Concrete Magazine - Volume 54. Issue 03.

concrete VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

Designing Comfortable Homes 2ND EDITION LAUNCHED BY MINISTER FOR BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

2010 Concrete3 Sustainability Awards SUSTAINABILITY EXCELLENCE RECOGNISED IN THE PRODUCTION AND USE OF CONCRETE

Swiss Museum Extension SANDSTONE CONCRETE SCULPTURE MIXES SELF-ASSERTION WITH INTEGRATION

THE MAGAZINE OF THE CEMENT AND CONCRETE ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND

UPFRONT Although the real hard work is yet to begin, is has been heartening to see how the wider construction industry has responded in the wake of the September 4 Christchurch earthquake.

Disappointingly, however, some elements within the industry have used the earthquake as an opportunity to advance their interests at the expense of others.

Indicative of this approach were recent comments made in The Press (Engineer Favours Piles Over Concrete - 16/10/2010) that suggested raised timber floors suffered less damage than concrete slabs during the earthquake. The incorrect implication was that all concrete slabs are unsuitable for buildings in earthquake zones.

The slabs that did fail as a result of the earthquake did so for two reasons, neither of which detract from the advantages of an appropriately designed concrete slab.

Firstly, those concrete slabs that suffered damage were predominantly unreinforced.

Although unreinforced slabs are allowed under the New Zealand Building Code, it is always preferable to reinforce a concrete slab. For minimal cost a reinforced concrete slab offers excellent performance in response to ground movement.

Secondly, the concrete slabs that developed cracks were, in the majority of cases, located in areas previously identified by Environment Canterbury as at risk from liquefaction. During significant liquefaction most foundation and floor systems, including raised piled floors, will incur damage, requiring assessment and repair.

In short, those concrete floor slabs with observed cracking following the earthquake were not optimally designed and were principally located in liquefied areas where damage occurred across the entire property, including foundation and floor systems regardless of type.

Concrete slabs are the favoured flooring option for New Zealand homes on merit. BRANZ research confirms around 80% market share. Anyone planning a build can be assured concrete floors will continue to offer great insulation, acoustic and health benefits, along with value for money. Yet the key is, as with any building material and any structure, design and construction must be fit for purpose and fit for site conditions.

In other news, the annual concrete industry conference was held recently in Wellington, and once again achieved the right mix of technical presentations, product updates and networking and entertainment opportunities. Congratulations to the New Zealand Concrete Society.

The conference represents a demanding time for the CCANZ team, which assists with logistics, delivering the technical programme, arranging the various AGMs and managing the awards ceremonies.

concrete MAGAZINE

Editor/Advertising: Adam Leach +64 4 915 0383 adam@ccanz.org.nz Subscriptions: Kylie Henderson +64 4 499 8820 admin@ccanz.org.nz concrete is published quarterly

by CCANZ (Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand) PO Box 448 Level 6, 142 Featherston St Wellington NEW ZEALAND Tel: +64 4 499 8820 Fax: +64 4 499 7760.

Email: admin@ccanz.org.nz Website: www.ccanz.org.nz ISSN: 1174-8540 ISSN: 1179-9374 (online) Disclaimer: The views expressed in concrete are not necessarily those of the Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand. While the information contained in the magazine is printed in good faith, its contents are not intended to replace the services of professional consultants on particular projects.

The Association accepts no legal responsibility of any kind for the correctness of the contents of this magazine, including advertisements. © Copyright 2010 CCANZ (Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand)

October also saw the publication of Amendment 1 to NZS 3122:2009 Specification for Portland and Blended Cements (General and Special Purpose) as well as the 2nd edition of CCANZ’s Designing Comfortable Homes. Although very different, both these publications represent a step forward for the New Zealand construction industry.

As the end of 2010 approaches CCANZ remains extremely busy. On the immediate horizon is the public consultation period for E2/AS3, the draft concrete and concrete masonry Acceptable Solution to Clause E2: External Moisture of the New Zealand Building Code.

I look forwarding to updating you on developments in the next issue of Concrete magazine.

Rob Gaimster CCANZ, CEO

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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

Cover photo: Historic Berne Museum.

NEWS CCANZ DRAFT STANDARD FOR WEATHERTIGHT CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION CCANZ intends to publish a standard for weathertight concrete and concrete masonry construction: CCANZ-S01.

The Department of Building and Housing (DBH) is proposing to cite the published version of this standard (CCANZ-S01) as a new Acceptable Solution for Clause E2 (External Moisture) of the New Zealand Building Code.

The draft standard, along with details for making a submission, will soon be available via the CCANZ website (www.ccanz.org.nz) to enable informed consultation on DBH’s proposal to cite the new standard. The final version is not expected to differ in substance, although there may be minor editorial changes.

Refer to either the CCANZ or DBH websites (www.dbh.govt.nz) for information on when consultation on the proposed new Acceptable Solution will close.

Concrete Solutions Rockcote’s MultiStop range of premium construction mortars are designed for

NZS 3122:2009 A1 PUBLISHED This amendment aligns NZS 3122:2009 Specification for Portland and Blended Cements (General and Special Purpose) with a worldwide initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete by reducing carbon dioxide emissions associated with the process of cement manufacture. The amendment also takes into consideration the results from tests on New Zealand concretes and cements.

Amendment 1 is now available for free download from the Standards New Zealand website www.standards.co.nz

ease of use as sandable or non sandable patch, repair, & finishing plasters to achieve the best result over concrete substrates.

CONCRETE MAGAZINE LBP APPROVED CCANZ’s Concrete magazine has been approved by the Registrar of the Department of Building and Housing’s (DBH) Licensed Building Practitioners (LPB) Scheme, and can count towards skills maintenance point requirements.

Points earned by reading Concrete magazine can be claimed under the category Activities Approved by the Registrar on your Record of Skills Maintenance form. This category is uncapped (unlimited points).

For more information visit the DBH website www.dbh.govt.nz/lbp-approved-activities-by-registrar

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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

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BUZZ FROM THE BEEHIVE BUILDING ACT REVIEW

MULTIPROOF APPROVALS

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson has announced the Government will introduce amendments to the Building Act 2004 which will “help cut red tape and bureaucracy and make builders more accountable”.

The first MultiProof approvals, a service designed to allow fasttracking of building consents for multiple-use designs, have been issued to volume builders.

According to the Department of Building and Housing (DBH) the changes will: t .BLF JU FBTJFS GPS IPNFPXOFST UP IPME CVJMEFST BDDPVOUBCMF for their work t 3FRVJSF B XSJUUFO DPOUSBDU CFUXFFO CVJMEFST BOE DPOTVNFST GPS any project above $20,000 t .BLF JU FBTJFS GPS TJNQMF QSPKFDUT UP HBJO DPOTFOUT t &YFNQU B XJEFS SBOHF PG CVJMEJOH XPSL GSPN SFRVJSJOH DPOTFOUT t $MBSJGZ UIF CVJMEJOH 8BSSBOU PG 'JUOFTT SFHJNF Under the proposed timeline, changes are mostly expected to occur in mid-2011, although the stepped-risk consent system will not appear until mid-2012. More information is available from www.dbh.govt.nz/buildingactreview The Government has also said it will look into ways in which the building consent system can be made more “nationally consistent and efficient”. Currently there are 75 different consent authorities issuing a total of about 70,000 consents each year.

DBH plans to work with local government to prepare a proposal

by April 2011.

Minister Williamson said the system had been proven to work as one company was issued building consents for two houses within three working days and saved $2800 on consent fees.

Building designs with MultiProof approval require only site-specific conditions to be checked by local authorities. More information on MultiProof can be found at www.dbh.govt.nz/multiproof BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK REPORT DBH’s Building and Construction Outlook report for the September quarter predicts a rise in homebuilding during the rest of the year, and into 2011. The report said indicators such as the employment outlook and a projected shortage in housing through population growth had weakened during the month, but remained positive.

Non-residential building continued to weaken, with consent numbers dropping. The sector was expected to continue to decline, with no upturn predicted until late 2011 at the earliest.

The outlook report can be accessed at www.dbh.govt.nz/buildingand-construction-quarterly-report-3

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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

“We can’t turn back time, but we can better conceive the future.”

Yue Zhang, Architect, Beijing, China: Winner of the Global Holcim Awards Bronze 2009.

Develop new perspectives for our future: 3 rd International Holcim Awards competition for projects in sustainable construction. Prize money totals USD 2 million. www.holcimawards.org In partnership with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Switzerland; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA; Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City; and the Ecole Supérieure d’Architecture de Casablanca, Morocco. The universities lead the independent juries in five regions of the world. Entries at www.holcimawards.org close March 23, 2011.

The Holcim Awards competition is an initiative of the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. Based in Switzerland, the foundation is supported by Holcim Ltd and its Group companies and affiliates in more than 70 countries. Holcim is one of the world’s leading suppliers of cement and aggregates as well as further activities such as ready-mix concrete and asphalt including services.

Hon Phil Heatley (Minister for Housing), Hon Maurice Williamson (Minister for Building and Construction), Rob Gaimster (CCANZ CEO) and Ross Pickworth (CCANZ Chairman)

Rob Gaimster (CCANZ CEO), Ross Pickworth (CCANZ Chairman) and Ian Athfield (Athfield Architects Ltd)

CCANZ LAUNCHES UPDATED HOUSE DESIGN GUIDE THE SECOND EDITION OF DESIGNING COMFORTABLE HOMES HAS BEEN LAUNCHED BY HON MAURICE WILLIAMSON, MINISTER FOR BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION. “Good building design is key to improving the comfort and energy efficiency of our homes,” Mr Williamson said. “I applaud the concrete industry for its efforts in bringing this to the fore in the updated edition of Designing Comfortable Homes.”

The revised book, commissioned by the Cement and Concrete Association of New Zealand (CCANZ), with assistance from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), is a guide to the basic principles of passive solar design as a means to ensure homes stay cool in summer and warm in winter.

Along with general guidance on solar design considerations, Designing Comfortable Homes also provides data on the expected performance of homes based around three different combinations of glass, mass and insulation.

“The concrete industry believes the energy efficiency and thermal comfort afforded through passive solar design is crucial to enhancing New Zealand’s housing stock and the quality of all our lives,” says CCANZ chief executive Rob Gaimster.

“Our health, and that of our families, can be enhanced, while the impact of the monthly power bill can be lessened, through what is in essence a very simple concept – passive solar design.”

The first edition of Designing Comfortable Homes was published in 2001, and since that time it has become a staple of all book collections within architectural and design practices. However, with recent changes to the Energy Efficiency clause of the Building Code, and the development of NZS 4218, the thermal insulation standard, CCANZ decided it was time for this valuable resource to be updated.

“The premise of this book is that homes can be naturally warm in winter and cool in summer – provided appropriate combinations of glass, concrete’s thermal mass and insulation are used,” says Gaimster.

“Passive solar design principles are not only essential for good home design, but they are also easy to understand. We encourage architects, designers, builders and their clients to embrace these

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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

simple concepts in order to achieve much more comfortable and energy efficient homes.”

Alongside Mr Williamson, leading New Zealand architect and concrete advocate Ian Athfield also spoke at the launch, held at Mojo Coffee Central in Wellington on October 13. Hon Phil Heatley, Minister for Housing, and representatives from across the construction sector also attended the event.

Hardcopies of Designing Comfortable Homes are available free-of-charge by contacting CCANZ (admin@ccanz.org.nz).

Alternatively, a pdf copy can be downloaded from the CCANZ website www.ccanz.org.nz.

DESIGNING COMFORTABLE HOMES 2ND EDITION

BY WAY OF ENTREE TO THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED 2ND EDITION OF DESIGNING COMFORTABLE HOMES THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXTRACT FROM CHAPTER 1. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE READING THIS VALUABLE RESOURCE A FREE HARDCOPY CAN BE REQUESTED BY CONTACTING CCANZ (ADMIN@CCANZ.ORG.NZ), OR A PDF COPY IS AVAILABLE FROM THE CCANZ WEBSITE WWW.CCANZ.ORG.NZ. INTRODUCTION

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN

This bookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary aim is to provide you with an understanding of the basic principles of passive solar design â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the key to comfort and reduced energy use in New Zealand homes. The premise of this book is that homes can be naturally warm in winter and cool in summer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; provided appropriate combinations of glass, thermal mass and insulation are used.

The principles of passive solar design for a comfortable energy efficient house can be summarised very simply:

Designing Comfortable Homes is written with the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;averageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; home owner in mind, rather than the committed passive solar enthusiast.

Passive solar design principles are not only essential for good home design but they are also generally easy to understand. We encourage you to embrace these simple concepts when you build so that you get a much more comfortable and energy efficient home.

This book is also intended to address a widely held misconception that compliance with the energy efficiency requirements of the New Zealand Building Code is best practice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this is far from the truth. The Code sets minimum performance requirements only â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in other words they are the levels that it is illegal to go below.

To get better performance, you need to move beyond Code requirements.

This book defines two higher levels of insulation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Better Practice and Best Practice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and through computer modelling shows the comfort and energy efficiency benefits these and other improvements can provide.

This first chapter provides a brief introduction to passive solar design and its benefits, followed by: t $IBQUFS 5XP o ,FZ EFTJHO DPOTJEFSBUJPOT GPS HMBTT UIFSNBM mass and insulation t $IBQUFS 5ISFF o *OGPSNBUJPO PO PUIFS JNQPSUBOU EFTJHO considerations such as site selection t $IBQUFS 'PVS o 5IF WBMVF PG QBTTJWF TPMBS EFTJHO EFNPOTUSBUFE through computer modelling

t */46-"5& 6TF JOTVMBUJPO UP TMPX UIF ýPX PG IFBU JO BOE PVU of the house â&#x20AC;&#x201C; heat from the sun is used more effectively in houses that are well-insulated. Insulation helps to maintain more constant internal temperatures and reduces the need for heating in winter and cooling in summer. t (-";& 6TF HMB[JOH UP CSJOH IFBU GSPN UIF TVO JOUP UIF IPVTF â&#x20AC;&#x201C; though glass must be selected, placed and sized carefully as it is a poor insulator (windows should be double glazed as a minimum to reduce heat loss). t "%% 5)&3."- ."44 6TF IFBWZXFJHIU NBUFSJBMT UIFSNBM mass) to soak up heat from the sun and release it slowly into the house when temperatures drop. A house with appropriate mass will maintain more comfortable temperatures â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it will overheat less often and not get as cold overnight. t 4501 "*3 -&","(& 6TF XFBUIFS TUSJQQJOH IJHI RVBMJUZ sealants and less complicated house designs to reduce air leakage. Once a house is well-insulated and appropriately glazed, the biggest potential heat loss is through draughts around windows, doors and other construction joints. t 4)"%& 6TF FYUFSOBM TIBEJOH UP NBOBHF UIF IFBU HBJO GSPN the sun. Well-designed window systems must not only collect heat from the sun when desirable, but also exclude it at times when it might cause overheating. t 7&/5*-"5& 6TF PQFOBCMF XJOEPXT BOE PUIFS WFOUJMBUJPO UP SFEVDF overheating and maintain good indoor air quality. Appropriate placement of windows for good cross flow of air through rooms will make them more effective for cooling on hot days. Good ventilation also helps to reduce condensation and remove cooking and other odours. Other important factors that you should consider when designing a house, such as site selection, house placement and orientation, are covered in Chapter Three. It is important to consider these, in combination with the factors above, when designing a comfortable energy efficient house.

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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION COMPETITION OFFERS USD 2 MILLION IN PRIZES ARCHITECTS, PLANNERS, ENGINEERS, PROJECT OWNERS, BUILDERS, CONSTRUCTION FIRMS AND STUDENTS ARE BEING OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT FORWARD THEIR PROJECTS AND VISIONS IN SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION FOR USD 2 MILLION IN PRIZES. The 3rd International Holcim Awards competition is open to sustainable building and civil engineering works; landscape, urban design and infrastructure projects; and materials, products and construction technologies. The Awards are an initiative of the Swiss-based Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction.

The competition celebrates innovative, future-oriented and tangible projects and visions from around the globe and is open to anyone involved with approaches that contribute towards a more sustainable built environment.

Entries must be submitted online at www.holcimawards.org by 23 March 2011. These go forward to one of five regional competitions, with regional winners progressing to a global phase in 2012.

AWARD CATEGORIES

A self-contained day labour station (San Francisco, USA) won the innovation prize at the Global Holcim Awards 2009.

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Submissions in both categories are evaluated by independent juries, using five “target issues” to define sustainable construction.

Three of these align with the triple bottom line concept of balanced social, environmental and economic performance. The rest cover contextual and aesthetic impact, and innovation and transferability.

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20 YEARS AGO WE CREATED THE INDUSTRY . . . TODAY WE SET THE STANDARD.

The juries in the five competition regions include independent experts in sustainable construction from all continents and the competition is conducted in partnership with some of the world’s leading technical universities.

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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

The main category of the competition is open to projects in an advanced stage of design. Construction (or commercial production in the case of materials, products and construction technologies) must not have started before 1 July 2010. In addition, the Holcim Awards seek visions and ideas for the Next Generation category, open to student projects created within university programmes at final year bachelor level or above (including masters and PHD).

In the last Holcim Awards competition 2008/2009, almost 5000 projects from 120 countries were submitted, and 12 New Zealand entries met the criteria required to go forward to the Asia Pacific regional competition. The 52 prize-winning projects included the global winners: a river remediation scheme in Morocco, a greenfield university campus in Vietnam, a rural planning strategy in China, and a shelter for day labourers in the USA. Details about the 100 prize-winning projects from both the 1st and 2nd competition cycles are available at: www.holcimawards.org.

The Holcim Foundation was established in 2003 to reinforce public awareness of the significant role in society that architecture, engineering and construction have towards achieving a more sound and sustainable future. The Foundation is supported

by Holcim Ltd and its Group Companies but is independent of its commercial interests. In today’s context of rapidly rising populations, mass migration, pressure on land resources, and Third World urbanisation, radically different approaches are demanded of the construction industry to ensure that generations to come can live in a truly sustainable environment.

GROUND RADAR PROVIDES NON-DESTRUCTIVE ASSESSMENT OF NZ CONCRETE STRUCTURES GROUND PENETRATING RADAR (GPR) TECHNOLOGY NOW ALLOWS REBAR, POST-TENSIONING CABLES, AND OTHER PIPES/SERVICES INTEGRATED INTO CONCRETE STRUCTURES TO BE IMAGED CLEARLY AND QUICKLY. Limited applications of GPR technology for the imaging of

dimension hole templates on imaged rebar to ensure that holes

concrete have been in service in New Zealand for around 4 years.

cut are positioned to minimise structural damage.

One such application, being jointly developed by Fulton Hogan Auckland and LORD Civil Christchurch, is the quality control process for bridge beam manufacture.

Quality control is also possible by using GPR technology. It provides a valuable, compelling and cost-effective means to correlate as-built work with that planned or permitted. Formal

The uptake of GPR has been assisted by the convergence

reports are also offered to assist in the preparation of more

of a suitable field platform, which offers minimal operational

comprehensive engineering assessment.

complexity, along with companion proprietary software that

The equipment used is the latest international technology, and

permits on-site processing and image enhancement capable of

is sourced from a Canadian manufacturer. It is safe and non-

displaying the rebar and imaged targets in real time, with excellent

destructive to use, employing a low-power 1000 mega-Hertz signal

clarity, and in a choice of 2D or 3D formats.

from a compact survey head with integrated odometer.

Applications are many and varied. Amongst the most demanded

Commenting on some illustrative examples of work done to

by industry is the imaging of rebar in older concrete structures,

date, Detect’s CEO, Graham Mist, is effusive. “The work for

such as masonry or concrete buildings pre-1970’s vintage and old

this equipment is hugely varied”, he reflects. “We have studied

bridges and motorway structures. This is primarily for reasons of

everything from a Northland bridge to identify rebar positioning

earthquake compliance as specified by the Building Act. There is

prior to installing additional reinforcing rods, a 1920’s Hamilton

also a need for rebar imaging of hydrology-related structures, such

building for seismic stability and reinforcing quality in preparation

as major concrete water reticulation storage tanks.

for another storey, a 1953 brick primary school bell tower in order

New Plymouth-based contractor, Detect Services Ltd, has begun offering a national contracted service of rebar imaging using this technology.

One major area of the work undertaken by Detect is assisting the avoidance of rebar during concrete cutting. The equipment even

to confirm reinforcing prior to designing a seismic reinforcing scheme, and a new concrete floor extension to verify that it had been prepared and reinforced to code”.

Demand for the GPR service is strong, and is expected to grow as the civil industry becomes aware of its potential.

has the ability to image live electrical conductors and to overly

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TAURANGA HARBOUR LINK WINS 2010 SUPREME CONCRETE3 SUSTAINABILITY AWARD A special concrete mix designed by Fletcher Construction as part of the Tauranga Harbour Link has won the 2010 Supreme Concrete³ Sustainability Award, presented at the New Zealand Concrete Conference.

Designated “Mix M”, the resulting concrete is designed to survive 100 years in harsh marine conditions, and was employed extensively in Stage 2 of the Harbour Link project to form beams used in the off-ramps, bridges and land spans.

Mix M achieved top honours in concrete sustainability for its specially blended and extensively trialled mix of Golden Bay cement, fly ash (a waste product from coal burnt at Huntly Power Station), and microsilica 600, which enabled demanding durability, high early strength, and high workability requirements to be met.

The use of fly ash and microsilica resulted in a significant reduction in cement requirements and a corresponding reduction in the carbon footprint of the concrete beams.

Announced in Wellington on October 7 the Awards, part of the Concrete3 initiative launched in 2007 by CCANZ,

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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

acknowledge projects, products and initiatives which demonstrate excellence in environmental, economic and/ or social sustainability for the built environment.

On their way to the top prize, the team behind Mix M also received the Excellence in Civil Concrete Construction Award.

CCANZ chief executive Rob Gaimster said Mix M was a significant step forward in concrete mix design and durability modelling, one which combined enhanced environmental credentials with superior performance.

“Not only was the mix design sophisticated in optimising cement replacement, but by sourcing its fly ash from within New Zealand, and using microsilica slurry rather than more energy intensive powder, Mix M scored additional sustainability marks.”

Graham Frost (Chief Engineer) and Paul Gurran (Quality and Systems Manager) both with The Fletcher Construction Company Ltd collect the 2010 Supreme Concrete³ Sustainability Award from Rob Gaimster, CCANZ CEO.

The awards also produced winners in four other categories, for projects which excelled in different areas of sustainable concrete construction.

The Excellence in Concrete for the Community Award was won by Dunning Thornton Consultants for moving Auckland’s Rob Roy (Birdcage) Hotel.

Through the innovative use of concrete the historic Rob Roy Hotel was strengthened to current seismic code requirements with minimum intervention to the heritage fabric, and then relocated horizontally 45m, on top of stiff and precisely levelled concrete runway beams that spanned culverts and soft ground.

The 750tonne building made the journey with no damage to its delicate heritage fabric and now awaits the return trip. The result has been a win for the community with the sustainable retention, recycling and re-use of an important Auckland heritage icon for future generations to enjoy.

Adam Thornton (Director) Dunning Thornton Consultants Ltd collects the Excellence in Concrete for the Community Award from Rob Gaimster, CCANZ CEO. Adam also collected the Excellence in Commercial Concrete Construction Award on behalf of Dunning Thornton Consultants Ltd for The Customhouse, CentrePort.

The Excellence in Concrete Innovation Award went to Mainzeal Property and Construction Limited for the Alan MacDiarmid Building at Victoria University in Wellington.

Opened in July this year, New Zealand’s first multi-storey PRESSS building is a true collaborative effort that has seen the implementation of a new technology in seismic and component-based concrete construction.

By utilising un-bonded post tensioning and rocking joints within the structure the PRESSS system ensures the building returns to upright without significant structural damage, even after a major seismic event.

The environmentally sustainable credentials that come with being prefabricated and de-mountable, are matched by the building’s low maintenance requirements and the protection it offers the immensely valuable fit-out and services.

Greg McFetridge (Construction Manager) Mainzeal Property and Construction Ltd collects the Excellence in Concrete Innovation Award from Rob Gaimster, CCANZ CEO.

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The Excellence in Residential Concrete Construction Award was jointly awarded to Powered Living (North Island) and Buck + Associates, Architects.

Powered Living’s (North Island) Waikato residential property was designed to conserve energy through passive solar principles, utilising the thermal mass of concrete in combination with the sun’s energy to achieve a 60% reduction in energy requirements compared to similar houses.

Oriented due north to maximize solar gain, the house enables heat transfer from the north to the south via a natural process of thermal heat conduction through building materials. This is a realistic attempt to achieve an attractive, affordable, environmentally designed, and energy efficient house with off the shelf environmental technologies and materials.

Annette Firth representing Powered Living (North Island) collects the joint Excellence in Residential Concrete Construction Award from Rob Gaimster, CCANZ CEO.

The recently completed Teear House in Christchurch was designed by Buck + Associates, Architects to be self-sustaining in terms of space and water heating requirements. This involved adopting a practical balance between thermal mass, glazing, and insulation to minimise the effects of daily and seasonal external temperature swings and solar variability via passive means. The end result is a uniform internal temperature predicted to be no less than 17ºc.

In addition to an energy efficient and healthy living space, this predominantly concrete house offers durability and low maintenance, and integrates seamlessly with the surrounding environment.

Ralf Kessel representing Buck + Associates, Architects collects the joint Excellence in Residential Concrete Construction Award from Rob Gaimster, CCANZ CEO.

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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

The Hanning residence, Christchurch, (below) was announced Rockcote National House of the Year 2010.

The Excellence in Commercial Concrete Construction Award went to Dunning Thornton Consultants for The Customhouse at CentrePort.

The recently completed Customhouse is Wellington’s newest five-star Greenstar building. The use of concrete is an integral part of the sustainability characteristics, achieving an A-grade flexible open-plan space in a very economic manner. In particular, the soffit of the doubletees and precast frame has been left exposed to allow its thermal mass to provide a high level of temperature stability for the internal environment.

Normal and pre-stressed reinforcement was used to provide a consistent component size that allowed for efficient off-site manufacture and rapid construction. The building has also been designed to resist seismic loads, while its precast panels provide texture to the exterior and add to solar shading.

The 2010 Concrete³ Sustainability Awards team MC Cocksey, Adam Leach (CCANZ) and Maria Gilmore (Dazzle Events).

Rockcote Systems tested to 7.1 The recent earthquakes in Canterbury shook the region to the core. This quote is just one we received from a client; "According to all reports the epicenter may as well have been under our home.

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HEAVENLY CONCRETE

ST MARY OF THE ANGELS CHURCH, WELLINGTON MORTEN GJERDE – CONCRETE ENTHUSIAST AND SENIOR LECTURER IN THE VICTORIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

FOR REASONS THAT WILL BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TO MOST OF US, CONCRETE IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS LIQUID STONE. IT IS A CONTEMPORARY BUILDING MATERIAL THAT CAN BE EASILY SHAPED YET CAN BE MORE DURABLE THAN STONE, ONE OF THE MOST ROBUST OF BUILDING MATERIALS. IT IS THEN NOT TOO SURPRISING THAT AN ARCHITECTURAL FORM SYNONYMOUS WITH STONE, THE GOTHIC CHURCH, WOULD AT SOME POINT COME TO BE RECONSTITUTED USING ITS ‘LIQUID’ COUNTERPART. 14 concrete

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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

Completed in 1922, Wellington’s St Mary of the Angels is believed to be the world’s first neo-Gothic church built using reinforced concrete construction. Not only is the church of significant architectural merit, as confirmed by the Category I classification bestowed by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust , but it stands today as a testament to the commitment of its owner to maintain and enhance its place in this city’s history.

PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESIGN St Mary of the Angels is the parish church for central Wellington.

The parish built its first church on the site in 1843, and then in 1873 it was decided to build a larger structure to cope with the rapidly expanding population. That church cost £1,500 to build and could accommodate 450 worshippers. In 1918, disaster struck when the timber church was substantially destroyed by fire. The following Sunday, Father Stanislaus Mahony called a meeting of the parish to discuss rebuilding and soon after that they engaged the services of architect Frederick de Jersey Clere.

The design is in the strongly perpendicular French Gothic style, and the principal east elevation can be seen to have been modelled closely on the old collegiate church of Saints-Michel-etGudule in Brussels. In 1919, the Evening Post wrote that “it was decided by the authorities that Gothic should be the style, but it was left to the architects to choose the phase”, giving an early indication of the extent to which the church would involve itself with the project.

The siting of the church is somewhat unfortunate, particularly in relation to the development that has come to surround the site today. Unlike the cathedral that serves as its precedent, which opens to a generous public space, entry to St Mary of the Angels is located tightly against Boulcott Street, a condition made worse by the difference in levels. Clere’s solution is ingenious, forming a modest porch at the level of the nave, which can be accessed from the street along a generous staircase located asymmetrically in plan.

The design adopts a reinforced concrete structural frame with the bays infilled with a pale, sandy coloured brick. The concrete is shaped intricately; enabling particularly delicate proportions over what could have been achieved using the traditional stone materials aligned with the Gothic language. Although McGill claims that respect for fire had caused Clere to break out of his timber mould, other sources are not as certain about this, at least in respect of his design for St Mary of the Angels.

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concrete 15

Indeed, Clere had already begun to use concrete in his work, with UIF EFTJHO GPS 4U .BSZ T JO ,BSPSJ CBTFE PO DPODSFUF JO $MFSF and his business partner Llewellyn Williams were both members of the Concrete Institute of London and by the time he came to design St Mary of the Angels, Clere had designed five churches in reinforced concrete.

St Mary of the Angels is the most impressive of Clereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s churches and the most cathedral-like, perhaps in part helping him overcome disappointment that came with his failure a year earlier to secure the commission to design the new Anglican cathedral in Wellington.

In words that are reminiscent of Modern design philosophy of form following function, Clere claimed that the size of the concrete window mullions practically governed the design of St Mary of the Angels. By this he meant that the slender mullions able to be formed using concrete gave him an opportunity to incorporate the three-light windows at the clerestory level instead of the two frames associated with stone construction in the same location.

The result is a splendid, light filled arcade running the length of the nave.

However, it was in the details of the structural elements that Clere was able to bring the Gothic proportions into the 20th Century.

After toying initially with traditional timber framing methods for the roof he eventually came to see the primary structure as the gracefully curving concrete beams we see today. The visual weight of the structure is stripped back with the aid of king post and collar tie, effectively marrying Medieval and contemporary architecture in this one element as well as more generally throughout the building.

THE ARCHITECT 5SBJOFE BT BO BSDIJUFDU JO UIF 6OJUFE ,JOHEPN 'SFEFSJDL EF +FSTFZ Clere arrived in Wellington with his family at the age of 21 and it is here he became well known as a builder of churches. During his career he designed and built more than a hundred buildings associated with faith and worship in the period 1881 to 1933 16 concrete

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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

with most of these located in the lower half of the North Island.

Notable religious buildings in the Wellington region credited to $MFSF JODMVEF 4U .BSZ T $IVSDI JO ,BSPSJ BMTP CVJMU JO DPODSFUF BOE St Gerardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Monastery.

An indication of the high regard held for Clereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability is the fact that the Wellington Catholic parish was able to set aside assumed parochial biases to engage the services of the Anglicanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diocesan architect.

Clere had a long and productive life as an architect and did not fully retire from practice until he was 92, by which time he was near enough to blind. He lived another four years and will be remembered as the consummate professional, an architect of unquestioned integrity in his dealings with builders, clients and materials.

CONSTRUCTION The construction process that brought the church to be on this site is stuff legends are made of. Moving quickly after the fire, a rebuilding committee coordinated efforts to raise the money required for rebuilding beyond the ÂŁ2,525 insurance payout on the timber church.

After less than a year, tenders were called and in April of 1919, Father Mahony instructed Clere to let a contract to H. E. Manning in the amount of ÂŁ27,500. The foundations took some time to complete but a more significant impediment to progress on site was the general difficulty of obtaining building materials, as the start of construction coincided with the end of the First World War. A key material on this site was of course Portland cement and the Evening Post, reported that much of the cement had to be imported, some from as far away as Canada and Belgium and the price the contractor had to pay bordered on being extortionate.

For reasons not entirely clear, the contractor walked off the job less than a year after starting.

The task of completing the project then fell to Father Mahony.

In addition to running the parish he immersed himself in the project, working closely with the architect and was often seen

scrambling around on the scaffolding to instruct the foremen he employed. He engaged labourers for the work on day rates and not many of them were particularly skilled. Again, the predominant use of concrete in this project could be seen to enable the construction to proceed in this manner. Had the church been designed to be constructed in stone, trained masons would have been required and no doubt they would have commanded considerably higher wages. It could be said that the work was completed on a pay-as-you-go basis as the workmen often had to wait until the Monday to receive their wages, paid out of the offerings received on the Sunday.

Historian Susan McGill wrote that “the rendering of the rich ornamentation with concrete moulds was an innovation prompted by lack of money” and when it was consecrated in March of 1922, Clere, Mahony and unskilled concrete pourers had created a stunning Gothic presence Down Under.

SUBSEQUENT WORK Problems arising through the construction have become apparent with the passage of time. Concrete moulds were often not completed in a single pour and the consequential cold construction joints were found to reduce the structural strength and weathertightness of the concrete. Over a relatively short period and aggravated by several earthquakes, other structural deficiencies arising from the design strength became apparent.

Three separate programmes of repair and restoration have so far taken place.

In the 1950s a programme of repairs designed to halt further deterioration was undertaken, including removal of the decorative finials on top of the side wall buttresses. It was not until a comprehensive project undertaken in the 1980s was completed that the building was brought up to the prevailing Wellington City Council standards. Work was undertaken to direct seismic loads in the roof out to the stronger elements at each end. The two towers were strengthened and electrical wiring replaced. Also during this project it was discovered that the original stormwater discharge system had been unable to cope with the volumes of water

collected by the roof. To the disappointment of many, the original Welsh slate roof was replaced by a copper roof, which altered unnecessarily the colour, texture and pattern of the roof.

Another project of restoration and repair was completed in 1996, including epoxy injection of the rogue cold joints in the concrete to help control water ingress and improve strength. In 2002 Maclean wrote that “St Marys is in better condition now than ever.” Were it only so, as expectations for structural strength continue to advance with research. The church is now looking at another project to further improve seismic performance and one of several ideas they are considering is to base isolate the building. Fundraising it seems, is now deeply embedded in the culture of the parish.

CONCLUSION According to Wayne Nelson the church is a “tour de force in the art and craft of the machine….particularly as Clere’s design was executed not by trained stone masons but by day labourers with no more skill than the ability to handle a concrete mixer and a mould”. In contemporary Wellington, the location of St Mary of the Angels has perhaps limited the extent to which the general public has come to appreciate its fine qualities. However, at the time it was built the church enjoyed significant notoriety, not only because of its evocative design but also because of the hands on approach taken by the parish priest, Father Stanislaus Mahony.

The synergy between the principal building materials, architectural design and construction process has led to a building of great significance and innovation. Not only does the final result stand as a testament to concrete as a building material, the use of concrete also had significant impact on the ability of the parish to complete the task to a reasonable cost despite the high cost of Portland cement at the time. It has stood the test of time, albeit with the continual input of a committed property owner, who continues to look toward the future. It is for these reasons that the New Zealand Concrete Society recognised St Mary of the Angels with its Enduring Concrete Award for 2010.

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concrete 17

UNIQUE, MODERN AND TOTALLY AT HOME THE EXTENSION TO THE HISTORIC MUSEUM IN BERNE IS A SANDSTONE-COLOURED CONCRETE SCULPTURE WITH A GLAZED FRONT THAT MANAGES TO KEEP A BALANCE BETWEEN INTEGRATION AND SELF-ASSERTION. 115 years after its establishment, Berne’s Historic Museum opened its long awaited extension in the autumn of 2009. Designed by architects :mlzd, the 3000m2 extension is striking, yet at the same time complements the surrounding built environment.

Rising up in the south-east corner of the square, the extension accommodates the Museum’s administrative operations and library, as well as the City Archive. All of the rooms are orientated to the north, with a view of the historic facade of the old building.

Small windows, arranged irregularly allow spots of light to glide over the opposite wall within the impressive stair well.

Within the extension’s exhibition (and storage) spaces, located on two levels beneath the square, function dictates design.

Resembling an empty stage, these spaces demonstrate restraint, with all surfaces either left as exposed concrete or painted dark grey. Such a blank setting provides a level of flexibility that can accommodate any exhibition.

From the outside the extension appears monolithic, wrapped in a concrete shell. To the north, however, its historic counterpart is exquisitely reflected in a glass facade, unspoilt by sun shading elements. The initial solid impression of the extension is also eased by its sculptural, polygonal form as well as the soft yellowish tint of the concrete and the texture of its surface finish.

The architects pay homage to the old museum in many design elements. For instance, the cubature’s sloping surfaces echo the multifarious roof areas of the old building, while its dyed concrete is akin to its old sandstone counterpart. The bossaged cornerstones of the old building are referenced as abstract, four to twelve centimetre deep recesses or, in the vicinity of the cascade stairs, as window openings.

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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

Article reproduced with kind permission from opus C â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Concrete Architect & Design (www.opusC.com) All images, including cover, courtesy of Architekturfotografie Gempeler

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concrete 19

A CONCRETE

ALPINE ELEPHANT

ELEPHANTS HAVE BEEN A FAVOURITE ANIMAL OF CHILDREN SINCE BEFORE THE DAYS OF BABAR. SO, RATHER THAN JUST PLACE A SIMPLE CONCRETE WALL TO SHIELD OFF AN EMERGENCY STAIRCASE AT A CRÃ&#x2C6;CHE, IT SEEMED A MUCH MORE OBVIOUS IDEA TO BUILD IT IN THE FORM OF A LARGER-THAN-LIFE ELEPHANT.

This day-care centre located in Paul-Arnold-Strasse, Chemnitz is an impressive example of the practically limitless design PQQPSUVOJUJFT UIBU UIF FMBTUJD MJOFST GSPN UIF 3&$,-* TUBOEBSE range offer.

The concrete elephant has been standing here since 2008, JUT TVSGBDF UFYUVSFE XJUI UFYUVSF :VLPO 3&$,-* 5IJT extraordinarily elastic liner, selected by the Riemer architecture practice in Chemnitz, was originally moulded from a rock in the French Alps. It has been one of the most internationally successful liners in the formliner manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s range for years. Numerous supporting walls, building façades and bridge pylons and more have been textured using this pattern.

The concrete elephant in Chemnitz must surely be one of the most unusual examples. The use of an elastic liner with a texture that reminds one of the raw, chapped skin of an elephant lends the concrete surface of this magnificent but lovable creature a unique character, making it appear even more natural.

As a gesture of good-will towards the City of Chemnitz, Niederfrohna-based construction enterprise Landgraf poured the concrete slab, measuring 9.50m x 5.50m and 25cm thick, horizontally on site.

The elastic liners had to be cut to size using moulds based on the contour of the elephant and placed on the formwork base. A formwork frame was then applied all the way around. After stripping wax was sprayed on, it was possible to concrete the structure and remove the formwork the following day with no problems.

The concrete elephant remains a constant source of joy for the children who attend the day-care centre, as well as demonstrating the almost infinite possibilities achievable through a combination of creativity, innovative formliner design and the plastic properties of concrete. www.reckli.net

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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

â&#x20AC;&#x153;HEY ASPHALTâ&#x20AC;? ADS INFORM DRIVERS HOW CONCRETE PAVING CAN ALLEVIATE CONGESTION WOES During the height of the summer travel season around Minneapolis, drivers will experience delays along the I-94 corridor due to the third asphalt resurfacing in the last two decades. In what is an already congested artery in the Twin Cities, these delays will impact drivers during the July 4 holiday and beyond.

The Portland Cement Association (PCA), the voice of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cement and concrete industry, is running billboard ads informing the motoring public that choosing concrete instead of asphalt is the smart choice, dramatically decreasing construction time and congestion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in addition to the best use of taxpayer funds.

Concrete roads last an average of three times longer than asphalt.

In Minnesota, asphalt roads need to be resurfaced approximately every 8 years, compared to concrete roads, which last an average of 25 years before requiring any maintenance. I-94 was just resurfaced in 2000 and 1993.

Concrete roads incur fewer lifecycle costs than asphalt roads as they require less maintenance and fewer resurfacings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all resulting in a savings for the taxpayer and less time spent in traffic due to construction delays.

In a letter dated June 28, Douglas Burns, executive director, PCA North Central Regional Office, wrote to Minnesota Commissioner PG 5SBOTQPSUBUJPO 5IPNBT , 4PSFM SFHBSEJOH UIF OFX DBNQBJHO Burns wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness of the long term durability and first cost-competitiveness of concrete in all applications, including road construction and maintenance programs.â&#x20AC;?

gallons of fuel each year and annual CO2 emissions attributed to congestion delays total more than .4 million metric tons.

Article reproduced with kind permission from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) www.cement.org, and the UK Concrete Society www.concrete.org.uk

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He continues, stating that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Asphalt prices have increased markedly and the application of concrete overlays for maintenance and rehabilitation is being increasingly adopted as a more economical, longer lasting option.â&#x20AC;?

Congestion costs the Twin Citiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; residents more than just time and tax dollars. Studies have shown that in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area alone, traffic congestion wastes more than 47 million

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concrete 21

CCANZ LIBRARY LISTED BELOW IS A SMALL SELECTION OF RECENTLY ACQUIRED MATERIAL BY THE CCANZ LIBRARY. TO BORROW ONE OF THESE TITLES, SIMPLY EMAIL LIBRARY@CCANZ.ORG.NZ THE LIBRARY CATALOGUE CAN BE ACCESSED ELECTRONICALLY VIA WWW.CCANZLIBRARY.ORG.NZ NO JOB TOO BIG: A HISTORY OF FLETCHER CONSTRUCTION. VOLUME 1, 1909-40 BY JACK SMITH

This great story began a hundred years ago when Jim Fletcher hammered his first nail on the Otago peninsula. Fletchers went on to rebuild Hastings and Napier after the 1931 earthquake, survive the Great depression, plan and build most of our first state houses and tackle jobs few other builders could contemplate.

The first of three volumes on an outstanding New Zealand company, this book covers the period 1909–40 and focuses on the work for which Fletcher Construction Co Ltd, with its tower cranes constructing buildings and its bulldozers on civil engineering projects all around the country, is widely known and recognized.

CONCRETE: A SEVEN THOUSAND YEAR HISTORY BY REESE PALLEY

the cultural, scientific, and engineering accomplishments it has enabled.

Palley takes us from concrete’s earliest beginnings, including the startling fact that at least one of the pyramids was partially poured, through the building of the Eddystone Light, to the dramatic increase in concrete construction during the twentieth century and the start of the twenty-first century.

The environmental impact of concrete production is discussed, along with substitutes for the burning of lime.

Palley concludes by contemplating outer space, where almost all of the elements needed to build extra-terrestrial concrete communities already exist in the chemical makeup of the moon and Mars.

LIBRARY QUIZ To go in the draw to win a copy of No Job Too Big: A History of Fletcher Construction. Volume 1, 1909-40

by Jack Smith answer the following simple question: Which structure won the inaugural New Zealand Concrete Society Enduring Concrete Award in 2008?

“Nothing too big, nothing too small” was Fletchers’ promise it strove to deliver.

From homes and state houses to icons such as Auckland University’s arts block, the Dominion Museum, Dunedin Post Office and Wellington Railway Station, Fletcher Construction Co Ltd literally built New Zealand.

For seven thousand years concrete has shaped the path of human progress, and this historical account of our most versatile building material begins in ancient Egypt and ends on the moon.

Palley’s fascinating history of concrete chronicles the repeated and often centuries-long losses of the technology, along with its many re-emergences and

ICCX Oceania 2011 ICCX – International Concrete Conference & Exhibition

Email your answer to library@ccanz.org.nz. Entries close Friday 26 November 2010.

Congratulations to Rick Ankers of McCallum Bros Ltd, who correctly answered the June/July 2010 Library Quiz to receive a copy of Management for the New Zealand Construction Industry by Suzanne Wilkinson and Rosemary Scofield.

FOR MO R PLEASEE DETAILS VISIT:

WWW.I

CCX.OR

WORLDWIDE

21 – 24 February, 2011 22 concrete

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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

| The Sebel Albert Park Melbourne

TRADE JOURNALS FOR THE CONCRETE INDUSTRY

www.cpi-worldwide.com

G

CONTACTS New Zealand Ready Mixed Concrete Association Ph (04) 499 0041 Fax (04) 499 7760 Executive Officer: Rob Gaimster President: Jon Hambling www.nzrmca.org.nz

New Zealand Concrete Masonry Association Ph (04) 499 8820 Fax (04) 499 7760 Executive Officer: David Barnard President: David Aitken www.nzcma.org.nz

Precast NZ Inc. Ph (09) 638 9416 Fax (09) 638 9407 Email: ross.cato_precastnz@xtra.co.nz Executive Officer: Ross Cato President: John Marshall www.precastnz.org.nz

New Zealand Concrete Society Ph (09) 536 5410 Fax (09) 536 5442 Email: concrete@bluepacificevents.com Secretary/Manager: Allan Bluett President: Dene Cook www.concretesociety.org.nz

New Zealand Master Concrete Placers Association Ph (06) 873 4428 Fax (06) 873 4429 Email: office@mcpa.org.nz Business Manager: Carol McMillan www.mcpa.org.nz

NEWS FROM THE ASSOCIATIONS NEW ZEALAND CONCRETE SOCIETY (NZCS) CONCRETE CONFERENCE 2010 OVERVIEW Concrete Conference 2010 was notable for its near-record attendance, an outstanding keynote speaker, a discussion panel on the Darfield earthquake, and a solid technical programme.

Conference Chairman and NZCS Vice-president Jason Ingham says the attendance was especially pleasing given the on-going international recession.

“The first good news about the conference was the registrations which ensured the conference was successful from a financial perspective.”

He says the programme was strong and delegates enjoyed keynote speaker David Goodyear, Senior Vice President of TY Lin International, who discussed the Colorado River Bridge at the Hoover Dam, which is due for completion next year.

Jason says about a hundred people attended Friday afternoon’s hastily-arranged discussion panel on the Darfield earthquake, despite the late notice for this topical event. “We got together some excellent engineering professionals who shared their experiences, impressions and images of the earthquake.”

This year the formal banquet was on the Thursday rather than Friday evening at the behest of major sponsors, Golden Bay Cement and Holcim, which wanted to ensure the programme would enable attendees to save on registration costs. “While it was agreed that this was a one-time format, it worked very well.”

The conference was opened by the Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment, Dr Paul Reynolds who commenced this role in July after eight years at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) where he was Assistant Deputy Director General and Group Director – MAF Policy.

This session featured David Goodyear’s speech and a paper on post-tensioning technology in sports arenas by Swiss engineer Marcel Poser and other engineers in the field.

ROB IRWIN - A DISTINGUISHED CAREER After an outstanding career as a business leader and civil engineer, honorary member and Past President of the NZ Concrete Society, Rob Irwin has passed away after an extended illness.

A Civil Engineering graduate from the University of Canterbury, Rob spent 32 years - from 1967 to 1999 - as Managing Director of the Contech Group of Companies in New Zealand, and several more years with associate companies. After ‘retirement’ in 1999, he continued as an independent Director and Chairman of Contech.

At Contech, Rob led the development of the company’s expertise in post-tensioning, grouting, ground anchoring and concrete repair. He was very active in the rehabilitation of deteriorated concrete structures and was instrumental in forming Australian based Remedial Engineering Pty Ltd, now called Savcor ART Pty Ltd of which he also served as a Director. Rob was particularly interested in the rehabilitation of concrete and authored many papers on the subject.

Early in his career, Rob was project manager for Swiss contractor SA Conrad Zschokke in Geneva where he was introduced to posttensioning – bringing this experience and then new technology to NZ in the mid-1960s. This began the NZ association with the international BBR Group which has now continued for more than 45 years. " 'FMMPX PG UIF *OTUJUVUJPO PG $JWJM &OHJOFFST 6, BOE UIF *OTUJUVUJPO PG 1SPGFTTJPOBM &OHJOFFST PG /FX ;FBMBOE 3PC XBT B $IBSUFSFE 1SPGFTTJPOBM &OHJOFFS 6, BOE B QSPGFTTJPOBM EJSFDUPS holding eight directorships with various companies.

Rob lived in Auckland and enjoyed travelling and sailing. He was a Trustee of The Marie Clay Literacy Trust as well as Chair of the Orakei Marina Management Trust. He also served on national and international committees related to construction.

Rob, who would have been 71 in November, is survived by his wife Judy, three adult children and four grandchildren.

On behalf of the entire concrete industry CCANZ extends its sympathy to Rob’s family; he will be missed by many in the industry as both a friend and colleague.

VOLUME 54 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

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concrete 23

AT LAST A TRANSPARENT PERFORMANCE COMPARISON FOR STEEL FIBRES

SLABS ON GRADE

www.bosfa.com

What does the CE Mark mean to you and your business??

Guaranteeing the quality and the strength of a steel fibre reinforced concrete element requires the use of a reliable and reputable fibre. For years it has been difficult for engineers, concrete companies and builders alike to legitimately compare the expected performance of the different fibres available.

For this reason EN 14889-1, currently the only international performance based quality control manufacturing standard for steel fibres, requires manufacturers to declare a minimum fibre dosage to achieve a required post crack flexural strength in a reference concrete. This enables complete transparency when comparing the performance of different fibre types and ensures a minimum level of quality of the steel fibre itself.

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In Europe only products with the CE marking, like Dramix steel fibres, can be sold in the European member states. In countries where it’s not yet compulsory it is becoming common practice for engineers to specify compliance with EN 14889-1 in project documentation.

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Certificate: BC1-251-0024-0003-006 DRAMIX®: RC-55/35-BN Steel Fibres for structural use in concrete mortar and grout.

Group 1: cold-drawn wire - Information and regulated characteristics:

6KDSH %XQGOLQJ &RDWLQJ ),EUH OHQJWK PP

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7HQVLOH VWUHQJWK 1 PP

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- Consistence with 30kg/m3 fibres - Vebe time = 8 sec - Effect on strength in reference concrete: 30kg/m3 To obtain >1.5N/mm2 at CMOD = 0.5mm and >1.0N/mm2 at CMOD = 3.5mm

CE LABEL EXAMPLE

Every bag of product supplied to the market has a CE label that details the fibre tensile strength, geometry and fibre dosage required to meet performance limits described in the manufacturing standard.

There are two types of classification, Class 1 for structural use and Class 3 for non structural use (structural use is where the addition of fibres is designed to contribute to the load bearing capacity of the concrete element).

SEGMENTAL LININGS

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN TO YOU? 1. A product that complies with the 14889-1 quality level Class 1 for structural use.

2. A product that is submitted to continuous quality control.

3. A label that mentions the minimum dosage for this fibre type in a reference concrete.

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