THE VALUE OF CERTIFYING AN INTERIOR FITOUT

We have all had to undergo changes to our daily life due to Covid-19. Some of the positive results of those changes illustrate that if we make changes in our way of working and living, we can yield great environmental impacts.

WORDS Roxanne Dovey

We are starting to see a shift in the way of thinking as the new generation considers where to work, shop and play based on the indoor environment and sustainability commitments of the building owner or tenant. They are seeking places that are designed with mindful use of limited resources or eventual reuse which reduces waste and the need for remodels.

More and more people are becoming aware of their surroundings and therefore are seeking places that protect their health and wellbeing through design that prevents indoor air pollution and is visually, thermally and acoustically comfortable to be in. Employees and business owners on the other hand want their employees, tenants or customers to be productive and healthy to ensure reduced sick days, longer rental agreements or continuous returns to their retail store.

There is increased pressure for building owners or tenants to demonstrate how they are contributing positively towards society and they are becoming more conscious of the operational savings that benefit their investment and the environment. The latter may also assist with any sustainability reporting required. When the latter objectives are required to be met, we tend to look to the experts who have done the extensive training and have the knowledge of why, how, who and what we need to achieve those positive impacts associated to the objectives.

Let’s take a quick high-level look at the why, what, who and how to achieve the sustainability objectives:

WHY?

This can be broken down into two parts: Why use a rating tool? The rating tool provides locally contextualised best practice standards that encourages the property industry to align with these standards. Why should the Interior fitout be rated? As with most things in life, consumers, employees, employers, etc want verification that you are qualified in what you do or want verification that your business is doing what it claims to be doing. Without certification, the property can say that they are green or sustainable, but how does one verify that? This is where accredited professionals (APs) come in, as we guide the project team to ensure that the standards are met and that these standards are then independently verified and rated through the certification body that is the GBCSA.

WHAT?

This section addresses what information is available and what we can use to assist with achieving the objectives and ensuring that a benchmark is set. The Green Star Interiors Rating tool which addresses fundamental principles associated to the health and wellbeing of the occupants through indoor environmental quality, comfort (thermal, light, visual, acoustic, ergonomics), emissions and addresses the operational efficiencies through resource management and conservation and material saving initiatives. It also addresses other principles such as knowledge transfer, connection to nature (indoor plants) and transport.

WHO?

The parties involved will be the client (tenant, developer, owner, etc), the relevant professional(s) from the interiors fitout team and the APs. GBCSA is the independent certification body.

HOW?

The Green Star AP who has specialised in the Green Star Interiors Tool works with the project team and client to determine the Green Star strategy to ensure that the fundamental principles are implemented and that an overall Green Star rating of either a 4, 5 or 6-Star is achieved. Once this is done, the AP will then submit all the required evidence and documentation to GBCSA who will then issue it to an independent auditor who will verify the achieved Green Star rating.

*Roxanne Dovey is a Green Star Accredited Professional (AP) across all the tools offered by GBCSA, an assessor and a member of the GBCSA Academy.

ROCLA SANITATION AND IZANDLA ZIYAGEZANA TAKE SECOND PLACE IN THE IMESA/CESA AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY UPLIFTMENT AND JOB CREATION

Rocla Sanitation partnered with Izandla Ziyagezana Trading to enter their Mkhondobased Community Cast Factory in the IMESA/CESA Excellence Awards 2021, in the Community Upliftment and Job Creation category. They were awarded second place for their Supply and Delivery of Waterborne Structures project within the rural Rustplaas Village in the Mkhondo Municipality, Mpumalanga.

The Rocla Sanitation/ Izandla Ziyagezana collaboration emerged as a result of Izandla Ziyagezana’s support for Rocla Sanitation’s Thuthukisa Initiative of ‘taking the factory to the people by empowering communities to be manufacturers in their own right’. Izandla Ziyagezana has specialised in community manufacturing and erection of low flush dignified sanitation since 2006 when the company was formed.

Dumisani Simelane, Managing Director of Izandla Ziyagezana commented: “We are very proud to have been judged runner-up in the IMESA/CESA Awards. It is an acknowledgement of the importance of the work we are doing within rural communities.

“The Rustplaas Project has so far created at least 23 new jobs, and we thank the Mkhondo local municipality for supporting this initiative. Projects such as Rustplaas show how job creation can be achieved in its simplest form, through a transfer of skills on how to manufacture sanitation units of a good quality. The Rocla Sanitation Thuthukisa Initiative benefits both the local community and small businesses like my own,” said Simelane.

The Rustplaas Project enabled the local community to collaborate with on-site casting and stripping of 238 twin eco toilet top structures and pit structures in the 2020-21 financial year, and a further 204 tops structures in the 2021-22 financial year. The Rustplaas community were also trained in the receiving and dispatching of casting kits and the associated materials from stores.

Andre Labuschagne, Product Development Manager for Rocla Sanitation said, “We are very pleased to have been placed second with Izandla Ziyagezana in the prestigious IMESA/CESA Awards. This recognition for our Thuthukisa Initiative confirms our belief that many rural communities, through skills training, enjoy the benefits of healthier sanitation facilities as well as work opportunities. This has been proven through our collaboration with Izandla Ziyagezana, who, from day one, have believed that this kind of initiative is imperative to the wellness of people residing in rural areas.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with Izandla Ziyagezana, and will be collaborating with them on an 800-unit waterborne toilet project in Driefontein, Mkhondo shortly,” said Labuschagne.

She added: “The communities that urgently require toilet units are often found in rural areas of the country. Many of these areas have no infrastructure. Meaning ‘to share’, the Thuthukisa Initiative’s philosophy led to the development of the ‘Community Cast’ toilet unit that can be simply manufactured by local community entrepreneurs or SMMEs and be ready for use within two weeks.”

“We would like to see our collaboration with Rocla Sanitation grow; our aim is to roll-out the Thuthukisa Initiative countrywide,” commented Simelane. “There is so much added benefit for local communities. The goal is to provide healthenhancing sanitation units to the community through the wider impact of skills transfer to the community and to also help to fight poverty and unemployment.”

The IMESA/CESA Excellence Awards is a biennial event and the awards took place in Cape Town on 11 November 2021 alongside their 84th IMESA Conference. The IMESA/CESA Community Upliftment and Job Category focuses on projects demonstrating labour-intensive construction, skills development, community awareness and participation.

Rocla is part of the ISG which also includes Technicrete.

Malebusa Sebatane, Group Marketing and Communications Manager The IS Group Tel: 011 670 7600 Cell: 078 803 9863 Email: Malebusa.Sebatane@isgroup.co.za

AFRICAN CONSTRUCTION EXPO REBRANDS TO THE BIG 5 CONSTRUCT SOUTHERN AFRICA

African Construction Expo, Southern Africa’s construction and built environment multiaward winning, flagship exhibition, has unveiled its refreshed and reworked identity. The event will run as The Big 5 Construct Southern Africa for its 2022 in-person edition from 7 – 9 June, at its usual home, the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng.

According to the organisers, leading event company dmg events, the name update is reflective of the evolution of its place in a dynamic and transforming market and geography. Whilst a name change and rebrand is significant, the core foundation and vision of the event has not changed and the team is committed to ensuring that they provide a platform that not only unites the Southern African construction sector but demonstrates cutting-edge innovation, and provides a stage for knowledge and business opportunities for industry stakeholders.

Timing of the event could not be better. A key component of South Africa’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in November 2021 is underpinned by ‘aggressive infrastructure investment’, with a strong emphasis on localisation, job creation and streamlining of the regulatory framework.

According to Devi Paulsen, Vice President of dmg events, “With a healthy pipeline of infrastructure projects on the cards in both Southern and South Africa, indicators point to a healthy rebound for one of the worst hit sectors by the pandemic. The decisions by governments to develop and invest in infrastructure provides a wealth of opportunities for established players and new market entrants.”

“Our decision to rebrand to The Big 5 Construct Southern Africa allows the Southern African edition of this series to successfully align to the strengths of an iconic portfolio of global events, hosted in Dubai, Egypt, Saudi, Nigeria and Kenya, which has been running for over 42 years and collectively welcome over 100,000 participants annually.”

With hundreds of global suppliers exhibiting their products and services, a number of thoughtleadership conferences, hours of networking, business matchmaking programmes and free-to-attend workshops and talks, The Big 5 Construct Southern Africa 2022 will play host to thousands of attendees from over 45 countries, all in a safe and secure environment.

New for 2022, the exhibition will feature Green Construction products and services along with dedicated Green Construction Talks which will focus on the philosophy and processes that makes the creation and usage of the built environment to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, negative impacts on our climate and natural resources.

The President’s Clean Energy and Infrastructure Fund has deployed just short of R2 billion of capital that supports 17 wind, solar and hydro energy projects. Inclusion of Green Construction allows The Big 5 Construct Southern Africa to align with overarching industry objectives in improving our quality of life whilst preserving precious natural resources through the use of innovative, sustainable products and services.

The event has also partnered with leading industry associations to provide free CPD-accredited workshops to equip industry professionals with tools and strategies to carry out their respective roles effectively. The interactive workshops and case studies, that will be examined by leading industry experts, will tackle advanced technology solutions, sustainable best practices, governance and regulation, new health and safety protocols and green construction solutions.

The Big 5 Construct Southern Africa is free to attend and construction industry professionals are encouraged to pre-register to secure their place at www.thebig5constructsouthernafrica.com. For companies looking to grow their business in the region, there are various options available to exhibit or sponsor the event to suit any budget. For further information, please contact KennethMasvikeni@ dmgevents.com.