities do not necessarily have similar reporting
structures, thus appointment of Building Control Officer
by the Minister of Trade and Industry challenging
• Some Local Authorities are increasingly being challenged
in implementing the regulations – skills and capacity
sometime an issue.
• The regulations seem to indicate that work undertaken by
the state is exempt.
Process of Review
• The department is drafting terms of reference covering
- requirements of the building and construction industry
- evaluating effective of current legislation
- evaluating the role of agencies such as SABS, Agrement Board,
NRCS, CBE, CSIR, CIDB, SALGA and NHBRC.
-requirements including skills and other resources for
effectiveness
- coordination mechanism across government departments
• The terms of reference will be used to consult with government
stakeholders, then industry
• BCO members are considered government stakeholders so they are fist
in line for consultations, NRCS will advise
Conclusion
• The NBRBS Act is an important instrument for industrial policy and
maintenance of safety in the country
• The department is keen to see the Act implemented as well as it can
• Therefore the department is ready to bring the Act, with your help, up
to date.
Thank you for attention.
tdemana@thedti.gov.za