What Part N requires
Part N of the National Building Regulations deals with glazing. Regulation N1 says glazing must be securely fixed and durable, withstand the wind loads it can expect, keep water out, and be visible to people walking towards it. It also says glass and plastics must give a level of safety suited to where the glazing is and how many people will be around it.
You are deemed to satisfy the regulation if the glazing material is selected, fixed and marked in accordance with SANS 10400-N. SANS 10137, the code of practice for installing glazing in buildings, is commonly specified alongside it.
Where safety glazing comes in
SANS 10400-N identifies the places where people are most likely to collide with glass and where safety glazing is needed — glass in doors and close to doors, low-level glass near the floor, and glass around baths and showers among them. The exact distances, heights and pane-size exceptions are set out in the standard; work from a current copy rather than a rule of thumb.
Performance and marking: SANS 1263-1 and the NRCS
Safety glazing must perform to SANS 1263-1, and each pane must be permanently marked so the mark can be seen after installation.
Safety glass is also covered by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications' compulsory specification VC 9003 (in force since 16 July 2014). On top of the SANS 1263-1 marking, each pane must permanently carry an "NRCS" approval mark with its number, in letters at least 2.5 mm high. Checking that mark on delivery is a quick way to catch glass that should never have reached site.
A routine that avoids the expensive mistake
- At the measure, note where each opening is — in or near a door, low down, by a bath or shower — and take a photo.
- When you quote, put the glass type and safety classification on the line, not just "clear".
- When you order, make sure the purchase order carries the same description.
- On delivery and on the day, check the SANS 1263-1 and NRCS marks before the glass goes in.
Where Coglass fits
Coglass does not check your glass against SANS 10400-N — that stays with you and the standard. It keeps the specification consistent from measure to fitting:
- Surveys on the phone. Each opening is measured, drawn and photographed, with notes, GPS and the access level — and it works with no signal, syncing when you are back in coverage.
- The glass written down once. The product and make-up you pick on the line goes on the quote, the supplier's purchase order and the workshop's cutting sheet, so everyone works from the same specification.
- Paperwork on the job. Keep certificates, product sheets and photos in the job's Documents tab, next to the quote and invoice.
Want to see it on your own jobs? Book a demo or see pricing in ZAR.
Sources
- National Building Regulations — Regulation N1, type and fixing of glazing
- Government of South Africa — NRCS compulsory specification notices
This page explains the rules in general terms. Standards and tax rules change, and how they apply depends on the job — check the source, your building control body or your accountant before relying on it.