Care Home Construction: Current South African Standards

Care home construction overlaps healthcare, hospitality, and residential. Regulatory expectations from CQC, fire authorities, and local planning combine into a specific design discipline.

Regulatory framework

• CQC Fundamental Standards for adequate facility
• SANS 10400-T (Fire protection) with fire safety enhancements for care residents
• HBN (Health Building Notes) — non-mandatory but widely adopted
• HTM (Health Technical Memoranda) for services

Room standards

• Bedroom minimum 12 m² (single), 16 m² (en-suite)
• En-suite expected in modern builds
• Hoist provision essential
• Doors min 1100mm clear (1200mm preferred)

Fire safety

Care homes house vulnerable residents who cannot self-evacuate:

• Progressive horizontal evacuation typical
• 30-minute fire resistance to bedroom doors
• Compartmentation between bedroom zones
• Sprinklers expected in new builds
• Detailed evacuation strategy

Dementia-friendly design

• Clear sight lines
• Contrasting colours for floor/wall/door
• Memory aids and signage
• Familiar domestic-style environments
• Avoidance of reflective surfaces (mirrors, polished floors)

Structural considerations

• Hoist tracks in bedroom and bathroom ceilings (point loads)
• Wheelchair turning circles requiring open-plan spaces
• Reinforced wall fixings for grab rails
• Plant loading for kitchen, laundry, treatment areas

MEP

• Hot water delivered at controlled temperature (TMV)
• Nurse call system throughout
• BMS for heating and cooling
• Backup power for life-safety systems

Cost

• New build care home: R56,000–R84,000 per m²
• Refurbishment to current standards: R30,000–R60,000 per m²

MCFAR engineers care home construction and refurbishment.

Frequently Asked Questions