South Africa builds up to Soccer World Cup with erection of sports stadia

A 46 000 capacity, multi-purpose stadium is being built in Nelspruit, South Africa, through a joint venture between Mbombela, Basil Read and Bouygues Civil Works to host soccer matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  

South Africa will be the first developing country to host a world cup tournament post-1990. This tournament will have more participating nations and teams than any other world cup event.

Many tonnes of 12.90 mm plain, prestressed concrete (PC) strand (BS 5896/80 specification), post-tensioned plasticated strand, and reinforcing rebar were supplied to this project by Scaw’s Wire & Strand (W&S) and Union Junction operations. It is the first time that Scaw strand is being used in prestressed concrete seats. All of the prestressing has been done by Blitz Concrete.

Says Ahmed Patel, W&S’s national sales manager, “The Wire and Strand factory prides itself on customer service and safety. The group’s high safety standards were applied in a risk assessment of the PC strand dispensing system and Blitz’s installation practices. Only after potential occupational risks had been drastically reduced – from high to medium and finally to low risk – did delivery of our product begin.”

Ahmed organised a site visit at W&S for Blitz operators who will make the PC strand beams and senior managers. Here a risk assessment was conducted and a training programme, incorporating a strand dispensing guide, was held.

“Operators handled a strand dispenser and 12.90 mm strand, and were taught how to dispense and stress the strand safely.”

The strand is stressed to 70% of its breaking load on site. This is done in a specially built prestressing yard.

The stadium floors were post tensioned by Scaw’s long-term customer Amsteele Systems with 15.24 mm plasticated strand.