SA Builder (SAB) • February 2022 by Isikhova Media

ATING 99

ARS • CELE

ATING 99

A R S • C EL E

FEBRUARY 2022 | No 1156

TWINSTAR PRECAST – QUALITY IS THE CUSTOM

GO FORTH WITH THE 4IR

BUILDING IN THE WIND

Financing Commercial Property Entrepreneurs Downtown

Where others see decline, we see investment opportunities 086 000 TUHF (8843) • www.tuhf.co.za

CONTENTS AND CREDITS

CONTENTS 10

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

INNOVATION

02 Growing to match growth

20 The power of two 22 Smart homes for smart South Africans

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 04 From the desk of the President

26 UFS wins 35th Corobrik Student Architecture Award

COVER ARTICLE 06 Twinstar Precast – quality is the custom

MBA NEWS 08 Roofing and waterproofing industry needs proper regulation INDUSTRY NEWS

10 Shanghai Ticheng Juxin construction technology joins the WCA 12 Construction supervisory training gets an overhaul 13 Forklift perimeter lights improve warehouse safety 14 The proof is in the roofs 16 Bakwena's planned maintenance for 2022

46 South African Builder is the official journal of Master Builders South Africa, established in 1923. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of Master Builders South Africa. SA Builder is a registered trademark of Master Builders South Africa. Any use of this trademark without the express and written approval of Master Builders South Africa is prohibited. No material contained herein may be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publisher. SA Builder © 2021. All rights reserved.

24 Innovative spillway design put to the test as Garden Route dam overflows

28 Kitted out for the 4IR? Start here... 30 Africa's abundance of clays holds a key to zero emissions cement FEATURE 32 The foam on the road 36 5 Crucial factors for building cost-effective developments 40 Building in the wind TECHNICAL 42 From fraud to supply chain – a single solution? 43 Architects + engineers = value in the 4IR BUILDING BUSINESS

17 Advanced concrete technologies

45 9 Fundamentals to rebuild business with resilience

18 Weights for construction materials price indices (cmpi, p0151.1) updated

GLOBAL VIEW

19 Linhleko Projects: seeding sustainability

46 Building the future – thanks to COVID-19

PUBLISHER Isikhova Media (Pty) Ltd 10th Floor, Metal Box, 25 Owl Street, Milpark, Johannesburg, South Africa Tel: +27 11 883 4627 www.sabuilder.co.za/www.isikhova.co.za CONTRIBUTIONS Master Builders South Africa Tel: +27 11 205 9000 E-mail: editor@sabuilder.co.za www.masterbuilders.org.za

Publishing director/ editor-in-chief: Jason Aarons E-mail: jason@isikhova.co.za Editor: Nicholas McDiarmid E-mail: nicholas@isikhova.co.za Director: brand strategy: Jenny Justus Tel: 083 450 6052 E-mail: jenny@isikhova.co.za

Creative director: Joanne Brook E-mail: joanne@isikhova.co.za Operations director: Thuli Majola E-mail: thuli@isikhova.co.za Copy editor: Anne Phillips Advertising sales: Tel: +27 11 883 4627 Mobile: 072 383 3203/083 450 6052

Managing director: Imraan Mahomed E-mail: imraan@isikhova.co.za

Free download available on: www.sabuilder.co.za | Twitter: @Builders_SA | Facebook: @SouthAfricanBuilder

FEBRUARY 2022 SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER

EDITOR'S NOTES

FROM THE PUBLISHER #renew2022 is a very apt hashtag this year. It brings with it a renewed sense of optimism and opportunity for our industry’s growth, development and innovation, and an all-round sense of resilience and commitment to success. The Omicron Covid-19 variant presented a challenge for our decision-making under conditions of uncertainty and in a context where we could not afford to be paralysed by fastmoving, unexpected events. We rose above this. You only need to read this issue to discover solid examples of how. It might not be 100% the kind

of business-as-usual landscape we want, but the built environment is certainly taking huge strides to renew and bounce back. Proactive and forward-thinking strategic posture pays off! With increased government-led infrastructure spend – where the greatest responsibility for success lies – and greater private-sector spend on the cards for 2022, the construction industry is more positive about the year ahead. SA Builder shares this optimism and wishes you all a great revival. #renew 2022! Jason Aarons, Publisher

GROWING TO MATCH GROWTH In the last six months of 2021, you would have been forgiven for feeling utterly unsure as to whether SA’s economic recovery was going left, right, up or down. And with the building industry being both relied upon for that recovery, while also depending on it, I am happy to report that we all have reason to breathe again. Approvals of building plans – which the violence in KwaZulu-Natal was reported to have put in grave doubt during last year’s riots – have retained their upward trajectory. In fact, the most stabilising habit to cultivate this year would be taking the 24-hour news cycle with a pinch of salt. The building industry is looking good and while we are in the private sector, we are also seeing results from public-sector works. In a word, we are growing again. The path to success this year will be built by those most comfortable with the rapid evolutions we are seeing every day, as the exploration of integrating

technologies (hard- and software), communication protocols, mechanical potentials and building technologies and materials takes on very different capabilities, shapes and applications. Let us not forget requirements. Much will be required of our building industry, as we head down the final stretch of building certifications. This is a new world which will demand and continue demanding adaptations. The greener the building solutions, the better, and these almost always integrate materials, technologies and communications. SA Builder is here to keep you competitive and connected. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is upon us and this magazine is devoted to informing our readers of the requirements, the technologies, the people and the partnerships already out there to make this a success story that only South Africans – with their reputation for resilience, ingenuity, optimism and perseverance – can make. We will bring you only the best in 2022! Yours in construction Nicholas McDiarmid, Editor, SA Builder

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

The Merriam-Webster dictionary chose “vaccine” to be the 2021 word of the year. With so much that took place in the year, it is true that summing up the vastness of what happened into a single word would have been a huge challenge. It would be expected, though, that any choice for ”word of the year“ would be centred on the one stubborn matter that has dominated our lives for the longest time – the pandemic. For me, selection of this word is a reflection of how many are raring to get back to some resemblance of normalcy and finally do away with the ongoing impact of this disease. Fortunately, we seem to be on course towards just that, largely due to milder infections attributed to vaccine- and infection-induced immunity. For this reason, I want to encourage all our members to heed President Ramaphosa’s call to get vaccinated. I also want to repeat my plea to all Master Builders members to provide their employees with the information, encouragement and support that will enable them to be vaccinated. We owe it to ourselves and to our communities. It will also be our contribution, albeit in a small way, towards the restoration of normalcy. OUTLOOK FOR 2022 Industry recovery Recovery of the industry is our key goal for the year ahead. We need work, work and more work! It is important for contractors to be on sites to get the wheels of the economy moving again. The people, the shovels and the hard hats are waiting, itching

is on this premise that our work in 2022 will be centred, which is to get people, shovels and hats to construction sites.

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT and ready to be called to action. Recovery of the construction sector, however, is directly linked to and dependent on the roll-out of pledged public infrastructure projects. There is no question that major plans have been drafted and announcements made about government’s intention to catalyse economic growth through public infrastructure spending. What is missing is follow-through for announced projects to go to tender and be awarded. A concerted effort is therefore needed to bridge the existing gap between public-private sector collaboration on the pipeline of projects announced in South Africa’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. This divide must be replaced with a collaborative partnership. It is the only way through which the pipeline of projects can be unclogged and much-needed work opportunities can be realised. It

Industry transformation In the midst of our calls for more work as an industry is the long-standing incumbency for introspection on what each of us is doing to broaden economic participation in the sector. We have often highlighted the fragility of an economic system in which a significant proportion of its members continue to be marginalised. This is equally true of our industry. As a result, I implore all of us to ask whether there is more that we could and should be doing in the critical work of achieving meaningful socio-economic transformation of the construction sector. This is a good starting point for finding each other and establishing a common understanding with the communities in which we work. However, we are disappointed by the manner in which the Employment Equity Amendment Bill, which is now in Parliament, seeks to deal with the important matter of economic transformation in the country, particularly for the construction industry. Members can be assured that we will continue with our challenge on sections of the Bill that will have a devastating effect on the sector. We will continue to provide updates on this and other matters during the year. I wish you all the best in 2022 and beyond!

V. Naid oo SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER FEBRUARY 2022

COVER STORY

TWINSTAR PRECAST – QUALITY IS THE CUSTOM Twinstar Precast in Olifantsfontein boldly goes where others fear to tread by manufacturing all types of custom-designed and cast products for civil engineering contractors. While these once-off jobs are usually avoided by typical precasters due to their complexity, size and resource intensive requirements, Twinstar Precast is specially geared to undertake this type of work and has been doing so for more than seven years.

are direct customers, to architects and specifying engineers who conceptualise requirements, as well as precasters and the broader construction industry. “With 26 years of experience in the precast industry, I realised that there is a gap in the precast concrete market for custom-made products and once-off items.

“We only keep a few fastmoving products in stock which are standard spec in tenders and drawings. Companies who previously made them have either stopped or have closed down. This has largely given rise to the unique relationship with the mainstream precast concrete companies who make use of certain non-standard products,” says Coetzee.

Not surprisingly, owner-operator, Annemerie Coetzee, is also known to be one of the most innovative individuals in the industry, having (jointly) received the 2012 CMA Award for Excellence in innovation for her contribution in the design and development of a bomb-proof ATM enclosure. GROWING RELATIONSHIPS Her ability to solve problems on behalf of clients has also made Twinstar Precast a favourite of the mainstream precast manufacturing companies who regularly send referrals and make use of her services to manufacture speciality products on behalf of their clients. According to Coetzee, the company’s success is due to strong relationships within the industry which range from civil engineering contractors, which

“We strive to be a problem solver and solution driven in all aspects of precast concrete able to manufacture products ranging in weight from 2kg up to 6 tons quickly and affordably. As a result of the complexity of this type of work, we remain the only company in South Africa specialising exclusively in custom-made and once-off precast concrete products.

CONCRETE SOLUTIONS AND MEMORABLE CHALLENGES “Not all building contractors have the necessary expertise, manpower and facilities to manufacture such products on site and as a result it has become our express aim to assist specifying civil engineers and civil engineering contractors with complicated sites and situations where currently available precast concrete Products just won’t work.

Twinstar do manufacture square concrete manholes and manhole slabs, as well as polymer manhole covers, stormwater channels and grids, kerb inlet slabs, V drains and chute channels. A recent development has seen Twinstar manufacturing polymer products with no steel or cast iron elements, reducing risk of theft and replacement costs. “We offer both medium- and heavyduty solutions with our polymer products, in line with the SANS 1882:2003 specification, and these components can be bought

SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER FEBRUARY 2022

COVER STORY

as loose items or cast into the required precast concrete slabs. “The unusual dynamics in the market over the last two years has seen Twinstar filling the gaps left behind by the numerous company closures in the concrete precast market. We now supply Randwater with their custom manhole covers,” explains Coetzee, “and have become as comfortable manufacturing standard products as we are with non-standard products.” One of Coetzee’s more recent favourite projects was stepping in to manufacture bicycle stands for the Ekurhuleni municipality’s recreational park in Springs. “It is a very complex product, and certainly one of our most challenging,” explains Coetzee. “We got a 3D drawing from an architect, and basically worked by trial and error.” The complexities of creating a mould that would allow for correct tapering of a design into which bicycles wheels must fit without breaking the concrete product was a challenge fit for Twinstar, and the skills and production management expertise it has perfected.” REAL SOLUTIONS AND HEARTFELT VALUES While the company’s manufacturing facility is situated in the heart of Gauteng, deliveries are made across the country wherever custom precast concrete products are required. The company also offers a service where the crane mounted trucks can assist with placing of slabs during installation. Twinstar Precast is equipped and able to provide installation

FEBRUARY 2022 SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER

services on site, in the most challenging of environments. KEEPING THE RIGHT COMPANY The values that make Twinstar such an exceptional business become evident when Coetzee reflects on her loyalty to her staff, and the human impact of the projects she holds most dear. She points out that the skills and commitment of her staff are central to the exceptional standards Twinstar is known for. “Sixty-five percent of our guys have been with us for five years or longer. They are true artisans with an understanding of the subtleties that go into our production processes. They know precisely how to work with our cement supplier, and how to use the additives to adjust the mix for the outcomes we expect.” “We work in very specific ways, and there is no such thing as a missed deadline. We deliver according to contract, no compromise.” Coetzee also points that there is a certain aesthetic commitment to Twinstar’s

products that results from her hands-on approach to everything manufactured. “One of the reasons Twinstar will not create other branches or franchises is that I insist on signing things off; I will not let something leave our doors without being perfect and aesthetically pleasing.” Twinstar has expanded, however, having tripled the size of its factory since 2015. The environment we build around us increasingly depends on precast concrete elements. Whether stand-alone products, or hybrid construction elements, precast concrete has undeniable advantages. The sky is the limit when it comes to realising new ideas; all it takes is a feasible idea, a sketchbook and a conversation with Twinstar Precast.

Twinstar Precast (Pty) Ltd Tel: 012 670 9083 or 082 552 1915 E-mail: info@twinstar.co.za Website: www.twinstar.co.za

MBA NEWS

ROOFING AND WATERPROOFING INDUSTRY

NEEDS PROPER REGULATION

Twelve months ago, the Master Builders Association (MBA) North and the Professional Roof Repair and Waterproofing Association (PRAWA) announced a collaboration to accelerate the introduction of standards in the roofing and waterproofing industry. Looking back on the past year, JJ Conradie, executive chair of PRAWA, says that while progress has been made, more is needed. He argues that the industry desperately needs a regulator that can set and maintain industry standards.

“Without standards, our industry simply won’t make progress – a credible standards framework operated by a reputable professional association like PRAWA will enable the roofing and waterproofing industry to become a trusted member of the

construction industry’s ecosystem,” he says. “The present situation isn’t sustainable, especially given the emphasis on infrastructure as an engine of economic growth.” PRAWA has applied to the SA Qualifications Authority to be

“EXPERIENCED AND SKILLED CONTRACTORS HAVE A REWORK RATIO OF AROUND 5%, WHICH SHOWS WHAT A NEGATIVE IMPACT UNSKILLED AND UNPROFESSIONAL WORKERS HAVE ON THE INDUSTRY.”

SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER FEBRUARY 2022

MBA NEWS

recognised as the professional standards body for the roofing and waterproofing industry. THE COST OF NON-REGULATION Conradie says figures from insurers indicate that about 60% of roofing and waterproofing work in relation to claims has to be redone. These reworks cost insurers significant amounts of money, ultimately driving up underwriting costs and severely inconveniencing clients.

are offered in units relating to specific roofing types, such as slate, tiles, iron or concrete. The theoretical and practical training for each unit is done at the Roofing Academy over five days,

(Left, from top): Up to 60% of roofing and waterproofing work completed leads to claims and costs and if a trainee is not currently working in the industry, the academy will help place them.

“Experienced and skilled contractors have a rework ratio of around 5%, which shows what a negative impact unskilled and unprofessional workers have on the industry,” says Conradie. “There are thousands of people in the industry and we need to ensure that clients have a way of identifying those who have the right skills and adhere to professional standards.” THE VALUE OF CERTIFICATION PRAWA has also teamed up with the Roofing Academy to provide a way for individuals to acquire certified skills. Some 60 companies have already sent employees on courses and about 120 individuals have acquired certification in one or another roofing or waterproofing skill. A very important development has been that insurers have started sending their assessors on the courses as well, indicating that they have bought into the concept of a professionalised roofing and waterproofing industry. To make it more practical to obtain these certifications, they

FEBRUARY 2022 SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER

that, there’s no doubt that we’re making progress in both upskilling the roofing and waterproofing industry and in enhancing its professionalism,” says Boitumelo Thipe, marketing and business development manager at MBA North. “We’ll continue working closely with PRAWA to bring our two memberships closer together. Strengthening the roofing and waterproofing sector benefits the entire construction industry.”

after which the required 90 hours of internship can be done at the company where the individual works. If a trainee is not currently working in the industry, the academy will help place them with a reputable roofing company to complete their internship. “2021 was a difficult year for the industry, owing to the ongoing tough economic conditions, further impacted by Covid-19 and the July insurrection. Despite

ABOUT THE MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NORTH The Master Builders Association North is the amalgamation of the former Master Builders Associations of Johannesburg (founded in 1894) and Pretoria (founded in 1903). The organisations merged to form the Gauteng Master Builders Association in 1996, which was then renamed the Master Builders Association North, representing four regions: Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. It is a chapter of the Master Builders Association SA and is based in Halfway House. The Master Builders Association North represents the interests of employers in the building and allied trade industries in the abovementioned four regions.

INDUSTRY NEWS

“THE MOST IMPORTANT GOAL WE HAVE AS A SECTOR NOW IS REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CEMENT – AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL PROVIDERS HAVE A HUGE ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS.”

SHANGHAI YICHENG JUXIN CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

JOINS THE WCA In December last year, the World Cement Association (WCA) announced that global innovative technology services corporation Shanghai Yicheng Juxin Construction Technology had joined as an associate corporate member. The Chinese organisation is a specialised construction technology firm providing advanced materials, green and low-carbon technology, and professional design to construction companies. Shanghai Yicheng Juxin adopts advanced production technology and collaborates with

top architectural design teams to provide innovative solutions for clients that deal with projects of customised façades, prefabricated elements, landmark buildings, tunnels, high-speed rail and marine engineering. The organisation also co-operates with universities and the world’s top 500 enterprises, conducting studies and research on the promotion and application of new materials and new technologies. Environmental protection is a key part of Shanghai Yicheng Juxin’s vision and, as such, it seeks to

promote materials that can protect the environment against industrial harm in China’s demanding infrastructure sector. It places great importance on its global carbon strategy and emphasises low-carbon emissions, ultra-highperformance products and new architectural aesthetics to help clients achieve environmental, sustainable, energy-saving and aesthetically pleasing projects. “The most important goal we have as a sector now is reducing the environmental impact of cement – and construction material

SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER FEBRUARY 2022

INDUSTRY NEWS

providers have a huge role to play in this, particularly when it comes to encouraging adoption of advanced building materials and technologies that will be vital in ensuring progress towards a netzero cement industry,” explains Ian Riley, CEO at WCA. “I’m confident that the insights and experience of Shanghai Yicheng Juxin, a global leader in this field, will be of great value to our members in helping to tackle the major challenges that we face.” “The journey towards decarbonisation is hard, but not unachievable, as long as we work together to bring about a sustainable future for the construction industry in which cement and concrete play such

a vital role,” says Shanghai Yicheng Juxin. “We look forward to collaborating with WCA and its members to improve industry standards, promote emerging technologies and increase the chance of evolving a healthy construction ecosystem.”

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INDUSTRY NEWS

GET THE QUALIFICATION TO MATCH YOUR EXPERIENCE The distance learning programmes were initially born out of a solution devised by Tjeka Leadership Academy to provide NQF level 5 construction management/site agent training during the hard lockdown that was implemented in early 2020 to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Several construction professionals approached the academy to devise a way for them to work towards gaining this qualification while they had time to learn during the extended lockdown period in which worksites were not operational.

CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISORY TRAINING GETS AN OVERHAUL Construction tenders are increasingly requiring evidence that managers and supervisors have completed the relevant national qualifications. NEW REQUIREMENTS RAISE CHALLENGE CVs of an experienced workforce alone are no longer accepted, although a large number of construction managers/site agents and foremen have risen up the ranks in the construction industry because of the extensive experience they have gained in the workplace. Tjeka Leadership Academy’s distance learning programmes have enabled students to accelerate the completion of their construction supervisory skills training at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) levels 4 and 5.

Because of the flexibility the course offered students, many more people enrolled for the distance training. Based on demand, Tjeka Leadership Academy also decided to launch distance learning for NQF level 4 training for experienced construction foremen. This method of training has since become the preferred means of completing registered national qualifications at NQF levels 4 and 5 through Tjeka Leadership Academy. FLEXIBLE AND FAST “A significant benefit of this approach to training is that individuals can complete their qualifications faster than they would in a classroom environment. They’re able to work through the material whenever they can, as opposed to a classroom environment where the pace of completion is governed by that of less experienced students. This has helped to significantly accelerate their growth and development as construction leaders and it seems to have become the new norm to complete supervisory training at these levels via distance learning,” says Kobus Brummer, manager of Tjeka Leadership Academy. However, it is merely the method of delivering the course content that has changed. Students still receive the same quality instruction and mentorship (Top left): Distance education has become the preferred means of completing registered national qualifications at NQF levels 4 and 5 through Tjeka Leadership Academy. (Above): Kobus Brummer, manager of Tjeka Leadership Academy.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

from their experienced facilitators that they would in a classroom environment. This is provided at regular intervals via live coaching platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Skype, as well as telephonically and via e-mail. Students write their exams on a quarterly basis at Tjeka Training Matters’ facilities and hand in their site workbooks, a record of practical on-the-job learning, to facilitators for assessment. Depending on the progress made, they can then embark on the next batch of theoretical learning modules.

“This is yet another example of how we’re able to constantly adapt to the requirements of the industry to provide unrivalled construction training. Tjeka Leadership Academy has trained well over 3 000 construction supervisors for South African contractors since registering our first learnership in 2005. NQF level 4 foremen and NQF level 5 site agents who’ve been trained by the academy are able to plan, lead, organise and control to mitigate errors and improve productivity on construction worksites. This provides companies with a strategic competitive edge in the market and improves their profitability,” says Brummer.

FORKLIFT PERIMETER LIGHTS IMPROVE WAREHOUSE SAFETY With forklifts constantly moving items from one place to another and visibility often compromised by narrow aisles and high stacking, the industrial equipment environment can present an element of risk. At their busiest, warehouses can become sites of accidents or injuries if employees are not constantly vigilant or do not have the right tools to do their jobs. Even the best warehouse optimisation tools cannot make up for human error caused by a lack of concentration. With this in mind, 600SA Holdings – a division of materials handling and industrial equipment organisation the EIE Group – has introduced safety perimeter lights as a standard feature on all its CT Power electric forklifts. The group’s inland sales manager, Sonia Pretorius, says safety is paramount for all 600SA-associated products. “Besides urging our customers to provide training for their forklift drivers, we’ve now ensured that our CT Power forklifts are the most visible machines in any distribution centre, reducing pedestrian injuries and possible disabilities by up to 40%,” she says. Red laser lights are projected onto the warehouse floor from the sides of the forklift, creating a highly

FEBRUARY 2022 SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER

visible, red 1m perimeter or “barrier” around the forklift. This allows warehouse employees to see the equipment from any angle. In addition, another blue laser light projects 2m onto the floor from the back of the forklift, creating an early warning signal for anyone in close proximity to the machine when it reverses. Pretorius says the lights are an ingenious way of alerting warehouse employees to the whereabouts of the forklift at any time. “Considering the tight spaces which forklifts and people negotiate in warehouses and the overall focus on safety, it’s surprising that CT Power is the only forklift distributor offering these types of lights as a standard feature,” she says. She adds that the safer a work environment is, the more productive employees are. “In fact, a 2017 Harvard Business School study indicated that safety in the workplace made employees feel more engaged and increased productivity by 12%. “Safety measures not only make people feel better about where they work, but result in less downtime due to the reduction of accidents and injuries. This leads to greater efficiency and productivity – a win-win situation for everyone,” she says.

INDUSTRY NEWS

THE PROOF IS IN THE ROOFS abe Construction Chemicals recently supplied some of its wide range of liquid and torch-on waterproofing membranes for several new projects in various parts of SA. With a head office in Boksburg, the company was formerly part of Chryso Southern Africa, which has recently become part of the SaintGobain Group. Among recent structures waterproofed with abe products were: • A Clippa warehouse in Pomona, Gauteng; • An upmarket private residence in Secunda, Mpumalanga; • The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) campus in Bellville, Western Cape; • Nedbank offices in Plattekloof, Cape Town; and

• The Labiance Centre apartment block, also in Bellville.

solvents for sealing and priming porous and non-porous surfaces.

The Clippa warehouse project involved a 1 300m² roof area which was sealed with a 3mm doublelayer torch-on application of abe’s Index VIS P reinforced plastomeric bitumen polymer waterproofing membrane. The distilled bitumen product was used with Index Fidia MS (mineral slate) 4,5kg/m² to provide double-layered waterproofing. Index Fidia MS membrane is manufactured from a compound of distilled bitumen and polymers and features excellent stability and durability at extreme temperatures.

The 1 900m² mineral slate roof of the “designer residence” at Secunda was waterproofed with the same double-layer torchon membranes by Hydraproof Waterproofing. The company also used abe’s bituprime, duraflex and Dowsil 888 and 8123C for additional sealing.

abe’s bituprime was also applied as primer to the Clippa warehouse roof by applicator Megapascal Contech. The primer is a bituminous solution with petroleum

At the CPUT campus in Plattekloof, applicator Masiqkane Construction had to provide waterproofing over an existing torch-on membrane on 1 800m of roofing, using abeproof liquid membrane system with Silvakote Eco as a top coat. abeproof is a rubberised, liquid-applied waterproofing membrane which is highly elastic, durable and requires low maintenance. It can

SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER FEBRUARY 2022

INDUSTRY NEWS

be applied on most building substrates and to refurbish existing, new and old bitumen membranes. Silvakote Eco is a high-performance UV-reflective aluminium coating, ideal as a “green” replacement for liquid applied systems. This reflective top coat eliminates cracking or crazing problems associated with traditional aluminium paints. abeproof primer was also used for this project. abeproof liquid membrane system with abeproof PU eco as the top coat was applied to waterproof 550m² of box gutters at Nedbank offices in the Plattekloof Office Park. abeproof PU eco is a flexible, liquid-applied water-based polyurethane waterproofing membrane which

is fast-drying with exceptional chemical resistance. It has high elongation and is non-blistering,

as well as UV-resistant. The product is also ideal for roofs, balconies and decks, as well as waterproofing parapet walls and flashings. The application at Nedbank was handled by Deco Systems and IB Inspections. Finally, an abe double-layered torch-on system was also used to waterproof the 700m² roof of the Labiance Centre apartment block in Bellville. A 3mm layer of abe’s Index Vis P was used with a 4mm overlay of the same product. These reinforced plastomeric bitumen polymer waterproofing membranes are made of distilled bitumen and plastomers. abe’s bituprime, abeproof liquid membrane, Silvakote and Silvakote Eco were also used to seal the roof by Triangle Consulting.

INDUSTRY NEWS

As the custodian of the Bakwena N1N4 Platinum highway, Bakwena carries out regular routine/ preventative maintenance to keep the roads for which it is responsible in a condition that ensures the safety of all their users. Road maintenance has economic and social benefits and if it is not done correctly, there could be disastrous effects for individual motorists and the entire country. It is far cheaper to do regular maintenance than have to do major repairs following more serious damage. Regular upgrades and maintenance therefore save the country millions of rands in the long term. Following the annual inspections, it was determined that the base layers in the left-hand lane on portions of the N4 between the Kameeldrift and Ga-Rankuwa

BAKWENA’S PLANNED MAINTENANCE

FOR 2022 interchanges needed major rehabilitation. The detailed design was completed and an 18-month contract was awarded in 2021 to G4 Civils, with an expected completion date of June 2023. The rehabilitation entails extensive removal and reconstruction of layer works, followed by a 40mm asphalt overlay. During the construction process the slow lane will be closed in 5km lengths for 12 weeks. This will severely impact traffic capacity. Delays can be

expected as a result of the lane closures, particularly during peak periods along this section, so road users are encouraged to plan their journeys using alternative routes. A second rehabilitation project is scheduled to take place on the N1 between Pienaarsrivier and Bela Bela from July 2022 to June 2023. The work entails milling and reconstruction of layer works, followed by a 40mm asphalt overlay. Lane closures will be in place during this process. Solomon Kganyago, chief operating officer of Bakwena, says: “We take pride in ensuring that the 385km of road we manage under our concession contract is maintained to the highest international standards. The upgrades will enhance motorists’ driving experience and improve the overall safety of the road surface.”

INDUSTRY NEWS

ADVANCED CONCRETE TECHNOLOGIES The construction industry’s aim in 2022 should be to budget for staff training to gain a competitive edge when, hopefully, work volumes increase again in line with government’s infrastructural development plans and the disruptive effects of the Covid-19 pandemic subside, says John Roxburgh, senior lecturer at the School of Concrete Technology (SCT), a division of Cement & Concrete SA. He says the SCT sees 2022 as a year of opportunity, when the virus begins receding and the economy starts growing again. The school will continue running its successful e-learning courses, but also hopes to return to classroom-based lecture courses, providing lockdown restrictions permit and prevailing infection rates are low enough. LEARNING IN PERSON “The live classes will be kept small and high demand for any specific course dealt with by scheduling more courses. However, the online platform and self-study courses are here to stay, as they align themselves with modern trends

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in terms of remote learning and increased access to both data and smart delivery devices. E-learning and its associated benefits will form an integral part of the SCT’s training in the future,” he adds. The universally acclaimed Advanced Concrete Technology (SCT50) programme will be run by SCT on a modularised self-study basis. Roxburgh has urged the construction industry to invest in training. BUILDING REAL BENEFITS “Concrete work on site is a major cost component in construction contracts. With trained staff – competent in all relevant aspects of concrete practice – contracts could be carried out more economically and quickly, with fewer costly site errors and need for repairs or damage to reputations. Trained staff give construction companies the edge and this year will separate the men from the boys when it comes to winning tenders. Spending money now on training by the school is an investment in the future of any company.

“South Africa urgently needs competent concrete practitioners and sales specialists in admixtures, construction chemicals, ready-mix concrete, precast concrete, concrete repairs, cement production, aggregate production, testing laboratories and the mining sector, to name just a few potential careers. “In fact, a good education in concrete technology can lead to a rewarding career in all concreterelated industries, with the potential of starting one’s own business. The SCT has for decades provided trusted concrete technology education, with a progression of courses that allow students to join at a level which matches personal competency. There can be no short-cuts to becoming a good concrete technology practitioner and the SCT has all the educational requirements to help students meet all goals,” says Roxburgh. Successful students for all the school’s courses receive certificates of attendance/competence and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points are awarded on selected courses.

INDUSTRY NEWS

WEIGHTS FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS PRICE INDICES (CMPI, P0151.1) UPDATED Weights for Construction materials price indices (CMPI, P0151.1) will be updated with effect from the January 2022 statistical release, scheduled for publication on 24 February 2022. The indices will be rebased to December 2021 = 100. High-level CMPI industry weights will be derived from the 2018 supply and use tables (SUTs), which is the latest available set of SUTs from the recently benchmarked national accounts. The new high-level weights will reflect proportions of value added from the SUTs, which is the same methodology

that is used for calculating highlevel weights in the producer price index. Previously, the high-level CMPI weights were based on Stats SA’s construction industry large sample survey (LSS). Specific products within industry groups will be selected using the 2017 Construction LSS (Report 50-02-01). The new CMPI weights will apply to Tables 2 to 5 in the statistical release. The contract price adjustment provisions (CPAP) indices (Table 1 in the monthly statistical release) and civil engineering material price indices

(Table 6) are not affected by this reweighting process. Instead, the weights for these tables are updated from time to time in consultation with relevant industry expert committees. All the indices will be rebased to December 2021 = 100. Historical time series data will be available on the Stats SA website: www.statssa. gov.za. Conversion factors for each index will be available on request. A detailed note is available on the Stats SA website. http://www. statssa.gov.za/?page_id=2528

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INDUSTRY NEWS

LINHLEKO PROJECTS: SEEDING SUSTAINABILITY In a sustainable approach to gift-giving over the festive season, Linhleko Projects’ year-end CSI initiative went beyond the needs of people today, setting them up for an abundant 2022. The mineral processing and steel fabrication company, based in North-West Province, partnered with its IT service provider ITSM Activated, as well as Mogro Lodge and “U Can Grow”, to gift the elderly and youth of Rustenburg on 16 December. Through the partnership, beneficiaries received food parcels and toiletries to see them through the festive season, but it did not end there. “We also provided seeds and gardening packages, with each package having the potential to feed a family of four for a year,” explains Linhleko Projects’ CEO Buang Moloto. “We made sure we included something for every season, tackling hunger for this community throughout 2022.”

vital for prosperity. “Linhleko Projects, together with stakeholders, is forming a socio-economic movement for self-upliftment. We don’t want our children to suffer from the scourge of unemployment. We want to share our knowledge of self-development,” he said. Closing the event, Bambanani Service Club’s Sasa Pilane thanked Linhleko for helping care for their community. Health and social well-being were at the core of the NPO’s mandate, he said, and the offering from Linhleko and their partners would go a long way towards improving these aspects.

CHECKING IN ON TENACITY Taking it further, Moloto reports that Linhleko will return to the community early this year to provide further assistance with the community gardening initiative. “Those individuals who show promise with flourishing vegetable gardens will be given further seeds to enable them to expand their gardening from subsistence to commercial. In this way, we’re tackling hunger and poverty simply by equipping a community to grow plants,” he says. The beneficiary – Bambanani Service Club – is a nonprofit organisation run by some of the community elders, who meet regularly to tackle issues facing them. Linhleko worked with this company to create a heart-warming handover ceremony at the Tlhabane Community Hall. The event was officially opened with a prayer by Bishop Khumalo, who thanked Linhleko Projects for yet another kind gesture. GENERATIONAL WISDOM Moloto addressed attendees, urging senior citizens to guide the youth so that they succeeded in their endeavours and avoided activities that had a negative bearing on their lives. He also emphasised the need for young people to gain self-confidence, which was

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(Above, from top): Linhleko Projects’ CEO Buang Moloto and the elders of the Bambanani Service Club.

INNOVATION

THE POWER OF TWO Based in Stockholm, Sweden, with other production bases elsewhere in Europe, as well as Asia, North and South America, Atlas Copco has customers in more than 180 countries and about 37 000 employees and has been turning industrial ideas into business-critical benefits since 1873. Its Power Technique, Portable Air and Power and Flow divisions offer comprehensive ranges of cutting-edge tools and industry-focused solutions for the construction, oil and gas, mining and dewatering industries. Now Atlas Copco has again set the innovation benchmark in portable

power by housing two fully loaded generators in one custom 6m container. This smart move provides the ultimate reliable and flexible prime and critical standby power solution for utilities, rental, construction, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas applications with variable load requirements. “The QAC TwinPower™ is a containerised generator with two power packs,” explains David Stanford, Atlas Copco Power Technique business line manager: portable products. “By containerising two QAC generators side by side and packaging up to 1MW of

predictable power on a single platform, we’ve doubled the power and the flexibility offering to our customers and end-users. To add even more value, we’ve designed these generators with the objective of providing customers with the opportunity to choose the power solution best suited for those applications with changeable power and current usage requirements. This modular solution is unrivalled when it comes to flexibility and economy.” Stanford explains that this configuration, with its fastparalleling system, allows the two generators to work independently

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or in parallel with each other, providing multiple solutions and combinations between prime and standby use, one unit working at 50Hz and the other at 60Hz. For handling even larger projects, the QAC 1350 TwinPower™ has two dedicated Atlas Copco controllers Qc4004, including touch-screen Qd1001 functionality, enabling end-users to easily parallel with other generators. Besides the choice of island mode or using the power management system, it is also possible to run them in parallel with mains, peak shaving, fixed power and AMF. In addition, owing to the TwinPower™ concept, one generator can run at 50% while the other is being serviced, offering end-users a built-in backup as standard for seamless 24/7 power supply. In terms of operational costs, the highly efficient QAC generator delivers maximum power with minimal fuel consumption. Setting these generators apart is the smart electric variable speed drive motor-driven cooling fan, which adjusts the cooling flow to the specific requirements of the engine. The unrivalled load acceptance ability of these generators is thanks to the engine/ alternator performance which, in association with its respective advanced control systems, is able to accept a 100% load step with more than 70% load step acceptance within ISO 8528-G3 class respectively. Stanford points out that with a fuel saving of up to 10%, the performance of these generators is equal to or even better than

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the conventional single-engine generator running under normal load. This efficiency also helps to reduce customers’ carbon footprint. The spillage-free frame, which can contain 110% of the fuel tank capacity, reduces any potentially negative impact on the environment. The stage V-compliant QAC 1350 TwinPower™ is also environmentally smart. With a reduction of up to 85% in nitrogen oxide emissions, this containerised solution helps end-users shrink their carbon foot-

“AS CONTAINERS ARE DESIGNED FOR EASY TRANSPORTATION, THE CONTAINERISED GENERATORS ARE EASILY MOVED FROM ONE WORKSITE TO THE NEXT.” print. A low noise level of 70dB(A) at 7m makes these containerised generators highly suited for applications at the heart of the working environment, creating a safe and comfortable work space. A touchscreen provides operators with easy functionality. For end-users, it is always critical to maximise uptime along every phase of the supply chain. As containers are designed for easy transportation, the containerised generators are easily moved from one worksite to the next. Featuring a compact footprint and equipped with solid lifting eyes and forklift inlets, the 6m ISO-

certified container can be swiftly and safely positioned on site or manoeuvred onto flatbed trucks for transportation between sites. Also contributing to optimum uptime and subsequent elevated production levels is the generator’s remarkable serviceability. The QAC generators require less than two hours of service after 500 hours of operation. Large access panels and several custom service tools allow for effortless maintenance, while the strategic positioning of the two generators’ engines and alternators on opposite sides of the platform allow for fast and easy access to major components. Heavy-duty dual-stage fuel and air filtration is included as standard, for longer uptime and extended service intervals. The slide-in/out base frame facilitates the removal of the aggregate engine from the container for maintenance and other operational tasks. The robust containerised generators are ideal for use in extreme temperatures and at high altitudes. The QAC’s intelligent engine/alternator cooling system guarantees 100% power at 40°C at an altitude of 1 000m. Atlas Copco generators are renowned for their rugged reliability and efficiency over an extended lifespan and the EUcompliant QAC units uphold these high standards. “There can simply be no compromise when it comes to superior-quality components which are designed and tested to ensure a long and productive lifespan for low total cost of ownership,” says Stanford.

INNOVATION

SMART HOMES FOR SMART SOUTH AFRICANS Did you know that smart homes are increasing by 18% each year in SA and are expected to reach 2,5 million households by 2025? Today’s new normal has created ways for us to use our homes as boardrooms, work zones, entertainment centres, classrooms and tranquil refuges – all at the flick of an app. Doing so has never been easier, thanks to CBI-electric: low voltage, a manufacturer and supplier of quality low-voltage electrical distribution, protection

and control equipment. Established in 1949 and previously known as Circuit Breaker Industries or CBI, it specialises in the design, development and manufacturing of circuit-breakers, residential current devices, surge protection, wiring accessories and metering products. Headquartered in Johannesburg, the company is a subsidiary of renowned JSE-listed industrial group Reunert, with international operations across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and the USA.

Over the past 72 years, CBIelectric: low voltage has supplied products to authorities, utilities, manufacturers, commercial property developers, industrial, mining, telecommunications and general power distribution applications. Larry Barnes, the company’s product manager, says remote and hybrid working arrangements mean we are spending more time at home than ever before. “Our homes are having to work harder and their occupants are

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INNOVATION

even more stressed, adding to household demands and pressure. South Africans are looking for convenience and flexibility – and that’s exactly what a smart home can deliver.” A basic smart home installation can automate security and indoor lighting, as well as a geyser, pool pump and even an irrigation system, which can be scheduled according to the weather. Homes can easily be set up to provide comfort and control while saving time, energy and money. Often associated with costly high-tech devices, today’s smart homes are affordable and easy to implement, thanks to locally manufactured products. Astute, the smart Internet-of-Things home automation range from CBI-electric: low voltage, allows South Africans to add smart home components to households that can tailor everyday living experiences. Controlled directly from a smartphone and/or tablet, the range includes the Astute smart controller, isolator and smart plugs which can be managed with the CBI home app. The products allow users to turn various appliances into “smart” ones by connecting them to an Astute smart device. They can then be controlled, monitored and scheduled remotely via the app. Household items such as underfloor heating can be set according to ambient outside temperature and time of day –

Larry Barnes

effectively giving you climate control. If you are trying to control screen time for your kids, you can connect your TV to an Astute smart plug, which allows it to be turned off after a set period. The smart plug can also be added to your bedroom so that you can schedule charging stations for your phone and automatically turn off an electric blanket. In addition, these smart devices can monitor the energy consumption of appliances such as dishwashers, fridges and washing machines. Smart switches also provide users with greater control over power consumption in rental properties and holiday homes. The Astute range is available from leading homeware stores. For further information, visit: www.cbi-lowvoltage.com/astute or connect and engage on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

“OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH COSTLY HIGH-TECH DEVICES, TODAY'S SMART HOMES ARE AFFORDABLE AND EASY TO IMPLIMENT, THANKS TO LOCALLY MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS.”

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INNOVATION

INNOVATIVE SPILLWAY DESIGN PUT TO THE TEST AS GARDEN ROUTE DAM OVERFLOWS A unique spillway project undertaken by leading consulting engineering and infrastructure advisory firm Zutari to raise the Garden Route Dam, the main supply for George in the Western Cape, was finally put to the test towards the end of November last year, when it began spilling following torrential rains in the area. “I’m happy to report that the spillway behaved as expected,” reported Dr Frank Denys, associate and expertise leader: dams. “The clever, duckbill-shaped spillway significantly increased both the storage capacity of the dam and

the discharge capacity of the spillway, boosting the dam’s water supplies without compromising its safety by preventing overtopping.” The project won an award for technical excellence in the SAICE Southern Cape Branch Regional Awards 2020. George Municipality states on its website that while the heavy rainfall and flash floods on 22 November “understandably overshadowed” the dam’s overflowing that day, the spillway remained a celebration of innovative engineering and a significant milestone in the city’s long-term water security.

(Top): The new spillway overflowed on 22 November 2021. Photo: by Wessel van Heerden (Above): Dr. Frank Denys, associate and expertise leader: dams at Zutari.

“The design’s relatively new in the engineering world and, as far as we know, it isn’t being used in this way in SA,” said Civil Engineering Services acting director Lionel Daniels. It was extensively researched by Zutari and tested by the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Hydraulic Laboratory in Pretoria, with its shape designed to slow down water flow using basic physics principles. “The design

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is brilliant in its simplicity and it was a real victory to see the dam overflow and the spillway working so effectively,” added Daniels. “The project showcased how relatively small, well-engineered and optimised adjustments can provide a more resilient water supply system without compromising dam safety. Furthermore, the expansion of existing water supply resources is preferable to the development of new sites, as it limits the environmental impact on an already impacted site. Despite the novel nature of the engineered solution, this project had a low capital cost and also has a small estimated maintenance cost,” explained Denys. The project increased the existing storage capacity of the Garden Route Dam by raising its full supply level by 2,5m via the installation of a new spillway, enlarging the storage volume by 2,5 million cubic metres. The solution centred on a sophisticated hydraulic design in the form of a novel, state-of-theart, non-linear spillway shaped like a duckbill. Although duckbill or

bathtub spillways are not unique, they are rare worldwide. The Zutari team drew on its industry expertise to amend the hydraulic design so that the weir would behave in a safe and predictable manner. The shape of the design causes flow on opposite ends of the overflow to collide within the duckbill, causing an upwelling (also known as flow bulking), which breaks the flow’s momentum and causes it

“THE DESIGN’S RELATIVELY NEW IN THE ENGINEERING WORLD AND, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, IT ISN’T BEING USED IN THIS WAY IN SA.” to lose its energy. The flow from the rounded upstream end of the spillway is not so opposed and causes this upwelling of flow to move towards the exit of the spillway at rapid velocity. This increase in velocity reduces the water level to a lower elevation so that it can safely pass under the bridge and over the spillway.

The final duckbill spillway design resulted in a total spillway length of 80m, with a maximum discharge capacity of 570m³/s at a freeboard of 4,1m. The flood event on 22 November was the first time the new spillway overflowed since its completion in December 2019. Prior to the flood event, the water level in the dam was roughly 1m below the crest of the spillway. This volume was rapidly filled up in the course of the early morning and the spillway started overflowing at roughly 8.30am. The peak of the flood occurred at 1pm, according, to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s water level data record. The water level recorder logged a maximum overflow depth of 0,509m over the crest, which equates to about 50m³/s in discharge. This therefore seemed to have been a relatively minor event, with the dam designed to cater for much higher flows. That said, the incoming flood was partially attenuated by the storage volume in the dam basin. The flows at the nearby flow logger on the Malgas River also recorded a minor flood.

(Above): Zutari designed the duckbill-shaped spillway to slow down water flow using basic physics principles. Photo: Wessel van Heerden

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INNOVATION

UFS WINS 35TH COROBRIK STUDENT ARCHITECTURE AWARD An innovative project to develop a Shipwreck Interpretation Centre at Cape Agulhas to preserve these forgotten tragedies has seen Lúnell Greyling from the University of the Free State (UFS) declared a regional winner in the 2022 Corobrik Student Architecture Awards. She receives a R10 000 prize and the opportunity to compete in the national awards.

“It’s an extreme honour to be a regional winner. It’s also a wonderful feeling knowing that all the hard work and passion I put into the thesis paid off,” she says. Showcasing talent, creativity, innovation and inspiration, the Corobrik Student Architecture Awards are all about jump-starting careers, building the industry and designing its future. Regional winners are selected from eight major universities, based on the students’ final theses. These regional winners then go through to the national round,

where the top title is awarded, plus a R70 000 grand prize. Greyling says she was inspired by the wreck of the Japanese fishing vessel Meisho Maru No 38, which ran aground off the Cape Agulhas coastline on 16 November 1982. Visiting the area in the first year of her architectural studies, she recalls: “We never think twice about the tragedies of those lost at sea. Preserving these memories is therefore important, which inspired me to write about architectural spaces that act as a stage for interpreting and retelling shipwreck events.” The proposed Shipwreck Interpretation Centre, which will tap into funding from South African National Parks, will be

(Above): Lúnell Greyling.

(Left): Ode to tragedies lost between land and sea: site plan.

(Above): Ode to tragedies lost between land and sea: perspective.

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located right next to the Meisho Maru No 38 and the Agulhas National Park. “The setting inspires an intervention that builds on the experiential cinematic elements, creating architecture that tells a story,” says Greyling. “The centre proposes sequences of architectural mises-en-scène that articulate both the dualities between and interconnectedness within human experiences as visitors move through places and times. “For me, architecture becomes more than just buildings. It can inspire, educate and bring people together, bridging differences through shared spaces. Architecture that roots itself in a specific place, when it combines local and traditional craft and materials with contemporary building methods, can be meaningful and sensitive to the place and past, but bearing the future in mind. Using local skills, materials, craftsmanship and labour empowers local communities, which contributes to socio-economic development and transformation.” In addition, Altus le Roux (also of the UFS) clinched a R6 000 prize for Best Use of Clay Masonry for his concept of the “Litterateur’s Citadel”, a place specifically designed for the appreciation of literature in the Cape Town city

“BY HOSTING AND SPONSORING SUCH AWARDS, A PLATFORM IS CREATED FOR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE EXPOSURE AFTER THEIR STUDIES.”

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was postponed due to Covid-19, with Corobrik instead announcing the 2019 and 2020 winners at a combined event last year.

centre that includes bookshops, a library and writing spaces. “By hosting and sponsoring such awards, a platform is created for students to receive exposure after their studies. The Corobrik Student Architecture Awards also has a dual benefit by challenging students to use materials such as brick in ingenious ways, while promoting and exhibiting the company’s products,” says Le Roux. This year the national awards will again be a hybrid event held in May, following the same format as in 2021. The 2019 awards ceremony

“Our relationship with the awards goes back some 35 years and has proved very enlightening for Corobrik. It’s added a lot of depth and enriched the architectural profession by allowing young upand-coming architects to express themselves and show the kinds of directions in which they believe architecture should be going,” comments Corobrik CEO Nick Booth. Since 1986, the awards have placed 34 winners on the architectural map, both in leading practices and their own firms. Other winners of the 35th awards were first runner-up Chrizelle Loots, who received R8 000 and second runner-up Amirah Patel, who received R6 000. Both of them are also from the UFS. • For further information about the Corobrik Student Architecture Awards, visit: studentawards.corobrik.co.za.

INNOVATION

Interview by Nicholas McDiarmid South Africa is surprisingly progressive when it comes to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). It seems a big enterprise, but all of us partake in it every day. Every question a builder asks a fibre installation technician, every bit of automation and sensor installation you have done, means you are building the future now. There is more to it, of course, particularly how smart technology can be implemented to ensure energy-efficiency, safety and sustainability in commercial buildings. As Dean Gopal of Eaton’s Life and Safety Division (Africa) explains, integrating, connecting, learning and advice are all essential tools for our essential Master Builders. There is time to get ready, but it needs to begin now. “As the national power utility struggles with ageing infrastructure and inability to meet demand, businesses simply can’t afford to rely solely on the grid to power their operations,” says Gopal. And while the conversation about the development of smart cities is still in the future tense, the technology and opportunity already exist to turn office spaces, warehouses, retail sites and even hospitals into smart hubs. This means that businesses and other entities can start benefiting from technology that allows them to harness the energy, safeguard building occupants and ensure the longevity of capital infrastructure.

KITTED OUT FOR THE 4IR?

START HERE… “Commercial players are also responsible for contributing positively to the country’s sustainability goals and taking steps to reduce environmental impact. Optimising buildings to ensure energy-saving is a key part of this – and the cost-saving certainly doesn’t hurt either,” says Gopal.

(Above): Dean Gopal of Eaton’s Life and Safety Division (Africa).

SMART CHANGES FOR ENERGY-SAVING Automation ensures more efficient use of resources. For workspaces, this means that power-intensive equipment, appliances and devices necessary for the daily running of a business can be better managed to prevent high energy consumption.

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INNOVATION

These include heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, or central air systems, which typically draw a great deal of power to operate. Installing a smart thermostat, for instance, allows you to control temperatures from a smart device, setting the system to heat or cool on a schedule to save electricity, or respond to the weather. Automated lighting that operates in conjunction with occupancy and vacancy sensors helps keep electricity costs down too, detecting when people are in a room or a particular area of the office, as well as when they have left, and switching lights on or off accordingly. Plug load devices such as computers, monitors and printers may draw excess power unnecessarily when left on overnight or throughout the day. Installing smart plugs can make a big difference in this regard, shutting devices off when not in use and limiting how much power is used in standby modes. An added energy-saving benefit of installing smart solutions in an office space is that it is possible to track and monitor where and how much power is being used, and to have full control from a remote smart device, allowing for better consumption management. It also helps management make more informed decisions about equipment and devices being used in the office and the need to change to models with better energy ratings. Throughout 2022, SA Builder has implemented its plan to kit out all

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our builders with the ongoing tools that make up this new, actually very familiar world. We will ensure that our readers sustain a competitive advantage and realise the joys of building a new, essential network of people, ready to harness the technologies, mechanics, infrastructure and vehicles that comprise this world of the 4IR.

“COMMERCIAL PLAYERS ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTRIBUTING POSITIVELY TO THE COUNTRY’S SUSTAINABILITY GOALS AND TAKING STEPS TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.”

SMART SAFETY AND SECURITY The past two years have been challenging for businesses, having faced financial challenges as a result of lockdown, a declining local and global economy, nationwide lootings and unrest which resulted in many businesses being burnt down, as well as ongoing power cuts affecting operational efficiency and the bottom line. Added to this, South Africa was recently named the third-most dangerous country

in the world, as well as having the third-highest number of cybercrime victims in Africa. This all amounts to a need to adopt both physical and digital security measures to safeguard the well-being of building occupants and businesses. “In smart buildings, adaptive evacuation sign systems would form an integral part of an overarching smart life safety and building security system so that during a fire, for instance, occupants are directed away from danger and towards the safest exit, based on real-time information delivered through integrated heat sensors and smoke detectors,” says Gopal. From a cyber security point of view, it is worth pointing out that integrated smart technology increases the risk of cyber-attacks on building infrastructure. This is the nature of living and working in an increasingly connected world. Data encryption is key in smart buildings, ensuring that connections and communications are secure. “The biggest barriers to smart building adoption do not come down to a lack of available technology. Connectivity infrastructure, education and awareness, as well as an enabling regulatory environment, are the main obstacles standing in the way of wider-scale adoption. Once these are overcome, we’re sure to see a mushrooming of smart buildings across the country, helping to realise the dream of developing smarter, safer and more efficient cities,” says Gopal.

INNOVATION

AFRICA’S ABUNDANCE OF CLAYS HOLDS A KEY TO ZERO EMISSIONS CEMENT With its range of equipment forging sustainability gains in the cement sector, FLSmidth is receiving global attention for its role in Europe’s first full-scale clay calcination installation in France. With suitable clays being readily found in Africa – including West Africa – there is scope for cement production there to take another step towards zero emissions The cement sector in West Africa could make exciting use of clay calcination technology to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption in cement production, in line with the industry’s sustainability goals. As a leader in clay calcination, FLSmidth offers its technology to replace a portion of clinker with environmentally friendly calcined clay, thereby cutting carbon dioxide emissions, compared with conventional cement production.

MISSIONZERO According to Deon de Kock, FLSmidth’s president for SubSaharan Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, clay calcination is one of three main areas of technology advancement in cement which the company is currently pursuing. In terms of the company’s MissionZero pledge, it is committed to enabling its customers to run cement production at zero emissions by the year 2030.

“In addition to clay calcination, we’re also focused on enabling the replacement of fossil fuels with alternative fuel sources and on enhancing carbon capture in cement plants,” says De Kock. “Our current involvement in Europe’s first full-scale clay calcination installation has raised interest globally and we look forward to applying this technology in our African, Middle Eastern and Southern Asian region.”

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The cement sector has had a difficult few years, says De Kock, having to deal with a challenging economic climate while under pressure to meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations and expectations. FLASH CALCINER SYSTEM PROMISES 40% CLINKER SUBSTITUTION Sridhar Shanmugha Sundaram, FLSmidth’s vice-president for cement in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, stresses the fact that FLSmidth’s new flash calciner system can produce a highly reactive clay which increases the clinker substitution by up to 40% in the final product. “Addressing the bottom-line issue, this solution also results in energysavings, as calcined clay activates at a much lower temperature than clinker – with required temperatures of 750-850˚C instead of 1 400-1 500˚C,” he says. “This means lower costs to generate the necessary power.” Sundaram notes that the process can deliver significant fuel- and power-savings of 30% and 40% respectively, compared with the operating cost of making a ton of clay vs a ton of clinker. While a traditional “ordinary Portland cement” (OPC) contains 95% clinker and 5% gypsum, “green” cement can contain as little as 50% clinker – with 30% activated clay, 15% limestone and 5% gypsum. This has a dramatic impact on the plant’s carbon footprint, reducing CO2 emissions per ton of cement by 40%.

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LOCALISING OPPORTUNITIES IN GHANA AND SA In addition to FLSmidth’s strong presence in SA is its Ghana office – a 13-strong team of local people who are committed to developing local expertise and capacity in the West African region. According to Joseph Appiah-Kubi, general manager of the Ghana office, the company’s corporate social responsibility programme includes a graduate scheme to empower Ghanaians, transfer skills and provide opportunities in the economy to young graduates.

(Above, from top): FLSmidth is receiving global attention for its role in Europe’s first full-scale clay calcination installation in France and the colour comparison with and without FLSmidth's new flash calciner technology.

“This year we’ve had our first cohort of graduates working with us as part of the government’s compulsory National Service Scheme,” he says. “We’ll also soon be receiving our first cohort of graduate trainees – those who’ve finished one year at service engineering school and are coming to us to learn. This gives young people vital experience in the workplace to improve their employability in the market.”

FEATURE

The application of geofoam as a lightweight fill solution for road construction at the Clairwood Logistics Park in Durban is a first for South Africa, using a unique geocell solution for the founding and pavement design of the container yard at Pocket 2B. This proved a more economical and viable solution for the container yard infrastructure than the rigid inclusions applied elsewhere on site. SIGNS OF THE TIMES The design was carried out in 2021, with construction commencing in November 2020. The container yard is complete and geofoam as roadfill construction will be completed this year, says Dr Gabi Wojtowitz, Zutari’s associate design director. The scope of work for client Fortress Real Estate Investments, represented by Nico Prinsloo, involved the planning and concept to detailed design development and implementation of the Clairwood Logistics Park, situated on the old Clairwood racecourse site in the industrial suburb of Mobeni East in the eThekwini Municipality. The 76,6ha site is bordered by Transnet railway lines to the west and south, by a fully developed industrial area to the north and the M4 highway to the east. The development consists of a light industrial park and associated infrastructure. The new Spine Road will serve as the main internal road, running in a north-south direction. An existing 406,4mm fuel pipeline is also located within a portion of the site, with Spine Road crossing it in Pocket Area 7 of the site.

THE FOAM IN THE ROAD USE HEIGHT – AVOID ENCROACHMENT To achieve finished grade level, the proposed road embankment would be in-fill, higher than the current ground level above the pipeline, thereby imposing a surcharge load onto the sensitive pipeline. In order to reduce the load resulting from the construction to an acceptable level, a lightweight fill consisting of an expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam solution was proposed as a substitute for conventional (Top): Zutari proposed a geocell-centred design with a geogrid as a structural separation layer. (Right): Dr Gabi Wojtowitz, associate design director at Zutari and Dr Anton Hartman, pavements and materials lead at Zutari.

SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER FEBRUARY 2022

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fill material for the embankment, coupled with a piled structure to protect the pipeline. This will ensure that the imposed load on the pipeline and underlying soils is not increased as a result of constructing the new access road. The lightweight EPS geofoam is placed onto a 100mm bedding sand layer. The system is wrapped in a geomembrane as protection against corrosion from potential contaminants in the groundwater. A load distribution slab is placed on top of the geofoam, while the road pavement consists of continuously reinforced concrete. The pavement was designed with anchor blocks or base anchors to prevent the pavement from “creeping”, which can have detrimental effects on additional structures. Creeping is largely due to moisture and temperature movements within the pavement.

slope stabilisation, lateral load reduction on retaining structures, structural void fill and buried utility protection. It offers major benefits in terms of construction

“THE SYSTEM IS WRAPPED IN A GEOMEMBRANE AS PROTECTION AGAINST CORROSION FROM POTENTIAL CONTAMINANTS IN THE GROUNDWATER.”

schedules and project costs, and is designed and constructed to ASTM standards. The design of the container yard itself had to take into account the equipment loads from the machinery (which are generally carried in the pavement structure) and the container stacking loads. (Below): The design of the system saw close collaboration between the pavements, civils and geotechnical disciplines at Zutari. (Bottom): A geocell is a 3D honeycomb geosynthetic that distributes the surface loads over a wide area of the foundation soil.

GLOBAL ASSISTANCE – ALL THE WAY FROM UTAH Due to this being the first application of its kind in SA, Zutari received technical assistance from Steven Bartlett, associate professor in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Utah, USA. The EPS geofoam itself was supplied by Iso Moulders of Durban. Group technical manager Eric Axelrad explains that the product, branded as Geo Block™ Geofoam, is a lightweight alternative to conventional fill material such as natural soil, gravel, cobbles and crushed rock, which has dominated construction for centuries. EPS geofoam is used specifically for its soft soil remediation,

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“The loads on these platforms are massive, with the typical vehicles used here having a wheel load in the order of 250kN, which is similar to the load exerted on a heavy aircraft apron, for example,” notes Dr Anton Hartman, pavements and materials head at Zutari. Geosynthetics were considered to be the most economical and practical approach, where the earthworks and layer works were engineered to deal with the anticipated settlement. The proposed solution was based on a geocell-centred design with a geogrid as a structural separation layer. A geocell is a 3D honeycomb geosynthetic product which functions like a semi-rigid mat in distributing the surface loads over a wide area of

DON’T SEE IT AS DULL & GREY!

the foundation soil, significantly improving the bearing capacity of soft soils in particular. “Feasibility and cost were major factors in terms of selecting an appropriate solution,” says Hartman. AN ENGINEER’S DREAM The Clairwood site is underlain by unconsolidated soft clays and silts which, when loaded, will be subject to long-term consolidation settlements. These layers are highly variable and the resultant settlements will vary across the site. In addition, the site has an overlay of imported unconsolidated bulk fill which will contribute to the variable settlements. The shallow water table varies from natural ground level to 2m below ground. “The site is literally a ground engineer’s dream due to

The design of the system required close trans-disciplinary collaboration between the pavements, civils and geotechnical disciplines, as all of the components were intrinsically interconnected and affected the way the system ultimately worked. The Zutari team included civil engineer Diran Hurnanan and civil technologist Johan Kotze. “The project involved an iterative work flow and interface between each discipline, as well as a deep understanding from each team member of the way everything was interconnected. It was a true cocreation,” says Wojtowitz.

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By Shaun Roos, MD: Longitude Developments The biggest risk for prospective property developers is delivery, especially in current times, with the property sector having become substantially more cost-driven. Even though diminished returns are predicted over the next five to 10 years, the need for property remains – people are still buying houses and apartments. In fact, the trends (in urban areas) show that consumers are searching for an upmarket aesthetic even when they do not necessarily have the means to purchase at that level. The challenge (and opportunity), then, is for developers to bring the desired aesthetics to market, while still keeping their offering budget-friendly. Here are a handful of ways in which we got it right at our new residential development, 73 on Grosvenor, a 36 two-bed, twobath residential development in the upmarket suburb of Bryanston, Johannesburg. BUILD FOR THE FUTURE While cost and timeous delivery will always remain top of mind for us, building with sustainability in mind is a critical philosophy that must be applied from the design and planning stage right through to construction and delivery. We have chosen to embrace sustainability, longevity and efficiency in every aspect. This is non-negotiable for us when bringing any new development to market.

CRUCIAL FACTORS FOR BUILDING COST-EFFICIENT DEVELOPMENTS

(Right): Shaun Roos, managing director of Longitude Developments.

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With our roots on the costing side of the equation and a firm handle on what works in terms of design functionality and visual impact, we feel we are poised to thrive in the new construction climate. Regardless of how much we expand over the years, our plan is to remain true to this “efficiency” philosophy so that we can deliver on each deadline. If you miss a deadline, credibility and trust are lost and once that happens in our game, you are done.

IDENTIFY THE NEED Coming from a quantity surveying background, we are often regarded with mild derision as the proverbial “bean-counters” of the construction industry, but it is the basic economics of supply and demand where everything starts – and ends. My years in the commercial construction sector have allowed me to refine cost models and resource output requirements in a way that makes the company not only priceefficient, but programme-efficient as well. We identified this particular property and really liked it in terms of the location in Bryanston, Johannesburg, with a demand from the middle class and its proximity to amenities. Our aim was to bring a product to market that would

give consumers real “bang for their buck”, offering them a beautiful, well-finished, modern apartment at a great price point. ASSEMBLE THE MOST EFFICIENT TEAM Property developers are really “just” big project managers, so we are heavily reliant on suppliers and sub-contractors. In mitigating the risk of timeous delivery, it is crucial

“WE HAVE CHOSEN TO EMBRACE SUSTAINABILITY, LONGEVITY AND EFFICIENCY IN EVERY ASPECT. THIS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE FOR US WHEN BRINGING ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT TO MARKET.”

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to pick the right sub-contractors and specialists in various fields. In this regard, we would rather pay a premium to A-grade subcontractors than take the chance of a sub-contractor not delivering and creating a bottleneck for everyone else, which will end up costing overtime and possibly irate customers down the line. SMART MATERIAL CHOICE It is important to understand the distinction between structural material – such as masonry, concrete, reinforcing and structural steel – and aesthetic material, ie finishes such as tile choices, ceilings, doors and the like. People do not see the structural integrity of the building; they see the softer finishes. We made very carefully considered choices with our building materials in every aspect, from the structure to the tiles, selecting clever, quality materials that could be installed at a good price. This enabled us to pass that saving on to the end user.

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In doing so, we managed to keep the aesthetic modern and contemporary at an affordable price through efficiency and smart choices, without any compromise to quality or structural integrity.

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We completed the project within six months (seven, if you factor in the demolition). This is unheard of, but we were able to do it because of partnering with the right professionals, being as efficient as possible and having a meticulous development and construction timeline and plan. To give you an idea, our teams only worked six Saturdays throughout those seven months and did no other overtime work. We simply did things carefully and methodically, planning well enough to ensure that no deadline was missed. • For further information about Longitude Developments, visit: https://longitudedev.co.za.

@SouthAfricanBuilder 39

FEATURE

BUILDING IN THE WIND Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Nordex Energy SA (NESA) will play a key role in stimulating local jobs and skills. The company sees the latest Bid Window (BW5) as an important link in driving the local value chain, which will directly stimulate the domestic job market. “The wind power industry is expected to drive an estimated R40 billion of investment each year over the next decade, with a fairly large percentage coming from the economic benefits of stimulating the local value chain. This includes local manufacturing, transportation and other related industries,” explains Compton Saunders, MD of NESA. He adds that the option of concrete constructed wind turbine towers has the extra advantage of boasting close to 100% local content, including raw material such as concrete and rebar steel, aggregates and labour, as well as offering the option of manufacturing at site. “Currently Nordex is the only supplier of local concrete towers, which are manufactured by the local industry, creating local jobs and skills directly at site, as the manufacturing facilities can be set up close to the

“THE FIRST STEP IS TO ENSURE THAT THE INDUSTRY MAKES THE MOST OF LOCAL OPPORTUNITY AND BUILDS CAPACITY TO SUPPLY THE LOCAL MARKET. ”

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project facility during construction. This stimulates and drives local employment in rural areas. This industrial strategy is aligned with the Just Energy Transition Policy and one of many primary benefits of government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme [REIPPPP].” Assuming that smooth procurement of new wind energy production continues, in line with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), this sector is an excellent vehicle for direct infrastructure investment and a positive multiplier of economic effects, including specialised component manufacturing such as wind turbine towers, the construction industry, engineering and logistics. Although it has still to be confirmed whether the country is well positioned to be competitive at a global scale in all components, the first step is to ensure that the industry makes the most of local opportunity and builds capacity to supply the local market. Furthermore, it has been noted that certain parts of the supply chain may emerge to be more strategically placed to cultivate capacity in SA than others in order to be competitive. The BW5 local content threshold has been retained at 40%, in line with previous rounds, but the scoring mechanism incentivising further commitments above 40% has been removed from the RFP regulation. For the first time, the REIPPPP has introduced the concept of designated local content, which requires

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developers to procure specific components such as steel locally. Should these components be unavailable, bidders can apply for an exemption, which needs to be lodged with the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition.

573GWh during each of its 20 years of operation. The 145MW Garob Wind Farm began commercial operations in December 2021 and is located in the Northern Cape, close to Copperton, in the Siyathemba Local Municipality.

LOCALISATION AS A KEY ECONOMIC DRIVER However, NESA believes that this should not be applied to tower production, as both local and international companies have already invested in local manufacturing facilities that successfully produced these components for the previous REIPPPP rounds. Furthermore, these OEMs have confirmed capacity to fully deliver the required towers for BW5, as well as future bid windows.

The construction of the wind farm, which commenced in April 2019, included the installation of concrete towers fully produced in the manufacturing facility set up in Prieska, a mere 40km from the site. The work was completed by local contractors, providing employment for over 500 people from the local community at the peak of the project’s construction phase.

With the announcement of BW5 under the REIPPPP, which includes 1 600MW from on-shore wind energy and BW6 expected to be announced in the first quarter of this year, the wind power sector is gearing up to deliver adequate energy to the country and help shift the economy onto a positive trajectory. “Job creation and skills development will be a direct result of these consecutive bidding rounds, as they enable local manufacturing to be re-established or continue, in the case of our concrete towers,” says Saunders. The most recent REIPPPP project to come on line, Garob Wind Farm, incorporates 46 wind turbine generators with AW125-3150 technology, as well as concrete towers, and has been able to generate

ABOUT NORDEX ENERGY SA LTD (NESA) NESA boasts a total installed capacity of more than 1GW, making it a market leader with 32% market share of the total installed wind capacity in SA. By the first quarter of this year, NESA had built and was operating O&M turbines on nine wind farms (1,1GW) in the country, under the REIPPPP programme. The Nordex Group – which is one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, with more than 8 500 employees globally – focuses on development, manufacturing, construction, project management and servicing of on-shore wind turbines and farm. This has been the core competence and passion of the group for 35 years.

TECHNICAL

FROM FRAUD TO SUPPLY CHAIN – A SINGLE SOLUTION? The issue of fraud, site emergencies, supplier contingencies and general problem-solving has had an ally in technology for many years now. As construction sites in South Africa have become potential hot-spots of violence, the repercussions for builders are greater than one might consider. A company capable of rapid co-ordination of supply challenges, security solutions and communications at all levels offers immense value to the building industry. Leading South African business process outsourcing provider the Digicall Group has announced its acquisition of Advance Call and its certified Ethics & Fraud contact centre platform. The group delivers business process outsourced and incident management services to a wide variety of clients and diverse industries. It comprises 22 businesses located across three continents, with more than 4 000 employees. For 18 years, it has been committed to providing connected, smart and technologically advanced services across a range of offerings, including claims management and business process outsourcing. The Advance Call acquisition extends the Digicall omni-channel offering and will enable it to provide its customers with a certified, proven and 24/7 contact centre solution for all their ethics and fraud hotline needs. The hotline, which is certified by The Ethics Institute as a Safeline-Ex service provider, is an independent, dedicated, safe report line, while also offering awareness material and training. It is available 24/7 and provides employees, customers, suppliers, service providers and other interested parties with various channels of communication to disclose fraud, corruption, theft, misconduct or any other unethical behaviour. “We’re delighted to bring Advance Call into the Digicall group and make this unique offering available

“THE GROUP DELIVERS BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCED AND INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO A WIDE VARIETY OF CLIENTS AND DIVERSE INDUSTRIES. ” to our customers. This also unlocks new client and existing client upsell opportunities for us,” says Ruben Moggee, group executive officer at Digicall. Leonette Craffert, COO at Advance Call – which has an extensive portfolio of South African-based clients – says: “This partnership also potentially affords Advance Call easier access into international markets where the Digicall Group currently has a presence, such as the UK, the EU and Australia. In addition, we now have access to regulatory experts who’ll provide crucial support for international expansion.” Advance Call uses proprietary software to administer the Ethics & Fraud Hotline, which was specifically designed to provide a case management system and ensure whistle-blower protection. This is something Digicall can immediately introduce to its existing customer base, says Moggee.

SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER FEBRUARY 2022

TECHNICAL

ARCHITECTS + ENGINEERS = VALUE IN THE 4IR Pairing allied, but distinct disciplines in fields dominated by creativity and method involves many assumptions, both good and bad. In the case of the architect and the engineer, it would be a mistake to assume which discipline takes on which character. In the field of construction, the timing of these pairings is critical, says Melissa Truscott (PrArch MSAIA), director of Architecture (Africa) at AECOM. “It’s a very collaborative approach and creates a lot of value in the early stages of a project, while saving time and intervention further down the road.” Traditionally,

architecture practices operate with architects in a stand-alone studio environment, engaging engineers only once the design achieves client approval. BUILDING + PLACES Truscott effectively manages AECOM’s architecture business in the Africa region, working with three teams in Durban, Centurion and Cape Town. The architecture business unit forms part of Buildings + Places, and mainly carries out design and interior design work for the successful delivery of a range of multidisciplinary projects. It functions as a single combined practice that

“IT’S A VERY COLLABORATIVE APPROACH AND CREATES A LOT OF VALUE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF A PROJECT, WHILE SAVING TIME AND INTERVENTION FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.”

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is 16 people strong, ranging from highly experienced architects to senior technologists, more junior team members and interns. Buildings + Places sits alongside Programme + Cost Consultancy, which are the quantity surveyors and project managers, along with the civil and infrastructure engineers. “Our team find it fascinating to get involved with industrial and infrastructure projects, which are essentially the bread and butter of the architecture team,” says Truscott. For example, from a design point of view, a manufacturing plant is a generally massive and complex structure involving extensive collaboration, problem-solving and new technologies. The advantage of such a multidisciplinary environment is

TECHNICAL

that there is also a lot more understanding between engineers and architects. “The former learn that architects aren’t just designers; we add huge value from the outset, pulling the team together and helping the client visualise the various options available,” explains Truscott. Another client advantage is having a single interface, in addition to cost- and time-saving benefits derived from the large-scale adoption of cloud-based design and construction management software to work together in real time solving design challenges and delivering projects. “Covid-19 has accelerated the uptake of digital technologies in our industry,” says Truscott. A notable trend is an uptake in the use of 3D scanning of existing buildings using portable pointbased cloud scanners. This data can then be transferred into a Revit model, allowing AECOM to provide an array of options using computer-generated imagery or virtual reality so that clients can literally see for themselves what the space or project looks like, as well as all options for changes. “What’s critical about these models is that they can be made as smart as you need them to be by the amount of information they contain. The smarter the model, the more user-friendly and intuitive it is. It also means that, from the jumping-off point of planning when no as-built drawings are available, for example, you can even use such models for facility management once the building or project is operational,” says Truscott.

While new technologies such as drones provide a unique aerial perspective of project sites, these are generally not used on a daily basis. The digital tool probably deployed the most by AECOM is the HoloBuilder enterprise-grade construction progress management platform powered by 360° photo capture. “This tool gives our entire team access to current and historic 360° images of all parts of the site from wherever they are and really assists in helping solve problems quickly without extra site visits,” explains Truscott. Trends such as machine learning and augmented reality have yet to deliver tangible benefits. As for the move away from paperbased project and construction management, Truscott reveals that

some major contractors are already requesting access to live building information models in order to keep tabs on the progress of the consulting engineer. “They can actually access such a model and take measurements and quantities from it in order to inform their own programmes and scheduling. This is exciting and is really the way it should be, as there’s so much information embedded in these models, from the quantity of concrete in a single column to the ideal positioning and power requirements of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning units, for example,” she says. Truscott adds that AECOM’s international work experience has meant strong exposure to the stringent standards adopted in the Middle East and Europe with regard to digital technologies and the higher level of detail required globally. “SA still has a long way to go. The uptake will increase as the understanding of the benefits that digital technologies brings deepens. It will definitely continue to shape the future of our industry for a long time to come,” she says.

SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER FEBRUARY 2022

BUILDING BUSINESS

FUNDAMENTALS TO REBUILD BUSINESS WITH RESILIENCE Businesses and consumers alike have had to weather several shocks over the past two years. Zane van Rooyen, product marketing manager at field sales management CRM and mobile ordering app Skynamo, advises on how businesses can make 2022 a year for rebuilding and taking advantage of new opportunities

“We’ve gone on a roller-coaster ride and nothing is the way it used to be. For most businesses, performance isn’t yet at pre-pandemic levels. This is an opportunity to re-imagine the future and rebuild accordingly,” says Van Rooyen. “Business-owners need to reassess their operations, get rid of what’s not working and rethink their strategies:

• Keep your customers: “If you aren’t already doing so, make 2022 the year you measure customer satisfaction and retention rates. Both are vital for understanding how robust your business is,” says Van Rooyen. “Draw up a strategy for maintaining customer relationships and ask your customers to score their satisfaction with you.”

• Set the right goals: Take a look back at 2021 and figure out what did and did not work. Set goals that are SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. These can be used for key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess your business.

• Communicate to connect: Put out high-quality company communication. Clean up your email database, refresh your social media channels and upgrade your website. Identify your highest-value customers and have a plan for engaging with them.

• Embrace the change: “It’s tempting to keep doing things the way they’ve always have been, but for most companies, that’s no longer an option. You’re better off embracing the changes and figuring out how to compete in a new landscape.” • Evaluate your business model: “Look at why you started doing things in a particular way and whether there may be a better way. Assess whether you’re still relevant in the face of changing consumer behaviour. For example, as digital adoption was fast-tracked because of Covid-19, a hybrid digital / analogue operational structure is now the standard of even the most basic business functionality.” • Hit the financial books: Do a basic financial analysis of your business. Who were your biggest customers and where did you see the most profit? What costs are essential and which ones can be trimmed? Ensure you consider gross profit margin, operating profit margin, net profit margin and return on investment.

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• Evaluate employee performance: With the insights you have already gained from the financial analysis, goal-setting and customer retention, you can now set employee-level KPIs to move your business forward. Apps like Skynamo, which tracks sales directly, can help you assess sales staff performance and see where additional support or coaching may be needed. • Check your supply chains: Examine your own supplier base for potential vulnerability and identify similar companies to those whose products on which you already rely. A diversified supply base will help reduce risk of disruptions. • Use appropriate tech tools: Check whether your tech’s working to move your business forward and improve productivity. Look for apps and software which help you measure performance and provide actionable data. Appropriate tech support will help you build a resilient and sustainable business well into the future.

GLOBAL VIEW

BUILDING THE FUTURE – THANKS TO COVID-19 By Monica Bennett, director of Thought Leadership, GI HUB The GI Hub recently launched its newest resource, Transformative Outcomes Through Infrastructure. Its purpose is to uncover the G20 priorities that underlie the US$3,2 trillion (ZAR48,66 trillion) of infrastructure investments announced postCovid-19 and to help direct future spending into areas that could yield the greatest possible benefits for people and the planet. With this resource, we are making available data that we collected collaboratively with G20 governments and sharing insights on how those governments are using infrastructure to achieve transformative outcomes after the pandemic. This information will help governments, investors, multilateral development banks and project directors across the public and private sectors to develop future infrastructure packages with transformative outcomes in mind. The initiative has revealed itself to be even more timely and relevant than expected, especially in the context of the various national pledges to net zero and the

ever-growing attention to digitalisation, connectivity, circularity and affordability in infrastructure. AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE OF OPPORTUNITY Why did we need this resource? Because the scale of opportunity after Covid-19 is almost unprecedented – and so is the need. The infrastructure landscape changed rapidly after the virus first struck and governments needed an immediate reference point to enable better decisionmaking. An unprecedented level of fiscal stimulus was deployed after Covid-19 started: indeed, in April 2021, the International Fund’s Fiscal Monitor reported a total of US$17 trillion of key fiscal measures for the G20 (including member and guest economies) since January 2020. This represents approximately 20% of the G20 GDP and has resulted in a reduced fiscal space which has forced governments to divert their budgets into urgent areas such as healthcare and social protection. As a result, infrastructure as a stimulus was slow to emerge in the early days of the pandemic. However, an analysis of the G20’s stimulus packages over the past 18 months has demonstrated substantial commitment by G20 governments to infrastructure investments for Covid-19 recovery.

SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER FEBRUARY 2022

GLOBAL VIEW

GLOBAL STIMULUS Between February 2020 and August 2021, G20 governments announced US$3,2 trillion in infrastructure as a stimulus, the equivalent of 3,2% of GDP across G20 member and guest economies. This is substantial compared with the total stimulus deployed during the global financial crisis of 2007/8, which was US$2 trillion (roughly 1,4% of GDP). If this infrastructure as a stimulus is spent in the next two years, it would be a 45% increase in yearly infrastructure investment compared with 2019 levels. The boost to infrastructure investment is sorely needed. The pandemic increased inequalities among vulnerable people and highlighted gaps in access to financing and services in every country. Simultaneously, the climate crisis is still at “code red”. It remains urgent for the sector to confront its contributions to climate change and embrace the positive impact by adopting more green and circular infrastructure.

for environmental, social and governance outcomes to mobilise private investment in infrastructure. In this context, innovative financing and delivery models start to play a role in achieving transformation. From every vantage point, it is clear that we need to get as much as

possible out of the unprecedented level of infrastructure as a stimulus. GETTING THE MOST FROM INFRASTRUCTURE The infrastructure sector needs to make a fundamental shift from built solutions that address singular problems to those that address multiple transformative outcomes. Transformative outcomes are those that have the greatest impacts on our most pressing global challenges, including the climate crisis, social inequality, adaptability and resilience. All infrastructure as a stimulus can create jobs and economic growth. A 2020 GI Hub study found that the economic multiplier for public investment (including infrastructure) was 1,5 times greater than the initial investment in two to five years – much higher than other forms of public spending.

However, investment alone is an incomplete solution. Governments cannot afford to continually increase spending. In April 2021, public debt levels across G20 economies were 50-100% higher than they were following the global financial crisis. In thinking about transformative outcomes through infrastructure, governments can leverage the private-sector demand

“THE BOOST TO INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IS SORELY NEEDED. THE PANDEMIC INCREASED INEQUALITIES AMONG VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND HIGHLIGHTED GAPS IN ACCESS TO FINANCING AND SERVICES IN EVERY COUNTRY. ”

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GLOBAL VIEW

projects for transformative outcomes. We have also curated a library of reference documents that are full of ideas and guidance for targeted transformative outcomes through national and local infrastructure. All of these are underpinned by the InfraTracker, which shows data on how stimulus is being applied by country, sector, sub-sector and targeted outcomes. Targeting of transformative outcomes should, in addition to creating better social and environmental outcomes, result in an even greater economic multiplier and help close the infrastructure gap. For example, recent GI Hub analysis found that technological innovation could fill 60% of the infrastructure investment gap, if rolled out at scale.

TRANSFORMATIVE OUTCOMES ARE ACHIEVABLE Achieving transformative outcomes is possible. Our Transformative Outcomes Through Infrastructure resource contains examples of infrastructure as stimulus packages in G20 countries that are targeting transformative outcomes, which can be used as templates to create stimulus packages or structure

We encourage readers to explore the resource and contact us with questions or feedback, or to contribute or collaborate. We are also inviting collaboration with public- and private-sector organisations and individuals to extend our work and advance transformative outcomes through infrastructure. We welcome your ideas.

13th Annual

WOMEN IN MINING & CAREER EXPO

-Moving from the integration to the development of Women in Mining Date: 23, 24 & 25 February 2022

Venue: Indaba Hotel, Fourways, Johannesburg

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Hon. Dr Nobuhle Nkabane Deputy Minister DEPT OF MINERAL RESOURCES & ENERGY

WIM ASSOCIATIONS Raksha Naidoo Managing Director AMIS Deputy Chairperson WOMEN IN MINING SOUTH AFRICA-WiMSA Elizabeth Freele Co-Founder & Managing Partner SYMPACT Chief Communication & Sustainability Officer HYPHAE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN MINING(IWiM) Onthatile Lephatsoana Co-Founder AMPC Production Manager IRM INTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN MINING(IWiM) Khosi Sibisi Chairman WOMEN IN MINING BUSINESS (WiMBiz) SA Country Chair: Sustainable mining ESG wing G100

Lindiwe Nakedi Managing Director GUBHANI EXPLORATION

Kagisho Tleane CEO HLABAKI MINING GROUP

Mbanza Sichone Operations Manager ANGLO AMERICAN

Jasmine Abrahams Head: Legal, Compliance & Reporting; Company Secretary IVANPLATS

Gloria Malema Mining Manager MOTOTOLO COMPLEX BORWA SHAFT ANGLO AMERICAN PLATINUM

Sazini Makamu Acting Head: Precious Metals and Uranium MINTEK

Roché Kester Director: LGBTQIA and others GAUTENG OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

Monica Rapolai Senior Metallurgist MARULA PLATINUM MINE

Thandeka Mota Acting Mine Overseer IMPLATS

Fisiwe Dhlamini Tamara Mathebula Production Foreman Chairperson COMMISSION FOR GENDER EQUALITY DUAL PRESENTATION Ensuring a fair representation of people with disability within the Mining industry while highlighting the importance of organisational support after injury at work which leads to disability Therina Wentzel Nonhlanhla Bakasa: AKA ‘AdoWord’ National Director Development Officer and responsible for Youth THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF & FOR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF AND FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (NCPD) PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (NCPD) Geralda Wildschutt Independent Director on the Board CALEDONIA MINING

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

MALE PERSPECTIVE

Millicent Macheru Operational Planning Specialist ANGLO AMERICAN AUSTRALIA

Gugu Mthimkhulu Acting Mining Co-ordinator TRONOX

Khona Dlamini Head: Human Resources Development Manager KALAGADI MANGANESE

EDUCATIONAL SESSION Loraine Garson Vaccine Roll-Out Programme Manager PINKDRIVE

KEY STRATEGIES TO BE DISCUSSED • • • •

Discussing the current statistics and inclusion of women in mining over the past 13 years Eradicating discrimination against the LGBTQIA community for a more inclusive mining industry Sustaining injury free workplaces through effective Health & Safety measures Strategies to help mining companies to prevent, keep and maintain their employees from potential recruitment competition

• • • •

Moving towards having women as business partners through enterprise development Leveraging on mentorship as a key ingredient in the advancement of women in mining Bridging the generational gaps in the industry for effective development and retention of women in the Mining industry and effective economic growth Drawing a comparison of the best practises in workplace effectiveness encountered in Africa vs abroad

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS Register a pay by 30 January and receive a gift bag filled with sponsored gifts Gold sponsors:

Join ITC at the end of day two for a cocktail networking function

Sliver sponsors:

Media Partners

Join ITC at the end of day one for SPA treatments and sundowners Supporting Partners:

For easy registration contact: +27 (0) 11 326 2501 or email amrita@intelligencetransferc.co.za or fax: +27 (0) 11 326 2960 or visit: www.intelligencetransferc.co.za

COMING IN YOUR MARCH ISSUE Occupational Health and Safety: Alcohol and drug testing and support Materials and logistics Site preparation Readymix design: what, where and who Trucks and bakkies Coating and paints

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