Construction Sites | April Issue no. 93 by Qatar Construction Sites

SITES C o n s t r u c t i o n

Responding to government initiatives for adequate labor housing, several new accommodation facilities are being built across the country.

Termination of Construction Contracts under Qatar Law

Qatar Green Building Conference

In their regular column, Clyde&Co talks about the application of the UK Bribery Act in Qatar.

Inaugural Green Building Conference to be held in Qatar. Qatar Green Building Council advocates for sustainability research in construction.

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EXCLUSIVE: BIM is helping owners, contractors and designers to reduce their risks, make their projects more transparent and to achieve more.

Labour housing sector sees positive developments.

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Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop at BIM and start focusing on data

Monthly Construction news, tenders, project focus, and forthcoming exhibitions in Qatar

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I ssue N o .93 - A pril 2015

Construction

SITES

Qatar to expand investment co-operation with South Korea

Qatar is looking to expanding co-operation in infrastructure investment and energy with South Korea. The announcement has been made during a summit organized in Doha to explore bilateral business opportunities. Qatar aims at becoming a major investor in South Korea’s manufacturing, automobile, shipbuilding, and aviation industry, as well as capital investment through multiple sovereign wealth funds, South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was on a visit to Doha, said. President Park said this to a high-level delegation of Qatari and South Korean businessmen in the presence of HE the Minister of Energy and Industry, Dr Mohamed Bin Saleh Al Sada and Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Thani at the Four Seasons in Doha. She also noted that South Korea is “very competitive” in the car manufacturing and the shipbuilding industry as well as information technology (IT) and the telecommunications sector. “We are keen to become the business hub of north eastern Asia through a free trade agreement with China” the South Korean president said. Park noted that both Qatar and South Korea are currently discussing the “integration of the country’s capital investment strength and SK’s state-of-the-art technical skills.” “This highlights one of the important focal points of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani’s visit to Korea last year, which aims to find more investment opportunities through our country’s investment agency and the Qatar Investment Authority. “Aside from investment opportunities, we are also discussing possible joint investments that could further penetrate the market,” she said. This was reiterated by Al Sada, who stressed that Qatar is looking towards South Korea “for further diversification of our economy”. “Qatar is aiming continuously to diversify its sources of income and also to achieve sustainable economic development in order to reduce the use of hydrocarbons as the only source of income of the economy,” Al Sada said. Park assured South Korea’s support to Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022, particularly preparations related to infrastructure and construction works. Citing the staging of the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup in South Korea in 2002, the president said South Korea was able to “achieve a lot of economic income” from the two events. Park added: “Korea has experience in holding big ticket events like the World Cup in terms of infrastructure building and services, and we would like to become Qatar’s partner for this milestone. “Korea is also keen on building a new smart city in Qatar based on its competitive edge in the field of ICT and running other smart technologies in the hope of expanding co-operation horizons,” she added.

Nebras Power in finance agreement for solar power project in Jordan

Nebras Power, with its partners Diamond Generating Europe (DGE) and Kawar Group, has signed a finance agreement for a solar power plant project in Jordan. Nebras is a Qatari joint stock company in which Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC) owns 60%, Qatar Holding LLC owns 20% and Qatar Petroleum International Ltd has 20 percent stake. The finance agreement for Shams Ma’an solar power plant project is for 18 years with a capacity of 52.5MW. Nebras Power owns 35% of the project, while DGE owns 35% and Kawar Group owns 30%, a regulatory filing on Qatar Exchange noted. The signing ceremony took place in Amman in the presence of Jordan Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Nebras Power was represented during the signing ceremony by Fahad H Al Mohannadi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Khalid M Jolo, Chief Executive Officer. The financing of the project is jointly done by a group of international banks and export credit agencies, including Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), Mizuho Bank and Standard Charter Bank. Nebras Power, along with its partners, will finance the development of the project and own and operate the Shams Ma’an solar power plant. It is one of the first renewable energy projects and the largest of its kind in Jordan. Shams Ma’an Power Generation Company has already signed power purchase agreement with National Electric and Power Company of Jordan in March 2014. It has also signed an engineering, procurement and construction contract and an operation and maintenance contract with First Solar of the USA. The project construction is expected to start in the second half of March 2015 and commercial operation is to begin by the end of July next year.

QR1m project to drill wells in Mauritania

Qatar Charity (QC) is drilling four wells in different states in Mauritania at a total cost of QR1 million ($275,000) to provide drinking water for around 20,000 people. A drinking water delivery program for 2,000 people in the municipality of Al-Aria, in the state of Atararzh, has also been launched by QC. It provided the municipality with a 20-ton water tanker truck, helping reduce the suffering of its residents who face great difficulty in accessing safe drinking water. The truck provides people with drinking water twice a day and regularly passes through 20 villages which are under the Al-Aria municipality. Other recent QC programs focus on economic empowerment for divorced and widowed women from at-risk families the Western Basin state. In partnership with local associations, Qatar Charity has provided training and material inputs for women so that they would be able to start their own income-generating activities to help them support their families.

Qatar Abroad

Investment opportunities for Qatari businessmen in Slovenia

Slovenian President Borut Pahor has invited Qatari businessmen to identify investment opportunities in his country. The Slovenian government has decided to open its economy to foreign investment. President Pahor made the call while speaking at a meeting organized by the Chamber of Commerce and industry during his recent visit to Qatar. The meeting was attended by the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) and the delegation accompanying President Pahor during his trip. The president, in his speech, explained the advantages and benefits of investing in Slovenia, which include its geographical position and its strong relations with its neighboring countries in the eurozone and outside. “Slovenia has risen out of the recession and is now on track to achieve a strong economic growth due to the country’s exports,” said the president. Slovenia is one of the rare European countries that enjoyed a solid economic growth after the economic crises in the continent, due to its export-driven economy. It exports around 74-75% of its goods to the Eurozone countries. President Pahor said he looked forward to welcoming the Qatari businessmen to his country and urged businessmen from Slovenia to enter the Qatari market in order to exploit the great opportunities available in the business sector. Qatar Chamber of Commerce and industry Chairman Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassem Al Thani, speaking at the meeting, called relations between Qatar and Slovenia “distinguished and developing”. “It was the success of the previous meetings between the Qatari businessmen and their counterparts from Slovenia which constitute a motivation towards greater co-operation and communication between the two countries,” he said. But the chairman said the trade volume was still modest and did not rise to the level of ambitions and aspirations in light of facilities being provided by the two countries. He noted that Qatari businessmen were keen to explore investment opportunities in Slovenia, expressing confidence that the latter would provide all facilities to them.

Qatar acquires iconic project in Milan

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has completed the purchase of a major development in the Italian city of Milan. QIA acquired 100% interest in the Porta Nuova project through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Qatar Holding. It had acquired a 40% interest in the investment funds owning the asset back in May 2013. The Porta Nuova project, which has a value of €2 billion, is part of a major development taking place in Italian city ahead of its hosting the World Expo in 2015. QIA acquired the property from the initial investors that includes Hines European Development Fund, UnipolSai, Italian funds MHREC and HICOF, as well as COIMA and Galotti. Development of Porta Nuova began in 2005. Porta Nuova is a major city-center, mixed-use development, with an estimated value of $2.2 billion. The project’s goal is to create a new core for the city of Milan, and features 28 buildings and more than 2.6 million square feet of space. The buildings in Porta Nuova have been designed by renowned architecture firms from across the globe, with Pelli Clark Pelli Architects, KPF, Arquitectonica, Boeri Studio, CinoZucchi, Antonio Citterio & Patricia Viel and Partners, M2P Associati and Caputo Partnership having buildings in the district. After the acquisition of the property, Catella family company, COIMA, will stay on and handle property management duties at Porta Nuova. According to Hines Italia SGR CEO, Manfredi Catella, “the acquisition by QIA represents a very positive sign for Italy in terms of attractiveness of the country to leading institutional investors.” Hines Italia SGR will continue to manage the investment funds that own Porta Nuova.

QC to set up largest medicine hospital in Gaza

Qatar Charity (QC) will establish the largest internal medicine hospital complex in Gaza over an area of 20,000sqm, with a capacity of 432 beds. The QR582,000 project will be supported by local and international consultants. It is part of QC’s relief and development plans in Gaza. QC has signed an agreement to prepare designs of the internal medicine hospital compound in Gaza. It was signed by Mohamed Abu Halloub, Deputy Director, QC’s Office in Gaza, and Engineer Rifaat Diab on behalf of the coalition of consulting firms and Dektis Consultant Engineers Ltd, Greece. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, including Dr Mohammed Kashif, Director-General, International Cooperation, Ministry of Health, and Mohamed Abu Hamda, Director, Engineering Office at the ministry. “The building will host internal medicine departments, including kidney dialysis, an intensive care unit, general internal medicine, departments of neurology, endoscopy, heart, hematology and oncology, among others, and a laboratory, a pharmacy and other ancillary services,” said Halloub. Dr Kashif praised QC’s efforts to provide funds to implement key projects. The new project will replace the current internal medicine building, built some 60 years ago. Its replacement was a top priority in the five-year health plan of the ministry prepared half way through last year.

Construction

Opinion

SITES

Don’t stop at BIM and start focusing on data

BIM is helping owners, contractors and designers to reduce their risks, make their projects more transparent and to achieve more By Roberto Molinos Qatar is one of the hottest places for building information modeling (BIM) nowadays. Several major projects in the country are leveraging and benefiting from the use of this set of practices and technologies. Almost every public entity in charge of tendering new buildings and infrastructures utilizes and issues fairly complete BIM protocols as part of their requirements. BIM is everywhere. From the daring geometries of Al-Wakrah Stadium and Qatar National Museum to the functional underground structures of Lusail parking lots, BIM is helping owners, contractors and designers to reduce their risks, make their projects more transparent and achieve more. I guess we all see the benefit of having a digital repository for all the information that constitutes a building or infrastructure project. The benefits of forcing your team and yourself to design, document, convey and discuss ideas and processes in front of an integrated virtual model, where data is uniquely defined, where relationships between elements are parameterized - thus enabling better change and knowledge management are beyond any doubt. Even if measuring those benefits against the good-old CAD might not always be easy or possible. These benefits come at a cost, of course; training, software licenses, hardware, consultant support, even new legal frameworks and the definition of new roles within your staff complement. But the ultimate reason that beats all these handicaps: we feel smarter when we deal with our projects in BIM; and everybody wants to be smarter. So I wonder, why don’t we apply the same philosophy to all the other aspects of the information systems we use? Do we feel smart when we manage issues, exchange documents or assign and review tasks in the way we currently do it? Don’t settle for the bottom line Email and spreadsheets have been around since the introduction of the computer in the AEC sector and nowadays they are two of the main technologies used to conceptualise and produce buildings. But let’s evaluate them in the same way we look at CAD when we discuss BIM. When we send an email with a query related to a project, that email “does not know” anything about the project, anything about the query and knows very little about the addressee. When we get a response, the same thing happens. It’s our duty to connect the received information with the original query. Of course, the subject line helps and the list of cc’d peo-

ple will keep everyone in the loop, but this neither prioritises nor distingiushes. When we attach a document to an email, besides topping other people’s inboxes we are forcing them to create separate copies of that document, with the cost of having to repeat the process if the document changes and we want keep everyone informed. The point is emails don’t know anything about the model of the information they carry, their protocols were designed back in the 60’s to actually make them content neutral, and that is the main reason that makes an email, still nowadays, the most successful communication protocol on the Internet. In 2015 around 120 billion business emails will be sent every day . Something similar happens with spreadsheets. An excel table has no idea whether the data contained in it refers to issue tracking information on a construction project or to the design variables for a wiring system. With every spreadsheet, we define our model of data, which is our responsibility to maintain and to exchange them. Despite modern features in MS Excel and Google Drive that allow collaboration, we tend to attach documents to emails thus creating disparate copies that make it hard to keep track of changes and revisions. Again, just like email, spreadsheets are content independent and that is what makes them last forever. Everybody can create them, edit and copy them, they are the bottom line. Email and spreadsheets are just like traditional CAD, where the relationship between reality, or the project if you will, and their content have to be marshaled by the user or the consumer of such information. So, you might wonder, if we got BIM as an enhancement

to good-old CAD, what is the equivalent we get to replace email and spreadsheets? And the answer is we get models for data; models that are tailored to every need in a project, and data that flows and mutates for the different stages, stakeholders and applications. A model is a way of structuring your data that actually allows it to do something useful with it in an automatic way without breaking its integrity, so it can be further exchanged or processed. A successful example is the understanding of project issues, RFIs, tasks and attachments as a virtual alter-ego of the real project. Some available technologies help by treating these in a well-structured way: from an internet-based platform, creating projects and defining deadlines, task lists, goals, users and permissions. Create tasks with clear objectives and assign them to different individuals or groups. Let the users comment, upload documents and change the status of each task accordingly to its evolution. Some of these platforms come in the shape of software as a service solution, which means the servers, set-up, maintenance and user management is done by the software company with different cost schemes. Applications like Redbooth, Teamwork and Asana for project and team management, Jira from Atlassian for issue tracking, Aconex and Projectwise for document and tender management or Fieldlens and Autodesk 360 Field for construction jobsite communication are some examples of specific solutions that address concrete problems in AEC projects. The best part is that all these solutions can be accessed in a customized way, using what is called an API, so the data can

be retrieved and pushed back automatically allowing organizations to interconnect their software and avoid tedious rewrites. The ‘app phenomenon’, with thousands of professional tiny programs, designed to perform simple tasks from smartphones and tablets, programs often with just one button for

just one action, rather than complex packages designed to do everything, is leveraging the ever-growing broadband internet access to offer simple ways to use our data. And this includes linking all the previously disconnected sets of data - BIM models, quantity takeoff reports, specifications, issues and tasks, client requirements, site conditions, work progress - and thus enabling to extract value from them in the shape of integrated reports that show relevant information even in visual dashboards, rewrite avoidance supported by the fact that important data is rather linked than duplicated, document sharing instead of copying, project templates that allow setting up working environments in minutes and not days, or in other words, feeling smarter when dealing with your data. In our recent experience in Qatar, that includes the BIM model revision of Al-Khor Stadium as-well as several sightline analysis for Aspire Zone Foundation in collaboration with Qatar Design Consortium, the assistance to some Spanish companies in the tender of contracts in Lusail or the BIM consultancy to engineering firms in the Red-Line Doha Metro; we

Roberto Molinos Molinos is a Spanish architect, the founder and Managing Director of Modelical, a model engineering and technology consulting for AEC companies that provides its BIM expertise to several major projects in Qatar. Molinos also teaches at IE Business School a wide range of disciplines related to technology management and computational design. Roberto loves solving problems and helping designers, engineers and contractors feel smarter and more proud about their projects.

have come to strongly believe BIM is only the first step in the shift towards data models in our industry. And that better, more conscious systems for collaboration and communication must follow; and their adoption is just a matter of leadership. Why? Because the technology is a reality and is here to stay.

Construction

SITES

Qatar

Labour housing sector in Qatar sees positive developments

Responding to government initiatives for adequate labor housing, several new accommodation facilities are being built across the country

arch witnessed several positive announcements regarding labor conditions in Qatar, especially in relation to providing proper accommodation. Noemi Mohamed Al Hajri, legal researcher at the Foreign Ministry’s Human Rights Department, said that Qatar attached special importance to the provision of adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living for both citizens and residents. He was addressing the 28th session of the Human Rights Council Item (3): Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living. Regarding expatriate workers, Al Hajri pointed out that the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs issued ministerial decision No 18 of 2014 to determine the requirements and specifications of adequate housing for the workers, adding that this decision guaranteed all specifications related to the provision of decent housing for expatriate workers in accordance with internationally recognized standards, and specified the minimum health requirements for worker accommodation. “It is subject to regular inspection through surprise raids conducted by the Labor Inspection Department in the ministry,” he said, pointing out that the government was currently building several residential sites that met these requirements. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Environment, National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Qatar Chamber, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning coordinated to issue guideline for adequate housing requirements, Al Hajri said, adding that they agreed that representatives of the NHRC and the ministry would co-ordinate in matters related to violating requirements of labor accommodation. Concluding his speech, he expressed Qatar’s aspirations for co-operation and dialogue with the special rapporteur on adequate housing during her upcoming visit to the country. March also saw the Cabinet approving the Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning’s draft decision to form a joint committee to study labor accommodation projects and strategy. Under the draft decision, the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning will form a

committee chaired by the ministry’s representative with members from the authorities concerned. The committee will prepare a study on labor accommodation projects and strategy by exploring the current and future supply and demand for workers’ accommodation in addition to planning the provision of such temporary and permanent accommodation, coordinating with the authorities concerned to ensure the construction of residential labor complexes to meet the needs of state development programs, considering workers’ housing rental costs and providing its recommendations. Completion of Barwa Al Baraha Phase 1 Responding to government initiatives for adequate labor housing, several new worker accommodation facilities are being built across the country. Recently, Barwa Real Estate announced the completion of phase 1 of Barwa Al Baraha project. Measuring approximately 1.8 million square meters, Barwa Al Baraha development is designed to serve as an integrated workers’ city that will accommodate 53,000 workers and employees, making it the GCC’s largest workers’ accommodation. Phase one of the project focused on establishing Qatar’s largest truck and vehicle parking space, while phase two will provide worker and staff accommodation, preowned car show rooms, auctions, workshops and stores for truck and machinery maintenance services. Facilities include a hotel, entertainment center, mall, laundry, health center, mosque, Islamic center, police station, civil defense center, fire-control centre, sports facilities, shops, restaurants and offices. The project is located South West of Doha in close proximity to the Industrial Area. Daruna and Wasita sign contract for advanced workers’ accommodations Daruna Development, a leading provider of advanced workers’ accommodations in Qatar, has signed a management agreement with Wasita Qatar, a subsidiary of the Wasita Group of Companies. The agreement, which was signed at the MEED Qatar Projects Conference, covers the development of 12,000 workers’ accommodations over the next 36 months. Daruna will maintain ownership of the accommodations while Wasita will operate and manage the workers’ hous-

ing to include housekeeping, catering, laundry and maintenance functions. Wasita Group, a Shariahcompliant service provider, holds a leadership position in remote logistics and life support services with extensive experience in catering services, laundry, housekeeping, materials management and services for staff, military and labor camps for the military/ defense sector, infrastructure construction sector, oil and gas (on-shore & off-shore) and healthcare sectors. Wasita Group operates in the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Turkey. The company operates labor sites in remote on-shore and off-shore locations. Wasita, a HACCP & ISO 22000:2005 certified operator, says it is “committed to delivering its services safely and efficiently to the satisfaction of its clients”. Through their agreement with Wasita, Daruna Development will be able to rapidly market the permanent workers’ accommodations in full compliance with all international and Qatari legal standards. The Daruna designs are the first in Qatar to be certified as compliant by Qatar Foundation according to their Standards for Workers’ Welfare guide published in 2013. “The co-ordination from the compliant design and worldclass certified management, including catering and laundry, gives us tremendous advantages in controlling costs and value driven services which cannot be achieved in any other manner. This combination, along with the value for money is the reason Daruna chose to partner with Wasita on its first project,” said Daruna Vice Chairman Joe LeBaron, Wasita Group President Basel Yagnham commented: “Our extensive regional experience in managing and operating such facilities along with our HACCP, ISO 22000 and other certifications will allow us to operate the Daruna sites at the highest levels of welfare, safety and international compliance. “We are proud to be associated with Daruna in delivering high standard, cost effective workers’ accommodations to the Qatari marketplace. This will hopefully be one of many Daruna sites in Qatar.” Daruna seeks to be the market leader in Qatar in worker accommodations which are being designed to fully conform to the standards set by the Qatar Foundation, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and relevant gov-

Senior managers and executives of Daruna Development and Wasita Qatar after signing the agreement.

ernmental authorities. They are sustainably designed and rapidly assembled from a preengineered delivery platform with a building life of 30+ years. “Having contracted a worldclass operating entity to provide catering, transportation,

maintenance and laundry services”, Daruna and its partners say they “shall offer a turn-key compliance solution at a competitive price”. Wasita Group was founded in the 1980s in Jordan to provide state-of-the-art support services across the Middle

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East. Since then, Wasita has become a leading regional operator with businesses in the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Turkey. Wasita is headquartered in Abu Dhabi and employs more than 2,500 people.

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Construction

SITES

Heritage

Facades as inspirational mediums

debate about legislation and optimized design was the highlight of the seventh annual Facade Design and Engineering Middle East conference held in Doha last month. The debate revolved around the question: should legislation drive facade design change? Chris Brown, regional design director, Woods Bagot, argued that new regulation would definitely help move the bar higher. However, he warned of a lack in the spectrum of enforcement. “The intent is there, but somebody needs to be held accountable. From a government level, investing in enforcement is the key,” he said. Brown said that the focus shouldn’t just be on legislation to improve standards but on efforts to improve execution of projects. Other panelists contended that it usually took bad incidents to kick start action. A reference was made to the fast spread of fire vertically along the facade of high-rise buildings in some recent incidents in the Gulf region, which raises questions about the material

Ancient Egypt: Temple facades as story tellers.

used in the facade. They pointed out that that as newer societies are formed, it’s only normal that they will build their safety guidelines on international existing codes and try to develop local codes as well. Another topic discussed at the panel was the need of

Facades as social connectivity walls.

Islamic architecture: An opportunity to observe, contemplate and reflect.

a risk assessment for the hundreds of buildings that were built pre-codes. Brown noted that as cities around the Gulf became “addicted” to building highrise buildings, this development has imposed a very steep learning curve for companies which have been building low-rise

buildings for three or four years and suddenly moved to building towers. Facades that teach In another session at the two-day conference, Ali A Alraouf, professor of architecture, urbanism and planning theories at Qatar University, and Head of CB, Research and Development, Qatar National Master Plan, Ministry of Urban Planning, delivered a presentation on the use of architectural facades to teach and provoke minds. He started his presentation with a quick history of facades that teach. From ancient Egyptian temples, in which walls were used to tell stories the same way a screen would be used today, to Islamic architecture, where geometry, Qur’an verses and sacred art were seen on the facades, providing an opportunity for passersby to observe, contemplate and reflect. Alraouf pointed out that even in primitive communities, facades were used as social connectivity walls. As in rural areas, the facade of a home was transformed into a bulletin board to announce events like weddings or return from Hajj. Today, Alraouf noted that graffiti artists were using facades and graffiti as a catalyst to enhance the quality of urban spaces and to invite regular people to ask questions. He showcased some modern projects where the climatic conditions are expressed in the facade, calling for a “revisit” to the notion of the facade and deal with it as an independent entity. Moving to Qatar, Alraouf suggested that in a postcarbon paradigm in Qatar,

facades could be used as a knowledge catalyst. He pointed that that there was a deliberate effort in revisiting the components of traditional architecture in a modern way in Qatar and the wider Gulf region as they aimed for a knowledge-based urban development.

He referred to examples like the new Faculty of Islamic Studies building where a different notion of the minaret is used. He also mentioned the Museum of Islamic Art building where the design reinterpreted Islamic references and the new Qatar National Museum building where you can note a blurred line between the space and the facade. He added that facades could be used to provoke thoughts, especially in projects involving educational institutions. He also talked about the value transparency could add to a building, mentioning the example a glass mosque built in the Western context and how it could help change perception about what people actually do inside a mosque. Alraouf concluded his presentation saying that as Qatar was trying to use Doha as a model for knowledgebased urbanism, it should reinvent the idea of the wall as a knowledge source, where architecture was used as a creativity provoking catalyst and buildings turned into education tools and inspirational mediums.

Graffiti: facades as a catalyst for change.

Construction

Technology

SITES

What will your house look like in 10 years?

Smart home technology is gaining traction in emerging markets

rom the moment you wake up in the morning, the house reacts to your needs. The automated lights turn on slowly to wake you up at a scheduled time. From the comfort of your bed, you switch on your coffee machine so your morning cup is fresh and hot by the time you arrive downstairs for breakfast. You enter the bathroom and stand in front of your intelligent mirror. The mirror’s reflective surface springs to life with all the information you need to kick-start your day, including the weather and the morning’s top news. The device also plays your favorite music so you are always guaranteed to start the day in a good mood. After getting ready, you go to the kitchen for breakfast where your smart refrigerator alerts you that you are nearly out of milk. With the tap of a finger on the fridge’s touch screen, you can restock your fridge and order all your groceries for the week through an online store. The infiltration of technology to assist with these small daily tasks may just be the beginning. The fully-connected home is designed to boost energy efficiency, protect against intruders and even monitor your family’s health.

With the rapid growth in the home automation industry, so-called smart home systems have already hit the mainstream - although the high cost of such devices keeps them out of reach for many. But there are signs that it is about to change. This year, revenue from the smart home market is expected to exceed $48 billion, according to recent Strategy Analytics forecasts. By 2019, the sector’s market revenue will increase to $115 billion. By the end of this decade, nearly 12% of global households will have at least one type of smart system installed. In fact, Tony Fadell, the CEO of Nest - the connected homes product company that was bought by Google earlier this year - has predicted that within a decade, every electrical device in your home will be connected to the Internet. While the smart home market is quickly gaining traction in developed countries, there are signs that the trend is spreading to the emerging markets. Consumers in the Asia Pacific region have been particularly keen to embrace the new connected technologies, as tech companies begin to acknowledge the opportunities in this sector. Connected home firm Icontrol

Networks expanded to Asia in October, with the company partnering with a Japanese cable provider to offer a smart home system that consumers can install themselves. This month, Chinese electron-

ics firm Xiaomi invested 1.26 billion yuan (about $200 million) in home appliance company Midea, as it looks to expand into the smart homes market. Lamudi’s Global Co-Founder

and Managing Director, KianMoini, said: “The smart home concept is all about making living much more comfortable, as well as more efficient, which means that the concept has universal appeal.

“As prices come down in the coming years and people worldwide begin to focus more on issues such as energy saving, we expect to see this trend sweep the emerging markets as well.”

Construction

SITES

Qatar

MEED announces national winners of quality projects in Qatar

Projects owned by Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Foundation, the Qatar Olympic Committee and the New Doha International Airport Steering Committee achieve top honours

ive of Qatar’s most important projects of recent years have scooped major national awards for their achievements and are now in the running for regional recognition: Engineering, Procurement, Installation and Commissioning (EPIC) Works at Halul Island, Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies Building, Solar Micro Grid System, Al Sadd Multipurpose Hall and the New Doha International Airport Passenger Terminal Complex CP 18. The national winners of the MEED Quality Awards for Projects, in association with Mashreq, include The EPIC for the new Central Industrial Building 33/11 KV Power Distribution Substation at Halul Island Project by Qatar Petroleum (entered by Galfar Al Misnad); Al Sadd Multipurpose Hall Project by the Qatar Olympic Committee (entered by ASTAD Engineering and Project Management Company); The New Doha International Airport Passenger Terminal Complex - CP 18 Project by the New Doha International Airport Steering Committee (entered by Sky Oryx Joint Venture: Taisei – TAV JV). Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Fac-

ulty of Islamic Studies Building Project and Energy Management System (Solar Micro Grid System) Project, both entered by ASTAD Engineering and Project Management Company complete Qatar’s national winners’ list. The projects were assessed against criteria that included engineering and construction challenges, as well as economic, social and environmental impact. “Complying with the highest quality standards in the projects market is critical not just to the success of individual projects, but also for their invariable impact on the society at large, in terms of the economic, social and environmental benefits they provide,’’ says John Iossifidis, Executive Vice President, Group Head – Corporate & Investment Banking, Mashreq Bank, psc. who went on to say, ‘’we salute all the national winners in Qatar for delivering projects that conform to the highest international standards for quality and for their long-term impact on the future success of the country.” Qatar’s national winners will now compete with the national winners from the five other GCC markets for the regional

awards. ‘’These awards recognise the best achievements in project delivery in the region and I’m delighted these Qatari projects have received the recognition they deserve,’’ says Richard Thompson, Editorial Director at MEED. ‘’All stand a very good chance of wider recognition at the GCC level in May. The projects that are being built today are laying the foundation for the future and MEED is honoured to be able to recognise and celebrate the very best project achievements the region has to offer.’’ With the Epic for the new CIB 33/11 KV PDS at Halul Island Project, a national winner in the Power and Water Project of the Year category, Qatar Petroleum is achieving its strategic plan to overcome the foreseeable power redistribution network at this major crude oil storage hub which is critical to the function of Halul Island. This successful project ensures the reliability of the power supply for the island and is feeding power to the crude oil pumping stations and other utilities like desalination plants, which generates a significant revenue proportion for the national economy of Qatar.

urban planners and designers; real estate developers, stadium designers and professional service providers; government and regulatory officials and senior executives involved in the design and construction of public and private real estate developments. A number of projects will be discussed throughout the event, as plans are well underway in Qatar for major projects including the Qatar Rail project, Hotels and the state-of-the-art stadiabeing developed for the World Cup 2022. This year will also feature projects from Barwa Real Estate, Ezdan Holding, United Development Company, and Msheireb Properties. All of these projects will deliver vast investment and growth in transportation, residential and com-

mercial real estate, and build new establishments for sporting and leisure activities in the country. Deep Marwaha, Group Director on behalf of Cityscape Qatar, said: “Cityscape is the world’s leading portfolio of real estate events, and provides an opportunity for exhibitors and attendees to come together and ensure that both their brands and projects are seen by influential stakeholders.We are delighted to have the continued support of His Excellency, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior for the State of Qatar. This unwavering support serves to further highlight the overall commitment to real estate development that Qatar has made.”

A national winner in the Social Infrastructure Project of the Year category, the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies Building Project provides education and teaching space and also houses the Education City campus mosque. The Solar Micro Grid System, which generates 5,180 MW of clean energy annually, was declared Qatar’s national winner in the Ramboll Sustainable Project of the Year category. Building Project of the Year national winner Al Sadd Multipurpose Hall is a five-storey building with a basement level that is used as a parking garage as well as the home for the Chiller

yard and major electrical substations and storage facilities. The CP 18 Project, a national winner in the Hyder Consulting Transport Project of the Year category, comprises construction of airport terminal complex, including MEP and airport special systems. It is a five-storey building with a floor area of 490,000m2, consisting of the Main Terminal, Concourses A, B and C. National winners were also selected from projects completed in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. The GCC winners of the annual MEED Quality Awards for Projects 2015, in association with

Mashreq will be announced on 27 May 2015 at The Address Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE during the MEED Construction Leadership Summit, a premier meeting place for the Gulf’s construction leaders and provides a much needed platform to promote open dialogue between the leading contractors, consultants and clients that examines the strategic direction of the region’s construction industry, the challenges threatening it’s performance and those leading it’s change. For more information on the national winners, please visit www.constructionleadershipsummit.com.

Cityscape Qatar to Showcase Real Estate Development Opportunities

ne of the Middle East’s leading real estate development and investment events, will beheld under the patronage of His Excellency, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Ministerand Minister of the Interior for the State of Qatar, and will take place from May 11-13, 2015 at the Doha Exhibition Center. The high profile three-day exhibition and summit will showcase a wide range of real estate investment opportunities and services to private and professional investors as well as key industry professionals from Qatar, the region and from around the globe. Cityscape Qatar 2015 will also bring together asset managers and financiers; architects,

Cityscape Qatar 2015 to be held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior for the State of Qatar /2 Cityscape Qatar offers a platform and the ideal opportunity for real estate developers to engage with different stakeholders, as the government of Qatar embarks on a number of real estate, construction and infrastructure projects.Both real estate development opportunities and infrastructure projects are crucial to the country as it works on implementing the pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030 including Economic Development, Human Development and Social Development, as it aims to diversify from a hydrocarbon-based economy. The high profile event allows

delegates and visitors to engage in a dynamic environment that gives insight into the future of Qatari and Middle East real estate sector.Cityscape Qatar 2015 is supported by its Foundation Sponsor, United Development Company (UDC), one of Qatar’s leading companies that works to identify and invest in long-term projects that contribute to Qatar’s growth. UDC focuses onprojects in a wide range of industries, with a particular focus on those related to infrastructure and real estate. Cityscape Qatar 2015, the largest ever real estate event to be held in the country, is well positioned to build on the success of previous events and will include three days of exhibitions, panel discussions, and presentations, along with a number of landmark deals which are due to be struck throughout

Cityscape Qatar 2015. Cityscape Qatar this year will also host the annual Qatar Real Estate Summit to Doha to be held from May 11-13, 2015 at the Doha Exhibition Center. The summit will bring together developers, consultants, banking and finance, architects and designers, government and fund managers. Over the three day event, attendees will have access to more than 150 delegates along with more than 40 speakers. The Qatar Real Estate Summit is the only platform in Qatar which focuses solely on the real estate sector, as it brings together key players for candid debates, in-depth analysis and to discuss the industry’s current trends. To find out more about Cityscape Qatar 2015, please visit: www.cityscapeqatar.com.

Solutions for your formwork needs Construction Package 4 - Lusail Development for Primary InfrastructureRoad A1, A6, Southern and Marina Interchanges The Project comprises of Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning of major parts of Road A1, A6, D11 & A10 at Lusail with Junctions 12, 13, and 14, Wadi Underpass, Tunnels T1 & T2, Southern and Marina Interchanges including Underpass, Bridges, Arch, and Tunnel. The total length of the roads is 7.5 km. The scope of works include design and construction of a 4.6 km deep storm water tunnel of 2.4-3 m diameter with 15 shafts. ACROW Delivered a variety of formwork solutions. In addition ACROW also supplied engineering and on-site support to ensure efficient and optimized operations. ACROW formwork solutions covered the Marina Fly over, Southern Fly over, Retaining walls for the underpasses, Piers, New Jersey barriers, Pedestals and truss columns for the underpasses and Circular formwork for micro tunneling shafts. Main Systems used were Shore brace as Shoring, H20 & Soldier as decking and for Abutments also, tailor made steel panels for Piers and New Jersey barriers. ACROW is the right partner for any Construction Project.

Qatar Address: Salwa Road, Doha , Qatar , PO Box : 15104 Tel.: (+974) 44582357 Fax.: (+974) 44582376 E-mail: acrowqatar@acrow.co, website: www.acrow.co

Main Office: Wady Houf, Helwan, Egypt. Tel.: (+202) 23690616 Fax: (+202) 23695290

Qatar . Kuwait . Oman . Saudi Arabia . UAE . Algeria . Morocco . Libya

SITES First LEED Certification obtained by the Sultanate 10

Region

Construction

The certification underscores the resort’s commitment to sustainable design and construction methods As the first development in Oman to obtain the prestigious international LEED certification, Alila Jabal Akhdar, represents milestone achievement for the development of infrastructure in the Sultanate. Alila Jabal Akhdar has been awarded LEED® Silver Certification in the Building Design and Construction rating system for New Construction by the U.S. Green Building Council. Developed by the Oman Tourism Development Company SAOC (Omran), LEED certification is recognised across the globe as the premier mark of achievement in green building. To receive the LEED certification, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, building projects require multiple energy saving and environmental criteria to be met including; sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design. The hotel, was awarded for its ability to maximize the use of local materials in the construction phase and minimize the ongoing energy usage footprint in the long term. The resort incorporates various eco-friendly elements such as innovative water treatment facilities for use in irrigation, solar panels that provides up to 60% of the

energy required for hot water supply and energy saving lighting and thermal control systems. During the development phase, the construction team implemented an ongoing policy of pollution prevention and a recycling scheme through the reuse of local building materials in harmony with the surrounding environment. Commenting on the award recognition, Mark Edleson, President of Alila Hotels & Resorts said, “At Alila, our vision is to integrate natural conservation, community and commerce hence our green efforts extend to and beyond the operational aspects so that we can make a positive impact on the community - economically, socially and culturally.” Eng. Wael Al Lawati, CEO of OMRAN said, “We are proud that the resort is the first development in Oman to achieve this LEED certification and to be recognised internationally for its sustainability credentials. The vision of sustainability for Alila Jabal Akhdar goes beyond the architectural design and construction phase, it also reflects the guiding principles of Omran, as well as the day to day operation and management of the resort which is centered on the principles of sustainability and environmental safety.” “The certification underscores the vital role of Omran in devel-

oping innovative and sustainable tourism destinations with advanced environmental specifications. We have eight other developments in our portfolio that have achieved, or are in the process of achieving, LEED

accreditation,” said Eng. Al Lawati. Richard Fedrizzi, CEO and Founding Chairman of U.S. Green Building Council said, “On behalf of the U.S. Green Building Council, I am proud

to award the Alila Jabal Akhdar and recognise Omran for its groundbreaking contribution to sustainable building and design in the Sultanate of Oman and the wider region. It is our sincere hope that Alila Jabal Akh-

dar’s new green credentials will raise awareness of the importance of sustainable development and will serve as a model for environmental standards for construction in the Middle East.”

Construction

Qatar

LREDC launches GSAS 2-star rating guidelines

Lusail Real Estate Development Company (LREDC), in collaboration with Gulf Organization for Research & Development (GORD), has launched GSAS two-star rating guidelines for consulting firms during a workshop held in Doha recently. The objectives of the workshop were: • Introducing Lusail City New Strategy for Compliance with GSAS two- star rating • GORD new registration requirements for Lusail consultants • GORD support options for Lusail consultants Stakeholders from the construction industry, mainly developers and consulting firms, participated in the workshop. LREDC Director Magdy Youssef kicked off the workshop with an opening speech. “Today, we would like to thank GORD for the efforts placed to develop the GSAS two-star rating guidelines which aim to streamline the process of achieving two-star rating design for all Lusail projects,” commented Magdy. Following Magdy’s speech, GORD Research Director Dr Esam Elsarrag presented GSAS two-star rating guidelines in depth. Dr Esam cate-

gorized the minimum requirements into two groups which are: Group (1) - Inherited criteria from masterplan: Based on the assessment of Lusail City master plan, conducted by GORD Trust, several criteria scores can be inherited for all buildings without any further due diligence review. The inherited criteria are: • UC1 - Proximity to infrastructure. • UC2 - Load on local traffic conditions. • UC3 - Public transportation. • UC5 - Sewer and water contamination. • UC7 - Proximity to amenities. • S1 - Land preservation. • S2 - Water body preservation.

• S3 - Habitat preservation. Group (2) - Other criteria requirements • E1 - E5 -Energy • W1 -Water • S7 -Heat Island effect (adhering to local regulations) The workshop was concluded by Dr Yousef Alhorr who thanked the audience for attending and abiding by GSAS policies for Lusail City and Qatar in general. Dr Alhorr commented: “The GSAS two-star rating guidelines have been developed to save time, effort and money for developers and consulting firms while seeking GSAS two-star design certification. The new guidelines are a straight forward short-cut approach to achieve sustainability”.

SITES

Minister vows to complete all 2022-linked projects on time

inister of Economy and Commerce, HE Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Bin Mohamed Al Thani, has reiterated Qatar’s resolve to complete all 2022-related projects despite the drop in oil prices. Addressing members of the Japanese corporate world in Tokyo recently, Sheikh Ahmed said: “The projects linked to 2022 are stimulants for the Qatari economy and that’s why the World Cup fixture is so important for us”. He said: “Qatar is committed to completing all 2022-linked projects on time. None of these projects will be delayed.” A sum of $12.5 billion (QR45.52 billion) is to be spent to create adequate housing stocks in Qatar to cater to the growing population ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The amount, to be spent over the next seven years, will cover the basic infrastructure needed to create and support the massive housing stocks. The Minister was part of the Qatari delegation that accompanied the Emir, HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, on his official visit to Japan. Several top Qatari businessmen, CEOs of private and public sector corporations and heads of key state institutions and agencies were in the delegation.

The Minister was delivering the opening address at a meeting held in Tokyo between the visiting Qatari businessmen and their Japanese counterparts to discuss investment opportunities in Qatar. Sheikh Ahmed said Japanese businesses and investors were welcome to take part in the development projects related to the 2022 World Cup. The total value of these projects is a huge $200 billion, of which nearly a fourth ($45 billion) is being spent on Lusail City alone. The Minister said that Lusail City would house some 450,000 people and the stadium being built there will host the opening and closing ceremonies and the final match of the 2022 tournament. According to him, $3 billion is

being spent on building stadiums. At least three workshops were held as part of the meeting between the Qatari and Japanese businessmen. Various agreements were signed during the meeting, including one on cooperation between Qatar University and a number of Japanese educational institutions. The Minister highlighted Qatar’s economic diversification plans and said efforts in this regard were bearing fruit as the non-hydrocarbons sector had a share of almost 50% in the country’s economy. In 2013, its share in the GDP was 46%. The private sector’s contribution to the economy is also rising rapidly as evidenced by its increasing share in the GDP (from $33 billion in 2009 to $58 billion in 2013).

Construction

SITES

Legal

The Application of the UK Bribery Act in Qatar The UK Bribery Act (“the Act”) has a wide-ranging extra-territorial impact on both UK and foreign commercial organisations operating outside of the UK, including those carrying on activities in the State of Qatar. It also applies to companies based in Qatar that are deemed to be carrying on business in the UK. Sections of the Act are significant for those conducting business in Qatar, as the Act broadly categorises a “relevant commercial organisation” as essentially a UK company or partnership, wherever they do business, and also includes companies or partnerships incorporated or formed outside of the UK but that are carrying out business in the UK. Corporate liability will attach irrespective of where the offence takes place. Entities in Qatar that rely on agents and other third parties will be “associated” with a commercial organisation for the purposes of the Act if he performs services for or on behalf of the commercial organisation, thereby including (without limitation) an employee, agent, subsidiary, joint venture partner or consultant. There is no requirement to establish that a contractual relationship exists between the company and the associated person. Ultimately, the question of whether a person is sufficiently “associated” with the organisation is fact specific. If something is given or taken to encourage the improper performance of a function or activity in either the private or public sector the consequences of doing so are severe: up to 10 years imprisonment and unlimited fines may be imposed on individuals, “consenting or conniving” senior officers and importantly, companies. Furthermore, the penalties provided in the Qatar Penal Code will also apply.

Section 23 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 for example, states that successful prosecution of the offence could cause the organisation’s disbarment from public contracts. What is Bribery? The Act establishes four categories of offences, the first three of which may be committed by an individual or a company, and the fourth may be committed only by a corporate entity. Active bribery: Giving, promising or offering a bribe (Section 1) A party will be guilty of an offence if they offer, promise or give a financial or other advantage intending that, in consequence, a public or business activity should be performed improperly by the recipient of the bribe or a third party. There must be an intention to induce a person to perform improperly a “relevant function” or activity or an intention to reward a person for such improper performance. This offence can be committed directly or through a third party. Passive bribery: Requesting, agreeing to receive or accepting a bribe (Section 2) A person will be guilty of this offence if he requests, agrees to receive or accepts a financial or other advantage intending that, in consequence, a public or business activity should be performed improperly, either by himself or a third party. Again, there must be an intention that a “relevant function” will be improperly performed or the bribe is accepted as a reward for the improper performance of a relevant function. The “relevant function” may be performed by another person. “Relevant function” is defined in Section 3 and includes: all functions of a public nature;

all activities connected with a business; all activity performed in the course of employment; and any activity performed by or on behalf of a body of persons (corporate or unincorporated). There must be an expectation that the functions are (1) carried out in good faith or (2) impartially or (3) the person performing them must be in a position of trust. Bribing a foreign public official (“FPO”) (Section 6) The Act creates a new standalone offence of bribing a foreign public official, specifically required so as to comply with the OECD Convention. The offence is committed by any person (including a company) who offers, promises or gives to any FPO any financial or other advantage with the intention of influencing that FPO in his official capacity and with a view to obtaining or retaining a business advantage. This is a form of active bribery – it is limited to offering a bribe to the FPO. FPOs are widely defined to include anyone who (1) holds a legislative, administrative or judicial position of any kind; (2) exercises a public function for any country, public agency or public enterprise; or (3) is an official or agent of a public international organisation. This piece of drafting has led to debate over “facilitation payments” that are deemed to be an “advantage” under the Act. “Facilitation payments” are loosely defined as payments made to induce an FPO to perform expeditiously those routine functions they are otherwise obliged to perform. The provision of an “advantage” will be considered a bribe if the FPO is not permitted or required by “written law” to be influenced by the same. “Written law” includes the law of the territory in relation to which the official is a

FPO. In the context of Qatar, the applicable “written law” is the Law No (11) of 2004, the Qatar Penal Code. Article 140 punishes the acceptance or solicitation of money, a benefit or the promise of something by a public official which is intended to generate the conduct or omission of an act that is included in his office, or if he acts as though it is included therein. Under Article 141, any person offering money, interest or a promise to a public official who accepts the bribe (and any intermediaries who facilitate the bribe) may be punished unless that person or the intermediary informs the concerned authorities about the offence before its discovery. This provision acts as a “catch all” provision, prohibiting “facilitation payments” to public officials, regardless of whether they act or omit to act in response to the bribe. In both cases the punishment levelled is up to ten years imprisonment and a fine not exceeding the amount of the bribe (but at least 5000 Riyals). Article 142 covers acts of bribery where no previous agreement between the briber and the official receiving the bribe has been made, but the official omitted or provided a service included in his duties with the intention of obtaining a future reward for it, and that official subsequently accepts money or a benefit from the person to whom the service was provided. Finally, Article 145 makes illegal the offer of a bribe to an official who does not accept the offer. Notably therefore, bribery of an FPO is not permitted pursuant to the “written law” of Qatar and accordingly, there is no exception under the Act for “facilitation payments” even though such payments

are part of the ordinary process of doing business in many jurisdictions and are permitted to some degree under US legislation (US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977). Personal liability of senior officers A director, partner or senior officer who “consents or connives” at the commission of the Section 1, 2 and 6 offences by an organisation may be found personally liable for that offence. “Senior officer” is widely drawn so as to include directors, managers, corporate secretaries or “other similar officers” of the organisation. A word of caution: the phrase “consent or connive” is left undefined. Does it include those who turn a blind eye? Or choose not to investigate? Arguably, the answer is “yes”. Further, in terms of territorial application, an offence is committed under Sections 1, 2 and 6 if any act or omission which forms part of the offence takes place in the UK, or the offence does not take place in the UK but the person’s act or omission would constitute an offence had it been carried out in the UK and the person committing the offence has a “close connection” with the UK. Persons with a “close connection” include: (1) a British citizen or equivalent (2) a UK resident (3) a body incorporated under UK law (4) a Scottish partnership. An offence under the Act will therefore cover bribes in Qatar if the person is resident or incorporated in the UK but could also include the conduct of Qatari agents or employees if the corporate entity for whom they act is registered or trades in the UK. Failure of a commercial organisation to prevent active bribery by third parties acting on its behalf (Sections 7, 8 and 9) It is this latter strict liability offence which represents the most significant expansion of the anti-corruption regime and is of critical impact on the construction industry in Qatar. The Act does not require a prosecutor to prove an element of negligence, dishonesty or corrupt intent. Knowledge and culpability are irrelevant. The offence is committed where a relevant commercial organisation fails to prevent a person “associated” with the commercial organisation bribing another person with the intention of benefiting the organisation. A violation of the Act may result in one or a combination of: imprisonment (to a maximum term of 10 years) and fines (unlimited on conviction on indictment) for directors and employees; disgorgement of a company’s

Laura Warren Laura Warren is a partner of the International Law firm, Clyde & Co LLP, in Doha. Laura has a wide ranging contentious and non contentious construction practice involving projects in Qatar as well as in the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Libya, Egypt and Tunisia Laura is Co-ordinator for the Society of Construction Law (Gulf) in Qatar.

profit; loss of reputation, public trust and business for the company; investigation costs; and diversion of management. The majority of organisations within the construction sector are involved in transactions including procurement of supply chain management and regulatory relationships with regard to the procurement of licences, permits and other approvals. The risk profile is particularly great where business is carried out through or with third party agents, intermediaries, joint venture partners and consortia. Bribery within the industry may take many forms: bribery to obtain planning permissions, bribery to win contracts, concealment of bribes, corrupt practices during pre-qualification, tendering and project execution phases, asset misappropriation, accounting fraud and the list goes on. Defence A commercial organisation will be required to demonstrate that it has “adequate procedures” in place. The term “adequate procedures” is not defined in the legislation, through guidance as to what constitutes “adequate procedures” (“Guidance”) has been issued by the UK Ministry of Justice. The Guidance clarified that demonstrating the existence of such “adequate procedures” operates as a “full” defence. Note that there is no equivalent “full” defence in the Qatar Penal Code, making the Guidance pivotal as a means of interpretation – this will be the only get out clause under the Act, but will not assist in respect of the Qatar Penal Code. The Guidance is based around 6 non-prescriptive principles: (a) Proportionate procedures – bribery prevention procedures should be proportionate to the

Construction

Legal isations should take a ery, and implement imrisks the commercial orproportionate and riskprovements to those proganisation faces; based approach to due cedures as necessary. (b) Top level commitment – diligence procedures in The Guidance also provides top level management respect of persons who some useful practical examshould be committed to perform or will perform ples in an attempt to clarify preventing bribery, acservices on behalf of the how the concept of the “astively engage with bribsociated person” will be inorganisation; ery issues and establish a culture whereby em- (e) Communication (includ- terpreted. Suppliers acting ing training) – organisa- as a seller of goods to a comployees and those they tions should clearly and mercial organisation will not do business with undereffectively communicate, be caught by the definition, stand that bribery is nevboth internally and exter- unless that supplier also perer acceptable; nally, bribery prevention forms services in additional (c) Risk assessment – orpolicies and procedures to the supply of goods. Subganisations are required in order to seek to deter contractors are clearly caught to conduct periodic asbribery; and by the Act. The Guidance sessments of the nature and extent of their expo- (f) Monitoring and review suggests that if the primary – organisations should contractor adopts adequate sure to potential internal periodically monitor and anti-corruption procedures itand external risks of bribreview the procedures self and requests that these ery; designed to prevent brib- are passed on down its sup(d) Due diligence – organ-

ply chain, this will minimise all parties’ chances of falling foul of the Act. In the context of joint ventures, which are relatively common in Qatar, if a joint venture operates through a separate legal entity, liability depends upon whether the joint venture is performing services for a particular member and whether the bribe is intended to benefit that member. If a joint venture is conducted through a contractual arrangement, the degree of control of each participant is relevant in determining liability. In accordance with the Act, bribery offences committed by agents of one participant are unlikely to be attributed

to other participants without further evidence that there was an intention to benefit the joint venture as a whole. This however is not the case in respect of applying the provisions of the Penal Code. Essentially, organisations in the construction industry in Qatar should be vigilant when it comes to entering into new business relationships, primarily by including specific contractual protections and conducting due diligence on a continuing basis. Finally, with regard to a commercial organisation established in Qatar, the Guidance provides direction in terms of what it means to be carrying on business in the UK. For example, being listed on the UK stock exchange is not of itself sufficient to be deemed to be carrying on business in the UK. Equally, having a UK subsidiary is not of itself sufficient. The organisation must have a demonstrable business presence in the UK, a question of fact to be determined by the UK courts applying a common sense approach. Conclusion Although the Guidance has gone some way to address concerns, ultimately the responsibility lies with senior officers to make ethical judgments in respect of their company’s activities. Simply introducing codes of conduct does not constitute a sufficient defence to prosecution under the Act – employers, contractors and consultants need to

SITES

Ramiz Shlah Associate

Ramiz is an associate based in Clyde & Co’s Doha office and has over five years’ experience in Qatar having worked on corporate, commercial, construction, insurance, finance, securities and banking law. His clients include a wide array of international and local entities, including banks, investment firms, construction, industrial and technology companies. Ramiz is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and New York and has published articles on various topics, including GCC investment in Qatar, Ostensible Authority in Qatar and the Qatari National Health Insurance Scheme. Prior to joining Clyde & Co, Ramiz was a consultant at a leading local practice in Doha.

revisit existing corporate policies and procedures in a fundamental way. Should you have any questions in connection with this article or the legal issues it covers, please do not hesitate to contact Ramiz Shlah (Ramiz.Shlah @clydeco.com) or Laura Warren (Laura.Warren@ clydeco.com).

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Construction

SITES

Architecture

The sound of knowledge - acoustic design for educational facilities

he importance of quality education to the community can never be emphasized enough. This has been clearly recognized by local authorities and given prominence in Qatar Vision aiming to create a sustainable and prosperous society. At the moment, a major challenge for Qatar is the school place shortage which is being tackled by the increased number of educational facilities being built. However, the sheer magnitude of facilities being built can easily upstage the importance of certain properties, such as good acoustic design and acoustic quality of learning spaces. There is a general recognition, supported by thorough research, that teaching and learning are acoustically demanding activities where good and bad acoustic conditions make all the difference. Unfortunately, classrooms are spaces that usually suffer from poor acoustics. Specialized spaces such as gyms, auditoriums and music rooms, spaces for children with special needs or hearing impairment also place much emphasis on acoustics. High background noise levels and excessive reverberation time (echo) can create substantial problems for students, as they can easily misunderstand key words, phrases and concepts. Stu-

dents have severe difficulty listening and concentrating in classrooms with poor acoustics. Furthermore, in multicultural and multilingual environments such as Qatar it can be especially hard for students for whom English is their second language to understand and properly hear the teacher. On the other hand, poor acoustic conditions increase the strain on teachers’ voices as most teachers find it difficult to cope with high noise levels. This of-

ten leads to voice problems ing methods which favor sulation between such due to prolonged use of the open-space classrooms, “noisy” areas and those voice and the need to shout group activities, etc. requiring quieter condito keep control. • Modern lightweight contions. Therefore, acoustic design structions do not always Although reasons for poor has a profound impact on provide adequate sound acoustics may seem rather both students and teachers insulation and may straightforward and obviand can easily generate unneed special acoustic ous; integrating good acousnecessary stress and hostiltreatments to prove fea- tics into an overall building ity towards learning process. sible. design of educational faThere are many reasons for • Multi-purpose halls with cilities is highly challenging poor acoustics in educationopen plan or semi-open task and inevitably requires al facilities, but the most plan layouts, designed an acoustic consultant to be common ones are: to accommodate a involved on the project. • The acoustics of typical number of different ac- Key items that have to be (classical) school buildtivities, are areas where considered in any educaings are often unsuitbackground noise and tional facility are: able for modern teachsound intrusion often Reducing interior backcause problems. More- ground noise levels over, acoustics of areas Sources of background such as multi-purpose noise can be numerous; but halls has to be suitable the usual ones are building for a variety of activi- services (air-conditioning, ties: for example music elevators, drainage, etc.) (which requires a long and learning aids (computreverberation time) and ers, tools, laboratory equipspeech (which requires ment, etc.) In order not to shorter reverberation cause excessive noise; airtimes). conditioning systems have • Many activities, such to be properly designed acas music and work- counting for sound attenushop lessons, can be ators and relatively low airnoisy and will inevitably flow velocities. cause problems if there Acoustic data should be is inadequate sound in- sought and compared for

any equipment planned to be used within schools: from computers and projectors to laboratory equipment; where quieter options should always be preferred. Reducing reverberation time Excessive reverberation time (echo) usually presents the predominant problem in classrooms and auditoriums. Reverberation can be easily controlled by introduction of various absorptive materials such as carpets, curtains, acoustic panels, acoustic plaster, etc. Although these materials and systems are widely available, it is not uncommon to encounter classrooms built without a single absorptive surface, which should be strictly avoided. Sound insulation Sound planning strategies have to be considered in the overall architectural design. Areas where high levels of noise are expected (music rooms, gyms, restaurants, workshops, etc.) should be suitably separated from other areas by “buffer zones” such as corridors, storage rooms, staircases, etc. Apart from good planning, materials and constructions utilized to separate different areas should be carefully selected and installed. Materials with high sound insulating properties such as concrete or double drywall partitions should be favored. External noise control Location of educational facilities is critical when defining building facade system and its acoustic rating. Although rarely considered, noise survey (noise level measurement) has to be carried at the very start of each and every project, in order to accurately assess existing background noise levels. All noise-sensitive areas should be located on the quiet facades, not facing major roads, parking areas, etc.

Construction

Qatar

Jaidah Heavy Equipment’s ISUZU Division Organizes Customer Event The Isuzu Division of Jaidah Heavy Equipment – a subsidiary of the long-established Jaidah Group, held an event especially for Isuzu customers last month. Isuzu Division of Jaidah Heavy Equipment organized the customer gathering to showcase an entire range of Isuzu pickups and trucks, where top customers were given awards in appreciation for the patronage. The event was attended by Mr. Ayman Ahmed, Managing Director of Jaidah Equipment, Mr. Hari Subramony, Sales Manager of Isuzu Division and Mr. Zsolt Kovacs After Sales Manager of Jaidah Heavy Equipment. Mr. Kenichi Omori and Mr. Mr.Piyapong Tannaphai of Isuzu Middle East Operations also attended the event. Mr. Ayman Ahmed said: “We would like to stress the im-

portance of the role played by our after sales service, and we want to assure our ISUZU customers that various new initiatives have been taken to enhance after sales support to benefit our valuable customers and aid future business relations.” The event took place at the Royal Tents of the Diplomatic Club in Doha, and was organized by the Isuzu Division, with an objective of promoting the current truck and pickup models available to contractors, logistics, distribution companies, wholesale markets and rental companies. After presenting the trucks and pickups on display, Mr. Ayman Ahmed highlighted the durability of Isuzu vehicles and the role of after sales service, while Mr. Hari Subramony announced that ISUZU would be providing two free services for all new

pickups purchased in the N Series Light Duty Trucks and F Series Medium Duty Trucks, as well as a new warranty for both series of trucks. Mr. Hari Subramony, Sales Manager of Isuzu Division, said: “Although we offer a wide range of Isuzu products, they all have one thing in common; versatility and practicality. With a new best in class warranty on N Series and F Series Truck purchases, our customers will be provided with a significant purchase addition.” Mr. Kenichi Omori San, General Manager of Product Planning and Aftersales at Isuzu Motors Middle East, said: “Isuzu is among the oldest automobile manufacturer, and is a global leader in diesel technology. Isuzu is the market leader in the GCC region, and products are dependable and durable.”

SITES

Jaidah Heavy Equipment organizes first Komatsu operators’ contest

Jaidah Heavy Equipment, a subsidiary of the Jaidah Group, has held a Komatsu operators’ contest. Jaidah Heavy Equipment, the sole distributor of Komatsu equipment in Qatar, marks the contest as the first-of-itskind in the country. The contest, at the Royal tent ground by Al Soudan Signal, was attended by Komatsu Middle East Managing Director Kenichi Sato. The objective of the competition was to test the stability, accuracy and calmness of the Komatsu excavator by carrying and moving a miniature golf ball. After successfully picking up the ball, the operators were required to place it in a designated spot and re-

turn the bucket to its starting position. Ayman Ahmed, Managing Director of Jaidah Equipment, said: “The competition is a fun and light way of illustrating the Komatsu excavator’s stability and strength. Its viability is also reflected in the operator’s skills, thereby showing that such an accurate machine requires an accurate operator to ensure its efficiency. It is also to strengthen the engagement between the operators and Komatsu machines.” The growing popularity of Komatsu machines in the Qatari market was showcased at the event. Three out of 40 competing operators were declared as

winners: these recorded the best three timings in completing the task of the competition. The winners were awarded with smart phones from Komatsu. Ashraf Hasheesh, Komatsu General Manager (Marketing), said: “The Komatsu excavator’s qualities of viability and steadiness will definitely add to the high standard of construction products and services in Qatar.” At the end of the event, the Komatsu Managing Director handed over the outstanding market share achievement award to Ayman Ahmed, representing Jaidah Group, for achieving the highest market share for heavy machinery in Qatar in 2014.

Construction

SITES

Qatar

Formwork specialist participates in safety event at proposed venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar

Doka successfully took part in the first annual safety training fair hosted by KEO in Qatar’s Al Wakrah Stadium construction site, according to a statement from the company. The event, which opened with speeches from the multiple stakeholders involved with the stadium project, including Vernon Jackson, Programme Director at CH2M Hill, Abdulla Al Marri, Senior Project Engineer at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, as well as Mark Otter, Deputy Project Director at KEO, Matthew Statham, HSE Manager at KEO, Jason Kroll, Vice President and Regional Director at AECOM and Louay Rassam, Operations Manager from enabling works contractor HBK. With a variety of events, starting with orientation, Doka’s team performed live demonstrations, illustrating the practical application of safety procedures in the formwork process. At the end of the fair, KEO, the project management consultant, sponsored an

award ceremony where exemplary staff were acknowledged for their professionalism. Speaking on behalf of Doka, Mr. Ralf Buerger, Managing Director Doka Qatar commented: “Qa-

tar is developing very quickly. We are always conscious to not cut corners to save time the safety processes involved in our industry are integral to the outcome of any project. No price

can be placed on the wellbeing of the teams that work on this project, which is why events such as this are not only important in practical terms, but furthermore illustrate our commit-

ment to promoting safety as an on going topic for discussion and improvement.” The Al Wakrah Precinct, for which Doka is contracted by HBK Contracting Co. to supply form-

work for the enabling package, is the first new-build stadium to be developed in advance of the 2022 FIFA World CupTM in Qatar. The 40,000-seat stadium, which had its first structural concrete poured last month, has taken a diligent approach to safety, as confirmed by Matthew Statham, KEO’s HSE manager for the precinct, who commented: “We observe that all safety measures are in place before works starts and we reward safety practices. To date the Al Wakrah Precinct has successfully completed over one million hours of work without a lost-time incident, something that has only been possible thanks to the combined diligence of all stakeholders involved in this project.” Doka is currently engaged on a number of ongoing projects in the Middle East including Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal, the Doha Metro and the completed Al Sadd Multi-purpose Sports Hall in Qatar.

Construction

SITES

Road development work starts in East Al Aziziya The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced a road closure on Othman Bin Affan Street located between the Al Waab Street junction and Saeed Bin Al Aas Street. The closure aims at initiating phase one of the roads and infrastructure development project in the East Al Aziziya area. The closure, which began on March 12, will continue for eight months. A temporary road is constructed for use during the closure period and vehicles using the carriageway will be diverted in both directions. Residents and business owners in the area can reach their houses and shops through the Al Aziziya Street.

SCE and GORD in strategic partnership

The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gulf Organization for Research and Development (GORD). The agreement was signed by SCE Chairman Hamad Bin Nasser El-Shakawi and GORD Founding Chairman Dr Yousef Alhorr. The strategic partnership aims to build new channels of co-operation and to promote sustainability through effective initiatives for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, encouraging the use of environmentally-safe materials and supporting green building projects. These, in turn, will help achieve economic and environmental balance and maintain urban identity in Saudi Arabia. SCE and GORD will work on research and development programs related to environmental issues and human resources development within the real estate sector. SCE will hold seminars and interactive training workshops in collaboration with GORD to refine the skills of professionals working within the construction industry in Saudi Arabia and to provide them with the knowledge needed to develop and apply sustainability concepts in future projects. In a press conference which followed the signing ceremony, El-Shakawi said SCE was confident that such collaboration with GORD would create a positive impact on its efforts to develop the capabilities of concerned practitioners such as engineers and related professionals, making them more proficient with environmental sustainability concepts. “We look forward to closely working with the Gulf Organization for Research and Development and to benefit from GSAS (Global Sustainability Assessment System) and its various initiatives like workshops, seminars and other activities which provide an integrated platform to promote and encourage the adoption of sustainability concepts in various real estate and infrastructure projects across the region,” El-Shakawi said. Dr Alhorr reiterated this by saying:” We will be collaborating with the Saudi Council of Engineers to put the Gulf region at the forefront of the ecologically-sustained countries of the world. “This huge stride will be achieved through spreading the standards of sustainability, solidifying the culture of creativity and innovation, encouraging openness to experience exchange and benefitting from successful trials. “This is under the guidelines of GSAS, a fully-integrated system of evaluating green buildings. It is one of the most comprehensive regulation systems internationally, having been built on the trials of 40 other local, regional and international systems.” He said the system adapted to local the Arab cultural and environmental data. “It was also provided with a generative system which keeps up with the latest technologies through the usage of the Internet in conducting all managerial and technical tasks required to establish its main concepts,” Dr Alhorr said.

SCE Chairman Hamad Bin Nasser El Shakawi and GORD Founding Chairman Dr Yousef Alhorr signing the agreement

News

Qatar Foundation receives projects leadership award

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) has been awarded the Qatar Projects Leadership Award 2015 at the annual MEED Qatar Projects Conference. Every year, the award is presented to an organization that has made a lasting contribution to economic and social development of Qatar. This year, Engineer Jassim Telefat, Group Executive Director of Qatar Foundation Capital Projects and Facilities Management, accepted the award on behalf of Qatar Foundation during a gala dinner in the presence of an esteemed gathering. The MEED Qatar Projects Conference is a two-day event that brings together government representatives, key project owners, developers, consultants and financiers in the sector to address the evolving challenges of Qatar’s project delivery market and highlight future project opportunities, strategic priorities and master plans. Telefat said: “This year’s MEED conference coincides with the 20th anniversary of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, created to support Qatar on its transformation from a carbon to knowledge-based economy through the unlocking of human potential in the areas of education, science and research, and community development. “This has been achieved through a wide range of institutions, centers, and initiatives designed to encourage creativity and innovation, while promoting science and research and sustainability. Therefore, QF is preparing the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs and researchers to confidently and successfully lead the future, armed with modern science, relevant skills and cutting-edge technologies.” He added: “It is through QF’s complete educational cycle, which covers all levels and encourages a culture of science and research from an early age, that young men and women are able to contribute to tangible solutions that will benefit the whole community.” Qatar Foundation is dedicated and committed to supporting the nation and its people through intensive educational and research and development pillars. QF’s educational cycle covering all levels from the age of six months to higher education, has so far resulted in the graduation of more than 2,500 students from QF member Hamad Bin Khalifa University and partner universities within Education City. These graduates have since joined the local labor market, utilizing the very best skills and expertise. In addition, the research and development pillar of QF has provided a solid path in which young people can unlock their research capabilities. The acquired advisory and expertise skills help them from conceiving ideas through to the implementation into practical commercial projects that serve the country and the community. Qatari society directly benefits from the higher education and research cycles presented by QF through a number of different centers and institutes. Ultimately, by nurturing the Qatari community contributes to the support, well-being and growth of Qatar and beyond. MEED Chairman Edmund O’Sullivan said MEED had decided that the leadership award was given to Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development for its “inspiring and ground-breaking initiatives in a wide range of areas, including education, healthcare, culture, science, scientific research and the environment in Qatar, the wider Middle East, and the world beyond”. “These range from the remarkable and successful Qatar Science & Technology Park, a global hub for learning, research and healthcare, to Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art,” he said. “MEED is delighted that Qatar Foundation agreed to accept this award, which expresses the gratitude and appreciation of MEED and MEED’s many customers for the Foundation’s work and achievements,” O’Sullivan concluded. Telefat presented a keynote speech on the opening day of the conference. Dr Mahmoud Ali Darwish, Principal Investigator at Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, presented a solar desalination case study, while Dr Alex Amato, Director of Sustainability at Qatar Green Building Council, discussed the environment and sustainability. The MEED Qatar Projects Conference was organized in partnership with Ashghal and in association with the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD).

Engineer Jassim Telefat receiving the award on behalf of Qatar Foundation

Construction

Interview

‘Great potential’ to explore geothermal energy in Qatar

SITES

Below 20 meters in depth, the ground temperature remains practically constant throughout the year Green air conditioning using the cool thermal mass under buildings is very efficient, given that the ground temperature in Qatar just several meters below its surface remains constant at 20°C all year round. According to Eladio Perez Fernandez, General Manager at Ecoforest, there is a great potential to explore geothermal energy in Qatar. “We want to give access to cooling systems with high efficiency, at competitive prices and with lower installation costs,” says Eladio. The Holding Bio Ecoforest, famed in the field of renewable energies and with over 50 years in the market, integrates companies like Ecoforest Geotermia, the pioneering manufacturer of geothermal heat pumps with Copeland Inverter Technology. In this exclusive interview to Construction Sites, Eladio Perez Fernandez explains the use of geothermal energy as one of the most efficient cooling solution. The use of ground temperature and strong sunlight is the key to the efficient production of cold and domestic hot water in Qatar. Can you elaborate on your service?

Our mission is the efficient use of resources that nature gives us (biomass, sun, air, underground and sea) to produce heating and cooling. We provide access to heating and cooling systems with high efficiency, at competitive prices and with lower installation costs. Reasonable initial investment, savings in heating and cooling, equipment reliability and after sales service are the core values that we offer our customers. The average temperature of the ground in Qatar is 20°C. Can we take advantage of this stable temperature focus? Below 20 meters in depth, the ground temperature remains practically constant throughout the year, which means that geothermal heat pumps provide a high efficiency than other types of heat pumps whose operating conditions depend on external environment conditions. In Qatar, the ground temperature remains throughout the year at 20°C, while the average ambient temperature exceeds 40°C. Ecoforest geothermal heat pumps take advantage of this temperature swing, to cool the house, giving heat to the earth instead of yielding it to air,

reaching a COP= 6 (1kW electric produces 6kW thermic). Some advantages of geothermal heat pumps are local resource, integrate climate control system (heating, cooling and domestic hot water), minimal maintenance and long life, no visual impact, significant cost saving and reduction of CO2 emissions. Can you elaborate on the Ecoforest products and why are they efficient for Qatar’s climate? All our products are developed under a common philosophy: easy installation and immediate start (without commissioning adjustments), modulating power production (according to the heating needs of housing in every moment) and easy temperature setting drive, which gives them the highest seasonal efficiency of the market. Our goal is to make accessible geothermal energy to all customers who decide to reform their homes or building a new home, by reducing the price of the heat pump and minimizing installation costs. The Ecoforest Geothermal Heat Pump technology gives the highest energy efficiency in the production of cooling and heating and a minimum saving of

6,000 euros in the installation, if compared to any other heat pump manufacturer. What is your offering in Qatar? Heat Pump catalog covers a wide range of geothermal heat pumps and aerothermal, with two modulating powers. In addition, the software developed by R & D Ecoforest team, allows hybridization of geothermal and aerothermal, allowing to reduce investment in geothermal boreholes. In these domestic geothermal heat pumps, the Inverter Copeland Scroll technology is integrated, giving them worldwide exclusivity. The heat pumps catalog includes a range of high-power geothermal heat pumps, with three modulating powers. The hardware and software of these heat pumps is ready to control five different temperature levels, swimming

pool and domestic hot water, as well as the simultaneous production of heating and cooling, and configuration in parallel of six heat pumps (600 kW), without any external electrical panel that commands the needed components for each of these configurations. Furthermore, Ecoforest high-power geothermal heat pumps are available with reverse cycle and therefore suitable for air conditioning and heating. In these high power Geothermal heat pumps, Danfoss Scroll Inverter technology is integrated. Why did not hybridize geothermal and solar photovoltaic? Geosolar Heat Pump has been born after several years of development. Based on Inverter Copeland Scroll technology, Geosolar heat pump manages the electrical and thermal en-

ergy (cooling, heating and domestic hot water) housing, intelligent hybridizing of several renewable energy sources, to get at all times the most efficient and economic management, even reaching free production. The system incorporates an adaptive control module efficient management of the energies consumed in the home (heat and electricity), which manages and delivers directly and simultaneously, the energy from the mains, batteries, solar panels and fossil generators. It has 4kWh of storage batteries and charging device for electric vehicle. The system is certified by TÜV to pour grid electricity (excess energy) in the most demanding countries of the European Community, turning the house into a small producer of electricity.

Construction

SITES

INterview

Saudi council becomes a driving force for Gulf engineering sector

The challenge for us in Saudi Arabia is to attract new recruits for the engineering profession Established less than 15 years ago, the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) is a relatively new group. Still the council has already become a driving force behind various regional initiatives, according to SCE director board member Ibrahim Abdullah Alhammad. The Saudi Council of Engineers is mainly a scientific professional body that aims to promote the engineering profession and helps develop and upgrade its standards and those practicing it. The council is already setting criteria and standards of practicing and developing the engineering profession, including licensure terms and conditions; prescribing necessary rules, regulations and examinations for obtaining professional degrees; preparation and publication of studies and researches; organization of courses, conferences and symposia relating to the profession; and submission of technical advice in its area of specialization. In this interview with Alhammad, we explore the council’s role in promoting sustainability, female involvement in engineering, protecting architectural heritage and other controversial topics. In addition to his position with the SCE, Alhammad is a member of senate of Prince Sultan University, a visiting professor at Stuttgart University in Germany and a professor of projects development and management at King Saud University. What are the main challenges that you see facing the engineering sector in Saudi Arabia? In Saudi Arabia we have a big engineering sector. We have

180,000 expat and 30,000 Saudi engineers. The percentage of national engineers is obviously less than foreign engineers. So, the challenge for us in Saudi Arabia is to attract new recruits for the engineering profession. Another challenge is attracting female engineers. Luckily in the last few years a few engineering programs were established in Saudi private and public schools that accept females. I am proud to say that the SCE has initiated a program between Saudi Arabia and German Council of Engineers to train Saudi female engineers in Germany in summer. Other challenges include raising the Saudi engineer competencies, limiting false foreign certificates in engineering and reinstituting professional exams. In the future, we hope that anyone who establishes an engineering firm will pass professional exams before practicing engineering. This will raise the bar of engineering sector inside Saudi Arabia. So far, the local engineering community is not ready to take such exams. We are preparing exams in Arabic language with our national exam institutes now. We have already funded this project with 2 million Saudi riyals and it will come into action in two years. You mentioned pushing more females to join engineering. Is the Saudi society ready for that? I think the society is going through reform and development. There are engineering disciplines where an environment suitable for female engineers can be provided, like in project management. Even if female

engineers undertake field work, they don’t have to walk in the field actually, they can monitor work through cameras for instance. In Saudi Arabia we are underresourced in most technical disciplines and we need female talent. Things are changing and many females have professional certificates and are part of the work force and add value to the development of the country. What is the status of the building code in Saudi Arabia? We have a Saudi building code that is mainly based on the American code, but it’s not mandatory. Making it mandatory will improve standards in the engineering sector, but it needs a political decision. There is always resistance for change and what we are doing at this stage is raising the awareness about the code. Some Saudi faculties of engineering have already started introducing the Saudi building code to their students. So, by the time more people become aware of it, it will be ripe to implement it. What do you think about the idea of having a unified building code for all the GCC countries? We already have a GCC body for standardization, but they are not trying to unify building codes. Of course, Saudi Arabia is the biggest country in the Gulf and the driving force for many specifications. But there are some new specifications coming from Kuwait or Dubai that will add value as well.

There is a level of co-ordination between GCC countries. However, each country has its own national laws and there are no obligatory GCC laws for all member countries. That’s why you find different practice in different GCC countries. What are the services you offer to your members? Members ask us about services all the time, but we are a relatively young organization. If you compare us to Jordan or Egypt, they started their engineering societies some 200 years ago. They are already well-established and have social insurance and many benefits for their members. We are not there yet. The Gulf council professional bodies are new, except for Kuwaiti Society of Engineers which is 40 years old. However, we are moving ahead and we did have some breakthroughs. So, despite it is being recently established, the SCE has achieved a lot and has become a driving force in the Arab Association of Council of Engineers. Do you see a role for SCE in pushing towards more sustainable design and construction? Absolutely. A proof of this is the competition to design and build a head office for the SCE in Riyadh. We were keen to highlight Saudi architectural talent and be a role model for other public buildings in sustainability. So we invited Saudi architects to compete for designing of the 70 million Saudi riyals project on the

condition that they designed a sustainable building that drew from the authentic Saudi architectural heritage. Only Saudi engineering firms were invited to take part in the competition because it’s a national project and we take pride in it. Initiatives like this encourage local talent to be proud and design in a sustainable way. Do you see a role for the SCE in preserving the architectural heritage of Saudi Arabia? We have different schools of thought when it comes to this issue. Some are modernists, some traditionalists. It’s a controversy in every country, not in Saudi Arabia only. What about the protection of local architectural heritage in terms of preserving old buildings at a time when demolition and rebuilding for the sake of expansion is widely occurring in the holy cities? This is a very sensitive and controversial topic. You need to increase the capacity of the holy sites to accommodate more pilgrims. At the same time you don’t have the social and cultural infrastructure to preserve the traditional buildings and to affect decision making. We are under pressure to increase, at the same time we have not develop that cultural sense of what has to be taken off and what has to be preserved. Recently in Saudi Arabia, we have Prince Sultan Bin Salman who is taking a lead role in preserving a lot of things all over

the country and not only in the holy cities, because we have a lot of architectural and cultural heritage in many other cities. It’s still something new for our culture and by the time it picks up we will lose some buildings, but at the same time we will do better in future projects. This is the best we can hope for now. Could you tell us about the Engineering Arbitration Center? It’s a center working under the SCE and we are proud to have it. The idea is to qualify experts and arbitrators for the market. To be an expert you have to have a minimum degree and specific years of experience, while to be an arbitrator you have to pass some arbitration workshops overseas or locally. You also have to have 30 hours of Sharia law applied to engineering sector. When construction disputes arise in Saud Arabia, do people prefer arbitration or going to court? It depends on the parties. If it’s a government project, no way they will go to arbitration. They go to what we call “Diwan Mazalem” which is an administrative court that follows the Egyptian model, but with more emphasis on Sharia law. If it’s a private sector project, parties prefer arbitration. Once the arbitration panel issues a resolution, the judge in the administrative court has to implement it unless it violates Sharia law or local Saudi laws. However, so far the arbitration percentage is not so large in Saudi Arabia.

Construction

SITES

Region

GOIC publishes the GCC Petrochemicals Industries’ Guide

GCC Petrochemicals: 59.6% of the manufacturing industries and investments worth 220.3 billion US The Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) announced that the petrochemicals industries in GCC countries have jumped in value and strengthened their status as a fundamental resource in the world. In fact, Gulf petrochemicals industries are currently responsible for the most important manufacturing activities in the region. Their share of the total investments is 59.6% (investments worth 220.3 billion USD). Today, there are 3184 companies operating in this area and they offer employment to about 271000 workers. All of these figures were published in GOIC’s “GCC Petrochemicals Industries’ Guide”. GOIC Secretary General Mr. Abdulaziz Bin Hamad Al-Ageel stated: “GOIC shows great interest in specialised industrial publications. This guide is part of a series of specialised Gulf guidebooks published by the Organization to provide industrial data and make it accessible to the largest audience of stakeholders, decision makers, policy makers, investors and researchers.” Al-Ageel said that GOIC’s experts deploy relentless efforts to publish a number of books and guides on various industrial sectors in GCC countries and Yemen, in addition to multiclient studies, periodicals, Gulf statistical profiles and analytical and statistical books. Fur-

thermore, in an effort to support the GCC industrial sector, GOIC decided to publish a specialised guide about the Gulf petrochemicals sector highlighting various data on firms and companies operating in this area. Thus, stakeholders are now able to easily access information in a practical way and in accordance with international database standards. According to the guide, the three stages of petrochemicals industry (upstream, intermediate and downstream) and the industries of fertilizers, petroleum refining and industrial gases are at the centre of this sector. Altogether, they shared 90.6% of the total invested funds in the chemicals industries in 2013. In fact, this sector heavily relies on capital, and feedstock (oil and natural gas) constitute the most important factor granting this sector competitiveness at the level of cost in GCC countries. Moreover, GOIC’s data revealed that there are large quantities of methane used to produce ammonia, urea and methanol. Likewise, ethane is used to produce ethylene and its various derivatives. The petrochemicals industries’ guide organises activities according to the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) as follows: manufacture of refined petroleum products, manufacture of basic chemi-

cals and chemical products, manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds, manufacture of plastics and synthetic rubber in primary forms, manufacture of pesticides and other agrochemical products, manufacture of paints and varnishes, manufacture of detergents and cosmetics, manufacture of other chemical products, manufacture of man-made fibres, manufacture of pharmaceuticals, manufacture of tyres and rubber products, manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard, manufacture of tubes, hoses and fittings, manufacture of clay building materials, manufacture of packaging-related products, manufacture of fibreglass products, recycling and manufacture of industrial marble and the manufacture of other plastic products. The Guide includes basic data on industrial facilities that are authorised by ministries of industry in GCC countries in accordance with ISIC. Data include comprehensive information about industrial firms, their locations and the quality of their products. The classification is divided into two main parts: the first is general information including an overview on the manufacturing industry and its contribution to GDP, an overview on the development of chemical, petrochemicals and plastic industries in GCC countries with tables and graphs il-

lustrating the structure of these industries as to the number of factories, amount of investments and labour force. As for the second part, it includes indexed information about industrial firms in each GCC country in alphabetical order according to the international classification of industrial activities. The status of petrochemicals industries According to the Guide, refined petroleum products in GCC countries constituted 9.7% of the total number of firms, 43.9% of the total investments and 20% of the labour force in 2013. There were 309 factories, investments worth 96.8 billion USD and 54068 workers. Furthermore, basic chemicals and chemical products’ manufacture represented about 5.9% of the number of firms, 2.5% of the total investments and 4.8% of the total labour force in 2013. There were 188 factories, investments worth 5.6 billion USD and 13078 workers. The manufacture of fertilizers and nitrogen compounds represented 2.9% of the number of firms, 7.1% of the total investments and 4% of the labour force. There were 92 factories, investments worth about 15.7 billion USD and 10958 workers in 2013. The manufacture of plastics and synthetic rubber in primary forms’ share was 4.3% of the total number of firms,

37% of the total investments and 10.1% of the total labour force. In details, there were 136 factories, investments worth 81.6 billion USD and 27319 workers in 2013. The manufacture of pesticides’ share was limited to 0.2% of the factories, 0.02% of the investments and 0.1% of the labour force. There were only 7 firms, investments worth 43 million USD and 225 workers in this field in 2013. As to the manufacture of paints and varnishes, it represented 6.8% of the factories, 1.1% of the total investments and 5.7% of the labour force. There were 218 factories, investments worth 2.5 billion USD and 15540 workers in 2013. The manufacture of detergents and cosmetics represented about 9.7% of the total number of factories, 0.4% of the investments and 5.3% of the labour force. In details, there were 308 factories, investments worth 790 million USD and 14348 workers in 2013. As for the manufacture of other chemical products, its share was 6.9% of the number of factories, 1.4% of the total investments and 4.9% of the labour force. There were 221 factories, investments worth 3.1 billion USD and 13191 workers in 2013. The manufacture of man-made fibres represented 0.7% of the number of factories, 1.4% of the total investments and 1.6% of the labour force. There were 22 factories, investments worth 3 billion USD and 4421 workers in 2013. The manufacture of pharmaceuticals’ share was 1.3% of the factories, 0.7% of the investments and 1.6% of the labour force. The number of firms was 41, investments worth 1.5 billion USD and 8614 workers in 2013. Furthermore, the manufacture of tyres and rubber products represented 3.4% of the firms, 0.1% of the investments and 1.7% of the labour force. In details, there were 108 factories, investments worth 206 million USD and 4480 workers in 2013. As to the manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard, its share was about 4% of the factories, 0.8% of the investments and 7.6% of the labour force. There were 260 factories, investments worth 1.7 billion USD and 20697 workers in

Abdulaziz Bin Hamad Al Ageel GOIC Secretary General

2013. The manufacture of tubes, hoses and fittings represented 8.2% of the number of firms, 0.8% of the total investments and 7.6% of the labour force. There were 260 factories, investments worth 1.7 billion USD and 20697 workers in 2013. As for the manufacture of clay building materials, it represented 3.4% of the number of factories, 0.3% of the total investments and 2% of the labour force. There were 107 factories, investments worth 613 million USD and 5533 workers in 2013. The manufacture of packagingrelated products’ share was 20.6% of the number of factories, 2.3% of the total investments and 16.4% of the labour force. In details, there were 657 factories, investments worth 5.2 billion USD and 44550 workers in this field in 2013. The manufacture of fibreglass products represented 7.7% of the total number of factories, 0.5% of the total investments and 5.9% of the labour force. There were 245 factories, investments worth 1.1 billion USD and approximately 16083 workers in 2013. Recycling and the manufacture of industrial marble represented about 2.1% of the number of firms, 0.1% of the investments and 1.2% of the labour force. In details, there were 68 factories, investments worth 126 million USD and 3255 workers in 2013. Finally, the manufacture of other plastic products represented about 2.2% of the total number of factories, 0.1% of the total investments and 2.8% of the labour force. In details, there were 71 factories, investments worth 244 million USD and 7625 workers.

Construction

Region

Technology takes the centre stage at 7th Façade Design Summit in Doha

Emirates Insolaire LLC, a pioneer in the development and application of new solar technologies and a subsidiary of Dubai Investments PJSC [DI], showcased its coloured solar panel KromatixTM technology – the first-of-its-kind in the world, at the 7th Façade Design & Engineering Summit, recently held in Doha. At the summit, Emirates Insolaire unravelled ways to adapt its coloured and sustainable solar panels, its breakthrough photovoltaic modules as well as solar thermal collectors to enhance the design appeal and

aesthetics of building façades in the region. Emirates Insolaire solar panels, coming in virtually any colour, have revolutionized the industry, as it can be easily integrated in natural colours to any façade and roof and thus offer cost-effective and sustainable customization. The company has already production and installed its first façades in Europe. Emirates Insolaire continues to receive enquiries for its coloured solar panels from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon, as well as from Europe, Asia,

the US, and Brazil, among others. Rafic Hanbali, Managing Partner of Emirates Insolaire, said: “There is a latent demand for Emirates Insolaire’s revolutionary, coloured solar panels across the globe. Our breakthrough glass is optimized for photovoltaic modules as well as solar thermal collectors and we see a massive growth potential in the Gulf region. We expect sales in excess of 50,000 square metres for coloured solar panels and photovoltaic models during 2015 alone.” He added: “The solar PV in-

dustry is booming, with the end-market demand hitting rapid growth levels almost every quarter – so we are quite bullish. Our participation in the Façade Design & Engineering Summit is part of our strategy to reinforce our breakthrough technology to potential partners from across the region and beyond. The scale of construction under way in Qatar itself is phenomenal and offers unmatched growth opportunity.” Mr Hanbali will also be the moderator at one of the roundtable discussions on Day 2 of the summit, focusing on growing trends towards façade solar integration in the Middle East. The Emirates Insolaire solar glass panels, manufactured with KromatixTM technology, are developed in close collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology [EPFL – Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne]. Optimised for photovoltaic modules – which use cells to convert solar radiation into electricity – and solar thermal collectors, the glass provides a mat coloured, architecturally aesthetic appearance to solar panels, preserving more than 90% of the original efficiency. Globally, the photovoltaic market has grown 40% year-on-year and the number of installations foreseen for 2015 is 160 GW

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Rafic Hanbali Managing Partner of Emirates Insolaire

– approximately 800 million square meters of glass. Furthermore, the share of BIPV [Building Integrated Photovoltaic] for roofs and facades, one of the specialisations of Emirates Insolaire, is witnessing one of the fastest growth rates. Emirates Insolaire is part of Dubai Investments subsidiary Glass LLC, the glass pioneers in

the Middle East. Each colored solar panel with KromatixTM technology can generate above 150 watts electric power per square meter on roofs, or above 110 watts per square meter on façades. Approximately 2,000 panels on one building, roof and facades are capable of generating above 350kW electric power.

Construction

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Sustainability

Between development and sustainability: QGBC Advocates for Sustainability Research in construction The first edition of Qatar Green Building Conference aims to advocate for green buildings best practice when it convenes in April

hat is sustainability? Is green building research and design the stepchild of the construction industry? Much of the impetus for change in the construction industry has been technology driven. Dr. Amato, of the Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), says: “It continues to be important to look at the questions that everyone seems to be able to ask about sustainability and construction but not answer.” Addressing the gathered experts at a seminar jointly organized by the Pakistani Engineers Forum (PEF), Engineer Meshal Al Shamari, Director of Qatar Green Building Council, said: “QGBC is focused on promoting green practice across Qatar’s construction sector, so we are delighted to host this conversation between sustainability experts, innovators and building specialists. We are committed to helping the nation deliver the Qatar National Vision 2030 and our discussions have highlighted some interesting ideas and themes for reform and growth.” This commitment resonates with all the advocates at QGBC, most vocal amongst them being Dr Alex Amato, Head of Sustainability at QGBC. In a conversation with Dr. Amato, when we spoke about planning buildings and planned buildings, Construction Sites asked about obsolete buildings in Doha. “Don’t tear them down,” said Dr Amato. “Repurpose them.” A good example of this is the Qatar Museums project at the old Doha Fire Station. In fact, Dr Amato emphasized that investors and speculators created a problem when they failed to read the market trends. At the Qatar Green Building Conference, QGBCs inaugural annual conference, which will take place in April 2015, ‘Retrofitting Doha’ will be one of four themes that will be addressed. John Bryant, an associate professor at Texas A&M University, will look at issues of “Technology and Performance Contracting to Retrofit Doha”, Charles Blaschke will give a presentation on “Energy Audit”, Saira Muneer will address issues related towards creating a more sustainable Qatar and Sarah Frances Clarke, PhD, will tackle the theme of

“Retrofitting mindsets, one by one”. But how do they all tie in? Dr Amato pointed out that the construction industry was the only one where design and production were executed and developed separately. “To ameliorate the situation, contracts are now being conceptualized as ‘design and build’ or D&B.” This creates a platform for interaction and information to flow both ways. However, Dr. Amato said that this only happened if the contractor was “enlightened”. In fact he went so far as to imply that “enlightened contractors” also paid attention to safety onsite, the welfare of the construction workers, ethical procurement and quality control. The best products came out of a partnership where the contractor and architect collaborated. When products and applications are purposefully and ergonomically designed, through the collaboration between product manufacturers and specialist subcontractors, products that are not only unique but also functional can be created. And this is when the conversation about design and sustainability really comes together. According to Dr Amato, it’s vital that we looked at some critical issues in the green building sector: • Ethical procurement and responsible sourcing. Knowing the provenance of an item allows us to use and dispose of it appropriately or even to choose not to use it. Questions need to be answered: How will it be disposed of? Can it be reused? Recycled? What are the embodied impacts of the materials? How often will it wear out and how often will it need to be replaced. • Materials: Using materials that sequester CO2. It has become evident that the easiest way to sequester CO2 is to use bamboo. And bamboo is increasingly being modified and adapted to be used as flooring, ceilings, cladding, carpets and furniture; even in fabric form. QGBC, a member of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, is a non-profit organization, committed to ad-

vocating green building and environmentally sustainable best practice. The imminent Green Product Directory, will list all green products available in Qatar. This will be the ultimate showcase for the manufacturers and retailers of green products to the market. Additionally, QGBC supports a number of specialist working groups, including one on acoustics, solid waste (SWIG), water (WIG), sustainable energy, green construction (GCIG), green education (GiiG) and a green hotel interest group (GHIG). One of the key themes of the upcoming conference will be ‘Future Sustainable Cities’. A big part of this goal is modular housing: looking at housing solutions that make as little impact on the environment as possible and maximize the positive impact on communities. QGBC is currently working with some key partners to look at how these can be constructed while sticking to green building codes. Dr Amato emphasized that incentives still needed to be put in place by government to turn the idea into a reality. “It requires a large commitment of capital but once the manufacturing capability is set up, it will be able to compete on cost as compared to traditional building methods.” Dr. Amato has long been an advocate of modular housing and though it is not the most fashionable idea, it addresses a need in a market. The initiative is in line with the philosophy behind the Passivhaus. QGBC works with the ministries concerned in Qatar to overcome the problem of waste in the construction sector. As part of commitment by Qatar’s Ministry of Environment and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), they teamed up with Qatar University in 2011 and looked at how waste materials could be transformed into building materials. It was a three-year project and was funded by the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP), which is administrated by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) at the Qatar Foundation. This is part of the Qatar government’s policy on sustainable development and protection of the environment as mentioned in the country’s national vision. The results were used to update the

Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS 2014) and promote green construction of buildings and roads. Published in 2014, the latest edition of the QCS permits the use of recycled aggregates as coarse aggregate in concrete at up to 20% replacement of imported gabbro for structural concrete and up to 50% for non-structural concrete. Recycled aggregates are also permitted at up to 100% in sub-base applica-

tions. Similarly, excavated limestone waste is permitted as aggregate in asphalt in the lower layers of the pavement, but not in the surface course. The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) was recently awarded the Qatar Projects Leadership Award 2015 by MEED. MEED Chairman Edmund O’Sullivan said that the award was in recognition of

Energy conservation program for schools Identifying the need to reduce the consumption of water and electricity in Qatar, Tarsheed, the National Program for Conservation and Energy Efficiency, has launched a campaign to bring down water per capita consumption by 35% and electricity per capita consumption by 20% by 2017. To help achieve these results, a T22 program was launched in collaboration with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC)to reduce energy and water consumption in Qatari schools. The program plans to cover 22 schools initially, then expand to reach all schools in Qatar by 2022. Some steps are being taken to retrofit participating schools, including upgrades to the meters that monitor the energy use in each school. In addition, energy-efficient lights and dimmers are being installed, as well as controllers that will automatically shut off lights during periods of inactivity in meeting rooms and toilets. To conserve water, faucets will be fitted with aerators. These devices and retrofits will help make the good conservation actions of students and teachers even more impactful. An energy audit of the 22 schools is underway. This will provide a baseline for each of the participating schools, identifying conservation and efficiency opportunities via retrofit of lights with dimmable LED lamps and lux controllers, presence detector controllers for meeting rooms, toilets with

QF’s “inspiring and groundbreaking initiatives in a wide range of areas, including education, healthcare, culture, science, scientific research and the environment in Qatar, the wider Middle East and the world beyond”. Dr. Amato, of QGBC, and Dr. Mahmoud Ali Darwish, of QEERI, presented views on environment and sustainability and a case for solar desalination case study respectively.

delay timing and water efficient aerators on faucets. Taken together, these retrofits and the educational content will lead to energy savings in each of the schools for the long term. Addressing a press conference at the launch of the program, Kahramaa (Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation) President Essa Bin Hilal Al-Kuwari said that Qatar was expected to produce about 12,000 megawatt of electricity by the year 2022, given the increased demand.Al Kuwariexplained to reporters that a revision of current laws and regulations might take place to ensure energy conservation. This includes implementing a star system, whereby home appliances will be labeled with a specific number of stars depending on how much energy they save. The changes are also expected to include ceasing the import of conventional air-conditioners that waste energy.

Construction

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Update

KnowCrete by Improving concrete quality By Karthikeyan H Obla National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) Internal concrete testing could be done at the job site or at the concrete plant. If internal testing is done at the job site, it allows for a comparison of testing practices between the producer and the third- party testing laboratory. Internal testing at the ready mixed concrete plant as a means to measure and reduce concrete variability is discussed in this article. A variety of ingredients such as cement, supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) like fly ash, slag cement, aggregates, water and chemical admixtures are used in concrete. Concrete producers use a wide range of methods to measure or quantify the variability of ingredient materials, including reliance on testing performed by material suppliers. Preceding articles have addressed how concrete producers can develop relations with cement, fly ash, and aggregate suppliers and use timely material test data to make adjustments to concrete mixtures to take into account the material variations. It is important that concrete producers conduct regular concrete testing at the plant so that the cumulative material, manufacturing, and testing variation at the plant can be determined. Job-site testing, typically performed by independent laboratories for acceptance, includes delivery time variations that can lead to further variation in mixing- water content and air content. As discussed in preceding articles, even though the influence of delivery time variations on concrete performance can be minimized, it cannot be eliminated. Poor jobsite testing practices, such as sampling, cylinder fabrication, improper initial curing, and transportation to the lab, can further add to the overall variations. In summary, variability of concrete indicated by job-site tests includes several factors that the concrete producer does not control. Variations in the concrete tested at the plant help the producer pinpoint the causes of variation over which they have more control. It also helps the producer compare different plants, understand the best practices at plants that have low variation, and establish best quality practices at all the plants. CRITERIA FOR TESTING Concrete producers should identify one to two mixture classes at each plant that would cover the broadly different concrete types and materials at the plant. Typically, all concrete mixtures belonging to a similar strength level (±1500 psi [±10 MPa]) and air entrainment, using the same cement/ SCM type and aggregate type (crushed or rounded), and coming from the same geological origin are considered as belonging to a mixture class. Mixture classes are clearly not the same as actual mixtures, and several mixtures can belong to a mixture class. The main aim of the producer is to select just one or two mixture classes that will be produced several times during the week at a concrete plant. In Australia and the United Kingdom, testing performed by concrete producers are used for determining the acceptability of concrete (AS 1379, 1997; EN 206-1, 2000). Since our purpose is quality assurance as opposed to acceptance testing, it is suggested that concrete producers use the following methodology to select one to two mixture classes for each plant. Slump: The selected mixture class (es) should have target average slumps between 3 and 7 in. (75 and 175 mm). Air entrainment: Select one non-air-entrained concrete mixture class. In addition, select one air-entrained concrete mixture class if any air-entrained concrete is produced at the plant. Aggregate type and origin: If the plant produces concrete with various aggregate types (crushed versus natural) and geological origins, the selected mixture classes should utilize the most commonly used aggregate type and origin. Cement type and source: If the plant produces concrete with various ASTM C150 portland cement types and sources, the selected mixture classes should utilize the most commonly used cement type and source. SCM type and source: If the plant produces concrete with various SCM types, sources, and SCM blends (not dosage), the selected mixture classes should utilize the most commonly used SCM type, source, and blend. Admixture type: The selected mixture class (es) should contain the most common admixture type/ dosage used in the plant. Strength level: The selected mixture class (es) should have a specified strength between 2500 and 5000 psi (17.5 and 35 MPa). The above discussion is summarized in Table 11.1. A concrete producer in a northern climate may be faced with the following: • Air- entrained concrete is produced at the plant. • Out of the concrete produced, 55% has fly ash, 20% has portland cement only, 15% has slag cement, and 10% has fly ash + slag cement blends. Based on the discussions above, the producer should choose two mixtures classes fly ash mixture with and without air entrainment.

TABLE 11.1 Selection of Mixture Classes Variable

Mixture Classes

Air entrainment

One non air-entrained concrete mixture One air-entrained concrete mixture if any air-entrained concrete is produced at the plant

Slump

Target average slump 3 to 7 in. (75 to 175 mm)

SCM type and source

If the plant produces concrete with various SCMs, select mixture class with the most commonly used SCM type, source and blend

Cement type and source

Most commonly used cement type and source

Aggregate type and origin

Most commonly used aggregate type and origin

Admixture type

Most common admixture type/ dosage used in the plant

Strength level

Specified strength between 2500 and 5000 psi (17.5 and 35 MPa)

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News

Construction

Third phase of C-Ring Road project complete The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has opened phase 3 of the C-Ring Road Development project for traffic after completing the work on schedule. Road users now benefit from an additional lane extending from the middle point between Rawdat Al Khail and New Slata intersections to the middle point between Rawdat Al Khail and Al Mansoura intersections. This part of the CRing Road has been widened from three lanes to four in each direction. Its overall design has also been improved. Ashghal worked round the clock seven days a week to complete the project on time. Hundreds of workers, supervisors and dozens of construction equipment were involved in the work. All entrances to residential areas and commercial es-

tablishments remained open throughout the work in order to minimize traffic disruption. The C-Ring Road development project involves a 6.3km stretch from the intersection with Al Kinana Street to Umm Ghuwailina roundabout, also known as the VIP roundabout. The project aims at enhancing the road capacity. All four phases of the project are expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2015. Given the importance of the C-Ring Road as one of the main arteries linking vital areas around Doha, Ashghal has kept residents of the area and business owners fully informed about the project’s progress through direct communication, its website and social media accounts. Before the start of the construction works, project brochures in Arabic and English

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BIM technologies, processes and collaborative behaviors have been distributed to all residents and businesses in the area to inform them about the project’s details. A designated community liaison officer has been appointed to respond to any requests and enquiries. In addition, Ashghal says it has taken all “necessary precautions to ensure the safety of both workers and road users through the implementation of directional signs, electronic road signs and concrete barriers along work area”. The C-Ring Road development is part of a series of vital projects implemented by Ashghal to improve and enhance the network of local roads and expressways across the country. Road enhancement works include converting roundabouts to signal-controlled intersections and widening roads to increase capacity.

The Doha BIM Users Group (DBUG) held its third meeting at Qatar University, with more than 40 attendees. Djamel Ouahrani gave an update on the activity involved in formalizing the DBUG’s affiliation with the University. The consensus was that such an arrangement will give the group a stronger voice and more credibility in Qatar’s BIM arena. Nicky Dobreanu, a civil engineer originally from Bucharest, Romania, delivered a presentation on technologies, processes and behavior needed in the practice of BIM. Dobreanu started his BIM journey in 2009, in Ireland, in the implementation of electronic estimating systems used in conjunction with BIM. This led to further projects in Ireland and the UK (data center projects), Australia (data center projects), Belgium (micro and nano-electronics research center), Bahrain (hotel project), Saudi Arabia (high-rise towers, airports, educational projects) and finally Qatar. Dobreanu quoted the National BIM Standard (USA) when defining BIM: “Building Information Modeling is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility creating a shared knowl-

edge resource for information about it and forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life cycle, from earliest conception to demolition” and “BIM is essentially value creating collaboration through the entire life-cycle of an asset, underpinned by the creation, collation and exchange of shared threedimensional (3D) models and intelligent, structured data attached to them” (UK BIM Task Group). Dobreanu used the United Kingdom as an example of BIM adoption. The UK government’s Plan for Growth, published alongside Budget 2011, highlighted the critical importance of an efficient construction industry to the UK economy. The construction sector represents some 7% of GDP or £110 billion per annum of

expenditure - some 40% of this being in the public sector, with the central government being the industry’s biggest customer. “The NBS National BIM Report 2014 shows more and more buildings are being ‘built with BIM’ and this provides us with a fantastic opportunity to revolutionize the way in which we interact with the information concerning a building.” The presentation was well received and is an excellent overview of many of the components and drivers active in the BIM environment. It is available for download on the DBUG blog. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for 4 April 2015. Please visit the DBUG LinkedIn site for the dates of the next meeting.

The 20 key BIM terms you need to know

With the sheer volume of new technical terms and keywords being used in connection with BIM, the average construction industry worker could be forgiven for being confused by the jargon. With that in mind,

the following is a list of the 20 need-to-know BIM terms, and their definitions. 1. 4D, 5D, 6D First there was 2D CAD, then 3D CAD – now there are extra dimensions to refer to the

The National Museum of Qatar is a practical example of Building Information Modeling (BIM) that has helped in navigating complex engineering scenarios and overcoming engineering challenges – Ali Al Khalifa, CEO ASTAD

linking of the BIM model with time-, cost- and schedulerelated information (although the precise order hasn’t to date been agreed across the whole industry). 2. Asset Information Model (AIM), Building Information Model (BIM), Project Information Model (PIM) Not only is there the ‘Building’ information model, but the ‘Asset’ information model – which is the name given to the same model post-construction, i.e. supplemented with the data needed to assist in the running of the completed asset. Note that ‘asset’ can also refer to civil engineering and infrastructure work (see also Uniclass, below). Conversely, the ‘Project’ information model is the name given during the design and construction stage, i.e. what’s commonly known as the project among the design team. 3. BIM execution plan (BEP) PAS 1192-2 (see below) pro-

poses that a BIM Execution Plan is created for managing the delivery of the project. This in turn is split into a ‘precontract’ BEP, in response to the Employer’s Information Requirements (in other words, comparable to ‘contractor’s proposals’ in a Design & Build contract) and a ‘post-contract’ BEP which sets out the contracted delivery details. 4. CIC BIM protocol A supplementary legal agreement which is designed to be used by construction clients and contractor clients. It is incorporated into professional services appointments and construction contracts – an amendment to standard terms, creating additional rights and obligations for the employer and the contracted party to facilitate collaborative working, while safeguarding intellectual property ownership and liability differentiation between those involved. 5. Clash rendition

Referred to in PAS 1192-2, rendition of the native-format model file is be used specifically for spatial coordination processes. Used to achieve clash avoidance or for clash detection (between, for example structure and services) between Building Information Models prepared by different disciplines. The key benefit is in reducing errors, and hence costs, pre-construction commencement. 6. Common Data Environment

(CDE) This is a central information repository that can be accessed by all stakeholders in a project. Whilst all the data within the CDE can be accessed freely, ownership is still retained by the originator. Cloud storage is a popular method of providing a CDE, although it could also be a project extranet. The scope and requirements for a CDE are defined in PAS 1192-2 (see below).

HVAC - Plumbing & Drainage - Fire Fighting - Electrical & ELV - Energy Centers - Street Lighting - Maintenance - Facility Management Established in 1974, TRAGS Engineering is recognized as the leading Grade-1 MEP Services, District Cooling and Facility Management Contractor in the State of Qatar. The scope of activities covers all aspects of building services including design, procurement, installation, testing and commissioning of multi-service installations. In addition, the company offers 24/7 Facility Management Services to government buildings, corporations, educational, healthcare, industrial, commercial and residential sectors.

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TRAGS Electrical Engineering & Air Conditioning Co. W.L.L Jaidah Tower Ist Floor, Abdul Aziz Bin Ahmed Street P.O. Box 470, Doha – Qatar Tel +974 44 41 42 11, Fax + 974 44 41 33 06 tragseng@tragsengineering.com

www.tragsengineering.com

Construction

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Tenders

ASHGHAL TENDERS AND AWARDED TENDERS Companies Eligible to Tender: (1) Qatari Companies Only (2) Joint Venture (JV) Companies, which includes a Qatari Company having a minimum of 51%, share holding of the JV (3) Non-Qatari Companies (4) Not Applicable * All financial values are in QAR

Tender No.

Type

Tender Title

Participants

Issuing Date

Closing Date