No-fines concrete (NFC) is obtained by eliminating the fine material – sand – from the normal concrete mix. Instead, single-sized coarse aggregates are surrounded and held together by a thin layer of cement paste to add strength. Among the main advantages of NFC is economy in materials, higher thermal insulating values, lower shrinkage, and lower unit weight and density. It is […]
Traditionally, the development of risk management plans is tailored to address assessed and quantified risks. There is however always the ‘the unknown factor’. Enter the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, we have faced localised pandemics before, but never one on such a globally synchronous scale, thanks to global travel and trade. It propelled the entire world […]
If designing the interior fit-out for an iconic building is not enough of a demanding challenge, imagine the complexities that arise when such a building contains a number of different clients, each with their own requirements, branding and aesthetics. This was the challenge that faced interior architecture company Paragon Interface, part of the Paragon Group, […]
In June this year, while National Treasury called for public commentary on the Draft Public Procurement Bill, President Ramaphosa held the Inaugural Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium (SIDSSA). Out of this, National Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Patricia de Lille announced 276 projects aimed to fast track a “robust infrastructure pipeline” purported to set South […]
General fabric masks with breathing valves and fabric neck buffs Fabric face masks for general public use with valves or vents permit air to be exhaled through an opening in the material, which can result in expelled respiratory droplets that can reach others – potentially enabling the spread of Covid-19. General public fabric face masks […]
As you may be aware, the recently announced Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) announced by President Ramaphosa lists various interventions to return the economy to growth. This follows extensive engagement between social partners at NEDLAC. Among the economic interventions outlined in the ERRP is a commitment to greater localisation from social partners, including specific […]
RIB CCS’s #FutureNow virtual conference emphasises how engineering and construction companies can embrace and fast-track their digital transformation journey. RIB CCS, the leading supplier of specialised software solutions to the engineering and construction industry, is hosting its first ever #FutureNow virtual conference on 11 November 2020, addressing the challenges and benefits associated with the adaptation, digitisation and transformation […]
The largest student housing project ever undertaken by a South African public university is currently under construction at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) in the Eastern Cape. The 2 047-bed student village is being developed by student accommodation group STAG African in conjunction with East London-based contractor Dewing Construction. It aims to address a major […]
Pandemics manifest in various ways, impacting all of us and leaving behind pain, suffering and disbelief. Not only is the coronavirus on the rampage, but Britain has in the past year experienced more than 2 000 asbestos-related deaths especially in construction related industries. For many years, asbestos was used in almost every public and commercial […]
By John Barnard, Director, SASFA A total of eight projects, 39 000m2 floor area, using 1000 tons of LSF It is easy to forget the anxiety that prevailed some six months ago when the Covid-19 infections ran rife. It was during this time that it was decided to urgently add hospital beds to existing capacities to […]