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building installation industry south africa

The Building Installation Industry in South Africa 2025

Stephen Timm | South Africa | 23 June 2025

The Building Installation Industry in South Africa 2021

Stephen Timm | South Africa | 21 May 2021

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Report Coverage

This report on the building installations sector in South Africa includes information on activities involving fitting equipment to buildings such as plumbing, insulation, lighting, heating and air-conditioning, sprinkler systems, lifts, electrical work, shopfitting and fitting of certain plants. It includes information on major property companies and developers, construction statistics, capex, notable players, corporate actions and influencing factors such as regulations, solar tariffs, green buildings, water and energy efficiency, and environmental concerns. There are profiles of 68 industry players such as Solareff, Steffanuti Stocks Isowall, Schindler Lifts, RenEnergy, and Sustainable Power Solutions.

Introduction

• The building installation sector is affected by capital expenditure by the state and private property owners and managers.
• Continued delays to state infrastructure projects have held back building installations.
• Reduced loadshedding since early 2024 has led to a decline in residential rooftop solar installations.
• Large property owners and construction companies continue to invest in solar and other energy and water efficiency measures.
• The latest focus is on getting buildings to be self-sufficient in water supply due to crumbling municipal water infrastructure.

Trends

• A government programme has led to the rollout of more student housing.
• Installations of water backup tanks, boreholes and water meters has grown.
• IoT has propelled a growth in smart buildings.
• Office blocks are refurbishing to be geared for hybrid work.
• Property companies are rolling out new logistics and retail developments where demand is growing.
• Property owners facing rising cost increases are looking at water and energy efficiency measures to contain costs.
• Residential developers are focusing on flats and townhouses over free-standing homes.
• Rooftop solar installations have slowed with the decline of loadshedding.
• The construction sector continues to struggle.
• The green building trend continues.

Opportunities

• Energy and water infrastructure concerns and pricing are driving demand by building owners for energy and water efficiency installations.
• Energy efficiency tax deductions.
• Heat pump installations have grown in recent years.
• Installations in low cost housing, student housing, logistics developments and in office properties catering for hybrid or co-working arrangements.
• New regulations compel owners of non-residential buildings to display energy efficiency certificates.
• Replacing HFC gases in air-conditioning and refrigeration units.

Challenges

• A lack of skilled artisans.
• Above inflation increases in council rates and electricity and water tariffs in recent years may limit spend on building installations.
• Government has been slow to put infrastructure projects out to tender.
• Increase in illegal geyser installations, rise in fake electrical certificates of compliance and large number of technicians that work informally or on smaller jobs, are handling refrigerants illegally.
• Logistical constraints with importing components for batteries.
• New regulations are making it more burdensome to install solar.
• Slow economy and the poor performance of the construction sector.
• Tariffs mooted on solar equipment could increase the cost of installations.
• The construction mafia is holding back the development of new infrastructure.

Outlook

• Growth is likely to be constrained unless the construction sector starts to grow again.
• The delay of major state infrastructure projects is a major constraint.
• Listed property companies’ developments, particularly in logistics and retail, are driving growth.
• The continuing focus on cutting costs will drive investment in energy and water efficiency installations.
• Water backup tanks, boreholes and other water supply measures have gained popularity as property owners try to mitigate against crumbling municipal water infrastructure.

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The Building Installation Industry in South Africa
The Building Installation Industry in South Africa 2025

Full Report

R 20 000.00(ZAR) estimated $1124.84 (USD)*

Industry Landscape

R 14 000.00(ZAR) estimated $ 787.39 (USD)*

Historical Reports

The Building Installation Industry in South Africa 2021-05-21

R 1 900.00(ZAR) estimated $106.86 (USD)*

View Report Add to Cart

Table of Contents

[ Close ]
PAGE
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 1
2.1. Industry Value Chain 4
2.2. Geographic Position 5
2.3. Size of the Industry 5
3. LOCAL 6
3.1. State of the Industry 6
3.2. Key Trends 13
3.3. Key Issues 14
3.4. Notable Players 14
3.5. Trade 15
3.6. Corporate Actions 15
3.7. Regulations 16
3.8. Enterprise Development and Social Development 19
4. AFRICA 20
5. INTERNATIONAL 22
6. INFLUENCING FACTORS 24
6.1. Economic Environment 24
6.2. Labour 24
6.3. Environmental Issues 27
6.4. Technology, R&D, Innovation 36
6.5. Government Support 37
6.6. Input Costs 39
7. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT 39
7.1. Competition 39
7.2. Ownership Structure of the Industry 40
7.3. Barriers to Entry 40
8. INDUSTRY SUMMARY 41
9. OUTLOOK 42
10. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 42
11. REFERENCES 43
11.1. Publications 43
11.2. Websites 45
ANNEXURE 1 47
Relevant Legislation 47
APPENDIX 1 48
Summary of Notable Players 48
APPENDIX 2 56
List of HS Codes Covered 56
COMPANY PROFILES 57
ABB SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 57
ACES AFRICA (PTY) LTD 60
ACTOM (PTY) LTD 62
AGGREKO ENERGY RENTAL SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 70
AIRGRO (PTY) LTD 72
AIRVENT AIRCONDITIONING AND VENTILATION CAPE (PTY) LTD 75
ALLSOLAR SA (PTY) LTD 77
AQUAFFECTION (PTY) LTD 79
AQUAHEAT POOL HEATERS (PTY) LTD 80
ARISTON SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 82
ARNOTT PANELS (PTY) LTD 84
ATBRO SYSTEMS CC 86
BRAND ENGINEERING S A (PTY) LTD 87
BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 89
BURGESS AND PARTNERS (PTY) LTD 91
BUSINESS CONNEXION (PTY) LTD 93
CATO RIDGE ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION (PTY) LTD 96
CBRE EXCELLERATE GWS FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (PTY) LTD 98
CHANNEL DATA (PTY) LTD 100
COLBYN ELECTRICAL SERVICES (PTY) LTD 102
CYBERSMART (PTY) LTD 103
DIESEL ELECTRIC SERVICES (PTY) LTD 105
DIFFERENCE APPROACH (PTY) LTD 107
DIMENSION DATA (PTY) LTD 108
DRAIN SURGEON FRANCHISING (AFRICA) (PTY) LTD (THE) 111
EDISON POWER (PTY) LTD 113
EMPAYAR ELECTRICAL (PTY) LTD 115
ERICSSON SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 116
ESL PLUMBING (PTY) LTD 118
FALCON SHOPFITTERS SA (PTY) LTD 120
FLAT-FOOT AIR CONDITIONERS (PTY) LTD 122
GODDARDS ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS (PTY) LTD 124
HONEYWELL AUTOMATION AND CONTROL SOLUTIONS SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 126
HYBRID AUTOMATION CC 128
INDUSTRIAL PLUMBERS HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD 130
IRITRON (PTY) LTD 132
ISOWALL AUTOMOTIVE (PTY) LTD 134
J N PLUMBING CC 136
JOHNSON CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL (PTY) LTD 138
KONE ELEVATORS SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 140
M M A SECURITY SERVICES (PTY) LTD 142
M-TECH INDUSTRIAL (PTY) LTD 144
MAGETZ ELECTRICAL (PTY) LTD 147
MELCO ELEVATOR (SOUTH AFRICA) (PTY) LTD 149
MET SOLAR (PTY) LTD 150
METRO FIBRE NETWORX (PTY) LTD 152
MICROPOWER MODULEK (PTY) LTD 154
OTIS (PTY) LTD 156
P A SHOPFITTERS (PTY) LTD 158
PENINSULA PLUMBING AND ENGINEERING WORKS (PTY) LTD 160
PROTHERM SYSTEMS (PTY) LTD 162
RGD SA (PTY) LTD 164
RMS SHOPFITTING (PTY) LTD 165
RO-AL CONSTRUCTION (PTY) LTD 167
SA HEAT PUMP ENGINEERS (PTY) LTD 169
SCHINDLER LIFTS (SA) (PTY) LTD 170
SECUTEL TECHNOLOGIES (PTY) LTD 172
SERVEST (PTY) LTD 174
SHOSPEC (PTY) LTD 178
SIRAC SOUTHERN AFRICA (PTY) LTD 180
SOLA GROUP (PTY) LTD 182
SOLAR HEAT EXCHANGERS (PTY) LTD 184
SOLAREFF (PTY) LTD 186
SOLARWORLD AFRICA (PTY) LTD 188
SOUTHERN AIR CONDITIONING (PTY) LTD 190
STEFANUTTI STOCKS HOLDINGS LTD 192
STEINMULLER AFRICA (PTY) LTD 197
SUSTAINABLE POWER SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD 200
SYNERGY ENERGY SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD 202
SYSTEMS AUTOMATION AND MANAGEMENT (PTY) LTD 204
THORBURN SECURITY SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD 206
WACO AFRICA (PTY) LTD 209
WEG GROUP AFRICA (PTY) LTD 213
XONE INTEGRATED SECURITY (PTY) LTD 216

Report Coverage

This report focuses on the building installations sector in South Africa – with a focus on electricity energy efficiency for buildings. It includes comprehensive information on the state and size of the sector, key trends and statistics, capital expenditure, corporate actions, regulations and environmental concerns. There are profiles of 83 companies including lift and elevators operators such as Otis, Schindler and Kone, plumbing companies such as Drain Surgeon and Industrial Plumbers and heat pump installers including SA Heat Pump Engineers.

Introduction

The building installation sector is a complex sector. It consists of a number of activities involving the fitting of equipment to buildings, such as plumbing, insulation, lighting, heating and air-conditioning, sprinkler systems, lifts, electrical work, shopfitting and fitting of certain plants. The sector is affected by capital expenditure by the state and private property owners and managers, which has slowed since the onset in March 2020 of the pandemic, as vacancies have escalated, particularly in commercial office blocks. A major trend driving new installations is the move by property developers and construction companies to make buildings greener, in a bid to lower energy and water costs and carbon emissions.

Strengths

• Competition is largely vibrant, as most of the sector is made up of small companies.
• Strong recognition for green buildings.
• The property sector is well organised and includes a number of JSE-listed property investors.
• The sector is represented by a number of industry associations.

Weaknesses

• A number of professions in the sector face a lack of skilled artisans.
• Building installations are very closely tied to the performance of the economy.
• Recent investigations by competition authorities have uncovered collusion in at least one market segment.
• The government has been slow to put special infrastructure projects out to tender.

Opportunities

• Energy efficiency tax deductions.
• Load-shedding and electricity price increases as well as concern other water infrastructure and pricing are driving a demand by building owners for energy efficiency as well as water efficiency installations.
• New regulations compel owners of non-residential buildings to display energy efficiency certificates.
• Several of the special infrastructure projects gazetted in July 2020 present opportunities for those fitting building installations.
• The pandemic has created opportunities for air-conditioning installers to fit safer filters.

Threats

• Building operators have cut or delayed capital expenditure due to the pandemic.
• Late payments by government to renovators.
• The National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s 1MW threshold for power projects has limited the rollout of bigger solar PV projects.
• The pandemic and particularly the work-from-home trend has decreased demand for new building projects and renovations.
• The property sector faces a number of challenges such as expropriation without compensation and possible regulations being passed on rental determinations, escalations, lease renewals and other commercial business principles.
• There are a large number of non-compliant contractors, particularly in the plumbing and installation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

Outlook

The building installations sector faces constrained growth as the pandemic has slowed the construction of new buildings, particularly in the non-residential sector. National Treasury forecasts that the economy will grow by 3.3% in 2021, following a 7% contraction in 2020 (including a 20.3% contraction in the construction sector). However, as of Q1 2021 business confidence remained subdued and it is unclear when the number of new installations will return to pre-pandemic levels. Despite this, the drive by property owners to reduce carbon emissions by developing green buildings and improve energy efficiency by reducing their reliance on the electricity grid is expected to provide a number of opportunities for installers, particularly those involved with solar installations (solar PV, solar water heating and heat pumps). The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association says given continued load-shedding the outlook for solar PV is “incredibly positive”. While the gazetting in July 2020 by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure of several strategic infrastructure projects (SIPs), including R138bn housing projects, present opportunities for those fitting new building installations, it will be dependent on how quickly these can get off the ground.

Read More..
The Building Installation Industry in South Africa
The Building Installation Industry in South Africa 2021

Full Report

R 1 900.00(ZAR) estimated $106.86 (USD)*

Industry Landscape

R 1 330.00(ZAR) estimated $ 74.80 (USD)*

Historical Reports

The Building Installation Industry in South Africa 2025-06-23

R 20 000.00(ZAR) estimated $1124.84 (USD)*

View Report Add to Cart

Table of Contents

[ Close ]
PAGE
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 1
2.1. Geographic Position 6
3. SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY 7
4. STATE OF THE INDUSTRY 15
4.1. Local 15
4.1.1. Corporate Actions 22
4.1.2. Regulations 23
4.1.3. Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development 28
4.2. Continental 28
4.3. International 30
5. INFLUENCING FACTORS 32
5.1. Coronavirus 32
5.2. Economic Environment 34
5.3. Technology, Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation 35
5.4. Government Incentives and Support 37
5.5. Environmental Concerns 38
5.6. Labour 49
6. COMPETITION 51
6.1. Barriers to Entry 52
7. SWOT ANALYSIS 52
8. OUTLOOK 53
9. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 54
10. REFERENCES 55
10.1. Publications 55
10.2. Websites 56
APPENDIX 1 58
Summary of Notable players 58
COMPANY PROFILES 70
ABB SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 70
ACES AFRICA (PTY) LTD 73
ACTOM (PTY) LTD 75
AGGREKO ENERGY RENTAL SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 83
AIRGRO (PTY) LTD 85
AIRVENT AIRCONDITIONING AND VENTILATION CAPE (PTY) LTD 87
AQUAHEAT POOL HEATERS CC 89
ARISTON THERMO SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 91
ARNOTT PANELS (PTY) LTD 93
ATBRO SYSTEMS CC 95
BRAND ENGINEERING S A (PTY) LTD 97
BRIGGS AND STRATTON RSA (PTY) LTD 99
BRIGHTSOURCE ENERGY SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 101
BUSINESS CONNEXION (PTY) LTD 102
CATO RIDGE ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION (PTY) LTD 105
CBRE EXCELLERATE GWS FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (PTY) LTD 107
CHANNEL DATA (PTY) LTD 109
COLBYN ELECTRICAL SERVICES CC 111
CYBERSMART (PTY) LTD 112
CYCLOTHERM SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 114
DIESEL ELECTRIC SERVICES (PTY) LTD 116
DIFFERENCE APPROACH (PTY) LTD 118
DIMENSION DATA (PTY) LTD 119
E\'N I ELECTRICAL-INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEERING AND CONTRACTORS (PTY) LTD 122
EDISON POWER (PTY) LTD 124
EMPAYAR ELECTRICAL (PTY) LTD 126
ERD FAB (PTY) LTD 127
ERICSSON SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 129
FALCON SHOPFITTERS SA (PTY) LTD 131
FLAT-FOOT AIR CONDITIONERS (PTY) LTD 133
GODDARDS ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS (PTY) LTD 135
HI TEMP SOLAR HEATING CC 136
HI-TECH LIFTS CC 138
HONEYWELL AUTOMATION AND CONTROL SOLUTIONS SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 140
HYBRID AUTOMATION CC 143
INTASTOR CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS (PTY) LTD 145
INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY SOURCING CC 147
IRITRON (PTY) LTD 148
ISOWALL SOUTHERN AFRICA (PTY) LTD 150
IZIKATHI SECURITY (PTY) LTD 152
KONE ELEVATORS SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 154
M C E FABRICATION AND CONSTRUCTION (PTY) LTD 156
M M A SECURITY SERVICES (PTY) LTD 157
M-TECH INDUSTRIAL (PTY) LTD 159
MAGETZ ELECTRICAL CC 162
MELCO ELEVATOR (SOUTH AFRICA) (PTY) LTD 164
METRO FIBRE NETWORX (PTY) LTD 166
MICROPOWER MODULEK (PTY) LTD 168
OTIS (PTY) LTD 170
PAN AFRICAN SHOPFITTERS (PTY) LTD 173
PROTHERM SYSTEMS (PTY) LTD 175
RATEHANG PROJECTS CC 177
RMS SHOPFITTING (PTY) LTD 179
RO-AL CONSTRUCTION (PTY) LTD 181
SA HEAT PUMP ENGINEERS (PTY) LTD 183
SCHINDLER LIFTS (SA) (PTY) LTD 184
SECUTEL TECHNOLOGIES (PTY) LTD 186
SERVEST (PTY) LTD 188
SHOSPEC (PTY) LTD 192
SIRAC SOUTHERN AFRICA (PTY) LTD 194
SOLA GROUP (PTY) LTD 196
SOLAR HEAT EXCHANGERS (PTY) LTD 198
SOLAREFF (PTY) LTD 200
SOUTHERN AIR CONDITIONING (PTY) LTD 202
STEFANUTTI STOCKS HOLDINGS LTD 204
STEINMULLER AFRICA (PTY) LTD 209
STIEBEL ELTRON SOUTHERN AFRICA (PTY) LTD 212
SYNERGY ENERGY SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD 213
SYSTEMS AUTOMATION AND MANAGEMENT (PTY) LTD 214
THORBURN SECURITY SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD 216
WACO AFRICA (PTY) LTD 219
WELKOM INDUSTRIAL CONTROLS (PTY) LTD 223
XONE INTEGRATED SECURITY (PTY) LTD 225
ZEST WEG GROUP AFRICA (PTY) LTD 227