Walls & Roofs in Africa

Cover stories

Volume 11 Number 7 2010

016 Decorative Walling 056 Tiles 087 Architectives

Shopfront008009

Green DesignCarbon-neutral office development014

Decorative WallingUpcoming decorative trends & changes

Shadows on the wall

Online paint shopping

Concepts & VisionsCreating architectural statements012

Harmless, long-lasting paints

Liquid glass

016028

Tiles2010 tile exhibition

New polyurethane sealant

Designer tiles

056062

ArchitectivesAfrisam-SAIA awards

BASF golf day

Large, lightweight ceramic overlay

Retaining wall innovations

086090

014 Green Design012Concepts & Visions

066

093

038

Low-e buildings in South Africa

Modern glass installations

Sustainable insulation

050040

Energy Efficiency

054

Light Steel Frame BuildingsIndustry technology

New production plant

Winners of the 2010 Steel Awards

068072078

Tech SavvyOld post office - re-roofed

Low-pitched metal roofs

080082

094

Green Design

02 Vol 11.5 | July/August 2010

WALLS & RoofS focusses on the aesthetics of walls and roofs and technicalities pertaining to the aesthetics. Readers are welcome

to contact us for any information. WALLS & RoofS is published six weekly by Media in Africa (Pty) Ltd. The views expressed by

contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. We accept no responsibility for the accuracy of information published.

pubLiSheR:Media in Africa (Pty) Ltdwww.mediainafrica.co.za

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Miles of tiles – the VERY latest in trends and technologies!I had the privilege of attending Cersaie, the biggest tiling show in the world during the last week of September. Along with 83 000 odd others, I was exposed to the wonderful world of ceramic tiling in order to bring the latest tile trends and news to Walls & Roofs readers once again.

Strikingly, this year’s focus was definitely on walling and I predict we will see a proliferation of ceramic wall coverings competing for market share with other walling products. The innovations in tiles are numerous with a big focus on large formats (including slabs – 1m x 3m x 3mm), 120cm x 120cm and 80cm x 80cm. Bigger tile sizes offer architects another great design element, and allows the plant to produce differing tile formats adding to the modularity of tile sizes and increased laying patterns enabling creative combinations.

Technical innovation has produced decorative and scientific features: digital plants can imitate nature and produce great depth in the tiles mimicking by creating intricate three-dimensional effects. Nanotechnology plays a major role in self cleaning tiles, anti-bacterial tiles and research into incorporating PV panelling in tiling, leading to another style that is speedily gaining popularity: the use of ceramics on building exteriors as cladding in new and refurb projects. Here, slabs and PV panels, as well as a wide range of differing formats lend itself to beautiful residential, commercial and community projects.

Increasingly, there is also a big drive for sustainability, including production processes and eco-labelling. Architects have come to recognise the great use of ceramics in design and they acknowledge that ceramics have become indispensible in architecture today. Explore the use of ceramic tiles today for your upcoming project.

Read more exclusive commentary and view the photos from page 56.

Light SteeL Frame BuiLdingSAlthough many are still wary to use LSFB technology today, it has a place in con-struction in South Africa. With financial institutions increasingly willing to finance LSFB projects, it is a matter of time before we see more and more projects using light steel frame coming on stream. We explore the Building Code, demands and challenges and benefits of using this method of building.

Read more from page 68.

energy eFFiciency: doing your partIt was just announced that SA is planning 6 new nuclear power stations by 2050. I hold the opinion that much can be done to curb our energy demand, primarily by reducing our energy use. This is where the low lying fruit are in terms of energy (and environmental) conservation: in demand side management. We are inclined to think of it as someone else’s problem, but with the current water crisis, we are each responsible for our own consumption and that of our offices, households and buildings. (A lot of water is necessary to produce one kWh of electricity). Correct passive design, using natural lighting and thermal control through energy efficiency, are just some of the ways in which we can do our part.

Read our energy efficiency feature on page 40 and do your part in your project – specify the correct insulating materials! Use WALLS&ROOFS today for your project tomorrow!

Safal Steel recently completed their new production facility in Cato Ridge, KwaZulu-Ntal. Construction of the plant began in the middle of 2008 and it forms part of the company’s aggressive growth strategy, which also includes a recently commissioned plant in Tanzania. Read more about the development on page 72

On the cover!

The first carbon neutral office development Innovations in steel and LSFB

IN THIS ISSUE: Tile trends at Cersaie 2010 New decorative finishes and products

VOL 11.7 OCT/NOV 2010 R38 incl. VAT

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Walls & Roofs winner of the coveted SAPoA Property Publica-tion of the Year.

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04 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

Textile Concrete Consultants (TCC) have announced that they are a member of a consortium that will develop textiles and technology for use in cementitious matrices. An important innovation that emerged during the initial testing phases at the Cement and Concrete Institute in 1996 was that textile concrete was flexible and could not be broken by 3 point bend testing.

TCC is currently developing a product called CemThatch, which will be marketed as a thatch replacement. Key features of the product include its being water-resistant, fire-resistant, lightweight and green.

textiLe concrete at the annuaL Boat raceBefore textile concrete became more commonly used by industry, it was used in the construction of boat hulls. The first textile concrete boat hull was made at Blue Circle Cement’s premises in Industria and, since then, an increasing number of textile concrete boats have entered CSSA’s (Concrete Society of Southern Africa) Annual Boat Race.

the BeneFitS oF textiLe concreteTextile concrete was the subject of a thesis presented to the University of Cape Town by Siphila Wanjiku Mumenya, which resulted in her achieving a PhD in 2007. The focus of Mumenya’s thesis was the durability performance of textile concrete, which has been proven through environmental testing.

Polypropylene fibres and filaments are used as yarns and woven into an open mesh textile fabric, that is used to create a new composite material with superb toughness, together with sufficient strength. This is possible because the use of textile fabric allows for optimumal

positioning of the filaments and fibres at a high volume fraction.However, for widespread acceptance of this new material in the market

place, knowledge of textile concrete’s durability performance and aging characteristics was required. Both hot/cold and wet/dry cycling regimes were employed and indicated that textile concrete stands up well to likely ranges of environmental cycling.

Textile Concrete Consultants (TCC) Tel: 011 884 4276Mobile: 082 857 8899E-mail: [email protected]: www.textileconcreteconsultants.com

Local consortium is producing textile concrete composite products

05Vol 11.7 | October 2010

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06 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

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08 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

Harmless, long-lasting paintsToday’s environmental problems have led to increasing demands for environmentally harmless, long-lasting and high-quality paints, and the wide range of mineral-based products manufactured by Keim Paints since 1878 meet these requirements exactly.

Take, for example, the Keim Livos Natural Paint which was recently exhibited at the Green Building Conference & Expo in Cape Town. This proven coating is based on a selection of about 50 renewable raw materials and completely biodegradable substances selected for their performance and the fact that they are safe to use and have low environmental impact.

Manufactured in Germany to high quality standards, Livos paints contain no harmful substances and produce no harmful vapours during application, nor any gases from the dried coat. They also provide an antistatic effect on the room, reducing dust levels.

Keim mineral paints were a Bavarian invention with roots deep in the country’s heritage, combining water glass (potassium silicate solution) with inorganic colour pigments to produce a paint that both penetrates and chemically reacts with the mineral substrate onto which it is applied.

These high-quality silicate paint systems offer performance, durability, protection and colour fastness that is unequalled. Buildings decorated with Keim in the 19th century are still in excellent condition today.

The Keim Royalan range of paints is a generic development of Keim mineral paints, engineered to meet the challenges of extreme climatic conditions.

Renowned for its proven durability which lasts for decades, the Royalan range is a one-component system ready for painting and spraying, which has been specially formulated for extreme coastal and tropical climates.

All Keim products are manufactured according ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environment)

Anyone wishing to know more should make contact with Keim at the numbers shown below, or visit the websites.

Keim Mineral Silicate Systems of Southern AfricaLivos SATel: 021 905 8985Fax: 086 553 8408Websites: www.keimpaints.co.za and www.livos.de

Removing hardened concrete from equipment and mixersThe second International Product Fair hosted by Pan Mixers South Africa (PMSA) showcased a variety of products that makes the tedious task of removing hardened concrete from equipment and mixers effortless.

These industrial-strength cleaning products include products which are designed to prevent concrete from adhering to equipment, and others to remove hardened concrete.

“Leyde Chemicals manufactures these biologically degradable products that can be sprayed onto all equipment in any weather condi-tions – creating a light coating that prevents concrete from adhering to the surface,” commented PMSA director Walter Ebeling.

Western Cape concrete brick manufacturer Cape Brick discovered the advantages of using Leyde Chemicals’ MEK3 range last year. “The MEK3 range of Leyde chemicals has worked wonders for us over the past year,” says Cape Brick managing director Anthony Gracie. “It serves a dual purpose, as it helps to clean the mixing plant and it prevents damage, so it is cost-effective. In the past, we would spray the inside of the plant with diesel, but that proved to be ineffective. The build-up of concrete would then have to be chopped off manually, which took a lot of manpower, was time-consuming and damaged the plant, which was expensive to repair.”

German company Leyde Chemicals has been supplying a variety of cleaning products, including those for maintaining concrete equipment and truck mixers, for more than 40 years.

Pan Mixers South AfricaTel: 011 397 3754Fax: 011 397 4721Email: [email protected]: www.panmixers.co.za

A new thermal insulation coating has been introduced to the local market by Bridev Projects. The insulation is ideal for a wide variety of applications, and uses a new thermo-shield technology that has been in use for more than 12 years overseas, says Brian Abraham-son, MD of the Gauteng Master Builders Association (GMBA) member company.

The coating is marketed as PC200 Waterproof & Thermo-shield paint and it is produced from vacuum ‘micro-spheres’ (which have very low thermal conductivity) combined with the water resistance of acrylic resin, which in turn has excellent weathering capability and other benefits.“These microspheres contain only 7%

solid component; the remaining 93% is

air, which makes for a very efficient thermal insulation, unmatched by common paint applications. This means that in roofing applications, for instance, the end-user gets waterproofing and thermal insulation at the same time, saving considerable time and money,” explains Abrahamson.

Bridev has the sole distribution agency for Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands for the new coating which is ideal for residential or industrial roofs, geysers, hot water pipes, storage tanks, gas or oil storage tanks, containers, chicken farms – and many other uses.

Bridev Projects was started in 2000 with three divisions: plumbing, construction and facilities management. The company was conceived because Abrahamson found that so often after common plumbing problems – such as burst pipes and split geysers – had been resolved, building owners faced considerable repair work, which Bridev could then handle. The company now has the capacity to assemble specialist teams for any construction project – repair, refurbishment or new building work.

Bridev ProjectsTel: 011 444 5930E-mail: [email protected]

The new thermal insulation coating

applied to a 7 000-litre boiler tank

of a major hotel group.

New insulation coating launched into local market

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Nanoland South Africa recently launched a nanotechnology coating solution, called Liquid Glass, into the local market. The product is over 500 times thinner than a human hair, and is able to provide an all-in-one asset protection solution with a wide variety of applications within the home and business environment.

The environmentally-friendly Liquid Glass mimics protective coatings already present in nature. It places a completely invisible and protec-tive shield of silicon dioxide over the intended surface. The layer that is formed cannot easily be penetrated by water, dirt or oil.

Liquid gLaSS appLicationLiquid Glass can be applied to anything from glass to textiles, and its unique anti-microbial properties ensure that the spread of harmful germs is prevented, whilst its water and oil resistance renders surfaces almost entirely self-cleaning.

“Nanotechnology is changing the way we manage our environment, through the application of a simple coating,” says Dr. Norman Maharaj, CEO of Nanoland South Africa.

“This product can be applied to a broad spectrum of surfaces and entirely redefines the way we look at asset protection in the home and workplace. Liquid Glass represents a fantastic value-add for companies looking to provide clients with a holistic service offering,” says Maharaj.

All surfaces also become stain-proof and entirely heat-resistant up to a temperature of 390°C. In addition, Liquid Glass is odourless and food-safe.

The company hopes to attract new joint ventures and partnerships in the industry.

For more information, please visit www.nanolandsa.com, to which full thanks and acknowledgement are given.

Liquid glass – a new nanotechnology solution

The new coating solution mimics protective coatings already present in nature by placing an invisible and protective shield of silicon dioxide over the intended surface.

Local company Kubik has been developing products and systems for the themed entertainment and themed architecture industry for over 25 years. After the successful execution of several illuminated ceilings installations, the architects decided to take the Kubik system to another level and designed three-dimensional zig zag ceilings for Eikestad Mall in Stellenbosch. Cape Town-based architects, DHK and Project by Province Lighting (distributors of Kubik in the region) worked together to cast a natural light in the mall, as if the sun is shining through sky lights.

Each of the 25m-long ceiling systems are up to 4m wide. The ceiling was custom Cad Cam produced to ensure a perfect fit around the two glass elevators in the mall. The three-dimensional, illuminated structures were created to appear as if they float around the shafts, creating light and space within the shopping centre.

Kubik is a pre – engineered, modular, customisable construction system that allows architects and designers almost limitless possibilities for walls, ceilings, facades and even floors.

The SABS Design Award winning company was responsible for large illuminated totems at the Cape Town International airport, facades along the promenade in Camps Bay as well as a number of installa-tions at shops in South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania and even Dubai.

The components of the walls are shipped flat-pack to any destination and assembled, using non-skilled labour. Last year, Kubik produced the world’s largest LED Glass floor in Dubai, which was assembled in a record time of 4 days.

KubikTel: 021 801 1577E-mail: [email protected]: www.kubik.co.za

Three-dimensional illuminated ceilings at Eikestad Mall

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010 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

Some of the characteristics of these new products include the fact that they are tough, erosion- and abrasion-resistant, seamless, provide strong adhesion to substrates and have no VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Typical applications of these products include waterproofing, bridge decks, roofing and containment.

productS From the SikaLaStic 800 rangeSikalastic-841 ST: This is a two-part, elastic, 100% solids (solvent-free), very fast-curing, pure polyurea, spray-applied membrane for machine application only. This product is used for waterproofing and anti-corrosion applications on steel, concrete and many other substrates. Typical uses include protective coatings, tank coatings/linings, bridge coatings, roof coatings, walkways and balconies, flooring and parking decks, industrial and manufacturing facilities, landscape and water containment, and power plants.

Sikalastic-842 BG: This liquid-applied, polurea hybrid membrane is typically used as a high-performance, liquid-applied, waterproofing mem-brane for interior and exterior applications such as protective coatings, expansion joints, bridge coatings and roof coatings.

Sikalastic-845 AL: This product is used for waterproofing and anti-corrosion applications on steel, concrete and many other substrates and it is a two-part, flexible, 100% solids, very fast-curing, pure polyu-rea, spray-applied membrane, offering 100% colour stability. Typical uses include protective coatings, tank coatings/linings, bridge coatings, roof coatings, walkways and balconies, flooring and parking decks, industrial and manufacturing facilities, landscape and water contain-ment, and power plants.

Sikalastic-849 PA: Sikalastic-849 PA is a two-part, 100% solids, fast-curing, aliphatic, aspartic, pure polyurea, liquid-applied membrane,

offering 100% colour stability. Sikalastic-849 PA is typically used for protective coating applications on steel, concrete, masonry and many other substrates. Typical uses of Sikalastic-849 PA include architectural exterior finishes on steel or concrete, immersed anti-corrosion applica-tions, marine life exhibits, tanks and habitats, stadiums, aquariums and zoos, line striping and markings.

Sika South AfricaTel: 031 792 6500Email: [email protected]: www.sika.co.za

New range of impermeable membrane products launched in SaGlobal construction chemical provider Sika has introduced a range of highly impermeable membrane products to the South African market. The Sika 800 series is produced by Nukote and distributed locally under the Sika brand name.

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011Vol 11.7 | October 2010

Concepts & Vis ions

“From a structural point of view, we have been able to construct these types of buildings for a quite a while,” said John Webb, an expert in high-rise building at Aurecon, an engineering, management and specialist technical services group. He adds that “The challenge developers now face is striking a balance between height and economics. Determining how tall we’re able to make a building while simultaneously ensuring-profit for the developer varies greatly between different countries.

In Australia, for example, the tallest buildings are residential buildings because these are more economical per square metre to build than other types of buildings, such as office blocks.” Other regions, such as the Middle East, are becoming renowned for their tall skyscrapers. Aurecon is currently constructing a building in excess of 500m in Qatar.

reSiSting wind LoadS“It is relatively easy to design tall buildings which are able to resist high wind loads,” says Webb. The more slender the building, the more respon-sive to these winds, so clever constructions and layouts are required for ‘thinner’ constructions. “He explains that various engineering techniques, such as water tanks and pendulums, have been used to lessen the effect of wind loads on tall buildings.

high-riSe conStruction BoomContrary to the Australia trend, the Chinese have been buildingan array of high-rise mixed-use developments, office parks as well as apartment blocks.

“China has a huge number of extremely tall buildings,” says Webb. “Every other building is a high-rise. South Africa, however, is completely different. The country is only starting to build taller buildings. Once again, this has to do with how economical it is to buy land and build vertically, ” says Marques

Jim Chanos, the president and founder of Kynikos Associates, a New York investment company that is focused on short selling, has warned that China’s hyper-stimulated economy is heading for a crash due to

the “housing bubble” that the country is currently experiencing. In an interview with Business Insider in April, Chanos shared his thoughts and comments on the number of high-rise buildings in China.

“What we’re saying is you are seeing an epic building boom in China and, more interestingly, an epic high-rise building boom in China. It’s not just high-speed rail and airports and new roads. That’s only a very small part of their infrastructure spending. This is primarily a story about people putting up high- rise office buildings and condos in the big cities. That’s what it is,” says Chanos (www.businessinsider.com).

“The square footage being built is what it is. You can see it when you go there. It is a high-rise construction boom. We’ve seen similar bubbles in Dubai, Miami –scores of other entities have gone through this and it never ends well,” says Chanos before explaining that the Chinese bubble has its own interesting set of anecdotes and circumstances.

“One of the interesting perspectives as a westerner is that when people were buying 2 and 3 condos in Miami, for example, they would rent the 2nd or 3rd condo to try and get some rental income. In China, that’s not the case. They’re empty shells – the owners don’t want to rent them because people want to keep them basically as pristine as possible for when they flip them because new is better than old. So ironically, you have people that are buying multiple condos here to speculate, but who are carrying them themselves – there’s no rental income,” says Chanos (www.businessinsider.com).

Before the days of escalators, façade specialists, tall building techniques and high-strength steel, buildings used to be shorter, more modular and not nearly as close to the clouds as they are today. Although tall structures and multiple- storey buildings have been attempted and built since the beginning of architecture, today’s magnificent buildings are popping up all over the world, creating appealing constructions that make eye-catching architectural statements.

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Concepts & Vis ions

According to the China Daily, 4,43-million m2 of old courtyards in Bei-jing have been demolished since 1990 (the equivalent of approximately 40% of the downtown area) and another planned development will require raising large pieces of land around the capital’s Drum and Bell towers, which has been a largely untouched district up until now.

China’s heritage chief, Shan Jixiang, has been quoted as saying that the high-rise building boom is destroying the country’s heritage. “The protection of cultural heritage in China has entered the most difficult, grave and critical period,” he said in August. “Much traditional archi-tecture that could have been passed down for generations as the most valuable memories of a city has been relentlessly torn down.” (www.skyscraperpage.com).

Burj aL araB hoteL - duBaiArchitect: Tom Wills-Wright (WS Atkins)Location: Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDate: 1994 - 1999Height: 321m

The Burj Al Arab is the world’s third tallest hotel (www.emporis.com). The hotel offers a 27th floor Skyview Restaurant, an underwater restaurant housing indigenous fish in 1150m³ of reef aquariums and state-of-the-art technology for guest interfaces. The hotel stands on an artificial island 280m from the Jumeirah beach and a private curving bridge connects this hotel to the mainland.

The hotel was designed to resemble the sail of a dhow (a type of Arabian vessel) and the iconic two “wings” that form a V are intended to resemble a mast. “The client wanted a building that would become an iconic or symbolic statement for Dubai; this is very similar to Sydney with its Opera House, or Paris with the Eiffel Tower. It needed to be a building that would become synonymous with the name of the country,” said architect Tom Wright (www.dubai-architecture.info).

To secure a foundation on the artificial island, the builders drove 230 40-metre long concrete piles into the sand. The foundation is held in place not by bedrock, but by the friction of the sand and silt along the length of the piles. A surface of large rocks, which is circled with a concrete honeycomb pattern, protects the foundation from erosion. Ac-cording to www.dubai-architecture.info, it took three years to reclaim the land from the sea, but less than three years to construct the hotel itself.

Webb comments that the sky isn’t the limit when it comes to building tall structures. “It’s more a question of sensibility and creating a space that is useful for the occupants of the building as well as other residents in the area. Tall buildings can add unique architectural features to a city,” He concludes.

Walls & Roofs would like to give thanks and acknowledgement to John Webb and Ermis Marquesfrom Aurecon for the information they contrib-uted to this article.

eureka tower – auStraLiaProject category: HousingLocation: AustraliaArchitect: Fender Katsalidis Architects, Southbank, AustraliaAward: Shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival 2008

The Eureka Tower in Melbourne, Australia, is the world’s tallest residential building as well as Australia’s tallest building. The construction stands 90 storeys with a total height of 300 metres (www.aecbytes.com). The tower was developed as a joint venture between Melbourne investor Tab Fried, Grocon Constructions (the contractor), and Karl Fender and Nonda Katsalidis (the architects) who joined forces to form a company, Eureka Tower Pty Ltd, which owns the tower (www.designbuild-network.com). The building incorporates a Travelodge hotel, restaurants, showrooms as well as a significant public observatory at its peak.

According to www.worldbuildingsdirectory.com, the building was designed to complement the cultural presence of the low-rise arts precinct, the Botanical Gardens and the river corridor. Melbourne has changed significantly over the past 15 years and there are currently more options for events, public facilities, arts, street activities and cultural richness (www.worldbuildingsdirectory.com).

“The Eureka Tower in Australia is a great example of how new structures can give a different atmosphere to a region,” says John Perry, Principal of the Aurecon Building Façade Group in South Africa. “The building has completely enlivened this part of the city.”

The site for the Eureka Tower initially had a permit for two towers. The design team came up with the idea of putting one tower on top of another to create a statement. This change also significantly reduced the wind and shadow impacts that would have been created by the initial permit.

The top of the Eureka Tower can flex around 600mm in high winds. In order to dampen the movements in the building due to strong winds, two 300 000-litre tanks of water on floors 90 and 91 were installed.

The building took 6 years to construct and, in order to relieve debt pressure, the client group allowed purchasers to buy and move into the building progressively as it was being constructed.

the taLLeSt BuiLding in tShwaneThe South African Reserve Bank’s head office is the tallest building in Tshwane. The basement reaches 25m below ground and the top towers 150m above street level. The building was originally completed in 1988 by Aurecon as structural and civil engineers, and the design made provision for future vertical expansions.

According to www.emporis.com, the building boasts the first flush-glazed glass tower block in the Southern Hemisphere and the construction used 80 000m2 of concrete.

During 1999 – 2000, a R180-million expansion was constructed which consisted of the following:

An 850-bay, 10-storey, purpose-designed parking structure, accommo-dated within a 25m height restriction zone.

14 000m2 of additional office space constructed over the existing podium structure.

Conference and Banqueting facilities over the existing Annexe to accommodate 500 people.

China’s heritage chief,

Shan Jixiang, has been

quoted as saying that

the high-rise building

boom is destroying the

country’s heritage.© w

ww.

arch

daily

.com

The South African Reserve Bank’s head office is the tallest building

in Tshwane. The basement reaches 25m below ground and the top

towers to 150m above street level.

© A

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on

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Green Design

014 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

According to www.pixelbuilding.com.au/, the building was designed to achieve all of the available rating credits under all of the categories of the

Green Star V3 rating system and is targeting to achieve all five of the available innovation credits (which is an unprecedented outcome in

Australia). Renewable energy sources on the site, such as new pat-ented wind turbine technology, will generate all of the energy that

Pixel requires plus surplus energy will be fed back into the grid to offset all of the energy that was used.

Pixel building’s innovation points for carbon neutrality include a vacuum toilet system, the anaerobic digestion system, re-

duced car parking, water initiatives and PV tracking panels.During the building process, Grocon developed a new structural concrete design that will halve the embodied

carbon within the concrete mix. The mix design, called Pixelcrete, has the same strength and features as

traditional concrete. Both reclaimed and recycled aggregates in this mixture reduce the content

of Portland cement (the production of Portland cement accounts for almost 6% of the world’s

greenhouse gas emissions every year).

Grocon’s new Pixel building is the first carbon-neutral office building in Australia. The four-storey building cost $6-million and was designed by Studio 505 Architects. The building generates more energy than it uses, and other green design principles make this project a leader in sustainable architecture.

The world’s first carbon-neutral office development

The four story, $6-million Pixel building

generates more energy than it uses.

The building was designed to provide

100% daylight penetration. In order

to maximise the performance of the

external sun-shade system, extensive

3D CAD modelling was used throughout

the design phase.

Green Design

015Vol 11.7 | October 2010

The building was designed to provide 100% daylight penetration into the office space whilst allowing screen-based technologies to be deployed without the need for blinds on windows. In order to maximise the performance of the external sun-shade system, extensive 3D CAD modelling was used throughout the design phase.

muLtipLe uSeS oF waterRainwater is collected after it has been used to irrigate the living roof on top of the building and this water gets treated by reverse osmosis to potable water standard. The clean water is then distributed to all the fittings and fixtures in the Pixel building. The grey waste water is then filtered and directed to the living edge reed beds where it is used to irri-gate the plants. This process ensures that there is no grey water waste leaving the site except for the wettest month of the year in Melbourne.

In July 2010, the project achieved the highest Green Star score ever awarded. Romilly Madew, Green Building Council Chief Executive, said during the award ceremony that Pixel was truly a green masterpiece. “This building will redefine the way buildings are built in the future. We congratulate Grocon for this outstanding achievement,” commented Madew.

For more information, visit www.pixelbuilding.com.au/, to which full thanks and acknowledgement are given.

project FeatureS

• Water balance: Pixel was designed to be water balanced. If Melbourne returns to the 1999 – 2009 10-year rainfall average, the building could be disconnected from the mains supply and would be self-sufficient in terms of water.• 100% fresh air: An intricate energy capture system removes hot and cool air before it is exhausted into the environment, reducing the overall energy use.• Smart window technology: The façade of the building includes smart window technology that automatically opens the windows of the façade on cool nights to enable the night air to flow into the building and cool the structure (“night purging”).• PV tracking panels: Pixel will have an extensive photovoltaic array on the roof and most of these panels will be placed on top of a tracking device that will orient the panels towards the sun.• Gas-fired absorption chiller: Pixel uses a gas-fired absorption chiller from Europe that uses ammonia as the refrigerant and gas as the energy source. Compared to an electrically powered chiller system, this technology produces much less carbon emission, and the use of ammonia also means that there isn’t any ozone-depleting potential in the gas.• Wind turbines: Grocon has partnered with a local inventor in Australia to finalise the design and specification of new wind turbines which will be installed for the first time at Pixel.• Vacuum toilet technology: Small-scale vacuum toilet technology, which was sourced from Europe, was implemented at Pixel. This is the first project in Australia to implement this type of technology, which was developed for high-quality office and accommodation buildings. Vacuum toilet systems reduce the water consumption to an absolute minimum.• Anaerobic digester: All of the black waste from toilets and kitchen facilities are held in a tank system on the ground level of the building. Methane from the waste is extracted and used as the energy source for the hot water heaters on the roof of the building (these heaters provide warm water for showers which produce grey water that irrigates the reed beds).

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An intricate energy capture system removes hot and cool air before it

is exhausted into the environment, reducing the overall energy use.

Pixel building’s innovation points for carbon neutrality include a

vacuum toilet system, the anaerobic digestion system, reduced

car parking, water initiatives and PV tracking panels.

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Upcoming decorative trends and changes in the industryDecorex’s 17th exhibition, which was held at Gallagher Estate in August, received a 74% increase in visitor numbers from interior design professionals and the trade sector. Over 700 exhibitors showcased innovative new design products and services to just under 50 000 visitors, proving that decorative finishes and designs are a growing trend in South Africa.

2011 coLour ForecaStPlascon’s 2011 Colour Forecast was launched at Decorex, showcasing four colour palettes including a sophisticated romantic palette of con-temporary nudes, rich creams, dusty pinks and subtle off-whites. “We’ve been scanning the world of fashion and décor, attending colour forecast meetings and keeping our eyes and ears wide open to bring consumers the very latest colours in our Plascon 2011 Colour Forecast. Love is a positive thread through the various colour themes – a powerful symbol of what’s needed to change our world for the better,” says Anne Roselt, Plascon’s colour manager.

Besides the romantic décor effect, the trendy colours for 2011 include a eco-sustenance range of earth colours including reds and oranges, a future fusion range of metallics mixed with heritage colours and an urban brights palette inspired by our cities, . “While we look to our environment for inspiration, drawing its rich verdant and earthy tones into our homes and lives, we also embrace the bright colours and dynamic culture of our cities. In the 2011 palette the romance of the past, coloured in soft nos-talgic pastels, is a grounding element but at the same time we experiment with colours and textures, creating something new and sophisticated.”

Sumien Brink, editorial director of Plascon’s magazine SPACES, sees the new colour palette as a motivator to play with the transformative power of paint to bring new excitement into a designer or homeowner’s space.

“Like love, colour can transform the mundane to something magi-cal. That’s why the new issue is filled to the brim with ideas, special projects and visual inspiration interpreting the fashionable new colours of the 2011 forecast. The projects combine all the right elements: easy, economical, super-stylish and accessible,” says Brink.

Although the 2011 Colour Forecast is extensively researched every year, Roselt sees the colour trend predictions as a guide and not as a prescrip-

tive formula. “Colour remains a personal, intuitive thing. For us it’s about giving information and inspiration stimulating creativity, yet leaving plenty of room for individualistic expression,” says Roselt.

coLour miStakeSAccording to a design exhibit dubbed “Caleidoscope” by the students of the Philippine School of Interior Design, these are the top colour and paint mistakes:• Using the wrong paint finish for your ceiling. Using a reflective finish on your ceiling will cause the lights to make shifting reflections on your ceiling.• Choosing a dark colour for a very small room.• Selecting a colour from a picture in a magazine. What looks good in a glossy magazine won’t necessarily look good on the walls.• Selecting the exact same colour for the floors and walls. Floors should be a little bit darker than walls to provide balance for the space.• Re-painting a dark wall with light colours without priming first. The dark colours will bleed through medium and light colours if a primer coat isn’t used.• Bubbles, cracks and peeling can be caused by applying latex paint over an oil-painted surface because oil-based paint doesn’t provide enough grip for the latex to adhere to.• Using one-based colours such as reds, browns, navy blues and blacks. These colours have intense psychological effects (navy creates a cold and uninviting feel, brown can cause apathy and depression and red and black create stress and tension), so use these colours in moderation.

Source: www.philstar.com

Above: Decorative tiles

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unique waLLpaper ideaSWallpaper offers exciting alternatives to using paint to decorate your walls. A wallpaper range by ZNAK, which was developed in collaboration with emerging Dutch conceptual artist Ado Kroese and Berlin design duo Höltje and Brose of Studio Hausen, allows you to create a unique design of your own.

The wallpaper looks just like regular wallpaper featuring perforated patterns, but the design of perforation is made in a way that lets you create your own distinct design by tearing off pieces of wallpaper. The colour and pattern of the wall behind the wallpaper will create additional dimensions to design and let you experiment with different paint and wallpaper options.

iLLuminated waLLpaperJonas Samson, a Dutch designer, has created lighted wallpaper that is designed to replace the need for light fixtures. The lights can be set ran-domly across the wall, they can be remote-controlled, motion-activated or they can appear in a pattern. When the lights are turned off, the wall looks like it has a conventional coating but when the LEDs are switched on the wallpaper will light up any room.

Samson submitted the illuminated wallpaper as part of his final-year postgraduate degree practical and the wallpaper was constructed by sandwiching a number of layers together to produce light.

The back layer is a silver-based solution that conducts electricity, while the layer above this contains phosphorous pigments that light up. On top

Above: Illuminated wallpaper by Dutch designer Jonas Samson.

Below: When the lights are turned off, the wall looks like it has a conventional coating

but when the LEDs are switched on the wallpaper will light up any room.

Above: Wallpaper designs that allow you to tear off different sections in

order to reveal parts of the wall let you experiment with different colours,

combining paint and wallpaper effects.

Above: Decorative tiles

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| of this is a flexible, transparent ITO conductor layer, with regular wallpa-per placed on top to act as the final, outwardly visual layer,» Samson told Techradar.com.

digitaL waLLpaperBüro Hirzberger in Vienna gave Strukt Design Studio complete creative freedom when they were contracted to re-design the company’s office space. Strukt duly developed a system capable of projecting video & realtime content undistorted onto any surface. The resulting application was digital wallpaper that covered the span of the client’s office walls, illuminating the surface.

“The basic idea was to light up the black and white striped office wall by mapping the architecture with multiple projectors. The program developed by Strukt is scripted in vvvv and is scalable to any number of projectors and any architectural shape,” explains the company on their website (www.strukt.com).

Various visualisations have been realised already, including a Pac Man animation as well as moving stripes. The content could also be made interactive, reacting to people passing the ground-floor offices.

concrete’S dramatic FiniSheSBesides colourful paints and technologically advanced wallpapers, dramatic finishes that look like natural stone or rock textures can also be added to walls with concrete finishes. According to ConcreteNetwork.com, textured concrete finishes are among the most affordable decora-tive concrete ideas due to the fact that the finishes are mostly done by the finisher (and maybe one or two extra finishers on the crew) and require few added materials to produce.

Creative contractors often experiment with different applications and looks and this versatile material has been used to give many walls and countertops complete makeovers. Not only are some of the finishes envi-ronmentally friendly, but they are often also designed to mimic nature.concretenetwork.com lists a few of the types of textured concrete finishes:• Stamped concrete: Also known as patterned concrete or imprinted concrete, this type of concrete is designed to resemble brick, slate, flagstone, stone, tile and even wood.• Broom finishes: These can be coarse or light depending on the bristles used.• rock salt finishes: Water softener crystals are set into fresh con crete and a roller is then used to press the crystals into the concrete. The surface is later washed, dissolving the salt and leaving small holes.• trowel and float finishes: Swirls or different size arcs can be made from concrete. Wood floats create coarser textures and aluminium floats or steel trowels create smooth or medium finishes.

Stain your concrete FiniSheSCemcrete, a local manufacturer of cement-based finishes, says, besides the natural beauty of concrete and cement, they can also be stained to

create patterns, company logos and other designs. The company recently launched ModelloDecor Stencil Designs that are able to stain different patterns on concrete.

“Cemcrete recently launched ModelloDecor Stencil Designs into the decorative cement and concrete market. These stencils are used in conjunction with acid stains and the effect is dramatic and can also serve a purpose – have your company logo stencilled out and have it per-manently stained onto the cement / concrete floor at your entrance – it will stand the heavy foot traffic. The same applies to walls. These design stencils can also be custom-made to any pattern, shape or size,” says Joanne Bendall, brand manager at Cemcrete.

“Cement and concrete can also be imprinted with imprinting mats to create various textures and interesting and attractive patterns. This is done while the substrate is still moist and, when using a coloured release agent, you will be able to create even more colour, depth and reality to the pattern, as well as allow the imprinting mould to release from the substrate easily,” says Bendall.

These concrete finishes were recently used at the Transvalia High School, who wanted their school emblem permanently displayed at the entrance to their main rugby field. The rugby team and scholars can now run over it as they enter the field for a match.

“The main attraction of using concrete or cement is its durability, ease of maintenance, as well as its amazing diversity in any design theme or area. Again, with a wide range of different colours and textures one can create almost any look, and the look is long-lasting.”

Walls & Roofs would like to give thanks and acknowledgement to Joanne Bendall of Cemcrete and Anne Roselt of Plascon for the information provided in this article.

Dramatic finishes that look like natural stone or rock textures can be added to concrete walls.

Give a wall a complete makeover with innovative concrete finishes.

Various textures can be created on interior and exterior walls with imprinting mats.

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Roof sheeting, vertical cladding, insulation and ventilation contractors Cladco Projects recently completed a number of high-profile projects in South Africa. The company has been providing products and services to engineers for over 15 years.

Clinton Pieterse, a director at Cladco Projects, comments that the company recently installed cladding, roofing, rainwater works and polycar-bonate skylights at SACD Freight’s impressive new R160-million facilities located in Paarden Eiland.

“We did a full material comparison on the different products available so that NMC Alliance could make an informed decision. Clean Colorbond steel – Ultra was specified due to its superior corrosion performance,” said Clinton Pieterse.

The company has also completed the roofing, cladding, insulation and ventilation of two Porsche branches over the past two years. “A range of solutions was provided for Porsche’s branches in Johannesburg and Umhlanga Rocks and we look forward to completing the Cape Town branch before the end of 2010,” adds Clinton Pieterse.

Specialist in roofing, cladding and insulation

experienced inStaLLerS oF the FoLLowing productS:• Macsteel Roofing• Arona Roofing• Brownbuilt Metal Sections• Clotans’ Craftlock• H.H. Robertson• Safintra Roofing• Purpose-made panel cladding and insulation in many materials• Palram, Duroplastics and Modek Transluscent products

cuStomiSed cLadding manuFacturerSCladco Projects has the capacity to manufacture specialised clad-ding materials for specific projects. “Bespoke manufactured cladding was recently provided for the Maponya Mall in Soweto. Cladco is often contacted by developers to supply customised cladding solutions for projects,” concludes Clinton Pieterse.

Cladco Projects cc.Tel: 012 348 4609 / 012 361 2371Fax: 012 348 8612E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected] or Cell: 0833015919Cape Town: [email protected] or Cell: 0832594622

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turnkey installers create unique solutionsLafarge Gypsum has recently issued a statement commending the work of OmDev Interiors as an installer of their ceiling and partitioning products. OmDev Interiors specialises in conceptualising, creating, fitting and delivering custom-designed drywall partitioning, suspended and flush-plastered ceilings, bulkheads and designer ceilings.

OmDev creates unique ceiling and partitioning treatments that enhance the style and functionality of a building. The company is a wholly-owned South African business that has completed an array of commercial and residential projects from professional office environments and modern retail and commercial environments to elegant residential designs. “Our years of combined experience in the business and attention to detail have delivered projects from the traditional to the contemporary, achieving the precise requirements of our clients, on time and within budget,” said Rajesh Bhula, co-owner of the company.

OmDev Interiors is owned and managed by Rajesh Bhula (80%) and Jasmina Bhula (20%), both contributing significantly to the success of the business. Jasmina is the design authority for all projects, leveraging her internationally acquired skills to ensure that each project is unique and exceeds customer expectations, while Rajesh is responsible for overall project and quality management.

“OmDev offers a turnkey solution from planning, design, procurement and implementation stages, subscribing to a team approach where archi-tect, builder, designer and project manager work hand-in-hand from the outset of the project. We don’t profess to be the biggest, but we’re com-mitted to being a ‘small giant’ in our field based on quality workmanship, a commitment to superior customer service, long-term work relationships and an unrivalled work ethic,” says Jasmina Bhula.

Based in Gauteng, OmDev operates throughout the Gauteng and Vaal regions and, depending on the feasibility of the project, work is carried out in other regions nationally.

OmDev’s hands-on approach, coupled with the specialist skills of 14 permanently employed artisans, has led the company to be able to provide a distinct flair to its projects. Some of the company’s service offerings include:

• Drywall partitioning: An effective means to divide open-plan areas, create smaller rooms and add internal walls quickly. Drywall partitioning is the ideal solution for commercial and industrial environments that need the job completed quickly and economically with minimal disruption to day-to-day business processes. Drywall partitioning allows for greater speed, low cost and provides fire-resistant qualities.• Suspended ceilings: OmDev Interiors offers various types of suspension systems commonly used in retail and office environments, that can be suspended from the roof trusses or concrete slabs and incorporate the necessary lighting fixtures, airconditioning and fire sprinkler systems in a modern and aesthetically pleasing design. Various product derivatives are available with sound-reduction and fire-resistant qualities.• Bulkheads: Bulkheads are often used in diverse applications and they require a specialist approach from both an aesthetic and design point of view. Bulkheads are often used to conceal or enclose fixtures and can be installed in various positions, sizes and designs.• Designer ceilings: Ceilings add an exciting dimension to a space. “Our designer ceilings bring additional character to your construction project, creating different focal points and custom-created highlights and even create continuity throughout an interior space,” comments Jasmina Bhula.• Flush-plastered ceilings: Plastering over the ceiling boards creates flush-plastered ceilings with a seamless appearance.

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OmDev is a level three contributor to BBBEE and boasts a procurement recognition level of 110% as verified by Emex Trust Verification Industry. When commenting on customer references, Rajesh Bhula concludes: “We take enormous pride in our work and can happily arrange viewings of sites of our in-stallations as well as references if required. Our customer base includes the likes of the South African Post Office and various retail and commercial businesses and residential properties.”

Lafarge Industries Tel: 011 389 4500 Fax: 011 864 6816E-mail: [email protected]: www.lafarge.co.za

OmDev Interiors ccTel: 083 260 2025Fax: 011 432 1868Email: [email protected]: www.omdev.co.za

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“Cedar’s focus for the next two or three years will be to increase market share in the retail sector with an attractive brand with a clean, fresh image at affordable prices,” says Eben van Zyl, MD of Cedar Paint in Silverton.

Cedar Paint, which is part of the large Argent Group, not only sup-plies paints suitable for applying by spray or brush, but also a variety of decorative paints and finishes. The company also offers coatings for roofs, floors, and industrial applications such as polyurethane enamels, quick-drying enamels, chrome and bituminous aluminium paints, and road-marking paint.

“Our current product range includes premium, classic, contractors’ and preparation coatings; specialist paints; and a wood range. Cedar also produces a range of spray paint – one of few local manufacturers making this – and we provide all the paint requirements for several equipment manufacturers, such as etch priming enamels and other formulations for use in mass production processes,” continues Van Zyl.

“We also provide coatings for several well-known brands such as Xpanda, Jetmaster and others which boosts

our market credibility because of the high standards and consistent quality demanded by these brand names. We also visit over-seas exhibitions and seminars to keep up to date with modern technology” says Van Zyl.

Sa paint manuFacturingCedar Paint was recently accepted as member of the SA Paint Manufacturing As-sociation (SAPMA) which now has over 85% of local paint manufacturers as members adhering to its Code of Practice. Besides the credibility that membership provides, Van Zyl believes that the SAPMA membership will

also benefit Cedar Paint’s focus on training. “Cedar also firmly believes in training – from receptionist, through to

the sales force and shop floor – and regular programmes are being put in place to achieve this. This is one of the reasons why our acceptance as member of the South African Paint Manufacturing Association is so important. Apart from the credibility that membership gives – and the networking and information gathering opportunities SAPMA provides – we will be doing ongoing training through the Association,” says Van Zyl.

environmentaLLy FriendLy paintS For mineS and power StationS“We are also continuing to focus our efforts on quality as well as environmentally friendly products and operations. Cedar factories are ISO-certified according to SABS standards and our products are lead-free – according to SAPMA stipulations – with low Volatile Organic Compound content. We also conduct daily quality testing of all our paints,” says Van Zyl.

Cedar Paint is one of the preferred suppliers of specialist environment-friendly paints for underground applications, leading them to excel in the mining industry. The company’s Mine Marking Spray Paint, for example, is formulated not to irritate miners’ skin. The company also provided instrumental services in the formulation of a paint for the Eskom Medupi Power Station housing development.

“Our involvement in mining applications has resulted in the large mining houses auditing Cedar factories biannually to check on compliance with the mines’ prescribed environmental standards,” says Van Zyl.

Cedar PaintTel: 012 804 2130 / 086 123 3277Fax: 012 804 8517 E-mail:[email protected]: www.cedarpaint.co.za

Paint supplier focuses on increasing market shareLocal paint manufacturer Cedar Paints says that the company’s drive to increase its market share has caused a renewed focus on brand management, niche products and affordability.

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Inspire is a clean and contemporary new collection from respected interior design specialists BN Wall Coverings, distributed locally by Wall Design (Pty) Ltd. Some of the influences behind the unique wall coverings include skylines, skyscrapers, urban living and modern architecture.

The studio began by mixing textured layers with smooth metallic inks, and then developed more effects using matt and gloss finishes. The play of light and shadow on the various surfaces fires the imagination. Advanced production techniques used during the

manufacturing of these stylish new wall coverings mean that light and shadow play on the various surfaces, creating clever but subtle three-dimensional effects.

Wall Design (Pty) LtdTel: 011 704 9780 Fax: 011 704 9790 E-mail: [email protected]

Annet van Egmond of the Dutch design duo Brand Van Egmond ( she and William Brand are renowned lighting designers) turned her hand to wall coverings in order to create an elegant range of products, known as Shadow on the Wall. Annet was influenced by the romance and fashion of bygone days, and looked to Coco Chanel, strings of pearls, fine lace and moody smoking rooms for her inspiration.

Her romantic theme is further enhanced with roses, from elegant faded blooms through to highly contemporary pixel-prints. The range was created using gravure and screen print techniques. The textured, tactile surface is further enhanced with embossing and specialist inks.

The surface is a solid vinyl film supported with a fibre backing, so the

products are stronger, heavier and longer lasting than wallpapers. All the designs are paste-the-wall products, so they are much easier to hang, and tear-resistant too.

Both the Inspire and Shadow on the Wall ranges are available from Wall Design (Pty) Ltd, a leading wall covering supplier and distributor in South Africa.

Wall Design (Pty) LtdTel: 011 704 9780 Fax: 011 704 9790 E-mail: [email protected]

Shadows, skyscrapers and urban living inspire new wall coverings

Shadows on the wall

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As the sole authorised importers and distributors of the acclaimed BN International wallcoverings for sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, Wall Design have seen an increasing uptake in their range of recycled wallcoverings. The company’s General Manager, Marius van der Bank, spoke to Walls & Roofs magazine about current local trends and demands in this dynamic industry.

“If you take a look at the type of products that were showcased and discussions that were held at the recent Green Building Council Conference in Cape Town, it is easy to see that South Africa’s green movement has no intention of slowing down,” says Van der Bank.

“The professional design and building industry isn’t only focusing on creating greener buildings, but the market is also focusing on widening the scope of sustainability in order to slowly ‘green’ existing buildings. One way of doing this is by looking at different interiors and, in particular, at differing wallcoverings,” says Van der Bank.

Wall Design have been anticipating this trend and have recently launched a range of greener wallcoverings. One of these is an American product range, called Meilleur, which is now sold locally.

“The Meilleur eco-friendly range of quality vinyl wallcoverings lends luxurious style and elegance to the world indoors while simultaneously remaining conscious of the natural one around us. What makes Meilleur unique is the fact that it consists of 20% recycled content,” explains Van der Bank.

FeatureS oF the recycLed waLLcoveringS:• 20% recycled content • Uses 100% water-based inks, highly cleanable and environmentally safe • The fabric backing gives superior lifecycle performance (5 to 10+ years)• PFOA-free / PBDE-free (brominated flame retardants)• Low-VOC-emitting material meets CA 01350 indoor air quality standards• Complies with standard fire performance specifications • Does not contain DEHP plasticisers• Supports the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) LEED system

Recycled

wallcovering deserves a second lookMany local interior design trends follow international fashions. The ever-changing field of wallcoverings has also started to shift towards green solutions as the local market demands more variety with an environmental conscience.

product SpeciFication

Manufacturer: LSI Wallcovering of Louisville, KY, USA

Construction: Polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC) is the basic ingredient.

Polyester/Cotton backing

Weight (avg): 452 g/m² (565 g/m²: Tangier)

Width: 1.32m or 1.37m

Length: 27.4m

Square metre: 36.16 - 37.53 per roll

Backing: Fabric-backed (Osnaburg)

Installation – Design specific: Must be installed with water-based

adhesives

Fire safety: Class A (ASTM E-84)

Passes NFPA 286 Corner Burn

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code

Euroclass B - s2, d0

Permavent: Second-Look is available with Permavent™, a unique

microventing technology.

Additives: All Meilleur wallcoverings are treated with additives to

help guard against mould and mildew growth.

Low VOC: Indoor air quality (product meets USA 01350 California

section Indoor air quality) Meets State of WA Bldg. Specification for

indoor air quality

USGBC LEED Support:

• MR -Materials & Resources -Recycled content

• MR -Materials & Resources -Construction waste management

• EQ -Indoor Environmental Quality – Low-emitting materials

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• Winner of five industry awards• Cadmium- and mercury-free• Mould and mildew control• Recyclable• 154 SKUs to choose from.

green adheSiveSAlthough architects and interior designers are excited to use about using the eco-friendly wallpaper, one is often led to ask: “But what about the adhesive?” Wall Design’s exclusive range of adhesives, called Wallfix, was developed exclusively for Wall Design product solutions. These adhesives are manufactured in Germany, they are non-hazardous and contain anti-fungal additives to help prevent mould build-up. The primary ingredient in Wallfix is potato starch, which makes it eco-friendly and ideal for use when installing Wall Design products.

vinyL-Free waLLcoveringSWall Design also offers the Pure range, which is 90% vinyl-free and Pure Passion, which is 100% vinyl-free. Both of these ranges are also solvent-free, and water-based inks and topcoatings without lead, cadmium or mercury are used. “BN vinyls are anti-static, easy to clean and help to minimise the opportunity for build-up and proliferation of common indoor air pollutants,” adds Van der Bank.

printaBLe waLLpaper“There is an increasing demand for printable wallpaper. Many clients are requesting blank canvasses for branding and biomimicry designs,” says Van der Bank before adding that this solution is also available from BN International, which boasts an ISO 14001 backing for this product.

FiBre gLaSS The fibre glass wallcoverings that Wall Design distributes are also produced in an also ISO 14001 factory in Austria. “This is a sustainable product and serves well in high-traffic areas – for instance, staircases,” comments Van der Bank.

“Our designer ranges from BN International are produced in the Netherlands. The production facilities and laboratory follow strict governmental regulations as BN is subject to rules and regulations according to the International Pollution Prevention Certificate (IPPC). Additionally, BN is ISO 14001 and IGI certified,” says Van der Bank.

Wall Design’s national sales manager, Theresa Mackenzie, comments: “At Wall Design, we are committed to providing sustainable solutions to the building interiors market. Our solutions are backed by a good environmental policy and we offer a full range of environmentally friendly products, including adhesives, as well as our exclusive range of profes-sional German application tools from Mako GmbH, Germany.”

For more information, A4 samples, or for an appointment to view Wall Design’s range of wallcoverings, contact sales manager Theresa Mackenzie.

Wall DesignTel: 011 704 9780 Fax: 011 704 9790 E-mail: [email protected]

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Roller shutters are the ‘front door’ of choice for most shop fronts, whether located in a shopping centre or on a street corner. They can serve a multitude of functions, depending on the shop’s location, risk profile and purpose. Leading roller shutter manufacturer Roll-Up Serranda lists these questions to ask when specifying or choosing roller shutters for your next project:

1 Is there a preferred curtain style? National chains prefer to conform to a uniform style, specifying the identical roller shutter for all stores

nationwide. Independent stores usually have free reign, and designers or developers should ask their supplier for several different options so that they can find the one that conveys the right image.

2 How much visibility is required? The latest trend in shopping is see-through curtain designs. This encourages window-shopping and

is also a security feature as patrolling guards can see into the store, even through the door. In high-risk areas, however, it may be better to select a solid steel door with no visibility.

3 Does the location of the store dictate a need for added security? All roller shutters provide a measure of security, but stores exposed to

a high risk in terms of crime may need a little something extra. Roll-Up Serranda offers double-walled, solid steel roller shutters for this purpose. Not only do they prevent passers-by from seeing into the shop, but they’re also exceedingly difficult to break through.

4 Are there other dangers to consider? For example, the shop may be in a high-wind area, or perhaps the activities of the store increase

the risk of fire breaking out. Specialist roller shutters are the answer here, as they’re designed to withstand gale-force winds, or will close automati-cally in the event of fire. Others are manufactured to seal off gas leaks or withstand a petrol bomb attack.

5 Does the roller shutter require automation? The operating modes range from manual to automated to semi-intelligent. Roller shutters

operated with a semi-intelligent system open and close without human interference, for example on a timer or linked to fire alarms.

According to Roll-Up Serranda, the final point to consider is after-sales service. Roller shutters are designed to be extremely robust, but are of-ten exposed to vandals, weathering, rough operators, accidental damage, attempted break-ins and other unexpected incidents. Dependable after-sales service is therefore critical. A manufacturer like Roll-Up Serranda that has been installing its products for over 50 years can be relied on to assist with repairs and maintenance when accidents happen.

Roll-Up SerrandaTel: 011 494 5809Email: [email protected]: www.rollup.co.za

Questions to ask when choosing a roller shutter for your shop front

roLL-up Serranda roLLer ShutterS:• Can be manufactured for any size opening• Offer a choice of key-holder options• Take up very little floor space• Are custom-made for the best possible fit• Are a dual-purpose security door and wall

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Design Syndicate’s new paintable Patent Décor 3D range has introduced a new dimension of interior design to the local industry. This versatile wall covering creates a distinctive three-dimensional effect due to the pattern granules that amplify the colour and add impressive light and shadow to the surface.

The wallcovering uses the bas-relief technique, together with diverse styling elements, such as floral trellis, minimalist stripe, retro and free forms to add an exclusive and personal character to any interior space.

For maximum visual impact, all patterns are printed on 9794 Patent Décor smooth, non-woven fleece – a heavy, premium, non-woven substrate that ensures the seamless integration of smooth and designed surfaces. The patterns can be applied horizontally or vertically, with the plain lengths of 9794 Patent Décor then applied in the same direction and followed by a coat of solvent-free, opaque, low-viscosity latex or dispersion paint.

induLge your creativity with imported waLL treatmentSDesign Syndicate is a leader in commercial and elite, high-fashion wall-coverings. The Patent Décor 3D is one of many imported collections that the company offers the African market.

All of the company’s ranges are designed and manufactured interna-

tionally, delivering a variety of styles and the best quality worldwide. Design Syndicate’s Johannesburg showroom showcases numerous product ranges, allowing customers to experience its luxury products to ensure the best selection for each application. The company also distributes its elite wallcoverings in Pretoria, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town via qualified agents.

Design Syndicate was established in 1976 and has been providing products to the hospitality, corporate, entertainment and a number of other industries in South Africa. The company also offers the widest range of “Special Imports Sample Books” for clients with more exotic tastes.

Having represented such renowned brands as Anaglypta from Crown and Zoffany Vinyls, Design Syndicate continues to make the creations of top designers, such as Zaha Hadid and Ulf Moritz, accessible to the local market.

Design Syndicate WallcoveringsTel: 011 434 1330Fax: 011 434 1678E-mail: [email protected]

New 3D Paintable wall covering range

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036 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

3D wallcoverings launched into SA marketDesign Syndicate, a Gauteng-based walling specialist, imports, stocks, distributes and installs innovative wallcoverings all over South Africa. The company recently launched the new Patent Décor 3D wallpaper into to the local market. This décor solution brings a room to life with its unique three-dimensional effect, achieved through the bas-relief technique.

Patent Décor 3D wallpaper enables greater freedom in the design of interior spaces due to the fact that it is paintable as well as available in a variety of patterns to complement the creative concept.

Characterised by ornaments reminiscent of cast-iron artistry, the array of floral trellis, puristic, minimalist stripe, oriental Zen circle, retro, modern, free form and romantic elliptical patterns ensures the presence of a focal point in any space.

creating a three-dimenSionaL eFFectThe granular texture of the patterns amplifies the colour of the paint thereby creating the distinctive three-dimensional effect, while an impres-sive play of light and shadow adds an exclusive and personal character to every room.

Patterns can be applied horizontally or vertically, depending on project re-quirements and individual design preference. Enhancing the visual impact by contrasting the bas-reliefs with classy, smooth surfaces, all patterns are printed on a heavy, premium, non-woven substrate, ensuring that smooth and designed surfaces are always seamlessly integrated.

Design Syndicate WallcoveringsTel: 011 434 1330Fax: 011 434 1678E-mail: [email protected]

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038 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

O N L I N E a breezeLeading paint manufacturer Versus Paint has launched a website that makes purchasing paint on the internet simple, quick and efficient. The websites www.versuspaintonline.co.za and www.paintyourhouse.co.za not only showcase the company’s broad range of colours, but also allow homeowners to send a photograph of their house so that Versus’ team of experts can work out an exciting design and combination for each individual project.

After a photo has been submitted, the colour suggestions will then be forwarded via e-mail so that customers can choose the ideal colour in the comfort of their own home and order 1-litre samples that will be delivered free of charge. Not only do they have the convenience of shopping online but also the peace of mind that they have chosen correctly.

According to Liz Hillock, head of marketing for the Market-place, a division of Kalahari.net, South Africans are taking the next step in online shopping and starting to buy and sell products online. Versus Paint has anticipated this trend in the paint manufacturing market and set up the above-mentioned websites that will put them at the forefront of this new channel of distribution.

“Versus Paint recognises that both currently and certainly in the future customers will look towards the internet as a convenient channel of distribution. Versus Paint supplies top-quality products and can offer design and colour advice to meet any needs,” said a spokesperson at the company.

Versus Paint is well known in the commercial markets and they have been instrumental in providing paint solutions for some of South Africa’s leading building projects in the last ten years. They have a range of their own colours selected from international trends and can also match all colour offerings from any leading paint manufacturer.

The company is primarily a specialist manufacturer and master applicator of paints and superior decorative wall finishes. Apart from their decorative and aesthetic value, Versus coatings offer superior protection to surfaces due to their strength, thickness and durability. Versus also employs a modern approach to eco-friendly paint innovation and coating technologies and embraces contemporary trends in design and construc-tion of exceptional building projects.

Versus PaintTel: 011 885 3136Email: [email protected] Website: www.versuspaint.co.zawww.autospec.co.za

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Low-e homeSAccording to www.inhabitat.com, Zero Emissions Design (ZERO-E) goes beyond merely lessening a building’s impact and actually contributes to the healing of compromised human and ecological systems. Interna-tional architecture firm, Woods Bagot and engineering consultancy Buro Happold announced a ZERO-E design model for large-scale sustainable development at the 2010 Bloomberg Business Week Global Green Business Summit in Shanghai.

The team has created a ZERO-E pilot study project for a typical master-planned development in China to put their research and theories to the test. “The construction industry has known for some time that increas-ing the sustainability of buildings and cities is key to turning the tide on climate change,” says Ross Donaldson, Global Executive Chairman of Woods Bagot (www.woodsbagot.com).

“The ZERO-E pilot project confirms that, by using the expertise and tools available to us today, far greater advances in building perform-ance—those that comprise Zero Emissions Design – are currently within the industry’s capabilities. This joint initiative is not only an entirely new model for sustainable design, it is also a call to action and an invitation to our development and construction partners to join us as we lead the way to a truly sustainable future.”

do Leed BuiLdingS reaLLy Save energy?LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is a globally recognised green building certification system from the US Green Building Council. Henry Gifford, a building scientist specialising in energy efficiency, recently launched a research paper entitled “A Better Way to Rate Green Buildings”. Although this debate is not new, Gifford presents some important points.

“What has been created is the image of energy-efficient buildings, but not actual energy efficiency,” says Gifford. “After years of people asking questions, the USGBC commissioned the New Buildings Institute of Vancouver, Washington, to conduct the first broad study of how much energy LEED-rated buildings actually used.”

According to the results of the study “on average, LEED buildings are 25-30% more efficient than non-LEED buildings”, but Gifford says that this figure is wrong for a number of reasons.

“First of all, the buildings studied were not a random sample. Letters were sent to the LEED representatives for all 552 buildings that had been certified at that point. 250 responses were received, but complete energy data was obtained from only 121 of the respondees, leaving a sample of only 22% of the total number of certified buildings. This sample appears to constitute only those owners or operators of LEED-certified build-

The future of low-e buildings in South AfricaDuring the next few decades, cities in developing countries are projected to absorb all the population growth expected worldwide, says the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Our increased demand on available resources and the unstable energy environment have caused architects and design professionals to change the way they design, incorporate energy-efficiency measures, as well as guide clients on how to create more sustainable environments.

041Vol 11.7 | October 2010

ings who were willing to divulge their energy use data, which is a little like making generalizations about drivers’ blood alcohol levels from the results of people who volunteer for a roadside breathalyser test,” explains Gifford in his report.

eSkom’S view on energy eFFiciencyDhevan Pillay, Senior Manager at Eskom’s Demand Side Management Project, says that everyone has a different idea of what energy manage-ment is and that professionals from the construction industry will have to take various issues into consideration.

“People think energy management is about going into a building and replacing inefficient light bulbs with energy-efficient ones, but you can do this as a first step and when it is time to replace the bulbs in two years’ time, another person replaces them with inefficient bulbs and you are back to square one. The key challenge is to achieve sustainable energy management and the only way to do this is to ensure that organisations have energy management strategies and policies in place that drive and align the various aspects of energy management. It’s not about changing bulbs and air-conditioning systems; energy management is about having a holistic approach towards energy efficiency,” says Pillay.

According to Pillay, the hospitality industry, corporate sector as well as residential market get approached by people selling energy management systems and products that do not do what they claim. “There is a level of mistrust in the industry because a lot of people knock on your door or come and give a sales pitch about energy efficiency and this can confuse the buyer. Another problem is that people remain loyal to products and they would rather continue buying the same products they have been buying for years than upgrade to a newer energy-efficient technology,” says Pillay.

Pillay explains that South Africa is still lagging behind the rest of the world when it comes to energy-efficiency initiatives in buildings. “There are a lot of inefficiencies in South Africa and we are playing catch-up with regard to the global energy management sector.

The greatest barrier at the moment is the perceived capital cost of energy management systems – people keep looking at the once-off cost and don’t take the lifecycle costs into consideration,” says Pillay. “Then there is the problem of competency. People may recognise that they need an energy manage-ment system but they are not sure who to approach or how to get these systems. The right people need to be on top of these initiatives.”

In March, Gauteng launched an Integrated Energy Strategy to reduce overall energy consumption by 18% from business-as-usual projections and reduce CO

2 emissions by 49% (in relation to 2007 levels) by 2055.

The development of the strategy took over a year and it is spearheaded by the Department of Local Government and Housing. Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said that clean technologies and renewable energy could contribute 47% of Gauteng’s energy by 2055.

energy eFFiciency verSuS capitaL coStSAccording to Green Technologies, a smart metering company in Gauteng, one still needs to assess whether the savings of energy-efficiency products outweigh the capital cost of acquiring them.

“Green solutions need to be economically viable and technologies

“Professionals in the built environment industry have been found to overestimate the costs of green design and construction by more than 300%!” – Frost & Sullivan

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Continues on page 42

According to Green Tech, an energy auditing company in Gauteng,

one still needs to assess whether the savings of energy efficiency

products outweigh the capital cost of acquiring them.

Energy Ef f ic iency

042 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

available are often still in their infancy. The conflicting information involved in making such decisions can often lead to ineffective economic choices,” says Green Technologies managing director Shalin Govender.

“The key to taking advantage of energy-efficient products is to weigh up the total cost of implementing the changes verses the total savings they provide. Such a comparison can only be drawn up through an energy audit using sophisticated measuring tools. When analysing the meas-urements or data, a true cost and saving can be projected and a fully informed investment decision can be made,” says Govender.

Frikkie Malan, Business Development Executive of Energy Cybernetics, says that one of the challenges in South Africa is that consumers are often relying on suppliers of energy equipment to do energy audits and this might in some cases compromise the independence of the proposed solution. “Fortunately the situation is improving through greater industry skills development and training of certified independent auditors. It is im-portant that energy efficiency must independently audited as an integral part of the overall efficiency and cost management of a business, building or industrial plant. One needs a holistic approach when it comes to implementing energy management projects. An independent consultative approach will ensure that real energy efficiency solutions are considered rather than interventions proposed while being skewed towards the objective to sell a specific equipment solution,” says Malan.

market reSearch ShowS market iS poiSed For growthLeading growth consulting company Frost & Sullivan agrees that the South African market for green buildings is still in its infancy, but that it is poised for rapid growth. Sustained development in this market would be ensured through collaboration between government, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

“Our recent analysis of the South African green building market found that this market, whilst still in its infancy, has high potential for growth,” says Frost & Sullivan environmental technologies analyst David Winter. “The growth in membership of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) indicates that the South African market is responding well to green building initiatives.”

Otto Hagar, managing director of Iskhus Power says that more companies are realizing that saving power has a huge influence on their bottom line. “Energy-intensive industries are starting to feel the consequences of Eskom’s rate hike as well as the result of wasting energy,” says Hagar.

“A holistic approach that takes all the possible renewable energy solutions, reducing the building’s energy demand and incorporating new technologies is needed and companies are increasingly seeking out new solutions that are green and reduce their bottom line,” says Hagar.

gBcSa market Size and growth rateSIt is interesting to note that the South African market for green buildings had one certified building in 2009, but the increase in the number of members joining the GBCSA can be interpreted as an indication of market awareness, which has seen membership rates growing exponentially since 2008. During 2010 the number of members is expected to surpass 1 000.

The launch of the Green Star SA rating system led to a race amongst South African companies to achieve the first certified rating. In 2009, four companies had registered with the GBCSA for certification and during 2010 an additional 26 are expected to register.

Source: www.frost.com

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Continued from page 41

Continues on page 44

In March, Gauteng launched an Integrated Energy Strategy to reduce overall

energy consumption by 18% from business-as-usual projections and reduce

CO2 emissions by 49% (in relation to 2007 levels) by 2055.


044 Vol 11.7 | October 2010Solar Shading Industries is the sole Southern Africa distributers of Colt Solar Shading Systems Technology and Products

GautenGTel: +27 11 608 4640 • Fax: +27 11 608 4643

Chris Edwards: 082 855 9776Email: [email protected]

Eric Whelan: 082 452 2257Email: [email protected]

Kwa Zulu natalTel: +27 31 307 4640Fax: +27 31 304 6640

Ron Burns: 082 936 0562Email: [email protected]

Fixed Solar Shading Systems • Fixed & Controllable Solar Shading • acoustic louvres

Glass Solar Shading Systems • Screening louvres, Rain Defence & Performance louvres

green conStruction materiaLS SuppLierS target Large cLientSAccording to Frost & Sullivan, a number of market leaders within the con-struction materials sector have also introduced green building materials and continue to tailor their product offerings to address a growing local demand. However, most of these early adopters are the market leaders in their respective industries and target large clients for whom social responsibility is a key corporate strategy.

A strong legislative environment, supported by sufficient financial incentives, has been found to be the most important factor in driving and sustaining the development of green building markets. Highly developed and rapidly growing green building markets, such as those in Asia, are strongly supported by strict legislation and regulatory environments.

“Financial incentives in the form of tax credits and exemptions to green building consumers can promote the purchase of green equipment, as well as encourage the innovation and development of product durability and quality from suppliers,” says Winter.

conStruction and deSign chaLLengeSFrost & Sullivan says that one of the biggest challenges is that profession-als in the built environment industry have been found to overestimate the costs of green design and construction by more than 300%!

Also, the initial cost of design and construction is often the only consideration when debating green design, and little attention is given to the cost and energy savings potential of that design over the lifecycle of the building.

next generation hvac SyStemSIn a presentation entitled “The New Generation of Super-Efficient HVAC Systems”, Peter Rumsey, principal of Rumsey Engineers, told Architectural Record’s innovation conference that one of the most daunting challenges facing architects and engineers in their struggle to deliver net-zero energy buildings is a four-letter acronym: HVAC (www.archrecord.com).

According to Rumsey, these systems account for 25-50% of a

building’s total energy use and the key is to accept that VAV reheating systems are a solution “of the past” and that we should “throw them away and start afresh. We need to be looking at completely different mechanical systems.”

Some of these reheating systems include:• Night sky: Water is sprayed on a roof at night and the chilled water is used to cool the building during the day.• Radiant heating and cooling: According to Rumsey, these systems should appeal to architects because small pipes are used instead of design-ruining, large ducts.• Night flushing: Using chilled night-time air to flush the heat of a building.• Larger ducts: This option is for architects who can handle the design implications.• Natural ventilation: In areas where the climate allows this option.

Rumsey concluded his presentation by saying that better HVAC systems are not about creating energy-stingy, but uncomfortable, spaces – but about making fundamentally better buildings. “Truly integrated design means engineers and architects getting together in the process to discuss how systems will affect each other,” said Rumsey before citing a building in California that, instead of being done in the standard steel, was done in concrete when the architect realised, in consultation with the engineer, that this material would allow a much simpler and cheaper HVAC system (www.archrecord.com).

Some of the rules that Rumsey gave the crowd at Architectural Record’s conference include:• Achieve elegant solutions through simple engineering• Use passive energy sources where possible• Right-size buildings• Where possible, use controls, but beware of controls that are so complicated that they don’t get used.

Walls & Roofs would like to give to give thanks and acknowledgement to Dhevan Pillay from Eskom, Shalin Govender from Green Technologies and Frikkie Malan from Energy Cybernetics for the information contained in this article.

Additional sources: www.archrecord.com, www.inhabitat.com, www.woodsbagot.com, www.un.org.

“Truly integrated design

means engineers and architects getting together in the process

to discuss how systems will affect each other”

Continued from page 42

Solar Shading Industries is the sole Southern Africa distributers of Colt Solar Shading Systems Technology and Products

GautenGTel: +27 11 608 4640 • Fax: +27 11 608 4643

Chris Edwards: 082 855 9776Email: [email protected]

Eric Whelan: 082 452 2257Email: [email protected]

Kwa Zulu natalTel: +27 31 307 4640Fax: +27 31 304 6640

Ron Burns: 082 936 0562Email: [email protected]

Fixed Solar Shading Systems • Fixed & Controllable Solar Shading • acoustic louvres

Glass Solar Shading Systems • Screening louvres, Rain Defence & Performance louvres


046 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

After great success in retail, commercial and industrial applications, Lambdaboard is currently increasing its market share in the domestic ceiling market. Being a lightweight material, it is easy to install. Lambdaboard also has a width of 1220mm and excellent spanning properties, making it simple to install when using wider support beams while simultaneously reducing labour costs.

“Lambdaboard is a two-in-one solution, because it is a ceiling as well as an insulation product,” says Duncan Goldsmith, managing director of Rigifoam.

“One of the reasons why Lambdaboard is specified for a variety of domestic applications is the product’s high temperature resistance. Due to this feature, there are no limitations to the down-lighters that can be used. With other insulation solutions, it can happen that the down-lighters melt due to the heat,” explains Goldsmith.

cSir houSing project in the weStern capeThe Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has approved Lambdaboard for one of its housing projects. “Breekon Construction is currently erecting over 400 houses in the Western Cape where Lambda-board is being installed as a ceiling,” says Goldsmith.

“Lambdaboard is a user-friendly product and installation is made easy due to the fact that the boards are cut to length by the supplier,” says Don Richards, Project Manager of Breekon construction. “One can notice the indoor temperature differences in houses that have been fitted with Lambdaboard,” says Richards.

SeamLeSS FiniSheSCollaboration with Plascon has allowed for a seamless finish in a ceiling application – the surface is paintable and no steel support is required to fix the board to the underside of the roof trusses. “Lambdaboard is very thin, allowing the architect more design flexibility. The closed-cell insula-tion is also water-resistant, ensuring that no black marks appear on the ceiling due to moisture damage and roof leaks,” says Goldsmith.

“As the board does not lie in between the roof trusses there are reduced insulation heat bridges which can account for up to 10% of surface area. With the new SANS legislation coming into effect, all these scenarios have to be taken into account. Lambdaboard offers the ideal solution for energy efficiency, ease of use as well as aesthetic appeal,” concludes Goldsmith.

RigifoamTel: 011 421 0313 Fax: 011 421 0410E-mail: [email protected]: www.rigifoam.com

Easy to install insulation solutionsSince Rigifoam launched Lambdaboard in 2008, its acceptance as a premium insulation product has continued to grow. Being a thermoset material, it has unlimited applications, from roof liner, ceiling, cavity wall and underfloor insulation. The product’s dimensional stability also allows for applications from minus 40oC to 140oC.

The CSIR is currently installing Lambdaboard insulation in over 400 houses in the

Western Cape as part of a housing project.

“Lambdaboard is a two-in-one solution, because it is a ceiling as well as an

insulation product,” says Duncan Goldsmith, managing director of Rigifoam.


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050 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

The sophisticated design features modern rooms that have large windows of clear glass. Although the aesthetic appeal of glass windows was of paramount importance to the design professionals and the client, the extreme light and heat passing through these windows rendered the rooms unusable. The fact that these spaces weren’t being hired out affected the building’s bottom line.

AlternAtives for reducing heAtIn order to reduce the heat in the rooms (as well as manage the CAFAM Conference Center’s energy bill), a local LLumar Window Film distribu-tor proposed the installation of a unique, dark window film specially designed for flat glass – DL-05G SR CDF. The product is unique and ideally suited for the application. According to the installers, the owners were delighted to hear that they had an alternative to curtains or glass replacement, which would have impacted the modern look the windows helped provide.

Upon installation, the owners of the CAFAM Conference Center commented on how exceptional the results of the project were.

While the exterior of the building maintained its sleek, modern appearance, the interior became dramatically more comfortable. The film eliminated excessive heat and glare, enabling the rooms with windows to be rented. The owners praised the professionalism of the LLumar distributor and his installers and said the benefits of the film paid for the project in no time.

Project detAilsBuilding: CAFAM Conference CenterLocation: Bogotá, ColombiaFilm: DL-05G SR CDF (Gray)Type: Solar Control Film

LLumar Tel: 011 321 8040Fax: 011 324 8045E-mail: [email protected]: www.llumar.co.za

Energy management for modern glass installations The CAFAM Conference Center in Bogotá, Colombia, received a new building that was intended to provide state-of-the-art rental space for meetings and conferences, offering more than 25 different rooms and layouts for a variety of corporate needs.


One of Chryso’s popular new generation admixtures was recently added to NPC Concrete for the mix used by Stefanutti Stocks Civils KwaZulu-Natal in the construction of the incrementally launched bridge deck of the new R70-million King Shaka International Airport interchange.

The company’s Chrysofluid Optima 175 super-plasticiser formed part of the concrete mix to enhance workability and reduce the water content of the concrete. “Optima 175 is a super-plasticiser, formulated from polycar-boxylate and modified phosphonate,” explains Vishnu Beeput, regional manager of Chryso’s KwaZulu-Natal branch.

“It has been developed to considerably reduce the water content of a concrete mix and increase workability without comprising setting time. The product is especially suitable for readymix and fluid concretes which require high short- and long-term strengths.”

Rolf Schutte of NPC-Cimpor, who designed the concrete mix for the bridge, comments: “Not only was highly workable concrete with low shrinkage and high early strength a necessity, but extended workability was also needed for the sometimes slow discharge times. The use of the admixture proved most successful,” said Schutte.

eAsy-to-use surfAce retArdersDeco Lav PO5 surface retarder, which forms part of the Deco Lav P range of positive aqueous surface retarders, was also supplied for the project. The product, which is operator- and environment-friendly, delays the hydration of cement on exposed surfaces of concrete. After cleaning the

treated surface, the aggregate in the concrete is exposed.“No solvents are used in the formulation of Deco Lav, making it easier

to use. It is also not necessary to protect any surrounding area, except for painted façades and porous surfaces,” Beeput added.

Bruce Ivins, Site Agent for Stefanutti Stocks Civils KZN, says the Chryso Deco Lav PO5 surface retarder helped tremendously in saving time in completing the various construction joints at the interchange. “Use of the surface retarder reduced the equipment and manpower required for the preparation of the various joints,” concludes Ivins.

Chryso SATel: 011 395 9700E-mail: [email protected]: www.chryso.com

New admixtures enhance workability of interchange concrete

Construction of one of the bridge decks for the incrementally launched

King Shaka International Airport interchange, north of Durban.


052 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

“The steel-framed housing market is beginning to gain popularity in South Africa. This has led to more professionals from the building industry taking note of the thermal values and accousticvalues of various construction materials.”

ThermocousTex, a noise-resistant barrier insulation solution by Frame Industrials, has shown good acoustic, thermal and fire performance and it conforms to both SANS 428 (fire regulations) as well as SANS 204 (thermal regulations).

The barrier insulation has also been tried and tested and it does not contribute to flame spread. “ThermocousTex improves acoustics for a better working environment and it also saves on energy bills by reducing heat losses and air-conditioning,” says Datel.

cost imPlicAtions“The cost implications of complying with the new regulations vary from R12 500 to R27 500 extra on a house of 150m², which equates to

between R210 and R450 per month over five years. These costs, along with the predicted electricity price increases, make it financially sensible to insulate even without legislation,” explains Datel.

ThermocousTex can offer the following for steel-framed housing:• Cavity wall insulation• Walling products to reduce the noise coming through the walls• Roof insulation• Ceiling insulation (for both skimmed ceilings or lay-on insulation)

“The product’s ease of handling and installation has made it popular amongst specifiers and developers in the construction industry. It is also a low-maintenance product which is ideal for public areas such as airports and the hospitality industry,” says Datel.

ThermocousTex’s ease of handling, installation and long-term main-tenance are also some of the reasons that professionals specify this product for high-profile projects. The product has been tried and tested and its application and quality have proven the long-term benefits of using this product to the construction industry.

“Besides Gautrain, we have been involved in a number of recent high-profile projects,” says Datel. “ThermocousTex is very proud to have contributed to a number of projects that have been important to the success of the World Cup, such as Soccer City, King Shaka Airport, Cape Town International Airport and Holiday Inn hotels,” concludes Datel.

Frame IndustrialsTel: 0861 DATLINKEmail: [email protected]: www.ThermocousTex.co.za

Insulating steel-frame constructions with barrier insulationAccording to Thomas Datel, of ThermocousTex, the increased popularity of steel-framed housing has led to a new range of challenges for design professionals and people in the construction industry.

ThermocousTex’s ease of handling, installation and long-term maintenance

are also some of the reasons that professionals specify this product

for high-profile projects.


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054 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

At the recent GBCSA (Green Building Council of South Africa) Annual Convention, held in Cape Town, South Africa’s Green Building Council announced significant progress in rolling out a Green Star Multi-Unit Resi-dential rating tool, (scheduled for year-end in pilot form), and progress towards the Existing Buildings rating tool. The Existing Buildings tool is dependent on the adoption of a national energy benchmarking system as a first step.

green mAteriAl choices for designersEnergy performance, with the use of appropriate building materials, is critically important to the designer’s range of green building choices. With this in mind, a South African thermal insulating material manufacturer and marketer has been promoting the use of a cellulose-based product, based on the following attributes, all of which will contribute significantly to a favourable rating of building projects – “designed” and “as built”.

This brand – Eco-Insulation – has vigorously positioned itself at the forefront of thermal and acoustic insulation green performance:• A low embodied-energy content is a key element in classifying building materials as sustainable or green.• As a recycled building material, the product has a very low environmental impact and low embodied energy due to a low-energy manufacturing process. • The thermal insulating property of the product, once installed, is excellent – considerably benefiting the energy performance of the whole building. In certain building designs, buildings have been observed to be up to 8 - 10 ºC cooler under extreme summer conditions, and considerably warmer in winter.• Eco-Insulation is made from 100% recycled newsprint. • It is readily recycled when no longer needed in situ.• The product is one of few insulating materials to be fully biodegradable. In cases where downcycling is the only choice, it can be put to use in a number of agricultural applications.• Eco-Insulation is a zero-emission product. This is a major advantage over the various glass, plastic and composite offerings in the market.

Eco-Insulation founder Cecil Homan says that, in America, cellulose insulation competes on an equal footing with traditional glass-based insulation products due to the fact that it has excellent R-values and numerous advantages.

in cAse of fireIt offers positive safety side-effects in cases of fire. Studies have shown that cellulose may actually protect a building from damage by fire because it is denser and limits the oxygen necessary to burn structural members. It also acts as a massive heat sink. Treated with an environ-mentally friendly, naturally occurring fire-retardant, Eco-Insulation is fire-tested and officially rated as B/B1/2, meaning no spread of flame.

Acoustic ProPertiesNoise reduction, another important characteristic, is achieved in a simple way. Firstly, cellulose fills cavities by nearly 100%, leaving few air pockets for sound to traverse. Secondly, cellulose materials are able to trap air within a much denser substrate, thus absorbing sound.

“Advertising a product as being “SABS-tested” does not mean that the product is approved under SABS codes. Only products carrying the SABS mark comply with the relevant standard,” warns Homan. Eco-Insulation is approved under SABS 1381-6 and therefore displays the SABS mark.

Eco-Insulation agents are fully fledged sub-contractors and can be involved in both new and retrofitting projects and they are able to offer a full turnkey service.

Eco-InsulationTel: 021 555 3766Website: www.eco-insulation.co.zaBlog: www.eco-insulation.blogspot.com

Using sustainable insulation for your green star ratingWith the release of the Green Building Council of South Africa’s certification for sustainable buildings, a number of progressive developers and architects are designing more sustainable buildings or even gunning for a Green Star Rating. Materials consumed or used in the building process is one of nine major categories of evaluation, hence increasing relevance for green building materials. Other significant categories, related directly or indirectly to the performance of materials, include emissions and energy.

The user-friendly product is pumped into a ceiling by qualified sub-contractors.

Cellulose insulation that is made from recycled newsprint is environmentally

friendly and biodegradable.


055Vol 11.7 | October 2010

Every year, companies from all over the globe flock to Italy to showcase the latest technologies, trends and advances in the tiling industry. This year’s Cersaie exhibition was held in Bologna trade fair complex from 28 September – 2 October 2010. Over 82,000 visitors attended the exhibition 510 companies presented their latest innovations.

International trends at the 2010 tile exhibition

“This year saw a lot of walling products, exciting new trends and advanced production technologies,” says Marlene van Rooyen, Walls & Roofs editor. Van Rooyen spent a week in Italy to find out which international trends are making waves and getting architects and design professionals talking.

“Cersaie 2010 was very focused on, amongst other things, green products and sustainability. Many of the exhibitors boasted recycled content in their tiles as well as anti-bacterial tiles, tiles with air-cleaning properties, photovoltaic panelling and new processes that use less water, closed-loop zero-emission production plants and processes that virtually eliminate any waste,” says Van Rooyen.

“Our companies are continuing to invest in new technologies and new products,” said Franco Manfredini, Charman of Confindustria Ceramica. In 2008, investments in new technologies and products in the tiling industry amounted to €204-million and last year this amount climbed to €250-million, which equals more than 5% of the tiling sector’s turnover.

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consistency And hArmonyOne of the trends at this year’s exhibition was “constancy” – which basically refers to the consistency and harmony of the tiles. The tiles are larger and thinner than ever, with some of them even being used as sliding doors. Many of the tiles are 3m long, which no longer puts them in the tile category and which is why they are referred to as slabs. Florim Solutions also presented 80cm x 80cm and 120cm x 120cm tiles that help create a sense of spaciousness and openness within an area.

Laminam, for example, presented their giant 3m x 1m tiles that were only 3mm thick. Many of the tile ranges presented at the exhibition have a modular collection, which enables designers to incorporate varying tile sizes in a single application to create interesting visual effects. Tile manufacturers also launched these modular tiles in various colours and shades which create fascinating mosaic-looking wall decorations.“The tiles are becoming an architectural element and design professionals are starting to see ceramic tiles as indispensable décor. A lot of the tile companies are promoting the concept of wellness, with their products

adding to a spa-like atmosphere within your space,” says Van Rooyen.Endless varieties of textures, mosaics, finishes and sizes were avail-

able at the show. One of the latest trends in wall tiles is using different shapes to mix and match tiles in order to create a beautiful effect.

differing dePths, textures And technology“Wood effect, stone effect, resin, fabric imitations, indented and partially polished tiles as well as tiles with digital prints are all being cut into various shapes, sizes and thicknesses. The tile presses used during the production processes are becoming bigger so that manufacturers have more modular flexibility during production. Some of the decorative tiles are physically raised and textured, while others use 3D technology to imitate a number of textures,” says Van Rooyen.

This new “touch trend” is achieved through the use of textural patterns produced by modern digital printing, photographic or screen printing technology. The different incisions and extrusions add depth to tiles and the textures acquire volume to become structured and non-uniform.

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Vidres S.A. was one of the companies boasting new silk-screen printing technologies at the fair. According to the company, new products made using digital technology are combined with reactive silk-screen printing to create unique products and rich material effects. The silk-screen printing can be applied before the digital decoration of the tile in order to enhance the material effect of the product, or at the end of the process to strengthen its abrasion and acid resistance and enhance the appearance of the finished product.

Some of the other new pieces included glitter grout, which is a metallic glitter that can be added to grouting mortar to achieve dramatic effects, tiles with Swarovski crystals, Turkish-looking tiles filled with golden veins and patterns and beady pearls on top of the tiles.

“Technology is so well developed that tiles have through-colour, where the inside of the tile is coloured so that any cracks into the tile aren’t that apparent,” adds Van Rooyen.

Leading Italian tile company Sicis showcased a magnificent Marilyn Monroe collection, portraying famous portraits and pictures of the legendary icon with tiny mosaic tiles. Photo shoots were repro-duced in a limited numbered edition of 25 pieces only. They supported

this range with a range of city scape mosaics.“Besides all of the eye-catching colours, sizes and prints, there was also

some energy-efficient technology that has the ability to change the way we design,” said Van Rooyen.

High-efficiency photovoltaic surfaces on ceramic sheets that allow per-fect architectural incorporation into roofs and façades were displayed by System Photonics. This development marks the first photovoltaic system that is completely integrated in architectural structures because it com-bines the latest photovoltaic technology into ceramic cladding material. The products are available in 13 different colours and three collections (designed for façades, roofs and street furniture). The south façade of the New Hitbau headquarters in Asten (Austria) has been completely clad using 80m2 of System Photonics photovoltaic sheets capable of producing around 7 000 kWh per year.

“The market continues to demand sustainable technologies and international standards are focusing on minimal environmental impact as well as high efficiency. Cersaie 2010 had more cutting-edge technologies, modern looks and creative innovations than ever before,” concludes Van Rooyen.

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As on a haute couture outfit, an elegant, Paisley pattern is skilfully engraved on white Sivec marble. The characteristically oriental flair of these elegant swirls creates a dimensional bas-relief effect that is always the same yet always different, offering a sophisticated, contemporary expression of the all-white concept.

Imperial Black and White Sivec marbles are given a surprising touch of elegance by the crocodile texture and the visual and tactile sensations it conjures up. Sophisticated and exclusive, this is a solution designed to adorn both walls and other elements.

A new mArble style: clAssicCitco, an Italian tile company, creates exclusive marble creations for customised projects. The company combines marble with today’s modern materials in order to provide bespoke responses to a huge variety of requirements in terms of space, shape and texture.

In some of the Citco’s projects, which range from the hospitality sector to the office, classic marble is blended with original materials; natural veining enhanced with novel shapes, sizes and textures.

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“We have led the market in development for many years and have a long history of success. The construction industry is an extremely diverse sector and we are developing new products with which to grow our representation in this sector,” says TAL sales manager Lance Anderson.

flexibility is A key feAtureTAL Goldstar Sealmaster 1000 has the ability to withstand continuous extension and recovery and the product adheres to most materials. “A common problem with joints is the expansion and contraction of the joint and this is where the product works best,” says Anderson when commenting on the flexibility of the product.

The water-resistant qualities of this innovative tile adhesive make it ideal for sealing around windows and window sills, roof tiles, ceramic tile panel movement joints and as a joint filler in walls. Applications include heavy and light precast panel expansion joints and expansion joints in traditional construction.

Adhesion without PrimerAfter extensive testing, the product proved to have excellent adhesion without primer to aluminium, cement, clay, marble, steel, fibre, brick,

concrete, ceramic tiles, stone, wood, most lacquered metals and polyester. “This feature will significantly reduce cost and time, which are both important factors on any construction site,” explains Anderson.

ideAl for bonding roof tilesTAL Goldstar Sealmaster 1000 is UV-stable, resistant to shock, vibration and temperature changes when cured and it also offers superior resist-ance to abrasion. Another advantage of using this new tile adhesive is that it is resistant to moisture, chemicals and corrosion and it is highly recommended for bonding baked clay and concrete roof tiles.

“TAL Goldstar Sealmaster 1000 is the perfect solution for those jobs requiring a combined adhesive and sealant to bond differing materials. If you have a serious problem, we are serious about solving it,” concludes Anderson.

TAL (a division of Norcros SA)Tel: 011 206 9700 Technical Advice Centre: 0860 000 TAL(825)E-mail: [email protected]

Tile adhesive manufacturer launches new polyurethane sealantTrusted tile adhesives manufacturer TAL has recently introduced a new tiling product, TAL Goldstar Sealmaster 1000, which has a multitude of applications. This flexible, general-purpose, polyurethane-based adhesive and joint sealant forms a permanently flexible, highly elastic and resistant joint.

Goldstar Sealmaster 1000

coverAge310ml cartridge:

Tube (mm) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Length of cord (m) 98 43 24 15 11 8 6 4 3

Packaging: TAL Goldstar Sealmaster 1000 is available in 310ml and 600ml cartridges and is available in white, grey and black.

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Tiletoria is one of the biggest independent tile distributors in South Africa, selling ap-proximately 150 FCLs (Full Container Loads) per month of local and imported products. The company’s vast ranges of porcelain and ceramic tiles are high- quality, durable and aesthetically pleasing, placing their products in the forefront of the architectural and professional design market.

“Our porcelain and ceramic tiles are readily available in large quantities at our

warehouses for immediate delivery,” says Patrick Thonissen of Tiletoria before elaborating on the various considerations a specifier or architect should take into consideration when choosing tiles.

“It is important to remember that porcelain tiles are hard-wearing and these products are ideally suited for the hospitality industry, corporate office parks, as well as high-traffic areas such as shopping centres and entertainment areas,” says Thonissen.

“Tiletoria’s porcelain tiles are available in a variety of colours and textures which are aesthetically pleasing. Porcelain tiles are also hygienic and require very little maintenance.”

cerAmic tiles for innovAtive wAlls“Ceramic tiles on the other hand are fantastic for walls as well as floors in low-traffic applications, but it is important to remember that these tiles are not as hard-wearing as porcelain tiles,” says Thonissen.

According to Thonissen, large-format tiles are becoming very popular within the architectural arena. “Bigger tiles, for example from

80cm x 80cm up to 1m x 60cm in polished or glazed finishes are increasingly specified. Tiles are so versatile – which assists the architect to achieve various architectural building designs, such as modern, contemporary or classic,” says Thonissen.

Architects more AwAre of tiling oPtionsThonissen explains that the architectural market is becoming more informed about the various product options for different applications. “Tiletoria’s clients tend to be very meticulous when selecting tiles and they pay particular attention to assisting their clients with the selection of

tiles for their unique project.Architects know the kind of look and

feel they want from their tiles and what will match the overall design of the building, which is why having a large variety of tiling products is a necessity for a thriving tiling company in South Africa,” concludes Thonissen.

Tiletoria has now opened up two new showrooms: in Northlands Deco Park, Johannesburg; and Six Fountains Lifestyle Centre in Pretoria.

Tiletoria Tel: 021 511 3125 Fax: 021 511 3119 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.tiletoria.co.za

Tips on specifying porcelain and ceramic tiles

The 28th Cersaie, the international exhibition of ceramic tiles, was fully booked months in advance. The Bologna trade fair complex housed 176 000 m2 of exhibition space where over 800 companies from 29 countries displayed the latest technologies, trends and designs.

The tile sector accounted for 49,2% of the exhibition space, while bathroom furnishings took up 38,8% of the space and raw materials occupied 2,7% of the space.

the recovery beginsIn 2008, ceramic tile production dropped by 8,3% owing to the global recession and overall ceramic tiles sales declined 7,7%. At this year’s international tile show, the Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica, Franco Manfredini, reported a small recovery in the Italian tile sector with a 1,7% growth in exports during the first quarter of 2010. Although this is only a modest increase, it points to the beginning of recovery in the ceramic sector.

“In spite of the difficulties and the fact that levels of economic activity were lower than those of 2008, in the second quarter of the year we began to see a trend reversal with respect to the first quarter,” said Manfredini. Exports (-24%, an improvement of 3 percentage points) and the domestic market (-15%, an improvement of 8 percentage points) are both significant indicators.

In 2009, exports from Italy dropped by 19,6%, but exports to America rose by 18,5% during the first quarter of 2010. Manfredini told delegates at Cersaie that the total amount of tiles produced internationally during 2009 was equivalent to an area of 1 720 m2.

“The tile sector, due to its high degree of openness to international markets, is particularly sensitive to global trends, and achieved around 4% growth in export volumes in the first half of 2010 following the continued recovery of more buoyant markets such as those of Asia and North America. This positive figure partly compensates for the 2009 downturn and will hopefully improve even further, especially if the dollar remains at values in line with market fundamentals. Added to this is the fact that average prices in euros are continuing to grow by around 1%, confirming the appreciation of the quality of Italian ceramic tiles in World markets,” said Manfredini.

Italy produced 16,3% of the tiles, Spain produced 13,7%, China accounted for 28,7%, Turkey made 4,8%, Brazil was responsible for 4,2%, Mexico produced 3,2% and other countries made up the rest of the 29,1% of international tile production. The value of last year’s production equalled €10,170-million, proving the industry is continu-ing to excel despite lower levels of building activity in many countries.

cersaie statistics –

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The tile sector, due to its high degree of openness to international markets, is particularly sensitive to global trends, and achieved around

4% growth in export volumes in the first half of 2010 following the

continued recovery of more buoyant markets such as those of

Asia and North America.

The value of last year’s production equalled

€10,170-million, proving the industry is continuing

to excel despite lower levels of building activity in many countries.

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His award-winning designs include democratic objects like the ubiquitous ‘Garbo’ rubbish bin and the ‘Oh’ chair for the Umbra Store; interior designs such as the Morimoto Restaurant in Philadelphia, and the Semiramis Hotel in Athens, in addition to exhibitions for Deutsche Bank and the Audi company.

At Cersaie 2010, Rashid collaborated with TAU-Porcelanatto to develop and promote the “NO-Stalgia” collection. The tiles are vibrant, colourful, unconventional and provocative. According to the representatives at the TAU-Porcelanatto stand, Rashid’s universe is geometry in movement, undulating colour and forms that bring joy and inspiration to the senses.

The “NO-Stalgia” collection colours a contemporary world that is beyond biases and subjective tastes. His designs for TAU-Porcelanatto combine sensuality and fluidity that characterises his work to create environments that are a dream come true.

“Today poetic design is based on a plethora of complex criteria: human experience, social behaviours, global, economic and political issues, form, vision and desire for contemporary culture. Now design is not about solving problems, but about a rigorous beautification of our built environ-ments. Design is about the betterment of our lives poetically, aesthetically, experientially, and emotionally. My real desire is to see people live in the modus of our time, to participate in the contemporary world, and to release themselves,” said Rashid.

The premier line of tiles was officially launched at Coverings in Orlando, Florida, on 28 April. NO-Stalgia is divided into four series – Sensory, Poetic, Emotion and Desire. The tiles are created in 60cm x 60cm format and four colours each. Various lines and formats create dramatic effects and they were created for design professionals who want to deliver an impressive impact.

Designer tiles by Karim RashidKarim Rashid is one of the most prolific designers of his generation. Over 3 000 designs in production, over 300 awards, and work in over 35 countries makes him one of the most sought-after designers in the industry. Karim’s versatility enables him to pollinate ideas, materials, performances, and aesthetics from one typology to another, crossing borders and broadening consumer horizons.

“Today poetic design is based on a plethora of complex criteria:

human experience, social behaviours, global, economic and political issues,

form, vision and desire for contemporary culture.

1. Karim Rashid and TAU-Porcelanatto formed a partnership to create the NO-Stalgia range of tiles. Emotion is a series in this tile range and it is available in fire-orange, grey,

lime and carbon. 2. All the tiles are in 60cm x 60cm format. Desire is one of the series within the range and it is available in violet, jet, grey and lime. 3. Poetic forms part of

the NO-Stalgia’s range of tiles and they are available in blue, aura, pink and midnight. 4. The Sensory series is available in Grey, Nude, Pink and Blue.

1 2 3 4

Light Steel Frame Bui ld ings

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Industry technology and advances in light steel frame buildingsAmericans, Europeans and Australians have been using Light Steel Frame Building (LSFB) as a building method for more than 50 years. Some of the benefits of building LSFB structures include speed of construction, on-site erection and buildings that are indistinguishable from those built using the traditional masonry building methods.

Although South Africa and the rest of Africa are still lagging behind the rest of the world in the uptake of lightweight steel building, the LSFB sector reported growth of 10% in 2009 compared to 2008. Southern African Light Steel Frame Building Association (SASFA) director, John Barnard, explains that the local industry is still in its infancy.

“The South African lightweight steel frame industry is still relatively small compared to the rest of the world,” says Barnard. “We have seen a lot of increased activity over the past few years, and although the building industry slowed down in 2010 the light steel frame sector only indicated a slight decline. Industry expected a three -month standstill due to the Soccer World Cup, but the event turned out to only cause a one-month disruption.”

finAnciAl institutions AccePt lsfb methodsBarnard explains that financial institutions are increasingly willing to grant bonds for LSFB projects. “It is currently difficult to get a bond for any type

of building as banks are much more cautious these days. Banks have strict requirements that need to be satisfied in order to obtain access to a bond. Three of the four large banks in South Africa are already on board to finance light steel frame building projects,” explains Barnard.

sAns 517: lsfb building codeLate in 2009, the LSFB code of the South African Bureau of Standards, SANS 517, was published. The code sets minimum acceptable standards for LSFB and SAFSA was instrumental in the drafting of this standard. SANS 517 covers everything from foundations to wall and roof structures and insulation. According to Barnard, buildings built according to SANS 517:2009 specifications will already comply with the energy efficiency regulations that are required in SANS 204.

“The correct type of insulation and areas where it needs to be installed are precisely stipulated in SANS 517. When drafting the code, we were aware of the SANS 204 legislation that was being drafted, and

External cladding being fixed to light steel wall frames of The Villa mall.


accordingly we designed the insulation specification to comply with the yet unpublished SANS 204,” says Barnard.

In March, SAFSA held specialised training courses in Gauteng, Durban and Cape Town that covered the SANS 517:2009 for LSFB. Barnard said that design engineers were interested in this type of building technology and that the courses were well attended, proving that the industry is growing. SAFSA also offers a half-day course for municipal and National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) inspectors, structural inspectors and appraisers from financial institutions, as well as a 8 day course for building contractors

“Our major goal with these courses is to ensure quality in construc-tion because, if we can prevent poor quality, the industry will continue to grow,” explains Barnard. “We train building inspectors and bank assessors to ensurethat the inspectors know what to look out for, such as the correct anchoring of steel frames on the slab, correct installation of cladding, etc.”

shift in demAndLSFB roof trusses represent a large share of the market, but there is a growing demand for complete building systems. “The capabilities of light steel frame building are gradually changing the mindsets of design professionals, which in turn are increasingly specifying LSFB for their projects,” says Barnard.

“One of the challenges that the industry is experiencing is that builders are not yet always confident enough to price competitively. They build reserves into their pricing, which can escalate quotes for LSFB.. The problem arises when clients feel there should be a financial incentive to shift to a new type of building method. Light steel frame building won’t necessarily be cheaper, but there are a number of benefits and features attached to this building methodology”

Two recent lightweight steel frame projects constructions in South Africa are particularly noteworthy, namely The Villa shopping centre in Pretoria East and a 900m2 residential building in Bela Bela in the Limpopo province.

The Villa mall is a five-level, 90 000m2 shopping centre that is aiming to receive a five-star environmental rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa. After intensive investigationsthe architect Osglo Pretoria (Pty) Ltd and the developer Capicol (Pty) Ltd decided that light steel frame should be used for the internal and external walls for the shopping centre. GDS Development Services (a SAFSA member) won the contract for 72 000m2 of walling and GD Irons Construction is the main contractor.

“Apart from the fact that the external LSF walling offered improved insulation values and faster construction cycles, it also resulted in a con-siderable mass saving. This enabled the designers to use lighter slabs, which in turn reduced the required sizes for the concrete columns, saving further concrete and reinforcing steel. All the mass savings combined also reduced the sizes of the concrete piles used for the foundations. Apart from the obvious cost savings, it also facilitated time savings which in turn resulted in further cost savings,” said Barnard.

Two recent lightweight steel frame projects constructions in South Africa are particularly noteworthy, namely The Villa shopping centre

in Pretoria East and a 900m2 residential building in Bela Bela in the Limpopo province.

Large house under construction near Bela Bela in the Limpopo province.

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“The house in Bela Bela is being built with light steel frames and trusses and it is definitely going to be a showpiece construction,” says Barnard. The light steel frames are being done by SA Steelframe Systems (George) and they are members of SAFSA.

imPorts And exPorts of steel And lightweight steel frAmes Barnard says that certain materials for LSFB are being imported, SASFA urges all practitioners to ensure that the products meet the required SABS quality standards. This will encourage local industry to improve the quality and range of their products and contribute to a world class LSFB industry.

Barnard continues that there have been significant increases in the LSFB industry’s exports into the African markets. “MiTek, for example, has developed an extensive export market for their Ultra-Span light-gauge steel roof trusses into the African market. A significant % of their production of these products is being exported,” says Barnard.

Safintra Building Solutions has also entered the export market. “Safintra recently completed an 800m2 warehouse project in Uganda. The manufacturing and design was done in Durban and the light steel frame was transported to site. South African lightweight steel manufac-turers are in a unique position to provide world-class quality products to the whole of Africa,” concludes Barnard.

Walls & Roofs would like to give thanks and acknowledgement to everyone who contributed information and photographs for this article:• Southern African Institute of Steel Construction • SA Steelframe Systems

Southern African Light Steel Frame Association (SASFA) John Barnard Tel: 011 726 6111 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sasfa.co.za

External cladding being fixed onto a house near Pietermaritzburg.

Steelform SA manufactures staircases precisely according to specification.

Independent structural engineers have analysed and verified the structural integrity of these customised permanent steel shuttering. The lintels are manufactured to ISO 9002 and have been accepted by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).

Steelform’s stairway shuttering has been installed at a number of Gautrain Rapid Rail Link stations in South Africa as well as at commercial developments such as the massive Galleria shopping centre in Amanzimtoti.

Many developers have seen the value of having precise staircases installed within a day because if a product saves you time, it inevitably saves you money. We at Steelform SA call it evolution....

Steelform SATel: 0861 783 676 Fax: 011 452 9308

Website: www.steelform.co.za

EXTRAORDINARY steel shuttering!

CONTACT DETAILS Don’t beleft behind!


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Steelform SA manufactures staircases precisely according to specification.

Independent structural engineers have analysed and verified the structural integrity of these customised permanent steel shuttering. The lintels are manufactured to ISO 9002 and have been accepted by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).

Steelform’s stairway shuttering has been installed at a number of Gautrain Rapid Rail Link stations in South Africa as well as at commercial developments such as the massive Galleria shopping centre in Amanzimtoti.

Many developers have seen the value of having precise staircases installed within a day because if a product saves you time, it inevitably saves you money. We at Steelform SA call it evolution....

Steelform SATel: 0861 783 676 Fax: 011 452 9308

Website: www.steelform.co.za

EXTRAORDINARY steel shuttering!

CONTACT DETAILS Don’t beleft behind!


072 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

The Safal group owns cold-rolling mills, metal-coating lines and a colour-coating line in Kenya and more recently commissioned a plant in Tanzania. The Cato Ridge plant was the result of a comprehensive feasi-bility study conducted in 2006 which showed the need for an alternative steel supplier to the industry and led to an investment of US$ 100-million in the project.

The new 30 000 m2 production facility boasts a pickling line, six high cold-rolling mills and a metal-coating line for aluminium-zinc technology and a colour-coating line. Being situated in Cato Ridge means the plant is

central for distribution to all major regions, as well as the port of Durban for exports to Europe, Central and South America, the Indian Ocean Islands and Australasia. The Safal group intends to import the bulk of its raw materials from Japan, with regard to the Hot Rolled input coils. This strategy guarantees best quality from the top end of the process route.

extending the service life of your roofThe technology used in the new plant is referred to as Aluminium-Zinc coating or Galvalume. This is done under licence to BIEC which is a Blue Scope Steel subsidiary. When used in the correct application, the technol-ogy ensures an extended service life on your roof or general engineer-ing project. The ability of the product to resist the corrosive elements is backed up by a standard group warranty that is available on application.

The metal coat line came on stream during June 2010 and will have the capacity to produce 150 000 tons of ZincAL products per annum. The state-of-the-art colour-coating line has the capacity to paint 100 000 tons of steel per annum and was commissioned during September 2010.

Safal Steel’s vision is to create a higher standard in the roofing market and, as part of their quality reassurance commitment, have implemented a full homologation program of their products and systems to ensure the highest levels of product quality.

The painted product, branded ColorPLUS, will also carry warranties relevant to the type of environment it is exposed to. Whilst most consider the external macro-climate as the major concern of accelerated corrosion, Safal believes that the internal or micro- climate should be given due consideration to avoid the product being incorrectly applied which will result in a reduced service life and increased cost to the industry owner. This element is critical to the success of the roofing system, yet more often than not it is overlooked.

Safal Steel has developed strategic partnerships with two leading paint suppliers to ensure that the end-user enjoys maximum product service life. Safal Steel focuses on developing positive partnerships throughout the supply chain to further its vision to deliver an end-product of the highest quality possible.

new production plant for steel manufacturers in Kwazulu-NatalThe Safal Steel group, which is the leading manufacturer and supplier of flat coated steel and roofing products within sub-Saharan Africa, launched an aggressive growth strategy in 2008 and one of its new plants in Cato Ridge, Kwazulu-Natal, is almost finished. This green-fields project kicked off in May 2008 and will be fully commissioned by October 2010.

The 30 000 m2 new production facility in Kwazulu-Natal with the technology used at this plant ensures an extended service life on roofs and general engineering projects.

Aerial view of Safal Steel factory in Cato Ridge Durban.


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Safal Steel has embarked on a program with its paint suppliers to de-velop thermal-resistant pigments within their paint coatings, suitable to specific climates, to produce Thermacolor. This will increase the thermal protective properties of roofing by approximately 5%. This, combined with the protective properties of the Aluzinc metal coating on the sub-strate, means that Thermacolor is an ideal product to reduce the load on heating systems in winter and similarly cooling systems in summer.

Safal is known for its world-class processes and conformance to environmental standards, and its new production facility is firmly based on these principles. In line with this commitment Safal holds Silver founding-member status of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). In addition, all emissions and/or effluent from the individual process routes are self-contained and processed to eliminate or reduce any negative impact on the immediate environment.

The Safal Steel Group is passionately dedicated to the sustainable protection of the environment and constantly strives for continual improvement in this regard.

Safal SteelTel: 031 782 5569E-mail: [email protected]: www.safalsteel.co.za

Safal Steel’s vision is to create a higher standard in the roofing market and, as part of their

quality reassurance commitment, have implemented a full homologation program of their products

and systems to ensure the highest levels of product quality.

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During the past few years, this particular award went to residential projects and, during the awards ceremony, the judges pointed out that they were pleased a very large project had won the award this year. “During the past two years light steel frame building has come to the fore and was showcased in Steel Awards 2008 and 2009. In both instances, however, the prizes went to houses. The construction industry is definitely discovering that this form of construction can be used for a multitude of applications,” they concluded.

Developer Capicol used LSFB to provide the structural strength of the high curtain walls. The magnificent roof consists of three separate roofs spanning between 7,5m up to a maximum of 30 m clear covering an area of 7 200 m² (7 700 m² including overhangs). Its sheer size was one of the main reasons for the professional team entering this project. “At the time of erection, it was the biggest lightweight steel roof in South Africa,” they said.

LSFB steel roof erector All Africa Trusses commented that this roof was the longest span roof at the time using light gauge steel sections. “The brilliant thing about the project is that the thickest section of steel used for the roof is 1,6mm, which is extremely light. A great feature of the roof is that such long spans could be built while we were simultaneously able to keep the weight of the construction down,” said Firhaad Khan, CEO of All Africa Trusses.

“Roofing contractor MaxSpan was a central player in winning the contract and executing the various aspects, including manufacture of the trusses on site and overseeing the erection of the trusses.” comments Estelle Bailey, a director at MaxSpan.

According to the judges, it often happens that LSFB proves to be the only solution for a particular job when the construction material is expertly and appropriately utilised. “This was certainly the case with the Zambezi Mall extensions,” they said.

Bailey explains that cost, speed of supply and erection were key con-siderations for LSF being chosen for the project. “We were able to get the

trusses up within 8 weeks, about half the time quoted at that stage for hot-rolled. Remember that the contract was negotiated during November 2008, when Medupi, Gautrain and a number of other big steel projects were going up.” continues Bailey.

lsf AccommodAtes chAnging needsAt first planned to cover only a restaurant area, the southern portion of the roof – covering 2300 m² - had to now accommodate an indoor cricket facility; the underside of the roof, at the lower end, was found to be 750mm too low.

By this time, however, half of the roof trusses had already been erected. Originally intended to be supported on a concrete upstand beam, the support at this lower end of the roof was thus raised by 750mm using lightweight stub columns and steel beams. Without even removing the lightweight roof trusses, the new raised supports were installed, and the roof was re-placed. “Accomplishing this major, last-minute change demonstrated the extraordinary flexibility of the roof truss and the beam/column steel,” the project team said.

Khan comments that LSFB allowed the quick changes that were required. “If the project team had chosen any other material, it would’ve taken another month or two to complete the building, but LSFB allowed the speed of erection that was needed,” says Khan.

“In the end, though the professional team did not realise it from the start, the light steel truss solution also proved to be better in terms of flex-ibility. Light gauge steel’s flexibility made both of these changes possible at minimal cost and minimal additional time. The skylight trusses made of our steel meant a saving of about R300,000 over the alternative hot-rolled solution for the client,” commented Bailey.

Contractor Werner Kroon of W.F. Kroon Projects said that he was so impressed with this solution that he has become a true LSFB convert. “This project could not have been completed in any other way – the low mass and excellent acoustic insulation made light steel framing the only

On 15 September, the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) hosted the prestigious annual Steel Awards. The Zambezi Retail Mall Extension, which used a roof truss system supplied by MiTek South Africa, won the Light Steel Frame Building (LSFB) award.

The Zambezi Retail Mall Extension won the Light Steel Frame Building (LSFB) category at the 2010 Steel Awards.

Roof of Zambezi Mall awarded at

steel AwArds 2010


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possible solution. It was also amazing how clean the process was with such little waste. This enabled all the other building activities to carry on without interruption. I’ll definitely be using LSFB again in future,” said Kroon.

lowering the weight of huge ProjectsThe northern part of the roof needed to cover the cinema area and the 22,5m clear span of the roof. This cinema area consisted of six small movie theatres that were added after the original construction of the mall, providing a significant challenge in that the weight had to be kept very low. Concrete columns that are 12 m high were built to support the roof along the northern edge.

The columns were fixed to the concrete supporting slab and columns below, which were stabilised by applying a 5kN force through the tie beams of each of the lightweight steel trusses. Initially, the professional team was sceptical about the appearance of the fully exposed lightweight steel trusses below the large, clear glass skylight, but it went ahead because of the significant price advantage. Ultimately the trusses were galv-washed and spray-painted to the architect’s specifications with spectacular results.

meeting thermAl And Acoustic requirementsAnother challenge that the team had to overcome was keeping the weight of the walling low while simultaneously providing an acoustic insulation of 85dB between theatres. A 2 450 m², 12 m high external wall comprising a multi-layered fire-stop Gypsum board, stone wool insu-lation, extruded polystyrene insulation, an air-gap system plastered with a Saint Gobain Etics system (600 mm wide) was built to meet the relevant technical and strength requirements.

“The way in which this challenge was overcome helped significantly in this project winning the award,” commented the judges.

When commenting about winning the project, Bailey says that it is a significant achievement due to the other prestigious projects that were nominated for the category. “MiTek nominated Richard Bailey of Max-Span, the main steel contractor, to go up and accept the award. Firhaad Khan and his team from All Africa Trusses was also instrumental in the success of the project, without this award-winning team, we would not have been able to complete the project on time. Winning the award is a huge feather in our caps, as well as a credit to all who were involved, even through to Stefan Heydenrych the client’s QS for having the courage to go with a relatively new technology on such a large and prestige project,” says Bailey.

“MiTek would like to congratulate MaxSpan and All Africa trusses on their combined effort that achieved them the prestigious award in the Light Frame Steel Building Category,” concludes Uwe Schluter, New Business Development Manager of MiTek South Africa.

MiTek Industries (Pty) LtdTel: 011 237 8700Email: [email protected]: www.mitek.co.za

Project detAilsDeveloper/ Owner: Capicol (Pty) LtdArchitect: OSGLO Pretoria (Pty) Ltd ArchitectsStructural engineer: Laubscher Engineers AfricaQuantity surveyor: Mclachlan du Plooy (Pty) Ltd with Batticlo Holdings (Pty) LtdMain contractor: WF Kroon Projects (Pty) LtdSteelwork contractor: MaxSpan cc LSFB Steel Roof Erector: All Africa Truss Systems ccLSFB service provider: MiTek Industries

The northern part of the roof needed to cover the cinema area that consists of six small

movie theatres. A LSFB roof with a clear span of 22,5m was erected and 12m high

concrete columns were built to support the roof along the northern edge.

The roof consists of three separate roofs spanning between 7,5m up to a maximum

of 30m clear covering an area of 7 200m² (7 700m² including overhangs).



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The overall winner of this year’s Steel Awards is the Cape Town Stadium. “The execution of the steelwork, some of it fabricated locally and some of it imported, is testimony to the genius of the project team, which comprised engineers, fabricators and contractors from all round the globe in a collaboration of which they and the whole country can be proud,” commented the judges after adding that this stadium was a magnificent structure with some of the best work they have ever seen.

To achieve the ambitious free-span requirements of a 58m roof, which includes a cantilever section of 14m, a lightweight suspended

steel structure was adopted. Covering an astounding 37 000m² and weighing a total of 4 500 tons, it is the largest glass-covered roof in Southern Africa.

The unique location and curved and undulating silhouette give the stadium the look of a sculptural object, making it one of the most elegant and beautiful stadiums in the country, if not the world.

The judges added that this project has been an eye-opener to the excellence that can be achieved in the industry with lasting benefits for local industry generally.

infrAstructure AwArdDurban’s new King Shaka International Airport and the Cape Town Inter-national Airport were named joint winners of the infrastructure category. The judges said that CTIA was one of the best entries they received and that the project is an outstanding example of the ingenious use of steel.

Distinctly different structural solutions were adopted for the various buildings with structural steel – which enabled the design team to satisfy all the challenging requirements of the project – easily emerging as the overriding construction material.

“This project is a beacon of what the South African steel construction industry and construction industry in general can achieve, and will be enjoyed by millions of travellers both local and foreign for years to come,” said the judges.

When commenting on the King Shaka International Airport (KSIA), judges said that the project is a ‘world-class entrance to a vital region of South Africa and to the country as a whole’.

Over 5,000 tons of structural steelwork was used in all KSIA buildings. In terms of the roof support, the architect’s brief was to make a strong feature of its primary structural elements. This was achieved by creating a system of raking structural steel tubular structures springing from structural grid points, supporting deep tubular triangular girders.

“The ingenious use of structural steelwork in a project of such grandeur and importance to the economic growth of this country is a tribute to South Africa’s engineering expertise”, they said.

lightweight steel frAme cAtegory winnerThe Zambezi Retail Mall Extension won the Light

Steel Frame Building (LSFB) category sponsored by NJR

Winners of the 2010 Steel AwardsThe Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) hosted the Steel Awards, held concurrently in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town on the 15th September 2010. During the awards ceremony, SAISC executive director Dr Hennie de Clercq said that some most outstanding entries were received for this year’s Steel Awards.

Cape Town International, West facade.


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Steel. The sheer size of the roof structure, which consists of three separate roofs spanning between 7,5m up to a maximum of 30m clear covering an area of 7200m² (7700m² including overhangs), was one of the defining factors that led to the project winning this prestigious award. The judges noted that the lightweight roof trusses showcased the extraordinary flexibility of this construction material.

Architecture cAtegory winnerFreedom Park Museum in Pretoria, which forms part of the second phase of the heritage development named //hapo, won the architecture category. The building is awash with important and relevant symbol-ism and the cluster of asymmetrical buildings symbolises a cluster of boulders that typically form part of the African landscape.

Structural steel was chosen as the primary construction material and innovative steelwork solutions were developed including a universal connection system, which allowed maximum flexibility to sculpt the complex façade shapes and the innovative conversion to 3D drawings of extensive, detailed 2D structural steel drawings.

“Freedom Park Museum represents aesthetics of the highest order and excellent professional and contracting work in the creation of a complex structure which had to be completed very quickly,” said the judges.

“The outcome is a magnificent structure with high-calibre steelwork that forms a prime heritage landmark for all South Africans and an important tourist attraction. Only through the extensive use of structural steel as a primary building material was this made possible,” the judges concluded.

community develoPment Project winnerMeetse-a-Bophelo primary school in Tswane, was announced as the winner of the community development category. According to the project team’s submission, the main goal was to utilise alternative steel tech-nologies within the cost-parameters of a conventional ‘brick and mortar’ school and then to develop a prototype cost-efficient school building method that could later be produced in kit form and easily erected in other provinces.

The school was built using a combination of Arval façade system pan-els and extensive use of steel including: the IPE portal frames bolted to raft foundations; lightweight steel in dividing walls and cladding frame-work; steel roof sheeting fixed to steel top hat sections; insulated steel façade system as external walling; and powder-coated steel windows and doors with ancillary flashings.

The judges unanimously voiced their optimism about the Meetse-a-Bophelo project, its contribution to the community and its future applica-tion in the construction of other schools.

tubulAr structures cAtegoryFinally, and yet another stadium winner, the Mbombela (Nelspruit) Sta-dium won the tubular structures category, sponsored by the Association of Steel Tube and Pipe Manufacturers of Southern Africa.

From a technical point of view, the project can be described as ‘boxed cantilever girders spring-ing off concrete buttresses, cable stayed to

shorten the cantilever spans’. Some of these box girders come off the corners at 45 degrees to the long sides and the short ends; the result is very complex and intricate connections consisting of 11 pipes intersect-ing in a node.

The Mbombela Stadium was one of the few stadiums that was virtually entirely ‘Made in South Africa’. The architects incorporated a wild-life theme into the structures, and the now worldwide-recognised herd of red, dust-covered giraffes and the zebra-striped seats enhance the Mbombela stadium’s status as the new and lasting ‘grand entrance’ to the Lowveld and its game reserve treasures.

“The end result is an aesthetically pleasing, well-executed and efficient structure, which is an inspiration to both the local population and the country as a whole to always keep striving for greater heights,” the judges concluded.

The winner in the bridges category is the 7th Avenue Bridge over the N1 motorway. The judges said that the 7th Avenue Bridge was a great example of ‘the right material in the right place’ and this, combined with the quality of the steelwork and the excellent presentation overall, made it a high-quality and elegant solution.

For more information, visit www.saisc.co.za, to whom full thanks and acknowledgement is given.

Tech Savvy

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Over the years, the buildings went through numerous additions and alterations. With the construction of the old Post Office in 1899, the roof and structure of the existing buildings were changed in an effort to accommodate the amalgamation of the two structures. Despite best efforts, the buildings never comfortably lined up in height or line and as a result there are a number of interesting peculiarities to be noted, including the triangular protrusion on the roof facing the City Hall, which was designed to disguise the resulting disparity in roof line.

Since the application process to begin work commenced in 2007, there have been numerous studies commissioned by Denton Properties, owners of the building, from both South African and European experts in different fields of roofing application in an effort to establish what treatment would best suit the considerably sized area. From historical pictures and structural evidence, it became clear that the original roof must have comprised slate tile. In years gone by, the slate tile had been removed, replaced and patched up several times with tar/felt material coated with silver paint. Despite universal agreement among contractors that this was a wholly inadequate finish for the steeply pitched roof, a decision was needed on what material would replace it. Copper? Lead? Corrugated tin? Discussions with Stephen Wilkinson, Business Manager for Rheinzink (South Africa) commenced and it was agreed that zinc would be the most cost-effective solution for this type of installation.

Rheinzink, a product manufactured in Germany, is an incredibly durable material comprising almost pure zinc with small traces of titanium and copper. As the sheeting is not merely zinc-plated, it is impervious to corrosion and in time develops its own natural blue-grey coloured patina. Used on numerous heritage and architecturally significant buildings throughout the world, the product demands the highest level of skill and knowledge for effective application due to the unique detailing and treatment involved. Andreas Muehle of Spenglerei Muehle (‘Spenglerei’ literally meaning “roof plumber” in German), who hails from Germany but now lives in South Africa, was specifically requested to carry out the work on behalf of Rheinzink. A fifth-generation roofing specialist, Muehle has made efforts to pass on his knowledge to South Africans Alfred Madimolane & Mpumelelo Peter who are currently apprenticing under him.

Now that procurement and a contractor for the project had been finalised, removal of the felt roofing material began in earnest. It was only at this point that the scale of water damage and dry rot in the timber boards, rafters, purlins and supports became evident. Up and Coming Projects, an experienced crew of South African carpenters headed by Tony Jones, was assigned the task of repairing

and making good any salvageable timber to the best of their ability. It was clear, however, that the sawmills would be busy.

While the carpenters were busy with hammers and planers, Muehle and his crew ordered the zinc material from Rheinzink (South Africa) and then established a workshop in the old prison cells of the building. They now began cutting and shaping by hand the ± 1000 interlocking diamond-shaped zinc tiles required to surface the tower alone .

Central to Muehle’s application process for the roof is the allowance for ventilation, without which the timber would rot. The original design had allowed for ventilation to enter via three large timber vents. With a view to making the refurbishment work as imperishable and long-lasting as possible, it was decided that the timber venting would be a weak point in an otherwise adamantine design and finish. Ventilation has therefore been designed to flow into the roof cavity via a small, gauze-sealed channel located underneath the reinforced zinc gutter in a system known as ‘under-eaves ventilation’.

The tiling is noteworthy for the fact that each tile is not only weld-free, but also held down with 2 nails and 2 screws before being crimped and folded into its four neighbours. As we live in a warm environment, this allows the entire roof to move and expand in totality without risk of damage. After four weeks of work stationed up to 18 metres above street level, Muehle, Madimolane and Peter had completed the tower.

In the subsequent weeks and months, sheeting along both sides of the roof pitch, including the triangular feature previously mentioned, and ridge capping were completed. Further to the sections so far completed, significant work has been carried out by highly skilled plasterers to comprehensively repair all decorative plasterwork in an effort to have the building façade painted timeously.

Once completed, Port Elizabeth will boast among her architectural gems a roof finish of the like unprecedented in the Eastern Cape. Since work began, the encouraging and positive comments made by various individuals including numerous architects, local councillors, municipal officials and simple architectural aficionados have communicated the great fondness this city and her people hold for the old Post Office Complex.

With talks already ongoing regarding demand for office, market, art gallery and museum space, Port Elizabethans may well be walking through the gates of this magnificent building sooner rather than later.

RheinzinkTel: 021 671 2600E-mail: [email protected]: www.rheinzink.co.za

The Old Post Office in Port Elizabeth is re-roofed with Rheinzink Roof TilesThe old Post Office, Court House and Police Station buildings could well be counted amongst the most historically significant buildings in Port Elizabeth. Built in 1885, the former Magistrate’s Court was the site of many decisions made regarding the fate of political activists, suspects and criminals for over 100 years. Notably, included amongst individuals incarcerated in the building were past-President BJ Vorster and probably also Black Consciousness Movement founder Stephen Bantu (Steve) Biko. In a CBD so dominated by colonial era heritage, a building which individuals across the racial spectrum may relate to, regardless of its architectural influences, is a special one indeed.

Tech Savvy

082 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

Waterproofing and insulating low-pitched metal roofs

The waterproofing specification to seal the low-pitch IBR-profiled sheet roof was for the initial attachment of 25mm insulated polystyrene panels attached to a 3,2 masonite board.

• The polystyrene panels were applied, in the first place, to stop the thermal expansion and contraction of the metal sheeting. The attach-ment of the panels also resulted in a thermally insulated roof, which reduced inside temperatures by 6 to 10 degrees Celsius in summer, and aided the retention of interior heating in winter. Also reduces the noise when it rains and hails by 90%.

• The IBR overhang at the gutter junction was cut back to allow the unigum membrane to run from the roof into the gutter itself, thereby stopping any water from run-ning back underneath the sheeting. A 90-degrees metal flashing was fixed from the sheeting into the gutter before the membrane was applied.

The Linksfield Heights apartment block on Linksfield Ridge recently used a combination of two renowned waterproofing products from a.b.e. Construction Chemicals to waterproof the 1 800 m2 of roofing. The waterproofing contractor was City Con Services, one of the a.b.e.-approved waterproofing and concrete repair contractors who offers a 10-year workmanship guarantee, back-to-back with a.b.e.

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Tech Savvy

The Gauteng Technical Consultant for Waterproofing at a.b.e. says the unigum/bituprime system is recommended for any low-pitched IBR or corrugated metal roofs, such as on garages, houses, factories and offices. a.b.e. offers a 10-year maintenance-free warranty for 4,5kg unigum MS reinforced polymer-bitumen membranes which means that no servicing or painting is required for at least a decade.

a.b.e Construction Chemicals LimitedTel: 011 306 9000E-mail: [email protected]: www.abe.co.za

• The masonite boards provided additional strength and protected the insulated polystyrene panels when the unigum was torched on. The unigum MS 4,5kg waterproofing membrane was fully bonded onto the masonite board with a specialised 50mm gas torch, using the heat fusion method.

• This combination was fixed to the existing IBR sheets with polycarbonate washers and self-tapping screws and then primed with a.b.e.’s bituprime bituminous solution to allow maximum bonding of the subsequent torched-on application of a.b.e.’s 4,5kg unigum MS (mineral surface), grey slate torch-on membrane.

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Leading concrete supplier acquires a.b.e. Construction ChemicalsThe complex process of Chryso Southern Africa’s acquiring a.b.e. Construction Chemicals, which started in February this year, was completed at the end of September 2010. As a result, a.b.e. has been delisted from the JSE and Chryso has taken ownership and manage-ment control of the company.

Norman Seymore, the MD of Chryso, has now been announced as the CEO of both businesses. According to Seymore, a.b.e. and Chryso will initially run independently from one another while integration pos-sibilities and opportunities are studied. However, there will be strong cooperation between all the departments and divisions of the two companies.

“Chryso Southern Africa has established itself as a major supplier of concrete and cement admixtures in South Africa due to its investment in plant infrastructure, new technologies as well as technical and customer support. a.b.e. provides specialised construction products to the building, civil engineering and maintenance industries, and is a long-standing and successful business with a large network of branches and distributors,” explains Seymore.

“Last year, Chryso expanded its product range to include cementi-tious products such as grouts, repair materials, waterproofing and other construction products. This move has been extremely successful and the a.b.e. acquisition will accelerate our growth into these market sectors,” continues Seymore.

future PlAns for chemicAls comPAny Future plans for a.b.e. include reinforcing the management team, upgrading the production facilities, and strengthening the research and development programmes while using existing a.b.e. channels into the market to introduce new products that further enhance the a.b.e. current product range.

“I am extremely excited about this deal and see benefits for Chryso and a.b.e as well as suppliers and customers,” concludes Seymore.

Chryso SATel: 011 395 9700E-mail: [email protected]: www.chryso.com

Chryso head office in Jet Park

winners of the

Afrisam-sAiA awards for sustainable ArchitectureThe AfriSam-SAIA Awards ceremony was held on 23 September at Turbine Hall in Newtown, Johannesburg, as part of AZA 2010. Koop Design’s Dalton Private Reserve in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands won the top award for Sustainable Architecture.

The Dalton Compound is the operational centre of the Re serve with buildings that are flexible to various utilitarian needs yet offer exclusivity to guests staying at the compound’s luxury accommodation.

Richard Stretton started Koop Design in 1999 and Koop’s ethos is to design and produce buildings and products that are environment-sensitive and energy-efficient. During the project, alien vegetation was removed and recycled for use on the 3 000-hectare reserve. A vegetable garden was created for staff and the local community was trained and employed in the construction of the compound.

Commendations went to Savage & Dodd Architects for Hillbrow’s Ekhaya Project; Nsika Architecture and Design for the renovations at the Lifestyle Garden Centre in Gauteng; ARG Design for the Lynedoch Community Centre on the Spier Wine Estate in the Cape and Metropolis for a family residence in Bishopscourt in Cape Town.

Al Stratford, President of SAIA, commented: “The future for archi-tects will be defined by accelerating urbanisation and climate change, precipitating economic and cultural adjustment, demanding an integrated sustainable design and practice response.”

AfriSam South Africa (Pty) LtdTel: 011 670 5500Website: www.afrisam.com

The South African Institute of ArchitectsTel: 011 782 1315Website: www.saia.org.za

Koop Design’s Dalton Private Reserve won the top award for Sustainable Architecture

Architect ives

087Vol 11.7 | October 2010

The SAIA Awards for Excellence programme sponsored by Corobrik has been, since 1990, the highest of the accolades by which the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) acknowledges the achievements of its membership in the design and delivery of projects that are exemplary of the art and science in the practice of the discipline of architecture.

All projects which receive Awards of Merit are automatically considered for an Award for Excellence, and 36 were submitted for adjudication for the Awards of Merit from eight of SAIA’s regions and, for the first time, a work of social relevance (not a built form) was received in the submissions.

The Corobrik-SAIA Awards of Merit and Awards for Excellence 2010 were made at a ceremony at the City Hall in Johannesburg as part of AZA 2010, South Africa’s first architecture mega-event which has brought together leading-edge thinkers and multi-disciplinary practitioners from around the globe.

The adjudication panel, chaired by SAIA’s President, Al Stratford, comprised retired Justice Albie Sachs, architects Amira Osman and Malcolm Campbell and Corobrik’s marketing director, Peter Kidger.

AwArds of excellence(NOTE: EACH OF THE FOLLOWING ALSO OBTAINED AN AWARD OF MERIT)10+Years 100+Buildings – Architecture in a Democratic South by Dr Ora Joubert (Bell Roberts Publishers)This is the first time that a book has been submitted for the SAIA awards. Its object is to acknowledge that architectural knowledge is encapsulated in forms other than buildings.

The book is a compendium surveying the last 10 years of architecture in South Africa and features more than 100 architectural projects and contributions from some of the leading academics and practitioners in the field of architecture in South Africa.

Hatfield 109 – Architects’ Studios, Accommodation and Shop, Cape Town – for SAOTA, OKHA and AA by Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen ArchitectsA building containing new premises for the designing architects, together with five apartments and a high-end furniture and décor store, was constructed on the site of a 1950s church.

Seven Fountains Primary School, Shayamoya, Kokstad, for Mpilonhle Project by East Coast Architects This project arose out of a unique combination of a painful past, an existing cohesive school community and external funding, leading the ar-chitects from the start to secure a high degree of community involvement in the processes of design, decision-making, construction and use.

Taxi Terminus for the University of the Free State by Typology ArchitectsThe arrival-and-departure node comprises two roof elements that create a waiting pavilion surrounded by trees. The corrugated iron roof terminates as a cantilevered overhang. The materials are cleverly used and well related.

AwArds of merit • Centenary Building – University of Pretoria • Liliesleaf Legacy Project, Rivonia • New Shops in Parkhurst - Johannesburg• Private Residence – Observatory, Cape Town• Restoration of 22 Lansdowne Place – Architect’s Studio, Port Elizabeth • Selosesha Library, Thaba Nchu • The Energy Works, Parktown North, Johannesburg • Tricircle Pavilion, Gqunube Green Ecovillage, East London

Corobrik Tel: 031 560 3111Fax: 031 565 1532Website: www.corobrik.com

corobrik-sAiA Awards of merit and Awards for excellence 2010

Architect ives

088 Vol 11.7 | October 2010088 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

Brick manufacturer Corobrik supplied the bricks for the construction of //hapo at Freedom Park, one of the most revered heritage sites in South Africa. The building was short-listed for the World Architecture Festival Award and, according to Dave Ledbitter of Corobrik, it was a privilege to work with award-winning design architect Jeremy Rose on this project.

“Freedom Park is a treasured site for both local and international visi-tors because it clearly illustrates South Africa’s chronological transition to the achievement of its democracy. When approached to supply bricks for construction of the second phase, we were pleased that over 550 000

of our Country Classic Satin were chosen for such a significant project. The design architect, Jeremy Rose of Mashabane Rose Architects, is a reputable, award-winning designer and it was a special experience to be selected for this architectural plan,” says Ledbitter.

The development used a combination of copper rivets, bolts and sheets amounting to R30-million and the bricks were required to fit into this modern architectural theme. “These bricks will also be utilised as pavers at Freedom Park. The red/tan shade of the soil in the vicinity required the rich colour of the Country Classic range to complement it,” continues Ledbitter.

Dieter Brandt, one of the lead architects of Freedom Park, says that the architectural features of the museum are unique and Corobrik’s Country Classic range was ideal for the envisioned theme.

“The idea for the museum came from a sketch by Jeremy Rose. In certain African traditions, ancestors are said to reside within boulders. It evolved into the creation of large boulder-like volumes that contain the story-telling spaces. The boulders are planted at the base of Salvokop Hill like a rock ‘outcrop’ surrounded perfectly by Corobrik’s Country Classic bricks. Both pavers and bricks were stack bonded to create a simple theme throughout the museum.”

“The reddish colour of the face bricks blended perfectly with the copper. In light of the unusual angles and scope of work, quality and durability of bricks was a key factor and we found the total package in Corobrik. One of the reasons for using copper, an important feature of this design, is that over time the copper will fade to green, which will represent growth in terms of the design. Therefore, we needed a guarantee that the brick will remain red without fading over time to maintain its representation of the earth – we got that assurance from Corobrik,” says Brandt.

reducing the Project’s cArbon footPrintThe bricks supplied are fired on natural gas, which nearly halved the greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal firing, so they are emi-nently sustainable having a low carbon footprint in line with international best practice. “Corobrik was the first company in Sub-Saharan Africa to be awarded CERs (Certified Emission Reductions) by the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism. In addition, the maintenance-free nature of our bricks eliminates carbon debt associated with a lifetime of mainte-nance,” concludes Ledbitter.


brick manufacturer contributes to iconic building

Architect ives

089Vol 11.7 | October 2010

Architect ives

090 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

BASF recently held their annual golf day at the Centurion Country Club to show appreciation to their customers and stakeholders for their support thus far. En-thusiasm and excitement filled the club house on 24 August 2010 as the various teams of four lined up to collect their BASF sponsored golf hampers. The game format was 4ball alliance, with two scores to count. BASF also provided a golf clinic for those who are new to the game and interested in trying their hand at it.

The winning team recorded a total of 98 points, and comprised of the following customers of BASF South Africa’s Agriculture Division: Jaco Groenewalt, Johan Fritze, and Natie vd. Merwe from the company Qwemico. Bert de la Rey of Harvey Roofing Systems, a customer of BASF South Africa’s Dispersions, Pigments & Paper Chemicals Division received the prize for closest to the pin.

In second place were BASF Polyurethanes South Africa’s customers Dane and Grant Carelse of Foam Concept, Keith Smith of Urochem Trading as well of Gary Bernstein from Geo Cloud. Third place was won by customers of BASF Coatings, Sean le Roux, Benny du Plessis and Arnold Botha of Arcelor Mittal, together with BASF Coatings representative and Robbiel Middel.

During the prize-giving function, Managing Director of BASF South Africa and Sub-Sahara, Dr Dieter Kovar, encouraged the attendees not to loose the energy gained during the FIFA World Cup, and to rather focus it on growing Africa. Commenting on how remarkable the year 2010 has been, Dr Kovar thanked the customers for their loyalty and reassured them that BASF will endeavour to help them in their successes.

BASF Holdings South Africa (Pty) Ltd Tel: 011 203 2422 Fax 011 203 2430 E-mail: [email protected]: www.basf.co.za

BASF Golf Day huge success

From left to right: Rupert Jordaan (Northern Auto Body), Chris Burger (BASF),

Carlos Tavares (Tava P/Beaters), Nello De Castro (Precision & Sons)

Eisenbarth, BASF South Africa, Mobile Emission Catalysts Division

From left to right: Penny Eisenbarth, Communications BASF South Africa, Petra Bezuidenhout,

Head of Communications Business Center South Africa & Sub-Sahara, Debbie Medhurst,

Marketing & Communications Manager, BASF Coatings Services, Koos Olivier, BASF Coatings

Services, Lulu Kock, BASF Coatings Service, Pretoria, Marlene v. Rooyen, Media in Africa

Dr. Dieter Kovar, Head of Business Center South Africa & Sub-Sahara with customers.

Architect ives

091Vol 11.7 | October 2010

Although most homeowners dream of a property with flat, well-kept lawns, with plenty of space for children to play, this is often not the case where the family home is situated on heavily contoured ground.

The problem can be solved by installing retaining walls, and one method that has seen rapid growth in South Africa over the last few years is the segmental retaining wall (SRW) system. Originating in Germany in the 1960s, SRWs combine the benefits of speed of building and the relatively low cost of a simple reinforced soil structure with sophisticated aesthetic detailing created by a facing of specially designed concrete masonry units.

In South Africa, the Terraforce Retaining System represents one of the most versatile products available. It allows the scheme designer to incorporate features such as curves, steps and terraces – details that are difficult and costly to construct when using more conventional, in situ concrete retaining systems. In addition, the blocks are completely reversible, allowing for a round or flat face finish, with an additional rock face option.

For example, when Steve Hegarty purchased his home in Welgemoed, Western Cape, he had a steep slope at the back of his property. He appointed Eddie Kriel, project manager for Energy Master Builder, to construct three levelled sections in his garden, creating usable play and entertainment areas for his family.

Jeremy Leighton of Decorton Retaining Systems says the middle retaining wall was designed to maximise as much space as possible: “The Terraforce L12 rock face block retaining wall flows along the con-tours of the garden and gently curves around existing trees.”

“To connect the top level to the central grassed area, the wall features a wide stairway for comfortable access. Another two access stairways run down both sides of the house, planted with hardy ground cover and creeper-type plants,” he said.

To allow plants to establish in the blocks, the setback of the blocks is 50mm deep and two plant pockets are incorporated into the wall adja-cent to the stairs using indigenous plants and a creeper along the top that softens the wall and breaks its overall visual impact.

Terraforce has supplied its retaining system for many such applica-tions, and amongst the more recent installations is a steeply sloping garden in Somerset West where landscape contractor Magda Kirkham used two curved, undulating Terraforce walls to shape the garden into several levels of lush green grass connected by four sets of stairways using the Terraforce 4x4 Step block.

TerraforcePhone: 021 465 1907Fax: 021 465 4047Website:www.terraforce.com

Creating an ideal garden with a retaining wall systemBASF Golf Day huge success

Tech Savvy

092 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

Architect ives Architect ives

Multinational coated steel product supplier BlueScopeSteel supplied Clean COLORBONDTM ULTRA steel for the new South African Container Depot (SACD) facility in Cape Town harbour. The project was recently named Best Building in the mining and industrial category at the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction’s Steel Awards 2010.

Of interest is the curved roof which allows optimal space for storage and sorting inside, but slopes down to provide undercover protection for the offloading of delivery vehicles on the one side and on the opposite side where containers are dispatched. The steel roof has an area of over 25 000 m2.

In line with worldwide trends in sustainable building practices, roofing systems should provide the architect or developer with optimum levels of performance and lifespan. For BlueScope Steel, this has meant years of research and development in order to provide a product that has a long lifespan, is ultimately recyclable, provides thermal efficiency and reflects heat.

The colour used at SACD Cape Town was Amazing White. This colour maximises the infrared reflective performance in order to provide a cooler roof.

different steel for south AfricA’s regionsUnder harsh climatic conditions, especially within the 5 km zone from the sea, or even under normal circumstances, BlueScope Steel advises that design professionals use premium grades of alloy-coated steel such as ZINCALUME steel and pre-painted material such as Clean COLORBONDTM steel, in order to ensure much longer service life of your building. These products are manufactured with a 55% Aluminium,

43,5% Zinc and 1,5% Silicon coating (AZ150 coating), an established winning formula.

However, if the project is within 100 - 400 metres of the water, the company advises using Clean COLORBONDTM ULTRA steel, which has an AZ200 coating – a mass of 200 g/m2 coated over the steel substrate. This can also be specified in cases of severe industrial environments, where aggressive fumes or particulate fallout exist within a 100-metre radius. This product was used at the SACD facility to ensure perfor-mance and lifespan in the marine industrial environment.high-PerformAnce PAint for steelIn addition, the high performance paint system on Clean COLORBONDTM steel incorporates various sustainability and long-life features, including:• High reflection of incoming solar radiation • Exceptional colour retention • Anti-chalking • Dirt resistance• Anti-fungal

“Correctly applied, our product should give a lifespan up to four times longer than the standard galvanised steel or pre-painted galvanised steel variations in a similar building environment,” says BlueScope Steel’s Wayne Miller.

BlueScope Steel products locally are covered by a manufacturer’s war-ranty against perforation. It is important to apply for a warranty before the project commences to ensure you are using the correct product to maximise the performance of your roofing and cladding. “It is also impor-tant to ensure you are using the correct fasteners and flashing material to ensure these products give the to same performance as the roofing sheets. You can contact BlueScope Steel for more details on its warranty policy and requirements,” continues Miller.

Miller also urges architects to monitor what is happening on site. “Ensure that materials used are the same as those that are specified – ultimately to protect your own reputation. You will be doing the client a great service in the long run and making a contribution to sustainable or green building methods. Each roofing panel made from our product has been uniquely branded on the under-surface, so check for the brand,” concludes Miller.

BlueScope Steel Southern Africa (Pty) LtdTel: 021 442 5420Email: [email protected]: www.bluescopesteel.com

The project was recently named Best Building in the mining and industrial category at the

Southern African Institute of Steel Construction’s Steel Awards 2010.

steel roof provides ideal solution for award-winning project

Why rely on a few in-house general maintenance personnel when you can get a team of maintenance professionals that are available on call, 24/7? Siddey’s Maintenance Insulation provides specialist tenant requirements to corporate clients.

The company focuses on managing all tenant requirements for buildings on a day-to-day basis.

Quality work, efficiency and professionalism are the promises that Siddey’s Maintenance Insulation make when partnering with your corporate team.

Find out more about the advantages of outsourcing to professional electricians, plumbers and insulation specialists that can meet any tenant’s requirement now!

On-call specialist tenant requirements

Siddey’s Maintenance InsulationTel: 012 548 1973

Fax: 012 548 1899Email: [email protected]

Website: www.siddeys.co.za

Tech Savvy

093Vol 11.7 | October 2010

Architect ives

Italian tile company Laminam showcased their “giant tiles” at this year’s Cersaie exhibition in Bologna, Italy. The main feature of the slab is its large format accompanied by a reduced thickness, making the slabs unusually lightweight and easy to handle.

The dimensions of the Laminam slabs are 3m x 1m with a thickness of 3mm. Even though the raw materials are traditional (clays, rocks and ceramic pigments), eco-sustainable industrialised technology was used to achieve these dimensions. The finished product offers high resistance to mechanical stress, chemical attack, abrasion and flexure, while its surface is anti-graffiti, sanitisable, resistant to frost, mould, fire and UV rays. It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use and can be laid both horizontally and vertically. The slab can also be used as a sliding door.

The production process used to manufacture these giant slabs minimises waste, decreases sulphur dioxide emissions and uses the latest energy-saving technologies. The light weight plus the large size of the slabs make transportation easier.

For more information, visit www.laminam.it, to which full thanks and acknowledgement are given.

Large, lightweight ceramic overlay

Architect ives

094 Vol 11.7 | October 2010094 Vol 11.7 | October 2010

geogrid wAlls vs unreinforced wAllsGeogrid reinforcing has supported increasing demands on retaining walls and is now acknowledged as essential to the industry. Generally charac-terised by woven, knitted or extruded bands of narrow elements which form a regular grid-like pattern, geogrids have high tensile strength which in turn lends stabilising strength. Geogrids add strength by reinforcing and integrating the fill material behind the wall with the structure of the wall itself. Geogrids extend the serviceable life of a retaining wall and ensure that it is capable of stabilising greater volumes of material than unreinforced retaining walls can.

the limitAtions of interlocking concrete blocksArguably one of the greatest innovations in retaining wall architecture is the invention of the cost-effective and versatile interlocking concrete block. However, there are limitations, particularly for walls higher than 2 metres.

Remacon is now introducing an enhanced version of the standard interlocking concrete block. According to Silvio Ferraris, managing direc-tor of Remacon, the key difference is that the Tensartech System consists of precast concrete modular facing blocks in combination with Tensar geogrids, which can take these walls to greater, near vertical heights.

“The high-efficiency connection between facing unit and the specialist Tensar RE geogrid is what creates strong and durable, maintenance-free retaining wall structures,” explains Garth James, marketing director of Kaytech.

“The geogrid is the feature that makes this method of soil retention so successful. For instance, retaining walls are an essential element of the modern highway system because they are the primary structure used to accomplish abrupt grade changes,” says James.

The Tensartech System is revolutionary for three main reasons, accord-ing to Manie Troskie, CEO of Engineered Interlock Systems. “Firstly, one is able to achieve greater height due to the use of geogrids; secondly, it is a very time-efficient system; and thirdly, it has aesthetic appeal,” says Troskie.

imProving the Aesthetic quAlities of your environment“Retaining walls never function and never exist entirely by themselves. Because they often constitute a large physical presence on the landscape, their design and relationship to the environment can greatly influence the aesthetic qualities of the surroundings,” says Troskie.

The concrete blocks are locally manufactured by Remacon and, to-gether with the Tensar uniaxial geogrid reinforcement and efficient Bodkin connectors, the Tensartech System provides resilient permanent retaining walls and bridge abutments. According to Kaytech, these walls can last up 120 years.

The concrete facing blocks are simply dry-stacked and this geometry easily allows the creation of both internal and external curves. Corners, stairs and other features are also easily detailed and the high pH associ-ated with new concrete blocks does not affect the durability and function-ality of the uniaxial geogrid reinforcement during the life of the structure.

Design engineer Marco Pauselli of GAP Consulting adds that this system is proving to be exceptional in terms of securing steep faces and preventing falling debris. “Design should produce structures that are not only safe but cost-effective for a set lifespan,” concludes Pauselli.

Kaytech Tel: 031 717 2300Fax: 031 702 4477E-mail: [email protected]: www.kaytech.co.za

Since the beginning of time, piling stone atop stone or block on top of block has been used to create walls. Innovative retaining walls, however, are the modern-day solution to holding up a bank of earth and, whether used in domestic applications, the mining industry or the construction of a highway interchange, the function remains the same – to hold back the earth against gravity. As height and complexity have increased, revolutionary improvements in engineering solutions have been essential.

Retaining wall innovations achieve greater heights

The Tensartech System in Dubai.

096 Vol 11.7 | October 2010096 Vol 11.7 | October 2010096 Vol 11.6 | September 2010

With use of the exclusive colours of Corobrik’s Agate and Silvergrey face bricks at the Tygerberg Office Park in Plattekloof, north of Cape Town, this modern office block complex is set apart from others in the region.

“The Tygerberg Office Park is well sited on a hill along the N1 Freeway and clearly visible to all who pass by. Unlike most commercial develop-ments in Cape Town which have been created with red bricks, architects chose a combination of our unique Agate and Silvergrey face bricks to differentiate this development,” says Allistair Cloete, architectural representative for Corobrik, Cape Town. “Altogether there are ten office blocks which make up the office park and, being a multi-phased project, each block was treated as a separate project – with our products used throughout.”

Cloete says that the first phase of the Tygerberg Office Park began over 10 years ago and Warren Simpson Architects were responsible for the design of both phases one and two. Phase three commenced in 2000 with Boogertman & Partners being the appointed architects for the ensu-ing phases.

“Phase three is a multi-tenanted building with property developer Atterbury selecting to be based at Tygerberg Office Park. Phase four was created for Cell C, the anchor tenant, while phase five is a single building that houses ABSA Private Bank. Phase six consists of four separate build-ings and was developed as part of an extra 10 000m² approved by the municipality after a two-year rezoning process,” adds Cloete.

The project architect for Tygerberg Office Park, Marthinus Potgieter of Boogertman & Partners, says that from the beginning of the project they realised that the office park had a unique style that needed to be sustained.

“In 2000 when we first began work on Tygerberg Office Park it was obvious that the existing buildings stood out from other commercial de-velopments. Therefore, maintaining the choice of colours for subsequent phases was very important,” he says. “Using Corobrik’s face brick was a joint decision by the client, Atterbury and us. It was part of an approved palette of materials forming a theme of natural earth-coloured design. We were interested in securing a product that would require no maintenance to look its best, and Corobrik was a viable option.”

“From experience we know that Corobrik’s face bricks are mainte-nance-free, their colours are unique and do not fade over time. While strength and durability are important aspects of the product, for this project we were impressed by the aesthetic appeal of the face bricks. We are pleased that the end-product has preserved the natural ambience of the area and formed what we believe is a good balance of park, office and environment,” says Potgieter.

According to Potgieter, both the textured Travertine and smooth Satin face brick finishes were required to fulfil the architectural specification.

“The contrasting face brick finishes were used for the feature walls. The actual structure of the building is concrete columns and slabs and the walls serve as cladding panels. The bricks were laid in a stack bond pattern, alternating between the Agate and Silvergrey face bricks. Because Corobrik’s face bricks are precisely manufactured, stack bond-ing enhanced a system of horizontal lining to create the desired effect of lightly touching the ground.”

“This was important since we created heavy walling with buttress-like features to the north with small punctured openings and a wall of glazing to the south to make use of the views and static south light. The natural earth colour of the face brick had to blend in with the surrounding nature and the introduction of some curvilinear elements in phases 5 and 6 enhanced the pause and meeting areas of the buildings,” he says.

Cloete concludes, “While it’s satisfying that our exacting products are aesthetically valuable to architects and are used to create unique and du-rable structures admired by many, it is the thermal efficiency of our bricks that is quietly contributing to lower energy usage for heating and cooling over the life of the buildings, thereby adding a further dimension to the maintenance-free qualities of face bricks that incur no future carbon debt and the achievement of a more sustainable environment.”


Exclusive brick colours enhance tygerberg office Park

Corobrik’s unique shades set Tygerberg Office Park apart from other

commercial buildings in Cape Town. Using Agate and Silvergrey face

bricks, the office development blends well with its natural surroundings.

Corobrik’s Agate and Silvergrey face bricks were creatively designed to

enhance the pause and meeting areas of the modern Tygerberg Office Park.

Architect ives

Walls & Roofs in Africa

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