SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
“ These numbers matter because they reframe prevention as a strategy rather than an afterthought. Whether the asset is public infrastructure, a commercial development, or a residential property, the lesson is that reactive repairs are expensive,” notes Adams.
The fundamentals
He adds that prevention comes down to a handful of fundamentals, including systemled specification, consistent workmanship, and access to technical guidance.“ In many cases, problems start when products are treated as stand-alone items instead of part of a working system,” he says.“ Concrete
performance, waterproofing integrity, sealing and bonding, reinforcement, and protection are all elements that interact, and that same systems thinking applies across different sectors and environments. When systems are compatible and correctly specified, the outcome is more predictable and safer.”
The sector is increasingly focused on what good looks like in practice, particularly around inspection quality and accountability. The National Home Builders Registration Council( NHBRC), for example, has reported progress in improving the quality of building inspections and in formalising the inspection profession through the accreditation of building inspectors, which Adams says is an important step towards consistency and professionalism.
“ If prevention is a discipline, then the choice of partners matters because they help teams implement that discipline consistently,” says Adams.“ The advantage of working with an established specialist is the ability to draw on deep, cross‐sector experience, from major infrastructure and commercial builds to everyday residential applications, backed by technologies that have been tested in different conditions.”
Getting it right first time is cheaper, safer, and far less disruptive.
Carinus Bridge- soffit strengthening measures using external CFRP materials.
Getting it right
South Africa has seen what’ s possible when complex projects are delivered with the right expertise and systems. Sika says its solutions have supported some of the country’ s most recognised builds, including the stadiums built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup – with applications ranging from concrete additives to flooring solutions – as well as the Gautrain, Kusile Power Station, and projects such as Ludeke Dam. Adams explains that these projects reflect the value of having access to incredible depth across multiple construction disciplines, particularly when site conditions and performance requirements vary.
“ Those builds underline a simple truth,” Adams says.“ Getting it right first time is cheaper, safer, and far less disruptive than fixing it later, and peace of mind comes from knowing there’ s depth of expertise and support behind the outcome. When you use solutions that have been tried, tested, and trusted across different environments, you know you’ re supported by real technical expertise. We aim to give our customers the confidence that our solutions can be trusted.”
52 winter 2026 | www. tobuild. co. za