to ensure compliance with
the Natinal Building Regulations and
a reduction in CO² emissions through
energy efficiency in buildings
BUILDING PROFESSIONALS TO BUILD THE FUTURE!
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE -
For the past few months those of you in the Architectural Profession attending our seminars and workshops have been joined by the Building Control Officers and Inspectors from the various Local Authorities. This was initially a service provided to these officials within the Built Environment.
During this period we were approached by the National Regulator for Compulsory Standards (NRCS) to attend a meeting with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) where the provision of a skills development program for the Building Control Officers, Inspectors and selected Councillors was discussed.
As a result of this the SAIAT has entered into a joint agreement with the SDC and NRCS to provide the necessary skills development programs with this being funded by the Swiss Government as a contribution to our existing programs and further development. We at the SAIAT were seen as being well positioned to satisfactorily meet the NRCS and SDC requirements.
Last year we promised our members and other architectural professionals that Building Control in South Africa would be attended to. Well, it is now here! We always considered these officials to be an integral part of the Built Environment and it was essential that the skills level be raised and that the Building Control Officers were one again empowered to enforce to legislation. This will happen over the next few years through the program and enforcement policies to be introduced. There are approximately R30 billion illegal buildings being constructed in South Africa every year and one can imagine the negative impact to the economy and National objectives this has let alone the risk to the health and safety of the occupants.
Once again the SAIAT has demonstrated that we can get on with the job. The days of negotiation and discussion should be shelved in this country and a little work would not go amiss.
In my last message I requested those that have been adversely affected by the delay in the implementation of the Identification of Work to submit details of these to us for further action that this Institute is considering. Although we have received some we are certain that there are many more cases out in the Industry. Kindly let us have these details as the obtaining of legal opinion has now been reached.
My appreciation to the Swiss Government and National Regulator for the confidence that they shown in us to meet their and the National objectives.
Peter Brown
President
Signing of SAIAT-