To ensure the quality and environmental benefits of member products, the South African Readymix Association (Sarma) continues to monitor its members through yearly Shreq audits, which focus on the safety, health, road transport, environmental and quality aspects of materials used in the construction sector.

The audit assesses the impact of construction materials on the environment.

As cement is one ingredient of the concrete used in construction, the Cement & Concrete Institute commissioned consulting firm InEnergy to determine the carbon values of not only the concrete but also its ingredients.

Sarma director Nico Pienaar points out that, in South Africa, the cement industry contributes less than 1% of the country’s carbon emissions.

About 50% of the audit is geared towards ensuring the quality of concrete.

Infrastructure Improvements
Pienaar believes that government’s infrastructure development plans can benefit from using the Shreq auditing system.

Sarma believes that if the Shreq audit is implemented at the various levels of government, the quality of construction will improve.

Construction work done according to the stipulations of the Shreq system will guarantee a longer life span of infrastructure and housing developments.

One way to implement the system is by ensuring that government tenders stipulate that it is a prerequisite for the winning bidder to subject to Shreq auditing first.

This will, in turn, make contractors and construction companies aware of the need to use quality and environment-friendly materials in their projects, states Pienaar.

To subscribe to Engineering News's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.