Quality you can verify, compliance you can file

Plenty of buildings look fine and still cause trouble: an extension without approved plans, wiring without a Certificate of Compliance, a home that cannot be transferred because paperwork is missing. These problems usually surface when you sell, claim on insurance or receive a notice from the municipality, which is the worst time to find them.

We build to the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, to SANS 10400 and to the specifications on the approved drawings. Here is what that looks like in practice.

Approved plans before building

Most new buildings and structural alterations need council approval before work starts. Building without approval can lead to stop-work orders, fines and the cost of demolishing or legalising the work. We do not start where approval is required, and our building plan approvals service prepares and submits the documents for you.

SANS 10400 in the details

SANS 10400 covers matters including structure, fire protection, drainage, glazing, ventilation, stairs and energy usage. We build to its requirements and the engineer's details, and we cross-check critical items such as reinforcement, damp-proof courses and fire separation before they are covered up.

Registrations and certificates

Different parts of a project involve different bodies and certificates:

• NHBRC enrolment for new homes, which provides structural defect protection for the owner
• Electrical Certificate of Compliance for installations, issued by a registered person
• Plumbing Certificate of Compliance, linked to PIRB registered plumbers
• Engineer's certificates for structural elements and completion
• Occupation certificate from the municipality on new buildings
• Waterproofing and roofing guarantees where applicable

Inspections during the build

Quality control happens at hold points: after excavation, before pouring concrete, before closing walls and ceilings, and after services are tested. At each stage we check the work against the drawings and record it, so problems are fixed when they are cheap to fix.

Practical completion and snagging

At practical completion we walk the project with you, record defects on a snag list and agree on dates to close them. On formal contracts a retention amount can be held until defects are rectified. Afterwards you receive the certificates, guarantees and as-built information relevant to the job.

B-BBEE and documentation

TMSMT Construction is B-BBEE Level 1 (certificate available on request). Registration and compliance documents are available on request, and we are happy to supply them when you tender or onboard us as a supplier.

Materials, workmanship and fire safety

Specified materials matter. Cement, bricks, reinforcement, roofing sheets and waterproofing membranes all carry standards, and substitutions without approval can undermine a design. We buy from reputable suppliers, check deliveries against orders and keep records of what is installed. Where a product has a manufacturer's guarantee or application requirement, such as a certified applicator for a membrane, we follow it.

Approved plans address fire escape routes, compartmentation, energy efficiency and, for commercial and public buildings, access for people with disabilities. We build these into the work and flag any conflict between the drawings and what the regulations require, so it is resolved with the designer rather than on the day of the municipal inspection.