Developing Cladding Standards for Metal Roofing

In line with the cladding theme of this newsletter, it was fitting to ask SAMCRA Director Dennis White, to tell us more about the ground-breaking cladding-related standards and training they are working on:

The South African Metal Cladding and Roofing Association (SAMCRA) was formed in 2013. As a sub-association of the SAISC, it is a unified body representing the interests of the local metal cladding and roofing industry: providing lobbying, technical expertise, and consulting support services – as well as arbitration for members and their customers. As part of our role, we have been closely involved with the development of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) new national standard for self-supporting metal cladding, to be released imminently.

Manufacturing quality benchmark

It was important to devise a state-of-the-art best practice standard for the industry, to provide suppliers and contractors with a benchmark for the design, testing, manufacturing and installation of quality products which are competitive internationally. Demand for cladding remains high, making the implementation of this standard essential.

Manufacturing quality benchmark

Due to the demand for steel cladding in recent years, the design trend has moved decisively in favour of the innovative use of cladding to enhance architectural appeal – even replacing tiling – on a wide range of construction projects: from shopping malls and gyms to commercial parks, banks (including the South African Reserve Bank), warehouses and residential housing developments. Our industry has consistently introduced new profiles and techniques, including on-site roll-forming to meet the demands of ever larger and more complex structures. This strong upward trajectory has continued despite the higher costs thereof. This may be attributed to its attractive finish and durability – which boosts the visual impact of a company’s external branding – and has a lifespan, with modest maintenance, of some 10 to 20 years, provided the chosen protective coating is matched to the environment in which it is installed.

With this in mind, developers and owners of commercial offices and warehouses – for the storage of imported goods – and to service our growing e-commerce sector – are turning to cladding, for its aesthetic, brand-boosting appeal and its low-maintenance durability.

New SABS standard

The new SABS standard will clarify the structural properties and protective coatings of cladding products for suppliers, contractors and consumers, providing a quality benchmark for manufacturers and all professionals in the sector to refer to, and meet. Many end-users and consumers are not aware that there is a wide range of different thicknesses, qualities of steel, metallic and organic protective coatings and profiles. They may simply specify to a contractor that they want ‘galvanised steel’ – not knowing that the thickness and geometry of a particular profile – plus thickness and type of protective coatings – makes a huge difference to its quality, strength, and durability. This new standard will therefore guide the industry and help end-users who want to ensure they know what they are asking for upfront.

Trends and challenges

Driven not only by aesthetics, branding and durability considerations, the rise of cladding in South Africa has definitely not reached its peak, given that the equally strong trend towards solar photovoltaic panels on roofing will also drive cladding developments moving forward.

Further to this, locally we face the challenge of a market, divided into formal and informal sectors, the latter being driven purely by price – with structural integrity and durability frequently disregarded. Substitution of inferior materials rather than using those specified is rife – particularly in the emerging contractor sector. This is unfortunately damaging the industry as in the quest to be ‘all things to all people’, emerging contractors install cladding without using appropriately trained and experienced cladding contractors.

SAMCRA membership crucial

These factors only serve to highlight the crucial importance of membership of an industry body such as SAMCRA, and adherence to the quality standard which will soon be regulating the local cladding sector.