JAN / FEB 2013 // Issue: 34 SA R36 each incl. // R360 per annum incl.INFrAstructurE & DEvElopmENt

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ediTor:

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For many of us, a new year presents us with a chance to wipe the slate clean, to be afforded another opportunity to do right the things we did wrong and to finally get to the things we didn’t do.

And yet, after a few months, some of us slip back into old habits, falling far short of our aspirations and some allow ‘being too busy’ to get in the way of doing the things we really want to do. But

among us, there are a special few who grasp their goals tightly and who take measured steps towards what they want. These are the movers and shakers, the ones who make significant changes and who do the things so many others are afraid to do.

It is thus fitting that the cover of the first issue of the SA Affordable Housing magazine for 2013 boasts the work of the award-winning property development company, Hlala Kamnandi Developments and Renico Construction. Featured in this issue is their latest project, Sharon Park Lifestyle Estate, which is poised to stand testament to the possibilities in the affordable housing market brought about by great vision and its powerful impetus for significant change.

After the market crash of 2008, the project became distressed and in need of a strong development plan. Johann Grobler, founder of Hlala Kamnandi, along with his able team, is driven to bring to market affordable homes

that are comfortably sized and beautifully finished with extra attention to detail that makes home ownership and tenancy a dignified, happy and exciting experience. With a portfolio that boasts the award-winning Protea Glen Estate, Sharon Park Lifestyle Estate is sure to follow in this development’s footsteps.

The company’s maxim, aptly drawn from the ancient Greek proverb is, “The essence of life is planting a tree knowing you will never sit in its shade,” which is something of which we can all take heed. We commend Hlala Kamnandi Developments for their commitment to an increasingly critical affordable housing market, and a vision that dictates that the commodity of this market can, and indeed, should be of a high quality, offering exceptional value.

With that, we wish you all the best for 2013. May this be the year for making a difference, doing the things you want to do and for planting the trees of the future.

Enjoy the read!Jen

eD’S note

A fresh start

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While we fully understand and respect the right of farm workers to go on strike, the effects of the strike had a negative impact on the delivery of houses in the area of De Doorns in

particular.

In De Doorns, the contractor responsible for the construction of 611 houses (top structures) and 645 serviced sites was forced to move off site as from November 8, 2012. This decision was taken in order to protect the equipment of the contractor from the strike activities that were unfolding in the De Doorns area.

To date, seven weeks of production, excluding the three weeks builder’s holiday were lost as the result of the decision to move off site.

In terms of the agreed targets between the contractor/Breede Valley municipality and the department, and with regard to progress made to date, there is a balance of 411 houses and 140 serviced sites still to be constructed before the end of the 2012/13 financial year (31 March 2013). With the recent announcement to suspend the strike, the contractor and the municipality confirmed to the department the likelihood to complete the outstanding 140 serviced sites within the stipulated time and this commitment is applauded.

Housing delivery slowdown a fall out from the farm workers strikethe provincial department of Human Settlements welcomes the announcement that the farm workers’ strike would be suspended in the area of De Doorns.

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The same, however, cannot be said about the completion of the 411 outstanding houses, as there are many uncertainties around the delivery of top structures within the stipulated period (31 March 2013) owing to the contractor being forced out of De Doorns as the result of the strike. This, at the moment can translate to the possible under-expenditure for the financial year amounting to approximately R 30,5 million in this project alone. The other effect of this delay will require our department to pay a further fee estimated at approximately R3 million, due to, among others, standing time on plant and equipment, extension of the time due to strike, acceleration cost to complete the project, damage to works and materials, etc.

Now that the strike has been suspended, we have been reliably informed that the contractor is monitoring the situation and planning to re-establish itself on site. It has been also mentioned that, gearing up again for works, the contractor will need about 1 week.

This situation, as stated above, and many others always pose a threat in any built environment like the one we are in. In our situation, spending the money alone is no longer accepted if it’s not properly matched with the output (physical houses on the ground).

Notwithstanding the challenges presented by the situation that we find ourselves in, under-performance must be mitigated.

That is why my team and I, with the support of Minister Madikizela, are visiting all municipalities, like Breede Valley, to ensure that all the commitments made are fulfilled through the delivery of houses and serviced sites as planned. We will endeavour to do everything we can in order to meet our annual targets and remain optimistic that we will do so.

Issued by Mbulelo Tshangana: HOD WC Department of Human Settlements. Release issued 24 January 2013.

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Indeed, according to Werner Franck, MD of project management specialists, Vertias, today’s economy

presents project managers with the ideal opportunity to tailor-make their offerings and ensure that they provide a well packaged, client-centric service. “With financial institutions becoming increasingly risk averse, making mistakes is simply not financially viable, which is why it makes sense to bring in a project manager from the outset to ensure everything is done correctly, the first time,” he believes.

In a tough economy, there is always the temptation to cut certain roles and functions in order to better meet the client’s budget. Franck warns that the temptation to exclude the project manager can have dire consequences. “The more complex the demands of the project and the tighter the profit margins, the more you will need someone at the helm to ensure these stringent demands are being met,” he points out.

It is to the benefit of clients that the project management industry has become more formalised in recent years. Traditionally, it would have been the architect who took on the role of project manager as part of his scope of work.

However, as projects became more complex, a greater need for project managers with formal training became apparent. To this end, as a means of managing and regulating the industry, formal governing bodies such as the International Project Managers Association (IPMA), Project Managers Institute (PMI) and Project Management South Africa have come into existence.

In addition, all professional project managers are required to belong to the legislative body, the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professionals (SACPMP).

“These bodies have been established to set a standard for the industry at a national and global level,” Franck comments. He is confident that the governing and legislative bodies, as well as the various tertiary qualifications available, will provide the industry with better qualified professionals.

Challenges faced by Project Managers in the construction Industry In today’s economy, tighter budgets mean that the demands around projects are more intense than ever before. to this end, the specialised skills of a project manager are extremely valuable when it comes to managing and controlling the variables that will influence the timeous and cost-effective delivery of the project.

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Werner Franck, founder and Managing Director at Vertias, a leading property development and management services firm.

JAN / FEB 20136

The state of the economy has prompted an increased demand for project managers across the board. Complicated projects with low profit margins require greater restriction control and delivery within specific parameters – and who better to deliver on these requirements than a project manager?

Franck adds that despite the increased demand for their services, project managers are faced with a number of challenges in the market. “Tough competition in the market has caused certain professionals to offer discounts on their standard fees and use innovative methods to offer services to clients. As a result, we’re seeing a significant number of firms merging and pooling their resources, resulting in a contracted industry- there are fewer firms out there and, consequently, fewer jobs. This trend has also caused a reduction in the quality of services offered by certain players. By offering clients reduced fees in order to compete in this market, they are forced to skip essential steps in the process to save time and, consequently, money – which is ultimately to the detriment of the client,” says Franck, adding that fortunately, the industry regulates itself and this type of firm rarely survives.

Ultimately, Franck explains, the project manager needs to be ahead of every other member of the team, anticipating problems before they occur and finding viable solutions.

“Quality control is another important aspect – a project manager will ensure all systems are in place: from the right contractors on the job to effectively communicating to the team so that every member understands the client’s expectations and delivers a quality end product. Moreover, the project manager is able to improve performance, manage risk and work innovatively, all the while earning greater returns for their clients,” he continues.

For Franck, a project manager must live and breathe the project, thinking through every possible scenario, understanding the deliverables, anticipating what variables will affect them and having procedures in place to mitigate challenges.

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In doing so, it has taken on the challenge of ensuring the completion of the half built internal services for the households already residing there and to market and sell off all the remaining stands with building

packages or completed homes.

The newly rebranded Sharon Park Lifestyle Estate is home to 400 existing houses to which Hlala Kamnandi Developments, in partnership with Renico Construction, will add another 1300 freehold residences, installing all services, creating a contained, secure suburb, with gate houses, parks and a crèche area. Sharon Park Lifestyle Estate is to embody Hlala Kamnandi Developments’ philosophy of creating decent suburbs, complete with a sufficient supply of dignified, great quality homes that are extremely affordable.

Johann Grobler, founder of Hlala Kamnandi Developments says, “We realised the need to create a superb value proposition that went further than selling quality homes at affordable rates. Everybody, no matter their socio-economic standing, has the same basic needs that include security and comfort for themselves, as well as their children. Our customers must think they get more value than what they are paying for.”

Hlala Kamnandi Developments and Renico Construction, sharing the same passion and values, are driven to offer this market exceptional value for money. Sharon Park Lifestyle Estate brings affordability and upmarket living together in a well secured, family-friendly estate. It is close to the Springs CBD and has great access to main roads.

Hlala Kamnandi developments and renico Construction breathe life into sharon park lifestyle Estate After the market crash of 2008, the Hlanganani village development became distressed and in desperate need of a strong development plan. Hlala Kamnandi Developments joined forces with Standard Bank to revive the development and return it to something even better than its former glory and vision.

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Grobler says, “Our core philosophy is to offer as many people as possible decent housing. With even lower margins, lower, in fact, than standard in this market, we are making a meaningful difference to people’s lives.” He adds, “Hlala Kamnandi Developments and Renico Construction form a great partnership and team. Renico know what they’re doing and they run a great operation. We complement each other very well. Hlala Kamnandi has become the affordable housing arm of Renico.”

There are currently seven house plans available, which make provision for northern and southern entry from the roadside to maximise natural light and pleasant living conditions with four different external finishes and two roof types for each house, making it a total of 56 different architectural styles to choose from. This gives the estate a real upmarket, suburban look and feel. The selling price starts at R315 000 for a 46m2 two-bedroom, one-bathroom house with all extras, like tiling in the living areas, carpets in the bedrooms, stove, decent kitchen cupboards, grassing and security included. The largest 82m2 homes have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, all extras, plus a garage, with a starting price of R429 000.

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ProTeA glen eSTATe, SoweTo

In 2012 the Hlala Kamnandi Developments and Renico Construction team won the Southern African Housing Foundation Award for “Best Housing Development: Units over R120 000” for this groundbreaking sectional title development in Protea Glen, Soweto. This estate is testament to the significant impact that these formidable partners in the affordable housing space have made on this sector with a remarkable capital appreciation on units of up to 25% in one year. Making an impact on a social level by fostering a sense of accountability and pride, the Protea Glen Estate occupants are diligent in paying their levies and make a visible effort to take care of their environment. The estate's neighbours are extremely pleased to be surrounded by aesthetically pleasing and cared-after housing that helps to maintain the quality of the area as a whole. Creating a sustainable management infrastructure from inception and consumer education is key to the continued success of this development.

Protea Glen Estate consists of 46m2 two-bedroom and 60m2 three-bedroom, two-bathroom stand-alone sectional title houses with tiling, carpeting, stoves, washing lines, decent close coupled toilets and toilet seats, medicine cabinets, wardrobes, kitchen cupboards, burglar bars, Mircell intercom system, electric fencing and walling, motorised gates, quality electrical and bathroom fittings, carports, double plugs, double curtain rails, grass, flowers and trees, washing machine and TV points (and the list goes on) from R315 000 all included.

More AbouT ProTeA glen eSTATe:

• Protea Glen Estate is a sectional title development and all finishes are included in the selling price.

• The bond instalment plus levy for a person buying from Hlala Kamnandi Developments is less than the rent charged for a flat down the road.

• The two-bedroom houses are 46m2 compared to the usual 40m2 and the three-bedroom, two full bathroom houses are 60m2 compared to the usual 50m2. The two-bedrooms sold from R315 000 and the three-bedroom houses sold from

• R380 000, depending on where they were situated on the site. These prices included transfer fees and all the finishes mentioned above. Six months after the last transfer happened, the three-bedroom houses were valued at R500 000 by a commercial bank.

• A caretaker’s house, store room and outside facilities were also provided with a full turnkey solution.

• Development boasts exceptional building quality. Grobler says, “I really believe that if you have the ability, you have the responsibility, and we have both. The time for building cheap and nasty houses is gone. It’s time for us to realise that our people deserve cheap and decent housing; not only houses, but real homes. We need to create environments where children are safe and where a sense of hope for a better future for all is instilled.”

A video clip of Protea Glen Estate may be accessed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24gt-CyMbUU.

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AbouT HlAlA KAMnAndi develoPMenTS:

Hlala Kamnandi Developments is a highly successful award-winning development company with vibrant, professional staff who accept the challenges the developing world offers. Core to the philosophy of the company is embracing the responsibility to make a positive difference in people’s lives and communities, building sustainable environments, giving hope and dignity and creating wealth for the individual homeowner.

The full range of developments by Hlala Kamnandi to date includes the installation of services infrastructure, as well as the development and construction of newly built family units. Projects are also carried out in strategic partnerships with municipal councils, land owners and financial institutions.

HlAlA KAMnAndi develoPMenTS’ SuCCeSSFul buSineSS Model inCludeS:

• Acquisition of land• Town planning (including township establishment

process)• Project management of civil and electrical

infrastructure• Infrastructure installation • Marketing and sales • Construction of homes

Hlala Kamnandi Developments is passionate about the creation of healthy communities, integrated affordable housing developments, as well as mid- to high- income sectional title developments. The company's end-to-end solutions and expertise with dedicated management focus on high growth niche markets, ensuring a deep pool of expertise in each of the company's service areas.

“We can attribute our success to our passion to house and improve the lives of as many of our people possible. We are shape shifters and trendsetters,” says Grobler. “We do what people believe cannot be done. We care about the smallest design details and the huge impact when a person makes most probably their biggest financial commitment. We believe that every person should be treated as a first class citizen, deserving nothing but the best value for money, respect and a property of which to be proud.”

He adds, “The bottom line of our philosophy is that we are not greedy with low margins, that we are vertically integrated and we give people homes, not just houses, building healthy communities, restoring dignity, giving families hope for a better feature and involving the community through skills transfer and work.”

Hlala Kamnandi Developments is also currently working on various other developments with the same passion and vision. One of these is Toekomsrus, which will be launched soon. This development will consist of 487 homes, similar to the ones in Sharon Park Lifestyle Estate.

The company’s motto needs no explaining: “The essence of life is planting a tree, knowing you will never sit in its shade.”

For more information about Sharon Park Lifestyle Estate, visit www.sharonpark.co.za and for more information about Hlala Kamnandi Developments, contact Johann Grobler: johann@dowhatyoulove.co.za Tel: 082 955 5950 www.hlalakamnandi.co.za

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But spaces in the upgraded portfolio are set to go fast, and students are advised to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Studentdigz differs from other student developments, in that it

is not based on the dormitory-style model. All apartments are self-contained, which means students have their own bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces and, most importantly, privacy and quiet to ensure successful studies.

Accredited by both the Universities of Johannesburg and Wits, Studentdigz also has an elected Student Representative Council which looks after the interests of the student tenants.

Rob Wesselo, managing partner at International Housing Solutions (IHS), the global private equity provider at the forefront of affordable housing investment in South Africa, says the company is steadfastly building up an enviable portfolio of new generation student housing solutions in the country’s major urban centres.

“As with all our developments, we seek to provide not only shelter to address shortages in the market, but rather to bring an holistic offering which improves the lives and prospects of the communities living in our developments.

Private sector leads the way in lifestyle student accommodation Hundreds of sought-after units in the popular Studentdigz portfolio have become available for rental in 2013, providing much-needed stock to cater to the shortage of quality student housing.

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SPECIALISTS IN CALCUL ATING BUILDING COSTS

“In the past year, we have made several improvements to the Studentdigz portfolio, which will further improve the quality of life of students in 2013.”

weSSelo SAyS STudenTdigz now boASTS:

• Its own sponsored soccer team, the Amadigzdigz.• New secure entrances with biometric access at all

buildings.• An aesthetically sleek, functioning canteen and

convenience store at the Precinct. • New renovated units at Lowliebenhof, YMCA and Argyle

House.• New and renovated chill areas at YMCA, Argyle House

and the Precinct .

The Student Digz portfolio provides 1900 accommodation options in 7 developments in Braamfontein. Rentals start at R1 900. Letting is now open, but interested students should apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, Wesselo says.

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What is more, the roads have been essentially maintenance-free, unlike their asphalt equivalent installed in Chatsworth around the same time. The little upkeep that has

taken place was not the result of surface failure, but was due to the installation and repair of water pipes and electric cables which run under the roads. Moreover, pockets of heaving clay were subsequently encountered, a condition under which tarmac cracks and breaks up. In the case of Chatsworth’s CBP roads, the pavers were simply lifted and relaid after the clay had been replaced with sabunga (compacted stone and sand).

The project was initiated and controlled by Derek Hall, Pr.Eng. who says it was the first of its kind in Africa south of the equator.

Derek discovered concrete block paving technology during a business trip to Germany in 1964 when he was general manager of Hume Rhodesia Co. He visited the headquarters of the S.F.Roadstone Co. in Bremen and negotiated the African rights to manufacture the S.F. block paver south of the equator.

Shortly after Hall’s return, the annual brick road tender was issued by Durban Municipality, and Hall placed a provisional order for an S.F. Roadstone CBP machine. He then tendered against a clay brick manufacturer and won the paving award for Chatsworth.

Chatsworth precast concrete pavers going strong 48 years onthese precast concrete Block Pavers (cBP) were laid 48 years ago in chatsworth, Durban and, according to concrete Manufacturers Association (cMA) president, taco voogt, they look good for at least another half century. when they reach the 50 year mark they will have provided twice the length of service expected from a good tarmac road.

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This led to the installation of a CBP plant in Chatsworth by German fitters, and the production of S .F. pavers to a minimum strength of 5 000psi (±35MPa) – the prevailing German standard - commenced. Strict control of aggregate grading and mix design, personally handled by Hall, meant that the quality and crushing strength of the pavers was very high. On completion of the contract in 1967 the machinery was relocated to Hume Pipe Co. in Pinetown. Voogt adds that good bedding material and sub-base engineering also played a substantial role.

“This project proves quite emphatically what the CMA has been promoting for the past 30 years, namely that CBP is an ideal surface material for suburban and township roads. Besides offering exceptional maintenance-free performance, CBP is also labour intensive, creates employment and skills the unemployed, and therefore is ideally suited to the Government’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP),” advises Voogt.

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Production volumes amongst the two biggest players in the region’s mining sector - Assmang and Anglo American – continue to increase at a tremendous speed. To both cater for new

employees and respond within the ambit of the revised mining charter published by government in late 2010, both mining giants are in the throes of creating new and upgrading existing accommodation with a number of housing projects, both on the drawing board and under construction.

Gary Westwood, Sales Manager for the Free State and Northern Cape region, said that Corobrik took pride in being a part of the progress of a sector that was the greatest contributor to the country’s gross domestic product.

For example, Anglo American’s Kumba Iron Ore operation, which is located in Sishen near the town of Kathu, is believed to be one of the seven largest open pit mines in the world. It produced 38,9 Mtpa in 2011.

“Kumba is currently building 60 mine management houses with our Blue Barley Travertine and Roan Travertine face bricks. A contract for the construction of a further 479 50m2 houses has been awarded to Steffanuti Stocks and is scheduled to begin before year end,” he said.

Corobrik specified for mine housing in the Northern capeSouth Africa has the largest known deposits of manganese ore in the world and is the largest producer of iron ore on the continent, making mining operations in the arid northern cape critical to the national economy and the largest employers in the region.

JAN / FEB 2013

BRIcKS & PAvIng

Corobrik Blue Barley Travertine bricks have been used in the mine houses built for staff working at Anglo American’s Kumba Iron Ore mine in Kathu.

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In addition, production at the new Kolomela mine in Posmasburg came on stream in May of 2012 and is expected to add additional production of 13Mtpa. “This Kolomela mine expansion saw Corobrik delivering some two million Corngold Satins for the building of 400 staff houses. This project has been divided into three projects, namely Postdene, Airfield and Boichoko,” he added.

Quoting the revised Mining Charter of 2010, Gary Westwood pointed out that during the apartheid era, the mining sector was known for the appalling living conditions under which its workers lived, which led to a myriad of social ills including the destruction of the social fabric of communities, substance abuse, as well as the contraction and spread of diseases.

“Review in 2009, prior to the amendment of the charter, indicated that many mines were making solid efforts to upgrade housing with many moving away from controversial hostel systems to create quality family homes. To build on this, new policy guidelines have since been put in place to ensure that accommodation was not only consistent with international best practices, but also to help facilitate home ownership for all mine employees by 2014. It is a stipulation that home ownership must be both affordable and sustainable,” he said.

He said that, in meeting the objectives of the mining charter, the use of clay brick in housing projects went a long way to provide both affordable and sustainable housing. Very importantly, a clay brick house meets the aspirational requirements of the prospective homeowners to live in ‘proper’ houses and provides the associated dignity.

Miners keen to be housed may consider themselves fortunate that South Africa has not compromised and digressed from its well-entrenched masonry tradition and all the associated benefits that clay brick brings to house construction.

“Brick fits all three dimensions of sustainability. Clay brick construction is proven economical as built and its record of performance, its robustness, its durability assures a low lifecycle cost. In addition, clay bricks have mineral properties that meet all necessary requirements for healthy living, that clay bricks release no toxic fumes under both normal and fire conditions to impinge on air quality, that they have natural sound insulation properties to support quiet indoor environments and clay bricks' sustainable value emerges in a unique holistic context.”

He added that, in light of the fact that the region bordered the Kalahari desert and had some of the most acute temperature fluctuations in the country, the energy efficiency that resulted from the use of clay brick was particularly important.

The real benefits of clay brick construction are to be realised in our long, hot summer months when the natural thermal properties of clay brick help attenuate the impact of high outdoor temperatures indoors.

“The value of thermal mass the clay brick walls provide slows the heat flow to the inside by six to eight hours over the hottest parts of the day, moderating internal conditions and providing target thermal comfort for longer, reducing artificial cooling interventions. The use of clay brick in this instance well complements the priority being given to the use of solar power in these projects,” he added.

Gary Westwood said that one of the most critical housing projects in the Northern Cape – and one of the greatest challenges faced by the mining industry as a whole – was the resettlement of residents to facilitate the expansion of a mine. “Plans are currently being finalised to relocate the entire town of Dingleton situated 12 kilometres south west of Kathu to allow further expansion at the Sishen mine. This will require the building of more than 500 houses as well as schools, police stations and commercial properties.”

Assmang owns both manganese and iron ore production facilities in the Northern Cape with their iron ore mines being located in Kathu and Posmasburg and their manganese operations in the towns of Hotazel and Black Rock.

“The recent fall in manganese prices has forced them to delay their capital projects in Black Rock and Hotazel. However, we believe these – which include 200 mine houses, a gym, a new guest house and accommodation for 40 students – are expected to go ahead towards the middle of 2013. In Posmasburg, they are currently busy with the construction of some 700 new houses. In Kuruman, 800 houses will be built. The first phase, which comprises 89 units, is expected to start in January 2013. A combination of Nevada Travertine, Nebraska Travertine, Corngold Satin and Opal Satins has been specified by Assmang for these projects.”

“In Kathu, there are plans to build 700 houses. Group 5 is already busy with the construction of 300 houses using our Sapphire Satin, Nevada Travertine, Montana Travertine, Nebraska Travertine and Opal Satin. VHB Developments is also busy with 60 houses which are being built with Sapphire Satin and Corngold Satin. Approximately 200 have already been completed and there are plans to extend the total number of houses to approximately 1000!”

He understands that Assmang staff homes would be built by the mine with the intention to sell them on to the workers at subsidised rates. To help facilitate this staff receive a housing allowance of R2500 that can go towards bond repayments whilst they are in Assmang’s employ.

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CMA executive director, Wally Armstrong, says it essentially covers the pre-construction activities associated with precast concrete pipe and portal culverts, but installers will also find it useful.

“The handbook makes no attempt at replacing textbooks or codes, but rather complements them by providing designers and specifiers with sufficient detail to ensure that all aspects of precast concrete pipe and culvert usage are considered.”

“The book also includes some basic theory on determining product size, strength and durability, as well as some theory on special features. Chapter headings include: Product Classification; Hydraulics; Loads on Buried Pipelines; Concrete Pipe Strengths; Bedding; Pipe Jointing; Floatation; Sewer Corrosion; and Portal Culverts.”

Armstrong says the book’s formulae, diagrams and tables are more than adequate for most product applications.

“However, they are by no means all-encompassing, and the book provides a list of useful publications for further reading.”

Three groups of standards are applicable to precast concrete pipe and portal culverts, namely:

• Codes of practice, which detail how product size, strength and durability should be selected

• Product standards, which prescribe the product requirements to be met, and

• Construction standards, which prescribe how products should be installed. (A companion publication covering installation aspects in greater detail is available from the CMA).

CMA pipe and culvert handbook now in its sixth editionthe concrete Manufacturers Association (cMA) has published the sixth edition of its ‘Precast concrete Pipe and Portal culvert’ handbook. Aimed at municipal and consulting engineers, the handbook provides designers of concrete pipes and culverts with basic guidelines on most aspects of selection, specification and testing.

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The handbook uses the Standards South Africa (StanSA) certification codes and all products covered by the book comply with the relevant SANS specifications. These ensure that the products meet the necessary performance requirements and use the same basic layout:

• Scope• Normative references• Definitions• Materials used• Requirements to be met• Sampling and compliance• Inspection and test methods• Marking• Normative and informative annexures.

There are currently two South African national standards applicable to concrete pipe, SANS 676 - Reinforced concrete pressure pipes and SANS 677 - Concrete non-pressure pipes. The code of practice for the selection of pipe strength is:

SANS 10102 – Part 1: Selection of pipes for buried piplines: General provisions and Part 2: Selection of pipes for buried pipelines: Rigid pipes. There are no standards for determining the size or durability of concrete pipes. The standards for the installation of concrete pipes are included as sections in SANS 1200 Standardised specification for civil engineering construction. These sections are:

SANS 1200 DB – Earthworks (pipe trenches)SANS 1200 L - Medium pressure pipelinesSANS 1200 – Bedding (pipes)SANS 1200 - SewersSANS 1200 – Storm water drainageSANS 1200 – Pipe jacking

The handbook is available in hard copy or CD format at R20 for CMA members and R25 for non-members from Pam Zukor on (011) 805 6742 or on main.cma@gmail.com.

Web-based copies at R20 can be accessed by members on www.cma.org.za.

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As an exclusive distributor of a wide range of internationally recognised HTC floor grinding and polishing machinery and Twister pads, Superb Flooring Systems national sales manager, Andreas

Hasselmose points out that the company boasts a wide range of grinding machinery that serves as the ideal alternative to shot blasting and scarifying for the removal of bitumen glue on bridges.

"When a bridge or slipway on a highway is retarred, the asphalt is stripped off with a digger before an underlying layer of bitumen glue has to be removed. Most contractors in South Africa still make use of shot blasting - which causes substantial environmental damage, or scarifying - which creates micro-cracks that weaken the structural integrity of the bridge," he explains.

Hasselmose highlights the fact that dust extractors on the HTC range of grinding equipment enable contractors to vacuum up all of the ground debris, before weighing it. "It is important not to remove too much material from the bridge, as this will weaken the entire structure. With the HTC range of grinding machinery, the user can instantly weigh the amount of material removed to ensure that the work is being carried out to exact specifications."

According to Hasselmose, more traditional methods such as scarifying or shot-blasting work vertically against the surface, impacting and hammering the surface to remove coverings. "The disadvantage is that as the covering is removed, the underlying surface becomes damaged, and a large amount of costly and time consuming self-levelling compound is required to fill in the irregularities in the surface. Unlike these methods, grinding is gentle on the surface," he continues.

HTC grinding equipment bridges the technology gap for local contractors Superb Flooring Systems, which is part of the Pan Mixers South Africa (PMSA) group of companies, is offering local contractors an environmentally friendly solution for road grinding before the process of retarring of bridges.

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Hasselmose highlights the fact that the HTC range of grinding machinery has gained popularity in bridge applications in Europe, due to the fact that shot-blasting has been banned as a result of its negative environmental impact. "The process of shot-blasting results in substantial amounts of toxic dust being expelled into the air, causing pollution. During the HTC grinding process, however, all of the dust is vacuumed up on site and can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner."

Hasselmose adds that grinding does not cause any vibrations, which results in considerably lower noise emissions too. "A significant reduction in noise does not only benefit onsite contractors, but also residents in the direct vicinity of the project. What's more, the HTC range of grinding machinery takes up minimal space, thereby ensuring that an operation can be completed without shutting all lanes on the bridge, which causes unnecessary traffic jams and prolonged downtime."

Hasselmose points out that three HTC grinding machines are available in the local market for bridge retarring applications, namely;

HTC 950 RX: The radio controlled model is ideal for grinding bridge surfaces that are smaller than 1 000m2. The model comes standard with one 32 amp HTC 80 iD dust extractor, and is capable of grinding up to 100m2 of surface per hour.

HTC 1500 ixT: The driver operated machine rotates 180° on the spot, and has a grinding width of approximately 1,4m. The HTC 1500ixT is capable of grinding up to 200m2 of surface per hour, and comes standard with a 63 amp dust extractor.

HTC 2500 iX: The world’s largest grinding machine consists of three grinding heads with 15kW motors that grind up to 2,4m in width. The HTC 2500 iX comes standard with a diesel powered dust extractor, and is capable of grinding up to 300m2 of surface per hour.

Although bridge surface grinding is a new concept in South Africa, Hasselmose is confident of obtaining measurable market share moving forward, by marketing the benefits of the HTC range of grinding machines to various contractors and relevant government departments.

“As investment in major infrastructural projects in South Africa looks set rise substantially in the future, government departments and private contractors will be looking for high quality and efficient machinery that causes minimal disruption to the constantly increasing traffic volumes on the road," he concludes.

MAcHIneRy

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Globally, precast concrete is increasingly preferred over steel as construction material for turbine towers. As the towers increase in

height to support higher-powered, longer-bladed turbines, the need for increased structural strength and stiffness to cope with the turbine weights and bending forces is also increasing. This will call for tower segments with larger cross-sectional diameters, which could lead to formidable transportation problems for steel segments. Precast concrete segments, on the other hand, can be produced at a portable concrete batch plant erected on site, which will have the added benefit of job creation for the sometimes isolated communities where the turbines are based.

The Chryso Fluid Premia range of superplasticers is a vital part in the concrete mix used for the manufacture of turbine tower precast elements. The molecules in the Premia range are highly effective water reducers and offer workability retention between 30 and 45 minutes while achieving high early strengths. This allows for fast erection and helps the towers to withstand demanding fatigue loads.

Eddie Correia, Chryso GM: Technical Services, says the Chryso Fluid Premia range is ideal for maintaining consistency in the manufacturing of reinforced concrete components. “It aids in reducing the sensitivity of concrete to variations in water content due to changes in aggregate moisture or production batch tolerances,” Correia explains.

The average concrete wind turbine tower comprises 18 precast segments; each with a height of 1,8 metres and a diameter of between 600mm and two metres.

Chryso group products ideal for wind turbine precast concreteIn addition to their benefits for wind turbine foundation construction, products from the chryso Southern Africa group can also play a vital role in ensuring speed and uniformity in production of precast concrete elements for the turbines which are expected to become a major source of power generation in SA in future.

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The durability and strength of concrete are vital factors to support wind turbines with ever larger blades.

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In the production of precast elements for wind turbines, Chryso Demoulding Oils facilitate easy stripping of moulds, thereby reducing labour costs and preserving the mould while maintaining the quality of the precast elements.

“Most importantly, the Demoulding Oils play a huge role in creating a defect-free surface finish with consistent colour and allow for casting immediately after oiling the moulds, unlike older types of demoulding oils that require a standing period,” Correia adds.

When it comes to bonding the precast elements together, a.b.e. Construction Chemicals - another member of the Chryso Southern Africa Group – can supply an extensive range of adhesives that can cater for specific strengths. a.b.e. also produces epoxy systems for the moulds used to manufacture the blades.

Wind turbines must be able to perform in harsh environments and that is why durability is a vital requirement for the concrete mixes.

“Plastic shrinkage cracking and settlement cracking can penetrate the full depth of a slab/precast unit, causing expensive remedial measures and even greater cost should the slab/precast element have to be replaced. Chryso fibres form a three dimensional bond with the concrete matrix that ‘holds’ the matrix together. This prevents early micro cracks from widening into serious, slab threatening cracks,” Correia adds. Ivor Boddington, a.b.e.’s Product Manager: Concrete Repair and General Construction, says another key durability issue in wind towers is to ensure that reinforcement is covered with sufficient concrete thickness. “With insufficient concrete cover, the reinforcement may corrode – causing spalling and structural failure. a.b.e. has two remedies for this: the silocoat and duracoat ranges.

silocoat is a cementitious coating that is equivalent to 180mm of concrete cover. It protects the tower against chloride ingress. The duracoat range is also a protective coating that provides a barrier to chloride and carbon dioxide ingress - the main contributors to corrosion - while also offering an attractive finish to the concrete,” Boddington explains.

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Wind turbines operate in some of the harshest working environments in the world. This is why durability is one of the biggest requirements for the concrete mixes used for both foundations and tower segments.

Pictured left: The Chryso Fluid Premia range of superplasticisers provides a high quality finish to precast elements, and also reduces blemishes and the need for concrete repairs.

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FInAnce

JAN / FEB 2013

Rainwater, our completely FREE source of water, can easily be collected off the smallest roof and stored in a JoJo tank to water the garden, wash clothes and cars and flush toilets. (A 50 sqm roof can collect about 23 000 Lt of water a year!)

Only the best quality raw food grade material is used to make JoJo tanks. That is why all JoJo tanks carry a 5-year guarantee.

The vertical, horizontal and septic tanks additionally carry the coveted Agre’ment Board of South Africa’s certification - the official endorsement of the technical merits of the products.

So, remember, to ask for JoJo when buying water tanks, because, if it doesn’t say JoJo on the outside, it is not The Real Makoya JoJo tank!

Contact us for more information on 013 262 3021 or www.jojotanks.co.za or find us on Facebook: JoJo Tanks South Africa

SAVING WATER BEGINS AT HOME86% of a household’s water needs can be metby harvesting and storing rainwater!

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These initiatives are designed to cushion, if not reverse, the rapid slide into economic recession. Governments are also attempting to fill the gaps that have emerged as banks, other financiers and

major equity investors turn off the funding tap for many infrastructure projects.

“Locally, the time is ripe for the injection of fresh life into South African infrastructure investment – but borrowers will have to start looking beyond the banks at alternative sources of funding,” says Richard Roothman, head of Banking and Finance at Werksmans Attorneys.

“Project bonds, an asset class that is still untapped in this country, could be a viable alternative means of financing infrastructure projects,” Roothman suggests. “These bonds allow access to large international pockets of non-bank money and could potentially fill some of the gaps being left by international banks scaling down their involvement in the project finance arena.”

Project bonds are typically debentures used to finance project and infrastructure transactions, and are issued with a long maturity, usually longer than 10 years. This is in contrast to the tenure of five to seven years for corporate bonds and bank loans, the more traditional means of financing projects.

Roothman says the tenure of project bonds would not appeal to all investors but specifically those with an appetite for long-term investments, notably pension funds and insurance firms.

At this particular juncture, project bonds could be advantageous for borrowers and investors alike as the capital markets are not contending with the same cost and regulatory constraints as the banking sector.

“Banks need to bear higher liquidity and capital holding costs as a result of Basel III, and this has pushed up the cost of lending,” says Roothman. “Additionally, faced with the Eurozone crisis, European banks’ credit committees have less appetite and are taking a much more conservative approach towards long-term lending.”

While the position of South African banks is more positive, local banks have a clear preference for shorter dated assets, typically of five to seven years, and so are unlikely to step into the funding gap left by international banks.

“Also, the funding available from local banks may be stretched because of demand for financing from bidders in the renewable energy programme for independent power producers,” he says.

“As an alternative source of funding for capital-intensive projects, project bonds are well worth looking at,” says Roothman. “They have been used successfully in markets such as Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. In South Africa, if transactions are properly structured to address the issue of construction risk, there should be significant potential and appetite for project bonds among investors.

Construction risk refers to the initial period when the project is built or constructed, usually the first three years, when the risk to investors is highest because no cash flows are being generated yet and construction could be delayed for whatever reason or ultimately fail.

Roothman says investor concerns about construction risk can be addressed through upfront credit enhancement in the form of subordinated debt, or through guarantees from third parties, whether government or development finance institutions.

“I think there is a place in South Africa for project bonds,” Roothman concludes. “The expertise is available, there must be appetite and there is certainly a need for alternative sources of project finance provided that the bonds are structured in such a way as to minimise investor concerns. Project bonds could supplement existing infrastructure funding and help deliver the growth boost for which politicians and economists are looking at infrastructure investment to deliver. The question is: who is going to be first to test the waters?”

Project bonds: the future of infrastructure finance in sA?Around the world, governments have embarked on major infrastructure investments following the global financial crisis and the resultant economic downturn.

Rainwater, our completely FREE source of water, can easily be collected off the smallest roof and stored in a JoJo tank to water the garden, wash clothes and cars and flush toilets. (A 50 sqm roof can collect about 23 000 Lt of water a year!)

Only the best quality raw food grade material is used to make JoJo tanks. That is why all JoJo tanks carry a 5-year guarantee.

The vertical, horizontal and septic tanks additionally carry the coveted Agre’ment Board of South Africa’s certification - the official endorsement of the technical merits of the products.

So, remember, to ask for JoJo when buying water tanks, because, if it doesn’t say JoJo on the outside, it is not The Real Makoya JoJo tank!

Contact us for more information on 013 262 3021 or www.jojotanks.co.za or find us on Facebook: JoJo Tanks South Africa

SAVING WATER BEGINS AT HOME86% of a household’s water needs can be metby harvesting and storing rainwater!

DPI Plastics technical and product manager, Renier Snyman, points out that the company's range of Ultraflo pipes are manufactured from modified polyvinyl chloride (mPVC), which is

specifically designed to provide similar tensile strength and greater resilience than standard PVC piping products. "The Ultraflo range of pressure piping systems is ideally suited to bulk water supply projects, due to the fact that mPVC is considerably more ductile than industry standard unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (uPVC)," he explains.

Snyman notes that the ductility of the Ultraflo uPVC piping system ensures that the pipes have exceptional resistance to crack propagation under pressure. "The product being supplied to the water supply line project is the 500mm Ultraflo system, which is the largest in the DPI Plastics range. It boasts a pressure rating of 12bar, with a design stress of up to 18MPa, making it ideally suited as a large underground piping system."

According to Snyman, Ultraflo pipes offer environmental advantages too. "Due to its superior toughness, the wall thickness of mPVC is less than that of uPVC. This ensures that fewer materials are used during the manufacturing process, which ultimately results in a lighter product that is easier to transport and install, thereby minimising the carbon footprint of the pipe."

The DPI Plastics range of Ultraflo piping products is available in pressure classes varying between 6bar and

25bar, and is supplied in standard 6m lengths, complete with spigot, integral socket and rubber ring seal for user friendly installation. Snyman highlights the fact that DPI Plastics was the first company in South Africa to manufacture mPVC piping systems in the 1970s.

"DPI Plastics is recognised as a pioneer in the local development of mPVC products, and to this day remains an international market leader in mPVC product development, having sold numerous licenses to manufacturers in markets as far afield as Australia, Asia and South America. What's more, all Ultraflo mPVC products in South Africa are compliant with SANS 966 quality standards, which involves rigorous impact and pressure regression testing to provide the end user with complete peace of mind," he adds.

Looking to the future, Snyman believes that Ultraflo will continue gain measurable market share moving forward. "Although mPVC currently comprises approximately 40 percent of the local pressure pipe market, I expect that number to rise steadily, especially as contractors place a higher emphasis on cost savings and environmental sustainability. With its lower mass, higher impact resistance, improved ductility and predictable performance - Ultraflo is gaining popularity across Sub-Saharan Africa, a rapidly developing region that holds the potential for significant growth for DPI Plastics in the long term future," he concludes.

ultraflo PvC Pressure pipes supplied to large water supply project leading fluid conveyance and pumping solutions expert, Incledon has supplied a large water supply line project inthe Free State with a total of 4km of ultraflo pipes manufactured in-house by DPI Plastics - a leading manufacturer of water reticulation, drainage and pipe-fitting systems in South Africa.

wAteR RetIculAtIon

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Darren Blair, CEO of DailyHomes.co.za says, “Property owners can list their properties at no charge for a time. Those looking for properties will also benefit from this valuable service. For

instance, each year thousands of tertiary students struggle to find somewhere suitable to stay for their studies. They need to network, read the newspaper or trawl many websites to find accommodation. DailyHomes.co.za provides a wide range of choice with just a click and thousands of homes at one address.”

AdvAnTAgeS For reAl eSTATe AgenTS, ProPerTy develoPerS And HoMe ownerS

DailyHomes.co.za also offers a useful service to the property industry. It has been set up so that it is easy for South Africa’s real estate agents and large developers to list entire property portfolios focused on a more targeted market. Property owners will be able to manage their entire portfolio from one dashboard and web analytics will track interest shown in properties.

Private home owners are also able to use the site to list their property for sale or rent.

Continues Blair, “The look and feel of the web and mobile platforms is something the South African public has not seen before. We have differentiated DailyHomes.co.za from the other property sites with a fun, easy to use, functional and interactive website. Through technology innovation and focus, we aim to help clients list, rent or sell their properties at a much higher conversion rate than what has previously been seen in South Africa.”

wAyS To exPlore dAilyHoMeS.Co.zA

• www.DailyHomes.co.za• www.facebook.com/DailyHomes.co.za• www.twitter.com/DailyHomesSA

A mobile site, Blackberry App and USSD are currently under development.

wHo iS beHind dAilyHoMeS.Co.zA?

Darren Blair is a South African who graduated from North Carolina State University and has spent the last few years as a professional golfer on the Sunshine Tour. Darren is an innovation seeker and entrepreneurial junkie. He is joined by Danny Nochumsohn, a B.Comm (Law) graduate. Danny is a technology entrepreneur and a coding guru. The business is part of Redwood Capital, a venture capital, incubation, and private equity company.

list, rent or buy properties online ideal for tighter budgetsnow South Africans are able to find less expensive property online better suited to tight budgets. DailyHomes.co.za, a new South African property portal, offers homes for sale under R1 million and rentals for under R6000 per month. Initially the site will focus on gauteng, but will have a national focus in time.

Darren Blair, CEO and Danny Nochumsohn, CTO of DailyHomes.co.za, South Africa’s affordable property website.

xylem South Africa Appoints first African Female FitterXylem water Solutions South Africa, part of Xylem Incorporated, the global leader in water technology, recently employed its first ever African female fitter. Zanele Sithole joined the team this year and she is set to prove that a woman is as capable of handling the challenges of a physically demanding career as any man.

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Photographs: Michael Glenister

Zanele Sithole (26) hails from Witbank, Mpumalanga originally, where it was evident from childhood that she had an aptitude for all things technological. She recalls how she frequently disassembled broken electronic

devices, repaired them and put them back together, before even reaching her teens.

Her family quickly realised that Zanele was suited for something a little different than what they might have envisioned for her. “My mother wanted me to be a doctor,” Sithole says, jokingly. “But grease is so much better than blood!” Her family proudly supports her to this day.

The happily married mother of two completed her N3 at college and proceeded to qualify as a fitter artisan in 2009. From the start of her career, she has been committed to showing that she is capable, strong and intelligent. The combination of these attributes have stood her in good stead in a career that is traditionally viewed as a “man’s job.”

“I look at a problem with a great deal of forethought,” Sithole explains. “Solving a problem in your mind beforehand allows you to employ economy of strength to achieve the same result as brute strength.” Initially, Sithole’s male colleagues were surprised to see a woman in the workshop, but it didn’t take long before their surprise turned into respect. “I like the fact that I can show the guys that a woman can pick up a spanner too…and that we can all work together towards a common goal. On top of that – I have been told that I make the workshop smell nice,” she says.

With her appointment at Xylem South Africa, Sithole is eager to maximise the opportunity to hone her skills in her chosen field while working on a premier global brand’s products. She also looks forward to growing and to perhaps mentoring other young women who would like to enter the workforce in a similar fashion. “There is no limit to what you can achieve if you have a dream and you set your mind to achieving it,” Sithole adds.

Xylem South Africa supports Zanele as she continues to grow and build a career as part of its specialist team in South Africa.

AbouT xyleM

We’re 12 000 people unified in a common purpose: creating innovative solutions to meet our world’s water needs. Developing new technologies that will improve the way water is used, conserved, and re-used in the future is central to our work. We move, treat, analyse and return water to the environment, and we help people use water efficiently, in their homes, buildings, factories and farms. In more than 150 countries, we have strong, long-standing relationships with customers who know us for our powerful combination of leading product brands and applications expertise, backed by legacy and innovation.

For more information on how Xylem can help you, go to www.xyleminc.com

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“There are a number of highly qualified women moving into the profession who are doing incredibly well,” says COO of One Property Holdings, Heidi Franck. Her own successful career in quantity surveying began with a keen interest in architecture. “When I left school I was first interested in architecture, as it was one of the more standard career choices that I was aware of. However, a friend of mine that was already involved in the industry suggested that quantity surveying might be an appropriate fit, so I decided to progress with my tertiary studies accordingly,” she reveals.

As one of the few women to have pioneered the male-dominated industry, Franck is no stranger to the challenging task of acting as the sole female representative on site. “It isn’t always easy to be the rose among the thorns. Quantity surveying is a career choice that requires forthrightness and the ability to stand up and be heard. As a woman in the industry you can’t afford to be shy and quiet,” she points out.

For women who thrive on a challenge, quantity surveying can be an extremely rewarding career to pursue. “There are always opportunities to grab hold of,” says Franck. “Each new project is the chance to investigate something different. It’s a line of work which is never boring, and because it’s so dynamic you are constantly presented with the opportunity to learn something new, whether it’s related to new legislation or a popular architectural trend.”

Her advice for women thinking of pursuing a career in the field is to be certain they have an affinity for figures. “Maths forms an integral part of this profession which makes it an unlikely choice for those who aren’t fond of numbers.

Beyond that, women aspiring to become quantity surveyors should think about finding a good company to work with while they complete their studies. In particular, an experienced and inspiring mentor can make a world of difference to the start of a career,” she says.

As more and women begin to make their presence felt within the industry, clients are starting to perceive the unique value that the feminine mind brings to development projects. “There are some businesses that will only work with female quantity surveyors,” reveals Franck - a trend which she attributes to the ability of women to think differently to men. “Women are often less clinical in their approach, we tend to work with a lot of passion and emotion,” she explains. All of which serves as a positive sign that, as with so many other male-dominated industries, women will soon form an integral part of the construction sector as well.

Quantity surveying adding a feminine touch Quantity surveying is not a profession typically associated with women. In the past, the fairer sex has tended to shy away from careers that involve construction - an outdated trend which is finally beginning to change.

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new business opportunitiesat africa’s leading timber exhibition

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furniture & Kitchen production | forestry & sawmilling | Wood materials, machinery & Veneerstools, loggers and mobile saws | timber construction and supply | industry surface & treatment technologies

many more timber related products, machinery and services.

New Product Launches | Live Demonstrations | Timber Talks | Great Deals | Competitions

www.woodexforafrica.comGallagher Convention Centre | Johannesburg | South Africa

21-23 March 2013

for more information:info@woodexforafrica.com

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Jointly presented by the SA Paint Manufacturing Association (SAPMA) and the Oil and Colour Chemists’ Association (OCCA) of the UK,

Coatings for Africa is backed by the Department of Trade & Industry and is the largest coatings exhibition and symposium on the African continent.

Tom Bowtell became CEO of the British Coatings Federation (BCF) in June 2012. He has extensive experience in the paint industry having worked for Akzo Nobel for 19 years in the Vehicle Finish and Decorative Coatings Sectors in the UK, the Netherlands, Eastern Europe and USA.

Bowtell holds a BA degree in Decision Making and Communications from Bournemouth University.

Also speaking at CfA 2013 will be Tony Mash, who recently retired as CEO of the British Coatings Federation, and is an international authority on sustainability in the paint industry.

Currently president of TMA Consulting, Mash played a leadership role in the development of sustainability within CEPE, the trade association serving the paint, coatings and printing ink industries of Europe. He has also managed significant environmental change programmes for multi-national companies in Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

For more information: www.coatingsforafrica.org.za

global authorities to speak at coatings for Africa 2013 conference tom Bowtell and tony Mash, two global authorities in the paint and coatings industry, have been added to the speakers list for the coatings for Africa (cfA) 2013 conference and exhibition at gallagher estate from May 21 to 23 this year.

PAIntS & coAtIngS

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www.elematic.co.za

TEL: +27 (0) 11423 2700 | FAX: +27 (0) 423 2717 | EMAIL: info@elematicsa.co.za

P O BOX 17261 Benoni West, 1503 R29 main Reef Road, Benoni