SANS 10400-A:2010

Edition 3

Table 1 — Occupancy or Building Classification

1 2
Class of
occupancy Occupancy
of building
A1 Entertainment and public assembly
Occupancy where persons gather to eat, drink, dance or participate in other recreation.
A2 Theatrical and indoor sport
Occupancy where persons gather for the viewing of theatrical, operatic, orchestral, choral,
cinematographical or sport performances.
A3 Places of instruction
Occupancy where school children, students or other persons assemble for the purpose of
tuition or learning.
A4 Worship
Occupancy where persons assemble for the purpose of worshipping.
A5 Outdoor sport
Occupancy where persons view outdoor sports events.
B1 High risk commercial service
Occupancy where a non-industrial process is carried out and where either the material
handled or the process carried out is liable, in the event of fire, to cause combustion with
extreme rapidity or give rise to poisonous fumes, or cause explosions.
B2 Moderate risk commercial service
Occupancy where a non-industrial process is carried out and where either the material
handled or the process carried out is liable, in the event of fire, to cause combustion with
moderate rapidity but is not likely to give rise to poisonous fumes, or cause explosions.
B3 Low risk commercial service
Occupancy where a non-industrial process is carried out and where neither the material
handled nor the process carried out falls into the high or moderate risk category.
C1 Exhibition hall
Occupancy where goods are displayed primarily for viewing by the public.
C2 Museum
Occupancy comprising a museum, art gallery or library.
D1 High risk industrial
Occupancy where an industrial process is carried out and where either the material
handled or the process carried out is liable, in the event of fire, to cause combustion with
extreme rapidity or give rise to poisonous fumes, or cause explosions.
D2 Moderate risk industrial
Occupancy where an industrial process is carried out and where either the material
handled or the process carried out is liable, in the event of fire, to cause combustion with
moderate rapidity but is not likely to give rise to poisonous fumes, or cause explosions.
D3 Low risk industrial
Occupancy where an industrial process is carried out and where neither the material
handled nor the process carried out falls into the high or moderate risk category.
D4 Plant room
Occupancy comprising usually unattended mechanical or electrical services necessary for
the running of a building.
E1 Place of detention
Occupancy where people are detained for punitive or corrective reasons or because of
their mental condition.
E2 Hospital
Occupancy where people are cared for or treated because of physical or mental disabilities
and where they are generally bedridden.
E3 Other institutional (residential)
Occupancy where groups of people who either are not fully fit, or who are restricted in their
movements or their ability to make decisions, reside and are cared for.

43
SANS 10400-A:2010
Edition 3

Table 1 (concluded)

1 2
Class of
occupancy Occupancy
of building
E4 Health care
Occupancy which is a common place of long term or transient living for a number of
unrelated persons consisting of a single unit on its own site who, due to varying degrees of
incapacity, are provided with personal care services or are undergoing medical treatment.
F1 Large shop
Occupancy where merchandise is displayed and offered for sale to the public and the floor
area exceeds 250 m2 .
F2 Small shop
Occupancy where merchandise is displayed and offered for sale to the public and the floor
area does not exceed 250 m2.
F3 Wholesalers' store
Occupancy where goods are displayed and stored and where only a limited selected
group of persons is present at any one time.
G1 Offices
Occupancy comprising offices, banks, consulting rooms and other similar usage.
H1 Hotel
Occupancy where persons rent furnished rooms, not being dwelling units.
H2 Dormitory
Occupancy where groups of people are accommodated in one room.
H3 Domestic residence
Occupancy consisting of two or more dwelling units on a single site.
H4 Dwelling house
Occupancy consisting of a dwelling unit on its own site, including a garage and other
domestic outbuildings, if any.
H5 Hospitality
Occupancy where unrelated persons rent furnished rooms on a transient basis within a
dwelling house or domestic residence with sleeping accommodation for not more than 16
persons within a dwelling unit.
J1 High risk storage
Occupancy where material is stored and where the stored material is liable, in the event of
fire, to cause combustion with extreme rapidity or give rise to poisonous fumes, or cause
explosions.
J2 Moderate risk storage
Occupancy where material is stored and where the stored material is liable, in the event of
fire, to cause combustion with moderate rapidity but is not likely to give rise to poisonous
fumes, or cause explosions.
J3 Low risk storage
Occupancy where the material stored does not fall into the high or moderate risk category.
J4 Parking garage
Occupancy used for storing or parking of more than 10 motor vehicles.

A21 Population
(1) The population of any room or storey or portion thereof shall be taken as the actual population
of such room, storey or portion thereof where such population is known or, where such
population is not known, the population shall be calculated from the criteria given in table 2.

44
SANS 10400-A:2010
Edition 3

(2) In the case of any occupancy classified as F1, where the total floor area is more than 500 m2,
that portion of the floor area that is in excess of 500 m2 shall, for the purposes of calculation of
the population, be reduced by an amount of 20 %.

Table 2 — Design Population

1 2
Class of occupancy of
room or storey or Population
portion thereof
A1, A2, A4, A5 Number of fixed seats or 1 person per m2 if there are no fixed seats
E1, E3, H1, H3, H4 2 persons per bedroom
E4 16 persons provided that the total number of persons per room is
not more than 4
H5 16 persons per dwelling unit provided that the total number of
persons per room is not more than 4
G1 1 person per 15 m2
J1, J2, J3, J4 1 person per 50 m2
C1, E2, F1, F2 1 person per 10 m2
B1, B2, B3, D1, D2, D3 1 person per 15 m2
C2, F3 1 person per 20 m2
A3, H2 1 person per 5 m2

A22 Notice of Intention to Commence Erection or Demolition of a

Building, and Notices of Inspection
(1) (a) No work in connection with the erection or demolition of any building shall be
commenced on the site unless notice, in the form required by the local authority, has
been given to such local authority by the owner of such building, stating the date on
which such erection or demolition will commence.

(b) Such notice shall in the case of the erection of a building be given at least four days,
exclusive of a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, and in the case of the demolition of a
building at least 10 days, exclusive of a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, before such
work commences.

(2) Notice in the form required by the local authority shall be given by the owner to such local
authority of a date which shall be at least 2 working days from the date of receipt by it of such
notice on which, as the case may be –

(a) any fire installation will be connected to any communication pipe;

(b) trenches or excavations will be ready for inspection prior to the placing of concrete for
any foundation;

(c) any drainage installation will be ready for inspection and testing; or

(d) the building will be completed.

(3) No owner shall construct any foundation until the trenches or excavations have been
inspected and approved by the local authority, and such owner shall not backfill or enclose a

45

1 2 3 4 5 6
Number of portable Minimum chargeb
Class of
fire extinguishers
occupancy Dry chemical
requireda per m2 Water Foam Carbon dioxide
powder
A1 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
A2 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
A3 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
A4 1/400 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
A5 1/400 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
B1 1/100 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
B2 1/200 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
B3 1/400 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
C1 1/200 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
C2 1/200 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
D1 1/100 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
D2 1/100 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
D3 1/200 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
D4 1/400 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
E1 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
E2 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
E3 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
E4 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
F1 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
F2 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
F3 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
G1 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
H1 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
H2 1/200 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
H3 1/400 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
H5 1/100 9L 9L 5 kg 4,5 kg
J1 1/100 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
J2 1/100 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
J3 1/400 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
J4 1/400 9L 9L 10 kg 9 kg
a The owner shall install by extinguisher charge mass. If the required size of extinguisher required
is 1 × 9 kg powder extinguisher per 200 m2 as with a C2 occupancy, the owner of the
building may install 2 × 4,5 kg extinguishers of the same type per 200 m 2.
b See SANS 1910 for required minimum performance ratings.