WALLS & ROOFS in Africa - JNL 5'10

Sustainable shopping centres Opportunities of PV panels Retail building trends

IN THIS ISSUE: Freedom Park’s spectacular heritage museum Commercial ceilings

VOL 11.5 JULY/AUGUST 2010 R38 incl. VAT

Cover stories

Volume 11 Number 5 2010

014 Green roofs 068 Freedom Park 090 Technical cladding innovations

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Green DesignSky office in Dusseldorf012

Roofing & CeilingsGreen roofs and acoustic ceilings

Giant roof on Parow Laboratory

Spray foam for roof insulation and sealing

New chemicals offer waterproofing solutions

Concepts & VisionsKhan Shatyr Entertainment Center010

First tough-elastic foam

Innovative housing solutions

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Freedom ParkNew international landmark

All carpentry services

The internal skin of the museum

Versatile use of vitreous enamel

Copper roof cladding

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ArchitectivesTwo steel manufactures join forces

High-spec metal paint

Steel Award entries

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012 Sky office in Dusseldorf10Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center

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Retail and recreational building trends

The new appeal of clay bricks

Fly ash and cement

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Recreational & Retail

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CladdingTechnical cladding innovations

Why waterproof tile grout?

Versatile cementitous cladding

Tiling products for Sandton City

Cement-based casting medium

Lightweight cement-based adhesives

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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

ContACt infoRmAtion: Tel (012) 347 7530Fax (012) 347 7523

International: Tel +27 12 347 7530Fax +27 12 347 7523

E-mail [email protected] Box 25260, Monument Park, 0105

Republic of South AfricaFirst Floor, Unit G

Castle Walk Corporate ParkCnr Nossob & Swakop Streets

Erasmuskloof Ext. 3

the WALLS & RoofS teAm:Editor: Marlene van Rooyen – 083 327 3746

[email protected] Accounts Consultant: Shayne Lessing – 082 549 8226

[email protected] Executive: Francois Jansen van Rensburg – 082 653 8580

[email protected] Founder: Schalk Burger (1943 – 2006)

Journalist: Adrienne Brookbanks – 082 468 [email protected]

Business Unit Coordinator: Lorraine [email protected]

Publishing Manager: Liezel van der MerweFinancial Director: Fanie Venter

Financial Manager: Sietske RossouwAccountant: Denise BakkerDesign & Layout: Ilze PohlProofreader: Angus Reed

Reproduction & Printing: Business Print Centre

Celebrating an iconic building In this issue we feature the awesome and spectacular //hapo (Khoisan word for “dream”) development at the Freedom Park precinct in Pretoria. After a visit to the site, I was amazed by this magnificent structure climbing out of the koppie, gleaming and glittering in the Highveld sunshine. The project tells the story of South Africa and its people: the past and future celebrated and edified in this building.

I was astounded by the angular dimensions of the structure, representing boulders coming out of the ground, and was at once impressed by the scope of work. The complex boulder forms and juxtaposed interior provided plenty of challenges and opportunities for the contractors working on site, many of whom had to change their normal installation methods and innovate as they went along.

Read more on this magnificent project from page 68.

GReen RoofS, pV pAneLS And ACouStiC CeiLinGSIn our roofing feature in this issue (from page 14), we take a look at the possibility of offsetting carbon footprint by planting a green roof. This includes an analysis of the public and private benefits of green roofs, their maintenance and structural and loading issues. We also explore the solutions and application opportunities provided by PV panels as well as the economic constraint factors.

Acoustic noise reduction is paramount in commercial ceiling installations, but not without its architectural challenges. On page 22 we offer you some hints to prevent acoustic ceiling failures on site. It is vital to remember that perfect products WILL fail if used in incorrect applications!

This is a BUMPER issue (our biggest ever): I know you will LOVE it!

Thank you to the team for all your hard work and to our loyal advertisers for supporting us!

Freedom Park is an inspiring project that symbolises truth and reconciliation, architectural excellence and state-of-the-art construction. The site has been named one of the 11 Presidential Legacy Projects and every last detail contributes to the story of South Africa’s heritage and history. Find out more about the exciting design features on page 68.

Cover picture courtesy of CGA and Necira Photography.

on the cover!

Sustainable shopping centres Opportunities of PV panels Retail building trends

IN THIS ISSUE: Freedom Park’s spectacular heritage museum Commercial ceilings

VOL 11.5 JULY/AUGUST 2010 R38 incl. VAT

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Walls & Roofs winner of the coveted SApoA property publication of the Year.

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At their recent Green Day presentation, paint supplier Dulux introduced its audience to the latest range of eco-friendly products. The company’s water-based Ecosure line of paint was presented, highlighting the product’s low VOC (volatile organic compound) levels, high opacity and durability. The cans used to package this paint also contain a percent-age of recycled material.

Another new addition to the Dulux range is Dulux Light & Space. This product is available in a unique assortment of colours and uses “Lu-mitec” technology to reflect natural light, thereby creating the illusion of a more spacious room. Advantages that consumers will receive include less energy use due to artificial lighting and the ability to increase the perception of an interior space.

Dulux Weathershield paint, which requires no primer before application, was also presented to guests at the Dulux Green Day. The product is also water-based and additional benefits include low VOCs, low odours and its quick-drying ability.

Dulux is one of the silver founding members of the Green Building Council of South Africa and their vision is to halve CO2 emission from energy consumption by 2020.

Dulux TradeTel: 011 861 1000E-mail: [email protected]: www.dulux.co.za

BASF has developed a new foam known as E-por®, which is the first tough-elastic, crack-resistant foam that can be transported, stored, processed and recycled like traditional Styropor®.

Because of its high crack-resistance it is multishock-safe and there-fore well-suited to being used as transport packaging for high-quality, shock-sensitive electrical and electronic products such as plasma televisions, laptops, refrigerators or washing machines.

This innovation is a material based on a new formulation and manu-factured in a new production process. E-por® is noted for very good fusion of the surface, excellent resistance to solvents, and an appealing look and feel.

Thanks to its special property profile, the new BASF granules offer advantages along the entire value chain for transport packaging – from the converter, the appliance manufacturer and the retailer – right to the consumer.

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

First tough-elastic foam with benefits of Styropor

E-por foam by BASF

Paint manufacturer showcases green products

Anna Oliphant - Brand Manager from Dulux Trade at the Green Day launch.

The Dulux team at the Green Day Launch. From left to right: Bennum van Jaarsveld - Communication Manager, Anna Oliphant - Brand Manager and Xavier Rijmenans – Head of Marketing.

The new Environmental Wash System converts waterborne paint washings into clear water and solid waste, allowing easier control and disposal of waste materials on construction sites.

05Vol 11.5 | July/August 2010

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Number 2, 2010 WA L L S & R O O F S 05


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06 WA L L S & R O O F S Number 4, 2010

ABSA Bank’s International Innovative Housing and Sustainable Energy Efficiency Competition ceremony was held in Johannesburg at Monte Casino in May and saw leaders from the construction and building industry coming together to honour top players in the field of innovative housing in Africa.

Absa Bank awarded Kavango Block Brick, which is manufactured by Trans Atlantic Enterprises Namibia, with numerous awards including 1st place in the Breaking New Ground (BNG) Energy Efficiency category for Innovative Housing, 3rd place in the Breaking New Ground (BNG) Housing category for Innovative Housing, and 3rd place in the Affordable Housing category for Innovative Housing.

“In order to address the housing backlog in South Africa, Namibia and the rest of Africa, houses need to be constructed at a much faster pace, yet quality control standards need to be properly maintained and controlled, and this is what can be achieved with our system,” says Heinrich Schroeder, CEO and founder of the Kavango Block Brick.

Imison™ Construction Company won 1st place in the Affordable Housing Category for Innovative Housing and two 3rd place prizes for Energy Efficiency. According to their website (www.imison.com) Absa’s objective in sponsoring the competition was to explore creativity and innovation in the construction of houses together with energy efficiency.

For this reason conventional brick and mortar construction would be excluded so as to stimulate creative and viable alternative building designs of high-standard housing solutions that could be financed in primary and secondary markets, said Mr Luthando Vutula, Managing Executive for Absa Home Loans.

Kavango Block Brick represented Namibia in the 2009 International Innovative Housing and Sustainable Energy Efficiency Competition re-cently held at Wellington near Cape Town in South Africa. South Africa made history at this event showcasing International ideas on innovative building technologies to the industry. Kavango Block Brick is a proudly Namibian concept which proved that Namibia can make a significant contribution in the reduction of the housing shortage that the region is currently facing.

The most recent announcement made was that the Development Bank of Namibia has financed the establishment of the first Kavango Block Brick manufacturing plant in Windhoek. The project will be ex-pecting many visitors in the field of construction from South Africa and SADC to visit the first plant in Windhoek to see directly how the blocks are manufactured using state-of-the-art block-making equipment.

James Arm, Marketing Manager of Kavango Block Brick based in Cape Town, said, “We had to go into exile in South Africa to prove to the people of Namibia and the rest of the world that the K-Brick technology was a sustainable solution with regard to housing delivery. Winning places in all three categories at the International Innovative Housing and Sustainable Energy Efficiency Competition 2009 bears witness to this.”

Trans Atlantic Enterprises (T.A.E)Tel: (+264) 061 213 632Mobile: (+264) 085 562 0260Email: [email protected]

Solving problems with innovative housing solutions

The innovative brick is a proudly Namibian concept that contributed to reducing the housing shortage problems that the country is currently facing.


The 14th edition of SA Décor & Design’s The Buyers’ Guide, which is a proclaimed resource for the décor industry in South Africa, has been released. The massive 608-page edition provides an interesting and informative reference for industry professionals as well as homeowners.

New sections to look forward to in the 2011 edition of The Buyers’ Guide include Style Spy, which showcases some of the beautiful and ingenious new products surfacing in the market and which promises to help you create exceptional living spaces and dynamic working environ-ments. Another new section in the book, called the Green Pavilion, features ecological issues and promotes companies that manufacture and supply green products.

Peppered between the many Style Spy features and the Green Pavilion are a wealth of other interesting and informative sections. Pavilions featuring Designers & Decorators, Architects, Décor Centres, Home Automation products and Fabric Houses, Q&A’s with Home Channel presenters and trends from four of South Africa’s top décor magazine editors.

SA Décor recently launched their new website, www.sadecor.co.za, to provide internet users with more content and visuals of South Africa’s latest designs and décor.

The 2011 edition of The Buyers’ Guide can be purchased from lead-ing bookstores or online. You also stand a chance of winning R60 000 of furniture from Nowa Designs when you purchase the new book.

SA Décor & Design, Tel: 021 465 5720 Fax: 021 465 2162 Email: [email protected]: www.sadecor.co.za

SA Décor & DesignThe Buyers’ Guide

2011 Edition

The 2011 edition of SA Décor & Design’s The Buyers’ Guide is packed with information for industry professionals as well as homeowners.

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Siddey’s Maintenance Insulation has been providing maintenance services to a wide range of large corporate clients for over 12 years. Siddey’s offers a one-stop maintenance solution by giving clients access to a team of professionals that is dedicated to solving all main-tenance problems as soon as they appear. Some of the clients that have partnered with Siddey’s include Standard Bank, Investec, Lafarge training centre, Tasima and a range of property developer owners such as NECSA/Pelindaba, CBS Properties, Rennie Properties, JHI Proper-ties and Growthpoint Properties only to name a few.

Since inception, the company has focused on managing all tenant requirements for buildings on a day-to-day basis. Quality work, ef-ficiency and professionalism are the promises that Siddey’s Mainte-nance Insulation makes when partnering with your corporate team.

eLeCtRiCAL mAintenAnCeQualified electricians at Siddey’s Maintenance have over 25 years of experience in providing electrical solutions to large corporate clients where electricity supply is a critical necessity. From changing globes to major electrical construction, electrical certification, re-installations in hired premises, generator installations and everyday building electricity requirements – Siddey’s can ensure that its electrical services are at your disposal within 24 hours.

pLumbinG SoLutionSSiddey’s plumbing division can assist you with all minor and major plumbing problems, from a leaking tap to a burst man-hole pipe, new installations and maintenance thereof. Quick response, 24 hour service and competitive prices on all plumbing elements accompany Siddey’s hassle-free plumbing assistance.

hot And CoLd inSuLAtionSiddey’s supplies, installs and renovates all insulation systems. The insulation materials that the company uses are especially designed for the thermal and acoustical insulation of pipes, equipment or vessels forming part of industrial and domestic plants. Saving energy, reducing your building’s electricity demand and ensuring temperature control are some of the benefits that you will receive when contacting Siddey’s for insulation solutions.

GeneRAL mAintenAnCe (pRofeSSionAL RenoVAtionS, tentAnt inStALLAtionS, Re-inStALLAtionS And dèCoR.)Siddey’s can deliver expert building maintenance for any specialised refurbishment requirement that clients need. The team of professionals is able to advise clients on preventative maintenance schedules and certification requirements. The general maintenance services include the following, but are not limited to, dry-walling, roofing, painting, tiling, demolishing and revamping all areas as well as paving and shade netting.

Siddey’s Maintenance Insulation has offices in both Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The company is also well equipped with a financial management department as well as a call centre to deal with all call-outs to clients as well as quotation requests. Partnering with a leading team of maintenance specialists takes the hassle and compli-cation away from your staff so that you can focus on your business goals and priorities.

Siddey’s Maintenance Insulation ccTel: 012 548 1973Fax: 012 548 1899Email: [email protected]: www.siddeys.co.za

Running a high-profile business means that all aspects of building maintenance must work on a 24/7 basis. Instead of relying on a few in-house general maintenance personnel, many large corporate clients in South Africa have seen the benefit of outsourcing to professional electricians, plumbers and insulation specialists that can meet any tenant’s requirement.

Why outsourcing maintenance jobs makes sense

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Scaffolding

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Ti’s & Ri’s

Steel work

Electrical & Coc’s

Plumbing

Hot & Cold Insulation (lagging)

Your first choice in maintenance

Tel: 012 548 1973 · Fax: 012 548 1899 email: [email protected] · www.siddeys.co.za Established1998

SIDDEY’S MAINTENANCE INSULATION cc

Concepts & Vis ions


Concepts & Vis ions

The world’s tallest tensile structure - Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center

The Center, which is a dramatic civic focus, encloses an area of over 100 000 m2 within an ETFE dome. Designed by Foster + Partners, |with Linea Tusavul Architecture and Gultekin Architecture as co-architects, the Center has an urban-scaled park with a variety of leisure and entertainment facilities contained within it. The different levels form undulating terraces, the uppermost terrace forming a water park.

The structure is held up by three 70-ton legs and it is supported by over 200m of cable. According to Foster + Partners, the ETFE and cable roof is very lightweight and thus efficient – the large spans would make for a very heavy structure if it was steel and glass – and by hanging the roof from the tripod all the cables are simply in tension, which is a very efficient system for steel.

Because of the cable net’s nature as a tension structure, the entire roof is designed to move as wind and snow loads are imposed – the whole structure will thus move, but in fairly small amounts.

The Center represents a major new civic, cultural and social venue for the people of Astana, bringing together a wide range of activities within a sheltered climatic envelope that provides a comfortable environment all year round.

tempeRAtuRe extRemeSIn winter, temperatures in Astana can drop to -35 degrees Celsius and in summer they can climb as high as +35 degrees. The three-layer ETFE envelope is designed to shelter the enclosed accommodation from weather extremes and to allow daylight to wash the interiors.

In order to prevent the formation of ice on the inside of the enve-lope in winter, a combination of temperature control methods were incorporated. Warm air currents get directed up the inner surface of the fabric, a strategy that also prevents downdraughts. In summer, fritting on the outermost foil layer provides solar shading. Inside, low-level jets direct cool air across the space, while opening vents at the apex induce stack-effect ventilation. Nigel Dancey, a Design Director at Foster + Partners, says that Khan-Shatyr will be an important new destination for the people of Astana to enjoy at all times of the year, whatever the weather. “We are delighted to celebrate its official opening today. With the Palace of Peace and Khan-Shatyr, we are proud to have designed the two landmark structures for such prominent points along the city’s main axis – their forms express the change of emphasis and func-tion, from religion to entertainment, as you pass along this grand new boulevard,” concludes Dancey.

The Khan-Shatyr Entertainment Center in Kazakhstan was officially opened on 5 July 2010, with a performance by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in the presence of President Nazarbayev and heads of state. The tent-like, cable-net structure is the world’s tallest tensile structure, soaring 150 metres from an elliptical base to form the highest peak on the skyline of the country’s capital, Astana.

Pictures: The Khan-Shatyr Entertainment Center in Kazakhstan is held up by three 70-ton legs, supported by over 200m of cable and covers an area of 100,000m2.


Client: Sembol Construction Appointment: February 2006 Construction: December 2006Completion: July 2010 Site Area: 200 000 m² Retail Area: 40 000 m² (160 shops) total Area: 110 000 m² Length: 200m Width: 195m height: Top of mast 150m Structure: 20 m high sloped concrete base with 4,2 m long elliptical shape integrated rooflights - concrete base at ground level 200 m x 195 m Base of cable net 143m x 115m, 192 radial cables, 16 circumferential cables Cladding: 19 000 m² of ETFE - cushions are made of three layers of ETFE. Each cushion is 3,5 m x 30m Car parking spaces: 700 internal, 850 external

Source: www.architectsjournal.co.uk

For more information, visit www.fosterandpartners.com, to which full thanks and acknowledgement is given.

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The office tower is 89 metres tall and has a transparent façade. The site required the articulation of two distinct addresses. The solitary building clearly accepts this characteristic in its geometry. The landscaping around the new tower links the grassy banks of the nearby Rhine River with the green spaces of the Golzheim residential district.

open pLAnninGThe flexible plan permits a wide range of office layouts, including individual, cell and open-plan offices. The internal communication cores provide all office floors with a consistent level of light and ventilation. Each floor can be subdivided into two units. The transparent façade adds a light and delicate touch to the high-rise tower. The floor-to-ceiling glazing allows unobstructed views over the city of Düsseldorf and the nearby Rhine River.

Size: Ground floor area: 36 550 m², 23 storeys

Client: ORCO Erste Projektentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, Düsseldorf Architect: Ingenhoven Architects, DüsseldorfChristoph Ingenhoven, Rudolf Jonas, Hinrich Schumacher, Christian Kawe, Stefan Rhein, Lutz Büsing, Alexandra Zupanc, Mario Reale, Felix Wintez, Jens Busche, Jürgen Gendriesch, Christiane Luiz, Axel Möller, Hendrik Schumacher, Peter Pistorius, Björn Polzin

Structural engineering: Kunkel + Partner KG, Düsseldorf KHP König,

Sky office in Düsseldorf


Heunisch und Partner, Frankfurt a.M.

façade Consultant: DS-Plan GmbH, Stuttgart

building Services: Integ GmbH, Berlin Soils investigation: ICG Leonhardt-Veith GmbH, Düsseldorf SurveyingDipl.-Ing. Gerd-Joachim Töpfer, Düsseldorf building physics: DS-Plan GmbH, Cologne fire protection: BPK Brandschutz Planung Klingsch, Düsseldorf Ventilation Analysis: IFI Institut für Industrieaerodynamik, Aachen Lighting Artificial- and Daylight: Kardoff Ingenieure Lichtplanung, BerlinTropp Lighting Design, Weilheim Landscape Architecture: WES & Partner Landschaftsarchitekten, Hamburg transportation Systems: Ingenieurbüro Detlef David GmbH, Düsseldorf project management: Drees & Sommer GmbH, Cologne

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


According to the International Green Roof Association, wooden constructions, metal sheeting as well as reinforced concrete decks can be considered as appropriate roof substructures. A waterproof roof construction with appropriate load-bearing capacity is the base for a green roof.

According to the International Green Roof Association, the opportuni-ties of green roofs are still underestimated today and “no other architec-tural style provides such a wide range of positive effects for buildings, inhabitants and the environment.”

offSettinG YouR CARbon footpRint With GReen RoofSA study on the ability of green roofs to offset CO2 emissions, which was done in 2009, found that although green roofs won’t solve global warming, their ability to absorb greenhouse gases would definitely help.

Although the numbers varied from roof to roof and even between different areas of the same roof, the scientists calculated a total of 375 grams of carbon in an aver-age square metre of roof.

“The key to fighting global warming is capturing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in new reservoirs that weren’t storing carbon before,” said lead researcher Kristin Getter, of Michigan State University in East Lansing. “In the

whole scheme of things, green roofs are not the one answer to seques-tering carbon, but they will certainly help.”

Researchers of the study reported that the metropolitan area of Detroit has between 65 million – 85 million square metres of rooftop land and that greening all of that area would be like removing 10 000 mid-sized trucks from the roads a year (Evironmental Science & Technology Journal).

Green Roof Offsets, a UK company specialising in helping companies offset their carbon footprint by installing green roofs, says that a 1 000 m2 green roof will offset 4,9 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, every year, from the day it is installed.

“The roofs create an insulating effect which saves carbon emissions from heating and airconditioning,” says the company before adding that the typical electricity saving is £5,20/m2/year.

Although a green roof can help offset your carbon footprint, Getter adds that a garden on a building’s roof won’t immediately lower the construction’s carbon footprint. “Greening conventional roofs require special materials, which come at a carbon cost. It takes seven years for the roof to offset the carbon used for its building materials and become truly carbon-negative. Developing low-carbon building materials could bring it down to two or three years,” says Getter.

Copenhagen, a city that plans to be carbon-neutral by 2025, has adopted a green roof policy wherein all new buildings with roof slopes of less than 30°C will need to incorporate a living roof (www.green-launches.com).

In South Africa examples of green roofs include the treed roof of the parking area at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, the Grace Hotel in Rosebank, House Westcliff, the library of Stellenbosch University, and Forum Homini at the Cradle of Humankind.

A green roof can be defined as an extension of an above-grade roof, built on top of a human-made structure, which allows vegetation to grow in a growing medium. According to www.toronto.ca, the assembly of a green roof includes, as a minimum, a root repellent system, a drainage system, a filtering layer, a growing medium and plants, and shall be installed on a waterproof membrane of an applicable roof.

Roofing & Cei l ings

Green roofs, acoustic ceilings and architectural challenges



GReen Roof ConStRuCtion: peRCeiVed bARRieRSLivingroofs.org lists the following perceived barriers to green roofs:

mAintenAnCeLivingroofs.org differentiates between the types of green roofs. Intensive roofs are green roofs that need regular maintenance such as weeding, irrigation and other general garden activities. Semi-intensive green roofs need periodic maintenance depending on the character of the planting. Extensive green roofs generally require an infrequent amount of maintenance. “Depending on the type of green roof they may need a degree of post-installation maintenance in terms of water-ing and fertilising. This is particularly true of sedum plugged or hydro seeded roofs. Mat type systems may need more maintenance as time goes on as they develop to grass quickly,” says the organisation.

In Germany, it is common to find extensive green roofs that have changed to dry grass due to building managers cancelling maintenance packages offered by the suppliers. “The important point is that as long as all drainage elements and shingle perimeters are kept free of vegetation a roof left to its own devices will not harm the integrity of the building,” says Livingroofs.org.

StRuCtuRAL iSSueSThe structural implication of a green roof to a building is also a perceived barrier. In a study done in London where a number of professionals were asked to agree with the statement “the physical structure of many buildings prevents the establishment of green roofs”, 40% of architects, 27% of engineers and 92% of developers agreed with the statement.

Livingroofs.org acknowledges that any landscape feature on a roof will have loading implications and the saturated weight of any such features must be used to calculate the structural load.

Zinco International has calculated the saturated weights of various landscape elements including green roof systems (according to standards outlined in German National Standard DIN 1055 – Design Loading for Buildings).

The load values for saturated weights are as follows:

Gravel surface: 90 – 150 kg/m• 2

Paving slabs: 160 – 220 kg/m• 2

Vehicle surface: from 550 kg/m• 2

Extensive green roof: 200 – 500 kg/m• 2

An extensive green roof system would also have a negligible effect on the structural load on inverted roofs, which are often covered in paving slabs in order to ballast out the insulation. Roofs designed as a single ply, however, are likely to be less structurally robust than inverted systems (Livingroofs.org).

benefitS of GReen RoofSpubLiC benefitS pRiVAte benefitS

Stormwater retention: Green roofs can prevent local flooding and, depending on the roofing system and depth of growing medium, immediate water run-off can be reduced by 50% – 90%.

increased roof life: The life expectancy of a ‘normal’ roof is only 15 – 25 years due to physical, chemical and biological stress on the waterproofing/ roof skin over the years. The vegetation layer of a green roof buffers temperature stress during the summer and winter and it also creates a protection layer in the case of mechanical damage due to extreme weather circumstances.

natural habitat for animals and plants: Green roofs can compensate for lost landscape, particularly in urban areas where a large share of the total land area is sealed.

Reduced noise levels: Green roofs improve sound insulation by up to 8 decibels and reduce sound reflection by up to 3 decibels.

urban heat island effect: Temperatures in urban areas are continually rising due to climate change, increasing sealed surfaces and excess heat from residential buildings, industry and traffic. The urban heat island effect refers to the temperature difference between a city and the surrounding countryside. Green roof surfaces decrease this effect through the process of transpiration and humidifying dry air, which lends a better climate for adjacent apartments and buildings.

heat shield: Green roofs reduce indoor temperatures through transpiration in the summer.

Cities and landscapes: The visual quality of cities can be enhanced by green roofs.

thermal insulation: Green roofs provide additional thermal insulation. In the past it was not possible to quantify this effect, but special green roof build-ups were officially credited with thermal resistance values (R-values) by the German Institute for Construction Engineering in the beginning of the 1990s.

Reduction of dust and smog levels: Plants are able to enhance the air quality in polluted inner city areas. Harmful materials in rain and air are deposited in the growing medium (one square metre of green roof can filter approximately 0,2 kg aerosol dust and smog particles per year).

use of space: Green roofs can be used for a variety of purposes such as recreational roof gardens, roof cafés and sporting areas. Due to the utilisation of this space, the property owner can save costs from purchasing additional ground level.

Source: www.igra-world.com Continues on page 18



Product line upgrades, the environmental sustainability of roofing products and Marley Roofing’s upcoming training program were some of the key aspects that were highlighted at this event.

pRoduCtion Line upGRAdeSMarley Roofing is continually looking for ways to improve its products and production processes. “To this end we have implemented important upgrades to our Olifantsfontein production line in readiness for the increased demand that we believe will start to happen in the last quarter of 2010,” says Mark Irving, MD at Marley Roofing.

The company is also focused on the environmental performance of its products and has recently been re-certified for ISO 14001 of the Environmental Management System.

“Environmental performance is an important part of our culture at Marley. Currently we are the only roof tile manufacturer to achieve this standard in South Africa,” says Irving.

“Being ISO 14001 certified has helped us to react appropriately to participate in the tackling of challenges such as climate change, waste management, eco-friendly product solutions and optimised transport systems. We constantly manage key environmental issues and monitor production line parameters accordingly, measuring carbon emissions, energy efficiency and waste generation to maintain the highest possible standards of environmental sustainability.”

tRAininG pRoGRAmMarley Roofing is in the process of initiating a training program for tiled-roof installations. Short courses will be held at Olifantsfontein in the near future on practical aspects of roof tile installation as a means of improving the quality of workmanship. The company’s sales repre-sentatives have been tasked with keeping customers and suppliers up to date with progress in this regard.

“That’s another reason why Marley Roofing is the company to call when you are in the market for quality roofing solutions,” concludes Irving.

Marley Roofing Tel: 011 316 2121E-mail: [email protected]: www.marleyroofing.co.za

Roofing suppliers Marley Roofing held a Golf Day in May, which gave suppliers, sponsors and industry leaders an opportunity to reflect on the innovations in the company and the roofing industry.

New developments at local roofing manufacturer

“Environmental performance is an important part

of our culture at Marley.”

Right: Everyone was a winner at the dinner and prize-giving.Below right: The dancing girls were the main attraction at the Marley Roofing Golf Day.



According to the International Green Roof Association, installing PV panels on a green roof requires special frames of aluminium which are designed to put the panels above the vegetation level (so that the panels are not shaded). In the past, solar units were mounted on slabs or concrete bases and partially filled with gravel. Today, these units get mounted on framework which is fixed to plastic board that are covered with substrate and allow rain water to drain through so that the plants can grow under the solar panels.

According to a study entitled “Photovoltaics in architecture – lessons learned in PV Nord”, which involved architects in Nordic countries and the Netherlands and was partly financed by ARQ, Stiftelsen för arkitek-tforskning, architects who participated in the study found photovoltaics interesting as a material when integrated in the architectural concept but the possibilities of working with PVs as a part of the concept varied. “This depended much on when PVs were introduced in the project,” reads the study.

According to PV Nord, a European research project also known as the Widespread Exploitation of Building Integrated Photovoltaics in the Northern Dimension of the European Union, the will to explore photovoltaics as a material has varied due to lack of information and changing degrees of interest.

eConomiC ConStRAintSPV Nord’s research also showed that, in most architecture projects, the technical factors did not seem to have been as determining as the economical factors. “The economical factors and the lack of practice of Building Integrated Photovoltaics have been difficult to handle. In several projects the boundaries between the solar cell producer and the construction component manufacturer have been vague and have in some projects resulted in poorer quality. Altogether the architects are positive to photovoltaics but find the economical factors to be the crucial point. Given the opportunity most of the architects would gladly work with solar cells again,” says PV Nord.

A recent South African feasibility study of incorporating PV panels to the roof of Green Point Stadium (in order to minimise the carbon foot-print of the 2010 event) proves that financial barriers are still prevalent when it comes to this type of technology.

According to www.capetown.gov.za, the stadium professional team conducted a detailed feasibility study to scope the installation of PV systems on the roof of Green Point Stadium. The study concluded that, although this was technically possible, it was not financially feasible within the given budget provisions.

“Photovoltaic technology could be employed to power street and walk-way lights. However the cost of electricity generated from photovoltaics, measured over a period of 20 years in Cape Town, is calculated as R2/kWh. It is, therefore, not feasible, from an economic perspective,” said the project details on the City of Cape Town’s official website.

Continues from page 14

Incorporating PV panels to roofs

Installing solar panels onto houses and buildings used to be good for the environ-ment and the property owner’s energy bill (and a nuisance for architects). Property owners had to put up with the panels being superimposed on the roofs, but now thin-film photovoltaic (PV) cells are doubling as rooftop shingles.

According to the Whole Building Design Guide, thin-film photovoltaic products typi-cally incorporate substrate using vacuum-deposition manufacturing techniques similar to those employed in the coating of architec-tural glass. Presently, commercial thin-film materials deliver about 4-5 watts per ft² of PV array area (under full sun). Thin-film technologies hold out the promise of lower costs due to much lower requirements for

active materials and energy in their produc-tion when compared to thick-crystal products (www.wbdg.org).

A Spanish-German partnership has developed a virtually invisible solar film in a EUREKA project. “You don’t see the film at all. It’s integrated into the building rather than superimposed on it,” says Francois Ruiz Caballero, General Manager and Head of R&D projects at Intemper Espanola, the Spanish partner which led the EUREKA project Fotointegral (www.sciencedaily.com).

This product development began with Caballero wondering if the four or five separate products used for solar cells could be combined into one multi-purpose product, made from flexible silicon cells, in order to incorporate PV into roofing shingles.

Sophisticated performance tables were created by the company to measure the quality of the test combinations of silicon cells that the team developed in order to find out how the solar cells reacted to sunlight, how well they resisted bad weather and how much energy was lost at different angles. The team eventually found a film that was a mere 6mm thick, could even be used on vertical surfaces and only lost approximately 8% of the solar energy it captured. The team sees this as a 3-in-1 roof insulation, waterproofing and solar-panelling product. Caballero says the product, called Evalon Solar, is extremely popular amongst archi-tects looking to include solar panelling on buildings without cluttering up simple roofs or spoiling unusual or effective shapes.

Thin film PV Panels double as roof shingles

Continues on page 22



Roofing & Cei l ingsRoofing & Cei l ings

“The 3 000 m² roof, an area equivalent to11 tennis courts, has been designed as a bowl-type structure and is being covered in Rheinzink titanium zinc. The design requires that each of the Rheinzink sheets needs to be tapered to accommodate the shape of the roof,” says Stephen Wilkinson, business manager of Rheinzink South Africa.

“The panels are then fixed to the shutterply sub-roof with fixed and sliding clips by the roofing contractor, Rohde Roofing, to allow the roof to expand and contract according to the natural temperature changes

of the day. Rain water will be gathered by a large gutter which is chan-nelled to the stormwater drainage by 10 downpipes sized to handle the volume of water gathered by the roof,” continues Wilkinson.

The Forensic Science Laboratory, designed by the Forensic Labora-tory Architects Consortium, is being built by Grinaker-LTA and is due for completion in July 2011.

Rheinzink – an alloy consisting of 99,995% high-purity zinc and pre-cisely defined amounts of copper and titanium – is being increasingly used by the South African construction industry for roofing and cladding since it is highly corrosion-resistant in inland as well as marine environ-ments. It was chosen for the roofs and drainage systems of the apart-ments at Majestic Village in Kalk Bay, a winner in the refurbishments category of the 2008 Awards for Innovative Excellence in Property Development made by the SA Property Owners’ Association.

Stephen Wilkinson says that, apart from blending into every architec-tural environment, Rheinzink carries a 30-year material guarantee.

“It preserves its outstanding properties and appearance over a service life of 80-120 years, even in harsh marine environments, such as the corrosive conditions encountered, for instance, on the Namibian and Zululand coasts,” says Wilkinson.

The Forensic Science Laboratory now being built for the Department of Public Works in Plattekloof, Parow, CapeTown, will have one of the largest expanses of roof of its kind in South Africa.

Giant roof on Parow Laboratory

RHEINZINK’s skilled applications engineers, engineering consultants and master

craftsmen are here to help design ideas come to life with practical solutions and

expert construction support.



“After a period of natural weathering, Rheinzink bright rolled material takes on a pleasant blue-grey patina and needs no paint or any other surface protection – and thus no maintenance or cleaning.”

“The formation of the patina, a protective layer of zinc carbonate, may occur within four months to three years depending on the aggressive-ness of the environment. The colour composition of the patina formed depends on the project’s location,” concludes Wilkinson.

enViRonmentAL benefitS Based on known ore reserves, the world supply of source zinc will last some 700 years. The environmental footprint of zinc ore extraction is minimised through the predominant use of deep mining techniques as opposed to strip mining.

Recycled zinc conserves 95% of its initial energy content. When a zinc installation reaches the end of its service life, the material is com-pletely recyclable without degradation or loss of properties.

Ultimately the reason for using zinc on a building is its long life cycle with little need for maintenance achieved by the self-healing patina formation process that protects the metal naturally, without the added environmental stress of a paint coating. Instead, slowly and over time, zinc reveals its colour and natural beauty.

pRoduCt And ConSuLtinG hiStoRYRHEINZINK was founded in 1966 by the Grillo, Stolberger Zinc compa-nies, along with the United German Metal Works. Production began in 1969. The headquarters and administration base in Datteln, at the edge of the Ruhr District.

As the first manufacturer of construction zinc in Europe, RHEINZINK replaced the traditional pack-rolling process with new and innovative technology – the continuous wide-strip casting and rolling mill. Today RHEINZINK belongs to the Grillo group of companies. It has a produc-tion capacity of approx. 160 000 tons a year and employs over 800 people. RHEINZINK is present in 30 countries around the world.

The in-house research and development departments are constantly working to improve processing and production quality. Moreover, practi-

cal innovations are created here, which simplify both work flow and installation considerably, by means of their economical compatibility, and, along with lasting function guarantee, increase the competitive-ness of the trade.

RHEINZINK’s skilled applications engineers, engineering consultants and master craftsmen are here to help design ideas come to life with practical solutions and expert construction support.

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

abouT zinc ProducTs

Zinc as a building material is manufactured in continuous 1-metre wide strips and is then shipped to stockists in South Africa as flat sheets or rolled up coils in various thick-nesses including 0.7, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2 and 1.5 mm. Water drainage products in the form of gutters, downpipes and accessories are also available through local stockists.

Popular zinc roofing applications are the double lock standing seam system and the single lock standing seam system. These profiles are easily roll-formed to a standard 25 mm seam height, resulting in a dimension of 500 mm between adjacent seams. The Victorian Profile (corrugated) is also available to the South African construction market. When properly installed, these types of roofs will provide decades of maintenance-free service while displaying a naturally beautiful blue-grey patina.

Rheinzink titanium zinc comes to the South African construc-tion industry from Europe where it’s been used as roofing and exterior wall cladding for over two hundred years. The metal’s desirable attributes include long-lasting service life, low to no maintenance, ease of formability as well as numerous environmental benefits. The arrival of zinc and its applications is timely, both from a building technology and an environmental perspective.

Proper detailing, construction and workmanship contribute to the longevity of zinc as a building envelope material. The durabil-ity of zinc as a roofing and cladding material is inherent in the zinc itself and is attributed to the ability of zinc to form a protec-tive patina (film) preventing the zinc from oxidizing (rusting).




Traditionally, the four main considerations for architects have been the aesthetics, noise reduction co-efficient (NRC), safety and Relative Humidity (RH) of the environment. However, with sophisticated product development and increased expectations from property owners and developers, there are additional factors to consider.

“In addition to the NRC provided by the ceiling system, further noise reduction in terms of the services located within the ceiling void will be improved by specifying additional insulation on top of the ceil-ing system,” says Paulette Murison, Project Specification Manager at Saint-Gobain, before adding that the inclusion of Aerolite ceiling insulation into the specification offers not only an acoustic benefit but contributes to satisfying thermal requirements as prescribed in SANS 10400X and SANS 204.

“With the focus on energy efficiency set to become a much stronger thread in the planning of a building, architects should consider the thermal performance of the total system.”

In specifying a suspended ceiling, it is vital to consider the fire performance in terms of smoke indices, the products’ reaction to fire and the system’s fire resistance. “Ask about the testing of the whole system, rather than just a single component, as this will provide significant insight into the true fire performance of the installed system,” continues Murison.

“If the ceiling system is not installed as per the testing method of installation, any system performance guarantee will not be honoured. Cognisance must be taken of the potential toxicity of smoke generated. Even products that do not spread fire may give off toxic fumes in the presence of fire. Note also that the colour of the smoke is no indication of toxicity.”

ARChiteCtuRAL ChALLenGeS With ACouStiC CeiLinGSAccording to Murison, the biggest challenge is to know the right ques-tions to ask to enable confidence in the tiles’ performance. “Ask for all available documentation, such as test reports, performance criteria, installation procedures, etc. Also remember to compare apples with apples. If your primary deciding factor is the acoustic performance of a ceiling solution, something that is apparently slightly cheaper may not offer the same acoustic performance of the more expensive product. Achieving the desired acoustic performance with a cheaper, lower-performing tile would then demand further interventions, adding unforeseen costs.”

pReVentinG ACouStiC CeiLinG fAiLuReS on SiteMurison explains that there are several common factors that cause acoustic ceilings to fail:

Due to Relative Humidity levels, a mineral-fibre ceiling tile can • only be used in an airconditioned environment as the temperature is constant so no bowing occurs.

Inadequate insulation of airconditioning ducting promotes conden • sation within the void, the condensate drips onto the tile, causing it to bow and sag.

Acoustic bridges and sound transmission from adjoining rooms.• Painting of the acoustic liner or tile face.• The other common structural failure is the use of downlighters •

that exceed the permissible load-carrying capacity of a tile. The tile should be braced as per the manufacturer’s specifications with the inclusion of gypsum board or timber, to prevent weight being hung exclusively from the tile. Any additional lighting or services are to be independently supported to roof structure.

“The manufacturers of all products and systems should be partners in finding the solutions for your buildings,” concludes Murison.

Acoustic ceilings and bulkheads




According to Pepe Espinosa, GM’s global specialist in building standards and warehousing, it was imperative to produce this new 38 000 m2 warehouse in accordance with GM’s global best practice. “This warehouse looks and will operate exactly as other GM warehouses around the world,” said Espinosa.

To meet the strenuous quality demands of the project, the professional team of architects, quantity surveyors and structural engineers called on Global Roofing Solutions (GRS) to provide the roof cover and cladding for the R250-million project which started in August 2009. GRS Klip-Lok 406 pre-painted aluminium sheeting was selected for its durability, wind resistance and water resistant qualities. The Klip-Lok 406 concealed roof sheets for this entire project was roll-formed on site as the majority of the roof sheets were in excess of 60 metres. GRS further supplied 6 500 m2 of side cladding in Supa-Clad prepainted aluminium.

“The experienced design and architectural assistance of the GRS team provided a platform for a confident product choice and their technical advice assisted us in completing this significant project in the Eastern Cape,” said Wessel Lategan from Cladall Roofing, a GRS-approved contractor.

“We’re delighted to have been part of GM’s Pan African expansion and appreciate the trust that the designers and specifiers of major projects – such as this one in the Eastern Cape – place in our products,” says GRS Managing Director, Gavin Jacobsen.

CoVeRinG the CApeAnother large project that GRS was involved in is the Integrated Terminal and multi-storey parkade at Cape Town International Airport. GRS supplied 29 000 m2 Klip-Lok 406 concealed roofing sheets for the main terminal and another 20 000 m2 roof sheeting for the parkade.

GRS products were furthermore used at the Broadway Boulevard Mall in Somerset West, the Cape Gate Medi Clinic, the Integrated Waste Management Facility in Kraaifontein, 15 On Orange Hotel and Dreamworld Studios in Stellenbosch.

“The vision of GRS is to be the supplier of choice to the roofing market in Africa,” concludes Jacobsen.

Global Roofing Solutions (Pty) Ltd.Tel: Nationwide - 0861 564 477 Email – [email protected]: www.globalroofs.co.za

Roofing products for General Motors SA warehouseMetal roofing manufacturers Global Roofing Solutions, a KMG Group subsidiary, recently supplied a world-class roofing product to General Motors South Africa (GMSA) Parts Distribution Warehouse in the COEGA Development Zone.

Another large project that GRS was involved in is the Integrated

Terminal and multi-storey parkade at Cape Town International Airport.



The concrete roof of the 80-megalitre reservoir that was built by the Polokwane municipality used a.b.e.’s abedex, a polymer-bitumen membrane. “The 5 080 m2 concrete roof – consisting of hollow core concrete slabs – was covered with 600 rolls of abedex 4 mm,” says Roland Chonowitz, Technical Sales Consultant for a.b.e. in Boksburg.

The applicators, Fibreseal, specialise in torch-on waterproofing on concrete roofs, torch-on boarded systems on low-pitch sheet

metal roofs, industrial fiberglass applications and epoxy flooring. The main contractor for the construction of the Polokwane reservoir was Yarena Civils.

“Abedex is a dual-reinforced waterproofing torch-on membrane, manufactured from polymer-modified bitumen which has been reinforced with a rot-proof, non-woven polyester fabric and strength-ened with a fibreglass mat. On application, the bitumen is dispersed into a continuous polymeric phase,” continues Chonowitz.

“The membrane, which is heat-welded, provides excellent dimen-sional stability. abedex membranes are covered with evenly distributed fine talc which allows the membranes to be unrolled easily.” Abedex comes with a 10-year warranty and provides outstanding ageing resistance. The product can be used for challenging waterproof-ing projects such as basement tanking, flat concrete slabs as well as timber boarded roofs.

a.b.e. Construction ChemicalsTel: 011 306 9000Fax: 011 306 9100Website: www.abe.co.za

Waterproofing products for challenging projectsA membrane from a.b.e. Construction Chemicals was recently used to waterproof a major new reservoir in Polokwane. The project is part of the city’s infrastructural expansion for the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup

A polymer-bitumen membrane was used to waterproof the concrete roof of the new 80 megalitre reservoir in Polokwane.

Among the long list of projects for which a.b.e. has already supplied waterproofing are the new seawater canals at Durban’s revitalised Point area.



a.b.e. Construction Chemicals was established in Durban way back in 1932 but started its operations in earnest in 1939. Initially solely a supplier of bitumen to municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, the company has grown in size and diversity to become one of South Africa’s leading suppliers of specialised construction products to the building, civil engineering, and building maintenance industries.

Liquid WAteRpRoofinG pRoduCtSLast year was the 70th anniversary of the development of four of a.b.e.’s extensive range of liquid waterproofing products: super laykold, super laycryl, brixeal, and flintkote. It has been estimated that a.b.e. has already supplied waterproofing for around 771 000 Southern African houses – plus a host of major commercial and industrial developments.

SiLiCone And SeALAntSApart from a.b.e.’s popular range of silicones and sealants which are well known to the building and DIY sectors, the company holds sole

distribution rights for the Belgian Dow Corning range of structural glazing sealants for bonding glass or composite panels to the frame of buildings. These sealants have been the preferred products for many high-rise curtain-walled structures in South Africa (including Sandton’s new 15 Alice Lane Towers) and also in countries such as Mauritius where the national bank’s headquarters is a showcase for Dow Corn-ing’s durability.

Roof ShinGLeSa.b.e. is also the local distributor for the Italian Tegola Canadese range of bituminous roof shingles which have already been specified for several local prestige projects including the Sibaya Casino in KZN, and also overseas for the Mostazal Casino in Chile, and Swakopmund Waterfront in Namibia. Tegola shingles recently received a Class A fire rating and passed a stringent hail test.

a.b.e. has manufacturing plants in Boksburg and Durban. Its respected range of products reaches customers throughout South Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Ocean islands, and Pakistan via builders’ merchants and hardware stores, with support from branches and distributors.

a.b.e. Construction ChemicalsTel: 011 306 9000Fax: 011 306 9100Website: www.abe.co.za

Specialised building products since 1939

The Bank of Mauritius head office in Port Louis



The cost implications of complying with the new regulations vary from R12 500,00 to R27 500,00 extra on a house of 150 m², which equates to between R210,00 – R450,00 per month over five years. These costs, along with the predicted electricity price increases, make it financially viable to insulate even without legislation.

ThermocousTex is a 3-in-1 barrier insulation that is noise-, heat-, and cold-resistant that can also replace standard ceiling products. This environmentally friendly polyester board is widely used for thermal as well as acoustic insulation in the building sector and over the past three years the properties of ThermocousTex have been thoroughly evalu-ated to ensure that they comply with all upcoming regulations.

“We have been involved in a number of recent commercial projects,” says Thomas Datel, managing director of Datlink Insulation. “Thermo-cousTex is very proud to have contributed to a number of projects that have been important in the success of the World Cup, such as Soccer City, the Gautrain project, King Shaka Airport, Cape Town International Airport and Holiday Inn hotels.”

Frame IndustrialTel: 0861 DATLINKEmail: [email protected]:www.thermocoustex.co.za

Over the past few years, the insulation industry has been referring to SANS204, the new energy legislation. On 11th June 2010 the legislation was gazzeted and is now part of the national building regulations. Within the next few months, SANS 10400-XA: ENERGY USAGE will also be mandatory in all buildings after public comment on this energy efficiency legislation.

theRmoCouStex boARd

product description: Butt edged ceilings panel in varying sizes.Application: Suitable for domestic, commercial and industrial ceilings when acoustic and thermal insulation is required.properties: Does not contribute to flame spread. Complies with SANS 428 Fire Standard; Test reports; FTC 07/149 B1,B2, H – 25 mm Plain Board; FTC 08/049 B1,B2,H – 120 mm Plain Board; FTC 08/081-A B2,B3 – 25 mm Plaster Board; FTC 08/033-B B1,B2 – 35 mm Vinyl Faced

Board FTC09/049 60 mm MetroBoard. Performs exceptionally well in high-humi dity areas (up to 95% RH).packaging: Corrugated cardboard cor-ners, and wrapped in plastic. finishes: - Whitish product, unpainted- Suspended ceilings, panels are lami-nated with a vinyl finish.Profile: Butt jointSizes: Width: 600 mm. Length: 1 200 mm, 1 500 m, 1 800 mm, 2 100 mm, 2 400 mm, 2 700 mm, 3 000

mm, 3 300 mm, 3 600 mm.thermal Conductivity: 0,034 W/m.KR- Value: 25 mm 0, 74 m².K/W35 mm 1, 03 m².K/W50 mm 1, 44 m².K/Wdensity: 50 kg/m³ (Plasterboard 80 kg/m³)nRC Value: 0,69Weight: 25 mm 1, 25 kg/m²35 mm 1, 80 kg/m²50 mm 2, 30 kg/m²25 mm PlasterBoard 2, 00kg/m²35 mm PlasterBoard 2, 80kg/m²

SiLent fLooR, uSed undeR LAminAted And Wooden fLooRinG SpeCifiCAtionS:

Sizes: 1,2 m x 20 mthickness: 5 mmdensity: 160 kg/m³

Weight/m²: 800 gram/m²Applications:nail up Ceiling Application:Retro fit nail up Ceiling Application:

Top Hat Installation Guidelines - • ThermocousTex

Silent Floor Application;•

Suspended Ceiling Application – • ThermocousTex

Over Purlin Installation Guidelines • Over Purlin Installation Guidelines – •

Foil Faced Flap JointCavity Wall Specification - Brick• Dry Wall Specification•

theRmoCouStex fibRe inSuLAtion

description: Acoustic and thermal insula-tion blanket, and foil-faced.Application: Suitable for domestic roofing and cavity walls for wooden houses where acoustic and thermal insulation is required.properties: Does not contribute to flame spread. Non-corrosive, lightweight and made to length to reduce waste (Al-low three weeks lead time.). Improves

acoustics for a better working environment. Saves on energy bill by reducing heat losses and airconditioning energy.packing: Polythene tubeRolls: 600 – 1400 mm Wide5 m – 10 m Longthermal Conductivity: 0,038 W/m²ºCR- Value: 50 mm 1, 31 m² K/Wdensity: 24 kg/m³ - 80kg/m³nRC Value: 0,73

Weight: 50 mm 1, 20 kg/m² - 4, 00 kg/m²25 mm 0, 70 kg/m² - 2, 00 kg/m²

Applications: Plain, on top of ceilings for acoustic •

properties.Over purlin• In dry wall• Cavity wall use with bricks•

3-in-1 insulaTion board

Complying with new energy efficiency regulations

Feature: Roof ing & Cei l ings



Roofing solutions for anaerobic digesters at the Cape Flats wastewater treatment works were specified by Ninham Shand. The water treatment plant, which is situated at Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve (one of the youngest conservation areas in the province), needed world-class products to ensure optimal performance.

The spalled concrete roofs of three anaerobic digesters, built 31 years ago, needed complete removal and replacement in order that the existing structures could be serviced and repaired for guaranteed safety and continued use. Erection of scaffolding was necessary to access these tall structures (post-tensional strength) before demolition work could be carried out.

On behalf of this R22-million project, contractors Empa Structures specified Sika’s roofing solutions for anaerobic digesters.

“Once the scaffolding was in place, demolition work on the roofs began, however the existing concrete was still in fair condition, making destruction of the roof challenging at first,” said Anthony Webster from Sika.

“The replacement roof was treated with Sika’s structural repair

motors, along with MCI technology, to provide protective coating with crack-bridging properties, ensuring enhanced lifespan of the concrete. Sika FerroGard-903 and Sikalastic-150 were applied to a total external surface area of 300 m2. Sika FerroGard-903 was used to reposition the reinforcing steel in the cement after the repairs had been completed. Sikalastic-150 was specified for its advantageous crack-bridging capacity as a protective coating. This is easily applied to a prepared substrate using a notched trowel, brush or sprayer,” said Webster.

The concrete roof for the anaerobic digesters at Cape Flats wastewater works was successfully replaced and structural repairs completed with the help of Sika’s advanced solutions, ensuring the City of Cape Town receives efficient services far into the future.

SikaTel: 031 792 6500 Fax: 031 700 1718E-mail: [email protected]: www.sika.co.za

Roofing solutions for anaerobic digesters



Steel Fact File is the name given to a series of informative and profes-sional looking range of information bulletins which address various matters pertinent to the use of coated steel products for roofing. The release of the latest bulletins coincides with the launch of the domestic website, www.blusecopesteel.co.za, which expands on the company’s stand on sustainability.

A good definition of sustainability is ‘the ability of current generations to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. (Report of the Brundtland Commission, 1987).

“When we talk about sustainability we can be referring to ecological, economic or social sustainability, or a combination of all three. It is generally accepted that sustainability implies a minimization of impact over time”, says Wayne Miller, GM of BlueScope Steel’s South African operations.

So, with the global trend towards sustainable building practices, the company believes that roofing systems should provide optimum levels of performance and lifespan. “When considering the environmental impact of building materials, we need to take into account the function that is being fulfilled, the value that is being created, and the need and aesthetics of particular applications”, says Wayne Miller.

in A nutSheLL, the CompAnY AimS to pRoVide exCeLLent ChoiCeS to An enViRonmentALLY-ConCiouS mARket, bASed on pRoduCt thAt iS:

Long life & ultimately recyclable• Less material usage in the coating – lower coating mass – but •

giving better performanceThermal efficiency & heat reflective•

When applying this approach to commonly used products in South Africa, such as galvanised steel and fibre cement/asbestos, BlueScope has utilised its considerable R&D resources into producing a new improved ZINCALUME® steel that outperforms both galvanised steel and fibre cement.

The ZINCALUME® steel minimises the fraction of inbound solar en-ergy absorbed and maximises its reflection – resulting in a cooler roof in summer. Due to its continous hot dip process of manufacture, the product and also is produced with a consistently smaller spangle that is both shiny and keeps its attractive appearance considerably longer. So the thermal performance is retained for a very long period of time. Due

to the lighter weight per m2 of the aluminium/zinc coating, emissivity of upper and lower roof surfaces is minimised, so limiting the amount of energy re-radiated upwards and downwards from the roof into the surrounding spaces.

Reliable tests conducted by the company prove that both ZINCA-LUME® steel and galvanised steel perform well when new, but as the products weather the thermal performance of ZINCALUME® steel becomes dramatically superior to that of identically weathered galva-nised steel. In comparison with cement/asbestos, the research reveals an even more comprehensive performance advantage in favour of the ZINCALUME® steel product. More information is available on request or on the company’s website.

BlueScope Steel products are covered by a manufacturer’s warranty of performance when correctly used. This differentiates ZINCALUME® steel from other generic Al/Zn coated steel products. Miller says it is important for the project manager or designer to contact the BlueScope Steel office prior to laying the roof because the warranty is subject to terms and conditions - in the clients’ own interests.

“Why risk your reputation using galvanised steel or a generic alu-minium/zinc coated product? Correctly applied, our product should give a lifespan up to four times longer than the standard galvanised steel, while offering clients a more sustainable and comfortable building over its life”, he says.

Wayne MillerBlueScope Steel Southern AfricaTel: 021 442 5420Email: [email protected]

Steel sustainability supported by information campaignLeading coated steel roofing material supplier BlueScope Steel continues to support sustainable roofing material solutions by focusing its efforts on an information campaign aimed at architects, developers and engineers.

Lower/middle income township developments such as the Kuils River development near Cape Town, illustrate the sustainable use of ZINCALUME® across all housing units.



Lamprecht Properties approached MiTek to manufacture roof trusses for the shopping mall. The MiTek SA contractors in Port Elizabeth, USM Building Supplies, manufactured, assembled and erected an 18 500 m2

roof made from lightweight steel profiles for the project. “The project which commenced on the 1st September 2009 was suc-

cessfully completed by the 25th June 2010. This newly constructed roof cost approximately R12 025 000,” says Tony Ward, branch manager of USM Building Supplies.

Ken Wright, manager at the MiTek Port Elizabeth branch, explains that MiTek’s Ultra-span Light Gauge Steel Truss System was used and it is an ideal fit for the project. “The Ultra-span system is a light steel gauge roofing system which is used for both commercial developments, such as the shopping centre in KwaNobuhle, as well as in domestic applications,” says Wright.

“Its light weight enables the roofing system to be erected easily on site and the system is also set up in a very short time,” adds Wright.

The biggest advantage of the Ultra-span system is the unique member profile shape that MiTek has developed. Purposely designed with less steel per metre than other systems, the Ultra-span truss shape is fabricated with only three components (chords, webs and a single size connector).

AdVAntAGeS of the LiGhtWeiGht SteeL RoofinG SYStemElegant simple system, with all members straight and true for a •

level roof.Span capability from small low-cost to large 40 m clear span •

commercial structures.Longevity of product due to galvanized coating plus inherent •

properties of non-combustibility, resistance to borer and fungus attack.

Lower weight reduces transportation costs, improves handling • and erection.

Ease of truss manufacture with screws and electric fixing tool • directly on site or in factory conditions.

Wessie van der Westhuizen, a manager at Lamprecht Properties and site-manager for the shopping centre in KwaNobuhle, says that they have been using the Ultra-span system for a number of years and are satisfied with the product. “We were the first people to install the

Turnkey construction company Lamprecht Properties has finished the construction of the new R120-million shopping centre in KwaNobuhle, just outside Uitenhage. KwaNobuhle is home to over 350 000 people and the 15 500 m2 retail

development will feature 47 retail shops, a 3 000 m2 Shoprite and parking for over 550 cars.

Lightweight steel roofing system at new Uitenhage development

The design of the truss system shape allows it to rest flat in the jigging fixture with all of the connection surfaces easily accessible and flush for a quality screwed connection.


Ultra-span roofing system in the Eastern Cape. Lamprecht Properties has been using the lightweight steel roof systems for three years and we will keep using it due to its ability to save a huge amount of time on a project,” says Van der Westhuizen.

“USM Building Supplies are able to design the roof, and the entire roofing system arrives in a container on site where you simply assem-ble it and lift it onto a structure with a crane. It is completely hassle-free,” says Van der Westhuizen.

Ultra-span trusses can also be supplied in ‘kit-form’ for low-cost hous-ing or other remote projects, whereby trusses are assembled on site or in pre-fabricated form ready for installation on the roof.

“Ultra-span has a variety of benefits. If your roof is too large to be done in pre-fabricated timber or you are shipping roofs into Africa and spending a lot on transport, for example, this roofing system is a great non-combustible roof solution,” says Wright.

The design of the Ultra-span truss system shape allows it to rest flat in the jigging fixture with all of the connection surfaces easily accessible and flush for a quality screwed connection. The system also features gauge connectors for faster screw throughput, same gauge top and bottom chord designs to minimise cutting and handling, and a true truss shape every time including scissor trusses and tray ceiling with no job site modifications.

MiTek Industries S.A. (Pty) Ltd has an international reputation of being a leading roof system supplier in the world. It has licensed over 140 timber truss manufacturers in Southern Africa and uses the Gang-Nail and Hydro-Nail truss systems which are recognised amongst the world’s best. Not only does MiTek have unique capabilities when it comes to professional structural engineering services, but also the company’s continual Research and Development of lightweight steel roof design makes MiTek a significant contributor to the roofing industry.

Mitek would like to thank USM Building Materials (who are part of the Iliad Group) for the proficient way in which the Kwanobuhle Project was handled.

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

The R120-million shopping centre in KwaNobuhle, just outside Uitenhage, recently installed a Light Gauge Steel Truss System.




Thermafoam, a polyurethane spray foam, offers the ideal solution for roof insulation and sealing. The product is fast and easy to apply using a spray foam system. The self-flashing, permanently adhering nature of foam roofing also makes Thermafoam a high-performance waterproof-ing system. Its 100% adhesion provides a permanent, one-piece, watertight seal around roof penetrations and along edges.

benefitS of SpRAY foAm: Low-viscosity liquid that rapidly expands and cures• Inflammable and smokeless• Able to resist extreme temperatures from -50° C to 100° C• Forms a continuous foam coverage with no joints• Reduces electricity consumption by keeping buildings cool in •

summer and warm in winter Has a low density, meaning that it adds minimum load on •

the building

quiCk AppLiCAtionAfter the surface is simply cleaned and primed, the foam is applied in two or three layers of 15 mm each by using a mobile high-pressure spraying unit. Within three minutes, it is touch dry and covered with a UV-resistant coating.

Thermafoam has been used in Europe for 50 years. It is suitable for under-roof application, floor insulation and on walls, and it can be applied to any type of roof. For more information about polyurethane spray foam, contact Thermamasta!

ThermamastaTel: Hansie 072 137 2887Email: [email protected]: www.thermamasta.co.za

Spray foam for roof insulation and sealingA variety of insulation products for walls, floors and roofs is available in the market. Some of these materials are produced in blocks or sheets that require cutting so that they can fit into different structures.

Thermafoam is suitable for under-roof application,

floor insulation and on walls, and it can be applied to

any type of roof.

Feature: Roof ing & Cei l ings


THERMAFOAMSeamless solution for roof insulation and waterproofi ng

Fix your roof instead of replacing it. THERMAFOAM

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Pays for itself witin 4 years in energy savings

Most effecient commercial insulation.

Proven roofi ng and insulation system.

In use for over 35 years.

Tel: 0860 997 700 Hansie 072 137 2887 [email protected]

www.thermamasta.co.za

Elastopor® H: Isolates

Waterproofs

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Thermafoam insolates, waterproofs and stops corrosion

and rust!

Most effective seamless insolation and waterproofi ng.

30 mm thick weighs only

600 gram per m2.



Harvey Thatch can withstand the strongest winds; it is bird-, vermin-, algae- and fungi-proof. It cannot be struck by lightning and therefore no lightning conductors are necessary. Another plus of this product is that the cost of insurance is significantly lower than that of a normal thatched roof.

The Harvey Thatch tile is finely fluted to allow the tile to conform to the shape of the roof itself. The product provides the ideal roofing solu-tion to designers who want to incorporate the natural beauty of thatch; and tiles are also covered by a 30-year manufacturer’s guarantee.

Re-RoofinG With thAtCh tiLeSAccording to Harvey Roofing, re-roofing an existing thatch roof with their tiles is hassle-free as the existing thatch is left in place during refurbishment, ensuring that there is no disruption to the interior of the building and the natural warmth is retained.

The tiles are suitable for use on a wide range of roofing applications in commercial, domestic and industrial areas. Harvey tiles are lightweight and strong and overall cost-effective. This ensures their future relevance to the building industry for decades to come. The company is represented across the globe and so is their international product availability.

Harvey RoofingTel: 011 741 5600Fax: 011 813 3639E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.hrp.co.za

The tiles are available in the following specifications: overall length: 1 675 mm, cover length: 1 625 mm, overall width: 395 mm, cover width: 350 mm, gauge: 0,45 mm (steel), weight per tile: 3,9 kg, weight per m²: 6,9 kg and the number of tiles per m²: 1,76.

Harvey Roofing’s natural stone-chip roof tiles can give roofs a natural thatch look, without the associated problems (such as regular renovations) of thatch roofs. This lightweight steel roof tile is coated with element-proof natural stone-chips that enhance the aesthetics of your roof while simultaneously protecting against natural elements such as wind, rain and heavy weather.

Re-roof with natural-looking tiles

Harvey Roofing’s natural stone-chip roof tiles can give roofs a natural thatch look.


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 com-pany 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 cladding 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




Winters in South Africa are short but often very cold with dry, cold conditions inland, moderate conditions along the eastern coast, down to cold, stormy coastal climatic conditions in the west. A large number of South African homes and office buildings need to rely on heating and airconditioning to achieve comfortable working conditions.

Architects, designers and property owners are more aware of energy efficient building practices and design than ever before. Including pas-sive energy efficiency measures in new building projects and retrofits can help developers adhere to building regulations and reduce the electricity consumption of the building.

Local leading insulation company Eco-Insulation, provides a welcome solution to South African property owners who are concerned about runaway electricity tariff increases. Their pumped-in cellulose insulation offers a range of insulation benefits while providing an environmentally

friendly alternative to insulation solutions.The company’s managing director, Cecil Homan, says that many of his

clients claimed to have experienced differences of up to 10°C lower

after installing his product. “This is one small, fairly inexpen-sive, passive measure”, he says, “but the impact is both immedi-ate and huge.”

pRofeSSionAL pRoduCtS“This insulation offers benefits that few other insulation types can match. First, it is very easily and quickly installed on site. It is not intended as a DIY

application, but a turnkey service by professionally trained and

specially equipped sub-contractors. Second, the spread of product is

highly effective, giving 100% coverage even in inaccessible areas of the roof.

And, of course, efficiency goes hand in hand with the sustainability credentials of this product,” adds Homan.

Eco-Insulation is fully SABS-approved, is fire-rated and is geared up to meet the challenges of the new Building Codes, such as SANS 204, during 2010.

peACe of mind SpeCifiCAtionHailing from the SME sector, Eco-Insulation earned the South African Energy Efficiency Association’s “Company of the Year Award” in 2008. Since then, Homan’s company has grown to 23 branches nationwide including Botswana & Namibia.

As a service to the professional market, as well as to property owners, Eco-Insulation has started a blogsite “devoted to developing a candid, hands-on discussion about the energy-saving benefits of insulation”. Architects and other specifiers are encouraged to visit the company’s blog at eco-insulation.blogspot.com.

Eco-InsulationTel: 021 555 3776Email: [email protected]: www.eco-insulation.co.za

Eco-friendly, high-performance insulation

The insulation can be installed on site by trained sub-contractors.



Specialty industrial chemicals and additives manufacturer Southern Chemicals, has recently manufactured new, innovative products that contribute to quality waterproofing systems by providing a water and humidity barrier.

According to Southern Chemicals, hydrophobic siloxanes have proved to be highly effective in creating humidity barriers in building materials such as concrete, clay, natural stones, plasters, mortars and roof tiles. “It is the combination of high water repellence and high water vapour permeability provided by these siloxanes, which leads to a dry substrate,” says Mike Formo from Southern Chemicals.

“Clay bricks can be post treated with siloxanes in order to improve all physical and aesthetic qualities of the constructed product. Efflores-cence, eroding and growth of mosses, fungi and algae will be practically eliminated,” says Formo.

The use of siloxanes for impregnation depends on the substrate structure, and can provide the following:

High water repellence• Excellent vapour permeability• Good alkali resistance• Good penetration• Unchanged appearance of the substrate• Long-term effectiveness•

One of the most extensively used construction materials, concrete, is usually reinforced with structures such as steel bars, which are incor-porated into the concrete, to get the required tensile force and stability. “Although well known for long durability, concrete is subject to erosion due to humidity and chloride ion penetration attacks. The impact is not only limited to concrete but even influences the reinforcement steel used to improve the tension of the concrete structure,” says Formo.

“Keeping the concrete dry is an important feature for concrete protection and maintenance. Water repellent protection which leaves the concrete surface breathable (vapour permeable) and reduces (or suppresses) the chloride ion penetration is required,” continues Formo.

Although protective siloxanes were traditionally diluted in organic solvents, official regulations now demand low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) or true VOC-free products in general and in the field of hydrophobic impregnation for construction.

Southern Chemicals recently announced that Momentive Perform-ance Materials have developed a special emulsion technology for siloxanes, resulting in excellent storage stability and superior performance.

“The use of these siloxanes will reduce the water absorption by 80% and the chloride intake by 85% when compared to untreated surfaces,” concludes Formo.

Southern ChemicalsTel: 011 608 0560Fax: 011 608 1140E-mail: [email protected]: www.southernchem.co.za

Humidity and wetness are major causes of various kinds of damage and unsightly appearance in buildings and walls. The capillary water absorption results in destructive effects like freeze-thaw changes, erosion of the structure and reinforcing steel. Efflorescence, lime washout and the growth of mosses, fungi and algae occur on wet surfaces and the thermal insulation of wet masonry is also adversely effected.

New chemicals offer advanced waterproofing solutions

membrane free waTerProofing PainT“Traditionally one would combine a UV resistant pure acrylic with a separate membrane in order to create a waterproof barrier on horizontal surfaces. The need for the membrane has become obsolete with the availability of a 100% fully recycled cellulose fibre. This fibre is easily incorporated, by the paint manufacturer, into the finished product,” says Formo.

Customers of Southern Chemicals have developed a pure acrylic waterproofing paint that utilises reinforcing fibre particles to form a thick, strong and flexible waterproof coating. During ap-plication the paint’s fibres overlap to form an effective reinforce-ment which precludes the need to use a separate membrane. It is water-based, easy to apply and lends a high UV protection factor to exposed surfaces.

AReAS WheRe thiS tYpe of CoAtinG CAn be uSed:Bridging of hairline cracks • Long term waterproofing of pitched roofs, parapets, gutters, •

roof screws and wallsAny horizontal surface where water does not run off •

The fibres can also be incorporated into a bituminous based product for added flexibility.

Efflorescence and moss

Green growth on clay brick

Damp pavers

Speciality Chemicals Fibres and Fillers

Southern Chemicals (Pty) Ltd10, Quark Crescent, Linbro Business Park, Sandton 2065

Tel: 0116080560 | Fax: 0116081140 www.southernchem.co.za

Water repellency effect on claySilicones and Derivatives Resins and Polymers

Sales and distribution of industrystandard speciality chemicals and additives

Recreational & Retai l : High Spec Products


Although the commercial real estate sector made bleak headlines around the globe in 2008 and 2009 (www.plunkettresearch.com), the markets in the US, China and a few other countries started to improve by the middle of June 2010.

CommeRCiAL tRendS fRom A finAnCiAL peRSpeCtiVePlunkett Research lists these top trends to watch out for in the near- to mid-term:

Many major development projects are cancelled, delayed or down-sized. John Loos, Property Strategist at FNB, says that this trend is also prevalent in South Africa. “I think a lot of planned projects aren’t seeing the light of day. Although there isn’t a lot of data around on recreational property – most of our data focuses on office, industrial and retail property – the currently strained times suggest that leisure property spending and other “luxury items” has come under pressure since the recent recession,” says Loos.

Vacancies in the retail shopping centre sector remain high. “I doubt that top regional shopping centres in have major problems – they have good tenants who aren’t folding on payments – but one can see troubles in some smaller and less illustrious shopping centres that are struggling to fill their spaces,” says Loos.

Some owners of commercial properties could currently be in difficult positions because their properties are in some instances worth less than what the owners paid for a few years ago.

Larger development companies will buy important tracts at low prices for future use. Loos explains that this trend may not necessarily be the same for the South African market, as vacant land buying has remained generally weak over the past 12 months. “I’m not sure how much property developers are stocking up on vacant land, although some renewed rise in the value of vacant land mortgage loans granted suggests that this may be the case” adds Loos.

The commercial real estate sector, including professionals such as property developers, architects, engineers and designers associated with them, makes up one of the larger components of the worldwide economy.

Retail and recreational building trends

Hemingways Mall Gateway Mall



The core focus for development companies will be cost control, debt reduction and risk management.

US$1.8-trillion in commercial property loans were held on US banks’ books as of early 2008 and write-offs of these loans are projected to run as high as 12% by the end of this year.

The trend at the corporate retail level will move towards consolidation of construction and development firms as stronger firms acquire weaker rivals.

Source: Plunkett Research, Ltd.

eneRGY effiCienCY in RetAiL CentReSGustav Radloff, Managing Director of Energy Cybernetics, explains that property developers in the retail and recreation sector are becoming more aware of the building and financial implications of investing in energy efficient applications in shopping centres.

“Although it may take a few years to become more prevalent, we are definitely starting to see the implications of building shopping centres that are not energy efficient,” says Radloff.

Energy Cybernetics has launched the Energy Cybernetics aimed at assisting businesses to scientifically assess their energy consumption, compare it to national average energy efficiency benchmarks and then to improve on it by implementing energy optimisation projects. On 9 June 2010, an awards ceremony was held to commend commercial and industrial sector businesses and, during this ceremony, the Oriental Plaza in Johannesburg, followed by Centurion Mall and Canal Walk in Cape Town, took top spots for energy-efficient shopping centres.

“If you build an enclosed shopping centre, you are going to be spend-ing more on heating and cooling. Our rule of thumb is to not use lighting where it is not needed and to be smart about managing a buildings airconditioning. If you set a fixed temperature of 21°C, you may be wasting energy because this temperature is not always needed,” says Radloff.

Professor L.J. Grobler, Director of Energy Cybernetics adds that the company has found that although certain shopping centres and commercial buildings claim to be green, they do not necessarily use less electricity than similar buildings that have not incorporated energy saving methods.

“Some of the old commercial buildings that we have analysed actually use less energy and thus achieve a higher rating than buildings with state-of-the-art features,” says Grobler.

pRoduCt SpeCifiCAtion:One of the newer plastics to be used in the construction industry is polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic with a high degree of clarity; therefore the direct transmission of solar energy is considerably higher than that of a diffused panel. Consideration for the appropriate colour should therefore be carefully weighed up.

The natural light level as well as the amount of solar energy of

this type of sheeting varies (www.roof-sheeting.co.za). Compared to standard PVC sheets of the same thickness, polycarbonate sheets have reportedly dropped energy consumption by up to 25% (www.machinedesign.com).

tenAntS pAY foR eVeRYthinGGrobler explains that the retail and recreational building sector is also more aware of their shopping centres’ energy consumption due to the fact that prospective tenants are aware of the prices they will be paying.

“Tenants pay for electricity when they open a shop in a mall or retail outlet and they are becoming more aware of the financial implications of inefficient energy usage,” says Grobler. “One of the trends in the industry is property developers becoming more aware of what they can offer tenants.”

SupeR-ReGionAL ShoppinG CentReSAlthough there may be an abundance of smaller regional shopping centres, the number of tenants looking to open shop at a new South African super-regional shopping centre shows that property developers can make full use of this gap in the market.

The South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) recently reported that research tracking key performance indicators at local malls showed that although small local centres enjoy the highest frequency of visits by far, regional and super-regional shopping centres consistently generate the longest dwell times and highest loyalty among shoppers.

According to the Shopping Centre Benchmark Indicators 1998-2009 by respected retail researcher Dirk Prinsloo, shoppers are willing to drive for 20 to 25 minutes to reach their favourite mall, but shoppers are only willing to drive for 8 to 11 minutes to get to their local neigh-bourhood centre. Shoppers also enjoy greater dwell times (2 hours) at a super-regional shopping centre as opposed to shorter times at local centres.

The numbers point to smaller centres as local, neighbourhood and convenience destinations, while the super-regional malls – like Sandton

Canal Walk - Boulevard Continues on page 48

Gateway Mall



“What makes our system so effective is the fact that the staircase is precisely manufactured according to specification and installed within 24 hours,” says Leon Hill, managing director of Steelform SA. “Installing a staircase with wood and concrete takes months and there is always a risk that the steps will not be precisely cut. Our patented system has revolutionised the way staircase installation is being done in this country.”

Steelform SA’s staircases have been structurally analysed and the integrity of the product has been verified by independent structural engineers. Not only have the staircases been installed in the stations themselves, but also in the fire exits, parkades and all other areas where steps are required. The product is also going to be installed at Gautrain’s Park Station and Hatfield.

“Our steel-framed staircases are structurally sound. The in-house engineers at Steelform SA design the reinforced schedule and they use a cage shutter that is manufactured to give you exact treads and rises. It is an accepted system in South Africa and developers see the value of having precise staircases installed within a day because if a product saves you time, it inevitably saves you money,” says Hill.

The value of Steelform SA’s staircases was also seen by the developers and design professionals involved in the Galleria shopping centre in Amanzimtoti. The mega-sized centre, which is anticipated to become a major catalyst for change in the Southern Durban region, boasts 87 000 m2 of retail space and 5 700 parking bays.

“Our product was used for all the staircases and steps within the centre and parking area. The Galleria was a huge project and the quick erection time of the staircases definitely contributed to the quick com-pletion of the project. Having staircases installed within days meant that the shopping centre levels could be build quicker and workers spent less time travelling around site with scaffoldings. We also did Soccer City, Mamelodi Stadium and Royal Bafikeng,” says Hill.

upmARket StAiRCASeS in the ReSidentiAL SeCtoRBesides the huge commercial projects that Steelform SA is sub-contracted to complete, the company also specialises in a range of solutions for upmarket residential houses. “We manufacture permanent steel shuttering made to specification, such as steel lintels, stair cages, arches, bays, roses, corners, bulkheads, hangers and custom-made goods,” explains Hill.

Steelform SA, a local permanent steel shuttering manufacturer, recently installed their steel frame steps at a variety of Gautrain Rapid Rail Link stations in South Africa. All the staircases at two of the stations, namely Sandton Station and Rosebank, were constructed by Steelform SA and installed within one day. The state-of-the-art rapid rail network also plans to use Steelform SA’s products at other stations that will be linking the rail along the proposed route.

Steel frame staircases – revolutionising the way steps are built

Besides the huge commercial projects that Steelform SA is sub-contracted to complete, the company also specialises

in a range of solutions for upmarket residential houses.



A Steelform SA staircase can be installed in a residential home within two hours. “Erecting a straight or spiral staircase in a residential building usually takes approximately three weeks. When we install the staircase within a few hours, it frees up time for the people working and building on site,” says Hill.

The lintels are manufactured to ISO 9002 and have been accepted by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).

Hill comments that the products need to be used in accordance with good building practice and the National Building Regulations.

“Our team of experts have years of experience installing these staircases. We manufacture the staircases at our facility in Gauteng and bring the staircase to site for installation where we install it within a record amount of time,” says Hill.

pAtented pRoduCtSStairway shuttering, steel arches, steel lintels and shuttering for balconies are registered designs and patented. Any shuttering supplied by any company other than Steelform SA is a forgery and copyright infringement legislation will apply.

“Our staircase design concept is proven and tested. Steel frame staircases have already revolutionised the way steps are built within the commercial built environment and residential market, and architects, engineers and builders are increasingly seeing the potential and value of our systems. We invite anybody interested in product specifications and further information to contact us directly for helpful consultation,” concludes Hill.

Steelform SATel: 086 178 3676Fax: 011 452 9308Website: www.steelform.co.zawww.autospec.co.za

Steel frame staircases were installed at the Sandton Station in Johannesburg within a day.



City in Johannesburg, Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria, Gateway Theatre of Shopping in Durban, Hemingways Mall in East London and Canal Walk in Cape Town – are all about recreation and shopper entertainment.

In June, East London’s Hemingways Mall (the city’s new super-regional shopping centre with approximately 200 shops, restaurants and entertainment options) reported that the development is changing the way visitors shop and spend.

“The shopping centre is experiencing growth in almost all areas including turnover, the number of cars accessing the centre and its total spend-per-shopper. These are all good indicators that Hemingways Mall is growing its customer support base,” reports Hemingways Mall General Manager Rachel Klassen.

The Mall of the North, which is set to open in April 2011, is another planned super-regional shopping centre. The mall comprises a mas-sive 75 000 m2 and many well-known retailers have decided that this development will be the first time they are trading in Polokwane (and in some instances within the Limpopo province).

The mall will have over 180 new shops offering leading fashion, décor, restaurants and more. The Mall of the North is owned and devel-oped by Resilient Property Income Fund, Flanagan & Gerard Property Development & Investment and Moolman Group.

Brett Dungan, CEO of the Federated Hospitality Association of South-ern Africa (FEDHASA), says that mixed-use property developments (such as Melrose Arch) need to incorporate a variety of recreational and retail features in order to be successful.

“All the entertainment, shops and retail outlets need to form a seam-less integration into the society where these shopping centres are based,” comments Dungan.

“Mall of the North has attracted retailers and brands from far and wide

based on the excellent location and demand for a centre of this size and offering,” says Patrick Flanagan of Flanagan & Gerard.

“Comprising a massive 75 000 m2, Mall of the North is bringing the biggest, most comprehensive selection of leading brands and fashion to Polokwane for the first time ever. This is long overdue for the many residents who have over the years had to travel long distances to pur-chase their favourite brands and have access to a good choice,” says Johann Kriek of Resilient Properties.

ReSponSibiLitY LieS With the ARChiteCtSDungan says that converting an older building to incorporate energy-efficient solutions is a less expensive solution to ensure sustainable recreational buildings and hotels.

“It is cost effective to convert old buildings and a lot can be done when sustainability-minded architects and designers are involved. Refurbishment projects give architects the opportunity to be creative in applying new technologies and I think the responsibility of incorporating greener solutions lies with the architects because it is from their pens that everyone else follows,” says Dungan.

“The specification of design solutions and products come from developers and property owners who are looking to architects and pro-fessionals in order to advise them on how to make their buildings more energy-efficient. If architects are adamant and insist on energy-efficient solutions in recreational buildings and hotels, the rest of the team won’t argue,” concludes Dungan.

Sources: www.plunkettresearch.com, www.ecofriend.org, www.ronarad.co.uk, www.roof-sheeting.co.za, www.machinedesign.com, www.tajhotels.com.

The Taj Hotel in Cape Town consists of two historic buildings and a modern tower. This landmark property recently had the exterior of the building restored in order to integrate the two historic buildings and contemporary building that rises above the existing buildings as a new tower.

DHK Architects, JPA Interior Designers and main contractor Murray & Roberts put emphasis on the natural lighting and angle of the sun to create variations of light intensity. Together with this, the interior framework and design respects and compliment the classical character of the building.

“Some of the key considerations that need to be taken into account when restoring an up-market hotel is the existing structure, heritage authority requirements and design intents,” comments Theo Cromhout, Director of sales and marketing at the Taj Cape Town.

The original design concept of the building incorporates the architect’s meticulous planning and attention to detail, which is evident when one looks at the Portuguese Skyros marble columns and the tiles that have been laid on the outside. To maintain the beautiful roofline, the architect made the decision of installing the lift mechanism in the baseline. The style of this restricted structure reflects a classic ambience in an already existing heritage area, and the interior neoclassic looks carry through the feel that archi-tects were hoping to achieve.

resToring reTail and recreaTional ProjecTs – The Taj hoTel

Cape Town’s Taj Hotel at night.


Architects put emphasis on natural lighting to create variations of light intensity.




Médiacité is a new mixed-use shopping and entertainment centre in Liège, Belgium, that boasts the widespread use of natural light and air to reduce the building’s energy consumption. Designed by Ron Arad, with the help of Chapman Taylor at RTKL, the 350 m long mall weaves through the fabric of the refurbished old market centre at one end, through the new two-storey building, connecting to the new Belgian national television centre at the other end (www.ronarad.co.uk).

The different elements of the centre’s surroundings are united by the complex design of the roof. A network of steel roof ribs undulating through the mall sculpts the volume of the mall beneath and varies in both height and structural depth. The steel ribs overhead are also mirrored in the floor pattern in order to draw visitors onto a pathway through the various zones of the building envelope (www.ronarad.co.uk). The structure is entirely free-spanning and, in order to minimise load-

ings, the complex 3-dimensional form is clad in transparent lightweight ETFE pillows – pneumatic Teflon cushions that allow light to penetrate through the roof.As the roof gradually becomes façade, the ETFE cladding merges into curved aluminium rain-screen panels and glass. According to www.ecofriend.org, the Médiacité also includes a range of other energy-efficient strategies, such as allowing shops limited access to electricity to reduce their consumption, as well as employing high-efficiency condensing gas boilers and a semi-reflective transparent roofing material.

The project took 34 months to complete and, with a construction budget of €18,75 m, the project was delivered for €1920/m2.

project title: Médiacité, Liége, Belgiumprogramme: 26 months construction, completed October 2009Gross Area: 9 750 m2

Client: Wilhelm & Co.project objectives: Design of Mall Roof & Façades, Interior of Mall and External Piazzasexecutive Architect: Jaspers EyersStructural engineer: Buro Happold

Belgium’s sustainable shopping centreContinues from page 48


Tiletoria, one of South Africa’s largest suppliers of wall and floor tiles, recently acquired ownership of industry tile-trendsetters, On The Tiles (OTT). Patrick Thonissen of Tiletoria says that the company’s business in KwaZulu-Natal has continued to grow, enabling it to broaden its supply chain to Gauteng and make strategic partnerships.

“We opened in Durban 18 months ago with a view to establishing the base from which we can ship into Gauteng, and it had to settle down and become a profitable stand-alone business before we expanded into Johannesburg,” says Thonissen.

Since then, Tiletoria’s branch in Durban has continued to perform beyond expectation, requiring the company to move to bigger premises – a 6 000 m² warehouse (as opposed to the current 2 500 m²) – and double the size of the showroom to 1 000 m².

“This will allow us to land heavy-duty containers in Durban – loading 25% more material than the containers shipped directly into Johan-nesburg – and to transport tiles at more competitive costs than sending containers to Gauteng,” explains Thonissen.

According to Thonissen, the company realised they would be able to add value to the existing OTT business when they started looking into their expansion to Gauteng. “Tiletoria has a large stockholding and a wide range of products that complement OTT. With some targeted marketing strategies, competitive pricing and the provision of some wholesale opportunities, we are sure this partnership will be a success,” says Thonissen.

OTT’s tile ranges will now be marketed under the Tiletoria brand,

thereby increasing the variety of tiles available to customers. “The se-lections base will double and access to stock will be ten times greater, plus we are employing a couple of specification salespeople and widening the marketing into more niches. This means we will not just be in retail, but wholesale, specification work with the national corporates, housing developments (traditionally our core business in Cape Town), and some specification work with architects, quantity surveyors and interior designers. We will also be growing the current sales force from 7 or 8 persons to 12, employing people with experience in our line of business,” says Thonissen.

“Allan Duckworth, Mohammud Mohuideen and myself, comprising current management, have been working together for over 20 years. We each have more than 30 years in the tile and sanitaryware industry and we will be harnessing this expertise to continue to grow Tiletoria,” concludes Tonnissen.

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

Local tile supplier acquires trendy partnership


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Needing to appoint contractors who believe in the power of teamwork?

“We are now able to tackle substantially larger projects thanks to our bigger team. Bringing aluminium specialists Fentech on board and in-house is also part of the company’s growth strategy,” says L&D marketing manager Dennis Phillips.

Leading local fenestration systems designer Dennis Doo has been appointed as L&D’s operations director and renowned quantity surveyor Owen Price former Ruthcon CEO Archie Rutherford and entrepreneur Trevor Ahier, have also been announced as newcomers on the L&D directors’ board.

“We are now able to tender and quote on larger projects and take on a greater market share. Previously, we were only able to focus on top-end commercial jobs, but now we can also focus on larger curtain-walling and shop-front projects,” explains Phillips.

SpeCiALiSt pRojeCtSBusiness for L&D Enterprises continues to flourish, with the company putting out a number of tenders for commercial developments, office parks and hotel developments. “We recently completed the facade on phase 1 of the Eastgate Shopping Mall on the East Rand,” says Phillips, before adding that this project has put L&D Enterprises in a good posi-tion to win similar projects in the near future.

“We are currently busy with a number of government contracts, three of which involve the refurbishment of heritage facilities in Gauteng. We were also involved in the initial design work for the multi-billion rand Sandton repositioning project. We hope to receive contract involvement in this prestigious project,” says Phillips.

L&D Enterprises also played a pivotal role in offering technical assistance for a number of developments in the Indian Ocean Islands. Phillips comments that the global financial turnaround after the reces-sion, coupled with green development and mixed-use developments is giving companies such as L&D Enterprises a unique gap in which to create world-class buildings.

“Unique glass designs and striking international projects are becom-ing extremely popular amongst design professionals. Our new team, coupled with our excellent BBEEE rating and our impending CIDB upgrade allows us to continue providing top-quality solutions for clients,” concludes Phillips.

L&D EnterprisesTel: 011 618 1512Fax: 011 618 1563E-mail: [email protected]: www.ldenterprises.co.za


Four new directors, who are industry leaders in their field, have recently joined L&D Enterprises’s unique team of façade specialists. The company has also acquired aluminium specialists Fentech in order to expand their service offering to their clients.

Growing market share for façade specialists



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The colour of bricks is determined by raw clay materials and varying firing temperatures, roviding a range from whites and buffs, to reds and burgundies with many manufacturers producing over 100 colours. (www.masonrymagazine.com)

neW ShApeS And foRmSInnovative design features can be achieved by using unique brick shapes. Clay bricks can be extruded or moulded into different forms, from simple brick shapes to intricate sloped shapes.

Crammix’s hand-made cobbles were recently specified by Slee Architects & Interiors for a number of luxury houses in Stellenbosch and along the coast.

“Clay brick cobbles have the ability to give a house a Cape Victorian type of look, which is modern as well as old-fashioned,” says Robert Northcote, sales and marketing representative at Crammix.

CLAY bRiCkS in LAndSCApe ARChiteCtuRePlanning Partners, who specialise in landscape architecture, have specified Crammix’s hand-made cobbles for paving and landscaping at Century City and other projects, as they lend themselves both to the natural aesthetic and versatility for use in patterning in the hard landscape.

Crammix’s dedicated manufacturing facility caters for the exclusive production of quality machine- and hand-made special-shaped bricks that are available in a range of neutral and monotone colours, such as Kalahari Red, Sahara Sand and Albany Brown. Besides the hand-made clay cobbles, Crammix also manufactures pool copings, and a range of purpose made specials to compliment its face brick range. Crammix has a special plant facility and is capable of customizing and producing unique designs for your project requirements, should you wish to use your own design.

CLAY bRiCkS At LARGe deVeLopmentSClay bricks were recently used at the Waterstone Shopping Centre in Somerset West. According to www.eprop.co.za, the R70-million convenience shopping centre has a village atmosphere with open and closed malls and landscaped areas.

Stauch Vorster Architects specified close to three thousand square metres of Crammix’s clay bricks for the paving area of the main building as well as the Virgin Active gym, basement and walkways of the centre.

“The clay bricks conform to the modern look of the shopping centre,” says Northcote. “Approxi-mately 500 000 clay face bricks were also specified for this devel-

opment. The red bricks suit the warm look of the centre and match the modern look, which includes metal railings and tinted windows.

According to the Clay Brick Association (CBA), clay face bricks leave an extraordinary impression on any landscape with the many choices of colours, finishes and laying patterns. “It is flexible enough to be used as a sound structural material whilst creating an aesthetically pleasing façade,” says the CBA.

“Clay bricks are low maintenance, they don’t lose their colour and they are proven as a sustainable walling products in the industry, which benefits architects and designers who are green-minded,” concludes Northcote.

Crammix Bricks Tel: 021 981 2115 Fax: 021 981 4520 Email: [email protected] Website: www.crammix.co.zawww.autospec.co.za

The new appeal of clay bricks in architectureThe use of bricks as a building material dates back centuries. Due to brick’s limitless appearances and effects, designers can satisfy their creative styles. Brick is readily available in many colours, textures and shapes that can be adapted to achieve virtually any desired style or expression.

Quick facTs: benefiTs of clay bricksease of use: • the size a of clay brick is ideal for the human hand

to lift with a minimum amount of effort.Cost-effective:• building an average-sized home with clay bricks

accounts for a mere 7% - 9% of the overall building costs.Consistent quality: • clay bricks are made from the same basic

natural ingredients and methodologies that have been used for centuries. They are fired in kilns at high temperatures to retain their colour, shape and strength.

Recyclability:• clay bricks can be crushed and returned to the earth or recycled.

Thermal efficiency:• The high thermal mass of fired clay is what naturally helps regulate temperatures in internal spaces, minimising the need for heating and cooling.




Aluglass is a specialist in glass shower enclosures, frameless shower doors and other glass solutions and the company is skilled in providing unique products for the hospitality industry. The company has lent its product knowledge and installation expertise to architects and interior designers who wish to modify, adjust or specify glass solutions. In the past the company has also created new shower concepts for hotels requiring unique designs.

fRAmeLeSS ShoWeR dooRS And bAth enCLoSuReS Aluglass is continually designing and evolving frameless shower door concepts that are available in a variety of beautiful finishes to enhance bathrooms. All the designs are simple, yet exceptional and luxurious.

Only the best materials and quality workmanship go into Showerflex shower doors, with their diversity including the option to include various glass patterns. The doors can be sandblasted or engineered to include cut-outs as required.

Aluglass is proudly associated with SASEMA (SA Shower Enclosure Manufacturers Association), and all Showerflex designs are registered and conform to prescribed safety standards, making them a safe choice for peace of mind installation. These doors are typically custom-made, or made to measure, with additional fixed panels to complement the full range.

Best materials and quality workmanship• Associated with SASEMA •

(South Africa Shower Enclosure Manufacturers Association)Conform to prescribed safety standards• Serve both domestic and the contract markets• Frameless and framed ranges are custom-made • Imported standard range of shower enclosures available•

Reinforced acrylic shower trays, with new classic design vanity units featuring stained oak cabinets, and toughened glass basins with

Glass bathroom solutions for the hospitality industryOne of the challenges in the hospitality industry is creating an atmosphere that allows a bespoke hotel to welcome their guests in a sophisticated manner. Often, the retention of clientele in the hospitality industry depends on the perception of the quality of a hotel’s interior installations and standard of finishes.

Enhance your bathroom with custom-made glass products. The evolving frameless shower door concepts are available in a variety of beautiful finishes.



dedicated mixer, add to this outstanding product offering. Aluglass’ Showerflex shower doors deliver both quality and luxury.

Projects include Michelangelo Towers Sandton, St Raphael Apartments, Radisson Blu Hotel, Mount Grace Hotel, many Road Lodges and City Lodges across southern Africa

mobiLe GLASS pARtitionS And dooRSA Glassflex partitions and doors provides an unobstructed entrance when open, but is secure and attractive when closed. Added to this, this range provides the specifier the opportunity to match store,

corporate or window frame colours with powder-coated frames. Meticulously designed and manufactured, this range includes entrance doors, bathroom enclosures, toilet separation enclosures, and general room separations.

The Aluglass team has the ability and know-how to design and develop customised products for specific bathroom applications when reasonable quantities are involved. Besides a range of local hotels, other high-profile projects completed with Glassflex solutions include De Beers Ormonde, Innovation Hub Pretoria and the SABC.

the WideSt VARietY of GLASS SoLutionSAluglass also offers other glass partitions, mobile glass partitions, fixed enclosures and glass room separations specifically designed and manufactured for entrance doors, bathroom entrances, toilet separa-tions and Turkish bath enclosures. For functional styles that combine feature-products and reliable service, Aluglass have solutions that will lend any space a luxury feel.

The company was established over 35 years ago and it continues to remain on the forefront of glass product technologies, installation and supplying in southern Africa. From the smallest bathroom to the largest hotel project, Aluglass’ product range has been designed to meet your unique requirements.

Aluglass BautechTel: 011 451 8400E-mail: [email protected]: www.aluglass.co.zawww.autospec.co.za

Frameless shower door concepts and designs are continually evolving to appeal to architects, interior designers and the hospitality industry.

Left: A range of glass room separations, specifically designed for bathroom entrances, is available. Functional glass solutions can give any space a luxury feel.

Right: Frameless ranges of shower doors are custom-made and partitions are available to both the domestic and commercial market.



Local retaining wall system supplier Terraforce recently supplied its award-winning retaining blocks to the newly constructed transport centre in Athlone, Cape Town. The concrete blocks are set to facilitate pedestrian traffic and provide

informal seating the “one stop shop for public transport and vehicle-related issues”.

This R100-million provincial government initiative, called the Public Transport Operating Entity (OPTE), will allow taxi drivers to apply for their temporary and permanent permits and motorists to renew vehicle and driver’s licences. The centre also has a CCTV control room that will monitor Cape Town’s traffic flow to ensure effective control of the city’s public transport system.

RAmpS, StAiRWAYS And infoRmAL SeAtinGThe OPTE is strategically situated at the intersection of the N2 and Vanguard Drive, with the Vangate commercial development to the east and a number of urban design informants and a pedestrian-friendly walkway to the west. According to Terraforce, the site currently forms an anchor to this pedestrian spine and established a key focal point and anchor presence on the eastern edge of the site.

MDL, in association with Jakupa Architects & Urban Designers, designed a raised forecourt with ground level that allows for natural ventilation to the semi-basement level, creating a flow of traffic between the large entrance hall and parking area, but also allows for “spectator” seating for informal sports games in the evening.

The architects and designers chose a combination of Terraforce’s retaining blocks to serve as ramps, stairways and informal seating, as well as to facilitate the large number of people expected to pass through the centre.

Terraforce’s L18 retaining blocks were used to provide risers for the seating areas and the 4x4 Multi step blocks were used for the stairs, seats and the matching details around the column bases. Over 2 500 blocks were used to complete the centre, which is set to benefit all Cape Town residents.

Terraforce concludes, “The centre will uplift housing values in the immediate vicinity and it will make a huge difference in alleviating traffic problems in the area. Terraforce is proud to be a part of this successful project.”

Terraforce Tel: 021 465 1907 Fax: 021 465 4047 Website: www.terraforce.com

Diverse use of retaining wall systems



Some of this ash gets collected in silos from where it is either sold dry for use in concrete or moistened (called conditioning) for less demand-ing applications such as fill, grouts or as a fine aggregate replacement.

Fly Ash of a high quality is processed a step further by local manu-facturer Ash Resources. “The ash is passed through equipment called classifiers from which particles of a specific size range are extracted. This is our more highly specified material and we market it under the DuraPozz® and SuperPozz® brand names,” Says John Sheath, Strat-egy and Marketing Manager at Ash Resources.

Furnace Bottom Ash (FBA) is an agglomeration of larger particles that were not removed in the flue gases and thus fall to the bottom of the furnace. It is normally extracted wet, graded and sold to make concrete bricks and blocks. Locally FBA is used extensively as a lightweight aggregate in these applications.

hoW muCh fLY ASh CAn be put into A ConCRete mix? According to Ash Resources, there are no technical reasons why large proportions of Fly Ash cannot be used in certain types of concrete.

“For example, having 60-70% of the cementitious content is com-monplace for mass concrete in gravity dam walls. The recognised limits to how much Fly Ash can be utilised as part of the binder content are covered in SANS 50197-1 for factory-made cements and for mixer-blended concretes SANS 1200G,” explains Sheath.

the impACt of fLY ASh on the StRenGth of ConCReteFine-fraction Fly Ash (such as DuraPozz®) typically has 90% of its par-ticles passing a 45µm sieve and it acts as a plasticiser in the concrete. “Being spherical in shape, the particles almost act as ball bearings reducing the water requirement of the concrete for a given workability. This water reduction, and resultant lower water content, allows the ce-ment ratio to increase the compressive strength,” says Sheath.

According to Sheath, Fly Ash also reduces chloride ingress to concrete. “Not only does the lower permeability of a Fly Ash concrete impede penetration by chlorides – normally in the forms of seawater or seahorse mist – but also chlorides chemically bind to the Fly Ash due to the high aluminate content (3 to 5 times higher than cement).

These effects can increase the protection for steel reinforcing with sufficient cover by as much as 98%,” continues Sheath.

The alkali/silica reaction in concrete, which can cause the concrete surface to disintegrate, is also reduced by Fly Ash. “Some aggregates contain reactive silica that can react with soluble alkalis, such as the free lime in cement. The reaction products are voluminous and can create destructive expansion forces. When Fly Ash is incorporated in a mix, it reacts chemically with the alkalis and lime liberated by cement hydration so that they are unavailable for subsequent formation of expansive products by reaction with a potentially reactive aggregate,” concludes Sheath.

Ash ResourcesTel: 011 886 6200 Fax: 011 886 6140Website: www.ashresources.co.za

Fly Ash is the ash carried out with the flue gases in a pulverised-coal-fired power station. To prevent the ash polluting the atmosphere, the flue gases are passed through electrostatic precipitators or bag filters to separate the Fly Ash from the flue gases.

What you should know about fly ash and cement

The reduced permeability of • a Fly Ash concrete minimises penetration of harmful sulphates.

Fly Ash chemically binds the free • lime in cementitious compounds rendering it unavailable.

Replacing a portion of Portland • Cement with Fly Ash reduces the amount of reactive aluminates available for sulphate reaction (expansion).

fly ash imProVes The resisTance of concreTe To sulPhaTe aTTack Through Three main mechanisms:

According to Ash Resources, there are no technical reasons why large proportions of Fly Ash cannot

be used in certain types of concrete.



In the retail and recreation industry, Versus is renowned for its exclusive wall coatings that are easy to apply. The products originated in Europe but are now manufactured locally.

“A few examples of the products’ success are manifest in the following projects successfully completed: WBHO’s application of Versus Italic Plaster at Norwood Mall; Gothic Construction’s application of Versus Natural Stone Finish at Porsche in Fourways; and Murray & Roberts application of Versus Italic Plaster at Melrose Arch,” says a spokesperson at the company.

Versus’ environment-friendly alternative to normal paint offers property developers, architects and designers a wide range of green products.

“Versus has effectively formulated wall coatings that considerably decrease the amount of damage done to one's immediate environment and the environment as a whole. This is because its coatings are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which make them eco-friendly. These coatings are durable, cost-effective and less harmful to humans and environmental health than conventional paints,” says the spokesperson.

Benefits of using Versus products include the acrylic nature of the paint, which means that the products can be applied directly onto in-situ (pre-cast) panels. “Our wall coatings are 100% pure acrylic and they offer the best protection for all wall surfaces due to their immense strength and durability,” says the spokesperson.

In addition to their aesthetic appeal, materials can be trowelled (up to 5 mm thick) and the paint is suitable for exterior and interior application for both domestic and commercial work.

Versus paint products come with a 10-year guarantee, even though the products far outlast this period. Versus is independently BEE-rated and 100% BEE-compliant. “We are involved from the manufacturing process right through to the application process without any outsourcing, enabling us to ensure quality products,” concludes the spokesperson.

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

Low VOC paint for commercial applicationsVersus Paint Specialists was established in 2000 and the leading paint supplier provides high-profile clients, such as Bidvest, Barloworld, SARS and Liberty Life, with quality paint that is manufactured for a range of applications. They have also recently completed work on the main Gautrain station in Sandton, using their luxurious product – Versus Suede – on the walls.

Benefits of using Versus products include the acrylic nature of the paint,

which means that the products can be applied directly

onto in-situ (pre-cast) panels.

Versus’ environment-friendly alternative to normal paint offers property developers,

architects and designers a wide range of green products.

PainT feaTures:

Available in any colour• Suitable for application to •

any surfaceAble to cover hairline cracks• Allows the wall to breathe• Elasticity retention• Able to withstand ageing, pollution •

and extreme temperature variationsWater-resistant• Washable with household detergents• UV-resistant•

Cement producers often use Fly Ash to replace natural materials such as aluminates and silicates in the production of Portland Cement. In the precast market, conditioned Fly Ash is successfully used as a fine aggregate replacement. Fly Ash can be used in all site mixed, readymixed or precast concretes and it is incorporated into a concrete mix by using factory pre-blended cements or by blending by the concrete producer in the concrete mixer.

WhAt SpeCifiCAtionS do ASh ReSouRCeS fLY ASh pRoduCtS ConfoRm to?Classified Fly Ash – i.e. DuraPozz• ® and DuraPozz®ProTM – complies with:SANS 1491-Part 2 (formerly SABS 1491): Fly Ash – Portland cement extenders.• BS EN 450- Part 1 2005 European Standard Fly Ash for concrete – definition specifications and •

conformity criteria. This specification is soon to replace BS 3892 - Part 1. Under the new specifications, Category “S” denotes a classified Fly Ash with a maximum 12% retained on a 45 micron sieve.

ASTM C618: American Standard • DuraPozz• ® is a Classified Fly Ash in line with this standard.SANS 50197-1 – Common Cement Specification:• Composition specification conformity criteria for constituent in common cements the use of Fly Ash •

is denoted with a “V”

unCLASSified fLY ASh – i.e. pozzfiLL CompLieS to:SANS 50197-1 – Common Cement Specification:• Composition, specifications and conformity criteria for constituent in common cements. In terms •

of reactive silicate, free lime and loss on ignition (LOI) values, PozzFill® is fully compliant with the standard.

EN 450 – European Standard• Whilst carefully selected by Ash Resources for the Power Station bunkers, PozzFill• ® fineness can

fall outside the maximum EN 450 value (40%) passing the 45 micron sieve.

Incorporating fly ash into your concrete – environmental benefits and specification considerations

The enVironmenTal imPacT of using fly ash in concreTeAsh Resources lists these three benefits of Fly Ash:

Using Fly Ash in concrete transforms a waste product from power stations into a valuable by-product.• Cement producers, as mentioned, can use Fly Ash as a valuable source of alumina and silica in the •

cement-making process as well as in the manufacture of factory-blended cements. Using Fly Ash in these ways reduces the need for the extraction of raw materials in the case of blended cement. Fly Ash reduces the total energy demand of producing cement. Cement process kilns require high temperature, normally generated using hydrocarbon fuels. Fly Ash-blended cements enable the cement producer to burn less fuel in the manufacturing process and reduce the quantity of harmful CO2 emissions.

When Fly Ash is incorporated in structural concrete there is a reduction in the potential for leaching. • The pozzolanic reaction of the Fly Ash reduces the permeability of the concrete, effectively preventing any significant leaching from the Fly Ash, the Portland Cement or the aggregates.



uLtRA-fine fLY ASh – poRtLAnd Cement extendeRS (neW StAndARd inCoRpoRAteS uffA)

BS EN 450 – Part 1: 20058 – European Standard•

“Ash Resources believe that by conforming to the respective standards and specification for our products we offer our customers peace of mind in terms of product consistency and quality,” says John Sheath, Strategy and Marketing Manager of Ash Resources.

According to Sheath, a major difference between Fly Ash and Portland Cement (PC) is that PC is rich in calcium silicates while its level of Fly Ash is low. “High-quality Fly Ash is high in reactive silicate glass while PC has none. Lime is released during the hydration of Portland Cement. This free lime is a key ingredient in the reaction with the silicates in the Fly Ash to form strong, durable cementing com-pounds,” continues Sheath.

hoW fLY ASh ReduCeS the heAt of hYdRAtion in ConCReteHeat is generated during the hydration of cement, causing the concrete temperature to rise which further accelerates the setting time and strength gain of the concrete. In the case of mass concrete, the rapid temperature rise increases the chances of thermal cracking, leading to reduced concrete integrity and durability, which can significantly increase the potential for thermal cracking.

“Partially replacing Portland Cement with Fly Ash reduces the rate of heat generation due to the pozzolanic reaction with lime occurring over an extended period of time,” says Sheath before explaining that Fly Ash also increases the cementitious compounds in a mix, minimises water demands and the spherical particles fill in potential bleed channels. These factors increase the density of the concrete and give less internal voids with a corresponding reduction in permeability.

Ash ResourcesTel: 011 886 6200 Fax: 011 886 6140Website: www.ashresources.co.za

Fly ash enhanced concrete provides a better finish and higher strength.

The use of fly increases the durability of structures.




Walls & Roofs went to see the work the company has been doing at the new up-market Fredman Towers in Sandton. Francois Venter, project manager at Watcon, explained why many property developers are choosing Watcon to handle the interiors of their new builds.

“We’ve been in business for a long time and the decision-makers have maintained the same standard of work ethic that we have had from day one, while still investing in new technologies and innovations so we can give our clients what they need,” says Venter.

StiCkinG to deAdLineS“Our projects are always deadline-driven and we have a company policy to stick to these deadlines, without compromising the quality of work. Getting the job done on time has ensured that we are top-of-mind service providers for large companies.

Venter explains that the company receives briefs from designers and space-planners to create aesthetically appealing interiors as well as

refurbish existing building exteriors. “We have refurbished entire build-ings, from top to bottom, inside and out. We can tackle the most difficult of renovation requirements,” says Venter.

Watcon’s tenant installations at Fredman Towers included the building of partitions, installing glass doors, painting as well as wallpaper finishes. The project was completed within 3 weeks and an interesting aspect of the project is the frameless safety glass used in the boardroom.

“The space-planner wanted the glass of the boardroom to appear curved on the one end. Instead of trying to cut the glass into the shape, we used cladding solutions around the glass to create this appear-ance,” says Venter.

Other large projects that Watcon has recently completed include 2 storeys (1 500 m2) at the newly built Sandton Close office park in Gauteng, Various ABSA projects and tenant installations for the new head office of IT solutions provider EOH in Bedfordview.

“Our projects vary in size and services. Watcon’s goal is to provide everything – from engineers to glass experts and specialised interior decorators – within one company,” concludes Venter.

WatconTel: 012 800 1101Fax: 012 800 2284E-mail: [email protected]

Watcon’s painting, waterproofing and interior decorating services are being used in a variety of prominent projects around the country. The company specialises in sophisticated tenant installation and their projects range from waterproofing solutions for Eskom, multi-storey office parks en large bank interior refurbishments.

“Our projects vary in size and services. Watcon’s goal is to provide

everything – from engineers to glass experts and specialised interior decorators –

within one company”

Specialised tenant installations for any project


Reliable service solutions to simplify your office space!

From straightforward renovations to highly skilled projects

WatconTel: +27 12 800 1101Fax: +27 12 800 2284E-mail: [email protected]

Watcon provides superior project management, maintenance solutions and specialist tenant installations

Specialist paint applications Partitioning Corporate developments Office planning


Symbolism, meaning and astounding products and design have lead to Freedom Park becoming a jewel of the city. The ambitious project, a dedicated heritage precinct on the Salvokop hill near Pretoria, is intended to be a centre of knowledge that aims to create a deeper understanding of South Africa and its people through the narration of the country’s pre-colonial, colonial, apartheid and post-apartheid history (www.freedompark.co.za).

Freedom Park is set to become one of the major landmarks in South Africa. This landmark tells the story of South Africa’s unique cultural his-tory, struggles and achievements through a variety of design features, such as the reed poles and lights visible from the highway and the rolling landscapes across the site.

The Office of Collaborative Architects, involving GAPP Architects and Urban Designers, MMA Architects and Mashabane Rose Associates, through consultations with various Freedom Park committees, set out to design concepts and structures that have never been seen before.

Freedom Park, which is one of the 11 Presidential Legacy Projects, symbolises not only truth and reconciliation but also architectural excellence, innovative design and state-of-the-art construction. This inspiring project began construction in 2003 and every design detail, such as the Wall of Names which has the names of 75 000 South Africans who died in the struggle for freedom and water features representing tranquillity, contributing to the overall success of the project.

New international landmark

Copper, which fades over time and is already showing visible colour differences on the façade of Freedom Park, was chosen because it is a unique African resource.

Feature: Freedom Park





Flexible dry-walling was used on the inside so that the interior could be shaped to accommodate the different curves and shapes of the structure. These angles also help with acoustics.

The external environment of Freedom Park is interspersed with monuments and buildings. Exhibition spaces are structured around social spaces that will allow for performance, storytelling and live interpretation in the future.

International service providers were brought in to provide theatrical exhibition lighting.



humbLe beGinninGSThe first phase of the project, which includes the Information Centre and the Isivivane (the first of a series of planned contemplative places within Freedom Park) was formally handed over to President Thabo Mbeki in March 2004.

The second phase of the development is called //hapo (which is the Khoi/San word for “dream”) also includes an exhibition hall, restaurant, kiosk, curio shop and Pan-African library where research data and all information relating to Freedom Park will be stored. The area offers a spectacular panorama of Pretoria and the awe-inspiring building offers contrasting views in an interactive exhibition space which conveys a rich history of 3,6 billion years to visitors. The second phase of the project was officially opened on 16 June 2010.

“The design of the second phase stems from a sketch of a healing garden the architects visited in conjunction with the Freedom Park team. which was drawn by one of the architects. After the project was completed, one can see that the structure looks much like the original black and white sketch,” says Hendrik Prinsloo, director at HPM Con-sultants and project manager of the Freedom Park project.

“In the construction of Freedom Park, the word //hapo was used to conceptualise the idea of a dream is not a dream until it is shared by the community,” says Prinsloo.

Dieter Brandt, the project architect for Phase II of Freedom Park, says that the first design concept of Freedom Park’s Phase II was rejected by the client (Freedom Park ), which led the architects to seek out dif-ferent inspirations and approaches.

“The client took selected consultants on a field trip to Kuruman in the Kalahari to visit Credo Mutwa’s traditional homestead,” says Brandt. “The lead Architect Jeremy Rose sketched a series of boulders in Credo’s healing garden . Phase II of Freedom Park is conceived as boulders rising out of the ground Boulders carry different symbolism

in African culture Some believe, as in the African story of creation, the diviner asked the creator, about the value of creation. The creator replied by creating the rock. .

The story of creation is also extended to the undulating poles that one can see from the highway. The poles, which seem to move against the sunset, are intended to look like reeds coming out of the water, where all human beings emerged from. “Freedom Park draws on nature’s core elements – air, water, fire and earth,” adds Brandt.

Isivivane, which was part of the first phase of the project and said to represent the symbolic burial place of heroes and heroines, also draws on the boulder element. The spiritually symbolic area is made up of 11 boulders that are placed in a circle, representing the 9 provinces of South Africa, as well as the national government and the international community.

Phase II of Freedom Park is also a metaphor of boulders. “We used different symbolisms to create open and compressed boulder shapes in order to reflect qualitatively the different epochs of South African History. One part of the building will look more ethereal to represent Ancestors. The boulders are then extended to represent the country’s industrial period, where people started working together. The section

“We used different symbolisms to create open and compressed boulder shapes

in order to reflect qualitatively the different epochs of South African History.

One part of the building will look more ethereal to represent Ancestors.”

The building was sculpted with steel frames that were overlayed with copper. As with other elements in Freedom Park, //hapo was designed to blend into the landscape, rather than impose on it.



that represents nation-building consists of boulders that are light filled and open, and the final block, block F, breaks off from the nation-building boulder so that it represents the notion of looking towards the future,” says Brandt.

ConStRuCtinG the impoSSibLeThe façade of the building is completely clad with copper sheeting. Frans du Toit, managing director of Cupric Tectronics, said that Free-dom Park is the first copper-clad building of its size in South Africa.

“Installing the roof sheeting was challenging because there are so many detailed design elements,” says du Toit. “We used a specialised machine that rolled the copper into long, straight sheets that were placed directly onto the building.”

Prinsloo says that many of the contractors had to innovate and change their normal installation methods to suit this specific project. “The building has a lot of angular shapes and corners, some of the contractors found it difficult to build and install products because there aren’t really straight lines. One of the other construction challenges was the amount of rain, that wasn’t expected. Also a lot of excavation was needed for the site,” says Prinsloo.

Brandt agrees that Phase II of Freedom Park was a learning curve for everybody involved in the project. “Freedom Park was a first for most of the contractors involved because there is nothing like it in South Africa,” comments Brandt.

Copper, which fades over time and is already showing visible colour differences on the façade of Freedom Park, was chosen for a number of reasons. “Copper is an African resource,” says Brandt. “The idea is that the material will age over time and the patina gives a sense of ancientness. We wanted a material with monochromatic feel and we needed a material to blend in with the brickwork that is typical to Sal-vokop rail village. The metaphor of boulders is enhanced by the varying

stages at which the weathering of each copper-clad boulder that is exposed to prevailing weather takes place,” says Brandt.

Phase II construction took two years to complete and Brandt explains that the different components of the building required many site meet-ings and input from specialised teams and consultants. “A steel frame structure, with a secondary frame, was used to achieve the complex boulder forms of the building. Over 20 consultants, including engineers, exhibition consultants and client committees, were brought in to help with the process,” says Brandt.

inteRnAtionAL pReStiGeThinc., who were commissioned for the memorial exhibition for Ground Zero of the New York City World Trade Centre after the September 11 terrorist attacks, and Visual Acquity, a leading London-based design consultancy specialising in the designing of areas of new-media, visu-alisation and ICT technology, were brought in to ensure the construc-tion of //hapo can be benchmarked internationally in Phase II were perfectly executed.

“Freedom Park had leading international specialists working on the project to ensure leading multi-media equipment and exhibition fixtures.

“The building has a lot of angular shapes and corners, some of the contractors found it

difficult to build and install products because there aren’t really straight lines. One of the

other construction challenges was the amount of rain, that wasn’t expected,” says Prinsloo.

Rosewood panelling and clay bricks feature prominently.


978 m2 of glass was installed at the Freedom Park project.


Centurion Glass & Aluminium, a company that has been specialising in the design and erection of bespoke glass and aluminium solutions since 1993, installed 978 m2 of glass for the Freedom Park project in Pretoria, each a different spec or size.

nAtuRAL eLementSThe cracks in natural boulders and rocks are a testimony to the fact that rocks in our landscape have existed and changed over thousands of years. This is mimicked in the design of windows with their deep-set openings and their complex irregular shapes. These windows

bring in just enough light to reinforce the sense of a dimly lit cave (www.oca.co.za).

teChniCAL detAiLinGThe Fentech FT6000 curtain wall system was installed on site, along with GSA Colorvue Serene green laminated glass and golden light laminated safety glass. The glass was installed at //hapo, an interpretive centre and Pan-African archive in Freedom Park, which displays a centre of knowledge that captures the country’s history, culture and spirituality.

The building is a metaphor for a series of interconnected boulders, creating a cave-like feeling inside the exhibition space. “The interior was conceived as such to resonate with the mountainous shelters in which many traditional healers live and the sites used by the Khoisan,” reads the architectural description in a recent competition entry. Centurion Glass & Aluminium’s involvement in the project commenced in August 2009 and all of the installations were completed by May 2010.

About the GLASS And ALuminium CompAnY Centurion Glass & Aluminium, a subsidiary of Accéntuate LTD, operates in the construction and infrastructural developmental arenas and it is currently one of the leading manufacturers and installers of glass and aluminium solutions for the commercial, retail and top-end residential markets. The company has developed a strong local presence and has also successfully completed various projects in neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, Botswana, Swaziland and Angola.

Centurion Glass & AluminiumTel: 012 666 8000 Fax: 012 666 8007E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cgaindustries.co.za

Unique glass installations at //hapoFreedom Park, a project that tells the story of South Africa’s history, makes use of a range of construction materials as diverse as the country’s many cultures. One of the natural materials used in this prestigious project is glass.




Stefanutti Stocks, the lead partner in a joint venture with Fikile Projects on the Freedom Park Phases 2A and 2B, commissioned SABRIX to supply the bricks.

“To ensure that we achieve the goal of completing this prestigious project timeously and to our client’s satisfaction, it is essential that we have the right team of contractors and suppliers in place,” says Danie Moolman, Contracts Manager for Stefanutti Stocks.

“We have worked with SABRIX successfully on previous projects for a number of years. A combination of good service, competitive prices and a quality product is always the key determining criterion.”

SABRIX Financial Director Elfranco Swart says that clay bricks are an appropriate choice for a project such as Freedom Park that celebrates and showcases South African history.

“Going back in history, not only was the traditional African home con-structed with clay, but also the methodologies used by our forefathers in the construction of many of this country’s original landmarks are built with clay,” says Swart.

uSinG nAtuRe’S eLementSThe SABRIX clay stock and semi-face bricks owe their unique proper-ties to the final composition of raw materials as well as a time-trusted manufacturing process.

“All SABRIX clay stock and semi-face bricks are made from / natural ingredients, and encompass the four elements of nature – earth, air, fire and water,” explains Vicky Coopoosammy, Sales Executive of SABRIX.

SABRIX is built on an ethos of ‘quality products and quality service’ and prides itself on the long-standing relationships it enjoys with its clients, in particular Stefanutti Stocks – spanning more than 20 years. “We will always go the extra mile to ensure that we exceed the expec-tations of our clients,” says Coopoosammy.

According to Moolman, the project team experienced the magnitude of SABRIX’ commitment to service at first hand. “Due to the location and nature of the Freedom Park site, the delivery of bricks had to be done in smaller loads of 5 000 bricks per load – a notable achievement when you consider the fact that over a million bricks were delivered to the site,” says Moolman.

As a proud member of the ClayBrick.org (previously known as The Clay Brick Association), SABRIX aligns itself with the Code of Ethics and Best Practice in Environmental Management as stipulated by the Association. A dedicated manager is on board to ensure that the necessary environmental management systems are in place at each of its manufacturing facilities, located in Zandfontein and Boekenhoutk-loof, respectively.

SABRIX has supplied clay bricks for a number of prestigious projects, including the Gautrain Pretoria Station, Moruleng Stadium at Mokwase and the SA Reserve Bank in Pretoria, yet there was something special about this specific project.

“Because of the historical importance and ethos attached to Freedom Park, SABRIX are very proud to be associated with Stefanutti Stocks and such a notable landmark,” concludes Swart.

SABRIXTel: 012 376 9910 / 11E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sabrix.co.za

Local clay stock and semi-face brick manufacturer SABRIX was commissioned to supply the clay stock bricks for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the internationally acclaimed Freedom Park project. Over a million clay stock bricks were supplied for the entire project, with an excess of 800 000 units supplied for the first phase and over 250 000 for Phase 2.

Clay bricks at Freedom Park

The clay stock and semi-face bricks that were installed at Freedom Park are made from natural ingredients.

A combination of good service, competitive prices and a quality product were the key drivers when choosing a clay brick supplier.



deSiGn detAiLS And SpeCifiCAtionSDetailed and precise work of the engi-neering, construction and design team of //hapo has amounted to a building that features a restaurant, kiosk, curio shop and exhibition centre that will tell the African tale of struggle, freedom and nation-building. The interior walls of the building were painted a light grey colour and a textured coat application was used to enhance the rippled effect of the paint.

“Approximately 5 500 litres of Micatex, which is a finely textured, matt paint, was used for the project,”

says Sipho Nqeketo. “The application that was used requires a special roller and it takes longer to apply paint this way, but the textured finishes that are created give a lasting impression.”

Flexible dry-walling was used on the building and the walls slant, slope and curve at different angles on the inside. “Some of the walls are up to 15 m tall. Scaffolds were built so that our painters could

reach the top of every wall and corner of //hapo,” says Nqeketo.Nqeketo comments that Siphocon have previously worked with

Stefanutti Stocks Engineering & Construction group, who appointed them for the Freedom Park project. “We are familiar with the construc-tion company and we continue to receive large contracts because we are reliable. Being deadline-driven and delivering the project on time is vital to succeed in this industry,” says Nqeketo.

Siphocon is a commercial paint contracting company that was estab-lished in 1994 and employs over 65 painters. The company recently painted the FNB parkade and ceilings at FNB’s offices in Johannesburg (an estimated area of over 100 000 m2) and they are currently painting the Municipal Offices in Ermelo.

Siphocon Painting ContractorsTel: 011 863 3189Fax: 011 863 3188E-mail: [email protected]

Siphocon Painting Contractors, an approved Plascon painting company, was contracted to paint the entire interior area of Freedom Park’s //hapo building, which is the main focus point of Phase II. Over 13 000m2 was covered by 20 people over a relatively short period of time.

Commercial paint contracting at Freedom Park

Over 13 000m2 of walling area was painted at //hapo, the copper-clad building at Freedom Park that features a restaurant, kiosk, curio shop and exhibition centre.



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“We started the project in February 2009 and completed the project in April 2010 for the opening in July this year,” says James Maré, manag-ing director of Magnicon.

Maré explains that working with the construction team to complete projects in time is one of the most important factors when working on projects of this magnitude. “Magnicon has worked with an array of construction professionals such as Stefanutti Stocks, Fikile, WBHO, Tyris, Boogertman & Smit, Probuild, Robenco, Archstone and Dimen-sion Construction. Delivering quality services on time is crucial. We are proud of the fact that Magnicon have never been late on any of our projects and we usually complete our tasks before the scheduled dates,” says Maré.

GettinG the job done RiGht the fiRSt time ARoundAlthough speed of construction and project deadlines are ever-looming, Maré warns that quality installations need to receive even higher

priority. “On a lot of our projects, we were not the original appointed sub-contractor and were asked to help after the appointed sub-contrac-tor either fell behind schedule or didn’t deliver according to specifica-tion. We are therefore known to fix mistakes and get projects up to date where other sub-contractors have failed to do so. Magnicon therefore strives for high quality and speed,” says Maré.

“We are also on a regular basis consulted on issues concerning our industry for quality, materials and method solutions.”

Other large projects that Magnicon was recently involved in include City Lodge Hotel at OR Tambo International Airport, where 600 solid and semi-solid doors were installed along with paraplegic bathroom sliding doors, door closers, door locks and double action door closers. We were also involved at the Southgate Road Lodge in Southgate JHB and the Premier Airport Hotel in Kempton Park.

“Besides the Freedom Park project, we also worked with Stefanutti Stocks to fit 400 doors and bathroom accessories at the Sunnypark Holiday Inn in Pretoria,” says Maré.

“As a business, we acknowledge the value of our personnel and as a result have a dedicated and hardworking labour force which enables us to deliver high quality work even when there is pressure on delivering at high-productivity rates,” concludes Maré.

MagniconTel: 082 412 5515Fax: 086 613 5412E-mail: [email protected]: www.magnicon.co.za

The successful completion of Phase II of the world-class Freedom Park project has been attributed to design excellence, coupled with historical narrative and a dedicated team of contractors working together. Stefanutti Stocks commissioned Magnicon, to paint balustrades and walkways as well as fit 10 000 m2 of ceiling board and insulation at Phase II of Freedom Park.

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Jason Wittstock, project manager from Saint-Gobain Gyproc, says that the high-profile museum was designed to demonstrate South Africa’s history, and the versatility of plasterboard allowed the Office of Collabo-rative Architects to overcome the restrictions of brick and mortar.

“The copper-clad structure is insulated with Saint-Gobain materials, creating energy-efficient cavernous spaces,” said Wittstock.

Dieter Brandt, the project architect, said that the unconventional building that was created is a first-of-a-kind project. “The building has two skins, an external skin and internal skin with a cavity between the two. We used Gyproc products to create the shapes and angles of the internal skin,” says Brandt.

Products used in the building include Gyproc’s 15mm RhinoBoard (gypsum plasterboard), 12,5 mm Gyptone BIG Quattro 41, 102 mm UltraSTEEL and load-bearing wall grid, exposed and concealed ceiling grid, cavity and under-purlin glasswool insulation as well as RhinoLite multi-purpose gypsum plaster.

Michael Culhane, managing director of Excel Ceilings and Partitions, said the most difficult part of creating the interior structure was the uniqueness of the project.

“All the walls are between 8 m – 12 m and many are built at an angle. The project team also needed to create the structure without fixing points,” said Culhane.

Saint-Gobain Gyproc South Africa came third at the International Saint-Gobain Gyproc Trophy event in Amsterdam which was held in June 2010 after entering Freedom Park into the competition for the plasterboard category.

“We came third in the competition that highlighted outstanding projects from around the world. Saint-Gobain Gyproc South Africa is proud to be associated with the Freedom Park project,” says Heidi Olivier, commercial brand manager at Saint-Gobain Gyproc.

Saint-Gobain GyprocTel: 011 873 2401Fax: 011 873 9480Website: www.saint-gobain.co.zawww.autospec.co.za

Steffanutti Stocks, contractor of Freedom Park’s Heritage Museum, and sub-contractor Excel Ceilings and Partitions approached Saint-Gobain Gyproc South Africa to install a variety of their products in the 8 000 m² building.

Creating the internal skin of the Heritage Museum

All the walls are between 8 m – 12 m and many of them are built at an angle.

The copper-clad structure is insulated with high-quality materials in order to create energy-efficient cavernous spaces.



The market leader in custom-made vitreous enamelled steel architectural products, Vitrex, recently supplied and installed a range of solutions at the prestigious and historic second phase of the Freedom Park development in Pretoria.

Versatile use of vitreous enamel at Freedom Park

The Office of Collaborative Architects (OCA), which consists of GAPP Architects, Urban Designers, Mashabane Rose Associates and MMA Architects, required architectural column cladding, toilet cubicles and combination shower and change room cubicles for the project.

WhAt deSiGn pRofeSSionALS ChooSeThe tremendous design versatility of vitreous enamel is one of the rea-sons why design professionals are continuing to specify this product. “Not only does vitreous enamel provide for flexible design solutions, but it is also resistant to corrosion, vandalism, vermin and thermal shock. It is also extremely hygienic, non-flammable and fully recyclable,” says Cristian Cottino, Sales and Marketing Director of Vitrex.

The Vitraflex toilet cubicles which are part of Vitrex’s popular modular cloakroom system, were engineered by the Vitrex Technical Office in accordance with the specific design requirements developed by the architects for Phase II of Freedom Park. “The full height of the system, from floor to ceiling, is 2 400 mm. We also customised the floating leg anchors of the toilet cubicles to reduce the gap between the bottom of the cubicle components and the finished floor to 100 mm The enamel colour selected by the architects was Black,” says Cottino. “We offer a standard range of 25 colours, but an almost unlimited choice on special request.”

Vitrex’s proven combination shower and changeroom cubicles were also specified for the project. The cubicles were also fitted with Vitre’x new stainless steel “telescopic” leg anchors, which provide ease of installation and facilitate ease of cleaning. “The elimination of conspicuous floor mountings improves hygiene through the reduction of potential bacterial growth at the base of the stiles,” adds Cottino.

The cladding panels that were supplied for the circular columns in the bathrooms were customised to fit the project. The columns in the bathrooms were 2900mm tall and the cladding was broken up into four panels per column, with 15mm vertical joints. The aluminium adjustable substructure comprises vertical elements with brackets.

“The cladding panels were roll formed to fit the architects’ design requirements as well as the actual site dimensions. As with all Vitraclad heavy gauge panels, the fabrication process takes place prior to enamelling. The raw materials of the product are smelted together in a kiln at approximately 1200ºC for four hours and then rapidly cooled,” says Cottino.

Vitrex is a privately owned South African company with over 40 years experience in the design, manufacture, supply and installation of vitre-ous enamelled steel. The products are ideal for high-traffic areas due to their durability, low-maintenance requirement and lasting colour finish.

inteRnAtionAL pRoduCtSVitrex cladding has been widely exported by Vitrex for decades. The panels have been used in various interior and exterior applications. Stations of Singapore’s Land Transport Authority and Sir John Roger-sons Quay building in Dublin (Ireland) are examples of their exterior use. “The steel panels are produced at Vitrex’s Jet Park facility and they have been used in a range of high-profile, international projects,” says Cottino.

“In terms of our Vitraflex cubicle range, we recently supplied and installed 1 200 toilet cubicles for the Soccer City stadium in Johan-nesburg. Our cubicles have been a popular choice for sports facilities in South Africa. In addition to several of the 2010 FIFA® World Cup™ stadia, a wide range of products was specified for the refurbishment and extensions to the cricket grounds for the 2003 Cricket World Cup tournament. Our cloakroom cubicles were also installed at the Wander-ers Centenary Pavilion as well as at the Benoni and Bloemfontein grounds,” concludes Cottino.

VitrexTel: 011 826 6057Fax: 011 823 1641E-mail: [email protected]: www.vitrex.co.zawww.autospec.co.za

REDEFININGTHE USE OF COLOURVitraflex Modular Cloakroom Cubicles and Vanities

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Visual Acquity, for example, acted as the major media and technol-ogy adviser at the California Academy of Sciences, which was designed by Renzo Piano,” says Brandt.

“Although the actual construction techniques used to construct Phase II are the same building techniques that one would have used 30 years ago, the complex shapes of the structure would not have been possible without the technologies that are available today. We worked together with a 3D modeller from Slovakia,” continues Brandt.

peRfoRmAnCe iSSueSThe design professionals also took the region’s climate, acoustic challenges of the exhibition hall as well as sustainability issues into consideration. “The building has a thick cavity which has a good thermal performance in order to keep to keep the temperature inside the exhibition hall moderate,” says Brandt.

“Ventilation is drawn in from the outside and pushed out the top of the building in summer,” explains Brandt when referring to the building’s passive heating and cooling systems. “We worked with mechanical and façade engineers to optimise the cavity skin and orientation of the building in order to create the most efficient build-ing possible. Flexible dry-walling was used on the inside so that the interior could be shaped and these angles also help with acoustics.”

The copper on the exterior of the building also has a breather membrane with boarding on the secondary top-hat structure with a 50 mm air cavity on top of gypsum boarding and acoustic boarding to create a composite layer tohelp with acoustic and thermal performance.

ChAnGinG ARChiteCtuRe in South AfRiCABrandt explains that Freedom Park is a significant project for South Africa, “Freedom Park has the ability to change the public’s perception of what architecture can be. It allows one to move beyond the constraints of normal ideals and it will hopefully produce a new generation of architects and clients to move beyond what is normally accepted to creating internationally recognised projects,” concludes Brandt.

Lighting within the heritage museum varies in order to help represent different stages of South African history, the country’s industrial period and nation-building.


Gaps in the copper-cladded building symbolise clusters of boulders.



Pia 2010 PublicaTiongeneral informaTion:

nAme of fiRm: Office of Collaborative ArchitectsGAPP Architects and Urban Designers, MMA Architects and Mashabane Rose Associates in joint venture

nAme of pRojeCt: FREEDOM PARK LEGACY PROJECT PHASE 2, SALVOKOP, PRETORIA Client: Freedom ParkLocation: Salvokop, Pretoria

GpS CooRdinAteS: Latitude: S 25 45.846Longitude: E 28 11.238

ARChiteCtuRAL teAm:design Architect: Jeremy Rose project Architect: Dieter BrandtArchitectural team: Caron Schnaid, Eugene Marais, Katlego Makoe, Lionel Cumps, Liya Tesfaye, Rene Mclaren, Rochelle Volschenk, Simon Bird, Teboho Maphiri, Dorah Khoza

pRofeSSionAL teAm:Structural engineers: Aurecon mechanical engineers: Uhuru Wetu electrical engineers: Electrical – WSP / Ubunye environmental: Earth Inc Landscaping: NGBM - Newtown Landscape Architects Bagale Green IncMomo Landscape Architects Joint Venture. quantity Surveyor: Davis Langdon; Chauke QS Contractor: Fikile / Stocks JVelectronic engineers: WSP project managers: PMSA

Freedom Park would like to thank the elders and community members who contributed during the initial consultation process.

14 tons of rosewood was used for the wall panels, benching and window sills. The nature of the design required that each panel and bench be cut and installed separately.

Expert craftsmanship was needed to install rosewood panels into the unique forms of the walls.

Pathways outside the heritage museum offer functional and aesthetic appeal.



“Over 9,000 m2 of area was covered with copper sheeting,” says Frans du Toit, managing director of Cupric Tectonics. “We received the copper coils from supplier/manufacturer, Copalcor”. The material is approxi-mately 99% pure Phosphorus Deoxidised copper alloy – ASTM B152 C 12200 half hard. A team off 16 well trained and experienced craftsmen and artisans were used for the erection off the copper.

StAte-of-the-ARt teChnoLoGYA Schlebach manufactured Quadro and a profile machine, owned by Cupric Tectonics, was used to roll out the roof sheeting. The machine was placed on top of the scaffolding in order for the sheeting to be rolled out directly onto the roof. We also own a custom built machine especially for this project that roll shiplap panels to any required length. This is the only machine of its kind in South Africa. “The project had to be approached and executed this way in order to ensure that the roof sheets did not bend,” explains Du Toit.

The copper used to cover the building reinforces the natural elements and symbolism used at Freedom Park, which is set to become one of the major landmarks of South Africa. This is a first-of-a-kind project for the country. The aesthetic appeal of copper is timeless. Copper fades and changes colour over time and this material was specifically chosen by architects who wanted to create a feeling of South Africa’s rich his-tory and heritage.

The processed copper sheeting creates a natural wave effect (also

known as ‘oil canning’) on the building. As the sun and temperature shift, different textures and folds are noticeable on the sheeting.

“Although there are various meanings and symbolisms behind all the materials chosen for the project, Cupric Tectonics’ focus was to get the job done according to the design professionals’ specifications,” says Du Toit.

The method used to attach the copper roof sheets onto the exterior of the building is called ‘double standing seam’ and Du Toit explains that this method ensures reliable waterproofing. “We have been doing double seam installations for over 25 years and we have gained a lot of insight and experience in doing so. Double seaming is a concealed fixing method, which means that there aren’t any fixing through the sheeting. It is a specialised method.” says Du Toit.

deSiGn ChALLenGeSDu Toit comments that the various design details of the project were interesting and challenging. “Phase II of Freedom Park has a very detailed design and Cupric Tectonics covered each fine detail with precision”. The building, which has different tilted surfaces, corners and shapes, not only has odd shapes that needed to be covered with copper sheeting, but the roof sheeting specialists also had to take the various windows, gaps and skylight areas into consideration when covering the building.

“Our success as company is based on Christian values; first thing in the morning, before going out for the day, we pray together, asking the Lords guidance and blessings. We are proud to say: We are blessed and all the Glory to God.”

Du Toit concludes that although the company has been specialising in copper roof sheeting for a very long time, Freedom Park was definitely one of the most internationally prestigious projects they have been involved in.

“Back in 1989, we were involved with the covering of the Mafikeng Supreme Court and Parliamentary buildings with copper and other roof sheeting and since then we have installed copper at various sites around the country and even over borders in Lesotho and an island at Mozambique. Freedom Park has let us gain immense insight into the vast coordination and project management needed for such large projects and we will continue to innovate and seek out challenging projects for our company,” concludes Du Toit.

Cupric TectonicsTel: 082 576 7111Fax: 086 580 5123Website: www.cupric.co.za

Freedom Park’s copper roof claddingCopper roofing specialists Cupric Tectonics used 70 tonnes of copper sheeting for roof and side cladding on Freedom Park’s Phase II building. The 0,6 mm copper material was profiled with special machines to the correct length on site, which covers the entire building.

This is a first-of-a-kind project for the country.

The aesthetic appeal of copper is timeless.



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Freedom Park highlights the diverse use of a variety of building materials, such as copper cladding, concrete, clay bricks and wood. Rose wood, due to its African origin and aesthetic appeal, was used extensively throughout the heritage museum and exhibition centre at Phase II of the project.

Laminated rose wood panels, benching, window sills and the counter at the restaurant of the exhibition centre were supplied and installed by KD Shopfitters & Carpentry. The company said that the architectural design of the building made the project a truly unique and challenging task.

“The nature of the design required that each panel and bench be cut and installed separately,” says Kobus du Plessis, managing director of KD Shopfitters & Carpentry. “The angles and curves of the walls and windows that needed to be fitted with wooden panels and benches meant that master craftsmanship was needed to complete the task at hand.”

The project, which took 4 months to complete, used 14 tons of rose wood. du Plessis explains that the building mate-rial also expands and contracts when exposed to different temperatures, which led the team to resort to particular installation applications.

“We needed to leave tiny gaps between the panels and laminate the wood in order to counteract

the natural tendency of wood to contract and expand during fluctuations in temperature and humidity,” said Du Plessis. “We also needed to cut wood into slabs to create a solid laminated beam to join and neutralise any bends or twists in the slabs.”

KD Shopfitters & Carpentry has been in operation for 18 years and the company specialises in every type of wood installation, such as counters, work stations, display units, bars and kitchens. “Our team is also skilled in dry-walling and glass installations. We have been involved in a number of high-profile projects, such as wood installations at a number of Standard Bank branches and we are proud to be part of the prestigious Freedom Park project,” concludes Du Plessis.

KD Shopfitters & CarpentryTel: 011 832 1946Fax: 011 832 1947E-mail: [email protected]

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Cladding


Technical cladding innovations

Technical ventilated façades have become extremely popular over recent years, with many design professionals incorporating these systems into their designs due to their heat insulation properties and aesthetic value. A ventilated façade can be described as a wall-cover-ing and insulation system capable of characterising the construction, hygrometric, static, safety and aesthetic aspects of a building. A ventilated façade consists of an outer cladding, an air space several centimetres deep, a sub-structure generally made of aluminium an-chored to the building and an insulating layer secured to the outer wall of the building (www.irisfmg.com).

CeRAmiC VentiLAted fAçAdeS The Gail group, together with Buchtal, a leader in the traditional and ventilated ceramic façade business, has developed a ceramic venti-lated façade system, called KeraGaiL®, which has been marketed as an economical alternative for façade panel projects.

The extruded ceramic tile panel, with internal drainage, ensures greater strength in areas subject to higher risk of breakage. The joints,

External cladding of buildings plays a crucial role in architecture. Besides protecting a building from weather, the external façade needs to meet a range of design and landscape requirements. Durability, economics, aesthetic appeal, environmental factors as well as mechanical, chemical and thermal stresses are some of the many considerations that need to be accounted for when developing a cladding system.

The ceramic façade panels have dovetail grooves on the back, into which

at least four adapters per panel are slotted in a symmetrical arrangement.

A ceramic ventilated façade system. The joints, 8 mm in width, are formed in such a way that the façade is protected against driving rain.

Cladding


8 mm in width, are formed in such a way that the façade is protected against driving rain.

The ceramic façade panels have dovetail grooves on the back, into which at least four adapters per panel are slotted in a symmetrical ar-rangement. The adapters enable the panels to be hung in pre-punched bearing profiles or in horizontally positioned supporting rails (www.keragail.com.br). Horizontal support rails are positioned and fastened on the vertical substructure, guided by the vertical grid of the panels.

“The adapters are an integral part of the KeraGaiL® system. The stainless steel springs inserted into the adapters give a more flexible installation. A profile, adjusted to the width of the joints, is slotted into the grooves to secure the panel in position,” says a company spokesperson.

Jonas Medeiros, a consultant for the Gail group, says that the system has a variety of advantages for design professionals. “Benefits include the reduction on consumption of airconditioning, which is important for building owners who operate the facility,” says Medeiros. Other advantages of the KeraGaiL® include the following:

A façade free of cracks and efflorescence (powdery deposits)• Waste-free installation• Reduced energy consumption due to better environmental control• Reduces wind pressure on the internal façade• Control of water leakage (no silicone sealant in the joints)•

The system can be installed on pre-existing coverings and, according to the Gail group, the system offers competitive pricing when com-pared with other curtain wall technologies.

Source: www.keregail.com.br

The Stratford (London) railway station is destined to be the principal multi-modal station for the 2012 London Olympic Games. The contract – which called for flat, curved corner, parapet and rooftop VE cladding elements – forms part of London Underground’s upgrading programme to provide step-free station access for disabled commuters.

Vitrex supplied its Vitraclad vitreous enamelled steel cladding for the refurbishment of the station. Cristian Cottino, Sales and Marketing Manager for Jet Park-based Vitrex, says the company has supplied heavy-gauge Vitraclad panels in “Pure White” colour for the external cladding of the freestanding lift structures between the ground and first floors.

“Although the station, close to the new Olympic Stadium under construction north-east of London, is generally dominated by glass and stainless steel finishes, Vitraclad panels were preferred as cladding material for the lift structures because of Vitraclad’s low-maintenance requirement and greater safety compared to glass and stainless steel, particularly in the event of an explosion,” says Cottino.

Stratford Station, will be a key transport hub for the 2012 Olympic Games, and will be a converging point for the Jubilee underground line, Docklands Light Rail, the new Cross Rail line, and Eurostar. The station is managed and operated by Tubelines on behalf of London Underground.

The Tubelines architect who specified Vitraclad cladding for this project, Dennis Jordaan, is an ex-South African architect from Durban who immigrated to the UK in the 1970s. Astec Projects of Reading in Berkshire handled the installation and the contract was secured by David Shepherd of Vitrex Europe and Middle East.

ConStRuCtion teChnoLoGieSThe unique enamel finish of the Vitraclad panels is produced by fusing three layers of glass to enamelling-quality sheet steel at temperatures of over 800 degrees Celsius.

Also known as `porcelain steel’, the Vitraclad panels have been installed at various stations of the Land Transport Authority’s Mass Rail Transit (MRT) system in Singapore, the Mass Transport Railway Corporation (MTRC) system in Hong Kong, Irish Rail in Ireland and the London Underground Limited (LUL) system in London.

Vitraclad panels offer advantages such as colourfastness, resistance to corrosion, a highly hygienic surface, resistance to abrasion, vandalism and chemicals, and resistance to fire, heat as well as thermal shock. The panels are available in a variety of colourfast enamels and they can be used to provide acoustic and thermal insula-tion, have excellent di-electric properties, are easy to clean and require limited maintenance.

Source: www.vitrex.co.za

Cladding for key 2012 London Olympic Games railway station

The new lift structures for Stratford Station in London, clad with heavy-gauge panels.

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Although many tiles may appear to be impervious to water after installation, they are not always completely waterproof (particularly through the grout line). Multi Construction Chemicals (MCC) has developed a unique waterproof tile grout to ensure that a system is completely secure.

MCC is one of the industry leaders in developing tiling systems and solutions in South Africa. Their cement-based, crack-resistant water-proof grout is another example of their ongoing development programs that are focused on solving tiling problems.

The waterproof tile grout is marketed in a variety of colours and has been formulated to grout both wall and floor tiles. The company has the expertise to develop customised colours to suit all clients’ needs for specific projects.

MCC Waterproof Tile Grout is non-shrink and has been modified so that it can be used in areas that are permanently wet and underwater conditions or in areas where liquid soiling occurs, such as in breweries,

restaurants and kitchens. The tile grout is easy to clean and stain-resis-tant so that a dirty picture frame isn’t formed around the tile.

All of MCC’s products have been tested and applied through research and development in a world-class laboratory. Over the years, the com-pany has continued to be technology-driven in order to remain a market leader in the construction industry.

Multi Construction ChemicalsTel: 011 864 4654Fax: 011 864 4406E-mail: [email protected]: www.mccsa.co.za

Why waterproof tile grout?

MCC Waterproof Tile Grout is a non-shrink and has been modified so that it can be used in areas that are

permanently wet and underwater conditions or in areas where liquid spillage occurs, such as

breweries, restaurants and kitchens.

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MCC INTERIOR & EXTERIOR WATERPROOF GROUT

Johannesburg (011) 864 4654 · Polokwane (015) 293 1459 · Durban (031) 701 2619 · Rustenburg 076 837 1708

Waterproof Crack-resistant Stain-resistant

WaterproofTile Grout

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In conjunction with Colt International’s extensive smoke and fire ventila-tion range of products and systems, RVI, through its solar shading division, was able to re-introduce Colt’s sun shading products to the South African market.

“Together with Colt we (RVI) recognised that the sun shading market segment offered good long-term potential. We also identified that there were a number of existing Colt sun tracking solar shading system installations that were not functioning as designed and that these systems would have to be revisited and refurbished where necessary,” said Chris Edwards of RVI.

One of these systems was installed at the Head Office for the Depart-ment of Science and Technology at the CSIR Campus. “When Bild Architects (in association with Terra Ether Architects) were commis-sioned to design the new Head Office we were requested to include sound design and building principles particularly as it would apply to Sustainable Green Building. The shading system was to be installed on the West façade of the quadruple level ‘Corporate Street’ atrium. This circulation spine accommodated the vertical transportation, pause

areas, formal meeting rooms and access to the media centre and main auditorium. The shading system was required in order to protect the building from the fierce western sun. After some investigations, the Colt International Solarfin Shading system was chosen on its performance criteria and visually pleasing aesthetics,” said Eddie Pretorius from Bild Architects

Shortly after commissioning and handover the shading system regrettably became non-functional and some blades dislodged. “Fortu-nately, a chance meeting with the supplier resulted in Colt International and RVI completely stripping, overhauling and re-commissioning the existing installation after a thorough investigation revealed that the previous license holder had not installed the system in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and specifications,” said Eddie Pretorius from Bild Architects.

“We are delighted to note that the system has been re-commissioned and is in perfect working order thanks to the sterling effort by both Colt International and the new license holder, Messrs Robertson Ventilation Industries (Pty) Ltd,” said Eddie Pretorius from Bild Architects.

In 2005, Robertson Ventilation Industries (Pty) Ltd (RVI) signed a manufacturing and distribution licensing agreement with Colt International. The signing of this agreement has enabled RVI to combine Colt’s extensive Smoke and Fire Ventilation product and system technology with RVI’s industrial ventilation product and system know-how; thereby enabling RVI to offer comprehensive ventilation solutions for both commercial and industrial projects and their end-users.

Innovative shading system at the CSIR

A fully automated sun shading and tracking system was installed at the CSIR – Department of Science & Technology Building.

BeFoRe:

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About the SYStemColts fully automated sun tracking/shading system, Solarfin, was specified and installed on the Western façade of the building. Horizontal aerofoil extrusions are mounted between vertical aluminium mullions; in order to cater for thermal expansion and contraction each aerofoil incor-porates both fixed and floating end technology. The primary prerequisite of the system was for the aerofoil blades to remain open in the morning; thereby letting light into the building and allowing people to feel con-nected to the outside environment. During the course of the afternoon the aerofoil louvre blades automatically and incrementally rotate and close protecting the building from the afternoon suns heat and glare.

At the end of each day, the aerofoil louvre blades end up in the fully closed position and at night they rest in a 45° position. The objective with automated sun shading is for the louvre blades to be perpendicular to the sun at all times in order to optimise shading while still maximising daylight into the building.

“The challenges that faced RVI in this project were significant,” said Edwards before he listed the following project-specific challenges:

Limited and difficult access to the workface as a result of the water • feature at the bottom of the shading system

Machinery constraints due to indigenous garden all around • the building

Working on and within a building that is fully occupied and • functioning

Overcoming the unknown elements associated with working on • another company’s installation

“We are however pleased to report that the system was re-commis-sioned during the course of May 2010 and is now functioning as de-signed. We are keeping an eye on the system to make sure it remains fully operational and are currently finalising a maintenance agreement for the shading system with the CSIR – DST,” added Edwards.

RVI Would like to thank Bennie Hlongwane from the CSIR - Depart-ment of Science & Technology for his assistance during this process.

Additional information relating to Colt International and Robertson Ventilation Industries (Pty) Ltd is available at www.coltgroup.com and www.robventind.co.za.

AFteR:

The csir – deParTmenT of science & Technology building sun shading sysTem comPrises The following:

A system of Colt Solarfin CEL300/50 one-piece • extrusions and ML150 vertical mullions together with Colt International’s fixed and floating end technology.

1 x Colt Soltronic Control Module• 2 x Colt Mak 8 Relay Boxes• 1 x Colt Light Sensor • 1 x Colt Wind sensor•

The louvre blades of the automated sun shading system are perpendicular to the sun at all times in order to optimi-se shading while still maximising daylight into the building.

The louvre blades remain open in the morning to let light into the building. During the course of the afternoon the aerofoil louvre blades close incremen-tally, protecting the Western façade against the fierce Western sun.

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

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“Precast concrete cladding panels combine the benefits of high durability, low maintenance, excellent fire resistance and energy efficiency. This powerful combination makes architectural precast concrete an ideal solution – from prestigious high-rise offices with aesthetic appeal to low-cost commercial struc-tures where economy and durability are paramount,” says Daniel van der Merwe, Cement & Concrete Institute Architect.

According to Van der Merwe, the clearest advantage of architectural precast is in the limitless design potential that can be achieved with its use. “Custom-made forms are used to create concrete panels in the precise sizes and shapes specified by the designer. Specific colour effects can be achieved through varying sands, aggregates and pigments. And textures can be customised through the use of differing levels of sandblast treatments,” says Van der Merwe.

neW GeneRAtion ConCReteSThe recent advances made with “new generation” composite concretes have produced ‘Ultra High Performance Concretes’ with strengths of up to 145 MPa.

“This has the potential to change our minds completely about concrete precast by allowing super-strong ultra-thin precast slabs. The pressure resistance cor-responds to that of primary rocks like granite. Tensile strength is comparable with polymer concrete. Panels need no fibres and no reinforcement in spite of filigree measures,” says Van der Merwe.

Versatile cementitous cladding for sustainable architectureOver the past few decades traditional architectural precast concrete has evolved dramatically. This construction material has

evolved not only in terms of scope of finishes and colours but also cost effectiveness, to quietly revolutionise the built environment, from city centres to industrial parks, creating a dramatic range of contemporary architectural expression.

Translucent concrete cladding featured in the Italian Pavilion at Shanghai 2010 Expo.

fibRe Cement SoLutionSDeveloped in the 1980s as an alternative to asbestos cladding, fibre cement is a composite material made of sand, cement and cellulose fibres. Fibre cement siding most often consists of external cladding sheets, overlapping horizontal boards, imitating wooden siding, clapboard and imitation shingles.

“Fibre cement cladding offers additional advantages that make it a green choice for cladding, not only in terms of its use of natural and renewable materials, but also in terms of durability. Fibre cement siding will not rot, is capable of withstanding the damaging effects of salt spray and ultraviolet rays, and cannot be penetrated by birds or insects,” continues Van der Merwe.

Once installed, the product stands up to bumps and direct impacts, unlike some other cladding materials. Fibre cement siding does not

become brittle in freezing conditions or melt in the presence of heat sources such as barbeque grills, unlike vinyl siding.

the futuRe of ConCReteContinuous research in the field of cement-based cladding materials is extending the world of composite and sandwich panel systems as evident at the newly opened Expo 2010 Shanghai, with the Italian Pavilion a prime example of new directions in cement-based clad-ding systems. The pavilion, designed by Giampaolo Imbrighi, uses new “transparent cement”. Each panel incorporates a matrix of transparent resin rods bonded into the cement, transmitting light without weakening the structure.

“This is a further step towards more eco-friendly building materi-als,” said Enrico Borgarello, director of innovation at Italcementi, the Italian cement maker that developed the material. “The use of this cement permits a less intensive use of artificial light inside the building because it lets the outside light filter in.”

The resins, in various colours, react differently to artificial and natural light sources, creating a soft, warm light inside the building and a clear bright image on the outside. About 40% of the pavilion’s surface is covered by 3 774 of the translucent panels.

Concepts such as openness and transparency which subtend the compositional choices in the project permit direct communication when the cement is lit up at night, projecting images of the dynamics inside it onto the city.

Cement and Concrete Institute Tel: 011 315 0500E-mail: [email protected]: www.cnci.org.za


Tiling started in August 2009, with TAL supplying the adhesive specifications for various tile installations. “This is a major achievement for us and we are honoured for our company and products to be linked with such an esteemed project,” says Marius Botha, inland sales manager at TAL.

TAL products are being used exclusively for the fitting of the porcelain tiles on the floors and on the wooden columns in the mall walkways as well as the porcelain tiles to walls and floors in the cloakrooms. In addition, TAL supplied the repair, leveling and screeding compounds for remedial work to substrates, prior to tiling.

top-quALitY RequiRementSSpecialist top-quality, high-strength, rapid-setting adhesives were compulsory as imported porcelain tiles are used throughout the shop-ping centre. Suspended mall areas require the use of a latex additive in the adhesive and grout to allow for building movement. TAL will issue a 10-year warranty on the tile installations on completion of the tiling.

“Our consultants are on site every night, including weekends, to monitor the tiling, which only starts after 8pm, once the shops have closed, to limit the disruption to shoppers,” comments Botha.

With a proven track record of over 35 years in the industry and over 280 million square metres of tiles successfully fixed with TAL

adhesives, TAL is a market leader in quality, service and technology. “We are a key supplier to major tiling installations around the country and our products are readily accepted by architects, specifiers and contractors alike,” he says.

TAL offers an extensive range of tiling products suitable for any tiling application. “If you have a serious adhesive problem, we are serious about solving it,” concludes Botha.

TAL (a division of Norcros SA)Tel: 011 316 3133Fax: 011 316 3278E-mail: [email protected]

Tiling products for Sandton City’s refurbishment project

Specialised adhesives manufacturer TAL is proud to be associated with the prestigious Sandton City refurbishment project, which involves renovation of the floors and walkways as well as extensions to the existing mall. The refurbishment of the mall walkways is approximately 80 000 m² with a further 30 000 m² of new mall area, which forms the extension to the mall.

TAL products were used exclusively for the fitting of the top-quality porcelain tiles during the Sandton City refurbishment project.

“We are a key supplier to major tiling installations around

the country and our products are readily accepted by architects specifiers

and contractors alike.”

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099Vol 11.5 | July/August 2010 099Vol 11.5 | July/August 2010

TAL is proud to have contributed to the resounding success of the Cape Town Stadium

by supplying its products for the fi nishing touches of this magnifi cent landmark.

TAL Professional tile adhesive was used to affi x some 3000m² of tiling which was used internally for the walkways, passages, staircases,

VIP areas and disabled bathrooms. The architects of the Cape Town Stadium specifi cally specifi ed TAL products for all tiling adhesive

requirements due to its durability, reliability and strength in high traffi c areas.

Some 3000 pieces of tiles were affi xed using TAL products on the stair-

treads and stair rises. To complete the sophisticated tiling installation,

TAL Dove Grey Grout was used throughout the stadium.

Due to the strict deadlines applied to the completion of the stadium, it

was critical that only proven quality and specialised adhesives, such as

those manufactured by TAL, were used for this tiling installation.

Accredited to ISO 9001 : 2000, TAL products are designed, manufactured

and tested to the strictest standards, thereby assuring customers that

products will perform to specifi cation.

TAL – solutions through technology

TAL (a division of Norcros SA)Gauteng: 011 316 3133 Western Cape: 021 386 1810

KwaZulu-Natal: 031 700 1535 Technical Advice Centre: 0860 000 TAL(825)

E-mail: [email protected]

TAL has a track record of over 35 years in the industry, with over 280 million square

metres of tiles successfully fi xed with TAL adhesives, proving it to be a market leader

in quality, service and technology. TAL offers an effective range of tiling products suitable for any tiling application.

and tested to the strictest standards, thereby assuring customers that

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“Weber is improving its current business strategy to make it easier and more profitable for companies to do business with us,” says Singh before explaining that in his new capacity, he will be a crucial part of his client’s strategic team.

“A key account manager’s job at Weber entails partnering with our customers to form sustainable network relationships. Businesses want to move away from commodity-based deals where the price is the ultimate factor, to where partnering with customers in order to meet their strategic objectives profitably becomes an investment for both parties,” says Singh.

CompLete tiLinG SoLution“Weber, the leading supplier of tile adhesives to the hardware retail sector, is expanding its Tylon product range in order to allow us to offer a complete tiling solution”, says Singh.

“Our new Sealer range enhances our existing range of tile adhesives, tile grout and related products and put us in a position to provide clients with a product offering that is perfectly suited to any project,” says Singh. “Weber is a global brand that is focused on the construc-tion industry and we ensure that our products suit the local market conditions. Being a division of Saint-Gobain Construction Products SA (Pty) Ltd, Weber gives our customers the access to one-stop expertise, exceptional service and superior products that they need to provide the ideal solution for their clients.”

teChnoLoGY And innoVAtionAccording to Singh, Weber and Saint-Gobain’s goal is to continue innovating in order to remain the leaders in South Africa’s continuously changing construction and building environment. “Our new product range has been tailored to provide our customers with the latest, technologically advanced products from Weber to compliment their existing offerings. Tile manufacturing technologies and therefore the related products specified have changed significantly in recent years” says Singh.

Singh explains that there isn’t a tile-fixing standard in South Africa, but that Government’s newly promulgated Consumer Protection Act, which is set to come into law in October this year, will assist in driving manufacturing standards in the industry upwards. This will ensure that all organisations in the industry have to take this into consideration when manufacturing their products.

“Weber’s philosophy is based on a differentiated value proposition and the Weber Brand Commitment. This consists of providing the most comprehensive range of “best-quality” products to the market, and is supported by 4 state of the art manufacturing sites, 12 additional Saint-Gobain distribution points at our LBS’s, and a national specifica-tions department. What also sets us apart is the back-up service we provide before, during and after the sale – we provide a full technical service, which includes detailed specifications prior to commencement of a project right through to full on-site technical assistance on major projects. We welcome the opportunity to engage with our customers at a national, regional and local level,” says Singh.

Weber opened a new factory in Durban in the beginning of 2010 and the plant is fully geared to produce its standard tile adhesives range for the regional market, right on their doorstep. We will expand the range of products being manufactured there this year.

“We’ve been cementing relationships in KwaZulu-Natal over the last couple of years and, as a consequence, have increased our market share quite significantly. The time is now right to produce the Tylon range of adhesives locally to offer our clients an even quicker turna-round time from order to delivery than ever before, while maintaining the high standards of quality and reliability with which our products have become synonymous” says Daryl Meyer, managing director of Saint-Gobain Weber.

Saint-Gobain WeberTel: 011 873 2401Fax: 011 873 9480Website: www.saint-gobain.co.za

Weber, a business unit within Saint-Gobain Construction Products SA (Pty) Ltd, is shifting the strategic focus of business in order to provide a complete tiling solution to the construction industry. Sean Singh, newly appointed manager of Weber’s Tylon category and Key Accounts Manager, tells Walls & Roofs about their new business strategies.

New strategic direction

at tiling product supplier

Weber opened a new factory in Durban in the beginning of 2010 and the plant is fully geared to produce its standard

tile adhesives range for the regional market, right on their doorstep.

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TexCrete, a unique casting medium designed specifically for the reproduction of any 3D creation, is one of the innovative products at the company, and has been used successfully for casting for over 8 years now. This versatile material can be used to produce products such as wall cladding, door, ceiling and floor panels, room dividers and so much more.

Isabella Viglietti has been using Cemcrete’s TexCrete for many years, and now, together with John Matthews, has started a company, Isabella V Design Studio, which specializes in the field. Isabella and John are also able to work with clients in order to produce custom products according to specifications.

GiVe YouR buiLdinG A fACeLiftWall cladding in TexCrete, which can be used for indoor and outdoor purposes, enables architects to change the look of any building without any building alterations. The wall cladding is avail-able in different sizes and styles and can also be ordered according to requirements. Moulds and imprinting mats for wall cladding are also avail-able for purchase through Cemcrete (which can be used with Cemcrete’s DecoCrete and Colour Release Agents), gives clients the freedom to reproduce a number of products.

The door and ceiling panels offer a very differ-ent option to giving any room a totally unique finish. These can also be commissioned accord-ing to taste and style, or can be chosen from a range of available styles.

“We have made sure that honesty and reliability flowed through the company’s hallways and into the final products themselves. With dedicated staff who interact with our customers on a per-sonal basis, and who ensure that there remains

an uncompromising level of quality in all aspects of the business, these principles of honour have stood firm over the many years of Cemcrete’s existence,” add Shaun and Joanne Bendall, who are currently the third generation of the Bendall family running the business.

Isabella V Design Studio Tel: 082 786 8098

CemcreteTel: 011 474 2415 Fax: 011 474 2416 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cemcrete.co.zawww.autospec.co.za

Cemcrete has been one of the leading cement-based product suppliers in South Africa for over three decades. Besides their well-known wall, floor and pool product ranges, Cemcrete also offer a line of artistic and decorative products.

Cement-based casting medium for artistic reproductions

Cemcrete has grown its range of

“fit-for-purpose” products from just

6 to over 60 different product ranges.

It also adapted to the ever-changing

styles of construction market trends.

and their related final finishes, as well as

the higher and higher demand from the

consumer for sophisticated products.

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New tile ranges that portray the dramatic colours and decorations of Europe’s seventeenth century are

receiving an increasing amount of attention on the international design stage and are now available in South Africa. The ‘neo-baroque’

ceramic tile trend offers a unique way to give your space a facelift with daring colours, unusual

shapes and innovative designs.

tabu wall tiles look like diamond-shaped, quilted upholstery and they are available in seven colours.

Ceramic tiles in black and white, as well as deep tones of red, brown, green, turquoise, gold and silver are setting the pace. When it comes to tile trends, Italtile has the latest collections available on the market.

the Atlantida range offers another perfect example of ‘neo-baroque’ trend, with its tridimensional patterns and glamorous Swarovski gems.

Unusual shapes and innovative tile designs

Tabu Technical informaTion:Material: white body ceramic.Shape: diamond.Size: 560 x 325 mm.Colours: white, black, cream, chocolate brown, marfil, red, polar white, platino and gold.Finishes: gloss, matt, metallic.Price: from R690/m2 (incl.vat).

aTlanTida Technical informaTion:Material: white body ceramic.Shape: rectangular.Size: 250 x 400 mm.Colours: white, black, beige and brown.Finishes: Cloud and Star.Price: from R390/m2 (incl.vat).

Make your ceramic tile ideas become a reality with the new collections at Italtile!

Italtile Tel: 011 510 9050Website: www.italtile.co.za

Italtile, leading South African retailer of imported and local ceramic tiles, has recently launched two new collections of tiles that are taking the international tile market by storm: Tabu’ and Atlantida.

“In the last year, we have seen the trend of minimalism give way to what is referred to as the new ‘neo-baroque’, says Frida Tugnoli, communications officer at Italtile. “The splendour of the decorative arts of Europe’s seventeenth century is being revived through flamboyant colours, curvaceous patterns and original shapes. The global trend in ceramic tiles is making a definite shift towards dramatic colours, with a predominance of black and white as well as deep tones of reds,

browns, greens and turquoises, with a lot of metal – particularly gold and silver,” says Frida Tugnoli.

The Tabu’ collection of wall tiles, by Spanish manufacturers Ballester Porcar, perfectly conveys this design philosophy. The tiles look like diamond-shaped, quilted upholstery and they are available in seven colours and three finishes.

Another excellent example of “neo-baroque” is Italtile’s Atlantida range, also from Spanish manufacturers Ballester Porcar, with its tridimensional patterns and glamorous Swarovski gems. Tabu’ and Atlantida can be viewed at Italtile stores countrywide.

For more information call 011 510 9050 or visit www.italtile.co.za

New tile trends revive seventeenth-century art

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MCC LIGHT WEIGHT TILE ADHESIVE

Why Lightweight?

100% ActiveCoverage same as 20kgMore DIY friendlyStructural (suspended slabs)Technically more superiorGuaranteed25% less on transport costs

NEW GENERATION TILE ADHESIVE


“There are many types of tile adhesives and properties of these products vary considerably depending on their application. The strength of the adhesive, durability and cost are the considerations that MCC kept in mind when developing this new technology-driven product range,” says Brandon Hamman, Sales Manager of Multi Construction Chemicals.

WhY LiGhtWeiGht tiLe AdheSiVeS?100% active• . Tile adhesives are commonly packaged in 20 kg

bags, where over 60% of the product consists of the filler (sand). MCC’s lightweight adhesive contains less than 3% of sand in their 15kg packaging, giving clients more active adhesive that increases the strength and adhesion. MCC’s 15 kg bag offers the same cover age than that of a 20 kg bag.

technically superior• . The new technology that was incorporated into the lightweight adhesives offer excellent workability and a 3 – 5 year guarantee when the manufacturer’s instructions are followed.

improved workability• . The adhesive has a better spread rate and the spread is also more consistent than outdated tile adhesives. Lightweight tile adhesive is also ideal to use in high rise buildings where the weight of carrying 20 kg bags becomes a problem. Lightweight tile adhesives also help in terms of time mangement when workers are carrying the bags up and down multi-storey buildings. The new technology product is also ideal for adhering tiles to suspended concrete slabs where structural weight is an issue.

transport savings• . The cost of transport expenses becomes a challenge when transporting construction products to and from sites. 25% can be saved on transportation costs by using the light weight tile adhesives due to the fact that more bags can be transported per load.

impRoVinG bond StRenGth And CoVeRAGeThe MCC 500 Lightweight is a general-based tile adhesive which can be used for fixing ceramic tiles to various substrates.

MCC 510 Lightweight is a product that provides a professional finish that is technically superior to MCC 500 Lightweight. The MCC 510 Lightweight is recommended for technically challenging jobs due to its improved bond strength.

The MCC 530 Lightweight is a high-strength tile adhesive for fixing wall and floor tiles onto substrates. This product is ideal for use when fixing porcelain, granite and other non-porous tiles. MCC 530 Light-weight is highly recommended for complete peace of mind applications when working on difficult tiling jobs. The huge success of this product enables it to come with a 5-year guarantee.

expeRtLY GRAftedThe company has a world class laboratory staffed with highly com-petent people who have over the years researched and produced well-known products for the mining, building and concrete construction industries. The laboratory is active in maintaining finished product qual-ity in accordance with ISO standards.

MCC has been in the industry for 25 years and their products come with product guarantees. “Taking tiling to the future means staying on top of trends and remaining on the forefront of technology, while consistently supplying quality products,” says Mr. Hamman.

The company’s products include admixtures, concrete-curing, expoxy’s, joint sealant, grouting and more. MCC has branches in Gauteng, Polokwane, Rustenburg and Durban.

Multi Construction ChemicalsTel: 011 864 4654Fax: 011 864 4406E-mail: [email protected]: www.mccsa.co.za

Multi Construction Chemicals (MCC) is the first company to develop lightweight adhesives that offers architects, developers and quantity surveyors a superior quality and cheaper solution when installing tiles.

Lightweight, cement-based adhesives

“Taking tiling to the future means staying on top of trends and remaining

on the forefront of technology, while consistently supplying

quality products.”

Cladding


MCC LIGHT WEIGHT TILE ADHESIVE

Why Lightweight?

100% ActiveCoverage same as 20kgMore DIY friendlyStructural (suspended slabs)Technically more superiorGuaranteed25% less on transport costs

NEW GENERATION TILE ADHESIVE


Architect ives


Two steel manufacturesjoin forcesLightweight steel roof truss manufacturer Vela Steel Building Systems has sold a 50,1% equity stake in the company to Duro Pressings (a major manufacturer and distributor of steel and aluminium windows and door frames).

Vela is one of the largest suppliers of lightweight steel roof trusses to RDP home builders in Gauteng. The company was es-tablished in 2007 after two years of intensive market research into the need in South Africa for affordable, high-quality and durable alternative building systems.

Founder and managing director Brent Harris announced the news and implications in Johannesburg in June. “The deal with Duro will help fund our broader penetration of a national roof truss market that is currently valued at R2-billion a year – as well as our planned growth with Vela’s new Modular Building System,” says Harris.

According to Harris, the two key manufacturers of steel home-building products are well placed to adopt a combined approach to providing solutions to low-cost and affordable housing chal-lenges in the rest of Africa, which currently faces an estimated shortfall of 25-million homes.

The announcement of the Duro-Vela deal comes at a time when the Government has announced its commitment to provide 600 000 low-cost homes over the next three years. According to Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, State spending on building new houses for the poor will total R16-billion in 2010/11 alone.

Duro PressingsTel: 011 494 4400E-mail: [email protected]: www.durowin.com

Vela Steel Building SystemsTel: 011 3978742E-mail: [email protected]: www.velasbs.co.za

Vela’s steel roof trusses and associated building systems have a wide variety of applications. These include not only solutions for permanent economic and affordable housing, but also employee accommodation on mining and other large industrial operations, as well as school classrooms and clinic facilities.

architects as artists exhibition The Pretoria Institute for Architecture will be presenting an Architects as Artists Exhibition from the 20th – 28th August 2010 at the Association of Arts Gallery.

Various works of art in the form of paintings, sculptures, carpentry, mosaic, photography, etc. were submitted for curation by the Association of Arts and will be available for the public to purchase.

moRe infoRmAtion: Exhibition dates: 20 August 2010 to 28 August 2010 Opening: Friday 20 August 2010 at 17h45 for 18h00 Closing Date: Saturday 28 August 2010 Venue: Association of Arts Pretoria – Main Gallery and North GalleryShare and enjoy the work of a variety of South African architects that is usually kept behind closed doors.

Pretoria Institute of Architecture (PIA)Tel: 012 346 1051E-mail: [email protected]: www.pia.org.za

An example of the work of one of the architects on exhibition in 2009

Draft Standard at public enquiry stageThe draft of South African Standard SANS 10400-A The Application of the National Building Regulations – Part A: General principles and requirements has been circulated on 01 June 2010 by the SABS for public comment. The technical committee, SABS TC 59: Construction Standards, responsible for the preparation of this standard has reached consensus that the attached document should become a South African standard, and it is now made available by way of public enquiry to all interested and affected parties for public comment, and to the technical committee members for record purposes.

Any comments should be sent by the closing date – 30 July 2010 – either by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail to SABS Standards DivisionAttention: Compliance and Development departmentPrivate Bag X191, Pretoria, 0001Fax No: 012 344 1568 (for attention: dsscomments)E-mail: [email protected]

Any comment on the draft must contain in its heading the number of the clause/subclause to which it refers. A comment shall be well motivated and, where applicable, contain the proposed amended text.

SABSTel: 012 428 7911Fax: 012 344 1568Website: www.sabs.co.za

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New production plant for

The Safal group, which is a major 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 greenfield project kicked off in May 2010 and is planned to open in April 2010.

The Safal group has 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 in Kwazulu-Natal was a result of a lengthy feasibility study conducted in 2006 which showed a need for an alternative steel supplier to the industry and lead to an investment of US$ 100-million.

The 30 000 m2 new produc-tion facility boasts a pickling line, cold rolling mill and metal coating line for the aluminium-zinc technology and a colour coating line. Situated in Cato Ridge, the plant is central for distribution to all major regions, as well as the port for exports to Europe, Central and South America, the Indian Ocean Islands and Australasia. The Safal group will also import the bulk of its raw materials from Japan.

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 technology ensures an extended service life on your roof or general engineering 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 April 2010 and will have the capacity to produce 150 000 tons of ZincAL products. The state-of-the-art colour coating line has the capacity to paint 100 000 tons of steel per annum and will be commissioned during May 2010.

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

commitment; they have implemented a full homologation program of the 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.

Safal Steel has developed strategic partnerships with two leading paint suppliers to ensure that the clients or end-users enjoy maximum service life on their projects. Part of Safal Steel’s mission is to develop partnerships throughout the supply chain to ensure the end-product is of the highest quality possible.

Safal is known for its world-class processes and conformance to environmental standards and the new production facility is based on these principles. In line with this commitment the company has joined as a Silver founding member of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA).

Safal SteelTel: 031 782 5568E-mail: [email protected]: www.safalsteel.co.za

Left: The 30 000 m2 new production facility in Kwazulu-Natal. Technology used at this plant ensures an exten-ded service life on roofs and general engineering projects.

The metal coat line came on stream during April 2010 and will have the capacity to produce 150 000 tons of ZincAL products.

steel manufacturers in Kwazulu-Natal

Safal is known for its world-class processes and conformance to environmental standards

and the new production facility is based on these principles.

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Painting and renovating company partners with BBBEE coPainting, renovating and waterproofing specialists Watcon has recently welcomed Broad Based Black Empowerment (BBBEE) company Thuba-Aga Renovations to the Watcon Group.

The expertise of Thuba-Aga Renovations ranges from partitioning and painting to renovating and waterproofing. The company operates from Pretoria and provides maintenance and repair services in Gaut-eng, Mpumalanga, Free State, Limpopo and the North West.

Some of the recently completed projects by Thuba-Aga Renovations include the ABSA buildings, IBG Building, the 6th floor of the Depar-tment of Home Affairs, Jhi , Sanlam , Vukile and Growthpoint buildings.

“We are proud to have Thuba-Aga Renovations as our partners,” says James Nel and Christo Venter , managing directors of the Watcon Group. “Watcon has been providing clients with quality painting, renovating and waterproofing solutions for over 30 years and we will continue to grow in order to meet the needs of our industry,” concludes Nel.

Watcon Tel: 012 800 1101E-mail: [email protected]

New public works DGThe appointment of Siviwe Dongwa-na to the post of Director-General in the Department of Public Works has been welcomed by the South African Property Owners Association.

Commenting on this appointment Neil Gopal, CEO of SAPOA, said, “As the department that is chiefly responsible for overseeing and

maintaining all government’s national fixed assets and proper-ties, the activities of the Department of Public Works very often fundamentally impact private property owners in South Africa and we look forward to working with Mr Dongwana on behalf of the property industry.”

“We are pleased that Mr Dongwana is leading this department, and look forward to the continuity that his appointment signifies,” he said.

SAPOATelephone: 011 883 0679Fax: 086 618 1133 Website: www.sapoa.org.za

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In over 50 countries throughout the world and with over 30 years of heritage, Hammerite products, by Dulux, provide decorative treatment and protection of

metal against rust. The Hammerite range includes products needed by

both consumers and contractors for commercial, recreational and retail con-

structions. The Hammerite range provides convenient solutions with long-lasting results.

pRoteCtinG metAL SuRfACeSHammerite Metal Paint is the quick and convenient way to protect and decorate metal surfaces. Unlike conventional systems, Hammerite Metal Paint can be painted directly onto rusty metal and its special 3-in-1 formula means you do not need a primer or undercoat. The surface is

touch-dry within one hour of application and the paint is available in a wide range of colours and finishes. It is ideal for railings, gates, structural steel, steel burglar bars, steel furniture, supermarkets, shopping centres and homes.

AdVAntAGeS of uSinG the metAL pAint:Long-lasting protection• Professional result and finish• Can be applied direct to metal• Whole job can be completed in a day• Saves time and reduces labour costs•

DuluxTel: 011 861 1000E-mail: [email protected]: www.dulux.co.za

Community projects feature in Steel Award entriesProjects that play a vital role in improving the quality of life in rural communities are among the early entries submitted for Steel Awards 2010, of which The Aveng Group is the main sponsor.

Renee Pretorius, Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) communications manager, says it is pleasing that the 2010 Awards is attracting both mega-projects, like the King Shaka interna-tional airport, and relatively smaller projects with important community function, like the Meetse-a-Bophelo primary school in Mamelodi.

“This reaffirms that steel has a role to play in construction across the full gamut of society,” says Pretorius.

Among the ‘community’ entries is the ArcelorMittal South Africa-spon-sored Meetse-a-Bophelo primary school in Mamelodi, which is built using a combination of structural steel, Arval façade system panels and lightweight steel technologies. This project is the prototype of a cost-efficient school structure using alternative steel methods, which will be rolled out in kit form across the country.

The submission says that extensive use has been made of steel in-cluding IPE portal frames bolted to raft foundations; lightweight steel in dividing walls and cladding framework; steel roof sheeting fixed to steel top hat sections; insulated steel façade systems as external walling; and powder-coated steel windows and doors with ancillary flashings.

It adds that the main design considerations were serviceability and efficiency in a durable structure suitable for learning and that the creative use of steel has played a major role in achieving this.

The Steel Awards dinner takes place on 15 September 2010 at Emperor’s Palace, Kempton Park, with similar events scheduled to take place concurrently in Durban and Cape Town.

SAISCTel: 011 726 6111E-mail: [email protected]: www.saisc.co.za

High-spec metal paintdries within 1 hour

The Meetse-a-Bophelo primary school in Mamelodi. This project is the prototype of a cost-efficient school structure using alternative steel methods, which will be rolled out in kit form across the country.

WALLS & ROOFS in Africa - JNL 5'10

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