According to Erik Soderlund, general manager at the Institute for Timber Construction South Africa (ITC-SA), the ITC-SA is a significant player in the process of resolving the housing crisis.
There is legislation governing South Africa’s building and construction sector that specifies standards for designing, constructing, and erecting timber roof trusses. Photo by Flickr
“The Institute for Timber Construction South Africa (ITC-SA’s) crucial role in solving the country’s housing crisis is often overlooked by government and civil society. There is a tendency to assume that building houses and communities is a ‘numbers only’ exercise about the number of keys handed over without regard for the safety, sturdiness, liveability, and longevity of the structures.
“Apart from the scale and finish of the roof, there is no rational reason for there to be a difference between the quality of the timber trusses over the heads of people living in upmarket suburbs, ‘low cost’ community houses or owner-built homes in rural villages,” says Soderlund.
Quality and compliance
There is legislation governing South Africa’s building and construction sector that specifies standards for designing, constructing, and erecting timber roof trusses. It also delegates overseeing the compliance and quality assurance of the structures to various bodies, including municipalities and the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).
New trajectory
The ITC-SA is a registered non-profit company and designated professional body that bolsters the government’s drive to build dignified homes for its citizens. The Board of Directors has launched the organisation on a new trajectory this year, spearheaded by Erik Söderlund as its General Manager in January 2021.
Erik is based at the head office in Johannesburg, supported by Administrator Boitumelo Shoro. His job is to ensure that all businesses and individuals involved in the timber roof truss industry join the Institute. It includes overseeing the Institute’s members’ professional development and assisting them in their quest to comply with the law.
