Redefine development to be assessed with new industrial rating tool

One of the first developments that will be assessed with the industrial rating tool is Redefine's Golf Air Park near the Cape Town International Airport. Construction work on the new development will commence early next year.

"Up until now, it's unlikely that industrial developments in South Africa have generally thought about sustainability in the larger context. This tool will lead to developers thinking about sustainability in the industrial development space. Redefine is the true market leader in this instance," said Nick Gorrie of Agama, the consulting engineering company assisting in developing the industrial rating tool.

Level of sustainability

While the commercial property industry has been able to attain Green Star certification for several years, this is the first time that industrial developments will be rated according to their level of sustainability. Industrial developments and buildings will be certified as 4, 5 or 6 Star Green Star depending on their target criteria.

The Golf Air Park development, although still in the design phase, has already set targets for its GBCSA custom industrial certification. These include ensuring that all building services - such as mechanical, wet and electrical services - are commissioned in accordance with Charted Institution of Building Services Engineers standards, that all industrial spaces will be switchable to have their lighting turned down to 30% of maximum power, that there is a waste and recycling management plan and that more than 95% of all building façades are designed to be disassembled to allow for the reuse or easily recycling of the building materials.

Golf Air Park will also have rainwater harvesting for flushing of toilets and urinals as well as irrigation supply. The development will encourage employees to cycle to work by providing bicycle racks, showers, changing rooms and cycle routes throughout the site.