NHBRC Board holds special meeting on the Protea Glen Disaster

On Monday 15th January 2018 the National Home Builders Registration (NHBRC) Council held a special meeting. The Council received a preliminary management report regarding the storm damage arising from what the South African Weather Services (SAWS) classified as a Tornadic Supercell Thunderstorm with an EF2 damage rating. (The SAWS uses Enhanced Fujita (EF) - the internationally used tornado damage rating scale). EF2 represents wind damage likely to have been caused by surface winds of approximately 178 - 217km/h, as experienced in Protea Glen, South of Johannesburg, Gauteng and surrounding areas.

Accordingly, Council noted that NHBRC inspectors and engineers had, in the past 14 days, conducted visual assessments of the houses that were damaged by the storm in the worst affected areas of Protea Glen Extensions 10, 20, 21, 22, 24, 31 and 34. The purpose of the assessments was to establish the root causes of the damage. According to the preliminary report, approximately 4 500 houses were assessed, of which seven (7) sustained major structural defects and 855 had minor defects.

The Council then resolved that the NHRBC must:

1. Conduct detailed technical investigations, including amongst others:

a) roof designs; b) quality of materials used; c) construction methodology; and d) structural designs.

2. Maintain all interactions and cooperation with the City of Johannesburg's Joint Operations Centre (JOC). Amongst others, the JOC will coordinate all disaster relief efforts and restore damaged infrastructure.

3. Continue to participate in the JOC and resolve all matters pertaining to its mandate.

In light of the impact of the disaster on the community, the Council, as part of its social responsibility, will make resources available to deserving housing consumers to assist with issues relating to the disaster.