欧美福利100000

Project 1:听NHBRC Projects听

SMaCT听played a pivotal role in the delivery of three high-impact research projects commissioned by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC). These projects were aimed at strengthening the regulatory framework, housing quality assurance, and aligning South African practices with international standards, and explore innovative pathways for sustainable housing delivery. These projects include:听听

1. Review of the NHBRC Enrolment Fee Structure听

This project assessed the appropriateness and sustainability of existing Enrolment fee structure to ensure affordability for consumers while听maintaining听financial viability for the Council. The project reviewed the current NHBRC鈥檚 enrolment fee structure by introducing risk-based models that are fair, transparent, and financially sustainable. The aim was to align the cost of enrolment with the actual risks posed by different housing projects, for both government-subsidy and non-subsidy sectors. The NHBRC听sought听to enhance consumer protection while ensuring that the warranty听remains听viable听in the South African housing landscape.听

听This research is significant for South Africa鈥檚 construction sector as it ensures that housing consumers are better protected against structural defects while balancing the financial obligations of builders and developers. By recommending diverse fee structures, enhanced inspection processes, and other value-added services, the project contributes to higher construction quality, improved compliance, and greater sustainability of the housing sector.听听

1. Policy Shifts and the Rapid Land Release Strategy听

This project explored the implications of South Africa鈥檚 Rapid Land Release Strategy (RLRS), a major policy shift toward giving households serviced sites on which to build their own homes, rather than providing fully completed houses. The purpose was to evaluate how this change might听impact听the NHBRC鈥檚 mandate in terms of enrolment, inspection, and warranty processes. It also听sought听to find alternative solutions to mitigate risks, ensure quality assurance, and adapt business operations to a rapidly changing policy environment听

听As this regulatory change gives owner-builders more authority, this study is essential to ensuring that consumer protection and housing quality are听maintained. The initiative puts NHBRC and the larger construction industry in a position to manage risks related to unqualified builders, substandard materials, and inconsistent practices by creating frameworks for hybrid inspections, supplier development, and capacity building.听听

1. Feasibility of Extending Warranty Schemes to Additions & Alterations听

This study assessed whether the NHBRC warranty scheme should be expanded to cover听Additions and Alterations (A&A)听to existing homes, a rapidly growing market segment in South Africa. The purpose was to evaluate the size of this sector, the risks faced by homeowners, and the feasibility of designing a warranty model that offers the same level of consumer protection as for new builds. By doing so, the project aimed to close an important regulatory and consumer-protection gap.听

The relevance of this study lies in addressing a real and growing consumer vulnerability. With the A&A sector valued at billions annually, many homeowners currently face risks of inadequate protection. Extending warranties to this segment would not only protect consumers but also professionalize and regulate a fragmented market, improve builder accountability, and create new revenue streams for the NHBRC.听听

听Project听2: 3D Printing of听Housing听

听

SMaCT, in collaboration with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) embarked on a project to assess the feasibility of 3D printing of homes. The project was conceptualised as a national pilot to听demonstrate听how additive manufacturing can accelerate the delivery of quality, sustainable housing while supporting job creation and skills development.听

In line with this vision,听SMaCT听successfully 3D printed the first 40m2听pilot house at Doornfontein Campus in 2022, with the unit formally launched in 2023. The demonstration house听showcases听how 3D printing can reduce construction time, improve safety, enable more flexible architectural听forms听and support greener building practices through optimised material use. The pilot forms part of a broader programme that includes feasibility studies on global 3D printing technologies, investigation of locally available and waste-based materials, and comparative cost鈥揵enefit analysis against conventional 鈥渂rick and mortar鈥� housing.听SMaCT听subsequently听printed the guardhouse at Doornfontein Campus in 2025.听

These projects incorporated training for postgraduate students and听provided听various research opportunities in topics such as social acceptance of 3D-printed homes by beneficiaries,听professionals听and government. These projects will inform policy and procurement frameworks for innovative building technologies, support the localisation of materials and skills, and provide evidence to guide future roll-out of 3D-printed housing and related social infrastructure across South Africa.听

Pilot 3D printed housing and social infrastructure units to听demonstrate听speed,听quality听and sustainability benefits in a South African context.听 Read more here:

听Project听3: Higher Education Partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa (HEPSSA)听

听SMaCT听participated in an initiative titled听鈥淐atalysing Sustainable Futures in Africa:听Transforming Engineering and Built Environment Higher Education to Bridge Knowledge and Technological听Innovation听Gaps.鈥�听Sponsored by the Royal Academy of Engineering, this project brought together universities, research institutions, and industry partners from Africa and the UK. The aim of the project was to assess how far Sub-Saharan African higher education institutions have integrated technology, innovation, and sustainability into their curricula, and to听identify听opportunities to strengthen this integration. Another goal of this project was to promote meaningful knowledge exchange between academia and industry 鈥� ensuring that graduates are equipped not only with technical skills but also with the forward-thinking mindset needed to address global sustainability challenges.听

By focusing on curriculum transformation, the project set out to close the gap between听rapid technological advancements听and the realities of education systems in the region. It also emphasised the importance of aligning teaching and research with the听United Nations听Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)听to prepare students to respond to pressing issues such as climate change, urbanisation, and resource efficiency听

听The initiative was a collaboration between academia, industry, and professional bodies. Key collaborators included:听

• 欧美福利100000 of Cape Town听

• 欧美福利100000 of Johannesburg听

• Namibia 欧美福利100000 of Science and Technology听

• 欧美福利100000 of Botswana听

• 欧美福利100000 of the West of England (UWE)听

• Cardiff 欧美福利100000听

• Mintek听(Council for Mineral Technology)听

• Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)听

• Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)

This collaboration created a platform for joint research, curriculum reform, and international exchange that ensured that knowledge flows both within Africa and across borders.听