BS Concrete First Aid, the construction division of Hindle Mason Projects, remains the mining industry’s first point of contact for specialised concrete repair services.
This is considering the extensive skills and experience housed within the company. These are being harnessed to rehabilitate, strengthen, upgrade and protect key mining infrastructure.
A case in point is the work that the company is currently undertaking at Impala Platinum Rustenburg. Notably, BS Concrete First Aid has been providing specialist concrete repair services to this mine since 2013.
The new contract reaffirms Impala Platinum’s confidence in BS Concrete First Aid’s capabilities. It is an extensive undertaking that entails completing repairs to the concentrate thickeners; the concrete columns of 21 silos; and eight concentrate dams. A new base for the mill is also being constructed. These are being completed as part of BS Concrete First Aid’s focus on corrosion protection and post restoration, as well as the construction of reinforced concrete foundations, floors and slabs.
The repairs are being supervised by LJ Erasmus, who has been with BS Concrete First Aid for four years.
“We have made extensive progress on these large projects, having already completed the repairs to 16 columns for the concrete silos and eight dams, which are the most onerous aspects of the work scope. Repairs to a single dam can take between two to three months to complete,” Erasmus says.
As is the case on all of BS Concrete First Aid’s projects, cutting-edge repair products are being used throughout. These materials, together with the high quality of work performed by the specialist contractor, enable the company to provide a 10-year guarantee on its workmanship.
Notably, BS Concrete First Aid is one of the largest local users of cutting-edge Sika repair products and only one of about four South African companies in the country to specialise in the material manufacturer’s polyurethane spray coating.
The polyurethane spray coating is applied to all of the dams once the repairs have been completed to provide long-lasting concrete protection considering its high tensile strength, durability and abrasion-resistant traits.
They are first sandblasted internally and externally to prepare the surfaces. Cracks are then cut open and filled with a joint sealant and bitumen, after which the 3mm-thick polyurethane coating is applied. Steel around the concrete also receives a protective coating.
The most technically complex aspect of the work scope entails constructing the new base for the mill. Sikagard 720 EpoCem is being used as a concrete finish to provide excellent chemical resistance in these arduous applications.
Certainly, BS Concrete First Aid remains committed to maintaining high health and safety levels on all its projects, including on this contract. Notably, the company has continuously achieved “Five Shield” Dekra Ratings for minimal injuries on its projects.
This focus on health and safety, combined with an unwavering commitment to ISO 9001:2008 Construction Quality Assurance, also provides BS Concrete First Aid with its strategic competitive edge when tendering for mining-related work.
Erasmus concludes by noting that he is proud of the company’s long professional relationship with Impala Platinum and looks forward to continuing this association with an important client.
