Construction World July 2019

“Notwithstanding the difficulties in the current climate, one would anticipate a slow and gradual recovery over the next 18 months. After that it should accelerate. What will drive the economy and building industry are the 58 million people in the country. These people need shelter, whether through the formal or informal economy. This need will create demand for the building industry. and gradual recovery over the next 18 months. After that it should accelerate. What will drive the economy and building industry, are the 58 million people in the country. These people need shelter, whether through the formal or informal economy. This need will create demand for the building industry. What are the main motivations for the R801-million Driefontein factory? The design of the plant is such that it has huge flexibility to make different products, and of different sizes. This not only drives down costs and improves quality but gives us capacity for when the market starts growing again. What is Corobrik’s approach to social investment? The staff trust speaks for itself: it owns 26% of equity in Corobrik and is unencumbered by debt. This represents significant investment and foresight. Furthermore, Corobrik spends considerably in the areas around our quarries – we have built clinics, community halls, and schools, while we take on interns from the community and develop them through our factories. Those that show potential are escalated to our management training programme and they become production management or sales trainees. What is your approach to sustainable construction? The southern hemisphere has a high diurnal range. In the northern hemisphere the diurnal range is small which necessitates insulated buildings so they can stay cool in summer and warm in winter. In Africa, because of the high diurnal range, you want a wall that carries thermal mass and a building that is not too insulated. Masonry walls have high thermal mass. During the daytime the wall stores energy. Later the wall radiates energy back into the environment. From a sustainable point of view, you do not want a building that is incredibly well insulated as this won’t allow the benefit of say the high maximum temperature of a winter’s day. From an architecturally sustainable point of view you want a double skinned masonry wall which will give you the best thermal performance as the thermal battery of a masonry wall works well. Such walls are the best solution for our environment. This is based on empirical research and thermal modelling which proved the case of comfortable and optimal living conditions in buildings. We are ahead of the curve with this. Corobrik has done a full life cycle assessment of clay brick through the Clay Brick Association and was the first in South Africa to do such a cradle to grave assessment. 

HP: MAPEI

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD JULY 2019