SA Affordable Housing November / December 2017 // Issue: 67 | Page 20

FEATURES
Lighting up affordably isn’t a complicated issue.
Let there be light
Proper lighting is essential for any project or any community. In fact,
it forms part of our daily lives; without it we’d all be in the dark.
By Ntsako Khosa
A
ccording to the South African National Standards
(SANS) 10400 website in terms of the National
Building Regulations (NBR) Part O, all habitable
rooms, including bathrooms, showers and toilets (and
interestingly, garages) must have some form of lighting
and ventilation to enable people to use these rooms safely.
The most important aspect is that it shouldn’t be
detrimental to the health of those using the room for the
purpose for which it was designed.
STANDARDS AND LEGISLATION
Fazil Ogle, managing director of OPS360, says that there
are standards surrounding internal (such as bathrooms)
and external (waterproofing or floodlights) lighting.
“Ultimately, they are there to make sure that when it
rains, the electricity doesn’t go off, when its functioning
there’s no arching, it must be connected correctly. It must
also be at a safe distance so that kids cannot get to it,”
he says.
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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2017
AFFORDABLE
SA HOUSING
For any light in or outside a room, it needs to conform to a
certain amount of light or energy. This is also determined
by the standards. He adds that lights placed a certain
distance apart is also part of meeting legislated
requirements. “It’s a calculation. Anywhere between, 1m or
2m in distance. It’s not just by luck that it looks nice,” he says.
In terms of light in a room, council will assess the house
and state the amount of power you’re not allowed to
consume per metre square. “It’s a calculation that the
architect will do and counsel will verify and make sure you
fall within their standard. If you don’t they reject and ask
you to change your drawing. Everything is calculated on
11W, with light-emitting diode (LED) lights its 5W,”
he advises.
In addition, the SANS specify zones of space for natural
lighting which are guidelines that should be adhered to.
These relate not only to the measurement of openings, but
also to the angles of openings and they specify how
various obstructions affect zones of space.