SAISC SUBSIDIARIES : POLASA planning and the installation of services , and
Internal lining , external cladding and insulation ( 1½ days ), covering the properties , manufacturing and benefits of glasswool insulation , acoustics , energy efficiency , environmental issues , storage and handling of glasswool , tools and installation methodology .
This is followed by the section on gypsum plasterboard , covering properties , storage and handling , cutting , tools and application for walls , ceilings and finishing .
Finally fibre cement board for external cladding is addressed , including the installation of the vapour permeable membrane , sizes and availability of fibre cement - boards and planks , fixing accessories , installation guidelines , and door and window frame installation detail is presented .
To ensure that the theoretical concepts are well understood , the course includes a practical component , consisting of setting out of wall frames , squaring , levelling , and erection of walls , erection of roof trusses , installation of plumbing , external cladding ( FC boards , OSB and FC planks ), insulation and internal lining ( gypsum board ), and internal joint finishing .
The students who enrolled for the course came from Gauteng , Swaziland , North West Province , and Mpumalanga . They generally had prior building industry experience . They all rated the course highly , especially mentioning the value of the practical work . As part of the course , the students have to write two tests to assess their understanding of the subject matter . All of the students on this course passed , and received SASFA certificates of successful completion of the course . This brings the total number of students who has successfully completed this course since its inception in 2009 to 325 .
The SASFA members who supplied support for the course and made it possible were Marley Building Systems , Saint- Gobain , Everite , Marshall Hinds , Kare and Simpson Strong-tie . Bosch Tools illustrated their wide range of equipment suitable for use in the LSFB industry .
POLASA making steady progress
by Kobus De Beer , Director , Polasa
During the past year POLASA ( Powerline Association of South Africa ) consolidated its membership and started working in various areas of common interest . An important objective was to participate in joint working groups between Industry and ESKOM to address problems and develop sustainable solutions .
POLASA was requested to look into methods and proposals to reduce the cost of construction of power lines . This request for input is testimony that Eskom has acknowledged POLASA as a valuable and powerful partner to achieve practical results .
Two of the six areas identified are briefly outlined below .
Safety , health , environment , quality & training
Regular meetings are scheduled throughout the year alternating between the bi-montly ESKOM Safety Meetings with all contractors and the regular POLASA Safety and Training meetings held with industry and ESKOM participating . All these meetings are held at Megawatt Park and an open invitation to all industry and ESKOM personnel applies . This results in a high degree of mutual support , the continuous search for better ways and the co-ordination of initiatives .
The following expectations from industry were listed :
• A platform where industry would listen to the challenges experienced by Training and SHEQ Departments
• A common goal achieved by voicing and addressing true challenges and concerns and finding suitable solutions
• Understanding the true needs so that training providers can adapt the approach to provide more effective training and provide the support required
www . polasa . co . za
Steel Construction Vol . 40 No . 1 2016 33