Imiesa September 2013 by 3S Media

The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

2012

WINNER Non-professional n professional wri writer of the year HIGHLY COMMENDED OMMENDED Publishing Excellence

IMESA

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT • MAINTENANCE • SERVICE DELIVERY

Atego performs in tthe h

Housing challenges Sustainability lessons learned

Plastic pipes Network integrity critically important

SHEQ Risk and compliance on-site

“The demand for reliable high-quality water will continue to grow and probably continue to outstrip supply for quite a number of years.” John Holmes, CEO of NuWater I S S N 0 2 5 7 1 9 7 8 V o l u m e 3 8 N o . 9 • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3 • R 5 0 . 0 0 ( i n c l VAT )

MEDIA

CONTENTS

VOLUME 38 NO 9 SEPTEMBER 2013

82 Work safety

36 Roodeplaat WTW

60 Sustainable development

Plastic pipes

The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

2012

WINNER Non-professional n professional wri writer of the year HIGHLY COMMENDED OMMENDED Publishing Excellence

Industry news

IMESA

Partnership agreement signed

SASTT 15

Two decades of trenchless technology

SAPPMA

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT • MAINTENANCE • SERVICE DELIVERY

The advance of plastic in pipes Global uPVC brand hits local market

Overcoming constraints

73 76 78

HDD training initiative The SASTT comes of age

31 SHEQ

Water & wastewater Energy efficiency in wastewater treatments

Atego performs in tthe h

Housing challenges Sustainability lessons learned

Plastic pipes Network integrity critically important

SHEQ

Advanced processes applied

Risk and compliance on-site

“The demand for reliable high-quality water will continue to grow and probably continue to outstrip supply for quite a number of years.” John Holmes, CEO of NuWater

32 36

SAFCEC Working towards a prosperous future

MEDIA

I S S N 0 2 5 7 1 9 7 8 V o l u m e 3 8 N o . 9 • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3 • R 5 0 . 0 0 ( i n c l VAT )

Roads & stormwater

Cover story

N6 upgrade

Mercedes-Benz South Africa has handed over a staggering order of 22 Mercedes-Benz Atego 918/42 trucks to the City of Tshwane, which will beef up the city’s Electricity Department fleet.

R59 million upgrade of R72 under way

Regulars 3

President's comment

Supply chain management and service delivery

Atego trucks boost Tshwane's fleet

The right amount of pressure

91 94

Products & services 44

Cranking power New lanyard launched Breaking the construction market

Housing

99 99 100

Sol Plaatjie Municipality Homevale wwtw refurbishment progressing

IMESA

Pipes, pumps & valves Put that in your pipe...

Service delivery

Is sustainable development the answer?

Cover article

FAQs on SIAM

Zero harm

9 Mangaung

Hot seat Waste not, want not

in th he

HO OT SE EAT

Infrastructure ambitions for the medium term

“The demand for reliable high-quality water will continue to grow and probably continue to outstrip supply for quite a number of years.” John Holmes, CEO of NuWater

IMIESA September 2013

PRE- CONFERENCE WORKSHOP ON SALGA/WRC’s NATIONAL MUNICIPAL BENCHMARKING INITIATIVE FOR WATER SERVICES

How best can you improve your operational efficiencies? How can you adopt best practice efficiency innovations by your peers? Municipal Engineers, Municipal Officials, Municipal Councillors are encouraged to contribute to a dynamic and practical workshop focusing on key municipal benchmarking learning’s and progress: improving efficiency and effectiveness through performance benchmarking, peer-to-peer operational knowledge sharing, and benefiting from municipal peer group networks

SALGA/WRC Municipal Benchmarking Initiative: for municipalities, by municipalities, to the benefit of municipalities

21 and 22 October 2013 – 08.30 to 16.30, The Boardwalk Hotel & Conference Centre, Port Elizabeth Cost per delegate: R1, 800 (incl. VAT) (2 CPD points) Registration Form and Agenda Requests: training@imesa.org.za or click the IMESA Conference Logo Enquiries: IMESA PRE-CONFERENCE: Judy Stephens @ 031 2663263 Registration closes 4 October 2013 (limited to 100 delegates) CPD Validation No.

Provider

IMESA13-C09NAT

IMESA 031 266 3263

IMESA12-S14NAT

IMESA 031 266 3263

IMESA11/L01NAT

IMESA 031 266 3263

Description 2013 IMESA Pre Conference Municipal Benchmarking Workshop The SALGA IMESA MILE MBI Water Services Master Classes 2011 IMESA Pre Conference Municipal Benchmarking Workshop

Duration

CPD Points

2 days

1 day

CPD Validation no. for upcoming MBI workshop; 2012 Water Services Master Classes; 2011 MBI workshop

PRESIDENT’S COMMENT

PUBLISHER Elizabeth Shorten EDITOR Nicholas McDiarmid HEAD OF DESIGN Frédérick Danton SENIOR DESIGNER Hayley Mendelow DESIGNER Kirsty Galloway CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Claire Nozaïc SUB-EDITOR Patience Gumbo CONTRIBUTORS Candice Landie, Richard Jansen van Vuuren, Chantelle van Schalkwyk, Frank Stevens PRODUCTION MANAGER Antois-Leigh Botma PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jacqueline Modise FINANCIAL MANAGER Andrew Lobban MARKETING AND ONLINE MANAGER Martin Hiller MARKETING AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Neo Sithole ADMINISTRATION Tonya Hebenton DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Nomsa Masina DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Asha Pursotham SUBSCRIPTIONS subs@3smedia.co.za PRINTERS United Litho Johannesburg +27 (0)11 402 0571 ___________________________________________________

ECOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The municipal engineer is vital The potential of natural ecosystems, which form part of the water security equation, needs to be unlocked. Municipal engineers have a vital part to play in this and need to be team players to ensure that ecological infrastructure receives adequate attention in all municipal projects.

ADVERTISING SALES Jenny Miller Tel: +27 (0)11 467 6223 ___________________________________________________

PUBLISHER: MEDIA No. 4, 5th Avenue, Rivonia 2056 PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117 Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 Fax: +27 (0)11 234 7274/5 E-mail: richard@3smedia.co.za www.3smedia.co.za

KZN Wildlife, WESSA, etc.), I COLOGICAL infrafelt completely at home as the structure refers to role of the municipal engineer functioning ecosyswas emphasised throughout tems that deliver valthe day’s proceedings. (The uable and often vital services line from Joni Mitchell’s such as fresh water, climate ‘Woodstock’ lyrics: “I feel to regulation, soil formation and be a cog in something turning” disaster risk reduction to peosprang to mind repeatedly.) ple. South Africa was recently At a workshop held earlifortunate enough to be granter this year, Neil Macleod, ed UN funding for an ecologithe head of eThekwini Water cal infrastructure project titled and Sanitation remarked that ‘Building Resilience in the Frank Stevens, president “water from the uMngeni Greater uMngeni Catchment’ of IMESA catchment is the lifeblood by the Adaptation Fund, which was established by parties to the Kyoto that keeps the Durban economy going”, thus Protocol. This project will explore new solu- drawing attention to the importance of its preservation. He added that traditional engitions for water security and service delivery. neering solutions don’t always work and that the potential of natural ecosystems, which Background to the project The South African National Biodiversity form part of the water security equation, Institute (SANBI) is the implementing entity needs to be unlocked. Challenges experion behalf of the funders, and I recently enced in the catchment included industrial attended a progress meeting called by that pollutants, faulty sewerage works and water body as a representative of eThekwini Water and Sanitation. Although the majority of attendees were from environmental and conservation backgrounds (e.g. WWF, Ezemvelo

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: R530.00 (INCL VAT) ISSN 0257 1978 IMIESA, Inst.MUNIC. ENG. S. AFR. © Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. ___________________________________________________ IMESA CONTACTS IMESA Administration Officer: Narisha Sogan P O Box 2190, Westville, 3630 Tel: +27 (0)31 266 3263 Fax: +27 (0)31 266 5094 Email: admin@imesa.org.za Website: www.imesa.org.za BORDER BRANCH Secretary: Melanie Matroos Tel: +27 (0)43 705 2401 Fax: +27 (0)43 743 5266 E-mail: melaniem@buffalocity.gov.za EAST CAPE BRANCH Clarine Coltman Tel: +27 (0)41 505 8019 Fax: +27 (0)41 585 3437 E-mail: clarinec@africoast.com KWAZULU-NATAL BRANCH Secretary: Rita Matthews Tel: +27(0)31 311 6382 Fax: +27 (0)31 701 2935 NORTHERN PROVINCE BRANCH Secretary: Rona Fourie Tel: +27 (0)82 742 6364 Fax: +27 (0)86 634 5644 E-mail: imesanorth@vodamail.co.za SOUTHERN CAPE KAROO BRANCH Secretary: Henrietta Oliver Tel: +27(0)79 390 7536 Fax: 086 536 3725 E-mail: imesa.southcape@gmail.com WESTERN CAPE BRANCH Secretary: Erica van Jaarsveld Tel: +27 (0)21 938 8455 Fax: +27 (0)21 938 8457 E-mail: erica.van_jaarsveld@capetown.gov.za FREE STATE AND NORTHERN CAPE BRANCH Secretary: Wilma Van Der Walt Tel: +27(0)83 457 4362 Fax: 086 628 0468 E-mail: imesa.fsnc@gmail.com

To our avid readers, check out what we are talking about on our website, Facebook page or follow me on Twitter and have your say. The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

earr 2012 year he yea the of th it r of riter writer nce enc al wri ellen xcel ssional Exc Excellence n profession blishingg Non-profe Publishing WINNERCOMMENDED HIGHLY

Instit ute Africa ern zine of the al maga eerin g of South The offici cipal Engin of Muni

2012

WINNER Non-professional n professional writer wri of the year HIGHLY COMMENDED OMMENDED Publishing Excellence

IMESA

@infrastructure4

IMESA

Infrastructure News

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT • MAINTENANCE • SERVICE DELIVERY

All material herein IMIESA is copyright protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publisher. The views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa or the publishers.

INFR AST

RUC TUR

E DEV ELO

PME NT

• MAI NTE

Innovatio he in th

NAN CE

E Y VEERY V VER DEEL IIVER CEE DEL IC IC VIICE V RV RVIC ER ER ERV SER SERV • SSE

Cover opportunity

n atiioon grraat in tthe h n inteegr on ullton Fult 20133 rds 201 waards Awa

my aim .” Phillip Hechte g the team Africa Wh e leadin “W “Whil tion in South 8 No.8 lume 3 in r opera bi binde 9 7 8 Vo 0257 1 ISSN

st • Augu

2013

.00 • R50

Atego performs Housing

Plastic pipes

SHEQ

Network Risk and challenges ini integrity critically compliance Sustainability eThekw important on-site lessons learned Creating ner clea demand for reliable high-quality water will continue to grow and probably a“The continue orrotowoutstrip supply for quite a number of years.” John Holmes, CEO of NuWater tom

Urb ngg nt i n meenti em Cem planning futurree ed design he futu the premium p ss as a prem Integrat busine b siness as bu osas o agement Tosas rectorr hee TTos h directo d dir ingg dire sh tthe ging lish aging agi ag nagin nagi nag ablish aanag and man manag mana ma as m ssas osa TTo r, Tosas is to re-est hteeer, VA T ) c l VAT

In each issue, IMIESA offers advertisers the opportunity to get to the front of the line by placing a company, product or service on the front cover of the journal. Buying this position will afford the advertiser the cover story and maximum exposure. For more information on cover bookings contact Jenny Miller on tel: +27 (0)11 467 6223.

MEDIA

I S S N 0 2 5 7 1 9 7 8 V o l u m e 3 8 N o . 9 • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3 • R 5 0 . 0 0 ( i n c l VAT ) MEDIA

(in

IMIESA September 2013

2013

IMESA CONFERENCE

nelson mandela bay PORT ELIZABETH

23 - 25 OCTOBER 2013 Theme: Municipal Engineering – Meeting Peoples’ Needs EARN 2.5 CPD POINTS BY ATTENDING

N! E P O W O N S G N I K sa.org.za O O B E N e I ONL w w w. i m

The 2013 IMESA Conference will be hosted at the brand new Boardwalk Hotel & Conference Centre on the beautiful Port Elizabeth beach front. A variety of exciting technical tours are being arranged to SA Breweries, Koega Harbour, VW Factory and Van Staden’s Wind Farm.

Register & pay BEFORE 31 July 2013 - Early Bird for IMESA members @ R4500 - Early Bird for Non-IMESA members @ R4750 Register & pay BEFORE 30 AUGUST 2013 - Late Registration IMESA members @ R4750 - Late Registration Non-IMESA members @ R5000 Register & pay AFTER 30 AUGUST 2013 - Last Minute Reg IMESA Members @ R5000 - Last Minute Reg Non-IMESA Members @ R5500

For information: Tel: 031 2663263 Email: conference@imesa.org.za

IMESA

loss to invasive plants and trees. Kristal Maze, the chief director of Planning at SANBI, identified the importance of planning to ensure the greatest return on investment and pointed out that is possible for the catchment to support multiple land uses without compromising the delivery of critical water-related services. Dr Debra Roberts the head of eThekwini Municipalityâ€™s Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Unit reminded participants that healthy ecosystems such as wetlands, grassy catchments and forests prevent situations and flooding downstream and help reduce impacts of extreme weather events.

IMESAâ€™s role The directorship of â€œwater, sanitation and environmentâ€? falls under IMESAâ€™s vice president: technical. I trust that, based on the brief outline of one particular project given above, readers agree that municipal engineers have a vital part to play and need to

Spring Grove Dam

be team players to ensure that ecological infrastructure receives adequate attention in all municipal projects.

SANBI has indicated a desire to work more closely with IMESA and the creation of a MOU between the two bodies is being explored.

IMIESA September 2013

WAYS TO RECEIVE 1. PRINT

2. PC and tablets

The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africaa

Winner of the 2011 PICA Winn Non-professional writer of the year Non-p

3. Smartphones

IMESA

The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africaa

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT Íť MAINTENANCE Íť SERVICE DELIVERY

Winner of the 2011 PICA Winn Non-p Non-professional writer of the year

IMESA

Roy Royal oyal oy al Has H ass ko kon on o n in in ing ng gD DHV HV V Planning the future

in t

HOT SEA EAT A

IMESA CESA Excellence Awards 2012

SAGI Tracking ng growth

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT Íť MAINTENANCE Íť SERVICE DELIVERY

AMD Debate debacle

â€œFor me passion, perseverance, hard work and integrity aree key to achieving anything one puts their mind toâ€? Gwendolyn Mahuma, executive directorr of Capital Star Steel (Pty) (Pt ) Ltd

MEDIA

I S S N 0 2 5 7 1 9 7 8 V o l u m e 3 7 N o . 1 1 ! ! R 4 0 . 0 0 ( i n c l VAT )

MERCEDES-BENZ Powers pothole solution in n the he

HO H OT SE S EATT

Water in Africa Sustainable operations

SASTT Trenchless technology

Housing Finance solutions

â€œWe provide a complete service for precast reinforced hollow core slabsâ€? Melinda Esterhuizen, Echo Group marketing director

P16

MEDIA

I S S N 0 2 5 7 1 9 7 8 V o l u m e 3 7 N o . 9 s 3 E P T E M B E R s R 4 0 . 0 0 ( i n c l VAT )

Email your details to subs@3smedia.co.za to receive a copy of IMIESA every month.

To receive your digital copy of IMIESA every month go to www.3smags.co.za

COVER STORY

MERCEDES-BENZ

Atego trucks boost C Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has handed over a staggering order of 22 Mercedes-Benz Atego 918/42 trucks to the City of Tshwane. These vehicles will beef up the city’s Electricity Department fleet, which is used in the maintenance of street lights and other facilities.

LINTON SAVAGE, Mercedes-Benz Trucks divisional manager, says: “The Mercedes-Benz Atego is the ideal truck for the City of Tshwane’s Electricity Department. This vehicle can manoeuvre in narrow city streets and copes well with rugged terrain. Additionally, given the economic climate, the Atego is an outstanding match for the city’s mandate, which called for a vehicle that is durable, economical and robust.” Savage elaborates that what sets the Mercedes-Benz Atego apart is its low maintenance cost. “The Atego also offers low fuel consumption and its low carbon emissions align well with the global drive to reduce and minimise carbon emissions.” The Atego is the benchmark in its market segment and offers unsurpassed performance, safety and uptime among other things. Optimal total cost of ownership supported by the backing of MBSA’s extensive value chain offerings makes a strong business case for the Atego. “In line with other innovative fleets in our customer base, the city has opted for our progressive CharterWay Service plan – our MBSA commercial vehicles value chain offering for service and maintenance contracts.”

Superior service to the city Ndwamato Tom Mutshidza, acting strategic executive director in the Services Infrastructure Department at the City of Tshwane, says: “This monumental project marks the continuation of our long-standing relationship with MBSA. It is a result of consolidated efforts by Mercedes-Benz and its suppliers. We are glad that these vehicles will boost our efforts to deliver a superior service to the residents of the city.” Mutshidza jested that Mercedes-Benz is also the city’s client because the City of Tshwane provides services to the company. Rapid, space-efficient aerial platforms The Mercedes-Benz Atego trucks are fitted with Scorpian 1490 Smart aerial platforms

IMIESA September 2013

COVER STORY

Tshwane’s fleet by the Germiston-based specialist Smith Capital Equipment. The SCORPION 1490 SMART commonly finds application in overhead line works, telecommunications and street lighting maintenance. Uven Moodley, operations director at Smith Capital Equipment, says: “The platform fitted on the MercedesBenz Atego is a leader in its class, with its unique ability to be set up and ready to work faster than most of its competitors. It is very popular in Europe and we import this platform from Oils & Steel SPA in Italy. The City of Tshwane is the second municipality in South Africa to have the Oil & Steel SPA platform in the country. We are indeed very proud to have partnered with MBSA on this flagship project.” These aerial platforms have a high-quality tubular and sheet steel structure that is bolted onto the chassis. They are equipped with four A-type stabiliser feet. A slew bearing rotates the aerial device and it is driven by a hydraulic motor and reduction gear with a normally closed parking brake that opens automatically. Moodley explains that the telescopic design of the unit allows the operator to position the platform and then aim directly at the work applications, allowing for more accurate means of getting to the work application. The design of this unit also minimises the amount of space occupied on the road during operation of the unit. “The main boom has an operating range of -25 to +80o degrees in relation to the horizontal and has two telescopic extendable parts, which move on sliding blocks made of low-friction material that is self-lubricating and has a very low friction coefficient,” says Moodley.

Fuel efficiency and safety: the programmable special modules Synonymous with the Atego’s characteristics of comfort and durability, the operator’s platform has a generously proportioned front openingg for easy access, guarded by a bar. g

modules are also programmed to prevent the vehicle from being driven with the platform deployed, in keeping with Mercedes-Benz’s emphasis on safety. The platform uses a hydraulic pantograph system with two cylinders in phase to level the platform.

The Atego is the benchmark in its market segment and offers unsurpassed performance, safety and uptime

ABOVE The representatives involved in the project at the hand-over OPPOSITE City of Tshwane’s Ndwamato Tom Mutshidza and Naeem Hassim vice president of After-Sales at MBSA

Fuel efficiency is enhanced by remote startstop functionality, which is made possible due to the Mercedes-Benz programmable special modules (PSM) that are fitted to the Atego trucks. This functionality allows the operator to start and stop the engine from the platform, thus improving efficient use of fuel. The PSM

M Meeting specifications TThe Scorpian 1490 Smart has a sterling performance that includes s a maximum working height of 14 1 m, carrying capacity of 250 kg (two operators) and a maximum ( outreach of 9 m. For the crew o cabs, TFM Manufacturing was c roped in. This East London-based r bodybuilder manufactured and b mounted a flat deck body to meet m the t specifications of the Tshwane Municipality. “We achieved this by M designing the subframe and load body to meet the requirements while adhering strictly to the directives by MBSA. This involved a steel structure complete with an aluminium non-slip floor to allow for safe working conditions when walking on the truck body. Access steps were provided for safe access on to the body,” says Brian Haviland, MD at TFM Manufacturing.

Safety and comfort To optimise the use of space, the design incorporates a toolbox under a comfortably cushioned seat for the crew and includes two-point seat belts for safety. For increased visibility at night, the vehicles are fitted with external warning lights. Low profile bull bars provide additional protection to the front of the cab. Notably, the Atego aced the Focus Truck Test 2013 by Charmont Media.

t +27 (0)12 677 5936 • www.mercedes-benz.co.za

IMIESA September 2013

I M E S A A F F I L I AT E M E M B E R S

IMESA

AECOM siyanda.ngebulana@aecom.com AJ Broom Road Products ajbroom@icon.co.za Arup SA rob.lamb@arup.com Aurecon danie.wium@aurecongroup.com Aveng Manufacturing Infraset cgroenewald@infraset.com Bigen Africa Group Holdings otto.scharfetter@bigenafrica.com BMK Consulting brian@bmkconsulting.co.za Bosch Stemele bsdbn@boschstemele.co.za Bosch Munitech info@boschmunitech.co.za Brubin Pumps sales@brubin.co.za BVI Consulting Engineers marketing@bviho.co.za Civilconsult Consulting Engineers mail@civilconsult.co.za Concrete Manufacturers cma@mweb.co.za Corrosion Institute of Southern Africa secretary@corrosioninstitute.org.za CSIR Built Environment laustin@csir.co.za Development Bank of SA divb@dbsa.org.za DPI Plastics mgoodchild@dpiplastics.co.za EFG Engineers eric@efgeng.co.za Elster Kent Metering keith.bailey@za.elster.com Engcor Engineers masham@engcorengineers.co.za GIBB yvanrooyen@gibb.co.za GLS Consulting nicky@gls.co.za Hatch Goba leratom@goba.co.za Herrenknecht schiewe.helene@herrenknecht.de Huber Technology cs@hubersa.com Hydro-comp Enterprises dan@edams.co.za I@Consulting louis_icon@mics.co.za ILISO Consulting hans@iliso.com Integrity Environment info@integrityafrica.co.za Jeffares and Green dennyc@jgi.co.za Johannesburg Water rtaljaard@jwater.co.za Knowledge Base info@knowbase.co.za Lektratek Water general@lwt.co.za Makhaotse Narasimulu & Associates mmakhaotse@mna-sa.co.za Maragela Consulting Engineers admin@maragelaconsulting.co.za

Mhiduve cgroenewald@infraset.com Mott Macdonald PDNA mahomed.soobader@mottmac.com Much Asphalt john.onraet@murrob.com Nyeleti Consulting ppienaar@nyeleti.co.za Odour Engineering Systems mathewc@oes.co.za Pumptron info@pumptron.co.za Pragma nicojobe.mabaso@pragmaworld.net Rocla karen.devos@murrob.co.za Royal HaskoningDHV francisg@rhdv.com SABITA info@sabita.co.za SARF administrator@sarf.org.za.co.za SBS Water Systems terri@sbstanks.co.za Sektor Consulting cradock@sektor.co.za Sight Lines sales@sightlines.co.za SiVEST SA garths@sivest.co.za Siza Water Company tionette.bates@sizawater.co.za SMEC capetown@smec.com SNA temple.d@sna.co.za Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology director@sasst.org.za SRK Consulting jomar@srk.co.za Sulzer Pumps Wastewater sales.abs.za@sulzer.com Syntell julia@syntell.co.za Thm Engineers East London thmel@mweb.co.za TPA Consulting roger@tpa.co.za UWP Consulting craign@uwp.co.za Vetasi south-africa@vetasi.com VIP Consulting Engineers esme@vipconsulting.co.za VOMM commerciale@vomm.it Water Institute of Southern Africa wisa@wisa.org.za WorleyParsons chris.brandsen@WorleyParsons.com WRP ronniem@wrp.co.za WSP Group Africa dirk.hattingh@mbs-wsp.co.za Zebra Surfacing andrew@zebrasurfacing.co.za

IMESA NEWS

FAQs on SIAM Using Delphi groups in SIAM implementation/data collection projects can have great cost-effective results. Chris von Holdt of Aurecon, Nick Rowse of SMEC and Roger Byrne (IMESA SIAM mentor) from the IMESA NAMS Group answer questions on Delphi groups.

MESA’S SIAM programme is being rolled out across South Africa. Data collection is the most costly aspect in sound Sustainable Infrastructure Asset Management (SIAM) programmes. When we break assets down to the components necessary to manage them effectively, we can have a large number of assets. The cost and time that it takes to plan, collect and assemble even the basic data can take a long time and cost significant amounts of money. IMESA’s

‘Delphi group’ approach gets us to the first level of asset management most cost effectively and also offers high confidence levels.

So what is a ‘Delphi group’? It is a term that has been derived from the legal and arbitration arenas and refers to a group of experts whose collective knowledge represents the ‘best opinion’ on a certain subject or process or (in our case) physical assets. When asked a question, this group

ABOVE A typical Delphi group at work

is most likely to give the most valid answer. A Delphi group is used when there are no formulae, rules, laws or valid data available upon which a person, group or organisation can make decisions.

Why are they needed? The data we need does not exist or is not available to put into these SIAM processes

IMIESA September 2013

World-class pumping system solutions Franklin Electric is the leading manufacturer of world-class pumping system solutions providing the highest quality, availability, service, innovation and value-for-money in the industry. Backed by unsurpassed expertise throughout Africa, these leading brands are ideal for various pumping applications.

13 Engwena Road, Sebenza, Edenvale, 1610, South Africa Tel: +27 11 723-6500 info@franklin-electric.co.za www.franklin-electric.com Branches: Bloemfontein: +27 51 434-1565, Cape Town: +27 21 949-5458, Durban: +27 31 700-4160 Depot: Port Elizabeth: +27 41 487-2866, Export Division: +27 11 723-6500 Franklin Electric Botswana (Pty) Ltd: +267 397-4926

IMESA NEWS

and as such Delphi groups will TABLE 1 be relied upon as a source of Data collection Order of Clr this data and information methodology cost – ZAR achieved Delphi groups have been Delphi group – small 150 45 used in asset management programmes around the world to Delphi group – large 300 55 reduce the cost of data collecSIAM level 1 1 500 70 tion and to allow us to concentrate our scarce resources on SIAM level 2 3 000 80 those assets that represent the greatest risk to us. To give you SIAM level 3 6 000 90 an idea of the cost of data col• a register of all the infrastructure assets, lection, we refer to the table and note that the down to an appropriate componentisation Delphi group approach is by far the cheapest, • their current replacement cost/valuation giving a good resulting CLR (confidence level • their condition and residual physical lives rating) and a much faster timeline or delivery. • their per formance and residual Of course our objective is to not only comeconomic lives ply with our GRAP 17 regulations, but also • their written down value – the above informaundertake basic asset management Level 1 tion thereby complying with GRAP 17 activities and produce our first asset manage• the way in which they will fail to meet ment plan. This requires the development of a these levels of service (capacity, reliability, picture of the entire asset portfolio sufficient mortality/economic cost) to produce a “state-of-the-assets report” and • the risks to the organisation represented by indicate to the stakeholders answers to the folthese failures lowing questions, or produce these outcomes:

IMIESA September 2013

• the levels of service they need to deliver Time • the lowest life cycle cost taken solutions to extend their 3 months lives to meet customer and regulator expectations. 4 months The SIAM programme pro18 motes the use of a stepmonths by-step approach where we 2 years slowly use more sophisticated approaches to manage those 5 years assets that are most critical. We start with a basic asset management Level 1 approach and then use business risk exposure (BRE) to identify those assets on which we should be concentrating our efforts. This approach has saved significant data collection costs (over 70% savings) and has enabled organisations to get into SIAM much faster (under 30%) than our old ways. In a resource scarce South Africa, this is an ideal approach. For more information or Delphi groups contact the IMESA office or visit the website.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT Íť MAINTENANCE Íť SERVICE DELIVERY

JOIN THE INFRASTRUCTURENE.WS COMMUNITY FOR FREE

Have your say or get the conversation started about anything and everything related to the infrastructure and service delivery industries.

The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

Winner of the 2011 PICA Non-professional writer of the year

Think water, think WISA! T

IMESA

MEDIA

The official magazine of the Water Institute of Southern Africa T

:DWHU 6DQLWDWLRQ Complete water resource and wastewater management

Africa

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT Íť MAINTENANCE Íť SERVICE DELIVERY

Water storage solutions for Africa

Scan here to go to website

SEMBCORP Vital partners, essential water solutions MUNICIPALITIES Water metering reference guide WATER REPORT Cradle of Humankind

LQ Q WKH

Water

Ekurhuleni

Litter

Looming crisis

Urban infrastructure

Lurking danger

Dirk Meyer, managing director of Corobrik: ÍžDĆľĹśĹ?Ä?Ĺ?Ć‰Ä‚ĹŻ Ĺ?ĹśÄ¨ĆŒÄ‚Ć?ĆšĆŒĆľÄ?ĆšĆľĆŒÄž

Ä?Ĺ˝ĹśĆ?ĆšĆŒĆľÄ?ĆšĹ?Ĺ˝Ĺś ĹšÄ‚Ć? Ä‚ĹŻÇ Ä‚Ç‡Ć? Ä?ÄžÄžĹś Ä‚Ĺś Ĺ?ĹľĆ‰Ĺ˝ĆŒĆšÄ‚ĹśĆš ĹľÄ‚ĆŒĹŹÄžĆš Ä¨Ĺ˝ĆŒ Ĺ˝ĆŒĹ˝Ä?ĆŒĹ?ĹŹÍ˜Í&#x; ISSN 0257 1978 Volume 37 No.5 R40.00 (incl VAT)

THE HOT SEAT

Dean Mulqueeny, managing director y''s NCP Chlorchem, discusses the company's water treatment solutions P12 P1 12

MEDIA

0D\ -XQH Â‡ ,661 Â‡ &RYHU SULFH 5 Â‡ 9RO 1R

Infrastructurene.ws brings together the communities from our three magazines â€“ IMIESA, Water&Sanitation Africa and ReSource. It is a leading news hub, with in-depth articles, videos and podcasts, an events calendar, and full social media functionality.

STAY IN TOUCH A weekly newsletter keeps you up to date Sign up online for our FREE weekly newsletter and get an instant summary of the latest news, events and developments in the infrastructure and service delivery industries.

VISIT

The @infrastructure4 tweets will keep you updated on all the latest, exciting and, of course, interesting happenings in the infrastructure and service delivery industries.

www.infrastructurene.ws TODAY

READY FOR MORE? To advertise on infrastructurene.ws, contact Jenny Miller jennymiller@lantic.net Tel: +27 (0)11 467 6223 Fax: 086 587 6247 For editorial enquiries contact Chantelle Mattheus chantelle@3smedia.co.za Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 Fax: +27 (0)11 234 7275

HOT SEAT

TREATED WASTEWATER

Waste not, want not The reuse of treated wastewater (as a resource for industry) should be playing a significant role in mitigating South Africa’s serious water shortages. John Holmes, CEO of NuWater, talks about the role of water treatment as a trusted source of potable water and the potential it has for South Africa as whole.

hat are the types of water treatment available for water reuse – potable water? The challenges facing South Africa in securing its water security continue to grow, and these are exacerbated by unpredictable climatic cycles. This means that all options available to improve the reliability of water supply and the quality of water delivered are being considered and evaluated. In recent times, two of these options have been receiving growing attention, namely seawater desalination and wastewater reclamation and reuse. Seawater desalination is generally accepted as a viable method for producing potable water, although it remains energy-intensive and therefore costly. Wastewater reclamation and reuse, be that from treated secondary sewage water or from industrial wastewater, is a far

IMIESA August 2013

more cost-effective option. There are social considerations relating to the reuse of wastewater as potable/drinking water; however, reuse of reclaimed wastewater for industrial purposes is immediately achievable.

How advanced is the use of treated potable water in South Africa today, and what regulations pertain to it? The adoption of desalination technologies for both seawater and wastewater reclamation and reuse is in its infancy in South Africa. There are a number of seawater desalination plants in operation along the Cape coastline, including NuWater’s plant in Sedgefield. However, there is still no large-scale seawater desalination plant serving a major coastal city. This is not necessarily surprising given the capital and operating costs of such plants.

What is more surprising is inevitable that people will accept that we still throw away huge wastewater reclamation and volumes of treated wastewater reuse not just as a last resort that could easily be reclaimed but as central to the country’s and reused at a far lower cost water management strategy. than seawater desalination. NuWater’s strategy is to There are obviously still sendemonstrate the practisitivities around the reuse cal use of our advanced of reclaimed wastewater technologies and rapfor drinking purposes, idly deployable modular even though this plants through private water is of the sector projects with highest potable industrial customstandard. All ers such as we are doing that at Anglo is accelerating American natural proThermal Coal’s cesses through New Vaal “NuWater’s RO the use of Colliery. Such technology makes projects need advanced for highly efficient to be used membrane technologies. to educate and compact In time, and as policy makdesalination the pressures ers and local on our water government plants.” resources officials on the John Holmes, CEO of grow, we benefits and NuWater believe it is practical imple-

HOT SEAT

mentation of such projects in the public sector.

Water provision in rural areas is sometimes hampered by a lack of bulk water infrastructure. What role can water treatment play in this? In NuWater’s view, ensuring the reliable supply of highquality water to South Africa’s people and industries requires a combination of tactical and strategic solutions. Addressing the water treatment needs of fragmented rural communities clearly requires distributed solutions that can be quickly deployed as it is unrealistic to assume that bulk water infrastructure will be rolled out to these communities in the foreseeable future. NuWater’s modular, and where necessary mobile, solutions offer a practical and cost-effective solution to these distributed water treatment requirements.

However, the roll-out of such solutions needs to be joined up with strategic infrastructure plans. We intend to participate throughout the value chain, delivering immediate tactical solutions while at the same time participating in strategic infrastructure development.

How does NuWater intend growing its presence in the South African water treatment and desalination markets? NuWater already has an impressive track record of delivering seawater desalination and reclamation and reuse projects both in South Africa and internationally. Through its recent cooperation agreement with Murray & Roberts, it is positioning itself to play a major role in the development of both these areas. The strategy is to leverage NuWater’s proven largediameter reverse osmosis (RO)

We still throw away huge volumes of treated wastewater that could easily be reclaimed and reused at a far lower cost than seawater desalination technology and its successfully delivered projects in Singapore – a world-leader in the adoption of both seawater desalination and wastewater reclamation and reuse – and combine this with Murray & Robert’s engineering and project execution capabilities. This agreement will allow the two companies to offer a range of solutions and service offerings, from small modular and rapidly deployable water treatment and desalination plants through to large-scale water infrastructure projects, for both private and public

sector customers. NuWater is a world-leader in Reverse Osmosis technology used in desalination applications, be that seawater, brackish or industrial wastewater desalination. NuWater’s RO technology makes for highly efficient and compact desalination plants. The compact and modular nature of its plants has allowed it to offer large-scale plants that can be rapidly deployed in weeks instead of the years typically associated with conventional desalination projects. Such rapidly deployable plants are already in use by leading mining companies, such as Anglo American and Gold Fields, to treat and

NuWater’s 16" Reverse Osmosis module capable of reclaiming up to 4 million litres per day of secondary wastewater

IMIESA August 2013

HOT SEAT

desalinate mine wastewater for reuse, relieving their demands on water resources shared with other industries and the broader communities. At the same time, NuWater’s technology is just as appropriate for use in more conventional desalination plants such as those found at Singapore’s Public Utilities Board (PUB) where 55 million litres per day of secondary sewage water is reclaimed for use as high-quality industrial process water or

The demand for reliable highquality water will continue to grow more conventional large infrastructure projects where it could leverage its technology, plant designs and experience. The combination of NuWater’s technology, innovative approach and delivery track record combined with Murray & Robert’s strength in civil engineering and

off the ground because of a lack of available upfront capital, then alternative financing solutions become necessary. NuWater understands the importance of flexible project financing options and BOO is one of these options. NuWater already offers BOO solutions to private sector

WATER REGENERATION WATER REGENERATION & DESALINATION Using proprietary technologies, NuWater provides a range of products, services and financing solutions to treat or reclaim almost any quality and quantity of water. Our modular and, where relevant, mobile treatment plants allow for rapid deployment or redeployment, making them suited to decentralised water treatment applications (including specialist applications such as mining and oil & gas). Wherever possible, NuWater also aims to extract value from the waste streams created. Challenge us to clean your water.

for return back into reservoirs to supplement the island nation’s water supply. Murray & Roberts is South Africa’s leading engineering, contracting and construction services company, ideally positioning it to become a key player in the water sector. The company recently established Murray & Roberts Water for this purpose and sought out a partner with the technology, innovative solutions and project execution credibility to complement its existing strengths. NuWater ticked all those boxes and more. Likewise NuWater has been looking for a partner to allow it to undertake

IMIESA September 2013

to offer innovative distributed solutions to address the water treatment requirements of rural villages and small towns that lack water treatment infrastructure, while at the same time having the capability to execute large world-class advanced water reclamation and desalination projects for major cities, is something that to date has not been available in South Africa. Our relationship with Murray & Roberts Water offers just that

PRIMARY WATER TREATMENT

OPTIONAL WASTE TREATMENT

& DESALINATION

Efﬂuent From Other Sources

Brine / Waste Stream

Seawater

Surface Water

Groundwater

Using proprietary technologies, NuWater provides a range of products, services and financing solutions to treat or reclaim almost any quality and quantity of water. Our modular and, where relevant, mobile treatment plants allow for rapid deployment or redeployment, making them suited to decentralised water treatment applications (including specialist applications such as mining and oil & gas). Wherever possible, NuWater also aims to extract value from the waste streams created.

Wastewater

People

Clean Water

Mining

Industry

Oil & Gas

Inorganic Salts

Organic / Biomass

Recycle

Fuel

Disposal

By-Products

Challenge us to clean your water. Sell

Wastewater Reclamation

project execution positions us very well to lead the broader adoption of advanced water treatment and desalination technologies in South Africa.

BOO models have been promoted in areas where municipal capacity is lacking. NuWater already offers BOO models in the private sector. Is this a model NuWater is considering within the broader South African context? Technology and project delivery capability is all very well but if projects can’t get

customers and intends to extend this offering into the public sector where the credit-worthiness of the customer is sufficient or where other parties agree to provide additional security. NuWater’s ability to fund its own projects is a key part of its development strategy.

What are the key growth areas in South Africa when it comes to water treatment across the board: industry, domestic sanitation, domestic potable and agricultural? The ability

and positions us very well to participate in the growth of South Africa’s water and wastewater treatment sectors. What is certain is that the demand for reliable high-quality water will continue to grow and probably continue to outstrip supply for quite a number of years. NuWater aims to participate in a broad range of projects designed to close this gap between demand and supply.

t +27 (0)21 531 0641 www.nuwaterglobal.com

INDUSTRY NEWS

DISTRIBUTION DEAL

Partnership agreement signed Actom and Schneider Electric have finalised a partnership agreement formalising and extending their existing cooperative arrangement in catering to the requirements of the local market for state-of-the-art medium voltage distribution, automation and protection equipment.

HIS IS THE first formal partnership agreement between the two companies to come into effect since the international nuclear power specialist company Areva sold its global transmission and distribution business interests in 2010, when Alstom Grid took over the transmission business and Schneider Electric acquired the distribution operations. Since Schneider Electric succeeded Areva T&D as Actom’s international technology partner and principal for medium voltage business, both companies have complied with the terms of the partnership agreement previously in place between Areva T&D and the local group. “The new agreement, which takes over directly from the Areva T&D agreement, is the same as its predecessor in most respects, but it has been extended in terms of scope and flexibility,” explains Mark Wilson, Actom’s CEO and chairman. “In essence, the range of products on offer by Schneider Electric has been significantly extended, particularly with respect to the upper end of the power utility market. In addition, Actom’s increasing capabilities to customise these products enhance its flexibility to cater more effectively and widely to customers’ requirements, which include provisions

for higher local content value-add than has applied previously. “The new agreement encompasses the same range of cooperative activities on both sides as previously, representing significant advantages for both parties in terms of successfully penetrating our major markets, which we couldn’t achieve separately,” he adds. “What Schneider Electric offers is a range of world-class high-tech medium voltage products that lend themselves to being combined with a variety of other products and components, both imported and locally produced, adding up to value-added customised packages that fully meet the requirements of the local market, particularly in respect of large electrical infrastructural projects, on which the bulk of Actom’s business is based.” Power utilities, municipalities, the mining industry and the petrochemical sector are

the main and potential users of the range of advanced medium voltage distribution equipment on offer by Schneider Electric, which includes loose circuit breakers, gas-insulated ring main units and extensible switchgear, air- and gas-insulated primary distribution systems switchgear, air-insulated fixed pattern switchgear, substation automation systems and protective relays. Wilson emphasises the importance of Actom’s standing as a BBBEE group, combined with its highly vertical integrated local manufacturing facilities and wide range of after-sales support services and national distribution network. These, together with its long-standing good relations with customers and reputation as a reliable high-quality producer and supplier, make it the perfect partner for international specialist manufacturers and suppliers like Schneider Electric.

RIGHT Jack Rowan (left), Actom’s executive chairman, transmission and distribution; and Carl Kleynhans, Schneider Electric’s country president, Southern Africa, sign the final partnership agreement. Behind them are (from left): Frederic Abbal, Schneider Electric’s executive vice-president, medium voltage business; Mark Wilson, Actom’s Group CEO and chairman; and Andries Tshabalala, Actom’s Group executive director

IMIESA September 2013

Sasol, Sasolburg, South Africa

They’re all around us, sometimes invisible, but always present… They’re an indispensable part of our daily lives, transporting clean drinking water; gas for heating our homes; drainage for the waste we produce and for surface water; and protection for our telecommunication systems… We’re talking PVC pipes, the hi-tech ‘lifelines’ of our complex, interconnected world... lifelines made possible by Sasol Polymers PVC. The power of high performance Super-smooth, efficient PVC pipes outperform pipes made from traditional metals. Here’s why: Exceptional smoothness: Unlike pipes made from traditional materials, the smooth walls of PVC pipes make it extremely difficult for sediment to accumulate. This is a major advantage for sewer pipe systems, which often need to transport waste water containing significant quantities of sediments. Outstanding cost effectiveness: Lower levels of friction mean more water can flow through at much higher speeds through a pipe of a traditional material of the same size. This in turn means that PVC pipes of smaller diameters can be used – requiring less space in buildings and under our streets and reducing overall cost.

The power of positive impact Cost effective products make a positive contribution to all areas of sustainable development because they: Save scarce money, thus promoting sustainable economic development. Are more affordable to socially disadvantaged people, both in industrialised and in developing countries; the money saved can be used to optimise sustainable social development. The money saved by low cost products can be used to optimise sustainable ecological development. In fact, the lower levels of friction inherent in PVC pipes means water flow requires much less help from pumps and hence less energy. This translates into lower cost and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

This article was published by Sasol Polymers, a division of Sasol Chemical Industries Limited. Sasol Polymers is South Africa’s leading producer and marketer of monomers (ethylene and propylene), polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride), and chlor-alkali chemicals, including caustic soda, hydrochloric acid and mining reagents (sodium cyanide). For more information please contact Rishi Madho, PVC Product Manager 011 790 1325 or alternatively visit www.sasol.com.

A powerful case for

PVC pipes The power of longevity Smoothness and cost effectiveness are not the only advantages of PVC pipes. Longevity is another key attribute. As a thermoplastic, PVC can be as soft as rubber or as strong as aluminum, depending on how it’s made. Its combination of strength and adaptable flexibility gives it a distinct advantage over fully rigid materials. This is quickly apparent when you consider that any pipe buried in the ground must endure pressure from the weight of the soil above it, and must also resist stresses due to movements in the earth around it. PVC pipes excel at conforming to these dual demands by having the capability to support great loads as well as the capacity to bend and flex if required. Without this ability to adapt, pipes are more likely to be damaged, resulting in a shortened lifespan for the entire pipe system. In addition, pipe systems often experience localized concentrations of increased internal pressure. If the pipe is too rigid and inflexible, it can crack and leak. PVC pipes are able to flex and compensate for such pressure variations, thus reducing the risk of pipe ruptures and leaks. PVC piping is very resistant to a wide range of chemicals like detergents and other aggressive chemicals that are commonly carried by sewer pipes or which may be found in the groundwater through which the pipelines pass. Unlike metal pipes they do not corrode in service, so there is no weakening of the pipe over time through a loss of wall thickness. Once installed, PVC pipes enjoy a legendary reputation for low maintenance without the problems of rust, pitting or corrosion to which traditional metals are susceptible. In fact, studies have shown PVC pipes could last more than 100 years without any serious degradation in their performance.

The power of versatility PVC can be moulded, extruded and calendered into almost limitless numbers of shapes and forms. Because of this versatility, a huge range of PVC pipe fittings have been developed which can connect to pipelines made from other materials. Using special adaptors, it is possible to make connections to clay, concrete, ductile iron (and of course other plastic pipes), thus ensuring that a secure interface is maintained and system integrity is guaranteed.

The power of a built-in lightweight advantage Being light means that: Fewer vehicles are needed to deliver PVC pipes than is the case with conventional pipes. Fewer vehicles mean less fuel consumption and significantly less environmental impact in getting pipes to site. PVC pipes can be lifted into the trench without using heavy machinery. Once in the trench, PVC pipe systems are easily assembled by hand without the need for any other mechanical help. Making the joints, whether using push-fit or solvent cement, is a simple process which can be accomplished using basic hand tools and without the need for extensive training.

The power of recyclability For a more sustainable future, society needs to use less of our valuable, non-renewable resources. Recycling is one of the keys to achieving this. PVC pipes can be recycled over and over again without any degradation to their physical properties. In fact, it is quite common for commercial grades of PVC pipes to incorporate an internal structural layer made of recycled PVC with the exposed surfaces being covered by virgin material. ‘post use’ recycling is, however, limited as most PVC pipes have not yet reached the end of their service lives.

Powering up for growth The South African government’s Infrastructure Plan is intended, amongst other things, to transform the economic landscape of South Africa and strengthen the delivery of basic services to the people of South Africa. Low cost installation, outstanding durability, excellent hydraulic performance, low maintenance costs and recyclability, all add up to outstanding cost efficiency. PVC pipes offer significant advantages as South Africa powers up for growth to the benefit of all.

www.sasol.com m

Pressure Pres s sure e pipe pipes pes Sewer wer & drainage p pipe ipe e

Valves Cast iron fittings Fabricated fittings

Durafuse e electrofusion electro o fus s ion n and butt-fusion butt-ffusion

Flanges Worldpoly dpoly dp poly butt fusion n welding welldin ng equipment quipment uipmen nt

YOUR PIPING SPECIALIST

Galvanised fittings Thomas pipe products

O-PVC Piping Specialist

Sizabantu Piping Systems is primarily a marketing and sales company, which whic supplies a comprehensive range of quality piping & drainage solutions to the Africa. Agricultural, g cu tu a , Civil, C , Mining, g, Industrial dust a & Builders u de s Merchants e c a ts Markets a ets in Sout Southern e Af Having H i a combined bi d 200 years experience i iin the th h plastic l tii pipe i iindustry, d t the th h Sizabantu Piping Systems management team is able to the highest standard of service. We have achieved a B-BEEE level 4 rating (Empowerdex rated B-BBEE Certificate) and have operations in Gauteng (Johannesburg & Centurion), Limpopo, Northwest Province, Central Province, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Kwa Zulu Natal.

Please contact us KZN T +27 31 7929500 F +27 31 7002108 | Gauteng T +27 11 2372200 F +27 11 2372222 Nelspruit T +27 13 7552707/ 7552708 F +27 13 7532800 | Mozambique T +27 82 554 2281 Polokwane T +27 15 293 1527 F +27 15 293 1167 | Bloemfontein T +27 51 434 2226 F +27 51 434 1225 Klerksdorp T +27 18 462 5564 F +27 18 462 5567 | Eastern & West Cape T +27 21 976 632 C +27 82 574 6329 F 086 544 8453

www.sizabantupiping.co.za

SAPPMA

The advance of plastic in pipes

Approximately 70% of South Africa’s civil engineering sector uses plastic pipes, signaling the product’s strong stake in the local market. IMIESA takes a look at plastic piping networks in relation to water applications, standards and specifications, breaking technologies and environmental benefits.

CCORDING TO THE South African Plastic Pipes Manufacturing Association (SAPPMA), plastic piping networks form an integral, long-term and extremely important part of infrastructure in South Africa. The integrity of these networks, built up over many years and expanding at a massive rate, is of critical importance, serving the water supply and sewage disposal needs of millions of people. Research from Plastics|SA reveals that plastic pipes command the majority of all new pipe installations, with well over 50% of the annual tonnage. The uses of plastic pipes range from insulation and telecommunications to water and wastewater applications. The plastic pipes industry is a complex one and includes a host of materials such as uPVC, oPVC, HDPE, PP, PB and CPVC, among others. As a result of the ongoing research into plastic polymers, the pipe industry is constantly confronted with, and introduced to, new raw materials that have enhanced properties. Speaking on issues that emerged from the 2013 Barcelona Pipe Conference, Jan Venter, chairman of SAPPMA, said that bigger plastic pipes than were ever envisaged 10 or 20 years ago, are now being manufactured. “Solid-wall pipe is already made up to 2.5 m in diameter and structured wall pipes up to 4 m. Extruder output is up to 2.5 t/h in PVC, with serious talks of 4 t/h. Polyethylene pipe is produced at up to 2.2 t/h.” The conference is the biggest plastic pipe-focused event in the world, attracting industry representatives from 47 countries. Other areas of focus at

FAST FACTS • 140 000 tpa – pipe volume in South Africa • 3 million tpa – pipe volume in Europe • 18 million tpa – world production

IMIESA September 2013

SAPPMA

the conference included improving skills through training, product testing, large-diameter coiling, pipe installations and PVC stabilisation. Despite South Africa being a small player in the plastic pipe industr y as compared to its giant Australian, American and Asian counterparts, Venter remains of the view that the local industry is well developed to embrace this product on a large scale. However, the success of plastic pipes, like many other products in the manufacturing industry, is largely affected by the state of the economy. At the last SAPPMA AGM held on 22 August 2013, Merina Willemse, an economist at the Efficient Group, said that although the South African economic growth percentage is very low at 2.7%, the cycle is slowly getting rid of unproductive businesses and this should have a healthy effect on the economy in the long run. She further emphasised the important role of manufacturing in the economy

MBT South Africa

and said that the forecast for next year is looking much better for this sector. “Due to increased pressure on the manufacturing industry, productivity must improve and prices will be forced lower,” Willemse explained. “This kind of stimulation is what the country needs, along with an increased flow of funds into the country by means of trading and financing.” Also speaking at the AGM, Venter said that although small, the plastic pipe industry is of extreme importance in the development and maintenance of infrastructure. “It is also one of the most demanding industries. Not too many others that make products are required to last 50 to 100 years.”

Water wise According to studies conducted by Joel Fumire (a Belgian expert in plastic pipe design) on behalf of PVC4Pipes – one of the companies that will be delivering a presentation at the 2013 SAPPMA Conference – PVC oriented pipe systems provide improved impact strength and higher pressure resistance. “The enhanced mechanical properties of the oriented variety allow a reduction in wall ABOVE Large PVC pipes ready for transportation BELOW Underground plastic pipe installation

Importers, stockists and distributors of HDPE PE80 Black, PE100 black and CPE for (mPVC applications)

Unit 16, Eastwood Ofﬁce Park, 11b Riley Road, Bedfordview. PO Box 751775, Gardenview, 2047, South Africa. Tel: 27-11-455 2889 Fax: 27-11-455 2937 www.mbtsa.co.za Lance vd Merwe Carlotta Stafford Paul Gripper

082 901 0477 082 600 7403 082 456 6659

Helga Ferreira Tiago dos Ramos Steven Coates

Cape Town Ofﬁce 4 College House Village Walk Parklands

072 573 4221 082 775 5344 082 291 1455

IMIESA September 2013

SAPPMA

ABOVE AND RIGHT The use of plastic pipes in green building design

thickness. This means a weight reduction of more than 40% alongside a decrease in pipe cost and environmental impact,” Fumire stated in his report. He compared the longterm pressure resistance of this pipe system with standard PVC-U. “PVC pipes have been in service for more than 70 years,” he continued. “They neither corrode nor require protection as in the case of metal pipes.” Fumire said that if one looks at the burst pressure curves from testing different grades of PVC-O pipes, their tough qualities are evident. “These qualities are now recognised in major European water and gas distribution markets where acceptance of this new generation of plastic pipes is leading to replacement and renovation of aged steel pipe networks.” He also noted that chemical resistance to normal additives, such as oxidising agents added to drinking water, was an advantage for both types of PVC pipe materials. Similarly, resistance to chemicals and acids such as hydrogen sulphide and sulphuric acid is a very important requirement for sewer pipes. In the US, the Utah State University (USU) Buried Structures Laboratory published a comprehensive case study on water main break rates for the US and Canada – calculated for all pipe materials used in the transport of water to create a measurement to judge pipe performance and durability. Conducted by Dr Steven Folkman, co-author of Buried Pipe Design, the study is expected to help decision-making as it relates to repairing and replacing underground pipes, and looked at 188 utilities representing approximately 10% of the nation’s installed water main pipe network. The study found that PVC pipes have

the lowest overall failure rate when compared to cast iron, ductile iron, concrete, steel and asbestos cement pipes. It also found that corrosion is a major cause of water main breaks. About 75% of all utilities have corrosive soil conditions and high proportion of old cast iron and ductile iron pipes, making corrosion the second highest cause of water main pipe failure in the US. Overall, results from the study proved to be in favour of plastic pipes for use in underground water mains. According to a technical paper by Veso Sobot (PEng), director at IPEX Management, corrosion of pipes made from traditional materials can cause numerous water quality

problems, as it not only reduces the pipe’s hydraulic carrying capacity, but the resulting deposits can also help harbour pathogenic microorganisms. Leaching of metals can impart a metallic taste to the water and stain the plumbing. Sobot’s paper leans toward the use of plastics as a dependable piping service for landscape irrigation systems, drain, waste and sewage transport applications. Locally, South Africa’s corroded pipe infrastructure has also been making headlines, as existing steel and asbestos cement pipes are surpassing the 50-year mark. Most water pipes were installed in the early 1960s and urgent rehabilitation and/or replacement is

IMIESA September 2013

SAPPMA

now required. In a bid to update this ageing infrastructure, eThekweni Municipality replaced 1 750 km of its asbestos cement pipeline network with PVC and HDPE pipes. These pipes are lightweight, easy to handle, significantly easier to join and available in a range of pressure ratings and sizes. In addition, due to the high value of polymer, plastic pipes are being recycled on a large scale as compared to other pipe materials, with a significantly lower energy cost involved in the process.

New pipes on the block But as popular as current plastic pipes may be, trends in design and the manufacturing process have to constantly evolve in order for next generation pipes to adapt to changing environments, surroundings and demand. Thanks to modern manufacturing technology, the production of a more material efficient, 40% lighter PVC pipe is now possible. The input cost to produce plastic pipes is dominated by that of polymers, which can account for more than 75% of the total cost. International

trends therefore lean toward reducing pipe wall thickness by using less material. Various conferences, such as the Barcelona Pipe Conference, are held around the world to discuss issues, challenges and new trends in the plastic pipe market. SAPPMA will also host the 2013 International Plastic Pipe Conference where topics such as HDPE pipe systems, PE pipes in the oil and gas industry, PVC sustainability and water leakages will be discussed. Another international conference, Plastic Pipes Moscow, which will be held in

ABOVE Standard PVC under increased pressure

October this year, will also zoom in on the latest technological developments in plastic pipes. According to Zoran Davidovski, chairman of the organising committee, there is a consolidation across all segments in favour of plastic pipe technology. “The old is making way for the new. Performance and durability are everything and that perception is being realised,” Davidovski explained. 

IMIESA September 2013

• Manufacturers of HDPE Reducers • Butt welding stub-ends and Electrofusion welding stub-ends to SABS ISO 4427 speci¿cations • Moulded bend and tee ¿ttings • Recycling & Pelletizing of HDPE pipes

Po Box 1970 Krugersdorp 12 Mould Street Boltania 1740 t 011 660 1064 | f 011 660 1063 Email mrstubman@mweb.co.za | mrstubman@vodamail.co.za

SAPPMA

LEFT AND ABOVE The lack of basic water services is a huge cause for concern

Keeping it local, there are many plastic pipe companies that are pushing the bar in terms of technological advances. Take DPI Plastics, for instance. Its Ultraflo pipe range is manufactured from modified polyvinyl chloride (mPVC), specifically designed to

provide similar tensile strength and greater resistance than standard PVC piping. Ideally suited for bulk water supply projects, mPVC is more ductile than its uPVC counterpart as it has excellent resistance to crack prorogation under pressure.

Behind the scenes Before analysing any product, it makes sense to look at the manufacturing process, too. Founded in 2006 and endorsed by the Spanish Department of Science & Innovation, Molecor specialises in the development of new technology applying molecular orientation to pipe solutions. The process

IMIESA September 2013

Workholding Equipment Toolholding Equipment Carbide Cutting Tools HSS Cutting Tools Measuring Equipment Welding Equipment Handtools Abrasives Blading

For futher information contact Ron Brown on : 011 370-2767

CNC Machine Tools Specialised Tooling Machine Tools Accessories

Johannesburg 011 370 2727 Cape Town 021 593 9700 Durban 031 717 3600 Port Elizabeth 041 451 1010 Middleburg 013 246 1273/1377 Steelpoort 013 230 3801/3 Rustenburg 014 596 6925/9/6918 Pietermaritzburg 033 342 1513 Kathu 053 723 1909/1910/1911 Lephalale (Ellisras) T.B.A.

www.toolquip.co.za

SAPPMA

Water and sanitation backlog in South Africa R62 billion

The amount required to tackle backlogs in reticulation infrastructure • 36% allocated to internal bulk infrastructure • 33% allocated to reticulation • 18% allocated to refurbishment • 13% allocated to wastewater treatment

R73 billion

The sanitation infrastructure investment required • 26% allocated to wastewater treatment works • 47% allocated to sanitation • 11% allocated to sanitation refurbishment • 16% allocated to bulk sanitation infrastructure

R14.2 billion

Total funding required to implement new mandated projects • 32% funded by development • 18% funded by commercial banks

The bulk of expenditure has been allocated for the 2014/15 financial years. Figures in this table are based on those from the Development Bank of South Africa’s 2012 State of South Africa's Economic Infrastructure: Opportunities and Challenges report

of molecular orientation deeply enhances both the physical and mechanical properties of PVC while still maintaining the original polymer advantages. In the end, a product of extreme strength, impact resistance and flexibility is achieved and is ideal for use in high-pressure pipelines. Called the PVC-O 500 class pipe, these pipes have a very different stress-strain curve when compared to other plastics – coming very close to the curves found in metal pipes. This can only be achieved with the highest degree of orientation – the class 500. The higher the class, the greater

the orientation degree and the better the mechanical properties. A company in Johannesburg is also making inroads with regard to innovation in plastic pipe manufacturing. Plastinternational was responsible for the SABS-approved ezeeFLOW range of plastic ball valves, pipe fittings and other components for water meter management systems. However, the company had to find a way to deal with the hefty input costs generating from its production plant if it wanted to lower the cost of its products and compete in a tough economic climate. The company recently installed five

An extruder is the heart of a manufacturing process and therefore creates jobs both upstream and downstream

state-of-the-art machines that will not only enable it to deliver competitive rates to clients, but also solved the problem of escalating energy costs. The new 450T injectionmoulding machine can run moulds up to 7 t – offering extrusion, rotational moulding and complete assembly lines – at a fraction of the energy cost. About two years ago, the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (CFAM) Technologies developed and built the extruder on the Potchefstroom Campus at the North-West University for Feedpro, a company that supplies agricultural products. What started out as a research project back in 1998 turned out to be a twin-screw extruder built in Africa for African conditions – and with the ability to compete with the best such technologies in the world. “Our extruders give manufacturers the assurance that maintenance and assistance is available locally, therefore minimising downtime in a plant,” said Danie Vorster, director of CFAM Technologies, at the launch. Extrusion is one of the rare technologies that can aid in job creation. An extruder is the heart of a manufacturing process and therefore creates jobs both upstream and downstream in industries such as food, polymer and compounding. Prior to this development, twin-screw extrusion was only available for use in large organisations with sufficient in-house extrusion skills, as it requires product developers, plant operators and maintenance staff. CFAM’s services include design and manufacture of complete twin-screw extruders, installation, commissioning, maintenance, and even training and mentoring of staff.  LEFT AND BELOW The current state of sanitation services in rural South Africa

IMIESA September 2013

SAPPMA

Eco-friendly traits Compared to other pipe materials, plastic usually works better in relation to the environment. Plastic pipes present positive characteristics such as low maintenance, resource saving, recyclability and long life cycle, thereby making this product very attractive in the

construction industry. According to experts at Plastics|SA, environmental balance sheets take into account economical use of resources and maintenance costs, when assessing the sustainability of products. Since most plastics are either easy to maintain or are maintenance-free, this product scores

top marks in its life cycle evaluation. The Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA), too, recognises environmentally conscious building contractors and architects that use PVC piping products as ‘best practice PVC manufacturers’ – further emphasising plastic pipes’ environmental credibility. In his paper, Sobot stated that the water pumping process is energy-intensive for several reasons. Firstly, water has a density of almost 1 000 kg/m3, requiring significant effort to transport. Leaks increase a piping system’s energy consumption by imposing extra demands, as water must be continuously pumped from the source to the leak location. To have sufficient pressure at the point of demand, upstream pressures must be increased to compensate for the pressure lost from leaks. Deteriorated pipes, such as

LEFT The extruder built by CFAM at the Potchefstroom Campus of the NorthWest University for R2.3 million. It would have cost R12 million to import

IMIESA September 2013

ǆȕ ĵÝǻɳ

ŷŗ ǻÝōr

Ýŗ ǻÝōr

ƻǊŷərŗ ^rƻrŗ^ DÝĵÝǻɳ ˒ Ǣ Ř¶ÞŸ ƻÞƼs ɠ ǣ sǣǼ EĶÞǣÌs_ ÞŘ ˠ˨˨˦ Ř_ Ì ǣ ǋ ƼÞ_Ķɴ sɮƼ Ř_s_ Ÿɚsǋ ǼÌs Ķ ǣǼ ˠ˥ ɴs ǋǣʳ ˒ ŗŸɠ ǼÌs Ķ ǋ¶sǣǼ ƼǋŸ_ȖOsǋ Ÿ¯ Ǣ DǢ ÝǢŷˣˣˡ˦ Ë^ƻr ƻÞƼs ÞŘ ǢŸȖǼÌ ¯ǋÞO ʳ ˒ ®ǋŸŎ ǣŎ ĶĶ EŸǋs _ŸŎsǣǼÞO ƼŸĶɴƼǋŸƼɴĶsŘs ƼÞƼs ǼÌǋŸȖ¶Ì ǼŸ ˠ ˟˟˟ ŎŎ _Þ ŎsǼsǋ Ë^ƻr ƻÞƼsʳ ˒ ɟÞǼÌ ǼÌs OŸŎŎÞǣǣÞŸŘÞŘ¶ Ÿ¯ ǼÌs ˠ ˟˟˟ ŎŎ ĶÞŘs ÞŘ Ȗ¶ȖǣǼ ˡ˟ˠˢ Ǣ Ř¶ÞŸ ƻÞƼs OŸŘǼÞŘȖsǣ ǼŸ sɮƼ Ř_ʳ ˒ ǢȖƼƼĶɴÞŘ¶ ǼŸ ÞǋǋÞ¶ ǼÞŸŘʰ ÌŸȖǣÞŘ¶ʰ ÞŘ_ȖǣǼǋÞ Ķʰ ŎÞŘÞŘ¶ Ř_ ¶ŸɚsǋŘŎsŘǼ ÞŘ ǢŸȖǼÌ ¯ǋÞO Ř_ ŘsÞ¶ÌEŸȖǋÞŘ¶ ǣǼ Ǽsǣʳ ˒ NȖǋǋsŘǼĶɴ ȖŘ_sǋ Ŏ Ř ¶sŎsŘǼ Ÿ¯ µ EǋÞsĶ Ǌs__ɴʰ ɠÞǼÌ Ǣ Ř¶ÞŸ ƻÞƼs ǣÞŘOs ˠ˨˨˦ʳ ˒ Ǣ Ř¶ÞŸ ƻÞƼs Ǽs Ŏ Ì ǣ OŸĶĶsOǼÞɚs OOsǣǣ Ÿ¯ ÌȖŘ_ǋs_ ɴs ǋǣ sɮƼsǋǼÞǣs ÞŘ ǼÌs ƼÞƼÞŘ¶ ÞŘ_ȖǣǼǋɴʳ ˒ ǣǣŸOÞ Ǽs ǼŸ ǼÌs ^ ɠŘ µǋŸȖƼ Ÿ¯ OŸŎƼ ŘÞsǣʰ Ÿ¯¯sǋÞŘ¶ ÌÞ¶Ì sĶsŎsŘǼ Ÿ¯ EȖǣÞŘsǣǣ sɮƼsǋǼÞǣs ǣ ɠsĶĶ ǣ ǣǼǋŸŘ¶ _ÞǣǼǋÞEȖǼÞŸŘ ŘsǼɠŸǋĨʳ

ŷȖǋ _ Ǽs Ŏ s_ÞO Ǽs_ ɠ ÞǼ ÞŘ¶ Ǽ ǣ Ķsǣ ɴŸȖ ɠ Ÿ ǣǣ ÞǼ Ì ɴŸȖǋ Þǣ Řss_ ƼÞƼÞŘ Ǽ ǣʳ ¶ ɠsEǣ ƻĶs ǣs ɚ ÞǣÞǼ Ÿ ÞǼs ɠ Ȗǋ ɠɠ ƼÞƼs ʳOŸʳʊ ʳǣ Ř¶ÞŸ˚ ǼŸ_ ɴʵ

ō ŘȖ¯ OǼȖǋsǋǣ Ÿ¯ ÌÞ¶Ì ǇȖ ĶÞǼɴ Ë^ƻr Ř_ ƼŸĶɴƼǋŸƼɴĶsŘs ƼÞƼs ĵŸǼ ˤˠ ŷĶ_ Ŏ ÞŘ ǊŸ _ʰ N ǼŸ ǊÞ_¶sʰ ˢ˥˧˟ ƻʳŷʳ DŸɮ ˤʰ N ǼŸ ǊÞ_¶sʰ ˢ˥˧˟ ǻsĶ ʹ˟ˢˠʺ ˦˧ˡ ˢ˦˧ˠ | ® ɮ ʹ˟ˢˠʺ ˦˧ˡ ˢ˦˧ˡ | rŎ ÞĶʲ ÞŘ¯Ÿ˔ǣ Ř¶ÞŸƼÞƼsʳOŸʳʊ

SAPPMA

those caused by corrosion, are not ver y hydraulically efficient so more energy is needed to force water through their rough, interior sur face, as compared to newer, smoother piping. The combined effect of poor hydraulics and leakage in older piping is a doubling or tripling of the energy needed to operate the system when compared to the same system made of new pipe. According to him, one way to make piping systems more energy-efficient would be by minimising the number of leaks in pipe networks. In his opinion, replacing and rehabilitating current water distribution systems made of traditional materials with plastic piping products could help reduce leakages and, in turn, improve energy efficiency. The installation of HDPE, PVC and CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) piping products is generally much easier than that of traditional piping materials.

Infrastructure challenges Despite the positive reaction to the plastic pipe sector and the available technologies and innovations, both locally and internationally, there is still a huge number of South Africans who do not have access to basic water and sanitation ser vices. Government’s goal of delivering these ser vices to all citizens by 2014 has not come to fruition. While the plastic pipes industr y has the capacity to address the current backlog, its hands are tied until such a time that projects are confirmed and tenders are issued by government. Yes, there are several bulk water infrastructure projects under way, such as the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project and the R160 million Sanitation Scheme at Mpophomeni Sewage Treatment Works in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, but this does not digress from the fact that many areas are still without basic water and sanitation ser vices. The current service needs have been identified as follows: • water reticulation: KwaZulu-Natal and North West • bulk infrastructure and refurbishment: Western Cape • bulk infrastructure: Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga. There are many positive attributes associated with plastic pipes but the challenges remain. In spite of a tough environment and rising costs associated with the manufacturing, transportation and installation of pipes, Venter reiterates that SAPPMA continues to raise the bar of standards for its members and industry. “We realise that we live in a world where compromise is rife. However, we feel strongly that for us ‘good enough’ is quite simply no longer good enough,” he stated. “We are proud of the fact that we were able to meet all of the objectives we had set for ourselves during last year’s SAPPMA AGM, but we will continue to try harder, produce smarter and waste less – producing stable and reliable plastic pipes for use in infrastructure for generations to come.”

Non-toxic PVC is a great plastic product for use in green building design due to its excellent thermal insulation

BELOW Corrosion on a steel pipe BOTTOM Corrosion is not an issue with plastic pipes

But plastic pipes are not just designed for use in water operations. For example, non-toxic PVC is a great plastic product for use in green building design due to its excellent thermal insulation for use on windows, cladding and roofing. PVC piping systems also help prevent leakage while the smooth sur faces reduce the cost of pumping fluids. This type of plastic also uses less energy and resources during the production and conversion process, and is also ver y lightweight – reducing carbon emissions as it is easier to transport than concrete or steel. In general, product analyses have found PVC’s environmental impact to be highly favourable when compared to other pipe materials. The product is recyclable, but if this is not possible, energy can be easily recovered from the incineration of PVC.

Did you know? Modified PVC (mPVC) is an alloy of PVC, incorporating an impact modifier that improves the fracture toughness and ductility of the material.

IMIESA September 2013

Y o u r

V a l u e

P a r t n e r

New from Marley: WEHOLITE Structured Wall HDPE Pipe! Marley Pipe Systems now manufactures Weholite pipe under licence from Uponor Infra (formerly KWH Pipe). Weholite pipe represents the latest advances in both material and manufacturing technology, creating a lightweight engineered pipe with superior loading capacity. Recognising the demands for a low pressure gravity, large diameter pipe with fittings, together with product quality, durability and toughness has made Weholite the preferred solution for both the public and private sector. The structured wall process used in manufacturing allows the manufacture of diameters from 280mm up to 3500mm and conforms to pr EN13476 and SANS 21138 standards.

Applications of Weholite include: 9 Stormwater attenuation tanks 9 Culverts 9 CSO attenuation tanks 9 Cooling water intakes 9 Manholes 9 Pumping chambers 9 CSO control chambers 9 Marine outfall 9 Ventilation pipes 9 Surface drainage 9 Inter-process pipework 9 Foul sewers 9 Tanks, floats, ventilation ducts

Contact Marley Pipe Systems today for more information on our latest product offerings!

0861 MARLEY (0861 627539) www.marleypipesystems.co.za Use your smartphone to snap the QR code and learn more about Marley Pipe Systems

SAPPMA

PIPE FITTINGS

Global uPVC brand hits local market Marley Pipe Systems has added a new range of PVC injection-moulded sewer fittings to its extensive selection of pipes, fittings and accessories. Secure, reliable and efficient, REDI provides easy-to-install PVC fittings solutions aimed at building long-lasting networks in municipalities.

HE REDI BRAND, which is known in over 50 countries worldwide for its range of solutions for the plumbing and construction industr y, is making its mark in South Africa for the first time through Marleyâ€™s distribution network. These fittings are injection moulded, offering improved quality in comparison to fabricated alternatives, providing a complete PVC underground drainage solution suitable for use in a variety of applications, including reticulation mains, industrial process

BELOW REDI fitting assembly in place BELOW RIGHT Lightweight REDI fittings provide ease of handling in installations RIGHT The Marley range of REDI PVC sewer fittings for complete underground drainage solutions

pipelines and effluent pipelines. The high strength-to-weight ratio, together with great resistance to corrosion or chemical attack, makes these fittings ideal for major infrastructure applications.The benefits that these fittings provide make it a popular choice among specifiers and contractors. The light weight of the fittings ensure ease of handling and reduces laying costs, osts, while the dual hardness rubber ring improves roves reliability and reduces the effort required red in jointing. In addition to excellent internal/external al/external corrosion resistance, the fittings are also electrically non-conductive, makking them resistant to electrolytic corrosion, allowing for a longerr ser vice life overall. Manufactured according too EN 1452-2 standards, the fittings ngs

comply with the requirements as set out by the European Standard Institute and are fully compatible with SABS 791 (solid-wall) and SABS 1601 (structured wall PVC pipes). The range of uPVC fittings will be available from Marley in sizes from 160 to 250 mm, and includes taper pipes, junctions, adaptors, sockets and more.

IMIESA September 2013

WATER & WASTEWATER

SUSTAINABLE TREATMENT

Energy efficiency in wastewater treatment Theewaterskloof Municipality took an unconventional approach for the upgrading of the Grabouw Sewage Treatment Works, and one of its key requirements was sustainability. Chantelle van Schalkwyk discusses the project with Dave Crombie, GIBB's Civil, Water and Renewable Energy Engineering Consultant.

IBB TENDERED successfully to design the upgrades and extensions to the Grabouw Sewage Treatment Works, which will provide increased sewage treatment capacity for the residents of Grabouw,” says Crombie. The leading multidisciplinary engineering company was chosen on the basis of its vast expertise and a proven track record in renewable energy projects. Grabouw forms part of the Theewaterskloof Municipality, a local municipality that falls under the jurisdiction of the Overberg District Municipality in the Western Cape. The municipality identified the need for the upgrade in 2007 and appointed GIBB as the consulting engineer to design the works required. “Phase 1 is now complete and has been commissioned. Phase 2 is currently under

way, and includes additional biological reactors and clarifiers,” says Crombie.

Innovative insight According to Crombie, an innovative approach to the design was the inclusion of an unusual method for particulate COD (chemical oxygen demand) and suspended solids removal for further treatment in a composting plant. The upgraded sewage treatment process makes use of a unique combination of equipment in an innovative manner. “Specifically, the process of taking dewatered sludge from the incoming raw sewage directly to composting is being used for the first time in the world,” says Crombie.

The upgrade has, however, not been without its challenges, one of which was the extended process for gaining environmental approval, which was surprising, considering the public support for the project, says Crombie. A further challenge was phasing the work to fit in with several options for funding and the resulting cash flow constraints. “We also successfully assisted a civil contractor through a difficult cash flow situation while he was busy on this site,” he says. “The innovative nature of the new process caught the imagination of the contractors, equipment suppliers and, most significantly, the municipal officials and process controllers, and all have contributed to a successful team effort.”

Rewarding progress For Crombie, the project has a number of highlights. “Getting the support of the municipality for an unconventional approach to achieving the sustainability objectives they had set was very encouraging. The commissioning was another highlight – this was completed in a very short time and achieving the correct operation did not pose many difficulties.” According to Crombie, a further benefit of this design approach for the communities – both in Grabouw and further afield – is the energy efficiency of the works. In addition, the method of directly processing the incoming sewage particulate matter to produce compost is sure to find application elsewhere

LEFT The upgrades and extensions to the Grabouw Sewage Treatment Works will provide increased sewage treatment capacity for the residents of Grabouw

IMIESA September 2013

WATER & WASTEWATER

where there is a need for the upgrading of existing sewage treatment works and for new sewage treatment works. “The specific restraints and attributes of the Grabouw Sewage Treatment Works have leant themselves to this approach, but these circumstances are not unique,” says Crombie. Ultimately, the upgrade will mostly have a direct benefit for the local communities. “The upgrading of the sewage works is set to unlock the moratorium on property development. With this, the local economy will receive a boost, as well as facilitate an increase in employment opportunities. “The final product – compost – has use in landscaping, initially along a barren constructed berm next to a major road running adjacent to the community. This will facilitate the establishment of vegetation to enhance the environment for them and for those travelling by. The product can also be used as a supplement in the fruit tree orchards.” The

design flow is 8.5 Mℓ/d and produces some 5 to 10 tonnes of compost per day.

A team effort The client, or employer in this case, is the Theewaterskloof Municipality, with Lektratek Water Technology appointed as the mechanical and electrical contractor (including screens and composting plant), with subcontractors

Salsnes for the screens and HotRot for the composting plant. “The hull of the composting plant was fabricated using precast concrete units specially manufactured by Cape Concrete,” explains Crombie. Subcontractor for the electrical work was Service Electrical, the civil contractor was Nammic Engineering and GIBB was the project consultant. The entire team’s collaboration served to ensure the project progress. “The embracing of the unusual aspects of this plant by the contractors facilitated the implementation and commissioning of the new plant,” explains Crombie. He says the most exciting aspect was the enthusiasm with which the process controllers received and are applying the training in the operation of this new plant. Approximately 30 people were involved at the peak of construction. “Eight long-term permanent staff are required to operate the plant, which operates 24 hours a day,” concludes Crombie.

The upgraded sewage treatment process makes use of a unique combination of equipment in an innovative manner

IMIESA September 2013

PROFILE

SBS WATER SYSTEMS

To New Height SBS Water Systems has announced the launch of its Proudly South African SBS Tanks product range. This Level 2 BBBEE business, specialising in liquid storage solutions, is well established within the municipal industry as a preferred manufacturer, supplier and installer of liquid tanks.

STABLISHED IN 1998, SBS is managed by three original shareholders operating from its head office in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, a regional office in Gauteng and both a national and international network of competent distributors. The company employs over 50 dedicated and efficient staff, making it well positioned to maximise its contribution to the water storage industry. SBS has designed a range of tanks suitable for the harsh South African climate and for export into Africa and the rest of the world using advanced design facilities in collaboration with leading structural engineers within South Africa. The SBS Tanks’ capacities range from 12 kℓ to 3.3 Mℓ and are installed with a 75-year warranty. In 2012, SBS boasted about its accreditation to the Proudly South African campaign and is proud to establish itself as a business that locally manufactures and supplies a range of tanks instead of importing them. “ISO 9001:2008 is the international standard for quality management systems. Certification to this standard provides a competitive edge to companies, enabling them to assure confidence in their products and service. ISO 9001:2008 provides structure and is focused towards customer satisfaction and continual improvement. SBS has taken a brave step towards the ultimate quality improvement systems. SBS is moulding a company culture of excellence in implementing the ISO 9001:2008 standard in its operations. “There is no doubt that exciting times lie ahead, but more significantly SBS will see incredible growth and benefits. The

customer is our benchmark, and the company is completely focused on exceeding customer expectations and ISO 9001:2008 is the perfect tool,” explains Pam Naidoo of MPower and Consulting & Training, the consulting firm that has been appointed to assist in attaining this accreditation. SBS is expected to hang its ISO 9001 flag high by the end of 2013. Delayne Gray, MD of SBS, states: “We have worked hard on the process of manufacturing our own tanks and aim to supply both our new and current customers a product that is of premium quality and cost effective. In addition to the various accreditations and memberships SBS currently boasts, we are also privileged to be nominated for the prestigious SAISC 32nd Steel Awards 2013 for our 3.3 Mℓ SBS Tank, which was installed in the Baynesfield area.” This SBS Tank is the biggest to be installed to date by SBS or any other competitor in the industry. Some of SBS’s recent projects in the municipal industry are:

• Mariannhill Monastery – 112 kℓ SBS Tank installed to store water for the new agricultural project that will be completed in the months to come. • DLV Esidakeni – 176 kℓ SBS Tank installed in three days and used to store the community water supply. • A 50 kℓ SBS Tank installed in Gengeshe in KwaZulu-Natal to hold the community's water supply. For more information about the new range of SBS Tanks, e-mail info@sbstank.co.za or call the head office on +27 (0)86 048 2657.

t +27 (0)86 048 2657 • www.sbstanks.co.za

RIGHT From left to right – Chris Leah (Technical Manager), Delayne Gray (MD), Mava Gwagwa (new Accounts & new Business Director) and Heiner Freese (Financial Director) BELOW Gengeshe (project details above) BOTTOM RIGHT Baynesfield 3.3 Mℓ SBS Tank

IMIESA September 2013

WATER & WASTEWATER

ROODEPLAAT WTW

Advanced processes applied

HIS CAN BE attributed to the fact that the City of Tshwane deciding to implement the advanced processes of ozonation and granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration processes proactively, in anticipation of expected future deterioration in raw water quality. “The use of ozone in municipal water treatment is certainly not a new process, but it is not deemed conventional in South Africa. The Roodeplaat plant is currently one of the most advanced plants in terms of process configuration in the country and probably in Africa,” explains Pollard. The 60 Mℓ/d Roodeplaat Water Treatment Works (WTW) was commissioned in 2005 The Roodeplaat Dam is currently classified as highly eutrophied

IMIESA September 2013

Constructed as part of the larger Roodeplaat Bulk Water Supply Project, the Roodeplaat Water Treatment Works is now one of the most advanced water treatment facilities in terms of process configuration in South Africa, Bigen Africa project manager Ian Pollard tells Chantelle van Schalkwyk.

as part of the larger Roodeplaat Bulk Water Supply Project to augment water supply to the rapidly expanding northern areas of the City of Tshwane from feasible local sources in lieu of extending its existing supply scheme from Rand Water (and thus effectively from Lesotho Highlands schemes). The Roodeplaat Dam, situated approximately 20 km north-east of the Pretoria CBD, was identified as a feasible local source and a licence to abstract raw water from this dam was issued by the (then) Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) to the City of Tshwane, thereby approving the implementation of phase one of a 60 Mℓ/d bulk water supply scheme.

The Roodeplaat Dam is currently classified as highly eutrophied as a result of the influx of treated effluent from two large wastewater treatment facilities situated in the dam’s catchment, also owned and operated by the City of Tshwane. Apart from excessive algal growth, which is a direct consequence of eutrophication and relatively easy to remove via flotation, for instance, removal of associated algal toxins, complex dissolved manganese

WATER & WASTEWATER

and iron, organic constituents responsible for taste and odour-causing compounds and chlorine-resistant pathogens are more difficult and require a series of treatment steps, many of which are viewed as advanced processes. “Although all the treatment processes were included during initial planning of the treatment facility necessary to treat the Roodeplaat water to acceptable potable standards, the City of Tshwane decided to implement the envisaged future advanced processes (in the form of ozonation and GAC) pro-actively in anticipation of expected fur ther deterioration in raw water quality,” says Pollard. He adds that the Temba Roodeplaat Consulting Consortium, of which Bigen Africa is the lead consultant, was appointed to design the new processes, and a pilot plant was installed at the Roodeplaat WTW and operated for approximately three months to determine various site-specific

design parameters, which was, according to Pollard, ultimately used for the detail design and specification of the new processes.

Ozone in focus Ozone is a strong oxidant and disinfectant with a variety of applications in water treatment. Unfortunately, ozone as a highly reactive gas cannot be stored in containers and thus needs to be generated at the point of use by passing high voltage electrical current through an oxygenrich environment. The electrical current splits the oxygen (O2) molecule into two O-atoms and a small portion (e.g. 6 to 12% by weight) of the O-atoms combine with O2 molecules to form O3, i.e. ozone. The amount of ozone generated is dependent on various factors, one of which being the concentration of oxygen in the feed gas to the generator. Three types of feed gases are normally used

“The Roodeplaat plant is currently one of the most advanced plants in terms of process configuration in the country”

The Roodeplaat WTW was commissioned in 2005 as part of the larger Roodeplaat Bulk Water Supply Project

for large-scale generation of ozone, namely pure oxygen from commercially-supplied liquid oxygen (LOX), pure oxygen produced on-site from air through a process called pressure swing absorption (PSA) or normal air, which is approximately 22% oxygen. For the system installed at Roodeplaat, ozone will be generated from LOX. 

IMIESA September 2013

WATER & WASTEWATER

According to Pollard, the use of ozone in conjunction with GAC filtration offers a number of benefits. Apart from its strong disinfection power, ozone has the ability to alter the molecular structure of complex organic compounds making these more amicable to biological degradation and removal. In addition to its adsorbent properties, GAC is also an excellent medium for the development and proliferation of bacteria that remove organic compounds, many of which are responsible for potentially unacceptable tastes and odours in the final water. At Roodeplaat, ozone will mainly be used for the oxidation of dissolved organic constituents, improved GAC adsorption of organic compounds, disinfection of chlorine resistant pathogens and, to a lesser extent, the removal of complex iron and manganese. The project was implemented through two contracts, one for the civil works and another for the supply and installation of mechanical and electrical equipment. The ozone generation equipment was the single most expensive component of the mechanical works and was imported from Switzerland. The civil works was completed in December 2011, while the commissioning of the mechanical and electrical works were completed in December 2012.

Project breakdown The scope of works basically entailed the construction of two new unit treatment processes, the first being an on-site ozone generation and dosing plant, explains Pollard. “The main

IMIESA September 2013

components of the plant is an LOX storage facility, a state-of-the-art 37 kg/h ozone generation system comprising three ozone generators from Ozonia in Switzerland, a reinforced concrete main ozone dosing chamber and two intermediary dosing stations at the head of the works and upstream of the sand filters.” The second unit process was the GAC filter gallery comprising 20 filter bays filled with GAC media to provide approximately 12 minutes retention time at maximum hydraulic loading. “Two different types of GAC were installed to compare the full-scale performance and longevity of re-agglomerated GAC versus direct activated carbon,” says Pollard. He adds that the project has been completed – the GAC filters have been fully operational since July 2012 while the ozone generation system was commissioned between September and December 2012.

Challenges on-site Planning and integration between the civil and mechanical contractors and works proved especially challenging, according to Pollard, as these components were handled under separate contracts. This was also exacerbated by having to undertake construction of the new processes, with the plant remaining fully operational except for a couple of planned short shutdowns for critical tie-ins. However, these challenges were not insurmountable and, as Pollard notes, were

ABOVE The installation of the GAC filters

overcome through various combined integration and scheduling meetings. “Proper scheduling of works during shutdowns to ensure that maximum amount of work could be executed during each of the shutdown periods was also utilised,” continues Pollard.

From green to blue “Although the plant has consistently produced SANS 241 compliant water, there have been reports of water quality problems in the supply region of the plant in the past and hopefully the inclusion of the new processes will go a long way to further enhance the quality of water distributed to the consumer and build trust in the local municipality as the water services provider for the region,” says Pollard. As such, one of the highlights for him was the colour of the water that turned from having a slight greenish tint (still within SANS 241

Contractors and suppliers Civil contractor – Superway Construction Mechanical/electrical contractor – PDE JV comprising PCI Africa, Electron and Dip Civils Suppliers: • Ozone equipment – Ozonia • GAC – Cactus Carbon and UDEC • Pumps – KSB/ABS • Liquid oxygen – Afrox

WATER & WASTEWATER

limits) to that having a deep blue colour after passing through the GAC filters. This is further enhanced by the fact that the client also reported full compliance in terms of the targeted water quality during the past couple of months, he adds. The parameters are now consistently on the low end of the scale rather than just below the upper limits.

The ozone generation equipment was the single most expensive component of the mechanical works and was imported from Switzerland For him, the project has been unique – and special – for a number of reasons, not least of which are working with advanced processes that are not common, and overcoming the technical challenges in determining the optimum solution. “In this instance, we did a pilot study where we ran a small ozone and GAC pilot plant to test the response of the water prior to finalising the designs. This added almost six months to the design period, but proved worthwhile as various site-specific parameters were determined and used to optimise the design.” “The workmanship on the ozone generators is also really a highlight – it is extremely good,” concludes Pollard. BOTTOM The inclusion of the new processes will go a long way to further enhance the quality of water distributed to the consumer and build trust in the local municipality as the water services provider for the region

IMIESA September 2013

ROADS & STORMWATER

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

N6 between East London and Stutterheim upgrade A contract awarded by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has resulted in a significant portion of the N6 receiving an extensive upgrade.

EADING CONSULTING engineering firm GIBB undertook the design and construction management for the resur facing of the road in a project that cost over R55 million and created 87 jobs for locals. The contract is located on the N6 between East London and Stutterheim. The new road sur face is expected to extend the lifespan of the sur facing by eight to 10 years with enhanced safety characteristics due to improved skid resistance properties. The new sidewalks also offer safety benefits to pedestrians, who no longer have to walk on road verges. While this portion of the N6 was still structurally adequate (except for isolated areas where base repairs were necessar y), the sur facing seal was aged and oxidised. Simon Tetley, senior associate at GIBB and the project leader on this contract, says that to prevent further degradation, a new 19 double 6 seal using modified binder was placed over a 50 km stretch of the road. In addition, to the sur facing seal, 2 km of asphalt overlay was constructed at the East London limit of the project. “To improve road safety, approximately 8 km of sidewalks was constructed at locations with high pedestrian activity. The base design of the sidewalk, using gabion baskets and concrete, was conceived by GIBB and it appears that the design will become a ‘standard’ for other Sanral projects where such sidewalks are required,” points out Tetley. ABOVE & RIGHT A new 19 double 6 seal using modified binder was placed over a 50 km stretch of the road and approximately 8 km of sidewalks was constructed at locations with high pedestrian activity

IMIESA September 2013

ROADS & STORMWATER

SMME DEVELOPMENT

R59 million upgrade of R72 under way In May 2012, the ownership of the R72 in the Eastern Cape was transferred from the provincial government to the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral).

ITH AN APPROPRIATE budget for routine road maintenance and a contract structure that provides for the development of SMME contractors, the R72 will be rehabilitated to be a road of national standards. Not only will the R72 benefit from structured routine road maintenance programmes, but also through planned upgrades of sections of the road in future. The project comprises the routine road maintenance on national route R72 Sections 1 to 4, between Nanaga and East London Airport off-ramp, spanning a total distance of 228.5 km. The scope of works involves the routine road maintenance, improvement of drainage structures and minor works along the route, which include: • general requirements and provisions • contractor’s establishment of site • obligations • route patrol services

BELOW Patch repair back-to-back

• accommodation of traffic • pavement layers repair • repair of potholes, edge breaks and surface failures • crack sealing • surface treatment of surfaced roads • repair of slope failures and wash aways • repair and maintenance of inlet and outlet structures • subsoil drain installation and maintenance • cleaning of waterway structures • cleaning of prefabricated culverts • cleaning of concrete drains and channels • cleaning and maintenance of existing earth channels • edge build-up removal • concrete channel construction and maintenance of existing channels • fencing • collection and removal of debris and litter • shoulder repairs • stabilisation of cuttings • erection and repair of permanent road traffic signs • road sign cleaning and removal of illegal signs • road studs • guardrail erection and maintenance • road markings

• maintenance of lay-bys and rest areas • general erosion protection • gabion protection • controlling vegetation growth – mowing and cutting • chemical control of vegetation and eradication of undesirable vegetation • removal of undesirable vegetation: physical eradication • minor repairs to structures. To date, the role players in the contract are Madan Singh Bester & Associates (consulting engineer) and Super way Construction (contractor). Sections within this road alignment that require special attention include: • Kariega River approach – sub-surface water is being addressed before road surface can be repaired • Kariega River bridge abutment – erosion protection work in planning stage • settlement areas are currently being investigated by specialists • illegal signs – notification and removal of illegal signs within the road reserve • road stud installation will begin first on Section 2 (Alexandria to Port Alfred) • sub-contract packages for SMMEs – contracts have closed and will be awarded

TABLE 1 Description of the route

Route Section From km

To km

Length (km)

R72

N10 Nanaga (0)

Alexandria (MR465) (49.58)

49.58

R72

Alexandria (MR465) (0)

Port Alfred (TR4601) (R67) (49.08)

49.08

R72

Port Alfred Peddie turn off (TR4601) (R67) (0) (MR523) (68.10)

R72

Peddie turn off (MR523) (0)

TOTAL

IMIESA September 2013

68.10

East London Airport 60.50 (DR2108) (61.77) 227.26

3847 Wetpaint Advertising

ROADS & STORMWATER

ABOVE Bush clearing of concrete drains

soon. Grass cutting subcontracts are currently being tendered for by SMMEs. The 36-month contract is scheduled for completion in October 2015. The upgrading of the capacity, additional lanes and resurfacing of the N2/R72 coastal road between Port Elizabeth and East London is listed as a major project in progress. The R72 was one of several provincial roads totalling more than 2 000 km transferred to Sanral at the request of Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet. The project, which links to Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, will cost R5.3 billion, with the work being carried out by the Sanral appointed construction teams.

TABLE 2 A breakdown of quantities to be used during construction

Manholes that last for more than a lifetime

Description of activity (as per pay items)

Work completed to date Unit

Cumulative

Pavement layer repairs

tonnes

1 229

Repair of surface failures

number

493

Temporary repair of potholes

number

3 922

sewerage and communication pipelines.

Repair of slope failures and wash aways

cubic metres

4 937

Superb design and leading-edge manufacturing

Repair and maintenance of inlet and outlet structures

cubic metres

Subsoil drain excavation

metres

500

Cleaning and maintenanc of existing earth channels

cubic metres

146

Erection of new guardrails

metres

139

Removal of illegal signs

number

Removal of undesirable vegetation: tree felling

number

1 240

Eradication of undesirable vegetation

hectares

8.5

All emergency normalisation

hours

Future roads will continue to need manhole access to stormwater,

processes ensure that ROCLA provides truly reliable manhole solutions. ROCLA manholes are

104

maintenance-free and will never require upgrading â€“ if itâ€™s not broken, why fix it? ROCLA manholes are ready for the future. ROCLA is ISO 9001:2008 certified and has the

IMIESA September 2013

SABS mark of approval on all applicable products.

ROCLA

OUR DIFFERENCE IS CONCRETE

Contact ROCLA now on Tel: (011) 670-7600 or Fax: 086 675 8985 Web: www.roclaproducts.co.za

SERVICE DELIVERY

‘WAGGING THE DOG’

Supply chain management and service delivery How service delivery can lose its way in the procurement maze – and could find it again. By Kevin Wall (CSIR), Ron Watermeyer (Soderlund and Schutte) and Graham Pirie (CESA)

UPPLY CHAIN management (SCM) regulations for public sector procurement of goods and services have greatly improved the transparency of procurement procedures, increased the opportunities for alternative suppliers and reduced the potential for corrupt procurement practices. There is evidence, however, that these regulations are often not implemented to best effect. In particular, it would seem that the SCM process, if allowed to be, is often the primary cause of extended delays in the appointment of contractors, leading to delays in the delivery of services. The SCM “tail” would appear on those occasions to be “wagging the dog”, namely service delivery. The paper does not suggest the watering down of SCM regulations. On the contrary, it argues that municipalities’ top management should set clear time frames for each part of the service delivery process, the SCM process included, and hold the respective officials accountable should they take longer without good reason. Because of the need to reduce service delivery delays, but also in order to improve the functionality of infrastructure services, a very good argument can be made for the procurement of capital works and professional services, which are generally very situation- and site-specific (and could also be community-specific), to be treated differently from the procurement of other types of goods and services.

1. Introduction SCM regulations for public sector procurement of goods and services, in many instances introduced during the last decade or so, have contributed greatly to improved transparency of procurement procedures, increased oppor tunities for alternative

IMIESA September 2013

suppliers and reduced opportunities for corrupt procurement practices. There is evidence, however, that these regulations are often not implemented to best effect. In particular, it would seem that the SCM process, if allowed to be, is often the primary cause of extended delays in the appointment of contractors, leading to delays in the delivery of services. The SCM “tail” would appear on those occasions to be “wagging the dog”, namely service delivery. It is suggested in this paper that a too leisurely or unnecessarily pedantic SCM process, which focuses on procurement but fails to understand the entire process for delivery of the infrastructure that underpins service delivery, is a significant contributor in many municipalities to the underspending of their capital budgets. It is fur thermore argued in this paper that capital works, and also professional services, are generally very situation- and site-specific (and could also be community-specific). Their procurement should therefore be treated differently from the procurement of other types of goods and services. Each of these views is now discussed.

Treasury, 2011, page 68). Actual capital expenditure by municipalities in 2009/10 was R41 billion (Ibid, page 67). “Capital expenditure continues to fall below budgeted amounts. Municipal performance improved from 72% in 2006/07 to 85% in 2008/09, before declining to 80% in 2009/10” (Ibid, page 15). This underexpenditure is especially disappointing in the face of estimated municipal investment requirements of R500 billion. The need is there, the money is available, and yet it is not spent. Reflecting on the first nine months only to 31 March of the 2011/2012 municipal financial year: “The aggregate adjusted capital budget for all municipalities in the 2011/12 financial year was R46 billion, of which only R18.8 billion or 40.8% had been spent by 31 March 2012 [i.e. 75% of the financial year]. This reflects the challenges of planning for the implementation of capital projects.” (National Treasury, 2012b, page 2) However, whereas capital expenditure every year without fail is “relatively low in the first six months of the financial year, [invariably this] increases significantly during the second half of the year.” (Ibid, page 1) National Treasury stated that: “The reasons for municipal underspending on infrastructure are: • unrealistic budget targets, resulting in funding shortfalls, particularly due to low levels of funding from internally generated funds • inefficient supply chain management • lack of capacity to plan1 and fulfil grant conditions.” (National Treasury 2011, page 15) Having encountered what seemed to be unreasonable delays, with a number of capital works

The SCM process is often the primary cause of extended delays in the appointment of contractorss

2. Underspending of capital works budgets The inability of many municipalities (and provincial governments) to spend all of their capital budgets each year has for many years been a sore point with National Treasury. For the past full municipal financial year (2009/10), for which the figures were at the time of writing available (2009/10), significant underspending, amounting to R15 billion, occurred on municipal capital budgets (National

SERVICE DELIVERY

and professional services contract appointments pertinent to his organisation’s cooperation with municipalities, one of the co-authors of the present paper investigated the second reason, “inefficient supply chain management” (the first and third reasons are well known enough). The investigation comprised: • polling a number of municipal engineering service departments, of different sizes, as to their capital expenditure record of recent years • asking these departments about their supply chain management – in particular, how they undertake SCM, what role it plays in service delivery, and what time frames apply to it. The investigation showed considerable variation from municipality to municipality in their ability to spend their capital budgets. Some departments managed in each recent financial

year to spend 95%-plus of their budget. Others, each year, struggled to reach 50%. This variation occurred in spite of the fact that all the municipalities operate in terms of the same SCM regulations (National Treasury, 2005), issued in accordance with the Municipal Finance Management Act2. All have their share of contractors that fail to perform, delaying completion (and expenditure), and often have to be replaced. Likewise, all have their share of projects that are reprioritised and budgets that are reallocated. The investigation revealed, however, that significant differences lie in the ways in which the SCM process is driven by the top management of each municipality3. There is much evidence that a municipality’s programme for the expenditure of its capital budget can be significantly delayed if the SCM process is allowed to become too drawn out. In the

opinion of the authors, this, where it occurs, needs to be reined in. Capital budgets unspent represent services not delivered. The “dog” of service delivery, and its timelines, needs to be driving all the components of the service delivery process. If the SCM portion of the process, or any other portion of the process, is taking so long as to result in significantly underspent capital budgets by year end, this is in effect the “tail” (in this instance SCM) “wagging the dog” of service delivery4 5. However, service delivery needs can drive the process if the political will is there. The larger cities, almost without exception, achieved the highest percentage spend of recent years in 2008/9 when construction activity was at a peak prior to the Soccer World cup. Deadlines were politically driven and non-negotiable (and nationally and internationally very visible). The

Including, particularly pertinent to spending of the capital budget, to (budget and delivery requirements permitting) carry out the planning, design and tender process in the financial years prior to commencement of construction.

Act 56 of 2003

Note that the SCM Department is invariably independent of the engineering departments.

IMIESA September 2013

SERVICE DELIVERY

“dog” was, for this period, in the driving seat, and SCM or any other part of the service delivery process was not, unless with good reason, permitted to delay delivery obligations.

3. The SCM process The SCM regulations require municipalities to document in their supply chain management policies not only their supply chain management system, but also effective systems for demand, acquisition, logistics, disposal, risk and performance management. The objectives of the SCM process are typically to ensure that: • goods and services, including construction works and consultant services, are procured by the municipality only in accordance with the authorised procedures • expenditure on goods and services, including construction works and consultant services, is incurred in terms of an approved budget • the threshold values of the different procurement procedures are complied with • tender documentation, evaluation and adjudication criteria, and general conditions of contract, are in accordance with the requirements of relevant legislation, including the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act and the prescripts of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Act • procurement guidelines issued by the National Treasury are taken into account. In order to implement these requirements, the municipality typically sets up a linear process with well-defined steps, implemented by a committee system of officials, which could consist of the following: • bid specification committee • bid evaluation committee • bid adjudication committee. Typically, the first two of these committees are either standing committees or ad-hoc committees, convened as and when required. The bid adjudication committee is usually a standing committee.

Proposed tenders, prepared by the department that owns the project, are first vetted by the specification committee. The SCM department then advertises and in due course receives the tenders. After initial routine checks, the SCM department hands them to the project manager, who heads a process of evaluation by the owner department. The evaluation committee considers the recommendation from that departmental evaluation and makes a recommendation to the adjudication committee. This latter committee may have delegated authority from the accounting officer to award the contract6, or the authority may be reserved to a higher level of management.

4. Service delivery timelines: Survey results Given the uniformity of the regulatory regime, and the uniformity (more or less) of the way

with quicker turnaround times. The foremost of these is the extent to which the process is driven by top municipal management – particularly if top management specifies timelines for each stage of the process, and ensures that they are kept. Also, that it addresses the consequences if these timelines are not adhered to in any particular instance. In one of the municipalities polled, the time for each stage is tightly specified. For example, a maximum of three weeks is allowed for the owner department to do the tender evaluation – but the target is two weeks. If the timeline is not adhered to, the SCM department follows up and the owner department manager has to report formally to the municipal manager on the reason for the delay. Other ingredients for quicker turnaround times include: • providing budget for, and then carrying out the planning, design and tender process in the financial years before construction • frequent regular meetings of the bid adjudication committee – preferably every week9. Evidence suggests that slower turnarounds relate to one or more of the following: • the exclusion from or dominance of SCM depar tment personnel in the committee system • approaching construction procurement in the same way as general goods and services are approached • a lack of understanding on the part of SCM personnel on how infrastructure is planned and delivered • a lack of for ward planning across financial years.

Unlike non-construction procurement, there can be significant changes in the contract price from the time awarded to the time of completion in which municipalities set themselves up to evaluate and award capital work tenders, why there should be such a wide variation in the time required for the process, as reported in our survey of owner departments, is difficult to understand. The shortest average time7 that the authors could discover for a municipality between its tenders being handed to the specification committee and the award decisions being taken by the adjudication committee was 6 to 7 weeks. The longest was 6 to 7 months. (Both timelines exclude the process of receiving and dealing with appeals from unsuccessful tenderers.)8 Undoubtedly, this has considerable effects on the progress of capital budget expenditure. There appears to be a number of key ingredients to the process used by the municipalities

5. The case for differentiation between construction and nonconstruction related procurement 5.1 Introduction

As pointed out earlier, prolonged procurement processes mostly impact on contracts for the

To ‘wag the dog’ means to divert attention from what would otherwise be of greater importance to something else of lesser significance. Alternatively, it means that the less important factor takes the limelight, or takes control, drowning proper attention to what was originally the more important issue. http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/wag+the+dog.html 5 As a commentator quaintly put it: “You can't swing a poodle in business without hitting a ‘tail-wagging-the-dog’ scenario where some process, policy, procedure, or programme controls user happiness. Where we become slaves to the needs and demands of the IT department, efficiency, accounting, PR, legal, marketing, next-quarter's results, etc.; we must work hard to make sure that nobody in the company forgets who we all really work for – the users. I'd recommend putting a big picture of a god in your meeting room, and emphasising who's the dog, who's the tail, and who wags who.” http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2007/02/what_what_tail_is_wa.html 4

Subject only to appeals, if there are any

The times reported by departments have not been independently verified

In both cases, also, excluding term tenders

IMIESA September 2013

SERVICE DELIVERY

construction of capital works. These are invariably complex projects, with complex tender documentation to match, as well as being big-budget items. Section 5 will now make the case that: • (Section 5.2) capital works, and also professional services, are generally very situationand site-specific (and could also be community-specific), and therefore • (Sections 5.3-5.5) the procurement should be treated differently from the procurement of other, non-construction related, types of goods and services. 5.2 Differences between construction and non-construction related contracts

Engineering contractors are required to deliver capital works infrastructure according to specifications and drawings, or to perform frequent maintenance services on infrastructure that is in use, then hand the infrastructure over or back to the user upon completion of the works or services. Professional services are generally also required to: • plan and budget • conduct condition assessments on existing infrastructure • scope requirements in response to the owner or operator’s brief • propose solutions • evaluate alternative solutions • develop the design for the selected solution • produce production information enabling construction • confirm that the design intent is met during construction. Construction procurement generally includes: • professional service contracts for project management, construction monitoring, planning and design, optimisation and condition assessments and specialist investigations • service contracts to repair and maintain infrastructure or components thereof, and the equipment used • supply contracts for equipment, materials, products, components, assemblies, fuel and consumables • construction works contracts to design, erect, construct, maintain, install, rehabilitate, renovate or demolish infrastructure as required. Capital works and professional services are generally situation-, site- and sometimes community-specific. Non-construction procurement, on the other hand, typically includes:

supply and service contracts for direct acquisitions, which generally involve standard, welldefined and scoped services, off-the-shelf items and readily available commodities where an immediate choice can generally be made in terms of the cost of goods or services satisfying specified requirements. Non-construction procurement typically includes: • supply contracts for the purchase of products, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuel, machinery, equipment, appliances, apparatus, consumables, devices, vehicles, trailers, vehicle parts, energy, gas, food, beverages and printed matter • service contracts for the repair, maintenance of machinery, equipment, appliances, apparatus and vehicles; transportation and travel agency services; postal and telecommunications services; research and development; legal, accounting and business services; printing, publishing and advertising services; information technology services and software; and conference, catering and hotel services. Although all public sector procurement is subject to the same legislative framework, there are several fundamental differences between construction procurement and nonconstruction procurement. 5.3 Differences in the methods for comparing and ranking tender offers

Up until the KwaZulu-Natal High Court 2009 ruling on functionality with respect to the provisions of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act10 (PPPFA), the methods for comparing and ranking tenders between nonconstruction procurement and construction procurement were the same. Two schools of thought have emerged in the wake of this judgement regarding the manner in which functionality may be evaluated and compared in tenders: • No points other than those provided for in the PPPFA for price and preference may be included in the evaluation of tenders. This means that functionality (quality) criteria are scored to establish whether or not the functionality offered satisfies a minimum threshold, and only those tenderers who score above the threshold are evaluated on the basis of price and preference. • Objective criteria in addition to price and preference can be taken into account when a tender is evaluated in terms of a points

scoring system. That means “functionality” can be added to the total points for price and preference in the quantum provided for in the PPPFA, to keep the price/preference ratios in the PPPFA intact. As noted earlier, non-construction procurement deals with direct acquisitions that involve standard, well-defined and scoped services, off-the-shelf items and readily available commodities. The business need is commonly achieved through the production of a specification, which then forms a requisition for the procurement of goods or services. An immediate choice can generally be made in terms of the cost of goods or services satisfying specified requirements. In essence, a well-written specification that describes all attributes of a commodity to be procured can simply be evaluated on price and preference only, subject to all qualifying tenderers meeting the minimum standards prescribed in the specification. Construction contracts differ in that each contract is unique and there cannot be direct acquisition of infrastructure. Each contract has a supply chain that needs to be managed and programmed to ensure that the project is completed within budget, to the required quality, and in the time available. Many risks relate to the “unforeseen”, which may occur during the performance of the contract. This could for example include: unusual weather conditions, changes in owner/end-user requirements, ground conditions being different to what was expected, market failure to provide materials, strikes or accidental damage to existing infrastructure. All these factors contribute to a need to change both the timing for the delivery of the works and the price agreed at the time that contracts were awarded. Accordingly, unlike nonconstruction procurement, there can be significant changes in the contract price from the time awarded to the time of completion. Key persons responsible for managing a contract, particularly in complex works, have a major impact on the outcome of these changes. At the same time, there are many different options, solutions and procedures to satisfy an owner’s objectives. The total cost of ownership is also critical. It should be noted in this regard that design typically represents 1 to 2% of the overall life cycle cost of a project, with construction accounting for approximately 6 to 18% of the cost. The remaining 80 to 93% of the lifetime asset cost is accounted

Thus, if there is a query from this committee, and the matter is referred back to the project manager, if he/she deals with it quickly then the item can again be considered by the committee at its next meeting. Hence, a referral could delay a notice of decision by as little as a week.

Act 5 of 2000

IMIESA September 2013

SERVICE DELIVERY

Price and other factors that relate directly to the procurement must be evaluated in order to establish best value for money

for by operations, maintenance and decommissioning. The procurement of supplies and equipment within the construction industry is also different as requirements are frequently established in terms of desired performance. As a result, a range of goods and services (or combinations thereof), with different characteristics, costs, time for delivery, etc., may satisfy such requirements. For all these reasons, lowest price for meeting a minimum standard (acceptable value) is frequently not appropriate in construction procurement. Price and other factors that relate directly to the procurement must be evaluated in order to establish best value for money. The Preferential Procurement Regulations 2011 provide explicitly for the use of “functionality” as a prequalification criterion in order to evaluate acceptable value. Quality may, nevertheless, be evaluated in tender offers together with the preference points system as “other objective criteria” in terms of section 2(1)(f) of

the PPPFA and in accordance with the provisions of the CIDB Standard for Uniformity in Construction Procurement11 in order to arrive at best value for money. Where quality forms part of the tender evaluation criteria, the financial offer and preference are scored out of 100 points in accordance with the provisions of the PPPFA and points for quality are scored out of maximum of 100 points. The points for the preference points system are added to the points for quality in terms of the weightings stipulated in the procurement documents. 5.4 Differences in approach to procurement documents

Procedures relating to the process of offer and acceptance of non-construction procurement

are not included in the standard documentation, as reliance is placed on the following to do so: • PPPFA and its regulations, which provide the methodology for the evaluation of tenders • The compilation of Special Conditions of Contract relevant to a specific bid being included in the tender documents. In contrast, construction procurement documentation has adopted a very different approach. A transparent procurement system has documents which: • publicise the procurement processes and criteria upon which decisions are to be made • present the requirements relating to the process of offer, acceptance and administration of the contract in a clear, unambiguous, comprehensive and understandable manner. Standard conditions for soliciting expressions of interest, and standard conditions of tender published by the CIDB, are referenced in procurement documents and made

FIGURE 1 Supply chains commonly encountered in municipalities

Gen Ge en ne eral good era ods ds

Demand management

Deliv Deliv liive ve ery ry ya an n nd d ma main m a ainte ain in nten n nte te ena e en n na ance a anc nc ce o ce off in nfrrast nfr rras as stru stru uct u uctu cttu tu ure re e

Contract planning processes

Sourcing Procurement

Standard, well defined and scoped services

Purchasing

Receipt of goods

IMIESA September 2013

Procurement processes Management processes

Detailed design processes

Storage of goods

Site processes

Issuing of goods to employees

Close out processes

Off the shelf product/ readily available commodities

Portfolio planning processes

Works (products) maintained on a site

developed

SERVICE DELIVERY

procurement-specific through submission data and tender data, respectively. This approach resonates with the PPPFA, which intends for conditions of a tender to clearly be set out in the tender document. Furthermore, the construction procurement documents are linked to industry standard forms of contract, i.e. a contract between two parties with standard terms that do not allow for negotiation. Such forms of contract are referenced in procurement documents and are made contract-specific through contract data, i.e. through the selection of standard options and the provision of contract-specific data. The CIDB requires that these forms be used with minimal project specific amendments. This is in contrast to the approach in non-construction procurement where extensive Special Conditions of Contract are permitted and may be required to make the General Conditions of Contract (GCC) applicable to a particular project. The CIDB also provides a framework within which procurement documents are compiled. A uniform format for the compilation of procurement documents provides the platform for the standardisation of the component documents and improved communications between those engaged in the procurement process. The CIDB Code of Conduct further regulates the activities of those engaged in construction procurement, beyond the confines of the procurement documents.

Uniformity in Construction Procurement cover the following contract types: • construction works contracts (FIDIC, JBCC and NEC3 families of contracts and GCC 2010), which cater for any level of design responsibility with or without sophisticated management techniques, with payment established on a wide range of priceand cost-based contracting approaches, using a number of different approaches to managing project risk • supply contracts ranging from an “order form” type contract for a single purchase (CIDB) to the provision of goods and related services including design, or goods under a single order, or on a batch order basis (NEC3 contracts) • service contracts (CIDB) for provision of a once-off basic service • term service contracts (NEC3 contracts) to manage and provide a service over a period of time, or provide a service with or without sophisticated management

management” as “the design, planning, execution, control and monitoring of supply chain activities in the delivery of goods or services, with the objective of creating net value and providing oversight and coordination of information and finances within the supply chain”. Thus SCM is the management of all activities at a portfolio level that relates to a supply chain. That is, the management of all the interconnected activities from the point of origin to the point of consumption. In contrast, ISO 10845-1 defines “procurement” as “the process which creates, manages and fulfils contracts”. In other words, it deals with activities surrounding contracts – that is, the development of a procurement strategy and a procurement document, the solicitation of tender offers, the evaluation of submissions, the award of a contract and the administration of a contract. As expressed in these definitions, SCM is far broader than procurement. Procurement at a municipal level, which is unrelated to the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure, is typically for goods and services that are standard, well-defined and scoped. Once purchased, goods invariably need to be taken into storage prior to being issued to employees. Services most often involve routine, repetitive services with well understood interim and final deliverables that do not require officials to provide strategic inputs, or require decisions to be made regarding the fitness for purpose of the service outputs. Accordingly, the supply chain for procurement that is unrelated to the delivery of infrastructure involves one of two basic types that relate to consumption and operational needs. They are: • general goods (i.e. manufactured products or materials) that involve demand management, sourcing, purchasing, receipt, storage and issuing of goods to employees (end users) • general services that involve demand management, procurement, verification and payment for the services provided. In contrast, procurement relating to the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure covers a wide and diverse range of goods and services, which are required to develop or maintain fixed assets on a site. Accordingly, the supply chain for the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure involves the initial and

The CIDB Code of Conduct... regulates the activities of those engaged in construction procurement

5.5 Differences in approach to administration of contracts

National Treasury’s GCCs cover the provision of non-construction related goods and services that do not require sophisticated management techniques but simply comprise straightforward work, which imposes few risks on both the employer and supplier/service provider. These conditions do not include: • management procedures for managing project risks, changes in requirements, the flow of information to suppliers/service providers and the approval/acceptance of designs for purpose-made plant and equipment • methods and conditions of payment. Accordingly, in non-construction procurement, there is no choice of the form of contract. National Treasury’s GCC are always used with or without Special Conditions of Contract. On the other hand, the range of standard forms of contract supported by the CIDB’s Standard for

techniques, with payment established on a wide range of price- and cost-based contracting approaches • professional service contracts (CIDB and NEC3) to provide professional services, such as engineering, design or consultancy advice for a single project or over a term, with or without sophisticated management techniques, with payment established on a wide range of price- and cost-based contracting approaches. It is suggested that, in construction procurement, a procurement strategy (selected packaging, contracting, pricing and targeting strategy, and procurement procedure for a particular procurement) needs to be developed and an appropriate form of contract be selected to support that strategy. There are far more permutations and standard options available for construction-related procurement than there are for non-construction procurement.

6. Differences between procurement and supply chain management The recently published Western Cape Provincial Treasury Instructions define “supply chain

The CIDB Standard for Uniformity in Construction Procurement provides a comprehensive set of rules with very limited latitude for discretion, which needs to be applied in a systematic manner in the form of a set of standard conditions for the calling for expressions of interest and a standard set of conditions of tender.

IMIESA September 2013

SERVICE DELIVERY

subsequent recurring updating of planning processes at a portfolio level flowing out of service delivery and accommodation needs assessment. Thereafter it involves planning at a contract level and the procurement and management of a network of suppliers, including subcontractors to produce a product on a site (i.e. works). There is no need for the municipality to store and issue materials or equipment unless these are issued to officials responsible for maintenance, or are issued free of charge to contractors for incorporation into construction works. Differences between the supply chain for general goods and services, and delivery and maintenance of infrastructure, are shown in Figure 1. The risks that need to be managed, the skills sets that are required and the performance metrics for a supply chain involving the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure are very different to those relating to general goods and services. Thus the procurement of capital works and professional services should be treated differently from the procurement of other types of goods and services.

overly bureaucratised. The emphasis on compliance by box-ticking makes the system costly, burdensome, ineffective and prone to fraud (National Planning Commission 2012, page 57). • Spending more on investment is only the first step. South Africa also has to improve the quality of this spending through better planning, sound procurement systems and greater competition in the economy (Ibid, page 60). • There is a need to improve the ability of procurement systems, to deliver value for money and minimise the scope for corruption. This can be done by distinguishing the different forms of procurement, approaching trade-offs more strategically, building relationships of trust and understanding, building enabling support structures and ensuring effective oversight. (Ibid, page 426)

7. Recent initiatives from national government There appears to be some support in national government circles for views closely similar to those held by the authors. National Treasury has identified issues around procurement similar to those described above. Earlier this year, it conducted hearings on the “current regulatory requirements associated with procurement”, and “the long-term impact of not using functionality as a criterion on which to compete for bids (but rather, only as a minimum requirement)” (National Treasury 2012a). The authors have since been advised that the officials at National Treasury are putting a proposal together for the minister. If the minister agrees, Treasury will reintroduce the functionality element into the procurement of capital works and professional services. The authors had already fully drafted the present paper when the “National Development Plan 2030: Our future – make it work” appeared. It is pleasing to see that it makes the following points supportive of our thesis: • Government’s procurement policies blur the line in matters of corruption, and the state procurement system has become

• Engineering input is essential for infrastructure procurement where it can contribute to ensuring health and safety, mitigating financial risks, identifying effective solutions, ensuring environmental sustainability and conserving natural resources (Ibid, page 460). The authors fully support these more holistic views from National Treasury and the National Planning Commission, and their call to raise the bar for SCM practices.

A key success factor in raising the percentage of capital budget spend is an efficient SCM process. The ingredients for that appear to be: • strict compliance with the legislation • a system that differentiates between construction-related and non-constructionrelated SCM, where risks and performance are actively managed • municipal leadership that is focused on service delivery and is prepared to drive a SCM process that is far broader than “procurement” as defined in the ISO document quoted above • competent, consistent, ethical and committed officials (Cockayne 2012, CESA 2012) forward planning across financial years • setting deadlines for each step of the SCM process – and ongoing monitoring, with intervention where necessary • a bid adjudication committee that meets frequently. This paper does not suggest the watering down of SCM regulations. On the contrary, it argues that the municipal top management should articulate all the SCM processes required in terms of the SCM regulations and should also set clear time frames for each part of the service delivery process, holding the officials accountable should they take longer without good reason. SCM is a key element in the process of delivering services. Thus, when it is practised, it must be driven by the objectives of service delivery, and by the time frames and expenditure programme of the municipality with which it must keep pace in order for that service delivery to take place. The procurement of capital works and professional services, which are generally situation-, site- and often community-specific, needs to be treated differently from the procurement of other types of goods and services. This different treatment must include appropriate recognition of the importance of functionality for long-term value for money and user benefit. A supply chain management department or procurement process in a municipality that, when dealing with capital works or professional services, does not appreciate that supply chain management is: • “the design, planning, execution, control and monitoring of supply chain activities in the delivery of goods or services, with the objective of creating net value and providing

The procurement of capital works... should be treated differently from the procurement of other types of goods and services

IMIESA September 2013

8. Concluding comments It is imperative that SCM departments realise that their role: • is a lot more than simply the solicitation of tender offers, the evaluation of submissions, and the award and administration of contracts • constitutes only a part of the process of service delivery. Some SCM departments, perhaps because they have lost sight of their roles in the process of service delivery, but no doubt also for other reasons such as not having the expertise to deal with some of the complex tender types, can take very long when making deliberations.

SERVICE DELIVERY

oversight and coordination of information and finances within the supply chain” • failing the citizens and the economy of that municipality.

Thanks A special note of thanks to the many municipal officials (names withheld) who answered questions about their service delivery processes.

9. Recommendation The requirements of sustainable service delivery and the schedule (time frame) of the capital works programme of municipalities should drive the timetables for their supply chain management process. If SCM or any other component of the delivery process takes longer than scheduled, top management needs to find out why, and must take remedial action when warranted. Some municipalities are able to achieve fast SCM processes, while still adhering strictly to the SCM regulations that are laid down by National Treasury; top management of other municipalities should ensure that they also do this. The supply chain management process “tail” is vital to transparency and equity, but must not be allowed to “wag” the service delivery “dog”.

References • Auditor-General. 2012. “Local government audit outcomes 2010-11”. • Cockayne, Roy. 2012. “Poor state leadership holds up public works”. Pretoria News, 31 May 2012 • Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), 2012. Press release: “Leadership inconsistencies hinder infrastructure development.” 30 May 2012 • ISO 10845-1:2010. “Construction procurement – Part 1: Processes, methods and procedures.” International Organisation for Standardisation, Geneva • National Planning Commission. 2012. “National Development Plan 2030: Our future – make it work.” • National Treasury. 2005. “Supply Chain Management Regulations.”

• National Treasury. 2011. “Local Government Budgets and Expenditure Review 2011: 2006/07 to 2012/13.” • National Treasury. 2012a. E-mail from National Treasury to two of the authors. 22 March 2012 • National Treasury. 2012b. “Press release: Local Government Revenue and Expenditure: Third-Quarter Local Government Section 71 Report. For the period: 1 July 2011 to 31 March 2012.” 5 June 2012 • Watermeyer, Ron. 2012. “Changing the construction procurement culture to improve project outcomes”. Keynote Address: Joint CIB W070, W092 and TG72 International Conference on Facilities Management, Procurement Systems and Public Private Partnerships, Cape Town. January 2012. • Watermeyer, Ron; Nevin, Graham; Langenhoven, Klaas. 2012. “The supply chain management system for the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure by organs of state.” Civil Engineering, South African Institution of Civil Engineering, July 2012.

IMIESA September 2013

The world needs fewer engineering companies. Rebranded as Royal HaskoningDHV, SSI Engineers & Environmental Consultants believes in being more than an engineering company. Our rebranding to Royal HaskoningDHV ushers in a new class of engineers and consultants, offering solutions for the sustainable interaction between people and their environment, ultimately enhancing society together.

www.rhdhv.co.za www.royalhaskoningdhv.com

SALGA / WRC National Municipal Benchmarking Initiative Workshop IMESA Conference 2013 st

21 and 22 October 2013 – The Boardwalk Hotel & Conference Centre, Port Elizabeth

Programme and Content DAY ONE: MONDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2013 08:30 – 09:00 Registration and Tea/Coffee 09:00 – 09:30 Opening Session: Welcome and Introduction 09:00 – 09:10 Welcome remarks by IMESA 09:10 – 09:20 Remarks by SALGA 09:20 – 09:30 Remarks by Benchmarking Ambassador 09:30 – 10:00 Overview of the National Municipal Benchmarking Initiative –update on key progress to-date 10:00 – 11:00 Session 1: Water Conservation and Demand Management 10:00 – 10:30 The two things you need to know to start constructing an IWA Water Balance 10:30– 11:00

Current status, key findings and emerging trends

11:00 – 11:15 Tea/Coffee Break 11:15 – 12:00 Session 1: Water Conservation and Demand Management (cont) 11:15 – 11:45Group facilitated discussion: Water Conservation & Demand Management What do I currently know? What do I need to know to move forward? How can my peer group help me? What PIs can I track? 11:45 – 12:00 Report back by groups 12:00 – 13:00 Session 2: Human Resources and Skills Development 12:00– 12:30

Which is my “real” organogram: the ideal, funded or filled organogram? Does my organogram meet my service delivery needs?

12:30 – 13:00 Current status, key findings and emerging trends 13:00 – 13:45 Lunch 13:45 – 14:30 Session 2: Human Resources and Skills Development (cont) 13:45 – 14:15Group facilitated discussion: Human Resources & Skills Development What do I currently know? What do I need to know to move forward? How can my peer group help me? What PIs can I track? 14:15 – 14:30 Report back by groups 14:30 – 15:30 Session 3: Service Delivery and Backlogs 14:30 – 15:00 How does scheme functionality impact your service delivery? 15:00 – 15:30 Current status, key findings and emerging trends 15:30 – 15:45 Tea/Coffee Break 15:45 – 16:30 Session 3: Service Delivery and Backlogs (Cont) 15:45 – 16:15Group facilitated discussion: Service Delivery & Backlogs What do I currently know? What do I need to know to move forward? How can my peer group help me? What PIs can I track? 16:15 – 16:30 Report back by groups 16:30

Closure: Day One

16:30 – 18:00 Sponsored Cocktail Networking Session Brought to you by SALGA/WRC’s Municipal Benchmarking Initiative: For Municipalities, By Municipalities, to the Benefit of Municipalities

TJDR 54964

THE PPC

BUILDER’S APP WITH YOU ON EVERY BUILD. ;OPZ Ä YZ[ VM P[Z RPUK HWW MVY I\PSKLYZ PU :V\[O (MYPJH OVZ[Z H YHUNL VM M\UJ[PVUZ designed to help out on every job. Download it to your smartphone or tablet, for free.

Latest product developments

Planning your building or construction project? Check the weather forecast

Find your nearest PPC stockist on the easy-to-use store locator

Find out more about PPC initiatives & events

Available on:

Your questions and answers about cement & concrete

Calculate your material quantities and save with PPC Cement

Level & line it up with the spirit level

Don’t get caught in the dark, SLHK [OL ^H` ^P[O [OL 77* Å HZOSPNO[

Our strength, Your vision.

HOUSING

HOUSING CHALLENGES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Is sustainable development the answer? In a bid to eradicate the severe housing backlog, government set a target in 2008 to improve the quality of life for 500 000 households by 2014 by upgrading of informal settlements. While delivery of housing, access to basic services and more efficient land use formed the basis of this objective, five years down the line, this target is yet to be achieved, writes Candice Landie.

Y THE START of the 2011/12 financial year, more than 8 000 human settlement projects were under way across the country – a far cry from the 2014 goal of half a million. In 2010, the housing backlog was sitting at an astonishing 2.1 million. But before we address the issue of housing and service delivery challenges, let’s take a step back into our country’s history. The abolishment of apartheid in 1994 brought with it the introduction of RDP houses for people from previously disadvantaged areas. While this ‘free’ housing system offered people who could never independently purchase a home a sense of ownership, its reign was short-lived. Government soon realised that escalating material costs coupled with rapid urbanisation, dense township dwellings and huge housing waiting lists, made it impossible to deliver on the promise of proper housing and service delivery for all. For example, Western Cape township Khayelitsha currently has a population of 1.2 million and will, on average, have approximately 38 000 new residents annually. And for those people fortunate enough to receive low-cost housing, the issue of unemployment makes it virtually impossible for them to maintain the upkeep of their property or pay for basic municipal services, as low as these rates may be in rural areas. But history has taught us many lessons, one of which is that you don’t just build houses. You build sustainable development solutions that work.

Planning ahead In order to ensure sustainability in the built environment, it is essential that the proper planning be drafted from the outset. A development ‘checklist’ will help identify challenges that may arise further down the line, thereby allowing for sufficient time to address the issue. In his address at the Planning Africa Conference (in conjunction with the African Planning Association and South African Planning Institute) on ‘Planning for Inclusive Growth in Africa’ in September 2012, Trevor

“Planning is not merely a technical exercise of applying rules, it is about transforming societies” Manuel stated: “Planning is not merely a technical exercise of applying rules, it is about transforming societies, changing entrenched patterns and helping nations become the societies they are capable of becoming.” He further stated that planners need to be cognisant of the challenges that lie ahead. Around half the world’s population is already living in cities and the number looks set to rise. “In South Africa, we estimate that eight million more people will live in cities by 2030. The economic and health imperative to plan for and create sustainable cities is not a luxury, it is a necessity if the 21st century is to provide a secure and sustainable way of life for a world population that over the next four decades will increase by a

third,” Manuel continued. “Cities are central in bringing about tomorrow’s ‘green’ economic benefits and welfare; the provision of decent jobs and human well-being. The quest for sustainability will be increasingly won or lost in our urban areas. The promise that the cities hold requires foresight, political will and intelligent planning.” The South African Planning Institute – with a mandate to enhance the art and science of sustainable local, regional and national human and physical development planning – is involved in various municipal and community projects. One such project is the Magalies Development Initiative (MDI) that was commissioned toward the end of last year. The MDI is a combination of technical and professional input based on an approved municipal precinct plan to enhance crosssectoral integration. The outcomes of the MDI are: improving economic development and growth, improving living conditions, and fostering skills development and community involvement. Following a community work session, an asset and resources identification methodology was selected to identify viable projects and initiatives, which would help invoke a much-needed community spirit within the district. Various voluntary project teams were established under the MDI and many project business cases are being developed in terms of job creation, place-making, social and youth development, food production and greening solutions. “The South African Planning Institute (SAPI) supports the Magaliesburg Development Initiative as a prime example of what can be achieved when the local authority,

IMIESA September 2013

HOUSING

of green buildings. The significant expected growth suggests that South Africa may be a ripe market for green technologies, practices and solutions. Despite this viable market, our country still faces many challenges with regard to sustainable development, with the main areas of concern being high capital costs (reported by 86% of companies participating in the report) and a lack of political support (reported by 40% of companies).

community members and private sector collaborate to ensure that strategic planning is realised with the input of all relevant role players,” says Cornelia van der Bank, CEO of SAPI. “We hope to continue to support this project in future and are excited about the progress made thus far.” While a big chunk of the MDI focuses on new housing, and the upgrade and regeneration of existing low-income areas, the most interesting development in terms of sustainability would have to be The Box. Comprising an inexpensive, off-the-grid structure, The Box initiative is aimed at youth from neglected areas in Magaliesburg. The physical structure incorporates waste and eco-friendly materials such as shipping containers, and uses solar panels as its energy source. It will be a shared innovation space where youth can, for example, access information and host functions. Also in the pipeline is a family park that will bring together existing communities within the Magaliesburg area, the establishment of small-scale farming activities, the development of streets and sidewalks, and the installation of proper street lighting. According to Manuel, Africa will experience unprecedented levels of urbanisation over the next three to five decades. Whether or not this delivers benefits for the people of Africa depends on whether the profession of planners is able to rise to the challenge. But success is a two-way street, and he says this also depends on whether political decision-makers create the necessary policies to enable planners to make the right planning decisions.

Going green When it comes to housing development, sustainability is the latest industry buzzword and while the concept of sustainability has been around for decades, applying sustainable

IMIESA September 2013

ABOVE Example of a basic Box structure, similar to what will be implemented in the MDI

planning, methodology and materials to housing and community construction in a developing country like South Africa, is still considered new territory. Regardless of your take on sustainability, one thing is certain: big-picture sustainability will change the way we think, the way we build and, inevitably, the way we do business. As developing countries industrialise rapidly, global demand for material resources is predicted to increase dramatically. Businesses are likely to face increasing trade restrictions and intense global competition for a wide range of material resources that become less easily available. Scarcity also creates opportunities to develop substitute materials or to recover materials from waste, making the decision to opt for sustainable building components a wise one. About 51% of architects, engineers, contractors, owners and consultants participating in the World Green Building Trends SmartMarket Report 2013 (South Africa included), anticipate that more than 60% of their work will be ‘green’ by 2015, up from 28% of companies in 2012. “Global dialogue helps us rebalance the built environment with our natural environment. This report confirms that the green building movement has shifted from ‘push’ to ‘pull’ – with markets increasingly demanding no less than sustainable development,” says John Mandyck, chief sustainability officer: United Technologies Climate, Controls & Security. According to the report, green building is rapidly taking hold in South Africa, with its share of companies dedicated to this area of expertise growing at a faster rate than in any other part of the world, thus South Africa moves to take its place among the leaders

Why we rely on partnerships The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) constantly investigates trends, developments and varied methods in relation to the construction sector, among others. Its latest housing case study investigated the concepts of sustainable building transformation in the local housing sector, as follows: • Case study 1 – K206 London Road, Alexandra, Johannesburg • Case study 2 – Elangeni Gardens, Marshalltown, Johannesburg • Case study 3 – Potter’s House, Burgers Park, Pretoria • Case study 4 – Felicia’s House, Nellmapius, Pretoria These case studies relied heavily on many theories such as Habraken’s Supports, Open Building Levels and concepts of material/ component reuse. For this purpose, we take a closer look at the K206 Alexandra project – a low-income social housing development that forms part of the greater Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP). Due to the dense living conditions in Alexandra, the designs had to be smart to also allow for better surrounding living conditions. Developed by ASA Architects, the project target was 1 760 houses, providing over 2 156 rental opportunities. The housing was grouped in clusters of eight to ten housing units with semi-private communal courtyards. To promote public private partnerships (PPP), every unit has a 40 or 50 m2 double-storey government-subsidised dwelling, intended for eligible ownership, as well as two adjacent but independent, groundfloor rooms with shared ablutions. The homeowner of the main house has to manage the ground-floor rooms and rent these out to suitable tenants, thereby promoting community interaction, reducing density and assisting the homeowners with a source of income in order to help with the maintenance of the property. But with limited living space – head room of approximately 2 400 mm – material choice and finishes play a significant role in how

HOUSING

tenants experience the small houses. The following materials were selected: â€˘ a simple construction system of concrete masonry walls and concrete floors â€˘ an earthy palette of plastered and painted concrete and fly ash masonry walls, covered by mono pitched roofs of corrugated sheeting with low parapets â€˘ the steel-frame windows and first-floor concrete floor lines were highlighted with plaster and painted white

â€˘ the interior ground- and first floors were finished with durable cement screeds â€˘ the masonry staircase is robust, plastered and fitted with a simple steel railing, which is hinged to allow furniture to be moved up the staircase. Authors of the K206 case study, Dr Amira Osman and Calayde Davey of the CSIR, indicated that although the concept of the project is novel, and residents generally seem satisfied with it, developers found that great improvements could have been made. BELOW Exterior views of the K206 housing project

For instance, due to the restricted interior space, a lighter wall finish and less porous masonry product would have worked better. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, intricate detailing in material choice was limited. Developers also felt that a concrete standup could have been constructed around the base of the concrete floor to prevent water from seeping through. They were aware of the flooding challenge from the onset but the materials selected were the best, given the situation and budget. While the roof construction is very durable with corrugated sheeting fitted on steel rafters (ensuring no leakage), the lack of

IMIESA September 2013

Not all kerbs are the same... Introducing the Bosun Castle Bottom Kerb.

1BUFOU 1FOEJOH ;" /P

t &BTJFS UP IBOEMF t 2VJDLFS UP JOTUBMM t #FUUFS BEIFTJPO XJUI MFTT NPWFNFOU "WBJMBCMF PO 'JHVSF BOE $ NN LFSCT Advantages of Castle Bottom Kerb, Compared to Conventional Kerbs t 5IF DBWJUJFT QSPWJEF B HSJQ GPS JOTUBMMFST XIFO MBZJOH UIF LFSCT 5IJT FOBCMFT NVDI FBTJFS IBOEMJOH t 5IF DBWJUJFT NBLF UIF $BTUMF #PUUPN ,FSC NVDI RVJDLFS BOE FBTJFS UP JOTUBMM 8IFSF VOMFWFM TDSFFE TVSGBDFT GPSDF JOTUBMMFST UP VQMJGU m MM VQ BOE SF MBZ DPOWFOUJPOBM LFSCT JU JT FBTJFS UP NBOPFVWSF B $BTUMF #PUUPN ,FSC JOUP QMBDF XJUI UIF TDSFFE CFJOH EJTQMBDFE UP UIF DBWJUJFT JO UIF LFSC t 5IF $BTUMF #PUUPN TJOLT JOUP UIF TDSFFE QSPWJEJOH NVDI CFUUFS BEIFTJPO BOE NBOZ NPSF QPJOUT PG TVSF CPOEJOH t 5IF $BTUMF #PUUPN JT MFTT QSPOF UP NPWFNFOU UIBO DPOWFOUJPOBM n BU LFSC TVSGBDFT PODF UIF CFEEJOH IBT DVSFE t 5IF n BU CPUUPN PG DPOWFOUJPOBM LFSCT EP OPU IBWF DPOTJTUFOU TVQQPSU GSPN UIF TDSFFE BT UIF TDSFFE JT OFWFS B QFSGFDU NBUDI UP UIF CPUUPN TVSGBDF PG UIF LFSC 5IF FOUJSF CPUUPN TVSGBDF NJHIU UIFSFGPSF OPU CF JO DPOUBDU XJUI UIF TDSFFE SFTVMUJOH JO LFSC CSFBLBHFT PODF XFJHIU JT BQQMJFE GSPN BCPWF 5IF SFHVMBS QPJOUT PG TVSF CPOEJOH PG UIF $BTUMF #PUUPN ,FSC BOE UIFJS QSPYJNJUZ UP FBDI PUIFS OFHBUF UIJT QPTTJCJMJUZ

E+I 18075

www.bosun.co.za Tel 0860 267 862 info@bosun.co.za

HOUSING

Moving ahead on new projects, it is suggested that alternative technologies such as sandbag construction, adobe construction, or bamboo-reinforced concrete be investigated for viability and cost-effectiveness. On the positive side, the communal nature of the project, through the unique clustering and shared courtyard space, may encourage further communal systems such as solar water heating, rainwater harvesting, refuse separation and collection, washing and drying areas as well as unique water and waste recycling opportunities. The design, layouts, material selection and detailing have been taken into consideration for future incorporation.

ABOVE The robust masonry staircase

insulation or ceiling makes the interior uncomfortable in extreme summer and winter temperatures. Unfortunately, in this case, passive ventilation was not optimal due to inadequate window placing.

8202/E

IMIESA September 2013

Lessons from the Mother City Another PPP project is the Nedbank and City of Cape Town’s green affordable housing developments in the Rugby and Silvertown areas. The project will see the construction of 92 one- and two-bedroom apartments, and 23 three-bedroom semi-detached houses, aimed at people in the low-income bracket and priced from R450 000. “Thanks to the

sustained partnership, we are able to work towards our goal of providing citizens with integrated and inclusive housing opportunities by harnessing the skills resources of the city and Nedbank,” said an enthusiastic councillor Tandeka Gqada. The Silvertown development is the smaller of the two, offering eight plot and plan units priced from R625 000. Once the rezoning processes have been finalised, there are also plans to develop affordable housing sites in Ottery and Wetton in early 2014. According to Manie Annandale, head of Nedbank’s Corporate Property Finance Affordable Housing Development Unit, this project allows the bank to give effect to its strategy of supporting the City of Cape Town’s affordable housing plans, through the provision of financial backing.

Government’s upgrade Completely unrelated to low-cost housing but presenting great lessons in terms of sustainable development is the new Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) head office in Pretoria, which boasts an impressive 6 Star

HOUSING

Susutainable building components: Rugby and Silvertown • insulation of hot water pipes and roof space • dual flush toilets • water efficient bathroom fittings • permeable paving • heat pumps with individual storage tanks • on-site stormwater management • optimisation of windows for energy efficiency • energy efficient lighting • shading of windows.

ABOVE Alderman Belinda Walker, City of Cape Town mayoral committee member; Chantal Hanslo, director at City Parks, and Manie Annandale of Nedbank

Green Star SA Office Design v1 certification from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). Unveiled in June this year and hailed as the first 6 Star-rated government

building in the country, these offices cut through traditional construction silos, offering a drastic reduction in energy consumption, solar photovoltaic panels and innovative water harvesting and reuse systems. “This is an exceptional illustration of the public and private sectors working together to deliver an outstanding example of a green building,”

says Brian Wilkinson, CEO of the GBSCA. The project team responsible for piecing together this masterpiece includes PDNA Consulting Engineers, Aveng Grinaker-LTA and Uys & White Landscape Architects. While it doesn’t have a 6-Star rating, the City of Cape Town’s electricity services head office achieved a 4-Star Green Star SA Office v1 Design Rating. It is, however, the first local government building to achieve green building status. Sustainable building components can be found in the lighting and HVAC systems

IMIESA September 2013

POSSIBILITIES THAT MOVE PEOPLE CLOSER AT AFRISAM WE DON’T JUST BUILD THE COUNTRY’S INFRASTRUCTURE, WE BUILD PARTNERSHIPS THAT CREATE POSSIBILITIES. Take our involvement in the massive Gautrain project where we supplied 439 000 tons of high quality ballast, not to mention our Readymixed concrete that made this mammoth project the achievement it is today. Thanks to our advanced construction materials and technical solutions, we’re bringing communities closer.

www.afrisam.co.za With the planet as one of our core values, we assess the carbon footprint of each and every one of our operations and products while actively striving to drive down our impact on the environment.

HOUSING

(sensor and climate control), paint and building fabrics, and water fittings. Situated in Bellville, Cape Town, the building has been designed to promote the use of natural light and maximise views to the outside, with curved facades that deflect wind and noise from the busy N1. “The city has focused its efforts and resources toward the implementation of environmental strategies that aim to reduce overall resource consumption,” explains Arabel McCelland, project manager, Sillito Environmental Consulting (part of the project team).

Energy wise While sustainable development does not revolve around energy consumption, given the escalating electricity hikes and battle with coal-fired power stations, this is a focal area of concern in South Africa. The City of Johannesburg recently conducted a case study on sustainable energy housing based on research and findings in Cosmo City. The objective of promoting energy efficiency in Cosmo City was mainly to encourage energy conservation behaviour among residents, enhance residents’ comfort by improving the thermal comfort of their homes, and contribute toward skills development and job creation through the roll-out of energy efficient projects. Before any energy efficient projects were rolled out in Cosmo City, it was important to ask why government should introduce sustainable BELOW Artist’s impression of the DEA green building in Pretoria RIGHT The City of Cape Town’s ecofriendly electricity services head office TOP The SWH units that have been installed in Cosmo City

IMIESA September 2013

energy in low-income housing developments. Is it a critical window for implementing sustainable energy design, or just a lost opportunity that could have been better utilised elsewhere? The reality is that the poor spend a staggering 30% of their income on energy services and a huge contribution to this is the fact that RDP houses are energy wasters. There is no insulation and no use of solar power, and residents are forced to pay the price to keep temperatures regulated. In the case of Cosmo City, it is a R3.5 billion mixedincome housing development, with about 5 000 low-income houses. A survey conducted in line with the case study

HOUSING

Cosmo City. The oldest communities were targeted first.

Statistics arising from the Climate Proofing Programme 1 635 kg of carbon dioxide per annum per household

1 380 kg of carbon dioxide per annum for SWHs and 255 kg for insulated ceilings

Whole project savings

Approximately 1 258 t of carbon dioxide per year

Estimated savings in electricity costs

R1 145.94 per household per year

Monitoring and verification of carbon emissions reductions determined from monitoring houses between August 2009 and October 2011

found that 65% of respondents do not use space heating in their homes during winter, mainly due to financial constraints, while 21% use electric heaters, 0.06% choose paraffin flame stoves and 0.06% opt for electric stoves as a means of staying warm. The aim of the City of Johannesburg’s Climate Proofing Programme is to address these challenges and offer comfort to residents – not forgetting the obvious environmental benefits. Phase 1 of the programme included the installation of 170 solar water heaters (SWH) – high-pressure systems – in Cosmo City’s

Extension 2, at a cost of R15 000 per unit. Funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Phase 2 saw the installation of 700 SWH units – low-pressure systems – at R4 400 per unit. This phase also consisted of the installation of insulated ceilings and CFLs. In addition, a total of 700 IsoBoard ceilings were installed while 21 000 CFLs were distributed. While the programme saw a significant reduction in energy use, there was only enough budget to roll out to 700 houses, as opposed to the 5 000 low-income houses in

Online innovations In the built environment, many developing countries look to first world countries for inspiration, but inspiration might be closer than we think. Take the City of Kigali in Rwanda, for example. It launched an innovative online Construction Permit Management Information System that will make the process of acquiring construction permits swifter, simpler and much easier. The process of obtaining permits for any construction-related job can be tedious but South Africa can take its cue from the City of Kigali. The US$1.1 million (R11 million) project comes as a bid to enhance service delivery and promote public confidence in the city. During a press event to launch the new system, the mayor of the City of Kigali, Ndayidaba Fidele, said that over the past few years, the city had been involved in streamlining the system of issuing construction permits, thereby reducing the long waiting period and countless

PAVED roads

61 2364

IMIESA September 2013

HURVLRQ SURWHFWLRQ , SUHFDVW SURGXFWV , SDYLQJ FRQFUHWH PDVRQU\ , GUDLQDJH , NHUEV , UHWDLQLQJ ZDOOV

Technicrete Double Zig-Zag Interlock pavers are the answer to low-maintenance roads Tel: 0861266267 www.technicrete.co.za

HOUSING

Q&A with Dr Jeffery Mahachi, Advisor Special Projects: NHBRC Q. In line with the National Home Builder Registration Council’s (NHBRC) Legacy Project, how do you feel about the use of green building technologies to create sustainable human settlements? A. The Legacy Project in Cape Town was about showcasing innovative building technologies in South Africa. The houses were built using materials and products that demonstrate efficient utilisation of energy and water. Green building technologies are not yet fully adopted in South Africa and the NHBRC believes that through the proper choice of building products, the housing industry will contribute significantly to the reduction of energy consumption, both embodied energy and operating energy. Furthermore, these houses will contribute to the sustainability of the environment and resources will be efficiently utilised from conceptual stage through to demolition stage when the utility is no longer required. Q. Are materials used in sustainable development more expensive? A. The cost of building a house should not be considered by just looking at the structure. Rather, one should look at the life cycle cost, which is the total cost from conceptual planning, design, construction, and operation, through to maintenance, renovation and demolition. From this perspective, green housing construction is sustainable and definitely much cheaper than conventional construction. Q. What are the most popular green building components on the market? A. The NHBRC cannot specify which components are most popular. However, we recognise building systems that are innovative and meet the National Building Requirements as approved by the Agrément Board of South Africa. The details of such systems are available on www.agrement.co.za Q. Do you think the Legacy Project is an overly ambitious one? A. No. In fact, the NHBRC has been assigned by the National Department of Human Settlements to champion projects that will utilise green building technologies. The Legacy Project, for example, will be rolled out to and tried in a number of provinces at a slightly bigger scale. The landscape of South Africa in the near future is definitely changing.

IMIESA September 2013

ABOVE A screenshot of Kigali’s online construction permit system

procedures. “The system will promote doing business in the city and facilitate investors and other developers,” he mentioned. In summary, the new system will ensure that people no longer have to queue at the city’s office to obtain construction permits, as this can now be accessed via office computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones. Judging by our affordable housing solutions that work, sustainable developments that do more than just erect buildings, community projects that emanate unity, innovative online solutions from Africa and a vast knowledge of green building components, it is evident that South Africa and its surrounds have more to offer than we give ourselves credit for. But, in spite of our wealth of experience and mountains of research, one thing’s for certain: if private and public partnership housing projects don’t flourish at a rapid rate, there is far more cause for concern that we realised. To quote Naren Bhojaram, president of Consulting Engineers Southern Africa (CESA): “The construction industry is the main driver of economic development, which is vital in building a winning nation… we cannot afford infrastructure mistakes. Political dynamics play a significant role in boosting investor confidence. Our time is now!”

NORTHERN CAPE

HOMEVALE WWTW

Refurbishment and extension progressing With the Homevale Wastewater Treatment Works in the Northern Cape operating at above its design capacity of 30 Mℓ/d, Sol Plaatje Municipality identified the urgent need to increase the treatment capacity of the works. Chantelle van Schalkwyk interviews Aurecon associate Les O’Connell on the progress of the project.

HE PROJECT ENTAILED refurbishing an existing 30 Mℓ/d wastewater treatment works (WWTW), extending its capacity to 48 Mℓ/d and diverting purified effluent by pumping it through a 700 mm pipeline to a high point from where it could either gravitate to the Vaal River or be utilised by farmers,” explains O’Connell. Aurecon was responsible for the planning, design and construction super vision of the project, with numerous other contractors involved in additional aspects of the project, including Marange Construction, Empa Construction, Eigenbau, Botjheng Water, Entsha Henra Construction, HSH Construction, Metsi Projects, IWAC Joint Venture as well as Tau Pele-Selenane Joint Venture. The broad thrust of the programme was to refurbish the WWTW in order to stabilise the effluent quality and simultaneously extend it to accommodate additional inflows and implement a scheme to divert effluent from Kamfers Dam to a balancing tank.

Sustainable focus ABOVE Purified effluent is pumped through a 700 mm pipeline to a high “The project lays the basis for sustainpoint from where it either gravitates to able development in Kimberley while at the the Vaal River or is utilised by farmers same time addressing environmental issues related to a large flamingo population that inhabits Kamfers Dam,” says O’Connell, officers were recruited through the ward adding that the transfer of purified effluent councillors in the area and local people will also provide economic opportunities for were employed, with contractors only using agricultural use to farmers in the vicinity of permanently employed personnel to carr y the transfer pipeline. out work for which specific skills, that “The project also has regional significance were unavailable locally, were required, in that the transfer of effluent and the notes O’Connell.  associated lowering of the level of the pan will ensure the security of a main railway line, which is critical for the export of manganese from the Northern Cape.” Additionally, from the sustainable employment viewLes O’Connell, associate point, a number of community liaison at Aurecon

“It is anticipated that the extension of the capacity of the WWTW will be sufficient to sustain the city until 2020.”

IMIESA September 2013

NORTHERN CAPE

Project outline a) WWTW refurbishment

This aspect of the project was carried out in three phases under five contracts. Phase 1 was the emergency intervention to address the most pressing requirements when the project commenced in June 2009. It involved clearing blocked pipes in the works, replacing a collapsed outfall sewer and creating a buffer pond to increase retention time before the effluent reaches the pan. Phase 2 referred to the refurbishment of the existing works in order to ensure that the works were in proper working order. Part of this second phase included the provision of an additional secondary settling tank (SST) to add to the existing three. The purpose of this SST is to provide operational flexibility with the added benefit of a slight increase in the WWTW’s capacity to 33 Mℓ/d. During the refurbishment of one of the existing SSTs, the floor of the SST failed and the whole structure had to be replaced. The Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funding, as well as R7.2 million from the Department of Water Affairs (DWA), was made

available for the refurbishment of the works. To date, R67.4 million has been expended on the refurbishment, and it is estimated that once the balance of the retention payments is made, the total expenditure will be R67.9 million. b) WWTW extension

The extension of the WWTW comprised an additional 15 Mℓ/d treatment lane, which consists of an inlet works, a biological reactor, two SSTs, two detention and one buffer pond, two lane sludge recycling pump stations, an aerobic sludge digester, a thickening sludge pump station, sludge drying beds, as well as a number of ancillary structures, stormwater drainage and roads. In order for this to be achieved, a new inlet splitter was required to divide the effluent between the old works and the extension. The

ABOVE The extension of the WWTW is on track to be completed in May 2014. The refurbishment has already been completed

extension is being implemented through civil, mechanical and electrical contracts. MIG funding was also obtained for the extension of the works, with the approved funding comprising R153 million MIG funds and R22 million to be sourced from the municipality funds. Additionally, in July last year a further R15 million was made available by the DWA under the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) for the utilisation on the Homevale WWTW project. The spending to date, which has been limited to expenditure on acquiring mechanical and electrical components and to professional fees, is approximately R25.25 million.

IMIESA September 2013

2 Harris Street, Kimberley, South Africa, P.O. Box 10197, Beaconsfield, 8315 Tel: +27 (0)53 842 0044, Fax: +27 (0)53 842 0300, E-mail: hshncfs@netactive.co.za, Website: www.hshconstruction.co.za

NORTHERN CAPE

c) Diversion of effluent from Kamfers Dam

This project comprises a technical/construction portion, as well as a developmental portion; however, the technical/construction portion is currently the most important in addressing what has been termed crisis levels at the Kamfers Dam. The technical construction portion is to be completed in two main phases comprising five separate contracts. The developmental aspects relate to a further two phases, which will be implemented subsequent to the completion of the technical aspects and involve making water available to commercial farmers for irrigation and establishing emerging farmers on a portion of municipal land utilising purified effluent to irrigate crops – although the latter phase has as yet not progressed beyond the conceptual stage. A recent update on the level of the pan notes that, with the rainfall experienced in 2012, the Johannesburg line no longer appears to be in danger and the level of the pan is steadily dropping to the point where the submergence of the Hotazel line has decreased from 900 mm in September 2011 to a current 400 mm as of the end of 2012. The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is funding an amount of R18 million

towards the diversion of effluent, while the R74 million balance is to be funded by Transnet, given that at this stage it is most seriously affected by the rising levels in the dam, with the Hotazel trajectory having to be closed and the main line to Johannesburg under threat since 2011.

The biggest challenge on-site to date has been the soil conditions, which comprised very deep clays

Project progressing Accor ding to O’Connell, to date, the project in its entirety is progressing well, with the Homevale WWTW having already been refurbished and the contract for the extension on track, to be completed in May 2014. The Effluent Diversion scheme is also nearing completion and, when IMIESA’s sister magazine Water&Sanitation Africa spoke to O’Connell in February, the scheme was on track to be fully operational by the end of March this year.

Challenging conditions The biggest challenge on-site to date, according to O’Connell, has been the soil conditions, which comprised very deep clays subject to groundwater infiltration. “This has posed a challenge in terms of the stability of structures,” says O’Connell. Care has therefore been taken in the design of the interface between the clay, the foundation of structures

and under-floor drainage. In addition, pressure relief valves have been included in all the structures that are susceptible to floating, he notes. O’Connell adds that an interesting technique utilised on-site is the founding of water retaining structures without layer works in order to minimise the possibility of groundwater accumulating from the surrounding clays. “This is a creative method of handling the prevailing soil conditions.” “Working on an operational plant has required careful coordination with the municipal staff at the WWTW and a close working relationship between site staff and municipal staff. Much of the success of these interactions can be attributed to the continuous support of Boy Dhluwayo, executive director: Infrastructure and Services at the Sol Plaatje Municipality.”

Forward planning According to O’Connell, the capacity requirements were informed by various planning documents, including the Integrated Development Programme, Spatial Development Framework and by interrogating the institutional knowledge of the planning and technical staff within the municipality. “It is anticipated that the extension of the capacity of the WWTW will be sufficient to sustain the city until 2020.” However, he concludes that the project does allow room for expansion.

IMIESA September 2013

MANGAUNG

OUTLOOK

Infrastructure ambitions for the medium term 2012 was a great year for Mangaung in the sense that we claimed our space as the heart of South Africa. By Thabo Manyoni, executive mayor of Mangaung

S A CITY, we believe that it is our mandate to deliver excellent service to our electorate. Like other municipalities across the country, Mangaung is faced with the challenges of service delivery backlog in areas such as housing, water, sanitation and unemployment. We have identified several interventions, like identifying pockets of land in Vistapark, Ceciliapark, at the airport and Hillside View to accommodate the rising demand for housing. The city is also losing a lot of revenue through water pipe leaks. However, the minister of Water Affairs has committed to assisting the municipality in financing programmes to help reduce the problem and ensure an end to the underground pipe leaks that are making the city lose millions in revenue. As with any major city in the world, Mangaung is also privy to crime, especially in the booming CBD. To ensure the safety of our people and visitors, we have installed CCTV cameras at strategic points in the three towns and at some entertainment hot spots. Together with our established law enforcement centres and continued traffic police visibility, this has helped in our fight against crime. In our strides to make Mangaung a city where people can live, work and invest, we have developed an extensive Spatial Development Framework (SDF), which is aimed at improving the lives of Mangaung residents, while attracting investors and those seeking better opportunities â€“ from business and school to pleasure and leisure pursuits. The projects earmarked under the SDF include the N8 Corridor Development and the Bloemfontein Airport precinct development. New industrial development and human settlements will predominantly be taking place towards the east of Bloemfontein, especially along the vicinities of the N8 Development Zone.

IMIESA September 2013

The N8 Corridor Development Project promises to be one of the most significant investment opportunities that will guarantee jobs to many residents and contribute towards building a better life for all. The envisaged development at Naval Hill will undoubtedly be one of the municipalityâ€™s world-class recreational facilities and tourism destinations that will give the local economy a great boost. Similarly, through the ongoing development of the Bloemfontein Airport, Mangaung is positioning itself as one of the emerging aero cities in the country. The proposed Bloemfontein Airport precinct, to the south of the airport entrance, is a multibillion rand infrastructure and property development project that has kicked off with implementation of the first phase. The project comprises the development of an international convention centre, a government complex, a regional shopping mall and an array of sustainable housing typologies. This is an opportunity for discerning property investors to widen and improve their investment portfolios. It should be noted that youth are the core of our economy, hence their development is a priority for us. Whatever we plan, we have to ensure that these

plans do not exclude young people, as well as women and children. Some of the projects will include a new furniture factory run by youth, firefighters training at Ehrlich Park Fire Station and youth centres. To augment our vision for the city, we have already begun with some huge water and sanitation projects. We are also improving our road infrastructure, which is particularly important because Mangaung is a central link for South Africa. These projects include: â€˘ The construction of the Naval Hill Water Reservoir to supply water to the east of Bloemfontein. The project commenced in BELOW Areas covered by this project

MANGAUNG

April 2012 and is expected to be completed in November 2013. • The extension of the capacity of the Longridge Reservoir, which was scheduled for completion in August 2013. • Road rehabilitation, construction and maintenance of major roads, including Andries Pretorius, Eeufees, Church, Haldon and Fort Hare streets. An amount of R436 million has been budgeted for roads and stormwater, sanitation, waste management and water projects for the period 2012/13. Through these projects and many others, 2 823 job opportunities have been created, with 802 being permanent. Mangaung has prioritised water and sanitation programmes across its three areas, with particular focus on Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu. To this effect, R470 million has been set aside for the upgrading of roads and stormwater; R500 million for water services; R370 million for sanitation, which includes sewer bulk and sewer connections; and R37 million for landfill site management.

“Through all these programmes, Mangaung will continuously work to fast-track service delivery and grow the economy of the city.”

We are also proud that since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, we have provided more than 176 000 stands/households with access to sanitation, while more than 155 000 stands have access to basic water Thabo Manyoni, executive mayor supply in Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and of Mangaung Thaba Nchu. rental to social and commercial initiatives. One of the objectives in terms of housing The city’s tourist attractions include Naval developments is to earmark the city for social Hill, whose status was further elevated upon integration, eradicate informal settlements the unveiling of the Nelson Mandela statue and consolidate dysfunctional settlements. and an overhauling of the area to make it Currently, the city’s flagship housing project even safer. Naval Hill gives tourists a bird’s is the soon-to-be-occupied Brandwag Housing eye view of the sprawling city of Bloemfontein. Project, a mixed housing project for middle Through all these programmes, Mangaung income earners who are not eligible for state will continuously work to fast-track service housing but cannot access bank loans. Land delivery and grow the economy of the city. has also been earmarked in certain areas We will ensure that all the strides we made in in and around Mangaung for future mixed2012 do not fall away and that 2013/14 will development initiatives, which will encompass be even better! residential units ranging from low-income and

IMIESA September 2013

Sustainable technology solutions for a greener future • CCTV pipe inspection, condition assessment and structural grading • Vactor combination cleaning • Internal pipe diameter laser measurements • Non-man entry void and cavity inspections

• Integrated sonar, laser and CCTV condition assessment under normal Ʈow conditions in large diameter pipes • High pressure water jet cleaning • Bucket dredging • Asset/infrastructure management

• GIS mapping and GIS correction of buried infrastructure • Infrastructure locating and data collection for hydraulic modelling • Manhole condition assessment • Well, shaft and borehole inspections

57 Adriana Crescent, Gateway Industrial Park, Rooihuiskraal | t (+27) 86 117 4448 | f (+27) 12 661 4648 | www.sightlines.co.za

SASTT contact details: Web: www.sastt.org.za President: Mike King Tel: (021) 417 2900 Fax: (021) 417 2999 E-mail: mike.king@smec.com Honorary director: Joop van Wamelen Tel: (012) 567 4026 Fax: 086 668 4026 E-mail: director@sastt.org.za

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

Overcoming constraints The City of Cape Town’s construction of a new pump station and bulk sewer pipelines required installing sewer rising mains across a highly trafficked roadway.

ANY OF THE residents living in the Table View area will be familiar with the frequent congestion often encountered along Blaauwberg Road due to high traffic volumes. This two-lane dual carriage way also houses a myriad of underground services including bulk water, telecoms, electrical conduits, stormwater infrastructure and a 600 mm diameter Chevron pipeline. This along with the ongoing construction of the Integrated Rapid Transit bus lanes – also in Blaauwberg Road – meant that the only feasible option would be to utilise trenchless methods to install the pipelines under this roadway. The selected trenchless method also needed to satisfy the inherent project constraints, namely a zero tolerance for surface deflection (in particular, any subsidence of the roadway due to voids being created during the installation process) and Chevron had certain construction restrictions pertaining to trenchless construction work near its pipelines. In

The steel casing being lowered into place; view of the rammer in the foreground

addition, the use of ductile iron pipe for the sewer rising main throughout (including the section to be installed by trenchless means) necessitated the use of a large diameter conduit that would be large enough to accommodate the 600 mm diameter ductile iron pipe as well a 75 mm flange at the joints (effectively increasing the profile of the ductile iron pipe to 750 mm in diameter). Pipe ramming was specified as the preferred trenchless method as it satisfied all requirements. The project scope called for the installation of two parallel 1 064 mm diameter steel sleeves, each measuring 56 m in length, to be installed under the roadway at a depth of approximately 4 m below the road level. Specialist trenchless contractor TT Innovations was appointed for the pipe ramming work and deployed its 24-inch pneumatic rammer for the

project. The rammer is capable of generating 1 010 t of force per blow and is able to operate at a frequency of 177 blows per minute. As part of the preparation work, a launch pit was excavated and two 12 m long concrete slabs were cast, which serve as support for the steel pipe and also provide control for the pipe alignment and level. Once the steel pipe is installed, the ductile iron pipeline will be inserted into the steel casing and later grouted in place. So far 50% of the 112 m combined steel casing length has been installed, and TT Innovations site manager, Bernard Kotze, says that the project is due for completion at the end of August to mid-September – dependant on the in-situ material hardness.

IMIESA September 2013

Trenchless Technology Specialists

Our range of services include: • Pipe Bursting • Horizontal Directional Drilling • Pipe Rehabilitation • Slip Lining

• • • •

Pipe RO[ming CCTV Inspection Dewatering Industrial Pipe Cleaning

• • • •

HDPE Welding Deep Excavation and Shoring Underground Service Detection Close-ﬁt lining: COMPACT PIPE

For more information you can contact us: +27 (0)21 761 3474 F +27 (0)21 797 1151 E info@tt-innovations.co.za www.tt-innovations.co.za

Visit us at Bauma Africa, Gallagher Estate, September 18-21st, Outdoor stand D31

UTILITY INSTALLATION ISN’T AN OPEN AND CUT CASE. Busy cities don’t shut down for utility upgrades – especially when it comes to tearing up high-traffic areas. Vermeer has the planning tools and trenchless equipment to help complete your utility installation projects without shutting down a major street. When it comes to underground installations, look to an industry leader – Vermeer. Call Vermeer Equipment Suppliers on 011 608 0893 e-mail: info@vermeer.co.za www.vermeer.co.za VERMEER and the VERMEER LOGO are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the United States and / or other countries. © 2007 Vermeer Manufacturing Company. All Rights Reserved.

WE HOLD RELIABILITY TO A HIGHER STANDARD. YOURS.

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT

Two decades of trenchless technology This year, Trenchless Technologies celebrates its 20th anniversary in the directional drilling and pipe rehabilitation industry, which indicates a certain tenacious faith, Trenchless Technologies’ Sam Efrat tells Chantelle van Schalkwyk.

NE NEEDS TO be extremely tenacious and have a great deal of faith in order to overcome the many challenges one is faced with over the years. Trenchless Technologies is in business because from inception we managed to fill a need in the market to provide viable solutions and alternatives to conventional open-cut pipe laying,” says Efrat. Trenchless Technologies was registered in 1991 and in May 1993 commenced operations with a 3 t truck, a compressor, two earth piercing tools and some R80 000 in capital. “We began operating out of a studio at the back of my house in Berea, Johannesburg, with five employees. Today, we have over a 100 employees, many of whom have been with us for 10 to 20 years, through thick and thin,” explains Efrat.

progress in pipe bursting (and to a lesser extent sliplining) for various municipalities that could see the benefit of not digging up their streets and pavements as well as the cost savings achieved, and our main focus

fold and form solutions to further expand our range of services.” According to Efrat, to date some 400 km of trenchless work has been undertaken. “Since inception, we have experienced an average 20% year-on-year growth and expect this trend to continue, fuelled by the impending investment in water infrastructure needed to secure Southern Africa’s water resources, as well as the continued fibre optic network roll-outs.” He anticipates that the trenchless rehabilitation market is going to grow exponentially from a R500 million per year industry to a R5 billion per year one. “We also expect the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) industry to continue to grow in parallel to the fibre optic network roll-out; this will continue for several years with the ‘last mile’ and ‘fibre to the home and business’.” 

“Since inception, we have experienced an average 20% yearon-year growth and expect this trend to continue”

Growth & gains The continued growth of the organisation can be attributed to the fact that it immediately filled a need in the market for boring small diameter holes beneath the roadway to install electrical conduits and water piping, using earth piercing or moling tools and pipe ramming, continues Efrat, adding that at first this was its “bread and butter”. In 1994, Trenchless Technologies acquired the Terra Hammer agency for Southern Africa and purchased a range of percussive hammers from 65 to 210 diameter, which allowed the company to undertake a full range of horizontal boring for pipes from 25 to 160 mm, pipe bursting from 110 to 315 mm as well as pipe ramming upto 400 mm. “We made good

for many years remained pipe bursting,” he states. He adds that in time, as technology improved, the company became more versatile and offered a wider range of more tailored solutions. “In 1997, we acquired the first of four horizontal directional drills, and in 2004 undertook our first CIPP (curedin-place pipe) project, followed in 2006 by SPR EX (Expanda) and SPR PE (Ribline) spiral wound piping and in 2011 SPE RO (Rotoloc). At present, we are also looking at

BELOW Parktown Reservoir ButtWelding 560 HDPE PE 100 PN 10 prior to sliplining

IMIESA September 2013

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

Achieving success The organisation’s greatest achievement to date, project-wise, has been the Port Elizabeth Goes Trenchless project, which won the ISTT Project Award for 2012. “This is the highest accolade available in the international trenchless industry, chosen from projects nominated from 30 affiliated trenchless societies worldwide,” explains Efrat. The project entailed the rehabilitation of two parallel sewers located in the heart of Port Elizabeth’s CBD and was originally designed to use the spiral wound technique throughout; however, the team soon discovered that site conditions required also using CIPP and pipe bursting at certain locations. “Altogether, we used five different trenchless techniques – spiral wound expanded to a close fit, spiral wound in-place, ambient CIPP, UV CIPP and pipe bursting, to successfully complete the project. “This project is an excellent example of using trenchless technology options to address unanticipated site conditions, allowing the project to be completed successfully without excavation and surface disruption,” says Efrat. The project that has been by far the most challenging – and interesting – to date for Efrat and his team is the ABSA Bank Energy Centre Sleeves Reticulation. This required the installation of 85 sleeves using HDPE pipe from 110 to 710 mm, up to 16 m deep, to connect several of ABSA Bank’s CBD buildings with gas, electricity, fibre optic, chilled and hot water. According to Efrat, some of the challenges faced were: • The basement floors were designed to support the weight of a typical sedan vehicle. Consequently, propping was required from the floor below to add support to all areas over which the HDD drill needed to travel into the required position within basements. • A floor to floor height restriction, requiring that all equipment be less than 2.1 m in height. Consequently, the Terra-Jet 7520 was refitted by removing the operator cabin, rebuilding the hydraulic oil tank at a lower position and lowering of the encapsulation body work such that the remodelled drill resembled a tank with a height of only 1.8 m. • Some 65 installations took place in clay, while the remainder were in rock. This necessitated the use of percussive hammer and rock reamers to expand the holes to the required diameters.

IMIESA September 2013

• Lateral suppor t ground anchors were encountered during drilling in dozens of locations. Their presence and position were not predictable and resulted in drilling equipment becoming entangled in several instances. Drilling tools were pulled, pushed and rotated until they became free or broke the ground anchoring cables. • In order to gain access to the drill face coring to remove concrete, lateral walls from 300 to 500 mm thick were required.

A fluid landscape Over the past 20 years that the organisation has been active, the trenchless context in the local water landscape has changed significantly, says Efrat. “In the beginning, trenchless technology was looked upon mainly as a novelty to be used only where open cut needed to be avoided. Today, it has become common for most road crossings for new

installations as well as for pipe replacement in most major municipalities.” In addition, not only has the perception of the technology changed, but also the technology itself. “The change from boring and pipe ramming to HDD was a huge jump in technology, allowing a far more controlled and successful installation for new pipes and conduits in a range of ground conditions. The success of this technology has allowed HDD to become the prevalent methodology,” explains Efrat. Similarly, the advent of CIPP, spiral wound lining and HDPE fold and form, and reduction technologies allows lining of pipes from manhole to manhole without any additional excavation greatly expands the range of techniques and solutions available. BELOW Cape Town Sliplining Pentz Drive Sewer with 630 HDPE pipe

Highlights of the past 20 years “We have completed over one hundred successful contracts for many satisfied clients, without a single dispute. We are also extremely proud of the awards we have achieved over the years,” says Efrat. These awards include: • 2000 SAICE Pretoria Branch Award for Technical Excellence, together with the City of Tshwane and consultant Bigen Africa, for the rehabilitation of sewers in Mamelodi. Pipe bursting – midblocks • 2007 (SASTT) Award of Excellence for the Rehabilitation of Sewer Pipes in Klipspruit Basin, together with Johannesburg Water and consultant Vela VKE – pipe bursting, CIPP and directional drilling • 2009 (SASTT) Award of Excellence for the ABSA Bank Energy Centre Sleeves Reticulation Project – installed by directional drilling • 2010 CIDB Construction Summit Award for outstanding performance in South Africa’s construction industry • 2012 (ISTT) International Project Award for the rehabilitation of two parallel sewer pipes in Port Elizabeth’s CBD.

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

Current projects • Mossel Bay Golf Estate – pipe bursting 110 corrugated plastic pipe to install 160 HDPE • Polokwane AC water pipe replacement involving pipe bursting • Umjindi AC pipe replacement using pipe bursting • Winchester Hills AC pipe replacement utilising pipe bursting • Various HDD drilling works.

“Necessity, however, is the mother of invention; when a huge trenchless market exists, the techniques will follow,” says Efrat, adding that in local South African markets it has been the case of putting the cart before the horse. For many years, there was very little maintenance and investment in municipal BELOW LEFT ABSA – Ground anchor in rocky bore hole BELOW RIGHT SPR EX (Expanda) relining 600ND concrete pipes at Percy Stewart Sewage Works

infrastructure and this has largely prevented the introduction and wide-scale use of many of the more recent trenchless techniques and advances, he says. “However, what has occurred over the past few years is that many trenchless contractors – us included – have geared themselves up with the most up-to-date technology so as to be ready for the very large impending and anticipated government investment in water infrastructure, even though today this market does not exist.”

IMIESA September 2013

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT COURSE

HDD training initiative With horizontal directional drilling (HDD) increasingly being used in built-up environments, safety aspects – for both operators and the general public – are becoming a top priority.

LANDSFONTEIN-BASED Osborn, which is the official OEM supplier in Southern Africa of horizontal directional drills manufactured in the US by Toro and American Augers, recently joined forces with Terrawood, a specialist supplier of HDD tooling products and courses to the Southern African market, to run an HDD management course in Johannesburg. “Health and safety aspects of HDD formed an impor tant par t of the programme,” explains product sales manager Peet Venter. “The course also had several other objectives, including enabling candidates to

understand the basic principles associated with HDD, the various methods used for the location of underground equipment and the regulations and operation guidelines relating to HDD. In addition, we aimed to equip trainees with the knowledge to identify different types of equipment available and different types of drilling fluid used, as well as teaching them how to develop a drill path profile in accordance with selected equipment,” Venter adds. The training took place over two days at Osborn’s Elandsfontein manufacturing facility. Trainees had the opportunity to view

Osborn’s HDD range during a factory tour. After the two-day training programme, the candidates wrote an examination that is marked in the United Kingdom and will give them an internationally recognised City & Guilds qualification. “It will certainly be a feather in the cap of successful candidates, since City & Guilds is a world-leading vocational education organisation,” Venter concludes. BELOW LEFT The American Augers DD-110 horizontal directional drill will be on display at Bauma Africa 2013 BELOW RIGHT The HDD management course group of attendees

IMIESA September 2013

Specialists in CCTV Pipeline Inspection Solutions providing the most comprehensive package in Africa “from Pipe to Report”

Distributors of: Crawler driven and pushrod systems pushrod systems and Pipeline Database and Reporting Software Inflatable Pipe Plugs Phone: 082 771 7705 Fax: 086 546 5930 eMail: gavin@octopuse.co.za www.octopuse.co.za

The rugged range of Ditch Witch Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) equipment and Chain Trenchers gives you the punch you need to drill or dig through some of the toughest landscapes. And with a wide choice of attachments, Ditch Witch lets you triumph over those tough jobs â€“ everytime! HammerHeadÂŽ pneumatic piercing tools create a compact hole for almost any underground installation with minimal disruption to landscapes, buildings or normal traffic flow. The latest â€œmust haveâ€? tool for municipalities, electrical, cable/ telecom, sewer, irrigation and plumbing contractors.

HammerHeadÂŽ Tough and Trusted

For further information on hiring a Ditch Witch please contact ELB Equipment.

H/OFFICE: "UMBT 3PBE "OEFSCPMU #PLTCVSH t Tel: t Fax: (011) 918-7208 e-mail: &MC!FMCRVJQ DP [B t Website: www.elbequipment.com BRANCHES & DEALERS RSA: BLOEMFONTEIN: (051) 432-3594 â€˘ BRITS: (012) 250-1565 CAPE TOWN: (021) 933-2383 â€˘ DURBAN: (031) 464-6522 â€˘ EAST LONDON: (043) 748-2423 GEORGE: (044) 878-0874 â€˘ KIMBERLEY: (053) 841-0040 â€˘ MIDDELBURG: (013) 246-2312 NELSPRUIT: (013) 755-1003 â€˘ WOLMARANSSTAD: (018) 596-3032 â€˘ POLOKWANE: (015) 293-1978 PORT ELIZABETH: (041) 451-0232 SOUTHERN AFRICA: BOTSWANA: (00267) 395-7044 â€˘ LESOTHO: (00266) 22-316787NAMIBIA: (00264) 61-234-052 â€˘ SWAZILAND: (00268) 518-5348 â€˘ ZAMBIA: (00260) 212-210-642 â€˘ ZIMBABWE: (00263) 4 494-871 For further information on hiring a Ditch Witch please contact ELB Equipment.

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

A MATURING INDUSTRY

The SASTT comes of age The Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology (SASTT) is celebrating its 21st anniversary, and with age has come a certain maturity for the society, SASTT honorary director, Joop van Wamelen, tells Chantelle van Schalkwyk.

VER THE PAST year, I have had the feeling, subjective as it may be, that the society is beginning to reach a significant measure of maturity. This is reflected by the number of technical enquiries we receive from local authorities and professional engineers, as well as the growth in membership over the past year,â€? says Van Wamelen. There have been several highlights for the SASTT over these 21 years, but undoubtedly the highlight that will stay with Van Wamelen

â€œfor a long timeâ€? is that a corporate member of SASTT â€“ Trenchless Technologies â€“ leading a team of companies, was awarded the International Society for Trenchless Technology 2012 ISTT No-Dig Award for the project entitled â€˜Port Elizabeth goes trenchlessâ€™. â€œAnother highlight is that, once again, SASTT awarded its own SASTT Award for Excellence for 2012 to an exceedingly difficult project known as Upgrading and Replacement of Sewers in Alexandra Township (Phase 3),â€? states Van Wamelen.

Focus forward â€œMy focus is directed by the board of SASTT. This is a team of seven professionals who share an unshakable dedication to the promotion of trenchless technology,â€? explains Van Wamelen. As such, the focus for the 2013/14 period remains for the SASTT on building and strengthening affiliations or alliances with other professional organisations, such as the current ones with the Engineering Council of South Africa and IMESA. The SASTT is also

IMIESA September 2013

LET YOUR BRAND AND

WITH 3S MEDIA

Â‡ 1HHG WR UHDFK \RXU QLFK KH WDUJHW PDUNHW" Â‡ :DQW PD[LP PXP H[SRVX XUH" Â‡ :DQW D KLJK SHQHWUDWLRQ Q IRU \RXU PHVVDJH" Then 3S MEDIAâ€™S products are forr yo you. u. Our brands reach the infrastruc cture and serv vic ice e delivery, water, waste manage ement, mining and conferencing industries. WE OFFER YOU Â‡ %UDQG DGYHUWLVLQJ LQ print mag gazines, buyersâ€™ guides, directories and supplements Â‡ %UDQG DGYHUWLVLQJ LQ exact replica plica online magazines with limited animation and hyperlinks yp to y your website Â‡ 3UHVV RIĂ€FHV with multimedia functionality on websites accessible via computers or mobile phones, harnessing the power of video and animation Â‡ Banner adverts RQ ZHEVLWHV DQG LQ QHZVOHWWHUV WR GULYH WUDIĂ€F WR \RXU SUHVV RIĂ€FH your own website event or job listing Â‡ Event sponsorships and exhibition stands. MEDIA Scan here to go to website

FOR MORE ABOUT 3S MEDIAâ€™S OFFERINGS VISIT www.3smedia.co.za or e-mail enquiries@3smedia.co.za

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

in the middle of a programme of developing SASTT standard specifications for trenchless technology. “These specifications are being drafted with an eye on constraints such as the technical skills of site operatives schooled and trained in the third world,” continues Van Wamelen. He adds that the SASTT is working towards building capacity to provide technical training in trenchless technology for engineers, technicians and students. Highlights to come in this period are also no less than the last, indicates Van Wamelen, with the SASTT to be represented at the international board meeting of the ISTT and the International No-Dig Conference and Exhibition in Sydney, Australia, in September this year. “In addition, SASTT is working with the ISTT towards holding the second ISTT Masterclass and No-Dig South Africa Conference and Exhibition in mid-2014.”

Context and challenges According to Van Wamelen, like all civil engineering work, the local trenchless technology market has been fickle. “Nevertheless, trenchless

categories of specialist work in order to counconstruction, rehabilitation and upgrading proteract this. jects are on the go all over the country – and The potential for trenchless technologies not only in the metropolitan municipalities.” to positively impact the local water context is The challenges – and there are many, gigantic and therefore needs to be properly according to Van Wamelen – however, remain. utilised and taken advantage of, he continues. He says one that SASTT can proactively do “It is no secret that Southern Africa is losing something about though is the fact that due an unconscionable portion of its potable water to a quirk of South African public tenderdue to leakage from the reticulation neting legislation, a good deal of trenchless works. Trenchless techniques can work is being awarded to what he terms find and fix these leaks very ‘incompetent tenderers’. competitively, safely, effectively “When these tenderers do not manage to and efficiently. It just requires subcontract the work to a competent comthe political will to start doing pany, they often make a mess of things. something about it,” concludes This gives trenchless technology a bad name Van Wamelen. – and is bad for the client’s budget,” says Van Wamelen, adding that the SASTT has approached the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) to convince it to introduce trenchJoop van Wamelen, honorary less technology as one of the designated director at SASTT

“Trenchless construction, rehabilitation and upgrading projects are on the go all over the country.”

IMIESA September 2013

Drain/sewer cleaning specialist

• Recycling combination units • Jetting units • Vacuum units – wet and dry • Water tankers • Honey suckers • Trenchless technology

Tel: 011 452 3232 www.rescuerod.co.za drainsunblocked@rescuerod.co.za

On behalf of the management of Jetvac S.A we would like to extend our sincere congratulations on the 360th anniversary of the City of Cape Town. We have witnessed the progress of your urban planning and learned ¿rsthand how the city boasts one the highest ranking in South Africa as a safe and comfortable place to live. We have high hopes that Jetvac S.A will be granted the opportunity of continuing its relationship as a service provider to the City of Cape Town. We send our best wishes for a successful 360th anniversary celebration and wish yourself and the City happiness and good health. Sincerely Michael Dreyer INT. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

There should be no age limits placed upon ambition, creativeness, alertness, or in fact on anything that may mark the mental or spiritual progress of any human being. There is an old saying, nothing ventured nothing gained. This is obviously true, but on the other hand, even though many of our ventures come to no pro¿table end, the very fact that the Jetvac team ventures should be to our credit. At Jetvac we are continuously improving our positive qualities which include willingness, cheerfulness, courtesy, honesty, reliability and temperance. Many will fail in their work because they are unable to overcome one personal de¿ciency, Check up on yourself. At Jetvac we do not only check up on ourselves, but on our colleagues too. We eliminate all negative qualities and develop our positive ones. We have come to realize that businesses planned for service are apt to succeed and businesses planned only for pro¿t are apt to fail. What people say about us behind our backs is our standing in the community.

Jetvac S.A is a national company owned and managed by a professional, very experienced team of individuals. Jetvac S.A is a highly motivated, committed and fully empowered group (a subsidiary of Moipone Group of Companies (PTY) Ltd,). The Jetvac team very proudly subscribe to a philosophy of REPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, by understanding the standards and needs of our clients, and knowing that our reputation is our single biggest asset. There is an overwhelming realization that we sell TRUST and we deliver accordingly. Jetvac S.A Logistics division specializes in the cleaning of blocked sewers, drains, the cleaning of pump stations and the transportation of sewerage and hazardous materials. Jetvac S.A CCTV Inspection division specializes in determining the current state of piping by means of cameras monitored on radio controlled vehicles. The information is provided in full colour together with ultra sound and laser footage. Jetvac S.A Projects division specializes in the provision of Turn-Key management for4 special projects.

Jetvac South Africa (PTY) LTD. Email: info@jetvac.co.za • Tel: +27 (0)21 380 4740 • www.jetvac.co.za Head Of¿ce: 70 Manhattan Drive, Airport Industria, Cape Town, PO Box 465, Eppingdust, 7475

Subscriber contact details Surname:

• TRADE & TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS

Name:

SADC

Int.

Hard Copy + Digital

530

110

120

Digital Only

360

Rand

US$

Designation: Company: Type of business: Address: Code: Tel:

Fax:

Cell: Hard Copy + Digital

290

E-mail: Subscriber VAT Reg. No:

Digital Only

200

Order #:

Payment options

T EFT Deposit: Bank details Hard Copy + Digital

190

Digital Only

150

Nedbank Branch code: 128405 Acc. number: 1284129934 Acc. type: current Acc. name: 3S MEDIA

Please use Ref: #:

T Mastercard T Visa Expiry date: Hard Copy + Digital

420

Digital Only

270

Credit Card Number

Last 3 digits on back of card:

T Debit order – Please contact Accounts on Hard Copy + Digital

Digital Only

290 200

60 40

011 233 2600 to organise

80 60

I have read the terms and conditions below and I agree to abide by them Authorizing signature: Date:

• BUSINESS & CONFERENCING PUBLICATIONS SA

SADC

Int.

Hard Copy + Digital

290

Digital Only

200

Hard Copy + Digital

200

Digital Only

130

Rand

US$

CONFERENCE

SUBSCRIPTION SALES t+27 (0)11 233 2600 • f+27 (0)11 234 7275 subs@3smedia.co.za

Contact person for payments: E-mail: Terms & Conditions • All rates include postage and VAT. • Foreign subscriptions include airmail rates • The subscription will be activated when we receive receipt of payment. • The subscription form can serve as a pro-forma invoice with a tax invoice to follow. • Proof of payment to be sent with signed copy of the subscription form. • Unpaid invoices will be cancelled after 3 months, thus cancelling the subscriptions. • Renewal subscriptions are automatically renewed on payment of invoice and cancelled if not paid by the date. • Electronic return of this form is deemed as an authorized purchase Fax or e-mail proof of payment to activate your subscription.

No.4 5th Avenue, Rivonia 2191 PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117

Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 Share Call: 086 003 3300 Fax: +27 (0)11 234-7274/5 www.3smedia.co.za

MEDIA

SHEQ

SAFETY

Zero harm “Safe work creates no obstacles to being competitive and successful. In fact, no country – and no company in the long run – has been able to jump to a high level of productivity without making sure that the work environment is safe.” – International Labour Organisation

HE 2010/11 financial year that witnessed South Africa’s major infrastructure boom was also victim to a shocking health and safety record. At the end of that year, the Compensation Fund paid over R2.7 billion towards injuries and diseases sustained in the workplace, of which R287 million was reser ved for occupational injuries in the building and construction sectors. The bottom line: compliance with occupational risk management must be viewed as non-negotiable. In the construction and engineering sectors, people are central to a business as manual labour still forms the basis of all projects carried out in South Africa. In order

IMIESA September 2013

to protect these vital assets, we need to ensure all workers are deemed medically fit for work, have access to basic health ser vices, have super visors and health and safety officers on-site, and ensure the environment is deemed safe to carr y out workrelated operations. Before any work can be carried out on-site, a risk assessment must be per formed to: • identify potential risks and hazards • analyse and evaluate the identified risk • document a plan of safe work procedures such as choosing the appropriate safety gear • provide a monitoring plan • provide a review plan.

Conducting the correct risk assessment is not only an important step in protecting workers and complying with the law, it helps draw attention to risks that have the potential to cause real harm. From a business perspective, ensuring that all the boxes are ticked will reduce the chances of a lawsuit and delays following an injur y or, in severe cases, death. The same applies to suppliers, subcontractors, outsourced machine operating personnel, etc. – always ensure they have the necessar y competencies and resources to safely per form a job. As the appointing agent, this could come back to you. With government’s aim to boost small business,

SHEQ

Format example of a basic health and safety plan What are the hazards relating to work tasks?

Who might be harmed and how?

What are the safe work procedures for the site?

What further action is necessary (monitoring and review)?

Action by whom

Action by when

emerging contractors, for example, must be compliant with safety laws in order to attract new business. And for those companies that have been active in the industr y for several years, staying abreast of latest trends, technologies, equipment and regulations is equally important.

Know the law Countries across the globe abide by their own set of laws in terms of occupational health and safety (OHS). In South Africa, the Department of Labour (DOL) is responsible for OHS, and the inspection and enforcement thereof in commerce and industr y except for mining and energy production, which is handled by the Department of Mineral Resources. The main statutor y legislation on Health and Safety in the jurisdiction of the DOL is the Occupational Health and Safety Act No 85 of 1993 as amended by the OHS Amendment Act No 181 of 1993. Regulations to our OHS Act include: • Cer tificate of Competency Regulations 1990 • Construction Regulations 2003 • Diving Regulations 2009 • Driven Machiner y Regulations 1988

IMIESA September 2013

• Environmental Regulations for Workplaces 1987 • General Machiner y Regulations 1988 • General Safety Regulations 1986 • Noise Induced Hearing Loss Regulations 2003 • Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004. Following on from the disappointing safety record in 2011, the DOL in conjunction with other stakeholders signed a Construction Health and Safety Accord agreement on 24 August 2012, as par t of an effor t to improve the status of OHS in the local construction sector. Stakeholders included the likes of the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC), Master Builders South Africa and the Black Business Council Built Environment (BBCBE). Phumudzo Maphaha, DOL manager: Occupational Health and Safety, said that while the department’s endeavour is to protect vulnerable workers and monitor the impact of legislation, the countr y continues to be plagued by the lack of adherence to the OHS Act, resulting in an escalating number of injuries and deaths. The major challenges being faced include dealing with the consequences of the HIV epidemic on levels of injur y and disease; ser vicing SMMEs and the informal sector, and protecting workers in marginal employment; establishing appropriate funding mechanisms for prevention agencies; and developing a culture of prevention among employers and employees. “The department is currently reviewing

legislation to stem the tide and is also intent on stepping up inspections and blitzes,” he continued. The new proposed agreement forms par t of government’s Road to Zero programme, launched at the National Occupational Health and Safety Conference last year. “Various initiatives will be launched for all high-risk sectors in the hope that respective partners will commit all that is required to reduce fatalities and injuries.”

The current Health and Safety Act will hold company directors liable for fatal accidents as a result of employee negligencet

Checks and systems While the title sounds like that of a prison guard rank, inspection authorities should not be viewed as the enemy and are responsible for ensuring compliance through random site inspections and visits. The OHS Act defines an approved inspection authority (AIA) in Section 1(1)(i) as one that is approved by a chief inspector with respect to a particular ser vice/sector. Arising from the need for a responsible Health and safety (H&S) safety training assessment quality partner, a group of local health and safety practitioners – responsible for drafting the OHS practitioner curriculum standard – started setting up an umbrella professional body this year. An initial capital investment of approximately R700 000 is required and thereafter the process will require a government subsidy of at least half a million per annum. However, about two years ago, the DOL lost its training funding budget when it was transferred to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The proposed plan is to ask all local sectoral training authorities (SETAs) to contribute to the costs of running the new OHS training assessment body. But in the case of the Construction SETA, construction OHS practitioners have to register with a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and are assessed by the South African Council for Project and Construction Management

SHEQ

Professions (SACPCMP), and not with the new OHS generalist body. The SACPCMP was established to regulate construction management and construction project management professionals. “The need to improve per formance in the safety, health and environment (SHE) regime of our construction sector is an issue,” says Prof RN Nkado, president of SACPCMP. “With the collaboration of key stakeholders including the DOL, Department of Public Works, Master Builders Association, Council for the Built Environment and other built

hold company directors liable for fatal accidents as a result of employee negligence. A blitz inspection conducted by DOL in 2007, covering 1 415 sites, revealed that 1 388 of these were non-compliant with the Health and Safety Act. It does not make sense to build infrastructure to better people’s lives, but jeopardise the lives of others while doing it, says SAICE. Perhaps then, the answer lies in proper education and training. The Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) has embarked on a

environment councils and individuals, the SACPCMP has added three new categories of registration for construction health and safety practitioners.”

Sector Skills Plan (SSP) 2011 to 2016, which will also address the scarce and critical skills demand in the SHE field. HWSETA was established to facilitate skills development in the health and social development sector, to ensure that the skills needs are identified and addressed through a number of initiatives by SETA and the sector. In essence, the SSP is a five-year sector education and training skills development report prepared by SETAs and aimed at identifying the skills needs of industrial sectors. The plan also looks at constraints to the effective utilisation and development of skills in relation to the objectives of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS), provincial growth and development strategies, and relevant industrial strategies.

What industry has to say Naturally, the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) is ver y concerned about the high injur y rate in the construction industr y, particularly so after the Business Times reported (earlier this year) that construction industr y related fatalities are surpassing those of mining fatalities, even though the mining industr y employs more people. SAICE says the civil engineering and construction fraternity needs to take cognisance of this distressing statistic. It must also be noted that the current Health and Safety Act will

IMIESA September 2013

Good deeds Although there is huge negativity surrounding H&S compliance in the construction industr y, the good should never be overlooked. BLC, a mining company in Botswana, received an award from the National Occupational Safety Association (NOSA) for four million fatality free shifts, while Port Elizabeth-based company Air Products South Africa also received NOSA recognition for its 30-year incident-free record. The Air Products plant is a NOSA-accredited facility and scooped several awards over the years for its impressive SHEQ adherence. According to Pierre Fourie, area sales manager of Air Products, employees at the plant are constantly empowered through a variety of skills development and training programmes. They also receive first aid, firefighting, welding and forklifting training, not forgetting the regular internal and external audits that are conducted to ensure the plant and surrounding premises are suitable for operations – proof that a behaviourbased safety process works. “A behaviour-based safety process is a formal approach to addressing human behaviour in the workplace, using occupational health and safety and environmental legislation as a pivotal point,” explained Anita Steyn, senior consultant at NOSA, while addressing the issue at the recent African Utility Week Conference and Exhibition in Johannesburg. “A company would need a safety management system,” she further stated, adding that the backbone of the system is usually the risk assessment process. The safety procedures will be documented and then implemented. A behaviour-based safety process changes the thought process in people and cultivates a set of new behaviours, which eventually drives a new culture, one of ownership and personal responsibility. Last year’s Noshcon Conference – NOSA’s annual risk management conference and exhibition – brought to light impor tant issues such as employee engagement, factors contributing to employee fatigue and the involvement of key international players. This year will see issues such as hazardous

SHEQ

installations, drug-free workplaces, lean ergonomics, combustible measurements in the workplace, support structures for workers living with HIV, as well as innovative SHE practices, being addressed.

Safety equipment While laws, regulations and training form the basis of managing occupational risk, safety equipment is, literally, the layer of protection. Before undertaking a job, H&S managers have a legal duty to carr y out a risk assessment in order to establish what hazards workers may face when carr ying out their duties. It is essential that risks are identified to ensure the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) can be provided. But PPE is not just restricted to hard hats, reflector vests or protective eyewear – ergonomics is also an influencing factor. By definition, ergonomics is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of the interactions among people and other elements of a system, applying theoretical principles, data and methods to design in order to optimise human well-being and overall per formance. Studies show that chronic pain adversely affects job per formance, concentration and interpersonal interactions. In extreme circumstances, it may even cause depression. In fact, cost reports have revealed that about three quar ters of lost productive time is attributable to reduced per formance while at work and not absenteeism. Take a worker with painful feet, for example. Not only does his state of health increase production expenses through lost time, but it also raises health care costs for both the employer and employee. South African manufacturer Beier Safety Footwear is tackling this problem head-on and has engineered 14 unique shoe styles that meet the rigorous requirements laid out by the Podiatr y Association of South Africa (PASA) – earning

the association’s highly sought-after stamp of approval. Organisations such as the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) also set footwear standards, but their focus is on materials’ technology and durability to protect local consumers. Only PASA assesses the entire shoe – from last to upper – with a focus on how design positively affects worker health. Members of the PASA Footwear Committee are registered

specially designed low breathing resistance filter technology. It combines the benefits of 3M’s electret particulate filter material with advanced low breathing resistance filter technology, offering ease of breathing and overall comfort. The product also makes use of 3M’s Cool Flow Valve that removes heat build-up and exhaled air, thereby minimising the risk of fogging eyewear. Ergonomically designed, the cur ved, low profile design of the respirator conforms well to the contours of the nose and eyes – allowing for better vision and compatibility across various brands of eyewear – while the ingenious three-panel design accommodates facial movements.

The OHS Act requires employers to assess their responsibility for the health and well-being of their workers medical professionals who examine, diagnose and prevent foot ailments, specialising in footwear development and assessment. PASA members recognise that the foot is a complex mar vel of bioengineering, accommodating the many movements of human locomotion, balance and posture. Using research data, designs are developed according to measurements and shape proportions that match the foot. In this way, pathologies caused by poor fit are avoided. Flexible footwear that encourages circulation is all-important, as it helps to avoid fatigue and blood pooling in the feet – considering that the second largest blood-pumping mechanism after the heart is the gastrocnemius and soleus calf muscles. Rigid soles with high toe spring and higher heel elevations cause fatigue, muscle imbalance and poor foot muscle tone. PASA sets flex force torque standards for safety footwear that balance sturdy construction with proper foot flexion. 3M South Africa is also at the forefront of innovation when it comes to PPE development. The company’s latest respirator product – the Aura 9300+ IS – features a

H&S facts and figures 2.02 million

People who die each year from work-related diseases

321 000

People who die each year from occupational accidents

160 million

Non-fatal work-related accidents per year

317 million

Non-fatal occupational accidents per year

Every 15 seconds, a worker dies from a work-related accident or disease Every 15 seconds, 151 workers have a work-related accident Latest global stats from the International Labour Organisation

IMIESA September 2013

On-site assistance With ver y few workers having access to on-site health care facilities, occupational health clinics are as necessar y as proper PPE. The OHS Act requires employers to assess their responsibility for the health and well-being of their workers. One such example of an occupational health clinic is OHS Care, which provides mobile occupational health ser vices to meet the demands of health-related challenges in the workplace. The company specialises in medical screenings and examinations such as X-rays and audiometric testing, and also provides assistance with occupational diseases. Another example is Life Occupational Health, a provider of contracted, on-site occupational and primar y health care services to employer groups in commerce, industr y, mining, parastatals and correctional ser vices. Although occupational health is becoming increasingly complex, there are many clinics and ser vice providers that are equipped to handle the current challenges and adapt to ever-changing demands. Yes, our countr y’s injur y and fatality rate in the construction and building sector is cause for concern, but South Africa is not without the resources, technologies and expertise to effect a positive change. But before we roll out any new plans, perhaps we should head back to basics: familiarise ourselves with the current laws and regulations, instill a behavioural culture and change among workers through the reiteration of safety talks, start out with small training programmes and skills development exercises, and always carr y out the necessar y risk assessments (never assume). For in the end, damaged machiner y and equipment can be replaced – people can’t!

SAFCEC

Working towards a prosperous future If you’re reading this, there is a good chance you are attending the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors’ (SAFCEC) 74th Annual Convention.

HIS YEAR’S EVENT will continue in the tradition of years past where SAFCEC members, regardless of company size, get together to gain a better understanding of the external and internal dynamics that shape the civil engineering contracting industry. This is imperative given the platform of the event so that all can stay optimally informed and operative in South Africa’s ever-changing business and financial environment. The construction industry remains recognised as a key player in South Africa’s economic growth, especially at a time when the provision of infrastructure, skills development, transformation and a competitive construction sector is vital. SAFCEC envisages a future of an inclusive, progressive and prosperous construction industry, and it is the organisation’s hope that this year its members’ passion and commitment will be revitalised so that it can drive

economic growth and achieve a legacy for all to benefit. With the keynote speaker set as the minister of Public Works, Thembelani Thulas Nxesi, and other speakers such as Justice Malala, Roelof Botha, Rosalind Lake (Norton Rose Fulbright), Sonja Pilusa (Construction Education and Training Authority), Thabo Masombuka (Construction Sector Charter Council) and Nick Faasen (Bargaining Council for the Civil Engineering Industry), the convention is set to be the changing point event for the industry.

A few months back, Eskom’s outgoing finance director, Paul O’Flaherty, raised his concerns at the state of the construction industry following delays with the Medupi power plant. SAFCEC president Norman Milne disagreed, pointing out that this is the same industry that successfully delivered the 2010 World Cup stadia and associated infrastructure that was instrumental in South Africa hosting a world-class tournament. He agreed that the industry is facing some challenges regarding skills. However, it was difficult to anticipate the training required in the typical “feast or famine” cycle that has prevailed in the construction industry for many years. “If contractors can see a sustainable pipeline of projects they will be more than willing to incur the cost of training now as an investment for the future,” he said. “The current status of the Medupi project is unfortunate, but is not a true representation of South Africa’s construction industry. IMIESA September 2013

ASM LXH 15mm Brass

ASM LXHS 15mm Plastic

ASM LXH 20mm Brass

Meter in a Ground Box

The above meters are all NRCS TYPE APPROVED APPLICATION: Measures the volume of cold potable water passing through a pipeline. FEATURES: • Accurate registration across a wide flow range. • Mechanical drive for maximum reliability. • Corrosion resistant body. • Clear, easily read, liquid sealed 8 digit counter. • Registering begins at low flow rates. • Internal non return valve and strainer. • Each meter has a unique serial number. • Pulse prepared. • Inlet & Outlet threads compatible with I.S.O metric sizes. • Plastic Body Meters UV Stabilised. • Plastic Body exceeds 48bar.

MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE ERRORS: • In the lower zone from (qmin) inclusive up to but excluding (qt) is ±5%. • In the upper zone from (qt) inclusive up to and including (qs) is ±2%. WORKING CONDITIONS: • Water temperature: 2°C ~ 40°C. :DWHU SUHVVXUH 03D EDU COMPLIANCE STANDARD: • Conforms to ISO4064 Class C Standard. • Conforms to SANS 1529 - 1. INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS: • May be installed on a horizontal or vertical pipeline (horizontal recommended). • Pipeline must be constantly full of water during operation.

We also have a range of Bulk Water Meters: LXLC 50A (mm) ~ 500A (mm) and HHD Electromagnetic flow meters 15 (mm) - 2600 (mm) - Brass tail piece sets 15mm - 40mm as well as Brass ferrule valves 15mm - 25mm

Cape Town: Tel: 021 510 4266 | 510 8408 Fax: 021 510 8759

Johannesburg: Tel: 011 609 6336 Fax: 011 609 9531 LEVEL 2

E: info@precisionmeters.co.za | W: www.precisionmeters.co.za

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES

PLASTIC PIPES

Put that in your pipe... We live in a world of choices and when it comes to pipes and pipelines, these choices are critical as they impact not only the stability of water, but on the earth itself. In terms of lifetime impact (a phrase that’s becoming increasingly important in the world of sustainability), plastic certainly has a lot going for it.

REENWASHING IS the use of information to sell. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, except that in its negative context, it highlights content that is nascent (e.g. this apple was grown in my garden, it’s organic), manipulative (by buying this book, you just saved a rainforest) and sometimes just blatantly dishonest. Sometimes that rainforest-saving book you just bought was imported from thousands miles away and glued together using cheap and toxic chemicals. Let us try to just stick to the facts, dispute them, contest them and challenge them. And let us use them. Let’s keep sustainability sustainable and not just another trend. PVC pipe is environmental sustainable on a number of levels. These are outlined below.

Resource efficiency PVC saves fossil fuels. Its principal raw material is chlorine derived from common salt, which is not a threatened resource. Energy efficiency PVC pipe production consumes less primary energy in the manufacturing process when compared to steel, clay or ductile iron.

designed to perform without leakages. They have a proven service life of up to 100 years. These characteristics save water and reduce cost of maintenance.

Watertight joints also prevent the likelihood of embedment soil being washed away. Gasketed push-together PVC pipe systems are easy to install and can be placed in service quickly.

Water quality PVC pipe delivers water as clean and pure as it is found at source. It imparts no taste or odour to the water it transports. It is not a source for the lead associated with metal pipe. PVC does not react with even the most aggressive water. The smooth interior surface is not biodegradable and is resistant to biofilm build-up, a potential source of water disease such as E. coli.

Corrosion resistance PVC pipe is not vulnerable to external underground erosion or internal pipe corrosion. This eliminates the need to seek protection methods for corrosion. With PVC, long-term durability is not compromised when encasement bags are damaged. It is resistant to virtually all chemicals found in domestic and industrial wastewater. PVC pipe is highly resistant to erosion or abrasion wear. Because it does not corrode, it has one of the lowest pipe break rates per kilometre, saving precious water resources.

Watertight joints Watertight joints prevent the loss of valuable drinking water. PVC sewer pipe reduces leaks and the chances of groundwater contamination. The watertight joints also reduce infiltration of groundwater and thus reduce the volume of water requiring treatment. A lower volume of water requiring treatment reduces operating cost of water treatment plants.

Strength PVC systems can be designed to handle external loads as high as 75 000 kg/m3 .This load represents up to 40 m of ground cover. PVC pipes are able to handle ground movements by unstable and shifting soils. 

Highly recyclable Waste generated during pipe extrusion is pulverised and reprocessed and can be repeatedly extruded. Lifeline for potable water Potable water reticulation systems and effective wastewater handling systems are vital for the sustainable supply of clean drinking water. It is here that PVC as pipe material provides superior fit-for-purpose performance. PVC pipes minimise water losses by reducing line breakages. PVC water and sewer pipes are

IMIESA September 2013

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES

Superior flow PVC is corrosion-resistant and this eliminates build-up of corrosion products that reduce hydraulic capacity. The smooth wall minimises friction and flow resistance. The need for cleaning and maintenance is reduced and operating cost is thus reduced. 966 part 2 9

PVC-M Pressure Pipe e SANS 966-2 –PVC-M (modified poly vinyl chloride) pressure pipe systems for potable water conveyance.

Ultraflo PVC-M pressure pipes are available in diameters of 50 to 630mm and pressure ratings of 6 to 25 Bar. Ultraflo is tough and reliable making it ideal for African conditions. Ultraflo is also energy efficient and has a low carbon footprint.

For a complimentary copy of our latest Product and Technical CD, e-mail marketing@dpiplastics.co.za

Johannesburg : +27 11 345 5600 Cape Town : +27 21 957 5600

Southern African Vinyls Association

info@dpiplastics.co.za www.dpiplastics.co.za

Superior strength-to-weight ratio A lower mass of material is required to manufacture a metre of PVC pipe versus a metre of metal or concrete pipe. This weight advantage is significant. It makes PVC economically competitive on a length-by-length basis. It conserves resources, lowers transport cost, and simplifies and reduces time required for installation. PVC reduces risk of injury to installation crews. Altogether, PVC pipes reduce installation costs. Toughness PVC pipes can bend or flex when subjected to excessive loads. PVC pipes develop fewer cracks and breaks, thus minimising leaks and operating costs. Water that leaks into wastewater systems through cracks can increase the amount of water that requires treatment. This can drive up operating cost significantly. PVC is resource efficient and makes highly efficient use of the earth’s scarce resources. It saves energy and reduces carbon dioxide emissions. PVC pipes take less energy to produce compared with competing materials. PVC saves fossil fuels. Its principal raw material is chlorine derived from common salt, which is not a threatened resource. Underground salt deposits are estimated at 200 billion tonnes and salt from oceans make up approximately 50 quadrillion tonnes. The remainder of the molecular weight of PVC comes from hydrocarbon stocks. Ethylene from oil makes up 0.3% of annual oil use. PVC pipes are energy efficient PVC piping is energy efficient, which assists in the savings of scarce fossil fuels. Its production consumes less primary energy in the manufacturing process than steel, clay or ductile iron. PVC is one of the most recycled plastics. It can be extruded many times without loss of mechanical properties. Waste generated during pipe extrusion is pulverised and reprocessed. Key economic factors: • low cost per length of pipe • light weight reduces cost of installation • durability of PVC pipes • long product lifespan translates into lower lifespan cost • it has been shown that PVC easily lasts over 50 years (Novak study in Germany – potable water pipe installed in 1938 still in good condition) • PVC is chemically inert and not sensitive to oxygen or oxidizing agents • the “flexibility” or toughness of PVC pipes allows them to withstand ground movement • smooth and clean surfaces save money and reduce environmental impact • lower friction gives higher flow speeds and volumes • lower load on pumping operations • glass-like surface makes it difficult for bacteria to lodge and grow.

Member of the Dawn Group

IMIESA September 2013

uppe marketing A07782

INFR SET

BUILDING DURABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

WITH PRECAST CONCRETE PRODUCTS Aveng Manufacturing Infraset produces a diverse range of precast concrete products to world-class quality standards and actively contributes to SADC infrastructure development. Our range includes concrete pipes, culverts, manholes, special precast products, various type of pre-stressed railway sleepers, turnouts, maintenance-free railway electrification masts and poles, paving blocks, retaining wall systems and roof tiles.

Aveng Manufacturing Infraset’s admired heritage is founded on innovation, technical and service excellence. Aveng Manufacturing Infraset

PIPES • CULVERTS • MANHOLES:

RAILWAY SLEEPERS • POLES & MASTS

PAVING • RETAINING WALLS • ROOF TILES

Steeldale House

GAUTENG – TEL: +27 (0)11 876 5100

NATIONAL – TEL: +27 (0)11 813 2340

ROSSWAY (MIDRAND) – TEL: +27 (0)12 652 0000

TEL: +27 (0)11 876 5500

CAPE TOWN – TEL: +27 (0)21 908 1156

KWAZULU NATAL (EFFINGHAM) –

FAX: +27 (0)11 872 1713

KWAZULU NATAL (PIETERMARITZBURG) –

TEL: +27 (0)31 569 6900

EMAIL: infrasetinfo@infraset.com

TEL: +27 (0)33 387 2236

www.infraset.com INTERNATIONAL BRANCHES SWAZILAND – TEL: +2682 518 4236 | ZAMBIA – TEL: +260 21 131 1838

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES

TECHNOLOGY

The right amount of pressure Process plants – whether water or wastewater – are reliant on various technologies for successful production. The reality is that these technologies are often forced to work under extremely harsh conditions. Related products such as pipes, pumps and valves must therefore be of uncompromising quality and backed by excellent service.

HE SCENE IS set in Ermelo where the demand for water had exceeded supply. Two water treatment works (WTWs) – the South and North – service Msukaligwa Municipality, but capacity on the South WTW was not sufficient to meet the increasing demand for water. To counteract the problem, a 14 km, R52 million temporary emergency bulk raw water pipeline was supplied. The pipeline was equipped with R12 million worth of highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) piping, steel fittings and valves from fluid conveyance and pumping solutions provider Incledon. The pipe was manufactured and supplied in 12 m lengths, with the welding of the pipes handled on-site. The finished HDPE pipeline has a diameter of about 355 mm and can handle pressure ratings of up to 16 bar. “The municipality implemented a water restriction system to control the supply of water but this failed, resulting in an

emergency pipeline being identified as a solution,” explains Phillip Bawden, product manager at Incledon. The HDPE pipe was manufactured and supplied based on the company’s Aquaflow brand, and according to SABS 4427 specification. According to Department of Water Affairs (DWA) Minister Edna Molewa, the

ABOVE Pipeline approaching the road culvert

water supply was resolved, Molewa said that a long-term measure was still under consideration to solve the water shortage problem in Ermelo. Part of the long-term solution is a parallel process for the provision of a permanent technical solution to provide water for the Ermelo/ Wesselton service area through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant. With a project value of approximately R32 million, it should be completed later this year.

There are many WTWs that are able to meet demand but unknowingly experience great water losses

IMIESA September 2013

emergency bulk raw water pipeline will supply surplus raw water to Ermelo and is aimed at tackling the water shortages in the Douglas and Willem Brummer dams. In addition to the emergency pipeline, the DWA provided Msukaligwa Municipality with two water storage tanks, worth R320 000 and R500 000 respectively. Although the issue of immediate

Under control Unlike Ermelo, which experienced a need for increased capacity, there are many WTWs that are able to meet demand but unknowingly experience great water losses. Demand and pressure management – a technique used for minimising water losses in municipal reticulation networks by regulating pressure

Hereâ€™s a big reason you can save even more energy. Etanorm is a classic that keeps getting more efficient. It meets the energy efficiency requirements of the ErP Directive for 2015 already today â€“ for three good reasons: optimised hydraulic components for pace-setting efficiency, individual impeller trimming, and ideally matching drives and automation components. Etanorm is available really fast, comes in numerous variations, and provides the unique reliability of a globally identical product. For more information, please visit www.etanorm.com / www.ksbpumps.co.za

Pumps Valves Service Q

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES

– is a growing trend in South Africa. This technique is vital, particularly so in water shortage areas. According to Charl Myburgh of DFC Water, the potential savings of a demand management system are enormous. “We recently carried out installation trials on our pressure reducing valves,” he says. “This yielded water savings averaging 20 000 kℓ per valve per month, translating into a monthly monetary saving of R80 000 per valve.” This saving was recorded on a single average-sized installation, covering the entire reticulation network. The first step in demand management is an analysis of network data. This delivers demand profiles, which will indicate when pressure in the system should be lowered to minimise leakage (usually during the night when demand for water is low), and when it should be increased to meet demand (usually during the day when demand for water is high). As Myburgh explains, a system under unnecessary high pressure will suffer seepage. There will also be rapid leakage through cracks or burst pipes, most of which will not reveal itself above ground. However, an effective pressure management system will increase or decrease the pipe pressure according to demand, thereby minimising water losses. At the heart of demand management is the Cla-Val pressure reducing valve (PRV). Installed at strategic points throughout the network, the Cla-Val PRV controls water pressure, each one being linked to an electronic controller pre-programmed with the

pumps throughout South Africa and neighbouring countries. For many years, the company supplied the African market with Milton Roy’s range of chemical dosing pumps. According to Adrien Hourlier, international sales manager for Soméflu, the market for chemical transfer pumps is shrinking in terms of small orders, but growing for larger orders. This is because of the trend towards the closure of smaller plants in many industries and their replacement by larger plants with a greater throughput, which can then take advantage of economies of scale to deliver a lower cost of production per unit. Soméflu centrifugal pumps are designed for transferring corrosive, abrasive and hazardous fluids in mining, chemical, petrochemical, water treatment and other applications, managing the bulk transfer of chemicals from one point to another. The pumps, machined from a block of raw material, can handle a flow rate up to 1 500 m3/h and a 100 m head pressure. Internationally, the company’s main business is within chemical and fertiliser manufacture, petrochemicals and mines, but its technology is also applied to water treatment, which Hourlier sees as an important growth path for the company in Africa. The company recently received a large order for pumps from a platinum mine in the North West and, apart from mining, it is making a concerted effort to target new petrochemical and chemical manufacturing plants in South Africa.

“By modulating flows in the various parts of the system... large volumes of water could be saved from wastage”

BELOW Welding team welding the pipe

IMIESA September 2013

correct profile for the zone under control. DFC Water recently announced three new Cla-Val PRVs for municipal demand management applications. The valves, imported and assembled locally, conserve water by reducing leakage and improving the efficiency of water reticulation systems. They also save energy and help prevent pipe breaks. “By modulating flows in the various parts of the system, increasing the pressures to supply water to those sections needing it and decreasing pressures and flows elsewhere to reduce leakage, large volumes of water could be saved from wastage,” he continues.

Pump precision As important as it is to select the right valves, it is equally necessary to choose the proper pump for the job. But this does not have to be limited to pumps for use in water applications. Last year, Germiston-based Ecochem Pumps was appointed exclusive distributor of the Soméflu range of chemical transfer

Design complexities In keeping with precision pump design, the new Etanorm type series from KSB Pumps undergoes numerous calculations, simulations and experiments before it is manufactured into a product that meets customer expectations. The series dates back to 1936 and 1.5 million units have been sold to date, making it the most successful standardised water pump in the world. The pump’s success is largely based on the wide variety of design variants and the broad range of applications as a result thereof. The product range comprises conventionally sealed water pumps in a wide variety of designs ranging from variable speed models to the zero-leakage Etaseco. But even good products present their fair share of challenges and, in the case of this

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES

ABOVE KSB decided to standardise the Etanorm and set the same quality standards at all production facilities

series, the challenges lie in innovation. For Dr Norbert Kastrup and his team of development engineers at KSB, the question was: “How do we inject a pump that has already been renowned for its low energy consumption, reliability and durability with fresh momentum?” After much debate, there were two things that provided the impetus for a renewed technical overhaul and optimisation: the first impetus was the result of the demands made by the international market while the second was given by the so-called ErP Directive (European Union Regulation 547/2012), also known as ecodesign directive. Many of the company’s product users are global players who form part of an international network. They tend to favour standardised products, in particular where the stocking of spare parts is concerned. This was exactly the point that had posed a real challenge thus far. Irrespective of its design or features, the Etanorm has very successfully made a name for itself in almost every country in the world. However, over the years, KSB has had to come up with numerous design variations to meet the needs of particular countries, so that

although the pumps were still similar at heart, the number of design differences had gradually increased. Not only did this mean that the company had to cope with an enormous complexity of having to produce spare parts and accessories for every single pump series, but the users were also faced with having to stock multiple sets of spare parts if they ordered pumps both in Europe and in Asia, for example. To eliminate this problem, the company decided to standardise the Etanorm and to set the same quality standards at all production facilities in the world. On the issue of complying with regulation, although many pumps already meet requirements that will not take effect until 2015, it was still the company’s goal to improve regardless. Its ‘Fluid Future’ campaign is the logical further development of this approach. ‘Fluid Future’ is the name of a concept consisting of all products and services that together make for an energy-efficient way to run a system. The

Plant operators are also interested in the reliability of their systems. For this reason, the company has added several pump sizes to the selection chart of the type series. And by increasing the rigidity, the pump casings can now absorb higher forces and moments imparted by the pipelines; this makes for a further increase in reliability. The bearing bracket has also been further reinforced to minimise the vibrations generated by the running pump. Moreover, the pump boasts improved suction performance and virtually cavitation-free operation across a wider operating range.

Well-oiled machine Regardless of the make or type of pipe, pump and valve, the general consensus is quality, appropriate selection for the specified application and longevity. General valves and fittings should be carefully located and designed to facilitate the operation of the system. For example, careful routing of the pipeline will minimise the number of costly fittings required, while pressurerelief valves should be installed on pumping mains to avoid damage caused by pumping against closed valves. Ultimately, these systems need to work in sync to ensure that you, me and areas such as Ermelo are never faced with water and wastewaterrelated issues.

Companies tend to favour standardised products, in particular where the stocking of spare parts is concerned

IMIESA September 2013

concept is holistic i.e. besides the pump itself, it also looks at the system as a whole through the eyes of a pump expert.

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Cranking power Caterpillar’s new Premium High Output (PHO) batteries have been designed for harsh climate, delivering consistent start-up. According to Reuben Phasha, group product specialist for Barloworld (local Cat dealer), PHO covers earthmoving and power generation systems and adheres to demanding specifications.

UE TO THE high reserve capacities, these batteries have a high performance rating – equating to vibration resistance levels that are five times the industry standard,” he explains. In turn, rugged partition connectors, anchored to resist vibration, shorten the electrical path and maximise starting power. The battery’s impact-resistant reinforced case further provides extra strength in all temperature extremes and helps prevent flexing and punctures. Since vibration is the

number one reason batteries fail, these batteries must withstand tremendous vibration forces without suffering mechanical damage, loss of capacity, loss of electrolyte or developing internal/external leaks. “You can’t buy a battery with too much power and these batteries ensure that there’s always enough cranking power, reserve capacity and vibration resistance to get the job done,” Phasha concludes.

New lanyard launched The African division of MSA has introduced its new Workman range of self-retracting lanyards (SRL) to the local market. Emmanuel Manaka, fall protection product manager at MSA Africa, says that the SRL was designed to improve worker comfort and safety across various industries such as oil and gas, petrochemical and construction.

ITH LIGHTWEIGHT design, durable thermoplastic housing and impact absorbing bumpers, this product will ensure years of ser vice, even in demanding operating environments,” he explains. The product also features an ergonomic carr ying handle, which allows for easier transport and installation, while radio frequency identification (RFID) technology ensures simplified product tracking and inspection. The SRL housing is made from impact-resistant thermoplastic, while the bumpers are

comprised of impact-absorbing thermoplastic rubber. The lifeline is manufactured from either a 5 mm galvanised steel or stainless steel cable and weighs less than 5 kg. Manaka highlights another innovative feature of the SRL: a swivel snaphook with load indicator at the lifeline end, which greatly limits twisting of the cable, in addition to alerting users that the product has been involved in a fall. “For added peace of mind, SRL is compliant with numerous quality standards, including ANSI Z359.1, EN 795 and OSHA,” he concludes.

IMIESA September 2013

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Breaking the construction market The new BX and BXR hydraulic rock breaker range will be distributed locally by Johannesburg-based Osborn, on behalf of its sister company, Canadabased BTI.

INCE 2001, Osborn has been supplying hydraulic rock breakers to the African mining, construction and aggregate industries, achieving substantial growth and demand for the product. “The next step in our strategy is to capitalise on opportunities in the construction and demolition markets, where there is potential for quality hydraulic rock breakers,” says Casper Booyse, product sales manager at Osborn.

The BTI breaker can simply be fitted as an attachment onto a suitable hydraulic carrier With regard to construction and demolition applications, the BTI breaker can simply be fitted as an attachment onto a suitable hydraulic carrier – from excavators and miniexcavators to TLBs, skidsteers and loaders.

There are two ranges of BTI breakers, each offering different energy ratings and designed for use on different size carriers. The BX Hydraulic Breaker series includes eight models ranging from an energy rating of 550 J for the BX4 to 5 400 J for the BX40. They can be fitted onto smaller equipment, for carriers up to 20 t. The larger BXR Series includes six models ranging from an energy class of 6 800 J for the BXR50 to the mighty BXR160, with an energy class of 21 500 J. This series is suitable for 20 to 100 t carriers. A unique feature is the narrow nose design, which enhances visibility as well as minimal over-breaking in trenching applications. Purchasing this equipment through Osborn will guarantee local customers 24/7 aftersales support, back-up ser vices and spares. “In addition, Osborn engineers are able to undertake on-site repairs,” Booyse concludes.

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Africa Electricity AfriSam APE Pumps Aquadam Aveng Manufacturing Infraset Bagshaw Footwear Beier Safety Footwear Bosun Corobricks DPI Plastics ELB Equipment Fiberpipe Flo-tek Franklin Electric Gast International Group Five Pipes Hatch Goba

100

IMIESA September 2013

10 & LI 58 & 59 89 37 93 85 83 57 62 & 63 92 77 19 27 9 40 97 33

HSH Construction Hydrodifusion Fittings Incledon Jetvac Krohne SA KSB Pumps & Valves MBT South Africa Mercedes-Benz Mr Stubman Marley Pipes Systems National Asphalt Noshcon 2013 NuWater Octopus Electronics Precision Meters PPC Rescue Rod

66 26 23 80 39 95 20 OFC 22 30 45 87 12 - 14 76 90 54 79

Rocla 43 Royal HaskoningDHV 51 Sangio Pipe 28 Sasol 16 & 17 SBS Water Systems 34 & 35 Sizabantu Piping Systems 18 SMEC 75 Technicrete 61 Toolquip & Allied 24 TT Innovations 71 Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies IFC Vermeer Equipment Suppliers 72 Wasteman Sightlines Pipe Survey Services 69 Water & Sanitation Services OBC WRP Consulting Engineers IBC

Your one-stop data acquisition solution for water utilities

WEB BASED DATA ACQUISITION, DISPLAY AND ANALYSIS SOFTWARE (PROUDLY DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED IN SOUTH AFRICA)

• GPRS/GSM based • Flow and Pressure Logging • Level Monitoring • Identification of leakage through MNF Analysis • Real time data monitoring • Identification of pressure problems • Automatic Meter Reading and Display • Provides live data to aid network management

Client:

Client Client

NTU

uS/cm

Purification Works

Turbidity

Conductivity

Daily Water Use

Critical Point Pressure Flow

Meter Reading

• Zednet can be linked to existing GSM and GPRS data logging systems. • Updates immediately on receipt of data from data loggers. • Data can be exported in any required format. • Virtually any type of data can be captured eg. flow, pressure, TDS, conductivity, water levels etc. Receive alarm notification on your standard cell phone via sms text, or e-mailed to your preferred IP address. • Can be used to store and display all historical logging data.

http://www.zednet.co.za

Flow (m3/h)

Pressure P Press ressure ((m) m))

Meter Readings

Consumption (Kl)

Regulo PRV 01