Construction Review Africa

Since 1989

August 2016, Vol 27 No. 8 Africa's leading construction journal

Brexit What does it mean for Africa's building industry?

Geosynthetics Trendy bathrooms Pile Driving Challenges Road grader maintenance

Botswana Pula 60.00, Ethiopia Birr 140.00, Ghana Cedi 23.00, Kenya Ksh 500.00, Namibia N$ 80.00, Nigeria Naira 1,300.00 Rwanda Rwf 4,800.00,South Africa R 60.00, Tanzania Tsh 12,700.00, Uganda Ush 20,000.00, Zambia Zmk 40.00, Zimbabwe US$ 7.00

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MANAGING EDITOR Robert Barnes COUNTRY EDITORS Kenya - Francis Makari Uganda - Betty Katongole Nigeria - Boladale Ademiju South Africa - Newton Mthethwa WRITERS Jimmy Swira, Lindsay Wagner, Yvonne Andiva,Erick Mongare, Dorcas Kang'ereha, Leonard Lubwa WEB & GRAPHIC DESIGN Augustine Ombwa Bonface Kimunyi ADVERTISING Kenya William Mutama, Fred Okoth, Trizah Njoroge, Joseph Mwangi, Ken Okore, Mauirice Momanyi, Patrick Otieno, Doughert Imbisi South Africa: Thuli Nkosi, Happy Mokoena Shepherd Mthethwa, Winnie Sentabire, Angeline Ntobeng, Nqobile Ndlovu Uganda: Dan Nsalasata,Bill Collins Musaazi Botswana: Dickson Manyudza, Gerald Mazikana Ethiopia: Haimanot Tesfaye, Ruth Girma Tanzania: Tom Kiage Malawi: Anderson Fumulani Ghana: Samuel Hinneh, Caleb Donne Hadjah

CON

Brexit

Since 1989

The picture of Britain outside the EU is only beginning to take shape and analysts and the business community are still waiting for the initial shock to wear out before measuring its impact.

Africa in particular is vulnerable in some sectors where capital inflows may reduce resulting in lower investment in infrastructure and development projects that will shrink a construction industry already suffering from lower commodity prices.

14

August 2016, Vol 27 No. 8

Africa's leading construction journal

BREXIT

What does it mean for Africa's building industry?

Geosynthetics Trendy bathrooms Pile Driving Challenges Road grader maintenance

Botswana Pula 60.00, Ethiopia Birr 140.00, Ghana Cedi 23.00, Kenya Ksh 500.00, Namibia N$ 80.00, Nigeria Naira 1,300.00 Rwanda Rwf 4,800.00,South Africa R 60.00, Tanzania Tsh 12,700.00, Uganda Ush 20,000.00, Zambia Zmk 40.00, Zimbabwe US$ 7.00

REGULARS

Zambia: Susan Kandeke

Editor's Comment 3

Zimbabwe: Chiedza Chimombe

Energy News 4

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 .

Commercial News 5 Infrastructure News 6 Association News 7 Corporate News 8 New Products

9

Events 10

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.

Download free QR Readers from the web and Scan this code with your smart phone to access more stories on the CR website

Road Graders 18 Motor grader moldboard maintenance Next Generation Bathrooms

22

Interior Design: Parbat Siyani Interiors Ltd

30

Building Projects: Redstone House

34

Piling: Common Pile Driving Challenges and Solutions

38

Published by Group Africa Publishing Ltd Consolidated Bank House, 4th floor, Koinange Street, Nairobi 00100 Kenya, Tel: +254 772642042, +254-20-2213607 | Email: info@groupafricapublishing.com Uganda Agent Projects Unusual Uganda Ltd. Jemba Plaza, Luwum St. Kampala, Uganda Tel: +256 776 883181 bettykatongole@yahoo.com

Botswana Office Cadline (Pty) Ltd. P/Bag 494 Gaborone, Botswana.

Tel: +267 318 7101 Fax: +267 318 102 E-mail: botswana@groupafricapublishing.com

Tanzania Office The Hub Ltd No 4 Oysterbay Shopping Centre P O Box 2972 Dsm Tel +255 68 308 3000 moses@hubafrica.com

South Africa Office 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

TENTS

August 2016 Volume 27 No.8

Editor's Comment

Design Partnership Limited

A renowned name in the Interior

Now that its happened

Design Scene in East Africa. The

Now that Britain’s exit from the European Community

firm currently has projects in Kenya,

has happened, the time to see what happens next has

Tanzania, Rwanda, Congo, Zambia

come. As the dust settles Africa will have to contend

and Cape Verde.

with possible trade restrictions, a possible British recession that would result in lower demand for Africa’s exports and the review of development assistance that could result in scaled back projects.

25

infrastructure development due to capital outflows

Mixed use development gains currency in Kenya

industrial and corporate links to Britain, Nigeria which

Developers are resorting to mixed use developments that offer much needed parking adequacy, convenience and the live-work-play concept.

All these indicators point to the risk of reduced and the threat of an inward looking Britain. Some of the most exposed countries are South Africa due to its is at present unraveling foreign exchange restrictions and East Africa’s multi-million dollar horticulture trade with the EU and Britain.

Indeed the spectre of an inward looking Britain will be in no one’s best interests and the hope is that instead Britain will have more flexibility to have a greater positive impact on Africa outside the EU.

31 Building Products 40 Zimtile Ramps Up Production and Distribution Network Lightning Protection Earthing 42 Why do we need lightning protection?

Geosynthetics: Materials with functional added value

Ethiopia Office Haymi Advertising Services 22 Mazoria, Genet Bldg 4th Flr P.O. Box 1316 - 1110 Addis Ababa Tel: +251 118 955 855, Cell: +251 930 099 152 Email: ethiopia@groupafricapublishing.com Ghana Office Image Consortium 1st Floor, The Ecobank Building, Tesano.

Tel: 233(0)30 223 2728 I 233(0)274807127 I +233(0)206299159 Fax: 233(0)24 882 8286 Email: ghana@groupafricapublishing.com, Calebhadjah@gmail.com

46

Robert Barnes

Kenya Office Northwest Ventures Ltd P.O. Box 16414 - 00100 G.P.O Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 2679809 I 2679808, 2091305 Email: kenya@groupafricapublishing.com

Kigali, Rwanda

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

Tel: 234-1-7347860 Email: nigeria@groupafricapublishing.com

Zambia Office

Rwanda Office Kolline & Hemed Inc., B.P. 3328,

Tel: +250 03 748106 E-mail: rwanda@groupafricapublishing.com Website: www.kollinehemed.org

Dayflex Limited, 4th. Floor Tazara House Dedan Kimathi Road, Lusaka, Zambia.

Tel: +260 211 230 529 / +260 977 756 663 Email: makukasue@mail.com, dayflex06@gmail. com

ENERGY NEWS

Morocco

Ghana

Ethiopia

Construction of major solar project set to kick off

The African Center for Energy Policy champions for wind energy

China to construct mega wind farm

Construction of

Morocco’s

major solar project is about to start the country’s leading electricity ONEE

utility

has

company

announced.

The

200 MW Noor Argana solar power plant being carried out

by Moroccan leading electricity utility company ONEE is set to be launched. According to the company officials the project tender will be completed within the time frame that was set. The official added that ONEE is expected to launch its feasibility study for the project whose final capacity will range from 200 MW

The African Center for Energy Policy (ACEP) is urging Ghana to turn to wind power as the solution to reverse the lingering energy crisis in the country. Some of Ghana factories and businesses have collapsed due to the prolonged power crisis. In 2015, the power crisis in Ghana was at its peak whereby over 900MW of power had to be shed. A Turkish Karpower barge which is expected to add over 200MW of power to improve Ghana’s situation arrived late last year. However, some parts of the country have still been experiencing frequent power cuts, a clear indication that the county’s power situation not stable yet.

According to Mr. Greenstreet of ACEP, wind energy is cheaper and easier to operate. “Volta River lies between 2 comparable mountain range,” said Greenstreet. “Installing wind turbines in this corridor will utilize wind energy,” he added. A standard wind turbine at an average height of 120m with a diameter of 85m can generate 3MW of energy per unit. Turbines installed at a distance of 300m triangular can generate 9000MW of power believed to meet Ghana’s energy demands. Ishmael Ackah, Head of Research at ACEP revealed that wind can be the solution to the unreliable fuel supply for Ghana’s thermal plants.

development

bank

KfW, the European Union’s European Investment Bank and French Agence francaise de developpement

(AFD).

Once

up and running, Noor Argana is estimated to annually produce 320 GWh of electricity while saving 204,090 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The call for prequalification bids for NoorArgana will take place at the end of 2016 or at the start of 2017. The contract for the development will use the engineering procurement construction (EPC) model.

4

farm in Ethiopia. The wind farm will be constructed in Aisha area of Somali Region. The new wind farm which will have 80 turbines will each have the capacity to generate a whopping 1.5MW. It will be constructed 20km at the Djibouti-Ethiopian border. On the agreement that was signed by both EEP and DECL, the wind farm is approximated to cost of US$ 257m. But funds for 85

public

said to be in its final stages in

owned

(EEP) is set to construct a wind

Misikir

Meanwhile, the company is

three include the top German

Ethiopian Electric Power Utility

by the government.

the exact sites for the project.

350 million (USD 315.5m). The

(DECL) in conjunction with The

15percent will be taken care of

in western Morocco to determine

price tag now stands at EUR

Limited

bank. However the remaining

Chichaoua and Boumalne areas

foot the bill for the project whose

Corporation

secured from the Chinese EXIM

look into the Tensift, Errhamna,

financing institutions to help

Electric

per cent of the project will be

to 225 MW soon. The study will

negotiating with top European

A Chinese company, Dongfang

Uganda

Construction of oil refinery in new twist Construction of an oil refinery in Uganda has taken a new turn following a failed deal with RT Global Resources. However, the development is significantly likely to affect the general oil production timeline of 2022. Meanwhile, Uganda is negotiating with South Korea’s SK Engineering, which is the alternative bidder. After the signing of final agreements the project committee will be formed.

SK Engineering had lost the initial bid. However it was a strong competitor.

“They came short of key government requirements

including contribution to the private share and operating plan.”

This is according to Kaliisa Kabagambe, Permanent Secretary in the Energy and Mineral Development Ministry. The Ugandan government initiated talks with RT Global in March 2015.The final agreement was scheduled to be signed last month in June. However, RT Global made additional demands on the government. It sought to reopen and renegotiate issues that had already been agreed on by both parties. The RT Global Resources consortium members are: VTB Capital PLC, Telconet Capital Ltd Partnership, GS Engineering and Construction Corporation and Tatnet JSC.

Negasha,

relations

EEP’s

leader

said

that the wind farm is expected to be completed in 18 months time.“The project is programmed to be concluded 18 months from the time of commencement and hopes are high that the contracted company can complete it on suitable time,” said Mr. Negasha.

This initiative is part of the second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTPII) of the energy sector. So in this plan the country wants to realize 10,000MW of energy on its national grid. Dongfang Electric

Corporation

Limited

specializes in power equipment manufacturing and international power

projects

that

include

thermal, hydro, nuclear, wind, gas

turbines

and

combined

cycle power plants. It has so far recorded an annual production capacity of 35,000MW. August 2016

COMMERCIAL NEWS

Egypt

Tanzania

Maxim Group to construct multi-million dollar estate

US$ 1.8 billion fertilizer plant to be constructed

Egypt’s

estate

Construction of the US$ 1.8 billion fertilizer plant in Tanzania is set to

company, Maxim Investments

commence in December this year. The fertilizer plant is likely to see

Group is set to construct a multi-

the price of the farm input lower as a result of competition. Tanzania

million dollar estate in Egypt.

Petroleum Development Corporation will partner with three private

leading

real

The company’s top officials have announced. Dabbed “Bo Sidi Abdel Rahman” the estate in Egypt is expected to cost US$ 736 million. This will be one of the largest projects being carried by them and is spread over about 300 acres representing 17 percent of “Bo Sidi Abdel Rahman” which is a region situated at the very heart of Sidi Abdel Rahman Bay, at KM 120 on the Alexandria/Marsa Matrouh North Coast Road. The

Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation will be constructing a mega fertiliser manufacturing plant at Kilamko, Lindi Region.

companies. The companies will use natural gas as both feedstock for production and a source of energy. He named the companies involved in the business as the Denmark based Haldor Topsoe Company, Ferrostaal Industrial Project from German and Fauji Fertiliser Company based in Pakistan. The corporation will hold a 20 per cent stake in the business while the foreign partners will own the rest. Dr Wellington Hudson the Director of Downstream Operations at TPDC said that the plant will have a daily production capacity of 3,850 tonnes. He added that TPDC was in the final stages of compensating affected residents.

Rwanda Housing sector on the spot over violation of regulations

company’s chairman Mohamed

Rwanda Housing Sector is still caught up in challenges of non-

Karrar added that they will

compliance with stipulated rules and regulations. Experts in Rwanda

deliver the first phase by 2019

housing sector say this could affect infrastructure development. The

and the whole project is expected

experts were speaking during a joint inspection conducted in the six

to be completed by 2022. He added that once the estate in Egypt is completed it will comprise of commercial brands, a number of four and five star hotels, and modern club house fun park with sport facilities also.

Artificial lagoons The project is expected to hold artificial lagoons, artificial lakes which will account for 80% of the projects total space. Maxim

secondary cities of the country and the City of Kigali. The inspection was conducted by experts from Institute of Engineers of Rwanda (IER), Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) and Rwanda Standards Board (RSB). It was conducted in cities of Rubavu, Musanze, Muhanga, Rusiz,Huye and Nyagatare and concluded in Kigali. The experts, in the company of local officials, visited several sites under construction so as to assess compliance with housing regulations. The six secondary cities will be developed as pillars of growth and centres of non-agricultural economic activities. This will need investment in specific hard and soft infrastructure and strategic economic projects.

These will boost growth and development of these cities and enhance linkages to other towns and rural areas. This is according to the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS II).

has started the implementation of Bo Islands phase I starting the excavation work and the construction of artificial lakes in addition to finalizing 85 percent of the project’s roads. The company has in the past carried out multi-million projects that target high end earners.

August 2016

South Africa

Cimerwa results help boost Pretoria Portland Cement revenue

Rwandan cement maker Cimerwa Ltd aided in cushioning Pretoria Portland Cement revenue in the six months ending March 31. The Johannesburg Stock Exchangelisted company has a 51 per cent stake in Cimerwa Ltd. Pretoria Portland Cement’s financial results indicates its bases in Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa were depressed. This was as a result of narrowing market and declining cement prices in Southern Africa. “The recently commissioned plant in Rwanda added almost R200 million ($13.4 million) to Pretoria Portland Cement revenue. This reflects the importance of an increasingly diverse operating base,” a statement from Pretoria Portland Cement said.

Although group finances declined by one per cent to US$304.3 million, the financial results released on June 14 indicate that Cimerwa Ltd contributed remarkably to the top line. The group’s revenue before tax, interest, depreciation and amortization rose by two per cent to $72 million. Net profit mainly attributable to shareholders increased by 35 per cent to $24 million from $18 million, boosted by the sale of non-core assets. The firm’s South African operation’s revenues before taxes, interest, depreciation and amortisation dropped by nine per cent to $41 million.

The operations in Rwandan are however embroiled in smuggling accusations, which could drastically lower the company’s earnings. Though the particular value and volume of cement smuggled is unknown, the racket has gone on unchecked.

5

INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS

Ethiopia

Kenya

Major railway 98 per cent complete

Pipeline banks on Eurobond to fund pipelines construction

Tanzania Expansion of Upper Ruvu water treatment plant complete

The construction of a major

A multi-billion expansion project

railway in Ethiopia is about to

for the Upper Ruvu Water Treatment Plant in Tanzania is

be completed the The Ethiopian Railways

Corporation

confirmed.

Sebeta

The

–

US$

Meiso-

now complete. The completion

has

of the water project will now

3.4bn

enable the plant to produce

Dewele

196 million litres of water

railway line is at 98 per cent.

daily up from only 82 million

ERC Communication Officer, Mr. Dereje Tefera confirmed the

reports

and

said

that

development of the railway line which is being undertaken by

two

China

Chinese Railway

companies Engineering

Corporation (CREC) and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation

(CCECC)

will

measure 656 km and is expected to start pilot operations soon and go fully operational in the next Ethiopian year.

Currently, only 30 per cent of the project is being financed

Kenya Pipeline company is banking on Eurobond to fund pipeline construction even as economists cautioned that sustained turbulence in foreign money markets following the UK surprise vote to exit the European Union could increase the price of bonds. The state owned firm is exploring the possibility of issuing a Eurobond. This it believes, will help fund the construction of both internal and external crude oil pipelines. The state-owned corporation is sourcing for more capital to finance the implementation of a number of mega projects, mainly in transportation and storage of crude oil. “We are going to look for capital to finance these projects. It is more than likely that we are going to resort to the capital markets but the reality is that we will need to go to external sources. It will definitely be an external financing. The concept is there but it needs to be done systematically, otherwise it could be disastrous. We have to look at the timing,” KPC chairman John Ngumi said. “This is something that we shall start looking at in the next financial year (2016/2017),” added Mr Ngumi.

It is still unclear on how much the corporation will be sourcing from foreign lenders.

Ghana

by the government of Ethiopia

France to upgrade major road and drainage

and the balance is financed by a

France have concluded signing of a loan agreement of US$41.6m for

Chinese Exim Bank loan and has

the upgrading of a major road and drainage in Ghana in Kumasi area.

created 16,000 temporary jobs for locals and when it becomes fully operational it is anticipated

In the presence of France Ambassador, Francoise Pujolas, Deputy Finance Minister, Mrs Mona Quartey and the Deputy Resident Manager for Agence Française de Development (AFD) Xavier Muron signed the credit facility agreement. The fund will boost finalizing the

to create more jobs for up to 2,700

works undertaken under two projects and is financed by the AFD.

Ethiopians and Djiboutians. Eng.

The by-pass project includes the construction of the Second Urban

Micheal Tefera also commented and said that when the project is

Environmental and Sanitation Project (UESP II), the Ofirikrom– Asokwa by pass and Lake Road. On completion the by-pass project is expected to ease traffic congestion, save time for the road users as well

litres previously produced. Eng Gerson Lwenge, the Minister for Water and Irrigation said that following the completion of the Water Treatment Plant, a total of 586 million litres of water would be produced for the city.

He added that the Lower Ruvu Water Treatment Plant currently produces 390 million litres. This implies that the total production will now be beyond the water requirement for the city which currently stands at around 400 million litres per day. “This is a big step ahead in ending water woes in the city,” Minister Lwenge said after visiting the project site recently.

“Since we are now going to pump more water to the city dwellers, now we need to focus on

improving

water

supply

network because a large amount of water has been lost due to poor water supply infrastructures,” he said. However, he said the challenge was that the new water pumps installed at the Upper Ruvu Water Treatment plant required 400KV of electricity

fully complete, it will have an

as preventing floods around the project area. Additionally, the road

to run. This is

annual 10 million tonnes loading

and drainage in Ghana will as well contribute to the development of

current electricity of 200KV at

the region. Mrs Quartey assured Mr. Pujolas of Ghana’s commitment

the centre. He noted that there

to maintain a good bilateral cooperation with France. She added

were plans to ensure that more

that Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama will support efforts

power was made available in the

to pursue prudent policies that are aimed at stabilizing the country’s

next two months to operate the

economy as well as increasing the country’s transformation pace.

pumps.

capacity and earthworks, bridges and railway line-bar fixing stands at 100 per cent complete and railway stations at 99 per cent.

6

up from the

August 2016

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Tanzania National Building Act overdue

Department of Health office building recognized by GBCSA in South Africa South Africa’s Department of Transport and Public Works has been

The Architects and Quantity Surveyors Board (AQRB) has requested the government to move forward the formation of the National Building Act that would help oversee and promote consistency

in

construction

of buildings and other related matters in the industry. Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam the Chairman of the board, Dr Ambwene Mwakyusa, said the board proposed the formation of the Act and handed its views to the government for further action.

“It is almost six years since we proposed to the government for

recognized by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) for the work on Department of Health building that is currently under construction. The US$8.7 million regional office structure located at Karl Bremer Hospital in Bellville is the first to receive the GBCSA Socio-Economic Category Pilot Award. The project also won the GBCSA 5-Star Green Star Certified SA rating for design of a public or education building. If everything goes as planned, the new office building will be completed in January 2017. The Socio-Economic Award is always awarded to a green building project with a significant contribution to creation of employment, expansion of economic opportunity, training and development of skills, significant benefit to the community, empowerment, as well as health and safety. The Green Star rating measures the level at which the building’s design performs well in terms of indoor environmental quality, management, transport, energy, materials, water, land use and ecology, emissions, and innovation. Four stars means “best practice”, and five stars means “South African excellence”.

Concrete Society of Southern Africa launches online seminars The

Concrete

Society

of

Southern Africa has embarked on a joint venture with Hypenica to make the technical presentations from

its

national

seminars

available online. These will be marketed through the Hypenica on-line shop. First in the series will be presentations from the national seminar held in October (TECON 2013) featuring the many aspects of the specification and testing of concrete.

According to John Sheath, CEO of the Concrete Society the

new

initiative

offered

all stakeholders in the built

the formulation of the National

environment,

Building Act.

to hear the latest developments

an

opportunity

Unfortunately, we have not

in various aspects of concrete

had any action concerning the

technology and practice from

Act,” he said reiterating the need

industry experts, which they

for the government to consider

would not have been exposed

pushing for formation of the Act

to if they had missed attending

for the welfare of the nation and its people. He said the setting up of the Act would also help promote

professionalism

in

the building industry and thus ensure

environmentally

and

economically balanced human settlements. The Act, if enforced, would help control irregularities that lead to the collapse of buildings by ensuring required materials, proper drawings and legal matters among others. The Act will also ensure legal action against the concerned parties.

the seminar. “It is fantastic that

Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe gears up for major congress

we can utilize the innovative,

The Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (CIFOZ)

in this way, said Sheath, “and it

congress is scheduled to take place next month in Nyanga Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe’s Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere is expected to be the guest of honor at the event that is scheduled to take three days from 28th to 30th of July 2016 at the Troutbeck Resort.Concurrently, the country’s biggest and oldest representative organ for the construction industry, having more than 600 members on its register, will also host its annual general meeting (AGM) during the congress. This year’s edition is coming at a time when the construction sector is grappling with several challenges brought about by the prevailing economic environment. These include among

Dr

others, the high cost of doing business, an acute liquidity crunch, high

Mwakyusa expressed the need for

costs of borrowing and short-term funding on the local market which

members of the public to ensure

is very expensive for working capital and capitalization. Apart from

they make use of registered

that, the government is also demanding that local contractors show

building professional experts in

proof of money which is more or less equivalent to the value of the

construction matters.

project for them to be considered for projects.

In

another

development,

August 2016

on-line resources of Hypenica means that our seminar material will be accessible by anyone, no matter where they are located”.

The

presentations

can

be

purchased as individual modules, or as a complete seminar at a more competitive price. Each module purchased and viewed carries CPD accreditation for professional engineers registered with ECSA.

7

CORPORATE NEWS

Pan Africa Solar to deliver 1,000MW solar projects

HIMOINSA to open branch in South Africa

Pan Africa Solar is to develop and

HIMOINSA, the international company that designs, manufactures and distributes electricity generation equipment, intends opening a subsidiary in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in the fourth quarter of this year. The head office of the new subsidiary will be located in Port Elizabeth, supported by nationwide sales and service coverage across South Africa.

The subsidiary will also support the wider SADC region, serving customers in the nearby countries of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland. South Africa is undoubtedly one of Africa’s leading importers of generator sets. According to sources, south Africa imported $155M of generator sets in 2015, thereby becoming the African country with the greatest demand in the electricity generation market, followed by Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria and Libya.

deliver 1,000MW worth of solar projects in Nigeria. The German based utility scale solar energy Company, has also revealed plans to inject over US$1bn in foreign direct investments into

x

the country for the next coming

The launch of CONMIX Paints

five years. The project is made

CONMIX LTD. has recently added a wide range of paint products into its business portfolio. A new manufacturing facility has been set up in Dubai exclusively for paints. The product range includes primers and fillers (ConDure), emulsions (PinTura), decorative textures (ConTxtra), and polyurethane protective coatings (ConGuard).

CONMIX Paints is specialized in highly durable decorative paints for internal and external use. Since its launch CONMIX Paints products has built upon the comprehensive range of tried and tested paint finishes inherited from ConTxtra products of Pre Mix Plaster division. In its first year CONMIX Paints has added pure acrylic emulsion paint (PinTura Cenomast Gloss) and semi glossy finish acrylic polyurethane top coat (ConGuard Tyrothane Semi Gloss), helping decorators and contractors deliver a quality finish, even on the most cost constrained jobs. CONMIX Paints has also introduced new additions to its core range ConTxtra: • Armotex: Ideal coating for heavy textured decorative finish, • Elegante: Perfect coating for satin textured decorative finish

MANAGEMENT TIP

up of a consortium of sponsors who

are

African

Solar and JCM Capital. DEG and Proparco are the FMO lead arrangers of debt raised from the development finance institutions.

Power Africa, MIGA and World Bank are also providing support towards the Project. On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Nigeria Bulk Energy Trader (NBET) signed Nigeria’s first ever solar power purchase agreement

(PPA)

with

Africa Solar.

Pan

How to manage low budget projects

A project with a tight budget can run easily into three major interrelated constraints: time, cost, and scope The good news is that all this can be easily tackled. However no matter how tough the situations get, as a contractor or a manager you have to overcome them and ensure you complete a project with funding constraints. Even before you enter the planning phase, address areas where your project could face changes at any point in the process. Since many project managers out there attribute their going over-budget

to changes that occur along the way, hash out some potential scenarios first. You can still deliver a successful project without compromising many resources.

Consider the following advice: Re-visit your project-planning phase Identify aspects of your project that could be re-assigned to your staff members rather than contracted out. Communicate your budget constraints to your contractors and vendors, and find out if you can gain flexibility there.

If you have a positive and/or longstanding relationship with the vendor, they may offer more lenience.

Re-evaluate the workflow Resolving inefficiencies in the basic workflow structure can help alleviate both time and cost. Making sure that lines of

8

Finance

Corporation (AFC), Pan Africa

communication remain open, that a system of checks and balances is in place, and that you are tracking the progress for future reference are just a few ways you can quickly optimise the workflow.

Go deep When you identify a problem that is contributing to your budget getting out of hand, you may feel inclined to assign blame to your staff. Instead, meet with your staff and try to identify the deeper procedural failings that led to the problem.

Source more labour While it may not be a popular decision, you and your salaried staff can work unpaid overtime to keep your project on track.

Otherwise, consider hiring interns and volunteers who need the work experience and will do it for free.

August 2016

PRODUCTS

Volvo’s new I-Shift with Crawler Gears Low-low ratios soon to be available with the I-Shift HD automated manual transmission will make Volvo mixer and dump trucks more able to support concrete and asphalt paving and other jobs requiring very slow movement, the company’s executives said during a demonstration at the North American headquarters of Volvo Construction Equipment in Shippensburg, Pa. “Extreme startability” and low-rev cruising at highway speeds are other advantages of I-Shift with Crawler

Bobcat introduces T595 CTL compact track loader Bobcat equipment have introduced the T595 compact track loader which has a 74-horsepower engine that meets Tier 4 regulations without a DPF. Rated operating capacity at 35 percent tipping load is 2,200 pounds, and it has a vertical lift path. Nonhydraulic attachments can be changed from inside the cab using the Power Bob-Tach mounting system. Hand and foot controls are standard, and the Advanced Control System and Selectable Joystick Controls are available as options.

Bobcat T595 CTL Specifications • ROC, 35% tip: 2,200 pounds • Lift path: Vertical • Power: 74 horsepower • Lift height to hinge pin: 119 inches • Operating weight: 8,055 pounds • Auxiliary hydraulic flow: 17.1 gpm

Gears, as it’s formally designated, shown to customers and trade press reporters June 27-28.

One or two added ratios to the builder’s 12-speed I-Shift allows easy starting under heavy loads and on steep grades, said Wade Long, director of product marketing, one of the executives present at the event. With the “C-1” gear, a Volvo VHD with the 14-speed version of I-Shift crawled at 0.6 mph, compared to about 2 mph for a truck with a 12-speed gearbox. Its C-2 ratio is a step toward the transmission’s normal 1st gear. All can be selected by using switches on an

Rain proof Louver The principal objective of Ventilation (or Performance) Louvre

I-Shift’s T-handle selector, but

systems is to allow the passage of air, whilst providing a measure

sometimes its electronic controls

of protection against the rain. Specifying performance has not

will choose lower ratios when

been helped by conflicting technical information given by louvre

it senses heavy loads or steep

manufacturers which quotes percentage free areas measured in

grades. “This lets us go after

different ways, namely as resistance to airflow and aerodynamic

more vocational applications than

coefficients alternatively. For a true comparison of performance, the

we formerly could,” Long said.

aerodynamic coefficient and the degree of rain defence effectiveness

Extreme startability also allows

are the only sensible measures. The blade spacing of Enhancer’s

use in tractors pulling extra-heavy

single bank ventilation louvre is 50mm. Its overall structure is made

combination vehicles.

of high quality anti-corrosion aluminium 6063T5. The blades of the

Sandvik releases new HX900 wear segments Sandvik Construction has launched its new HX900 wear segments, which includes bars, buttons, and runners. HX900 wear segments maintain the original shape of vital equipment surfaces on, for example, crushers, loader buckets, chutes, excavators, rock box edges, and on weld on hammer tips.

HX900 is a wear material combining the wear resistance of cemented carbide with the shock resistance, ductility and forming capability of nodular iron. This combination results in a hard material that stands well in tough environments and has long wear life.

HX900 wear segments are perfect for areas on your equipment that easily wear out. A typical HX900 product has a wear resistance that is comparable with cemented carbide and a strength that is 8090 per cent of the strength of pure nodular iron. The wear resistance is generally 5-15 times higher than with common hardened steel, Ni-hard, hard facing or ceramics. The HX900wear segments come in three shapes for flexible and adaptable usage.

HX900 wear buttons has a dome shape that gives maximum protection and minimizes the effect of impact. The round shape virtually eliminates any risk of weld crack propagating into the parent metal. HX900 wear runners protect large areas on bucket bottoms and corners.

single bank ventilation louvre should not be installed by drilling or fastening with screws but wedged into the structural supporting mullion so as to allow expansion or contraction along the horizontal direction without being deformed or distorted. In addition, this will ensure a uniform appearance of the louvres. The maximum distance from the centre of the mullion should not exceed 1250 mm.

August 2016

9

EVENTS NEWS

Egypt Ports and Waterways 2016

African Real Estate Summit The African Real Estate Summit, in partnership with WESGRO and

Following the success of the inaugural

Egypt

Ports

and

Waterways Summit in 2015, IQPC is pleased to announce the second edition of the event, taking place this September.

It will examine the next steps on Egypt’s path to becoming a global maritime trade and investment hub. With the New Suez Canal project completed, the focus in the country has shifted to the next stage of the economic plan; the Suez

UCLG-A, is an international platform that brings together the full spectrum of the African real estate sector. The African Real Estate Summit will host an investor-led conference where international investors will be able to review a showcase of existing assets, new commercial real estate and planned city developments whilst comparing projected capital returns and rental yields. This will be supported by a deal making exhibition hub with a 3D showcase of the African cities of tomorrow by Town Planners, City Officials and developers from across the continent. “There is a real need amongst African cities to showcase their development plans and meet and network with investors and expert developers in the commercial real estate sector, the African Real Estate Summit provides this long overdue opportunity” RehanaBoolay, Investment Promotions Manager, WESGRO.

Canal area development plan (SCZone) and the development of Egypt’s ports and transport infrastructure to create a worldclass transhipment and value added services hub. Join us at the 2nd Annual Egypt Ports and Waterways Summit to see the first hand implementation of this vision.

Botswana

- Tanzania Institute of Quantity Surveyors

- Architectural Association of Kenya

- Institute of Botswana Quantity Surveyors

- Construction Regulation Board (CRB)

- Institute of Engineers of Kenya

Ethiopia

- Association of Consulting Engineers of - Kenya

- Construction Contractors Association of Ethiopia

- Association of Professional Societies of East - Kenya Property developers Association - Institution of Surveyors of Kenya

South Africa - ASAQS Surveying Profession

- Khuthaza ( Women for Housing) - Concrete Manufacturers Association

and Quantity Surveyors (AQSRB)

Nigeria

- Zimbabwe Institute of Quantity Surveyors

- Association of Consulting Engineers Nigeria

- Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers

- Association of Professional Women

- The Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (Cifoz)

- SAICE

- South African Council for the Quantity

- Tanzania’s Registration Board of Architects

Zimbabwe

Africa APSEA)

Association Partners

Let’s recognize the outstanding individuals, groups and projects representing the best in the construction sector.

The 9th Annual South African Construction Awards are your chance to come together as a community to network, learn and celebrate with each other.

The 2016 Awards offer your Company the perfect place to meet over 2000 industry leaders from across the nation and discuss how the last 12 months have affected you.

Award winners will receive public recognition at the annual Infinite Value Awards Gala Dinner. The awards highlight how a collaborative approach can drive a successful project, build industry confidence and develop industry professionals.

Minister of Public Works Mr Thulas Nxesi will be the guest Honour.

Kenya - Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya

Ghana - Ghana Institute of Engineers - Architects Registration Council

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

- Ghana Institute of Surveyors

- Nigeria Society of Engineers

- Ghana Green Builders Association

- Nigeria Institute of Architects

- Master Builders South Africa

- Ghana Institute of Planners

- Building and Construction Skilled Artisans

Uganda

- Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana

Association of Nigeria (BACSAAN)

- Green Building council of SA - South African Property Owners Association

Institute of Surveyors of Uganda

Ethiopia - Association of Ethiopian Architects - Ethiopian Association of Civil Engineers 10

2016 South African Construction Awards

Namibia Institute of Namibian Quantity Surveyors Association of Consulting Engineers of Namibia

Tanzania

Zambia - Zambia Institute of Architects (ZIA) - Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (ABCEC).

August 2016

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BREXIT

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron debates with South African President Jacob Zuma on his 2011 visit to several African countries.

Brexit

Its effects on Africa’s construction industry Jittery and skepticism surround the Brexit debate. The effects of the exit will trickle from the UK to Africa and beyond. We look at the impact of Brexit on Africa’s construction industry

S

By Anthony Kiganda hortly before the UK embarked on a voting process on whether to remain or depart the European Union, construction players in Britain had cautioned against exiting the EU saying it will hit hard the housing sector that was already experiencing a crisis.

This was a genuine concern given that the UK construction industry is heavily reliant on its ability to access skilled foreign labour from the EU. This derives primarily from the fact that there are insufficient numbers of new and existing skilled workers entering the sector from the UK market.

Now that Brexit has become a reality, everyone is trying to come to terms with what the decision of the UK to leave EU really means. The reverberations of this move 14

have been felt in the UK and further afield but it is yet to be determined how far reaching the effects will be.

The U.K maintains deep ties with many African countries, and the turbulence initially caused anxiety on the Johannesburg stock exchange in South Africa for instance Africa’s power house and there are fears that its effect will soon be felt in the construction sites in the rest of Africa. As a matter of fact, the impact of Brexit was felt immediately in South Africa with a steep drop in the Rand.

Although the currency quickly recovered from the shock, jitters still remain.

Mr Joe Collins a director with African Supplies Limited a leading Uk based company supplying products and services to the construction industry in Africa feels that Africa has greater things to worry about than Brexit given August 2016

that already the continent is in the throes of an economic downturn given the fall in commodity prices. Collins says.” There are greater influences impacting on the African construction at the moment and these are related to declines in government revenue across much of subSaharan Africa and subsequent government expenditure.

These are predominantly driven by the fall in values across the commodity sectors. The impact on GDP growth in the region is quite dramatic and if the construction sector is a barometer of the state of an economy, declines in new construction of up to 40% do not bode well.

Its for the better But Frans Pienaar chairman of Inyatsi Construction Group in South Africa is of the opinion that Africa stands to gain than to lose following Brexit. Pienaar says that the UK might now deepen its ties with African countries. This he believes will result in more and more projects being funded by the UK in Africa. For South Africans working in the UK, the Inyatsi Construction Group chairman thinks most of them might be forced to return home. Collins on his part feels a weaker pound will improve Britain’s export competitiveness in the African marke. “There are some potential scenarios that may or may not come to pass. The immediate fall in sterling value of course makes British products more competitive. With small exceptions, there are few UK made products that have widespread distribution, but perhaps there is now more of an opportunity.

Worker migration “There seems to be widespread concern from South Africans in the UK that they may be forced to leave. I am not convinced that it will happen though. Most of them brought with them significant skills when they entered the UK and the need still remain,” In the event that skilled South Africans construction workers decide to return home, then it means a major boost for the industry that has over the years been affected by brain drain.

British funded projects could face uncertainty.

Construction materials Concerning the fear that projects in Africa might stall due to funding problems, Pienaar offers that this might only be a short term problem. According to Pienaar, while most African countries stand to feel the effects of Brexit, French speaking countries will be least hit.

“Any impact on Africa’s construction industry will be a wait and see affair. It is early to pre-empt what the future of the industry looks like.” Piennar concludes.

Collins agrees that the effect on UK development aid on the other hand has yet to be seen. If the UK economy fails to grow as a result of Brexit, pressure will be put on the government to reduce development aid.

In 2016 DfID has a budget of £ 11 billion, much of which is directed towards projects in Africa. Construction materials sourced from Europe and the UK will face turbulence because of price caused by exchange rate fluctuations for one. It is a view that is largely shared by Daniel Kuyoh a financial analyst at Alpha Africa a leading asset management firm in Kenya. He says that in the short term there may be no major shifts within the construction

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BREXIT

There could be an exit of skilled labor back to Africa .

sector as a whole. But some construction materials that

Project funding

are sourced from the UK or Europe could have a shift in

Indeed, in its 2013 report, global consultancy firm Ernst &

pricing which could affect the overall cost of building

Young showed that the UK remains the leading financier

projects.

of major projects in Africa. Total projects then stood at

The effect on project costs will be limited however

104, with construction and hospitality making up a fifth

because over the last couple of decades Africa has shifted

of those projects. “We are not entirely insulated,” cautions

to the Asian market as a source of construction materials

Mugerwa. It remains to be seen whether UK will halt

and this is its principle source. “We have been cushioned

financial support to construction and other development

by the facts that we have limited construction projects

projects in Kenya. There is a general feeling that projects

being funded by the UK and the EU. James Mugerwa

being funded by the EU could be affected. According to

managing director of Shelter Afrique a pan-African

the Brookings Institute, Britain is a large contributor to

financial institution that supports housing sector in Africa

the European Development Fund, the EU’s development

echoes this sentiment.

assistance arm, which provides funds to developing

Mugerwa says that by and large Africa’s construction industry is likely to remain stable owing to the fact that

16

countries and regions. It currently contributes US$585mn — making up 14.8 percent of contributions to the fund.

most construction material are imported from Asian

On the flip side, these contributions could be

countries like China. But he is quick to point out that

channeled directly to countries that Britain enjoys cordial

owing to the deep ties between UK and African states,

relationships with. Countries like Nigeria, South Africa,

Brexit would likely affect projects being financed by the

Kenya, and Egypt would greatly benefit in the event that

UK.

this happens. Still, in the event that Britain economy

August 2016

plummets due to Brexit, countries with deep ties with the UK are likely to feel the pinch of the exit.

According to Mugerwa,at the top of the list is South Africa. This is because some major companies in the country are dually listed in Johannesburg and London.

In fact, The South African Rand fell sharply as the news of Brexit trickled in. Nigeria will not be spared either. A Brexit comes when the country is floating its currency.

Inflows of Foreign Direct Investment into the country will likely reduce affecting efforts to liberalize its currency.

Kenya will take a hit as well because the UK is one of the top destinations for Kenyan Cut flowers. According to a report by Quartz Africa, Kenya is already suffering from capital flight and if the proposed trade deals with the EU and EAC stalls, the country could lose up to US$40mn a month. This in turn is likely to affect infrastructure construction projects that the country is helping to finance.

“Several African countries will be affected but those with ties with the UK will take the lion’s share of the Brexit economic setbacks,” discloses Mugerwa.

Imports Perhaps the real people who will be immediately affected

by Brexit are importers of construction and related material. For Amos Kibaru director of Floor Deco Kenya Limited the effects have started trickling in. Floor Deco Kenya imports flooring products from Belgium a country that is part of the EU. The firm is now contemplating abandoning the UK market due to a possible hike in tariffs.

“We used to ship our products to the UK for consolidation before shipping them to Kenya but with a Brexit we are now left with one choice: to abandon the UK as a transit route,” says Kibaru. He adds that although the effects of Brexit have not been felt in earnest, the exit will likely affect the turnaround time for imported goods from the EU. “With a British exit, we are worried that we may not deliver goods to clients at a stipulated time. The UK was a really important transit route for us,” At the end of the day, what will really be the decider will be the direction the European Union and the UK economies will take. Weaker currencies will mean cheaper imports of machinery and materials from Europe. Kibaru agrees saying “The cost of importing construction products will depend on two variables: the strength of the Euro and the tariff situation.

“If the Euro weakens then it means that we will import products cheaply. On the other hand if the tariffs are too high, the cost of importation will increase significantly,” he offers. Ultimately the consumer will have to bear the brunt of a British exit. For sure, the Brexit decision and what it bodes for Africa is still unclear and the only thing that is certain is the uncertaintly as to what Europe and the UK will do next as regards trade with Africa which will have an impact on local economies and by extention the construction sector.

August 2016

17

ROAD GRADERS

Motor grader moldboard maintenance

M

By Leonard Lubwa otor graders are the stalwarts of the road construction industry in Africa. Owing to the fact that these heavy-duty machines perform under extreme conditions, they need to be looked after so that they continue to perform optimally. Graders are especially essential in Africa when it come to perennially grading rural roads that are constructed with only earth and a layer of murram and are prone to getting rutted and corrugated overtime due to the annual weather changes and heavy trucks taking produce to market from farms, animal drawn carts and buses.

The motor grader’s moldboard, the moveable blade ring-mounted beneath the grader’s frame, can be swivelled vertically to adjust the angle of the blade itself. Moldboards come in various sizes, depending on motor grader model and function. A good moldboard is critical for a grader to perform its work well and so since the operation of the entire motor grader machine rotates around its blade, or moldboard, and its precise movement – from the turntable and frame, to the hydraulic cylinders and gears, all these parts then need to be taken care of and well maintained.

The moldboard Because of the moldboard’s hard cutting work, keeping it in tip-top shape is crucial and essential for ensuring a motor grader’s productivity and longevity. It is vital for the operator to perform a basic pre-use inspection of a 18

motor grader. Ideally, operators should also perform periodic inspections during pauses in operation during the day and after shutting down.

There are high levels of wear and tear on the cutting blade, or blades, attached to the moldboard, especially if the blade is pitched back, rather than at right angles.

For this reason therefore, blades need to be regularly inspected and replaced – in some cases, even on daily basis. Depending on the surface being prepared, blades should be checked after every 25 to 50 hours of operation.

In case the blade gets too worn out before it is replaced, the performance of the moldboard will be compromised.

Failure to maintain the blade's edges and the bolts that keep them in place, you may end up having to replace the whole moldboard.

The cutting edge The blade that's bolted to the moldboard has a cutting edge along its bottom. For optimal operation the grader’s blade needs a good cutting edge. Depending on the grader, there may also be cutting edges attached on each side of the blade. It is the cutting edges that do the real work, cutting into the material to be graded. The time it takes for the edges to get worn down will depend on how abrasive the material is and on factors like the angle at which edges make contact with the material.

A well designed moldboard will ensure optimal efficiency.

The CASE 800B Series Graders’ come with moldboards August 2016

that have exclusive multi-radius ‘involute’ design with three separate radii that allow for efficient movement of material across the moldboard. In road maintenance applications, it mixes the aggregate evenly as it is spread to create the new surface – a critical aspect to ensure the durability of the road repair. The design also requires less power to move more material, resulting in more fuel economy. In addition, the multi-radius ‘involute’ moldboard moves material more efficiently, so the job gets done faster.

Generally a motor grader performs optimally with about 3.5 centimetres of useable space exposed on the cutting edge. If this edge gets worn down too far, the grader won't work as it should. There's also a risk of wearing right into the moldboard, which may then have to be replaced. Depending on the type of material a grader is cutting, manufacturers recommend that you visually inspect cutting edges after every 25 to 50 hours.

Blade slide and turntable The blade slide enables the moldboard to move on a swivel track, and it should be checked on a monthly basis or so. The bronze or metal shim glides that control the blade slide’s movement is also subject to wear and tear.

Luckily, replacing and removing the glides, which are located on four different points and should all be replaced simultaneously, is a quicker and easier process. To make sure your machine gives you the fine and smooth cut you want, the brushings in the slide also can’t give too much play. If the movement of the slide is too loose, the clevis pins keeping it in place should be replaced.

The operators cab A good grader operator’s work is only as good as his comfort and safety. CASE 800B Series Graders are uniquely designed with spacious cabs that provide a supremely comfortable work environment, with all controls within easy reach on the new right-hand side console, all the most used switches on the front panel and ergonomically positioned low-effort control leavers.

The improved noise, dust and cold insulation creates comfortable internal climate, while the ample glazed windows provide excellent visibility all round.

Reliable supplier Now that we have taken care of the moldboard to ensure good work output, a grader owner needs a reliable supplier to provide parts and service. Due to complexities in buying and shipping, Jeremy Torgerson, the sale and Business Development Director at Track II Corporation advices potential buyers to deal with credible suppliers. “The key to making a wise decision is dealing with a company that knows what they’re doing. By attrition, the more-seasoned company is going to make the transaction easier and will most likely be able to react and overcome pitfalls along the August 2016

way. Access to information on equipment and shipping companies is easy, anybody can get it. But when you’re spending $50,000 to $150,000 on a piece of equipment, it’s a big gamble if you don’t know who you’re dealing with. Ask for trade references. Take a trip to see their shop. Just do your homework and qualify your vendor”, he says.

Dale Oldridge, the the Product Marketing Manager at Bell Equipment adds that when looking to purchase a piece of earth moving equipment, some buyers in the industry are convinced that purchasing on price will result in the best solution at that time. He states that equipment can only earn you an income if it is running so it is important to partner with an OEM who has well established maintenance and parts supply facilities in order to reduce your downtime and ensure you are able to operate to generate income.

Good maintenance of machinery yields advantages in terms of better resale value and a long profitable lifespan.

Sanna Halttunen, the Director of Exports at Veekmas Ltd, a leading supplier of the low-profile UG motor graders for construction says manufacturers should ensure the economic efficiency and long term profitability of the end users of the graders. She further encourages seamless and long-term cooperation between manufacturer and operator to make sure that the end result is a functioning and longlived quality product which retains a high resale value.

Veekmas Ltd offer graders with the strongest frame, drawbar circle and chassis in the market.

The African market The African market remains ripe and untapped. With this growing potential come several challenges. Krzysztof Trybuch from MISTA, a Poland based firm that supplies motor graders cautions suppliers to be brace up for a tough working environment as they entrench in the African market. “African market is currently developing great potential. However, potential suppliers must remember that they will face various, harsh working condition and requirements for operation and use of the machine, depending on different destination regions.

Also the potential users and purchasers should be aware of the same aspects of use of the machines. The price should not be the only criteria for evaluation the offers” he says. He advises potential buyers to consider a number of factors before buying. “A level of technological development of the machine and its solutions used inside, standard and additional attachments and ability of cooperation with peripheral systems in a construction site, main component origin, and general features and advantages it offers should be taken into consideration very carefully.

To read more and to comment on this story visit

http://www.constructionreviewonline.com

19

Borum Line marking machines an investment in Traffic Safety In modern infrastructure road markings are a fundamental contributor to road safety and driver comfort.

B

orum A/S in Denmark is a leading supplier of high-quality line marking machines and equipment, designed to improve traffic safety and optimize traffic management all over the

world.

The safety imperative!

There are an increasing number of road traffic fatalities in Africa, while other continents have been able to decrease the number of fatalities. To lower the number of accidents, road markings are one of the key tools to improve highway efficiency and safety, by ensuring effective traffic segregation as well as providing guidance, instructions, warnings and prohibitions. The most important feature of line markings is probably the ability to reflect light from the vehicle back to the driver (“retro-reflectivity”) so that the markings can be seen easily under all kinds of conditions. Other crucial properties include luminance (“brightness”) and skid resistance – and then there’s the issue of life time, maintenance costs and return-oninvestment perspectives involved.

Rumble effect – thinking in patterns One of the most effective ways to increase the retro-reflectivity of road markings is to boost the efficacy of the glass-bead component by laying the markings in non-continuous patterns appropriate to each context. Structured and profiled thermoplastic road markings have the major advantage of featuring large numbers of vertical or nearvertical surfaces facing different directions. They are therefore highly reflective from virtually any angle and in all conditions. Profiled thermoplastic road markings also have a big effect when the wheels of any vehicle come into contact with appropriately designed dots, lines and patterns. These result in a warning rumble, along with vibration throughout the vehicle. This alerts the driver to any divergence from the marked lanes.

Borum in Africa- a long built relationship “We have been operating for many years in Africa and are highlyexperienced in working in an efficient way to guarantee road safetyand we will continue our efforts in this area”, explains Lisbeth Knudsen, Sales Manager of Borum for the African region.

20

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BATHROOMS

Next Generation Bathrooms

T

he bathroom of a house is often the only room that offers a sense of pure relaxation and it should therefore be seen as a priority to add touches of luxury when decorating. There are a number of amazing luxury features found in world-class bathrooms including walled fish tanks ,fireplaces, Jacuzzis, personal saunas as well as his and hers vanity dressers fitted with sinks.

The current day bathroom unlike the cold hidden space at the back of the house of years gone by has grown into a personal sanctuary. Elements that make up bathrooms have also changed shape and function with passing of time. Yvonne Müller, the Marketing Executive at Vaal Sanitaryware, Libra Bathrooms & Plexicor Baths confirms this, “One of the main features of a bathroom is the water closet (toilet) and instead of hiding it, today it

The current trend in bathrooms is moving towards creating an oasis of relaxation

22

is incorporated as a mayor design facet. Rather than just being a functional utility the water closet became part of the design pieces and details. It is a key component of consideration for architects, interior designers.”

According to her, besides the look of the water closets technology has also evolved and become more efficient and sophisticated.“Front flush mechanisms was replaced by top flush mechanisms, water saving technology was revolutionary and made toilets far more economical. Not too long ago the average water used for a toilet flush was between 11 – 13 litres, with the standard being 12. Today the water closet standard is 6 litres,” said Müller.

“Technology has even advanced to electronic systems for water closets and bidets that flush automatically, triggered by movement and heat sensors. These systems are a bit more expensive but very effective and convenient,” she said. These are just but a few of the several evolutions that the bathroom has undergone.

Dorianne Isaacman, Head of Retail Sales & Marketing at Geberit, acknowledges that the current trend in bathrooms is moving towards creating an oasis of relaxation by creating a more spacious environment with open plan interiors. He adds that one of the ways to achieve this is with a floor-even bathroom and open shower. Geberit is a South African-based company that offers several drainage solutions to suit all styles, budgets and bathroom sizes. In most cases these features are quite often out of the price range or space availability for many August 2016

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BATHROOMS

Heated Bathroom mirrors This is mainly used by men, who find it easier to shave after a shower has softened the hair follicles. Naturally this can be much harder when the steam from the shower causes a misted mirror and therefore makes it difficult to get a clean shave. The best and easiest way to create a more user-friendly and luxury experience is to install a heated mirror. This works as before the mirror has a chance to steam up the warm pad located behind the mirror heats it up just enough to demist the mirror for the perfect close shave.

Modern Bathroom Design by Vaal Sanitaryware, Libra Bathrooms & Plexicor Baths

people. It is therefore of importance to identify alternative areas which can provide a luxury feel to a bathroom within the affordable budgetary limits and space.

Walk-in shower Installing a walk in shower offers extra showering space and a more contemporary look. If the bathroom is small a versatile wet room can add the illusion of more space. The sleek appearance and ease of use offers a feel of luxury.

The luxury feel originates from a less cramped shower experience as there will be no more smacking of elbows against the wall/screen. A walk in shower or wet room is a great luxury alternative option to using more traditional space hungry bathroom fittings.

Themostatic Shower Irrespective of your space and installation, thermostatic showers offer an essential luxury feel and maximize the pleasure of your daily shower experience. There are attractive and elegant thermostatic shower designs available and can be installed in the bathroom easily.

A thermostatic mixer shower helps maintain the water temperatures once set by the user, offering luxurious protection from fluctuating water temperatures and scalding water.

24

LED tiles and door handles In order to create a personalized feel to the bathroom you can selectively use LEDs to highlight features, within tiles or even for a busy signal in the door handle. The star like quality that a few carefully placed LEDs can provide is a sure fire way to add a luxury experience to the bathroom.

Under floor heating Under floor heating adds a luxury experience to any bathroom. Sometimes the shock of a cold floor after some luxury time of relaxation in the tub or a long hot shower is just enough to undo all the good experience you’ve just had in relaxing yourself! You can benefit from warm, cosy tiles under your feet first thing in the morning right through to last thing at night. The warmth fills the whole room allowing the area to dry out quickly and effectively.

A heated floor once installed frees up the space used by traditional heating systems.

Jacuzzi Jacuzzis are lavish home fixtures that are meant to offer both mental and physical relaxation. In Africa these are now in vogue with the newly moneyed in the upper middle class. The Jacuzzi hot tubs can help reduce several body pains especially muscle and joint pains. Jacuzzi’s have been found to increase blood and air circulation in the body.

To read more and to comment on this story visit

http://www.constructionreviewonline.com

August 2016

INTERIOR DESIGN

IBM Africa Research Centre

Design Partnership Limited

D

esign Partnership is amongst the renowned names in the Interior Design Scene in East Africa. The firm currently has projects in Kenya,

Bank of Africa, Securex Agencies, Kenya Association

Tanzania, Rwanda, Congo, Zambia and Cape Verde. The

RTI International. In the Education sector, the firm’s

firm specializes in Corporate Office Interiors and Retail

notable clients include the Aga Khan University and

Bank branches and some of its leading clients include

Mpesa Foundation Academy. The firm also undertakes

IBM, Tetra Pak, Cargill, CfC Stanbic Bank, I&M Bank,

projects for prestigious Diplomatic missions in Kenya

Bank of Africa Head Office Westlands

August 2016

of Manufacturers, AIG, Heritage Insurance, Liberty Life Assurance, Mediamax Networks, RSM International and

Mpesa Foundation Academy Thika

25

INTERIOR DESIGN

CfC Stanbic Digital Centre Karen

such as the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Finland Embassy

steady growth over the years and is poised to forge new

and USAID. Windsor Golf & Country Club, Colosseum

frontiers in Interior Design both locally and regionally.

and Sultan Palace are projects being undertaken by the

26

“Our clients have come to rely upon us to deliver

Hospitality and Residential Interiors arm of the firm.

powerful

Recently the firm has been engaged for Interior Design

thoroughness of our creative process. With a highly

of the proposed new Karen Waterfront Shopping Centre.

informed, passionate and dedicated team of professionals,

Under its CSR initiative the firm provides pro bono

coupled with our rigorous process, we harness the power

consultancy services for the Access Afya Health Clinics

of design to deliver outcomes that exceed our client’s

and SSD Temple. Design Partnership has experienced

expectations”, states the firm’s management.

Flamingo Casino Nairobi

Tetra Pak Head Office Kenya

outcomes

through

the

inspiration

and

August 2016

Victoria OFFICE

Work Inspired

Victoria Furnitures Ltd We are proud to be associated with Design Partnership

9 Parklands Rd, Westlands 0770 876 140

sales@victoriafurnitures.com www.victoriafurnitures.com

Building Services Group

FURSYS (K) LIMITED We are proud to be associated with Design Partnership Limited

P.O. Box 54529 Nairobi 00200 Kenya Tel: +254 20 2694697 Email: info@buildingservicesgroup.com August 2016

We are proud to be associated with DESIGN PARTNERSHIP ARCHITECTS P.O. Box 50062-00200 Tel: +254 786 370970 2nd Floor, Heidelberg House Mombasa Road, Nairobi, Kenya Email: ashna@fursys.co.ke Website: www.globalfursays.com 27

28

August 2016

Apex Steel and Green Building Steel Apex Steel manufacturers and supplies steel to BS 4449:2005 Grade 500+. Briefly.

In addition to steel, Apex Steel are also manufactures angles, flats, zeds sections, tee sections and hollow sections. It also trades in beams, channels, MS Plates amongst other products including over 4000 items in general hardware, plastics and PVC. Piping & Plumbing ‘Hydroflo’ – is synonymous with quality and hence the preferred PPR choice for plumbing where quality is key. Also available is HDPE in an assortment of sizes. Apex Steel now represents the world’s largest pipe and piping solution manufacturer - Wavin (www.wavin. com). They offer a revolutionary change in the plumbing sector that has been in a dire need of one.

Green Building 1. Leed The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has set a standard for sustainable building performance known as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®). LEED is a green building certification program that recognizes bestin-class building strategies and practices. To receive LEED certification, building projects and manufacturing processes must satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification through environmental categories: 2. Green Star The GBCSA developed Green Star SA, based on the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star rating system; provide the commercial property industry with an objective measurement of green buildings, in addition to recognizing and rewarding environmental leadership in the property industry.Kenya in its effort to transform the construction industry has established KGBS that is the body mandated to implement the Kenyan rating system that shall be referred to as Green Star South Africa-Kenya.

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http://www.constructionreviewonline.com

August 2016

29

INTERIOR DESIGN

Parbat Siyani Interiors Ltd

P

arbat Siyani Interiors Limited (PSI) is an interior fit-out contractor based in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. It is part of the PBS Group of companies operating in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.

Established only three years ago, PSI is determined to make it to the top of the vast but fiercely competitive interiors segment at a time when innovativeness, superior workmanship and unparalleled customer service appear to be the elements determining the survival of players.

Fortunately, PSI is well leveraged in that its sister companies (Parbat Siyani Construction Limited, Seyani Brothers & Co.) have established themselves as market leaders in the construction industry across the region, handling multi-million dollar projects in residential and commercial sectors in East Africa. PSI is therefore poised to ride on this goodwill to catapult itself to greater heights.

And indeed it has over that short period.

So far, PSI has undertaken interiors fit-outs for several large clients. These include ICEA Lion, one of the largest insurers in Kenya; State House; Booking.com and Healthy U 2000. Others include Adidas, Bossini at The Hub Karen and Mr Price at Two Rivers Mall.

The company stocks high quality materials including superior tiles from Egypt and India as well as latest furniture designs. However, the company also procures locally from branded suppliers.

PSI has its own qualified interior designers who work with clients to produce high quality finishes to exceed

PSI is determined to make it to the top of the vast but fiercely competitive interiors segment

expectations. It takes pride in delivering quality work at competitive prices.

Recently, PSI opened a showroom on Beijing Road, off Mombasa Road, where customers can experience the entire range of products and services offered by the company and also get advice on any interior works they may be contemplating.

R

Lusaka Close, Off Lusaka Road, Industrial Area, Nairobi, Kenya P.O. Box 18443-00500 Tel: 0717 412588/0733 412588 Email: info@idealgroupkenya.com

IDEAL MANUFACTURING CO. LTD

Manufacturers of all Decorative, Industrial and Automotive Paints

We are proud to be associated with Parbat Siyani Interiors Limited 30

August 2016

BUILDING PROJECT

Mixed use development gains currency in Kenya A fully integrated mixed-use development means adequate parking space, convenience and the live-work-play concept.

W

ith an ever increasing population coupled with the high cost of land, Kenya has opted for universal alternatives by reaching for the sky. Developers have resorted to mixed use developments offering them an opportunity to offer much needed parking adequacy, convenience and the live-work-play concept.

The developments In the Westlands neighbourhood of Nairobi, construction of what will be the tallest mixed use ultra modern complex in Nairobi is nearing completion. Dabbed Le’mac, the Dubai styled 24 storey project is built on a 1.32 acre piece of land and represents a new class in real estate development. The mixed use complex will house a banking hall, a café, restaurant, showrooms and residential apartments. Mavji Varsani the director of Mark Properties, the firm behind the project says that Le’mac is intended to mimic residential buildings in Dubai that incorporate play grounds, offices and retail space.

“The society is fast changing and so is its lifestyle.

Le’mac seeks to offer a solution to people who want to have easy access to offices from their houses with the aim of saving time,” offers Varsani. The UK based developer says that in London mixed use developments are more the rule than the exception.

August 2016

On Limuru Road Two Rivers Mall which sits on 102 acres integrates the retail mall with two office towers with a total of 215,000 square feet. Like Lemac it has residential apartments, hotels, and recreational space. It spans 62,000 square metres. The Centum Group project was due to open in March 2016 but was delayed to allow all 190 tenants to finalise preparations.

But these are not the only signals that Nairobi is fast adopting the new model. Along Thika Road in Nairobi, another mixed use development called Garden City has already opened its doors. It has 50,000sqm of retail space, 20,000sqm of office space. As with Le’mac, it has 420 apartment and town houses, 120-room business hotel and a three-acre park. The development which boasts the largest solar panelled carport in East Africa has been granted vision 2030 private sector partnership status.

On the other hand The Hub which opened its doors this year has slightly over 1,000 parking bays on the retail side which also hosts office space.

Global Cities 2016 Report In its report dabbed ‘Global Cities – The 2016 Report’ real estate firm Knight Frank notes that many business owners increasingly view offices as an effective means of controlling the bigger and more damaging business cost 31

BUILDING PROJECT

The Le’ Mac is an ultra modern commercial and residential address,

The 24 storey building is slated for completion in 2017.

of staff attrition. Additionally, Knight Frank observes all mixed use developments have been positioned along major roads that are wellserviced with public transport, further improving accessibility. For example, Le’mac is located off Waiyaki Way near the Toyota Show Room, Two Rivers is serviced by Limuru Road and the Northern Bypass, Garden City has Thika Road and the new Outering Road, while The Hub has Ngong Road and Southern By-pass.

According to proponents of this model, when all one needs is within easy reach, there is greater efficiency. For companies, this will mean higher productivity in work places while for employees who live within the developments; it means more time for families and recreation with less time in traffic. The convenience works for both the employer and employee.

“It’s a very encouraging direction. This model presents opportunities and better ways for companies in a new kind of office occupation. It has not been a common thing in Nairobi so we are showing the market the benefits of having workplaces in a predominantly retail environment,” says Ben Woodhams who is the Knight Frank Kenya Managing Director. His views are echoed by Varsani who says that mixed use developments like Le’mac can boost efficiency at work places.

Devolution For years, Nairobi has long been the main focus of Kenya’s property market. In 2015, the World Bank ranked Nairobi 16th out of 35 African cities by rent yields for the four main segments of residential, office, retail and industrial. However, devolution of powers to local authorities is emerging to be a game- changer by opening up new 32

August 2016

The highest and close to the largest residential swimming pools.

opportunities beyond Nairobi. Observers say mixed-use complexs will become increasingly common and expand out to the middleincome segment.

Real estate sector in Kenya remains the most attractive venture for investors according to 2016 data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. The real estate sector’s year-on-year growth at the end of third quarter of 2015 was 5.4 percent. The data echoes Cytonn Investments’ report which shows that in the last five years real estate generated returns of between 25% and 30% making it the most lucrative business to venture into with zero losses.

However, critics are skeptical about the growth of this sector and whether it will be able to maintain a return on investment. This they say, is because the sector is mostly local oriented with a small percentage of foreign investors.

Housing deficit But according to the National Housing Corporation, there is a housing deficit of more than 200,000 units per year for the low- to middle-income market.

Most of the ongoing projects target the higher classes, and prices have skyrocketed. The starting price of a two-bedroom apartment in areas like Kilimani in Nairobi is about Sh20 million (US$200,000).

Rentals have also followed this trend making the market intricate as lots of new residential buildings remain empty.

But Versani says their apartments are affordable adding that construction of Le,mac marks the beginning of similar projects that Mark Properties will erect in the country.

August 2016

33

BUILDING PROJECT

Redstone House B

By Nakisanze Segawa eing one of Africa’s fastest growing cities, Kampala’s buildscape is always changing with iconic construction projects springing up each year.

One such project is Redstone House which is a breath of fresh air for Bugolobi, a suburb in the city, which has experienced a shift in construction from mainly residential to commercial. The building’s exterior is unque and arguably a first for Uganda. It features a combination of natural red and grey stone, hence its name. The chic building design has been crafted to portray an immaculate corporate image with bold elements that suit the character of the modern working environment through the installation of basic provisions such as a functional roof top area on the terrace floor, ICT on all floors, air conditioners, wet and dry fire extinguisher systems, a 350 KVA standby generator, adequate water storage, and a contemporary building management system that facilitates the state-of-the-art communication and security network for the tenants’ safety.

Redstone House is situated on two plots: plot 7 Bandali Rise and 10 on Bandali close, with plot 10 exclusively left as parking space for 90 vehicles. The interior finishes are comprise of high quality polished porcelain floor tiles, plaster and paint, timber panelling, granite cladding, acoustic coffered ceilings and effective lighting lobby areas hence creating a receptive ambiance. All of which were innovatively incorporated with locally available materials and some imported from Kenya.

For its unique exterior, Redstone House’s external finishes are composed of earthly renders such as red and grey stones cladding, making it environmentally friendly and also gives the building a touch of elegance. The solar reflective glass windows keep internal temperatures down and reduce the energy costs associated with air conditioning. The building’s flexibility can accommodate various types of air conditioners. With one elevator reaching all six floors, this commercial building will accommodate all offices ranging from banks, private business

34

August 2016

companies, NGOs etc. Each floor space is 513 square meters, with two female and male wash rooms respectively and one for the disabled. The project involved the design and construction supervision of an unfitted office building at a cost of US$ 3.1 million.

In addition to the façade which is garnished with red and grey stones, making it environmentally friendly, the solar reflective glass windows keep internal temperatures down and reducing the energy costs associated with air conditioning. The building’s flexible layout also allows for various types of air conditioners. The proximity of the building to other amenities and infrastructure makes it an ideal location within this commercial area.

Challenges The tight nature of the site presented exceptional challenges while the fact that it was a residential area previuosly there was delayed relocation of the occupants.

In addition there was delay in procuring of some building materials used since they were to be imported from Kenya.

Building Information Architects: Symbion Uganda Location: Bugolobi Kampala

GENERAL BUILDING & CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS

P.O BOX 23067, BOMBO ROAD, KAWEMPE, KAMPALA- UGANDA TEL: 041 - 4566095 / 309, FAX: 041 - 4566183 E-mail: info@seyanintug.com

Height: 25meters.

Construction Start: April 2015 Completion date: April2016 Main Contractor: Seyani International Structural engineer: Proman Consults Electrical engineer: Multi-Konsults Quantity surveyors: Buildcost Associates Projects manager: Symbion.

Plumbing and drainage engineer:

We are proud to be associated with the Redstone House as the main contractors.

SEYANI INTERNATIONAL CO. LTD is a General Building & Civil Engineering contractor with well established setting.

We manufacture a wide range of construction products, stock to sell and have got an in- house supply of Ready- mix concrete, stone Aggregate of all sizes, solid blocks, hollow blocks, Pavers and all pre- cast items.

Allied Plumbers Ltd. August 2016

35

ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND GENERATORS Building with sustainable productivity

Innovative and reliable construction equipment builds infrastructure faster and in a more sustainable way.

Atlas Copco Tanzania Ltd Plot 75B,Julius Nyerere Rd P O Box 39966,Dar es salaam,Tanzania Phone:+255 22 286 1571 www.atlascopco.com

ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND GENERATORS PREDICTABLE POWER Atlas copco Predictable Power brings peace of mind to customers in the on-site generator and power generation business, peace of mind with solutions that combine low cost of ownership, reliable performance and risk-free operation.

Generators Ranging From 12kVA to 1250kVA

Atlas Cocpo generators are designed to perform, built to last. They offer the following key benefits: - Performance - Accurate and stable power - Versatility - Ability to power a wide range of applications - Service efficiency - Increased up - time - increased transport efficiency - Superior resale value

Lighting Towers

PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSORS Atlas Copco is the leading manufacturer of portable compressed air machines in the world, and through constant research and technology, superior products are developed. The combination of performance, reliability, economy and convenience has resulted in an innovative range of single axle high capacity air compressors used in a variety of industries.

XAS 97 HardHat Compressor

CONSTRUCTION TOOLS

Our range of compaction and breaking equipment will take your productivity to a whole new level. The equipment has low maintenance costs, high availability, ergonomic. Intelligent engineering, top quality materials, first-class components and mordern engines contribute to long lasting machines with high trade-in values.

Drill Air Compressor

Breakers

Plate Compactors

Rammers

Tex Breakers

DYNAPAC BUILDS THE FUTURE

Dynapac Rollers

Low noise - high power The powerful and quiet water-cooled diesel engines. With the large drum diameter and the drive motors connected in series, there is excellent accessibility and hill-climbing capability.

Operator friendly A spacious, vibration-damped operator platform and an ergonomically positioned step make these machines extremely operator-friendly. A modern, easily legible instrument panel with a warning panel and a fuel gauge is standard.

Dynapac Pavers

Easy transportation To easily transport the roller between workplaces, the machines are fitted with a robust central lifting eye that allows fast and easy loading. Standard folding ROPS keeps the transport height to a minimum.

Minimum service required Extended service intervals minimize maintenance costs. The machines have a maintenance-free steering hitch and steering cylinder. The few remaining service points are easily accessible.

Dynapac Planners

Dynapac Pneumatic Rollers

PILING

below grade. If the pile was spliced, reevaluate splice detail and field procedures for possible splice failure.

Lateral movement of previously installed piles when driving new piles Pile

movements

likely

due

to

soil

displacement from adjacent pile driving.

Possible

solutions

entail

re-driving

of

installed piles, and change in sequence of pile installation.

Piles driving out of alignment Piling at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) East Expansion project.

Image courtsey- Franki Africa

Piles may be moving out of alignment

Common Pile Driving Challenges and Solutions

control or due to soil conditions. If due to

A

frica consists of 55 developing countries, and a number of these countries have significant work in progress on infrastructure development on almost every front and prioritisation of infrastructure projects has become mission critical. With the advent of infrastructural growth in Africa, rapid urbanization, and peculiar requirements for availing additional space, piling industry has gone through evolution and is adapting itself to ever increasing challenges. There are three types of pile foundation according to their construction methods- driven piles, cast-insitu piles, and driven and cast-in-situ piles.

There are a number of challenges associated with pile driving, as well as the solutions that can be implemented to solve them: Piles with blow count above minimum pile penetration requirements Check if the piles has sufficient drivability and that the driving system is matched to the pile. If the drivability and driving system are suitably matched, check driving system operation for compliance with manufacturer’s guidelines. Driving system problems could include pre-ignition, preadmission, low hammer efficiency, or soft cushion. In addition, soil problems could include greater soil strength than anticipated, temporarily increased soil resistance with

38

later relaxation, large soil quakes, or high soil damping.

tolerance due to hammer-pile alignment poor hammer pile alignment control, a pile gate, template or fixed lead system may improve the ability to maintain alignment tolerance. Soil conditions such as near surface obstructions or steep sloping bedrock having minimal overburden material may prevent tolerance from being met.

Piles driving significantly deeper than estimated Soil resistance at the time of driving could be lower than anticipated or driving system performance is better than anticipated.

Perform restrike tests after an appropriate waiting period to evaluate soil strength changes. If all tests are done, and the soil conditions are still weaker than anticipated, foundation piles will probably need to be driven deeper than originally estimated or additional piles will be required to support the load.

Abrupt change or decrease in blow counts for bearing piles If borings do not indicate weathered profile above bedrock/ bearing layer, then pile toe damage is likely. For piles that allow internal inspection, reflect light to the pile toe and tap the length inside the pile for indications of toe damage. For piles that cannot be internally inspected, dynamic measurements could be made to evaluate problem or pile extraction could be considered.

Blow count significantly lower than expected Review soil borings – if soil borings do not indicate soft layers, pile may be damaged

Piles driving out of location Piles may be moving out of location tolerance due to hammer-pile alignment control or due to soil conditions. If due to poor hammer-pile alignment control, a pile gate, template or fixed lead system may improve the ability to, maintain location tolerance.

In addition, other challenges include pile obstruction at depth; concrete piles develop partial horizontal cracks in easy driving; concrete pile spalling or slabbing near head; concrete piles develop complete horizontal cracks easy driving; concrete piles develop partial horizontal cracks in easy driving; steel pile head deforms timber pile top mushrooms; unexpectedly low blow counts during pile driving; higher blow count than expected; lower blow count than expected; diesel hammer stroke higher than calculated; cannot find hammer in data file; and cannot find a hammer within driving stress and resistance limits. Each piling site involves unique challenges and solutions- it is imperative that one finds the right solution for his piling needs before losing millions of rands in project maintenance costs due to poor piling practices- there is no alternative to good piling practices.

August 2016

BUILDING PRODUCTS

holland-pavers

half-round-ridges

interlocking-pavers

tappered-ridge

Zimtile Ramps Up Production and Distribution Network double-roman-tiles

A

farmhouse

subsidiary of PG Industries Zimbabwe, Zimtile with over 60 years’ experience in the industry, is the leading manufacturers and distributors of quality concrete roof tiles, ridges and pavers. The company operates two factories in Harare and Bulawayo. The company has satellites in Mutare, Gweru and Masvingo. As part of the company’s growth and expansion strategy, the company commissioned a new state-of-the-art P70HD tile-making technology at its Harare Plant in 2011. The Harare Plant has a capacity of producing 40,000 tiles per day. The Bulawayo Tile Plant extruder was upgraded in 2010 with a capacity of producing 26,000 tiles a day.

Zimtile was accredited with ISO 9001:2000 certification in 2008. Its products fully comply with the strength requirements of the Concrete Manufacturer’s Association (CMA) and the Standard Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ).

Customers are assured of products that have the following attributes:

concrete slabs

concrete blocks

bold-double-roman-tiles

40

concrete bricks

•

Exceptional quality guaranteeing a lifelong product

•

Affordable especially in these days of liquidity constraints

•

Aesthetic appeal

•

Thermal efficiency

•

Easy installation

With such high levels of capacity customers are able to pay and collect their products on the same day. In order to ensure that its products are brought nearer to their customers, apart from its own satellite outlets in Gweru, Masvingo and Mutare, Zimtile also utilizes the PG Industries branch network which has outlets all over Zimbabwe.

Apart from the local market, Zimtile exports to the regional market where its brand has become a household name.

paving

August 2016

Ethiopia

Sudan

August 2016

Tanzania

41

LIGHTNING PROTECTION EARTHING

Why do we need lightning protection?

Lightning is one of nature's most powerful and destructive phenomena.

L

ightning discharges contain significant amounts of electrical energy and have been measured from several thousand amps to over 200,000 amps - enough to light half a million 100 watt bulbs! Even though a lightning discharge is of a very short duration (typically 200 microseconds) it is a very real cause of damage and destruction.The effects of a direct strike are obvious and immediately apparent - buildings damaged, trees blown apart, personal injuries and even death to humans.

However, the secondary effects of lightning - the short duration, high voltage spikes called transient over voltages can, and do, cause equally catastrophic, if less visually obvious, damage to the electronic systems inside a building.The most common form of lightning strike in South Africa is an indirect strike, meaning instead of striking a building directly, the lightning bolt will hit the ground or an external object and then find the easiest path down to earth via buried cables or water pipes. With the adequate lightning, earthing and surge protection in place damages caused by these strikes can be minimized or avoided.

Growth Strategy SME Lightning Protection and Earthing is one of the leading SABS ISO9001:2008 accredited service providers in the specialist field of lightning protection, earthing and surge protection explained Directors Marius Janse van Rensburg and Eduard Ferreira.

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SME was established in 1985 and grew from a business mostly focused on the KZN market to expanding the services offered to Richards Bay and Namibia in recent years.

“An increase in demand for the high quality of services offered by SME and the increasing growth in the SME brand has lead to the establishment of an operational office for SME in Johannesburg during 2015. This growth strategy has laid a foundation for SME to accelerate it’s growth within one of the largest markets in South Africa” says Eduard.

Furthermore SME has completed various large projects in countries outside the borders of South Africa and have continued to develop a loyal client base of customers who trust the SME brand to deliver the required services through a high quality installation in compliance with the relevant South African National Standards. (SANS) SME will continue to expand its reach and support for projects in South Africa and also key neighbouring countries like Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, Swaziland all the way up to Kenya and surrounding countries.

and required installation to be compliant to the SANS code of practice and to provide a lightning protection system which will protect the buildings, equipment and the people. SME also provides related services from excavation and earth core drilling to underground services detection. Not only does the high quality of installation and pride in their work set SME apart from other installers in the field but SME has built a strong reputation for service as one of the leading SABS ISO9001:2008 accredited companies in the field.

What also sets SME apart from other service providers is the support to their clients of offering continuous maintenance support on projects. This provides security and peace of mind to their clients that installations are not only done according to the relevant standards but there are annual inspections to ensure the upkeep of the system installed and services offered in the case of repairs and replacements which might be required. This ensures that the systems integrity remains in place and therefore the relevant protection for the buildings, equipment and the people.

Specialist services provided by SME SME specializes in the fields of lightning protection, earthing and surge protection and offers the following services. Consulting and design, soil resistivity surveys, earth resistance testing and risk assessments.

This allows SME to design the earth grid

Why is lightning protection so important?

The function of an external lightning protection system is to intercept, conduct and dissipate a lightning strike safely to earth.

Without such a system a building's structure, electronic systems and the people working around or within it are all at risk explains August 2016

Marius. There are many ways in which lightning strikes can cause damage or injury.

Lightning strikes (or even electrical discharges due to nearby lightning) can cause fires, explosions, chemical release or mechanical disruption within or around a building. Step and touch voltages generated from a lightning strike can cause injury, or even loss of life, to humans (and animals) in the close vicinity. Our risk management approach focuses on all areas to be considered to be protected and includes a comprehensive view when developing a lightning protection system for our clients. As specialists in our field, our experience, support and expertise has assisted hundreds of companies and we have successfully completed significant projects by providing effective lightning protection solutions.

Surge Protection Approximately 80% of damage caused to modern electronic systems can be directly related to the effects of transient over voltages, over currents and "noise" which can result from lightning, switching operations and many other sources of electrical disturbance.

Local environmental conditions, together with the extensive use of electronic equipment in this region, combine to make the risk of transient related damage amongst the highest in the world.

As a result of this high risk, most Insurance Companies either totally exclude cover or charge heavy excesses to insure inadequately protected equipment against damage of this kind. SME installs a comprehensive range of Transient Suppression or SPD's (Surge Protective Devices) which have outstanding performance characteristics and have been 44

designed to handle our very severe conditions in South Africa. These devices fully comply with the most stringent local and international specifications.

in the organisation which will develop the habits of the workers and build a trustworthy and honest organisation.

This further leads to the challenge of continuous training of staff which is very

Safety A lightning strike can contain millions of volts of electricity and of course when dealing with such a powerful natural force, you need to have the correct industrial equipment and smart protection designs to ensure that the impact of the strikes are dealt with in a safe and harmless manner. When installing a system of this nature, health and safety has to be the primary consideration, just as it should be on any industrial construction site. “Safety has become integral in all aspects of the installation of a lightning protection system to ensure the safety of all SME workers and to ensure that the system can provide the right protection� explained Marius. More industries are turning to focus on the safety aspects of their plants, buildings and work environments which has contributed to a surge in the demand for quality installers like SME to provide the protection solutions in the lightning protection field.

important for SME as we continue to grow

Challenges As in all industries there are challenges and SME also faces challenges around the cost of material, the continuous training of staff and the regulations in the industry. With copper being a precious metal with a high resale value in the market which is mostly used in all aspects of the installations due to the exceptional conductivity of the metal, theft internally and on projects always presents a risk which needs to be carefully managed.

SME believes it is the underlying values

Namibia and surrounding areas, accelerated

and expand our teams explains Eduard.

Being an operationally driven business it is sometimes challenging to pull teams from projects for training as this could result in delays and loss of revenue but it is essential for our SME to continue to develop not only the skills of the people but also the people themselves. A lot of staff have remained in the business over the past 15 to 20 years, which is evidence of the value which SME has in the staff and teams. We have developed some real dynamic leaders within our teams over the past decade and we believe that you have to have motivated well trained people to execute the installation projects correctly.

Future The company has set a revised dynamic 10 year growth strategy which will include the strengthening and expansion of the affiliated business SWE Lightning Protection in growth through inland opportunities from the Johannesburg operational base, the establishment of several new operations branches in strategic business catchment areas and the possible strategic acquisitions of related businesses which will further strengthen the SME brand and network. As Eduard explains, lightning protection will remain very relevant to all industries which have to protect property, equipment and people.

August 2016

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GEOSYNTHETICS

Geosynthetics materials with functional added value

G

eosynthetic materials have been successfully installed as effective barriers in various types of earth and concrete structures over the past 5 decades or so, and the technology has continued to evolve. Geosynthetics comprises of more than 100 different products available in the market and these can be categorized into: Geotextiles; Geogrids; Geonets; Geomembrane; Geosynthetics Clay Liner and Geocomposite. Products differ as well from the raw materials, such as polyolefin (Polypropylene and Polyethylene) or polyester, changing the mechanical and chemical behaviour of such products.

Usually in the overall project, geosynthetics are categorized through their role or function in the design or project such as any other engineering materials.

Functions There are 7 functions recognized for geosynthetics and they include the following: Filtration; Separation; Reinforcement; Drainage; Barrier; Surface erosion control; Protection. Nevertheless, each product can work for one or more functions at the same time: Geotextiles placed on soft soil will usually be designed on the basis of its reinforcement capability, but separation and filtration might certainly be secondary and tertiary benefits. At the beginning, geosynthetics were not used in

46

critical applications or they were mainly used as “buffer� for safety, usually to cater for incorrect installation or poor quality workmanship. Almost 100 years later, geosynthetics are now widely used in many civil and mining sectors as a key-role player in the overall project, which can be the reinforcement of roads, lining of a heap leach pads, or just a simple erosion control on the shoreline.

The development of Africa’s infrastructure in the area of roads, bridges, railways and annexes is the best opportunity for geosynthetics. In Africa geosynthetics are rarely used and when they are, they cover the buffer-role and not key-role. Many roads are still built using traditional design, requiring many borrow sources and high technology equipment. This overall scenario occurs not only in roads, but in dams, drainage, slope stability and erosion control measurements.

Factories are rising up over wetland areas due to revised urban regulations in siuations where the soaked in-situ soil cannot even sustain a trucks weight. In such a scenario, where a traditional solution would have rock dump or even piling, geosynthetics has successfully supplied a feasible alternative for the development in Africa.

Roads Roads are the key for the development of trade between regions and the Romans understood

this many years ago and till today Europe is linked through these routes first constructed by the Romans. Africa desperately needs roads and railways to link the various business, however more than half of Africa is in the tropical region, where tropical soils are a challenge when building roads or even railways due to the high swelling and low mechanical performances. Geotextiles can be placed as a separator creating a stable platform for the contractor to work. Geogrids can reduce the quality of the pavement layers in order to avoid the use of crushed stone, while geocomposite for drainage can intercept seeping water and geomembranes helps in avoiding any moisture getting into the pavement.

Mining Mining sustains many geosynthetics industries across the world as it continuously demands new solutions and products to increase the performances of the mining process. This has seen demand rise for geosynthetic products such as geomembranes for the containment of the leaching zone where the loss of minerals due to seepage in the ground means millions of dollars lost for the mine as well as a hazard for the environment.

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August 2016

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

Ace Geosynthetics...................................47

Ideal Manufacturing.................................30

Apex Steel..................................................1

Jotun ........................................................28

Ashut........................................................29

Kaytech Engineered Fabric......................45

Atlas Copco .............................................36

Kirby Building Systems...........................41

Borum......................................................20 Building Services Group..........................27 Car and General.......................................21 Davis & Shirtliff......................................28 Dawn Sanitary..........................................23 Desmi.......................................................13 Dry Construction Ltd...............................27 EA Contractors.........................................32

Mabati Rolling Mills................................11 Mercury Engineering...............................17 Pile Dynamics..........................................39 Ryce East Africa......................................33 Seyani International Co. ..........................35 Shanghai Mitsubishi ...............................12 SME.........................................................43

Fit Tight Fasteners...................................21

Unicool Group...................................... IBC

Fursys (K) Ltd..........................................27

Victoria Furnitures...................................27

Geberit......................................................24

Wacker Neuson........................................15

HK Motors.............................................IFC

Waterwise Services Ltd...........................16

Hotpoint Appliances............................OBC

Zimtile......................................................41

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