Pm october november 2014 web

PROJECTSMAGAZINE October/November 2014

“The “The first first police police station station in in 17 17 years years completed completed on on time.” time.”

The City of Cape Town Human Settlement Contact Office in Mannenberg has recently been awarded a 4-Star Green Star SA rating; the first fully constructed local municipal building in South Africa to achieve a rating

Good Hope Construction

Construction, Project Management and Building Cost Consulting At Good Hope Construction (GHC), we are an experienced company coupled with years of experience and construction management skills. With over 30 years experience in this industry, we are confident that we can deliver a superior service and product base on the company’s solid history and satisfied clients.

105 Joubert Street Parow 7500, Cape Town, South Africa.

Tel: 021-932-8789 : Fax: 086-565-9030 : Email: info@goodhopeconstruction.co.za

Association

Publisher PROJECT PUBLISHERS Tel: +27 11 346 5053 Fax: +27 86 601 9195 Email: info@projectpublishers.co.za Website: www.projectpublishers.co.za

“ Is your builder ..... a Master Builder?" Find a Builder Master Builders South Africa is the leading national representative body in the building and construction industry in South Africa. It is a voluntary membership based organisation whose primary role is to promote the viewpoints and interests of the industry, to promote the highest quality and standards through excellence in service to our members, engaging government and legislative bodies on national policies that affect the industry, for the purpose of creating a sustainable building industry in South Africa.

Master Builders South Africa is a Federation of registered employers' organisations which represent contractors and employers operating in the building and construction sectors. The Federation is regulated in terms of Section 107 of the Labour Relations Act, Act 66 of 1995.

Master Builders South Africa represents its members on national bodies and lobbies national government on legislative and other policy issues. It also provides a range of services to its members which encompass training needs, legal services, labour relations, building codes and standards, and economics which affect the building industry.

Is your builder ..... a Master Builder? If you want to find a builder, whether commercial or domestic, large or small, click on the logo and look for the office in your province or region to find information on the MBAs' members.

National Federation for Building Trade Employers Master Builders South Africa was founded as the National Federation for Building Trade Employers (NFBTE) in 1904. Over the past 108 years, MBSA has survived and flourished and still plays a meaningful role in today’s fast-track world. The Federation’s initial aims were to unite the contractors of the day to gain better bargaining power with government authorities and to negotiate with trade unions.

BIFSA born out of the NFBTE The NFBTE itself faced change and there was a growing sense among members of the national organisation that its name was no longer representative of the building industry it now represented. Moreover, the name was

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cumbersome and did not clearly identify it as a Federation for builders. Much to the chagrin of some of the longest-serving members of the Federation, the 1967 Congress agreed - after a full year of deliberation - to change the name of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers to the Building Industries Federation (South Africa) and BIFSA was born.

Subcontractor Agreement for Renovation and Refurbishment Work to Existing Premises, February 2006 Edition Recommended for use where an existing building is to be repaired, renovated or refurbished

Master Builders South Africa When BIFSA celebrated its centenary at a gala dinner held at the International Convention Centre in Durban on 23 March 2004, 100 years to the day that the NFBTE was formed, it was a radically changed organisation not just in name but in structure as well. Master Builders South Africa was the new name for the organisation, chosen because it clearly reflected the fact that it was a national representative body for all Master Builders Associations around the country.

Education & Training The role of the Education & Training Committee is to provide the Board with information about the changing world of education and artisan training in South Africa. The Committee achieves this by its close cooperation and liaison with all the relevant departments and institutions, and includes the following:artisan training in South Africa. The Committee achieves this by its close cooperation and liaison with all the relevant departments and institutions, and includes the following:

Master Builders South Africa has developed a number of useful model agreements for a variety of applications. The use of Master Builders South Africa contract documents is not restricted to members of Master Builders Associations and the documents are available to members of the public.

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To determine whether a contractor is a member of an Association affiliated to Master Builders South Africa, please contact the local Master Builders Association.

Users of contract documents are advised that, although amendments and alterations are sometimes made to model agreements, such amendments are not recommended. If amendments or alterations have to be made they should be listed under the relevant clauses in the agreement and should be carefully assessed by all parties, specifically the effect of the amendments or alterations on the rest of the agreement.

The following Standard Forms of Contract for use on different types of building projects are available from any of the Master Builders Associations.

House Building & Small Contracts Agreement, March 2005 Edition Suitable for use with or without an Agent Domestic Subcontract Agreement, January 2008 Edition.

Intended for use with the JBCC Series 2000 Principal Building Agreement, Edition 5 Labour Only Subcontract, February 2006 Edition Intended for use in cases where the Contractor supplies all materials to the Labour Only

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The National Department of Higher Education and Training Construction Education and Training Authority Quality Council for Trades and Occupations National Artisan Moderation Board

A delegation of Sudanese Contractors Association visit Master Builders South Africa A delegation from the Sudanese Contractors Association recently held discussions with Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) and the Gauteng Master Builders Association (GMBA).

At the meeting at the (GMBA) offices in Midrand, the Sudanese contractors were briefed on the South African environment with particular emphasis on the education, occupational health and safety, and contractual and legal matters. "The visiting delegation appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the South African building industry as well as the interaction with MBSA members and industry bodies at a networking function hosted by the GMBA after the formal discussions" James Tubb, executive director of the GMBA, stated. The Sudanese Contractors Association visit to South Africa was arranged by Eunice Forbes, past president of the MBSA, who serves as the MBSA representative on the African Federation for Construction Contractors Associations. The Sudanese association also made contact with the Construction Industry Development Board in South Africa. The South Sudanese construction industry, with about 2 000 registered members in 2009, provided 5,6% of Sudan`s gross domestic product with more than half of the development budget in Sudanese states assigned to the construction sector every year.

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62, 2nd Avenue, Houghton.

P.O. Box 92744, Norwood, 2117 South Africa

Editorial Marley – Years ahead in roofing!

Four decades of leadership through innovation and customer service…

Contributions The editors welcome news items, press releases, articles and photographs relating to the Construction Industry. These will be considered and, if accepted, published. No responsibility will be accepted should contributions be lost, damaged or incorrectly printed.

With four modern manufacturing plants, dynamic management, and leading concrete roof tile profiles and roof tile ranges in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, Marley Roofing has established a unique reputation for quality and service which extends well beyond the borders of South Africa.

Disclaimer we publishes projects Magazine and several special Stand Alone Publications in different sector industries, mainly in South Africa. We aim at high standards of quality of the services we offer advertisers as well as readers.

The Publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy or authenticity of the contributions contained in the Magazine and advertisements.

Views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of the Publishers

Marley Roofing is the only concrete roof tile manufacturer in South Africa to have been awarded the coveted CMA National Trophy in the biennial Awards for Excellence competition seven consecutive times.

Marley Roofing has earned its place in the roofing market as a leading supplier of high quality, affordable roofing that is in line with worldwide energy-saving products, backed by quality management systems and excellent service delivery. Our concrete tile ranges are defined by their ability to stand the test of time through extreme durability, low maintenance requirements and recyclable composition which give them a significant sustainable advantage over other roof structures.

Marley SA (Pty) Ltd, trading as Marley Roofing, forms part of the Etex group which operates in the building materials sector in 44 countries worldwide, employing more than 16 000 people. The company continuously improves its products as it benefits from ongoing research and development (R&D), and resources within the Etex group.

In addition, Marley adheres to the strict Etex Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety targets and reporting standards. We also benchmark our performance against other Etex group companies, and strive for continual improvement and world-class standards.

© All rights reserved

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Association Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) The GBCSA is an independent, nonprofit, membership-based organisation that was formed in 2007 by leaders from all sectors of the commercial property industry. We are a full member of the World Green Building Council and the official certification body of buildings under the Green Star SA Rating System.

We aim to ensure that all buildings are built and operated in an environmentally sustainable way so that all South African's work and live in healthy, effective and productive environments.

Eastern Cape Institute of Architects (ECIA) The Eastern Cape Institute of Architects, formerly known as the Port Elizabeth Society of Architects, was founded in 1900 with affiliation to, and with a constitution based on that of the Royal Institute of British Architects. In 1927 The Port Elizabeth Society of Architects became the Port Elizabeth Local Committee of the Cape Provincial Institute of Architects and in 1990 the Constitution of the Institute of South African Architects was amended and the institute, as currently constituted, came into being.

Members of the ECIA subscribe to a strict code of conduct to ensure the public of the highest standards in professional practice. Having the advantage of institutional support, collective experience, continued professional development and international affiliations to draw from, members are able to maximize client's benefit through competency, expertise and integrity.

Vredefort Dome Tourist Guides Association There is nothing to equal the Vredefort Dome as an example of what happens when an asteroid hits the Earth. The Dome with its magnificent scenery marks the centre of the world's oldest and largest visible impact crater and is rightfully a Unesco World Heritage Site. Professional tour guiding is what any visitor has a right to demand. Through our knowledge and interpretation of the area in all its aspects - scientific, natural, cultural and historical - we aim to provide the best qualify service and reliable information.

We welcome inquiries and can admit as associate members those who share our goals but are not themselves qualified and registered tour guides.

Association of Southern African

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Association Archaeologists (ASAPA) The Association for Southern African Professional Archaeologists (ASAPA) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that exists for the purpose of establishing, maintaining and promoting archaeology in southern Africa.

Archaeology is now recognised as an important component of our heritage, but that heritage is increasingly threatened by urban development. Professional archaeologists have a crucial role to play in studying, preserving and promoting our archaeological heritage.

The origins of ASAPA lie with the Southern African Association of Archaeologists (Sa3), which was established in 1970 to encourage the training of archaeologists and to promote archaeological heritage in southern Africa. In response to the changing status of archaeology and the increasing professionalisation of its practitioners, the membership of SA3 decided to become a formal professional body in 2004.

As a professional body, ASAPA is committed to the development of archaeological research, management (including conservation, curation, archaeotourism and restoration), outreach and the exchange of archaeological expertise and information, in and beyond southern Africa.

The International Association for Impact Assessment South Africa (IAIA sa) "Impact assessment, simply defined, is the process of identifying the future consequences of a current or proposed action."

The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), organized in 1980 to bring together researchers, practitioners, and users of various types of impact assessment from all parts of the world.

IAIA involves people from many disciplines and professions. Members include corporate planners and managers, public interest advocates, government planners and administrators, private consultants and policy analysts, university and college teachers and their students. One of the unique features of IAIA is the mix of professions represented, which provides outstanding opportunities for interchange: to advance the state of the art and science of impact assessment in applications ranging from local to global to develop international and local capability to anticipate, plan and manage the consequences of

development to enhance the quality of life for all.

Regional conferences are organized to make information exchange and networking opportunities available to those who might not be able to attend the international conferences, as well as to focus attention to specific issues. Training programs are held regularly in conjunction with IAIA international conferences. These range from one day to one week in duration and deal with a variety of impact assessment issues. The quarterly journal, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal (IAPA), contains a variety of peer-reviewed research articles, professional practice ideas, and book reviews of recently published titles. IAPA provides a one-source link to the latest ideas in the wide-ranging field of impact assessment.

South Africa is the sixth country in the world (after USA, Australia, Brazil, and Canada) to form a local IAIA affiliate.

South Africans attending the annual congress of IAIA in Washington DC in August 1992 formed a steering committee to launch the IAIAsa later that year. The IAIA affiliate was formally recognised by the parent body at its mid-year meeting in Mexico in February 1993. The primary objective of IAIAsa is to create a "home" for those people who wish to exchange information on, or learn more about, impact assessment. South Africa has received international acclaim for its Integrated Environmental Management procedure and for the high quality Environmental Impact Assessments undertaken in this country.

South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP) The South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP) was established as a statutory council in terms of Section 2 of the South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession Act – Act 45 of 2000 (referred to as The Act hereafter).

The Council evolved out of the Board of Control for Landscape Architects (BOCLASA), which functioned under the Council of Architects in terms of The Architectural Act, Act 73 of 1970.

SACLAP strives to establish, direct, sustain and ensure a high level of professional responsibility and ethical conduct within the art and science of landscape architecture with honesty, dignity and integrity in the broad interest PM November December 2014

of public health, safety and welfare of the community. The Council is responsible for setting standards, registering professionals and accrediting educational bodies.

Johannesburg City Tourism Association (JCTA) We aim to take Joburg tourism to the next level by marketing Joburg’s inner city tourist destination products. We will be the voice of the tourism industry in the city by representation on appropriate tourism boards. We will form partnerships and relationships with private and government departments in the tourism sector locally, provincially and nationally. We aspire to be the catalyst for members and industry to interact regularly and share information for the greater benefit of the industry and our city by providing a recognizable platform.

Cape Institute for Architecture (CIFA) The Cape Institute for Architecture, formerly known as the Cape Institute of Architects, was formed in 1900. It is a voluntary society that aspires to promote excellence in the practice of Architecture within its membership, beyond that which may reasonably be expected from a practitioner concerned only with professional registration. An additional, equally important objective is to assist its members in the achievement of this excellence.

The Cape Institute for Architecture is affiliated to the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) and is one of eleven regional institutes. The Institute is constituted according to the Architects Act 44 of 2000. All member categories are required to be registered with the statutory body, the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) The South African Antique Dealers Association (SAADA) SAADA was established in 1963 to promote the interests of the dealers, give clients peace of mind and encourage high standards of ethics. In today’s modern world this history and tradition ensures that you receive accurate and authentic information on every purchase, including a written guarantee upon request.

Today SAADA represents 53 specialist dealers nationally. New applicants wanting to join have to have been in business for at least three years before being considered for membership. Membership of every dealer is ratified annually ensuring continued high standards. Integrity and honourable trade practices are an essential PM November December 2014

aspect of membership and specialisation within their areas of expertise is encouraged.

Pretoria Institute for Architecture (PIA) The Pretoria Institute for Architecture (PIA) is a Voluntary Association recognised by the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP), and is a ‘Regional Institute’ of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA). The PIA has origins in the Pretoria Architectural Society which was founded in 1945. The PIA was created to serve the interests of architects in the Pretoria area, to further good Architecture and to care for the Architectural heritage unique to Pretoria. The Transvaal Provincial Institute of Architects, having existed for the better part of a century, ceased to exist in the early 1990's and the South African Institute of Architects was established.

This was the opportunity for the local architectural societies to become regional institutes in their own right. The Pretoria Architectural Society became the new Pretoria Institute of Architects. However, the constitution and subsequently the name changed to acknowledge and provide for other forms of membership, such as Technologists, Artists, Historians and Friends. Our name is now the Pretoria Institute for Architecture. While concentrating on the day to day aspects of running a practice, it also takes into account inter alia the dissemination of information, liaison with the local authorities, the promotion of the profession, heritage, education and matters pertaining to the habitat. These functions are carried out through committee structures which in turn are reflected in the constitution of the PIA. Events typically include bi-annual exhibitions, professionally arranged publications, commitment to, organising and facilitating of congresses, CPD events and expert advice to members. Friday breakfasts, luncheons, talks at the two universities in Pretoria, biennial awards and other social events more often than not carry a professional or technical component, the combination of which being well received by the membership, accounting for the good attendance at all events. Members of the PIA have been called to offer professional service at various universities throughout the country and to serve on various national and international professional bodies, giving credence to its mission and value to its members.

South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) The South African Council for the

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Architectural Profession (SACAP) is the regulatory authority for the architectural profession. SACAP is responsible for providing for registration of persons within the architectural profession; protecting the public against unprofessional conduct by registered persons, guiding the profession and promoting the standards of education and training in the Built Environment.

Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) The quantity surveying profession has benefited by a governing institution in one form or another since 1908, the year that the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) was inaugurated. The present Association was formed to achieve and maintain the following goals and ambitions: Advance and promote the science and practice of quantity surveying and cognate matters Uphold the dignity of the quantity surveying profession Watch over, promote and protect the interest of its members Afford opportunity for the interchange and recording of the body of knowledge and experience of quantity surveying Promote the high standards of professional competence and integrity. The ASAQS provides an environment in which professionals may learn, grow and work together to advance the techniques and science of quantity surveying. From its earliest beginnings, the ASAQS has grown to include quantity surveying professionals from every area of the construction industry, from private practice, government and quasi-government to construction companies.

The National Antiques & Decorative Arts group (NADA) The National Antiques & Decorative Arts group started n 1999 with the establishment of the National Antiques & Decorative Arts Faire which was staged at the prestigious Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg. Since then the Antiques Faire has grown from strength to strength and has attracted participants from all over South Africa and indeed the world. NAADA encourages dealers from all over the world to join. and is only open to those who meet the criteria of the NAADA code of practice. NAADA covers nearly every discipline of collecting and participating dealers are required to have a good knowledge of their speciality.

NAADA strives to uphold a strict Code Of Practice which all of its members adhere to. In the event of a dispute NAADA is

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willing to intervene and help mediate an equitable solution. The Code Of Practice has been introduced to give members of the public confidence when they make a purchase from a member.

our members with up-to-date information and represent them at many levels in the public domain. We also research, generate and deliver ideas for enriching programs, including CPD courses.

Council for the Built Environment (CBE) The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) and the six councils maintain and apply standards of built environment professionals conduct and practice in order to effectively protect the interests of the public. The Council was established in terms of the Council for the Built Environment Act, 2000 (Act No. 43 of 2000) (CBE Act). The CBE Act was introduced in order to address certain shortcomings in the built environment and to enable a climate for ongoing transformation and development of the professions to take place. In terms of the CBE Act the Council is responsible for transforming the professions, acting as a conduit between Government and the built environment professions, fostering growth of the professions, and contributing to the creation of a dynamic built environment.

Johannesburg City Tourism Association (JCTA) We aim to take Joburg tourism to the next level by marketing Joburg’s inner city tourist destination products. We will be the voice of the tourism industry in the city by representation on appropriate tourism boards. We will form partnerships and relationships with private and government departments in the tourism sector locally, provincially and nationally. We aspire to be the catalyst for members and industry to interact regularly and share information for the greater benefit of the industry and our city by providing a recognizable platform.

The South African National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM-SA) The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is a non-profit, nongovernmental organisation of the world's museums and museum professionals which is committed to preserving the world’s natural and cultural heritage.

The cornerstone of ICOM is its ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums. It sets minimum standards of professional practice and performance for museums and their staff. In joining the organisation, ICOM-SA members undertake to abide by this Code. The organisation also provides a spectrum of training workshops and seminars.

Border Kei Institute of Architects (BKIA) The Border Kei Institute of Architects (BKIA) is a local representative of the South African Institute of Architects. We aim to connect and enrich our local architectural community through various events and media as well as through a professional support system. The various BKIA committees mount exhibitions, hold workshops and run awards programs, amongst other projects aimed at ensuring that our members are kept abreast of current practice. We provide

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Gauteng Institute for Architecture (GIfA) The Gauteng Institute for Architecture is one of the oldest architectural organizations in South Africa, founded in 1900 as the “Transvaal Institute”. We are a voluntary association affiliated to the South African Institute of Architects and endorsed by the South African Council for the Architectural Profession.

Our Mission is to serve our members’ interests, promote a better built environment and a greater awareness of Architecture. We offer continual professional development courses to our members and the public on topics ranging from heritage to professional practice. We do this by means of webinars, workshops, lectures, tours of iconic buildings, social events and exhibitions. Events are aimed at creating a networking and marketing platform for both professionals within the built environment as well as relevant government bodies and suppliers.

We strive to be the voice of the profession and an informative platform to the public. Through hosting exhibitions in our office, we educate on architecture’s relevance to the public – its social and environmental impact. Transformation is a key objective for the GIfA and is driven through education and promotion of the built environment professions.

South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) The South African Institute of Architects is a voluntary association of affiliated and

regional institutes established in 1996 and incorporates the previous national Institute of South African Architects (established in 1927) and the regional Institutes of Architects of the former Cape (founded 1899), Eastern Province (founded in 1900 as the Port Elizabeth Society of Architects), Border (founded in 1946 as the East London Chapter of the Cape Provincial Institute), KwaZuluNatal (founded in 1901), Orange Free State (founded in 1921) and Transvaal (founded in 1909). The Pretoria Institute of Architects was established in 1993 and the following new regional institutes were established in 1996: Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo (founded as Northern Province) and Mpumalanga.

Membership of the Institute is open to all architects, the only prerequisite being a recognised academic qualification, a minimum of 24 months practical experience and an examination in professional practice. Candidate membership is also open to those currently studying towards becoming a professional architect.

In terms of the constitution the Institute is committed to the principle of striving to be an outstanding professional organisation, which upholds the dignity of the profession and its members. It aims to promote excellence in architecture and it seeks to contribute to the enhancement of society and the environment.

The Staff Residence at Rob Ferreira Hospital was awarded to Consultium Architects after the successful completion of a master plan done for the entire complex in 2009.

This building will be a true landmark in the Nelspruit CBD, as it will stand a proud 13 stories and will be the highest building ever constructed in this region. The building consists of 147 accommodation units for Doctors and supporting staff with two levels of basement parking. Ground floor is allocated to meeting facilities, a coffee shop and open space for social activities, towered by two large multi volume atriums creating vibrant atmospheres.

This building was designed to have a modern appearance within the approved budget and at the same time serve as a counterpart and link between the existing

residence and the new resource centre, both constructed concurrently.

The building being the highest ever constructed in the Nelspruit CBD, had various town planning challenges that needed to be overcome. The professional team worked closely with local town planners, fire and traffic engineers. Due to the concentrated housing of people, the design had to incorporate the upgrade of the existing entrance, additional parking bays required meant that the entire hospital’s site development needed to be re-considered.

Building works started in January 2012 and the project was scheduled for 21 months, no serious changes were made on the project after it was handed over to the main contractor. A few design changes were implemented during construction, but this is common on any project, and more

so on a project of this scale and value.

This is one of the bigger projects in scale and value that Consultium Architects has undertaken in the past couple of years.

What makes this project unique is the fact that we can record that we have successfully designed and administered one of the highest structures built in Nelspruit to date.

Architects: Consultium Architects Civil and Structural Engineers: Nevhutalu Consulting Engineers Electrical and Mechanical: Mogalemole Consulting Engineers Quantity Surveyors: Idnil Professional Consultants

Cape Institute for Architecture (CIFA) The Cape Institute for Architecture, formerly known as the Cape Institute of Architects, was formed in 1900. It is a voluntary society that aspires to promote excellence in the practice of Architecture within its membership, beyond that which may reasonably be expected from a practitioner concerned only with professional registration. An additional, equally important objective is to assist its members in the achievement of this excellence.

The Cape Institute for Architecture is affiliated to the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) and is one of eleven regional institutes. The Institute is constituted according to the Architects Act 44 of 2000. All member categories are required to be registered with the statutory body, the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP)

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Project Wood, Wild Olive and White Stinkwood) have been determined deliberately to strengthen the main axes, facades and building entrances. These trees represent of both deciduous and evergreen indigenous species.

Planting has been used to screen service yards. Starjasmin grows on Clear Vu fence creating green flowering structures and contributing largely to softening and greening of facades.

Building Entrances (5 Entrances) are announced by linear planting of different clipped heights and textures, ornamental gravel and rock design.

The Main Entrance road from Jacob Street allows a moment's bird's eye view on the linear design concept leading the visitor in.

Local rock from site (sandstone type of a deeper colour) were used in linear formation to form the focal element in the planting lines flanking the entrance road, with the planting in varying foliage texture and shades of green.

framed with tree axes, with trees extended to parking boundaries. This creates unity of different spaces in the overall design.

The same design principles have been applied to the South Elevation and parking areas.

All elements are repeated throughout the landscape areas and intertwine a strong landscape concept that can be identified with the Heidelberg Mall.

Large expanses of gravel areas are intercepted through strong repetitive rock lines cutting into the gravel areas, creating depth in complementing stone texture and colour.

Diagonal lines are extended from the main traffic circle to the adjacent Northern Façade landscape. Ornamental gravel has been introduced to these areas as an additional element to the linear rock design and planting layers.

The planting palette consist of strong hedge planting varied with grass textures and spiky leaved plants – the contrast complimenting both types of plants.

Main roads and Pedestrian Boulevards are

The minimal tree species (Outiniqua Yellow

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Extra large trees in luxury green focal areas lead the eye towards the Entrances.

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Formwork Solutions

We are a Formwork and Scaffolding company that creates an exceptional service within the formwork and scaffolding market by addressing the customer's needs and wants for each individual contract.

We do this by mutually assessing the requirements for the project with the contractor, implementing the best possible solution required to provide them with an easy to use correct system and backing this up with regular site visits to assess the correct and efficient use of the system.

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We do not believe in just providing formwork or scaffolding, but by making it work on site.

We supply on a hire and sale basis all formwork and scaffolding as well as the consumables required in the placing of the concrete within the formwork, such as spacers, chamfers, oils, ties and plywood.

Try us for all your on site requirements and you will experience what "service" actually is.

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Supplement Modeling & Analysis Solve Centrifugal Pump Reliability Problems Modifying multistage, split case, centrifugal pumps reduces joint deterioration.

As the use of variable speed drives with centrifugal pumps increases, pump users are more commonly operating pumps at higher speeds than their original design intended. Higher speeds correspond directly with increases in head and capacity. These higher pressures and a lack of asbestos gasket material can cause sealing reliability issues for some older split case pumps.

Modern three-dimensional (3-D) solid modeling and finite element analysis (FEA) can assist centrifugal pump engineers with incorporating design changes that solve these reliability issues.

Case Study Steel mills use high-energy, multistage split case centrifugal pumps for descaling operations. The design of these pumps is similar to many boiler feed pumps in power plants.

In 2008, a rotating equipment repair company investigated some reliability issues on several 4 x 10 12-stage descale pumps for a steel mill in Indiana. The pumps in question were designed to operate at 3,600 rpm with a given flow and pressure. However, because of system requirements in the steel mill, the pumps were operating at 5,400 rpm to produce significantly higher pressure.

This increased performance caused heavy washing across the interstage cavities, resulting in internal flow recirculation.

The flow recirculation was visible at the pump disassembly and was indicated by the dull finish on the areas surrounding the discharge cavity or tongue of each stage (see Image 1). On average, the flow recirculation caused these pumps to drop below acceptable performance levels after only 2,000 operating hours when they were using a conventional graphite gasket and 5,000 hours when using an asbestos gasket material.

Figure 2. A schematic showing the internal pressure distribution used in the FEA Image 1. The effects of the internal flow recirculation are shown by the dull finish on the areas surrounding the discharge cavity or tongue of each stage. This recirculation causes joint erosion and decreased hydraulic performance.

Analysis 1: Baseline To find a solution to this problem, repair engineers turned to solid modeling via laser scanning and FEA to evaluate and analyze design modifications. The first step in the process was to create an identical solid model of the casing for use in the FEA (see Figure 1). This model was then used as a baseline in an initial FEA of the casing.

Figure 3. Baseline FEA results showing large areas of minimal contact pressure between each pump stage

Figure 1. A solid model of the pump casing, derived from laser scanning point cloud data The goal of the FEA was to solve for the contact pressure between the casing halves given the existing internal pressures and bolting forces from the standard casing.

The pressure distribution used can be seen in Figure 2.

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The results of the baseline FEA revealed large areas of minimal contact pressure, corresponding with the known gasket failure areas (see Figure 3). The medium blue areas were estimated to have a minimum contact pressure of 5,564 psi.

The typical gasket material used for this application has a minimum seating pressure of 4,100 psi to achieve the full pressure multiplied by temperature rating.

Analysis 2: Increasing Bolting Pressure with Super Studs With the baseline design established, the engineers tested several additional designs for increasing the horizontal joint contact pressure. The first design modification tested was the use of a super stud. The use of an upgraded material from B7—such as Grade 8, which has 17 percent greater yield strength—can expand the torque value of the studs, increasing the tensile loading on each stud.

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BRT System in Tshwane The City of Tshwane on Wednesday started the construction of South Africa’s latest bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Arcadia, Hatfield.

The R2.6-billion Tshwane BRT system, which formed part of the city’s revitalisation project, would comprise three depots and 51 stations on an 80 km route stretching through, besides others, the Pretoria central business district (CBD); Hatfield; Menlyn; Sunnyside; Akasia; Kopanong, in Soshanguve; Mamelodi and Pretoria North.

Speaking at the construction site of the Arcadia street station, executive mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said that the system would go live in April 2014 with the completion of the first phase of the project.

Johannesburg’s Rea Vaya opened its doors in August 2009 and Cape Town’s MyCiTi network was officially opened in 2011.

Rustenburg is also planning a BRT system, with construction scheduled to start this month.

The City of Tshwane aimed to operate the bus services along BRT trunk routes every three to five minutes during peak hours, with feeder services at the stations and terminals every 15 minutes to enable greater efficiency and ease of use for passengers.

The BRT system would operate between 05:00 and 20:30 from Monday to Saturday, and 07:00 and 19:00 on Sundays and public holidays.

The city said the BRT would provide a “rapid, frequent, high-quality, affordable and convenient” public transport service that would improve urban mobility and integration.

“Currently, 66% of peak-hour trips are made using private vehicles, leading to traffic congestion. Many economically deprived areas are entirely dependent on public transport,” he explained.

The system would be named through a public voting competition ending on July 31. The proposed names for Tshwane’s BRT system were Maleka, meaning ‘roundabout’, A Re Veng, which means ‘let’s go’, Tsumaya, for ‘go’ and Dumela, which means ‘hello’.

Phase 1 would extend from Akasia to Menlyn, through Sunnyside and Hatfield, while Phase 2 would run from Rainbow Junction to Menlyn, through Pretoria North, the CBD and Hatfield.

The mayor noted that the entire system, which was yet to be named, would be operational by October 2015.

The BRT system would require about 340 buses, some of which would be powered by gas, at a cost of about R1-billion.

Ramokgopa expected over 10 000 jobs to be created during the construction phase, and about 1 000 sustainable jobs once the system was live. These included 529 bus operators and related personnel, 94 employees for the proposed call centre and about 300 workers managing and maintaining the ticketing system.

“Tshwane's bus rapid transit system will be integrated in partnership with existing public transport facilities, which will ferry passengers to and from BRT stations, improving efficiencies and impact for residents,” said Ramokgopa.

He commented that the system was based on the model used by the Rea Vaya BRT in Johannesburg. The Tshwane system would also implement an ownership model, where current licensed bus and taxi operators on the affected routes would eventually own, operate and manage the BRT.

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Partitioning Pelican Systems is a leading supplier and distributor of commercial and residential interior building solutions, including ceiling, partitioning, opening and flooring systems.

A family business which was founded by Rodney Gould, Pelican Systems has been operating successfully for over three decades and has experienced role models with an extensive knowledge of the building industry both from a contracting and a supply point of view. From 2004 until February 2012 Pelican Systems was in a 50/50 Joint Venture with Lafarge Gypsum.

As a business we value the roles and responsibilities of all those who are involved in the building process and can offer a product and service solution based on years of dealing with the trade and a genuine understanding of the building industry.

With its comprehensive range of products, Pelican Systems is able to supply superior interior solutions for both the residential and commercial markets. Pelican Systems takes great pride in its ability to serve both large and small scale projects without compromising on the level of detail, commitment and passion.

As an ethical and reliable supplier and contributor to the building industry we continuously strive to maintain and uphold the standards of the industry we serve with our every intention being the continual improvement and enhancement of our product offering to the benefit of the building industry in South Africa.

Pelican Systems is ISO 9001 accredited and is a BBBEE Level 6 company.

Our Mission is to be responsible role players in the building industry and to play a valuable role in eco-innovation, combining technology and product improvement in a way that allows for a sustainable future.

Our Values and corporate culture reflect integrity, reliability, flexibility, creativity and resilience.

Laminate Wood Flooring Our role in the Industry Pelican Systems is a company that focuses on interior system solutions. We are a supply only company that supports the trade known to us as specialist ceiling and partitioning erectors, builders, contractors, flooring installers and the sophisticated DIY expert.

We can be involved in and called on at any stage from planning, tender and building to discuss our product offering, system solutions and technical advice. We work closely with the following industry professionals and experts to find the best interior solutions for client’s particular needs.

For the Architect our role is to call, and provide information on the products we offer. At times we assist with detailed technical information where there are specific sound or fire ratings which need to be achieved.

All of our product brochures have the detailed specification as required for the Bill of Materials, and our products and specifications are available on Autospec & CCN. We have an extensive website where specifications and technical detail can be researched and downloaded.

For the Quantity Surveyor we provide pricing information on the various system solutions which have been specified, and can assist with alternatives when there are budget constraints.

For the Interior Designers and Decorators we showcase our product range, and facilitate the creative process of design to bring the interior of a building to life.

For the Project Manager we would like to make your life easier and will assist where we can with on-time delivery, technical information, recommendations and other industry information as required.

Our goal is to assist in the specifying process during the planning stage, make available costing estimates for the costing process, provide pricing to our customers that are involved in the tender process and ensure a quality product is delivered on site at the required time. Pelican Systems has developed out of a contracting business, so we believe that we have a good insight into the conditions on site, and the particular problems that our customers face during building contracts. Servicing the finishing trades, we are well prepared to handle the pressure, deadlines and delays that present themselves on many projects.

Partitioning Pelican Systems offers a range of different types of Partitioning Systems specifically designed to suit your specifications and budget.

The Harvey World Travel Group is comprised of expert travel agents who offer the best comprehensive holiday packages at competitive rates. Harvey World Travel is a joint venture between BidTravel (part of the Bidvest Group) and Stella Group based in Australia.

Background Harvey World Travel is one the largest and most well established retail travel brands in Southern Africa. Since the first branch opened in South Africa in 1997, our franchise network has expanded

considerably into Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia and Lesotho. We now boast over 430 travel agencies throughout Southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Branches There are over eighty Harvey World Travel agencies in South Africa, including all major cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Each one of our franchises is staffed with an efficient team of expert travel consultants waiting to send you to your dream destination. .

Destinations Harvey World Travel specialises in holiday packages to premier travel destinations. Our experienced travel consultants will send you to the most beautiful and exciting corners of the world, with package deals to Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Australasia.

Partners Harvey World Travel works with a number of esteemed partners to bring you the best in travel service.

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We believe a Partitioning System should be aesthetically versatile, highly functional and easy to install.

Whether you are looking for the permanent flush wall appearance of drywall or the ultimate in flexibility for your ever-changing office environment or conference facility, we have a Partitioning System which will cater for your needs.

For a more comprehensive expose of Pelican Systems, please visit the website www.pelican.co.za.

For the Property Developer who is looking for a quality product and a reliable and ethical supplier to support their investment and the risk involved in the development, Pelican Systems will gladly be the partner you are looking for, and can offer a wide range of products, and a reliable team to service and deliver the product to site.

Product offering includes: Flush Plastered Ceilings & Accessories Suspended Ceilings & Accessories Drywall Partitions and Accessories Operable Acoustic Partitions Operable Glasswalls Toilet Partitions Fire Doors Architectural Timber Doors Aluminium Doors for Partitions

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For the Contractors, who are our customers we provide a source of quality products, reliable supply and delivery, as well as technical on-site support.

We are an ISO9001 company, and pride ourselves on service and quality. We will always support our range of products and have more than 30 years of experience in the interior systems industry.

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Plastic Taking Nampak's business from strength to strength Fundamental to our success are the values we believe in and practise—Packaging Excellence in everything we do.

We acknowledge the benefits of corporate driven strategic initiatives, systems and best practices to strengthen our leading market position. We believe in a culture that actively recruits, develops and retains talent and diversity.

We value mutually beneficial long-term partnerships with both our suppliers and customers, built on a foundation of superior quality, innovation and service.

We continuously drive sustainable business excellence through profitable operations, sound asset management and satisfied stakeholders.

We uphold the principles of integrity and employ the services of an independent, confidential whistle-blowing hotline service as a means of reporting and investigating dishonesty, fraud and other inappropriate behavior in the workplace.

Nampak Flexible Our main areas of focus are consistent with good manufacturing practices, including On Time In Full (OTIF), costs, lead-times and quality. As a result of our unique capabilities, we are able to create a culture of MORE in everything we do.

We have three strategically-located plants throughout Southern Africa. These plants specialise in their particular packaging technologies and operate according to world-class standards.

Our KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape plants are ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001 accredited and have American Institute of Bakers (AIB) and British Retail Consortium (BRC) certifications as well as HACCP certification (incorporating the Occupational Health and Safety and Waste Management programmes).

Our plant in Port Elizabeth uses the Flexible Best manufacturing practices where the key focus is on manufacturing embossed film for the tyre and rubber industries.

Nampak Origination Centre (NOC)

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Conveniently situated near our Pinetown plant, our Origination Centre services our customers requirements from concept and design through to printing process by utilizing the in house art studio, digital orgination facilities, short run digital printing, digital proofing and gravure cylinder manufacturing for absolute accuracy.

NOC has the unique capability of offering customers digital solutions ideal for samples, new product launches and promotional activities that require short runs but excellent printing quality.

Nampak Liquid We offer our customers ongoing design, development, assembly and support for filling machinery and handling systems, ensuring that our packaging solutions comply with the stringent quality hygiene standards set by the food and beverage industries in Southern Africa.

Total packaging solutions, coupled with the highest service levels, technical support and competitive filling systems are the hallmark of our operations located in the Eastern and Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

Our plastic products are supplied to the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage markets as well as the chemical industry, household detergents and food sectors.

We pioneered the concept of in-plant blow moulding in South Africa—an option ideal for customers with sufficiently large volumes to warrant blowing bottles directly on their premises.

Nampak Megapak At our strategically situated plants in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town we manufacture world-class drums, IBC’s and crates. We are the sole licensee for Mauser technology in South Africa for Drums and IBC’s.

We are an innovative, forward thinking organisation, using leading-edge technology. Whatever your requirements, we will provide you with an innovative solution that caters to your needs. We are home to the largest support tool room in

our industry. Because our facility is so technologically advanced, we are almost completely self-sufficient. We always deliver on time and strive to maintain the highest levels of service excellence.

Nampak Closures We’ve aligned ourselves with major international players including Bericap and Portola, to enhance and diversify our offerings to meet the highest international standards whilst enhancing the value of our customers’ brands.

Our comprehensive range of specialised closures including plastic bottle caps and lids, as well as plastic twist caps, are designed and engineered to achieve maximum product integrity and filling line efficiencies, crucial to the markets we serve.

We have strategically located sales offices in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.

Nampak Closures is a HACCP and an ISO 9001:2000 accredited company offering customers a diverse range of plastic closures.

Nampak Petpak We have been producing PET bottles for local and international brands since 1979.

Our track record, expert knowledge, cutting edge capability, in-house design service and quality products in the carbonated and still soft drink markets have made us a leading supplier in the Southern African region.

We are a licensee of Graham Packaging for the manufacture of multi-trip bottles and have close associations with leading international machine suppliers including KHS, Krones, Sidel and ASB Nissei. We have two commercial plants located in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

“We won't be beaten on our service!"

We are the number one timber merchant in Paisley, ready to deal with all your timber, sheet materials, external and internal doors, flooring, decking and fencing needs. After something not on the site? use the Contact us link, or give us a call on the above number and we'll be sure to help.

Delivery & Customer Service We are a local company covering the Paisley, Renfrewshire and Greater Glasgow areas, but we have supplied to most everywhere in Scotland. We pride ourselves on our Next Day Delivery and Same Day Cutting Services. Our customers are very important to us and we always strive to supply a first class experience.

Timber & Plywood Services is one of Renfrewshire's business jewels; started by Alistair Wilkie in 2003, the company began it’s life from rented warehouses in Blackhall St, (just off Loanend in Paisley); The company then purchased and relocated to more suitable premises on the Ferguslie main road, near Linwood, in May of 2009;. This facility had been empty for about a year or so and was suffering from a deal of neglect, until the TPS team moved in and transformed the place into a practical and inspiring working environment: the showroom, sales area and offices are bright, airy and comfortable whilst the timber storage areas have been well thought out and lend themselves to safe and efficient working; the mill, itself, is spacious and is, easily, coping with the increased volume of work being created from this new location.

The new premises, along with its dedicated and friendly staff are available to welcome the trade and public, alike.

The new showroom is a comfortable, interesting environment in which to discuss and get advice on your own particular projects. Why not pay them a visit. You'll be surprised at the great range of products and fantastically good value on offer!

Now there’s some “Wood for Thought” To ensure best possible efficiency, in the new premises, the company has invested in lots of new kit including cantilever racking, upgraded counterbalance forklift, Side-Tracker & Combilift multidirectional forklifts, timber barrows and Bistrack (bespoke computer software).

These investments ares, of course, ongoing and can only add to the company’ s ability to offer the first class service to which its staff are always striving to achieve.

and have built the company’ s reputation on slick, efficient service. Same day delivery is commonplace, next day delivery the norm; the mill regularly provides a while-u-wait cutting service and can even offer specialist profiles within a couple of days or so. This sort of service is a passion within the company and helps to set it apart from and ahead of its competition. TPS is renowned, amongst its existing customers, as being major suppliers of fencing and decking products, this range now extended to include QGrip slip resistant decking and Twinson composite decking; although the company’s stocks also include doors, doors, plywood, gyproc, insulation, ironmongery, tools, dressed timber , etc. In fact, they can supply almost anything you might require on your building or DIY project.

Alistair, along with his management team of Gary Harvey, Colin Campbell, Margaret Ann Speirs and Pat Harvey have many years of industry experience between them

Nampak Tubes Nampak Tubes is a global supplier of aluminium barrier laminated (ABL) & plastic barrier laminated (PBL) tubes.

Our purpose built facility in South Africa produces tubes to world class standards.

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Supplement Darrell Band, founder of SA Waterproofing 18 years ago, started in the waterproofing industry in 1990, where the main focus was on waterproofing and rising damp in the domestic housing department.

Gradually through experience SA Waterproofing started to grow by tracking the market across the board and over the years developed massive experience not only in the residential market but in industrial and commercial sectors as well.

RO-AL has close relationships with numerous building and civil consultants including Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Electrical and Mechanical consultants, providing a database of highly qualified and capable experts on which to draw in the event of specialist knowledge or design being required. We have the experience to assemble a team of specialists to expedite, design and construct turnkey solutions, meeting client specific requirements.

The company commenced its operations in 1991, primarily in the construction environment, with its head office in Johannesburg. Projects undertaken by Ro-Al included industrial, commercial, retail, institutional and residential. In 1995 the company extended its operations to include Mobile Telecommunication infrastructure development, and maintenance on a national level with offices and resources strategically placed throughout the country.

QUALITY ASSURANCE We are an accredited ISO 9001, ISO 1401 and ISO 1801 Company.

B-BBEE: - Level 3 - Value Added Supplier ASSOCIATIONS: - Master Builders Association - Electrical Contractors Board COMPANY PHILOSOPHY We believe in servicing the client with sound quality control principles within a competitive pricing structure and timeous delivery. Second to this it is important to render a "one stop service" to the client.

To achieve this the company: - Employes well trained staff.

- Maintains a program of continious development, in line with the latest technology.

- Maintains a high level of discipline resulting in a team of people that are focused, motivated and treated in a fair manner with sound interpersonal relationships.

Roofing Contractors Darrell Band, founder of SA Waterproofing 18 years ago, started in the waterproofing industry in 1990, where the main focus was on waterproofing and rising damp in the domestic housing department.

Gradually through experience SA Waterproofing started to grow with the help of our dedicated staff, flourished into a house hold name focusing on impeccable quality and service to the industry.

pulse" with regard to new products and services on the market so that we may be able to improve on our already excellent service and workmanship at all times.

Services Rising Damp Proofing Contractors Only Waterproofing Company that offes a "One Stop Waterproofing & Paint Solution" which covers: Torch-on systems & Painting Acrylic systems Rising damp Slate and Standard Tile re-roofing.

Solar panels Rope access for high rise buildings Training Our staff undergoes ongoing training in house that is run by a competent manager checking that quality is at its best the entire time. This also helps our staff to progress their skills in different areas.

SA Waterproofing now offers a service to the new works industry, domestic, housing, schools, shopping centre's, airports, municipalities, industrial factories, commercial properties, and electrical power stations. Customer satisfaction has been a big help in the growth of SA Waterproofing and we intend to continue to operate with this winning formula in the future.

Our Mission Our mission is to achieve and maintain the highest standard in our service, and to be proud leaders in the industry. There is no project that is too big or too small.

It is also our mission to ensure that our staff remains with their "fingers on the

SA Waterproofing has a division to accomodate contracts outside of South African borders through out South Africa. Please do not hesitate to contact our head office for any information that you may require in this field.

For anymore information please contact us at info@sawaterproofing.co.za or on +27 861 786 888. from outside of South African borders please contact us on +27 11 786 8886

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50% of all CO2 emissions

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50% of energy consumed

So the built environment can be considered the ‘low hanging fruit’ with regards improving our situation, as any improvements in the way we construct can have a real positive effect on our environment…and some think that timber can play a large role in the solution Comparing Building Materials Concrete, steel and masonry are all great building materials, over that there is no doubt.

INTRODUCTION People, in general, respond to wood as if connected to it somehow – it appeals to more than just the visual sense, also to touch and smell.

If someone walks into a kitchen with a wooden counter top, or picks up one of my timber light fittings, the fist thing they do is run their hands over it – to feel it’s smoothness; sometimes they will even smell it. You don’t often see that happening with other materials.

WHY SHOULD WE BE USING WOOD? Some of you might think of, when thinking of using wood; of deforestation, or of the fact that it may burn? I am going to tell you the other side of the story.

But: – CO2 is one of the direct by-products of the manufacturing process of cement –

Steel is also energy intensive to produce

– Combined steel and concrete account for approx 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions

– in terms of resources we’ve reached the point where current demand exceeds supply, so we’ve started eating into our capital – worst still, the waste we produce is polluting the depleting remaining capital, further reducing the effective balance – we face a potential energy crises This is coupled with expanding economies (albeit slowly at present), causing the need for ever increasing resource extraction, and a growing population, with a housing backlog currently of 2.1 million houses in SA. So the question is; how do we meet, not just the South African, but worldwide need for housing? …without further increasing carbon emissions and depleting resources. What we have is the situation of Housing vs Climate Change.

The solution that is being put forward is know as ‘decoupling’ – or achieving growth and prosperity without resource depletion and ever increasing carbon emissions So why should any of this effect what and how we build? The reason quite simply, is because the construction industry and the built environment consume: –

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close to 50% of all resources globally

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So, with stats like 70% of the developed worlds populstion live in timber frame homes, why is the percentage of timber buildings so small in SA? Possible Reasons – the perception of it as a cheaper & less desirable alternative, perhaps still a result of it’s humble iron clad origins and later cost–effective prefab holiday house, still persists amongst many – though many have attempted, there has been little uptake in the cost effective housing sector – due to inexpensive labour and plentiful clay, brick homes have been the historically preferred choice –

– Clay for bricks is extracted from the earth, ie it is of a finite quantity, and then fired in an energy intensive process And wood?

– wood is essentially grown by the energy of the sun, ie. never mind a solar panel or two on your roof, wood is a material born of solar power

We all aware that our planet is basically in a mess: – we are faced with the threat of unprecedented global warming, most of which is now known beyond any doubt to be manmade

advantages – concrete and masonry have, for example, high thermal mass, which is often required in a design – but in general, the more wood we can use to replace other materials, the better for the environment.

– in terms of carbon, when a tree grows, it soaks up carbon dioxide from the air, giving off the oxygen we breathe as a by product – if a tree is left to live out it’s natural lifespan, when it falls over and eventually rots, it gives back only the CO2 that it absorbed – similarly, if it burns it gives back the same amount – if you take wood and build with it, or convert it into furniture or products – that CO2 gets locked away – 1 cubic metre of wood stores 0.9 tonnes of CO2

perceived concerns about timber buildings

Some Common misconceptions Fire ….but won’t it burn down? Having you ever tried making a fire with a match and a log?

– Timber is combustible but not flammable, which means it needs a high temperature to get it burning …in the case of a fire – kindling – Large dimension timber is very difficult to get burning, and when it does it chars, which protects the timber and slows down its combustion – Fire engineers can calculate burn & charring rates, and hence the safety factor for varying sizes of timber – The are fire retardants available, for example for timber homes in close proximity – to avoid the spreading of fire – Timber keeps structural integrity for longer than steel when in a fire

– wood is the only major building material that is renewable

– Timber doesn’t change dimension under high temperatures

– and at the end of the lifespan of a building or product – we can burn the wood to use it’s stored (solar) energy, rather than burning oil, coal or gas to obtain the equivalent amount of energy

– Timber’s performance in the case of a fire is very predictable

– wood has an extremely high strength to weight ratio –

so wood …is like natures gift to us!

By using wood instead of conventional materials like concrete, steel and masonry, not only reduces the amount of CO2 emitted, at the rate of 0.9 tonnes of CO2 per cube of material used, but also locks away CO2 for the lifespan of the product, and then if disposed of – makes its stored energy available.

That’s not to say we try and use wood for everything, as each type of material has its

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– Effective design for fire safety is not about preventing a building from burning if a fire gets out of control – but rather to ensure a safe evacuation of the occupants – ie the structure must remain stable long enough to get everyone out safely.

Deforestation ….but you are cutting down all the trees, and there won’t be any left – that can’t be good!

– as mentioned early, we need to build and we need more housing for a growing population, and wherever we can use wood instead of high carbon emitting, and higher embodied energy nonrenewable materials, we are doing the environment a favour

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Supplement – cutting the wrong trees and transporting timber halfway around the world is not sustainable, but utilising local timber from managed plantations is perfectly sustainable – wood is a renewable resource, for every tree harvested another can be planted. SAFCOL, one of SA’s large forestry companies, are currently planting more than they are harvesting – SA has more than enough SA Pine to meet current housing needs, and some of our forest areas are underplanted, so if / when demand grows planting can be increased On renewability, the Canadian Architect, Michael Green, who is developing systems for building multi-story high rise timber buildings, has calculated that; to grow the equivalent of anough wood for a twenty storey building, taking into account all of the forest areas of the US, will take effectively only 13 minutes Durability …how long will my home last?

– there are timber homes and buildings which have been standing for 100’s of years – preservative treatments can prelong the lifespan of timber indefinitely. I mentioned insects with a taste for timber earlier. The reality is that wood is food for some, particularly softwoods – so it must be treated Maintenance In trying to better understand attitudes towards timber homes, given the clear advantages and consistently small uptake, I at the end of last year, along with Timber IQ magazine, did a Timber Building Poll. We had just short of 120 respondents, of which 38% had previously or currently still, lived in a timber home. What was most interesting to me was how the responses of those who had, and hadn’t actually lived in timber homes, compared on average for the same questions.

When asked to rate timber homes compared to brick, where an answer of 1 is much less, and a 5 far superior, in favor of timber, for the requirement of maintenance, the average scores were as follows: – Maintenance requirements: People having lived in timber homes 2.87 – Maintenance requirements: Average 2.70

ADVANTAGES OF BUILDING A TIMBER HOME I’ve discussed the advantages of using timber from an environmental point of view, but are the advantages of building a timber home; for the client, the architect or designer, and the builder?

For the Client: Insulation – and therefore energy costs. Perhaps not yet such a huge issue, but with a potential electricity hike of around 16% for the next 5 years at this stage, it soon will be Natural Home – many clients chose to build a timber home because they want a more natural home, that better fits into it’s environment – something that feels good. Perhaps they feel that connection to wood. The same applies to beach resorts, and lodges in nature reserves Ease of construction and time to construct – it takes significantly less time to build a timber home than a similar brick & mortar home. It’s also easier to alter or add on to at a later stage – and a lot less messy.

Difficult & Sensitive sites – due to using relatively lightweight materials, timber homes are ideal for difficult to access sites – where getting timber there is pretty easy compared to bricks. For sensitive sites timber construction also allows one to nestle right in between the existing vegetation with minimum disturbance. There are also cost savings on steeps sites, by using suspended floor structures Higher floor area to building area ratio – as the walls are a lot narrow than for masonry construction, in the case of typical timber frame 150mm to around 300mm for a plastered cavity brick wall, you get an extra sq.m of floor area for every 7 RM of external wall – which can also be valuable on small sites. And should be considered when comparing square meter rates For the Architect / designer: Contemporary – driven by technology everything around us is advancing in leaps and bounds. Think cellphones, tablets cars. Timber, along with other new lightweight building systems, allows us to be part of that technological revolution – rather than still building the way we were in the pre digital age. Technological advances in design software and digital fabrication technologies are now to allowing timber to be cut and fashioned to any shape you desire.

Versatility – So thanks to the extreme versatility of timber, your timber home could be anything from a humble log cabin, to a grand Cape Cod style beach house, a sleek glazed all round clad post & beam house, or a digitally crafted open plan contemporary house with a freeform double curved roof

Building Regulations – Timber homes are included in the South African National Building Regulations standards, in SANS 10082, Timber Buildings. When built to these standards they also automatically achieve the standard required for registration with the National Home Builder Registration Council (NHBRC). They are also easily designed to meet the requirements of the new Energy Efficiency regulations SANS 10400 Part XA. For the Builder: Passion – speak to any specialist timber builder and you are likely to find someone with a passion for their craft and for working with wood. Who would you rather have building your house?

Precision & neatness– building with timber is a precise form of construction. Everything needs to be just right to work. For a builder and all involved it’s easier to monitor and see that everything is working according to plan.

CONCLUSION I hope I have shown you enough of the advantages of building with timber, to give it some though as an option when planning your next project.

From our side, along with the ITFB, there is a continuous drive to increase awareness of the benefits and to promote timber frame as a building method.

With SAFCOL, whom I consult to occasionally, there has been a drive over the last few years to change perceptions of timber buildings by building good quality timber frame school classrooms, crèches and other buildings as part of their Social Enterprise Development program.

There is also currently a drive to get government departments to consider timber buildings as an option, currently with a view to timber libraries and schools – so we might see that coming on line in the next while – all of which will help promote the acceptability of timber buildings.

From a consumers point of view I think we should few building materials the same way we view our food – instead of extracting and manufacturing – lets think about growing it!

Nature has, after all, provided us with an option we seem to have forgotten about, a perfect building material that we can grow, harvest, regrow and use in perpetuity.

So, not only was the maintenance of timber homes not seen as higher than a brick homes on average, but is was even less of a concern to people that had lived in timber homes.

In reality though, the maintenance of a timber home can vary greatly depending on the type of timber building; – a timber clad timber home will require regular re-sealing – every couple of years, though this is a relatively low skill and simple task – a fibre cement clad timber frame home should require less maintenance than a plastered brick home

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