The Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act (Act 95 of 1998), as amended, requires the NHBRC to establish a fund aimed at providing assistance to housing consumers where a home builder fails to rectify major structural defects (foundations, floors, walls, and roofs) or a roof leak attributable to workmanship, design or materials, which has manifested itself within five years or 12 months from the date of occupation respectively. One of the key mandates of the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), in terms of the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act, is to establish and promote ethical and technical standards in the home-building industry.

Innovative Building Technologies (IBTs) can provide solutions to both the public and private sectors. On the one hand, the government’s subsidy housing dilemmas can be addressed through innovative technologies. Alternatively, they can provide an attractive option for the private sector. NHBRC has an interest in the development of innovative building technologies for homes to ensure compliance with the performance-based regulatory system in terms of the National Building Regulations. This document promotes the use of these technologies by explaining what IBTs are in relation to alternative building technologies (ABTs), why they are relevant, how they comply with the National Building Regulations and provides examples of IBTs.