ANNOUNCEMENT  25/3/2011

To all members of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors


IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

The Board of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors hereby notifies its members that it has lifted the suspension of Mr. Egon Wortmann and reached a mutual separation agreement with Mr. Egon Wortmann.

Gert Meyer
Immediate Past President
Association of South African Quantity Surveyors

Please click here to download this announcement in PDF format

 GAUTENG CHAPTER AGM

More photographs available on the Gauteng web-page.

 PRESIDENT'S TOUR 2011 CONCLUDED ON THE 18TH MARCH

The President's tour concluded on Friday in Nelspruit.

We, as members of the ASAQS, wish to extend our gratitude to Gert Meyer for his devotion to our profession and the role he played during the past few months of his term, which must have been the most trying that any president has had to face since the inception of the ASAQS.

 2020 REVISITED

SACQSP Conference 2011
Call for papers
Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 2nd September 2011

CONFERENCE SCOPE
The scope of the conference is to encourage active debate amongst researchers, post-graduate students and practitioners. Submissions by students, personnel who are working in the built environment discipline and those who are concerned with the challenges that the built environment profession faces, are particularly welcome. The conference seeks to explore current advances in research relevant to the present and future state of development of the professions' and industry, nationally and globally. Papers should focus on new research themes, practices and topics, innovative research strategies or well articulated methodologies applied in the professions' context. Reporting on work recently completed or work in progress is especially welcomed. The aim is to address the role and the contribution of all who add value to the industry's and professions' performance.



Click here for more information
Submit abstracts and papers to: qsconference@nmmu.ac.za

 WE WELCOME VALCAL AS OUR LATEST SPONSOR

VALCAL INTERNATIONAL has been installing Retaining Wall Systems since 1993 and is a member of the CMA. Owner, Pandelis Valarakis has over 17 years experience in the construction industry specialising in retaining wall systems. He brings his personal expertise to each project undertaken by VALCAL INTERNATIONAL and together with his highly trained team you are assured of your project being completed professionally. VALCAL INTERNATIONAL also has a BEE rating of 4.

Using a variety of Retaining Wall Blocks, which have been designed as the perfect solution to the widest possible range of soil retention and landscaping requirements, VALCAL INTERNATIONAL can professionally design, supply and install a flexible retaining wall to suit your needs.

VALCAL INTERNATIONAL also sub-contracts to commercial contractors and has sub-contracted to companies such as Rainbow Construction, Murray & Roberts, Giuricich Bros, Group Five, Real Landscapes, Bryan Westcott, WBHO, Summercon on various projects.

Please do not hesitate to contact VALCAL on Cell: 082 888 2432 or by E-Mail at info@valcal.co.za should you have a project where their specialist knowledge can be of assistance.

 ROI MEET REALITY

ROI analysis can be an enormously valuable tool for directing project investments, but it requires an open mind, reasonable assumptions and accurate numbers. Even then, the numbers that tell the whole story usually don't appear on silver platters and rarely lend themselves to cookie-cutter templates. Here are five pragmatic rules for constructing useful, believable ROI analyses.

The topic of return on investment (ROI) analyses inspires fear and loathing on the part of project professionals. Management requires them before funding projects or purchases, but few people are sure how to do them, or know where to get the "right" numbers. Many benefits are difficult to quantify in dollars, and it is often tough to meet the payback hurdles set by company policy. Besides, who really trusts an ROI analysis anyway? If the analysis comes from an outside party, it always seems to justify the product or service they are trying to sell, and if it is internally created, it just matches its author’s foregone conclusion. Many people have a way of making projects they don’t want to do fail any payback test, while personal favorites seem to generate enormous productivity returns. No wonder no one really believes ROI analyses.

To read on you need to first register for free, or log in on the Projects at Work website before clicking here.
(©www.projectsatwork.com)

 ENERGY SAVING BUILDING SOLUTIONS

The ASAQS is happy to announce that we have agreed to market and make available to our members the BuildAid publication called "Energy Saving Building Solutions". A really useful publication which in our opinion is a must for any professional QS office as a point of reference. A really worthwhile publication !!

The application of the newly legislated South African National Standards 204 prompted BuildAid to produce a publication providing a concise and informative guide to assist the industry in getting to grips with what it means to embrace energy conscious buildings. With the SANS 204 being integrated into the new SANS 10400 building regulations, BuildAid is presenting the "Energy Saving Building Solutions – A Commentary on SANS 204" publication for the use of all. This publication will hopefully help any professional person in getting to grips with SANS 204 and its application in SANS 10400 XA.

We at the ASAQS have adopted this document as one of the items on the "ASAQS Documents List" that we will support and it is now freely available from the ASAQS office at the price of R310,00 (inclusive of VAT – member price) (Non member price R325,00 – across the counter price). Additional charges are applicable if postage requirements are involved.

 GAUTENG UPDATE

Please visit the Gauteng web page for an update of the AGM and CPD event that took place on Wednesday the 16th March 2011. As usual the AGM formed part of a breakfast seminar and Tjaart van der Walt took some photographs.

 BUILT ENVIRONMENT EXPORT COUNCIL (BEPCC) UPDATE

Members are referred to the attached report on recent activities and developments of the Built Environment Export Council (BEPCC). The report was prepared by the CEO of BEPCC, Mr Roelof van Tonder.

To view the report, please click here.

 CUG AND OTHER UPDATES

With the CUG problems cleared away we could again do some much needed updates.

Please visit the CUG for:

• Four documents (rather old but still useful) on viability studies. These are currently undergoing a revision process and will be replaced as soon as the new documents are ready.
• The revised time charges for QS's for 2011
• The revised and complete Architect's fees for 2011
• A very handy free gift we were hoping to give away over Christmas.

We have also updated the Library Section of the website with the policies of the ASAQS.

 ASAQS ISSUES UPDATED DOCUMENT PRICELIST

Please be advised that the ASAQS has issued an updated "ASAQS Document Pricelist" dated 18 January 2011, which replaces the earlier 01 September 2010 version. The changes are not too dramatic, but we have essentially added two additional items for sale as follows:

• Quantity Surveying Practice in South Africa (Maritz & Sigle' publication) (reference A37)
• BUILD AID – Energy Saving Building Solutions (commentary of SANS 204) (reference A47).

The first item has been well publicised and is already available for purchase from the ASAQS offices. The second document will be available for purchase as from the first week in February 2011. More details will follow in due course in this regard.

To view the "ASAQS Document Pricelist" dated 18 January 2011, please click here.

To order any documents and publications online please click here.

 IT IS NEVER TO LATE TO GET YOUR CPD MATTERS IN ORDER

For those of you who still need to get your CPD matters in order there is a way to make up the required time before making the necessary submission to the SACQSP. No doubt you will find something on the GoLearning website that will interest you and could assist to make up the 25 hours you need for CPD.

Hopefully you will find something on the GoLearning website that will interest you and could assist to make up the 25 hours you need for CPD 2010.

BIG things are being planned for GoLearning this year We have already sourced numerous new modules on practical issues such as how to find and keep clients, how to market your services and how to cope with business cycles. What's more, they aim to make these modules no longer that an hour in duration so that you can fit them into your lunch hour.

We are currently just waiting that final programming be completed on the new GoLearning site.

Watch this space! Lunchtime CPD is where they're heading. All you will need to do is to buy a module every month for ten months and do some supplementary reading and by this time next year you will be ready to submit your CPD for the year.

GoLearning will assist to make your CPD commitments for 2011 a simple and enjoyable experience!

 QUANTITY SURVEYING PUBLICATION RELEASED

Having recently been presented with a complimentary copy of the publication entitled "Quantity Surveying Practice in South Africa", which was co-authored by Professors Tinus Maritz and Thys Siglé, we were most impressed with the informative content of the publication and soon realised the value of the publication to students and interested parties of the Quantity Surveying profession.

In the "Foreword and Acknowledgements" section of the publication it states the following:
It is hoped that this book will prove to be useful not only to students who may be considering Quantity Surveying as their career or have already commenced their studies, but also to all interested persons who wish to acquire a deeper understanding of the day-to-day work of a quantity surveyor.
 
This is a publication that is much needed in the education and training of the profession and the ASAQS would strongly recommend that this book be prescribed to all first and second year students at all tertiary institutions that offer Quantity Surveying programmes in South Africa. It is an easy to read publication, it is simply written and easy to understand. The ASAQS will certainly encourage the wider distribution and use of this publication.

This publication is now available for purchase at the ASAQS offices at the following rates (inclusive of VAT, exclusive of postage costs where applicable) :

• R160,00 to members
• R170,00 to non-members

The publication is also available on the Webshop.

Our compliments and congratulations to the co-authors for a fine publication. We wish them every success with the venture.

 ASAQS CENTENARY PUBLICATION

We would like to make you aware that the office of the ASAQS still has stock of the "ASAQS Centenary Publication" which is always a welcome addition to any organisation or office in the built environment. Should you still not have purchased your copies of this publication, please feel free to contact the ASAQS office for your copies of this publication. We will post them to you at earliest convenience.

 TIME CHARGE FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR (EXCLUSIVE OF VAT)

The South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP) has adopted and gazetted the following recommended hourly time charge rates for principals with effect from 1 January 2011:

Not exceeding 5 years experience  R   750.00 6 to 10 years experience R 1 400.00 above 10 years R 1 900.00 Specialist work (minimum 10 years experience) R 2 380.00

These rates may thus be used with immediate effect.

 RECOMMENDED TARIFF OF PROFESSIONAL FEES (2010)

The ASAQS Fees Committee has reported that it was recommended that the Recommended Tariff of Professional Fees (2010) does not require any changes to be made and that it should remain unaltered for the year 2011.

In the past the process was that in the event that no changes were necessary, the earlier tariff would simply remain in place without the need to re-gazette same simply with a new date on it. This was the process that was again adopted for this year and the Recommended Tariff of Professional Fees (2010) will thus remain applicable and in full force during the year of 2011.

 SACQSP ANNOUNCES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AUTHORS AND ASSESSORS

The Council wishes to engage the services of:

1. Authors of SACQSP Professional Skills Modules and
2. Assessors to evaluate the quality of the SACQSP Professional Skills Modules submitted by authors

Authors and assessors should be Registered Professional Quantity Surveyors in good standing, who have proven, relevant professional / practical experience, in-depth understanding of practice in the Built Environment and the construction industry and sound knowledge of teaching / training / mentoring / learning processes

Click here to download the RFQ

 PROCUREMENT DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES...

FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKS BASED ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD (CIDB) REGULATIONS

The Standard for Uniformity in Construction Procurement was first published in terms of the CIDB Act, 2000 (Act No 38 of 2000) in June 2004 with further amendments, the latest amendment being May 2010.

Members can download the guidelines and documentation from the CUG.

 MERGER OF BEPMEDS WITH TOPMED

After much publicity surrounding the possible merger between the BEPMEDS and TOPMED medical schemes, it has now formally been confirmed by all parties concerned that this merger is confirmed and has taken effect from 1 January 2011. This marks the end of an era for BEPMEDS and heralds in the promise of new beginnings with TOPMED.

The attached letter dated 7th December 2010 (click here) sets out all the details and requirements with regard to the merger. All BEPMEDS members should please pay particular attention to whatever action they personally need to take to smooth over the transition.

Should members require any further details of the TOPMED medical scheme and the service and options that they offer, we would suggest that you contact the TOPMED Call Centre directly with any requests that you may have. We believe that would be the best for you to get the correct information you seek. The TOPMED agents are well trained and equipped to handle any queries. 

The relevant contact details of TOPMED are as follows:
 
• Call Centre:  0860 00 21 58
• Fax Number: 031 580 0480
• E-mail:      info@topmedms.co.za
• Website :    www.topmed.co.za

All the scheme options and benefits are clearly displayed on the TOPMED website. To view the "TOPMED Option Form", please click here.

To view the final letter of approval issued by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) to formally confirm the completion of the merger, please click here.

 THE JBCC HAS MOVED OFFICES

The JBCC has announced that they moved offices on Monday 29th November 2010.

Their new physical address is as follows:
• Cedar House
• 26 Cedar Avenue
• Richmond
• Johannesburg
• 2092

Their postal address remains unchanged :
• P O Box 3137
• Houghton
• 2041

Their new telephone numbers are now confirmed as follows:
• Telephone (Landline) : (011) 482 3102 or 086 100 5222
• Facsimile : (011) 482 4299
• Facsimile to E-mail : 086 542 JBCC (5222)

The E-mail address remains unchanged as follows:
• jbcc@mweb.co.za

 MISSED THE NEWS?

We have archived all news stories from 2008 and 2009 in the News Section. You can also glance back at more recent news by following the links at the bottom of this page.

 WHERE TO PURCHASE YOUR CONTRACT DOCUMENTS ?

Following on numerous enquiries from members as to where they can purchase the various and different forms of contract, we have prepared the following easy-to-read schedule that will assist in this regard.

CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FROM CONTACT DETAILS JBCC CONTRACTS ASAQS 011 315 4140 PROCSA CLIENT/CONSULTANT AGREEMENTS (entire suite of documents) ASAQS 011 315 4140 NEC (New Engineering Contract) SAICE 011 805 5947/8 FIDIC CESA 011 463 2022 GCC (General Conditions of Contract - Civil) SAICE 011 805 5947/8

This schedule can also be downloaded in PDF-format by clicking here.

 ANNOUNCEMENT OF FORTHCOMING CONGRESSES

In order to assist members to plan their diaries this year in terms of forthcoming congresses and conferences they may wish to attend, attached the preliminary dates of some of these congresses for your attention (more details to follow):

PAQS Congress 2011
• July 2011
• Colombo, Sri Lanka

ICEC World Congress 2012
23 to 26 June 2012 – Durban, South Africa

PAQS Congress 2012
• July 2012
• Brunei

Members are encouraged to plan ahead and to support these conferences/congresses !!

 JOIN ASAQS

Click here to find out more about becoming a member of ASAQS and gaining entry to our Closed Users Group.
Membership forms, fees, etc.

 CHAPTER CHAIRPERSONS

ASAQS have chapters in all the provinces in South Africa - if you need to contact our chapters download their contact details by clicking here.

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 USEFUL TOOLS

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 CONTACT ASAQS

The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors
Postal address:
P.O. Box 3527
Halfway House 1685
Physical address:
Suite G6, Building 27
Thornhill Office Park
Bekker Road,
Vorna Valley Ext 21,
MIDRAND
Contact details:
Telephone : 011-3154140
Fax     : 011-3153785
E-mail    : association@asaqs.co.za
Office hours:
08h00 to 17h00

Click here to view a map to our offices

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Don't wait, we only have a limited number of slots left. Click here to download the sponsorship form or contact Bert van den Heever the ASAQS Webmaster