a 25th Anniversary Edition
April 2014, Vol 25 No.3
In Africa, for Africa, by Africa
Restoring sanity to Kenya’s construction industry How does the NCA Executive Chairman plan to do this?
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MANAGING EDITOR Robert Barnes COUNTRY EDITORS Kenya - Francis Makari Uganda - Irene Kabuzire Nigeria - Boladale Ademiju WRITERS Emmanuel Onsomu, Elaine Young, Newton Mthethwa, Lindsay Wagner WEB & GRAPHIC DESIGN Augustine Ombwa Frankline May Moses Ngunjiri
Botswana: Dickson Manyudza, Gerald Mazikana Ethiopia: Haimanot Tesfaye, Ruth Girma Tanzania: Tom Kiage Malawi: Anderson Fumulani Ghana: Samuel Hinneh Zimbabwe: Cyri’l Zenda
industry that thrives on chaos? In Kenya they have established an authority and given it the powers
April 2014, Vol 25 No.3
In Africa, for Africa, by Africa
to clean the rot. John Njiraini met up with the Executive Director of the National Construction Authority (NCA) to review the achievements made and the plans for the future
Vol 25 No. 3
Uganda: Penny Komugisha, Betty Nabakooza
How do you streamline a multi billion shilling
a 25th Anniversary Edition
April 2014
South Africa: Christine Tamukedde, Manoko Thosago, Prince Moyo Tabitha Muthoni,Winnie Sentabire, Angeline Ntobeng, Nqobile Ndlovu
Restoring sanity to Kenya's construction industry
Construction Review
ADVERTISING Kenya William Mutama, Fred Okoth, Frances Lagoussis (Mombasa), Trizah Njoroge, Faustine Salleh
CON Restoring sanity to Kenya’s construction industry How does the NCA Executive Chairman plan to do this?
Cover Picture: Mr Daniel Manduku, the Executive Director of the National Construction Authority.
18
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Rwanda: Collison Lore
Editor's Comment 3
Nigeria: Seni Bello
News 4
China:Weng Jie
New Products 6
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Association News 7
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Events 7 Corporate News 8 Interview 10 Pictorial 13 Guest 14
Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam The Ziggo Dome is the first location in the Netherlands designed as the ideal venue for world class artists boasting 17000 seats and many exciting innovations.
22
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TENTS
April 2014 Volume 25 No. 3
Editor's Comment
Inside
Streamlining the construction industry
The modern Bathroom
In most African countries becoming a contractor is a Bathrooms have taken on new meaning beyond their basic functions and with new innovations, choices are virtually limitless. We bring you some of the options available
simple process requiring literally no skills whatsoever. Essential training is not required and in fact all that is necessary is a list of influential contacts to snare lucrative contracts. The results have been all too clear to see; poor workmanship and abandoned jobs. Far worse however is the loss of life that occurs when buildings under construction collapse causing loss of life or limb.
24 And then there was light
To raise the bar steps are being taken to streamline an industry that plays a crucial role in development. In Nigeria recently a technical committee convened by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria(SON) begun its task of reviewing of cement standardisation in the country. In
Trends in lighting is leaning towards appreciation of creativity, innovation and all this within the bounds of energy savings and environmental awareness
the words of the Director General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumobu “SON has established that people in the country, who go to the market to purchase cement for one construction activity or the other, do not actually know what they buy from the market�. This common thread of ignorance on correct application of cement for instance is but one of the issues plaguing the industry.
26
The need for proper skills, accountability and a sense of professionalism cannot be overstated. In this issue we interviewed the Executive Secretary of the National Construction Authority that has been set up in Kenya to streamline an otherwise free-wheeling industry.
Robert Barnes Ethiopia Office Haymi Advertising Services 22 Mazoria, Genet Bldg 4th Flr P.O. Box 1316 - 1110 Addis Ababa Tel: +251 118 955 855 I Cell: +251 930 099 152 Email: ethiopia@groupafricapublishing.com Botswana Office Cadline (Pty) Ltd. P/Bag 494 Gaborone, Botswana. Tel: +267 318 7101 I Fax: +267 318 102 E-mail: botswana@groupafricapublishing.com Kenya Office Northwest Ventures Ltd P.O. Box 16414 Nairobi 00100 Tel: +254 20 2679809 I 2679808, 2091305 Email: kenya@groupafricapublishing.com
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NEWS
Zambia
South Africa
ZESCO to export surplus power
US$78.4 billion to be spent on infrastructure
After an ambitious US$5 billion generation and transmission expansion brought its capacity to over 2,200 MW, Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (Zesco) intends to export its energy which is in surplus of 200 MW to 300 MW. According to Christopher Mubemba, the state-owned power supply corporation’s transmission development director, the country’s geographical position provided an opportunity to link its national grid to its eight neighbouring countries over the next three to five years. Speaking on the sidelines of the Power and Electricity World Africa 2014 conference, held in Sandton, Mubemba said work was under way to upgrade and build new power transmission lines to provide electricity in an effort to reclaim the country’s 1980s status as a net exporter. Zambia’s current capacity of 1,820 MW was met with demand of more than 1,650 MW projected to grow 6 percent a year, with a 250 MW power deficit during peak times. A presentation by Cyoriam Chitundu, Zesco MD, showed that net exports to Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Botswana were roughly 5 percent of total generation. Nevertheless, with Zambia’s electricity generation and transmission expansions and new projects, the nation would be able to supply electricity to its other power-strained neighbours. The current 66 kV and 200 kV transmission lines linking Zambia to Botswana and Namibia, respectively, would be upgraded to 330 kV, while Zimbabwe and DRC currently had 320 kV and 220 kV lines .
South Africa’s Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, has said the country
6
Congo
is set to spend R847 billion (US$78.4 billion) on new and upgraded infrastructure over the next three years. Speaking while tabling his 2014 Budget in Cape Town, SA, Gordhan said the country's National Development Plan (NDP) calls for investment in infrastructure to ensure that the economy grows at the 5 percent per annum level needed to make significant progress in creating jobs and reducing poverty.
World Bank approves US$73 million grant for Inga 3 Dam The World Bank board has
The minister said the Presidential Infrastructure Coordination
approved a US$73 million grant
Committee, set up to co-ordinate the country's infrastructure build
to help develop an expand the
and upgrade programme across all spheres of government and
Inga 3 Dam in the Democratic
priority sectors of the economy, was making progress in overcoming
Republic of Congo, potentially
backlogs. Gordhan noted that investment in South Africa's electricity
the largest hydropower project in
and transport infrastructure is key adding that that the first unit of the
the world. The World Bank said
Medupi power station is expected to be completed towards the end
that the money, combined with
of 2014.
Nigeria
Construction of roads worth US$24 million begins Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememem, has flagged-off the rehabilitation and construction of Lessel-Wajir and VandeikyaObudu roads. The contract was awarded to Tilley Gyado and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) companies at
another US$33 million from the African Development Bank, will fund technical studies to analyze the dam's environmental and social impact and ensure it is sustainable. The grant will also help establish the independent Inga Development Authority, which is
a cost of N1.035 billion (US$6 million) and N3.296 billion (US$18.2
meant to follow best international
million), respectively. Tilley Gyado will handle the 25km Lessel-
practices in managing the project
Wajir road while CCECC is to construct the Vandeikya-Obudu
and selecting private companies
stretch.
to help fund it, the bank said.
The minister said that the contractors emerged winners after a
The World Bank's decision
rigorous screening exercise and urged them to deploy their technical
to develop the Inga 3 Dam as
expertise and knowledge for hitch-free execution of the projects.
a private investment through
The companies have been given 1 year to complete the projects.
the
During the flagging off the projects, the minister said the projects
Corporation, rather than as a
are intended to connect the six geo-political zones of the country
public sector project has seen
adding that rehabilitation of Vandeikya-Obudu road would boost the economic activities of Benue and enhance the tourist potentials of Cross River through the cattle ranch at Obudu. The minister has urged leaders of the communities to take possession of the projects through effective supervision.
International
Finance
critics fault the move. Critics have given a number of reasons as to why the World Bank's move is not a smart one. Topping the list is the IFC which many critics argue has a poor social and environmental track record. In recent months, the Corporation was admonished by its own ombudsperson for serious abuses in the Tata Mundra thermal power plant in India and the Dinant palm oil project in Honduras. April 2014
Rwanda
US$56 million roads project launched Rwanda’s largest and capital city, Kigali, has launched Rwf38.7 billion (US$56 million) feeder roads construction project. The project will be implemented in two phases with the first phase expected to cover 70.268 km at a cost of Rwf25.8billion (US$36.8 million). According to Kigali city officials, technical studies have been completed for phase two of the project and upon completion of a tendering process that is currently underway; this phase will cover the construction of 35km. In four years, the districts of Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge will have a total of 105km of roads constructed with cobblestone. The construction works have commenced at Kisementi site where a road network covering 3.7km will be constructed before the works continue to other parts of the city.
Tanzania
With Lake Cement Ltd set to commission Tanzania’s first fullyintegrated greenfield cement plant with an initial capacity of 500,000 tons per year, the country's development blueprint has now found a renewed strength. The plant is a one-of-its kind cement unit in Tanzania and is well poised to meet the rising demand of high quality cement in the country. Spread across 100 hectares in Kimbiji Village, just 40 km south of Dar-Es-Salaam port, the plant is equipped with a 10 MW captive power generating unit to ensure continuous power supply and thereby uninterrupted production of consistent quality cement round the year. The company, which has also got its own high grade limestone mines to produce clinker and cement is expected to roll out 42.5 Grade high quality cement in Tanzanian markets. Lake Cements Ltd is backed by a 50 year manufacturing legacy. It has production plants in India, Netherlands,France,England,Spain Tanzania and Dubai.
Association Partners
- Architectural Association of Kenya - Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya - Institute of Engineers of Kenya - Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya - Association of Professional Societies of East Africa APSEA) - Kenya Property developers Association - Institution of Surveyors of Kenya
- ASAQS - SAICE - South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession - Khuthaza ( Women for Housing) - Concrete Manufacturers Association - Green Building council of SA - South African Property Owners Association - Master Builders South Africa
Ethiopia
- Association of Ethiopian Architects - Ethiopian Association of Civil Engineers
Institute of Namibian Quantity Surveyors Association of Consulting Engineers of
Tanzania
Ethiopia
- Tanzania Institute of Quantity Surveyors - Construction Regulation Board (CRB)
Construction Contractors Association of Ethiopia
Ghana
Namibia
Institute of Botswana Quantity Surveyors
- Zimbabwe Institute of Quantity Surveyors - Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers - The Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (Cifoz)
President Goodluck Jonathan has commissioned the N3.2 billion (US$20 million) Nizamiye Hospital which is considered a milestone in bilateral relations between Nigeria and Turkey. The 80 bed world-class facility is situated in an industrial layout in Abuja. This is the first time Turkey, under the Nigeria-Turkish expatriate business group, has ventured into healthcare. Turkey's ambassador to Nigeria, Mustafa Pulat, said the hospital is another token of their interest and determination to come to Nigeria in the best way they can. Both countries have maintained bilateral relations in business terms since the Nigerian-Turkish group began its gradual creep in 1998 into Nigerian education system.
Namibia
Botswana
- Tanzania’s Registration Board of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (AQSRB)
Zimbabwe
South Africa
Institute of Surveyors of Uganda
US$20 million hospital commissioned
Modern cement plant set to be commissioned
Kenya
Uganda
Nigeria
- Ghana Institute of Engineers - Architects Registration Council - Ghana Institute of Surveyors - Ghana Green Builders Association - Ghana Institute of Planners - Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana
April 2014
Nigeria - Association of Consulting Engineers Nigeria
- Association of Professional Women Engineers Of Nigeria - Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria - The Nigerian Institute of Architects - American Association of Petroleum Geologists Africa Region - Nigeria Society of Engineers - Nigeria Institute of Architects - Building and Construction Skilled Artisans Association of Nigeria(BACSAAN) 7
PRODUCTS
LAFARGE launches supaset, an innovative solution for pole setting SupaSet, a remarkable readyto-use
product
for
quickly
setting poles in position has been
launched
by
Lafarge
South Africa. A first of its kind in the SA market, SupaSet takes only 10-15 minutes to set compared with up to 2 days for
a
conventional
mix.
SupaSet
concrete
complements
the company’s wide range of innovative, designed-for-purpose products, which are contributing to the company’s vision of helping to build better cities with more desirable environments for all our people.
LG introduces Multi V IV VRF solution LG Electronics (LG) has announced the release of its new Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) solution, the Multi V IV. The latest in the company’s successful line of Multi V products, this model delivers industry leading energy efficiency; cutting running costs and lessening the strain on energy resources. The Multi V IV is equipped with four of LG’s proprietary technologies, and a convenient new feature called smart control, which allows the user to monitor and adjust settings remotely. In particular, the four proprietary technologies of the VRF system consist of the compressor, the heat exchanger, the oil and the refrigerant. The Multi V IV employs cutting-edge technologies in all of these areas, enabling it to go beyond the standard and claim its rightful title as the true, fourth generation VRF solution. “We are extremely proud of our new flagship system air conditioning solution, the Multi V IV,” said Mr IL Hwan Lee, CEO of LG Electronics South Africa. “The true fourth generation VRF system offers the customer unparalleled energy efficiency via four of our own innovative technologies. The Multi V IV is able to boast an impressive energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 4.85." As it effectively minimizes energy loss under partial load conditions, the Multi V IV is able to offer a 30 percent improvement over its predecessor in integrated energy efficiency.
SupaSet is an essential product for DIY enthusiasts and small
Website: www.lge.com/za
contractors involved in erecting poles
(wooden,
metal
or
concrete,
plastic),
whenever
and wherever there is a need for a rapid, reliable method of setting poles in the ground. Typical
applications
include
small to medium size gateposts; decking poles; rotary washing lines; signposts; carports and lapas; domestic, farm or general fencing; advertising boards, and crash barriers.
DuPont™ Corian® introduces DeepColour™ Technology
the
optimisation.
Innovative surfacing solutions in dark colours delivering highperformance, elegance, functionality, reliability, durability and hygiene. There is an exciting new option available for industrial companies, architects, designers and consumers looking for solid surface solutions in dark colours offering high performance, elegance, reliability and hygiene. Within its long-term growth initiative “Endless Evolution”, DuPont is once again setting a new, superior standard in advanced surfacing materials for interior design and architecture: the research and development laboratories of DuPont have developed an innovative manufacturing solution called DeepColour™ Technology* (a patent pending invention) enabling the creation of dark solid surfaces which offer deeper, more intense and durable colour, improved wear performance and easier thermoforming, seaming and finishing.
Website: www.lafarge.com
Website: www.dupont.com
The unique formulation of SupaSet is an example of how Lafarge South Africa focuses on understanding the needs of its customers and applying its unparalleled technical strength to
provide
user-friendly,
quality solutions. Solutions that contribute to the elimination of some traditional building steps, promoting faster working, enhanced productivity and cost
8
Case’s Fuel-Efficient Equipment Case Construction Equipment presented the latest introductions to its compact and heavy equipment product lines at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014. Case’s welcoming-style booth inspired by its renowned Tomahawk Customer Center in Wisconsin’s North Woods bustled with visitors, attracted by the latest products on display and the surprising events that buzzed around Case’s stand. Case also unveiled a one-ofa-kind, Ram Laramie Longhorninspired 580 Super N Wide Track backhoe loader with a distinctive black & gold look that is unmistakably RAM. The backhoe will tour the States at Ram and Case-sponsored events with a new Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4×4 truck, matching two of the construction industry’s most enduring jobsite images – the rugged Ram 3500 dually and the tireless Case backhoe loader. Case also introduced the new Tier 4 Final 921F wheel loader and succeeded to further improve the best 20 ton wheel loader available on the market. With best-in-class 7.2 t payload which allows to fill 28 ton payload trucks in only 3 passes, the new 921F model rises the bar on performance, fuel savings and ease of maintenance. Website:www.casece.com
April 2014
ASSOCIATION NEWS & EVENTS
Competitive Solar Solutions WestAfrica
New Edition FIDIC Users’ Guide launched
Date:
6th - 7th May 2014
comprehensively revised edition
Venue:
Dakar, Senegal
of
The FIDIC Users´Guide 3rd Edition has been launched. The third the
world-renowned
Brian
Contact: Paul van der Linden
Totterdill’s FIDIC Users´ Guide
Email:
is a must have reference guide for
p.vanderlinden@
solarplaza.com
construction engineers, construction
Website: www. solarsolutionswestafrica.com Replacing diesel with affordable, scalable and clean solar energy Competitive
Solar
Solutions
West-Africa, Solarplaza’s 59th
lawyers,contract
managers,
contractors, claims specialists developers, quantity surveyors and local authorities – everyone dealing with FIDIC contracts. At a media conference in Centurion the media were given insights into the new FIDIC Users´Guide from the authors. The view point from the contractors and sub-contractors was presented by Wayne Derksen, President of the Lephalale Chamber of Commerce.
event, will be hosted in Senegal
Not only does this 1.6 kg publication stimulate better contract
on 6 to 7 May with focus
administration, it highlights accountability and addresses contentious
on competitive solar energy
issues with relevant conclusions on dispute avoidance rather than
solutions for the West African Region.
dispute resolution. The authors took into account newly published forms of contract, case studies, the increased use of the 1999 FIDIC conditions of contract on construction projects into a more international arena, and incorporated the current industry’s thinking and understanding of the FIDIC terms and conditions, making the book an all-encompassing volume for readers. The proper use of these standard forms of contract significantly reduces the inherent risks contained within development projects.
The on
program “Replacing
emphasizes diesel
with
Clear advice to practitioners on how to mitigate and avoid contractual problems, are provided.
affordable, scalable and clean
Sub-Saharan Africa Solar Energy
solar
Conference 2014
energy”.
The
focused
conference tracks and offers
Date:
unique networking opportunities
Venue: Ghana
which will help you accelerate
Contact: Reema Raj
your business development. In two days you will enrich your
23rd -44th April, 2014
Email: r.raj@magenta-global.com.sg Website: www.magenta-global.com.sg/subsaharanafricasolar2014/
network with invaluable contacts
The Sub-Saharan Africa region presents one of the most exciting
and learn from the absolute top
solar opportunities and markets in the world. With one of the highest
experts in the industry. Don’t
solar radiations in the world, solar energy is an obvious natural
miss this event on 6 and 7 May.”
energy resource in Sub-Saharan Africa, at about 6kWh per square
For more information, visit www.solarsolutionswestafrica.
meter daily, especially for off-grid locations limited by transmission and fuel transport networks. According to the World Bank, access to electricity for households
com. Solarplaza
in Sub-Saharan Africa is less than 25%, falling as low as 10% in rural
International BV, Rotterdam, the
areas. With power outages happening at an average of 56 days a year,
Netherlands.
it has taken a toll on the economic growth of the region.
Organizer:
April 2014
AEA Annual Convention 2014 The Association of Ethiopian Architects Convention’s 16th edition will be held on 26th July to the 27th of July 2014. Hosted by Construction Review, the 16th AEA Annual Convention will be an event at which all key stakeholders will be in attendance. With an estimated over 400 architects converging at the venue for their annual conference this promises to be the single largest gathering of over 800 building and construction professionals. To create an annual forum where manufacturers of building materials and related sectors may display their ways, methods and technologies alongside this premier event there will be a three day exhibition at which products, services and machinery will be on display. With an industry currently enjoying vibrant growth visitor attendance is estimated at 2,000 over the three days. Ethiopia is a country which has experienced robust growth over the past nine straight years with growth in 2012 reaching 6.9 percent. At the head of Ethiopia’s construction boom are the country’s architects whose creativity has seen ideas come to life in the structures adorning the city’s landscape. The country’s vibrant construction sector offers immense opportunities in the service sector as well as industry while government has embarked on an aggressive infrastructural growth path covering the development of roads, hydroelectric projects and airports. The AEA 16th Annual event will be opened by the Minister of Urban Development. For more information visit www.aea-annualconvention.com 9
CORPORATE NEWS
CIMAF to construct cement factory in Ghana Ciments de l'Afrique (CIMAF), a Moroccan construction firm, will construct a EU60 million (US$83.2 factory
million)
cement
Tema,
Ghana's
in
industrial city. This follows an agreement signed between the company and the Ghanaian government. On completion, the factory
Acacia Mall officially launched in Kampala
would have the capacity to
Kampala, the capital of Uganda is among the fastest growing metros in
produce
East and Central Africa. This has been measured at a GDP growth rate
of cement annually. This is
of approximately 7 percent and has resulted in a steadily increasing
according to CIMAF Ghana
consumer driven market, a magnitude of people demanding premium offerings from various industry segments including residential and commercial properties. Hence, the launch of Kampala’s premium shopping and leisure destination in the upmarket environs of Kololo. Local contractors Roko were awarded the contract to construct
1
million
tonnes
Limited, a parent company of the Moroccan construction giant. The agreement follows a recent meeting upon which President John Dramani Mahama received a delegation from the Moroccan
the shopping mall located off Acacia Avenue. Acacia Mall & Offices
Real Estate Group Addoha,
covers 40,000m and has been developed by Gulfstream Investments
led by Director General of the
(U) Ltd. The mall will create the ultimate shopping experience
group, Saad Sefrioui. The two
2
comparable with the best in the region, adopting exquisite aesthetic design, bright and airy spaces, signature retail outlets, functional commercial and multi-use units, elaborate groceries, amusement areas, convenience foods and fine dining, all focused at giving shoppers a truly enjoyable and memorable shopping experience and hence rendering the shopper spoilt for the choice.
IFE Elevators launches South African branch Partnering with local industry players to bring its technology to the South African market, China-based elevator manufacturer, IFE Elevators, has launched its South African branch. Speaking during the launch, Sanjeev Singh, Lift Inspectors Association of South Africa executive chairperson said, historically, there had not been much competition in the local industry.
parties agreed that CIMAF will complete the building of the cement plant within 18 months.
Kenya’s Bamburi Portland announces 20 percent reduction in earning
Larfarge owned Bamburi Portland Cement Company announced a reduction in revenues and profit owing to what it described as margin pressures and political risk in Central Africa. Now, the government’s plans to issue a US$2 billion EuroBond is being looked on with optimism in that it could lead to a reduction of interest rates in Kenya that could spur housing construction and infrastructure development by the government. Bamburi Cement is currently the Kenya’s biggest producer. However, Bamburi ‘s dominance in Kenya’s cement market has come under pressure in recent years as new players enter the market.
Tanzania, Burundi pen Tsh1 trillion railway deal
Light at the end of the tunnel for Kariba dam
Tanzania and Burundi have
Following reports that Kariba
railway line worth over TSh1
dam
faces
collapse
if
not
signed
a
Memorandum
of
Understanding (MoU) for the joint construction of a 195KM trillion. The ambitious project
repaired in 3 years, the African
is expected to facilitate smooth
Development
Bank
(AfDB),
transport of cargo between the
World
and
European
Bank
two nations.
Union (EU) are expected to
Speaking after the signing
raise about US$250 million for
ceremony, Tanzania Minister
rehabilitation of the dam. AfDB and the Word Bank will
He noted that this was starting to change adding that it is a positive
together raise a total of US$150
development. Singh noted that the South African market is small
million while the EU will
adding that it is a free market and companies had to take advantage of
provide US$100million. AfDB
that. IFE South Africa CEO, Clive Nortman, said IFE’s products are
country representative Freddie
ideally suited to meet the local elevator industry’s needs.
Kwesiga confirmed that the bank
for
Transport,
Dr
Harrison
Mwakyembe, said the MoU signing marks the end of the consultations between the two countries on the deal and that all the arrangements are now ready for the project to take off. According to Dr. Mwakyembe,
Nortman said the biggest conundrum in the South African market
has started preparing a project
at the moment is price versus quality adding that there are a few
appraisal of US$75 million to
lift companies out there but they charge such high prices that it is
fund repairs to the dam’s wall
Burundi to Uvinza, Tanzania and
unaffordable for a lot of people. Nortman said they are going to come
adding that the funding may be
will end transport nightmares
in and beat the price and aim to satisfy those demands.
approved in May.
now experienced along the road.
10
the
railway
line
will
be
constructed from Msongati in
April 2014
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11
INTERVIEW
Mebratu Beyene - President, AEA
A Mebratu Beyene, President, Association of Ethiopian Architects
Architect Addis Mebratu Beyene, 39, is the current President of the Association of Ethiopian Architects. He got his first Bachelors of Science Degree in Architecture and Town Planning at Addis Ababa University in 1996 followed by a Masters in Urban Design and Planning from the same institution. 12
rchitect Addis Mebratu Beyene, 39, is the current President of the Association of Ethiopian Architects. He got his first Bachelors of Science Degree in Architecture and Town Planning at Addis Ababa University in 1996 followed by a Masters in Urban Design and Planning from the same institution. After practicing architecture with National Consultants a leading firm of architects in Ethiopia for three years Mr Mebratu joined MIDROC Construction company where he worked for the next 7 years enabling him to gain valuable experience in construction to enable him better his design skills. Ruth Girma of Construction Review recently met up with Arch. Mebratu and interviewed him on the goals and aspirations of the Association of Ethiopian Architects an association he has led since 2011. How did you get involved with the AEA? When I was a second year student at the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development [EIABC], the university was closed for three month due to some problems. During that break six of my friends and I set out to organise an architectural exhibition this was because there was a general lack of awareness of architecture as a profession. Even in my high school years at a school called Saint Joseph, I hardly heard the term architect mentioned. So I believed that awareness creation should be carried out. We prepared a wellorganized Architectural Exhibition with a number of works exhibited by both students and professionals. The event was a success and from that point on my passion and keenness to contribute to this field and profession was cast. We didn’t stop there, after we finished school we formed an Arc Club, a club set out to give architecture the attention it deserves where lectures were given by some of the great personalities, every fifteen days. When
the club came to an end after three years, I was chosen to become a member of the AEA as a secretary and in 2011, at the age of 37, I was selected president. What is the main objective the Association strives to achieve? The primary objective of the Association is to promote the profession and increase the quality of the work in the field. What are the challenges you have encountered while aiming for these objectives? The biggest obstacle the association faces would be institutional capacity, both financially and manpower. The source of income for the Association is membership fees which is very low and results in the costs of conferences or publications having to be covered by sponsors and well wishers. What problems does an architect face? On a scale of 1 to 10 what the Association has achieved in alleviating the existing problems would be somewhere around one; we have a long way to go. The challenges are many starting from public education on the need for an architect to the need for architectural advice. The association recently approved a policy on Registration of Architects revolving around the appropriate requirements for Architectural Registration. The current practice for registration as an Architect is basic and lacks any evaluation of qualification exams. Implementing the policy would result in selection and recruiting of qualified architects to carry out projects with the results that the quality of the building environment would improve helping to enhance Architectural Buildings and Urban Design. Architectural fees has become the other problem. The dysfunctional working market means that fees vary greatly ranging from millions to tens of thousands. This results in customers going for the least bidder, neglecting a quality based selection. April 2014
What is the association doing about these problems? With regards to that, the association is toiling to promote a quality and cost based selection system where we estimate activities like design competitions; evaluating outcomes rather than just papers thus making architecture output measurable. Clients need to realize that less pay will only degrade the devoted man-hours committed to the project which can result in negative and more costly remedial action. The association has approved a professional architect’s fee scale and is advocating with the government, private developers and architects. We also want to organize Award programs, planned to start next year, in order to acknowledge and initiate good works that endorse quality. These are some of the strategic areas we want to work towards achieving better quality in urban environment and buildings.
• • • • • • • •
An artists impression of a building coming up soon in Addis Ababa. The current practice for registration as an Architect is basic and lacks any evaluation of qualification exams
Acoustic solutions Partition systems EIFS Seating (auditorium conference, lecture hall and stadium seating’s) Flooring (athletics track, multipurpose playgrounds, carpets) Generator sets Formworks and scaffoldings Supplier, specialty contractor, and engineering solutions Room 104, Medina Tower , Wello Sefer, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251-114-700339, +251-118-695344 Mob: +251-911-822684
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April 2014
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Association of Ethiopian Architects (AEA) presents
AEA
16th
ANNUAL CONVENTION &
EXHIBITION
2014
on
26th - 27th July 2014
@
Addis Sheraton, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Contacts: info@aea-annualconvention.com www.aea-annualconvention.com
The Solar Future South Africa Date: 11h - 12th February 2014 Venue: Johannesburg, South Africa
Full room at The Solar Future South Africa.
Guests networking.
Panel discussion with top-experts Saliem Fakir, Jayendra Naidoo, Vishal Shah and Thomas Garne.
PV in practice; a project visit to Eskom's own solar rooftop project.
Participants networking as they enjoy their meal.
Guests in the machine room of a PV+battery 100% self-consumption project.
CIBEX East Africa 2014 Date: 11th - 13th February 2014 Venue: Kenyatta International Conference Center, Nairobi, Kenya.
Construction Review representatives attend to a visitor.
Deputy Ambassador Friedo Sielemann at the opening of the trade fair.
Exhibitors attend to CIBEX fair visitors.
Participants visit various fair stands.
Participants following fair proceedings.
Heavy equipment on display.
GUEST
Instilling Health and Safety within the Corporate Culture The writer is a Safety, Health and Environment Management Systems Expert with 15 years experience in the management of Health and Safety. He is a lead EIA/EA expert with NEMA (Kenya) and a registered Heath and Safety advisor in the United Kingdom (BASIS & FACTS). Currently, he is the Head of Health and Safety for LAFARGE EAST AFRICA and a Director Safe WayRight Way, a Road Safety NGO. Email : matthewmunyao@gmail.com, Twitter: @ MatthewMunyao Mr. Munyao, Head of Health & Safety Bamburi
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H
By Matthew Munyao ealth and safety is a business fundamental that need to be appreciated by all organizations. However, often we find that it is those organizations whose main business involves obvious risks like handling of flammables, mining ,heavy machinery and the like, that are really in the quest of instilling a health and safety culture. More often than not, organizations whose business activities are limited to office work do not pay much attention to this important issue, yet they also face substantial risks and would equally derive immense benefits on leveraging on the subject to improve on business performance. Besides, organizations, need to realize that implementing health and safety requirements at the workplace is not an option but indeed a legal requirement entrenched in law though various pieces of legislations and municipal by-laws of many Counties. Health and safety is a strategic business enabler that allows organizations to leverage on a 'People Soft Subject’, to improve performance by creating competencies in four key areas, which are internal business process management, people mobilization, risk management and stakeholder relations management. Excelling in these things makes good business sense. However, several assumptions have been drawn about safety in the workplace that make most organizations shy away from establishing health and safety programs in the workplace, the first being that doing health and safety is a cost. This premise will only be true to those who operate from the
notion that health and safety is a cost centre and never a revenue centre. In Lafarge East Africa, We know and have proven that this is no longer true! Like many other strategic business enablers, Health and Safety makes businesses return more profits at the end of the day and moreover, acting responsibly is the license for any business to operate in the first place. Another assumption that exists presently is that ‘ugly incidents will not happen to us, perhaps they only happen somewhere else ’. This notion is engendered by a reactive mentality, which looks at health and safety performance from a lagging indicators perspective. The fundamental thing for business managers to understand is that the absence of incidents is not in itself a proof of good health and safety performance. There is an easy way to deal with this question, and that is to find out how much risk exposure exists in the operations or in the business at large. Management has to constantly ask ‘How much do we accept that people should work under unmanaged risks?’ It is sobering to always consider that if people are made to work in risky environments, without effective safeguards, even when no one has got injured, everyone is hurt by the exposure and the workplace is still unsafe and unhealthy. The organization heath and safety performance, in such circumstances, can only be rated as poor. There are some motivators or incentives that management should put in place to ensure that workers are not only well educated and conscious about their health and safety but also practice what they have learnt. April 2014
HEADER
• Energy generation, transmission and distrubution • Energy efficiency and electrical engineering • Environmental technology • Waste recycling • Water and sewage treatment Delegation der Deutschen Wirtschaft in Ghana Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana
April 2014
fairtrade GmbH & Co. KG Ms Jana Hofmann • Tel.: +49-6221-4565-21 j.hofmann@fairtrade-messe.de • www.fairtrade-messe.de
Kenya
Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana Ms Helen Djan• Tel.+ 233-(0)-302 631681-3 Helen.djan@ghana.ahk.de • www.ghana.ahk.de
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As we all know, the ‘Carrot and Stick’ has been used a lot in health and safety. New thinking around this subject has brought about the view that this approach is not effective. What business managers and supervisors need to know is that there are countless means of creating motivators and incentivizing positive action in the workplace. The common ingredient in all of them is that they must provide workers with an increased sense of status, promote the feeling of relatedness and fairness while creating an aura of autonomy. Management actions must be predictable, call it Consequence Management, in order to engender a sense of certainty. Anything , be it an incentive scheme, a
promotional program, or
a day to day shop floor
engagement approach, that has these ingredients is likely to generate the right buzz about health and safety in the workplace. Developing a culture in itself is challenged by many The ‘Carrot and Stick’ has been used a lot in health and safety. New thinking around this subject has brought about the view that this approach is not effective.
things and more so if it has to do with health and safety. Lack of good sponsorship of any health and safety by the top management would compromise the ability of an organization to develop a health and safety culture. We must be able to get people to understand that 'this is the way we do things around here' and as long as this is not coming from the top, the health and safety message could get lost. The other important issue is that of communication. Health and safety requires frequent and consistent communication. Vertical and Horizontal communication in both directions is essential. When it comes to top-down communication, people must interact with the messages constantly, otherwise the meaning, momentum and focus could get lost. The golden, loop-sided, rule of effective engagement is that supervisors must repeat themselves for the message to be internalised, while the shop floor must speak once and be heard. Lastly, the failure of businesses to embed health and safety requirements in every operation and activity and ensuring that this is an integral part of how things happen explain the seasonality of many organizations in addressing health and safety issues and is a big killer of a health and safety culture. These are some of the challenges faced when trying to instill health and safety within a corporate culture. Perhaps, one may wish to know my advice. ’Begin the journey now, benchmark with the best and engage the services of a good Health and Safety Coach’ to ensure health and safety is instilled within the corporate culture for your organization.
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April 2014
Watch the full interview online at: www.constructionreviewonline.com
Restoring sanity to Kenya’s construction industry Meet the man at the helm of the NCA and learn what his plans are How do you streamline a multi billion shilling industry that thrives on chaos? In Kenya they have established an authority and given it the powers to clean the rot. John Njiraini met up with the Executive Director of the National Construction Authority(NCA) to determine the success they have had in regulating an industry that has been freewheeling for a long time.
T
he construction sector in Kenya had for years been one of the most chaotic, amorphous and one that anyone could claim a stake in from the
mason who has never seen the inside of a classroom to the retired bureaucrat with a few contacts in government. In fact today being a contractor is seen as one of the most attractive businesses to venture into in Kenya given the explosion in the demand for housing and infrastructure as the central government devolves and establishes county
Stiff penalties await anyone engaging in construction without being registered by the NCA.
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offices in the various regions and financial institutions adopt a more positive monitary regime towards mortgages and housing development. The establishment of the NCA therefore couldn’t have come at a better time to help streamline a free wheeling industry. The construction sector is indisputably among the key pillars of the Kenyan economy. According to the Economic Survey 2013, the sector is one of the fastest growing having recorded a growth of 4.8 percent in 2012 compared to 4.3 percent in 2011. The sector accounts for five percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employs about 13 percent of the country’s total workforce. The level of the sector’s importance to the economy is well demonstrated by the amount of money being pumped into it. In 2012, loans and advances to the sector increased by 36.2 percent from Sh50.8 billion in 2011 to Sh69.2 billion in 2012. Overall expenditure for the Ministry of Roads in 2011/2012 financial year stood at Sh91.5 billion and rose to Sh117.6 billion in 2012/13. The reality that the sector was insane is something the National Construction Authority (NCA) board admitted when it embarked on a April 2014
process to recruit an Executive Director to run the NCA sometime in 2012. In the advertisement, the NCA board was categorical it was looking for someone capable of ‘restoring sanity in the construction industry.’ “The sector is a critical player in the economy. It is one of the sectors’ expected to play a crucial role in driving the country’s Vision 2030,” says Daniel Manduku, the man whom the NCA board settled on to clean the filth infecting the construction sector and bring back sanity. He adds that the government appreciates the importance of the sector and that is why it decided to establish the NCA to streamline, overhaul and regulate the construction sector in Kenya. “There was consensus between the government, and all stakeholders that it cannot be business as usual. There is need for order in the sector.” Mr Manduku holds an MBA from the United States International University. He attended Alliance High School before joining Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and technology to study architecture. After graduation he worked for a consulting firm before setting up his own practice, Cadplan Architects Ltd, in 2001. Cadplan has designed and supervised construction projects for a wide range of clients within the East African region. He was appointed the Executive Director of NCA in 2012. Bringing order The need to instill order in the construction sector had become inevitable. Since the collapse of the National Construction Corporation (NCC) in the mid 1980s, the industry has largely operated without any form of supervision. Though there are professional bodies with regulations on how members should operate, their mandates are mainly limited to its members. However, the fact that the construction sector is broad with numerous classifications it has created a scenario in which the sector operates at the whims of players. Thus while the upper cadre of the sector that include professional engineers, architects, quantity surveyors among others conduct themselves with a sense of decorum and professionalism, the lower cadre is outrightly unstructured and barely pays lip service to professionalism and quality. Lack of strict regulation has opened the sector to quacks with dire consequences. Cases of buildings under construction collapsing, shoddy jobs being done in critical projects like roads, dams among others and use of sub-standard materials are rampant. In fact, industry experts contend that six out of ten buildings in the capital Nairobi are a disaster waiting to happen because they were either never approved, some got approval due to city council officials being compromised while others are structurally defective due to the manner in which they were constructed. “We want to reform how the industry operates,” states Manduku.
Mr Daniel Manduku the Executive Director of the NCA. His vision is to build the NCA to be the most respected body of its kind in the region in 10 years.
Enactment The enactment of the National Construction Authority Act, 2011, and its coming into effect the following year effectively marked the turning point for the sector. The act establishes the NCA with the overall mandate of overseeing the construction industry and coordinating its development. “Though the mandates are broad, NCA is specifically supposed to advice the government on policy issues aimed at developing the sector, regulate the industry and build the capacity of local contractors”. Mr Manduku says. Registering all contractors According to Manduku, the only guarantee to ensure quality in construction projects is ensuring contractors adhere to set rules and regulations. Thus in accordance with the law, NCA is determined to make it difficult for quacks and crooks by ensuring only registered contractors
The NCA is pushing for joint ventures with locals for all large projects being carried out by foreign contractors.
April 2014
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operate in the industry. Though NCA has been in operation for less than two years, it has already managed to register about 25,000 contractors classified in various categories. The authority has segmented the players in the industry in eight categories with category one being for foreign companies and local contractors capable of handling large projects while the rest are reserved for indigenous contractors. “We want to ensure the public gets quality construction projects,” he avers, adding the NCA wants to create a database of skilled construction workers as well countrywide. This will ensure the authority becomes the reference point for all matters related to construction including anybody seeking to inquire or authenticate the legality of any contractor. Building local capacity Registration of all contractors will have far reaching implications in the sector. Apart from weeding out quacks, the move will make it easy to monitor implementation of projects and take action against contractors who fail to ensure quality. More importantly, registration offers the lower cadre of contractors who constitute 80 percent of players in the industry an opportunity to access training and opportunities to enable them grow. According to the law, no contractor whether foreign or Congo-Brazzaville
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The NCA hopes to register
local will be awarded two concurrent government jobs. This opens up opportunities particularly for registered local contractors. Besides, foreign firms bidding for local jobs will be required to form consortiums with local companies. It is interesting to note that in recent years, foreign firms particularly from China are dominating major contracts in the country in areas like roads, airports, railways and energy. Though some are government to government arranged, the fact that local companies have largely been locked out of mega projects has raised concerns about the capacity and capabilities of local firms. NCA has drafted a proposal that is before Parliament aimed at ensuring that local firms get a 30 percent participation in any project when it is government to government. “We are saying that even materials should be sourced locally,” notes Manduku, adding that foreign firms undertaking projects locally will only be allowed to import skills that cannot be found locally. As the institution mandated to police the industry, NCA understands that one of the best strategies to streamline the sector is through building capacity, particularly among the lower cadre contractors. While big firms are generally run professionally and adhere to set rules and procedures, the situation is quite the opposite in small firms. In order to ensure quality becomes the common denominator in the construction industry, NCA is working on a capacity building strategy that will involve working with local universities, polytechnics (both national and village) and Technical, Industrial, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (Tivet) institutions to offer the necessary training and skills to contractors. NCA also intends to establish a National Construction Institute that will act as the benchmark for the industry. Paradigm shift By adopting a soft approach in pushing for a paradigm shift in the industry’s modus operandi, NCA hopes all April 2014
between Shs5,000 and Sh50,000 (about US$60 to US$600) to be registered by NCA. The construction levy, on its part, is pegged at 0.5 percent of the value of construction projects. “Money is never enough but we intend to be self sufficient,” explains Manduku, adding that NCA will engage the Kenya Revenue Authority to collect the levy on its behalf. Mr Manduku projects that they will have an annual budget of Ksh4 Billion (US$46,500,000). Financial independence will enable NCA to hire the best brains to effectively police the sector. It will also enable the authority to have a presence in all the 47 counties, something that means no construction will occur in the country without its knowledge and approval. More importantly, the authority intends to deploy ICT in monitoring projects. “Our intention upto 1 million artisans.
contractors will easily be assimilated into the new system of a construction industry that operates professionally and is committed to quality projects. The authority, however, is cognizant of the fact that some contractors will be resistant to change. “We know there will be some resistance to change but we are coming up with strategies to counter,” explains Manduku. He adds that the NCA has developed a code of conduct that outlines how contractors should operate. The code of conduct also contains penalties in case any contractor breaches the laid out procedures. “So far we are seeing 100 percent compliance from the registered firms,” he notes. While the large number of contractors that NCA has so far registered is evident contractors are willing to be policed, the fact that the sector has operated for about three decades without supervision raises the question of whether the authority will be able to enforce law and order in an insane industry? According to Manduku, failure on the part of NCA is not an option. Though references have been made to the defunct NCC and its failures, Manduku says NCA is determined to be a strong authority that is committed to implement its mandates effectively. “You cannot compare NCC with NCA because the mandates are quite different,” he observes, adding the mandates of NCC was to Africanize the construction industry through training, financial assistance and sourcing for jobs for its members. Though it succeeded in the mission of Africanizing the sector, weak management and political interference led to its demise. NCA, however, is unlikely to walk down the same path. First, the authority not only enjoys the goodwill of the public but also receives unlimited government support. This is critical because the authority has been depending on the exchequer for financing. Receiving money from the Treasury is however a temporary arrangement because the law has established a registration fee and construction levy. Effectively, it means that contractors will be required to pay
is not to reinvent the wheel but we want to stream the industry,” says Manduku. The NCA to date has focused its attention on setting up systems and processes before it fully embarks on is arduous task of streamlining the industry. Being a new authority, NCA is starting from scratch and it has been challenging putting up the systems and recruiting qualified staff whilst operating on a tight budget. It will be worth watching keenly how it fairs and it will offer many lessons to other African countries facing the same problems.
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The venue is specially designed for amplified music.
Ziggo Dome is a 17,000 capacity concert hall.
Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam
T
By Emmanuel Onsomu he Arena Boulevard, the heart of Amsterdam Southeast, is a key area of Amsterdam and greatly influences the appearance of the city as an international cultural, economic and tourist center. The boulevard is intended primarily for entertainment, shopping and a combination of sport, leisure, play and recreation. With easy access via train, bus, metro and surrounded by highways, it is the ideal location for the Ziggo Dome, the Netherlands’ latest concert hall for 17,000 spectators. Concert halls with medium capacity were lacking in Amsterdam as well as in the rest of The Netherlands, while 80 percent of the concerts in the rest of the world and especially in the United States, are given in concert venues with a capacity between 12,000 and 20,000 visitors. Hence it was a deliberate choice to enter the international market of providers with the same capacity. Renowned artists create a show for a world tour especially for concert venues with such capacity.
The building is covered with 120,000 LED fixtures, allowing the facade of the building to appear as a video screen on all sides.
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The stage, lighting and sound of the tours are adjusted accordingly and the Ziggo Dome is the first location in the Netherlands designed as the ideal venue for these world class artists. Brightly lit and dark at the same time, the impressive Dome will not go unnoticed when passing by. The building is covered with 120,000 LED fixtures, allowing the facade of the building to appear as a video screen on all sides. The 10,000 m2 video screen can be used for announcements or to show what is happening inside. Closer to the building the individual lights and the pattern of the facade in which they are incorporated, become visible. Acoustics and atmosphere The experience for visitors is essential in the design. Especially acoustics, sightlines and atmosphere are important factors that contribute to a spectacular musical experience. The design principle of the Ziggo Dome is: 'single-purpose design, multi-use'. The venue is specially designed for amplified music, but with minimal modifications, the venue can be made suitable for tennis matches, an Olympic swimming pool or a skating rink. Acoustic material is incorporated in the walls, stands and ceiling which limits the reverberation time in the hall to a minimum and creates dry acoustics. Behind the walls lies an area that provides the necessary sound insulation, and also includes other features such as stairwells, offices, restrooms and banqueting opportunities. The exterior wall is shaped like a bell-jar around the building, which ensures that the sound vibrations will not get out. On the ceiling of the Dome all desired sound systems, lighting and decor can be fixed. The roof is so strong that without additional measures a hundred tons of lights and speakers can be April 2014
Use of materials Precast and cast in situ concrete Steel Rockwool and wood fiber cement sheets for acoustics Poured flooring Facts Number of LED fixtures: 120,000 Number of prefab concrete elements: 4,500 Steel: 1,600 tons The roof is strong enough to hung hundred tons of lights and speakers.
hung. This roof structure makes it possible to give the space a new form and content in a short period of time. There is flexibility in the ambiance as well. The black room is neutral in color, so any atmosphere can be created with the right lighting. Layout Not only is the thrill of a performance, but also the experience of all aspects related to a show are optimized. The clear access, many toilets, sufficient catering opportunities and the U-shape in which the seats are positioned, contribute to an atmospheric evening. The building is a big hall divided into six layers: a basement, ground floor and four floors on top. Visitors with a ticket to the ground floor, stay on that level during the whole concert and find all necessary amenities such as a cloakroom, toilets and catering in the foyer that stands in a U-shape around the hall. The concert hall and lobby function as one area, where visitors can move around without passing a door. Depending on the number of
visitors to a gender, the number of toilets can be adapted. Due to the design of a movable wall between the toilets, more male or female toilets can be created as desired. Divided over the four floors, two tiers of seats are accessible by stairs and elevators. Two lounges are in open communication with the hall and reachable via the stands. Each lobby has its own toilets and catering. Visitors are separated upon entering the building in accordance with their spot on the ground floor, lower or upper tier or VIP area so everyone can get efficiently and quickly to his seating. VIPs can enter the building through the front door on foot or drive into the garage that is situated under the building. The tier of the VIP seats has its own facilities. In the 'backstage' section on the ground floor all functions associated with loading and unloading, catering and waste disposal are situated, including installations and storage. To read more and to comment on this story visit
http://www.constructionreviewonline.com
Capacity Total capacity: 17,000 people Ground floor: 7,700 people Lower tier seats: 4,030 people Upper tier seats: 4,470 people Member Seats (VIP): 800 people Gross floor area: 49,000 m² Project data Start design: 2005 Start construction: 2009 Completion: 2012 Project information Building type: Concert hall Architects: Benthem Crouwel Architects Client: Black Box Real Estate Electrical engineer: Warmtebouw Utrecht Mechanical engineer: Warmtebouw Utrecht Project architect: Job SchoÍn Quantity surveyors: N.A. Structural engineers: ABT, Arnhem Sustainable design consultant: N.A. Landscaping: N.A. Project cost: N.A. Fire engineer:Caubergen-Huygen Raadgevende Ingenieurs, Zwolle Ict engineer: N.A.
The concert hall and lobby function as one area, where visitors can move around without passing a door.
April 2014
Plumbing and drainage engineer: N.A. Photos: Jannes Linders 25
The modern bathroom Soothing, relaxing and inviting
T
oday, bathrooms have taken on new meaning beyond their basic functions and with new innovations, choices are virtually limitless. Whether it’s a new bathroom or a re-modeling different combinations of fittings and colors will give you that contemporary, classic or traditional look that you may be looking for. The bathroom no longer needs to be austere to the point of being unwelcoming. First thing is size. Measure out and determine where everything will fit without cluttering the space. In the case of an existing bathroom take a look at where everything stands and determine whether it is at its best location. Consider the choices of sinks. Pedestals visually enlarge a room but reduce your storage opportunities. Don’t hesitate to move the toilet out of the way to make more space for your sink or shower, it does not have to be the throne in the room. Showers are taking on larger
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dimensions and you may consider tearing out that old bathtub to make more room if space doesn’t allow. Sliding glass doors or hinged doors are the options to section off the shower. In the case of limited space you may choose not to have doors but leave it open though if you choose this make sure that the drainage aspects are taken care of. If you still want added luxury then the Jacuzzi is the way to go though these days the bathtub is enjoying a renaissance with new and exciting shapes to choose from. No decking here like in the eighties, just eye appealing style. Tiles are essential in bathrooms but the tiles you choose will make the difference as to whether your bathroom feels like a sports locker-room or your private unique space. Choice of color will determine the mood in the room and should compliment the other accessories in the room. Marble tiles give a regal feel but there are several other types to choose from. These days going green is the catchall and even in bathrooms there is room for energy saving devices. Toilets now come with two buttons to release less water when the case may warrant while instant hot water saves on your energy bill as opposed to having a hot water geyser. To improve ventilation fans now come with humidity sensors that switch on automatically. Even though today’s bathrooms may not be a spa but they are becoming the next best thing and it won’t be a surprise if before long the TV and mini-bar also migrate in to reduce the boredom while luxuriating in a hot tub. April 2014
Geberit The sixties not only saw breakthrough in space travel but also the concealed cistern. The Geberit concealed cistern found its way into bathrooms in 1964 and provided a valuable space-saving solution. Geberit concealed cisterns have been in use for 50 years. For over 30 years, they have been manufactured in a single operation using a blowcasting process, which means that they have no seams.
Each individual cistern is tested for 100% tightness at a testing station. As the concealed cisterns have a very long service life, Geberit guarantees availability of spare parts for at least 25 years for all function-maintaining components. Even today, retrofit kits for a stop-and-go flush are still available for the first generation of Geberit concealed cisterns.
April 2014
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And then there was light… Aura Light offers energy saving lighting solutions that help customers save upto 80 percent on their energy bills.
We take a look at lighting that is innovative, cost effective and environmentally friendly Compiled by: Yvonne Andiva, Eric Mong'are
has even been put in place to ensure it takes hold. The
O
incandescent light bulb has been the hapless victim and is
and Torah Onyango
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ffering lighting solutions has become a specialized industry. Gone are the days when it was only about a switch and an incandescent
giving way to less energy consuming alternatives. Light-
bulb with design limited to the light fixture and shade.
80 percent over an incandescent light bulb who can ignore
Today lighting looks at the desired mood a customer
them?
emitting diode light bulbs otherwise known as LED’s are arguably becoming the standard and with savings close to
would like to create whether indoors or outdoors. Whether
Initially they were not very popular because of the cold,
its for commercial or industrial application, residential or
sterile white light they produced but today’s LED’s come
sports facilities lighting comes in a myriad of options and
in various hues that are more warm and appealing. The
a buyer can be overwhelmed by the choices presented to
only hindrance is the cost but this is more than offset by
him.
the lifespan of the bulb which can be as much as 20 years.
A numer of things however are driving the direction
Virtually all of the suppliers interviewed have focused
of innovation and these are an appreciation of creativity,
production on the LED light bulbs and confidently see
innovation and all this within the bounds of
cost
them as the future in lighting given their low heat and high
effectiveness and energy savings and environmental
energy saving advantages. Jorban Papanier of Ledtronics
awareness.Energy savings had become a byline when
a USA based company - with over 30 years experience in
talking about lighting and in some countries legislation
manufacturing LED lights - sees LED flat panel lights even April 2014
Inspired by the Venetian tradition of glass making, Axo Light has explored the widest possible range of working methods and innovative materials.
replacing the T8 tube light and fixtures in the future given the several advantages LED has over the T8 tube. Some of these are environmental aspects when disposing used tubes, the lack of directional lighting and even a shorter lifespan compared to LED when the light is frequently put on and off. Manufacturers are coming up with ever more innovative solutions – ever heard of the smart light? And no its not only about movement sensors but the ability to control your lights using an app on your phone. Perhaps the most important innovation however this decade has been by Shuji Nakamura a professor at the Materials Department of the College of Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara who has invented the blue LED, a major breakthrough in lighting technology that may soon become common place with time. In this issue we take a look at what manufacturers are offering that is creative, innovative and cost effective. Aura Light International AB Aura Light International AB supplies sustainable lighting solutions to professional customers, enabling them to reduce costs, energy consumption and environmental impact. Aura Light is acknowledged for long lifetime, high quality, energy efficiency and customized solutions.
For Aura Light sustainability comes naturally. Instead of feeling resignation towards the climate change, the company believes in being part of the solution. That is why they focus on delivering sustainable products and solutions. Aura Light InternationalAura Light offers energysaving lighting solutions that help customers save upto 80 percent of the energy. This means that the customers reduce their maintenance and energy costs at the same time as they contribute to a sustainable future. The products are backed by solid guarantees. With light sources, luminaries and lighting controls, Aura Light has the total lighting solution for your application. Aura Light was established in Sweden in 1930 as LUMA and in 1980 the first Long Life fluorescent lamp was produced, based on patented technology. The head office is located in Stockholm, Sweden and the sustainable lighting solutions are sold all over the world, through subsidiaries and vast partner network. Aura Light has about 270 employees worldwide and a turnover of approximately Euro 70 million.Aura Light’s patented Long Life technologies and customized lighting solutions makes them suitable for the African environment, according to Katerina Mestres, Marketing Coordinator Global.
April 2014
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Airstar are a global market leader in lighting balloons where security and safety are vital factors to consider for outdoor areas.
Optogan Lighting GmbH Optogan is one of the fastest growing players within the European LED lighting market and one of the few vertically integrated manufacturers for LED components, LED lamps and luminaries worldwide. The company is one of the technology leaders in developing of high brightness light-emitting diodes (HB LEDs) and chip-onboard modules (COBs) for Solid State Lighting. Due to its innovative R&D center, Optogan offers lighting professionals the best of the LED know-how that is reflected in high quality, high performance and cost efficient products. They develop and manufacture high efficient LED lamps and luminaries for domestic, industrial and office lighting using their own LED components. For big customers, Optogan develops customer specific luminaries on demand to fulfill, in the best way possible, the special requirements. Their main product lines are: 1 W LEDs, High power COBs 5 – 500 W, LED retrofit bulbs and tubes and LED luminaires for different The Optogan Group's business activities range from sales of LED components and LED modules to LED retrofits lamps and LED luminaries
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applications.The speed and flexibility of a medium sized company combined with excellent application support and customer service are the key success drivers. The Optogan Group has its production site in St. Petersburg, Russia and a representative office for global sales activities in Ergolding (Germany). Their business activities range from sales of LED components and LED modules to LED retrofits lamps and LED luminaries. The strength of Optogan is its vertical approach and the freedom to offer customers the most suitable solution, no matter what level of integration is required. Lev Sviridov, Sales and Marketing says that potential buyers should always care about return on investments and also about reliability of partner and product. Coolon LED Lighting With over 20 years of experience in electronics manufacturing, Coolon LED Lighting is the leading manufacturer of LED lighting products in Australia. Coolon specializes in LED lighting products for Industrial and Architectural applications. Coolon LED products are exclusively developed and manufactured in Australia to meet international standards. Coolon's range of lighting integrate advanced thermal management, short circuit and open circuit protection and many other innovative features. Clever design and innovative thinking is central to Coolon's drive for efficient and premium LED lighting products. Each and every product designed at Coolon is subject to hours of scrutiny, rigorous testing and evaluation, April 2014
Coolon LED Lighting is the leading manufacturer of LED lighting products in Australia.
ensuring adherence to local/overseas regulatory requirements and standards. Concept design and detailed product design is carried out by multiple disciplines from Mechanical Engineers to Industrial Designers and Software Engineers.Coolon offers LED lighting solutions for architectural and commercial applications. Coolon's range is complemented by linear strip, linear high power, flood and other LED lighting products as well as power supplies and drivers. Their Industrial LED Lighting Solutions are suitable for applications where reliability and performance are essential. Their industrial lighting products are designed to withstand the harshest conditions and are built to last. Asked of his advice to lighting buyers, Alexandre Zatsepin, Technical Director Research and Development says “Don’t just buy lights based on price and performance characteristics printed on glossy leaflets or packaging unless these characteristics are backed up by a Photometric Test Report. Always request IES files, as well as EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) Test Reports. Use lighting simulation in order check if proposed solution is suitable. If a cheap product is offered with a long warranty period, check if the company offering it has been on a market long enough to substantiate its reliability claims.” GEO-TECHNIK GmbH & Co KG GEO-Technik is a German company that was founded 1978 by Martin Georgi. They are a Manufacturer and exporter for professional lighting and specialize in the growing market of renewable energies, especially solar powered street lighting and LEDs. By their own engineering, they are improving their product quality and developing new technologies. As a medium-sized manufacturer they are able to produce to customer’s specification. To read more and to comment on this story visit
http://www.constructionreviewonline.com April 2014
List of Contributors Aura Light International AB Katerina Mestres katerina.mestres@auralight.com info@auralight.com www.auralight.com Optogan Lighting GmbH Lev Sviridov Lev.Sviridov@optogan.com www.optogan.com Ledtronics Jordon Papanier JPapanier@ledtronics.com http://www.ledtronics.com Optogan Lighting GmbH Lev Sviridov Lev.Sviridov@optogan.com www.optogan.com Coolon LED Lighting www.coolon.com.au GEO-TECHNIK GmbH & Co KG office@geo-technik.de www.dimmer.de 31
For all your construction requirements. TBS does not just offer various standards on building and construction, but also provides testing of various building and construction materials through its material testing laboratory (MTL) which has three sections: • • •
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Building and Construction Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering
P. O Box 9524 Dar es Salaam, Tel: +255 22 245 0298, 245 0206, 245 0949 Fax: +255 22 2450959, Email: info@tbs.go.tz Web: www.tbs.go.tz
April 2014
www.ambriefonline.com Africa’s leading mining Journal get the whole process covered
DOCH
Engineering and Management Consultants
Doch Limited (Doch) is a Civil Engineering and Management Consulting firm in Tanzania with its head office within Dar es Salaam City and branch office in Mwanza City. Doch’s business industry Includes the following Sectors • Transportation
• Water and Wastewater Sector • Buildings and Property Sector • Environmental, Risk Management and Social Services Sector • Planning and Management Sector • Technical Auditing • Network installation and maintenance
Celebrating 10 years Anniversary since it started its Consulting business in Tanzania. DOCH Limited P.O. BOX 31871, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Plot No. 38; House No. KAW/MZN 1409 Mwai Kibaki Road, Kawe Beach, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: +255 22 2781162 Fax: +255 22 2781397 E-mail: info@dochlimited.com; doch.limited@yahoo.com Website: www.dochlimited.com
Specialized Construction Systems Suppliers and applicators of specialised construction materials. - Construction chemicals - Waste water treatment - Asphalt additives - Polyurethane insulation - Polyurea coatings - Geogrids - Waterproo�ing systems - Roo�ing tiles - Sports �looring
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ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
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