MEP Middle East visits Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi to take the

Transcription

MIDDLE EAST
Essential information for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC professionals
BELGIUM’S BEST
BESIX’S RACHID GHAMRAOUI ON
THE CONTRACTOR’S APPROACH
TO THE MEP INDUSTRY
NEWS UPDATE | 04
BIG PICTURE | 07
COMMENT | 14
ANALYSIS | 16
PRODUCTS | 44
THE LAST WORD | 48
| January
| April
An ITP
AnBusiness
ITP Business
Publication
Publication
2013
2011Vol.
Vol.
8 6Issue
Issue
014
2013 PREVIEW
INDUSTRY HEAVYWEIGHTS ON
WHAT THEY THINK IS IN STORE
FOR THE COMING YEAR
HEALTHY PROGRESS
MEP Middle East visits Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi to take
the pulse of a project with MEP at its heart
ALSO: AIR-CONDITIONED STADIUMS
HIGH QUALITY
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JANUARY 2013 VOLUME 8 ISSUE 01
CONTENTS
04
NEWS UPDATE
14
NEWS UPDATE
16
DSI remains in CEO hunt as
contract wins continue
10
Emirates Green Building Council
holds first congress
36
COMMENT
44
ANALYSIS
48
Gerhard Hope on the ‘zero
energy’ houses of the future
Is Dubai’s newfound confidence
built on solid foundations?
PRODUCT FOCUS
Check out the latest MEP
related products in the market
THE LAST WORD
Toufic Hawat of M-E Engineers
on the MEP stadium design
20
SITE VISIT
MEP Middle East visits the site of Abu Dhabi’s Mafraq Hospital and finds a project that
is at a critical point but in rude health.
2013 PREVIEW
A contractor, consultant and supplier tell
us what they think is in store in 2013.
40
28
HEAT OF THE ACTION
MEP Middle East looks at the viability of
cooling giant sports venues.
www.constructionweekonline.com
BIG INTERVIEW
Rachid Ghamraoui, general manager of Besix Sanotec, shares his experience of the
industry and what it is Besix looks for in an MEP sub-contractor.
January 2013 | MEP Middle East 1
Registered at Dubai Media City
PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE
Tel: 00 971 4 444 3000 Fax: 00 971 4 444 3030 Web: www.itp.com
Offices in Dubai, Manama, Mumbai & London
NEWS UPDATE | 04
COMMENT | 14
ANALYSIS | 16
INTERVIEW | 20
PRODUCTS | 60
THE LAST WORD | 63
MIDDLE EAST
ITP BUSINESS PUBLISHING
CEO Walid Akawi
Managing Director Neil Davies
Managing Director, ITP Business Karam Awad
Deputy Managing Director Matthew Southwell
Editorial Director David Ingham
EDITORIAL
ARABIAN MEP
CONTRACTING
ADVERTISING
STUDIO
BIG
TIME
MEP AWARDS
A LOOK B
BACK
ACK A
AT LLAST
AST
YEAR’S WINNERS
Senior Group Editor Stuart Matthews
Editor Cathal McElroy
Tel: +971 4 444 3235 e-mail: [email protected]
Sales Director: Construction Yazan Rahman
Advertising Director: Construction Andrew Parkes
Sales Manager Muhammad Melhem
| November
| April2012
An ITPAn
Business
Publication
ITP Business
Publication
2011Vol.
Vol.7 6Issue11
Issue 4
PLUS
P
LUS
QATAR’S
Q
ATAR’
R’S
S
PENDING ON
SPENDING
2022
THE RISING STAR
OF QATAR
As the grandest show around comes to town, we take a look at
some MEP industry players hoping to make it big
ALSO: A LOOK INSIDE AN AIRFLOW STUDIO
Head of Design Dan Prescott
PHOTOGRAPHY
Chief Photographer Jovana Obradovic
Senior Photographers Efraim Evidor, Isidora Bojovic
Staff Photographers George Dipin, Juliet Dunne, Lester Ali, Mosh Lafuente, Murrindie Frew,
Ruel Pableo, Rajesh Raghav, Shruti Jagdesh, Stanislav Kuzmin, Verko Ignjatovic
MIDDLE EAST
PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION
PRIZE POSSESSION
NEWS UPDATE | 04
COMMENT | 14
ANALYSIS | 16
HVAC NEWS | 52
PRODUCTS | 54
THE LAST WORD | 56
| October
| April2012
An ITP
AnBusiness
ITP Business
Publication
Publication
2011Vol.
Vol.7 6Issue10
Issue 4
TRANSFORMER
AS THE MEP AWARDS APPROACHES WE
LOOK BACK AT LAST YEAR’S WINNERS
TRANS GULF’S SEKHAR REDDY ON
THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE
Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith
Deputy Production Manager Matthew Grant
Production Coordinator Sarat Chandra
Managing Picture Editor Patrick Littlejohn
Image Retoucher Emmalyn Robles
Distribution Manager Karima Ashwell
Distribution Executive Nada Al Alami
CIRCULATION
Head of Circulation & Database Gaurav Gulati
MARKETING
Head of Marketing Daniel Fewtrell
Events Manager Michelle Meyrick
MAKING A SPLASH
We visit Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island Waterworld to find out how the
project’s MEP is creating a frivolous flood of fun
ALSO: SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
ITP DIGITAL
Director Peter Conmy
Digital Publishing Director Ahmad Bashour
Tel: +971 4 444 3549, email: [email protected]
Sales Manager, B2B Digital Riad Raad
Tel: +971 4 444 3319, email: [email protected]
MIDDLE EAST
ITP GROUP
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of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in
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50
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AT
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Chairman Andrew Neil
Managing Director Robert Serafin
Finance Director Toby Jay Spencer-Davies
Board of Directors K.M. Jamieson, Mike Bayman,
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Printed by Atlas Printing Press L.L.C. Dubai
NEWS UPDATE | 04
COMMENT | 14
ANALYSIS | 16
INTERVIEW | 20
PRODUCTS | 52
THE LAST WORD | 56
| September
| April2012
An ITPAn
Business
ITP Business
Publication
Publication
2011 Vol.
Vol.76 Issue
Issue94
STILL STANDING STRONG
TWO OF AL FUTTAIM ENGINEERING’S
TOP MEN TELL US THE SECRET
TO THEIR SUCCESS
MADE BETTER
WITH BIM
iTECH’S ELIZABETH PETER’S
ON BIM’S ROLE IN
AL MAFRAQ HOSPITAL
TWIST AND SHOUT
As Dubai’s spectacular Infinity Tower nears completion,
we hear why it is an MEP project worth shouting about
ALSO: AN EDUCATION IN SMART METERS
BPA Worldwide Audited. Average Qualified Circulation 5,118 (January - June 2012)
Published by and © 2013 ITP Business Publishing, a member of the
ITP Publishing Group Ltd. Registered in the B.V.I. under Company
Registration number 1402846
2 MEP Middle East | January 2013
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NEWS UPDATE
DSI remains in hunt for new
CEO as contract wins continue
Current chief confident he can step down by 2014 at the latest as company announces deals
for projects in GCC and India as well as Far East and Europe contracts for its water arm
Drake & Scull International is still searching
for a replacement for
its vice chairman and
CEO, Khaldoun Tabari,
who plans to step down
in the next one to two
years, he has said.
The
Dubai-based
contractor hopes to appoint someone within
the next six months,
according to Tabari.
“The stepping-down
issue has come up with
the board. It is something that is imminent;
the time frame is perhaps one to two years,” Khaldoun Tabari, CEO and vice-chairman of DSI
he said.
“We are looking at somebody who would be in preliminary talks for
different options [and] earmarked to take this acquisition opportunities
with different recruit- position – unfortunately in Saudi Arabia valued at
around $27.2m-$40.8m
ing agents. I think it has been delayed.
it will crystallise in
“Definitely by the and will also be looking
perhaps six months,” end of [next] year we at investing in two power
he added.
should have someone plants in India, he added.
Drake and Scull has
“Theoretically, we that we look forward
gradually been expandwere supposed to by to [appointing].”
now have selected
The firm is currently ing its operations out-
PROFIT AND PAYOUT
Definitely by the end of
[next] year we should have
someone that we look forward to
[appointing].“
Khaldoun Tabari, Drake and Scull CEO
side the UAE following
a slowdown in its oncebooming
construction
sector which has seen the
company pick up projects
across the GCC, India,
the Far East and Europe.
In the last month, the
firm signed two MEP
contracts for a $15m hotel apartment project and
a $10.9m district cooling
project in Qatar in addition to a $14.7m residential tower project in India.
Mobilisation on site
for the three projects
is underway. The hotel apartment project is
scheduled for completion
in February 2014 and the
district cooling project in November 2013,
while the residential
tower is also expected
to be completed in
November 2013.
Meanwhile,
the
firm’s
wholly-owned
German arm Passavant-Roediger,
has
landed deals in Vietnam and Romania.
The Vietnam contract is an engineering,
procurement and construction (EPC) deal
valued at $46m, while
the two water treatment deals in Romania
are worth a combined
total of $25.4m.
FAIR SHARE
JOHNSON CONTROLS 2012 TRADING
%:
-10all3in.4
p ro fit
-$8M:
2012 net loss
F
f r om 2
011
$10.4BN:
2012 turnover
JOHNSON CONTROLS
-4%:
Fall in turnover
from 2012
US fiscal year 2012 results
NEWS UPDATE
METALS PRICES
COPPER
Vasanth Kumar, CEO of Arabian MEP Contracting.
Industrial wastewater will face tighter controls (Getty images).
Arabian MEP secures
Rotana hotel contract
Dubai cracks down on
industrial wastewater
CONTRACT
WASTEWATER
Arabian MEP Contracting has announced it has won
the MEP contract for the Centro Rotana Hotel project
in Qatar. The value of the project is unspecified, but its
completion date is set for the end of 2013.
The scope of the deal includes HVAC, BMS, electrical, plumbing, firefighting, ELV systems, swimming
pool and other client-nominated equipments such as
vertical transportation lift systems, kitchen equipment,
laundry equipment, and window cleaning equipment.
Commenting on the contract award, Vasanth Kumar, Arabian MEP Contracting CEO, said, “In spite of
the severe competition, I am delighted to note that we
continue to win new hotel contracts after our successful
delivery of the prestigious 400-room Oryx Rotana 5 Star
hotel, which won the Best Airport Hotel Award in the
Middle East.
“Industry experts will agree that MEP system performance plays a critical role in the success of any luxury
hotel project and we at Arabian MEP ensure our clients
are provided with the highest quality in our installations,” he added.
The project’s consultant is Arab Engineering Bureau,
while the hotel will be managed by the Rotana brand.
The Environment Department at Dubai Municipality
has issued a circular with new requirements to be followed by all industrial establishments generating trade
wastewater, as well as the approved waste transporters
in the Emirate of Dubai.
Dr Abdulsalam Mohamed Saleh, head of environmental control section, said the new instructions are
to ensure proper and environmentally safe disposal of
trade wastewater.
The department emphasised that discharge of trade
waste which has quality parameters exceeding the
limits specified in permits to the Dubai Municipality Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is illegal and liable
for penalty. It added that it is the responsibility of both
generator and the transporter of the waste to comply with standards specified and to avoid any illegal
mix-up of wastes.
Dr Abdulsalam said that, in order to ensure that trade
waste is discharged directly to sewage plants from the
source, waste generators must ensure that only one
tanker is used per trip. He added that the Environmental Control Section will also take tighter control over
the issue of discharge permits.
$8,000
17 December
$7,715
26 November
STEEL
$290
17 December
$295
26 November
NICKEL
LEGAL
Du engineers jailed for stealing cabling
Two Du engineers who stole $64,000 worth of fibre optic cables will be jailed for a year
each, a Dubai court said.
According to The National, Indian nationals OA, 32, and SA, 29 carried out the first
theft in April 2011, ordering more cables than their work required then selling the
leftovers on the internet.
A total of three thefts took place, the last taking place on January 5, when they were
arrested after Du officials received a tip-off that fibre optic cables were being put for
sale over the internet and informed the police.
The cables were being sold by a third man, DP, a 33-year-old sales manager, also
from India who has been charged with criminal complicity and sentenced to six months
in prison. All three men will be deported after completion of their jail terms.
Source: London Metal
Exchange, prices per tonne
$17,425
17 December
$16,680
26 November
NEWS UPDATE
KAPSARC
job completed
by Off Site
Engineering
PROJECT
Off-Site Engineering Solutions LLC, a specialist provider of pre-engineered MEP
solutions with headquarters in Dubai, has
successfully completed a contract for the
design, fabrication and delivery of multi
service MEP modules to the King Abdullah Petroleum Science and Research Centre (KAPSARC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The company worked closely with main
contractors Drake & Scull International
Saudi Arabia, client Saudi Aramco and
consultants Arup, using BIM modelling
and proprietary technology to design the
modules which were prefabricated in a
temporary facility on the KAPSARC site
in Riyadh, close to the point of use.
Ahmad Al Naser, DSI Regional Operations Director noted that, “The use of
multi-service MEP modules impacted the
site works positively and we look forward
to working with Off-Site Engineering Solutions again.”
Commenting on the successful completion, Off-Site Engineering Solutions CEO,
Patrick O’Callaghan said, “Both Saudi
Aramco and Drake & Scull International
are top tier clients and contractors respectively.
“Endorsements and technical approvals at this level are of great benefit to OffSite Engineering Solutions as we seek to
expand our operations and client base in
Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Bahra Cables wins triple
digit supply deal with SEC
Contract will see company supply SEC with cables throughout 2013
CONTRACT
Bahra Cables Company, an affiliate of Saudi-based Construction Products Co. (CPC) has signed a $107m contract
with Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) for the supply of
low and medium voltage cables.
Announcing the deal, Bahra Cables CEO Talal Idriss,
said, “Bahra is specialised in the production and distribution of power cables, and aims to become the main
developer for low, medium, and high voltage cables in
Saudi Arabia.”
“We are pleased with the great confidence shown by the
Saudi Electricity Company for our products, which meet
the highest international standards.”
Bahra Cables, he said, is the first Saudi cable manufacturer to have achieved the ISO 14001: 2004, and OHSAS
18001:2007 accreditation.
The company has also won ISO 9001: 2008 certificate for
its collection of medium and high voltage cables up to 132
kV. Under the terms of the contract, Bahra will supply SEC
with the cables for 2013.
Idriss added, “In view of the high demand for our
products, we expanded our production of power cables to meet the needs of large companies, both locally
and internationally.”
The company’s newest plant, located at the Bahra Industrial Zone, 25 km from Jeddah, has been built on an area
of 300,000m², and includes the manufacturing, designing
and storage facilities.
According to Idriss, Saudi projects which Bahra has already been involved with include the Metro Al-Mashaer in
Makkah, the new King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, the
expansion of Holy Mosque in Makkah, Princess Nora bin
Abdulrahman University for Girls in Riyadh, King Saud
University and King Abdullah University of Science and
Technology (Kaust).
Bahra’s product accreditation certificates include
KEMA, IPH, SASO, LPCB, CSA and BASEC. The deal is worth $107m (Getty Images)
In view of
the high demand
for our products,
we expanded
our production
of power cables
to meet the
needs of large
companies,
both locally and
internationally.“
LG GOES ULTRASONIC TO PRODUCE ‘ANTI-MOSQUITO’ AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT
LG has released an ‘anti-mosquito’
air-conditioning unit which uses
ultrasonic wave technology to repel
the malaria-carrying insects.
Pressing the “anti-mosquito button” on the unit’s remote control
causes a speaker within the air
conditioner to generate inaudible
ultrasonic waves at a frequency of
30 kHz to 100 kHz.
According to LG, tests conducted
by the World Health Organisation
(WHO) showed that the air-conditioner knocked down 64% of malaria-transmitting female Anopheles
mosquitoes within 24 hours, and
eliminated 82% of female Anopheles
mosquitoes overall.
Tailored for the African market,
the air-conditioner is fitted with
LG’s Tropical Compressor that
is designed to operate in hotter
climates. LG has also fitted the unit
with a Super Automatic Voltage
Switcher (Super AVS) that helps
protect the compressor against
damage from current fluctuations
in the event of power blackouts or
surges, which are common across
the continent.
NEWS UPDATE
BICITG
URE
P
PROJECT: King Abdullah Financial
District
The King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh is set to become the city’s
financial and business hub when all of the buildings on the 1.6km² site are
completed. The scale of the project has meant that it has had to be split into 50
different packages and has posed a major logistical challenge due to the space
constraints of the site. Several of the buildings in the mixed-use development are
already complete, while others are still in the process of setting foundations.
LOCATION: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
DEVELOPER: Rayadah
Investment Company
FLOOR SPACE: 300ha
DISTRICT COOLING: SNC
Lavalin/Tabreed JV
ESTIMATED COST: $7.5bn
COMPLETION DATE: 2015
270 mm and 200
0 mm
m
deep rotors
r
NEWS UPDATE
CALENDAR
EVENTS
APRIL
Cityscape Abu Dhabi
16-18 April
Place: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition
Centre
MAY
Project Qatar
Date: 6 – 9 May
Place: Doha Exhibition Centre
NOVEMBER
Big 5 Dubai
Date: 25-28 November
Place: Dubai World Trade Centre
JANUARY
Intersec
Date: 15-17 January 2012
Venue: Dubai
AWARDS
MARCH
Construction Week Awards Oman
Date: Tuesday 19 March
Place: TBA
MAY
Construction Week Awards
Date: Tuesday 7 May
Place: TBA
JUNE
Facilities Management Awards
Date: Tuesday 4 June
Place: TBA
SEPTEMBER
Construction Week Awards Kuwait
Date: Tuesday 17 September
NOVEMBER
MEP Awards
Date: Wednesday 13 November
DECEMBER
Construction Week Awards KSA
Date: Tuesday 3 December
Construction Week Awards
Modern Water teams up
with Kazema in forward
osmosis technology deal
Agreement could see make-up water used
in district cooling systems across Kuwait
DISTRICT COOLING
Modern Water plc, the owner of leading water technologies for
the production of fresh water and monitoring of water quality,
has signed a Cooperation and Agency Agreement with Kazema
Global Holding KSCH in Kuwait.
The agreement will result in Modern Water and Kazema working
together in Kuwait to promote Modern Water’s forward osmosis
technology for make-up water which can be used in evaporative
cooling systems, including district cooling and industrial cooling
applications.
The deal was signed at Kazema’s head office in Kuwait by Neil
McDougall, executive chairman of Modern Water, and Fadhel Al
Kazemi, CEO of Kazema.
Mc Dougall said, “We are delighted to be working with
Kazema and bringing our technologies to new communities and
industries. This agreement demonstrates our commitment to
offering world-leading solutions and shows the diverse ways in
which the forward osmosis technique can be applied.”
Al Kazemi, a key advocator for the recent demand for district
cooling systems in Kuwait said, “District cooling systems have
been proven in neighbouring
Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) countries, driven by
the growing need to achieve
energy savings and reduce
the environmental impact.
We look forward to working
with Modern Water and using
innovative, energy saving
solutions to help us achieve this
in Kuwait.”
District cooling may benefit from the deal.
“There is an openness and transparency about doing
business in Dubai
that is not always
the same in
other locations.”
ALAN MCCREADY,
ISG regional
director
“If the World Cup
[in Qatar] is going
to be successful,
we need to have
an established
tourism
industry
by 2016 or
2018.”
Saudi contractors
to be hit by
‘foreigner’ fees
CONTRACT
Saudi Arabia’s private sector is set
to be hit with around $2.7bn in fees
for employing expatriate workers,
according to Arab News, quoting
government sources.
Fees are imposed on companies that
employ more than 50% of expats in their
workforce, and a recent decree raised the
amount companies will have to pay from
$26.66 per worker to $640.
This has been done with a view to
tackling Saudi Arabia’s unemployment
rate, which currently stands at 448,000.
It is estimated that there are almost 8.4m
overseas workers in the Kingdom - 6.9m in
the private sector. The contracting sector
is considered to be particularly affected
by the increase, though.
The head of the contractors’ national
committee, Fahd Alhamadi, told the
Arabic newspaper Asharq Al Awsat
that contractors have taken a collective
decision not to pay the fees. He argued
that the move was “illogical and have
negative impact on both small and medium
companies”, adding that it could lead to
many companies closing their doors.
“We have Saudi employees, but most of
our employees are non-Saudis because of
the nature of work in this sector. Inflation
is rising and such a resolution will make it
even worse,” he said.
“The current facilities in Dubai need
to be scaled up in
line with future
ambitions.”
“Don’t get too
excited in the good
times, and don’t be
too depressed in
the bad times.”
H.H. SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL
MAKTOUM,
Ruler of Dubai
DERRICK PANG,
deputy chairman
of Chun Wo Development Holdings
RUAIRI MAYBANK,
director of planning and integration, Qatar CPO
Infinova will Showcase G Series Cameras
at Intersec 2013
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control solutions.
Infinova manufactures IP, analog and hybrid security solutions,
including systems that enable end-users to extend the life of their
existing analog equipment by having it co-exist with their new IP
video equipment. Infinova products include megapixel, IP and analog
surveillance cameras, specialized cameras, core equipment for video
control rooms, fiber optic communications, access control products
and customized systems.
Infinova will show case along with other products, its G Series
cameras at Intersec 2013. Infinova’s new G Series cameras simplify
transition to megapixels and includes all varieties including the PTZ
domes which have become the world standard for reliability. And with
up to 20X optical zoom that most megapixel PTZ domes can’t match,
it certainly has an edge. What is also unique to G-series is that it
uses less bandwidth, allowing more optimal combinations of
resolution, frame rate and picture quality than other products with
high bandwidth consumption. Another amazing feature of this range
is its exceptional low light performance.
Infinova Corporation, with headquarters based in New
Jersey, USA has also completed its recent acquisition of
March Networks, an Ottawa, Canada based, leading
provider of intelligent IP video solutions.
Plan your visit to the Infinova
booth, 3-405C at Intersec and
March Networks will continue to operate under its own identity and its
witness the most sleek and
customers should expect no change in the high level of product
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series.
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NEWS UPDATE
Emirates Green Building
Council holds first congress
Chairman says sustainability is the “greatest challenge facing mankind” and UAE must tackle
the problem of existing energy-inefficient buildings in order to “jumpstart our green economy”
GREEN BUILDING
Sustainability is the
greatest challenge facing mankind, says Adnan
Sharafi, chairman of the
Emirates Green Building
Council (EGBC).
Speaking at the launch
of the EGBC’s first ever
congress in Dubai, entitled “Innovations in Sustainability”, Sharafi told
delegates that over the
past few years the UAE
has witnessed a growing
awareness in the need for
sustainable buildings.
“We are a nation that
loves to take up challenges to achieve our agenda.
Our history bears witness to that. Our geography, with hardly any rainfall, freshwater streams,
high temperatures and
highly aggressive environment, posses a major
challenge to sustainable
living,” he said. “In fact, sustainability
is the greatest challenge
facing the whole of mankind. Given the UAE’s
environmental and geopolitical situation, success here would mean a
success for mankind.”
The EGBC was formed
in 2006 after Dubai ruler
Sheikh Mohammed issued the first decree on
green buildings. And earlier this year, the UAE’s
leaders announced that
the country would push
towards becoming a
green economy.
Sharafi said the most
obvious issue for the
Adnan Sharafi, chairman of Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC), set out the challenges of sustainability at the Council’s first congress.
EGBC to tackle first was
that of existing buildings, given their high energy consumption.
“With expenditures in
buildings and operations
being the largest part of
our economy, it would
only make sense to tackle this one first to ensure
that they are going to be
sustainable for future
generations.”
He pointed to several
slides which illustrated
how the UAE’s energy
consumption was higher
than some developed
countries.
For instance, one
showed that the UAE’s
energy distribution in
buildings was 80% of
its total usage - exactly
double the worldwide average.
But he also gave examples of innovations in energy conservation such
as the Dubai Chamber
of Commerce building,
which cut its electricity
and water usage by 48%
and 77% respectively
through implementing
green measures.
Sharafi said it would
be very easy and cost-effective for existing buildings to reduce energy
usage by 25% and there is
even room to reach 70%
in efficiency savings.
This can be achieved,
he said, by measuring
performance and producing data from which
to better inform decision-makers.
“We believe that the
greatest challenges and
opportunities lie in existing builds which form
the big bulk of our as-
In fact, sustainability is the greatest challenge
facing the whole of mankind. Given the UAE’s
environmental and geo-political situation, success
here would mean a success for mankind. “
sets, and we must work
hard to make sure that
these buildings consume
less energy and water so
that we can save money,
energy and water for
future
generations,”
he said.
“This will also allow us
to jumpstart our green
economy, which is now
the policy, by creating
demand for innovative
products,
knowledgebased services and new
jobs. And to do that we
have to collaborate with
industry,
government
and academia.
“We are determined
to be sustainable. And
with the help of the Almighty, wisdom of our
leaders and hardwork
of our people, we will
be sustainable.”
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NEWS UPDATE
Mosque initiative wins $5,000
prize for water-saving design
Five Abu Dhabi higher education students rewarded at Sila Abu Dhabi Conference for idea to
repurpose water used in Wudhu by diverting drainage pipelines to mosque irrigation systems
WATER-EFFICIENCY
A proposal by five Abu
Dhabi higher education
students to separate
and repurpose the water
used in the process of
Wudhu — the washing of
the arms and face in the
mosque before prayer —
won first place, and funding of up to $5,000 (AED
18,350) for implementation, at the conclusion of
the inaugural Sila Abu
Dhabi Conference.
Determining that one
individual can use up to
nine gallons of water a
day through the process
of Wudhu five times a
day, and accounting for
the approximate daily
visitors to the mosque,
the winning team calculated that the local
mosque they visited used
2,628,000 gallons a year.
By
changing
the
course of the Wudhu
pipelines to a separate
collection tank, the team
proposed that this still
relatively clean water
could be reused for watering the landscape
around the mosque —
resulting in saved water,
energy, and money.
Starting with a pilot
project in one mosque,
and following with a
study of its results, the
team plans to eventually reach out to other
mosques in Abu Dhabi
to implement the same
technique.
The “Green Wudhu”
team — comprising
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi could be one of the places of worship to benefit if the initiative is rolled out in the Emirate.
It’s really great to see something that is our
idea actually being implemented, especially as it’s
something that will benefit my country. “
Ameera
Almarzooqi
(Khalifa University), Hamad AlHammadi (Zayed
University),
Margaux
Hein (Paris Sorbonne
University Abu Dhabi),
Rida Gul Qadir (Abu
Dhabi University), and
Mandy Tan (NYUAD) —
also spoke to the Imam
of their neighborhood
mosque who gave the students insights about water usage in the mosque. “We wanted to do
something related to our
environment locally in
Abu Dhabi,” said Almarzooqi. “It’s really great
to see something that is
our idea actually being
implemented, especially
as it’s something that will
benefit my country.”
The first runner-up
team developed a project
called “Ethra’a” that proposes to create a fertilizer from camel manure
and charred palm tree
fronds to produce a biochar substance that can
be mixed with soil, allowing it to retain water up
to six times better than
the average soil, thus
leading to significant
groundwater savings.
The project “Dhabi
Share” was second run-
ner up for its proposal to
create a web platform,
targeted to local university students, to encourage
safe car pooling throughout the emirates.
Conceived and organised entirely by students,
and hosted by the NYU
Abu Dhabi (NYUAD)
Institute, the conference
brought together more
than 50 students from
eight universities across
Abu Dhabi. The participants were asked to
brainstorm and develop
proposals for sustainable
local projects tackling environmental issues in the
areas of energy, water,
and recycling and waste
management.
The participating students from Abu Dhabi
University, Higher Colleges of Technology,
Khalifa University, Masdar Institute of Science
and Technology, NYUAD, the Petroleum Institute, Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and
Zayed University were
divided into 12 teams, encouraging collaboration
between students from
different institutions.
Sila Connection, the organizing group of the Sila
Abu Dhabi conference,
will continue to plan similar conferences concerning different local and
global issues in the years
to come.
Under the Patronage of the Jeddah Municipality Mayor Dr. Hani Mohammad Aburas
S
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COMMENT
Build the future
Samsung C&T is developing the ‘zero energy’ houses of the future
W
ith many developers in Dubai, in particular, it has
pretty much been a take-it-or-leave-it approach
when it comes to delivery of units. We have all
heard about the cries of dismay from disgruntled
investors when they took delivery of their units after parting
with some serious cash, only to discover substantial deviations
from the plans and designs and/or different finishes. Of course,
this was during the heyday, when delivery was the only acceptable mantra; we now live in a different world, as it were, where
notable developers like Emaar are championing quality projects, and reaping the rewards as a result.
Samsung C&T Engineering & Construction Group, a major
builder of apartment complexes in South Korea, is approaching the housing sector in an interesting manner. I was fortunate enough to recently visit the contractor’s Residential Performance Research Centre and Green Tomorrow pilot house
project, both on the outskirts of Seoul.
What is interesting about the South Korean market is that
companies like Samsung brand their apartments. If you are in
South Korea, Raemian is a
well-known and respected
brand that is also much
sought-after. Samsung, of
course, is well aware of this
brand equity, and invests a
considerable amount of money and intensive research
into ensuring that Raemian
apartments stay ahead of
the game.
Green Tomorrow is a fully-functioning house deploying an
intricate web of renewable and sustainable technologies, with
the aim of producing a house that is ‘zero energy’ rated, meaning that it produces all the energy it needs. Samsung C&T anticipates the commercial roll-out of ‘zero energy’ Raemian apartments as early as next year, and is already planning to extend it
further to commercial and industrial buildings.
I have also had the pleasure of visiting one of the latest sustainable buildings in the UAE, and that is the new Standard
Chartered headquarters in Downtown Dubai. From the fins
on the façade that radiate heat, to the use of high-performance
glass and passive design techniques, this
building aims to make the work environment
as comfortable and efficient as possible.
The main contractor, Brookfield Multiplex, states that this involved extensive collaboration between the professional team
in order to achieve
the LEED certification
for core-and-shell and
fit-out that the building managed – no
small feat, and surely a
‘green’ benchmark for
future such buildings.
Samsung C&T notes
that a project like
Green Tomorrow is more expensive than a
traditional building, but that the affordability scales are likely to be tipped by 2015 as
‘green’ markets mature and as economies of
scale render sustainable technologies more
cost-effective and ubiquitous.
At the moment, buildings like the Standard
Chartered headquarters and Green Tomorrow are the exception rather than the norm,
when we should be building sustainability
into everything, from single villas to mighty
high-rise towers.
Samsung C&T anticipates
the commercial roll-out of ‘zero
energy’ Raemian apartments as
early as next year.“
COMMENT
Staking a claim
Claims are widely misused and misunderstood in a
construction context
T
he word ‘claim’ is often widely misused and misunderstood in a construction context. In terms of construction
contracts, a claim is not an assessment of the evaluation of
a variation, which is a commonly-misused interpretation.
Put simply, a claim is the product of the mechanism provided by
contracts through which the contractor seeks redress due to the
effects of one or more events for which the employer is considered
to be responsible and which, in the opinion of the contractor, have
critically delayed his ability to progress the works or caused him
to incur additional cost which cannot be recovered through other
provisions of the contract. Similarly, an employer may raise a claim
against a contractor if the contractor has, through his own failings,
delayed completion of the project. Claims from employers may include various heads, such as liquidated damages or delay penalties
in addition to the reimbursement of actual loss.
Contractors raise claims not only
to pursue their perceived entitlements to additional payment but also
to apply for extensions of time, seeking to protect themselves from the
threat of liquidated damages or delay
penalties. Therefore a contractor’s
claim should be regarded as being of
major importance when delays and
contractual entitlements are being
considered. While the individual events relied upon in a claim may
be contentious, the recipient engineer or employer should still assess the claim reasonably and in the light of all known information.
Typically, the contractor is required to notify the engineer of his
awareness of an event or circumstances that will likely give rise to
a claim. Subsequently the contractor is obliged to advise/update
the engineer of the status of the event or circumstances at intervals
prescribed by the terms of the contract if the claim is to remain
valid. Having cleared these hurdles, the burden of proof is then
on the contractor to substantiate his claim, which must adequately
demonstrate his entitlement to the amount of time and/or money
sought, a task which presents a completely new set of challenges:
* Demonstrating that the event or circumstances giving rise to
the claim entitle him to do so under the contract, and that the contractual procedure for notification has been complied with;
* Demonstrating cause and effect through
an appropriate form of delay analysis; and
* Demonstrating that the additional cost (as
defined in the contract) was incurred directly
as a consequence of the event or circumstance.
Sounds relatively easy to comply with, but
even the most experienced contractors often
fail to comply with notice requirements, thereby weakening or totally undermining their entitlement to claim at all.
More importantly, many contractors fail
to keep sufficiently adequate records in connection with the event on which the claim is
based. This hampers their ability to impact the
effect of the resultant delay on the baseline programme in order
to demonstrate
cause and effect,
and to establish
the extent of any
additional
time
to which the contractor is entitled.
Finally,
many
contractors do not
maintain a sufficiently detailed record of their
costs, are reluctant to release such sensitive
information, or they do not fully understand
which costs they are entitled to recover.
In summary, variations are, typically,
clearly identifiable and evaluated by following simple rules prescribed by the contract.
Claims, however, call for compliance with
detailed contractual and procedural requirements which place a huge burden of proof
upon the contractor, if the remedy sought is
to be maximised.
Variations are clearly
identifiable and evaluated by
following simple rules
prescribed by the contract. “
Graeme Macdonald is Director of the Hill International Claims Group.
NEWS ANALYSIS
Dubai experienced
4.1% growth in
GDP in the first half
of 2012.
Dubai is back
There are hints of a return to confidence in the Dubai
market and some project announcements are getting in
early, but will there be funding available to turn ideas
into contracts?
D
ubai is reviving massive realestate projects as its economy
recovers from the global financial crisis and downturn in the
construction industry. Does this mean the
boom times are back?
Given the number of major real-estate
announcements over the past few weeks,
4.1%
Real GDP growth over H1 2012
2008
The fastest growth rate since this year
10-20
Years to build a mega project
10%
Annual growth in air passenger traffic
one could be forgiven for thinking that we
were back in 2006 and 2007 again, reports
Jones Lang LaSalle MENA in a media
statement.
Recent official announcements have recalled the heady days of the mid-2000s,
when Dubai was building some of its most
striking projects, such as the Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah. Dubai ruler H.H.
Sheikh Mohammed has unveiled plans
for Emaar Properties and conglomerate
Dubai Holding to build a new city called
Mohammed Bin Rashid City.
It is planned that this will include the
world’s biggest shopping mall, a title held
at present by Dubai Mall. A local property
analyst, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters estimated that it could cost
between $20bn and $50bn, with the upper
end of this range being well over half of
Dubai’s yearly economic output. H.H.
Sheikh Mohammed also announced that
Dubai planned to build a $2.7bn complex
of five theme parks at Jebel Ali.
Other projects hitting the radar in the
last few months include the extension of
Business Bay Canal and a mooted $1bn
replica of the Taj Mahal. These are all clear
signs that the Dubai economy is recovering on the back of the ‘three Ts’ of trade,
transport and tourism, with the Dubai Statistics Centre releasing new figures that
show real GDP growth of 4.1% over the
first half of 2012 (the fastest growth rate
since early 2008).
Encouragingly, there are also indications that some of the lessons of the last
real-estate crisis have been learned. The
most important of these is the need to
adopt a long term and co-ordinated approach, rather than developing too much
real estate too quickly.
Another factor to consider is that not
all announced projects are likely to attract
funding. Banks remain wary about lending to real-estate developments at a time
when they still have to make major provisions against non-performing real-estate
loans from the last development boom.
“Our 2012 Real Estate Investor Sentiment
NEWS ANALYSIS
Survey (REISS) shows that investors also
remain cautious, preferring completed income producing projects than development
plays or land. Given the understandable reluctance to rely so heavily on ‘offplan’ sales
as in 2007-08, the level of available finance is
likely to act as a natural anchor, limiting the
number and timing of the announced projects that proceed,” said Jones Lang LaSalle
CEO Alan Robertson.
“We are definitely seeing a return in confidence to the Dubai real-estate market. This
is still Dubai, and it is as ambitious as ever,
but we are also seeing a more mature and
considered approach, which is only going
to benefit the long-term health and credibility of the real-estate sector among domestic
Dubai to lead in increasing construction activity through 2013 - 2015? Source: Pinsent Masons
NO
21.3%
YES
78.7%
NEWS ANALYSIS
and international investors and stakeholders. The key to the success of individual
projects and the future performance of the
overall market will be the adoption of a realistic phasing strategy in line with market
demand,” said Robertson.
However, potential constraints on financing are likely to slow the pace of the building boom, according to a Reuters report.
With the financial crisis still fresh in investors’ minds, many could be reluctant to invest in projects before they are completed,
meaning that many proposed developments
would have to rely on bank loans and the
bond markets.
One Construction Week Online reader,
posting from Ireland, concurred: “Indeed,
funding is the big issue, as it was with giga-projects like Dubailand and Jumeirah
Gardens. According to recent Standard
Chartered (SC) estimates, there is a Dubai
liability of $48bn in debt to pay down between 2014 and 2016.
“European banks are unlikely to lend, until their economies back at base camp stabilise; most analysts see a rocky ride ahead
in this respect until 2017-18. Plus, of course,
the ones that have loans outstanding as a re-
The key to the success of individual projects and
the future performance of the overall market will be
the adoption of a realistic phasing strategy in line with
market demand.“
Alan Robertson
sult of earlier debt restructuring will want to
see their money back before lending more,
rather than, as SC imply, face further restructure. Risk analysis would be grim.
“Off-plan property sales in profusion are a
real no-no as an essential funding option. It
will simply never fly, plus the tourism numbers required to fill such a development and
fund it operationally are staggeringly hard
to believe.”
Another reader announced that “Dubai
has bounced back with a bang. This is great
news for UAE residents, who are desperately waiting for laurels for Dubai.” Yet another
reader concurred with “great stuff” … but
pointed out: “I wonder whether Palm Deira
would be a better location? Lots of beach,
and would be killing two birds with one
stone.” In general, the mood among Construction Week readers seems to be largely
optimistic.
“Let the world know that the financial
crisis may delay geographical development,
but never cripple the thinking of our leaders, who have a vision of the future that is
clear and intact. What H.H. Sheikh Mohammed has seen in his imagination will come
true,” said one reader.
“Anybody who knew Dubai 12 years ago
knows that the leadership and the people
are equal to any task. I hope other leaders, especially from Africa, will learn from
Dubai’s leadership and move their countries
forward. I wish the government and people
of Dubai all the best,” said Salisu Sabo Ringim.
Turnkey Solutions for Hotels, Hospitals and Industry
Hot Water
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Trans Gulf Electro Mechanical LLC is an ISO 9001 2008, ISO
14001-2004and OHSAS 18001-2007 certified organization which
boasts over four successful decades in pioneering projects within
the Middle East MEP industry. These range from the design
phase through to supply, installation, testing and commissioning,
retrofitting and after-market care. The company provides electro
mechanical solutions for all aspects of the MEP services, whilst
leading the way in its innovative workings with the latest
technology available in the market.
Trans Gulf has successfully executed numerous projects in
various sectors ranging from the largest district cooling plant
operation of its kind in the gulf region, luxury hotels and resorts,
high end residential and commercial projects, hospitals, airports
and a variety of infrastructure projects.
To add to this extensive list, Trans Gulf was recently awarded the
Bright Start Beach Resort & Spa by Dubai Contracting Co., who
are the Main Contractors for this project. With Dubai’s famous
coast line the Jumeirah beach being its location, Bright Start is a
5-star beach resort with a built up area of 735,220 square feet.
This prestigious property includes 227 guest rooms with beach
front access, three restaurants, poolside dining, a state of the art
spa, ball rooms, meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor pools and a
private beach club.
Bright Start falls under the banner of the famous Four Seasons
Hotels and promises to carve a new niche in Dubai’s thriving
hospitality industry. Apart from having 270 meters of exclusive
beach access, this beach resort is also first of its kinds to be
located on the northern side of Dubai’s prominent Jumeirah
Beach Road.
Trans Gulf was awarded this project in April 2012 and is aiming
for a target completion date of May 2014. The MEP services on
the project comprise of Chillers, Primary & Secondary Chilled
water pumps, Condenser / Make up pumps, Cooling Tower, ELV
Systems - Tel. data / wireless systems, Mirror TV, Mirror
Demister and a plethora of plumbing services.
Carrying out these MEP services could post several challenges
due to the location of the resort. Bright Start’s waterfront location
will require detailed selection of materials and precise
coordination due to ceiling and height constraints.
With our current quality and safe practices, we have achieved ‘0’
(zero) LTI at Bright Start Beach Resort. This is achieved through
implementing strategies in line with international standards such
as OHSAS 18001 & ISO 14001 and a strong commitment from
the top management.
From supplying and installing to testing and commissioning of
MEP works, Trans Gulf aims to deliver this project using value
engineering processes and systems.
Trans Gulf believes that delivering a finished product of outmost
quality on time whilst maintaining a close relationship with the
main contractors and clients.
Bright Start Beach Resort Hotel Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
an ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 certified company
www.transgulfdubai.com
Trans Gulf Electro Mechanical LLC
Sharjah
Dubai
Abu Dhabi
P O Box 22247,
P O Box 2432,
P O Box 132789,
United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 4 884 8753 Tel: +971 6 545 4960
Tel: +971 2 555 0399
Fax: +971 4 884 8463 Fax: +971 6 536 3412
Fax: +971 2 555 0234
e-mail: [email protected]
Trans Gulf International Electro-Mechanical WLL
Doha, State of Qatar
P O Box 47132,
Tel: +974 44 55 0216
Fax: +974 44 55 0217
Trans Gulf MEP Engineer Pvt. Ltd.
Mumbai, India.
Ackruti Trade Center, 6th Floor, Road No. 7,
Marol MIDC, Andheri East,
Mumbai 400 093
Tel: +91 2267037400
Fax: +91 2267037403
SITE VISIT
SITE VISIT
Healthy
Cathal McElroy visits Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi for a check-up
on a major MEP project that will breathe life into a building
D
riving south-west along the Sheikh Maktoum bin
Rashid Road past the Abu Dhabi International
Airport, a striking cluster of concrete and cranes
begins to dominate the horizon in the distance. It
is the site of what will become the new $600m Ma-
fraq Hospital and, while its span and height is accentuated
by the dwarfed low-rises of the surrounding area, it is still a
project on a hugely impressive scale.
The core of the 739-bed healthcare development is comprised of two 11 storey and two nine storey towers storey
SITE VISIT
Mafraq Hospital’s three-storey outpatient building which includes clinics.
a 3 storey annexe administrative building,
and a 3 storey outpatient building. This is
augmented by a variety of support buildings
located around the site, including five substations and a cooling plant. The project, which
began in March 2011, marked its topping-out
in the second week of November and is set
for completion in March 2014. Currently,
the MEP project stands at 30% completion,
with various parts of the building at different
stages of the installation process.
Unlike most projects in the region, the
MEP at Mafraq Hospital has not been
subcontracted. Habtoor Leighton Specon is
carrying out the work as part of the Habtoor
Leighton Group/Murray Roberts (HLMR)
joint venture which is overseeing all aspects
of the project’s construction.
While many of the team is new to
such a structure, Costas Ctorides, MEP
project director, says that it has yielded
significant benefits.
Ctorides
explains the complexity of the MEP project.
Ctor
70-80,000
Metres of cabling which has to be
installed
MEP has posed a particular challenge at Mafraq Hospital as “a lot of design issues had to be resolved”.
SITE VISIT
Changes were introduced as the project progressed.
The relationship
between the main
contractor and the
MEP sub-contractor
was eliminated – we are
all on an equal basis. “
“We have created a strategy with our partners on the civil side on how to proceed with
this size of project,” he says. “We came to an
understanding that it was to the benefit of all
to treat the project as one company, so we
have introduced an innovative model here,
which we call an integrated model. The relationship between the main contractor and
the MEP subcontractor was eliminated – we
are all on an equal basis.
“This integrated model has a lot of benefits; the biggest benefit is communication
between the teams. The big problem on
projects of this size is usually communication. With this integrated model the civil
teams and the MEP teams are sitting in the
same offices, sitting with the same drawings, they have the same structure on site,
they’re using the same programs, they are
creating the long and short programmes for
the site together, working on how the project
will move. It has given great benefits to the
coordination of the project,” he adds.
With an MEP project of the magnitude
Mafraq Hospital requires, Ctorides says
that maximising coordination is vital. There
are currently 5,500 workers on site, 1,500
of them MEP-related, with this contingent
expected to reach 2,500 to 3,000 at its peak.
“The challenge for MEP on this project is
huge as it is heavily involved in the design,”
Ctorides says. “The MEP works constitute
Coordination of MEP services was essential.
Coo
around 40% of the project so there are a lot
of design issues that have to be resolved, as
well as site and mobilisation issues. Since the
beginning it has been a very challenging job.
“The coordination of the different MEP
services is a huge challenge due to the size
of the project. These coordination issues
have been derived out of architectural
restraints, design restraints, verification of
Work is at an advance stage in the kitchen area.
SITE VISIT
one zone shouldn’t be repeated in another
zone. We share this information between us
on a daily basis.”
This organisational structure has served
the project well thus far, with parts of
the MEP works already moving into the
second stage.
“Right now the project moves to the
second phase, with the podium levels having
nearly completed the first fix items such as
containment supports and ducting,” says
Ctorides. “In some areas we’ve already
started moving to the second phase – duct
supporting, pressure testing, wire testing,
cable pulling and cable wiring; in other areas
we’re still on the first fix and others we’re
still on the shop drawings.”
The phased approach adopted by the
MEP team is perhaps best illustrated by
the mock-up areas which are being used
as testing grounds before the systems are
OPERATING TEAM
From the HLMR JV: HSE engineer Michael Gosi, senior HSE manager Neels Becker, MEP project director Costas Ctorides and HSE manager David Allman.
the design, additions and changes to the
design. This is a live project with changes
as we progress.
“We have introduced different systems to
address this such as Building Information
Modelling
(BIM) to eliminate, as much as
.
possible, clashes in the project.
“The integrated model was also used in
the design teams which saw civil and MEP
teams combined. They sit in the same room
tackling site issues and this has worked to
the benefit of the project. HLMR is one family
The MEP works
constitute around 40%
of the project so there
are a lot of design issues
that have to be resolved,
as well as site and
mobilisation issues.“
50-60,000
Light fittings which have to be
installed
and we’re tackling all the issues together,”
Ctorides adds.
As part of their coordination strategy,
HLMR has divided the project into six zones
which are all in different stages of completion. Each zone is treated as a smaller project
with its own hierarchy, but is still linked to
the wider team, as Ctorides explains.
“The zones have their own project
manager, project engineers, site engineers,
superintendents, supervisors, foremen, and
tradesmen working independently as a site,
but commonly as a team,” he says. “We have
daily common meetings with the project
managers and project engineers to share the
problems between us. As the zones are in
different stages, a problem that is faced in
The integrated model of MEP and civil
engineering which the Habtoor Leighton
Group/Murray Roberts joint venture is
operating on the Mafraq Hospital project is
a new approach for most of those involved.
HLMR project director, Vanessa Currie, is
leading the combined effort and says it has
required some work .
“The immediate challenge is with
people’s behaviours because they are used
to working as a main contractor or a subcontractor, and the relationship that involves.
As a consequence of that we have had to
work hard with people in the team because
it is a different working environment. We’ve
had team-building sessions in all the areas
of the project to reinforce that we’re all part
of the same team responsible for delivery.
It’s been a culture shock for some people
because some of the guys have been doing
it for 30 or 40 years in a traditional setup.
They are used to behaving in a certain way.”
While the team may have taken some
time to adapt to the model, Currie says that
there have been significant benefits from the
outset.
“The integrated model has its challenges
but is a definite benefit to the project. There
is so much more transparency and a greater
ability to deal with change. We can react
quicker and provide more benefit upstream
to the client. We can easily suspend works
or make a change. We also have more
transparent control over material deliveries
and orders.
SITE VISIT
The cooling plant (left) and one of five substations (right) are among a variety of out-buildings which augment the main hospital building and its four towers.
installed elsewhere in the building. With
this approach it is hoped that any problems
with the design can be addressed at an early
stage and that progress in completing the
remainder of the project will be swift once
these are overcome.
“We are establishing mock-ups in different areas of the project,” Ctorides says. “We
have one on the ground floor which covers
a good majority of what we shall meet in the
rest of the project. We have advanced the
works in that area which gives us the chance
to face any problems at the earliest stage.
This will allow us to gain time in the future.
The problems that we’re facing in this area
are transmitted immediately to the rest of
Right now we are
on the critical path of the
project. We are resolving
the biggest challenges
such as power, HVAC and
the fire strategy. “
The main chiller cooler pipes from the cooling plant run through this mechanical corridor.
the project managers and engineers on the
project, so they know exactly what they are
going to meet. A lot of the installation is typical after we’ve got these areas correct.
“Right now we are on the critical path of
the project. We are resolving the biggest
challenges such as the power, HVAC and
the fire strategy. Once we conclude this we
are nearly towards the end. With the rest of
the project we will have problems, like any
project, but it will be faster,” he adds.
While healthcare projects may be broadly
comparable to other MEP projects in such
respects, Ctorides makes it clear that
SITE VISIT
Ctorides says the MEP project is in its “critical path”.
Mafraq Hospital is set for completion in March 2014.
they are no standard undertaking. With
hospitals inevitably occupied by seriously
ill patients suffering from weakened immune systems or relying on critical life
support technology, there is no room for
unhygienic air-conditioning or temperamental electrics.
“There is a big volume of MEP work
involved in a healthcare centre,” Ctorides
ot
says. “The systems are sophisticated and not
eonly cover lighting, power, Building Management Systems (BMS) and the fire alarms,
but numerous other specialist systems. The
HVAC system is different than normal – the
design is completely different and works to
different standards.
“The quality of the services must be to a
high level because at the end you are dealing
with the lives and health of people. We cannot
allow a blackout during surgery. We have all
80,000
Metres of drainpipe which have to be
installed
the backup and all the designs to overcome
such situations.”
The power behind the project that will
ensure this, Ctorides says, is enough to run
“a small town in Europe”.
“We have five substations which generate
around 70MW for the whole project,” he
says. “We are distributing the power from
the substations to the main building using
vertical busbars. We have two busbar tunnels and the busbars are serving two huge
electrical rooms – from there we are distributing the power to smaller electrical rooms.
The two LV rooms serve the podium levels,
while one serves two of the towers and the
other one serves the other two towers.”
Focusing on Mafraq’s HVAC, which is a
closed system, Ctorides says that the installation process is just as important as its eventual operation in keeping Mafraq Hospital’s
patients on the road to recovery.
“The measure we’ve taken is to keep the
services clean even at the earliest stage of
the project,” he says. “All the ends of all the
services are plugged to prevent contamination – you won’t find any unplugged service.
At the end of the project a special company
will come to clean the HVAC system and will
conduct a special test before it is handed
over to the client. The HVAC system is
also a challenge because it will not operate
at a constant temperature throughout the
project: there will be different temperatures
in different parts of the hospital. It is a great
challenge to control this.”
Ctorides also highlights the difficulty
involved in developing a fire and life strategy
SITE VISIT
STAYING HEALTHY
An integrated delivery model, together with tools like BIM, were used to exploit synergies between civil and MEP.
for a hospital building, especially one of
Mafraq’s size, and how the HVAC system has
a crucial role to play in this.
“How to evacuate this project in case of
an emergency is a challenge,” he says. “If
there is a fire on one floor, how will the
project behave? The HVAC system is heavily
involved in this because you have to control
the system in such a way as to serve the
occupants during the evacuation. The system
has to push the smoke in one direction to allow the occupants to evacuate without going
through the smoke.”
The project’s plumbing also has a vital role
to play in protecting the patients and staff
from the various dangers a hospital environment can pose. Ctorides says that there has
to be a zero possibility approach to certain
bacteria when designing such projects, and
The MEP works are currently at 30% completion.
1,000+
Distribution boards which have to be
installed
the team has employed a variety of different
solutions to ensure this.
“We have to take great care regarding the
design of the plumbing in order to prevent
the existence of bacteria such as legionella,”
he says. “We cannot have such things in a
healthcare centre. It was a great task to verify the design and eliminate any possibility of
legionella in this project. In specific areas we
are using specific materials to address this.
We are using HDPE (high density polyethylene) pipes in laboratories, but we are also
using unplasticised polyvinyl chloride UPVC
(unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) pipes in
common areas, and high-pressure pipes in
other areas.”
“The team is producing a very high level
of quality in the services and installation on
the project. We are using very high skilled
tradesmen, very highly skilled supervision, and we have very strict quality control
procedures.”
While the project is evidently not short
on difficulties and demands, particularly the
need to deliver the project to its government
client on time, Ctorides is adamant in his and
the HLMR team’s desire to deliver a worldclass facility on schedule and on budget. But
As the HLMR team continues its delivery of
a project which will guard the health of the
local community, it is also taking several
measures to ensure the health and safety of
those working onsite. Neels Becker, senior
project HSE manager, says that clarifying the
guidelines for the range of languages and
cultures onsite is key to achieving this.
“We approach safety on a worker level.
We try to address safety so that the workers
from all different cultures and languages
can understand what the objective is – we
believe all workers have the right to come to
work every day and they also have the right
to go home safely every day. We have a zero
harm objective.”
HLMR run a variety of initiatives to
maximise health and safety on the site,
which has accumulated 16.3 million man
hours, and Becker says that these have
ensured that there has been no major
incident to date.
“The biggest campaign we run is the
‘Don’t Walk By’ campaign which involves
everyone on the project. If someone sees
something which they deem unsafe, we
ask them to act by stopping the activity and
asking advice from any of the foremen or the
HSE representatives.
“We also do positive recognition awards
although we do not believe in paying people
to work safe. But we do believe that, if we
set an objective and that objective has been
achieved, we need to step up and reward
people. Continuously and at random all the
middle and senior management advisors
go around the site and, if they see a person
working well and obeying all the rules, they
will reward him in front of his colleagues
with a AED 25 mobile service network
phone card and tell him him why he is being
rewarded. The idea is that everyone likes a
pat on the back and that when others see
this they will also want to show they are
capable of this. Hopefully, that rubs off.”
beyond the simple aspiration of doing a good
job, he also seems take pleasure in the contribution this project will make to the people
who will need it most.
“It’s a great challenge and at the end it will
be a great emotional success to hand over
a project like this to the community and the
country – on time and in a good condition
to serve the people. It will make the life of
people much better, but I hope they will not
need it,” he says with a laugh.
THE BIG INTERVIEW
BELGIUM’S
BEST
Cathal McElroy talks to Rachid Ghamraoui,
general manager of Besix Sanotec, about his vast
experience of the Middle East MEP Industry,
the relationship between main contractors and
sub-contractors, and his new role in charge of the
Belgian group’s water arm
H
e has been working
in the MEP industry
for 23 years, both
in Europe and the
Middle East. With
experience on some
of the UAE’s most
iconic projects,
including Burj
Khalifa, Ferrari World and Cleveland
Clinic, he can lay claim to being at the
forefront of the regional industry’s
greatest feats. He also knows exactly
what a main contractor is looking for
in an MEP sub-contractor, and is now
managing the Besix Group’s attack
on the regional water market. Rachid
Ghamraoui is a man with a wealth of
industry knowledge – and an interest-
ing story to tell to boot.
Ghamraoui’s journey to general
manager of Besix Sanotec started
in 1989 when he joined Besix fresh
from completing a Masters degree in
Mechanical, Electrical and Civil Engineering at the Brussels Polytechnical
School. His first project as an MEP
engineer was on the European Council
in Brussels, a deployment just short of
four years. Following a stint in Besix’s
headquarters working in the technical
office and tender department, Ghamraoui decided to make a move to the
Middle East.
“I moved to Dubai in 1996 where I
worked as MEP manager for Al Aweer
Power Station, among other projects,”
Ghamraoui says. “Al Aweer was very
THE BIG INTERVIEW
THE BIG INTERVIEW
Ghamraoui managed the MEP project on Cleveland Clinic for a year which saw a team of 90 engineers employed by Besix alone, while ETA had a team of 300 and 10,000 labourers.
interesting as we were doing a design and
build project with Besix executing the MEP
works, civil and architectural, and Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries as the main contractor.
“I then moved to Dubai Airport – more
specifically the control tower and the apron.
We managed to finish this project in almost
seven months which we delivered to DCA
(Dubai Civil Aviation) for the Dubai Air
Show in 1999. The difficulty of this project
was the interface with the main airport
building – from the security, from the civil
aviation, and the other phases of the project
like the power supply and the chilled water.”
After brief involvement in Abu Dhabi
Trade Centre and Shopping Mall, and
Emirates Palace, Ghamraoui returned to
Europe to work on an office tower in the
24
Years of experience Ghamraoui has in
industry
The quality of the
work is about the same,
but the productivity of
European workers is
different from those in the
Middle East.“
business district of Paris. After six years
working in the Middle East, the difference in approach to MEP between the two
regions was striking.
“In Europe the MEP is attributed in
separate packages,” Ghamraoui says. “The
mechanical is awarded to one contractor,
plumbing to another contractor, high voltage
electrical up to 120 volts, the ELV, and the
lifts are all awarded to separate contractors.
In this situation you have to be very careful
with the coordination and the synthesis of all
the services above the false ceiling, as well
as the connection to the utiiities.”
Ghamraoui also remarks that, while the
quality of work is not much different be-
200,000
M² of roof on Ferrari World
tween the two regions, the human resource
committed to its execution is.
“The quality of the work is about the same,
but the productivity of European workers
is different from those in the Middle East,”
he says. “It is understandable as the salary
and skill levels in Europe are higher, but European foremen and supervisors also work
with their hands – they don’t just supervise.
They get themselves involved in the physical
work,” he adds.
While Ghamraoui enjoyed his return to
Europe, an offer was to come from Dubai
which he could not refuse. He was asked
by Besix to take on the role of senior MEP
manager on what would become the world’s
tallest building – Burj Khalifa. Besix, in a
joint venture with Samsung and Arabtec, had
won the main contract for the project and an
ETA/Voltas/Hitachi Plant joint venture had
been appointed to carry out the MEP works.
THE BIG INTERVIEW
Ghamraoui has worked in MEP in Europe and the UAE for almost 24 years, but has been with the Besix Group all that time.
Ghamraoui joined the project in September
2005, a year-and-a-half after excavation had
begun onsite, and set about tackling a job
that required all of his expertise.
“With Burj Khalifa, the challenges were
the engineering from a design point of view,
the coordination of all the services because
of the height of the building, the builder’s
work because of the size of the wall involved,
and the logistics,” Ghamraoui says.
“The priority with the engineering was
to make the building safe, making sure the
water reached the fire-pump and the tanks,
and got distributed at the right time. Also, a
A building of Burj
Khalifa’s size moves:
there is shrinkage
and expansion. This
even happens during
the engineering and
installation. “
building of Burj Khalifa’s size moves – there
is shrinkage and expansion. This even happens during the engineering and installation.
All those pipes and cable trays had to be
engineered to make sure that the expansion
joints for all those installations were in the
right location, even when it reached something like a heat exchanger.”
More practical issues were presented
by the simple fact of the building’s height
and the confined area in which it was
being constructed.
“The logistics were also very critical in
this project. Due to the tightness of the
building, we couldn’t lift and drop as much
material as we wanted,” says Ghamraoui.
“There was a limit on space which worsened
as the building’s height increased so we had
to make sure we did as much pre-fabrication
as possible. We even went to South Korea to
study pre-fabrication processes there. For
the chilled water pipe, which was huge, we
had to slide the pipe 10 metres at a time and
connect it as the construction proceeded.”
While such difficulties on Burj Khalifa
honed Ghamraoui’s management skills, perhaps the greatest lesson he took away from
the project part of the main contractor team
was the importance of early engagement
509+
Height of Burj Khalifa in metres when
Ghamraoui left the project
with a project’s MEP contractor.
“An important feature of the Burj project
was getting the MEP contractors involved
from the start,” he says. “From an engineering point of view, they have to be starting
almost at the same time, if not before the
civil works. The big mistake a main contractor sometimes makes is delaying the
appointment of an MEP sub-contractor: the
MEP contractor is needed at the start of the
project if it is to be delivered on time.
“To meet a deadline the MEP contractor
needs to do a large part of his engineering at
the start of a project. I always tell my people
here at Besix to get the MEP contractor
as early as possible in order to get them
involved in the design and engineering of
the civil works and the finishing. From a
THE BIG INTERVIEW
planning point of view, the MEP should start
immediately after the civil or in parallel with
the civil in order to allow enough time for
the finishing to get their job done.”
Ghamraoui remained on Burj Khalifa till
September 2007, but managed to stay long
enough to see the tower overtake Taipei 101
as the tallest building in the world when the
construction hit 509 metres.
His next Besix posting as a deputy director and technical manager was to a similarly
unique, if considerably shorter project – Fer-
rari World on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island.
“Ferrari World was a funny project,” says
Ghamraoui. “Firstly, it’s a theme park and
it’s not every day you work on a theme park.
The architectural shape of the building
was challenging from a construction point
of view. You have over 200,000m² of roof,
80,000m² of façade and its area is 200,000m².
I call it ‘The Beast’. It was design and build
from an MEP point of view and, because of
its shape, the cooling needed to be innovative. There is a huge void where the theme
I always tell my
people here at Besix to
get the MEP contractor
as early as possible
in order to get them
involved in the design and
engineering of the civil
works and the finishing.“
park is, on the third floor, and you need to
get it uniformly cool. That was one of the
challenges – using the right jet diffuser with
the right curve at the right temperature.”
In addition to this, Ghamraoui found that
having to deal with particular vendors in
relation to the MEP threw up some issues
to overcome.
“We needed to get the power supply, the
chilled water, the potable water etc., but the
challenge was these particular vendors have
a different culture and a different way of
building,” he says. “They also have remote
management figures so we had to deal with
those difficulties in order to get the MEP
installed at the right time with the right parameters. We were part of the construction
and project management team so we were
responsible for solving these difficulties. We
had to deliver the project as a whole to the
client with the rides.”
Notwithstanding these problems, Ghamraoui saw the project to its conclusion in
September 2010 and was whisked straight
off to take charge of the MEP project at
the approximately $1.6bn Cleveland Clinic.
There he joined a Besix/Samsung joint
venture MEP team of 90 engineers, supplemented by a 300-strong ETA engineering
and project management team guiding the
work of 10,000 MEP labourers.
“Cleveland Clinic is designed to deal with
any health issue so it is a massive project,”
Ghamraoui says. “We had to divide the pro-
90
Besix MEP Engineers on Cleveland Clinic
Ghamraoui became general manager of Besix Sanotec in September 2011 and sees great potential in Besix’s water arm.
THE BIG INTERVIEW
Ghamraoui worked on Ferrari World, which he calls “The Beast”, as a deputy director and technical manager from September 2007 to its completion in September 2010.
Ferrari World was a
funny project. Firstly, it’s
a theme park and it’s not
every day you work on a
theme park.”
“Cleveland Clinic is
designed to deal with
any health issue so it is a
massive project,“
ject into five sub-projects dealing with different departments of the hospital. It has 7,000
rooms, including the patient rooms, and a
minimum of half of these has to receive all
the necessary MEP services.
“The major difficulty is how to get all
these services above the false ceiling in coordination within a short time. We employed
Building Information Modelling (BIM) to
address this problem: it can minimise such
problems up to 75 to 80%.
“The sequencing of the MEP installation is
very important on such projects. You have to
have very good supervision with high levels
of manpower.”
Given Ghamraoui’s experience on such
enormous and illustrious projects, it would
be fair to assume that he knows a thing or
two about what a main contractor, particularly Besix, looks for in an MEP sub-contractor. His answer is, of course, not simple;
he explains that it is a complex blend of
characteristics and criteria dependent on the
job in question.
“The selection of the sub-contractor
depends on the type of project – whether
it is a hotel, shopping mall, tower etc.”
Ghamraoui says. “The location of the project
is also important. The client we are working for also plays a role in the process. The
contractor chosen also depends on the size
of the project. Finally, whether the contract
is only engineering or design and build
has an effect.
“With these criteria we set up the parameters. We then select a list of contractors
200,000
M³ of wastewater treated per day by
Besix Sanotec
that fit those parameters as well as possible.
After that it depends on who submits the
best price and the quality of the technical
proposal. We then take into account our history with the contractor and evaluate their
strong and weak points in relation to the
project itself.
“What is very important is the culture of
the contractor: are they proactive, are they
delivery-minded, are they trustworthy?
The price plays a role, of course, but for us
as a main contractor it is very important
to deliver the project as a whole and not to
get a delay because of one sub-contractor.
So we do consider the safety record of the
contractor, the proactivity of the contractor,
the capability of the design, and our history
with the contractor.”
THE BIG INTERVIEW
GROWING AN MEP ARM
Ghamraoui worked on Burj Khalifa as senior MEP manager and was there when the building became the world’s tallest.
Such thoroughness and attention to detail
is surely one of the reasons why Besix has
charged Ghamraoui with managing its Besix
Sanotec enterprise in the Middle East. Given
the job in September 2011, Ghamraoui is
aiming to establish the Besix arm as a key
player in the regional water industry over
the next few years.
“Besix Sanotec has been created by the
Group to reflect the importance of the
environment in the overall strategy of the
company and also in order to diversify our
activities within the Group,” he says. “It is a
water engineering company: we start from
process engineering design to installation
and procurement, up to the testing. We do
this, in particular, in the industrial wastewater treatment – petrochemical, chemical and
pharmaceutical.”
Although Besix Sanotec began operations
in Europe in the early nineties, it has only
been operating in the Middle East since
2004. While Ghamraoui admits that it is
operating on a smaller scale compared to
10,000
MEP laboruers on Cleveland Clinic
What is very
important is the culture
of the contractor: are
they proactive, are they
delivery-minded, are they
trustworthy?“
some of the regional giants in the market,
he is hopeful that the company will achieve
significant growth in the coming years.
“We have a combined experience in
Europe and in the Middle East,” he says.
“With municipal works, we can work from
medium to large scale (from 10,000 people
equivalent to 1 million people) and we do
potable and processed water production.
Globally, we are treating 2 million m³ per
day which is equivalent to the wastewater
flow generated by 10 million people. We
do a lot of operation and maintenance contracts such as those in Ajman, Abu Dhabi
and Al Ain.”
Given this strong foundation Ghamraoui
says that, with the brand value and support
of the Besix Group behind the company’s
Sanotec arm, he is confident that the market
will respond positively over the next few
The Besix Group has several strings
to its bow that cover most areas of the
construction process, including a Facilities
Management unit which maintains the
services in Burj Khalifa, among other
buildings. Some may then wonder why it
is yet to venture into the MEP market and
establish a fully-fledged MEP arm.
Ghamraoui says that it has been debated
within Besix for quite some time and, while
there are significant issues to be addressed
before it is given the go-ahead, a Besix
MEP arm is something which could be
established in the coming years.
“I can confirm the plan is to have an
MEP contractor within the Group, but the
timing or the opportunity isn’t there at the
moment,” Ghamraoui says. “There have
always been plans for this. I think what we
are missing is the momentum to establish
this company at the right time. With the big
iconic projects in which Besix is regularly
involved, you need major expertise in
MEP. You need to build this expertise, but
when you are really busy handling those
big projects, it is difficult to initiate such
a plan. We don’t have the logistics or the
organisation at the moment in order to have
proper engineering, proper procurement.
It’s cultural and we do not like to do things
without the proper quality.
“It would help to have an MEP contractor
as part of Besix because, if you have a
failing sub-contractor, you can come and
take over and you move on with your
project. You are not stuck because of some
other company’s problems. You can get
onboard quickly. The only thing is the timing,
planning and implementation because of all
the other projects going on in parallel.”
years and the company will grow in line with
the region.
“The brand of Besix is very important for
Besix Sanotec. Also, practically, it allows us
to combine our expertise and provides an
important synergy and close cooperation
between Besix Sanotec and Six Construct
(Besix’s civil arm). This enables us to provide a one-stop-shop solution for the water
market covering date acquisition, expert advice, process design, civil works, mechanical
works and operational maintenance. There
are not many companies in the water market
that can offer that solution.”
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ADAM WHITEHEAD
Sales Manager
Tel: +971 4 4443744
Email: [email protected]
ANIL BHOYRUL
Editorial Director
Tel: +971 4 4443000
Email: [email protected]
2013 PREVIEW
IN
WITH
the New
With the general consensus being that 2012 was a better year for the industry than the
three previous, we look forward to 2013 by asking a contractor, consultant and supplier
what they foresee for the coming year
2013 PREVIEW
THE CONTRACTOR
Sekhar Reddy, chief operating officer, Trans Gulf
What major projects have Trans Gulf lined
up for 2013?
At the moment we have three major projects
on hand. In Dubai we will be working on the
Bright Start Beach Resort, a Four Seasons Hotel. We also have the General Department of
Forensic Science and Technology project for
our client, Dubai Police. In Qatar we will be
working on Sinyar Tower in Doha’s West Bay
which is comprised of two basement floors,
a ground floor and 52 storeys above. Finally,
we have several smaller projects in their final
stages across Qatar, UAE and India.
What challenges does the industry face in
the period?
Firstly, I think sustaining through a very competitive market will be the primary challenge
for most. As most of the projects for MEP are
considered ‘domestic’ and not ‘through nomination’ the Principle (main contractor) is looking for the best at the cheapest. Due to intense
competition all of the commercial burden is
weighed down on to the sub-contractors. MEP,
being one of the key elements, stands to take
the hit. With tight margins, risk of price escalation, delays to project completion, delays
to certifications/payments, managing supply
chain/ vendors, MEP contractors’ resilience
and survival will be put to utmost test.
End-product too tends to get affected – as
the saying goes “you get for what you pay”. After-effects of MEP works are much more challenging than the builders’ works to the client
and operator in terms of running costs, which
is seldom given importance by the decision
makers when awarding projects, especially
prime ones.
One way of overcoming this problem is to
categorise and classify the contractors based
on their experience and back ground. Each
category would only be eligible to quote its
corresponding size of project. This will give an
opportunity for good companies at all levels to
survive and the project gets its due expertise
and workmanship.
How will the different countries in the
GCC perform?
No country is immune from the global financial crisis and regional political developments.
But in the GCC, Qatar and KSA are the happening places and can only get better by simwww.constructionweekonline.com
plifying laws relating to sourcing resources.
The MEP industry is predominantly resource
functional and also region-based in terms of
expertise. As such ,there must be some flexibility for the contractors to source the expertise from particular origins which are dependable and give continuity for the work.
Despite setbacks in recent years, UAE still
looks promising and a preferred destination
given its openness in terms of connectivity and
laws for sourcing resources, which is the key
concern of the construction industry.
What about opportunities in the wider
Middle East?
The political scenario is still unclear and, given
the impression of volatility, not many MEP
Contractors are ready to take the plunge.
Given the recession onslaught, logistics and
other challenges that they are facing in their
domains, the wider Middle East, though it
looks a very attractive alternative, still does not
motivate MEP contractors enough to spread
their wings.
How might the push towards green building develop?
Green building concepts have almost become
mandatory in this part of the world due to
the benefits of implementing green concepts.
Even though it has got cost implications while
implementing, the returns are excellent in the
long-run, not only in terms of energy saving
but also in terms of: lower operating costs and
increase asset value; reduce waste sent to landfills; conserve energy and water; be healthier
and safer for occupants; and reduce harmful
greenhouse gas emissions.
With LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by USGBC, BREEAM
(Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (U.K), the Pearl
Rating System and Estidama, the demand for
green building is constantly increasing day by
day. Understanding this need, as well as the
social and commercial benefits of Green Building concepts, Trans Gulf Electro Mechanical
became a founding member of the EGBC
(Emirates Green Building Council) seven
years ago and contributes to this day. Trans
Gulf Electro Mechanical has carried out several Green Building Projects based on LEED
and will be a one-stop solution as a specialised
and preferred MEP contracting company for
Green Buildings.
What help from government authorities
could the industry use?
Government authorities could categorise
MEP contractors as a pre-requisite for getting
qualified for projects. They could also liberalise the sourcing of resources from preferred
destinations for MEP contractors with excellent track records. Also, the development of a
professional legal team that addresses contractual and commercial issues between the parties would be welcome.
What new technologies are coming online
which might benefit the industry?
MEP is an ever-evolving Industry and there
is a tremendous amount of synergy between
IT and its MEP Services. MEP Services revolve around energy and water and any aspect
which improves in the conservation of these
resources must be made part of the project
portfolio. Adapting to systems like BIM must
be made mandatory for the grading of contractors.
What new design or working trends may
we see introduced or developed in the
coming year?
With LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by USGBC, BREEAM
(Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (U.K), the Pearl
Rating System and Estidama, the demand for
green building is constantly increasing day
by day. Understanding this need, as well as
the social and commercial benefits of Green
Building concepts, Trans Gulf Electro Mechanical became a founding member of the
EGBC (Emirates Green Building Council)
seven years ago and contributes to this day.
Trans Gulf Electro Mechanical has carried
out several Green Building Projects based
on LEED and will be a one-stop solution as
a specialised and preferred MEP contracting
company for Green Buildings.
2013 PREVIEW
THE CONSULTANT
Bill Jolly, director of MEP and sustainability, Ramboll
ensure correct and professional
resources to deliver the work in a
knowledgeable sustained manner,
for the benefit of the Middle East
at large.
How will the different countries in the GCC perform?
I personally would anticipate
the various countries will perform in a different and varying
manner throughout 2013 as
each country has their own diverse and demanding needs. I feel
Qatar will be primarily focused
on delivering the built environment primarily for 2022
World Cup. This
will
involve
ad-
What major projects are lined up in the
region in 2013?
Most people would expect the obvious answer to this question is Qatar and Saudi Arabia. However, given the recently announcements coming out of Dubai, the future looks
to be very optimistic. There have recently
been a number of mega projects announced
in Dubai. We all know the situation relative
to the Qatar 2022 World Cup and of course
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also very
busy. The outlook for the Middle East looks
bright and that’s not just the sunshine.
What challenges does the industr y face
in the period?
There are some major challenges on the horizon and the most fundamental would be
for the construction industry achieving the
most sustainable cost effective solutions for
all projects and clients. The Middle East
region has made some fantastic inroads in
achieving sustainability within the built environment and offering some of the world’s
most fantastic sustainable solutions, in one
of the most challenging regions – but more
needs to be done. In addition, we need to
vanced progression of the metro lines,
starting the stadium designs and addressing the necessary infrastructure enhancements. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will
continue with their drive of construction
activities with a focus towards ensuring sustainability sitting at the core of architectural
and engineering solutions. The outlook in
Dubai appears very optimistic at present;
there is a real buzz about town as the future
is looking positive.
What about opportunities in the wider
Middle East?
I believe the Middle East will offer many opportunities during 2013. The construction
industry is flourishing across the region
which in turn presents many opportunities
for all the construction professionals who
work in the industry.
How might the push towards green
building develop?
I believe it is widely accepted, as suggested by the latest IPCC’s assessments that
GHG emissions are contributing to climate
change activities. It is common knowledge
the built environment accounts for approximately 50% of CO2 emission thus heavily
contributing towards climate change. The
construction industry at large therefore has
a vital role to play in trying to curtail climate
change activities. This is especially prudent
in the Middle East where countries are considered as “developing” and the construction industry is flourishing. I believe the
driver towards green building and sustainable solutions will strengthen as the knowledge within the region deepens. Hopefully,
2013 will bring fresh new challenging problems which can be met with green sustainable construction professionals armed with
strengthened regulations.
What help from government authorities
could the industr y use?
Government authorities throughout the
Middle East are working tirelessly on all
fronts. They have huge challenges which
are constantly being addressed behind the
scenes for the betterment of the Middle
East region at large. I would see strengthened enforcements of green building regulations and a wider focus on energy and
water conservation for the Middle East as
improvements on an already well established and regulated section. Any improvements towards ensuring a sustainable built
environment would be beneficial for all.
What new technologies are coming online which might benefit the industr y?
Suppliers, vendors and manufacturers are
constantly improving the products they
produce and place into the construction industry. The majority boast the sustainable
components and offer sustainable solutions
up front and centre in their marketing material. It’s important that construction design professionals work in conjunction and
much closer to suppliers, vendors and manufacturers ensuring new innovative ideas
are brought into the construction industry.
It is important MEP engineering designers
avoid being monotonous and should focus
on pioneering new sustainable ideas and
sustainable technologies. What new design or working trends
may we see introduced or developed in
the coming year?
The construction industry has always been
focused on achieving high quality, at steadfast speed and at lower cost. I would anticipate that construction industry professionals will continue to push the corners of this
triangle.
2013 PREVIEW
THE SUPPLIER
Thomas Orr, managing director, TROX Middle East
What major projects are lined up in
the region in 2013?
We find that there is certainly a feeling
of positivity about the UAE construction
market at present as we assist building
stakeholders with design work on projects
that are receiving the funding required to
progress through the tender stage and
onto site. This is documented to continue
throughout 2013.
Certainly the healthcare, education,
hospitality, entertainment and infrastructure sectors have numerous projects going
ahead that TROX are excited to be a part of.
Projects that are built to ‘keep’ as opposed
to being built to ‘sell’ are where we are
seeing the majority of activity at present,
and this is where TROX can contribute to
a building’s success in a greater manner.
Often we find that projects where the client is the end-user produces the best final
product.
How will the dif ferent countries in the
GCC perform?
Further into the GCC, TROX will re-enter
the Saudi Arabian market with our agent
there, and will open a dedicated TROX business in Qatar so that we are best-positioned
to service this area from both a technical
and procurement perspective when the inevitable construction acceleration begins.
These areas, along with the Sultanate of
Oman, are where we see potential for greatest success next year.
What challenges does the industr y
face in the period?
Securing project funding will always be a
major challenge in the current construction
climate.
As commercial constraints are all too often the overriding factor in decision making, the industry faces the challenge of not
being ‘penny wise pound foolish’. Clients
should work with specialist suppliers and
/ or designers to ensure that the most attractive commercial solution is acquired
without sacrificing the end result. There is
no sense in outlaying any capital if the end
product is not fit-for-purpose. The building
must be safe, comfortable and functional
for the end users. Specialist suppliers such
as TROX can ensure that through correct
engineering, and a thoroughly tested and
proven product portfolio, that designs can
be undertaken with complete confidence.
How might the push towards green
building develop?
Green building initiatives have been long
discussed. Should government mandate
strict maximum overall energy consumption restraints per new development, this
would certainly create an immediate reaction and assist in driving energy conscious decisions.
TROX have been able to work with
clients, designers, and contractors successfully to achieve extremely stringent
energy restrictions whilst still meeting
commercial budget constraints. Locally
the cost of power consumption is rising and we are finding that other GCC
countries are now also making more
enquiries into energy efficient alternatives. We see that the “built to keep”
projects are now taking a far greater
interest in CAPEX vs. OPEX at first design phase than they have in the past,
and TROX can certainly add value at
this stage.
What does TROX have in
store for the industr y in
2013?
TROX’s goal is to be the
enhanced HVAC supplier
and best-rated partner
for architects, project
developers, and consultants, and a key supplier for contractors,
distributors and other
sales partners.
In 2013 the industry
will be introduced to
some very exciting offerings from TROX in the
form of Air / Water system
components, air distribution
equipment, and exceptional selection software. We will continue to
deliver innovative technologies that
designers can utilize to progress
their projects, and our industry.
AIR-CONDITIONED STADIUMS
Heat of the
ACTION
Following Al Wasl Football Club’s announcement that it plans
to make its stadium air-conditioned, Peter Ward finds out if the
promise of such projects is just a lot of hot air
S
porting events in the Middle
East face a constant struggle
against the heat. Even when
they are indoors, the buildings
require a lot of energy to cool
sufficiently in order for sportsmen and women to compete
at their best.
Nevertheless, Al Wasl Football Club has taken on the
challenge of developing an airconditioned outdoor stadium in
its hometown of Dubai. The Club
announced in August that its Zabeel Stadium will be expanded and
air-conditioning added to the seating
areas of the ground.
Should the Zabeel Stadium expansion be completed as planned,
the capacity will be increased
to 25,000 spectators and it will
become the first air-conditioned stadium
in the UAE. A report from the UAE news
agency WAM which explained the plans
also revealed similar projects could
be launched for other sports clubs
in Dubai.
Similar plans have, of course, been
hatched by Qatar which had previously stated that it would have
air-conditioned stadiums for
its hosting of the 2022 FIFA
World Cup. The original
plans for Qatar’s air-conditioned venues were
to see solar power
incorporated
as
part of attempts to
make the stadiums green and
sustainable. At the time of the bidding
process for the FIFA World Cup, soccer’s governing body had expressed
concern at the high temperatures which
would be reached in Qatar when the tournament is scheduled. Summer temperatures in
Qatar’s capital, Doha, can reach 50C.
Much criticism was levelled at FIFA
for awarding the World Cup to Qatar,
mainly due to the Association’s apparent
disregard for the dangerous temperatures in which the players would
have to compete.
The considerable challenge
faced in developing stadiums
which address this issue
has led some to predict
that the tournament will
be moved to the winter months, a decision
which would clash with
the domestic leagues
in the majority of the
competing nations.
“When Qatar host the football world cup
ten years from now in 2022, it will be in the
very hot and sunny months of June and July.
How will it be possible for football players to
show spectacular football, running around in
this desert climate? How will it be possible
for spectators to sit and enjoy themselves in
open air stadia in this incredibly hot environment?” asked Wolfgang Kessler, physicist
and director of the engineering firm Transsolar, at the Tedx summit earlier this year.
The idea which Transsolar came up with,
which was included in the bid for the 2022
World Cup, was to use solar power to cool the
stadia in Doha.
“Our idea for the bid was 100% solar cooling, we cover the roofs of the stadia with PV
systems. We don’t borrow any energy from
history. We are not using fossil energies. We
are not borrowing energy ,” said Kessler.
“We’re using energy we can harvest on the
stadia’s roofs and also on the training pitches, which will be covered with large, flexible membranes. We will see in the next years
an industry coming up with flexible photovoltaics, giving the possibilities of shad-
ing against strong sun and producing electric
energy in the same time.”
It is still unclear whether Qatar’s stadia for
the FIFA World Cup will be air-conditioned
or not. Although it was mentioned in the
original bid, there have been those who have
tried to persuade Qatar to avoid using airconditioning altogether.
“The organisers want to have the big
showcase stadium with air-conditioning,
but we are fighting hard to persuade them
that you don’t need to have it,” John Barrow, senior principal with Populous architects told the International Football Arena
conference last year.
“It’s not good from a long term sustainability point of view,” he added.
Barrow says that the temperatures could
be reduced dramatically through natural
means. Playing all of the games at night
would be one way to help achieve this. Other
methods include wind towers, shading and
the use of natural convection.
Air-conditioning an indoor arena is a less
tricky task, but still represents major challenges. Sporting venues, even when indoors,
COOL STADIUMS
Air-conditioned stadia already exist across
the world, most notably in the USA, where
several different teams boast a cooled stadium.
Miami Marlins Park
US baseball team the Miami Marlins
opened its new stadium earlier this year,
complete with air-conditioning for both fans
and players.
The $515 million ballpark has a capacity of
37,000 and features air-conditioning and a
retractable roof in order to battle the humid
MIAMI MARLINS PARK
conditions found in Miami during the summer.
Marlins Park boasts a LEED Gold rating and
its electrical, mechanical, lighting, heating
and cooling systems cost the club 22% less in
energy than similar structures. The stadium’s
8,000 tonne retractable roof uses regenerative
drive systems to reduce power consumption,
meaning it costs only $10 in electricity to open
or close it.
University of Phoenix Stadium
The University of Phoenix Stadium was
designed to be a multi-purpose facility
with the ability to host American football,
basketball, soccer, concerts, consumer shows,
motorsports, rodeos and corporate events.
It was designed by architect Peter Eisenman,
in conjunction with HOK Sport, Hunt
Construction Group and Urban Earth Design.
The stadium features alternating sections of
shimmering metal panels intended to reflect
the desert light as it shifts.
The stadium’s air-conditioning system uses
8,000 tonnes of cooling, enough to cool
2,300 homes. The translucent ‘Bird Air’ fabric
roof, allows the stadium to have an open feel
UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM
to it even when the roof is shut. The roof
also has two retractable panels which can
uncover the entire playing field, while still
providing shade to the fans. In the hot months
the roof is closed and the whole stadium
is air-conditioned.
Dallas Cowboys Stadium
The Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington
featured a mammoth HVAC project at its core.
The contractor, TD Industries from the Dallas
area, said it was the largest project it had ever
tackled back in 2009.
are extremely large and require a huge
amount of airflow, meaning the energy expenses can be huge.
“Indoor sporting arenas need high airflow
rate due to the huge volume of the arena.
In such cases, we need air-handling units
to throw big amounts of air flow,” says D.Y.
Kim, president of LG Electronics Gulf FZE.
“One of the challenges usually faced with
such applications is due to the variation in
the AC load as it depends on the number of
the spectators. Usually the chiller system and
conventional AC systems with ON/OFF controls react slowly to this variation. For such
applications, LG has developed a solution of
connecting AHU with Multi V VRF system.”
“The benefit of the Multi V condensing
unit is it can rapidly change the speed of the
compressor to match the variation in load.
This saves 40% in the operating power consumption. Apart from this, there are also
other benefits of integrating the CO2 sensors to maintain the indoor air quality in the
arena,” he adds.
Indoor stadia are much less used in the
football world and a body such as FIFA
may not look favourably on the World Cup
being played exclusively indoors. However, there is the potential for compromise.
Several stadia around the world use airconditioning while also featuring a retractable roof, which can be closed when the
air-conditioning is on.
Such stadia use cooling to maintain a suitable climate for sportsmen and women in
which to compete. In the hotter parts of the
USA, there are several stadia which have airconditioning facilities for both the fans and
the players. However, the one thing they
all have in common to make this feat more
achievable is a retractable roof.
While the plans revealed by Al Wasl Football Club provide air-conditioned seating areas for the fans only, the question remains as
to how this is going to be achieved. Adding a
roof, retractable or not, would come at significant extra cost but would certainly improve
the efficiency of the venue. But, like Qatar, it
may have second thoughts about committing
to such a financial burden and its plans could
prove to be just another blast of hot air in the
windy world of the beautiful game.
The work on the stadium involved 60 miles
of piping, 2.5 million pounds of sheet metal,
almost two miles of ductwork and more than
3,450 plumbing fixtures.
“We worked with Manhattan Construction
during the scheduling process to create a
good sequence of work which we hoped would
prevent spikes and dips in the manpower
required. By having a well-planned schedule,
TD was able to better control its manpower
needs,” Dave Youden, vice president of
TDIndustries told Contracting Business.
The project’s main challenge was planning the
ductwork which supplied the air to the main
seating area of the stadium. The planning
alone took 500 man-hours and because
it was not possible to put up scaffolding
tall enough to handle the ductwork, the
firm’s employees were suspended from
the rafters of the stadium in order to work
– 250 feet above the field. The duct sizes
were larger than 8 feet in diameter, and this
represented further challenges. Handling
and maneuvering the materials around the
job site was a test for the company, as well
as placing them high above the field.
DALLAS COWBOYS STADIUM
PRODUCTS
BUYER’S
GUIDE
New products come on
to the market at a great
rate. While many shout
about their innovation or
competitive pricing, it can
be difficult to spot the true
merit of a product without
the right information. MEP
offers a few top tips that
are always worth keeping
in mind when purchase
orders are on the way.
TOP TIPS
1. FOCUS
Know what you are looking
for and exactly what you
need it to do
2. RESEARCH
Get suppliers to provide
detailed product
information based on your
specific requirements
3. PRICE VERSUS...
Is price the most important
factor?
4. ...QUALITY
Or will quality matter more
in the long run?
5. IS IT NEEDED?
Is the product something
the project really needs?
Could it be done without or
bought at a later stage?
6. SUSTAINABILITY
Does this product need to
be ‘green’?
7. STANDARDS
Does the product need to
conform to any specific
standards?
Product focus
MEP Middle East reviews the latest gadgets, essential kit and serious
product innovations making an impact in the GCC construction market.
Let us know if there is something you would like to see on these pages.
WANT TO FEATURE YOUR PRODUCT HERE? Email: [email protected]
GEBERIT SHOWER ELEMENT
With the flexible Geberit shower element, the design of the wall drain for floor-even
showers looks clean and well-engineered. The shower elements can be easily installed
in nearly any wall construction, as well as with Geberit’s proven dry wall systems,
transforming your shower into a private wellness oasis. Be it in a hotel, private villa
or residential apartment, the Geberit shower drain is the ideal design solution for
your shower. The combination of innovative design and practical technology has been
awarded the renowned international IF product design award.
SILENT LAG ACOUSTIC LAGGING
This innovative product is now being extensively used to
arrest sound created in drainage pipes upon the flushing of
water. Most consulting engineers are now specifying this
product where reduced sound is a important issue, such as
in hotel rooms, villas and residential apartments. This is a
‘one-shot’ integral acoustic lagging material known as Silent
Lag. The product comprises polymeric mass barrier material
together with a glass fibre quilt on one side and reinforced aluminium
foil on the other side, thus maximizing acoustic performance. The acoustic
performance of Silent Lag has been tested and the STC of 28 db has been achieved.
Barrier material shall be a 2.5mm-thick, highly-flexible polymeric sheet incorporating
additional mineral filters to increase the product’s mechanical strength and durability, with a
reinforced aluminium foil on one side. Nominal density of barrier material is 5kg/m2. Significant levels
of sound reduction can be achieved by employing heavy barrier materials, particularly those with essentially limp
characteristics. The introduction of an absorber layer to achieve a ‘sprung mass’ will further improve the product’s
ability to prevent noise passing through it. Absorber layer shall comprise of 25mm-thick glass fibre quilt, scrim
backing on both sides stitched in a 100mm box design. The composite layer is Silent Lag Sl-B/BM5N/SF or
Lagging SL-B/BM7.5N/SF, with a 100mm-wide barrier overlap extending beyond the quilted glass fibre.
8. SHIPPING
Will the product make it to
site on time, or is there an
order backlog?
9. LIABILITY
How long will your
company be liable for the
product’s performance?
10. SORTED
Will this purchasing
decision sort the job or will
it come back to haunt you?
JOHN GUEST SPEEDFIT
John Guest Speedfit is a push-fit solution for all plumbing and heating
systems. Simply inserting a pipe into a fitting produces a permanently
leak-proof connection. The fittings can be disconnected with ease and
refitted without the need for replacement parts, thus reducing cost and
wastage of pipe and fittings. The low insertion force makes the product easy to install,
while the clean, all-white appearance of pipe and fittings enhances aesthetics. Speedfit fittings
are suitable for copper, PEX and polybutylene piping. The Speedfit system has over 25 years’
guarantee resulting in zero maintenance costs.
PRODUCTS
SNAP BRIM RIGID SUNSHADE
Given the GCC’s hot and sunny climate, construction workers face a number
of health concerns as they do daily battle with the elements. Chief among
these is their sustained exposure to harmful UV rays from the strong desert
sun, and the greatly increased chance of developing skin cancer. The standard
hard hat offers little protection from the sun and these dangerous UV rays.
The snap brim rigid sunshade is designed to offer a consistent shade to the
wearer of hard hats, which can assist in lowering the possibility of sunburn,
sunstroke, dehydration, fatigue and the effects of dust.
VARIABLE VOLUME DIFFUSER BY TROX
Manufactured by Trox South Africa, the variable volume diffuser is ideal for comfort air-conditioning and industrial
applications, achieving savings through reduced energy consumption. This diffuser is an electronically-operated
unit, incorporating rate-aided proportional air-volume control. It automatically regulates
the room temperature, which is measured by either a sensor at the diffuser, or by a
wall-mounted thermostat. According to the thermal demands in the room, the
controller regulates the damper blade by means of a push/pull actuator
and stainless steel spindle until the room temperature reaches the set
point. Onboard heating is optional. Power is provided to the main
diffuser unit only which can then ‘daisy chain’ link to nine sub
diffusers. All diffusers are supplied with modular sockets that
are used to connect the diffusers via the supplied cables. Flow rates
range from 62 to 420 l/s to cover most applications. Trox Middle East currently
has these diffusers on display in its Dubai-based showroom.
TAKE A LOOK
BIM Demystified
By Steve Race
BIM Demystified is
a short, practical
introduction to
Building Information
Modelling (BIM).
Addressing BIM
from the point of
view of mainstream
practice as opposed
to a cutting-edge
technological
perspective, it offers
an easy-going yet
thorough explanation
of the subject.
NOVEC 1230 FIRE PROTECTION FLUID
Chemetron engineered systems with Novec 1230 fluid work hand-in-hand with
state-of-the-art controls and detection components to detect and extinguish fires
long before substantial fire damage can occur. Provided by Concorde Corodex
UAE, Chemetron systems safeguard lives, assets and reputations. Our ability
to engineer solutions that meet challenging business and industry applications
is evident in the variety of market sectors served worldwide. Novec 1230 fire
protection fluid is an environmentally-acceptable, people-compatible clean agent
for vital facilities with a wide range of hazards. Novec 1230 suppresses the fire
by removing the heat energy and interrupting the combustion process. With
extinguishment capabilities of ten seconds or less, Novec 1230 fire protection
fluid has the capability to extinguish fires fast and effectively – before any
damage is done to your valued assets.
TEKLA BIMSIGHT NOTE
Tekla BIMsight Note, available in the Apple App Store, allows users to
contribute to Tekla Open BIM workflow via an iOS mobile device.
With this new application, anyone can use an iPhone or iPad to
receive and reply to notes created in Tekla BIMsight. Tekla BIMsight
Note is a free, purpose-built tool for instant communication on-site and
on-the-move. The application connects notes to the full Tekla BIMsight
project. A remark that would previously have stayed in a text message or
had been forgotten after a phone conversation is now attached to the project.
The Tekla BIMsight Note tool leaves a traceable mark to the BIM workflow so
information is not missed. Tekla BIMsight maintains the communication trail.
BIM in
Small-Scale
Sustainable
Design
By Francois Levy
This work is the
leading guide
to architectural
design within a
building information
modelling (BIM)
workflow, giving the
practitioner a clear
procedure when
designing climateload dominated
buildings. The book
incorporates new
information related
to BIM, integrated
practice, and
sustainable design,
as well information
on how designers
can incorporate the
latest technological
tools available.
PRODUCTS
MOBILE
TECH
VRFI-EPR FIRE DAMPERS
Aldes has developed a new fire, smoke and heat damper, VRFI-EPR.
This product is the first of its kind, and has been designed to suit the new
European requirements for nuclear power plants. According to Aldes, the
VRFI-EPR has passed four major performance tests. It offers
two-hour fire-resistance under 1500Pa; the damper will stay open in case
of earthquake. It has been tested for manoeuvrability (ageing resistance):
these tests guarantee the possibility to control the damper without stopping
the ventilation system and without any damage to the damper itself.
Mobile devices are
becoming a ubiquitous
tool in many industries.
MEP takes a look at
some of the latest
mobile applications that
may help to make an
engineer’s working life a
little bit easier
7 TOP APPS
1. ENGINEERING
CALC
This Agilent Technologies
app is pitched at engineers
and students who need a
reference tool for electrical
and RF engineering.
2. CIVIL
ENGINEERING
FORMULATOR
Multieducator’s
engineering app collects
together 100 important
formulas for engineers.
AEROFOAM
A newcomer to the scene, launched in early 2011, Aeorofoam NBR (elastomeric insulation)
and Aerofoam XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene insulation) have since proven to be a
complete solutions package to customers in the HVAC field. The products are
available in a wide choice of tubes or sheets and self-adhesive, continuouslength and pre-cut versions as well. The range includes tubes of various levels
of thickness and diameter, with different foil covers for the sheets.
Aerofoam has a high resistance to diffusion of water vapours and low
thermal conductivity. The resistance to diffusion is built up continuously-cell
by cell – throughout the entire material thickness.
All Aerofoam products have been tested and cleared according to BS and ASTM standards, as
per industry requirements.
3. UNIT
CONVERTER PRO
Concrete Software’s
massive conversion tool
helps sort all those mixed
measures.
PANASONIC TROPICAL AIR-CONDITIONER
These new air-conditioners run on minimal power with precise temperature
control. By reducing wasteful cooling operations, the inverter series can achieve
up to 30% less energy usage compared to non-inverter units. In addition to energy
savings, the intelligent inverter rechnology also delivers constant comfort with a
wide power output range and quick cooling during the start-up period.
Inverter control in the desert climate is now possible thanks to unique,
innovative technologies. The result is a new dimension in air-conditioning that
lets users enjoys more powerful cooling than ever, a stable room temperature,
and outstanding energy-saving performance. Cooling is possible even when
the outside temperature is 55ºC, since the new models feature a highly
durable compressor and fan motor to maintain room comfort.
4. AIR PRESSURE
Gas Liquids Engineering
has created an app to
calculate height above sea
level based on air pressure
measures.
5. POWERONE
SCIENTIFIC
CALCULATOR
PowerOne combines
an algebraic and RPN
calculator with spreadsheet
templates.
6. OHM’S LAW
A quick and simple Ohm’s
Law calculator from
Christopher Pflepsen.
7. MECHANICAL
ENGINEER
Another app from
Multieducator that collects
together more than 300
important mechanical
engineering formulas.
SILICONE SEALANT
American Dolphin GP silicone sealant is an acetoxy-based sealant system capable of
polymerising at room temperature. The sealant possesses superior long-term weathering
UV and ozone resistance properties.
It is easily applied from caulking cartridges, pails or drums with automated pumping
equipments attached to dispensing lines and collapsible tubes. It offers potential savings
in installation and maintenance labour expenditure. American Dolphin GP Silicone Sealant
adheres to most metal painted surfaces, glass, ceramic, enamel, PVC and other plastics.
The sealant is ideally suited for overhead or sidewall joint application since it does not
flow. It can be used in glazing applications, weather sealing of sheet cladding and curtain
walling, general sealing and assembling, sealing AC systems, draught-proofing and more.
PRODUCTS
TROX TECHNIK - AIR / WATER COOLING
SYSYTEMS - CHILLED BEAMS
TROX have once again identified this need and have adapted
their product portfolio to suit. In addition to the highly successful
passive, active and multi service chilled beam range, they also
offer a beam specifically adapted to suit more adverse climates.
The TROX high induction exposed active chilled beam allows
for a lower primary air requirement with increased induction for
maximised cooling performance and optimum comfort levels.This
product provides an aesthetic solution, marked energy savings,
increased comfort conditions, greatly reduced operating cost.
KESSEL SEPARATORS
KESSEL separators ensure that wastewater pipes from commercial
buildings remain blockage free by removing greases and food sludge from
wastewater streams. This upstream solution also critically reduces the load
on the district water treatment plants. The extensive Kessel range has safe
hygienic solutions for all users from small restaurants to major catering
companies preparing up to 200,000 meals per day. Models can also range
from basic manual operation to fully automated custom solutions.
In addition to grease separators, Kessel also offers oil/fuel Coalescence
Separators. These units provide essential separation where oil and fuel
can enter the drainage system. Material of construction is polyethylene to
ensure high quality, corrosion free operation.
TAKE A LOOK
Bim a Lean Tool?:
Use of Lean and
Building Information
Modeling (BIM) in the
Construction Process;
Does BIM make it
Leaner?
By Geetanjali Ningappa
A relatively new tool that
is increasingly getting
popular is BIM, which has
been playing a major role
in reducing construction
waste. More and more
companies are adopting
BIM as an acceptable
waste reduction tool. The
question is “is BIM a tool
for leaner construction?”
7 QUESTIONS
TO ASK
TROX TECHNIK EASYLAB TCU3
TROX TECHNIK has launched the latest version of its market leading
LabControl System – the EasyLab TCU3. This fully integrated plugand-play system has adaptable control methodologies for all laboratory
applications. This system can be combined with TROX available air flow
control and distribution products to deliver a complete LabControl system
solution. The EasyLab system has been developed specifically to ensure
ease of installation, commissioning, and monitoring, and can be supplied in
modular format to ensure the client pays only for the components required
for their specific solution.
LUTRON RANGE OF WIRELESS ENERGY-EFFICIENT
LIGHT CONTROLS
Lighting can account for the majority of a building’s total energy consumption. With
many building spaces remaining unoccupied between 40% and 70% of the day, lights
can become unnecessarily costly as well as increasing the carbon footprint of the
business. Lutron wireless occupancy/vacancy sensors automate the switching and
dimming of lights, saving energy, money and time.
Radio Powr Savr (RPS) sensors by Lutron can be installed in as little as 15
minutes and communicate with compatible Lutron dimmers, switches and light
control systems. Using Clear Connect™ Radio Frequency (RF) Technology for
communication with wireless occupancy/vacancy sensors, daylight sensors, and
wireless controllers ensures smooth and consistent performance.
1. If my order
quantities increase,
will I receive a better
price?
2. When will the
order be delivered
to site?
3. Has the product
been used or tested
in the GCC?
4. What guarantees
are in place for the
product?
5. What after-sales
support is available?
6. Will we recieve
any installation
advice or
assistance?
7. Can the product
be customised to
suit our specific
requirements?
THE LAST WORD
Stadium
PITCH
Toufic Hawat, regional director of M-E
Engineers, takes to the field to tell us
about his company’s expertise in stadium
design and what it can offer Qatar as it
plans its venues for the 2022 World Cup
What is M-E Engineers’ background in stadium design?
Our portfolio includes all building
types, but our engineering work
on sporting venues places us at the
top of that category globally. M-E
Engineers has been involved in the
design of all the new ‘professional’
sports LEED (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) certified
stadiums in North America thus far,
and on 80% of the retractable roof
stadiums worldwide. We are also
working on premier sports venues
in North America, UK and Europe,
Middle-East, South America and
Australia.
What are the major MEP considerations in stadium design?
Each region of the world has unique
challenges; however, we do see
several common approaches that
transcend local environments and
apply across the globe, with safety
and comfort of the players and spectators being the most important of
considerations. We focus considerable attention on HVAC and lighting
systems, which consume the bulk of
a stadium’s total energy needs. We
use computer modelling to simulate
energy usage of the proposed strate-
gies. Use of lifecycle costing analysis
allows the owner and design team to
evaluate and prioritise different strategies and help in the decision-making process. Analytical tools include
computational fluid dynamics, which
allows us to evaluate strategies like
natural ventilation by modelling air
distribution and movement within
spaces. Combined, all of these tools
can assist in developing a design that
treats the building as one holistic
system, enabling substantial energy,
carbon and resource savings.
Qatar has said its 2022 World
Cup stadia will be air-conditioned? Will they be ‘indoor’ or
enclosed with a roof?
M-E Engineers has designed several large air-conditioned retractable
roof professional sports stadia in extremely hot and humid climates that
operate wonderfully in open as well
as closed configurations. However,
a lot of care, thought and experience has to go into engineering of
these solutions to work efficiently.
For example, in the recently opened
retractable-roof Marlins Ballpark, an
example of creative design and environmental sustainability in a harsh
climate, the retractable roof will
Toufic Hawat,
regional director of M-E Engineers.
We focus considerable attention
on HVAC and lighting systems, which
consume the bulk of a stadium’s total
energy needs.“
be fully operable, offering the flexibility to protect the spectators and
the field from the sun or rain when
needed and to fully air-condition
the interior when necessary. M-E
Engineers provided mechanical,
electrical, plumbing, technology, architectural lighting and sports lighting solutions to exceed USGBC’s
LEED Gold certification – the first of
its kind in the world. In the process
we realised significant carbon reductions equivalent to CO2 emissions
from the energy use of about 150
homes each year.
How can air-conditioned stadia
maximise sustainability and
minimize carbon footprint?
M-E Engineers promotes an integrated approach to the overall design of sporting venues, including
our specialities of MEP systems,
but targeted to all building components in a synergistic manner. Our
approach can be summed up by ‘Order of Operations’ – reduce energy
demand through aggressive load
reduction; use free energy resources
and passive engineering; use the
most efficient technology possible;
recover waste energy; and incorporate renewable resources and energy to offset fossil fuel use. In our
experience, success is achieved only
if each step is exhausted before moving to the next step.
Is there an alternative to airconditioning which might keep
the players and fans cool?
Yes, there are alternatives. Strategies
such as extensive solar controls and
shading (for the plazas surrounding
the stadiums, seating bowl and the
playing field), use of landscaping,
heat-reflecting surfaces, strategic
use of water features, optimum orientation, fenestration design and
minimising discomfort glare.
Innovation of the Year
AIRNAMIC® Swirl Diffusers
in trendsetting ABS plastic technology
wins ‘Innovation of the Year’ at the 2012 MEP Awards.
“Its ability to meet the demanding requirements of the
GCC was worthy of recognition, and a welcome addition
to designers, installers and commissioning engineers alike.”
- Construction Week
www.trox.ae
[email protected]

MEP Middle East visits Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi to take the

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