Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa September/October 2014 | Page 56

Corobrik
Launches
Smartphone
App

F

ive years ago, the only tablets you found on a
building site were the occasional Panado to
cure jackhammer-induced headaches. Today,
however, the way architects and construction teams
work has morphed dramatically. It is estimated that
there are now over 29 million cell phones in South Africa
(compared to just five million landlines), meaning that
more South Africans have access to mobile phones
than clean water. Smartphones and tablets have
become an integral part of day-to-day business across
the world, and the building sector is no different.
After months in development, Corobrik have
become one of the first building materials suppliers
in South Africa to launch a dedicated app for the
specification and application of its bricks and pavers.
Available from iTunes, the comprehensive, interactive
Corobrik app allows users to access the expertise of
Corobrik at their fingertips.
Notebook & Weather Forecaster
Designed to make your life easier, the easily navigated
app is loaded with many handy features. You can say
goodbye to your pen and paper and keep your notes
in one place with the Notebook section where you can
file all your relevant project information – accessible
whenever you need it, while the Weather Forecaster
helps you plan your build days better.
Pocket Manual
The Pocket Manual is a wealth of technical expertise;
simply choose the topic you need help with and read
or download the relevant section. Divided into the
following seven sections, the Pocket Manual features
answers to a comprehensive list of queries – Section
A: Foundations, Section B: Surface Beds, Section C:
Brickwork, Section D: Waterproofing, Section E: Clay
Paving, Section F: Site Organisation, and Section G:
Compliance. Information for designing and specifying
our bricks in compliance with SANS 10400 Building
Regulations and SANS 204 Energy Standards is set
to follow.

56

Brick Matcher and Gallery
If you have seen a brick you like, then try the Brick
Matcher which offers you a selection of Corobrik
bricks that best match what you’re after. Simply take a
photograph of the brick you like or select one from your
gallery and swipe through the brick colours provided
to find the brick that best suits you and click on it to
be taken through to the product guise – it is as simple
as that. Furthermore, the included gallery is filled with
inspiring ideas, showing you a world of possibility that
you can create with Corobrik’s quality products. You
can then get in contact with your nearest Corobrik
Centre by using the convenient Store Locator.
Brick Calculator
A handy Brick Calculator also allows you to plan the
quantity of bricks or pavers needed for a specific
project. Not only will the Brick Calculator give you an
accurate estimation of how many bricks or pavers your
project will need, it will also calculate the amount of
sand and cement needed for the job as well. Over and
above this, the brick calculator will also determine how
thick the plaster needs to be, and will revert with the
quantities of sand and cement needed to mix it to the
correct consistency.
Utilities
Along with the Weather Forecaster, under the utilities
section you’ll also find a handy Flashlight and a Spirit
Level. Whether you’re a DIY’er, builder, decorator, hard
landscaper or architect, you’ll find the free, easy-to-use
app extremely useful.
Peter Kidger, Corobrik’s Director of Marketing,
says that using the available technology to make life
easier and more efficient in this day and age makes a
lot of sense. “We envision that the primary users of the
Corobrik app will be builders and paving contractors,
although it should prove a useful tool, both in the
office and on site, for architects, quantity surveyors and
others working in the building industry,” he says. The
app is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
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