Kwikspace supplies 46 classrooms in five weeks

In a mammoth project completed over five weeks, Kwikspace supplied Yikusasa building contractors with 46 classrooms, nine ablution facilities and five offices for use at Noordgesig Primary School in Soweto while some of the school’s permanent structures undergo asbestos removal operations. The rental project is not only Kwikspace’s largest to date as far as schools are concerned, but also the longest with the hire period amounting to 16 months. Historically, the conventional time period for rental projects of this nature is between eight and 12 months.

All classrooms are constructed as double-wide units, meaning that each comprises two joined units of 3.5 X 7 m each, resulting in a single 7 X 7 m structure that includes windows, electrical lighting, plug points, and chalk and pin boards. Single-wide units are used to house the ablution facilities and offices, with each office equipped with windows, lighting, the required electrical wiring and plug points. The ablution facilities come standard with toilets and basins, as well as all fittings required for the appropriate intake, use and discharge of running water. The completed structure has the capacity to accommodate 2 000 learners, a significant increase from that provided by the original asbestos-insulated structure.

The order was received at the end of March with supply beginning in early April, the month with the most public holidays in SA. “Our company was closed for the mandatory holidays, effectively reducing our time to complete the order,” explains Claude Naidoo, Rental Account Manager, Kwikspace. “We increased the size of our onsite workforce, whose responsibility it is to conduct joining and finishing, to overcome the time challenge and were therefore able to deliver the project on time and to specification.”

A Certificate of Compliance was issued for all electrics, as is the norm subsequent to the electrical inspection, and a two-phase unit inspection and handover approach, incorporating the site services team and Kwikspace’s account manager, was used. “These handover inspections form part of every project,” explains Naidoo. “Even though each rental unit undergoes refurbishment between projects, including a complete respray, it is important that our clients are completely satisfied with site services implementation and each unit as a whole. Our detailed inspection and handover process goes a long way to ensuring this, and we provide a comprehensive warranty as part of our rental contracts.”

Kwikspace was subcontracted by building contractor Yikusasa, who was awarded the tender for this school’s refurbishment by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure and Development (DID). This the third school project for which Yikusasa has contracted Kwikspace and Naidoo expands on this enthusiastically: “Yikusasa has built an excellent reputation with the DID, and the fact that they are one of our repeat customers means our product quality and work ethics are valued.”

“Helping to transform our country by providing quality infrastructure, especially in the field of education, is a rewarding experience for our company,” Naidoo enthuses. The fact that we contribute to the advancement of education, albeit indirectly, and also provide human dignity and a level of comfort through our mobile and permanent modular buildings, is gratifying.”