Construction Review Africa

Since 1989

May-June 2019, Vol 30 No.3 Africa's leading construction journal

Africa’s Power Status Improving Distribution

BIM in Modular Construction Fire and Safety Equipment Modern Security Systems

MANAGING EDITOR Robert Barnes DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Francis Makari EDITOR EDITOR -- in in -- CHIEF CHIEF Dennis Dennis Ayemba Ayemba COUNTRY COUNTRY EDITORS EDITORS Uganda Uganda -- Betty Betty Nabakooza Nabakooza Nigeria Boladale Nigeria - Boladale Ademiju Ademiju South Africa Jimmy South Africa - Jimmy Swira Swira WRITERS WRITERS Yvonne Andiva, Dorcas Kang'ereha, Yvonne Andiva,Anita Dorcas Kang'ereha, Pascal Musungu, Anyango,Wendy Pascal Musungu, Anita Anyango Kinya WEB & GRAPHIC DESIGN Chepkemoi Faith WEB & GRAPHIC DESIGN Chepkemoi Faith Sales and Marketing Manager Ken Okore Manager Sales and Marketing Ken Okore ADVERTISING Kenya: William Mutama, Lilian Khavosa, ADVERTISING Fredrick Otieno Kenya: William Mutama, Lilian Khavosa, Fredrick Otieno South Africa: Thuli Nkosi, Winnie SentSouth Africa: Thuli Nkosi, Winnie Sentabire, Angeline Ntobeng, abire, Angeline Ntobeng, Uganda: Nobert Turiyo, Selina Salumah Uganda: NobertNamuli Turiyo, Selina Salumah Namuli Botswana: Dickson Manyudza, Gerald Botswana: Dickson Manyudza, Gerald Mazikana Mazikana Ethiopia: Haimanot Tesfaye, Ruth Girma Ethiopia: Haimanot Tesfaye, Ruth Girma Tanzania: Tom Kiage Tanzania: Tom Kiage Malawi: Anderson Fumulani Malawi: Anderson Fumulani Ghana: Ghana: Samuel Samuel Hinneh, Hinneh, Caleb Caleb Donne Donne Hadjah Hadjah Zambia: Zambia: Susan Susan Kandeke Kandeke Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe: Chiedza Chiedza Chimombe Chimombe Rwanda: Collison Lore Nigeria: Seni Bello China:Weng Jie

The editor accepts letters and manuscripts for publication from readers all over the world.

Include your name and address as a sign of good faith although you may request your name to be withheld from publication. We reserve the right to edit any material submitted .

Send your letters to: info@constructionreviewonline.com Construction Review is published eleven times a year and is circulated to members of relevant associations, governmental bodies and other personnel in the building and construction industry as well as suppliers of equipment, materials and services in Africa, the Middle and Far East. The editor welcomes articles and photographs for consideration. Material may not be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or authenticity of advertisements or contributions contained in the journal. Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Š All rights reserved.

CON Since 1989

Current Issue

May-June 2019, Vol 30 No.3 Africa's leading construction journal

In this issue, Africa is racing to generate energy but lagging behind in distribution infrastructure. It has become a matter of focusing on one aspect of the problem while ignoring the other.

REGULARS Editor's Comment 3 Corporate News 4 Events 5 Management 6

cover story: Africa's races to generate energy..but lags in distribution capacity: Modular Construction : Role of BIM in Modular Construction Commercial Vehicles: Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles Fire Safety: Fire Safety and Equipment

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Published by Group Africa Publishing Ltd Head Office and for all enquiries: Consolidated Bank House, 4th floor, Koinange Street, Nairobi 00100 Kenya, Tel: +254 722525326, +254-20-8000307 Email: info@groupafricapublishing.com Uganda Agent Projects Unusual Uganda Ltd. Jemba Plaza, Luwum St. Kampala, Uganda Tel: +256 776 883181 bettykatongole@yahoo.com Botswana Agent Cadline (Pty) Ltd. P/Bag 494 Gaborone, Botswana.

Tel: +267 318 7101, Fax: +267 318 102 E-mail: botswana@constructionreviewonline.com South Africa Agent College Publishers CC 1st Floor, 267 Oak Avenue, Oakfields, Randburg, Johannesburg Tel: +27 11 781 4253, Fax: +27 11 781 4287 Email: info@collegepublishers.co.za Ethiopia Agent Haymi Advertising Services 22 Mazoria, Genet Bldg 4th Flr Email: ethiopia@constructionreviewonline.com

TENT

Editor's Comment

Role of BIM in Modular Construction

It is possible to make electricity affordable in Africa

Detailed prefabrication drawings

More than 640 million people, two-thirds of the continent’s population, do not have access to electricity. The African Development Bank estimates that Africa’s power outages sap up to 4% of its GDP growth from its economy every year.

produced in BIM software helps to review and coordinate work between trades along with resolving the issues within drawings.

However, with the rush to develop different energy generation plants evident all over the continent, this might be a thing of the past. Only one problem remains; making that power available to the people.

18 Fire Safety and Equipment

African governments and stakeholders should not only focus on power generation but also invest in distribution infrastructure to ensure the generated power actually reaches the consumers.

Fire firefighting equipment has advanced greatly over the last century with modern technology making it

The regional power pools should create conducive environments for power trading to make certain that no country is seating on idle capacity while her neighbor is grappling with a deficit.

possible to create smart options that are faster and safer.

23

If Africa is to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals number 7; to ensure access to affordable, reliable and modern energy for all; electricity should not only be reliable but also affordable.

28 SECURITY SYSTEMS: Modern Security System 30 Profile: Silverstone Apartments:Built for Comfort 32 Project: Kenyatta National Hospital in Major Infrastructural Expansion Project: Uganda Revenue Authority Headquater's Quest to offer a 34 sustainable working experience

Ghana Agent Image Consortium 1st Floor, The Ecobank Building, Tesano.

Email: ghana@constructionreviewonline.com Kenya Agent Northwest Ventures Ltd P.O. Box 16414 - 00100 G.P.O Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 2679808 Email: kenya@groupafricapublishing.com info@northwest.or.ke

May - June 2019 Volume 30 No. 3

Access to reliable, safe, and affordable electricity can improve lives in Africa since people can work longer and be more productive.

Robert Barnes

Nigeria Agent Rahma Associates B23/24, Aishetu Emoewa Plaza, 196, Iju Water Works Road, Ifako Ijaye Lga,Agege, Lagos.

Email: nigeria@constructionreviewonline.com Rwanda Agent Kolline & Hemed Inc., B.P. 3328, Kigali, Rwanda E-mail: rwanda@constructionreviewonline.com

Zambia Agent Dayflex Limited, 4th.

Floor Tazara House Dedan Kimathi Road, Lusaka, Zambia.

Email: Zambia@constructionreviewonline. com Tanzania Agent: Group Africa Publishing Ltd tz@constructionreviewonline.com Dar-es-salaam

CORPORATE NEWS

Demag Cranes celebrates 200th Anniversary 2019 marks the double century of Demag, which started from humble beginnings in the town of Wetter in Germany in 1819 by Friedrich Harkort, an early prominent German industrialist and pioneer of industrial development in the Ruhr region.

Saurabh Gandhi, (left) JCB District Manager – Africa East confirm the agreement extending a 20% discount for the purchase of JCB Back-hoe Loaders purchased from Ganatra Plant & Equipment branches in Kenya, represented by managing director, AltafGanatra. Bank of Kenya.

Ganatra Launches Cost Reduction and Asset Finance Deals for New JCB Leading construction and building equipment supplier, Ganatra Plant & Equipment Ltd have announced a cost reduction and asset finance deal for purchases of new JCB Back-hoe Loaders.

Under the name Mechanische Werkstatten Harkort & Co he founded the first industrial workshop at Castle Wetter, producing steam engines and gas light equipment.

The onset of the Industrial Revolution was crucial to the success of the company and its production of steam engines, steel works and rolling mills.

The cost reduction of 20% has been negotiated with principals, JCB UK backed with finance provided by NIC Bank, Stanbic Bank and Barclays Bank in Kenya.

About Demag Cranes

The JCB Back-hoe Loader is a world leader, and because of its versatility can be used in a number of different industries including roads and building construction, agriculture, mining, material handling and waste management among others.

Demag is a major global player in the crane industry that originated in Germany and now has subsidiaries and many partner agencies all over the world.

Commenting on the price promotion, Altaf Ganatra, Managing Director of Ganatra Plant & Equipment Ltd said ,they are very excited about this new initiative. Acquiring the world’s best Backhoe Loader at the new offer price is an opportunity not to be missed.

“By significantly reducing the cost of procuring a JCB Back-hoe Loader, we hope to increase mechanisation to boost productivity.

The offer will also be attractive to Kenyan entrepreneurs who can make very high returns by renting out the machines,” he added.

Demag has a 200 year old history, beginning in 1819 with the establishment of Mechanische Werkstätten Harkort & Co. in Wetter an der Ruhr. In 1840, Demag started manufacturing overhead travelling cranes, concentrating on the production of cranes and crane components at an early date, including hoist units with an electric drive since 1910.

Veolia supplied three water treatment solutions in Mbombela, South Africa Veolia Water Technologies South Africa was contracted to alleviate Mbombela’s water constraints with three new water treatment plants.

Addressing the need for lowfootprint, portability and easily maintained water treatment solutions, Veolia supplied three Potable Water Treatment Plants to Mpumalanga’s capital city.

“Our Water Techno Packages are fast becoming very popular water treatment solutions across South Africa,” says Nishaal Rooplall, Project Engineer, Veolia Water Technologies South Africa.

“Not only are these compact solutions a cost-effective alternative to in-ground plants, but their ‘plug-and-play’ and low maintenance functionality makes them ideal for remote locations,” he said.

“Furthermore, these plants are packaged and movable by nature and can be transported elsewhere if the city’s water requirements change,” he affirmed.

New handbook for the real estate industry to be launched A book that seeks to provide relevant information to real estate developers in Kenya is set to be launched.

“Building in Kenya – A Real Estate Developer’s Toolkit” aims to be the developer’s one-stop informational resource, an invaluable guide through the real estate development process.

It assists with identification and evaluation of risks involved in the different stages of a building project and development of strategies with checklists and worksheets for developers to minimize risks on their projects.

The book is written by two well known players in the building industry - Emma Miloyo and Robyn T. Emerson. Emma is an architect and partner at Design Source.

Her professional experience has seen her undertake projects in the entire East Africa region. She is also the first female President of the Architectural Association of Kenya and has been recognized as one of the “Top 40 under 40 Women in Kenya” by the Business Daily.

Robyn is an urban planner entrepreneur.

She is a former CEO of Kenya Property Developers Association and the founding President of Women in Real Estate. She is also the Managing Director of Legacy Realty.

“Building in Kenya – A Real Estate Developer’s Toolkit” also contextualizes the Kenyan real estate development market by conducting interviews with sector professionals and consultants involved in real estate development.

Interviews were also conducted with developers of various structures – individual, family and corporate with experience ranging from first-time to serial developers.

Authors Emma Miloyo (left) and Robyn Emerson

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EVENTS

4th Africa Road Infrastructure & Investment Congress 2019

The Annual Modern Airports Africa Summit 2019

22nd Buildexpo Kenya 2019 at KICC Nairobi

The 4th Africa Road Infrastructure and Investment Congress 2019 (#ARIIC 2019) is the continent’s most prominent event which brings together the key financiers, investors, multilateral investment institutions,Government ministries, regulators, public and private sector stakeholders to discuss how these various elements fit together and how to successfully fund and execute infrastructure projects on time and within budget.

African economies are carrying out major airport build and expansion projects in anticipation of the ever-rising air passenger numbers. 7 out of 10 of the fastest-growing markets are represented by African countries and they are expected to achieve a compound growth rate of more than 7.2% per year, meaning their market will double in size each decade.

Buildexpo Africa is the only show with the widest range of the latest technology in building material, mining machines, construction machinery and heavy equipment.

At the 22nd edition of Buildexpo, East Africa’s largest building and construction fair, we bring you exhibitors from over 40 countries who are the finest in infrastructure With over 80 projects in the pipeline valued at US $45.3bn, development.

Taking place in Nairobi, Kenya from 10-11 Africa represents one of the most vivid and fastest growing September 2019, the Congress this year will continents in the infrastructure development space.

Find what suits you best from about explore the theme “Boosting Investment in 14.3 million business prospects during The Annual Modern Airports Africa Summit, will take Road Infrastructure”. place in Nairobi from 28 – 30 August 2019. the three-day event, with over 10,000 products, equipment and machinery on The Congress will analyse new publicdisplay across an expanse of more than private partnership projects (PPPs), 10,000 square meters. new infrastructure projects that promote regional integration and competitiveness of Exhibition name: 22nd Buildexpo countries, new technologies and financing Kenya 2019. challenges in the road and highway industry across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Organizer: Expogroup.

Airports are primed as the gateway to African destinations, whilst playing a vital role in driving economic expansion and diversification.

Duration: 04th – 06th July 2019.

The event will feature 30+ senior key opinion leaders from the full spectrum of players in the value chain.

Venue: KICC, Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenya - Architectural Association of Kenya

- Ethiopian Association of Civil Engineers

- Institute of Engineers of Kenya - Association of Consulting Engineers of - Kenya - Association of Professional Societies of East Africa APSEA)

Nigeria

Zimbabwe

- Association of Consulting Engineers Nigeria - Association of Professional Women

- Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers

- Institution of Surveyors of Kenya

Association Partners

- Construction Contractors Association of Ethiopia

- Zimbabwe Institute of Quantity Surveyors

- Kenya Property developers Association

South Africa - ASAQS

and Quantity Surveyors (AQSRB)

- Association of Ethiopian Architects

- Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya

- The Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (Cifoz)

- SAICE

- South African Council for the Quantity

- Tanzania’s Registration Board of Architects

Ethiopia

Surveying Profession

Ghana - Ghana Institute of Engineers

Engineers Of Nigeria - Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria - The Nigerian Institute of Architects - American Association of Petroleum Geologists Africa Region

- Khuthaza ( Women for Housing)

- Architects Registration Council

- Concrete Manufacturers Association

- Ghana Institute of Surveyors

- Green Building council of SA

- Ghana Green Builders Association

- South African Property Owners Association

- Ghana Institute of Planners

- Master Builders South Africa

- Association of Building and Civil Engineering

- Building and Construction Skilled Artisans

Contractors of Ghana

Association of Nigeria (BACSAAN)

Uganda

- Nigeria Society of Engineers - Nigeria Institute of Architects

Institute of Surveyors of Uganda

Namibia

Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers (UIPE) &

Institute of Namibian Quantity Surveyors

Zambia

Uganda society of Architects

Association of Consulting Engineers of Namibia

- Zambia Institute of Architects (ZIA)

Botswana

- Tanzania Institute of Quantity Surveyors

- Institute of Botswana Quantity Surveyors

Tanzania

- Construction Regulation Board (CRB)

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- Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (ABCEC).

May - June 2019 | CR

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MANAGEMENT should be well insulated. That can be done by making sure the envelope of the home is sealed properly. Experts know which air-sealing techniques work best for which climate so look for the best option that fits your budget.

Moreover, in addition to insulating the foundation, you should do the same with your walls by using structural insulated panels or opting for the optimum value engineering design.

5. Opt for highly-insulated windows and doors Quality doors, windows and skylights all help keep your home warm or cool, depending on how you want it. That is why finding the right energy-efficient models and optimizing their orientation as well as size is important in order to reduce your future bills. Investing in overhangs and insulated shades can also help regulate the temperature.

8 Things to have in mind when building an energy-efficient house

H

ave you decided to build a brand new house for yourself instead of buying one? Good for you. This gives you so many opportunities to have the home of your dreams and make it match your needs exactly.

Make sure not to plan something you cannot afford as you will have no use from an unfinished house.

However, aside from your practical and aesthetic needs, you should also consider making the house energy-efficient right from the start.

In case you already have a loan, you could look into your options for refinancing it. This will afford you the ability to consolidate your debts, potentially reduce the period of your loan and offer you the ability to get extra cash through equity that you can put towards your project.

In case you were already thinking about this, here are some tips to have in mind which will both save you some money in the long run and help the state of our planet.

Your plan should also include important information about the building site. How you position your home is going to play a vital role in its efficiency.

1. Design Having a good plan is the most important thing. So, meet with various designers, architects and builders who can help you come up with a smart design for an energyefficient home. Make sure they maintain good communication throughout the process to avoid any oversights.

Consult with professionals to see what tips they have when it comes to this passive energy-saving method.

2. Finances While creating your plan, it’s essential to bear in mind the price of this endeavor. You should put all your wishes and needs on paper and see how much everything will cost.

This is especially important if your house will also have a basement. Consider using insulating concrete forms as experts say that they have many benefits.

3. Insulate your foundation To increase the energy efficiency of your home and make it comfier, you should insulate your foundation.

CR | May - June 2019

One of the things to consider is your climate – professionals can tell you which materials are best for which conditions.

Furthermore, the color also plays a role here, as dark colors absorb heat more than light ones and this can result in a warmer home.

Opting for a cool roof is another option to reduce your energy use and bills.

7. Solar power Your roof can also be used to install solar panels which can allow you to go completely off the grid and produce your own energy.

While this is a pricier investment, experts claim that you will see the ROI in just a couple of years depending on the size of your system.

8. Heating systems While solar power can also be used for heating purposes, you can look into other options as well.

4. Seal and insulate the building envelope In order to have pleasant temperatures inside your home all year round, your building 6

6. Roof When choosing the roof, it’s good to know that many of the available options are very eco-friendly and can last you a long time.

For instance, heat pumps, both air- and ground-source, are an amazing option as they draw heat from the atmosphere and the ground.

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COVER STORY

Africa races to generate energy ..but lags in distribution capacity

The lack of high voltage transmission lines to evacuate power from generation plants and distribute it to the consumers has left the consumer with the burden of paying for idle capacity.

I

n Africa today, development banks and agencies, the private sector, and governments have invested heavily in power generation as a driver for development and growth. Foreign government aid led by the US government’s Power Africa and the African Development Bank’s “Light Up and Power Africa” and “Integrate Africa” initiatives respectively all share the goal of bringing a massive amount of new power generation online in Africa in the next few years.

To drive industrial growth in Africa the need for cheap, plentiful electricity is imperative. The efforts are beginning to bear fruit as regards abundance to the extent that a few countries have even reached a position where they can boast of having more power than they need.

However one stark reality is dawning and that is that prices are not coming down and consumers in those same countries are still paying high electricity bills despite the increase in installed capacity.

There is an increasing financing deficit for transmission lines hence financing frameworks need to be put in place.

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The problem lies in focusing on one aspect of the problem while ignoring another. To increase national or even regional access to energy and ensure a cost-efficient, reliable power supply, investors have to not only focus on generation but also transmission.

CR | May - June 2019

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The lack of high voltage transmission lines to evacuate power from generation plants and distribute it to the consumers has left the consumer with the burden of paying for idle capacity.

Take East Africa for example, the three big economies Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania’s combined peak electricity demand now stands at about 3,300 MW, way below the installed capacity of 5,500 MW. Yet connectivity amongst the population remains low.

It is evident that, this overcapacity is not evenly spread across all countries for instance, in East African countries like Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia has surplus electricity while Tanzania has an under supply of over 400MW. This is a glaring indication of a potential regional trade in power that can ease the burden of paying for idle capacity.

However, regional trade in energy needs transmission infrastructure. To take advantage of the existing regional surplus, and to fully unlock the regional trading potential, several key regional transmission projects need to be prioritized and accelerated. Indeed in Sub-Saharan Africa steps have taken steps towards aligning generation with distribution through the establishment of Power Pools that will coordinate the planning and operation of the electric power system among member utilities. www.constructionreviewonline.com

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These power pools include: the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) which was created in 1995 and is now the most advanced power pool in the continent. SAPP introduced the Short-TermEnergy Markets (STEM) in April 2001, which run on daily and hourly contracts. This ignited the development of a competitive energy market in the form of a Day-Ahead Market (DAM) in 2003.

Then we have the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) which was established in 2001 to promote energy trade between member countries. Lastly we have the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) which was established in 2005 with the understanding that the region will be a single power market through power trade. Have these power pools done enough?

Southern Africa Currently, the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) is operating at a capacity of 60.8GW, exceeding a peak demand of 50.1GW. The SAPP comprises 12 member states, of which nine member countries are already interconnected.

Notably, SAPP has evolved into the only fully functioning regional energy market in Sub-Saharan Africa.

There is still opportunity to do more in the region because according to the Power Africa Report, Southern Africa’s peak supply of 63,700 MW (2018) will rise to 76,800 MW in 2025, with peak demand of 54,300 MW growing to 66,200 MW. The aggregate surplus of 9,400 MW (2018) is driven by countries with surpluses (Angola and South Africa), while some countries (e.g. Malawi, Namibia) will have power deficits. Countries like Mozambique and Zambia are expected to transition from deficit to surplus over the period.

West Africa The West African Power Pool (WAPP) is working on starting a regional electricity market as it has the capacity and capability to do so. Approximately 7% of regional power is traded through WAPP, surpassing that of EAPP; but there is still more that can be done.

The Power Africa Report indicates that, West Africa’s peak supply of 13,500 MW in 2018 is forecast to grow to 30,400 MW in 2025, with peak demand of 17,700 MW growing to 30,600 MW. Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal and Togo should maintain energy surpluses between 2018 and 2025, while Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Niger and Nigeria should have deficits over the period (with Niger transitioning to surplus in 2025).

Benin, Mauritania and Sierra Leone are expected to transition from light deficit to light surplus over the period, while Mali should follow the opposite trajectory.

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Key regional transmission projects need to be prioritized and accelerated to take advantage of power surplus.

Interconnection of the Senegal-Guinea axis, particularly through the Gambia River Basin Organization which covers Senegal, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Gambia, to supply countries in deficit (e.g., Guinea-Bissau) and dispatch potential future surpluses from Senegal (e.g. the Sambangalou hydropower project). The huge power trade potential in Western Africa clearly shows how WAPP has a huge part to play to ensure the region has access to affordable and reliable electricity.

East Africa Power Distribution in East Africa is still wanting. The investments in generation was driven by the understanding that the region will be a single power market interconnected through the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP); then the EAPP would further connect with the Southern and West African markets, effectively transforming Africa into an integrated power trade market but this has not happened.

Vast parts of Uganda remain without electricity, despite having recently completed two hydro-power projects, because the existing transmission lines cover less than 40% of the country. Both the government and private sector are struggling with making the power accessible to the people.

Considering the fact that Uganda is projected to have 2,500MW installed capacity by 2020, this might be a burden to consumers rather than a relief if the government through the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company

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Limited (UETCL) does not act fast. In Kenya, Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KENTRACO) is particularly on the spot for failure to implement numerous high voltage transmission lines on time to facilitate the uptake of power from cheaper hydro, solar and wind sources.

Ketraco has been slow in delivering projects such as the 400kV Olkaria-Lessos-Kisumu line intended to facilitate reliable evacuation of power to Western Kenya and the 220kV Garsen-Bura-Hola-Garissa line designed to deliver reliable power supply to irrigation schemes in Bura and Hola.

Moreover, the fact that industrial electricity consumption declined by 0.9% to 4,230GWhs from 4,271 GWhs between 2018 and 2019; while small commercial consumption rose marginally from 1,395 GWhs to 1,403 GWhs means that Kenya is generating excess electricity with no consumption capacity owing to high electricity tariffs that discourages industrial growth.

Despite the fact that Kenya and Uganda produce surplus electricity, their neighbors Tanzania and Rwanda are experiencing a deficit; and according to a report by Power Africa (Power Africa Transmission Roadmap to 2030), Tanzania is projected to experience a supply deficit in the medium term, ranging between -500 and -800 MW, while Rwanda is expected to remain in deficit in the short term.

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This means that Kenya and Uganda have an opportunity to utilize their idle capacity by exporting power to Rwanda and Tanzania. The trade will help the two countries ease the burden of high electricity tariffs being experienced by their consumers currently, which will in turn encourage industrial growth.Nevertheless, countries must ensure that they develop frameworks for financing transmission lines through the private sector. Clearly, there is an increasing financing deficit for transmission lines.

Countries that are involved in the agreement need to explore alternative models and put in place alternative frameworks for financing infrastructure. This has proven successful in Asia and Latin America.

Moreover, the infrastructure deficit relating to transmission is too large to be addressed by governments and development finance institutions (DFIs) alone.

Therefore, new and innovative DFI concessional financing models are needed to decrease the need for government investment and further encourage privately-financed transmission models. Policy and regulatory reforms are also needed to spur private sector investment.

It is now clear that the generation of surplus electricity is set to increase in the coming years considering the number of power projects in the pipeline.

African governments and stakeholders should start to reconsider support for additional generation projects and invest in distribution lines lest they find themselves in the severe predicament of having too much electricity with not enough people to buy and utilize it. While burdening consumers with the added cost of paying for unutilized energy.

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ADVERTORIAL

ACE Geosynthetics

A

ccurate, Collaborative and Efficient better known as ACE Geosynthetics is considered as a solution provider, a trusted business partner and a socially responsible company in the geosynthetics industry. They have devoted themselves in promoting geosynthetics products and arousing the consciousness of the environment.

Products and Services ACE provides various kinds of products covering geogrids, geotextiles, geotextile tubes and bags, and other woven products for different applications ranging from earthwork construction, roadway and railway construction, environment protection, marine and coastal structures construction, riverbank and channel protection to mining.

ACE sincerely provides the services listed below, Design and Technical Support, Material Testing, Construction Support and Training Support.

During the design and construction stages, the company is willing to offer professional advices or other assistance based on customer’s requirement.

In order to provide high quality materials and products to customers, ACE will conduct tests in accordance with several tests such as ISO/EN, ASTM, DIN and CNS to access performance and analysis.

a concrete retaining wall. With Geogrid Retaining Wall structures being more stable, at a lower cost and faster construction time than the traditional concrete retaining wall, a lot of interest is being focused on this product.

As for construction support, they are able to provide equipment suggestion or jobsite instruction during the construction stage.

As a trusted business partner, they conform their products with high quality by conducting professional tests through in-house laboratory certified by TAF and recognized with the ILAC laboratory. ACE is exporting products to more than 70 countries and has earned trust from numerous customers.

Uniqueness ACE Geosynthetics takes a unique approach which distinguishes us from other geosynthetics manufacturers, as they do not see themselves as manufacturers; instead, they take a solution based approach for every inquiry they get. The firm assists their clients from the design phase of a project to the construction phase.

Right Product Getting the right product and specification for each project requirement is critical in making purchasing decision when it comes to geosynthetics, as there is no one size fit all in geosynthetics. For each project and application different specification might be needed. That is why ACE Geosynthetics works with their partners to make sure the right specifications are used and fits with the project at hand.

Social responsibility As a socially responsible company, they provide environmentally-friendly geosynthetics materials to help decrease carbon emission which has great impact on global warming.

ACE also promotes training support to make people around the world understand more about the geosynthetics industry. In addition to offering knowledge and information to customers, they also take lectures or deliver speeches in universities, engineering associations and government agencies.

Popular products in Africa High tensile strength ACEGrid ® geogrid is the most popular products in Africa.

The product is used in various applications including for Reinforced Earth Soil Structure (MSEW: Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall) For Slope Reinforcement as opposed to using the traditional method of constructing

Emerging Trends For a long time Non wovens and Geomembranes have dominated the geosynthetics market in Africa. This has been attributed to their simple application and installation technique.

However, knowledge about other geosynthetics materials and their application gain traction, more interest for more complex geosynthetics materials such as geogrids, high strength woven geotextile, geotextile tubs and concrete mattress are becoming more in demand.

Technology Break Through Recently, the company has made two breakthroughs in Geosynthetics; one is ACETube® in sandy color, and the other is ACETex® ES. They are proud of ACETube® with application ranging sludge dewatering to shoreline protection/land reclamation and land reclamation. Most geotextile tubes come in the color black, which seem unnatural when used for shore protection applications, especially along a beach.

Geotextile tubes usually come in black because they are usually made from PP geotextiles, this enables them to have high UV resistance.

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WATER METERS

Reducing commercial losses through better metering

C

ommercial losses form a significant part of non-revenue water (NRW).

Some of the issues cited are: a. Meters not working or stalled. b. Tampering or manipulation of meters. c. Meter readers not having proper access to meters. d. Meter readers deliberately not taking readings or influenced to give the wrong reading. e. Illegal connections and theft.

Danco Capital, a leading water solution provider in Kenya has been aiming to reduce water losses through sustainable solutions both in metering and better piping systems.

With NRW being so high in Kenya and other parts of Africa we need to take some positive actions to reduce commercial losses through some sound and easy steps.

1. Choose an accurate water meter The saying “cheap is expensive” is the best way to describe how one should avoid cheap,

inaccurate meters which are known to stall within one year of installation. Quality meters should last for over 7 years and be MID approved with good accuracy.

A meter is a Water Service Provider’s (WSP) cash register. Using the correct meter with higher accuracy, the right type of meter for the turbidity of water, and tamper proof is imperative. It is very important that a WSP looks at lifetime cost, accuracy and the technical benefits when choosing a meter.

At Ruiru and Juja Water Services Company, Kenya (RUJWASCO) a series test completed in 2017 using a Diehl volumetric meter and other less accurate meters available showed that over a period of 6 months the company was recording on average 15% to 20% higher readings from the more accurate Diehl meters over the less accurate meters.

This meant an increase in revenue and a high return on investment on the meter.

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2. Use technology – automated meter reading (amr) Taking advantage of technology cannot be ignored and must be embraced by WSPs to help reduce commercial losses.

Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS) in Western Kenya have embraced technology and have been instrumental in conducting a pilot for automated meter reading (AMR) in one DMA. The board and senior management have contracted DANCO PLASTICS (KENYA) to install and hand over a fixed network system using DIEHL METERING (Germany) and technology to test AMR as a way to reduce commercial losses.

ELDOWAS have installed a FIXED NETWORK system from DIEHL METERING. All meters (already smart ready) are installed with a radio module that emits a radio pulse every 8 seconds.

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This pulse is captured and read by a fixed receiver (concentrator) that is installed in a strategic area within a specific distance from all the meters.

tampered with, or detects overflow, all highlighted on the software and accessible at any time.

The concentrator collects all the readings and transmits this data by GPRS to a cloud based server.

An additional option to a Fixed Network system is a DRIVE BY system – this is also offered by Diehl Metering and works very well for remote areas or where the water service provider wants to cover a larger area.

This data is remotely read by an online web based software that the ELDOWAS team can access anywhere The software allows the team to read all meters from the office and can be set to every 8 seconds, to every day or whatever your preference.

A drive by system uses a hand held device that can be driven around (or on foot) around the city and will automatically collect the meter readings from smart meters within 500 meters of the device.

The software gives the GPS data on every meter, to include customer names, details and any other information that you choose to input. Therefore this automatically does a GIS mapping for your network.

The most useful tool is that it provides an alarm for any meters that have been stalled,

Whether it is a drive by or fixed network, automated meter reading is the future and is already contributing to reducing nonrevenue water The principal advantages are: 1. Provides accuracy in readings – with no challenges.

2. Allows the water service company to send bills faster.

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3. The meter reading team can be used to analyse water consumption and focus on problem customers.

4. Allows focus and quick intervention on tampered meters.

5. Quicker response on meters that are not working.

6. Analysis on water consumption to allow for better management of resources.

7. Seamless integration between reading and billing system.

As we embrace new technology in our professional and personal lives, it is also important to consider the evolution of products and solutions available in the water sector and in particular in metering. Water meters are your cash register and the most valuable asset for a water company. There should be no compromise on quality and this should be a priority. Further to this using remote metering will enhance the utilization of the meters and in turn transform your customer service and more significantly water losses.

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ADVERTORIAL

Odfjell discovers the benefits of Graco’s EcoQuip 2 EQp Frustrated with the drawbacks of dry blasting their ships, Odfjell SE looked for a cleaner and more productive surface preparation solution … and found it.

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orwegian ship owning company Odfjell SE offers complete inhouse ship management services including crewing, QHSSE, technology support, digital innovation, new-builds, energy efficiency solutions, and overall fleet management. But when it came to onboard maintenance work, they weren’t too happy about the efficiency of their surface treatment methods.

Time-consuming and unhealthy For onboard maintenance, Odfjell was using a combination of dry blasting and mechanical tools. On-the-spot repair with mechanical tools was taking time and effort, and was unhealthy and unpleasant for the crew due to the heavy vibrations of the tools.

Moreover, dry blasting was requiring a massive amount of grit, and the dust was having a negative impact on the crew, the ship and the surrounding environment. To overcome these problems, Odfjell decided to look for alternative methods for their onboard maintenance work.

They were already aware of abrasive media and their usefulness to prepare surfaces.

But Odfjell not only needed good surface preparation, they also wanted a technique that was easy to use and not dangerous for the crew.

Cleaner, lighter and more portable Discussions with Odfjell’s local Graco distributor led to the solution. J.S. Cock recommended the Graco EcoQuip 2 EQp vapour abrasive blast equipment and installed it on Odfjell’s ship Bow Atlantic.

They also upgraded the unit with a 1” hose for incoming air.

An extra compressor wasn’t necessary as the Atlantic Bow already had a large 55 kW compressor capable of providing sufficient air.

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One obvious advantage of the EQp is that it’s small and easy to move around a ship.

To reach all parts of the ship, a total of 30 meters of hoses is used. Odfjell uses quartz sand with a thickness of 0.3 mm as abrasive media, at a rate of 60-70 kg/hour.

Increased productivity With the EcoQuip 2 EQp, Odfjell were pleased to see that their surface preparation was as good as with dry blasting. The benefit of using the EQp over dry blasting is an incremental reduction of used grit and generated dust.

It’s effective in rain and high humidity, and efficiently removes coatings without damaging the sub-surface.

The bottom line is that EcoQuip reduces project costs while increasing the speed, efficiency and productivity of blasting.

EcoQuip 2 Portable (EQp) is lightweight (99 kg) and therefore easy to take from one surface preparation job to another.

EQp also desalts the surface, so it’s immediately ready to be painted, eliminating the need to clean it first. The feathered edges around the prepared area are smooth so no rust will occur around the prepared area.

“We are using 75% less grit volume compared to dry blasting,” says Torleif Solheim, Senior Technical Superintendent at Odfjell. “When blasting, we fill two bags which last for 35-40 minutes before we have to refill again. And that’s not the only benefit, the maintenance crew find the EQp very easy to handle and operate.”

Dan Törnqvist, Business Development Specialist HPCF at Graco, adds a bit of advice. “If you want to use the 1” inch blasting hose, you need a 1” hose for incoming air. Keep in mind that your compressor has to be at least 30-37 kW. For smaller compressors, the EQp should be used with a ½” blasting hose and incoming air hose.”

Less blast media, less dust Graco’s EcoQuip vapour abrasive blast equipment provides a performance equivalent to sandblasting but with 92% less dust, thus minimizing the need for PPE, tenting and containment, and decreasing environmental impact.

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It uses up to 75% less blast media and far less water than wet blasting, and creates little run-off, thus there is no large slurry mess to clean-up and dispose.

It still packs the necessary power for any small to medium sized job.

It can blast up to 10.5 bar and can handle most of what a 10.5 m³/min compressor delivers. It’s also optimized to work well with a 5.2 m³/min compressor and blasts for up to 90 minutes between refills.

•Portability: weighs only 99.8 kg and is easily transported on a cart with lift handles •Low water usage (only 0.5 - 1 l/min) means less mess •Works with coarse, fine or non-destructive media •Fast removal rates compared to other cleaning methods: blast pressures up 10.5 bar •Blasts for up to 90 minutes between refills and holds approximately (4) 25 kg bags of media.

For more information about EcoQuip, visit Graco’s website at www.graco.com/marine or contact Stephan Rindfleisch, Product Marketing Manager AFTD at stephan. rindfleisch@graco.com.

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EcoQuip™ 2 EQp Vapour abrasive blasting

A cleaner and easier way of blasting for more profitable and durable results.

Small and portable – makes it easy to move on the deck.

It can handle both horizontal and vertical surfaces Atex approved – can be used on all vessel types (even tankers) Environmental friendly – 92% less dust and less media consumption compared to dry blasting. Uses less abrasive and less water than traditional machines for slurryblasting, pressure washing or water jetting.

Limited Health Risks – Limited risks due to vibrations caused by hand tools Surface preparation – the surface roughness, visible cleanliness (rust, deteriorated coats) and nonvisible cleanliness (chloride levels) combined with feathered edges in spot blasting generate quality prepared metallic surfaces for recoating jobs.

WATCH THE VIDEO! www.graco.com/marine/ecoquip

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MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

Role of BIM in modular construction

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odular Construction refers to one or more structural units that are assembled or fabricated in a manufacturing plant away from the job site and is then transported and assembled on-site.

All the modules are prefabricated with trim work and MEP system installed.

Modular Construction provides many benefits such as reduction of the need for workforce, reduction of on-site House Green Gas emissions, and improvement of the construction schedule and product quality.

Benefits of BIM in Modular Construction Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a 3D Modeling process that improves planning, design and construction of the buildings with this it benefits and portrays impact on off-site construction.

BIM acts as the integration for Modular Construction based on production, execution and development of prefabricated panels.

BIM helps the construction professionals with insights and tools to efficiently plan design and construct the building and infrastructure while maintaining it.It enhances the communication flow among project participants and improves the design and construction process.

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BIM has made coordination and fabrication of MEP components in Modular Construction be easy and operate smoothly.

Facilitates shop drawings of MEP discipline BIM facilitates fabrication and shop drawings of MEP components in less time and accurately for the building project. It enables digital design flow to fabrication workflow easily for all the disciplines.

With the use of BIM Modeling Services in Modular Construction, use of prefabricated modules is increased along with resolving all the potential issues in the design stage itself, saving time and money on the project.Control on the final product is higher with the advent of BIM technology.

How Architects can benefit from Modular Construction Architects will be able to use the Modular Construction standards to size and locate the building object in a modular reference frame that would increase the use of BIM application for the built environment in the prefabrication industry.

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Collaboration with BIM in Modular Construction BIM analyzes the exact data of the site with collaboration and gives precise measurements of the prefabricated modules to sub-contractors.

It thus enables the perfect fitting of components in the building without leakages.

BIM allows transportation of feasible space for the modules so that they can be viewed in the 3D model and set the modules in place to have efficiency and problem can be solved easily.

Materials at the off-site construction can be effective and efficient if undergone proper surveillance by using BIM through videos and measurements of the modules. A designing team must check that the BIM integration in modules is inter operable with the software used by prefabrication. Prefabricated elements must be delivered to a job site on time.

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The following process is carried out by implementing BIM in Modular Construction: It can create a 3D model for the representation of building modules, geometry and space for related systems. Code compliance’s reviews data is embraced with a 3D Model by fire and building officials.

Once the BIM model is completed, it can easily produce the detailed fabricated shop drawing of the building components. Building system interference can be visually presented.

Challenges of BIM in Modular Construction Due to modules being transported from one site or factory to another, it becomes problematic for the materials to be inspected during off-site construction.

Wastage of wrong prefabricated elements can be reduced or eliminated if used by the integration of BIM technology for modularization of the building.MEP BIM Coordination Services are one of the essential benefits that BIM provides with integration with Modular Construction.

BIM application helps to generate accurate size and space location of the prefabricated modules to ease the process smoothly.

Detailed prefabrication drawings produced in BIM software helps to review and coordinate work between trades along with resolving the issues within drawings. Production of components starts once the coordinated prefabrication drawings are prepared and complied.

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

MEDIUM AND HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

By Wendy Kinya

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bbreviated as MHCVs, medium and heavy commercial vehicles range from concrete mixers to suction excavators. They are mostly powered by diesel engines. Almost all trucks share common design features; they are made of chassis, a cab, an area for cargo or equipment, axles, suspension, road wheels, an engine and drive train. Pneumatic, hydraulic, water and electrical systems may also be present depending on the application.

Intelligence, four out of every ten heavy commercial vehicles are sold in China. In 2017 alone, 1.35 million units were sold, reflecting a whopping 40 percent increase over the previous year.

Medium trucks weigh between 5.9 to 15 tons.

They are mainly used for deliveries and public service such as dumping, garbage and fire trucks. Heavy trucks are the largest on-road commercial vehicles weighing an average of 44 tons. They include applications such a concrete pump trucks and refuse haulers.

Due to the axle weight, they cause rapid road damage and wear.

In Kenya, about 27% of all new vehicles sold are heavy commercial vehicles. Majority of the buyers are industries, transport contractors, large merchants and construction industry players who include contractors and distributors of building materials.

For this reason, they are outfitted with special tires for applications such as logging and construction. Globally, sales of medium and heavy duty commercial vehicles have been on the rise. This is largely attributable to commensurate growth of industries and increase in construction activities.

Their outlook is excellent, thanks to supportive government policies and infrastructural development strategies such as the Belt and Road initiative that has roped in dozens of countries around the world.

In addition, reliability of the vehicle, performance, fuel consumption and availability of finance are major factors that sway potential customers. As added incentives, some dealers throw in free insurance for the first year or free service up to a certain period or mileage.

Key Considerations when purchasing a MHCV Truck customers should consider their line of work, the goods they shall be transporting, the distance to be covered as well as the terrain/ route in which the vehicle will be travelling in to determine the suitable application for them.

For buses, a key consideration is of course the terrain to be covered, and the frequency of the trips to be made.

The country is host to major international vehicle brands. These include Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Iveco, Renault, Ashok Leyland and Tata among others. Local banks have partnered with many of these motor vehicle dealers to enable clients acquire their preferred vehicles at easy terms.

Competition is stiff and dealers often have to invest in superior customer service to win over increasingly discerning buyers.

Not unexpectedly, China has dominated this sector. According to a report by Modor 20

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For example, is the bus needed for longer distances with less stops or for shorter distances with more stops?

“Like all businesses customers should look at turn-around period and how quick to break even. Customers should also consider financing, resale value and parts availability.”

Says Mike Otieno, the Senior Sales Executive at Truckmart Ltd, the main dealer of Ashok Leyland.

efficiency in the transport solution they opt for.

An interesting trend witnessed in the recent past id the initiatives by manufacturers to set up facilities in Kenya which could indicate huge potential in the regional market. A good example is the Italian heavy truck and equipment manufacturer IVECO who, in 2017, opened an assembling plant in Mombasa and a showroom in Nairobi.

Notably, a major player in the construction equipment business, Scania East Africa, offers in-house financing to their customers of up to 90%. Maintenance is another major factor in the life of any automobile. Ashok Leyland, a long established market leader also offers workshop on wheels with services by accredited mechanics everywhere in the country.

Like any other automobile, MHCVs contribute to environmental pollution. Some of the leading MHCV brands including Ashok Leyland, Scania East Africa and IVECO indicate that sustainability is a new focus in manufacturing. “As a company, our vision is to drive the shift towards sustainable transport systems. We advocate for sale of vehicles with as low emissions as possible.” Notes Tamara Nerima, Scania East Africa Marketing Communication Director.

A heavy commercial vehicle is an investment for the customer that should serve them for many years. Aside from obviously providing a service and turning a profit, customers should also consider the quality, durability and

Future The future of trucks as a primary means of hauling goods and materials is uncertain. In the age of global warming and environmental degradation, both manufacturers and customers

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should think about the effects of their operations and products to the environment.

Many environmental organizations around the world favor laws and incentives to encourage the switch from road to rail.

Closer home, the Kenyan government is implementing the largest infrastructure project in its history, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to provide faster more efficient transport solutions which will have direct effects on the truck business.

At construction sites however, trucks will continue to be essential. The way forward in this sector is probably to put measures in place that govern the truck companies and owners.

For instance, in the developed countries, there has been a noise regulation put in place to help control where and when the use of engine braking retarders are allowed.

The European Parliament is moving to ensure that there are charges on heavy commercial vehicles for the air and noise pollution, congestion as well as weight related damage.

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FIRE SAFETY

By Wendy Kinya

FIRE SAFETY and EQUIPMENT

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t is said that “safety begins with you”.

Just basic precaution in life against dangers of all kinds. This is why pursuit of safety measures for prevention and inevitably, the management of accidents should be an endeavor of every individual.

In that light, it is especially important to acquire knowledge and understand fire safety in the spaces we spend most of our time — homes, offices, shops and schools among others. In this article, we explore fire safety, the solutions in the market today and what you need to know about fire security and equipment.

Background Imagine properties and cities completely destroyed by fires and nothing secured. That was the case up until the 16thth century in many parts of the world due to lack of organized firefighting. Prior to this period, there were neither tools nor fire brigades.

The first firefighting tool to be used was a water pump, designed in Ancient Egypt.

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The design was later improved and offered to fire brigades. The use of protective gear for fire fighters was also recommended with the first fire insurance company in UK providing the brigades with uniforms and arm badges.

This was after the Great Fire of London in 1666.

In France, the first professional firefighting company, Sappers Fighters, from the French Army was created under the Commandant of Engineers in 1810. The company was organized after a fire at the ballroom in the Australian Embassy in Paris which injured several dignitaries.

As a consequence, the French government decided that the interventions of fire brigades would be free of charge. The fire brigades were also established as para-military units and provided with uniforms and protective helmets.

Later in 1824, the first organized municipal fire brigade in the world was established in Scotland. London followed in 1832.

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Even then, there were no fulltime paid fire fighters. Cincinnati Fire Department became the first fulltime paid professional fire department in 1853.

In terms of equipment, water pumps were still the only firefighting systems in the market.

The first horse-drawn steam engine for fighting fires was invented in 1829 but not accepted in structural firefighting until 1860.Selfpropelled steam powered fire engines were later introduced in 1903 followed by internal combustion engineer fire apparatuses in 1905.

Today, the firefighting industry has improved in leaps and bounds. Governments across the globe remain on the lead in organized fire interventions. The private sector is also a huge player in modern fire safety, providing not only fulltime services and timely responses but a wide range of innovative firefighting technologies and solutions.

In Kenya, there are several fire safety and equipment providers. Jolemac Fire Protection Ltd is one of the leading firms in the firefighting industry with over 15 years in operation. The company is also an authorized distributor of Honeywell Security & Fire Products. “We blend modern equipment and technology coupled with specific design to suit individual customer needs.” Says Managing Director Leonard Muchemi.

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“Usually, we conduct basic fire equipment usage training and handling of all products for our clients as an after sale service.” He adds.

Fire equipment has also advanced greatly over the last century with modern technology making it possible to create smart options.

Alarms have been an important component of effective security management for many years.

More recently, innovative systems in modern firefighting have been developed including waterless suppression systems, voice evacuation systems and integrated alarm systems.A renowned consultancy in Kenya, Trident Risk Management, is offering inert gas fire suppression systems also considered to be a new trend in the market.

Other intelligent innovations credited for saving lives in the event of fire are the smoke detectors. Designed to generate an alarm earlier in the development of a fire to prepare the property occupants, smoke detectors are intended to protect people from fires that burn slowly without flames generating smoke and poisonous gases.

Heat detectors are also designed in a similar range to minimize property damage by reacting to the change in temperature caused by fire.

Heat detectors are also used to trigger fire sprinklers or other types of fire suppression systems.

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The most current advanced systems in the market include the multi criteria spot detectors and aspirating smoke detectors designed to tolerate higher levels of airborne contaminants and broader temperature ranges. These advanced systems are more costly but they respond faster.

More innovations and improvements are expected in fire service delivery capabilities in days to come. From fire suppression to the cloud, to drones, new technologies, equipment and systems continue to flood the market.

Faster and smarter technology means better and safer.

The chemical free waterless sound wave fire extinguisher uses sound waves to separate burning fuel from oxygen. Water mist systems improve on the typical sprinkler can potentially fight electrical fires. This technology is considered a major part of the future of firefighting.

In the area of firefighting training, fire responders require training on how to handle the advanced equipment and manage large scale events.

Virtual reality training for the fire service is one of the fastest developing fields in technology based training systems. VR technology will be a huge plus in the EMS, fire and police training modes.

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VR training will allow students to see real incidents and the outcomes in order to develop critical thinking skills. It offers a 360-degree view of the incident in real time.

Cloud based systems are picking up as fire departments transition into technological solutions.The cloud based software developed for fire fighters provide access to information from anywhere, allowing for use of mobile devices by the teams.

The migration to digital cloud based systems will also allow for better integration of information in different places within a department including pre-fire planning, building safety plans and inspection history.Drone technology and robotics seem to be taking off in developed countries.

The use of unmanned aircraft systems by fire departments is however facing challenges such as lack of operational guidelines for the drones, training as well as certification of the operators.Portable ultra sound and EMS for paramedics in the field had been embraced rapidly.

The point-of-care devices by pre-hospital medical personnel is a fast emerging technology as fire departments look to telemedicine as an alternative to the conventional rescue systems.

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BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING

ARCHICAD 23 BIM IS AN INSTANT

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RCHICAD 23 delivers an even more responsive BIM performance by increasing the speed of everyday design and editing processes and ensuring uninterrupted routines for the most frequently used tasks. The brand-new Opening Tool and the advanced Column and Beam tools further increase modeling accuracy, enabling fast editing and streamlined, error-free, interdisciplinary design coordination. The ARCHICAD-Solibri connection provides fast and automated constructability checking. The ARCHICADdRofus connection helps to capture and organize client planning requirements; even when designing large and complex projects.

DESIGN Accurate modeling, Intuitive editing, precise documentation ARCHICAD 23 enables architects to model faster and create accurate construction details and quantity estimations for reinforced concrete, complex steel, timber, composite, and beams. Complex columns and curved, haunched, and castellated beams can now be customized to meet graphic and representation standards. Beams and columns can be displayed using various projected and symbolic views and cover fills.

COORDINATION Voids, Niches and Recesses for both architects and engineers ARCHICAD 23 introduces a new Opening Tool dedicated to modeling and coordinating project design voids, recesses and niches — as horizontal, vertical or slanted openings across elements, element groups or even across stories. Such openings are important for project coordination as they are equally relevant for architects, engineers, and consultants, and must be documented by both architects and engineers. Openings can be modeled, scheduled, and documented using intuitive tools, and shared using IFC. COLLABORATION Work smarter not harder The ARCHICAD-Solibri connection provides fast and automated code- and constructability checking.

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The updated add-on automatically detects and sends only those elements that are changed in the ARCHICAD model, resulting in faster round-trip collaboration.

BCF-based issue reporting was introduced to this workflow, enabling designers to assign the detected issues or solve them later on. The ARCHICAD – dRofus connection allows architects to capture and organize client planning requirements and use these to validate and propose design alternatives. The dRofus database enables designers to collect and handle planning rules and design data with ease, even when working on large and complex projects, like hospitals, airports, universities, etc.

Thanks to the live connection between dRofus and ARCHICAD, users can quickly check their design proposal against client requirements; the connection also allows clients to review the design process without using ARCHICAD. ARCHICAD 23 supports import of Bentley MicroStation’s native-, DGN v8 file format. DGN files are typically provided to architects by civil engineers, surveyors, and municipalities and contain information about the building site’s surroundings, roads, and utilities. In many cases, the 3D survey models of factories are also made available to architects as DGN files.

ARCHICAD 23 fully supports IFC4 Reference View (its new entity and geometry representation types), and has received official building SMART certification for IFC4 Reference View Export.

PERFORMANCE Faster response times ARCHICAD 23 features faster response times compared to previous versions, as well as an increased focus on seamless and uninterrupted workflows.Experience faster opening of projects, smaller file sizes, faster IFC import-export, and instant switching between tabs thanks to optimized CPU multi-threading operations. The rebuilding time of model views has been reduced, as ARCHICAD rebuilds only the changed elements, not the entire contents of the view.

The new Startup Dialog displays the most recent projects; multiple projects can also be opened with one click. Start your work in an instant, without any interrupting messages. Tab previews help activate the desired design views and prevent accidental display of unwanted tabs.

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SECURITY SYSTEMS

Modern Security Systems

By Wendy Kinya

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rotection and security of property has always been important. As technology has evolved over the last century, so has the function and capability of security systems. From the early moats and draw bridges and armed guards to today’s systems which can all be monitored, managed and captured through mobile phones, the security technology has evolved dramatically.

Before any sort of modern alarm was invented, livestock used to alert people of unwelcomed guests and other dangers.

English inventor, Tildesley is credited with the first creation of an intrusion, door alarm by using a set of chimes mechanically linked to the door lock in early 1700s.

Towards the late 1700s, a lever tumbler lock was invented. Augustus Russell Pope, a Boston inventor, discovered how to use electricity, magnets and a bell to create an early version of the modern burglar alarm in 1853. Selling the burglar alarm that ran off electricity proved to be very daunting. Electricity was misunderstood and mistrusted by the general public, not to mention many scientists. Electricity carries with it visions of danger and death.

Rusell sold the patent to Edwin Holmes who improved the system with a clock that would turn the alarm on and off, and a latching circuit was added so that the bell did not stop ringing without manual resetting.

By 1880, electricity began to be used for street lamps, making the public more comfortable with the idea of using electricity.

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In the early 1900s, Holmes sold the business to the American Telephone and Telegraph Company and linked the burglar alarms to emergency call systems for inviting police and fire fighting personnel.

After the alarm systems, video surveillance was introduced in the 1970s for use in home security systems upon the invention

by Nurse Marie Van Brittan Broan in 1966.

The early models included a large motorized camera that moved down a track to view the exterior of a home. The camera transmitted grainy images of visitors to a stationery TV monitor that served as the control panel with an intercom, a door lock switch and an alarm button.

“Security risk is becoming more sophisticated with increased security threats occurring in equal speed to the advancement of technology. “Says David Kariuki, the Managing Director at Security Systems International Ltd.Governments, business and home owners are leveraging technology for personal and property security. Security equipment such as surveillance cameras, access control systems, monitored and unmonitored intruder alarm systems, motion sensors and detectors and automatic fire systems among others have been adopted and installed in almost every facility today.

It has become imperative to implement a new layer of security to the existing measures. Despite all efforts, security threats are getting more intense. Threats from the cyberspace are also setting new records of data breaches. Time has never been more challenging for online safety and data security.Increasing adoption of security systems and continuous research in the sector is critical in ensuring that most security threats are neutralized early or prevented altogether.

Home automation and infrared technology was later introduced in 1980s in the wake of computer technology. The cost of home security systems and monthly monitoring fell drastically in the 90s making it an affordable and economical choice for most families.

In the recent years, wireless security systems have been introduced with mobile technology. The first generation of iPhone was released in June 2007 allowing for full handheld, remote security system monitoring.

With more advanced smart innovations, modern property owners have the luxury of a variety of convenient security options that can be designed to fit their lifestyles and personal needs. But this is not without its challenges. There has been increase in crime and terrorist incidents.

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Threats to information security are also on the rise. Connectivity due to digital technology has opened a door for hackers.

Security Systems International Limited The company was established in 2009 and is one of the leading dealers of security equipment in Kenya. Based on Gilgil Road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, Security Systems International Ltd undertakes sales, installation and maintenance of all kinds of security equipment.Their products include CCTV cameras, Biometric and time attendance devices, Turnstiles, Walk-throughs, Gate automation, Alarm systems, Electric fencing and Intercoms.

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Since inception, the company has supplied its products to major projects and boasts clients such as Kenya Power & Lighting Company, DHL, Osho Chemicals, Tropical Heat, MFI, Kingsway Tyres and Canadian High Commission, among others.

According to Managing Director David Kariuki, Security Systems International Limited strives to be ahead of competition by: •Providing training, advisory, after sales service and maintenance of all its products.

•Maintaining the required international standards by sourcing from high quality suppliers and subjecting all products to PVOC process.

•Having a competent technical team and consultancy with enough experience to train, guide and advise on best products, models and application on all its products.

•Inviting suppliers to do local training on the products offered by the company.

According to Mr Kariuki, Security Systems International Ltd is the only distributor of electronic security products with a show room and training centre.He advises those looking for security solutions to first evaluate the risk, consult on a budget and go for the latest products taking into consideration quality, reliability and affordability.

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PROJECT

Silverstone Apartments: Built for Comfort

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he market for high end apartments in Kenya’s major urban centres is still significant. After a lull in development

following the 2016-2017 electioneering period, construction of these units especially in Nairobi and Mombasa resumed and continues unabated.

Many initial buyers of these residences are normally investors looking to grow their money by investing in ventures with virtually guaranteed returns.

In Nairobi, Kilimani is among the most coveted neighbourhoods with many young professionals, either single or just starting families, preferring to call the area home.

The suburb is also popular with diplomats and employees of international organizations.

Besides availability of essential services such as hospitals, schools and shopping malls.

The roads are generally good and entertainment spots are plentiful.Silverstone Apartments is one of the new upcoming developments in Kilimani.

Located in Hurlingham, the development consists of a total of 146 apartments set on 13 floors. There are 94 one-bedroom apartments while the remaining 52 are two-bedroom.

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Each apartment features an elegantly designed open plan American kitchen and lounge.

Architect Castle Architecture.

The apartments also offer floor to ceiling windows which provide natural light and ventilation. The building is fitted with high quality finishes sourced from various reputable brands across the world. There is also a small multi-purpose utility in every apartment. The terrace floor features a heated pool, indoor an outdoor gym and a function hall.

Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Umakant International.

Civil/Structural Engineer Maruti Consultants.

Quantity Surveyor Costbill Systems.

The developer has provided parking for every apartment as well as for 10 visitors.

In addition, there is a borehole, two backup generators as well as underground and rooftop tanks. For the security of residents and their visitors, CCTV, Video Intercom and an electric fence shall be installed.

Main Contractor Vertex Builders.

Mechanical Sub Aqua Plumbing Co. Electrical Sub East Africa Infrastructure Services.

At the moment, a one-bedroom apartment is selling for Ksh 10.5 million while the twobedroom one is going for Ksh 15 million.

Various options from reputable commercial banks are available to customers who may require financing.

Lift Sub- KONE KENYA. HVAC Sub – High Tech Air-Conditioning Limited.

The entire project will cost over Ksh 1 billion to complete. Construction commenced in 2019 and the developer expects the project to be complete in October this year.

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PROJECT TEAM

Joinery Sub – DECOLINE Kenya.

Marketing, Management, and Sales - Golden Compass Limited.

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Kitchen | Wardrobe | Design Build

Interior & Exterior Design/Renovation

D e c o L i n e lt d

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PROJECT

This is despite the fact that the main KNH facility has a bed capacity of 1,800 inclusive of 225 beds in the private wing and has an average annual outpatient attendance of 600,000 visits and 89,000 patients for inpatient.

Due to the widespread crises facing county hospitals, the number of patients seeking treatment at KNH has been on the rise.

Though KNH has managed to cope in other units, it has been experiencing constraints in managing burns and handling the rising cases of pediatric medical care.

In burns, the occurrence of disasters like the deadly Gikomba market fire and the horrific Sachangwan fire tragedy often leaves the hospital extremely stretched.

The burns back perspective of the building

Kenyatta National Hospital in Major Infrastructural Expansion Drive

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he face of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is set to drastically change after the hospital embarked on implementing a mega project that involves construction of two new units, a burns management unit and a pediatric emergency unit.

Soon after launching its 4th Strategic Plan 2018-2023, that is aligned with the aspirations of the Social Development Goals, the African Union Agenda 2063 and Vision 2030 that prioritizes projects aimed at achieving universal health coverage, the hospital broke ground for the Sh2.9 billion project in August.

Located directly opposite the KNH main hospital on a piece of land that was previously the main parking area, the new complex that will house the two units is not only designed to change the face of KNH but also catapult 32

it to the pinnacle of healthcare provision in eastern and central Africa.“KNH is going through a transformation with a new strategic plan. This project is aimed at ensuring the hospital continues to offer quality, reliable and affordable healthcare to Kenyans and neighbouring nations,” says Robinson Manguro, the project manager.

There is no doubt that KNH has been at the core of healthcare provision in Kenya and the region.

As the largest referral hospital, KNH is the main hospital where majority of Kenyans can access specialized medical care.

A total of 2,500 patients visit the hospital daily for outpatient services while another 2,000 adults and 500 children are admitted.

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It is estimated that more than 100,000 Kenyans are hospitalised with burns each year, with 10,000 of them succumbing to their injuries.

Children account for 40 per cent of burn victims.

At KNH, 1,200 burn patients are admitted for treatment each year, double the capacity of the burns ward.

In pediatrics, the rising cases of children ailments, particularly non-communicable diseases like cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, and the fact KNH currently does not have an inpatient facility dedicated to pediatric means the hospital is not performing to its desired level on this front. On average, the hospital received 65,000 paediatric emergency patients annually.

“Pediatric unit currently is very small, cannot handle the large numbers. It’s very crowded right now,” states Manguro. He added that KNH has 500 to 600 children every day and putting adults and children together is a major challenge.

These has resulted is most of the children being concentrated in the cancer ward.

To deal with the challenges, KNH opted to build a new complex for the two critical units about a decade ago.

The project, which is funded by donors and the government, took long in being implemented due to various challenges.

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The paediatric perspective of the building According to Manguro, the agreement between government and financiers among them the Arab Bank for Development in Africa (BADEA), OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) was entered in 2009 but due to issue of the project brief and needs outweighing the initial budget.

“The project got back on track after the government agreed to foot the difference,” he explains, adding that initially the government was supposed to finance about 10 per cent of the project but is now financing about 58 per cent.

By all accounts, the new complex is a huge project with a bed capacity of 180 for the two units.

Apart from standing on a large area that was initially two parking bays, the facility will be a four floor building with a sub-basement.

Being a medical facility makes it quite costly owing to the fact that it incorporates special features.

Another critical feature is avoiding ceiling because of potential for dirt and dust accumulation.

Some of the critical features will include spacious corridors that guarantee free movement of patients and care givers, infection control especially in the critical areas, easy accessibility to all areas, separation of clinical area, office area, utility (both dirty and clean utilities) among others.

According to Manguro, KNH together with the contractor, sub-contractors and various consultants are targeting to deliver the project on time in August 2020.

“We are targeting to complete within the 24 months timeline,” he says. He adds the only challenge that might stand on the way is delays in funds disbursement.

The materials used are also specifically designed for medical facilities in terms of durability, usability, safety and infection control. For instance, in the sterilised unit, stainless steel materials will be used as opposed to paint on the walls.

The floor in theatres will be epoxy because they should not have openings in between. In the walls, anti-bacterial paint will be used as opposed to normal paint.

MultiScope

Being a project being funded by multiple financiers, the possibilities of delays in paying the contractor can always arise.

“The only challenge is financing especially the government bit because of cash flow and lengthy process of approving payment by the donors,” he explains.However, going by the importance of the facility, delivering it on schedule is critical.

3rd Floor, Kose Heights, Argwings Kodhek Rd,Hurlingham, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 721 367435, +254 20 273744. Email: info@multiscope.co.ke

Consulting Engineers Ltd Fostering Sustainable Infrastructure • • • • • • • •

Structural Engineering Geotechnical Investigations Structural Audit & Integrity Assessment Water Supply & Sanitation Engineering Transportation Engineering Forensic Engineering Engineering Survey Contract Management

We are proud to be associated with Kenyatta National Hospital on their Paediatrics Emergency Centre & Burns Management Centre Project as the Civil & Structural Engineers www.constructionreviewonline.com

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PROFILE

Design aspects The structure ensures sustainability, realizing Uganda Revenue Authority’s need for a green building that would accommodate its scattered staff to reduce both its renting and energy cost.

The building’s design emphasizes its extra dependency on natural lights and less dependence on artificial illuminations.

Uganda Revenue Authority Headquarter's quest to offer a sustainable working experience

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onstructing land mark structures conveys pride to the client, Architect and the Contactor. This was the case with the completion of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) headquarters in Nakawa, Kampala.

This was achieved by the use of clear glass hence ensuring adequate flow of the light coming in and going out of the building.

From top to bottom the building is made of a void which regulates air and allows it to move in and out of all the office space.

Air-conditioners are put in limited areas: the conference rooms and the toilets, which guarantees that 95 percent of the building relies on the in and outflow of natural air.

This saves Uganda Revenue Authority management money in terms of air conditioning and in case of power shortage the building will still breathe. Amongst other features that make the building unique is its intelligence.

Through the building’s management system, the lights and air conditioners are automated and can be taken off and on depending on the light and temperature of the day. Every floor has a room set to accommodate meetings

The tallest building in Uganda, standing at 120 meters long, was commissioned by the President of Uganda, His Excellence Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the 20th of January 2019 and today serves as a one stop shop Centre for URA clientele.

Seyani Brothers, a family owned local construction company that has been delivering high quality construction services since 1991, was commissioned as the main contractor.

The company ensured that every angle of the building met the visual and quality perspectives of the client.

This government’s tax collecting body’s new home covers 26000 square meters and is of 23 stories, standing tallest in the country.

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With the use of natural ventilators, temperature control is a guaranteed with the wind from Lake Victoria blowing through it.

A modern firefighting system consisting of sprinkler system is placed in the whole building for safety of persons occupying it.

which can be automatically via the centralized system booked and, all this coming with a sense of limitless comfort.

Facilities The lower part of the building is a 4 floor podium, a ramp in the middle that covers four floors aimed at encouraging staff not to use lifts, while the tower consists of 20 floors with a tower roof containing a board room and a restaurant.

Road to the headquarters has been constructed to facilitate uninterrupted movement of the traffic towards the headquarters.

Environmental concern The 1500 square meter building’s designs is aimed at reducing the effects of damaging the environment.

This was achieved with the installment of air conditioners in a few limited areas including the basement.

This system detects fire and immediately in the very emergency location and puts it out. Escape routes are provided for in case of a fire outbreak to allow easy rescue of the people.

Large water tanks with sensors have been put in place in case water levels are low.

This is done to ensure easy access to adequate water all the time.

Materials used Although some of the materials were imported, most of it was

locally resourced to stress the Build Uganda Buy Uganda campaign. The local materials used included sand, cement, bricks etc.

Challenges It being the tallest building in Uganda, we had to make sure that the façade of the building was designed to resist high wind pressure, says Mr. Safaraz Jiwani, General Manager, Seyani brothers.

The company contracted specialists from Europe who checked everything to ensure that the design was okay, he adds.

The other challenge experienced by the contractor was the uniqueness of the roof structure that involved moving workers to carry out the work without compromising their safety and quality of the work.

Another interesting feature is the podium containing a salon, gym, play grounds, shower rooms, restaurant, a Creech and nursery, emphasizing the design’s goal to take care of the working cooperate mother.

To ease movement, lifts have been strategically provided on both sides of the building, in addition to access of ramps on every floor to cater for the disables.

It’s the first of its kind in the country to have disabled access on every floor.

This high rise building comes with an ample parking that can accommodate up to 360 cars, guarantying safety for staff and onsite visiting clients.

Accessing the URA headquarters An access road from Jinja www.constructionreviewonline.com

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Advertisers Index Kalekim........................................................................... IFC

Security Systems Ltd ..................................................... 29

Tononoka......................................................................... 1

Bosch East Africa............................................................ 29

Lafarge Holcim............................................................... 7

Hi-Tech Air Conditioning .............................................. 31

Jessop and Associates(PTY)Ltd...................................... 9

Ken Metal Industries ...................................................... 31

Ryce................................................................................ 11

Deco Line ....................................................................... 31

Fit.Tight........................................................................... 11

Multi Scope .................................................................... 33

ACE Geosynthetics......................................................... 13

Tororo Cement Ltd.......................................................... 35

Danco.............................................................................. 15

Vertical World ................................................................ 35

Graco............................................................................... 17

Millenium Marble 2000 Ltd ........................................... 36

Terrain Plant Ltd............................................................. 19

Nitco ............................................................................... 36

The Big 5......................................................................... 19

Michigan ........................................................................ 37

Metal Equipment Ltd...................................................... 21

Buildexpo Africa.............................................................38

Toyota Hino.................................................................... 22

Ritmo ............................................................................. 39

Fire Line.......................................................................... 25

Elite Digital.....................................................................IBC

Jolemac Fire.................................................................... 25

Doshi............................................................................... OBC

K'a'rcher.......................................................................... 27

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