Architect and Builder June 2020 | Page 6

NEWSWATCH THE LATEST NEWS AND PRODUCTS FROM THE BUILDING INDUSTRY NEWSWORTHY NEW RANGE OF ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES Schneider Electric recently launched the innovative Iconic™ range of electrical accessories. The range offers a host of sleek switches, dimmers, sockets, USB chargers and motion detectors. The new range is easy to customise, easy to install and pleasing to the eye, with a wide choice of stylish and elegant skins. Designed for electricians by electricians, Iconic electrical accessories raise the bar for safe, long-lasting and reliable switching mechanisms. There are a variety of built-in features that are unique to the range, including a locking bar, which makes it easy to change the orientation of the mechanism, resulting in a fast and easy installation. It also makes the switch safer for the enduser. To prevent cases of users unintentionally pushing back the switch inside the wall, Schneider Electric engineers have invented the mech lock, which allows electricians to secure every switch mechanism in the grid. Furthermore, when removing the mechanism, there is no risk of damage to the grid. The locking bar can be locked or unlocked with just one push of a screwdriver. One of the slimmest ranges on the market with a 7mm switch profile and 9mm socket profile, standard mounting accessories can still be used with Iconic accessories. www.se.com/za/en/product-rangedownload/63722-iconic AFRICA’S FIRST GREEN STAR RATING FOR A HEALTHCARE PROPERTY The specialised surgical hospital development by Growthpoint Properties and Cintocare, the first facility of its kind in South Africa, has also become the first healthcare property on the African continent to be awarded a Green Star rating. In a milestone achievement for green building and healthcare in South Africa, Cintocare Hospital in Pretoria, Gauteng, has received a 5 Green Star Custom Healthcare design certification from the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA). Working closely together to develop this specialist surgical hospital, Growthpoint and Cintocare are creating a tailor-made, high-performance space, which includes positive social and environmental impacts - a clinical centre of excellence. Lisa Reynolds, CEO of the GBCSA, says, “Earning SA’s first Custom Healthcare Green Star rating for Cintocare Hospital continues Growthpoint’s track record of exceptional green building leadership and displays Cintocare’s innovation. Together, they are creating a sustainable healthcare facility designed around the well-being of patients and hospital staff that supports the environment and its communities, which is changing the future of healthcare properties in SA.” The benefits of this particular project go well beyond a single hospital. The collaboration between Growthpoint, Cintocare, GBCSA, and the professional team, including Aurecon, has resulted in a new green building certification tool for the healthcare and property sectors, to which Solid Green also contributed its expertise. This green certification tool is a road map to drive the development of more green healthcare buildings in South Africa in future, and it is available to everyone. 6 News Watch