FEATURES
Thatch industry
under fire
PART 2
In a follow up to SA Roofing’s September 2018 thatch
feature, we further investigate the sector’s challenges and
highlight the way forward through industry best practise.
By Candace Sofianos King and Ntsako Khoza | Photos by Micon Coatings
Designed by DK-Architects, The Lighthouse in Formby, England is constructed using a steel framed structure that is externally clad in a
combination of contemporary brickwork and traditional thatching.
O
ne of the most nagging issues
currently facing the thatching
industry is the use of chemicals
on thatch roofs – the requirements for fire
retardant treatments or chemicals applied
to thatch roofs are not monitored, resulting
in a lack of control within the sector. This
problem specifically relates to products
and systems that have not been evaluated
following the entire test protocol which will
indicate the respective requirements with
18
NOVEMBER 2018
CLADDING // CONCRETE // INSULATION // STEEL // THATCH // TIMBER // TRANSLUCENT // WATERPROOFING // COMPONENTS
regards to maintenance, re-application and
effectiveness.
These requirements should not only be
displayed in product brochures but should
also be part of the application contract with
the client to ensure that the product and
the effectiveness are correctly maintained.
Once applied, the respective owner should
also take responsibility should that be part
of any other agreement, whether legislative
or insurance related.
Albeit that the negative perception exists
in the market, and amongst several thatch
roof experts, the reality of the situation is
that there are many proven cases where fire
retardant application has considerably
reduced the amount of damage and loss
to a thatched roof due to fire, says Mike
Heatlie, Thatch Protection Services (TPS)
engineer.
He adds, “The application of such
products has now been placed as a
www.saroofing.co.za