IMIESA June 2024

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IMESA The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT • SERVICE DELIVERY • ROADS • BUILDING • MAINTENANCE • ENERGY • WASTE

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

PLANNING & BUILDING SA’S METROS

Non-disruptive installation of buried water services

The building data revolution

BITUMEN & ASPHALT

PERMEABLE PAVING

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INSIDE

VOLUME 49 NO. 05 JUNE 2024

14 Regulars

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INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT • SERVICE DELIVERY • ROADS • BUILDING • MAINTENANCE • ENERGY • WASTE

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

PLANNING & BUILDING SA’S METROS

Non-disruptive installation of buried water services

The building data revolution

BITUMEN & ASPHALT

PERMEABLE PAVING

SAT wants you to be part of the solution

Plastic paving is sustainable

Design & Construct

Editor’s comment President’s comment Index to advertisers

3 5 52

Call for Nominations: IMESA Council – October 2024 to October 2026 An Amazing Race – Engineer Edition

Partner with the pump leaders

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Planning & Building SA’s Metros Partner with the pump leaders I S S N 0 2 5 7 1 9 7 8 Vo l u m e 4 9 N o . 0 5 • J u n e 2 0 2 4 • R 5 5 . 0 0 ( i n c l . VAT )

ON THE COVER In any fluid transfer process, pumps are the enabling mechanisms, and when well designed and optimised will run seamlessly for decades.

However, this is interdependent on a strict operations and maintenance (O&M) regime, with the mandatory use of genuine parts and expert OEM support, says John Montgomery, General Manager for Group entities, APE Pumps and Mather+Platt. P8

22

WATER & WASTEWATER

26

Trenchless Technology

IMESA

Cover Story

APE Pumps & Mather+Platt

Excellence and inclusivity needed to build contracting capabilities

Unlocking spatial insights for better planning.

The growing building data revolution (Part 2) 10 JDA forges ahead with citywide projects 12 eThekwini coinvests with Westown developer on bulk infrastructure 14

Waste Management Protect human health with safe asbestos removal

15

Renewable Energy & Electrification Turbine foundations phase completed at San Kraal

28

Permeable Paving Sponge cities design. The integral role of Terracrete permeable hard lawn pavers

32

Plastic paving enables sustainable stormwater control

34

Transportation Engineering Balancing smart and integrated transportation 36

Bitumen & Asphalt Sabita Awards celebrate dedication and excellence

38

SATBinderrr Conference 2024. Be part of the solution

40

Vehicles & Equipment 16

Mobi Light range unveiled

18

TBM preparations for Polihali transfer tunnel works Water tanker donations bolster humanitarian efforts

20

Cement & Concrete

21

Faster and more cost-effective. Redesigned rib and block flooring system

46

22

AfriSam quality cements EB Construction’s success

48

Water & Wastewater Hazelmere WTW to Grange Reservoir pipeline upgrade builds capacity SA finalists to compete for Stockholm Junior Water Prize Thriving through winter. Smart tips for kikuyu lawn care and watering Novel clarifier design key to Darnall WWTW restoration Winter-proof your property. Essential tips for water leak detection, fixing, and maintenance

Trenchless technology: the non-disruptive installation of buried water services

24

44 45 45

Information & Communications Technology

Pumps & Valves

Your invitation to BIMHarambee 2024

49

Inline pumps designed for spacesaving installations

What does ethical IT mean in practice?

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TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

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A pioneering approach to smart infrastructure 52

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CEMENT & CONCRETE

2024

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A race against time to fix water and energy

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cross the board, South Africa’s seventh administration has a mammoth task ahead of it in accelerating infrastructure programmes and repositioning South Africa as an attractive investment destination. There are exciting times ahead and a real opportunity to enact a public-private partnership (PPP) model that benefits all parties and turns “shovel ready” projects into bankable works in progress.

We are already seeing proactive examples of this in terms of the rollout of the national renewable energy programme. However, all infrastructure sectors need attention and support, and not necessarily always on a purely transactional level, such as a toll road concession agreement, or a Build Own and Operate deal to run a wastewater treatment plant.

NRW issues For example, South African municipalities urgently need PPP funding, donor support and expertise to tackle pressing issues like non-revenue water (NRW) losses – largely due to ageing and failing infrastructure (real losses) – that impact the full socioeconomic value chain.

However, apparent NRW losses like inaccurate billing, poor revenue collection practices and unauthorised consumption also need pressing attention at municipal level to ensure adequate provision for infrastructure maintenance budgets. Plus, municipalities need to be able to pay utilities for the water they receive.

Nationwide, the NRW statistics are alarming, posing a growing financial threat to municipalities, while simultaneously negatively impacting commerce and households. That’s on top of the climate change elements – particularly extended droughts – that are bringing many towns and cities closer to the “Day Zero” scenario that both Cape Town and Gqeberha have narrowly escaped, for now.

However, as urbanisation intensifies, along with population growth, the strain on our finite water resources is set to escalate and could outstrip demand in some cases. Options like wastewater reuse and desalination are there – along with consumer education programmes focusing on conservation – but the immediate priority is to stem NRW real losses by urgently refurbishing and modernising municipal water networks.

In the spotlight currently is Gauteng, and especially Johannesburg and surrounds, as a potential “Day Zero”

Power deficits Another factor that impacts water supply has been the seemingly endless spate of load shedding. Power outages impact pump stations, and reservoirs aren’t always replenished in time. However, it looks like Eskom is now on top of this issue, as we’ve had uninterrupted electricity since around April 2024.

Like water, though, the availability or non-availability of power is not purely about resource constraints. It’s compounded by Eskom revenue shortfalls due to nonpayment – chiefly by municipalities, but also by industrial, commercial, and private consumers. This impacts the SOE’s ability to operate, maintain and optimise its systems. (Vandalism and cable theft add to the problems.)

To underscore the point, when Eskom posted its interim results for the period ending 30th September 2023, outstanding municipal debt stood at around R70 billion, and has certainly climbed since then. It’s also concerning that Johannesburg – as the country’s economic hub – is one of the major defaulters, with its entity, City Power, owing Eskom some R3,4 billion as of June 2024.

Further tariff increases will be imposed by Eskom, and subsequently by municipalities, to help balance the equation. However, it doesn’t solve the root cause of non-payment, which needs to be tackled and managed correctly, rather than eventually opting to write off outstanding amounts in terms of the Municipal Debt Relief Programme. It just puts the fiscus and the economy under further strain. Just as NRW does.

Alastair

To our avid readers, check out what we are talking about on our website, Facebook page or follow us on Twitter and have your say. www.imesa.org.za

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INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT • SERVICE DELIVERY • ROADS • BUILDING • MAINTENANCE • ENERGY • WASTE

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

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candidate due to a massive increase in consumption.

Longer-term, Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project is part of the solution but will only come on stream around 2028.

Working to counter immediate threats are the proactive interventions ongoing by Gauteng utility, Rand Water – a world renowned leader in its field – which recently announced a major infrastructure upgrade programme taking place between 22nd June to 29 th July 2024 to keep pace with bulk demand. The works centre on its four main booster stations, comprising Eikenhof, Palmiet, Mapleton, and Zwartkopjes.

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IMIESA June 2024

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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: IMESA members to serve on Council from October 2024 to October 2026

INSTITUTE OF MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

PRESIDENT’S COMMENT

IMESA

GNU FRAMEWORK A POSITIVE STEP FOR SA’S YOUTH AND ECONOMY Celebrated in June each year, South Africa’s Youth Month is an important moment to reflect and refocus.

It’s a month that is marked by the commemoration of the 16th June 1976 Soweto uprising in which many young people participated, and some lost their lives in opposing the injustices of apartheid.

A

s histor y shows, it didn’t end there. In fact, it’s been a long road to travel, and we still haven’t reached our final destination when it comes to significantly closing the gaps on our most pressing issues, namely inequality, poverty and unemployment – all positively influenced directly or indirectly by enabling infrastructure investments.

However, there’s no question that meaningful gains have been made following South Africa’s democratic transition in 1994, empowering the first “born free” generation.

But socioeconomic growth stalled post the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup buildup in South Africa. Then Covid-19 hit with devastating effect, with the ensuing fallout compounded by varying degrees of turbulence in South African national, provincial, and local government pre and post the pandemic. Interest rates started to climb, unemployment worsened, investor confidence came under increasing strain, and the construction sector went from being a star to the worst performer in terms of GDP.

Change is inevitable It was clear to everyone – locally and globally – that South Africa’s existing political framework needed to be revisited and the results of the May 2024 General Election have confirmed this.

The registered youth of South Africa helped tip the balance (just as their forerunners in 1976 did), turning out in record numbers to vote.

They are the most invested in South Africa’s future, considering that some 60% of our population is under 35; many of them unemployed and urgently seeking tangible action on job creation within a workable macro and micro policy framework influenced in part by the government’s National Development Plan.

The other par t of the essential implementation equation is the role of the private sector,

which has withdrawn and become more risk adverse in recent times. The 2024 General Election result has helped to dilute that, as seen by upward gains on the stock market, and the strengthening of the rand against major currencies. Sustained private sector confidence will make all the difference going forward.

So, in June we celebrate another major milestone in our histor y with the start of the seventh governmental administration since 1994. This development is especially significant because – as in 1994 – this is being led by a Government of National Unity (GNU) coalition.

Following his inauguration on 19th June 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa, as the countr y’s re-elected leader, will now have the task of liaising with GNU counterpar ts to form and refine the coalition cabinet. That is a crucial step in driving renewed gains in key sectors like energy, housing, education, healthcare, transportation, plus water and sanitation that will directly influence the municipal landscape, where real service delivery takes place.

Launch of the Catchment Management Agency Sustained infrastructure investments are essential for South Africa to move for ward, and among the most crucial sectors is water and sanitation. In this respect, a landmark development in June 2024 was the official launch of four new Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs) by Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu at the Water Institute of Southern Africa Conference in Durban.

The launch of the CMAs forms part of government’s objective to ensure more effective, targeted resource management and water security for future generations.

These new CMAs comprise the Limpopo-

Olifants, Vaal-Orange, Pongola-Umzimkulu, and Mzimvubu-Tsitsikamma catchments, working alongside the existing Breede-Olifants and Inkomati-Usuthu catchments. Each CMA is responsible for the protection, use, development, conservation, management, and control of all the water resources in their water management area, working in conjunction with affected stakeholders.

An overriding objective is to ensure a climateresilient water landscape, including combating environmental pollution, which has resulted in a sharp decline in river water quality. In the latter respect, underper forming municipal wastewater treatment plants are a contributing factor that needs urgent attention.

Overall, the launch of the new CMAs is a major step forward in translating policy into action, allocating direct accountability for local outcomes. It also aligns with IMESA’s own mandate to enable municipal engineering excellence at local government level as part of the integrated implementation process.

A prime example is the rollout of A Best Practice Guideline for Design Flood Estimation in Municipal Areas in South Africa. The latter provides an essential tool kit for local authorities and is a multi-stakeholder initiative led jointly

by IMESA and the Water Research Commission.

As we’ve seen from the most recent eThekwini cyclonic and flooding events during June 2024, extreme weather is now common and more frequent. Providing resilient solutions and effecting sustainable town and regional planning is therefore a core part of the future mitigation strategy.

Reconstructing storm damaged infrastructure – running into the billions – also provides an excellent opportunity to employ unemployed youth and new graduates on EPWP related projects that can help them transition into a career in construction, and municipal engineering.

Sibusiso Mjwara, PrTechEng, MIMESA, FSAICE, MWISA, MIPET

IMIESA June 2024

5

IMESA

IMESA KZN YP2 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PORTFOLIO Coinciding with Youth Month in June 2024, the IMESA KZN YP2 Young Professionals Portfolio committee, led by chairman, Shravan Hanuman, set out to identify new and exciting ways for young engineers to learn and develop additional skills. With this objective in mind, the Young Professionals Portfolio Amazing Race: Engineer Edition was born.

H

eld on 7th June, the race comprised four checkpoints within the Pinetown area spanning across a 7 km route (as shown in Figure 1).

The race commenced at Ashley Sports Club, where at the start the competing teams sprinted across the sports field to collect their riddle to identify where their first checkpoint would be.

Once correctly identified, the teams climbed into their vehicles and the race was on.

Once they arrived at their destination, they had 40 minutes to complete a series of challenges.

Then on completing the challenge they had just five minutes to solve the next riddle to identify the next destination. Teams who failed to complete their challenge within the time limit were given a 10-minute penalty and teams who failed to solve the checkpoint riddle in time were given a 5-minute penalty.

Checkpoints were hosted by event sponsors SBS Tanks, JOAT, and Sika, at their facilities within the Pinetown area, with Denso hosting checkpoint four at the finish line at Ashley Sports Club.

FIGURE 1

An Amazing Race –

Engineer Edition “Each sponsor tailored challenges at their checkpoints using products within their portfolios to test the capabilities of our young engineers, forcing them outside their comfort zones to learn and develop new techniques,” says Hanuman.

Once each team had completed their challenge at checkpoint four, they could charge across the finish line to log their overall time to complete the race.

Ten teams par ticipated in the event, representing their respective organisations, which comprised SMEC; Naidu Consulting; Vijay Ori and Associates; BORDA; Ndwedwe Municipality; MNA; eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) Water Design and NRW; EWS Planning; EWS Customer Services; and ENsync Engineers.

Checkpoint sponsor challenges SBS Tanks This challenge included: • The panel assembly of a zincalume steel SBS water tank.

• The calculation of material requirements for a tank water level indicator installation.

• Word puzzle discovery of the SBS DNA principles, which are “Build for Better”, “Work Smart” and “Commit Wholeheartedly”.

Sika Here the challenge required contestants to use their engineering knowledge of mass, volume, and density to create a sample of a cured cube of quick-drying mortar weighing 1,1 kg. Each group was given a large sample of SikaQuick®-2500 to work with, but no scale was provided.

JOAT Challenges here included: • Open channel flow Nivelco meter calibration.

• Smart lock chamber assembly.

The IMESA KwaZulu-Natal YP2 committee. From left are Dhiveshni Naidu, Lloyd Govender, Shravan Hanuman, Zlungile Memela, and Roxanne Canny

6 IMIESA June 2024

IMESA

Team members assemble a tank unit as part of their challenge at the SBS Tanks checkpoint

• S iemens ultrasonic clamp-on meter installation.

• Wiring and programming of an ABB variable speed drive.

Denso On reaching checkpoint four, one member from each team was selected to pop a balloon to identify the final challenges. These entailed: • Denso pipe wrapping: Teams were required to apply Denso Petrolatum Tape and Denso PVC Outerwrap using the correct method of application (sufficient tension, wrapped with 55% overlap.) Once the application had been correctly applied, teams had to test using a spark tester to ensure no holidays were detected.

• Flange encapsulation: Teams had to correctly apply the Denso Flange Wrapping System.

• ST 100 Epoxy application: Teams had to correctly apply Denso ST 100 using the Denso applicator pad and ensure a minimum wet film thickness of 500 micron.

• Denso puzzle: Teams were required to put together the Denso puzzle.

Making the final cut Competing against the best, the overall winner was the EWS Customer Services Branch, with EWS Water Design and NRW taking the runners up position.

“This event was a tremendous success and IMESA KZN YP2 would like to acknowledge the exceptional input from our por tfolio event coordinator, Dhiveshni Naidu. A special thanks also to our sponsors and all participating organisations. This is certain to become a regular annual event going forward,” says Hanuman.

Other events planned for 2024 For the balance of 2024, upcoming YP2 events comprise a Speed Mentorship event, focusing on the development of leadership skills; and a Young Engineers Presentation Competition judged by a panel of experts. In the lead up to the competition, there will be a call for abstracts with submissions invited from young engineers and final year students.

“The authors of those abstracts selected will then be invited to present, showcasing what they’ve been working on, fresh ideas, as well as their public speaking skills,” Hanuman explains. “Proactive feedback will be given to each speaker, so it’s a great learning curve with positive exposure. Plus, prizes will be awarded for the best speakers, with the presenters featured in our IMIESA magazine.

We’d also like to introduce a Young Engineer of the Year section in this publication.”

Alongside these above two CPD events, IMESA KZN YP2 will be running university roadshows at DUT, UKZN, and MUT. The presentation will include the benefits of becoming a member of IMESA as final year students prepare to enter the industry.

Other potential initiatives include a School Competition for Grades 10 and 11 learners with STEM subjects. The starting point would be a site visit to, say, a wastewater treatment Included in the challenge at the JOAT checkpoint was the assembly of a smart lock chamber

The overall winner was the eThekwini Water and Sanitation Customer Services Branch

works. From there the learners will be required to complete a project, such as the building of a model and/or the development of a process design.

“We’re excited about launching these and other events and finding creative ways to make municipal engineering an attractive career destination for new entrants, and a longterm one for those in the early stages of their professional lives,” Hanuman concludes.

At the Denso checkpoint, the challenges included applying Denso Petrolatum Tape and Denso PVC Outerwrap using the correct method of application (sufficient tension, wrapped with 55% overlap)

At the Sika checkpoint, contestants had to use their engineering knowledge of mass, volume, and density to create a sample of a cured cube of quickdrying mortar weighing 1,1 kg

IMIESA June 2024

7

COVER STORY

PARTNER WITH THE PUMP LEADERS In any fluid transfer process, pumps are the enabling mechanisms, and when well designed and optimised will run seamlessly for decades. However, this is interdependent on a strict operations and maintenance (O&M) regime, with the mandatory use of genuine parts and expert OEM support, says John Montgomery, General Manager for Group entities, APE Pumps and Mather+Platt.

Quality Control Plans are drawn up in conjunction with clients to ensure transparent and exact execution of pump refurbishments

T

he water and wastewater sectors are a major focus for the Group, providing solutions for municipalities, water boards and mainstream industrial users that include the energy and mining sector.

“For municipalities and water utilities, the load on their raw water and potable water distribution networks keeps intensify as major cities continue to experience intensified urbanisation, coupled with population expansion,” Montgomery explains.

“As a result, South Africa’s infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with rising demand – with an ensuing increase in ‘water shedding’, when supply is reduced or becomes intermittent. The problem is being compounded by our ageing networks that are increasingly exposed to potential installation failures – like pipeline bursts and pumpstation breakdowns.

“Effective O&M regimes are therefore of paramount importance to sustain supply and ensure that all essential components – especially pumps – are regularly serviced.”

Asset management and technical capacity There are outstanding, proactive examples of

8 IMIESA June 2024

industr y leaders that have comprehensive asset management systems in place that suppor t predictive and preventative maintenance programmes, backed by enabling budgets. These include South Africa’s water boards.

However, Montgomery points out that there’s generally a growing shortage in terms of the availability of competent in-house technical operations personnel in industry to maintain and run process systems effectively, pumps being a prime example.

As he points out, operators often don’t have a full understanding of how pumps should function within their systems, which may have been modified or extended overtime through piping changes that haven’t been factored into current production requirements. As a result, their pumps don’t run at the OEM designed Best Efficiency Point, resulting in under-per formance and additional energy costs to run plants. “Sometimes it’s as easy as correctly setting a pressure control valve,” says Montgomery.

Pirate parts and third-party repairs Given the tough trading conditions in South Africa, cost pressures can also result in the specification of non-OEM, or “pirate parts”. On the surface, they appear to offer short-term savings, but inevitably end up causing long-term headaches when catastrophic failures occur – in some instances a total plant shutdown.

Outsourcing pump repairs to a non-OEM thirdparty only exacerbates the problem and repeats the cycle.

“Often, when we receive our originally commissioned pumps installed with non-OEM components that are in very poor condition. At times we’ve had to replace up to 90% of the pump due to extensive cavitation,” says Montgomery.

In one example for an industrial client, there were four Group pumps installed to run a critical section of the plant, entailing raw water intake to support all operations, with no standby solution in place. APE Pumps and Mather+Platt’s technical inspection teams had conducted a condition assessment a year previously, with a detailed repor t submitted, underscoring the urgent need for a total refurbishment.

Based on instrumentation analysis, it was clear that their overall efficiency was progressively declining, and the pumps were at risk of imminent failure. Despite this, operations continued until all four pumps failed, grinding operations to a halt.

A major contributing factor was that the protection mechanisms for the pumps had been bypassed without a technical understanding of the downstream implications. When the feeder reservoir was too low to sustain water feed to the pumps, they didn’t automatically trip, as per the OEM design protocol.

They were then sent to a non-OEM refurbishment centre. When reinstalled, they all failed again, which is when APE Pumps and Mather+Platt were appointed to complete the correct repair interventions.

When the pumps were stripped at APE Pumps and Mather+Platt’s Germiston facility, none of the components, including shafts, impellers,

COVER STORY and bearings, were OEM compliant. “We had to replace all the internals and replace the casings from our stock inventory because they had been machined to suit the pirate parts. This resulted in a major additional expense for the client,” Montgomery explains.

The first of the four pumps was refurbished in three days. Once installed and commissioned, this enabled the client to reactivate the plant, while the remaining three were being overhauled. Without having casings in stock, new foundr y castings would have been required, and instead of weeks, it could have taken months to reinstall and commission all four units.

OEM partnership “In all instances, partnering with an OEM is the logical choice, because we have an in-depth understanding of our systems, as well as the fit-for-purpose technologies, engineering, and manufacturing capability to refurbish and recommission any one of our installed pumps in operation since the inception of the Group’s foundation in 1952,” Montgomery explains.

All the blueprints for ever y pump manufactured by the Group in the past 72 years are on-hand, which provides significant benefit to customers. Plus, the design team and the Group’s pattern shop are equipped to custom-build to order.

Group’s capabilities are further supported by its grading as an 8ME contractor according to the Construction Industry Development Board ranking system, enabling APE Pumps and Mather+Platt to provide a turnkey solution for brownfield and greenfield projects. Quality Control Plans are drawn up in conjunction with clients to ensure transparent and exact execution. This includes a comprehensive strip report on work that needs to be undertaken.

Research and development As par t of its ongoing research and development (R&D) initiatives, and quality control programmes, the Group is currently building a new test facility at its Germiston plant. Initially, this will test the Group’s smaller range of end suction and multistage pumps. From there, the plan is to extend the facility to test larger units, such APE Pumps and Mather+Platt’s vertical range.

The Group continues to innovate. A prime example is the development of specialist balloon plug stops. “In many cases, clients are

unable to isolate their pumps to have them repaired due to damaged valves. The plug enables the client to isolate and work on the pump while the rest of the process system keeps running,” Montgomery expands, adding that the R&D section is currently working on the development of new vertical pump lines.

Milestone pump project In June 2024, the Group secured a major turnkey project for the refurbishment of one of its largest units for a This raw water intake pump was manufactured and installed for a South African utility in the 1980s and is major water board as part of the currently undergoing refurbishment at APE Pumps and latter’s scheduled maintenance Mather+Platt’s facility in Germiston programme. This entails the overhaul and recommissioning of a highly strategic raw water intake splitallied OEM acquisitions. In addition to pump case pump originally installed in the 1980s OEMs, this could include valve manufacturers, and in daily operation since then. as well as water and wastewater treatment This is a 650 Mℓ/day pump – weighing specialists. These acquisitions will further strengthen our turnkey solutions approach,” around 45 tonnes – and one of only four in adds Montgomery.

South Africa, all installed with the same “As a Group, we’ve always taken a client. The Group’s contract includes the long-term view, which is why we have refurbishment of the remaining three in progressive stages. successfully been in business for the The Group’s project scope includes past 72 years. Our technical skills and electrical, mechanical and civils works, with capacity are there to suppor t all fluid a detailed methodology developed with the transfer industries, particularly water and client to bring the pump back to operation in wastewater, where renewed investments the shortest possible timeframe. in infrastructure – for both existing and new Employing a specialist rigging contractor, plants – remains a government priority to enable socioeconomic growth and essential the pump was removed from its purposeservices,” Montgomery concludes. designed chamber and transported to the Germiston factory. Included in the scope of works is the repair of the chamber’s concrete All the blueprints base, as well as the installation of new pipe for every pump flanges and pipe stands. As an indication manufactured by the Group in the past 72 of the scale, the suction pipe for the pump years are on-hand, measures some 1,2 m in diameter.

Growth strategy To suppor t its projects, fabrication and refurbishment programmes, the Group recently expanded its plant with additional state-of-ar t machiner y as part of its strategy to become a onestop solutions provider. In parallel is the ongoing recruitment and mentorship of apprentices, technicians, and engineers.

“As part of our growth strategy, we are also actively researching the market for potential

which provides significant benefit to customers

www.apepumps.co.za www.matherandplatt.com

IMIESA June 2024

9

PLANNING & BUILDING SA’S METROS | TOWN & REGIONAL PLANNING

PART 2

UNLOCKING SPATIAL INSIGHTS FOR BETTER PLANNING

THE GROWING BUILDING DATA REVOLUTION In part one of this three part series, we showed how, in just over one and a half decades, we have moved from a tedious and laborious manual process of capturing building structures as little dots to public domain data sets available for any global location, showing the size and two-dimensional characteristics of almost every existing building. By Burgert Gildenhuys*

area (m2 per ha) shows how densely Alexandra is built up with high coverage compared to the rest of the area. It even shows that average coverage in the Sandton CBD is not as high as expected. However, when building volume (m3 per ha) is used, it immediately highlights the intensity of development in the Sandton CBD and the higher volumes of buildings in the Wynberg industrial area.

When the third element, height, is introduced, it immediately shows the intensity of development in the CBD and how lower buildings dominate the landscape. On a citywide scale, it simply confirms the low-density nature of our urbanised areas.

Starting to extract value

FIGURE 1: The case study area

A

s per Part 1 (published in IMIESA’s May 2024 edition), we continue to use Sandton CBD, Alexandra, and the Wynberg industrial area to illustrate the data revolution. This area includes the highly developed area of Sandton CBD, the Wynberg industrial area, Alexandra as an old established township and the higher income low residential area adjacent to them.

Introducing the Third Dimension In 2020 the European Commission joined the data evolution, introducing a dataset in 100 m grids that included building surface area, volumes, and heights. (https://data.europa. eu/data/datasets/building1?locale=en)

10 IMIESA June 2024

FIGURE 2: Building Surface Area

This addition opened new doors for data application and finer-grain analysis of spatial development characteristics. For example, for our case study area, the data shows the stark differences in coverage and development intensity between areas like Alexandra and Sandton CBD (Figure 2.)

This global data set provides good indications of average coverage and not necessarily the net coverage per stand or land parcels as we are used to. It provides reasonable indications of the extent of development.

The significant value added by this data set was the introduction of the third dimension regarding building volume (Figure 3) and height (Figure 4). The data on the building surface

The availability of data in all its dimensions opens many oppor tunities for bringing insights into our urban areas, which were not previously possible, as well as improving not only spatial planning but also infrastructure master planning that was not possible previously. We illustrate this with two straightforward examples.

Analysing the height of building storeys allowed for estimations of average floor area ratios (Figure 5), shedding light on the dominance of Sandton City and the impact of Alexandra’s extensive building coverage.

This data became invaluable for infrastructure planning and land use management.

A bonus to the European Commission data is that it is available as time series data. There are releases for 1990, 2015 and 2022. In the example shown in Figure 6, it was possible to estimate growth and growth pressures for the Waterfall precinct immediately to the north of Sandton between 2015 and 2020.

The first element in the figures shows the building coverage in the arbitrarily chosen circle on the map in 2015, and the second element shows the coverage in 2020, and then we show the difference between the two. Not only is it possible to see the extent and location of growth in the period, but it was also possible to calculate the following using MapAble®’s spatial query features: • Building surface area, 2015: 2 929 538 m2 • Building surface area, 2020: 3 975 203 m2 • Change in the surface area: 1 045 665 m2 • Percentage change between 2015 and 2020: 35.7% • Average change per annum: 6.3% A further advancement is the development of finer-grain data. Figure 7 shows how the same

PLANNING & BUILDING SA’S METROS | TOWN & REGIONAL PLANNING 100 m2 data is now becoming available in a 10 m2 grid. The rate at which data develops is remarkable, but the challenge is to stay ahead of the pack and use these resources to our benefit.

Challenges for built environment practitioners Our biggest challenge as urban practitioners is to make sense of the data. It is good to have all this data at our disposal, but it is incumbent on us, as data users and planners, to find the value-adding components of the data. The data scientist’s interest lies in the data, how it is generated and how it can be improved.

As built environment practitioners, we must establish the use cases and innovative ways of applying the data in our daily work as urban planners and engineers. The stark reality is that as practitioners, we will have to improve our personal skill sets to use and apply this data productively.

FIGURE 3: Building Volume Area

Coming up in Part 3 In the third and last part of this series, we will touch on data integration as the foremost solution to get answers to urban development and growth problems we have to solve. Two aspects will be highlighted: the skills to deal with data; and access to data.

FIGURE 4: Average Building Height

*Pr. Pln, MIAM (London), ILGM, B(TRP), BAdmin (Municipal Administration)

FIGURE 5: Floor Area Ratios (FARs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

FIGURE 6: Estimated growth and growth pressures for the Waterfall precinct

Burgert Gildenhuys is the founding Director of Spatial Data Services Africa NPC. This non-profit organisation is dedicated to promoting and supporting government and business in better understanding and utilising data and digital technologies. The objective is to promote spatial transformation and strengthen development and policy outcomes to benefit the poor and vulnerable.

Email: burgert@sdsafrica.net www.sdsafrica.net FIGURE 7: Finer-Grain Data IMIESA June 2024

11

PLANNING & BUILDING SA’S METROS

JDA FORGES AHEAD WITH CITYWIDE PROJECTS

The City of Johannesburg tabled a R83,1 billion budget for 2024/25, including a R7,4-billion capital expenditure budget that will enable the rollout of ongoing infrastructure programmes.

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ithin the mix, the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) has been allocated an operating expenditure budget of R136,1 million, and a three-year capital budget of R643 million.

Included in the JDA’s capital allocations is R240 million for strategic investments in the Orange Farm Urban renewal programme.

Transportation

Community development implementation in Phases 1A and 1B. Phase IC is ongoing and forms par t of JDA’s Accelerated Public infrastructure Deliver y Programme.

R300 million will also be invested in upgrading public transpor t facilities citywide, including Metro Mall, Lehae, Orange Farm and Chiawelo – currently being implemented by the JDA. A por tion of the Transpor t Depar tment’s operational expenditure budget allocation

The 2024/25 budget has fur ther allocated a multi-year capital budget of R1,2 billion to the city’s Transpor t Depar tment. Projects to be under taken include R170 million to complete the investment in Rea Vaya Phase 1C infrastructure to bring this Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route to operational readiness.

To date, the JDA has implemented over 1 300 projects in its 23 years of operation, working with city depar tments and entities to implement a variety of initiatives that include precinct development work.

Within the transpor tation field, this includes the city’s progressive BRT network and associated infrastructure

In turn, the city’s Community Development Department has been allocated an operating budget of R1,4 billion and a three-year capital budget of R174 million for the upgrading and construction of facilities. A fur ther R105 million will go towards the upgrade and construction of community centres that the JDA is implementing in Lehae, Kaalfontein, Matholesville and Driezek and R22 million on completing swimming pools in Ivor y Park and Cosmo City.

Orange Farm Public Transport Facility

Naledi Clinic

12 IMIESA June 2024

of R2,2 billion for 2024/25 will also be used to ensure the operationalisation of the Rea Vaya route between Alexandra, Sandton and the Inner City, as well as the Johannesburg International Terminal Interchange.

PLANNING & BUILDING SA’S METROS

MELVILLE ACTIVITY STREET PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT UPGRADES

Pavement upgrades, pedestrian movement, and marked intersections have formed core parts of the Mellville Precinct upgrade

The overall project objective of the Melville Activity Street PEUs entailed activating pedestrian mobility around the Melville Precinct along the Main Road between Kingsway Avenue and 6th Avenue

The JDA has also been under taking renovations and refurbishments of the roof repairs and fire protection systems at the Johannesburg Central Librar y. A fur ther R25 million has been provided for the upgraded librar y, which is a major city landmark.

over the medium-term, including R80 million for public environment upgrades and precinct developments. These include the Brixton, Jabulani, Zandspruit and High Court precincts.

The JDA will play a key role here in the greening of Johannesburg’s public spaces through its environment upgrades and through its Strategic Economic Node Deliver y Programme, which focuses on projects in the inner city and precincts along identified transit oriented development (TOD) corridors.

Health Meanwhile, the city’s Health Depar tment has been allocated a total of R159 million for the three-year capital budget. Projects include R64 million for upgrades and the construction of clinics. These include Naledi, Zandspruit, Hikensile and Protea South clinics currently being implemented by the JDA.

Public environment upgrades Urban renewal is a fur ther ongoing priority, with the Development Planning Department receiving a capital budget of R201 million

Melville Precinct Recently completed JDA pr ojects include the Melville Activity Street Public Environment Upgrades (PEUs) and placemaking inter ventions to optimise the functionality of this vibrant area. These initiatives form part of the Melville Auckland Park Precinct (MAPP) programme aimed at

sustainably enhancing the area through the identification of catalytic projects.

Located near the University of Johannesburg in Auckland Park and Wits University in Braamfontein, Melville is jampacked with student life and is well-known for its distinctive entertainment and retail mix, making it a popular destination for locals and tourists.

The overall project objective of the Melville Activity Street PEUs entailed activating pedestrian mobility around the Melville Precinct along the Main Road, between Kingsway Avenue and 6th Avenue.

The urban design inter ventions implemented comprise a strategy that promotes: • Mixed land uses • Support of a public transport arterial • Traffic calming measures that include a green island • P avement upgrades, pedestrian movement optimisation and marked intersections, plus • Repositioning of the bus/taxi stops.

“The safety of pedestrians has specifically been an issue along Main Road. Many students use this street to navigate the precinct to access retail, business, residential, and office spaces,” explains Siyabonga Genu, JDA Executive Manager: Project Implementation.

“In response, the Melville Activity Street PEUs project is firmly in line with the city’s commitment to creating liveable, sustainable urban environments in which residents are able to navigate safely and efficiently,” Genu concludes.

PLANNING & BUILDING SA’S METROS

ETHEKWINI COINVESTS WITH WESTOWN DEVELOPER ON BULK INFRASTRUCTURE With just under a year to go before the official opening of Westown Square, the trigger investment for the new 100 ha City of the West – positioned off the N3 between Pietermaritzburg and Durban – construction is powering ahead at every level.

W

estown is the single biggest infrastructure investment by the municipality since the Soccer World Cup in 2010,” notes Carlos Correia, CEO of Fundamentum Property Group (Fundamentum), “and brings significant socio-economic value to the Outer West region of eThekweni, which has been under-served for so many years.”

Some R600 million is being invested by the eThekwini Municipality into suppor ting bulk infrastructure (roads, water, wastewater and electricity). Fundamentum is overseeing and managing this development work through contractors Stefanutti Stocks and is also investing hundreds of millions into the new bulk and precinct infrastructure.

Infrastructure upgrades include two new bridges and a total make-over of the existing two-lane Kassier Rd across the M13 and N3 into four lanes with a centre median. The M13 bridge is to be totally rebuilt, a new pedestrian bridge is being added over the N3, along with a new loop ramp and bridge over Kassier Road providing direct access into Westown.

Catalytic investment With the municipality’s facilitative investment into bulk infrastructure, the new City of the West and Durban’s newest commercial, tourism and retail hub, is estimated to generate some R15 billion in investment over the next 10 to 15 years, with over R2,5 billion already committed and being invested.

“R1,4 billion of private sector investment has been triggered through the investment

by Fundamentum with Absa Commercial and Investment Bank’s backing in the 50 000 m² Westown Square retail experience, and now JSE-listed Balwin Properties will add a fur ther R2 billion in value with their 1 260-apartment lifestyle estate Shongweni Eco Park,” says Correia.

This unique, 6-star Greenstar-rated lifestyle estate, comprising 20 phases, will include access to amenities such as a fully equipped Training Science Gym, children’s play area, swimming pool, running/walking tracks, as well as a concierge service. A range of garden

apar tments will be on offer, with prices expected to range between R899 900 and R2 099 900. This brand new development is due to be launched to the market later this year and will evolve over the next few years.

Westown Square retail and Shongweni Eco Park pave the way for the remainder of Westown’s mixed-use development and a host of other sectors that will find “homes” in Westown including logistics, healthcare, warehousing, commercial and tourism opportunities, with further announcements in this regard expected in the next few months.

It has been some 26 months since the first sod was turned in November 2022 and 60% of the initial phase of development (including Westown Square and the upgrade of the roadworks surrounding the precinct) is already completed. Currently under way is the massive task of landscaping and construction of the parking areas within Westown Square, together with bulk water main and treatment works.

“Without the city’s investment, the land Westown is being built on would still be sugarcane, not offering any return, financially, socially or environmentally,” Correia continues.

“We are incredibly bullish about Durban and KZN as the place for investment by the private sector and Fundamentum is proud to be spearheading this wave of optimism and tangible opportunity,” Correia concludes.

A mixed-use property and lifestyle development perfectly positioned off the N3 between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, Westown is an active construction site, with the first phase of the development, the retail hub of Westown Square, planned for opening on 27th March 2025

14 IMIESA June 2024

WASTE MANAGEMENT

PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH WITH SAFE ASBESTOS REMOVAL The adverse human health effects of asbestos The company facilitates the entire abatement process, from submitting notice of the intended exposure are well documented, causing cancer work to the Department of Labour for approval and other diseases, including mesothelioma to handling and removal of the asbestos waste sites for disposal. “We work under the and asbestosis, and safe removal and from guidance and super vision of an Approved disposal is therefore critical. Inspection Authority to ensure compliance and

A

sbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of soft flexible fibres that are resistant to heat, electricity, and corrosion. There are six types of asbestos, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals – each fibre being composed of many microscopic “fibrils” that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion and other processes.

Asbestos was used in a wide range of materials ranging from floor tiles to heatinsulating materials as a binding agent with the added benefit of its physical properties. But if inhaled, asbestos dust fibres can become permanently lodged in the body, and over time cause serious illness and death.

Fibres lodged in the lungs will cause swelling and scarring, thus eventually leading to the inability to breathe, as the lungs can no longer expand to draw in air.

Type 3 asbestos contractor In 2003 EnviroServ’s Hazmat Support Services unit became the first in Africa to achieve EU accreditation as exper t super visors for asbestos removal, says EnviroSer v’s National Haztech Manager, Hugh Khumalo. Today the company is an

approved Type 3 asbestos contractor registered with the Department of Labour.

“Our Hazardous Waste Services team advises clients as to the best approach to handle and manage asbestos-containing materials on their site. In terms of the South African legislation, and as per the asbestos regulation R1196 of 2020, only companies who are approved and registered as asbestos contractors may handle and remove asbestos-containing material,” explains Khumalo.

health and safety protocols are adhered to,” Khumalo expands.

“Being a registered Type 3 asbestos contractor allows us to assist our clients with the safe handling, removal, and disposal of all types of asbestos-containing material. These materials include raw unprocessed asbestos, asbestos lagging, cladding, insulation, rope, ceiling panels, roof sheets, floor tiles, soil, and building rubble contaminated with asbestos.”

Peace of mind assured “We can deliver this ser vice with rapid deployment, offering a cradle-to-grave solution with an in-depth understanding of safe operating procedures, requirements and compliance. There is no risk of exposure to the client’s premises or staff due to our expert operational procedures, giving you peace of mind through expertise, specialist knowledge, experience and practices,” Khumalo continues.

EnviroServ follows international best practices and standards, in line with its European DTA certification. A safe disposal certificate is issued to the waste generator as proof that the waste was safely disposed of.

“Our focus is to reduce environmental risk and walk our customers through the waste legislation, ensuring total legal compliance,” Khumalo concludes.

IMIESA June 2024

15

RENEWABLE ENERGY & ELECTRIFICATION The construction of hollow foundations is more labour intensive, and requires more formwork and steel reinforcing

Turbine foundations phase completed at San Kraal

Leading black-owned contractor, Concor, recently completed the hollow-cast of the last base at the San Kraal Wind Energy Facility in the Noupoort district, currently being developed by EDF Renewables and project partners H1 Holdings, Gibbs Crede and a local community trust.

S

an Kraal is one of the facilities making up the Koruson 1 Cluster, on the border of the Eastern and Northern Cape provinces.

It comprises three wind farms, namely Phezukomoya, San Kraal and Coleskop, each with installed capacities of 140 MW. Once completed, the 78 wind turbines on the three wind farms will contribute 420 MW to the country’s energy grid.

Each turbine base constructed measures over 20 m in diameter and is around 3,3 m deep, requiring over 400 m3 of 45 MPa concrete – with an additional 18 m3 of 50 MPa concrete in the plinth.

A significant difference on the Koruson 1 Cluster of projects was the use of hollow-cast foundations, which require considerably less concrete than a conventional foundation,

reducing the overall carbon footprint of the project. While more complex in design and execution, the hollow foundation allows for the inclusion of ducts and facilitates the post-tensioning of cables for the concrete tower. It also includes ducts for the power cables to the electrical reticulation network in the foundation.

At the same time, the construction of hollow foundations is more labour intensive, and requires more formwork and steel reinforcing.

Each of the San Kraal wind turbine base foundations used a total of 64 tons of reinforcing steel, and Concor’s steel fixing teams had to work with high levels of precision to meet the stringent tolerances required.

Surveyed to exact tolerances The complexity of the hollow foundation design

Each turbine base required over 400 m3 of 45 MPa concrete – with an additional 18 m3 of 50 MPa concrete in the plinth

16 IMIESA June 2024

required each foundation to be surveyed in four stages, to ensure they were cast in strict accordance with the design – and to align the 40 post-tension duct cable sleeves for the tensioning cables within a tolerance of millimetres. With a full-time Concor surveyor on site to conduct all the setting out and verification survey work, a total of 168 setting out points were calculated for each base.

At the peak of construction, the project comprised about 400 employees, most of them from the local community of Noupoort.

Concer ted safety and technical training on site, as well as close supervision and guidance from Concor allowed the project to complete over 500 000 working hours without a lost-time injury. The contract to complete the turbine base foundations was completed in seven months.

Concor recently completed the final foundation cast for the San Kraal Wind Energy Facility in Noupoort, as part of the Koruson 1 Cluster

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WATER & WASTEWATER

The old 375 mm diameter asbestos cement pipeline between Hazelmere WTW and Grange Reservoir has been upgraded to a 600 mm diameter steel pipeline

The construction of the Hazelmere Water Treatment Works (WTW) to Grange Reservoir pipeline – now in its final stages – has been implemented by eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) to alleviate water demand issues affecting areas in Verulam, Durban, and caters for future regional housing development.

Hazelmere WTW to Grange Reservoir pipeline upgrade builds capacity For the Canelands bridge phase, 162 m of 600 mm diameter steel pipe was jacked into the bridge following the completion of the new post-tensioned reinforced concrete structure

S

plit into three phases, the installation of the new 5 km long steel pipe section has adopted a multidisciplinary team approach, with a range of creative solutions employed to upgrade the existing infrastructure. These include the safe removal of the existing asbestos cement (AC) pipeline, a pipejacking stage through a wetland zone, and the upgrading of the Canelands Bridge along the route from a streel truss to a posttensioned reinforced concrete structure. Works began in August 2022 for scheduled completion of all phases by the end of July 2024.

18 IMIESA June 2024

Phase I included the execution of a 75 m pipejacking section across a wetland

Acting Area Manager: Water Design and NonRevenue Water at EWS. “Fur thermore, the valves located on this rising main were in various stages of deterioration, with some being severely corroded and others non-operational, requiring ongoing maintenance and repairs. So, a total overhaul was required, which provided an opportunity to upgrade the old AC section with a 600 mm diameter steel pipeline to meet future demand, maximise asset durability, and ensure more efficient pumping of water to Grange Reservoir,” Canny continues.

Phase I The first phase, finalised in Februar y 2024

by LNY Construction & Civils, entailed the first 3,3 km pipeline section from Hazelmere WTW (constructed through a sugarcane field); execution of a 75 m pipejacking section across a wetland; and the tying in of the pipeline to the nor thern end of the Canelands Bridge.

Additionally, new reinforced concrete meter chambers were installed, while the new air valve and scour valve chambers were constructed using precast concrete rings.

Phase II The rising main that runs from Hazelmere WTW to Grange Reservoir is a crucial water supply link and feeds three other reservoirs. These comprise the Everest Heights, Redcliffe, and Mountview Reservoirs.

“The aging 375 mm diameter AC section between Hazelmere WTW and Grange Reservoir was in urgent need of replacement due to occasional pipe bursts. Aside from water interruptions, a downstream consequence was the flooding of private proper ties and subsequent insurance claims against the municipality,” explains Roxanne Canny Pr Eng,

Running in parallel with Phase I, Phase II has entailed the upgrading of the Canelands Bridge across the Mdloti River. In addition to serving as a pedestrian bridge, this structure carries several services, such as watermains, sewer mains, armoured electrical cables, and fibre optic cables.

In total, 693 m of steel pipe was installed in this phase along the route. On completion of the new post-tensioned reinforced concrete structure, this included the installation of a 162 m section that was jacked into the bridge.

The bridge was designed by Naidu Consulting, with construction carried out by Afrostructures.

WATER & WASTEWATER

The final elements are scheduled to be completed in July 2024.

Construction works in progress on the Canelands Bridge upgrade across the Mdloti River

Phase III The last stretch, namely Phase III, involves connecting the pipeline to the southern end of the Canelands Bridge, then laying the pipeline along a road within an existing ser vitude, and subsequently connecting it to Grange Reser voir. As for Phase I, the new meter chambers were made of reinforced concrete, while the air valve and scour valve chambers

were constructed using precast concrete rings.

Works on Phase III are being executed by EWS’s Construction Branch.

Conclusion The construction of the 600 mm diameter steel pipeline from Hazelmere WTW to Grange Reservoir represents a significant milestone

in enhancing the water infrastructure in the Verulam area. The project has progressed on schedule and stayed within the budget, while also successfully meeting its 30% Contract Participation Goals (CPGs) by employing local labour and service providers.

“This strategic upgrade demonstrates EWS's commitment to improving public utilities and ensuring sustainable water management for the community and showcases the excellent contributions made by the design and contracting teams,” Canny concludes.

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WATER & WASTEWATER

SA finalists to compete for Stockholm Junior Water Prize

Sanelisiwe and Sandisiwe Nhlozi, twins from Buhlebemfundo Secondary School, won the top prize for their awareness project “Drop-Drop” at the South African Youth Water Prize competition.

They will now represent South Africa at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition in Sweden during August 2024

During National Youth Month, nine provincial high school student teams participated in the 2024 South African Youth Water Prize competition, the national leg of the South African chapter of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP), supported

by Xylem Africa.

S

anelisiwe and Sandisiwe Nhlozi, twins from Buhlebemfundo Secondar y School, won the top prize for their awareness project “Drop-Drop.” As result, the 15-yearold’s have secured their entry to the SJWP

20 IMIESA June 2024

finals this August in Stockholm, Sweden, as well as a first-place trophy, R15 000 each, laptops, a R10 000 allowance, and bursaries.

The winning project competed against other excellent submissions, including Kimberley Technical High School's secondplace project (a fully automated drip irrigation system for various agricultural applications) and Middelburg Muslim School's Acid Rain Purifying System, which won third place.

The nine teams, each representing a province, rose through several local competition stages, first successfully passing through provincial events before gathering for the South African finals at the headquarters of the competition's sponsor, Xylem Africa, in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, hosted in par tnership with the event owner, the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Competing teams presented their projects to a panel of judges. They also toured Xylem Africa's facilities, seeing first-hand how Xylem promotes smar t water management through its expert staff, innovative products and solutions, and broad network of marketleading par tners. The student teams also engaged with Xylem's subject-matter experts and learnt first-hand about careers in the water sector.

Continuing SA's SJWP representation The SJWP is the world's most prestigious award presented to high school students for a water research project. Founded in 1997 by the Stockholm International Water Institute, it rates projects on their relevance, methodology, subject knowledge, practical skills, creativity, and presentation.

Local students have competed for the prize before. In 2003, Claire Reid became the first

South African to win the prize, demonstrating an innovative technique for planting and germinating seeds in water-scarce areas.

Then in 2005, Pontso Moletsane, Motebele Moshodi, and Sechaba Ramabenyane won the SJWP for showing how to minimise water in small-scale irrigation with an electric soil humidity sensor.

As a key enabler, Xylem Africa has sponsored and suppor ted local SJWP activities since 2022, creating opportunities for South African students to explore water solutions that can help the countr y’s waterscarce environment.

“South Africa is a resource-rich countr y, but we don't do enough to protect our most precious resource, water. Fortunately, many people are, including these students,” says Chetan Mistr y, Xylem Africa's Strategy and Marketing Manager.

“Suppor ting SA's chapter of the SJWP allows us to amplify their ef for ts and ambitions. We are ver y proud of these students and if we could, we'd declare all of them as winners!” Mistr y concludes.

WATER & WASTEWATER

THRIVING THROUGH WINTER

SMART TIPS FOR KIKUYU LAWN CARE AND WATERING

Accepting your kikuyu lawn's winter dormancy is prudent and the environmentally responsible choice, especially in all areas of South Africa where water conser vation is essential. Your grass can enter a state of graceful dormancy without needing to be watered if you recognise and honour its natural cycles.

H

ere Water Wise explains how one can maintain a kikuyu lawn during the winter season while using much less to no water – building resilience and making sure it returns to life and vigorous growth in the spring season.

Dormant kikuyu does not need to be watered.

Lawn in a state of dormancy is simply “resting” and conserving energy for the new growing season. Dormancy is a natural way for lawn to conserve moisture and nutrients in cold and dr y seasons. It is therefore not necessary to water your kikuyu during winter.

Kikuyu

Water Wise watering of kikuyu:

Pennisetum clandestinum, commonly known as kikuyu, is the most widely used lawn grass in South Africa. It is native to East Africa and has an aggressive growth form, which means it can become invasive and take over indigenous grasses.

Kikuyu is drought tolerant, inexpensive, and easy to maintain because it can grow in areas where most grasses cannot. However, it is sometimes considered the highest user of water in comparison to other commonly used turf grasses. Kikuyu is mostly planted as an instant lawn for spor ts fields, golf course construction, and rehabilitation. It has a mat root and an herbaceous growth habit. It, however, doesn’t grow well in shaded areas.

• Avoid frequent watering of kikuyu when it is dormant.

• Check your lawn in the morning to assess moisture levels. If it seems moist, water once every 10 days depending on the weather.

• When the lawn appears to be dry, water once a week and only water in the morning (between 6 am – 10 am) until optimal moisture is reached.

• Avoid watering in the evening to prevent prolonged moisture on the grass, which can lead to fungal diseases.

• Wait for the rains to start in late spring before awakening your kikuyu from its dormant state.

Lawn dormancy Dormancy refers to a period where growth of the grass temporarily slows down, and grass goes into a resting state for one season.

Kikuyu in nature always goes dormant during winter, where the grass will turn brown.

However, brown kikuyu grass does not mean it is dead; it has simply gone dormant.

• Newly installed kikuyu will only require more water during its settling or establishment period. Gradually decrease the frequency of watering after this phase.

• In summer, water in the early morning or late afternoon as this reduces water lost to evaporation.

• Use a trigger nozzle if watering kikuyu with a hose.

Smart maintenance of kikuyu: • Stop mowing your lawn: with reduced grass growth in winter, longer blades insulate roots and soil from cold temperatures while roots remain active.

•D uring the winter season, do not apply any fertilisers.

• As spring approaches, prepare for weed emergence on your lawn by handpicking or spot-treating weeds with organic herbicides.

Always be #WaterWise!

www.randwater.co.za 0860 10 10 60 Acknowledgement This article was co-authored by Rand Water - Water Wise and Evergreen Turf, aiming to raise awareness among the public and customers about sustainable practices for watering and maintaining kikuyu lawns.

Summer versus winter Kikuyu in nature always goes dormant during winter, where the grass will turn brown

Do the tug test to see if the grass is dead or dormant

IMIESA June 2024

21

WATER & WASTEWATER

NOVEL CLARIFIER DESIGN KEY TO DARNALL WWTW RESTORATION Completed in two phases, the upgrading of Darnall’s sewer system has restored and improved the existing service for the residents of this KwaZulu-Natal community, with the design and construction monitoring carried out by Makhaotse, Narasimulu & Associates (MNA) on behalf of the iLembe District Municipality.

The new reinforced concrete conical clarifier, operational and integrated into the existing system

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ompleted in September 2022, Phase I entailed the construction of a new pump station, sewer rising mains, an outfall sewer and upgrades to the existing sewer reticulation network, with the works carried out by WK Construction.

These works brought the system back to a modern and functional level, eliminating previous issues such as pipeline blockages,

Karshnee Chetty, project engineer, MNA

22 IMIESA June 2024

and sewer over flows, which presented an environmental hazard.

This was subsequently followed by the refurbishment of the existing wastewater treatment works (WWTW) in Phase II, which was completed in March 2024 by Myaluza Civils.

The Phase I and II programmes made provision for a municipal EPWP component, with the employment of local labour combined

Dean Moodley, resident engineer, MNA

DARNALL SEWER UPGRADE: PHASE II PROJECT TEAM Client: iLembe District Municipality Consultant: Makhaotse, Narasimulu & Associates Main contractor: Myaluza Civils CPG sub-contractor: P and F Construction and Projects Specialist sub-contractors: Mtambo Events & Projects (Mechanical & Electrical) Brian Roberts Agencies (Concrete) with accredited skills training, as well as the appointment of local target enterprise sub-contractors. Wherever practical local material and plant hire was sourced within the community.

Phase III, subject to client approval, will follow with an upgrade of the treatment works, which will include the addition of a second aerator and clarifiers to tie in with the present system.

“The WWTW refurbishment was a crucial element of the overall programme, with

WATER & WASTEWATER urgent inter ventions required due to the failure of one of the two existing clarifiers, plus the need to reinstate the generally aged condition of the overall plant,” explains Karshnee Chetty, MNA’s project engineer, who was supported on site by the firm’s resident engineer, Dean Moodley, and the dynamic design team.

“With only half the plant running, the sharp decline in process capacity had a significant and negative knock-on effect for the Darnall and neighbouring Zamani communities, which together number around 8 435 residents housed on some 2171 residential sites.”

The decision was taken to demolish and replace the non-functional reinforced concrete conical clarifier with a new fit-for-purpose structure of a similar pattern, while associated works included a new inlet chamber with mechanical screens (replacing the existing manually operated ones), as well as new pumps and allied components.

“We are fortunate to work in a team that thrives on finding practical solutions to the challenges we encounter on projects. And, as with most projects, there were many design aspects to consider for the Darnall programme, especially in terms of the new clarifier. We also needed to ensure that the existing infrastructure remained operation for the duration of the construction period,” Chetty continues.

Anchoring the new clarifier Buoyant groundwater forces had lifted the decommissioned clarifier out of its original position, causing it to become non-operational. In response, a structural solution needed to be developed that would resist future surges caused by increases

in the site’s water table. To counter this, dowels were used at the cone apex of the new clarifier and around the circular “collar” to provide a high factor of safety against future groundwater uplift. The volume of the new clarifier matches the existing one to ensure that the overall system is balanced.

In preparing the site, one of the most significant challenges was the presence of medium-hard sandstone bedrock at relatively shallow depths of around 1,6 m below ground level. This was further complicated by space constraints onsite and the close proximity of existing str uctures at the treatment works.

Dewatering was also ongoing.

“Over-excavation, in our case over-break of the rock, to accommodate support work for bespoke steel forms would have been impractical and uneconomical. This meant that the contractor had to create a special mold using the faces of the rock excavation as suppor t,” as noted by the Structural Design Team.

The MNA design team also had to consider the highly corrosive environment in which the structure would be required to operate both from a treatment process perspective, as well as in terms of the site’s close proximity to the coast.

“Adequate cover, crack width, and concrete mix design were factors that we had control over, so we optimised these requirements and specified a ‘ durability’ concrete mix,” noted the Structural Design Team, adding that the internal faces of the structure were coated with Xypex as an additional layer of waterproofing protection.

“The successful reinstatement of the Darnall plant was the result of extensive collaboration with the client and the

New Return Activated Sludge (RAS) duty and standby pump sets and ancillary works

Preparations for the first lift of the conical clarifier

Readymix pour in progress on the first two wall segments of the conical clarifier, cast with 35 MPa concrete

Construction of the new inlet chamber and installation of the mechanical screens

construction team to find practical solutions.

The value engineered innovations employed now mean that the Darnall WWTW is running at its original design capacity and the communities have the assurance of effective waterborne sanitation services, now and into the future,” Chetty concludes.

IMIESA June 2024

23

WATER & WASTEWATER

WINTER-PROOF YOUR PROPERTY

ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR WATER LEAK DETECTION, FIXING, AND MAINTENANCE

During winter, proper ty owners must be prepared for the challenges that cold weather brings. One of the most pressing issues is water leaks, which can lead to significant damage if not addressed promptly.

L

eaks amongst others are the main factors that exacerbate water scarcity, which results from network failures caused by incorrect installation, lack of maintenance, aging infrastructure, and too high water pressure.

For instance, a constantly dripping faucet or a leaking toilet can result in an average daily water wastage of 30 to 60 litres. Therefore, effective water leak detection, fixing, and maintenance are crucial in ensuring the longevity and safety of any building.

Here’s a guide to winter-proofing your property against water leaks:

Early detection: The first line of defense Detecting water leaks early can prevent extensive damage. Modern technology offers innovative solutions for early leak detection: Smart leak detectors: These devices can be installed throughout your property, alerting you to potential leaks through your smartphone.

They are particularly useful in bathrooms, and kitchens where leaks are most common.

Regular inspections: Schedule professional inspections at the start of winter. Professionals are able to use advanced tools such as thermal imaging cameras to spot hidden leaks behind walls and under floors.

Water meter monitoring: Reading your water meter at the beginning and at the end of each week or at least monthly can help

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24 IMIESA June 2024

you gauge your household/property’s water consumption while allowing you to quickly detect any unusual spikes in usage, which can indicate a hidden leak.

Swift fixes: Tackling leaks head-on Once a leak is detected, timely repairs are crucial to prevent further damage and water loss. Here are some steps to take: Immediate action: Turn off the water supply to the affected area to prevent further leakage, which in turn can also cause damage to carpets, cupboards and even walls.

Professional repair services: Hire certified plumbers who can accurately diagnose and fix the leak. Avoid DIY fixes, as they may only provide temporary relief and could lead to more significant issues. Again, insurance may not cover leaks that are repaired using the DIY process.

Quality materials: Ensure that any repair work uses high-quality materials designed to withstand cold temperatures. Insulated pipes and frost-resistant materials are essential for winter repairs.

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3

Maintenance: Preventing future leaks Preventive maintenance is key to avoiding leaks during the cold months. Here are some tips: Pipe insulation: Insulate all exposed pipes to prevent them from freezing and bursting.

1

Foam pipe insulation is affordable and easy to install.

Regular maintenance checks: Schedule regular maintenance checks, especially for older properties. Focus on areas prone to leaks, such as roofs, bathrooms, and exterior walls.

Gutter and drain maintenance: Keep gutters and drains clear of debris to ensure proper water flow and prevent ice dams, which can cause leaks in roofs and walls.

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In conclusion Effectively managing water leaks in the built environment during winter requires a combination of proactive detection, timely repairs, and regular maintenance. Utilising modern technology, such as smart sensors and thermal imaging, can significantly enhance leak detection capabilities. By putting these examples and efforts into practice, Rand Water believes people and organisations may contribute to the promotion of a more ethical and sustainable use of water in both personal and professional situations.

Always be #WaterWise!

www.randwater.co.za 0860 10 10 60

PUMPS & VALVES

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taLine pumps are engineered to excel in air conditioning, heating systems, water supply, heat recovery, industrial recirculation and cleaning circuits with key features that include a space-saving inline design, allowing for ver tical or horizontal installation. The standard series of dr y installed EtaLine pumps range in outputs from 1 400 to 3 000 litres per minute.

Despite their compact configuration, EtaLine pumps boast impressive efficiency, delivering reliable per formance without the need for balancing valves, says Dylan Mitchell, KSB Pumps and Valves market area manager.

“In addition to the advanced design of our standard EtaLine pumps, the EtaLine Pro pump incorporates advanced intelligence features, including a VSD with remote capabilities and our userfriendly flow manager App,” Mitchell explains. “These

INLINE PUMPS DESIGNED FOR SPACE-SAVING INSTALLATIONS Original equipment manufacturer (OEM), KSB Pumps and Valves, has introduced its latest EtaLine range of inline pumps, including the advanced EtaLine Pro series.

EtaLine Pro pump with built-in VSD

Space saving EtaLine pumps are ideal for industrial application in confined spaces

features enable users to have greater control over their pumping systems, simplifying operation and maintenance processes from remote locations, if required.”

Foremost, these pumps are designed for efficiency and longevity from the bottom up and contribute to sustainable OEM manufacturing practices

by reducing material usage and weight, aligning with global effor ts to minimise environmental impacts. Their carbon neutral production process reflects KSB's commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility.

With a focus on local manufacturing, KSB aims to expand its market share and solidify its position as an industry leader in fluid management solutions.

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DESIGN & CONSTRUCT

EXCELLENCE AND INCLUSIVITY NEEDED TO BUILD CONTRACTING CAPABILITIES Within the infrastructure mix, providing an enabling environment for SMMEs is crucial to foster skills transfer, transformation, and contractor growth within the Construction Industr y Development Board (CIDB) grading system.

IMIESA speaks to Sinenhlahla Chamane Pr Tech Eng, CEO of contracting company, Empilweni Trading, and group entity, M & C Consulting Engineers (M & C), about how they manage to provide turnkey engineering solutions, and adding value to the engineering industr y.

B

ased in KwaZulu-Natal, with its head office in Kloof and a branch in Mtubatuba, Empilweni Trading and M & C are women owned BBBEE level 1 entities that have demonstrated consistent excellence on a range of projects. M & C was the forerunner, founded in 2011, with Empilweni Trading established in 2013.

“A key differentiator is the group’s ability to provide a comprehensive design and construct ser vice, enabling M & C and Empilweni Trading to package solutions aimed at achieving the most cost-effective and tailored solutions for clients and communities,” says Sinenhlahla. “This is defined by our motto ‘Guaranteed excellence at all costs’ to ensure value engineered outcomes that work.”

Currently, Empilweni Trading is registered with the CIDB in terms of their 6 CE PE, 6 GB PE, 4 SQ PE, 3 EP PE and 1 SO PE grading system, as well as the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC). This enables the company to execute projects that encompass: • C ivil construction and maintenance (roads and stormwater, bridges, water and sanitation) • G eneral building construction and maintenance

An ablution facility designed and constructed by M & C and Empilweni Trading, respectively, at the KwaShushu Hotsprings and Ntunjambili Mountain Tourism project sites

• Supply and installation of security fencing • Electrical engineering works – infrastructure • Plumbing installation and maintenance services • Housing construction and renovation, plus rural housing development • Rural sanitation and VIP toilet construction, and • School sanitation.

Recent and current projects Within the infrastructure field, recent projects completed and ongoing by Empilweni Trading include various South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) contracts.

A current SANRAL project, working for main contractor, Rumdel, entails an extensive upgrade of National Route 3, section 2 and 3,

from Lynnfield Park (km 30.6) to Ashburton (km 0.8). The scope of work comprises the construction of a 100 mm interlayer, as well as a 250 mm thick continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP).

Work is also under way for main contractor, WBHO Construction, for the supply and installation of security fencing for the realignment of National Route 3, section 2 from Key Ridge (km 2.8) to Hammarsdale (km 8.825).

Within the building sector, projects completed in 2023 include M & C’s design of the infrastructure for the KwaShushu Hotsprings and Ntunjambili Mountain Tourism project sites within Maphumulo Municipality for the Enterprise iLembe Economic Development Agency. Included within

Sinenhlahla Chamane Pr Tech Eng, CEO of contracting company, Empilweni Trading, and group entity, M & C Consulting Engineers

26 IMIESA June 2024

DESIGN & CONSTRUCT Empilweni Trading’s scope of works was the construction of ablution facilities, electrical connections and water reticulation.

The water and sanitation field remains one of M & C’s and Empilweni Trading’s core focus areas. Here a milestone contract completed in May 2022 involved the refurbishment and upgrading of wastewater works and sewer pipelines in Mtubatuba for the Umkhanyakude District Municipality.

The scope was extensive and included the construction of a sewer network to service houses that previously relied on septic tanks in Nordale Township; the construction of a new pumpstation and the upgrading of the outfall sewer line from 160 mm to 315 mm within Mtubatuba’s CBD; the refurbishment and commissioning of an existing sewage pumpstation in Ndlovu Village, plus the construction of house connection pipes to the existing network.

Other activities included inlet works refurbishment and commissioning at Msane Ponds and Township; while at St Lucia Ponds the works incorporated the upgrade of a sewer line section from 160 mm to 200 mm, as well as the refurbishment of six existing submersible pumpstations.

“We are especially proud of our group in-house technical capabilities, which have grown over time through the progressive recruitment and mentoring of new talent.

Directly and indirectly, we are making a crucial contribution towards the sustainability of the construction industry and in facilitating service delivery,” Sinenhlahla explains. “This approach transitions through to the training we provide on community-based projects, as well as construction management services

Construction in progress on a 250 mm thick continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) on National Route 3, Section 2 and 3, from Lynnfield Park (km 30.6) to Ashburton (km 0.8) in KwaZulu-Natal

for SMME subcontractors so they can enhance their proficiencies.”

Helping SMMEs to grow As Sinenhlahla points out, anyone who has started a new SMME contracting business understands the barriers to entry, and she believes more focus needs to be given in this area by government entities.

“Quality must never be compromised, and competition should be fair. However, there should be more than suf ficient work for everyone if we are to get on top of our widespread infrastructure backlogs,” she explains.

Key issues that impede new entrants or accelerate their demise include the challenges of accessing finance to tender and complete projects, and overdue payments to contractors that negatively affect cashflow and cause project delays. Not having a sufficient pipeline of new work also means

that star t-up SMMEs struggle to retain competent employees, including artisans and skilled labour.

Another key issue, says Sinenhlahla, is that new SMMEs need to be upskilled in terms of information and communications technology, construction technologies, tender processes, project and programme management, as well as financial management if they are going to grow as par t of the mainstream construction economy.

“As an industr y we also need to find a collective solution to counter the downside impact of so called ‘Business Forums’ that disrupt projects by force, demanding a share of the work but with inadequate skills and knowledge of the sector,” she expands.

“Trust and transparency must prevail.

That’s why when we wear our M & C hat, we strive to ensure that our designs and support initiatives enable new SMMEs, and hopefully transition community members employed on our projects so they too can become small business owners and climb the CIDB ranks,” Sinenhlahla concludes.

www.empilwenitrading.co.za

A milestone contract completed in May 2022 involved the refurbishment and upgrading of wastewater works and sewer pipelines in Mtubatuba for the Umkhanyakude District Municipality

www.mcconsulting.co.za

IMIESA June 2024

27

Microtunneling is ideal for gravity systems flowing partly full where precise gradients are essential and deep installations are required. The microtunnelling machine bores through the soil at its leading end and the concrete pipes are simultaneously jacked into place behind the microtunnelling equipment

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY: THE NON-DISRUPTIVE INSTALLATION OF BURIED WATER SERVICES Much is written about the water crisis facing South Africa, but not much is said about how this can be resolved. Apparently up to 50% of the water extracted from natural resources does not reach the end users. A similar amount of wastewater does not get to the purification plants. By Alaster Goyns, Pr Eng*

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his probably means that only about 30% of the water extracted from natural resources is returned to them. In addition, the quality of the water returned is poorer than that of the water extracted, which in certain situations is already polluted.

This results in a crisis with two serious problems needing to be addressed: the

28 IMIESA June 2024

inability of these pipelines to meet their capacity requirements, and the pollution of the natural resources by the water returned to them. This is compounded during the wet season by groundwater in cer tain areas infiltrating the sewers, surcharging them, and overloading the outfall works.

There is a clear difference between these two issues and how they can be resolved.

This ar ticle focuses on the former, being the effective supply of fresh water and the disposal of wastewater.

Urban context Rapid urbanisation and densification of South Africa’s urban areas that are already ser viced, and the development of areas that are only par tly ser viced, or having no

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

The launch pit for a major microtunnelling programme

services, has increased the water supply and disposal problems.

When pipelines were initially installed in the established urban areas, they were designed for a 40-year service life, with little thought given to their replacement. An additional factor was that the long-term per formance of the various materials used was not fully understood. In many areas these ser vices may have deteriorated due to aging or may not have the capacity to handle the densification.

There is also no longer space to dig trenches to replace the pipelines without causing significant disruption to the communities and businesses in these areas.

In many semi-formal and informal areas, the situation is exacerbated as there are no or inadequate services, and the space is even more congested, making it extremely difficult to dig even shallow trenches for replacing or installing new ser vices. Ser vicing this ever-expanding urban landscape presents a complex challenge for authorities, designers, and contractors to install these essential services with minimal community disruption.

The traditional open-cut trenching methods are just no longer feasible in these densely populated areas. This is where trenchless techniques come to the rescue.

Factors that must be considered However, before looking for answers and star ting with detailed work on any project, whether it is the rehabilitation or online replacement of an existing pipeline, or the

installation of a new pipeline, there are several facts that need to be clarified. These include the following considerations: • Function of the pipeline: gravity sewer, rising main, pressure pipeline, stormwater, or other?

• P ipeline details: material type, pipe dimensions, invert depth below surface, gradient, alignment, and access points.

• S ur face developments: established residential, un-serviced informal, or business, and amount of open space available.

• S ubsur face conditions: soil types, rocky conditions, and groundwater level below surface.

With the rehabilitation or online replacement of existing water pipelines there are several techniques that have successfully been used in South Africa. The choice of technique should be based on an assessment of the pipeline performance and condition, as well as answers to the above facts.

Where trenchless techniques are of real value There are three different categories of areas that benefit from trenchless technology in providing water services, namely: • Established residential areas where the service needs to be improved.

• Congested areas that have no or limited services.

• New developments where the use of opencut techniques may not be appropriate.

There are significant benefits, as already described, to using trenchless techniques in the first categor y. There are somewhat fewer techniques for the installation of new pipelines, than for their rehabilitation or online replacement, in the second two categories. In the case of congested, un-ser viced areas, there are significant benefits due to spatial restrictions.

When there are new developments, a choice between open-cut and trenchless An artist’s rendition of a horizontal directional drilling operation under a canal

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

HDD is ideal for pressure systems where precise gradients aren't critical and the pipeline must navigate both vertical and horizontal curves to avoid obstacles

should be made depending on both the surface and sub-surface conditions of the terrain. When surface development takes place, and there are long lengths of water services required at depth, the trenchless approach may well be the most effective approach.

Advantages of trenchless techniques for large diameter pipelines Trenchless techniques of fer significant advantages for installing large diameter pipelines at depth in congested urban areas, causing minimum disruption and inconvenience to the public and business, as well as having a minimal environmental impact and a significant reduction in air pollution when compared to traditional opencut methods.

Two specialised trenchless techniques par ticularly well-suited to installing long stretches of large diameter pipelines are horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and microtunneling. These techniques are complementary rather than competitive, as they each have distinct advantages when

30 IMIESA June 2024

dealing with particular types of pipelines and site conditions.

HDD is ideal for pressure systems where precise gradients aren't critical and the pipeline must navigate both ver tical and horizontal curves to avoid obstacles. Initially a pilot hole is drilled, then enlarged by reaming it in stages to the required diameter.

Finally, the required pipeline is pulled through this hole.

Generally high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes are used due to their high longitudinal and circular tensile strength needed for the pulling forces and internal pressure, ability to be welded into continuous lengths, flexibility to negotiate cur ves, and low roughness coefficient to be hydraulically efficient.

The short term (one year) tensile strength of HDPE when pulling a pipe would be about 26 MPa. As the welds on these pipes have the same proper ties as the pipes, a long string of pipes welded together can handle the same stresses. For design purposes a value of 13 MPa would be used whereas for concrete the design tensile stress would be about 2,5 MPa and the joints would not be able to handle the pulling forces. This shows the advantage of using HDPE pipes when they have to be pulled through a hole.

Microtunneling is ideal for gravity systems flowing partly full where precise gradients are essential and deep installations are required.

The microtunnelling machine bores through the soil at its leading end and the concrete pipes are simultaneously jacked into place behind the microtunnelling equipment.

Concrete pipes are generally used as they have the necessar y compressive strength to handle the jacking forces, joints that can be sealed, and proper alignment can be achieved. When necessar y, the alignment can be changed by adjusting the angle at the joints.

The compressive strength of concrete used in the pipes for microtunnelling is in excess of 45 MPa at 28 days, so it is realistic to use a design value of 15 MPa when these pipes are pushed through the hole tunnelled through the soil. When considering which of these two techniques to select, an understanding of pipe materials is essential.

Comparison of pipe materials The way in which rigid and flexible pipes are specified does not provide a practical means of comparing the performance of the pipes made from these different materials under installed subsoil conditions. The SABS standard SANS 10102 Part 1 provides

a procedure for classifying the pipe/soil system that is seldom used. It considers the relationship between the pipe and the soil based on their flexural stiffness ratio, Y. Y = Es/S Es is the plane-strain elastic modulus of the soil in MPa, and S is the flexural stiffness of the pipe.

S = Ee I/Bc3 Where Ee is the plane-strain elastic modulus of the pipe material in MPa, I is the moment of iner tia for the pipe in = t3/12, where t is the wall thickness and Bc is the outside diameter of the pipe.

The pipe ring stiffness (PRS) used in many of the flexible pipe calculations is almost equal to S. PRS = Ee I/D3 = Ee I / (Bc -1)3 Where D is the mid wall diameter of the pipe = Bc - t.

When dealing with rigid and flexible materials such as concrete and HDPE, a distinction must be drawn between their elastic and viscoelastic properties. Most materials used in construction can be considered as elastic with a linear relationship between stress and strain up to certain stress limits.

However, plastic materials have different characteristics as the stress strain relationship is not linear and depends upon loading time during which forces are applied and the temperature to which they are subject. There is the creep phenomenon related to the time period that the material is loaded or subject to stress and the temperature during this period. The creep phenomenon is not directly related to the actual loading, but to the duration of the loading.

Subsurface conditions It is essential that these conditions are assessed before any buried pipelines are designed and installed, irrespective if the technique to be used is open trench or trenchless. In broad terms this material may be soil or rock. The soils can be sandy with little or no plasticity and grain size greater than 75 microns, or clayey with high plasticity and gain size less than 75 microns. Sands are cohesionless, whereas the clays are cohesive. In wet conditions, in par ticular when below the water table, the proper ties of sandy and clayey materials are ver y different. Sandy materials are generally free draining, whereas the clayey materials are not.

When buried pipelines are empty, they weigh less than the volume of water they

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TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

displace, and when full of water they are still lighter than the soil displaced. This means that with any installations placed below the water table, the handling of buoyancy has to be considered to ensure that the required gradients are maintained. When both microtunnelling and HDD are to be used to install a pipeline below the water table, the necessary measure to deal with this problem have to be taken.

With both microtunnelling and HDD, the drilling component of the equipment has to be adjusted to deal with the soil conditions and whether or not the pipeline has to be placed below the water table.

Closing comment Adopting these trenchless techniques can make a significant contribution to the provision of the essential water ser vices required by South Africa’s rapidly growing high density urban areas, while minimising community and business disruption, plus environmental impact and pollution. This can be done in ser viced areas by rehabilitating existing water supply and wastewater disposal pipelines which have deteriorated,

but still have the required capacity and by doing online replacement of those pipelines that have inadequate capacity. When areas do not have any water services, these can be provided using HDD and microtunnelling, or other techniques that are available.

This can be achieved by municipal authorities, designers, contractors, material suppliers and others who provide the necessar y suppor ting ser vices, working

together. This requires a holistic approach with an understanding of what is needed and the constraints due to surface developments and subsurface conditions. *Board member, Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology

SASTT 2024 WEBINAR SERIES

The need in South Africa to meet the requirements for fresh water supply and wastewater disposal infrastructure in un-serviced residential areas is desperate. In support of this need, the Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology (SASTT) has allocated four online webinar events for 2024 focusing on trenchless installations of new pipelines to convey this water, as well as providing conduits for other buried services.

The first event, held on 7th May, addressed short-distance installations, such as moling, pipe bursting and pipe jacking. This was followed on 18th June by a webinar delving deeper into trenchless techniques for new installations over long distances.

The third in the series for 2024, entitled “Supporting Services – Over Pumping, Pipe Cleaning and Other” will be held on 20th August 2024, and the fourth, entitled “Market Developments – International and Local” on 15th October 2024. Each webinar earns 0,25 CPD points.

To register and watch the first two webinars, and to register for the remaining two, contact Rina Stead via email at director@sastt.org.za.

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SPONGE CITIES DESIGN

THE INTEGRAL ROLE OF TERRACRETE PERMEABLE HARD LAWN PAVERS The sponge city concept is an urban planning model that uses nature-based solutions to manage stormwater and reduce the impact of urban development on ecosystems. The goal is to improve urban liveability by imitating the natural water cycle and increasing evaporation. Sponge cities are designed to absorb rain, prevent flooding, and improve the urban climate.

locally and internationally renowned pioneer in the development of environmentally engineered precast concrete systems.

When used as part of sponge city planning, Terracrete blocks offers several benefits: Permeability: The blocks are designed with multiple large voids, allowing water to infiltrate the ground below. This permeability helps to reduce surface runoff and mitigate the risk of urban flooding by allowing rainwater to be absorbed back into the soil, mimicking natural hydrological processes. In scenarios where the water table is high or the soil's absorption capacity is exceeded, excess water can be managed through additional measures, such as underground storage tanks, existing drainage systems, bioswales and rain gardens.

Stormwater management: By allowing rainwater to permeate through the openings, Terracrete blocks help manage stormwater effectively by allowing a more natural absorption of water into the native soil.

T

erracrete™, a permeable interlocking concrete paver developed by Terraforce in 1999, is ideally suited for this purpose due to its larger openings (40% open), compared to paving blocks with widened joints (15% open) generally available on the market.

“The bigger openings allow for coarse infill to be used, which means better infiltration and easier maintenance. In addition, and something that is often neglected, this allows tree roots to breathe; to absorb water and nutrients that get washed off the paved areas,” explains Holger Rust, founder and head of Terraforce, a

A cross-section rendition for a Terracrete installation incorporating an integrated drainage system

32 IMIESA June 2024

An overview of the Sponge Cities concept in which permeable paving plays a vital stormwater management and enabling groundwater replenishment role

Vehicular traffic: The blocks are designed with enough strength and stiffness to make them suitable (with the appropriate sub-base construction, and in some cases wired together with galvanised fencing wire) for vehicular traffic, which makes them perfect for applications that would traditionally be impermeable, such as roads, walkways and parking areas. This ultimately helps reduce runoff volume and velocity, alleviating flooding and soil erosion.

Groundwater recharge: The permeable characteristics of the blocks facilitate groundwater recharge by allowing rainwater to infiltrate the soil through a drainage layer (typically gravel or crushed stone) that temporarily holds water, letting it percolate slowly back into the subsoil. This helps

PERMEABLE PAVING

to replenish underground aquifers, which are vital sources of water for drinking, irrigation, and other uses, particularly in areas prone to water scarcity.

Pollution reduction: Terracrete blocks can also help improve water quality by filtering pollutants and contaminants from stormwater runoff. The naturally occurring micro-organisms in the soil – in the blocks and in the sub-base – digest oils and spills, another important advantage. Any grass or other suitable vegetation also acts as a natural filter, further cleaning the water. This helps to reduce the number of pollutants entering water bodies, thereby protecting water quality and ecosystem health.

Aesthetic appeal: The blocks can be laid in three different patterns (as shown in Figure 1), interlocking with or without additional wiring for strength, offering flexibility in design while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of urban spaces.

“With a grass finish, they can add a park-like or pastoral feel to areas normally needing hard paving. They can also be integrated into sidewalks, plazas, and other public areas such as parking spaces, adding visual interest and contributing to the overall attractiveness of sponge city environments,” says Rust.

Heat island reduction: Grassed Terracrete pavers help to mitigate the urban heat island effect by providing shade and evaporative cooling. The grass growing within and around the pavers transpires water. This evaporates and cools the surrounding air, while also providing natural shading to the underlying pavers, reducing the amount of heat absorbed by the surface. This contributes to a more comfortable urban environment and reduces energy consumption for cooling purposes.

FIGURE 1: Terracrete patterns

A Terracrete permeable paver stormwater channel, pre-planting

various climatic conditions. This longevity ensures effective stormwater management, which can be provided for an extended period, contributing to the long-term resilience of sponge cities.

Damaged blocks can easily be replaced, when necessary, while the design of the substrate can assist in prefiltering water.

Adding vegetation is the ultimate goal

Durability and longevity: Terracrete blocks are durable and resistant to environmental degradation, making them suitable for use in

Grassing the Terracrete blocks adds to their ability to act as a green eco-surface in a sponge city design. Altus Eitner, Streets and Stormwater/ Project Planning and Management at Mossel Bay Municipality, commends the block, based on systems they’ve installed to date: “Thanks to large holes and a unique interlock the blocks are fully permeable and plantable, which adds to their

These Terracrete pavers provide all-weather vehicle access for a remote coastal site

Terracrete, a permeable interlocking concrete paver, has larger openings (40% open) compared to paving blocks with widened joints (15% open)

A Terracrete permeable paver stormwater channel, fully planted

ability to fully integrate with any environment they are introduced to,” he explains.

“The roots of the plants anchor the blocks and help to strengthen them, especially against floods. The holes also allow worms and bugs to pass through the blocks without sterilising (smothering) the area,” he continues, adding that maintenance of the installations is easy, as the blocks provide a stable platform for the mowing of the grass if needed.

“Overall, Terracrete permeable hard lawn pavers play an invaluable role in sponge city planning by providing sustainable stormwater management solutions that help towns and cities become more resilient to water-related challenges, while enhancing their environmental sustainability and liveability,” Holger concludes.

A stormwater attenuation system lined with Terracrete pavers

PLASTIC PAVING ENABLES SUSTAINABLE STORMWATER CONTROL The employment of plastic cellular grid pavers for stormwater management is gaining ground in South Africa, led by the pioneering work of Gqeberha based manufacturer and supplier, Sudpave.

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raditionally, this field has been dominated by interlocking precast concrete open cell paver (“hard lawn”) systems employed as par t of a sustainable urban drainage system. Our pavers function in the same way. However, the key difference is that they are locally manufactured using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) UV stabilised materials,” explains Gary Bergesen, head of Sudpave.

Around 80% is composed of virgin HDPE; the balance sourced from non-polluted recycled HDPE. These materials are non-toxic and chemically inert to the chemicals naturally

found in soils and have a life expectancy exceeding 25 years. At their end of life, these pavers can then be completely recycled, making them highly sustainable.

In terms of Sudpave’s honeycomb-type paver design, around 95% of the surface area is permeable, allowing most of the rain to infiltrate into the ground. This significantly reduces the risk of soil erosion caused by stormwater run-off velocities that are exacerbated by the increase in hard surface areas due to urban development. Applications include car parks, channels, driveways, roads, aircraft taxiways and helipads, and pedestrian walkways.

“Aside from their equivalent vehicle loadbearing capacity – when gravel filled and supported by applicable layer works – our grids are much lighter and easier to transport and install compared to precast concrete systems,” Bergesen continues.

Individual units are supplied in 1 m x 1 m grid configuration comprising four (500 x 500 mm) preconnected pavers (each weighing around 1 kg), which further speeds up construction.

The thickness of the gravel bedding material and sub-base will determine their weight carr ying ability following a geotechnical

GIBSON BAY WIND FARM

Installation of Sudpave V-drain sections at the Gibson Bay Wind Farm

34 IMIESA June 2024

The V-drain sections at Gibson Bay Wind Farm comprise a sand/ soil fill together with seeded topsoil designed to promote vegetation

PERMEABLE PAVING V-drain installations under way at the Tsitsikamma Community Wind Energy Facility

assessment of the underlying ground conditions, plus anticipated rainfall patterns. The overall system can be further strengthened with the use of geogrid mesh beneath the sub-base layer.

Gravel versus sand/soil fill For gravel filled applications, the sub-base would typically comprise 100 mm to 300 mm of well compacted G5 type material. This is followed by the placement of a 100 mm layer of reduced fines – generally 3 mm to 10 mm, depending on drainage requirements and on-site ground conditions – compacted to an even finish. Thereafter, a 40 mm layer of compacted sand is laid onto a geotextile separation layer to form the bedding.

Once this phase has been completed, it’s time to position the paving grids.

Each paver has integrated ground spikes that are pressed firmly into the bedding, with each paving grid locked in place with integrated snap-fit clips. Thereafter, it’s a simple matter of filling the voids with gravel.

The latter should comprise 6 to 10 mm angular stone.

The sub-based preparation for a grassfilled system – intended more for parking and occasional vehicle usage – follows a similar approach. The key difference is the bedding layer. In this case, a 70 mm to 100 mm layer of compacted growing medium – a mixture of river sand and top-soil – is laid on top of the geotextile separation layer.

Once the grids have been laid and compacted

Construction in progress on a drainage channel at the Fairview Sports Centre in Gqeberha

with a vibrating plate, they are then loose filled with clean friable seeded topsoil.

Sudpave’s gravel filled systems are designed to suppor t a weigh of up to 3 000 tonnes per m² (as tested by the CSIR), while sand/ soil filled structures can support loads up to 2 500 tonnes per m².

V-drains and stormwater channels “Within the roads market we believe there’s significant opportunity for the application of our systems for low volume rural road access, as well as the installation of V-drains within the municipal, provincial and national roads environment,” says Bergesen. “Within the leisure and commercial market, we already have a well-established track record for internal road and parking area layouts.”

Past V-drain project examples include the supply of Sudpave systems for the Gibson Bay Wind Farm, located within the Kouga Municipality, Eastern Cape.

“Brian Paddey of Bay Projects Coastal called me to enquire about Sudpave as an alternative option to precast for the run-off V drains for the road network within the development.

We completed a trial section which was approved, together with the fact that we could manufacture and deliver within a short time frame,” Bergesen explains.

In total some 6 000 m2 of Sudpave’s system was installed in the prepared and compacted earth V drains designed to limit erosion.

Sand/soil filled, the design incorporated seeded topsoil to promote vegetation growth to further reinforce the overall structures.

Subsequently, Bay Projects Coastal adopted the same approach for V-drain construction at the Wesley-Ciskei Wind Farm, located within Ngqushwa Local Municipality, and the Tsitsikamma Community Wind Energy Facility in the Koukamma Local Municipality, both in the Eastern Cape.

“The feedback from Bay Projects Coastal confirms that they are ver y happy using the Sudpave system as it provides a more manageable solution from ease of transpor t and installation perspectives, especially in remote areas where they operate,” Bergesen continues.

In terms of other general examples, an earlier project for drainage channel reinforcement was successfully installed at the Fairview Sports Centre in Gqeberha. This was completed in 2015 and is still functioning well today. A range of similar projects are ongoing.

“Whether it’s to support traffic, or for specific stormwater attenuation tasks, Sudpave delivers. Another plus is that the system is ideal for community-based employment on construction projects since unskilled labour can be quickly trained up. Plus, the system has the added benefit of blending seamlessly with the environment,” Bergesen concludes.

A soft landscaped lawn channel constructed using the Sudpave system provides an eco-friendly stormwater solution

IMIESA June 2024

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TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

BALANCING SMART AND INTEGRATED TRANSPORTATION Within Smar t City master planning, transpor tation can be viewed as the hub of the wheel around which socio-economic development revolves, whether for the movement of goods and ser vices or people. IMIESA speaks to Vishaal Lutchman, Managing Director: Transpor t Africa at Zutari, about trends and projects that are both smar t and sustainable.

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echnology adoption – particularly data and information management – is generally seen as the starting point for analysing and managing current and future transport networks that include Intelligent Traffic Management Systems (ITMSs),” says Lutchman, citing the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link service between Johannesburg and Pretoria via OR Tambo International Airport as a prime example of a technologically advanced and efficient system.

The key emphasis is on smart management, says Lutchman, a case in point being the well-publicised challenges currently faced by Transnet in terms of its freight services and ports operations. Having the best data only works when combined with smart logistical execution and best-in-class utility management.

“At this stage, South Africa has pockets of data excellence in areas like toll road operations and municipal ITMS installations in cities like

36 IMIESA June 2024

Vishaal Lutchman, Managing Director: Transport Africa at Zutari

TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

Cape Town. Still, generally, we have a long way to go to replicate the advances we see in leading nations internationally in terms of road, rail, air, and port integration, both from commercial and passenger transport perspectives,” he explains.

For this reason, Lutchman says South Africa’s existing transportation network needs to be revisited and then reconfigured in line with local and national infrastructure development planning to unlock new growth markets locally and crossborder trade, both within SADC and in terms of the potential presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.

“Other wise, the existing paradigm will keep on reengineering itself and impede macro and micro development from a mobility perspective. An example is the sharp increase in road freight traffic on national routes due to a decline in rail capability and capacity.

These routes were not originally designed to accommodate these rising heavy-duty volumes and continue to cause extensive damage, requiring more frequent maintenance interventions,” Lutchman continues.

Transport as a means to address inequality in South Africa A country with the largest inequality on earth, South Africa’s transportation segments have also been affected and influenced by apartheid planning. This saw communities separated based on race, thereby exacerbating inequality, and leading to what is colloquially referred to as the First and Second economies. The former is seen as technologically advanced and resource-rich, while the latter is underdeveloped, comprising a high percentage of the South African population.

This cannot persist and needs redress.

The vast majority of communities remain disconnected due to historically biased town planning – often referred to as informal – that relies on a self-made public transport system, primarily in the form of taxis and buses, including non-motorised options, and long-distance rail – where available. By nature, it’s a fragmented approach with lots of disconnects including safety concerns and hardly any coherent timetables to confirm when people will arrive at their destinations.

“Getting all members of South African society to use public transport as part of a smart and sustainable mobility solution within a town or city context remains challenging,” Lutchman continues. “Gautrain is one of the forerunners in applying this approach in their current Phase I operations, and subsequently for the proposed Phase II network extension.”

Within the mix is South Africa’s application of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) model – also referred

to as an Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN) – which has been well adopted in other countries internationally, including Brazil. Zutari has been involved in supporting major metro clients to provide effective system solutions for moving passengers and freight.

“While a highly effective and efficient system, IRPTNs in South Africa do face competition from the informal taxi industry, which tends to be more price competitive for commuters and provides a more direct ‘door-to-door’ service.

The best approach would be to integrate systems,” says Lutchman.

Going for ward, electric vehicles (EVs) will progressively make their presence felt both for private and public usage. However, as Lutchman explains, the viability of EV technology – however sound in principle – needs to be factored into South Africa’s developing economic requirements. “EVs are still expensive, and we don’t yet have a national charging network to support effective implementation, alongside the range issues and time to recharge. That will change over time. In the meantime, there are parallel opportunities, like biofuels and urban electrification networks for inner city buses,” he explains.

Integrated Transportation Master Planning The various elements for Smart City evolution are tied together by the ongoing need for integrated transportation master planning, with Zutari leading in this area locally and internationally.

Currently, Zutari employs a team of over 100

technical personnel with a dedicated focus on integrated planning, focusing on phased implementation of projects.

Projects range from cableway systems, toll road operations management to property development around transport nodes.

“The star ting point for any potential development is a traffic demand model, which influences the transportation infrastructure requirements,” says Lutchman, adding that a prime example is the government’s plans for the future greenfield Lanseria Smart City project in Gauteng.

“Of equal impor tance in transpor tation design is the paramount need for road safety systems that facilitate all forms of mobility, from pedestrian to non-motorised transport (e.g. dedicated bicycle lanes), and vehicles.”

Landmark Zutari projects currently underway include master planning for the Dubai Metro in the UAE, driven by comprehensive datasets to facilitate development. Locally, Zutari provides technical support and management, including facilities management and maintenance, to optimise evolving systems for clients. Ongoing passenger rail, road and property development planning for clients are current Zutari projects.

“The transportation gains are incremental and must be fit-for-purpose. As a country, we need to ensure that town and city planning works in sync to bridge the gap between First and Second economies, and to ensure that all forms of transport work to achieve meaningful, inclusive socio-economic gains,” Lutchman concludes.

IMIESA June 2024

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BITUMEN & ASPHALT

SABITA AWARDS CELEBRATE DEDICATION AND EXCELLENCE On 23rd May 2024, the Southern African Bitumen Association (Sabita) hosted its 2023 Awards function at the Lagoon Beach Conference Centre in Milner ton, Cape Town, where outstanding achievements in industr y were recognised.

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he award categories comprise the CEO Merit Award for Notable HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) Achievement, the Group Award for the Best HSE Team, and the Outstanding Achievement in the Sustainable Use of Bituminous Products Award.

CEO Merit Award for Notable HSE Achievement Sabita is proud to announce that Shivanie Rambaran is the recipient of the 2023 CEO Merit Award for Notable HSE Achievement.

Shivanie, an HSE Manager, is a vital part of the team at AECI Much Asphalt, where her role as the “Project Champion/Custodian” for implementing standardised formal repor ting templates and procedures has been instrumental, ensuring higher standards of safety and compliance across the board.

With a Life Sciences degree behind her name and an unyielding passion for health, Shivanie has spearheaded numerous initiatives such as wellness days and monthly health education posters that have proved highly popular and effective across her organisation.

Shivanie's drive and passion are truly commendable. She approaches her work with a blend of challenge and continuous learning, understanding the broader goals of the bituminous products industry, such as those pursued by Sabita through HSE webinars and site audits. She takes immense pride in being part of these projects, contributing to the overall health and safety standards in the industry.

“We congratulate Shivanie on her welldeserved recognition and look forward to her continued success and contributions,” says Phil Hendricks, Sabita’s CEO. In accepting her Award, Shivanie expressed her thanks for the support of the management at AECI Much Asphalt and the great team she has the privilege to work with.

“Receiving this incredible honour is not just a recognition of my effor ts, and passion poured into my career. More importantly, it is a reminder of the meaningful connections forged, the lessons learnt, and the growth experienced throughout this journey” says Shivanie.

“From mentors who have guided me with wisdom, to colleagues who have collaborated with me tirelessly, to friends and family who have provided endless love and suppor t – I owe each and ever y one of you a debt of gratitude that words alone cannot express.”

Group Award – Raubex KZN N2 KwaMashu HSE Team In the next prestigious category, Sabita is pleased to showcase the achievements of the Raubex KZN N2 KwaMashu HSE team, winners of the Group HSE Award.

Over the past 20 months, this dedicated team has significantly improved their HSE audit score, rising from 85% in June 2022 to an impressive 98% in October 2023. This substantial improvement underscores their relentless commitment to upholding the highest safety standards.

The team, comprising Johan de Coning, Jomo Mkalele, Jabulani Mpangase, and David John, has been instrumental in ensuring the well-being of over 500 employees and safeguarding assets valued at nearly R1,5 billion. Managed by Contracts Manager Renier Botha, their efforts have not only mitigated risks, but also significantly contributed to the project's overall success.

Key to their strategy has been the implementation of a “near miss” reporting system and the promotion of their safety mantra, “production will go where safety has been.” These initiatives have fostered a robust culture of safety awareness and have been adopted across the company, demonstrating their far-reaching impact.

“The Raubex KZN N2 KwaMashu HSE team’s achievements are a testament to their hard work and strategic approach to health and safety management. Their outstanding per formance sets a strong foundation for

Sabita CEO, Phil Hendricks presents Shivanie Rambaran from AECI Much Asphalt with her award

Johannes Lambert from Tosas (right) together with Bennie Greyling, Sabita Council member and Managing Director of AECI Much Asphalt

38 IMIESA June 2024

BITUMEN & ASPHALT

Renier Botha, Pieter van Zyl and Johan de Coning from Raubex KZN receiving the Group Award from Phil Hendricks in recognition of their notable HSE achievement

continued success and positions them as a model of safety excellence in the construction industry,” says Hendricks.

In accepting the award on behalf of the team Renier Botha expressed his sincere gratitude to the entire Raubex Group for their commitment pledge towards the “I am a Safety Leader” campaign launched recently.

Outstanding Achievement in the Sustainable Use of Bituminous Products Recognised for his passion for innovation, the Outstanding Achievement in the Sustainable Use of Bituminous Products Award was conferred on Johannes Lambert from Tosas.

Johannes has been at the forefront of developing new products, as well as refining existing technologies. He also played a

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pioneering role in the early introduction of nano technology into binders many years before they became popular.

Greencote (pre-coat fluid), Onyx (mastic rejuvenator), Ralumac (microsur facing), Blacktop FSR (rejuvenating fogspray), Poly-EFlex (hot polymer crackseal) and Elasto-Tack (trackless tack/bond coat), are among a wide range of products where Johannes has applied his knowledge and love for bitumen.

An extract from Johannes’ nomination reads: “Johannes has been at the forefront of industry association bodies and is always

willing to go the extra mile when it comes to offering up time and energy for the benefit of all, even if it means making things happen for opposition companies in the broader drive for quality and integrity.”

In closing “It’s exceptionally rewarding to recognise such deserving winners. Their contributions uphold the highest standards in industry and epitomise Sabita’s goals and objectives for a safe and sustainable asphalt industr y,” Hendricks concludes.

Sabita has been a cornerstone of the roads industry since 1979, driven by dedicated member companies and stakeholders committed to quality blacktop roads in Southern Africa. Here's to 45 years of success and counting! Join us in our continued commitment to excellence.

Sabita remains committed to the: • • • • • •

Continued development of bituminous material technology Production of world class technical guidelines and manuals Transfer of technology & knowledge with global partners Promotion of sustainable health & safety practices Provision of quality training that meets industry requirements Engagement of stakeholders on all issues relevant to a sustainable road network.

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The Society for Asphalt Technology (SAT) is considered the most innovative content provider in the South African asphalt industry. Its 650 plus members – from students through to retirees – include many of the best minds in the industry. They share a desire to learn, explore, innovate, and improve. That’s why SAT exists.

conference 2024

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hat’s also why the then SAT President Herman Marais and his VP, Krishna Naidoo (now President), decided to host the Society’s first ever conference in September 2021. “Through this conference we hope to form the glue that binds together all the different elements of the asphalt industry,” said Naidoo at the time.

It was a courageous decision considering the Covid pandemic. But the online event turned out to be a perfect foil to the hiatus caused by the pandemic, generating new passion as it successfully bridged the flagship CAPSA road industry conferences and complemented the biannual RPF events.

So warmly was SATBinderrr 2021 received that it was repeated in 2022 and lengthened from a one-day online to a two-day hybrid online/ in-person event.

3rd SATBinderrr On 4th and 5th September 2024 SAT will host its third SATBinderrr conference in tandem with its 30th anniversary.

SATBinderrr 2024 will continue the theme of bringing together industry experts and rising stars

BE PART OF THE

to dissect important issues, using a hybrid format with in-person attendance at the CSIR in Pretoria and online participation for those who can’t be there.

“The timing could not be better, with the road building industry experiencing a rapid upturn this year and all players expected to raise their games to keep pace with demand,” says Nik Berning, SAT Council member, Eastern Cape Regional Chairperson, and head of the conference organising committee.

“We hope to combine the right mix of people to help us solve our challenges, elevate our industry, innovate for a sustainable future, and build passion among new generations,” he adds. “But delegates should not expect monologues this year. Instead, they will get engagement, interaction, discussion, and a chance to ask questions and participate in formulating answers.”

The international standing of SATBinderrr will be underscored by its 2024 keynote speaker, Dr Randy West, Director and Research Professor at The National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University in Alabama, USA. Established in 1986, NCAT is one of the world’s leading institutions for asphalt pavement research and testing.

Focus Areas The conference will be built around five focus areas. In addition to the core Asphalt, Seals, and Binders topics, the conference introduces a Construction and Manufacturing element this year to encourage problem solving at the coalface, as well as a focus on Chemistr y to bring in more conversations around innovation and sustainable asphalt and bitumen recipes.

Led by Nik Berning, the organising committee includes Joanne Muller (SAT Vice-President), John Onraët (Operations Manager), Herman Marais (Past President), and Nathisha Gengayah.

This team has formulated broad initial guidelines for discussion in the Focus Areas. The Focus Area Chairs will be assisted by technical experts who will act as mentors both to the Chairs and to the topic presenters/facilitators.

Focus Area overviews Asphalt • Growing the relationship between asphalt mix design and pavement design.

• BROAG and other new friction courses.

• National status of EME. How is it measuring up against concrete pavements and other heavy duty pavement options including modified asphalt?

Seals • Preparatory work for seals and slurries. Lessons and best practice reminders.

• Is the ROI on seals sliding towards negative with the price of bitumen?

• Fog spray and spray-on rejuvenators. Mythbusters on why we have not moved forward with the technology.

Nik Berning, SAT Council member, Eastern Cape Regional Chairperson, and head of the conference organising committee

40 IMIESA June 2024

Dr Randy West, Director and Research Professor at The National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University in Alabama, USA, is the keynote speaker at SATBinderrr 2024

Binders • How is an AP1 made in SA? • How is import-only bitumen affecting confidence and technology in modified binders?

• Why are we not importing modified bitumen? Are the locally modified binders better?

BITUMEN & ASPHALT | SATBinderrr 2024

Construction & Manufacturing • Compiling a practical method statement to construct your flexible pavement.

• The contractual relationship between asphalt paving contractors and flexible pavement construction contractors.

• The evolving role of a quality construction manager.

• How year-end shutdown maintenance can change the quality of your asphalt.

• How to reduce the carbon footprint of your asphalt manufacturing plant and process.

• Retrofitting manufacturing control software and hardware. Are SA plants keeping pace?

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Chemistry • W hat is this mythical linking agent for differentiated modified binders?

• Aggregate and binder compatibility issues.

• Do modifiers disappear over time and bitumen just reverts to a harder pen? The status of this debate.

Gold, Silver, Bronze and Focus Area Sponsors Sponsors committed to supporting SATBinderrr 2024 include ARIA Bio Industries (Gold Sponsor); KBK Engineers, Specialised Road Technologies, Tau Pele Construction, Specialised Testing Laboratory, Anton Paar, and Colas (Silver Sponsors); Liesen Bitumen, Ski Civils, Aqua Transport, Roadlab Laboratories, and Zutari (Bronze Sponsors). Focus Area sponsors are National Asphalt (Asphalt); BSS (Binders); ROMH Consulting (Seals); AECI Specialty Chemicals (Chemistry); and Martin & East (Construction & Manufacturing).

“We believe the Binderrr conference will create an opportunity for interactive exchange between all the stakeholders in the civil engineering industry, which is necessary to stay abreast of the latest innovation and technology, nationally and internationally,” says Roelof de Jong, Managing Director of Specialised Testing Laboratory.

Marius Prinsloo, Contract Director at Tau Pele Construction, reiterates the importance of sharing information in the industry. “We encourage our staff to attend industry events and we appreciate the opportunity to network with specialists and clients.”

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SPECIALISED ROAD TECHNOLOGIES

Focus Area Sponsors Asphalt Focus Area Sponsor

Binders Focus Area Sponsor

Seals Focus Area Sponsor

Chemistry Focus Area Sponsor

Construction & Manufacturing Area Sponsor

See you there!

“We are very grateful to our sponsors for their support in helping SAT to make a meaningful contribution to our industry,” says Berning. “Now it’s up to the industry to show up and be part of the solution.”

For more information on SATBinderrr 2024, go to www.socsat.co.za.

IMIESA June 2024

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TH IMESA

2024

IMESA

CONFERENCE ENGINEERING REVOLUTIONISED

CONFERENCE 06 - 08 November 2024 CAPE TOWN | GRANDWEST

CAPE TOWN 6-8 NOVEMBER

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STANDARD REGISTRATION Register & Pay AFTER 1 August 2024

Register & Pay AFTER 25 October 2024

• Members: R7 400 • Non-members: R8 800

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Register & Pay BEFORE 31 July 2024

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CONFERENCE VENUE | GRAND WEST 1 Jakes Gerwel Dr, Goodwood, Cape Town, 7460

HOTELS ONSITE OR WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE GRAND WEST (IMESA will provide a FREE shuttle service to and from the hotels listed below)

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t: +27 (031)266 3263 e: conference@imesa.org.za marketing@imesa.org.za www.imesa.org.za

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BITUMEN & ASPHALT | SATBinderrr 2024

Gary Wright Joint Chair of Construction & Manufacturing Focus Area

Gary is a relative newcomer to the industry. While studying towards his MEng Civil at Stellenbosch University in 2020, he gained work experience with Bitumen World on its Beitbridge project in Zimbabwe.

Later that year he returned to the South African construction sector, where he has progressed rapidly from Construction Supervisor to Quality Assurance Manager on various N2 asphalt projects.

Craig Naicker Joint Chair of Construction & Manufacturing Focus Area

After gaining experience in the finance and statistics field, coupled with an MBA, Craig pursued a career as an entrepreneur. This gave him the opportunity to grow a business into a leading asphalt paving contractor in the KwaZulu-Natal region. Craig has substantial experience in leading a complex organisation. As Managing Director of his company his role is to develop high quality business strategies and plans that align with short and long-term objectives.

Eben van Zyl Mentor, Construction & Manufacturing Focus Area

Eben graduated with a Master’s Degree in Engineering in 2014 and has specialised in the construction of asphalt pavement layers for the past ten years, moving in that period right to the top as Managing Director of one of South Africa’s most respected road construction and asphalt surfacing companies.

Sthabile Sibiya Chair of Chemistry Focus Area

Sthabile is a Civil Engineering Technologist with over eight years of experience in road pavement design and rehabilitation and works as a Project Lead on small to medium-sized projects. She was an integral part of the pavements design team for the Upgrade of National Route 3 Section 3, a project worth R1.4 billion, and has designed and managed numerous projects for local, provincial and national authorities. She is currently researching bond coats for South African conditions as part of the development of a specification for the local industry.

Georges Mturi Mentor, Chemistry Focus Area

Georges is the recipient of the JD Roberts Award, Standard Bank Rising Star Award (Service: Public and Private Category), and finalist of the NSTF-South32 Green Economy Award in 2021/22. He currently serves the roads industry as a materials consultant and the SABS sub-committee chairperson for bituminous and granular road construction materials. He consults on multi-disciplinary research project teams involving the sustainable use of waste and alternative materials for road construction, innovative road technologies, advanced road material characterisation, and forensic investigations of road failures across the African continent.

Avi-Nash Sukuram Chair of Asphalt Focus Area

Avi-Nash has more than a decade of design and contract administration experience in roads and civil infrastructure. In 2017 he won the SAICE National Award for Young Professional Technologist of the Year.

Avi-Nash has published and presented various pavement engineering technical papers and is also a qualified and registered arbitrator, adjudicator and mediator.

Tumelo Thothela Mentor, Asphalt Focus Area

Tumelo is a pavement engineering specialist and completed his MBA through the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in 2017. He is a co-founder of a civil engineering consultancy where he serves as Operations Director, responsible for strategy, business development, marketing, operational and personnel management, staff training and mentoring, engineering design and contract administration.

Tumela chaired the Pavement Recycling Focus Area at SATBinderrr 2022.

Nishaat Mowzer Chair of Seals Focus Area

Nishaat is an Associate Pavement Engineer with extensive experience in the design of new roads and the maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrading of roads for clients such as the City of Cape Town, local municipalities, SANRAL, the Western Cape Provincial Government, and ACSA. She is an external examiner for Stellenbosch University in Pavement Engineering and the SAT Southern Region Chairperson. Nishaat was the Seals Focus Area Chair at the 2022 SATBinderrr Conference and sits on a forum that seeks to identify mutually beneficial research projects for universities while effectively coordinating the needs of industry in the Western Cape.

Gerrie van Zyl Mentor, Seals Focus Area

Gerrie has been involved in the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and management of roads since 1983. His specialisation in road asset management, gravel road performance, surfacing seals, and low volume roads has led to his involvement in several research studies, publishing of best practice manuals and papers, and training on these topics, locally and internationally. He has investigated the causes and mechanisms of premature failures on numerous occasions for roads authorities, consultants and contractors.

Belindar Preethapal Chair of Binders Focus Area

When Belindar entered the industry in 2013 as an in-service student, she had no idea what bitumen was. In ten years, she has progressed from Trainee Technician to Civil Technician to Senior Laboratory Technician, and today heads up a very busy test laboratory for a major asphalt manufacturer.

Jacques van Heerden Mentor, Binders Focus Area

Jacques’ interest in bitumen began in 2004 with the evaluation of new crude oils for bitumen production.

He has more than 15 years of practical experience in the rheological evaluation of bituminous binders, working with local and international bituminous product producers and users. He also trains students at several tertiary institutions in rheological testing. His passion for bituminous binders has led to involvement in technical committees and road binder investigations. His current focus is on developing new test methods for the performance evaluation of binders in road construction and developing new innovative bituminous products.

VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT

Mobi Light range unveiled The Mobi Light range offers an ideal solution for roadworks and construction sites, mining and quarrying applications, as well as outdoor events

Crushing and screening operations frequently run on a 24/7 basis to meet demand and optimise productivity, so crushing specialist Pilot Crushtec is the ideal partner to introduce its own brand of mobile lighting towers for these and other applications.

A

ccording to Pilot Crushtec sales and marketing executive Francois Marais, the company has supplied lighting products before, but this step will see the new range under its own brand – Mobi Light.

“Our own brand gives us the flexibility to source the right products internationally and provide the high level of local support that customers have come to expect from us,” says Marais.

The range covers mobile lighting solutions at entr y level right up to premium applications. On the smaller end, a unit with four 320 LED floodlights will achieve a lighting area up to 5 000 m2; at the other end of the

scale, a mining unit with six 320 WLED floodlights will light up 7 800 m2.

Safety and productivity Ben Armitage, sales engineer at Pilot Crushtec, explains that safety is a key consideration in the way the company has positioned its offering. “Not only do you need sufficient lighting for the stationer y crushing and screening equipment on a site, but there are typically several pieces of yellow metal equipment such as excavators, trucks and loaders moving around. Good lighting is therefore a critical element of the industry’s quest for Zero Harm,” he explains.

Designed for demanding site conditions, the lighting units have a robust steel canopy to house the generating unit and start up panel

44 IMIESA June 2024

He notes that insufficient lighting also affects productivity. Where there is limited visual capacity, operators tend to reduce feed rates to plants – to avoid the risk of blockages and spillage. This can have a substantial effect on production and the resultant cost of operating the site.

“Other factors that the Mobi Light tower range considers is the height of our masts,” he continues. “With our high masts at 8,5 metres, this ensures an increased lighting area while reducing operator fatigue, as the light is high enough to never shine in the operators’ eyes.”

The range also takes advantage of developments in lighting technology – away from metal halide and toward light-emitting diode (LED) technology.

LED lights offer a much longer lifespan, operate at low voltages and produce less heat.

“LED lights light up the work area instantly and don’t require a cooldown period before the lighting plant can be relocated. These lights also consume less power, saving money especially when on-site power is diesel generated,” Armitage concludes.

VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT

TBM preparations for Polihali transfer tunnel works

A

team of engineers and tunnel exper ts from the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), together with consultants and contractors on the Polihali Transfer Tunnel, recently inspected the tunnel boring machines (TBMs) being manufactured for this key stage of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II programme.

The inspection (factor y acceptance test) was conducted by LHDA senior engineers, representatives from Metsi a Senqu Khubelu Consultants, the Kopano Ke Matla Joint Venture – which is constructing the tunnel – and the TBM designer, Robbins, and took place at a CCCC Tianhe plant in Changshu City, China, from 8th to 11th May 2024.

“We verified the design of the TBMs, their functionality and adherence to safety standards,” says Neo Thinyane, Phase II Senior Projects Engineer. “This included examining the cutterheads, backup systems and segment erection mechanisms.”

The TBMs have been specifically designed to handle the challenging basalt rock formations in the Mokhotlong and Leribe districts where the transfer tunnel is being constructed. The team also assessed the functionality of the muck removal system, conveyor belts, power supply, ventilation, water supply and dewatering systems.

The TBMs are equipped with refuge bays containing life-support systems, including first-aid kits, oxygen tanks, respirators and air filtration systems. Additionally, there are backup power and cooling systems to ensure uninterrupted operation in case of power outages.

Project implementation Situated at an altitude of close to 2 000 m above sea level, the Polihali Dam site was strategically selected at the confluence of the Senqu and Khubelu Rivers, just downstream of where the main tunnel intake will feed the 5 m diameter and approximately 38 km long Polihali-to-Katse transfer tunnel – projected for completion during 2028. Gravity fed, the latter will carry the water to the Katse reser voir, as does the present interconnecting Mohale Tunnel.

Construction of the Polihali Dam began in 2023.

MSKC designed the tunnel and provided the TBM specifications, while Robbins, a USA company, designed the machines. Kopano Ke Matla Joint Venture is constructing the tunnel.

Lebogang Makoloi, Department Executive for Corporate Affairs at ISUZU Motors South Africa (left) hands over two ISUZU water tankers and a R100 000 cheque to Gift of the Givers founder, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman

Water tanker donations bolster humanitarian efforts

I

SUZU Motors South Africa (ISUZU) has handed over two ISUZU water tanker trucks and an amount of R100 000 to humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers, to enhance disaster relief efforts for Eastern Cape communities affected by recent devastating floods in regions that include Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City.

“This is an opportunity for us to support our communities with our vehicles that are built for reliability, capability, and durability,” says Lebogang Makoloi, ISUZU’s Department Executive for Corporate Affairs.

The recent handover is the continuation of a partnership. It started in 2019 when ISUZU first handed over a total of three ISUZU D-MAX bakkies and three ISUZU trucks to Gift of the Givers to help them with much-needed logistical support.

“The water tanker trucks are lifesaving and ever y drop of water we give is a blessing. ISUZU’s inter vention helps us save a lot of money as we cannot do anything without access to transport. We are extremely grateful for this partnership,” says Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, Gift of the Givers founder.

As ISUZU states, it remains inspired by the wonderful work done by Gift of the Givers and commits to continue taking action to boldly do more to assist destitute communities.

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman experiences the ergonomic layout

IMIESA June 2024

45

CEMENT & CONCRETE

Filler blocks installed

Correctly spaced T-beams Compression blocks in place providing cavities for cross-beam casting

Completed services and cross-beam rebar

FASTER AND MORE COST-EFFECTIVE

REDESIGNED RIB AND BLOCK FLOORING SYSTEM Concrete Manufacturers Association member, Mobicast, now supplies DRIDEK, a faster, more cost-effective alternative to traditional rib and block flooring, a system which the company has been manufacturing for many years.

I

n contrast to conventional rib and block construction, DRIDEK advances the use of precast concrete a step further by replacing reinforced ribs and cast in-situ structural concrete screed with a prestressed T-beam and compression block system.

This makes DRIDEK much quicker to install.

No propping is required, and installation takes only a day. This means that post-installation construction work can begin immediately thereafter. What’s more, specialised skills are not needed for its installation.

According to Mobicast CEO, Chris van Zyl, the system requires very little wet concrete casting, hence the name DRIDEK. “It was originally designed and patented by structural engineer, D.L. Belter of Gadomski Consulting Engineers and it has been used on a limited

46 IMIESA June 2024

scale since 2008, mostly in the coastal regions of the Western Cape,” he explains.

“We recognised the system’s potential, and this led us to invest in a DRIDEK plant at our Groot Brakrivier production facility near Mossel Bay in 2022. Since then, more than 230 RDP houses, as well as many private dwellings and commercial buildings have been constructed with DRIDEK floor slabs.”

A DRIDEK floor is constructed sequentially with the following elements: • Prestressed T-beams, 220 mm deep and 150 mm across the bottom flange with castellated cavities in the neutral axis to accommodate services and rebar for in-situ cross beams.

• Filler blocks 90 mm thick.

• Y16 rebar for reinforcing cross beams.

• Service pipes and conduits for plumbing and electrical services.

• Compression blocks.

• A cement slurry/paste.

The installation process is simple, requiring no costly equipment such as cranes. It begins with the installation T-beams, which can be lifted manually and placed 500 mm apart on load-bearing walls. The filler blocks follow and are slotted snugly between the beams.

They serve three functions: a safe working platform; permanent shuttering for the insitu cross beams and compression blocks; and a soffit surface which can be plastered with ease.

Once all the filler blocks are in place, the cross-beam rebar is laid at right angles through castellated cavities in the T-beams at 1 200 to 1 500 mm intervals, and the placement of all the pipes and conduits occurs simultaneously. Thereafter, compression blocks, with hollow undersides to accommodate the services, are placed on top of the filler blocks except where the cross beams are to be cast.

CEMENT & CONCRETE

The cross beams are cast with 25 MPa concrete as soon as all the compression blocks have been installed and the concrete required for this purpose is easily mixed by hand on the partially completed slab. This is the only wet concrete cast on site and is only 0.03 m3/m2 of the slab sur face.

The cross beams serve to create a fully integrated structure in which all the beams share the loading, a function which minimises cracking.

The final step is the pasting of a slurry/paste, which is swept over the top of the slab to fill any cavities in the platform and to ensure a tight fit between all precast components. Approximately one bag of cement is required per 10 m² for this purpose.

“A structural screed with steel mesh is not required, but if one is preferred then

Filling cross beams and other cavities

compression blocks are not used. Instead, wet concrete is cast on top of the filler blocks until it reaches a level 20 mm above the top of the T-beams to accommodate the steel mesh.

However, almost every client prefers using compression blocks because they are so easy

to install, and their use eliminates the risks in casting large volumes of wet concrete on site,” van Zyl explains.

“Spreading the load through the entire floor is one of DRIDEK’s major advantages because other systems can only achieve this by using much larger volumes of in-situ concrete. Another benefit is the minimal deflection of the T-beams, which under typical conditions is only 6,1 mm over a 6 m span, a statistic which betters conventional rib and block systems by a considerable margin. And as with conventional rib and block construction two ribs can be placed alongside each other for increased loading requirements.”

For most applications single beams can span up to 6,6 m without propping and when using double beams, an 8m un-propped span can be achieved.

“Once a DRIDEK floor is completed an engineer’s inspection is not required, one of the reasons why construction work can commence the following day,” van Zyl concludes.

TECHNOLOGY FOR UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION • • •

Alkali-free set accelerators for shotcrete Products for mechanized tunneling: foaming agents for soil conditioning, polymers, sealants, lubrificants Products for grouting and consolidating

• •

Learn more on www.utt-mapei.com, info@mapei.co.za

Products for concrete repairing, protection and coating Products for waterproofing: synthetic waterproofing membranes, waterproofing accessories

CEMENT & CONCRETE

AFRISAM QUALITY CEMENTS EB CONSTRUCTION’S SUCCESS Taking an unconventional route into the construction sector, EB Construction’s Ben Wagner has built a solid contracting business that serves residential, commercial and industrial clients. Partnering with responsive and trustworthy firms like construction materials specialist AfriSam has been one of his secrets of success.

EB Construction has built its reputation on its attention to detail and on the lasting quality of its workmanship

W

agner studied mechanical engineering and started his career in the motor trade. However, his work took the direction of building planning and management, and he soon developed a strong interest and skill set in construction. With his entrepreneurial flair, it wasn’t long before he AfriSam is EB Construction’s building material supplier of choice

48 IMIESA June 2024

decided to go his own way, and started out in what he describes as handyman work.

“When my wife and I started a family, I didn’t want to be boxed into a job that demanded long days that would not allow me to be part of my children’s growing up,” he explains. “I needed to be more in control of my time and destiny, and I started EB Construction to give me that.”

The jobs started off small, he says, but soon grew to include substantial home renovations and new builds. Much of the early insurancerelated work dealt with fire-damaged homes, which usually involved extensive demolition and reconstruction. He also operated a plumbing team that would deal with issues like burst geysers and the resultant damage.

“Within about three years, I was able to move out of insurance work and take on my own residential, commercial and industrial projects,” he continues. A meeting with AfriSam Sales Manager Adele Wentzel opened up an important supply link for cement and concrete. He acknowledges that any business in construction is highly sensitive to the cost of its inputs, but explains that this cost cannot be reduced to the simple price of products.

“As EB Construction moved into larger residential, commercial and civils projects, we went beyond purchasing AfriSam’s bagged cement and into procuring readymix and other construction materials,” says Wagner. “Our projects became more complex, and this meant stricter timeframes and an even closer focus on quality – to mitigate project risk.”

EB Construction uses AfriSam’s Roadstab cement for road stabilisation

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY EB Construction could rely on the quality of AfriSam’s readymix concrete for the construction of a complex structure over a dam

He notes that his company had built its reputation on its attention to detail and on the lasting quality of its workmanship. From its base in Johannesburg, its footprint of projects grew quickly to include working on buildings and infrastructure in quite remote areas of the country.

Collaboration and flexibility “It soon became clear that not many of AfriSam’s competitors could meet the high level of its service, as well as the breadth of products and solutions,” he says. “Our larger projects – especially those located some distance from the main urban centres – needed close collaboration combined with flexibility, while not compromising on quality.”

The relationship grew on the strength of the two companies’ shared commitment to the highest standards – whether in service, materials or final construction. Wagner highlights how much a contractor relies on a supply partner's ability to communicate and plan well – as well as to adapt plans when necessary.

“We are often in unusual situations which require both the contractor and supplier to go the extra mile,” he says. “Building in a sensitive wildlife area, for instance, would require readymix deliveries to meet certain unexpected conditions; AfriSam accommodates these in its stride, right from the call centre through to management and truck drivers.”

AfriSam’s depth of expertise – including its Centre of Product Excellence – and its choice of solutions for different applications, has also made a valuable contribution to EB Construction’s growing volume of contracts. At a recent project in the rural hospitality industry, the work included demolition, infrastructure, construction and structural engineering.

“We built the roads with interlocking pavers, so made use of AfriSam’s Roadstab stabilising cement in the sub-base, as well as AfriSam’s StarBuild 32.5N and AfriSam’s All Purpose Cement 42.5N for grouting on the paving,” he says. “AfriSam was also able to supply the readymix for the culverts and bases, and for the offshutter concrete structure for a wedding venue.”

In addition, this project included a large steel structure over a dam, which required numerous large concrete plinths. AfriSam supplied about 36 m3 of readymix for each plinth, despite the considerable distance to the site. Wagner says he could also rely on the quality of AfriSam readymix, so there were never any issues when engineers required density tests, for example.

Wentzel emphasises that working with EB Construction has been positive for various reasons, including the regular communication during projects, and the feedback they constantly provide.

“Our long working relationship with EB Construction is a good example of how we position our business,” she says. “Good working partnerships are built on trust, which we develop over years of meeting our promises.”

Your invitation to BIMHarambee 2024 With a BIM Mandate and National Annex for SANS 19650 now being prepared by the Construction Industry Development Board, what’s next for BIM?

P

ioneering the way forward, the BIM CoDE•SA Workshops, led by BIMcommUNITY.Africa, play an enabling role by bringing together different stakeholders from across the South African built environment. The objective is to co-create the requirements to drive widespread Better Information Management (BIM) adoption and implementation.

Successful BIM implementation (originally referenced as Building Information Modelling) relies on the right, skilled people, a conducive, supportive process and culture, and appropriate technology.

Because BIM relies on collaboration within project teams, the risk is that varying pockets of BIM adoption, and non-BIM adoption, will lead to a situation of haves and have-nots, with too many companies and individuals being left off the BIM train.

As a spokesperson for BIMcommUNITY.Africa states, “We cannot build capacity if we do not focus on the people who do the work, and the companies in which this work is done.”

Just as BIM is not a software, a BIM team is not a collection of IT “nerds” in an office. Effective and mature BIM implementation requires corporate alignment of strategy (top down), delivery capabilities (bottom up) and culture (inside out).

A key observation by industry experts is that companies fail in terms of BIM adoption because they believe that sending personnel for BIM software training is sufficient, without considering the learning curve, cultural change, standardisation and process transformation requirements for implementation. Without real change, there are no real improvements.

Fit for BIM? People + Business These key elements will be discussed in detail at the upcoming BIMHarambee on the 25th to 26th July 2024, an annual event organised by BIMcommUNITY. Africa in conjunction with the University of Pretoria. Themes of previous events were “From Theory to Practice” and “The Future of Work.”

BIMHarambee 2024’s theme is “Fit for BIM? People + Business” and will focus on two critical aspects of mature BIM adoption and implementation, namely People (skills, roles, and responsibilities), and Business (homing in on the organisational changes necessary for digital transformation).

Join us as we tackle these topics together. The event is free to attend, but registration is required.

For further information, visit www.bimcommunity.africa/bimharambee

IMIESA June 2024

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IMESA

IMESA AFFILIATE MEMBERS PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATES

T O T A L

P I P E L I N E

W W W. U L T R AVA LV E S . C O . Z A

V A L V E T E L :

S O L U T I O N S

+ 2 7

( 0 ) 1 1

4 5 2

6 5 1 4

AECOM siphokuhle.dlamini@aecom.com AFI Consult banie@afri-infra.com ARRB Systems info@arrbsystemssa.com Asla Construction (Pty) Ltd johanv@asla.co.za BMK Group brian@bmkgroup.co.za Bosch Projects (Pty) Ltd mail@boschprojects.co.za BVI Consulting Engineers marketing@bviho.co.za CCG puhumudzo@ccgsytems.co.za / info@ccgsystems.co.za Corrosion Institute of Southern Africa secretary@corrosioninstitute.org.za Dlamindlovu Consulting Engineers & Project Managers info@dlami-ndlovu.co.za EFG Engineers info@efgeng.co.za Elster Kent Metering Mark.Shamley@Honeywell.com EMS Solutions paul@emssolutions.co.za ENsync Engineers info@ensync.africa ERWAT mail@erwat.co.za Gabion Baskets mail@gabionbaskets.co.za GIBB marketing@gibb.co.za GIGSA secretary@gigsa.org GLS Consulting info@gls.co.za Gorman Rupp Cordeiro@gormanrupp.co.za Gudunkomo Investments & Consulting info@gudunkomo.co.za Hatch Africa (Pty) Ltd info@hatch.co.za HB Glass Filter Media info@hardybulkinglass.com Herrenknecht schiewe.helene@herrenknecht.de Huber Technology cs@hubersa.com info@edams.co.za Hydro-comp Enterprises IMQS Software (Pty)Ltd shemine.adams@imqs.co.za Infrachamps Consulting info@infrachamps.co.za INFRATEC info@infratec.co.za Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa iwmsa@iwmsa.co.za IQHINA Consulting Engineers & Project Managers info@iqhina.co.za iX engineers (Pty) Ltd hans.k@ixengineers.co.za Izinga Holdings info@izingalabezi.co.za JG Afrika DennyC@jgafrika.com KABE Consulting Engineers info@kabe.co.za Kago Consulting Engineers kagocon@kago.co.za Kantey & Templer (K&T) Consulting Engineers ccherry@ct.kanteys.co.za Kitso Botlhale Consulting Engineers info@kitsobce.co.za salesza@ksb.com KSB Pumps and Valves (Pty) Ltd KUREMA Engineering (Pty) Ltd info@kurema.co.za Lektratek Water general@lwt.co.za muzi@loshini.co.za Loshini Projects Makhaotse Narasimulu & Associates mmakhaotse@mna-sa.co.za Mariswe (Pty) Ltd neshniec@mariswe.com Martin & East gbyron@martin-east.co.za M & C Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd info@mcconsulting.co.za Mhiduve adminpotch@mhiduve.co.za MPAMOT (PTY) LTD mpumem@mpamot.com Mvubu Consulting & Project Managers miranda@mvubu.net Nyeleti Consulting naidoot@nyeleti.co.za amarunga@prociv.co.za Prociv Consulting & Projects Management Rainbow Reservoirs quin@rainbowres.com maura@re-solve.co.za Re-Solve Consulting (Pty) Ltd Ribicon Consulting Group (Pty) Ltd info@ribicon.co.za francisg@rhdv.com Royal HaskoningDHV info@sabita.co.za SABITA mberry@safripol.com SAFRIPOL SAGI annette@sagi.co.za info@salga.org.za SALGA SAPPMA admin@sappma.co.za / willem@sappma.co.za SARF administrator@sarf.org.za.co.za SBS Water Systems marketing@sbstanks.co.za Silulumanzi Antoinette.Diphoko@silulumanzi.com admin@siroccon.co.za Siroccon International (Pty) Ltd SiVEST SA info@sivest.co.za Sizabantu Piping Systems (Pty) Ltd proudly@sizabantu.com Siza Water (RF) Pty Ltd PA@sizawater.com Sky High Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd info@shconsultong.co.za SKYV Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd kamesh@skyv.co.za Smartlock jp.alkema@smartlock.net capetown@smec.com SMEC Sabiha@savegroup.co.za SOUTH AFRICAN VALUE EDUCATION Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology director@sasst.org.za jomar@srk.co.za SRK Consulting Structa Group info@structatech.co.za TPA Consulting roger@tpa.co.za Ultra Control Valves peter@ultravalves.co.za V3 Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd info@v3consulting.co.za VIP Consulting Engineers esme@vipconsulting.co.za VNA info@vnac.co.za Water Institute of Southern Africa wisa@wisa.org.za Wam Technology CC support@wamsys.co.za Wilo South Africa marketingsa@wilo.co.za WRCON ben@wrcon.co.za Zutari Rashree.Maharaj@Zutari.com

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY The Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) has released a short video to illustrate the importance of ethics in ICT, which can be viewed on their YouTube platform.

What does ethical IT mean in practice?

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e live in times of rapid technological advancement and it is exciting to see how digital solutions make life better for people and our planet. Already, they have benefitted 70% of the 169 targets outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and play a pivotal role in climate change mitigation and adaptation,” explains Josine Overdevest, IITPSA Social and Ethics Committee Chair.

However, she says the fast pace of digital development can lead us to overlook its harmful side effects, such as the widening digital divide and the increasing carbon and e-waste footprint.

Adding to this viewpoint, Br yan Baxter, IITPSA cybersecurity committee member, says he embraces the use of artificial intelligence (AI). “Good work on their ethical adoption is being done by technology giants and leading organisations. One example is the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development,” Baxter explains.

On the other hand, he notes: “What comes after the information age? Futurists predict mankind will evolve beyond the need to work. Work will be done by computers and robots. This will be powered by the technologies emerging today: AI, robotics, cloud, and quantum computing.”

So, what can ICT professionals do about the risks? “It is up to us to each make a difference where we can, by understanding these emerging technologies and ensuring that they are used responsibly,” Baxter continues.

The IITPSA Code of Ethics provides good guidance. It urges members to contribute to society and to human well-being, acknowledging that all people are stakeholders in computing. It also highlights the importance of avoiding harm, being fair and taking action not to discriminate, respecting the work required to produce new ideas, inventions, creative works, and computing artifacts, respecting privacy and honouring confidentiality.

“The IITPSA professional responsibilities guidelines encourage us to ‘Foster public awareness and understanding of computing, related technologies, and their consequences’,” Baxter concludes.

IMIESA June 2024

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INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

A PIONEERING APPROACH TO SMART INFRASTRUCTURE Since announcing a partnership in 2022, leading consulting engineering and infrastructure advisory firm Zutari and AltX-listed 4Sight have refined their unique service offering by working on some of the largest and most complex mega projects in the Middle East, as well as major projects in South Africa.

Martin Smith, Design Director, Expertise Leader, Zutari.

Dominic Collett, Expertise Lead: Land Infrastructure Built Environment, Zutari

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e offer a differentiated ser vice not found in any typical consulting engineering practice.

Bringing our two companies together really complements our capabilities,” says Martin Smith, Design Director, Expertise Leader, Zutari.

Adds Jeandré Du Randt, BE Innovation Lead, 4Sight: “Zutari brings parallel domain expertise to the table within the design and optimisation of the built environment. 4Sight is strong in technical systems and data analytics and pushes the envelope in terms of what we can do. All traditional services joining the two companies gives us that new ‘ blue ocean’ approach, meaning we believe there’s no other company in the world that can actually provide such a partnership as a viable business model.”

4Sight brings to the technology table an enterprise data management layer that is sustainable, scalable and robust, affording clients the opportunity to upgrade their ICT as more costeffective technology becomes available.

“Zutari has extensive experience in developing sustainability strategies. 4Sight closes the loop by providing the analytics that show the customer where they are precisely in terms of their sustainability strategy’s performance. This

Jeandré Du Randt, BE Innovation Lead, 4Sight

is where we introduce smart technology and take it to the next level, which is essentially a cognitive leap in applying AI to understand individual clients and their requirements and preferences,” explains Du Randt.

The approach is applicable to both smar t buildings, cities, and infrastructure, says Dominic Collett, Expertise Lead: Land Infrastructure Built Environment, Zutari. “Within the realm of land infrastructure, our focus extends beyond mere construction; it centres on enhancing traffic flow and mobility. Herein lies the significance of intelligent traffic management systems, shaping the future of transportation efficiency,” he explains.

Fit-for-purpose technologies Zutari’s relationship with 4Sight is successful because both are technology-independent and ensure that the technology they use is fit-forpurpose. Unlike many software applications developed for a specific purpose, and then expanded to try and incorporate everything, binding the client to a specific product, both believe that every product must be best-in-class or already used by the client to allow for seamless merging.

“It is crucial to recognise that the demands of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 markets vary greatly,”

Rudi Dreyer, Chief Business Environment Officer, 4Sight

says Rudi Dreyer, Chief Business Environment Officer, 4Sight.

The three tiers are defined as follows: • Tier 1 Market: Consists mainly of large enterprises. These are typically multinational corporations or large-scale businesses that have a significant impact on the global economy.

• Tier 2 Market: Comprises medium corporates.

These companies have a substantial presence, often at a national level, but are not as large or influential as those in the Tier 1 market.

• Tier 3 Market: Includes small and medium companies that may operate at a local or regional level. While smaller in size, they are a vital part of the economy.

4Sight, a company with a proven track record of successful proprietary IP products across all three tiers, possesses a deep understanding of these nuances.

“Zutari and 4Sight support a true technologyindependent strategy from sensors to control systems, applications and infrastructure. We then supplement it with a data methodology that allows us to obtain data from every application across that landscape and swap out those applications when the client has the resources or when more cost-effective applications become available,” Dreyer concludes.

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS AfriSam

17

KSB

IBC

Sabita

38

Afrostructures

19

Mapei

47

Sika

OBC

25

Sizabantu

IFC

Zutari

13

APE Pumps | Mather+Platt

OFC, 8, 31

Rainbow Reservoirs

IMESA

2, 42, 50

Rand Water

52 IMIESA June 2024

21,24

CONSTRUCT THE WORLD BEYOND THE EXPECTED

Waterproofing

MAIN APPLICATION AREAS • Basements and podiums • Wet rooms • Tunnels and station boxes • Bridge decks • Water and wastewater tanks • Pits and reservoirs

Flooring

Refurbishment

Sealing and Bonding

MAIN APPLICATION AREAS • Grouting • Concrete repair • Concrete protection • Hydrophobic impregnation • Structural bonding • Structural strengthening • Anchoring

MAIN APPLICATION AREAS • Building envelope solutions • Civil engineering and floor joints • Floor covering solutions • Interior finishing • Bonding solutions • Firestop systems

Roofing MAIN APPLICATION AREAS • Industrial floors • Car park floors • Concrete flooring • Commercial, institutional and residential flooring • Cleanroom floors • Special coatings for walls and ceilings • Floor joints

Call us for more info: 031 792 6500 www.sika.co.za

Concrete MAIN APPLICATION AREAS • Exposed roofs • Gravel ballasted roofs • Utility roof decks • Green roof systems • Pitched roofs • Cool roofs with highly reflective membranes or coatings • Solar roofs

MAIN APPLICATION AREAS • Ready mix concrete companies • Precast element manufacturers • Infrastructure projects • Mining industry • Cement industry • Dry mortar plants • Gypsum board production