SAISC comment

Volume 40 No . 2 2016

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

Front Cover : Kirstenbosch Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway (“ Boomslang ”)

Photo by Adam Harrower

PUBLISHED BY

Southern African Institute of Steel Construction 1st Floor , Block C 43 Empire Road , Parktown West P O Box 291724 , Melville 2109 Tel + 27 ( 0 ) 11 726 6111 Fax + 27 ( 0 ) 11 482 9644 info @ saisc . co . za www . saisc . co . za

EDITOR Denise Sherman

Tel + 27 ( 0 ) 11 726 6111 denise @ saisc . co . za

SUB-EDITOR Spencer Erling spencer @ saisc . co . za

ART DIRECTOR

Sandra Addinall Tel + 27 ( 0 ) 11 868 3408 cbtdesign @ adcot . co . za

Repro & Print Camera Press

Tel + 27 ( 0 ) 11 334 3815

Advertising

Viv van Zyl Tel + 27 ( 0 ) 16 349 6839 Cell + 27 ( 0 ) 82 492 8603 Fax + 27 ( 0 ) 86 647 2788 viv @ lantic . net

Southern African Institute of Steel Construction

( SAISC ) Chief Executive Officer

Paolo Trinchero paolo @ saisc . co . za

Education Director Spencer Erling , PrEng . spencer @ saisc . co . za

ISF Director

Neels van Niekerk neels @ isf . co . za

SASFA Director John Barnard john . barnard @ saol . com

SAMCRA Director Dennis White dennis @ saisc . co . za

POLASA Kobus de Beer kobus @ saisc . co . za

Views expressed in articles and advertisements are not necessarily the views of the SAISC .

Articles or extracts thereof may be reproduced provided that prior permission is obtained from the publisher and full acknowledgement is given .

Changes to the mailing list : Please notify us of any changes to the mailing list at info @ saisc . co . za

Subscriptions : To subscribe to Steel Construction contact us at info @ saisc . co . za

SAISC COMMENT Engaging stakeholders and seeking solutions .............. 2

PROFILES Spencer visits new SAISC member TW Tube and Laser Processing .................................................. 4

The SAISC School of Draughting : Developing quality structural steel detailers ................................... 6

Q & A with John Swallow of Cadex SA .......................... 8

INDUSTRY NEWS The SAISC Steel Awards : Sponsors ......................... 12 Industry news in brief ................................................. 13

Trends : Promoting SA steel industry to Ethiopia ’ s architects ................................................... 16

FEATURE Tubular construction takes a giant leap forward with the advent of laser and plasma profiling equipment ................................................................. 18

TECHNICAL Out of the box and into the fire : student innovations doomed to failure .................................... 20

Basics of Steel Course .............................................. 23

Structural hollow sections : For efficient tubular structures avoid class 4 tubes ................................... 24

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT Tough times call for a man ( ager ) of steel ................... 26

SAISC SUBSIDIARIES ISF : ISF steps up international marketing of Southern Africa ’ s structural steelwork and general construction capability ............................................... 28

SAMCRA : Post construction installations on roofs and service access .......................................................... 30

SASFA : SASFA training course for building contractors .......... 32

POLASA : POLASA making steady progress ............................. 33

irst impressions tend to last , or at the very least … tend to be difficult to reverse if you mess them up . So it ’ s with sweaty palms that I ’ m poised to type my first Editor ’ s note for Steel Construction .

Seeking a bit of reassurance , or perhaps because I ’ m curious by nature , I delved into old issues of the journal to see how best to continue the legacy of excellence established by my predecessor . A fresh faced and smiling Reneé greeted me in the June 2003 edition . With a deep breath , calmed nerves , and a bit of a longwinded introduction out of the way ...

I ’ m finally ready .

Reneé , thank you for being a key role player in building Steel Construction into the formidable publication it is . It ’ s taken a team of contributors , advertisers and suppliers working together under your guidance and leadership . I look forward to continuing what you ’ ve established , and expanding the reach and relevance of the journal .

Now for a bit about me … I worked as a Marketing Manager in the training industry before running my own visual productions company , where I worked with Eskom , ArcelorMittal , Nampak , Danone to name a few . I ’ m a passionate writer , keen photographer and obsessive East African coffee drinker .

Taking over as Editor of Steel Construction , and Marketing Manager of the SAISC has already been such a fulfilling experience . Each and every individual at the Institute has a positive outlook despite the fact that the industry is facing turbulent times . In the limited interaction I ’ ve had with our members I ’ ve come to realise that this camaraderie , tenacity and strength of character is part of the identity of the steel industry . Yes , times are tough . But when you ’ re “ walking through the valley of the shadow of death ” you should grab a friend by the hand and “ just keep walking ”. Also … try not to mix Biblical quotes with whiskey marketing taglines . That never ends well .

So here I am . Fresh faced and smiling in the 2nd Steel Construction issue of 2016 . I am probably going to make some horrible rookie mistakes . I hope I make a good first impression , and that you will be gracious with me as I walk this road .

Patricia , Rubi , Marle , Debbie , Tiana , Kobus , Amanuel , Neels , John , Dennis , and last but not least , Spencer and Paolo – thank you for making me feel so at home .

Steel truly leaves a legacy !

Steel Construction Vol . 40 No . 2 2016 1