PROJECTS
off on the structure, in addition to
meeting our client’s own exacting
requirements,” Van Gool notes.
A quick redesign resulted in some
on-site fabrication for the necessary
adjustments. “Due to the unusual
shape of the structure, comprising
curved tubular trusses spanning long
distances without column support,
which is usually a feature in much
larger structures like shopping malls,
we had complex geometry to consider.
Hence this was by no means a slick,
bolt-on project, but a detailed
engineering exercise,”
Schultz highlights.
A race against time
The longest truss fabricated by Fabcon Steel is 145m.
Challenge accepted
In addition, it’s not a commercial building like
a shopping centre with a double or triple
volume height. Instead, people are quite
close-up to the actual structure itself,
meaning that every joint, weld, and patch of
painting is highly visible to inspection.
“The patrons may not be engineers or
architects themselves, but they know what is
straight or unpainted. Hence the attention to
detail is the most important part of an
undertaking of this nature,” Van Gool stresses.
He continues, “My guiding philosophy is
that we look past any obstacles to create
solutions for our clients. We have key staff in
place with the necessary experience and
www.saroofing.co.za
technical expertise to see such challenging
projects through to successful completion.”
Schultz explains that, not being a ground-
up structure, the load of the lower slabs was
carried by pre-existing concrete columns. The
engineer’s specification was that the load
imposed by the new structure had to be borne
by these columns, and not the existing
downstand beams spanning between
the columns.
The project was complicated further by the
fact that one of the exterior support walls was
thicker than expected, meaning an
unanticipated differential in aligning the steel
and concrete columns. “This is important
because the engineer ultimately has to sign-
Barely two weeks before the project
was due to commence, the client was
informed that the adjacent site could
no longer be used as a laydown area.
With the detailed programme in
jeopardy as a result, Van Gool and his
team undertook the herculean task of a
75% acceleration of the entire project
cycle. Lifts and installations that
normally would have taken two weeks
to execute were now scheduled for
four to five days.
“This is almost unheard of on any
construction project in South Africa.
However, our team pulled through,
and it is incredible what they
managed to achieve at the end of the
day. What this project has taught us is
that, no matter how careful the
planning, one must always allow for
contingencies at the end of the day,”
Van Gool highlights.
With the project well on-track,
Gibson says what’s been achieved to
date has far exceeded his expectations.
“I was duly impressed as soon as I
saw the beams and columns start to go
up. Effectively I had been unable to see
the big picture until that critical stage.
Thereafter I was able to visualise the
entire structure, and how intricately it
had been designed and put together.
Every member of the Fabcon Steel
team, from Andrew to the installation
crew, has been professional to a fault.
And the structure has generated a lot
of interest in people, so it is already
serving its purpose.”
CLADDING // CONCRETE // INSULATION // STEEL // THATCH // TIMBER // TRANSLUCENT // WATERPROOFING // COMPONENTS
NOVEMBER 2018
17