Ballito-based JDA Architects, took on the design and implementation challenge of constructing a new training and retail service centre for Sumitomo Company, South Africa located on an elevated road intersection above a parking garage of a shopping centre in Westville, east of Durban. The client required an emblematic but functional building that projected the Dunlop brand identity.
A finalist in the South Africa Institute of Steel Construction’s “Steel Awards 2023”, the build took place on a brownfields site, formerly occupied by a BP Service Station.
According to principal architect at JDA, Johan Duvenhage, the service station company had removed the fuel tankage and canopy when leaving the site, however the new design called to incorporate as much as possible of the existing structure. This was achieved, including the successful re-use of sewer connections.
However, it was the project’s very smart use of light steel framing (LSF) that led to its nomination as a candidate for best LSF project of the year in the 2023 Steel Awards. What also caught the eye of the judges and observers was the highly eye-catching use of Safintra’s roll formed roof sheeting and cladding, supplied to the project, which adorns the LSF framing aspects.
LSF is becoming an increasingly used means of adding additional vertical bulk to building by allowing additional levels to be constructed on foundation structures that are designed and built to support only a limited loading.
According to Duvenhage, light building material usage helped “avoid the engineering and building costs of strengthening the existing structure to take the additional weight required by conventional building methods”.
Added to this light steel framing, came the use of steel roofing and cladding based on lightweight and durable pre-painted aluminium zinc coated roof sheeting.
The crowning glory
“In addition, only restricted space was available for a laydown area needed for conventional material. Of course, we also adopted light materials of construction due to the large time project saving it offers over conventional building, backed by our ability to manufacture the required elements offsite.” This included also the roll forming, where Safintra expertly formed Safal Steel’s AZ200 in colour Seaspray into Saflok®700 clip fix roofing and sidewall cladding into pierced fix TUFDEK IBR® in colour Thunderstorm.
”The Saflok®700 was applied to a roof pitch of 5 degrees and drains well despite hectic storms encountered lately in the Durban area.
“The roof was supported by an LSF structure and the walls were insulated by Isover insulation and heavy duty drywall system on the inside” he adds.
Safintra’s KZN-based specifications representative for the region, Shaun Pearman, confirmed that material supplied by Safintra for the project included roofing (0.53 AZ200 Colorplus® in colourSeaspray) and wall cladding (0.53 AZ200 Colorplus® in colour Thunderstorm) These were roll formed offsite and are colours that we supply on a regular basis.
About Saflok®700
Safintra 0.50mm thick Saflok®700® interlocking roof sheeting is typically fixed to steel internal purlins at 1900mm centres and ridge/eave purlins at 1700mm centres using Saflok®700® clips which are fastened to steel purlins with Fixtite™ or Safintra approved wafer head self-tapping fasteners, all in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation. The steel base substrate is commonly Colorplus® AZ 150, AZ200 or in Zincal (uncoated steel sheet) while the profile can be rolled using the specifiers base material of choice. The sheeting is a double interlocking concealed fix Saflok®700® profile as manufactured by Safintra. Roll-forming is done in continuous lengths from certified G550 steel. The profile shall be roll-formed with 4 ribs and centres not exceeding 233mm and a cover width of 700mm. The male rib is to include spurs to ensure a double interlocking action with adjacent sheets. The minimum rib height will be 41mm. Two stiffening ribs are incorporated in each pan.
Overall impressions
Since it is clear that this structure should reinforce the corporate identity of its occupant, this has clearly been done with the bold yellows and blacks of the Dunlop brand, the darker colour being echoed in the Thunderstorm colour used as cladding. The roof however, utilises the light high- solar reflectance colour of Seaspray, which helps to reflect a significant portion of incoming solar radiation, helping to keep the interior of the building that bit cooler in summer.
All in all, a very neatly executed medium sized commercial project that certainly caught the eye of the Steel Awards judges.
Professional team
Client: Sumitomo Rubber SA
Architects: JDA Architects
Main contractors: Browndeck Roofing and LGS
Structural Engineer: Martin & Associates
Steelwork Contractor & Nominator to Steel Awards 2023: Browndeck
Steel Detailer: Browndeck
Steel Merchant: Safintra Roofing
Site photography by JDA Architects and Browndeck
Project parameters
Project Completed: 18/11/22
Cladding Completed: 10/10/22
Cladding Material Used: Safal Steel Colorplus® 0.53 in AZ200
Cladding Profile: Saflok® 700 (roof) and TUFDEK IBR® (sidewalls)
Roof coverage: 550m2
Cladding Area Coverage: 180 m2
Products on show:
Saflok®700 in AZ200 – rollformed on site
TUFDEK IBR® in AZ200
