TO BUILD - Issue 15 - July - October 2015 by Media Xpose

To Build Handbook

TO BUILD Plan, Design, Build, Interior & Exterior Décor

Inspired by nature What chokes SA business? issue 15 | July - October 2015

Encapsulating creativity Issue 15 • July - October 2015

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Green Goals

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advertorial

Biligom® International poised to take structural timber market by storm With the sound endorsement of industry experts, Biligom is ready to take its national and international market share of structural timber to great heights. A looming national timber shortage facing the construction industry today, and the fact that it takesaround 30 years to grow a suitably mature pine tree for construction purposes, means that it will take this long to meet the country’s needs, provided someone starts doing something about it now. Sadly, this is not happening and the industry can expect the situation to worsen steadily. Alternatives have to be found, and quickly, too. To this end, and in line with the country’s future needs, Biligom® International (Pty) Ltd has come up with a registered patent for processing moist Eucalyptus timber that has the potential to turn this issue into a short-term solution for a long-term problem with significant benefits along the way.

Advantages: • Structural and strength properties are backed by academic research conducted at the University of Stellenbosch. • Eucalyptus growers need to supply 5-8 year-old timber, significantly relieving the long-term pressure for more Pine plantations. • Biligom is graded to S7 specifications, meaning that around 28% less timber is required than Graded S5 Pine to cover the same roof area. • Roof truss fabricators can expect to use approximately 40% fewer gang nail plates for Biligom than for S5 Pine. MiTek Industries SA have designed software to cater for this in their roof truss designs. • Biligom is treated to H2 SANS 1288 specifications and is sold at prices comparative to S5 Pine.

• Biligom is elegantly suited for low-cost housing developments. • By using Tanalith E for treating Eucalyptus, Biligom carries a very small environmental impact and the resource is infinitely renewable. • Biligom® International is currently negotiating license agreements with interested parties to produce Biligom® throughout Southern Africa. The response has far exceeded expectations. Sizes currently available • ˚38mm x 38mm/50mm/76mm/105mm/114mm/ 152mm and • ˚50mm x 76mm/152mm Lengths are 3.0m – 6.6m In just a short time, the Biligom® product has been embraced by the market and has enjoyed significant buyin from truss manufacturers and various other sectors. Biligom® International is uniquely positioned to supplement the structural timber market with high quality structural Eucalyptus graded to S7 specifications.

Looking ahead – Biligom® vision: Building on the rapid uptake of the Biligom® product, as well as its exponential market share growth, Biligom®’s vision is to continue to service the market with a quality product that speaks for itself, focusing on its reputation for business integrity and customer service levels.

Biligom® International T 015 307 5558/1320 E info@biligom.co.za W www.biligom.co.za

C&G Timbers T 011 460 0992/1913 F 011 460 1074 E coran@cgtimber.co.za

Article published with the kind permission of Timber iQ (originally published in Timber iQ – Aug/Sep 2014 edition).

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FOREWORD ‘The dialogue between client and architect is about as intimate as any conversation you can have because when you’re talking about building a house, you’re talking about dreams.’ – Robert AM Stern Intimacy and involvement with our advertisers, contributors and readers is of the utmost importance to us – the same as the dialogue between architect and client. Reader feedback, industry contributions and advertising support is what drives To Build to make each edition a huge success. For this reason we thank everyone for being part of To Build for the past five years, for contributing and supporting us to provide a useful tool for our readers. Testimonials are overwhelming and we are grateful to you for taking the time to give us your feedback so we can keep publishing this valuable handbook. Furthermore, we would like to announce that we have recently employed a full time online marketing coordinator to better market To Build through various mediums and offer our advertisers and contributors much more exposure to their target audiences. We look forward to your continuous advertising support and editorial contributions, which is of the utmost importance to maintaining the successful continuity of this publication. Last, but by no means least, we extend our gratitude to our advertisers, contributors and readers for your great support. PS: Kindly send me your feedback about this edition (elroy@tobuild.co.za) and you could stand a chance of winning a full colour, full page advert in the next edition. We look forward to seeing you all in our next edition, due for publication in November 2015. Happy reading and keep warm and safe. Greetings Elroy

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PUBLISHER

TO BUILD Plan, Design, Build, Interior & Exterior Décor

/tobuildpublication

www.tobuild.co.za

MEDIA XPOSE Excellence in exposure Tel: +27 21 424 3625 | Fax: +27 86 516 7277 PO Box 15165, Vlaeberg, 8018 EDITOR Gareth Grifﬁths editor@tobuild.co.za SUB EDITOR Emma Dawson emma@ediwrite.co.za PROJECT MANAGER Elroy van Heerden elroy@tobuild.co.za EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Adv BC Hack Daniel van der Merwe Dr Chris Iddon Dr Mehran Zarrebini Duncan Grenfell Gareth Grifﬁths Imaging Helen Turnbull Izak Petersen Johan Louw Johannes Horstmann Laura Robinson Lauren Shantall Mark Russel Roland van Rosenveld Shirley Williams DESIGN & LAYOUT CDC Design carla@cdcdesign.co.za SALES MANAGER Sarina Afonso sarina@mediaxpose.co.za ADVERTISING SALES Rene van Heerden rene@tobuild.co.za Ismail Abrahams ismail@tobuild.co.za PRODUCTION MANAGER Melanie Taylor artwork@mediaxpose.co.za FINANCIAL DIRECTOR Shaun Mays shaun@mediaxpose.co.za ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT Melany Smith accounts1@mediaxpose.co.za

COVER ART PELICAN SYSTEM

DISTRIBUTION AND SUBSCRIPTIONS Melany Smith distribution@mediaxpose.co.za RECEPTION/ PA TO DIRECTORS A-eeshah Davids receptionist@mediaxpose.co.za

PRINTED BY Paarl Media Paarl www.paarlmedia.co.za Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or its agents. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, the publisher does not accept responsibility for any error or omission contained herein. Consequently, no person connected with the publication of this journal will be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any reader as a result of action following statements or opinions expressed herein. The publisher will give consideration to all material submitted, but does not take responsibility for damage or its safe return.

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CONTENTS issue15 July-October 2015

Foreword

Editor’s Note

Cover Story: Pelican Systems

Lead Story

18,20

News & Views

23,24,25,26

Floors

Kitchens

Roofing

Security & Safety

103

Editor’s Choice

30,31,32

Walls & Cladding

106

Out & About

169,170

Windows & Doors

110

Student Designs

171,172

Materials

173 174

Adhesives

114

Polymers

117

Bricks & Paving

119

Cement & Concrete

122

Coatings

127

Notes Page Advertisers Index

DIVISIONS Professions Architects

Insulation

128

Legal

Timber

131

Construction, Health & Safety

Designers

Services

Interiors

Design

Engineering

139

Air Conditioning

142

57,61

Office Furniture

145

Opinion

Green Building

Engineering

Opinion

151

Landscaping

Powerwall

154

Developments

159

Developers

Building Systems Automation

Bathrooms

Social Responsibility

161

Electrical

Government

162

127

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CONTENTS Inspired by nature........................................... 18

Open IP video platform launched.............. 103

Government House........................................ 20

Aerosol fire suppression................................ 105

News and Views ............................................. 23

Rebuilding the walls of Christchurch........... 106

Editor’s Choice................................................ 30

Customise Your Interior................................. 107

Heritage architect.......................................... 37

Lakeview Hospital upgrades to uPVC.......................................................... 110

Green is the new fashionable black............. 40 Fall risks and excavations explained............. 42 SACPCMP to fill skills........................................ 45 Rocky challenge at Garsfontein site............ 47 Larger than life chandelier ........................... 50 Living Pictures ................................................. 52 International designs...................................... 54 Sustainable building........................................ 57 Opinion: Fast track and improve.................. 59 Opinion: What chokes SA business?............. 61 Ultra Luxurious Silo Hotel................................. 62 Software suite provider in SA......................... 63 The dry surface solution.................................. 66 Sun City revamp.............................................. 73 Tapping into hospital renovation.................. 75 Eastern Cape manufacturer goes big......... 81

Recycling hospital PVC waste..................... 117 Polymer Associations AGM’s....................... 118 Warehouse saved from inferno................... 119 Adding lustre at new shopping centre............................................ 121 Concrete innovation.................................... 122 CMA Awards for Excellence ....................... 125 Innovative new painting technology......... 127 Cavity wall thermal insulation...................... 128 Timber is not always a carbon sink............. 131 Preventing soil erosion in KZN....................... 139 Ventilation strategies in hot climates.......... 142 Encapsulating creativity............................... 145 Renewable energy tariffs............................. 151

Green growth in 2014..................................... 83

Powerwall – what’s all the fuss about?..................................................... 154

Community Crèche ....................................... 87

Tripling the green portfolio........................... 159

Floor grating manufacturer advises.............. 90

Green goals................................................... 161

Lowering Business Costs.................................. 92

Opinion: Government’s new incentives.............................................. 162

System suppliers analyse trends.................... 95 Renewables industry leader chooses sustainable steel.............................. 98

New furniture adhesive launched.............. 114

Water re-use................................................... 166 Go Green – keep ’em keen........................ 168

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TO BUILD Plan, Design, Build, Interior & Exterior Décor

ed’s letter To many, this year is being remembered as the year of the big slide – in South Africa’s power generating capacity. People living and working in Cape Town will almost certainly recall the devastating bush fires, made even scarier by sensational news coverage and downright inaccurate or unverified reporting. The big Eskom let down remains perplexing. How is it that this major corporation seemingly has such little control over its assets, that power blackouts (or to use the emotion-laden euphemism load shedding) are almost always announced at the eleventh hour, allowing businesses little or no time to plan appropriately? To Build pitched this question to Eskom’s media desk and received the following reply: ‘Load shedding is effected when there is insufficient generation capacity to meet the demand on the electricity grid. When Eskom announces that load shedding will take place from a specific time, it is based on the short-term forecast of the difference between supply and demand. Eskom will also only shed the minimum amount of load required to protect the power system. Eskom may be required to change the stage of load shedding at very short notice, or no notice at all, because of sudden unplanned loss of generation supply or a sudden increase in demand.’ Readers may draw their own conclusions. This raises a parallel and increasingly important matter, one about which users have a greater amount of freedom of choice: alternative energy. This edition of To Build necessarily focuses on multiple active and passive options available to designers and property owners alike. Speaking of active measures, it is increasingly coming to my attention that the energy efficiency market is attracting a number of less than ethical and unqualified suppliers. I guess the solar geyser trade is the prime suspect, followed closely by those who supply dodgy photovoltaic panels and supporting electronic equipment. My experience thus far, with a municipal-approved solar geyser installer, has been less than satisfactory and To Build will surely report on this in upcoming editions. Readers, please feel free to share your own experiences with us by emailing editor@tobuild.co.za.

Regards Gareth Griffiths editor@tobuild.co.za www.professionalphotoshoots.co.za

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pelican systems cover story

Pelican Systems Interior solutions for commercial and residential buildings For 40 years, Pelican Systems has been a part of the building industry in South Africa. The company was founded by former Springbok rugby player, Rodney Gould, and evolved from the contracting business, Rod Gould Shopfitters. The original contracting activity is still a driving force in the business today. Product innovations such as the 1m x 8mm TE Multi-Purpose Ceiling Board, and pre-drilling and powder coating ceiling trim profiles, prefabricated aluminium components, and kit doors, are all offerings to improve workings on site and make it easier to complete and handover a top-quality finish. Pelican Systems has had an amazing journey, including the manufacturing one, which was a core component of the business at one stage. Products manufactured included Ergo Screens, Hufcor Operable Walls, Pyropanel Fire Doors, aluminium doors, toilet cubicles, prefabricated components, timber doors and gypsum ceiling tiles. These manufactured products are still available today through Ergo Systems SA and Ifuba Products. Associations, through partnerships or supply agreements over the years, have included Macsteel

Interior Systems, Lafarge Gypsum, OWA, Pyropanel Australia, and Hufcor USA. Many people still remember the Pelican Shelving, which was sold through the chain stores, Pelican Board and Timber, as well as Pelican Homes, which was involved in bringing self-help housing to the Bethelsdorp Community. Now, after all these years, the focus is on sales and distribution. Sourcing and securing quality products for the building industry and creating brands that will last well into the future.

Brands you can trust econogrid â&#x20AC;&#x201C; exposed grid for suspended ceilings With its popular clipping feature, 38mm stalk, and 24mm face, econogrid is strong, clips well, and will not deflect. The main tee includes a fire safety feature and punch outs at 100mm centres.

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cover story pelican systems JUMBO Grid – for flush plastered ceilings JUMBO Grid has proved its functionality for flush plastered ceilings and allows the facilitation of precision lines and a perfectly seamless finish. It also allows for a variety of effects, including dramatic floating ceilings and layered ceilings. Also available are 1m cross tees, which enable metric boards to be used and fixed at 500mm centres. Main tees are punched at 100mm centres. econocoust and econocoust plus – acoustic ceiling tiles An affordable alternative for acoustic ceiling tiles. With an overall fire performance classification of SANS 428:2012 (10177-5 & 10177-10) specification of CLASS B/B1/2, noise reduction coefficients of up to 0.90, and relative humidity ratings of up to 99%, the econocoust range ticks all the requirements for an acoustic ceiling. • econotile – a foil backed gypsum ceiling tile that is encapsulated

• econocal – an impact resistant, Class A/A1/1 fire rated calcium silicate ceiling tile • econotherm – an insulated, impact resistant, Class A/A1/1 fire rated calcium silicate ceiling tile JUMBO - multi-purpose ceiling board 8mm TE x 1.0m A versatile ceiling board that can be used for bulkheads, a taped and jointed ceiling, a flush plastered ceiling, and a ceiling with an H-Strip/Cover Strip finish. Install using JUMBO grid or JUMBO steel brandering. 1m width boards are now also available in 7mm with a square edge.

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pelican systems cover story to install and allow for a superior aesthetic finish. Service holes are included in the steel profiles as standard, reducing the amount of work required on site. You can specify Pelican’s JUMBO drywall partitions with confidence knowing that all the components have been comprehensively tested over the years to ensure reliability and performance, and that our support extends from planning to installation. Specialised Trims – including PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5 Shadowline profiles can be used to effectively create a great sensation of height and space with no risk of cracks or uneven gaps at the junction of the wall and the ceiling. Clean geometric lines and recessed shadows also accentuate a feeling of spacious upmarket style. Our range includes Shadowline Trims, Ceiling Transitions, Facia, Apex, and Curve Trims. Everest Fibre Cement Board makes a great substitute to gypsum board in certain applications, thanks to its moisture resistance, quality and superior strength. Everest Fibre Cement Boards are recommended for high-moisture areas, including bathrooms and kitchens, as well as for service areas such as corridors, car parks, hospitality kitchens and control rooms. The superior thermal insulation properties of these boards make them ideal for extreme climatic conditions. They’re also suitable for use in external steel frame applications such as walls and floors. JUMBO Drywall Partitioning - 76mm, 90mm and 126mm JUMBO Drywall Partitioning is a tried and tested solution for both commercial and residential use. The lightweight construction, speed of erection, fire resistance and acoustic and thermal ratings have won this system wide acceptance throughout the building industry. Pelican’s JUMBO drywall steel and aluminium sections are highly functional, easy

JUMBO FireWALL 63/120/S56 Tested and successfully having passed SANS 10177-2 with a sound rating of 56 Rw DB, JUMBO FireWALL can be trusted to provide the fire safety standards required. An SABS approved Class B (two hour) fire-rated door is available to suit the system allowing access while still meeting the required fire safety requirements. We are driven to be your partner in building interiors and aim to find ways to help you to build better, faster and more consciously than before. We applaud and support the roles of the professionals in the industry and believe they are a critical component to maintaining high standards of quality and safety. Our showcase of work for 2014 includes Virgin Active Ballito, Rewards Co, CR Swart, Ridgeside Offices, West Riding Offices, EThekwini Water and Sanitation and residences in Zimbali, Plantations and Morningside.

Pelican Systems (Pty) Ltd T +27 31 563 7307 / F +27 31 564 1209 W www.pelican.co.za / E info@pelican.co.za Engage with us online

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lead story designs

Inspired by nature An appeal by Helen Turnbull of the Cape Leopard Trust.

Photo credit: Lauren Shantall

Leopard print fashion by Gavin Rajah - modelled by Grade 12 Learners from Reddam College.

Pic crecit: Gareth Griffiths Imaging

Climbing Leopard rug by Diane Von Furstenberg in hand knotted silk

Cape Mountain Leopard caught on camera trap

Pic crecit: Cape Leopard Trust

This being To Build’s Green Edition, it is only appropriate that we recommend a worthy environmental cause to designers and property developers alike. Have you ever considered the animal behind one of design’s most famous fabric patterns? Helen Turnbull, acting CEO of the Cape Leopard Trust, argues the case for the design community supporting the cause of the Cape Mountain Leopard. Did you know that leopards still live wild and free in our mountains? Extremely elusive and, like most other local wildlife, they have adapted their lifestyle to fit in with our increasing hunger for human habitation opportunity, even as it pushes ever deeper into their rapidly declining home ranges. On the whole, wildlife prefers to maintain a safe distance between us and them – though baboons are occasionally the exception to the rule. We are extremely privileged to have healthy eco systems around us in South Africa, especially in the Cape. It is something we often take for granted, and

fortunately there seems to be a growing appreciation of the intrinsic value of our natural capital. The positive spin off of this is that we are seeing building trends developing that are more inclined to create structures that complement and work with the environment. This is reflected in both the residential and commercial building sector. The new FNB flagship building at the Foreshore generated substantial interest at its recent launch, and Hotel Verde at Cape Town International Airport has just been voted Africa’s greenest hotel.

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designs lead story Nature forms the basis of our colour palette and creative spectrum, and its influence is integral to design plans. The importance of its role has perhaps not been properly recognised up to now, but given the finite resources around us, architects and builders are forced to acknowledge things they may not have felt important before – for example, heat management, roof angles to facilitate optimal water run off for rain water catchment tanks, or building position to maximise light that will support solar power generation. This is a positive development that may, in future, prevent planning permission being granted for unsightly structures are entirely out of sync with their surrounds. Leopard skin print of all varieties maintains its classic popularity in décor, and it would be nice to think that those who incorporate it into their designs give some thought to the subject of their inspiration. The leopard is truly breath taking – sleek, purposeful and majestic – the only animal remaining of the

legendary ‘big 5’ still roaming wild in some of our rural areas. As the apex predator, leopards have a direct influence on managing the natural balance, and ultimately they are the gatekeepers of our biodiversity. A truly ‘designer’ animal. Fortunately for the leopard there is a committed and dedicated organisation watching its back. The Cape Leopard Trust was established in 2004 as an active wildlife research group and has established leopard conservation projects in the Cederberg, Boland, Namaqua National Park and, more recently, the Table Mountain National Park. That said, leopards are long gone from Table Mountain and the head honcho in residence now is the caracal (Rooikat).

Helen Turnbull, Acting CEO The Cape Leopard Trust W www.capeleopard.org.za

Globally, leopards are classified by the IUCN as ‘near threatened’ There is a speculative estimate that around 500 wild leopards are left in the Cape. Leopards globally are classified as ‘near threatened’ by the IUCN, and research to secure their place in the natural environment is much needed. The Cape Leopard Trust uses the leopard as an icon to promote environmental awareness, which in turn should motivate conservation action. But the clock is ticking. If we are to ensure their survival and ours, even in the discipline of building and design, we should be finding ways to connect dynamically with our environment and measure our impacts more effectively. If these apex predators and the biodiversity upon which they depend is not adequately protected, however grand our plans and our buildings are, our world is but a house of cards.

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How to get involved • Support the Cape Leopard Trust – give back to the cause of these ‘designer’ cats. • Become a project sponsor/corporate sponsorship • ‘Adopt a spot’ – The Adopt-A-Spot Programme allows you ‘time-share’ one of the leopards under the research of the Cape Leopard Trust for a period of one year. You will receive a digital gift certificate and the Cape Leopard Trust will send you photographs and news on our leopards on

• •

a quarterly basis. Your name will also appear on the website as a spot sponsor for the year of your sponsorship. Private donors and bequests Camera trap sponsors – The data received from sponsored camera traps helps researchers to better understand the ecology of leopards in project areas. A camera trap costs R3 600 per annum to sponsor and is used to gather further data in one of the study sites. The Trust acknowledges each camera sponsorship by placing the sponsors name on the unit and on the website for the year. Online shop – As part of its marketing and fundraising strategies, the Cape Leopard Trust offers a range of merchandise that promotes the project and increases the presence of the organisation. By buying an item, the purchaser can play a pivotal role in helping the organisation to raise much needed funds to drive conservation efforts, as well as promoting the marketing of the Cape Leopard Trust. Designers can support the cause by mentioning the cause when they launch their new designs. Join in the fun side. For those in the Cape, the Trust is holding a high-profile fundraiser luncheon at Leopards Leap Family Vineyards on Saturday, 15 August. Ticket sales will launch shortly.

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lead story heritage

Government House A collaboration of passion and expertise resulted in the successful R20-million restoration of the 167-year-old Government House in Pietermaritzburg. Pictures by: Corobrik After acquiring Government House in 2010 to house its regional campus, UNISA contracted a team of experts to restore and renovate this beautiful national monument that had fallen into a state of disrepair. In 2004, leading heritage and conservation architect, Robert J W Brusse, was appointed to the project to oversee the restoration of the building. Then followed eight years of planning, investigation and research, and detailing work discussions. In 2012, only once all the groundwork and preparation was completed did Brusse approach Corobrik (Pty) Ltd to assist with replacing 1 775 bricks that had to be specially manufactured for the project. The historic building was bought by Sir Benjamin Pine on behalf of the colonial government, and began its life in 1848 as a five-roomed thatched cottage owned by William Stanger, the first Surveyor General

in the Colony of Natal. All subsequent governors lived there until the formation of the Union of South Africa. During this period the building was regularly extended and altered, so that it came to reflect a sequence of architectural styles and building technologies. In 1900, a new brick wing was added to accommodate the Duke and Duchess of York during a royal visit to South Africa. In 1911 several more wings were constructed in Maritzburg salmon pink brick to accommodate a teacher’s training college. ‘As with so many other restorations of heritage buildings, there was a need to replace weathered brickwork,’ said Brusse. ‘While standard bricks were replaced with bricks salvaged from parts of the buildings that had to be demolished, there were a number of decorative, special bricks that could not be sourced from the demolitions or from Amafa’s warehouse.’

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heritage lead story Faced with these challenges, Brusse approached Corobrik as the principal manufacturer of clay bricks in the province to help find a solution. Managing Director, Dirk Meyer, embraced the project enthusiastically and a team – headed by Corobrik’s manager, Pat Moon as the job’s site manager – was put together to oversee the job and take responsibility for liaising with all parties, including the Corobrik factories and the architect. ‘This was an incredibly complex job and we were pleased to come up with an authentic manufacturing solution,’ Meyer comments. A large number of handmade salmon pink bricks, typical of the 1900 period, were used in the original historical buildings. Working with a set of detailed drawings of the required bricks supplied by Brusse, clay from the Corobrik Avoca factory in Durban – that provided the best colour match – was road freighted to the Midrand Factory where the bricks were formed by hand. Once manufactured, they were taken back to the Avoca Factory kilns to be fired at a particular temperature to achieve a specific vitrification and colour. Many of the 29 special shapes that were produced for the restoration project had not been previously made at a Corobrik facility and special shaped dies were manufactured to help ensure the correct fired sizes to match the existing brick work. ‘Numerous specials were hand-shaped and tempered by a

special product team,’ Moon explains. This was a really interesting project to be involved with. Product handling and logistics played important roles and it was rewarding for the production teams from the two factories to be able to meet the challenge. Commenting on the project, Brusse said: ‘Government House was entrusted to us at the start of the project and we tried to respect the integrity of this historic National Monument by repairing and restoring the buildings in the spirit in which the original structures were built. ‘Drawing on 112 years of brickmaking experience and expertise, Corobrik rose to the challenge of finding acceptable solutions for the restoration of Government House and has gone on to play an important role in the restoration of other historically significant South African buildings, including the manufacture of clay bricks for the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court extension and renovations of the Magistrate’s Court in Port Elizabeth,’ Meyer concludes.

Corobrik (Pty) Ltd Pat Moon T +27 31 560 3111 E pat.moon@corobrik.co.za

Government House fascinating KZN heritage The history and refurbishment of Government House is highly interesting from a heritage architectural viewpoint. Now a national monument, the building was acquired by UNISA and the contract for the rennovation work was put to hand early in 2011. UNISA commissioned specialist contractor, GVK-Siya Zama. They have established track record in projects that include high-profile heritage projects, including the restoration of the Central Government Offices in Pretoria, City Hall in Durban and Colonial Building in Pietermaritzburg. Government House was the setting of many significant moments in Natal colonial history. Names include historical figures such as Sir Garnet Wolseley; Sir Bartle Frere; Empress Eugenie; Voortrekker, Andries Pretorius; Boer President, Paul Kruger; Bishop Colenso; members of the royal family – Prince Alfred and later the Duke and Duchess of York – Joseph Chamberlain; Lord Milner; and a young Winston Churchill. There was also the ignominious trial of Hlubi Chief Langalibalele in a marquee pitched in the grounds, which led to his being banishment to Robben Island – one of the first black leaders to receive this sentence. (Source: T.B. Frost - Pietermaritzburg: 1838 to 1988.) With the coming of Union, the last colonial Governor, Lord Methuen, departed and Government House stood empty. Curiously, it was not occupied by Natal’s first Administrator, Charles Smythe, probably because his wife refused to move from the family farm at Nottingham Road. In 1912 it was made the home of the infant Natal Training College, remaining continuously occupied by students until 1987.

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from the trade news & views

New EBE Dean for UCT The first female Dean appointed at UCT in this capacity. UCT has appointed Professor Alison Lewis as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (EBE) – the first woman to receive such an appointment. Professor Lewis took up her new position on June 1, 2015. In his announcement of this appointment to the campus community on Friday, April, 24, Vice Chancellor, Dr Max Price, commented: ‘Known for her ingenuity and innovative approach, Professor Lewis has facilitated projects such as the new curriculum project, and the assistant lecturer programme that enables postgraduate students to develop teaching skills that could make them potentially employable in academic positions once they’ve completed their studies. She has also championed transformation initiatives by establishing four new academic posts

in the department, three of which have been filled by black South Africans. ‘EBE plays a critical role in working towards solving the global problems of the 21st century – water, energy and food security.’ Professor Lewis has been head of the Department of Chemical Engineering since 2013, and a Professor of Chemical Engineering since 2007. Among other achievements, Professor Lewis won the 2012 Distinguished Woman Scientist Award from the Ministry of Science & Technology for her outstanding contribution to building South Africa’s scientific and research knowledge base.

University of Cape Town W www.uct.ac.za

Decorex Gauteng

Pic credit: Plascon

Branded as the ‘Home of Great Ideas’, this year’s Decorex Gauteng exhibition promises to bring visitors more inspiration than ever before. Manufacturers, such as and Plascon and Caesarstone, are unveiling trends and massive innovations underway for 2016. The first two days of this year’s show focuses on giving the décor and design trade unprecedented access to the latest décor, design and lifestyle experts and innovations. The rest of the weekend is dedicated to providing visitors with a great day out for the whole family – brim-full of ideas to improve and enhance your living environment. Highlights include free access to 100% Design South Africa – South Africa’s only international design exhibition, the Dining & Entertaining Theatre where a demonstration kitchen offers cooking tips and table styling décor ideas, Franke Kitchens’ show-stopping kitchen design project, plus the Private Property Trend House with ideas from Gauteng’s top décor experts.

W www.thebereed.co.za/decorex Key details: Dates: August 6 to10, 2015 Where: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand Times: August 6, 13:00 to 18:00; August 7 to 10, 10:00 to 18:00 Trade only preview morning: August 6, 10:00 to 13:00 Trade focused days: August 6 to 7

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news & views

from the trade

Pic credit: Sandton City

Stylish new ultra-luxurious shopping walk.

Sandton City Diamond Walk Opens Sandton City’s new Diamond Walk officially launched during May in a brilliant celebration of Africa’s definitive luxury and super-luxury retail destination. This stylish Sandton City Diamond Walk was crafted as part of a R185-million redevelopment project and is located in a spectacular new mall where Sandton City’s upper level links with the Sandton Sun and InterContinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers hotels. Sandton City hosts over 330 retailers, including leading global and South African brands, occupying an impressive retail space of 143 955m². The entire complex, which includes the adjoining hotel and office component, measures a massive 215 000m². Held under the glittering 150m-long handmade chandelier that twinkles along virtually the entire length of the new ultra-luxury shopping walk, the opening celebration was hosted by Sandton City co-owners, Liberty Group and Pareto Limited. Thabo Dloti, Liberty Group’s CEO, comments: ‘Liberty has a long track record of delivering performance from our property portfolio. Sandton City has always been considered the crown-jewel

in our property portfolio. Now, with the foresight and expertise of our asset manager, Stanlib, which is also the developer of the magnificent Diamond Walk, Sandton City’s status as the prime luxury retail location in sub-Saharan Africa is strongly reinforced.’ Marius Muller, CEO of Pareto Limited, adds: ‘Pareto is committed to furthering all facets of retail in South Africa. Sandton City, enhanced with its new Diamond Walk, is a magnificent asset for its shoppers, retailers and investors. The distinction of the extraordinary new luxury retail on Diamond Walk has created a compelling attraction that adds more glitz, glamour and greater variety to South Africa’s ultimate shopping experience.’

Sandton City & Nelson Mandela Square T +27 11 217 6000 W www.sandtoncity.com

Greenovate Awards Launched The Greenovate Awards – an exciting initiative launched by Growthpoint Properties and the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) – is set to inspire and encourage students of the built environment to discover, explore and invent ways to live more sustainably. Werner van Antwerpen, head of utilities and sustainability at Growthpoint Properties, explains that the Greenovate Awards introduces university students to the thinking behind green building and encouraging them to take it forward into a better, greener future.

‘The built environment has a major impact on the environment and sustainability. With the Greenovate Awards, we want to recognise excellence and innovation in students’ own understanding of green principles for the built environment across all aspects

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from the trade news & views and disciplines. These aspiring young professionals have the potential to transform the way we live, with gentler impacts on the world around us. The Greenovate Awards links environmental challenges to innovative thinking.’ According to the GBCSA’s CEO, Brian Wilkinson, besides igniting a new wave of green thinking, the aim of the programme is also to educate as many property, construction and quantity surveying thirdyear and honours-level students as possible in green building principles. This includes awareness of South Africa’s own Green Star SA rating system. The awards programme is being established and piloted at the University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, and the University of Pretoria, and the competition will test the interest of both students and faculty. For its inaugural programme, organisers are not only looking for smart green thinking but big thinking, too. The challenge is for students to come

up with ideas that will result in a research project that promotes a more sustainable built environment. These can be applied to any aspect of a building – design, development, planning, construction, materials – anything that makes the way we live greener and our environmental footprint lighter. The programme also provides students with an opportunity to work with leading industry thinkers and possibly expose them to exciting employment opportunities. It will give leading companies direct access to real talent. Students will also be exposed to The Green Star SA Accredited Professional Programme (GSSA AP), which is being made available to entrants at a discounted student rate.

Growthpoint Properties W www.growthpoint.co.za W www.gbcsa.org.za

Redefining the future Redefine Properties is breaking the mould with an innovative series of new commercial building developments. Picture by: Redefine Redefine Properties has set a new benchmark for commercial property development with a series of building innovations that are transforming the architectural face of Johannesburg. This was highlighted at the recent SAPOA Innovative Excellence in Property Development Awards that saw a flagship commercial building project for Redefine, 90 Grayston, winning the esteemed award for Commercial Office Development. 90 Grayston is a 16-storey premium-grade office building of 19 343m2 in Sandown, central Sandton. It includes 11 levels of parking – five basement and six above ground, achieving a parking ratio of nearly five bays per 100m2. There are nine levels of offices above an elevated atrium, and the building will also have its own cafeteria. The property is a 4-Star Green Star SA Office rated building, certified by the Green Building Council

Redefine’s 90 Grayston

South Africa. This intelligent building respects the environment with a combination of passive design principles and world-class green technologies to minimise the impact of the building and its ongoing use on the environment. These include the use of a high-efficiency ammonia chiller HVAC system, and harvesting rainwater to flush toilets. ‘The property world is changing rapidly and we are proud to be at the forefront of this new era,’ claims Mike Ruttell, Executive Director: Development at Redefine Properties. ‘It’s all about forward thinking architecture backed with extremely powerful green building technology. We knew we were making a statement with 90 Grayston, and winning this award shows us that we are being heard.’

Redefine W www.redefine.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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news & views

from the trade

MBA North news Youth forum leader also handles corporate affairs for Ubuhlebethu. Picture by: MBA North Bongani Malaza, the newly-elected president of the MBA North Youth Forum, also holds a key position in a 100% female-owned family construction business as the Corporate Affairs Manager of Ubuhlebethu Business Enterprise, which won the 2012 ‘Gauteng Province Govan Mbeki Woman Construction Company of the Year’ Award. The MBA North’s new Youth Forum is hoping to play a meaningful role in attracting young South Africans to pursue a career in the building industry. According to Malaza, a major priority for the MBA North Youth Forum is student development. ‘We are looking for ways to increase student interest in the construction industry, in the first place by targeting high schools to inform pupils about the varied career options in the industry. This has been a challenge as it has, surprisingly, not been easy to persuade high schools to allow us access to their pupils. The schools feel that universities have open days and pupils are encouraged to attend these instead of outsiders visiting schools and taking up valuable study time. We are also trying to recruit FET Colleges’ representation to the Forum to create and disseminate awareness of the opportunities in the building industry for students at these Colleges,’ he comments. ‘The MBA North Youth Forum would also like to see more young building industry members joining the Forum. This in line with other of our top priorities – the development of young professionals and young entrepreneurs in the industry, and improving

Bongani with Dr Deon Landmann (left) and Lea Smith (right), both of the MBA North.

interaction between the industry and the youth it employs. The Forum also would like to see the youth in the industry working together to help one another and, through these combined efforts, advance individual careers.’ The Forum is also trying to create partnerships between the youth at universities and FET Colleges to improve communication between the two tertiary student groups. Malaza’s employer, Ubuhlebethu, is a Level 3 BBBEE contributor operating primarily in Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West Province. The company has grown steadily over the years and has an overall turnover in excess of R200-million. It is now one of very few 100% black female-owned companies to have gained a high-level Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) grading.

Masterbuilders’ Association, North T +27 11 805 6611 W www.mbanorth.co.za

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T 021 424 3625 F 086 516 7277 C 072 365 4877 W www.mediaxpose.co.za

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from the trade news & views

100% Design South Africa

100% Design South Africa Are you going to Joburg’s most exciting design show? Pictures by: Mark Williams The best of inspiring South African and international design is being showcased at 100% Design South Africa, taking place from August 6 to 10, 2015, at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg. South Africa’s only international design show, 100% Design South Africa now in its second year, promises to enthral visitors with its superbly curated displays and a line-up that comprises top global design brands alongside local design stars. Both the consumer and trade audience can expect to see exciting new work and ranges from the stellar exhibitor list, from classic and contemporary furniture to ceramics, textiles and more. Dauphin Human-Design Company, headline sponsor of 100% Design South Africa, is unveiling the latest workspace trends from Europe, and urban contemporary designer, Mia Widlake, is lending her exceptional style to the design of the show’s bar. Among the South African design names to look out for are Egg Design, De Steyl, David Krynauw, Raw Studio and The Design Team, while international brands such as The Scandinavian Sofa Company, Vitra and Hay from Innova are already confirmed. Some highlights to anticipate include 100% Colour in association with Plascon, showcasing items in

which vibrant colour is an integral part of the design. Celebrated for her bold use of colour and pattern, Renée Rossouw has been selected as the featured designer for 2015. The talented young architect and surface designer is revealing her new portfolio of designs and products. 100 Beautiful Things is an artfully curated display that celebrates 100 great designs made in South Africa in 2015, selected by 100% Design South Africa Programme Director, Cathy O’Clery. 100% Upliftment highlights the power of design to transform lives. 100% Talent is showcasing the work of emerging South African design luminaries. At the BOS Café, in association with Bos Iced Tea, design students from the University of Johannesburg are exhibiting their chair designs up for judging by 100% Design South Africa visitors. 100% Design South Africa takes place alongside Decorex Joburg at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.

100% Design South Africa E 100percentdesign@ThebeReed.co.za W www.100percentdesign.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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The perfect flush Saniflo’s technology allows complete bathroom or a kitchen to be installed with drainage anywhere without major work. No matter where the main drain is situated or usual gravity requirements. Pictures by: Saniflow Saniflo can transform unlikely spaces by grinding and pumping waste through a small bore diameter pipe making the installation of sanitation easy anywhere it is needed or expected. The Sanicompact 43 is a toilet with a built in macerator, ideally suited to tight spots where conventional toilets cannot be fitted. It also features a wash-basin inlet and needs no cistern to make the most of the smallest spaces. The Sanicompact can be installed in many locations such as a loft/attic, upper floor, ground floor,

basement, and even a garage. It is also easy to install in areas such as under a stairway for a half bathroom or an additional half bathroom in a bedroom or in a garage conversion. The Sanicompact Dual flush uses only 1.8-litre or 3-litre per flush for a perfect result.

Saniflo T +27 21 286 0028 W www.saniflo.co.za

ETICS makes its mark Weber Saint-Gobain’s exclusive External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) is making its mark in the alternative building technology market. ETICS is a highly flexible system, designed on a project specific basis, supported on a lightweight steel frame structure. The system offers architects and structural engineers far more scope in their designs than the alternative brick or off-shutter concrete solutions. Main contractors also have the benefit of speed of

construction – approximately half that of conventional brickwork – while developers are provided with an eco-friendly cladding solution that provides significant energy savings. The thermal conductivity R-value

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promising products of ETICS is 3.1 compared with a typical value for alternative systems of 2.20. ‘ETICS is a first for South Africa and has been well received,’ notes Quinton Peters, ETICS Product Manager at Weber Saint-Gobain. Some of the recent major projects include: • The Mall of Africa development in Waterfall City, Gauteng (22 000m² of ETICS cladding is the largest application of the system to date) • The striking Cell C building at Sandton’s Buccleuch interchange • The SANRAL building at the Samrand offramp of the N1 freeway • The Deloittes building in the Eastern suburbs of Pretoria

editors choice

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Summit Place just off the Garsfontein offramp of the N1 freeway • Sasol’s ChemCity project at Sasolburg ‘Alternative building technology is relatively new to the South African market. We are extremely pleased with the way that the benefits of our ETICS system have been recognised and incorporated in major projects.’

Weber ETICS Quinton Peters Quinton.peters@saint-gobain.com C +27 83 680 8968

Fabricmate Systems Fabricmate Systems, distributed by Aluglass Bautech, is available in southern Africa. Picture by: Aluglas Bautech The supplier is a global marketer of environmentallyfriendly and cost-effective acoustic panels, fabric upholstered wall products and fabric wrapped panels, among other products. Aluglass Bautech is recognised worldwide as a ‘solutions company’, with products engineered and designed to enhance working, learning and living environments. Fabricmate products address some of the key interior environment issues, including acoustical surfaces, privacy, speech intelligibility, sound reverberation, general noise reduction, and reducing overall wall maintenance costs.

The speed and ease of installation, the flexibility in design, and the free-floating design guarantee a fantastic finished product. The track system will custom fit your space from screen wall to back wall, and contour to any architectural detail. Typical applications range from conference/meeting rooms to public spaces, including libraries and gyms, hospitals, and even private homes, especially those with home theatres.

Aluglas Bautech E svenja@aluglass.co.za

Ed’s Note: See the To Build product feature in the Walls section under Building Systems.

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editors choice promising products

Water heaters now green Some words of advice from a highly rated electric water heater supplier about its product lines. Picture by: Stiebel Eltron All Stiebel Eltron water heating systems, made in Germany and sold in South Africa, will carry the new Energy Efficiency Label that confirms theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve undergone and passed strict testing by European Standards on Energy Efficiency and are classified accordingly. This should fall in line with SANS 204 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the government regulations that regulate energy use and encourage energy efficiency in building. As of September 26, 2015, it will be compulsory for all manufacturers to label their products with a standardised energy label. This energy label scheme regulates the efficiency of energy related products (ErP) in Europe. The new label contains information about the appliance and is intended to assist consumers to make an environmentally-conscious purchasing decision.

Instantaneous water heaters In a comparison of different water heating systems, on-demand instantaneous heaters are classed as A, which is the best energy efficiency class. The reason is that, unlike geyser storage systems, an

instantaneous water heater only consumes power when hot water is actually drawn. It saves up to 30% energy compared with other methods, as it automatically adjusts the power draw and thereby the energy consumption in accordance with hot water demand and temperature alone. No energy is used keeping water hot as in a storage tank. Stiebel Eltron advises that this includes its small 5/10/15 litre units, which are classified A (most efficient). The new energy labels for water heaters show that using on-demand instantaneous water heaters currently present the most energy efficient hot water technology. Stiebel Eltron hot water heating systems meet these requirements to its highest rating.

Stiebel Eltron T +27 11 4936910 E dereck@stiebel-eltron.co.za W www.stiebel-eltron.co.za

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TO BUILD Plan, Design, Build, Interior & Exterior DĂŠcor

PROFESSIONS Architects.........................................37 Legal..................................................40 Construction, Health & Safety..............................................42 Designers...........................................50 Interiors............................................52 Design................................................54 Developers...................................57,61 Opinion..............................................59 Engineering......................................63 Landscaping....................................66

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architects professions

Heritage architect Laura Robinson is the Director of the Cape Town Heritage Trust, an independent, private-sector, non-profit organisation concerned with conservation and enhancement of the man-made and natural environment and cultural landscape of Cape Town. Pictures by: Gareth Griffiths Imaging The Cape Heritage Trust (Trust) acts to integrate conservation with development and to protect and sustain Cape Town’s incomparable assets in the interest of the public and the creation of an outstanding tourist destination. Historically the Trust has been involved in restoration projects in the central city, the most significant of which is Heritage Square, a city block comprising the largest surviving group of 18th century buildings in Cape Town. When completed the project was widely considered as one of the most outstanding urban renewal projects in the country. Prior to the Heritage Square project, the Trust was the leader in a number of what ‘street improvement schemes’, an initiative that involved the acquisition of city-owned heritage buildings in the West City precinct, mostly in Long, Shortmarket and Loop Streets. The sale of these properties to private owners was overseen and the Trust managed the appropriate restoration process, as well as assisting the City with upgrades to the street and sidewalks in the area. Tree-planting and hard landscaping played an important part in the project, which has led to a hugely improved environment for the pedestrian and property

owners alike. This was to become one of the first urban upgrade programmes in Cape Town. Currently the Trust’s attention has taken on a new focus, due somewhat to the increasing difficulty faced by a non-profit organisation to source sufficient capital to purchase and restore heritage buildings in the city. Opportunities to engage on two particularly exciting projects arose during early 2015 – both in the form of partnerships with community organisations that wish to identify, protect and promote their heritage. The Bokaap interpretation and reintegration project, in partnership with the Bokaap Civic Association, is a long-term project that aims to integrate the historic Bokaap community and physical fabric back into the central city across the great divide of Buitengracht Street. The first phase of the project will be the development of a heritage narrative and the design of a space on Riebeeck Square. This will use artwork and mosaics to illustrate a timeline and interpretive panels to tell the story of the Bokaap, its culture and people. The second phase involves urban design studies and methods to reintegrate the City with the Bokaap. (What about a pedestrian bridge over Buitengracht St in the vicinity of the Wale Street intersection? – Ed)

Heritage Square Cape Town

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professions architects Another exciting new partnership is with the Langa Heritage Foundation. ‘Together we’re planning a heritage site identification programme, the collection of narratives telling stories about the history, people and places of Langa, and culminating in the design of a heritage route that covers the diverse heritage of the Western Cape’s first black township,’ Laura explains. ‘The project will be complemented by a study of the buildings and sites that may require restoration and interpretation as part of the heritage route. The entire project will be linked to a larger one that is already underway and looks at the establishment of an environmental programme and green route through the township.’

Above: Laura Robinson addresses a group of media at the Granary Below: Media tour at the Granary site

The Granary, Buitenkant Street This is a story of a project still to be realised. One of the most significant colonial heritage buildings in Cape Town, The Granary is a historic building with a rich and diverse history. Over the years it’s been a grain store, a customs house and a women’s prison. After standing empty for around 20 years, the Trust has engaged in efforts to restore, revitalise and find adoptive re-uses for this city-owned building. A very exciting project was developed to restore the historic front of the building to accommodate creative activities, a coffee shop/wine bar adjacent to the courtyard, and retail spaces in the basements. The modern concrete-framed structure was to be stripped down to accommodate an IT enterprise. This would to create a high-tech industrial design look and feel, that would contrast with the fine historic building in front of it. Both sections would have opened out onto the old landscaped courtyard containing one of the oldest heritage vines in Cape Town. After a number of unsuccessful attempts, the City has granted the Tutu Foundation a long lease on the building. The plans and proposals for this extraordinary building have yet to be unveiled but we understand that the Foundation will make use of a portion of the building and the remainder will become available for uses that are yet undetermined.

About Laura Robinson Laura Robinson is an architecture graduate of UCT, a MIArch and an honorary life member of the Cape Institute for Architecture. As Director of the Trust, Laura is responsible for initiating various urban renewal projects in the city, advising and assisting both the local authority, statutory bodies and non-governmental organisations on heritage related issues, helping with policy.

She was invited to undertake three desk-top reviews of properties in Africa proposed for World Heritage Site inscription: two in sub-Saharan Africa subsequently being inscribed, and a third in Ethiopia, inscribed on the List a few years ago. She was invited by the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) to undertake the inspection mission of the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens in Melbourne, Australia, the first cultural site to be put up for World Heritage Site status by Australia. She served as Rapporteur General for various ICOMOS Advisory Committee meeting held in Malta, Dublin and Paris, and has been active in attending a number of World Heritage an official members of the ICOMOS delegation. As a member of the SA ICOMOS Executive Laura was jointly responsible for successfully organising the pre-General Assembly workshop held in Kimberley entitled ‘Towards the development of a charter on Intangible Heritage’, which resulted in the drafting of the ‘Kimberley Declaration on Intangible Heritage’ (co-author and facilitator of drafting team), prior to the Zimbabwe GA. She was co-organiser and host of the 2007 ICOMOS International Advisory Committee meeting.

Laura Robinson Cape Town Heritage Trust T +27 21 426 2157 E ctht@heritage.org.za

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professions legal

Green is the new fashionable black Bryan Hack is a practising advocate and member of the Cape Bar. He graduated from UCT and UNISA with a BALLB and worked for a prominent building company for a number of years before joining the Cape Bar in 1994. Picture by: Gareth Griffiths Imaging Words by: Adv BC Hack Gone are the days when the environment was the preserve of ‘tree hugger’. Environmental rights worldwide have been catapulted to the front seat of present day human conscience. Gone is the cynicism of environmental rights groups viewed as being anti-establishment, and in are the environmental advocates of the like of Al Gore and his political elite ilk. This new trend is most welcoming in avoiding the devastation caused by years of unbridled development in the name of modernisation. The environment is no longer something to be regarded as some stepchild that can be ignored. On the contrary, architects, contractors and builders of all shapes and sizes often have to walk a modern day tightrope through a quagmire of rules and legislation.

SA Bill of Rights In actual fact, our South African environment enjoys the highest form of protection in our seminal Constitution and its Bill of Rights, in particular, in terms of Section 24 thereof which states that: “Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation; promote conservation; and. secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.” This sounds like a mouthful and the truth is that it is, both literally and figuratively. Architects, contractors, builders and owners should beware of the far reaching provisions of pieces of legislation, such as the older Environmental Conservation Act and the oft referred to National Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA) and its regulations, which set out the guidelines in circumstances

Adv Bryan Hack

that give rise to compulsory environmental impact assessment studies (EIA’s). While the Environment Conservation Act 73 of 1989 has been repealed by NEMA in certain respects, other parts of the Act are still effective. For example, when certain issues involving waste, litter, noise and vibration are encountered in a development, the provisions of the Environmental Conservation Act will still be effective. This seemingly confused state of affairs poses a huge obstacle and problem for all those wishing to commence building developments. The regulation of such projects is undoubtedly so fragmented that it creates an overlap of various statutory bodies and the commonplace red tape associated with these various governmental organizations.

Umbrella function NEMA’s primary purpose is to promote sustainable developments while protecting the environment for future generations. It acts as an umbrella for the interaction of the various governmental departments that may be involved in any given project. Which department acts when and where, of course all depends of the location and nature of the

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legal professions How are South Africa’s natural and built environments regulated? The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (see main article) defines ‘environment’ as the surroundings within which humans exist. These are made up of: • The land, the water, and the atmosphere of the earth • Micro-organisms, plant and animal life • Any part or combination of the first two items on this list, and the interrelationships among and between them • The physical, chemical, aesthetic and cultural properties and conditions of the foregoing that influence human health and well-being. In addition, the older Environment Conservation Act defines the environment as ‘the aggregate of surrounding objects, conditions and influences that influence the life and habits of man or any other organism or collection of organisms.’ Furthermore, NEMA defines ‘sustainable development’ as ‘the integration of social, economic and environmental factors into planning, implementation and decision-making so as to ensure that development serves present and future generations.’ NEMA further provides that ‘sustainable development requires the consideration of all relevant factors including: • ‘That the disturbance of ecosystems and loss of biological diversity are avoided, or, where they cannot be altogether avoided, are minimised and remedied development. It sets out the circumstances under which an EIA ought to be provided. The long and the short of this is that any developer should acquaint himself with Section 24 of NEMA, and then study the regulations setting out such listed activities requiring an EIA and which will also set out which governmental auspices takes charge of the matter. To ignore this would be at your peril.

[

• ‘That pollution and degradation of the environment are avoided, or, where they cannot be altogether avoided, are minimised and remedied • ‘That the disturbance of landscapes and sites that constitute the nation’s cultural heritage is avoided, or where it cannot be altogether avoided, is minimised and remedied • ‘That waste is avoided, or where it cannot be altogether avoided, minimised and re-used or recycled where possible and otherwise disposed of in a responsible manner • ‘That the use and exploitation of non-renewable natural resources is responsible and equitable, and takes into account the consequences of the depletion of the resource • ‘That the development, use and exploitation of renewable resources and the ecosystems of which they are part do not exceed the level beyond which their integrity is jeopardised • ‘That a risk-averse and cautious approach is applied, which takes into account the limits of current knowledge about the consequences of decisions and actions and • ‘That negative impacts on the environment and on people’s environmental rights be anticipated and prevented, and where they cannot be altogether prevented, are minimised and remedied.’

Adv Bryan Hack Chambers, Cape Town T +27 21 423 5441 F +27 086 260 5295 E hack@capebar.co.za

]

“Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation; promote conservation; and. secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.”

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professions construction health & safety

Fall risks and excavations explained A Gauteng-based construction health and safety consultant argues that certain aspects regarding a ‘fall risk’ and an ‘excavation’ could easily be over-regulated by employers unless the intention of the legislature and the definition of ‘reasonably practicable’ are applied Words and picture by: Johan Louw B.Sc(Mech)Eng(UP), MSc (Ergonomics)

Regulation 16: Scaffolding

The concept of a ‘fall risk’ comes into play when reading the following regulations: • Regulation 4: Notification of construction work • Regulation 13: Excavation • Regulation 16: Scaffolding • Regulation 18: Rope access work Regulation 4: Notification of construction work The type of construction work that the provincial director has to be notified of as contemplated in this regulation is work that poses a fall risk, which means ‘any potential exposure to falling either from, off or into’ as defined. It is strongly recommended that one also has to consider something that could fall on to any person, for example when explosives are used during construction work or during the demolition of a structure. One has to read this regulation together with Regulation 9: Risk assessment of the Construction Regulations, as that would indicate the necessity for a fall protection plan to be developed. The definition of a ‘fall protection plan’ has to be considered when there is a risk of falling – in other words, elements such as procedures and methods to be applied to eliminate the risk of falling, as well as a rescue plan and procedures relating to it.

This regulation of the Construction Regulations has remained unchanged, except that the ‘safety standard’ referred to is intended to be SANS 10085, but it is neither incorporated nor defined in regulation 1 of the said Regulations. It is highly recommended that SANS 10085 be implemented, as it enables contractors to ensure that the requirements of scaffolding, the qualifications of scaffolding supervisors, scaffolding erectors, team leaders, and inspectors thereof, are complied with, as that is the intention with the term ‘competent’ as contemplated in regulation 16 (1) of the Construction Regulations. Again, the definition of ‘fall protection plan’ has to be considered when there is a risk of falling, as explained above.

Regulation 13: Excavations One also has to apply the same argument when determining the intention of the legislature regarding the definition of ‘excavation work’. Any excavation, for which a ‘fall protection plan’ is not reasonably practical or necessary, would fall outside the intention of the legislature regarding the definition of ‘excavation work’. According to regulation 13 of the Construction Regulations, all excavations must be treated as ‘confined spaces’, as defined in regulation 1 of the General Safety Regulations, and specifically referred to in regulation 5 thereof. One has to apply sound judgement, together with the question whether it is ‘reasonably practicable’ to treat all excavations being entered by any person, as a ‘confined space’? The starting point with what is deemed ‘reasonably practicable’ is the term ‘hazard’. One has to determine whether the excavation is a ‘confined space’, or not. In other words, whether an explosion hazard exists, toxic gasses, vapours or fumes may be present, or a

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construction health & safety professions lack of oxygen could exist. Only if so, it would make sense to treat all excavations being entered by any person, as a ‘confined space’. However, it remains the prerogative of the client to declare all excavations ‘confined spaces’, regardless of whether or not it meets the requirements of the definition as contemplated in regulation 1 of the General Safety Regulations.

Regulation 18: Rope access work This regulation is new to the Construction Regulations, 2014. It is important to understand that the ropes referred to in this regulation do not fall within the definition of ‘lifting machinery’ or ‘lifting tackle’. However, it is highly recommended that these ropes be treated in accordance with the requirements of regulation 18 of the Driven Machinery Regulations, as the consequences of failure thereof would be the same. No Health and Safety Standard in relation to rope access work has been incorporated into the Construction Regulations as contemplated in regulation 18(2)(a), and neither is any such Standard defined in regulation 1 of the Construction Regulations. It is therefore recommended that the following Health and Safety Standards be implemented: • SANS 10333-1:2006 – ‘Industrial rope access Part 1: Worksite procedures’ • SANS 10333-2:2006 – ‘Industrial rope access Part 2: Training and certification procedures’ • SANS 10333-3:2006 – ‘Industrial rope access Part 3: Inspection, certification and management procedures for equipment’

Summary It is important for employers to lay down criteria regarding the following: • What a ‘fall risk’ in respect of work being performed from an elevated position entails. • Excavations that are intended to be regarded as ‘excavations’. • Excavations that are intended to be regarded as ‘confined spaces’.

Johan Louw Director, Senior Consultant: Johan Louw & Associates (Pty) Ltd T +27 12 998 4102 E karien@jla-solutions.co.za W www.jla-solutions.co.za

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construction, health & safety professions

SACPCMP to fill skills The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) will deliver over three thousand registered Construction Health & Safety (CHS) professionals in 2015 to meet the demand for the National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) led by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC). ‘We are happy to announce that systems are in place and have been streamlined to professionalise the CHS discipline. Our efforts to register competent CHS professionals will also contribute to the reduction of deaths, injuries and other incidents on construction sites. It is shocking that South Africa sees almost two deaths a week on construction sites. This not only means a loss of life, but also of breadwinners and family members,’ says the Registrar of the SACPCMP, Ms Nomvula Rakolote. ‘Registered persons must be certified as competent to work in the industry. Where registered CHS professionals default, we follow existing disciplinary processes to protect public interests. This includes deregistering them, a phenomenon that bars them from practicing for a period of time,’ she adds. Since the beginning of the year (January to March 2015), the SACPCMP has received between 300 and 400 applications per month. This is a significant increase from the 900 applications the SACPCMP received in 18 months since registrations opened (June 2013 to December 2014). ‘This means that we have received close to 800 applications in just two months, and currently have in excess of 1 700 applicants, some of which have been processed while others are still in the system,’ Ms Rakolote continues. ‘On the other hand, we had only 44 registered CHS professionals in the SACPCMP register from registration opening (June 2013 to December 2014). Now, almost two months later, the number has doubled to over 90. The increase in registration has been boosted by the constant training and appointment of new assessors who augmented an initial pool of 14 since the opening of registration. This group of assessors steadily shot up to 21 during February this year. This number is set to rise as more training workshops and induction of assessors were scheduled in April.

The increasing number of assessors assist the SACPCMP with preliminary assessments of CHS applications, marking examinations and conducting professional interviews where applicable. Ms Rakolote further explained that ‘systems are in place to deal with the increasing number of applications’.

Grace period ends An anticipated increase in applications will be necessitated by the imminent ending of a grace period offered by the Department of Labour’s Chief Inspector at the launch of the Construction Regulations 2014 in February 2014. This grace period ends on August 7, 2015. The Director-General at the Department of Labour, Mr Thobile Lamati, explains that the grace period announced in a Board Notice last year will not be extended. ‘As a caring government, we want to stop deaths and other incidents on construction sites. We are encouraged by the SACPCMP’s efforts to professionalise the CHS discipline. After August 7, only those in the SACPCMP register will practice.’

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Systems are in place to deal with the increasing number of applications.

SACPCMP W www.sacpcmp.org.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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construction, health & safety professions

Above: Concrete being poured into one of the piling holes. Above right: Typical underground boulder making foundation excavations formidable.

Rocky challenge at Garsfontein site Exceptionally rocky strata provided a challenge for a Fourways-based piling contractor, Gauteng Piling. Pictures by: Hennie Bester Recently, Gauteng Piling successfully coped with an exceptionally rocky strata to complete the piling foundations for a new 15-storey office block in Pretoria. Kobus Geyer, Gauteng Piling’s Contract Manager, says 145 piles were provided by the company for Summit Place, Phase 2: Building E, being constructed by GD Irons Construction, for Neo Trend Property Developers. On completion, the new Summit Place building will be an A+ Grade office park with about 9 000m2 of office space. It is highly visible, just off the N1 highway on Garsfontein Road, opposite Menlyn Shopping Centre. The auger cast in-situ piles provided by Master Builders’ Association North member, Gauteng Piling, were formed by drilling holes of various sizes and depths into the ground, placing steel reinforcement into the holes, and then filling the holes with concrete. Says Kobus Geyer: ‘The major piling challenge for this project was the exceptionally rocky site. The many large underground boulders struck during the drilling operations took quite a heavy toll on our rigs and a high level of maintenance had to be maintained throughout the piling operations. In late 2013, we undertook the piling for the Hotel Fire & Ice on adjacent ground to this new office development so we were prepared for the boulders with this contract. But the severity of the boulders and rocky terrain we encountered posed even greater challenges than two years’ ago.’

The 145 piles provided over an area of about 3 600m2 for The Summit were all 11m deep to cope with the rocky strata, and varied in diameter from 600mm to 1 650mm. The pile bearing capacity ranged from 1 000kN/m2 for the smallest diameter pile to 13 500kN/m2 for the biggest. Bearing capacity determines the maximum load the soil can safely carry during piling operations. Steel reinforcement cages inserted into the piles ranged from 450mm to 1.5m in diameter. Employing a Williams LDHH digger and a SoilMec hydraulic drilling rig for the piling foundations, Gauteng Piling was subsequently awarded a contract for another 34 piles on the western side of the Summit Place site. In the past 18 years, the company has completed over 1 500 projects (including the piling foundations for the massive Mall of Africa in 2014), becoming one of the major players in the piling industry in Gauteng. Gauteng Piling has a fleet of 20 auger drilling machines, two cranes, two bore rigs, four Grundo hammers, and two lateral support machines.

Gauteng Piling Hennie Bester T +27 11 465 7751 W www.gautengpiling.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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Pic credit: Flex Building Systems

flex building systems advertorial

Show house, Rosslyn, SA

Camp Grayling, Michigan, US

Modular housing solutions Flex Building Systems is a leading manufacturer of Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) building systems, using cutting edge technology for the design and construction of modular housing solutions. Flex Building Systems offers high-quality, rapid assembly and cost-effective building solutions. It is an alternative building technology that holds an Agrément certificate. The structures are lightweight and easy to assemble, and the system is ideal for applications such as classrooms, clinics, ablution facilities, site offices, stores, dormitories, guard houses and laundries to name a few. The units can be erected as permanent structures on concrete strip footings, or as mobile units on a steel base frame with flooring. Flex Building Systems plays an important role in community social upliftment and skills transfer by creating employment opportunities for unskilled people. We have a global footprint with agents representing Flex Building Systems in various countries around the world. Flex Building Systems are ideal for the following applications: • Classrooms and mobile clinics • Military camps and guard houses • Employee housing • Single family dwellings • Storage buildings • Utility sheds • Disaster relief and site offices Advantages of the Flex Building Systems include: • High quality • Low cost

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Flex Building Systems Lesly Harris, General Manager T +27 12 541 3660 F +27 12 541 0215 E L.harris@flexbuildingsystems.com W www.flexbuildingsystems.com issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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professions designers

Wilowlamp is an innovative, award-winning South African lighting company. Its products are anchored in one simple, yet very ingenious idea: a patented method of attaching ball-chain to laser-cut steel frames. Now its larger-than-life iconic Flower of Life Chandelier has been made in a smoke-finish custom design that is currently en route to northern Europe.

Right: Giant Lamp to be transported Below: Adam Hoets

Pic Credit: Gareth Griffiths

According to company’s founder and CEO, Adam Hoets, a tiny notch in the metal frame is the key to creating a fastener-free chain curtain system that unleashes endless design possibilities. ‘These range from very simple sleek lampshades that are relatively affordable, to massive, highly-complex sculptural art forms and custom chandeliers that are appropriate for huge projects at even the most extreme high end of the market,’ he comments on the company’s website. ‘Through creativity, we aspire to enrich people’s lives: those who live with our products and those who create them. Our designs fuse organic forms with high tech materials and processes to create a dramatic new genre of lighting. Our work is a symbolic merging of nature and technology. Though each component is industrially manufactured, every lamp is handassembled. Each fixture is the result of collaboration between the needs of the user, the creativity of the designer, and the skills of the fabricator. Our responsibility is to harness creativity and transform it into high-quality, beautiful objects for everyday use.’ Recently, an oversized beauty of a lamp known as the Giant Flower of Life Chandelier departed the Willowlamp factory headed to Italy via Amsterdam, where it will be transported to its final destination, Estonia. Measuring 2 800mm in dimension, 6 500mm in height, and weighing a hefty 630kg once packaged, this magnificent masterpiece was first forklifted out of the factory, and then crane-hoisted onto a truck-horse for abnormal loads. It is being transported to Europe via a Cargolux flight. Since inception in 2005, the company has won several prestigious awards and has been showcased

Pic Credit: Manufacturer

Larger than life chandelier departs for Estonia

at numerous design fairs locally and abroad. The product range is distributed globally via international trading partners and also directly to consumers and the trade. Everything we make is painstakingly hand assembled in-house at the factory in Cape Town. All components are made from the highest-quality materials available, and the company claims to have scoured the earth to find the best lighting systems and technologies to integrate into its designs. Willowlamp has adapted its designs to more energy-efficient alternatives and can already offer LED solutions to many lamp designs on request. Designs can be custom made in various finishes, designs and sizes to suit individual needs, with a lead-time of approximately 10 to 12 weeks.

Willowlamp W www.willowlamp.com E info@willowlamp.com T +27 21 447 8529

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Unit 7&9, Boundary Road George Park, Strand Tel: 021 853 2555 Cell: 082 858 2218 enquiries@ambienteluce.com

AmbienteLuce.indd 43

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Velvet Home and Living Joubert Plaza Cnr Market & Meade George Cell: 082 447 9397

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professions interiors

Pic credit: Gareth Griffiths Imaging

The big picture – Living wall at the LEED Platinum-rated Hotel Verde.

Living Pictures to the Rescue Bidvest Execuflora argues that versatile ‘living pictures’ can hang on both solid and dry walls and asks, ‘what are you waiting for?’

Pic credit: Execuflora

When someone mentions ‘green walls’, the first thing that springs to mind is probably those enormous wall murals installed in only the most elite buildings – those that have a green statement to make and a budget to back it up. However, imagine if any business could have a form of green wall that doesn’t blow their budget. Well, living pictures are here in South Africa, and they’re making offices around the country look amazing. Living pictures have numerous benefits other than just budgetary ones. They decorate office walls with greenery, providing staff with all the health benefits of having living greenery in their workplace; they are aesthetically pleasing for visitors; they make a statement about your business’s commitment to improving your carbon footprint; and they save valuable floor space that, these days, is a premium purchase. Bidvest Execuflora has extensive experience in the supply and long-term maintenance of green

wall products. If you’re wondering if a planter hung on the wall would require extensive waterproofing, the answer is no. Made from steel, these planters are completely waterproof. The plants are low maintenance with a simple weekly or integrated watering system, and it’s very easy to replace plants or change the plant display. These versatile living pictures can hang on both solid and dry walls, so the only question remaining is ‘what are you waiting for?’

Bidvest Execuflora W www.execuflora.co.za

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professions design

International designs Cape Town designer supplies design expertise and logistic service to sub-Saharan Africa and overseas. Pictures by: Gareth Griffiths Imaging & 3D renderings by RR Interior Designs RR Design was founded in 2011 by design principal, Rowena Ramos, to meet a need in the market for excellent design concepts, and full procurement and logistic support, especially for clients located beyond South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s borders. The company focuses on four main areas of service â&#x20AC;&#x201C;interior design, architectural design, procurement and logistics. The emphasis is on personal service and support to each client and assisting closely with each project from start to finish.

Recent local projects include the revamp of the entrance foyer for the Queenspark head office in Cape Town. Quick thinking by Rowena and her expert colleagues resulted in an impressive redesign and the re-use of a number of elements of the original reception desk. Efficient and cost-effective design comes naturally to Rowena, whose working career traces back to the shipping industry where she managed a number of similar projects for clients involved in the booming West African gas and oil industry.

The RR team Jeanne Robberts (left), Farhan Rajwani, Donovan Adonis, Lindy Lawler and Rowena Ramos (right).

Rowena Ramos, interior designs with a plus.

Well designed office.

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design professions

Queenspark entrance foyer.

Luanda hotel.

Luanda gym

A recent international project was the design and fit out of a 40-room guesthouse in Luanda, Angola, for a very satisfied client. RR Design offers a full design service, executed quickly by Rowena and her team of four designers and project management specialists. Striking storyboards are created by space planning, and brought to life by 3D visualisation software, so accurate that it is hard to tell it apart from a photograph. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This is the way that beautiful, timeless

spaces are realised,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;says Rowena. All materials are locally sourced and the manufacture of different elements takes place in a local factory.

RR Interior Designs T 087 350 9029 C +27 76 380 3981 E rowena@rr-interiordesigns.com issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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RR_fcp.indd 1

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developers professions

Environmentally sustainable building A R22-million, 1 949m2 environmentally sustainable office and warehouse facility was commissioned by I-CAT Environmental Solutions. I-CAT is a leading environmental solutions company with a primary focus on supplying products and services that assist industrial clients with various aspects of environmental compliance. Renderings by: ICAT The new sustainable I-CAT campus, developed at the N4 Gateway Park in Pretoria, features a 914m2 office building and a 1 035m2 warehouse. ‘The design of the building in relation to the local climate and environment can have a significant impact on the energy consumption of the building,’ explains architect, Rudie Botha from Earthworld Architects. The design incorporates three pillars of sustainability – environmental resilience, economic demands and social sustainability All materials used in the construction of the building are locally sourced, reducing the energy needed to get them to site. Furthermore, the building is designed to use as little energy as possible. The building is oriented with office spaces facing north, while a specially-designed roof and overhang reduces solar gain during summer months. ‘Shading devices on the northern, eastern and western sides of the building limit direct sunlight, and natural light and solar power are used during the day – the balance is optimised,’ says Botha In addition to solar electricity, water in the offices and the showers in the warehouse are solar heated to reduce energy consumption. Rain water is harvested from the roof and stored in a tank, which is used for the outdoor landscaping. Harvested rain water is also filtered and purified for use in water cisterns. Thermal, visual, acoustic, and air quality are factors that inform the design and ensure optimum occupant comfort at all times. During summer, the building is ventilated in the early hours of the morning allowing the internal temperature to drop. The fresh

air is then contained for as long as possible. Once the temperature inside rises, the windows at the top of the building automatically open, allowing the hot built-up air to vent. Thermal comfort inside the building is facilitated by a small inverter air conditioning system operated via solar power. This system automatically activates to return temperatures back to optimum. The building also features a courtyard at its southern end that creates a light environment to draw cool air into the building. This also creates an environment where people can enjoy time outside. ‘The courtyard adds to the social sustainability of the building. Happy workers, improve efficiency,’ Botha comments. The office building and warehouse are designed to allow I-CAT the flexibility to utilise both buildings, which are designed with an open plan layout that can be divided into smaller sections if needed. ‘The interior of the office building can be used as a large open plan office or divided into smaller offices in the future. The warehouse features a column-free design, with supporting columns along the perimeter of the warehouse only. This leaves the interior of the warehouse free to be adjusted and changed as needed,’ Botha concludes.

I-CAT Prof Jan du Plessis (Non-exec director) T +27 12 349 1441 E reception@i-cat.co.za W www.i-cat.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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opinion professions

Opinion: Fast track and improve A senior human resources executive based in one of South Africa’s fast moving economic development zones proposes three solutions to fast-track and improve infrastructure development in South Africa. Picture and words by: Duncan Grenfell South Africa is on a good path to unlock economic growth through infrastructure development. Many examples of construction projects through government’s investment commitments are available. There are also many stories of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to South Africa and infrastructure development projects. Our National Development Plan (NDP) acknowledges and values the association between economic growth and infrastructure development. Understandably, the National Infrastructure Plan, with its eighteen strategic integrated projects (SIPs), is catalytic in developing our economy through tangible assets – schools, roads, hospitals, public spaces, and so forth. However, in general, South Africa’s pace has been somewhat slow compared to other developing nations. It is important that we now take stock of the human resources dynamics and skills shortages that are exasperating this situation. Of course, there are prominent cases of successful projects that have been completed ahead of time, within budget and are in line with (and even exceed) global quality standards. However, a balance sheet of our existing challenges and future opportunities is absolutely necessary if we – government, skills and education institutions, private sector, labour unions and communities – are truly committed and supportive of infrastructure development as critical for unlocking economic growth. My three major concerns around infrastructure development in the country are: • the knowledge and experience of locally educated and trained people • the acceptable level of productivity of South African labour • the labour stability on infrastructure projects Finding sustainable solutions to address these issues must be a priority if we plan to achieve

Duncan Grenfell

higher levels of economic development and growth, eradicate poverty and unlock new job opportunities – especially for individuals and communities affected by income inequality. The human resource capacity exists in South Africa to meet the needs of infrastructure development. Further Education Technology (FET) colleges and Higher Education Technology (HET) institutions are producing graduates, artisans and future leaders. However, on entering the workplace, these young people do not have more than the basic level of knowledge required to function in their chosen field. The solution to this shortage of knowledge and experience is to ensure that every opportunity is sought for multipronged capacity-building. South African labour is regarded as one of the worst performing, least productive workforces in the world. The country cannot attract investment when foreign and even domestic investors (including government) have concerns about an uncompetitive environment and project delays. Investors expect that, with South Africa’s high unemployment levels, productivity would be high and employment opportunities would be valued.

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professions opinion However, we are currently experiencing the polar opposite. We face high absenteeism, work disruptions and high crime levels that create a highly unproductive environment. Our competitors in South East Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe have highly productive workforces, and we are losing foreign investment to these countries. I would like to see more innovative programmes that ingrain deep levels of commitment, responsibility and shared ownership of economic activity and the infrastructure development projects necessary to improve productivity in the construction sectors. Labour unions should also take greater responsibility in understanding how strike disruptions affect productivity and profitability – in turn with cataclysmic long-term effects on job security and the country’s attractiveness to foreign investors. My third concern is labour instability. This delays the completion of infrastructure projects, which is uneconomic both for investors and for our taxpayers. A current example is the new fleet of coal-fired power stations being built by Eskom. The projects are behind schedule by many years and are costing South Africans billions of extra Rands. While there are numerous reasons for the delays, the issue of labour disruption is certainly a major concern. Labour instability has been the undoing of many South African projects. This is an issue that needs a great deal of attention, strong and balanced leadership and a ‘social accord’ in which all beneficiaries genuinely support the end goals.

About Duncan Grenfell Duncan Grenfell is Coega Development Corporation’s Head: Recruitment and Placement: Human Capital Solutions. The Coega Development Corporation (Pty) Ltd (CDC) is the operator of the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. Established in 1999, the CDC is wholly-owned by the South African Government. The Coega IDZ is South Africa’s premier location for new industrial investments. The CDC aims to provide a competitive investment location and a total business solution for its customers, as well as ensuring sustainable economic development in the region. The CDC’s IDZ Zone 2 is a fully registered Customs Control Area, which was approved by SARS on May 9, 2014. To date, the CDC has delivered on its mandate to provide socio-economic development for the Eastern Cape, has enabled the creation of over 56 000 jobs since inception, with 28 operational investors and boasts an investment portfolio in excess of R151-billion. The CDC has also trained 71 445 people since inception.

COEGA T +27 41 403 0400 W www.goega.com

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developers professions

Opinion: What chokes SA business? Izak Petersen, CEO of JSE-listed Dipula Income Fund, postulates as to why economic and structural headwinds are choking SA business. Picture by: Dipula Slow economic growth and high operating cost inflation – especially rates, taxes and electricity – are challenging the commercial property sector and placing strain on South African business. Despite ongoing above inflation increases of charges for services, the continued weak state of service delivery by municipality’s means property owners and tenants alike have to dig deeper into their pockets to fill the basic services gap. ‘Money paid to municipalities for this purpose appears to be disappearing into a black hole with generally scant, if any, services delivered,’ says Petersen. This means property owners are paying for services that are not undertaken. They are then forced to pay for private sector suppliers to deliver the same services they have already paid municipalities for and not received. ‘It is not sustainable to expect commercial, and certain residential, property owners to subsidise a dysfunctional system. Something has to give, and soon,’ he maintains. With Dipula’s exposure to multiple municipalities across all nine provinces, Petersen is clear that this situation is the rule, not the exception. He is adamant that local governments cannot continue to dodge their responsibilities to deliver services at the cost of business, and a significant improvement is needed quickly. Dipula is a SA REIT with exceptional B-BBEE credentials. It is managed by its 100% black-owned management company. Dipula originated from two majority black-owned property funds, Mergence Africa Property Fund and Dipula Property Fund. Its management own a large stake in Dipula and are strategically aligned long-term investors in the fund. Dipula’s R5.7-billion diversified property portfolio now comprises more than 170 retail, industrial and office properties countrywide. By gross lettable area, Dipula’s portfolio is mostly concentrated in South Africa’s economic hub of Gauteng. It is also weighted towards retail property, which comprises more than 50% of its portfolio.

Dipula CEO, Isaac Petersen

The SA REIT sector continues to make a significant contribution to savings and investment, and grow access to property ownership for South Africans. South Africa’s listed property outperformed all other asset classes for the quarter of 2015. The SAPY total returns for the quarter were an impressive 13.7%, with equities returning 5.8%, bonds 3% and cash 1.5%. Dipula B linked units have enjoyed an impressive run this year, accelerating by 29% to become the fourth best performer in the sector and among the top 20 of all stocks on the JSE for the quarter ended 31 March 2015.

Dipula Income Fund CEO, Izak Petersen T +27 11 325 2112 C +27 082 823 1748 issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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professions developers

Ultra Luxurious Silo Hotel In 2013, the V&A Waterfront announced its R500-million philanthropic undertaking in the conversion of the historic Grain Silo complex into the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. More than a year into the ambitious redevelopment of this heritage landmark, an exclusive 5 500m2, 28-key hotel, managed and operated by The Royal Portfolio, has been announced. Renderings by Navigator Films, Heatherwick Studio and supplied by the V&A Waterfront The Silo is an exclusive hotel in all aspects, including its special location atop the Museum with 360° mountain and sea views. Renowned industrial designer, Thomas Heatherwick from Heatherwick Studio in London, is the architect for the reimagining of the Grain Silo complex, which combines both the museum and the hotel above it. From the outside, the greatest visible change to the Grain Silo’s monumental structure will be the addition of pillowed glazing panels, inserted into the existing geometry of the upper floors, which will bulge outward as if gently inflated. By night, this will transform the building into a glowing lantern or beacon in the harbour. The size of the suites range from Luxury Suites at 41m2 with full height 5.5m glazing to the 120m2 double storey Family Suites, the 132m2 Royal Suites, and the Penthouse that extends up to 211m2. David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront comments: ‘This hotel will offer something rather unique by virtue of its size and incredibly special location. We believe The Royal Portfolio is the operator that will deliver an

exceptional guest experience and run the hotel to the highest, luxury boutique standards.’ In an independent economic impact assessment commissioned in 2012 and updated in 2014, findings indicated that future developments at the V&A Waterfront would contribute R223.7-billion to the nominal GDP by 2027, over and above the R259.1-billion contribution of the past 12 years. In addition to the contribution to GDP, development at the V&A Waterfront is responsible for impressive direct and indirect job creation. At its peak, the Silo District development, at a cost of R1.5-billion, will have 2 000 workers onsite. Green concludes: ‘Development at the V&A Waterfront is important for ensuring the destination remains relevant and fulfils market needs, and for the economic stimulus it provides.’

V&A WATERFRONT E cwhite@waterfront.co.za T +27 21 408 7631

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engineering professions

Software suite provider in SA IES, a performance analytics company, has recently appointed Jeanne Parker-Weekes as its business development manager for South Africa. Jeanne’s brief is to spearhead the launch of IES in South Africa and to bring its approved and affordable sustainable analysis solutions to the country.

Jeanne Parker-Weekes

Picture by: IES IES is based in a science technology park in Glasgow, Scotland. Its global impact is far reaching, with offices in Australia, India, US, and Ireland, and people working on the ground in the Middle East, Canada and Europe. The IES Virtual Environment (IESVE) software suite is approved by Agrément South Africa as a certified thermal calculation software that is fit for proving compliance with the NBR, especially SANS 10400-XA. Jeanne is providing local support and software demonstrations over the coming months as South Africa’s IES representative. The IESVE suite is an integrated software system for environmental performance assessment of buildings. Dynamic thermal simulation is carried out using ApacheSim calculation methods and software. The software provides tools specifically designed for both architects and engineers to design, evaluate and operate buildings that consume significantly less energy and incorporate low carbon and renewable technologies. Features of the software are explicitly required to enable modelling in terms of Agrément South Africa’s assessment protocol. ‘I am excited to join a pioneering company at the leading edge of building performance analytics,’

Jeanne enthuses. ‘The Virtual Environment has a great deal to offer the South African market in terms of capability, and I’m really looking forward to showing people what it can do.’ Jeanne has 16 years’ experience in Architectural design, and experience in the residential, industrial and commercial sectors. Having chosen to specialise in the field of Energy in Buildings and Sustainable Building Design, in 2012 Jeanne obtained a Master of Science degree that is approved by The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and accredited by the Energy Institute (EI) in the UK. ‘I am very pleased to welcome Jeanne into the IES team,’ says Don McLean, Founder and CEO of IES. ‘She brings a great mix of technical and business development experience, together with passion and enthusiasm. She’s exactly what we need to take the IES Virtual Environment to the South African market.’

IES Jeanne Parker-Weekes T +44 141 945 8574 W www.iesve.com

Key features of the IESVE software include: • • • • • • • • •

Unrivalled interoperability with other CAD design and analysis tools. Analysis modules all share one central integrated data model, saving time and facilitating an integrated design approach to adjust and hone the model without duplication. Easily visualise and communicate results at a highly-detailed level. World leading dynamic thermal simulation programme developed in-house for optimal interoperability, referencing a single building model. Lighting analysis tools with enhanced graphic reporting features. Work on different modules simultaneously for tight deadlines. Numerous compliance navigators and bespoke tools. Tabular editing of data making populating the model easier. Technical support and distance learning modules come as part of the package.

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Lafarge Hydromedia™ – the dry surface solution

Vast improvement to the Orange Babies Montessori Preschool playground in Midrand.

Dry surface solution from global building materials supplier helps clean up children’s home and local school play area. Picture by: Lafarge For some years now, the South African global building material supplier, Lafarge, has been partnering development projects with the New Jerusalem Children’s Home and the Orange Babies Montessori Preschool, which is on the same property. For some time, a problem that needed attention was to find a solution for the Orange Babies’ play area. It was largely bare ground and, after playtime, staff were always confronted by extremely dirty children: either dusty or, after rain, very muddy. Approached to help, Lafarge South Africa had the ideal solution in its unique Hydromedia™ porous concrete. Lightweight and durable, the versatile Hydromedia™ is available in a variety of colour options, while its rapid storm water draining characteristic create a drier, safer, slip-resistant surface, ideal for a playground. Lafarge’s Readymix team supplied and placed 16m³ of Hydromedia™ and 6m³ of standard grey concrete, as part of the company’s ongoing Corporate Social Investment (CSI) support for the Children’s Home. ‘Hydromedia™ is increasingly in demand for playgrounds,’ comments Lafarge South Africa’s Shane Campbell, Hydromedia™ Product Manager. ‘Hydromedia™ solves an array of storm water drainage problem, such as better walkways for residential and commercial properties, drier parking areas and safer surrounds for swimming pools.’ The New Jerusalem Children’s Home is a 24-hour residential care centre in Midrand, Gauteng, which addresses the needs of traumatised, abandoned, orphaned, abused and HIV-positive children from birth to 18 years’ old, from surrounding communities.

The Home was opened in 2000 by two sisters: Anna and Phina Mojapelo. As with Lafarge South Africa, the sisters share a commitment to sustainable development and promote ‘green’ practices. They built parts of the home from recycled containers and have a permaculture garden to supply the children and local community with fresh vegetables. In 2012, Lafarge Gypsum provided materials to fit out the containers, and Lafarge Cement donated cement, furniture and teaching materials for an extension to classrooms at the Orange Babies Montessori Preschool. In 2014, a major project at the New Jerusalem Children’s Home was a bakery to provide the children with a source of essential vitamins and minerals, as well as a nutritional food, which could also generate income for the Home from sales to the local community. Lafarge South Africa built the bakery and arranged the purchase of modern baking equipment, together with a training course on how to use it. ‘The play area for the children was particularly bad before the revamp,’ says Esther Seabi, Lafarge South Africa’s Transformation Manager. ‘Hydromedia™ has made a vast improvement and the youngsters love it. In no time at all after a storm, the surface is safe for playing again. Lafarge is proud to have helped the Orange Babies Preschool with this highly-effective solution for their play area problem.’

Lafarge South Africa T +27 11 657 0000/1000 W www.lafarge.co.za

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TO BUILD Plan, Design, Build, Interior & Exterior DĂŠcor

BUILDING SYSTEMS Automation......................................68 Bathrooms.......................................73 Electrical.........................................81 Floors................................................83 Kitchens.............................................95 Roofing.............................................98 Security & Safety...........................103 Walls & Cladding........................106 Windows & Doors........................110

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building systems automation

Access control via mobile The current techno-revolution is seeing security technology really come into its own. Words by: Charl Mijnhardt Pictures by: Centurion Systems Technology has always been the philosophical vanguard of security, sometimes bordering on the outright futuristic and providing new and innovative ways of protecting us against crime. In the midst of what can only be described as a current techno-revolution, we are seeing security technology really come into its own. Its proponents are placing as much emphasis on convenience and user-friendliness, as they do on security. With the number of mobile phones approaching 60 million in South Africa alone (report by the GSM

African Mobile Observatory), the marriage between mobile technology and access control was perhaps inevitable and perhaps convenient, taking the concept of access control to entirely new dimension. The access control devices of yesteryear were singlepurpose machines designed for security alone, while the advent of GSM technology has resulted in multi-faceted modern devices that still act as reliable sentries for our homes and businesses. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a truly exciting time for security specialists, property developers and end-users alike.

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automation

South African manufacturer Centurion Systems – an access control and automation staple since 1986 – is helping to lead the charge when it comes to blending security with convenience. With the recent announcement that a new branch has been opened in Sydney, Australia, it’s evident that this access automation giant is still going strong in its 29th year. Since its maiden voyage into mobile waters in 2010, with the release of the hugely popular G-SWITCH-22, Centurion’s range of GSM products has been growing at an impressive rate. The G-SWITCH, with its dual inputs and outputs, not only makes it possible for up to 1 200 registered users to trigger access control devices such as gate motors and traffic barriers via a missed call or SMS from their mobile phones, but also allows for the cell phone-based monitoring of inputs. This has made it a favourite in the agricultural community where it is

Established in 1986, Centurion Systems (Pty) Ltd has become the leading South African manufacturer of gate motors and access automation equipment. With hundreds of thousands of operators installed around the world, the company has earned the reputation of producing reliable and innovative products for the gate and access automation industry. (Source: www.centsys.co.za) The company offers a diverse range of products including: • Sliding gate motors • Swing gate motors

building systems

used to remotely monitor temperature fluctuations and mains power among other options. With its acquisition of MyGSM in 2013, Centurion added an eight input, eight output model to its range, providing the industrial automation market with the means of monitoring and controlling up to eight different electrical devices – from lights and irrigation systems to refrigeration units and alarm panels – using a single device capable of communicating with up to 5 000 learned-in mobile phones. The MyGSM product also added bed and breakfast functionality to its security/automation mix, enabling guesthouse owners to set time-based access control parameters based on guests’ arrival and departure times. Benefits of GSM-based access control • Users don’t have to carry easy to misplace remote controls around with them. • Access is via a free missed call, making it a remarkably cost-effective security solution. • Control up to eight (depending on model) different devices, such as opening a gate and garage door from anywhere in the world with 2G GSM coverage. • Monitor by receiving SMS alerts, for example when mains power has failed or an alarm has been activated. • Communicate with up to 5 000 users (depending on model). • Inputs can be set to react to Rising Edge, Falling Edge, or both – ideal for monitoring mains and alarm states.

Centurion W www.centsys.com T +27 11 699 2510 • • • • • •

Garage door operators Traffic barriers Remote controls Keypads Proximity access control systems Intercom systems. The company invests considerably in its Research and Development programme with a crack team of fully qualified engineers, using the latest computer aided design tools to constantly research new and innovative products to add to the range, upgrade existing models and develop tools and jigs for its manufacturing facility.

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Viega Advantix Vario: the first tailor-made shower channel.

Viega. A better idea! Viega Advantix Vario is the first shower channel that can be continuously shortened. It can be cut to the required length with millimetre precision and very little effort. It can then be fitted along the wall or anywhere in the room. This enables one to react to all of the requirements on site. For more information: www.viega.com/global

Harscan Distributors Tel: 011 787 2993 55 Hill Street, Ferndale, Johannesburg Viega South Africa : 083 645 0059

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German precision for bathrooms Look towards Viega to make your bathroom a design dream. Viega is a German company that supplies high end bathroom equipment and practical plumbing solutions for the everyday situation. Viegaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s range of concealed cisterns has full SABS approval and offers a selection of cover plates that makes them the first choice for the discerning designer. A major advantage with Viega cisterns is the flexibility they offer in that any Viega actuating plate fits any Viega cistern. The actuating plates will complement the Advantix range of floor drains and shower channels and together will lift the tone of any bathroom. Gone are the days when a shower was hidden away, now with Advantix shower channels and floor drains from Viega you can make the shower the focus of the room. The multiple design prize-winning Advantix products from Viega will offer you freedom when creating a bathroom. With the use of high quality materials like glass it is far more than just a

boundary between wet and dry areas in the bathroom. Architecture needs freedom. Advantix shower channels can be used exactly where the building concept requires them to be. Should the shower channel be in the middle of the room to optically separate the dry and wet zones? Or do you prefer it along the wall? With Viega, taste and architecture decide on the position. Polished and matt stainless steel are available as well as the purist glass. In addition, there is also a shower channel grate that allows you to incorporate the tiles into it â&#x20AC;&#x201C;tailor made to the individuals taste.

Viega South Africa Harscan Distributors T 011 787 2993 C 083 645 0059 issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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Sun City revamp Taps from a well-known local supplier, Cobra, have been used at a major revamp of the Sun City Sun Vacation Club. Belina range shines in the revamp. Picture by: Cobra Watertech Sun International’s Sun City is a name synonymous with exclusivity, quality and superior standards. It’s no surprise then that when this renowned resort recently upgraded its Sun Vacation Club timeshare accommodation units, it chose another celebrated South African icon to be part of the project – Cobra. When deciding to overhaul these units, it was agreed that plumbing ware should not only be robust and offer outstanding performance, given its hightraffic application, but also meet the requirement of value for money while enhancing the contemporary, yet neutral styling, of these renovated units. Cobra’s Belina range of bathroom and kitchen taps and mixers matched the bill perfectly. The Belina Range forms part of Cobra’s Classic Collection, combining sleek and sophisticated aesthetics with innovative functionality and an exceptional finish. Both its bathroom and kitchen mixers offer an elegant interpretation of contemporary geometric lines that enable it to compliment a variety of interior décor

styles. This sought-after tap range incorporates all the hallmarks of Cobra’s innovative and practical engineering, including responsive touch, drip-free design and an easy-to-clean finish. A total of 976 Belina bath mixers, 516 Belina basin mixers, and 230 Belina sink mixers were specified for the project. In addition, Cobra shower arms, shower roses, waste traps, regulating valves, cisterns, dual flush actuators, and cistern frames were also installed. ‘Cobra’s Belina range was very well priced for the required application,’ explains interior designer, Helen Farish. ‘Aside from the cost factor, we also wanted a product where the components were produced locally in South Africa to ensure efficient repairs and part replacements in future,’ Farish concludes.

Cobra Watertech T 0861 21 21 21 or visit W www.cobra.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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bathrooms building systems

Tapping into hospital renovation A massive refurbishment and construction project sees two hospitals become one. Pictures by: South Architects and Cobra Watertech Life Kingsbury Hospital is a member of Life Healthcare, one of the largest private hospital groups in South Africa, operating 63 acute care facilities across the country. It prides itself on delivering a special brand of health and care to its patients that, combined with its world-class facilities, has earned it a reputation for being one of the top hospitals in the country. According to Trevor Hardaker from South Architects, who attended to the project, Life Healthcare always operated Kingsbury and Claremont Hospitals as separate entities. This was mainly as a result of the position of the existing facilities rather than out of choice but, eventually, it was decided that it no longer made operational sense to continue to do so and that the two facilities should be amalgamated into one.

South Architects began planning as far back as 2008 to make this change, involving several processes including a rezoning of the property directly behind the existing Kingsbury Hospital where it was proposed to build the new extension to the hospital. Several small enabling works contracts commenced in the second half of 2012 in preparation for the main project. Murray & Roberts began construction on the main project in January 2013 and completed it in late 2014. The new extension includes several levels of wards â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from general medical and surgical wards to specialist orthopaedic wards and a paediatric unit. Also included was a large extension to the theatre unit, a major upgrade to the intensive and high-care units, a complete refurbishment of the main entrance,

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building systems bathrooms a new Accident and Emergency unit, major changes and extensions to the Radiology Department, a new pharmacy and coffee shop, several administrative areas, and lots of plant room space.

Water-saving devices and taps installed A leading supplier’s range of medical taps and mixers, as designed in collaboration with South African medical professionals to meet their specific hygiene needs, was specified in the refurbishment of the Life Kingsbury Hospital in Claremont, Cape Town. One hundred chrome elbow action medical mixers were specified from Cobra Watertech in the renovation. These state-of-the-art mixers are preferred by medical staff because their 180mm-long handles can be operated by elbow or forearm and are angled away from the mixer spout, providing both ease of use and limiting the possibility of crosscontamination. Quarter-turn ceramic disk head parts ensure a smooth, effortless turning action. The mixers boast unique anti-stagnation and water saving devices that drain residual water from the mixer when it is turned off, preventing the growth of bacteria and aerated flow restrictors that limit water flow to six litres per minute, allowing for significant water savings in line with green building standards. In addition to Cobra’s medical range, 75 classicallystyled Noka basin and 40 Noka bath/shower mixers, 15 Gala single-lever sink mixers and 38 Cobra chrome and Aurora shower heads, together with numerous Cobra waste traps/overflows and regulating valves, to the value of R400 000, were installed in the seven new bathrooms, two new kitchens, the pharmacy, and wards that were renovated in the old and newly-constructed wings.

These Cobra products were specified for their water-saving benefits and superior functionality, and because their aesthetics perfectly matched the look and feel of the upgraded Life Kingsbury Hospital, which features excellent patient facilities. ‘Cobra’s products are cost efficient, proudly South African and readily available, which made sourcing the exact products we wanted really easy,’ says Roland van Rosenveld, architect at South Architects. The project was not without its challenges, but Robert van Coller, Cobra’s Regional Technical Sales Representative, says the Cobra technical team drew on its extensive experience to quickly and efficiently resolve these issues. ‘Our team rose to the occasion and, by working closely with the client and the installers, was able to successfully overcome the challenges,’ van Coller says. ‘This once again reinforced Cobra’s ability to offer its clients flexible plumbing solutions and its position as a leading South African brand.’

South Architects T +27 21 712 4965 E trevor@southarchitects.co.za W www.southarchitects.co.za Cobra Watertech T 0861 21 21 21 E marketing@cobrawatertech.co.za W www.cobra.co.za

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electrical building systems

Eastern Cape manufacturer goes big Picture by: Microcare

Nelius with new MPPT

Founded in 1990, an enterprising Port Elizabethbased business became the first in South Africa to venture into renewable energy solar components manufacturing – at a time of cheap power when clean energy was not in the vocabulary. Back then, Microcare set about the manufacture of inverters for the growing solar market. Managing Director, Jimmy Catt, and his team had the drive to pioneer this relatively unknown manufacturing sector in which local staff would build proudly South African products. Now, 25 years on, they are the only company in South Africa to design, develop, and manufacture solar MPPT regulators, pure sine wave bi-directional inverters, grid tied inverters, and the distinctive grid tied limiter. Despite pressure from international solar giants flooding the South African market, the company carried on its business of manufacturing and exporting locally-made products from its Neave Industrial plant in Nelson Mandela Bay. The company now has over 50 employees manufacturing 50 products with an exciting five new products that were launched during the first quarter 2015 at the Solar Show in Gauteng (visit, www.terrapinn.com). According to Catt, ‘2015 is a significant year for us. We celebrate 25 years of manufacturing in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. With so many competing products coming into the country from around the world we have stuck to our belief that we have the resources and skills to manufacture solar components

and for the community to benefit by keeping the jobs and money in our region. In 2015 we are expanding our team and launching a range of new and updated products. Please continue to engage with us as we strive for excellence and quality in this Proudly South African manufacturing sector. We also wish to thank our customers for their local and loyal support throughout the years.’ Key Microcare services include technical support, led by Scott Soanes, for clients and suppliers around the country. There is also research & development, led by Nelius de Lange, whose team design and develop customised electronic products according to required needs. Local is a priority at Microcare, with all of the staff including those who manufacture the products, employed from within the community. Internships are offered to graduates from the local university and Microcare offers a free two-day training session for clients twice a month at the factory. The Eastern Cape has been called the emerging renewable energy capital of South Africa. ‘One thing is for certain, solar component manufacturing has been going strong in this region for 25 years and Microcare plans to continue waving the local flag for a long time to come,’ Catt concludes.

Microcare T +27 41 453-5761 E info@microcare.co.za W www.microcare.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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Pic credit: Interface

floors building systems

Human Nature, launched in mid-2014, is inspired by the visual, tactile textures found in forest floors, grassy fields, and pebble garden

Green growth in 2014 World’s largest carper tile producer aims to radically reduce the impact of its products in the supply chain and beyond its factory gates. Some of the innovative eco-friendly manufacturing measures introduced by Interface, the world’s largest carpet tile producer, include inspiring Indian farmers to grow castor beans and persuading Philippines fishermen to harvest old fishing nets. The company has announced significant ‘green’ growth in 2014. As an environmental pioneer in its field, Interface has reached a series of major sustainability milestones

since 1996 at its worldwide production facilities when its founder and chairman, Ray Anderson, put the company on track to becoming the first sustainable, restorative carpet manufacturer by 2020. Now defined as Mission Zero, the company’s obsessive drive to achieve a zero environmental footprint is a central to the organisation’s ethos and culture.

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building systems floors Since the beginning of 2014, Interface has operated with 100% renewable energy in Europe (both electricity and gas), using virtually no water in its manufacturing processes, and has managed to attain zero waste to landfill. This is particularly significant as carpets contain a high oil content in the nylon fibres and thus become non-biodegradable landfill components. Interface modular flooring is exclusively distributed in South Africa by Kevin Bates Albert Carpets (KBAC), which has operations both in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Brandon Park, Sales Director of the KBAC Group, says Interface’s latest achievement is a major step forward for the producer. ‘Interface started its Mission Zero journey in 1996, and by 2014 had reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 90%, and water usage by 87% in Europe. The company is set to reduce its water usage to as high as 95% since a closed loop recirculation system was recently installed. The company’s new ultra-efficient production line now works at double the previous output and uses 40% less gas – but they are not content and are aiming for a 50% reduction. The bio-gas the company uses for production is derived from anaerobic digestion of fish and chocolate waste. Whereas no renewable energy was used in production in 1996, the company now uses a staggering 95% of renewable energy. Greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by 90% since 1996, and absolutely no waste is now sent to landfill,’ says Park. Other major sustainable manufacturing initiatives introduced by Interface include the insulation of hot machine parts, installation of high-efficiency boilers, and lower temperature materials. ‘But Interface’s Mission Zero goes beyond environmental preservation at its factory, which accounts for only 9% of the whole life cycle of Interface products. The company also aims to radically reduce the impact of its products in the supply chain and beyond its factory gates. IIt has already reduced its average embodied carbon footprint for its products by 27% since 2008 – and aims to reduce it even further,’ Park adds. Lesley Fidrmuc, Interface Consultant at KBAC in Johannesburg, says Interface has incorporated its passion for ecological preservation in its latest carpet tile designs, now available in South Africa. ‘The new Urban Retreat and Net Effect biophilic designs, for example, create visual and physical connections with nature, using foliage, the sky, rivers, the sea,

Through the Interface Net-Works program, fishermen in the Philippines have an incentive to collect discarded nets, which are purchased and recycled by Interface.

and other aspects of nature as dominant features. A new addition to this biophilic range is Human Nature, launched in mid-2014, which is inspired by the visual, tactile textures found in forest floors, grassy fields, and pebble garden paths. The reaction from the South African market place to the biophilic designs concept has been positive as architects and designers are now increasingly striving towards sustainable, responsible construction and interiors,’ she adds.

KBAC Neil Duncan T +27 11 608 4270 Michelle Richards T +27 21 464 4320 W www.kbacflooring.co.za

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advertorial Douglas Jones

Imagination – the only limitation Douglas Jones has developed the Douglas Jones MOSAIC FIX that provides a perfect mosaic installation. Douglas Jones was established in 1999 with a clear mission to service a need in the ceramic tile business for more mosaic, décor and tile accent products. Products are imported from all over the world and mirror the taste of international interior design studios and architectural firms alike. Since its inception, Douglas Jones has always focussed on finding distinctive, fashionable and inspiring mosaics and decorative tiles, and offers a Uniquely South African Creative Assembly department. Within this department, Douglas Jones concentrates on designing and creating bespoke patterns, fades and mixes for every customer, allowing its customers’ imagination to be the only limitation! Always keeping abreast of trends and ever changing needs in

the building industry, Douglas Jones has developed the Douglas Jones MOSAIC FIX that provides a perfect mosaic installation. Mosaics are very different to normal tiles in that they generate more movement and therefore need a quick-setting, high-tensile-strength adhesive that has the ability to absorb the additional movement of the sheets. The DJ Mosaic Fix is a premium product designed to provide a perfect installation and ultimate peace of mind. With its low-dust formulation, the mosaic fix is easy to mix, easy to apply, and fast setting (six hours), which provides installation in a shorter period of time, saving on both time and money. It is available in white and dove grey. For more information about Douglas Jones’ products and designs, as well as Douglas Jones Mosaic Fix, visit www.douglasjones.co.za

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floors building systems

Community Crèche Opens Durban’s Qalakahle Crèche has launched with an opening event attended by the sponsors and supporters that helped to make it all possible. Pictures by: Flowcrete The community project saw several local construction companies working together, free of charge, to build the crèche. Ocean Architects designed the new building and brought in floor coatings and specialist product supplier, Flowcrete South Africa. The two companies have a history of successful partnerships. The collaborative charity group We are Durban spearheaded the project when the previous crèche, which cared for the disadvantaged children when their trader parents were working at the Mansel Market, was designated as unsafe and condemned by the health department. When the traders turned to We are Durban for help, the organisation’s Managing Director, Linda Morrison, decided to turn the community’s hopes into a reality. After securing land and sponsors for the Qalakahle Crèche, a team of charity workers, builders, suppliers and architects set to work constructing the new facility. The project, spanning 18 months, has resulted is an inviting and inspirational building that has been fully approved by the health department. Up to 80 children can now be looked after in a safe, engaging and well-resourced environment. Several high profile guest speakers attended the prestigious opening ceremony, including First Lady, Madame Thobeka Madiba-Zuma, and Durban’s

Deputy Mayor, Nomvuzo Shabalala, as well as Vivian Reddy from the Afrisun Community Development Trust, which donated R1-million for the project as well as R150 000 in equipment. Verity King, Flowcrete South Africa’s Marketing Manager, was at the opening event with Carol Best, the Flowcrete Specification Consultant who collaborated with Ocean Architects. ‘Making a small contribution has resulted in a safer environment for young children to learn and to be looked after while their parents are working, hopefully resulting in better futures for all of them. Flowcrete SA was thrilled to assist by donating several specialist resin systems for the Qalakahle Crèche’s internal floor finishes,’ King said. The floor must withstand impacts, foot traffic and spillages while maintaining an easy-to-clean and attractive appearance to facilitate a hygienic and visually pleasing space. To achieve this, a high-performance epoxy primer, Flowprime, and a hard-wearing, self-smoothing epoxy floor finish, Flowshield SL 1000, were applied within the crèche.

Flowcrete SA T +27 31 461 3411 W www.flowcretesa.co.z issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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Floor grating manufacturer advises In this issue of To Build, Dodds Pringle, the Managing Director of Vital Engineering, provides advice about safety on site in relation to the design and installation of floor gratings. Walking the talk

As a leading manufacturer of a broad range of floor gratings, stair treads and safety hand rails, Viral Engineering is passionate about educating the market about safety on site. The choice between fibreglass and steel, and performance versus cost can be bewildering when it comes to installing floor gratings. More often than not, the decision is cost-driven, which can pose a serious threat to safety on site and therefore to the human assets of a company. In our experience, the safety of the human asset is unfortunately sometimes the last consideration when purchasing floor gratings. The choice of material that people have to walk on should not be driven by cost, but by many other factors, above all safety. There is not enough knowledge in the market surrounding the importance of gratings.

As specialists in this field, Vital Engineering has decided to step into the breach and provide practical advice to industry on the critical issues of safety, quality and design specifications when it comes to the choice of gratings customers should make. One of the initiatives that the company has taken in creating safety awareness is to distribute a CD to customers detailing the correct gratings installation and performance specifications. The CD provides installation guidelines for the customer, and has been used in the construction site context for induction purposes. For example, there needs to be some education to prepare the market for the transition between steel and fibreglass products, and that it is a design issue. These products are not able to take the same load, but then again, each has their own advantages. Our value offering at Vital Engineering is to be a part of the design process to guide our customers in ascertaining best performance specifications. While fibreglass may recently have become a popular choice in gratings, in our view there is considerable uncertainty about its strength. This is where design specifications come in, which demand proper research into specific SABS requirements and performance requirements, based on factors such as load and type (harshness) of environment. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;While steel offers more strength than synthetic products, fibreglass is a very robust, low-maintenance product, which reduces the maintenance cycle considerably. These products are best used, among other areas, on conveyor walkways, taking into considering the load-bearing requirements and ensuring that the product is in line with all relevant industry specifications,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Pringle points out.

Safety specifications â&#x20AC;&#x201C; risk of non-adherence The risk involved with purchasing gratings according to the lowest price lies in quality and safety specifications not being adhered to, and that this can

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result in other related costs such as injury on site and downtime. Despite the rising input costs of steel manufacturing in South Africa, Vital Engineering remains committed to sustainability in the industry by refusing to compromise on a quality output, and retaining safety as its focus. The ongoing challenge is the competition the industry faces from lower prices in the international market.

Value adds Our company strives to find the most economical solutions for our customers that provide value and quality in the long run. ‘Value-adds’, which we offer our clients, include lowering cost of installation while increasing maintenance efficiencies. Our input materials are 350WA grade, which offers greater strength than those in a commercial grade material. By offering to be a part of the customer’s design process, Vital Engineering runs full checks on load requirements according to the client’s drawings to ensure compliance from a performance safety point of view and in relation to SABS requirements. We hope that our efforts will help to increase

[ ] While the trend is towards costdriven decision making, as the largest manufacturer and supplier in the gratings sector in South Africa, Vital Engineering considers it of paramount importance to educate the market about the importance of prioritising safety and performance above cost advantage only.

awareness about safety on site and that looking after human capital should take precedence over cheaper gratings materials of inferior quality, which could prove more costly – on a number of important levels – in the long run.

Vital Engineering W www.gratings.co.za

Since 1939 the Angus McLeod and Vital Engineering group have established a reputation for quality and service in the manufacture of all types of gratings, stair treads, pressed floors and safety handrails. Its brand names of Vitagrid and Maclock have become synonymous with versatility, quality and service. The company is proud to be the first South African gratings, hand railing and expanded metal manufacturer to obtain an international ISO 9001 design accreditation, and to have held this certification for over 19 years. The group offers a wealth of product expertise and has been involved in the supply to power plants, petrochemical plants, materials handling projects, mining, process plants, food, beverage as well as most facets of the civil and structural engineering industries, both domestically and internationally. A variety of products and materials for numerous applications are readily available, when either costs or corrosion are factors. The range includes bitumen dipped, galvanised (610g/m2) and mild steel. Other grades of materials such as SS304, SS316, structural grade aluminium and 3CR12 can also be manufactured.

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building systems floors

Van Dyck Oxygen carpet

Lowering Business Costs Investing in environmental programmes does not raise business costs, it reduces them, argues the head of a leading carpet manufacturer. Pictures by: Van Dyck This is the view of Dr Mehran Zarrebini, head of British-based PFE International, whose South African holdings include Van Dyck Carpets and the Mathe Group tyre recycling enterprise. ‘I see environmental initiatives as an investment opportunity rather than a threat,’ Zarrebini insists. ‘There will always be a trade-off between investing in growth and investing in sustainability. Pursuing growth may seem like the more glamorous business option but, in my experience, making provision for green projects reaps substantial rewards in the longer term.’

Cleaner manufacturing processes, sourcing environment-friendly and recycled raw materials, recycling for profit, and affiliation to international quality and environmental standards all play a role in Zarrebini’s sustainable business strategy. Zarrebini says that cleaner, greener manufacturing often involves the purchase of costly new equipment and machinery but that this was almost always accompanied by greater efficiency and productivity, as well as a better product, leading to greater demand. The results speak for themselves. Van Dyck

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floors building systems Carpets is growing its market share year on year and the Mathe Group is set to more than quadruple the number of tyres it recycles within five years. Over the last few years, capital expenditure of R80-million at Van Dyck Carpets – including the installation of the largest state-of-the-art fibre extrusion line in the country – has taken place alongside an accomplishment for which Zarrebini is justifiably proud. The company was awarded Carbon Trust Standard certification in May this year – the only South African manufacturer to have achieved this international mark of excellence for reducing carbon emissions. ‘A globally respected organisation, the Carbon Trust Standard accreditation provides independent assurance that Van Dyck Carpets is successfully measuring, managing and reducing carbon emissions every year,’ Zarrebini enthuses. ‘Our commitment to energy efficiency is adding momentum to the ongoing national drive to address South Africa’s energy challenge and help diminish the harmful effects of climate change.’ Elaborating on his proactive sustainable development stance, Zarrebini adds: ‘When the government tables the Carbon Tax Bill next year and introduces a carbon tax, organisations will not only have to comply with regulations with regard to their own greenhouse gas emissions but it is likely that they will have to account for the performance of their suppliers, too, in much the same way as complying with BEE statutes. It will become an unaffordable and unwise business practice not to embrace the intent of the Act.’

Usually only undertaken by big global corporations, later this year Van Dyck Carpets plans to implement the ISO 150001 energy management system in addition to its current ISO 9001 quality and ISO 14001 environmental management accreditations. ‘The benefit of operating a successful rubber tyre recycling business speaks for itself,’ Zarrebini notes. ‘South Africa adds 11-million used car or truck tyres to the mounting pile of waste tyres dumped in landfills and open areas each year, causing a health and environmental hazard.’ Later this year, the Mathe Group, an economic empowerment joint venture between PFE International and entrepreneur, Vusumuzi Mathe, is set to boost rubber tyre recycling to a new level in KwaZulu-Natal when it completes a new, multimillion rand rubber crumb manufacturing plant in Hammarsdale. Zarrebini’s passion for sound environmental stewardship extends to science and research. An example of this is a research study that Van Dyck Carpets is conducting into the use of raw materials – such as yarns and fibres from organically-grown crops – that will reduce reliance on oil-derived products such as nylon and polypropylene. ‘Our focus is constantly on innovation, resource efficiency and sustainability,’ Zarrevini concludes.

PFE International Dr Mehran Zarrebini T +27 31 913 3800

Dr Mehran Zarrebini, director of PFE International.

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kitchens building systems

System suppliers analyse trends A well-known supplier of the Caesarstone range, Interslab, uses its website to share some ideas on kitchen designs that are ‘now’. Here is a summary of recommendations and some ideas borrowed from Decorex 2015 and international pacesetter, Bulthaup. Pictures by: Gareth Griffiths Imaging

Using the kitchen as entertainment area ‘The kitchen is the heart of the home’ is an old adage that refers to the kitchen being the maternal space of the house where a family’s relationships are cemented. These days our kitchens are often the actual ‘heart’ or centre of the house – the most lived-in space considered an official living area. This year’s designs focus primarily around family and friends hanging out, rather than just a food preparation space. Kim Hansen (Kitchen Classics), winner of the Caesarstone Kitchen Designer competition in 2014, suggests, ‘The design, finishes and colours should be a continuation of the décor and finish of the rest of the house’s living spaces. The kitchen shouldn’t clash with the overall style of the house. ‘Thoughtful styling and décor items become more prominent as we attempt to create a cosy “nest” for our guests and ourselves. To create ambience, pick items that reflect the user’s personality and how guests should experience these. This includes kitchen islands designed with a section at dining table height and accompanied by dining-table-height chairs.’ However, the supplier warns not to let too large an island lull you

into the illusion that you have enough preparation space. Prep space is everything. Other suggestions include, space permitting, a breakfast bar and a small reading nook or TV lounge – these should combine in an ideal situation to compliment the ultimate living area of the home.

Transitional style The age of the super-minimalist kitchen is coming to a close as homeowners begin to shift back towards warm, homely spaces. Transitional styles tend to embody elements of multiple looks as designers mix and match features in response to homeowners’ tastes and new product developments. Strictly sticking to one style is a discipline that has been rendered obsolete in most modern homes, except in cases where the overall architecture and style of the house demands continuity of design. Transitional styles are gaining popularity because they may very well offer a longer service life.

Clever storage space Epitomised by German designer, Bulthaup, the market has seen much innovation in how kitchen accessories are stored and presented. These include drawer organisers, pull-out pantries, walk-in fridges, and corner cabinet shelves.

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building systems kitchens Patterns and geometrics Caesarstone says that patterns are coming into their own this year. These include hexagons, honeycomb shapes and repetitive, retro-inspired motifs. The latter are being seen in kitchens in Europe and Australia, surely to follow into SA. Homeowners may experiment with this trend in a non-permanent way by using wallpaper and suitably durable geometrics to backsplash areas. Bear in mind that art deco and art nouveau styles are reappearing interior design influences.

LED lighting Not only energy-saving, more eco-friendly, LED lighting is more efficient and may be applied to unusual spots in the kitchen without upping electricity consumption too much. This includes foot-level lighting, interior draw lighting and under-shelf lighting – useful applications for LED strips.

Trending materials While high-gloss cabinetry was the favoured material five years ago, there is a swing towards more textured surfaces and natural materials. Metallics will remain in vogue. However, what used to be frowned upon – mixing bronze, gold, brass, copper, silver and stainless steel – is now acceptable.

Colours: Natural neutral Ranging from off-whites to dark charcoals, neutrals are always ideal as base colours for any design scheme. Natural finishes and materials, as well as various washed or textured timbers and natural stone can be woven into kitchen designs to keep them on trend and looking fresh.

Furniture-style kitchen cabinetry Farmhouse-style kitchens have been growing in popularity. A growing number of designers spec kitchen pieces instead of built-in cabinets. Farmhouse sinks will continue to feature in these old-world designs, and cabinet handles are still current, making push-touch doors unnecessary but soft-close technology is a must.

Sinks Matching countertops and sinks are now the big thing. Caesarstone advises that a makeover of the trendy kitchen should include a sink that will add that special something to kitchen or scullery. Still in vogue from 2014 is juxtaposing contrasting textures, such as polished stone and textured wood. Caesarstone advises that in the future users may expect to see more matte finishes entering the kitchen space via light fittings, cabinetry, flooring and accessories. They advise users to check out their new concrete-inspired colours that offer a honed, ‘concrete finish’ for an enticing, non-reflective designer surface option. Try applying these metallics in the form of carefully selected accessories, décor items or splash backs for a luxe effect. If you have a penchant for metallic antiques, now is your time to shine.

Final trend – the antique look Old-world charm and style are still strong ingrained trends. However, antique does not mean searching for bona fide antiques. As users try to warm up kitchen spaces the move is back towards traditional kitchen designs and styles, which demand real materials to create the look and feel that the spirit longs for. Thanks to Caesarstone, Decorex and Bulthaup for these great concepts.

W www.interslab.co.za W www.bulthaup.com W www.thebereed.co.za/decorex

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building systems roofing

Renewables industry leader chooses sustainable steel The sustainable pre-painted steel roof at a factory producing equipment for renewable energy generation has been constructed using Clean COLORBONDTM steel with ThermatechTM technology, a roofing material well known for its sustainable credentials. Pictures by: Subiaco When using steel roofing and cladding on a building close to the aggressive marine climatic zone, or within an industrial zone, you want to choose the right material with an established track record in providing long service life, up to four times that of standard materials. In addition, you want a product that has a superior performance paint system (BlueScope’s in-house designed Super Polyester) with a high solar reflective index (SRI), that will keep building’s occupants and its contents cool under the hot African sun. The SRI is widely used by green building rating tools to mitigate the urban heat island effect. The designers of the new GRI Renewable Industries wind turbine factory in Atlantis, Western Cape, specified a customised blue colour Clean COLORBONDTM steel with ThermatechTM technology as roofing and cladding on their impressive new 12 000m2 building. GRI Renewable Industries in South Africa is part of the Corporación Gestamp, a

multinational group that supplies major equipment for the renewable energy industry. The building was designed and constructed by Dombo du Plessis and Partners. Commenting on the project, Wayne Miller, BlueScope’s General Manager in southern Africa said, ‘This is a milestone project for BlueScope in South Africa. For a renewable energy business to choose Clean COLORBONDTM steel to specification AZ150 and request a customised colour is a strong endorsement of our brand’s sustainable/ green credentials. What is significant in the case of the GRI building is the industry that it represents. BlueScope is committed to continual improvement of environmental performance and the efficient use of natural resources’. Miller adds that the solar reflectance technology found in Clean COLORBOND™ steel lowers the surface temperature by absorbing less heat from The very large Eskom-owned 1 300 MW ‘Ankerlig’ open cycle gas turbine power plant is closely located and ironically uses copious fossil fuel.

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the sun. ‘Thermatech™ optimises the thermal performance of every colour in the standard Clean COLORBOND™ steel and Clean COLORBOND™ Ultra steel palettes, without changing their appearance. This provides greater thermal comfort all year round while using less energy for air-conditioning and hence mitigating the UHI effect,’ he points out. ‘In addition, our products outstanding dirt resistance property ensures the roof looks newer for longer. This also assists with cooling.’ Ironically, the very large Eskom-owned 1 300 MW ‘Ankerlig’ open cycle gas turbine power plant is closely located and uses copious fossil fuel, especially when run at full capacity to supplement the national grid to minimise load shedding. Wind generated power, as promised by the GRI factory, presents the complete opposite. Recently, Clean COLORBONDTM steel was also used for the roofing of the acclaimed, LEED Platinum rated Hotel Verde near Cape Town airport (another successful green application), and at the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) in Bellville. At the GRI building, a customised deep blue colour, called Young Blue, was requested to match standard RAL 5010 (also known as Gentian Blue.) At intervals, the blue surface colour is broken by the inclusion by panels of Clean COLORBONDTM steel in palette colour, African White. To the eye, the stunning finished roof echoes the blue Atlantic Ocean, a mere 6km away from the Atlantis Green Technology Industrial Park where the factory is located. The factory itself covers an area of 12 000m2 but with the inclusion of wall cladding made from the same material, the

total Clean COLORBONDTM steel used was close to 24 500m2. The steelwork on site was by Lemco Structural Steel. The roofing and cladding was formed by Cape Town experts, Youngman Roofing. According to the company’s Stef du Toit, the project was a very special to be involved with. ‘The building itself is tall at five stories (17m) and has a breath-taking length of 330m. The panels were manufactured in the Widek profile, which is similar to IBR, but with extended cover width. Sheets were made to length at upwards of 22m. This is exceptionally long and special transport arrangements had to be made to bring these to site,’ he recalls. ‘We were conscious of the BlueScope ethos of waste minimisation. Wastage was kept to the minimum in our factory during manufacturing, as well as during the installation process as per Lemco. This was done not only to reduce cost but also with an eye on the environment,’ he adds. ‘BlueScope is our preferred roof sheeting material supplier because of the quality of materials on offer, superb back-up and all-round service, as well as being on the foreground of product development,’ du Toit concludes.

BlueScope Steel Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd Wayne Miller T +27 21 442 5420 E wayne.miller@bluescope.com W www.bluescope.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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JCP Roofing advertorial

Delivering excellence Although the ‘new kid’ on the block, JCP Roofing is rapidly building a reputation for service excellence, quality and fast turnaround times. Despite only recently entering the roofing market, JCP Roofing has no shortcomings when it comes to experience. Thanks to our loyal and experienced staff, JCP Roofing has made a major impact in the market, supplying customers with impressive lead times, superb service, and very competitive prices. Working with only state-of the-art machinery, we profile IBR and corrugated material surprisingly fast with excellent profile qualities that compare with the best in the industry. We carry out bullnosing to specification and have a reputation of delivering top quality bullnoses, thanks to our qualified engineer who ensures all measurements meet specification. JCP Roofing’s aim for the future is to continue providing customers with the same excellent service they’ve grown accustomed to. We are dedicated to treating all orders with the same importance, whether large or small. JCP Roofing is planning to grow steadily and become one of South Africa’s household names in the roof sheeting industry. We truly believe that very soon JCP Roofing will be setting the standards in the market with the excellent quality and service for which we are known.

Trade secrets One of JCP Roofing’s trade secrets is that we carry large amounts of stock to ensure levels are always high enough to meet our customers’ demands. We stock Chromadek® in all the available colours,

and also hold a wide variety of colours in pre-painted AZ150 material, in 0.5mm, 0.58mm and 0.8mm thicknesses. Although we have high demands for coloured material, we are also dedicated to servicing the galvanised market. We stock galvanised sheets in 0.4mm, 0.5mm, 0.58 and 0.8mm thicknesses. For the less common requirements, we stock 0.5mm and 0.58mm AZ150 Galvalume, which tops off our variety of products.

JCP Steel Supplies JCP Steel Supplies, the founding company of JCP Roofing, has specialised in pre-painted flat sheet products and Chromadek® since 1992. With 22 years’ experience, JCP Steel has been setting the pace in the flat-sheet industry. The company’s directors are the driving force and knowledge behind the new roofing venture, and they have full confidence that JCP Roofing will achieve and maintain the service levels set by JCP Steel Supplies for so many years.

JCP Roofing T +27 11 814 1898 E ruan@jcproofing.co.za.co.za W www.jcproofing.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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SAINT GOBAIN WEBER_fcp.indd 1

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security & safety building systems

Open IP video platform launched A global diversified technology and industrial leader has launched its P2000 Video Management System, adding analytics functionality. Picture by: Johnson Controls Building Efficiency Africa Johnson Controls has launched the P2000 Video Management System (VMS), an open IP video platform for video management, video analytics, system integration, and alarm management. The P2000 VMS installs on standard commercial off-the-shelf hardware and software platforms, and supports IP and analogue cameras from multiple manufacturers. It is a welcome addition for P2000 Security Management System users who have, until now, had to integrate third-party VMS and analytics solutions. ‘CCTV systems and analytics are critical components of integrated security systems. While the P2000 security management systems is built on open systems and is recognised for its ability to integrate third-party solutions, organisations have often not been able to exploit the full functionality of third-party VMS systems. In addition, many VMS systems do not offer analytics, which has required investment in additional software. The P2000 VMS is feature rich and offers built in analytics,’ explains Neil Cameron from Johnson Controls. The P2000 VMS is highly scalable and provides tools for simplified, centralised deployment across multiple buildings and campuses. An intelligent, easy-to-use interface provides intelligent information, enabling comprehensive investigation of incidents and real-time response. User interface features include a dynamic, deep-linked site map; alarm notification and response log; a customisable display; multiple pan/ tilt/zoom control options; and PC, web, and various mobile clients. Integration with the P2000 Security Management System allows operators to control all their security platforms from a single location, such as access control, intercom, intrusion detection, and video. Operators can see all their alarms, view live or recorded video, and create scripted actions for events. Three recording server editions – Standard, Professional and Enterprise – facilitate different sizes and types of implementations.

• The Standard Edition for single server video systems supports an unlimited number of cameras and offers robust video recording features. Optional video analytics packages are available. • The Professional Edition for multi-server video systems adds third-party system integration and alarm management capabilities, creating a centralised system for security administration, intelligence, and response. • The Enterprise Edition is for high-availability video systems. It incorporates all the capabilities of Standard and Professional and adds features for mission-critical sites, such as the use of video walls, server farms, and automatic server failover.

Video analytics Video analytics increases efficiencies and return on investment, turning passive video data into proactive security and business intelligence. Features include motion detection, camera signal loss detection, and camera obstruction detection. More advanced analytics functionality includes alerts when there is activity in designated restricted zones, automatic license plate recognition, dwell time and loitering alerts, and people and vehicle counting. ‘The additional functionality the P2000 VMS offers, and its seamless integration with the P2000 Security Management System, means P2000 customers now have end-to-end security functionality,’ says Cameron. The P2000 VMS is now available in South Africa. The product is supported by the Johnson Controls development team.

Johnson Controls Building Efficiency Africa Neil Cameron T +27 11-9217141 W www.johnsoncontrols.com issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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security & safety building systems

Aerosol fire suppression FSD, a Cape Town based company with a substantial presence in Gauteng, offers complete active and passive fire protection solutions. Picture by: FSD The Cape Town office of FSD is a major official distributor of UTC product lines, notably Ziton, while an extensive range of passive fire stopping and intumescent coating products are available from both its centres in Cape Town and Gauteng. The company holds the sole distribution agency for the Nullifire passive fire stopping and intumescent coatings range.

Modern, safe fire suppression Recently, FSD launched its own range of aerosol fire suppression generators based on S-Type Strontium Nitrate suppression technology. FSD aerosol fire suppression generators are environmentally friendly, have a 10-year product shelf life, are constructed from high-grade stainless steel and can be used for protection of class A, B, C and E fire risks. In the US, the EPA has approved condensed aerosol fire suppression systems as acceptable substitutes for Halon 1301. Hence, these systems are environmentally friendly and do not contribute to global warming, they have 0% GWP (global warming potential), as well as having no negative impact on the ozone layer – 0% ODP (ozone depletion potential). Aerosol fire suppression is a particle-based form of fire extinction. While it is similar to gaseous fire suppression or dry chemicals, it also has some unique features. ‘FSD aerosol fire extinguishing agent contains fine Strontium Nitrate solid particles and gaseous matter. First generation aerosol generators make use of Potassium Nitrate micro particles. FSD’s second generation S-Type aerosol generators are more advanced with faster discharge times, lower discharge temperatures, in some cases less than half that of Potassium Nitrate based aerosol units, and are effective for extinguishing class A fires with a low coverage concentration of 100g/m²,’ explains FSD’s Corné White. Until discharged from the device, the compound within the device is solid. As the agent is condensed within the device it transforms to vapour when released and is discharged as solid micro particles. The condensed aerosol micro particles and effluent gases are released by the heat of the fire and

initiate a chemical reaction that interferes with the mechanism of the fire. Significantly, aerosol fire suppression neutralises the fire by chemically stopping the chain reaction of heat, fuel and oxygen. However, the method also helps to cool the fire (removal of heat) and isolate the flames from their fuel source (starvation of fuel). All FSD aerosol fire suppression generators are CE marked, third party European approved to CEN/ TR 15276-1:2009, and have recently received their IP67 rating.

Advantages • • • • • • • • • •

Extremely cost effective 10-year shelf life Environmentally friendly Safe for humans and animals Non-corrosive and non-conductive Compact to install, no pipe work required and no external storage room required Non-pressurised and no pressure testing required 0% ozone depletion potential 0% global warming potential CE & IP67 marked and CEN/TR 15276-1:2009 approved.

Applications • • • • • • • • • •

Server rooms/data centres MCC rooms/MCC cabinets Electrical cabinets Engine bays/in-board marine engine bays Containerised data centres Telecoms rooms and telecoms containers Fuel storage/underground storage areas Floor voids and ceiling voids Cable tunnels and cable voids CNC machinery

Fire and Security Distributors Corné White T +27 21 510 5258 E admin@fire-and-security.co.za W www.fire-and-security.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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building systems walls & cladding

Rebuilding the walls of Christchurch ‘It’s a bit like Lego’ – South African building professionals are making a unique contribution on the global construction stage. Picture by: Kane Goode - Pinterest In New Zealand, Canterbury is being rebuilt following the devastating earthquakes four years ago. Rebuilding Greater Christchurch is one of the biggest economic undertakings in New Zealand’s history. New Zealand’s Building and Housing Minister, Dr Nick Smith, describes the scale of the residential rebuild in Christchurch as unprecedented. Up to 70% of the city’s buildings needed to be demolished and nearly 11 000 homes were uninhabitable or destroyed. As many as 155 000 homes needed to be repaired or rebuilt. With the help of a migrant workforce, Canterbury is slowing moving forward. To date, about 200 buildings have gone up, or are in the process of construction. The city’s earthquake damaged roads, fresh water, wastewater and storm water networks are 65% complete. Good progress has also been made to repair and rebuild the 155 000 destroyed homes. Pretoria-based Immigration New Zealand spokesperson, Dan Smidt, said that South Africans are highly sought for the R350-billion rebuild thanks to their professionalism, broad skills mix and experience. South African quantity surveyor, Chris Reyneke, who moved from Durban with his wife, said that his Kiwi counterparts do not always share his experience with construction contracts, and this is where he can offer additional value. ‘Before the Christchurch earthquake NEC3 contracts (New Engineering Contract) were common in South Africa but not used in New Zealand. In quantity surveying, this experience is a substantial and sought-after edge – even within the multinational community we have here,’ he points out. ‘It is unquestionably a once in a lifetime opportunity to help a city destroyed by an earthquake to rise

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from the ashes. There are cutting-edge construction methods happening on almost every corner – from jet grouting to deep soil mixing, and base isolating of buildings so that the building doesn’t shake during a quake (just the foundations). South African economist Simon Thompson works for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA). A strategic finance manager, Simon is involved in a number of the city’s anchor projects, including the new stadium, convention centre and the Metro Sports Facility. ‘My job is to ensure New Zealand’s Government gets the best bang for its buck and that projects are being managed properly and responsibly from a financial perspective. There’s a lot of planning up front – the construction is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the design and commercial strategy that has gone before,’ he maintains. ‘It’s a bit like Lego. The Lego blocks have to be planned and designed and instructions provided to make sure it all works when it comes time to build,’ says Simon, who studied a Bachelor of Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. ‘It’s pretty cool to be involved in rebuilding a city. We’re doing something that is going to last generations and we’ll be able to look at landmarks and tell our children “I did that”.’

Dan Smidt Immigration New Zealand (Pretoria) T +27 12 435 9040 E daniel.smidt@mbie.govt.nz W www.newzealandnow.govt.nz W www.canterbury.eqc.govt.nz

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walls & cladding building systems

Customise Your Interior You’d be forgiven for thinking that all wall finishes are extremely costly. A newly available product, Fabricmate, has a unique offering in superior quality at a more affordable price. Pictures by: Aluglass Bautech Aluglass Bautech is the proud South African supplier of Fabricmate wall finishing solutions, which offer acoustic and aesthetic appeal among many other benefits. These absorption panels are internationally recognised for their superior quality and wide range of colour schemes. In addition, they are environmentally friendly. Fabricmate wall finishes are available in an array of Vulcan fabrics, or customers can provide their own upholstery that matches their interior décor. The acoustic panels are quick and easy to install and offer an immediately noticeable difference in the balance of acoustics in a room, while creating an aesthetic appeal by way of the finished product design.

Benefits of using wall finishing Fabricmate has a unique offering in superior quality for a more affordable price. Once you’ve decided on the fabric of your choice, installation is extremely swift and addresses many interior environmental issues you might have previously experienced. Fabricmate wall finishes are often chosen for the following reasons, to name but a few: • Acoustical surfaces are improved, which naturally enhances the way that sound travels around your room • Privacy is heightened • Speech intelligibility is also enhanced, which is particularly advantageous for families and those who love to entertain • Sound reverberation is minimised • Noise levels are reduced – highly relevant for those living in complexes, flats or cluster homes • Wall maintenance costs are also reduced and your need to fill empty wall space with artwork or accessories becomes insignificant.

How do wall finishes fit a room? The finished product is custom designed for your specific needs. Each absorption panel is created with a track system that custom fits your space from the wall of the screen to the back wall of your room. It will contour and shape to fit against any architectural details to ensure that the sound quality offered is impeccable. Create a unique, cost-effective, custom-designed appeal for any room in your home or office and enjoy the benefits of enhanced acoustics at the same time.

Where are absorption panels used? Absorption panels are used anywhere where intelligibility and acoustics are important. These areas include: • Conference rooms • Meeting and board rooms • Audio, command and control centres • Homes • Home theatres • Classrooms – schools and universities • Libraries • Hospitality – restaurants, rooms and passages • Hallways and corridors • Gyms and multi-purpose rooms • Lobbies and reception rooms • Offices • Auditorium and theatres • Places of worship

Aluglass Bautech Svenja Johannsen C 083 3254495 E svenja@aluglass.co.za W www.aluglass.co.za/ issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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083 277 8597 vitto@italdoors.co.za www.italdoors.co.za

Italdoors imports a wide range of quality Italian ISO 9001 certified and green approved, pre-finished and assembled interior doors distributed to both the domestic and commercial market throughout Africa. The company has a series of doors that meets the design needs of modern interiors. Italdoors offers economical doors that are manufactured in hollow core and CONTACTS: CONTACTS: solidCatania doorCatania panel structure. TheCellphone Rubicone door Range has a laminated melamine veneered finish. VittorioVittorio Cellphone no: 083no: 277 083 8597 277 8597 Email: Email: vitto@italdoors.co.za vitto@italdoors.co.za ItaldoorsItaldoors imports aimports wide range a wideofrange qualityofItalian qualityISO Italian 9001ISOcertified 9001 certified and green andapproved, green approved, pre-finished pre-finished and assembled and assembled interior doors interiordistributed doors distributed to both the to both the domesticdomestic and commercial and commercial market throughout market throughout Africa. The Africa. company The company has a series has aofseries doors ofthat doors meets thatthe meets design theneeds designofneeds modern of modern interiors.interiors. ItaldoorsItaldoors offers offers economical economical doors that doors are manufactured that are manufactured in hollowincore hollow andcore solidand doorsolid panel door structure. panel structure. The Rubicone The Rubicone door Range doorhave Range a laminated have a laminated melamine melamine veneeredveneered finish. finish. This is our Thismost is our economical most economical and bestand selling bestdoor selling range. doorFour range. colours Four available colours available on special on promotion special promotion Moka, White, Moka,Italian White,walnut,white Italian walnut,white oak. Theoak. Italdoors The Italdoors frame and frame architrave and architrave wraps around wrapsthe around unfinished the unfinished wall reveal walland reveal has and counter has adjustments counter adjustments to balance to balance the door the anddoor frame andif frame the reveal if theisreveal not straight is not within straight within tolerances. tolerances. The installation The installation system issystem fast and is fast tidy,and andtidy, can and be installed can be installed after all floor after and all floor walland finishes; wall finishes; thereforetherefore there arethere no snags are notosnags doors toand doors frames. and frames.

RUBICONE

Single Leaf and Double Leaf. Door sizes 2100mm and 2400mm height

RUBICONE RUBICONE Single Leaf Single andLeaf Double andLeaf. Double Door Leaf. sizes Door 2100mm sizes 2100mm and 2400mm and 2400mm height height

Rubicone Rubicone Rubicone Gallia - Glass Gallia - Glass Gallia - Glass White White White

Rubicone Rubicone Rubicone Bunga - Bunga Glass - Glass Bunga - Glass White Oak White Oak White Oak

Rubicone Rubicone Rubicone Gallia Gallia Gallia Moka Moka Moka

Rubicone Rubicone Rubicone Gallia Gallia Gallia Italian Walnut Italian Walnut Italian Walnut

LINEARLINEAR Single Leaf Single andLeaf Double andLeaf. Double Door Leaf. sizes Door 2100mm sizes 2100mm and 2400mm and 2400mm height height Ital doors_dps.indd 2

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he ers sh. ors hin s.

This is our most economical and best selling door range. Four colours available on special promotion Moka, White, Italian walnut, white oak. The Italdoors door frame and architrave wraps around the unfinished wall reveal and has counter adjustments to balance the door and frame if the reveal is not straight within tolerances. The installation system is fast and tidy, and can be installed after all floor and wall finishes; therefore there are no snags to doors and frames.

LINEAR

Single Leaf and Double Leaf. Door sizes 2100mm and 2400mm height

LINEAR 30|31

LINEAR 32|33

Linear scorrevole air Noce nazionale grigio Grey italian walnut

Quasar XL

Scorrevole interna Vetro trasparente Trasparent glass

Alluminio argento opaco Silver matt aluminium

Linear scorrevole air close Rovere decapĂŠ bianco White oak decapĂŠ

Linear

Linear Sliding Door

Corona Wenge

Corona White Oak

Grey Italian walnut

White Oak

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building systems windows & doors

Lakeview Hospital, Benoni, upgrades to uPVC Double glazing installed in maternity ward ensures occupants are given a peaceful and relaxed stay. Picture by: Rehau REHAU authorised partner, Moonstar, recently installed double glazed REHAU uPVC windows and French doors in the new maternity ward at the Lakeview Hospital, Benoni, Gauteng. The client requested that REHAU uPVC windows be used for their energy efficiency and sound reducing characteristics.

To architect’s requirement Moonstar coated the uPVC profiles grey as required by the architect, proving once again that REHAU uPVC windows is the system of choice for any application. ‘REHAU uPVC windows ensure that the temperatures inside the ward remain fairly constant, thus less electricity is used for heating or cooling the interior,’ states Tony O’Neill, Commercial Manager for windows at REHAU.

Double glazed The double glazing not only reduces electricity consumption, but also reduces outside noise so

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that mothers and babies are kept in a relaxed and peaceful environment. Moonstar’s Fatih Oz affirmed that the building profession in South Africa, as well as building owners, were increasingly turning to REHAU uPVC windows, either single or double glazed, to enhance their quality of life. ‘Specified for their energy savings, sound reduction, safety and durability, these window systems are rapidly becoming the window system of choice.’

Fact File Location: Benoni, East Rand, Gauteng System: REHAU uPVC window system Special Features: REHAU uPVC window profiles installed because of energy efficiency and sound reduction properties. The window profiles where coated grey as specified by the architect.

REHAU Polymer (Pty) Ltd T + 27 1 201 1300 C +27 (0)82 809 7206 E theda.botes@rehau.com

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TO BUILD Plan, Design, Build, Interior & Exterior DĂŠcor

MATERIALS Adhesives.........................................114 Polymers.........................................117 Bricks & Paving.............................119 Cement & Concrete.....................122 Coatings.........................................127 Insulation.......................................128 Timber ...............................................131

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materials adhesives

New furniture adhesive launched Worldwide manufacturer, Henkel, launches new web portal about adhesives for furniture and building components. Picture by: Henkel Adhesives for furniture and building components is a multi-layered field with several influencing factors that include application methods, materials and bonding technologies. Henkel has launched a global web platform bundling all relevant information about adhesives for furniture and building components. The new website www.henkel-adhesives.com/ furniture-building-components comprises an in-depth application know-how, Henkel’s technology portfolio for woodworking operations, training and technical services, as well as the ‘Henkel House’, an interactive feature showing typical applications and technologies within a house.

Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business areas: Laundry & Home Care, Beauty Care, and Adhesive Technologies. Founded in 1876, Henkel holds leading global market positions both in the consumer and industrial sectors with well-known brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite. Henkel employs almost 50 000 people and, in 2014, reported sales of 16.4-billion and adjusted operating profit of 2.6-billion. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX.

Fully responsive website

Henkel AG & Co GmbH Kerstin Paschen T +49 211 797-4858 E kerstin.paschen@henkel.com W www.henkel-adhesives.com

Besides its service character and user-friendliness, the new website also meets current technology standards, demonstrated by responsive web design that is fully optimised for tablets, smartphones and PCs.

About Henkel Millions of people around the world use Henkel’s brands and technologies every day. According to its corporate mission, the company’s products are its core business and this is where it sees itself making the biggest difference. “This is why we are strongly focused on creating more value for our customers and consumers through innovative solutions and education. Our products should deliver better performance while saving resources and lowering environmental impacts. This is an all-around approach that takes the entire business process – from the sourcing of our raw materials right up to the disposal of packaging – into account.” The chemical industry is an energy-intensive one, and Henkel is constantly working toward improving efficiency within its global operations. In 2010, the company set out to reduce its energy use by 15 percent per production unit by 2015. By the end of 2014, the company had already reduced energy use by 20 percent per production unit. (Source: http://www.henkel.com/newsroom )

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polymers materials

Recycling PVC waste from hospitals The rising costs of healthcare waste management in SA, and worldwide, are forcing hospitals and clinics to rethink the way in which they deal with their waste. Picture by: SAVA The Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA), under the leadership of CEO, Delanie Bezuidenhout, is facilitating a paradigm shift via a recycling programme at hospitals and clinics where hazardous waste is separated from non-hazardous material and PVC is recovered for recycling. ‘This industry uses safe, high-performance PVC that is highly recyclable. Much of it never makes contact with patients but is thrown away indiscriminately because of over-cautious bio waste control practices,’ Delanie explains. According to SAVA, the aging population is expected to drive the use of medical polymers from 4 901 kilotonnes (kt) in 2013 to 7 149 kt by 2020. That equates to a compound annual growth of 5.6%. ‘We also expect that conventional materials, such as glass and metal, will be replaced by highperformance polymers, increasing the use of PVC and polypropylene in hospitals,’ she adds. ‘PVC is a versatile polymer that can be used for anything from a rigid application, such as piping, to soft applications, such as IV bags, tubing and oxygen masks in hospitals. Even inflatable splints, blister packs for medicines, and flooring are PVC products,’ Delanie points out. ‘A large amount PVC products can be diverted from landfill or recycled into a variety of new materials, such as shoe soles, pipes, hoses, door mats, gum boots and traffic cones. ‘Four years ago, when we first introduced the idea of recycling hospital waste, our suggestions were not well received and the idea of diverting a significant amount of that waste – separated from healthcare risk waste – seemed far-fetched. Luckily, attitudes have changed and waste management professionals are realising the benefits and seeing a change in the way healthcare risk waste is managed. Hospital administrators and staff are thinking about increasing separation and diversion to reduce costs and the impact on the environment. It’s a fact that the disposal of hazardous healthcare waste is costly. On the other hand, implementing a country-wide initiative to divert reusable PVC

materials from hospitals is expensive. However, based on international case studies it’s possible to extrapolate that the move towards greater PVC recycling can be cost neutral for hospitals,’ Delanie says. Realising the benefits that can be unlocked from the project, a private hospital group has offered SAVA its full support and agreed to test the pilot project at two of its hospitals in the Western Cape. ‘We have just completed the initial scoping questionnaires at both hospitals, which gave us a good idea of the amount of material that could be recycled, as well as a baseline from which to work. We visited both hospitals and met their senior managers to explain our project and our on-going involvement. The next step is to train their staff about the materials that can be recycled and how to separate the materials effectively. We are confident about rolling out our pilot PVC recycling project to other hospitals in 2016.’

SAVA E delanie@savinyls.co.za W www.savinyls.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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materials polymers

Polymer Associations host successful AGM’s Big challenges in recycling and big idea responses characterise the annual general meetings of two parallel but unrelated polymer industry associations. Here To Build reports on the highlights of the SAVA and POLYCO annual general meetings. The South African Vinyls Association (SAVA) ‘Last year was one of the most challenging years our industry has faced. Despite prolonged industrial action, very low economic growth and some political disarray, our members have managed to hold firm to their commitment of ensuring the responsible and sustainable use of PVC as was pledged with the signing of the Product Stewardship Programme (PSP),’ said SAVA’s CEO, Delanie Bezuidenhout. SAVA has succeeded in shifting perceptions with regards to the safety of PVC, its recyclability and green credentials via ongoing efforts and engaging with stakeholders. Highlights of the association’s successes this past year include: • Exhibiting at the 7th Annual Green Building Convention hosted by The Green Building Council South Africa at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Delegates were informed about the removal of the MAT-7 PVC minimisation clause from all Green Star Rating Tools, the versatility of vinyl used in building and construction and aimed to correct misconceptions. • Presenting at the WASTECON 2014 Conference in Somerset West, during which SAVA explained its plans for the recovery and recycling of non-hazardous PVC waste from the healthcare environment. • Hosting the bi-annual meeting of the Global Vinyls Council (GVC) on October 21, 2014, followed by a hugely successful Vinyls SA 2014 Conference in the same month which attracted more than 100 delegates who were treated to a full and varied programme of original papers. ‘However, we realise that we cannot afford to rest on our laurels as more and more substances are being restricted on a global basis and the pressure of compliance is mounting. To demonstrate that we are serious about meeting our recycling targets and the objective we have set ourselves with the PSP, various new projects and initiatives are already

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underway. These will have significant impact on the amount of PVC being sent to landfill this coming year,’ Bezuidenhout concluded.

The Polyolefin Recycling Company NPC (POLYCO) POLYCO’s CEO, Mandy Naudé, welcomed the audience to the second AGM since she took over the association’s reigns in January last year. ‘This time last year we had a vision and big ideas of what we wanted to accomplish in the months ahead to truly impact the recycling industry in South Africa. Looking back, we can say with pride that we have managed to meet the objectives we set ourselves, and have learnt so much along the way.’ Naudé explained that the past year has been a year of both consolidation and growth. ‘We focused on putting vital business processes and infrastructure in place, and establishing a small, but permanent resource team that allows the POLYCO brand to be introduced to an eagerly awaiting industry. Once that was done, we focused our efforts on implementing our project funding support programme, communicating the positive impact of polyolefin recycling, establishing networks within industry and government, and facilitating linking collectors and recyclers to grow recycling volumes,’ she said. The biggest impact POLYCO has made to the South African recycling industry since its inception two years ago, has undoubtedly been investing R17-million in the recycling value chain, which will unlock new volumes of 48 000 tonnes over the next three years, as well as creating 558 formal and 3 750 informal jobs.

South African Vinyls Association SAVA W www.savinyls.co.za Polyolefin Recycling Company NPC POLYCO W www.polyco.co.za

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bricks & paving materials

Above: The firewall, constructed of Corobrik’s clay face bricks, withstood a six-hour fire which effectively saved a warehouse in Mobeni, south of Durban. Above right: Here an in-fill has broken from the original wall as a result of the mortar breaking away. The bricks have maintained their structural integrity.

Warehouse saved from inferno A firewall constructed of clay face bricks made by Corobrik protected a warehouse from being consumed in a devastating industrial fire. Pictures by: Corobrik In the early hours of March 26, a fire broke out at the Sun Oil warehouse in Mobeni, south of Durban. The fire, which lasted approximately six hours, threatened to spread to the adjacent Kansai Plascon warehouse but was contained by the building’s six-metre high firewall. Wayne Usher, from Walker Smith Architects, and Jim Martin, from Martin & Associates Consulting Engineers, inspected the wall after the fire. Usher explained that firewalls are commonly used to separate larger buildings into smaller areas or, as in this instance, to separate buildings on different sites from each other to prevent the spread of fire. ‘This is particularly important where there is no building line and it is permitted to build right up to a boundary,’ Usher explained. ‘As a passive means of fire protection these walls are invaluable as they are relatively cheap to install, require little to no maintenance and, as evidenced here, work very effectively in stopping the rapid spread of fire.’ Fire walls can be provided with ratings from 30 minutes – which is typically a single-skin brick wall of 110mm, up to 120 minutes – which is usually a double skin brick wall of 230mm, as in this case in Mobeni. These walls are constructed from hollow concrete blocks, cement bricks or clay bricks. ‘I believe one of the main reasons this wall withstood an intense fire for six hours without failing

was that it was constructed from clay brick and not one of the other options,’ Usher points out. ‘This is because of the manufacturing process – clay bricks are fired in a kiln at temperatures well over 1 000°C.’ He adds that the wall is leaning over following the fire because the mortar used to bind the bricks degenerated during the fire. However, it didn’t fall because of the sturdy bricks. This section of the wall can be rebuilt using the same bricks. ‘It is in intense fire conditions like these where the fire resistant qualities of clay brickwork really come to the fore. The incombustible qualities of fired clay bricks aside, equally important are the mineral properties of clay brick, recognised for meeting the necessary requirements for healthy living. Clay bricks play their environmental part, too, assuring no release of volatile organic compounds or toxic fumes that impinge on air quality under fire conditions,’ comments Peter Kidger, Director of Marketing at Corobrik.

Corobrik (Pty) Ltd Peter Kidger T 031 560 3111 W www.corobrik.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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FOR ALL YOUR CLAY FACE BRICK REQUIREMENTS

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BUILDING IT

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bricks & paving materials

Adding lustre at new shopping centre Dry-pressed flagstone pavers and dry-pressed cobble pavers have been used to enhance the walkways at Jean Crossing, a recently completed shopping centre situated off Jean Avenue in Centurion. Picture by: Aveng Infraset Precast concrete manufacturer, Aveng Infraset, has supplied its newly-launched Villa, a dry-pressed flagstone paver, and York Cobble, a dry-pressed cobble paver for the construction of the walkways at Jean Crossing. The recently completed shopping centre is situated off Jean Avenue in Centurion, Gauteng. A total of 2 460m² Villa pavers and 405m² of York Cobble pavers were specified for the project. In addition, the open car park, which flanks the centre, was paved with 22 500m² of Aveng Infraset’s interlocking G-Blok pavers and ±2 000m² of York Cobbles, the latter being used to demarcate a pedestrian walkway through the car park. The pavers were specified by JL Design Architects and the paving contract was awarded to Pave Corner to Corner by the project’s main contractor and developer, Mike Buyskes Construction. According Aveng Infraset landscape products sales manager, Brennan Small, this is the first time that both pavers have been used on a major project. ‘It was also the first time that Villa flagstones and York Cobbles had been combined in a single project,’ he adds. The paving product mix comprised 2 250m² Villa Marble (250 x 500 x 60mm), which were combined with 210m² Villa Tan pavers (250 x 250 x 60mm). Additionally, 405m2 of York Cobbles in grey and charcoal were used for flower bed edging and as accent-lines between the Villa pavers. Hennie Langeveld of Pave Corner to Corner says the Villa flagstone and York cobble combination offered an aesthetically pleasing finish and was more cost-effective than a wet cast paving alternative. ‘The architects were impressed with what we achieved on this project and complimented Pave Corner to Corner and Mike Buyskes Construction on our combined input. The fact that Pave Corner to Corner also enjoys a good relationship with Aveng Infraset, which provides us with excellent personal and back-up service, was an added bonus,’ he comments.

Combinations of Aveng Infraset’s Villa flagstone and York Cobble pavers

Small says Villa and York Cobble pavers are manufactured at Aveng Infraset’s new Masa plant at Rossway, Midrand. ‘Masa is one of the world’s most technically advanced paving and retaining block plant manufacturers and our plant has introduced new, and in many instances, unique product options for landscape architects and other construction professionals. In addition to the Villa and York Cobble ranges, it has extended our landscape product offering to include exposed aggregate pavers and kerbs. Moreover, the plant has also been used to upgrade our existing landscape paving range,’ Small concludes. The state-of-the-art plant includes steel production pallets for enhanced vibration transference, in-line washing and sealing, ageing and waving techniques, and a specially-insulated curing chamber. It also boasts a new colour blending facility that is faster and more accurate than earlier generation blenders.

Aveng Infraset Brennan Small/Helmut Werhmann T +27 12 652 0000 W www.infraset.com issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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materials cement & concrete

Concrete innovation Daniel van der Merwe, from PPC, shares his passionate thinking with To Build about creating innovative designs with concrete. Daniel recently presented at a Trend Talk, organised by Lauren Shantall, at the Plascon Kansai Innovation Centre in Cape Town. In addition to his innovative role at PPC, Daniel is also President of the Gauteng Institute for Architecture.

Pic and design by: Mlonishwa Chiliza

Kitchen set.

The words ‘concrete’ and ‘innovation’ are seldom used in the same sentence. In fact, many people consider concrete to be a material that cannot advance further in its use. But this is not the case at all. There remain myths around concrete and its limitations, but with technology advancing at a rapid pace, corporations such as PPC Ltd have risen to the challenge of changing the perception of cement by fostering a space for innovation and trends from within. PPC has a dedicated innovation department that exists to research and promote the innovative use of cement and concrete.

in transmitting light through the concrete, thereby increasing its aesthetic appearance. With its distinct architectural and design appeal, some companies may look to involve light – transmitting concrete in more practical ways. Translucent concrete achieves maximum effect when it is used in an environment with a high degree of light contrast, such as an illuminated table in a dimly lit room. In Stockholm, for example, a project incorporating light transmitting concrete was used to light sidewalks at night. As more people begin to see its potential, translucent concrete may become more visible.

Translucent fabric, optic fibres and concrete

3D modelling and textile concrete formwork

Translucent concrete is a fibre reinforced concrete that is used for aesthetic application by incorporating optical fibres in concrete. The optical fibres help

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For those who are familiar with drywalls stabilised between two sheets of paper, concrete giving shape

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cement & concrete materials stabilised by fabric may not be something new… However, if the same concept is used to perhaps bend furniture and create whole walls instead of boards, the use of fabric may then define the shape of the concrete. The concrete pushes out with its weight, and the textile restrains and suggests a new shape for the concrete to take, also giving the shape a more flexible look and feel. Forward thinking architects are using 3D-modelled concrete formwork to blow the architectural field wide open. 3D-modelled concrete formwork is a process that involves software ability to create a three dimensional template with extreme detailing. This technology will ultimately transform the way in which buildings and sculptures are made.

Recycled concrete Recycled concrete is fast becoming a popular way to utilise any aggregate left behind when structures are demolished. The process of recycling concrete involves breaking, removing and crushing existing concrete into a material with a specified size and quality and, as more attention is given to environmental concerns, the use of recycled concrete also allows for the costs of construction to be kept down. Proving to be an important protector of natural resources, recycled concrete eliminates the need for disposal by using the readily available concrete as an aggregate source for new concrete or other applications such as polymer foam aggregate.

layered cement encourages and sustains the growth of specific mosses and lichens directly on the cement material. Given enough time, the vertical garden and living wall will be patterned with living greenery.

The silent evolution Concrete is being used in innovative ways to create cultural attractions. A project created by James de Caires Taylor consists of planting approximately 500 permanent life-sized sculptures in an ambitious underwater artificial art attraction. The project named ‘The Silent Evolution’ aims to demonstrate the interaction between art and environmental science, forming a complex reef structure for marine life to colonise, inhabit and increase biomass on a grand scale. With each sculpture made of specialised materials used to promote coral life, the total installation occupies an area of over 420m2 of barren seabed and weighs over 200 tons.

PPC Imaginarium PPC Ltd’s innovation department has engineered an ambitious concept to provide support to emerging talent in the South African art and design field. Unestablished artists and designers stand a chance to change their careers through financial support, recognition, mentorship and guidance by entering the 2015/2016 PPC Imaginarium Awards. See the Student Projects section of To Build at the back of the book for further information. Pic and artwork by: Chris van Rensburg

Pic and design by: Martin Bolton and Craig Tyndall

Loudspeaker closure.

Concrete fashion ring.

Organic concrete Organic concrete for ‘greener’ living is a fast-growing trend in urban gardening. The idea of plants growing in cement is exciting as it is a successful way in which to create a vertical garden and living wall. The cement garden captures rainwater, and the multi-

PPC Daniel van der Merwe E daniel.vandermerwe@ppc.co.za W www.ppc.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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117 Main Reef Road Technikon, Roodepoort, South Africa T. +27 11 760 6000 | chemplus.co.za E. info@chemplus.co.za

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cement & concrete materials

CMA Awards for Excellence competition The Concrete Manufacturers Association NPC (CMA) has announced that entries for its Awards for Excellence competition 2015/16 are now open. Major supplier of cement in Southern Africa, PPC, is the competition’s anchor sponsor.

Winners of the CMA’s 2012 Awards for Excellence competition.

According to Echo Group managing director, Monique Eggebeen who chairs the CMA’s Awards committee, the essential purpose of the awards is to recognise excellence in the use of precast concrete and to honour those professionally associated with its diverse applications. ‘This is the pinnacle event in the precast concrete construction calendar and it presents an outstanding opportunity for CMA members, both large and small, to showcase their products and to establish themselves as trendsetters in the use of precast concrete,’ says Eggebeen. The competition is open to everyone, providing the precast products entered for the competition are made by a CMA member. Entries must be submitted by no later than October 16, 2015. There are six award categories in this year’s competition: • Aesthetics Commercial • Aesthetics Residential (Private Single Dwellings) • Community Upliftment • Technical Excellence • Innovation • Precast for Life Entries will be judged on the contribution that precast concrete elements make in one or more of the

competition categories – the same project could be entered into more than one category. For example, a township paving project could contest in several, or all six categories. Six floating trophies will be presented to the manufacturers of the precast concrete elements in the nominated categories. In addition, commendation awards are made to three runners-up per category, providing that these entries meet the standards of the judges. Entry leaflets, which cover the rules of the competition, and entry forms can be downloaded at www.cma.org.za. Any queries regarding the competition should be referred to the organiser (details below). Trophies and commendation awards will be presented at a gala dinner ceremony taking place at Summerplace in Johannesburg, on April 23, 2016.

CMA John Cairns T +27 11 431 0727 C 079 884 7986 E jcpaving@gmail.com issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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coatings materials

Innovative new painting technology DuPont Titanium Technologies, the largest global manufacturer of titanium dioxide, is expanding its innovative product range throughout Africa. This allows importers in the African construction and automotive industries to join 90 other countries where the product range is offered. Picture by: DuPont Titanium Technologies According to Diego Negri, Business Manager for DuPont Titanium Technologies in Middle East and Africa, DuPont Titanium Technologies is highly optimistic about the growth of its coating business in the region. ‘As one of the fastest growing markets, Africa naturally plays an increasingly important role in our strategy to accelerate growth. We believe that Africa is a long-term gain and that we are the industries’ best option for securing long-term and high-quality titanium dioxide in the future. It’s a winwin,’ he says. Ti-Pure® One Coat™ is a collaborative approach that expands the limits of paint hiding power beyond what was previously possible – vanquishing old layers with just one coat. It combines unique technology with market insight, innovative Ti-Pure® products and formulation expertise. ‘The product is the result of conducting trial studies with painters throughout the world and truly understanding their needs,’ Negri adds. ‘Their insights have validated the preference for superior hiding in enhanced paints that deliver superior performance.’ Key to the Ti-Pure® One Coat™ approach is the recently formulated Ti-Pure® Select TS-6300 titanium dioxide, which is manufactured using DuPont’s proprietary chloride-base process that produces high-quality and high-performance pigments. Ti-Pure® Select TS-6300 is an impressive break-through in titanium dioxide technology globally – enabling paint

manufacturers to create formulations with superior hiding power in flat- and low-sheen coatings, in addition to optimal titanium dioxide efficiency,’ explains Negri. DuPont is known for its ability to integrate sustainability into its business strategies and operating principles. In this case, the company reduced the energy required to produce a unit of titanium dioxide by 30%, versus the 1990 baseline. ‘Our business’ central theme is sustainability. Over the past 20 years we have demonstrated a pattern of continuous improvement in our environmental performance.’ Last year, the company established a sub-Saharan Africa distribution centre to support the local coatings and plastics industry with faster and more effective distribution of its products throughout the region. DuPont Titanium Technologies is part of Chemours, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DuPont, which is on track to be separated from DuPont in mid-2015. This will create a new publicly traded company that is a global leader in chemicals.

DuPont Titanium Technologies Carol Maithufi T +27 79 494 0654 E carol.maithufi@chemours.com W www.ts6300.com issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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materials insulation

The merits of within cavity wall thermal insulation Mark Russel from Isoboard writes for To Build about the importance of insulating inside the cavity. Isoboard inside cavity wall

Picture by: Grant Hoffman If you are in the building sector as specifier, contractor, developer or new build customer, you will be aware of building regulations that require thermal protection in the roof to resist heat flows inwards in summer and outwards in winter. Given our modern building practices, this invariably means adding substantial amounts of insulation to the roofing system. Our countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s need to manage energy usage, as well as control emissions in terms of international protocols to which we are signatories, has led to the 2011 amendment to the National Building Regulations SANS 10400, section XA: Energy Usage in Buildings, as well as SANS 204:2011 Energy Efficiency in Buildings. The roof is considered the main source of heat gain or loss, and is specifically addressed in the regulations in terms of interventions required to reduce energy usage. Floors are only regulated and insulated where underfloor heating is planned. Low mass external walls, such as timber or steel framed structures, have stipulated minimum thermal resistance / R values to comply, dependant on climatic zones. Masonry walls generally meet the requirements of the regulations, and require no stipulated interventions such as insulation. However, there is a case to be made for including insulation in the wall cavity, even in a country with relatively moderate temperatures such as South Africa. The first consideration is that as the footprint size of houses becomes smaller, the ratio of roof to wall area decreases, making the walls more relevant in terms of heat flow in and out. Also, when houses get taller through the addition of extra floors, the wall area can far exceed the roof area. As houses rise taller above shading trees and shrubbery, walls are more susceptible to direct heat impingement, particularly on the east and west sides.

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Cavity wall insulation implies the inner masonry leaf is at internal temperature, rather than external temperature. The insulation increases the effect of the thermal mass of the bricks, causing the internal temperature to remain constant for longer. If you are heating or cooling within the home, the insulated walls help to maintain your desired temperature, and reduce the cost of the heating or cooling to achieve your comfortable home. Good thermal insulation also acts as a moisture barrier, preventing moisture transferring through the inner leaf. As the walls are warmer, condensation on the internal wall surface is eliminated. Cavity wall insulation comes into its own when a competent person performs a rational design to minimise the energy demand and usage of a particular building. Using cavity wall insulation reduces the heat flows sufficiently to allow the designer to perhaps reduce roof insulation and high-spec glazing interventions, which would otherwise be required if using the prescriptive route to satisfy the requirements of SANS 10400 XA. Beyond enabling considerable cost savings, performing a rational design allows the architect and client the freedom to have the design they want, which maximises the benefits of the site yet still minimises energy demand and usage. IsoBoard XPS is the ideal insulator for use within cavity walls, given the highest thermal and moisture resistance and particularly its durability. IsoBoard performs effectively for the life of the building, an important consideration when installing insulation that can never be replaced. The product is agreement certificated and advice is readily available from the suppliers.

Isoboard Mark Russel T +27 82 347 0186

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timber materials

Timber is not always a carbon sink A serious environmental issue in North America shows how the problem of carbon emission and global warming is not always solved by forestation. The presence of diseased forests, a serious threat to the natural landscape, presents an alternative threat. Words by: By Gareth Griffiths Decomposition of wood and other natural material is an important part of the global carbon cycle. However, there is a serious problem affecting the whole planet that occurs in North America, notably in Canada’s British Columbia, as well as in certain northern US States, including Colorado. Thanks to many decades of global increases in greenhouse gases, regions such as these have been experiencing warmer winters. In turn, this has led to a proliferation of mountain pine beetles, Dendroctonus Ponderosae (MPB), an endemic species traditionally killed off during cold winter months. However, they now have an increased lifespan through winter because temperatures are not dropping as low as in the past. The MPB is a small beetle – no larger than a grain of rice – that has a devastating effect. This beetle is said to kill trees by releasing a blue stain fungus that prevents the flow of water and other nutrients. It also affects the aesthetic quality of the timber. Canada was feted to lose over half its pine trees to the attacks of the MPB, and in the US between 2009 and 2010 beetle activity increased more than ten-fold, infesting 200 000 acres (80 000 hectares) on the Front Range – the foothills of the Rockies close to towns and cities. The result is that these areas are peppered with billions of dead, grey trees. Left standing, they will eventually either decay or burn in forest fires. In either

[ ] When an overload occurs, this leads to the release of CO2 from the soil with global implications occurring in ecosystems worldwide in such a magnitude thatit contributes significantly to the greenhouse effect.

case, they will release the carbon dioxide that they stored while growing. It’s been predicted that Canada’s total carbon footprint would swell from 2000 to 2020 by 2%. A healthy forest normally stores significant amounts of carbon. By killing off millions of acres of trees, which then decay or provide fuel for wildfires, the MPB has instead turned contorta pole pine forests into a source of carbon that is emitted into a greenhouse gas threatened atmosphere.

Shift to timber construction to keep the carbon trapped One established method of stabilising this situation is to accelerate the use of this dead timber in the construction industry. Indeed, by 2009, British Columbia’s parliament had passed an official act requiring wood to be considered as the primary construction material in all new buildings erected with public money. Additionally, forestry management methods have been changed to control this pest, including planting trees further apart and spraying with various approved chemicals. Sprays are applied to living green trees in early summer to kill or deter attacking beetles. Growing trees sequester large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. The carbon is utilised as plant nutrition and in turn oxygen is released into the atmosphere. An increase in biomass from the growth of forests (both above and below ground) provides a carbon sink. As long as the wood does not decompose, or is not burned or otherwise destroyed, the carbon is maintained in the wood and the wood continues to be a carbon sink. When an overload occurs, this leads to the release of CO2 from the soil with global implications occurring in ecosystems worldwide in such a magnitude that it contributes significantly to the greenhouse effect. The impact of the beetle is ironic in that one means of salvation of the planet’s climate can also be turned on its head to become a deadly threat.

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OUR NEXT FREE WORKSHOP IS ON

15 JULY

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TO BUILD Plan, Design, Build, Interior & Exterior DĂŠcor

SERVICES Engineering....................................139 Air Conditioning..........................142 Office Furniture............................145

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engineering services

Preventing soil erosion in KZN Geosynthetic and engineered fabric supplier, Kaytech, prevents soil erosion after major KZN pipeline construction. Pictures by: Kaytech As the largest pipeline project ever commissioned by eThekwini Municipality’s Water and Sanitation Unit, the Western Aqueduct has been designed to significantly increase the capacity of bulk water flowing from the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands to the greater Durban area. Kaytech’s SoilSaver played an important role in minimising soil erosion in this area. During the design of the Western Aqueduct, Naidu Consulting approached Kaytech regarding soil erosion protection for the many steep gradients and delicate grasslands through which Phase Two of the pipeline traverses. Once complete, this hilly 7km section will run from Alverstone Nek Reservoir to Ashley Road in Hillcrest. Environmentally-friendly SoilSaver was indisputably specified as the ideal solution to this challenging project. Manufactured by Kaytech from a biodegradable 100% jute yarn woven to form a 65% open mesh structure, SoilSaver not only effectively combats soil erosion by trapping surface soil particles but also conserves moisture and helps to prevent wind erosion. The open structure provides space for plant propagation and growth. According to strict environmental legislation, areas vulnerable to soil erosion must be rehabilitated to their former state once construction had taken place. With extensive experience installing SoilSaver, Rietvlei Landscape was awarded the contract and, since commencement of the project in October 2013, the company has installed 38 000m2 of SoilSaver.

Without the protection of SoilSaver on these steep gradients the increase in overall kinetic energy of the surface water run-off, especially during heavy precipitation, would quickly lead to severe erosion. Simple to install, SoilSaver is pegged down in close contact with topsoil, creating a more torturous path for surface water run-off. Within approximately two years, during which time vegetation will be reestablished, SoilSaver will undergo biodegradation and breakdown. Unlike many other natural materials that draw on the soil’s valuable nitrogenous reserves during decomposition, the fibrous residue from SoilSaver actually adds nutrients to the topsoil. SoilSaver is an economical, highly-versatile product that is suitable for use in numerous applications in any climatic conditions. It is supplied in highly-compressed bales comprising about twelve 84m2 laps, each of which can easily be carried up a slope by one person. Once completed this massive water pipeline is expected to supply eThekwini with up to 400 Megalitres per day, which should meet the region’s needs for the next 30 years. A highly successful project to date, the installation of SoilSaver has been problem-free and grass is already flourishing in some of the rehabilitated areas.

Kaytech Engineered Fabrics Garth James T +27 31 717 2300 E garth@kaytech.co.za W www.kaytech.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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services air conditioning

Managing ventilation strategies in hot climates Dr Chris Iddon CEng MCIBSE – Natural Ventilation Design Manager with SE Controls, explores the relationship between indoor air quality, temperature control, and energy management, and assesses how a more holistic approach to ventilation control and building design is already paving the way for more efficient and effective solutions. Picture by: SE Controls The technological, economic and environmental benefits of modern natural ventilation systems are well documented. The ability to move air through a building without exerting mechanical energy not only provides free cooling, but also a highly-effective method of maintaining good indoor air quality, removing pathogens and pollutants, and exhaled carbon dioxide. Concerns about global warming, energy use and the environment has inevitably had a wide-reaching influence on how energy consumption can be reduced by building services and systems, and on building design itself. Well-designed natural ventilation strategies incorporating air quality monitoring and control solutions are now widely used and relied upon to manage indoor air quality, temperature, occupant comfort levels and energy use by removing or reducing the need for mechanical ventilation and cooling. Yet, while these types of solution are routinely considered for temperate climates, with the right design and control systems there is no reason why natural ventilation can’t form part of a hybrid design solution in other climates.

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Hong Kong’s Science Park, which won the Grand Award at the international ‘Green Building Awards’ in November 2014, is using more than 2 000 of SE Controls’ window actuators to manage indoor air quality and provide natural ventilation within its buildings. This solution forms part of a suite of energysaving technologies, including automatic actuation of natural ventilation openings to provide fresh air and cooling when external conditions are appropriate.

Natural ventilation for cooling When the outside air temperature is lower than the internal temperature, natural ventilation can be used to cool by bringing fresh cooler air in to replace the hot stale air. In hot and temperate climates with large diurnal swings, the cooler night temperatures can be utilised to pre-cool an interior space overnight, which decreases overheating risk while, for hybrid systems, it also reduces the amount of air conditioning and energy required. The use of natural ventilation for cooling in hotter climates is not a new concept and can be traced back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. In the MiddleEast the principles of natural ventilation, together with

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air conditioning solar shading and even urban design, have been used to bring fresh cooler air into buildings to reduce temperatures. In ancient cities, streets were narrow to keep them in the shade, buildings had courtyards to promote cross ventilation, while others utilised tall, heavyweight, wind-catcher towers to drive cooler air down into a building through windward vents with hotter stale air exiting on the leeward side. In temperate climates, natural ventilation for cooling is only required during the summer and, for the vast proportion of the year, its role is primarily to maintain good indoor air quality. With improvements in building air tightness, this is leading to very poor indoor air quality as the vents are remaining closed. Automated natural ventilation vents ensure that a space is appropriately ventilated when occupied while also preventing under and over ventilation. The result is an indoor environment that can greatly improve the performance and health of occupants. Automated systems also ensure that uncomfortable draughts can be avoided by switching to low energy hybrid systems that provide the necessary background ventilation. In hotter climates, the emphasis is very much on temperature reduction and cooling to maintain comfort levels rather than air quality specifically, because the volume of air change needed to reduce the internal temperature will automatically purge contaminants from the air. Why natural ventilation should be considered as part of a solution in hot climates is driven in part by the socio-economic growth of developing countries with hot climates. The growth in the global air conditioning market looks set to continue, with the prospect of world consumption of energy for cooling increasing tenfold by 2050. India has been identified as a huge growth market for the air conditioning industry, so investigating ways to reduce the cooling load and associated energy consumption is an essential task to help reduce emissions and create more efficient solutions. While India, generally experiences high daytime temperatures, there are particular climatic zones within the country where night-time temperatures drop sufficiently, allowing for night purging. By introducing cooler night time air into a building through windows, vents or louvres, the building fabric is pre-cooled before being occupied, extending the time before mechanical cooling systems needs to be operated.

services

Health, hot air and holistics – the way forward. Florence Nightingale was a pioneer of good building ventilation. By the mid-1800s she had already recognised the importance of air quality in two key types of building – hospitals and schools. In 1860, she made the following observations about each establishment. Of hospitals, she said: ‘The very first canon of nursing, keep the air he breathes as pure as the external air, without chilling him,’ while for schools, she commented: ‘Oh! The crowded national school! Where so many children’s epidemics have their origin. What a tale its air-test would tell! We should have parents saying, and saying rightly, I will not send my child to that school.’ (Ref: Florence Nightingale – 1860 Notes on Nursing: What it is, and what it is not. Available Google Books) More than 150 years on and work still needs to be done to provide adequate ventilation, good indoor air quality and effective temperature management in buildings. Technology will inevitably need to play an important role and simple-to-use intelligent control systems have already been developed and deployed by SE Controls, which can monitor and control individual rooms, while automatically adapting to the weather and number of occupants in the room. Natural ventilation has a role to play in hotter climates, as well as in more traditional ‘temperate’ environments. Its ability to reduce energy demand and costs can only see it become more widely used in future.

About SE Controls SE Controls has over 30 years’ experience in delivering specialist smoke ventilation and natural ventilation control solutions via façade and building envelope to all sizes and types of buildings. The company is based in the UK and has regional offices in South Africa, China, Hong Kong, India and the Middle East.

SE Controls T +27 31 466 1857 (Durban) T +27 82 451 7001 (Johannesburg) W www.secontrols.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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office furniture

services

Encapsulating creativity Office pods are becoming increasingly popular in modern times, considering the high cost of office floor space and vacant workstations caused by employees who travel or who spend a substantial percentage of their week working from home. Pictures by: Ergoform Recently, international office space group, Regus, embarked on a programme of installing ‘ThinkPods’ in all their business lounges worldwide. Several pod options are available locally, where the idea is catching on quickly.

Local manufacture Ergoform, a local manufacturer of office Pods, is revolutionising the way we work. Gone are the days when we were bound to the confining walls of our workspaces. The younger generation entering the workforce is more socially interactive, mobile, and environmentally aware, meaning our workspaces need to be, too. Whether it’s an intimate meeting, a brainstorming session or some simple time-out to focus, the Pod, as the name suggests, encapsulates end users and their tasks, allowing them a creative hub of peace and quiet. The Pod also enables professionals to manoeuvre their working environments as needed. For young start-ups, these movable meeting rooms can be relocated to new premises if need be, while larger corporates – in a more permanent location – can reposition the Pods according to their requirements. Ergoform is a proudly South African company and all products designed by Leon Roodt are created with

the well-being of the environment in mind. The Pod is a green concept that involves no hard construction or breakdown that results in material waste. The Pod range consists of the following designs: • The Space Hub Focus Pod for individual focus work • The Space Hub Meeting Pod: a two to four seater for intimate meetings • Giggle Pod: a two to six seater for discussions and brainstorming • Wiggle Pod: a two to four seater for presentation meetings Pods can be upholstered to the client’s specifications in a variety of fabrics and textures available from local fabric houses. Ergoform’s system allows for Pods to be constructed around different options within certain design parameters. The designs are available to order (with a five to six week lead time). Prices are available on request because of different configurations and material finishes.

Ergoform T +27 21 461 2251 (Cape Town) T +27 11 262 0210 (Johannesburg) W www.ergoform.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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ADAPTIVE Offix is proud to offer a sneak preview of our brand-new collection of office furniture. Stylish yet simply elegant, these designs are flexible and offer full reticulation capabilities and specialised storage elements. We would be delighted to recieve you in our showroom.

Please visit our showroom 17, 5th Street, Wynberg, Gauteng PO Box 3254, Bedfordview, 2008 T: +27 11 555 4800 F: +27 11 555 4810 / +27 87 234 2830

www.offix.co.za

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TO BUILD Plan, Design, Build, Interior & Exterior DĂŠcor

GREEN BUILDING Opinion............................................151 Powerwall.....................................154 Developments................................159 Social Responsibility....................161 Government..................................162

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opinion green building

Wind turbines near Caledon, Cape.

Renewable energy tariffs Renewable energy tariffs dropped again by over 25%. How low can we go? By Johannes Horstmann, Transaction Advisor, Arup Cape Town Picture by: Gareth Griffiths Imaging© In a long awaited announcement, which attracted intense media attention, the South African Department of Energy recently published the list of preferred bidders for Round 4 of the Renewable Energy IPP Programme – 415MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) and 676MW of wind projects – soon to be constructed. Favourable to the economy, renewable electricity (RE) prices have again dropped significantly. PV generated electricity will cost on average R786/MWh, 29% cheaper in real terms than the tender Round 3 projects. Similarly, electricity generated by wind is priced at R619/MWh, a drop of approximately 25% in real terms. This follows the trend of Round 2 and 3 where prices fell by 30 to 40% on each occasion for both technologies.

How will bidders price their projects in the next tendering rounds 5 and 6? From a pure time trend perspective it seems as if PV prices could decrease further by some 19%

and wind prices by 8% in real terms. See the graphs below. Those tariffs would follow a neat statistical learning curve. However, can the market deliver these price cuts? Developers and financiers will review their projects on a case by case basis regarding development cost, EPC cost, cost of capital, O&M expenditure, and potential energy yields. At the same time, the market is maturing and is becoming more competitive. In August 2014, the DOE received 77 bids and awarded preferred bidder status to only 13 entities. From market responses, transaction costs and return on equity have decreased and are starting to resemble international benchmarks more closely as healthy competition is still inducing development efficiencies. Favourable project development locations are also becoming scarcer with incumbent projects having secured the best areas, limiting the potential to improve energy yields further. In addition, grid connection is now becoming more difficult, creating cost pressure for developers.

PV averaged tariffs - full-indexed (in 2014 terms)

Wind averaged tariffs - full-indexed (in 2014 terms)

How far can this go?

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PV averaged tariffs - full-indexed (in 2014 terms)

Wind averaged tariffs - full-indexed (in 2014 terms)

International learning rates (the level of cost reduction when doubling the capacity), estimated and published by institutions such as the IEA or IRENA, are currently between 18 and 22% for PV and between 5% and 9% for onshore wind. These global trends and the capacities for the next bid windows could translate to levelling out bidding prices. PV tariffs could decrease by ‘only’ 6%, which would just cancel out inflation effects. Notwithstanding the above, this aligns with the IRP update report for Crystalline and Thin Film module costs (7% and 6% decrease per annum respectively). Wind prices could fall by 3% in real terms or a slight first-time rise in nominal terms. It is also worth benchmarking the South African practice with international markets. In January this year, DEWA, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, announced a new world record for solar PV. It awarded a consortium, led by Saudi Arabian’s ACWA power, a 200MW project based in the UAE for not-yet-seen 5.84 cents(US)/kWh. Notwithstanding, the consortium has an advantage over the developers in South Africa – financing cost. The availability of a 27-year tenure for a loan of $344-million and a 4% interest rate are the biggest factors for the low bid. To illustrate this, with a shorter tenure of 15 years, higher interest rates of 10% and amid higher inflation of 6% (as seen in the South African market), indicative modelling shows that ACWA power would have needed to bid with 7.2 cents(US)/kWh. This is interesting, because it is exactly the average PV price of the latest Round 4 projects, in 2014 USD terms. In conclusion, based on the above observations, South Africa may now have reached global bestpractice benchmarks and future prices may follow closer to those internationally-observed market movements. These international learning rates may

be much less than the cost reductions experienced in the past few years. Developers and financiers will follow these trends with great interest to inform their own future bidding strategies. This projected change in trends should not be discouraging but rather seen as a reflection of the positive development of the renewable energy programme in South Africa, and the positive impact that the REIPPPP is having on the South African economy as a whole. A strong regulatory environment for renewables has led to this market confidence that increased competition and drew investors and project development companies to South Africa. It shows the achieved efficiency of the IPP programme and provides confidence for the prospects of new IPP programmes for coal and gas that are currently being implemented. Arup is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers and technical specialists that makes up the heart of the creative force of many of the world’s most prominent projects in the built environment and industry. Good planning is at the heart of regenerating cities, towns and rural areas to establish longterm social, economic and environmental sustainability. Its international network of inventive and highly skilled specialists marries global factors, such as climate change, with local needs to create strategies that are efficient, exciting and practical.

Arup T +27 11 218 7885 W www.arup.com

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green building powerwall For large scale utility-sized systems, 100kWh battery blocks are grouped to scale from 500kWh to 10MWh+. These systems are capable of 2hr or 4hr continuous net discharge power using grid tied bi-directional inverters.

Powerwall – what’s all the fuss about? The Tesla Powerwall was launched amid huge international fanfare in Los Angeles on April 30, 2015. Currently Tesla says it has no immediate plans to distribute in South Africa, so the question as to what the Powerwall is all about is largely academic at this stage – but interesting for energy users who dream of going off the grid. Picture by: Tesla

The nature of the beast Tesla Powerwall is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery designed to store energy at a residential level for load shifting, backup power and self-consumption of solar power generation. Powerwall consists of Tesla’s lithium-ion battery pack, liquid thermal control system and software that receives dispatch commands from a solar inverter. The unit mounts seamlessly on a wall and may be integrated with the local grid to harness excess power and give customers the flexibility to draw energy from their own reserve. The battery can provide a number of different benefits to the customer, including: • Load shifting – The battery can provide financial savings to its owner by charging during low rate periods when demand for electricity is lower and discharging during more expensive rate periods when electricity demand is higher. • Increasing self-consumption of solar power generation – The battery can store surplus solar energy not used at the time it is generated and use that energy later when the sun is not shining. • Back-up power – Assures power in the event of an outage. In short, the system increases the capacity for a household’s solar consumption, while also offering backup functionality during grid outages. At present, the Powerwall is available in 10kWh, optimised for backup applications, or 7kWh optimised for daily use applications. Both can be connected with solar or grid and both can provide backup power.

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The 10kWh Powerwall is optimised to provide backup when the grid goes down, providing power for your home when you need it most. When paired with solar power, the 7kWh Powerwall can be used in daily cycling to extend the environmental and cost benefits of solar into the night when sunlight is unavailable.

How does it work? Home and other low-demand solar installations consist of a solar panel, an electrical inverter, and now a home battery to store surplus solar energy for later use. The solar panel is installed in an array on your roof, which convert sunlight into electricity. A home (local) battery is essential. However, there is an alternative to ugly, acid-containing batteries. Instead, Powerwall stores surplus electricity generated from solar panels during the day or from the utility grid when rates are low. Finally, the inverter converts direct current electricity from solar panels or a home battery into the alternating current used by the users’ lights, appliances and devices. Contained within Powerwall’s outdoor-rated enclosure is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a liquid thermal management system, a battery management system and a smart DC-DC converter for controlling power flow. Source: www.teslamotors.com/presskit

Tesla W www.teslamotors.com/about

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advertorial gliimo

Gliimo big on PV Gliimo offers helpful advice for taking your property off the grid. About Gliimo The team at Gliimo consists of highly-trained consultants who can take on any turnkey project, but most importantly, are passionate about renewable energy – while being equally passionate about giving clients the best value for money. Founded by former electronics and technical engineer, Tommy Davies, and international rugby star, Morné Steyn, Gliimo’s goal is to be a world-renowned alternative energy service provider and a market leader in this specific field in South Africa. The company’s renewable energy capabilities and areas of expertise includes the entire solar value change, which means that they can help clients with everything from project development and design, grid integration and plant control systems to system optimisation, procurement, maintenance and upgrades.

On or off the grid? Each building differs from the next in terms of its load requirements. In general, there is a lack of knowledge in South Africa regarding this technology and we often see clients making the mistake of not comparing ‘apples with apples’. They’re also often misinformed about the terms ‘grid-tie’ and ‘off-grid’ PV systems, and there’s a huge difference.

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Grid-tie systems are basically an ‘electricity supplement’. In other words, power is generated and converted into AC via PV panels and then connected in parallel with the national grid supplier. The generated power from the inverter will supply the load. However, in the event of load shedding this inverter will also switch off, therefore the term ‘electricity supplement’. In short, you will save energy only when there is sun and grid activity. Off-grid system is a term used in the market, but misinterpreted by suppliers. We often see some residential solar suppliers (RSS) providing clients with pricing, while the next supplier to quote is completely off budget. This is mostly because these suppliers don’t understand clients’ requirements, or even over/ under design the off-grid/backup required load by not comparing ‘apples with apples’. We normally overcome this by installing a load analyser that captures the required off-grid/backup requirements and, at the same time, records maximum, minimum and base load requirements.

Cost reductions We have seen the decrease of PV pricing, mainly because of the high worldwide demand in the last few years (between 30 and 60%). Battery technology is improving. Tesla has recently launched the Powerwall

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“People have to embrace this technology and begin making our world ‘greener’ to ensure the quality of life for the next generation. We don’t want them walking around wearing masks to avoid toxic emissions.”

battery and, for the first time, it’s possible to justify any off-grid applications for five to 10kWh at less than $3 500 (R43 000). The key to any investment into solar is buying quality from the start. The RSS will likely make the sale with statements including ‘25-year warranty’, and ‘a life expectancy of 20 years’. Clients must be very careful. There are many suppliers offering substandard products, and clients run the risk of investing in this technology that after several years, doesn’t work (an example of this is the solar thermal geyser). The old adage applies to this technology, ‘Goedkoop is duurkoop’. To further minimise costs, ensure that the necessary infrastructure (conduit/wire ways) are installed from a building phase, as well as installed on the main DB board in a location where it is easily accessible and minimises any loss in voltage on lengthy cable runs from the PV panels and AC cables. A good starting point is the RSS assisting the attending architect with design and implementations. The team at Gliimo consists of highly-trained consultants who can take on any turnkey project, but most importantly, are passionate about renewable energy – while being equally passionate about giving clients the best value for money.

Incentives, or lack thereof, for going solar To understand this correctly we need to understand what happens with energy that is generated and not used. It is proven that families consume more energy

in the evening, mid-morning, and late afternoon than what we do around midday. A PV system is most efficient at 12pm (midday), generating the most energy. However, the energy generated at this time is mostly wasted as the inverter ‘throttles down’ – meaning that energy is only generated as per the required load. If a battery bank is installed, this ‘additional wasted energy’ is stored for backup or evening use. Currently there are a few municipalities, especially in the Cape, that incentivise or approve this ‘wasted energy’ to be fed back into the grid – hence the term Feed-in-Tariffs or FITs. This means clients receive some sort of credit, reduced bill, or incentive for energy that is not used by the owner of the PV system. Should Eskom and RSS’s work together to approve and implement FIT as soon as possible, we would see a reduction in demand on the national grid. Eskom could then focus on industrial and economic growth, and better future for us all. Southern Africa is rated as one of the highest irradiation areas in the world, and South Africa has almost double the sun hours of Germany. However, we’re still behind with the implementation of solar. Once this barrier is overcome we would see an increased demand by RSS’s. Our country is known for its successful entrepreneurs, Elon Musk to name but one, with many more expected when this ‘bubble’ bursts. The biggest challenge will then be to ensure quality and skills delivery.

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‘At Gliimo, we have taken two years to test, install, commission and learn the requirements of our clients before selling our first system. Gliimo believes that any operator wanting to get involved in this field must understand the technology and have a passion for it. This is a life changer for many people, with a direct impact on people’s lifestyles’, said a Gliimo spokesperson. As the local industry grows experientially, the ‘big players’ would be seen to be investing in SA and the poor quality suppliers disappear. The result: local production and manufacturing plants will be built to meet demand.

New opportunities for installers and suppliers? Gliimo expects to see new market leaders in the different business segments (industrial, commercial, residential and agricultural) and anticipates some interesting developments and changes from these specialists. However, how can we ensure that all newly-built houses have solar geysers as standard by law? Currently new houses must have a 50% ‘green factor’ (for example, insulated walls, and double glazed windows). But why not solar? The government must motivate and enforce industry leaders to adopt this technology from the building phase. While Eskom needs to approve FIT, consumers will naturally go for this technology if they’re to receive

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an incentive or be in control of their own energy supplies. The Be More Independent (BMI™) system, developed and distributed by Gliimo in partnership with German producer, Maxx-Solar Energy (Pty) Ltd, offers the South African consumer the first truly viable alternative, sustainable, long-term power solution to the South African grid by combining photovoltaic cells with an inverter that is connected to a property’s existing DB board. This allows the sun’s energy to be harnessed and utilised to provide a power alternative to Eskom (off-grid). What makes the system so ground breaking is that annually, a staggering 68% of power will be generated through solar power, a further 21% will be stored on the battery, and 11% used from the Eskom grid. Gliimo as a company seeks to revolutionise the way South African residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural clients view, and consume, energy by rolling out state-of-the-art solar power systems.

Gliimo T +27 12 993 0182 E sales@gliimo.com W www.gliimo.co.za

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developments green building

Property company, Amdec, has set its sights on tripling the number of green buildings in its property portfolio over the next two years. Amdec plans to boost its pace of investing in green buildings by taking this number of Green Star rated buildings from two to to six in the coming 24 months. ‘We intend to pursue more Green Star ratings for all new developments, and some existing developments. We are also adding resource-efficient features to all our assets, whether there is a rating tool available for them or not. This multi-faceted approach helps take the strain off our power grid and building users’ pockets, as well as being environmentally correct, while helping communities prosper,’ comments Amdec CEO, James Wilson. ‘An important part of green building is educating and transforming communities, updating legislation and government processes, and changing how we experience development,’ explains Josef Quraishi, head of sustainability and green building for the Amdec Group. ‘Our macro view considers a building’s relationship with its surrounds, ensuring it contributes to the sustainability of its community and natural setting,’ Josef adds. ‘When we develop, we look at the broader context of investing in communities. A thriving community is good for business. An attractive community makes our buildings more desirable.’ Josef was closely involved with developing the GBCSA’s Socio Economic Category Pilot, as embraced by the World Green Building Council. The company knows first-hand the benefits an environmentally sound foundation adds to green building. So the green inner-workings of Amdec’s Melrose Arch, arguably South Africa’s first sustainable green precinct, support more than a single building. They underpin a precinct. Within this precinct, Amdec earned its two Green Star SA ratings: 40 on Oak was South Africa’s first multi-unit residential project certified under the Green Star SA system with a 4-Star Green Star SA Pilot certification, while The Worley Parsons TWP head

Pic credit: AmdecTWP Head Office

Tripling the green portfolio

Worley Parsons TWP Head Office

office was awarded a 4-Star Green Star SA Office v1 Design rating. Melrose Arch is packed with ingenious designs and small, smart green touches that also create an enjoyable environment. It includes a central district cooling plant that utilises evaporative cooling so its buildings use less air conditioning than usual. It uses gas and recycles. Its mixed-uses and pedestrianisation reduces the need for cars because it benefits from good access to public transport. Josef explains that property developers need to respond as companies transform their business thinking – from being purely profit driven to a paradigm that considers people, planet and profit – so. ‘Blue-chip businesses want their markets to know they are doing the right thing, so occupying a green rated building is becoming a business imperative. Amdec is answering the call for green rated buildings in South Africa.’ Inefficient buildings will become obsolete faster because they are less sustainable. They also cannot match the green buildings’ features that make tenants happy. ‘Green buildings boost productivity and profitability by creating healthy workspaces, which means lower absenteeism and a commercially desirable address.’ Developing macro plans for green precincts can help deliver more green buildings and positive impacts. ‘We are considering taking our next R4billion mega development of a 128 000ha mixed-use suburb in Port Elizabeth, entirely off the grid.’ For existing buildings, Amdec has prioritised getting ratings for single-tenant buildings. ‘Then we’ll move on to our multi-tenanted buildings, which can be more challenging,’ he concludes.

Amdec Group James Wilson, CEO T +27 21 702 3200 issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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social reponsibility green building

Green goals The 2015 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon marked the 9th year that Plastics|SA was involved in cleaning up the litter from the streets and surrounding countryside left behind by the runners and spectators. Is this effective community affairs involvement? Pictures by: Rycherde Walters According to John Kieser, Sustainability Manager: Plastics|SA and the coordinator of the clean-up teams, the primary goal of their involvement in major sporting events, such as the recent Cape Argus Cycle Cycle Tour and the Two Oceans Marathon, is to ensure that the waste generated by participants and their supporters is collected, removed and recycled as quickly as possible. ‘The race organisers have set goals that align with the overall environmental policy goals for the marathon. We use sporting events to raise the public’s awareness on the issue of littering and the need for recycling of waste.’ ‘For the Cape Argus Cycle Tour, the Plastics|SA cleaning crew consisted of 180 workers from the Ocean View, Masipumelela and Joe Slovo settlements. They received in-depth training beforehand about the event’s greening, and did an excellent job of removing every piece of waste for recycling,’ Kieser said. The teams focussed on the waste that was generated at the start and finishing lines, the hospitality park at UCT, litter at refreshment points, and litter left behind in areas of high spectator concentration. The teams wore highly-visible, branded bibs and were divided into three clean-up crews. They began cleaning on March 31, with pre-event clean-ups, and

finished on April 6 with a final, post-event clean-sweep of the route. 40 branded bins were strategically placed at the hospitality/finish area at UCT. Once all the litter was collected, the crew was also tasked with the responsibility of sorting the waste into four different material streams, and ensure that bio material (ie kitchen waste) was separated to streamline the recycling of packaging material by Waste Plan at the Kraaifontein Material Recovery Facility. The majority of the waste (90%) was plastics waste (mainly Low Density Polyethylene), used for the energy drink sachets, 8% was paper (primarily cartonboard), and 2% was metal. ‘Plastics|SA readily partners with event organisers and is proud to assist at some of the biggest sporting events in South Africa. These events are an ideal platform to share the sustainability message, highlighting the responsible use and recycling of plastics. The plastics industry was seen to be proactive about clearing up litter and removing waste for recycling and communicating the message that plastics are too valuable to waste,’ Kieser concludes.

Plastics|SA T +27 11 314 4021 W www.plasticsinfo.co.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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green building government

The eight buildings at Black River Park office precinct in Observatory are part of the first full office park to be fully Green Star SA rated. In the park are also the first Green Star EBP certified building and the first buildings to receive a 6 Star Green Star SA Existing Building Performance rating.

Opinion: Government’s new incentives The GBCSA ventures an opinion on just how green do you have to be to qualify for government’s proposed new energy-efficiency incentives?

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Picture by: The Green Building Council South Africa

Brian Wilkinson

Given the threat of both an energy and water crisis, President Jacob Zuma has encouraged the private sector to ‘go green’, with government now looking to increase the energy efficiency incentives on offer. How green do you have to go to be considered officially green, and how will this be measured and rated? ‘Support for green initiatives was also stated in the budget speech, but I believe that businesses still find themselves in an uncertain position as to what it is they’re supposed to do,’ notes Brian Wilkinson,

CEO of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). ‘The possibility of incentives for greater efficiency will certainly encourage more green buildings initiatives. But there will need for a clear measure of efficiencies for government to confidently and consistently award these incentives.’ Now more than ever, businesses especially will be looking for solutions to bring about reductions in operation and facilities management costs in light of, for example, Eskom’s recent appeals for an additional

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Green Star SA rating tools are comparable to those of other green building councils around the world, making them a reliable benchmark, not only across South Africa, but internationally too.

increase on electricity tariffs over and above the already approved 12%. Sustainable solutions are desperately sought. ‘Green has become a new buzz word with many businesses and service providers claiming to be sustainable in their offering and operations. This focus on green building has demonstrated the need for a rigorous, standardised system that rates just how green projects are with tangible results to back up these claims,’ Wilkinson points out. Fortunately, this system is already in place with the GBCSA’s Green Star SA rating tools. ‘With these tools we can guarantee that businesses live up to their green building claims and also assist with their endeavours to minimise their carbon footprint,’ says Wilkinson. ‘With happier, healthier employees and existing of evidence significantly reduced operations and maintenance costs at greener buildings, the benefits of a Green Star SA rating are extensive.’ Building owners looking to achieve a Green Star SA rating can, together with their green building consultant, submit the necessary documentation to the GBCSA. ‘Independent assessors are employed to evaluate submissions and allocate points based on the green measures that have been implemented. Certification is awarded for 4-Star, 5-Star or 6-Star Green Star SA ratings,’ Wilkinson adds. Office, retail, multi-unit residential, public and education buildings, as well as existing commercial buildings, all have rating tools designed specifically

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If your asset compares poorly, you can be sure that investing in its electricity and water efficiency will bring worthwhile benefits to the building’s bottom line.

for the various projects. The GBCSA has also recently introduced a Green Star SA Interiors tool that focuses primarily on efficient maintenance and operations of interior fit-outs and caters for a broad range of tenancies, including office, retail and hospitality projects. ‘With this tool the tenants have all the power, allowing each tenancy to have their own unique environmental design initiatives fairly and independently benchmarked. It rewards healthy, productive places to work which are less costly to operate and maintain and have a reduced environmental footprint,’ he insists. For existing buildings, the Green Star SA – Existing Building Performance (EBP) tool covers the same environmental categories addressed in the Green Star SA new building tools but also places focus on the efficient operations and management of the building. This rating is only valid for a period of three years to ensure the building is continually well operated and maintained and energy and water monitoring, management policies and plans are all required. Wilkinson advises the most effective and simple starting point to check the performance of your building is the GBCSA’s Energy Water Performance (EWP) mini-tool. This tool benchmarks an office building’s energy and water consumption against an industry mean. So, if your asset compares poorly, you can be sure that investing in its electricity and water efficiency will bring worthwhile benefits to the building’s bottom line, attractiveness, and sustainability, and the environment, too. While the EWP mini-tool makes up 40% of the EBP, it is also available as a separate certification. ‘Green Star SA rating tools are comparable to those of other green building councils around the world, making them a reliable benchmark, not only across South Africa, but internationally too,’ he notes. Ed’s Note: Hopefully the South African Government can be persuaded to adopt the GBCSA Green Star System, or portions thereof, as the basis for their proclaimed new energy efficiency incentives. To Build and its readers hope we will not be kept in the dark too long regarding this process.

The Green Building Council South Africa CEO, Brian Wilkinson T +27 86 104 2272 W www.gbcsa.org.za issue 15 www.tobuild.co.za

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green building water

Putting emphasis on water re-use Dow Water & Process Solutions celebrated World Water Day by emphasising the importance of water reuse.

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Pic credit: http://www.freeimages.com

The global leader in sustainable water separation and purification technologies, is developing innovative technologies to provide sustainable production of drinking water in light of increasing water scarcity, making it more accessible to consumers across the southern African region. This year, World Water Day focused on Water and Sustainable Development, one of the most important global challenges that guides Dow Water & Process Solutions (DWPS) in the development of its sustainable technologies. The need to develop resource-efficient water treatment methods is underscored by the intrinsic relationship between water, food and energy, otherwise known as the Water-Food-Energy Nexus. This is especially pronounced in regions where water scarcity is more prominent. Furthermore, as the global population is expected to grow from seven billion to 8.3-billion people by 2030, experts estimate that the world will require 30% more water, 40% more energy, and 50% more food. Zakia Bahjou, Commercial Manager at DWPS, says: ‘We are committed to delivering cutting-edge water desalination and water reuse technologies for markets worldwide.’ Ultimately, the quality of the end water product needs to be of a sufficiently high standard to meet the specifications for which the reuse was intended. Therefore, the quality is linked to the end use and a variety of technologies will be employed to reach that aim. Dow has the broadest and deepest processing and separation portfolio in the world, and combines these technologies to create innovative solutions specific to the needs of the user. The company is a leader in Reverse Osmosis (RO), Ultrafiltration (UF) and Ion Exchange (IE) technologies and applications for industrial waste water treatment. The products are designed to optimise up-time (low fouling), technologies offer significant energy savings during plant operation, pulling a variety of contaminants such as salt and minerals out of the waste stream water, and have the

ability to combine RO and UF for a better performing, longer-lasting treatment system. Carsten Larsen, Managing Director of Dow Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd, says, ‘The prospect of severe global water shortages is very real. We also know that unsustainable development choices have seriously compromised the quality and availability of water resources, effectively hampering their ability to contribute towards achieving social and economic progress. At Dow, our mission is to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress by providing sustainable solutions. The company is focusing on making water usage more efficient and our technologies can do just that, cost effectively.’ Bahjou adds: ‘Dow Water & Process Solutions UF & RO technologies have been used in plants built to treat coal mine drainage wastewater, processing the water to a standard for use as feed water to a nearby power station demineralisation plant. This is a good example of waste water reuse playing a very efficient role in conserving our scarce water resources.’

Dow Chemical Company W www.dowwaterandprocess.com (Info) W www.dow.com

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G-Flow Grey Water Reuse System SETTING NEW STANDARDS FOR GREY WATER RECYCLING The affordable, award winning, easy to install, robust & reliable, low maintenance (every 3-6 months) G-Flow Grey Water systems have set a new standard for grey water recycling by automatically (and safely) irrigating up to 6 different watering zones in your garden via a state of the art drip line and rotor irrigation controller that have been specifically designed for grey water use. G-Flow Grey Water Unit

Never move a sprinkler around the garden again!

GF Drip Line

Superhead Rainwater Tank Filter Prevents dirt, dust, bird droppings, leaves & insects from flowing directly into your rain water tanks every time it rains. The Superhead automatically filters and disperses the “first flush” or “dirty water”. The Superhead combines a leaf catcher, insect screen and first flush diverter all into one unit. Low maintenance, easy to install.

Keeping the inside of your tanks clean

www.watercon.co.za

Ten year warranty

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green building greening

Go Green – keep ’em keen An industry association argues the case for keeping staff motivated by going green. Pictures by: IPSA As a business owner, HR manager, or anyone responsible for ensuring the smooth operations within the proverbial four walls of any corporation, no matter the size, keeping your staff happy and healthy has to rank pretty high on the agenda. Now, when we say ‘go green’, we’re not suggesting a ridiculous pay rise and bonus (although that would put a temporary smile on anyone’s dial), we’re talking about a much longerlasting, more sustainable and mutually rewarding solution.

Indoor office plants, for the win-win It is a win-win solution because your business will improve its green footprint and qualify for points towards getting Green Star Accreditation through The Green Building Council (SA). However, additional benefits for staff are also proven and substantial, which both directly and indirectly benefit your business. The physical health benefits of having plants in office spaces should be obvious by now with all the green footprint encouragement. Plants improve humidity levels and remove toxins from the air that you and your staff breathe, keeping everyone healthy, alert and at work.

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Psychologically, green is a very calming colour and is thought to relieve stress. That’s why people waiting to appear on television wait in a green room so that they can relax and remain calm. A number of studies even intimate that people who work in a green environment experience fewer stomach aches. Perhaps if they worked in an environment that had living green things they’d experience none? Green also represents money, as is well documented. In business, prosperity and abundance would instinctively and subconsciously make people feel secure. The Interior Plantscapers’ Association encourages all business owners and designers to join the win-win stable and go green, naturally.

Interior Plantscapers’ Association W www.ipsa.za.com

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photoview out & about

Roving editor visits expos To Build has become renowned for its walkabouts with a camera. If you would like your project or launch to be considered for coverage, invite the editor! Pictures by: Gareth Griffiths Imaging

Decorex Cape Town Easily one of the best shows ever organised by the highlycompetent organisers. Many industrial conventions and expos could take a leaf from this book.

Willowlamp launch See our headline article in the Interior Design pages, this manufacturer clearly practices excellence. What a pleasure to view the lamps on display, accompanied by a glass of Groot Constantia MCC.

Tarn de Villiers of Lauren Shantall Communications models a handmade necklace by Willowlamp.

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out & about photoview

Clean Power Africa Part of the African Power Week Convention, it was very encouraging to see the large number of international and local exhibitors who clearly view the continent of Africa as their oyster.

The Clean Power Africa Show

Gareth Griffiths Imaging E garethgriffiths.imaging@gmail.com W www.professionalphotoshoots.co.za

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competitions

student designs

Imaginarium to Inspire Again South Africa’s most substantial Arts and Designs competition announces its 2015/2016 competition intake. Entries close August 31, 2015. Unestablished artists and designers stand a chance to change their careers through financial support, recognition, mentorship and guidance by entering the 2015 PPC Imaginarium Awards. After a successful inaugural competition in 2014, the PPC Imaginarium Awards is back, and still recognised as South Africa’s richest arts and design competition. Having evolved from the long standing PPC Young Concrete Sculptor Awards, the PPC Imaginarium encourages artists and designers to create and express their abilities using Portland cementbased concrete as a primary base or material. The competition will feature six disciplines in the arts and design fields. These disciplines are sculpture, jewellery, architecture, film, industrial design and fashion design.

Substantial purse Boasting prize money to the value of half a million rand, each category winner stands a chance to win R50 000, while runner-up contestants receive R15 000. The overall competition winner will receive the grand prize of R100 000 at the winners’ exhibition in 2016.

The PPC Imaginarium Awards are open to South African citizens, resident holders and foreign students with study permits who are not professionally established in their respective fields. Entries may be submitted by individuals or team collaborations, and artists and designers may enter multiple categories, with an original artwork for each category. The winners in each competition category will be announced on February 4, 2016, and their work will be on display at Young Blood Art Gallery in Cape Town. The exhibition forms part of the popular Cape Town ‘First Thursdays’ event. Thereafter, the winning designs will be on display at the Design Indaba in February 2016. The overall competition winner announcement takes place at the University of Johannesburg in Auckland Park on March 31, 2016. All finalist entries will be professionally transported by Stuttafords Van Lines. Enter the PPC Imaginarium Awards before August 31, 2015, and stand a chance to launch your career. For more information about the PPC Imaginarium Awards contact the organisers.

PPC Imaginarium W www.ppcimaginarium.co.za

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students doctoral candidates

Featured above are (left to right): Dr Gcebekile Dlamini, Professor John Smallwood, Professor Winston Shakantu, Dr Anita Adamu and Dr Ojo Bella-Omunagbe.

Doctoral candidates capped The Department of Construction Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), Port Elizabeth, continues to set the pace on the continent – with twelve PhD graduates capped in three years. The Department of Construction Management, NMMU, graduated three PhD (Construction Management) students on April 14, 2015. According to Department Head, Professor John Smallwood, this is a noteworthy achievement in the academic area of construction management. The titles of the graduates’ theses are recorded within parentheses below: • Dr Anita Adamu (Maintenance Management Systems of On-Campus Student Hostels at Nigerian Universities). • Dr Ojo Bella-Omunagbe (Drivers and Consequences of Residents’ Satisfaction with OffCampus Student Housing in South-South, Nigeria).

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• Dr Gcebekile Dlamini (Organisational Culture in the South African Construction Industry: Effects on WorkLife Balance and Individual Performance). The University offers its congratulations to its graduates and to Professor Shakantu for his leadership and guidance while promoting their studies.

PhD (Construction Management) studies at NMMU Prof John Smallwood E john.smallwood@nmmu.ac.za C +27 83 659 2492 W http://construction.nmmu.ac.za/

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NOTES

TO BUILD Plan, Design, Build, Interior & Exterior DĂŠcor

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issue15 July-October 2015

advertisers’ index Adendorff Architects & Interior Designers..............................................36

Institute for Timber Construction South Africa............................................................130

Adventure Shells..............................................48, 49

Isoboard....................................................................129

Aluglass Bautech...................................................79

Italdoors..........................................................108, 109

Ambiente Luce............................................................51 AMS...............................................................................141 Azero Avenue...............................................................3 Bauma Conexpo Africa...........................................33 Bloembuild Expo....................................................175

Johan Louw & Associates......................................44 KSW Window Warehouse..................................... 112 Marley Pipe Systems......................................17, 150

Blue Scope Steel SA................................................ 11

Maxiiflex Door Systems SA................................104

Boomgate Systems....................................................7

MCE Global Suppliers..................................164, 165

C & G Timbers................................................................1

Mitek Industries.................................................28, 29

C & M Landscaping Supplies.................................65

Nashua Limited.............................................................9

Ceramic Wholesalers............................................78

Nordic Paper & Packaging..................................136

Chair Express.........................................................147

Offix Office Furniture........................................148

Chemplus...................................................................124 China Homelife South Africa...............................22 Conceptual Steel Engineering..........................64 Copper Tubing Africa...........................................140 Decorex.......................................................................16 Den Braven Sealants............................................176

On Tap...................................................................72, 138 Prism Architects.....................................................39 Rosema Group.........................................................120 RR Interior Designs................................................56 Rubio Monocoat.....................................................133

Department of Rural Development & Land Reform...........................................................12

SA Vinyls Association........................................... 116

Douglas Jones....................................................85, 86

SE Controls.............................................................144

Eagle Lighting...........................................................82 Ergo Form................................................................146 Eurolux.......................................................................80 Federated Mutual Employers Fund.................46 Fourways Airconditioning.....................................5 Geberit SA...........................................................77, 173 Gemini Frameless............................................. 74, 111 Gliimo..........................................................156, 157, 158

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JCP Roofing..............................................................100

Saint Gobain Weber...............................................102 Sika.................................................................................94 Solid Green..............................................................160 South African Wood Preserves Association......................................................134, 135 Stihl......................................................................34, 126 Style Décor...............................................................53 Tal................................................................................ 115

Global Roofing Solutions...................................97

Uretek....................................................................88, 89

Green Built...............................................................155

Viega........................................................................70, 71

Hotel Interiors & Project Managers.............58

Voltex.........................................................................153

Ian Fuller Agencies..............................................132

Water Conservation Systems...........................167

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