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THE LATEST NEWS AND PRODUCTS FROM THE BUILDING INDUSTRY
NEWSWORTHY
COROBRIK EXTENDS ITS GEOLOK ® RETAINING WALL SYSTEM
Leading clay brick and paving manufacturer Corobrik has extended its GEOLOK ® concrete block earth retaining systems with the addition of the GEOLOK ® 500 concrete block . This block is ideal for specialised applications where the required slope of the wall could exceed an angle of inclination greater than 70 °. GEOLOK ® was introduced in 2001 , with the GEOLOK ® 300 concrete block for walls typically up to 2m high and the GEOLOK ® 400 for walls higher than 2m . Recently the GEOLOK ® 300 and 400 concrete blocks were modified and improved with the face of the blocks being the same dimensions - 400mm wide x 200mm high . Only the depth of the block varies in size , allowing the blocks to be interchangeable on the vertical plane . GEOLOK ® 300 and 400 have a visible mechanical interlock in the form of a nib for additional shear resistance to block-on-block sliding . The GEOLOK ® 300 and 400 have a nib to ensure a maximum angle of inclination of 70 ° when laid horizontally . The GEOLOK ® 500 excludes a nib , allowing for an angle of inclination greater than 70 °. Corobrik has a software design program to assist professionals and geotechnical engineers design GEOLOK ® earth retaining walls which can be downloaded for free . Visit Corobrik ’ s website for more information : www . corobrik . co . za .
STOP YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT GOING UP IN FLAMES
It is critical to incorporate fire-safety planning during the inception phase of an infrastructure project so that important design aspects such as escape paths and the structural stability of any buildings can be established prior to critical design elements being locked in . Additional factors such as the intended use of the buildings and the resultant fire load and associated fire risks must be considered , highlights ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk .
For example , these include automatic sprinkler protection . Regulatory fire-safety requirements such as fire detection , smoke control ventilation , fire extinguishers , fire hose reels and fire hydrants , together with on-site stored water supplies , must be included in the early design phase .
Meanwhile , the post-construction phase of any infrastructure project must focus on training , inspection , testing and maintenance of all fire-safety equipment , from sprinklers and fire alarm systems to fire hose reels , extinguishers and fire hydrants .
“ Leaving the fire-safety design of a building to the end of the construction phase results in a sub-optimal design that requires a great deal more funding and effort to implement effectively ,” warns van Niekerk .
The construction phase of a building project is characterised by higher risks related to hot works that are not protected by fire equipment as it is not functional at this stage . This also applies to building refurbishment or upgrade projects .
A strong focus on ongoing training , inspection , testing and maintenance of all fire equipment must be in place to ensure that life-safety systems are fully operational at all times and that trained personnel are able to carry out First Aid firefighting before trained fire department professionals arrive on the scene and are able to intervene .
Michael van Niekerk CEO , ASP Fire
Buildings represent high-value assets that house large personnel populations , expensive equipment or critical services . The fire protection of these assets , people , equipment and services must be achieved at the lowest possible cost , while attaining the highest level of fire protection . “ It is only by engaging the services of professional fire engineers at the concept development stage of a project that one is able to attain balance cost and benefit ,” concludes van Niekerk . www . aspfire . co . za
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