A prominent highlight on the local timber construction calendar, The Annual Timber Engineered Product Awards, hosted by the Institute for Timber Construction (ITC-SA) at Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on the 19th of August, showcased and rewarded top class workmanship in the fields of decking, timber frame construction and roofing.

As part of the ITC-SA’s ongoing mandate to establish and maintain the highest standards in the timber construction industry in South Africa, the Awards are hosted every year in an effort to bring players in the timber construction industry together and to pay homage to members’ outstanding work of the previous year.

“This year’s Awards saw the attendance of a record 135 guests, to whom we extend our thanks for making the event a vibrant and successful one,” says Chris Hobson, incoming ITC-SA Chairman, adding, “The Awards are open to all Timber Frame Builder, Deck Builder, Roof Erector and Fabricator Members of the ITC-SA, and submission categories include: Decks & Boardwalks; Alterations & Additions; Structures Smaller than 120m2; Structures Larger than 120m2; Structures Larger than 220m2; and Roofing: Residential, Commercial & Exposed Trusses, a new addition to the Awards’ categories.”

Lyndsay Cotton, LCP Roofing General Manager and outgoing Chairman of the ITC-SA kicked off the evening with a brief talk on the business case for diversity and inclusion in the sector, which was followed by an insightful product presentation on the MiTek Industries SA brand by Stewart Murray, MiTek Industries SA Manager. This was followed by a presentation by the evening’s guest speaker, Dr. Melanie Blumentritt, who is a post-doctoral fellow at Stellenbosch University at the Department of Forestry and Wood Science, with a background in solid wood and wood composites production and mechanical testing, wood anatomy, ultrastructure and chemical evaluation, and life-cycle assessment of wood products. Dr. Blumentritt’s talk proffered the question, ‘Should we store carbon in wood?’ and covered the ways in which the use of wood in long-lived products, like timber construction products, can help to mitigate climate change – a fitting prelude to the announcement of the ITC-SA Annual Timber Engineered Product Awards winners for 2015.

ITC-SA Annual Timber Engineered Product Awards for 2015 winners
Four entries were received in the Alterations & Additions category, which ranged from economical extensions to full-scale remodelling. The Structures Smaller than 120m2 category saw four entries, varying from a ‘granny flat’ to a beautiful starter home, all of which clearly demonstrated a high standard of skills and finishes.

Five entries were received for the Structures Larger than 120m2, but below 220m2; these projects ranged from beach homes to those built on particularly sensitive sites, showcasing the versatility and gentle approach to construction made possible with timber frame. The Structures Larger than 220m2 category saw three entries, which all illustrated a variety of styles and quality finishes capable of satisfying the most discerning taste. Eight entries were received for the new Roofing category, which encompasses commercial and residential roofs as well as exposed trusses. All entries demonstrated the inherent versatility timber lends to the design, fabrication and erection of roofs across a broad spectrum of building styles.