Before any project breaks ground, it’s vital to make sure everything’s up to code. In South Africa, that means following the South African National Standards (SANS) 10400. These rules are all about keeping buildings safe, healthy, and sustainable. To comply, we need to know the rules inside and out, and everyone on the team needs to be qualified and experienced.
Wynand Botha, Associate Director at BDO South Africa.
Buildings need to be strong enough to withstand forces like wind, and they need to be the right size and layout for their purpose.
Safety is a big priority, especially fire safety, and even demolition has to be done carefully to protect people and the environment.
Construction sites themselves need to be managed safely too, with things like security, waste disposal, and erosion control in place.
When we take these regulations seriously, we end up with buildings that are high-quality, safe, and kind to the environment.
Staying compliant
Construction companies need to keep an eye on the rules because they can change.
It’s also important to make sure everyone in the company understands why compliance matters.
Having a dedicated compliance champion can help bridge the gap between the construction teams and the legal advisors.
Using the right tools to track compliance is key too. A good quality management system helps keep everything on track.
This means things like keeping documents organised, providing training, and being ready for audits. It’s all about creating a validated environment where everyone knows what to do and how to do it right.
One of the trickiest things to manage in construction is documentation.
With so many people involved, communication can break down and things can get missed.
Clear policies and procedures help and using technology (like going paperless) can make a big difference.
Managing risk
Construction projects come with their fair share of risks.
Delays can be costly, and poor quality can lead to defects or even tragedies like the George building collapse.
Managing risks well means doing thorough risk assessments, clearly defining everyone’s roles, and having detailed plans in place to deal with any problems that come up.
Risk assessments should be done early in the planning phase, and project managers need to make sure everyone knows their part in keeping things on track.
Technology can be a big help here. We can use it to measure and monitor how exposed and vulnerable infrastructure is, and data analytics can help us spot risks early on.
Wearable tech can even help keep workers safe by tracking things like ergonomics and their location on site.
Doing your due diligence
Due diligence is all about doing your homework before committing to a project, looking into location-based risks, construction challenges, regulations, financial matters, and the experience of the management team.
It’s about making sure you know what you’re getting into and engaging with stakeholders is another important piece of the puzzle.
Talking to the community, environmental groups, and others helps make sure everyone’s on the same page. It builds trust and helps with decision-making.
If we want buildings to last and be easy to maintain, we need to think about operations and maintenance right from the start of the design process.
We need to consider how materials will age and use tools like life cycle performance modelling to predict how the structure will perform over time.
The infrastructure problem
Some of the biggest challenges we face in construction today are aging infrastructure, climate change, and underinvestment.
We can tackle these challenges by building resilience into our designs, adapting to change, and embracing new technologies.
The George building collapse is a stark reminder of what can happen when things go wrong. It’s a reminder to stick to best practices, manage risks carefully, and follow the rules.
We also need to think about the long-term impact our projects have on the environment.
We need to build infrastructure that’s resilient, efficient, and responsible – infrastructure that meets our needs today without compromising the needs of future generations.
