A building plan for township communities

workability retention, they also do over time ‘wear off’ due to the growth of the cement gel,” Roxburgh expands.

The relatively gentle motion of wheeled transport aids the segregation of the stone from the mortar in a fresh mix. Coupled to this is the thixotropic nature of concrete, which naturally stiffens when not agitated due to the abovementioned structural build-up of cement gel in the mix and due to the compacting effect of the settlement of the solids in the mixing water.

“A good example of a thixotropic material is tomato sauce, which needs agitation to flow from the bottle,” he explains.

An agitator vehicle

Roxburgh points out that a readymix concrete truck – in reality, an agitator vehicle – is beautifully designed to mitigate most of the causes of loss of workability in fresh concrete. The enclosed drum slows down evaporation and prevents external contamination; white-painted drums also reflect heat away from the concrete. Spinning the drum will help to keep the concrete homogeneous, breaking down any structural build-up and helping to prevent the concrete from stiffening.

Driver training

Roxburgh says it is important for readymix concrete truck drivers to understand the causes of workability loss and the important roles time, heat, water loss and agitation play in the overall performance of the concrete bought to site for placing.

“Training is essential to equip the drivers with this knowledge. The School of Concrete Technology offers a ‘SCT14 Concrete for RMC truck drivers’ course that specifically deals with important considerations as described above,” Roxburgh adds.

Included in the training is: • a brief overview of concrete, the roles of each of its ingredients, and the importance of maintaining the correct water-to-cement ratio • demonstrations and explanations of how to assess the strength and workability of the concrete in the truck • demonstrations and explanations of concrete cohesiveness and bleeding • an explanation of the delivery note and the legal implications contained therein • basic health and safety issues.

A carefully designed, fit-for-purpose and architect-approved plan for a modular home is being published as a double-page spread in popular community newspapers

Construction materials leader AfriSam – in collaboration with its advertising and brand agency, Promise Group, and leading architecture firm BlackStudio – is inspiring modular, low-cost homes that can grow as needed, foster lasting communities and create concrete opportunities. AfriSam’s ‘Plan (a)’ campaign helps people to build their own homes from an architect-approved plan. The modular design allows for the home to be expanded as needs change and financial resources allow.

In the latest campaign, a carefully designed, fit-for-purpose and architect-approved plan for a modular home is being published as a double-page spread in popular community newspapers, with the heading ‘Build this ad’. Readers can also scan the QR code on the plan to download files for council submission.

The social significance of improved home design and quality is hard to overestimate, according to Moremi Mowela, co-founder and architect at BlackStudio. He points out that many township areas are considered as transitory spaces by young people and are still ‘dormitory towns’ serving the large cities.

“This leads to many people leaving townships as soon as they have the means, creating a drain on skills and capital,” says Mowela. “This process can be reversed if those residential spaces can become aspirational, thereby playing a transformational role in shaping behaviour.”

The architect’s plan adds value across a range of aspects from technical issues like foundation structures, to how the spatial design over time would accommodate changing family needs.

A quality investment

The campaign concept was the brainchild of the Promise Group. “There is a lot that can go wrong in a home building project, so our campaign helps readers to avoid these pitfalls. The ability to build according to a plan maximises the long-term fulfilment they can get from their hard-earned investment,” explains Nic Kostouros, integrated creative director at the Promise Group.

Ebeth van den Berg, group marketing manager at AfriSam, adds that the sentiment behind the campaign was very much to ‘pay it forward’ for customers and the South African public.

“We look forward to developing this concept toward creating a hub for this kind of information,” says Van den Berg.

“There is clearly a need for a highly credible platform where key segments of the housing market can be empowered with professional insights and tools,” Van den Berg concludes.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATES