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December 2015
Industry Buzz Events & Products
A
ruba took the Silver Award in
the Mixed Materials category
for its Greenlite (Insulated
Concrete FormConstruction) system.
Greenlite uses recycled expanded
polystyrene coated with a special
cement mixture to produce a light-
weight, strong and versatile product
suitable for different building ap-
plications.
This fast, cost-effective build-
ing system is ideally suited to meet
construction needs on the African
continent, diverting more than 950
tons of polystyrene from landfills
during 2014.
“We started using this method
in our building projects about 18
months ago, after tests showed that
the recycled material outperformed
the virgin material. Not only was
it readily available and cheap, but
the structure and size ensured that
the concrete mixture adhered better
without compromising on any of the
properties. This makes polystyrene
ideal for use in construction projects,”
says Hilton Cowie of Aruba.
The polystyrene is collected from
recyclers operating around Cape
Town, with the help of the Polysty-
rene Packaging Council (PSPC). After
being shred and pelletised, the poly-
styrene beads are coatedwith special
additives, which allow the beads to
mix correctly with cement and water
without separating.
The coated, treated beads are
packaged in 250 litre bags for use on
site as the aggregate for light weight
insulated concrete.
Cowie adds, “We offer an environ-
mentally safe, green building initia-
tive that is rapidly increasing in popu-
larity and gaining acceptance from
architects and building contractors.
The product complies with all statu-
tory requirements and facilitates the
use of unskilled labour.
The product has the approval of
the South African Bureau of Stan-
dards as it contains no chlorofluro-
carbon, it is decay and vermin proof
and has very low water absorption
properties. It is also flame retardant
and has the advantage of excellent
thermal insulation and acoustic
properties.
The compositewall panel has a fire
resistance of 140 minutes when test-
ed in accordance with SANS 10177:2
(2005). Aruba insulated concrete
form construction is currently being
used by Motheo Construction for the
Sandton Gautrain Station to fill voids,
insulate and raise floor levels in all
the new vendor shops at the station.
Polystyrene Packaging Director
Adri Spangenberg says that the mar-
ket for products made from recycled
polystyrene continues to grow each
year.
“It is exciting to see so many
new and practical applications be-
ing developed in South Africa. The
panel of independent judges were
impressed with Greenlite’s insulated
concrete’s values on water vapour
Aruba wins energy award
Aruba Eco Building Systems energy efficient walling received a Silver
Award at the prestigious South African Plastics RecyclingOrganisation
(SAPRO) Recycled Product of the Year awards held in Stellenbosch.
Silver Award winners left to right: Fanie Calitz (Venture SA) Hilton Cowie (Aruba)
Craig Reilly (USABCO) Hein Keynhans (Afripak) and Colleen Deetlefs (Ningizimu).
permeability, thermal conductivity,
as well as the thermal resistance and
thermal transmittance coefficients.”
Cowie concluded: “We are thankful
to the industry associations such as
the Polystyrene Packaging Council
and SAPRO, who have shown an un-
wavering belief in our products. This
has helped us get consistent, reliable
access to recycled materials for our
projects, in order to meet supply and
deadlines. The faith and support that
the plastics industry and related as-
sociations show in initiatives such as
ours, helps to raise the profile of our
product and bring it to the attention
of a greater market.”
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