South African companies applying incorrect concrete practice are seriously jeopardising their profitability, warns John Roxburgh, lecturer at The Concrete Institute’s School of Concrete Technology. Roxburgh says it is difficult to accurately assess just how damaging poor concrete practice - whether by a construction company or a concrete-related industry – can be to the profitability of the individual companies concerned. “Not getting a contract completed properly on time and within budget, can be disastrous.

The cost of repairing common concrete defects such as honey-combing, blow holes, cracks, inadequate coverage of steel reinforcement, low concrete strength, lack of proper curing, to name just a few problems, is massive. Once incorrect concrete practice prevails on a contractor or client’s site, chances are it is not recognised as cost-eroding, and will continue in future – ultimately costing a substantial amount of money,” he states. Roxburgh says proper training of staff has therefore become essential. “One method a company should consider is to ‘champion’ a suitable staff member and ensure that he or she becomes highly competent in concrete practice and technology. This person could then be used to train, advise, and mentor colleagues on site. This concept does not apply only to construction companies: all technical sales staff should perform this function for their clients.” Among the many concrete education courses offered by the School of Concrete Technology, one  of the most essential at supervisory or technical advisory level is the four-day “SCT20 Concrete Practice” course, which is aimed at foremen, clerks-of-work, technicians, supervisors, sales and technical staff in the building, construction, mining and related industries.

The course is also suitable for electrical, mechanical and mining engineers. “This course – which includes laboratory sessions - firstly equips the participant with all the key fundamentals or ‘concepts’ of concrete, and concrete practice, and then encourages the student to apply these ‘concepts’ to find workable concrete solutions. The result is that the designated company staff member can educate colleagues or clients on how and why a concrete job should be done – and how to do it correctly,” Roxburgh adds.

The School of Concrete Technology has scheduled seven SCT20 Concrete Practice courses between the beginning of August and the end of November 2014 in four different locations around the country. The course will be presented in Midrand from August 4 to 7, September 1 to 4, October 6 to 9, and November 10 to 13.  It will also be presented in Durban from September 16 to 20, in Cape Town from October 14 to 17, and in East London from September 30 to October 3.