SANS10400-J 2016 Ed3Am1
SANS10400-J 2016 Ed3Am1
SANS10400-J 2016 Ed3Am1
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ISBN 978-0-626-30930-5
SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
Part J: Floors
WARNING
This document references other
documents normatively.
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
Table of changes
Change No. Date Scope
Amdt 1 2016 Amended to update referenced standards, to change requirements
for flooring boards, and to delete annex A (definitions and
regulations for floors).
Acknowledgement
The SABS Standards Division wishes to acknowledge the work of the South African Institution of
Civil Engineering in updating this document.
Foreword
This South African standard was approved by National Committee SABS/TC 060, Standards which
address the National Building Regulations (NBRs), in accordance with procedures of the SABS
Standards Division, in compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement.
Compliance with the requirements of this document will be deemed to be compliance with the
requirements of part J of the National Building Regulations, issued in terms of the National Building
Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act No. 103 of 1977).
Compliance with this document cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.
SANS 10400 consists of the following parts, under the general title The application of the National
Building Regulations:
Part C: Dimensions.
Part G: Excavations.
Part H: Foundations.
Part J: Floors.
Part K: Walls.
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
Foreword (concluded)
Part L: Roofs.
Part M: Stairways.
Part N: Glazing.
Part P: Drainage.
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
Contents
Page
Acknowledgement
Foreword
1 Scope ..................................................................................................................................... 3
3 Definitions .............................................................................................................................. 4
4 Requirements ......................................................................................................................... 6
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................... 12
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
1 Scope
This part of SANS 10400 provides deemed-to-satisfy requirements for compliance with part J
(Floors) of the National Building Regulations.
NOTE 2 SANS 10400-B establishes the representative actions and impacts applied to floors, and the
structural response of floors to representative actions and impacts. Compliance with the requirements of this
part of SANS 10400 will result in floors performing in accordance with the structural design performance
parameters established in SANS 10400-B.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies. Information on currently valid national
and international standards can be obtained from the SABS Standards Division.
SANS 1783-2, Sawn softwood timber – Part 2: Stress-graded structural timber and timber for frame
wall construction.
SANS 2001-CC2, Construction works – Part CC2: Concrete works (minor works).
© SABS 3
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© SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to Necsa in accordance with copyright exploitation
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
SANS 10177-2, Fire testing of materials, components and elements used in buildings – Part 2: Fire
resistance test for building elements.
SANS 10177-5, Fire testing of materials, components and elements used in buildings – Part 5: Non-
combustibility at 750 °C of building materials.
SANS 10400-A, The application of the National Building Regulations – Part A: General principles
and requirements.
SANS 10400-B, The application of the National Building Regulations – Part B: Structural design.
SANS 10400-H, The application of the National Building Regulations – Part H: Foundations.
SANS 10400-T, The application of the National Building Regulations – Part T: Fire protection.
SANS 10400-V:2010, The application of the National Building Regulations – Part V: Space heating.
3 Definitions
For the purposes of this document, the definitions given in SANS 10400-A (some of which are
repeated for convenience) and the following apply.
3.1
accredited testing laboratory
laboratory that has been accredited by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS)
3.2
Agrément certificate
certificate that confirms fitness-for-purpose of a non-standardized product, material or component or
the acceptability of the related non-standardized design and the conditions pertaining thereto (or
both) issued by the Board of Agrément South Africa
3.3
Board of Agrément South Africa
body that operates under the delegation of authority of the Minister of Public Works
3.4
competent person (civil engineering)
person who
a) is registered in terms of the Engineering Profession Act, 2000 (Act No. 46 of 2000), as either a
Professional Engineer or a Professional Engineering Technologist,
c) is generally recognized as having the necessary experience and training to undertake rational
assessments or rational designs in the field of civil engineering
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
3.5
deemed-to-satisfy requirement
non-mandatory requirement, the compliance with which ensures compliance with a functional
regulation
3.6
floor joist
horizontal beam which is the primary structural member in the construction of a timber floor
3.7
flooring board
board of face side width not less than 50 mm and not more than 140 mm, which may be tongued on
the one edge and grooved on the opposite edge
3.8
foundation
that part of a building which is in direct contact with, and is intended to transmit loads to, the ground
3.9
foundation wall
that portion of a wall between the foundation and the lowest floor above such foundation
3.10
functional regulation
regulation that sets out in qualitative terms what is required of a building or building element or
building component in respect of a particular characteristic, without specifying the method of
construction, dimensions or materials to be used
3.11
load
value of a force corresponding to an action
3.12
occupancy
particular use or the type of use to which a building or portion thereof is normally put or intended to
be put
NOTE Regulation A20 (see SANS 10400-A) classifies and designates occupancies.
3.13
sleeper wall
masonry wall constructed to support a suspended ground floor
3.14
sole plate
strip of timber which is laid on top of walls to level the underside of flooring joists
3.15
span
distance between the centres of supports
3.16
strip flooring
floor that comprises strips of width not less than 35 mm and not more than 90 mm and that are
tongued on the one edge and grooved on the opposite edge
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
3.17
suitable
capable of fulfilling or having fulfilled the intended function, or fit for its intended purpose
3.18
suspended floor
floor that spans supports
4 Requirements
4.1 General
The functional regulations contained in part J of the National Building Regulations shall be deemed
to be satisfied where Amdt 1
a) floors in any laundry, kitchen, shower room, bathroom or room containing a toilet pan or urinal
comply with the requirements of 4.2;
b) suspended floors are in accordance with the requirements of one of the following:
2) SANS 10082; or
3) 4.3 in the case of occupancies classified as E4, H3, H4 and H5 (see Regulation A20 in
SANS 10400-A) in single-storey and double-storey buildings where floors are not exposed to
the elements;
1) SANS 10400-B,
2) SANS 10400-H, or
3) 4.4; and
d) all timber (see Regulation A13(1)(b) used in the erection of a building shall be preservative
treated in accordance with SANS 10005, as relevant. Amdt 1
b) comprise an impervious material, fit for its intended purpose, laid on top of, or bonded to, the
flooring system, which
1) can hold any surface water in such a manner that it prevents the flooring system from
deteriorating in any way until such time that the water can evaporate, be drained or be
removed, and
2) can accommodate any movement in the flooring system without losing its impermeable
properties.
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
NOTE 1 Joists under a Iong-term dead load will have a deflection to span ratio of less than 1:300.
4.3.2 Timber flooring shall be in accordance with the provisions of table 3, shall comply with the
requirements of SANS 2001-CT1, and shall be fixed to floor joists at centres that do not exceed
600 mm.
4.3.3 The clearance between the under-surface of the ground floor joists and the ground beneath
shall be at least 450 mm (see figure 1). Access to the space below shall be provided for inspection
purposes and shall be fitted with covers or doors that prevent entry of rain, termites (in their flying
stage), reptiles and vermin. All debris and the like shall be removed from the void below such floors
upon completion.
4.3.4 Ventilation of the subfloor space in suspended ground floors shall be provided by means of
openings spaced not more than 2,4 m apart with at least one opening within 0,75 m of each corner.
2
The total area of ventilation openings provided shall be not less than 1 000 mm of unobstructed air
passage per square metre of floor area. All ventilation openings shall be fitted with corrosion-
resistant screening of nominal aperture that does not exceed 1,2 mm.
2 2
NOTE A 0,220 m × 0,170 m airbrick has an unobstructed area of between 0,006 m and 0,009 m .
2 2
Accordingly, one such airbrick is required to serve between 6 m and 9 m of flooring.
4.3.5 Floor joists in suspended ground floors shall be set on and skew-nailed to sole plates that
have minimum dimensions of 38 mm × 76 mm on top of sleeper walls (see figure 2). Sleeper walls
shall be provided with sufficient openings to ensure good cross ventilation.
NOTE At the junction of solid and suspended floors, e.g. at verandahs, ventilation pipes might have to be
provided underneath solid concrete floors. Where sleeper walls are used, ventilation openings of size at least
115 mm × 75 mm spaced at 1,0 m centres should be provided.
4.3.6 Metal masonry anchors shall be of the expanding type, be corrosion resistant, have a
diameter and length of not less than 10 mm and 45 mm, respectively, and shall be installed in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Such anchors, when embedded in grade 20
concrete for standard test purposes, shall have a safe working load in shear of not less than 2,5 kN,
certified by the manufacturer. Such certification shall be substantiated by test report certificates
from an accredited testing laboratory.
4.3.7 Metal punched plate hangers shall have a zinc galvanized coating of not less than 275 g/m2
and shall bear a mark which readily identifies the manufacturer or supplier. Hangers shall be tested
by an accredited testing laboratory to demonstrate that, when bolted or nailed through predrilled or
prepunched holes into structural softwood (pine) members, they can transfer a permissible load of
at least 4,0 kN across the joint without slippage occurring.
4.3.8 No timber floor joist or trimmer or any other combustible material shall be built into any
hearth (see 4.4.3 of SANS 10400-V:2010), or within 200 mm of the inside of a chimney (see
4.3.1(c) of SANS 10400-V:2010), or penetrate a fire separation element.
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
a) Joist built into wall b) Joist bolted to wall with joist hanger
All timber built into masonry shall be coated with carbolineum or a similar preservative.
Figure 2 — Bearing details for suspended timber floors other than ground floors
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
1 2 3 4
Joist spacing
Width Depth 450 mm 600 mm
Maximum span
mm mm m
Grade 5
a
152 3,1 2,7
38 a 4,6 4,0
228
152 3,5 3,1
50 a
228 5,3 4,6
76 228 6,0 5,5
Grade 7
a
152 3,5 3,1
38
228 5,2 4,7
152 3,8 3,4
50
228 5,7 5,2
76 228 6,5 5,9
a
Commonly available sizes.
Table 2 — Maximum span for floor joists of laminated SA pine (grade 5 or higher)
in H3 or H4 occupancy classes in single-storey or double-storey buildings
1 2 3
Maximum span of joists at
Width Depth
600 mm centres
mm mm m
a
32 133 2,1
a
45 133 2,4
a
70 133 3,1
32 166 2,5
45 166 3,0
70 166 3,8
a
45 200 3,7
a
70 200 4,6
45 233 4,3
a
70 233 5,4
a
70 266 6,1
70 300 6,9
a
Commonly available sizes.
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
1 2 3
Minimum thickness
Flooring type Specification
mm
Flooring board Flooring boards shall comply with the following 22
requirements:
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
4.4.1 A floor supported on ground or filling and which does not form an integral part of a foundation
system, does not pass over or is not supported on foundation walls, shall
a) be designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of SANS 10109-1 under the
direction of a competent person (civil engineering); or
b) in the case of a building not used for storage or industrial purposes, be constructed of
1) impervious floor units, not less than 40 mm thick, consisting of slate, bricks, natural stone or
other suitable material; or
2) a plain grade 10 concrete slab where the slab does not serve as the final wearing surface, or
a plain grade 15 concrete slab where the slab serves as the final wearing surface, of thickness
not less than 75 mm, laid on a polyolefin underfloor membrane and constructed in accordance
with the requirements of SANS 2001-CC1 and SANS 2001-CC2, provided that any panel
dimension does not exceed Amdt 1
• 3,5 m where floors are covered with carpets and flexible floor covering, or
NOTE 1 Plain concrete panels that have a panel dimension greater than 2,5 m and 3,5 m, depending
upon the proposed floor covering, fall outside the scope of 4.4.1(b)(2). Such slabs should be designed
by a competent person (civil engineering) or be fabric-reinforced in accordance with the requirements for
slab-on-the-ground foundations contained in SANS 10400-H to mitigate the effects of drying shrinkage.
NOTE 2 Plain concrete floors that comply with the requirements of 4.4.1(b)(2) should perform in
accordance with the relevant requirements of SANS 10400-B. Fabric reinforcement will be required to
improve performance to a lower category of expected damage (see SANS 10400-B). Guidance in this
regard is provided in SANS 10109-1.
4.4.2 A floor supported on ground or filling shall comply with the relevant requirements of
SANS 10400-B or SANS 10400-H should it
b) be constructed of plain concrete and have any panel dimension exceeding the limits established
in 4.4.1; or Amdt 1
4.4.3 Floors provided in terms of 4.4.1 and 4.4.2 shall be constructed level or have a slope that
does not exceed 4 mm/m.
4.4.4 Polyolefin underfloor membranes shall have a thickness of not less than 250 μm or be the
subject of an Agrément certificate and be provided where site and ground conditions necessitate
that the floor be underlain with such membranes. Such membranes shall be turned up around the
perimeter of the floors by at least the thickness of the floor and be provided with an overlap of
200 mm at joints. Penetrations by pipes, plumbing fittings or punctures shall be taped with a
pressure-sensitive adhesive tape approved for such use by the manufacturer.
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SANS 10400-J:2016
Edition 3.1
4.4.5 Filling beneath floors constructed in accordance with 4.4.1(b) shall comprise material that
c) does not contain more than 10 % rock or hard fragments of material retained on a sieve of
nominal aperture size 50 mm;
d) does not contain large clay lumps that do not break up under the action of compaction, nor be a
predominantly clayey material; and
4.4.6 Filling shall be moistened before compaction so that a handful squeezed in the hand is firm,
but does not show signs of moisture. Filling shall be placed in uncompacted layers not exceeding
100 mm in respect of hand compaction or 150 mm in respect of compaction by mechanical means.
Each layer shall be well compacted before additional fill material is added.
4.4.7 A competent person (civil engineering) shall design and inspect fills where the maximum
height of fill beneath floors, measured at any point, exceeds 400 mm.
Annex A
Deleted by amendment No. 1.
Bibliography
SANS 10109-2, Concrete floors – Part 2: Finishes to concrete floors.
______________
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inform the secretary of the technical committee responsible, the identity of which can be found in
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