14/2014 – A safe transition into the New Year 2015!

To end this year, we would like to wish our customers, and especially our licensees and installers, a peaceful festive season and a safe transition into the New Year 2015!. It has been a productive and successful year for most of us, with very exciting growth on both the local, and international front. Another highlight has been the fantastic interest shown for our design service, Terrasafe, with more and more professionals making use of the specialist input of our trusted and experienced engineer.

To illustrate the scope of this service, we are highlighting some of the projects utilising Terrasafe, currently under construction:

The new International Convention Centre and five star resort, eZulwini, Swaziland:

• Client  – Ministry of Economic Planning
• Project managers – Bicon/Aurecon
• Consulting engineers – Gibb
• Main contractor for bulk earthworks – Inyatsi Construction
• Geotech reinforcement – Kaytech Rockgrid
• Terraforce retaining walls (+- 7000m² surface area L12,5 special) – EFS Construction
• Terraforce retaining wall design – Terrasafe

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At this prominent R500 million project in Swaziland, the Terraforce walls were designed as terraces, with the first level being 2m, followed by 4m steps up to a total height of 18m. The first terrace is being constructed with reinforced concrete infill at 85° and the 4m steps thereafter, at 80° with reinforced concrete infill. Double skin walls are also utilised at specific places, for additional strength. Geogrid reinforcing to the back fill is specified at intervals.

The concrete infill holds seedling bags with compost to allow for plant growth to take hold and soften the retaining walls once completed. The blocks also contain red oxide that will allow them to blend into the surrounding landscape, an effect that will be enhanced with plant cover and other influences that occur over time.

Phase one will see construction of the north walls up to 18m high and 160m long at the hotel, to be completed in January 2015, while the southeast walls will reach up to 9m high and 300m long at the International Convention Center, to be completed in March 2015.

Sasol Garage Complex, Mthatha, Eastern Cape:

• Client – Sasol/KFC
• Engineers – Aurecon/WSP
• Main contractor – MHB Construction
• Geotech reinforcement – Kaytech Rockgrid
• Terraforce blocks (14500 M10 blocks) – Terraforce East Cape
• Terraforce retaining wall design – Terrasafe

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This particular site had a poorly built Gabion wall installed that had collapsed and damaged the concrete columns supporting the building overhanging a steep embankment. The client requested an alternative design and out of a few options, settled for the Terraforce system.

The Terraforce walls were designed at 80° for better slope stability and to simplify construction due to the limited head space under the structure. About two thirds of the wall is constructed with a double skin of blocks, partially filled with reinforced concrete and tied into the back-fill at regular intervals with geo-grid for extra reinforcement.

Thaba Moshate hotel and casino in, Burgersfort, Mpumalanga:

• Client – Peermount Group
• Architects – Boogertman and Partners
• Main contractor – Breet Construction
• Terraforce  retaining walls (6000 L12 special blocks) – EFS Construction
• Terraforce retaining wall design – Terrasafe

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The Thaba Moshate Hotel Casino and Convention Resort is located within the Greater Tubatse Municipality and will boast an impressive 6295m² entertainment complex worth a committed R324 Million investment for the Limpopo Province.

Facilities include an 80 room hotel, 148 seater restaurant and 130 seater venue for conference style functions. Thaba Moshate is also set to host 150 slot machines and 8 gaming tables, a show and service bar, child care facilities, landscaped gardens, impressive pool and Boma amenities.

Terraforce rock-face walls are in the process of being installed around the swimming pool area and along embankments on the property. Two rows of cheaper grey blocks are used below ground level, followed by a row of smooth, flat face blocks (to facilitate a neat finish where paving meets this level) and then continued with rock-face blocks in Kalahari colour.