uMhlanga's Park Square development boasts innovative, water-wise plumbing by Rifeng

2018-11-12

For the construction of the Park Square development on uMhlanga Ridge, sustainable building products were sourced, among them Rifeng’s innovative piping system – a completely leak-free, water-efficient and cost-effective plumbing solution. The R1-billion mixed-used development, developed by Nedport Developments, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nedbank, has been under construction for two years, with the official opening set for 1 November 2018. 

“Rifeng supplies easy-to-install, high-quality polyethylene (PEX) products and multi-layer composite pipe systems that reduce water waste and offer an incredibly durable plumbing solution,” explained Glenn Fisher, National Sales Manager of Rifeng Southern Africa. “With the crippling droughts experienced in many parts of South Africa recently, and predictions for future water scarcity, developers are looking to our products as a sustainable option.” 

The Rifeng Crimp System was used throughout Park Square, an iconic mixed-use development located in the vicinity of Gateway Shopping Centre. The 40 000 square-metre development includes office and retail space in one of the area’s most sought-after nodes. 

Park Square has been designed as a completely eco-friendly building and is on track to carry a 4-star Green Star rating. This prompted the use of suppliers that meet stringent environmental standards, Rifeng among them. 

Ken Reynolds, Director of Nedport Developments, said: “We had a very specific purpose in the planning and development of Park Square. Our vision was for the building to become a benchmark for sustainable development in Durban’s built arena and for it to achieve a worthwhile green star rating. Our team has worked very hard to ensure Park Square ticks a multitude of boxes when it comes to sustainable development – from energy consumption and water use, to waste reduction and public transport access. We are very proud of what we’ve achieved.” 

For this particular project, the Rifeng Crimp System was used in sizes ranging from 16mm up to 75mm. Rifeng also provided regular on-site training and inspections by the Rifeng technical team, ensuring every inch of piping was laid correctly. 

“Because of the fast pace of the project and the tight deadline dates for handover, we found the product easy to use which greatly assisted us in delivering the project on time,” explained Rodney Sydney, Director of Starling Plumbers & Drainlayers cc, the company tasked with the plumbing installation. 

Rifeng’s products are regarded as the benchmark for quality worldwide - and with good reason. Every item complies with South African legislation, meeting the specifications of the South African National Standards Bureau (SABS), and also adhere to global standards with over 50 certifications by international institutes. 

The highly-certified products boast a lifespan of between 50 to 80 years with a 20-year no-corrosion guarantee. This is because the product is manufactured from interwoven PEX fibres, rather than the traditional copper piping. This means there is no risk of piping theft, and the product is lighter and more durable, while offering the same thermal expansion of copper. Further to this, the piping is half the cost of copper which adds up to massive construction savings. 

“The crimp fittings, as used in Park Square, are made from DZR brass which is high pressure and corrosion resistant,” explained Fisher. “An added benefit is that crimp fittings can be recycled.” 

He said there is incredible ease of operation when using the Rifeng pipes as there are fewer fittings needed: “This eliminates the use of joining the pipes, which – in turn - eliminates the risk of leaks. With fewer fittings and the pipe’s flexibility, there are no sharp, 90-degree joints which affect flow rates.” 

Rifeng is a specialist importer of plumbing pipes and fittings for distribution to wholesale, retail and export markets within South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania. They have gained a reputation as a quality, reliable product with many large-scale developments across South Africa – such as Park Square - using the Rifeng brand. 

A selection of photos is available, contact Shirley if you would like additional images

 

ENDS

 

This release has been prepared and distributed for Rifeng Southern Africa

For more information kindly contact Glenn Fisher on 031 880 0051 or 079 716 8139 

Distributed by Shirley Williams, contact Shirley on 083 303 1663 or shirley@fcbdurban.co.za