Estate Living November 2016 Digital Issue | Page 54

building

REGULATIONS
BASIC OVERVIEW OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS
The government introduced its energy efficiency regulations for new buildings in November
2011. The aim was to bring down the energy consumption of buildings so as to reduce
pressure on the national grid and reduce carbon emissions, and as a general contribution
to environmental sustainability. The regulation, known as SANS 10400 XA, covers hot-water
heating efficiency, the efficiency of the building envelope, and services like lighting that utilise
energy. These regulations apply to all new buildings, and there are some differences in detail
depending on where the building is situated. There are six climatic zones in South Africa based
on the climate characteristics of the area.

WATER HEATING
The regulations require that half the hot water used in a building must be heated by efficient
methods like solar heating or heat pumps. All hot-water pipes must be clad in a suitable
insulating material with a specified R-value (thermal resistance) relative to the pipe diameter.
All hot-water supply pipes must be connected in a ring main format that forms a continuous
loop to and from the geyser. This reduces the time it takes for the water to get hot when you
turn on a tap, thereby reducing water and energy wastage.

BUILDING ENVELOPE
The building envelope requirements cover the elements that make up a building, and the
orientation of buildings relative to the direction of the sun.

ORIENTATION
In order to reduce the need for heaters in the winter and air conditioning in the summer,
the main living areas should be carefully designed to face north, so as to maximise sun in
winter, and should be fitted with good overhangs to prevent the higher altitude summer sun
from reaching the windows. The exact orientation and size of overhang can be worked out
from readily available tables and software. Obviously, some rooms will have to face south,