Architect and Builder Dec 2017 / Jan 2018 | Page 10

WBHO CONSTRUCTION AWARDED ISO9001:2015 CERTIFICATION
Delivering quality, on time and within
budget is the primary objective of
WBHO Construction.
“To continually deliver quality projects to
our clients that will last a lifetime was the
single biggest reason why we decided to
implement a formal Quality Management
System (QMS) certified to the ISO9001:2000
requirements (back in 2003),” says Arno
Boshoff, Director of Quality at WBHO.
“This standard was updated in 2008
with more focus on the ‘process approach’
(Plan-Do-Check-Act). Our QMS was
aligned to the new revision and business
continued as usual. However in 2015, the
new ISO9001:2015 standard was published
with significant changes to the high level
structure that include more focus on; the
context of the organisation, leadership,
interested parties and risk based thinking.
Construction is dynamic with each project
unique. Client, design, location, delivery,
methods & risks change all the time and
therefore our QMS should follow suit. It is
less challenging to apply to a manufacturing
company that delivers a few products (that
never change), within a factory environment
in a permanent location. We consider the
context, leadership, interested parties, risk,
client requirements and all other ISO9001
requirements on each individual project.
The new requirement on ‘Leadership’
was easy to meet due to the hands-on
management approach we always had.
Involvement by all levels of management
in the QMS is visible throughout the group
and is supported by top management.
If you are in construction, you will know
that all we do on a daily basis is managing
risk. The new requirement for risk based
thinking is met by formalising what we
have always done, using ISO31000 as a
guideline. Risk management processes
to identify and mitigate operational risks,
rolling up to divisional and strategic risks are
implemented on each project.
Management of external providers within
the QMS context are challenging due to the
vast number of suppliers and subcontractors
we work with daily. The responsibility
to ensure that all products comply with
the applicable national standards (SANS
specifications) lies with us. A clear and
structured vendor review and audit process
proved to be beneficial to us as well as to
our suppliers and subcontractors.
Realigning our QMS, not just to meet the
requirements of this new ISO 9001:2015, but
also to entrench new quality process within
normal day-to day business processes took
us close to a year to achieve. A dedicated
team of construction quality personnel made
this easier. We believe that a QMS built
around what we normally do and aligned
with our culture and strategic objectives,
has and will always reduce rework, enhance
quality, increase profitability and secure
repeat business form our valued clients,
says Boshoff.”
www.wbho.co.za
FIRST LIGHT STEEL FRAME RESIDENCE IN KNYSNA REBUILD
After the devastating Knysna fires in June
2017, SASFA (Southern African Light Steel
Frame Building Association) presented a
seminar in Knysna on light steel frame build-
ing and there has been great interest in the
building method. The first house built in this
manner is nearing completion.
“There is no doubt that there are many
advantages to LSFB,” says the project’s
architectural draftsman Nelis Genade.
“Firstly, it is a cost-effective building method,
with financial savings coming mainly from
significant time savings to complete the
building project, less rework, reduced
logistical costs – which are of growing
importance due to the escalation of fuel
prices and general construction inflation -
and a drastic reduction of rubble on building
sites, when compared with the brick-and-
mortar alternative. He adds that the finishes
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in LSFB structures are typically better than
in conventional houses and that the thermal
insulation is excellent. This ensures a really
energy efficient building making it easier to
keep cool in summer and warm in winter,”
he says.
Minimum insulation require-
ments of LSF houses are
specified in SANS 517 for each
of the six different climate zones
in South Africa.
Knysna falls in the ‘Temp-
erate Coastal’ zone and external
walls must have a minimum
total R-value (the measure of
thermal insulation) of 2.2. By
using Isover’s Cavity Bat (102mm
thickness) glass wool insulation,
the walls have a better insulation
with a R-value of 3.23 – almost 50% higher
than the minimum requirement,
and five times higher than the
insulation offered by a double
leaf brick wall. Double-glazed PVC
windows have been used for their
excellent thermal and acoustic
insulation properties.
Charl van Zyl, who represents
Rancor Meyer Bros the contractor
building the house, explains
that the project comprised the
demolition of the remains of the
burnt-out house, the digging of
the foundations, the laying of the slab and
then the erection of the new 200m² double-
storey LSFB house. Work began on the 19th
September 2017 and was to be completed
by the 10th December 2017.
“That is 82 days or 12 weeks, which
is remarkable for a house of this size and
detail,” says van Zyl.
Project Materials
The external cladding - which consists of
OSB board fixed to the light steel frame
covered by the vapour permeable membrane
(Tyvek) and cladding on the outside with fibre
cement planks fixed in shiplap fashion – was
supplied by Marley Building Systems.
For more information please contact SASFA
on 011 726 6111 or visit www.sasfa.co.za
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