Construction Sites | January Issue no.102

SITES

I ssue N o .102 - J anuary 2016

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

Entry, work, residence and exit rules in Qatar

Green Building

FOCUS

Page

Page

Challenges in managing major infrastructure projects in Qatar

FOCUS

LEGAL Page

Page

SEMINAR

Safety & security

PAGES 9-18

In Focus: GREEN BUILDING

Qatar has succeeded in placing itself as one of the first amongst the greatest advocates of “sustainability” worldwide since the introduction of Qatar National Vision (QNV2030) The last few years have been a major challenge for Qatar’s construction sector, due to the unavailability of efficient systems and environmentally friendly materials, as it started embracing green building concepts. Read about how Qatari authorities have begun enforcing the implementation of sustainability codes and construction standards by consultants, contractors and suppliers.

2

Construction

SITES

Qatar

‘Art of Giving’ T-shirts to benefit construction workers

ElectriCity offers Gothenburg’s citizens a mobile festive show

USGBC’s ambitious commitment made at COP21 in Paris The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that it will commit to scaling green

Qatar National Library offers free hands-on training sessions for engineering professionals

Regional designer, Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, as part of her charitable initiatives, has launched a special collection of T-shirts to benefit construction workers under the “Art of Giving” project.

The range of T-shirts has been designed with road safety signs on the front while the back carries the “Art of Giving” logo.

Priced at Dh200 per piece, the T-shirts are available at FN Designs and can be purchased by both individuals and corporate companies.

The proceeds generated from the sale of the T-shirts will be donated to construction workers in the form of necessities they may require in their day-to-day lives such as telephone cards, blankets, shoes, clothes, food or medicines.

Launching the T-shirts, Sheikha Wafa stated: “ ‘Art of Giving’ is all about caring and remembering those who are not so fortunate. Our aim is to encourage people to work together for the benefit of our society and show their appreciation for the significant contribution workers make.

“The T-shirts will not only bring a little joy to those in need but are also aimed to spread awareness about road safety measures as these people generally work on streets and hazardous sites.”

The “Art of Giving” project , headed by Sheikha Wafa, was launched during Ramadan last year whereby FN Designs had collaborated with Al Maktoum Foundation and Beit Al Khair to carry out a number of charitable initiatives.

Sheikha Wafa is the founder and director of FN Designs. Love and passion for art are the words to describe her. She holds degrees in business administration and in arts and design. Curiosity, creativity and aspirations lie at the heart of her diverse body of work.

Dubai-based FN Designs takes pride in promoting art in the Middle East and making it accessible to all by creating a more design-centric social community within the emirates through innovative and collaborative events.

Home to a bevy of young artists, FN Designs was conceived in 2008 by Sheikha Wafa, who is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including “Patrons of the Arts Award” given

by Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Conceptual and visual design, illustrations, photography, publication and clothing are among the many pragmatic and creative solutions offered at the studio.

buildings to more than 5 billion square feet (478 million square meters) over the next five years through the LEED and EDGE green building rating systems.

USGBC’s commitment was made at Buildings Day, an official event at the United Nations climate negotiations conference known as COP21.

“As we gather around the imperatives to address climate change at COP21, we know that buildings must continue be a key focus area for countries to reach carbon emissions reduction goals,” said Roger Platt, president, USGBC. “By encouraging the use of green building rating systems like LEED and EDGE in both the public and private sectors, countries can log immediate and measurable reductions of these emissions as their building stock uses less energy and water, creates less waste, saves money and creates a healthier environment for everyone.”

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world’s most widely used green building rating system.

LEED projects can be found in more than 150 countries and territories throughout the world, with more than 1.85 million square feet of space being certified everyday. Designed for emerging economies, EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is a green building certification system for new residential and commercial buildings that enables design teams and project owners in developing countries to assess the most cost effective ways to incorporate energy and water saving options into their buildings.

USGBC’s sister organization, Green Business Certification Inc., is the exclusive certification body for LEED globally and EDGE in India and also certifies EDGE projects in other countries throughout the world.

GBCI oversees a portfolio of additional rating systems and programs that support carbon reductions as a way to mitigate climate change.

USGBC joined 25 other Green Building Councils from around the world that unveiled commitments at COP21 to transform the sustainability of buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure that the building and construction industry plays its part in limiting global warming to 2 degrees.

Buildings in general currently account for about one third of global emissions, and green buildings are one of the most cost-effective solutions to climate change, by generating significant environmental, economic and societal benefits.

“USGBC has long been at the forefront of real leadership on green buildings and its ambitious commitments at these critical climate change negotiations in Paris are an excellent example of that leadership,” said Terri Wills, CEO of the World Green Building Council. “We know how to build bigger and bigger.

The challenge is to build bigger and better and at the same time improve our existing buildings stock.

And it is commitments like these that will underscore the critical importance of using every tool at our disposal to achieve the 2 degree world we need to ensure for our future.”

The surprise concerts given in September on board the bus route 55 by Seinabo Sey and Zara Larsson caught the public’s attention in both Sweden and abroad, getting more than 2.6 million views on Facebook and YouTube.

Sweden’s ElectriCity, where Volvo is one of the main participants, followed up its September success last month with acoustic concerts given by Swedish artistes among passengers on the electric bus route 55. This time it offered Gothenburg’s citizens a mobile Christmas show.

The electric bus itself provided the entertainment in the form of a light show accompanied by traditional Christmas music while travelling through central Gothenburg.

“The previous ‘Silent Bus Sessions’ campaign highlighted one of the major benefits of electric buses – how quiet they are,” says Helena Lind, PR manager at Volvo Buses.

The Christmas show was used to highlight in a fun way that the electric bus allowed the city’s traditional noise to be replaced by pleasant sounds, according to Lind.

The Christmas greetings extended to Gothenburg’s citizens could be seen and heard along the bus route 55, which passes along Avenyn and Östra Hamngatan in the city center. The route normally only runs on weekdays, but an exception was made on the weekend of December 4-6 when the Christmas bus also ran on Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 6pm.

“One way you can look at the Christmas bus is like a mobile Christmas card which we are using to send Christmas greetings to Gothenburg’s citizens, while also spotlighting a successful venture where innovation and sustainability combine to create an attractive means of public transport,” said Lars Backström, managing director of Västtrafik, early last month.

Collaborative project ElectriCity is a collaborative project between academia, industry and the public sector and is aimed at developing, demonstrating and evaluating new sustainable public transport systems for the future.

Testing and evaluation of electric bus transport is a central part of ElectriCity. Silent, emission-free public transport can operate in places where traffic is currently banned. This opens up new possibilities for urban planning in towns and cities.

The three electric buses on the route run on renewable electricity and are energy-efficient, silent and completely emission-free. The buses run on batteries that are quickly recharged with renewable electricity at the bus terminus stops.

Passengers have access to onboard wi-fi and phone charging facilities. The Teknikgatan bus stop on Lindholmen is indoors.

Besides the three completely electric buses, the route has a number of electric hybrid buses which run on electricity for approximately 70% of the route.

In addition to the actual buses, ElectriCity develops and tests new bus stop solutions, transport management systems, safety concepts and energy supply systems.

Qatar National Library (QNL) is offering free hands-on training sessions on the effective use of selected engineering and technology online resources: ASTM International, ASME Digital Collection and IEEE Xplore Digital Library. This initiative is part of its continuous efforts to engage readers, students and researchers across Qatar. ASTM International: The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International) is a vast collection of industry-leading standards and technical engineering information covering a broad range of engineering disciplines.

ASME Digital Collection: The American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Digital Collection provides access to its repository of current and archival literature including some of the most prestigious journals, conference proceedings and books.

IEEE Xplore Digital Library: The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Xplore Digital Library provides access to full-text documents from some the world’s highly cited publications in electrical engineering, computer science and electronics.

These online resources contain scientific journal articles, e-books and reviews in various areas of engineering and technology. The training is open to all and certificates of attendance will be awarded.

The training will take place on January 19, at the Computer Laboratory 1, HBKU Student Centre, Education City, The training schedule will be as follows: Topic

Time

ASTM International: The American Society for Test- 09:00am - 10:00am ing and Materials (ASTM International) is a vast collection of industry-leading standards and technical engineering information covering a broad range of engineering disciplines.

Break

English

10:00am - 10:15am

ASME Digital Collection: The American Society for 10:15am - 11:15am Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Digital Collection provides access to its repository of current and archival literature including some of the most prestigious journals, conference proceedings and books.

Lunch

Session Language

English

11:15am - 12:15noon

IEEE Xplore Digital Library: The Institute of Electri- 12:15noon - 1:45pm cal and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Xplore Digital Library provides access to full-text documents from some the world’s highly cited publications in electrical engineering, computer science and electronics.

Arabic & English

For more details, check out www.qnl.qa. Since the seats are limited, RSVP before January 14 to Christine Afinidad at cafinidad@qf.org.qa

Seminar

Construction

Challenges in managing major infrastructure projects in Qatar

SITES

3

Qatar has a growing infrastructure sector sustained by government investment and driven by Qatar National Vision 2030 and FIFA World Cup 2022 There is a bit of slowdown in Qatar’s economy for the time being but this is just a temporary feature. The GDP growth is likely to see a slight decline until 2017 but it is expected to climb from 2018 to 2022. Many new projects are still coming up in Qatar, attracting a lot of interest globally.

Companies from various countries are looking to Qatar. Competition is becoming stronger and managing work is becoming tougher.

Successful project execution is becoming a challenge. Major projects in Qatar have various distinctive characteristics.

The good thing about them is that they’re all financed by the government, meaning there’s no lack of money”, said Jay Sanaknaki, Vice President/ Managing Director at Louis Berger.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar hosted Sanaknaki at a breakfast seminar in October 2015 where he discussed some of the challenges in managing major infrastructure projects in Qatar.

Qatar has a growing infrastructure sector sustained by government investment and driven

by Qatar National Vision 2030 and FIFA World Cup 2022.

Various major projects like metro and rail, roads and highways, bridges and tunnels, airport, water supply and treatment, and power plants attract international consultants, contractors and suppliers; in which Louis Berger plays an active role.

Sanaknaki said that construction professionals should be wary of various challenges that should be addressed in order to successfully manage these major projects.

“Even within the space of six years, a lot of things could change. Economies could change, lots of factors, demographics, politics, security may also change. You have other

countries in the region that could become attractive to your employees and they jump ship,” he said.

“Consultants and contractors come from various countries and often you need to have joint ventures. Sometimes it’s the size of the project that demands partnerships but often times it’s the clients’ preference”.

“It’s not only the performance side but the finance as well.

It’s not easy to undertake a contract that is worth $2 billion and have that money tied up; sometimes for upto a year,” said Sanaknaki as he outlined the myriad challenges that multinational construction companies face.

In a similar forum that took place in September 2013, contractors and consultants in Qatar had mentioned many of the factors that Sanaknaki discussed as problematic. So even though more than two years have passed since then, Qatar still seems beset by the same challenges with no immediate solutions in sight.

At the 2013 forum, representatives of the Qatari construction industry took part in a discussion that examined the most critical issues affecting their sector. Some of the observations made at that time included that Qatar had been witnessing phenomenal activity in the construction sector with a growth rate of nearly 13%.

The forum was chaired by Rod Stewart, Managing Director of Atkins at the time.

In his address, Stewart said: “The challenges for contractors are clear here in Qatar – increasing contractor competition, slow decision-making processes, unbalanced contractual conditions and likely shortages of material and staff supply”.

“It is great to see a forum such as this bringing the main contractors and other key stake-

holders together to discuss these challenges, solutions and promoting early contractor engagement.”

Of all the issues the one that Ashghal has addressed foremost has been early contractor engagement. They are now working on more than one kind of contract form; including design and build, design-build-operate and concept-design-build.

Some of the additional bottlenecks mentioned at that forum included payment risks, logistics, short delivery times and regional pressure on raw materials.

In his discussion, Sanaknaki identified six potential challenges that contractors face: human resources, economics and finance, client management, procurement procedures, contractual and legal and stakeholder management.

He focused on the first three.

He identified some of the major characteristics of major projects as being: • Financed by the government • Long duration with a fast track nature. They are impacted by local, regional and international economic trends.

• Some have various consultants and contractors involved, often teamed up in client mandated joint ventures.

• Employment of a large number of multinational staff.

• Risk levels may shift along the timeline of the project.

• Many stakeholders are involved; some are very influential.

• Commercial terms may not be in accordance with international standards, i.e.

FIDIC. • Usually have various design changes which may lead to delays.

“You employ here in Qatar a multinational workforce. And

Flashback to 2013: At a forum held in 2013, representatives of the Qatari construction industry took part in a discussion that examined the most critical issues affecting their sector.

when you have different nationalities among your workforce, you have different motivational triggers, different aspirations; all of which need to be taken into account,” Sanaknaki pointed out.

“Some cultures are seen as aggressive, others are seen as passive by other cultures, so having a multinational staff is a challenge. Many things can happen over a year, make provision for them and mitigate them, anticipate them and stay ahead.”

Sanaknaki praised the Qatari government and parastatals for identifying needs in the construction sector and responding positively.

“For example, on a project like the QRail, you need to deal with many different government departments like Kahramaa, different municipalities. If you had cone business in Qatar

10 years ago or even five years ago, you would agree that a lot of the commercial terms that were in the contracts were very biased towards the client.

“The client had the upper hand in the contracts. In the last few years, Qatar has realized that in order to attract more companies to come and do business here and more of the right kind of companies they had to make the terms of the contract more favourable.

“For example, take the cases of Qatar Rail, Ashghal projects and Doha International Airport.

A lot of these authorities have improved on the contractual terms of the contracts and it is becoming more attractive for international players to come and do business here in Qatar.”

“However, one of the more crippling characteristics of major projects in Qatar that Sanaknaki pinpointed was that that many of the projects did not finish on time. This puts a burden on the team and finances.

“A key reason, which probably comes as no surprise to many of you is that some changes may not be allowed to be perceived as a variation or as being allowed to get compensation for the delay.

“There are many challenges facing large contracting companies. When companies like Louis Berger or AECOM tender for a project, Qatar expects an ‘A class Team’, the ‘Tiger team’, the best of the best”.

“However, finding the qualified staff is a challenge. The reality of the situation If you look at the dynamics of the region, for example in the rail sector, you have various programs ongoing at the same time. You have the Riyadh Metro, the Jeddah Metro at the planning stage.

“You also have the Makkah Metro, the Medina Metro also in the planning stage. In Qatar you have the Doha Metro which is on a very aggressive schedule. They are literally trying to achieve what Singapore did in 20 years in only seven years!

“The challenge in this is that the region may all be competing to hire the same people because the projects need a specialized set of skills which in most cases is in short supply.

Employees will join the project that will start the soonest and provide the best working conditions which include things like schooling for their children and a safe family environment.”

Sanaknaki added that there was the added challenge of the prospective employee did not have the nationality that matched the visa type available as there are restrictions on recruiting from certain countries.

Human resource challenges: • Finding qualified resources: Identify them before the project and secure them through contracts.

• Be aware of cultural differences: Include training on diversity for your team.

• Labor law, immigration and visa requirements: Should have a strong public relations “mandoob” team and dependable visa agents in the staff countries of origin • For joint ventures, establishing and maintaining a one-team spirit: Invest in team-building events, executive management of JV members should be involved • Staff turnover: Expect it, plan for it, address it quickly

4

Construction

SITES

Legal

Qatar: entry, work, residence and exit Qatar’s population has risen from around 600,000 in 2000 to in excess of 2 million by the end of 2014 and is still growing. It is among one of the most prosperous countries in the world and one of the fastest growing economies in the Middle East.

Law No.(4) of 2009, Immigration Law, sets out the regulations under which expatriates may enter, work and reside in and exit from Qatar. The Immigration Department of the Ministry of Interior and the Labour Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs are the main agencies of administration. The law defines an expatriate as any individual entering Qatar who is not a Qatari national.

Unless an individual is a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) national he or she must be sponsored by either a Qatari national or an entity registered to undertake business in Qatar. This arrangement does not lend itself to short term or casual employment arrangements. It is also important to note that there are laws and regulations in place to encourage the employment of nationals, known as Qatarisation.

We note that penalties can be imposed by the Ministry of Interior in relation to breaches of the Immigration Law. These penalties can be onerous, eg. up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to QAR 50,000. The penalties may be levied against any or all pertinent parties. It is therefore important for all expatriates and their sponsors/ employers to consider the activities that the expatriate is undertaking in Qatar and to independently confirm that the visa on which the expatriate is undertaking those activities is the correct visa and that the Immigration Law and

its associated regulations are being complied with.

Right of entry There are 3 main ways for an individual to enter Qatar: Tourist, visit or on-arrival visas Nationals of 33 countries can currently enter Qatar on an on- arrival visa issued for a fee at the Hamad International Airport. GCC nationals or holders of certain GCC residence permits can enter on this basis alone. The visas are issued for 30 days and can be extended for a further 30 days at the discretion of the immigration authorities.

On the expiry of the initial or extended 30 day period an individual must leave Qatar but can then re-enter (same day if necessary) and be issued with a new visa. Nationals from outside the 33 countries must either arrange for a tourist visa through a Qatar based hotel where they must remain during their stay in Qatar, or a visit visa through the Qatari Embassy responsible for the jurisdiction in which they are resident. Family visit visas may be applied for and obtained before entering Qatar.

Application details may be found on the Qatar Embassy website.

Business visas Only Qatari entities approved to issue business visas may do so. Business visas must be applied for in advance of an individual entering Qatar. . Approved Qatar entities may also issue multi entry/exit visas. Alternatively the Qatari Embassy responsible for the jurisdiction in which an individual is resident may issue a business visa. A letter of support from a Qatari national or registered entity must be submitted in support of the application. Details in relation to such applications may be found on the Qatar Embassy

Emma Higham Emma Higham is a legal director of the International Law Firm, Clyde & Co LLP, in Doha. Emma is a corporate commercial lawyer who has been based in Qatar for more than ten years. Emma incorporates her extensive knowledge of local law when advising both local and foreign clients on Qatar establishment and employment matters.

website. The type of visa will determine the period during which an individual can remain in Qatar, when they need to leave, whether or not an exit permit will be required for them to leave and/ or whether or not the visa can be extended and for how long.. In addition there is a 72 hour business visa which can be issued on arrival at Hamad International Airport subject to the provision of appropriate documentation and the payment of a fee; this method of entry is not commonly used.

Work permit Work permits may only be applied for by an individual or entity registered with the Qatari immigration and employment authorities. These applicants are known as the workers’ sponsors. Sponsorship and immigration are interlinked in Qatar. Once a Qatari entity has been issued with a computer/immigration card it may register with the Labour Department and submit block visa allocation applications to bring individuals into Qatar. A block visa application should state the gen-

der, nationality and job title of the workers a Qatari entity wants to employ.

Once the block visa allocation has been approved by the Labour Department passport copies and appropriate bachelor’s degree certificates must be submitted to the Immigration Department in order for each worker to be issued with his or her work permit. It is important for workers’ sponsors to carefully consider the job titles it initially applies for given currently certain job titles are precluded from driving in Qatar and or require education certificates which the individual being employed may not hold or have access to.

Right to work Holders of tourist, visit or onarrival visas may not work in Qatar. With some exceptions business visas allow the holders to represent themselves or their companies, but not to work. ONLY a holder of a valid work permit may work lawfully in Qatar.

Holders of residence permits may work but ONLY for their sponsors. Contract working is not permitted. Individuals holding family residencies must apply for, and be issued with, work permits, often called labour cards, to work, subject to some exceptions, eg. the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC). Part time workers can work, subject to the permission of their sponsor/ employer, for another Qatari national or an entity registered to undertake business in Qatar.

Right to reside Residence permit Once the work permit has been applied to the worker’s passport when he or she arrives in Qatar, their sponsor must process their residency. Such progression should commence within 7 days.

Where individuals are entering Qatar for a period of less than 30 days they may be exempt from processing their residency. This exemption should be read in the context of our comments in relation to visas generally and what expatriates can do in Qatar depending on the visas they may hold from time to time.

An integral part of the residence permit application process is the submission to and approval by the Labour Department of a dual language English and Arabic local contract. Law No.(14) of 2004, Labour Law, sets out the matters to be referred to in the

local contract, the form of which may be “tweaked”, but may not be amended materially, eg. complex bonus calculations may not be approved by the Labour Department.

For this reason many workers will hold more than one employment document pertaining to their employment in Qatar. It is important that all employment documents “mirror” one another to avoid ambiguity should a dispute arise.

The Labour Law provides that where a local contract has not been executed and approved by the Labour Department a worker can evidence his or her employment and the terms thereof by whatever means, eg. payroll records, bank statements, etc.

Dual residency Dual residency, eg. Qatar/ United Arab Emirates (UAE), is permitted by discretion in Qatar. In the past dual residency was difficult to obtain however currently an application should be successful.

Family residency Where an individual holds a valid Qatari residence permit he or she can apply to sponsor their spouses and dependent family members.

The resident will have to demonstrate to the immigration authorities that he or she is appropriately employed with sufficient funds to do so. Currently this is defined as holding a bachelor’s degree certificate and earning in excess of QAR 10,000 a month for at least 6 months as evidenced

by Qatari bank statements.

Sponsorship transfer Residency may be transferred between sponsors, subject to the discretion of the Immigration Department. In order to transfer sponsorship an individual must hold a residence permit which has been valid for more than 12 months, a sponsor’s letter of no objection (NOC) and a “clean” Police Report. Where no NOC is provided (there is no obligation to provide and no right of provision) an individual may not legally work in Qatar, ie. be sponsored and employed in Qatar, for a period of 2 years, although appeals can be made to the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Interior. Where individuals do not have a residence permit which has been valid for more than 12 months, provided they hold an NOC, they must leave Qatar and re-enter on a work permit in order for their new sponsors to be in a position to apply for a residence

Yasser Shabblr Yasser is a UK qualified employment lawyer in Clyde & Co’s MENA employment team, based in Qatar.

Yasser specialises in advising both local and international clients in relation to all aspects of employment and immigration law in Qatar (including the Qatar Financial Centre).

permit.

Liability During the period of time in which an individual resides in Qatar he or she will have a Sponsor for Residence (Sponsor) who will be legally responsible for them, including obtaining and renewing residence permits and associated registrations.

A Sponsor will not be liable financially for any of the obligations of the individuals it sponsors unless it specifically agrees to guarantee such obligations.

New immigration Law The Ministry of Interior has recently announced that Law No.(21) of 2015 regulating the entry, exit and residency of expatriates in Qatar (New Immigration Law) will be introduced towards the end of 2016. The New Immigration Law will repeal the Immigration Law and the decisions and resolutions previously used to implement it. Given the New Immigration Law has only just been published, at this stage it is difficult to confirm with any real certainty the effect the law may have on expatriate workers in Qatar.

NOTE: Qatari laws (save for those issued by the Qatar Financial Centre to regulate internal business) are issued in Arabic and there are no official translations, therefore for the purposes of drafting this article we have used our own translations and interpreted the same in the context of Qatari regulations and current market practice.

For further information on this issue or other legal matters please contact Emma Higham (emma. higham@clydeco.com) or Yasser Shabbir (Yasser. shabbir@clydeco.com).

QC Sites - Megashor.pdf 1 22/11/2015 17:29:55

RMD KWIKFORM ULTRA HEAVY DUTY MEGASHOR

Megashor Propping System

Megatruss to span open areas

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Megashor supports concrete roof beam

RMD Kwikform’s unique Ultra Heavy Duty Megashor Propping

OUR ADDED VALUE SERVICES Consultancy & Design

Technological Support

Demonstrations & Training

On Site Assistance

RMD Kwikform Middle East

T: +971 6 553 4173 F: +971 6 553 4327 E: rmd.me@rmdkwikform.com W: www.rmdkwikform.com

Bahrain

|

Oman

|

Saudi Arabia

|

UAE

|

Qatar

|

Lebanon

|

Kuwait

|

Iraq

6

Construction

SITES

Project

Qatari company set to design 2022 World Cup stadium in Al Thumama The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has appointed Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB), the oldest architectural and engineering consulting firm in Qatar, as the design consultant for the eighth proposed host venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which will be located in Al Thumama.

Established in 1966, AEB boasts vast experience, along with a diverse portfolio of more than 1,500 completed projects.

The award-winning firm works across different project scales, typologies and environmental conditions, with its approach grounded in the search for contextually appropriate and environmentally sustainable solutions.

Ghanim Al Kuwari, SC Com-

petition Venues Executive Director, said: “We are excited to announce that the design contract has been awarded to a Qatari company AEB for the stadium in Al Thumama.

We look forward to working with them in creating a design which fits well in the surrounding area.

“With this design award, our vision for the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East continues to take shape. We now have six stadiums under construction across the country and have recently held our second Local Organising Committee Board Meeting.”

The stadium in Al Thumama will have a minimum of 40,000 seats for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and host matches to the quarter-finals stage.

Senior officials discussing the stadium project.

In legacy mode, the stadium capacity will be reduced to a maximum of 20,000 seats.

The stadium will be located in an area of 515,400sq meters that already comprises four outdoor training pitches and office facilities currently used by the Qatar Football Association Technical Committee.

Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah, AEB Group CEO & Chief Architect, said: “We are honored to have won a bid in an interna-

tional design competition to participate in such a prestigious project. For us it is an absolute privilege to be entrusted by the Supreme Committee to take the lead for the design of this stadium.”

He added: “Since 1966 we have been commended for our work on other projects and are thrilled to have our international-level capabilities recognised by the Supreme Committee.

We aim to design a facility that will remain as a true legacy for the local community.”

Meanwhile, Chuck Baldwin, Project Director, TiME Qatar, the project management company for the stadium, has said: “We are very pleased that a Qatari company has been awarded the Al Thumama design contract and look forward to working with them to deliver a truly unique stadium.” The SC’s Community En-

gagement Team recently met with Al Thumama residents to hear their opinions about the stadium development and reflect it in the project design.

During several majilis meetings, residents expressed their interest in having a health clinic, green spaces, a retail area and sporting facilities, including a walking and cycling track, among other facilities they look forward to see in the stadium precinct.

8

Construction

SITES

Infrastructure

Rail project offers vast business opportunities for private sector

The Doha Metro has nine packages and 27,000 workforce on site right now Qatar Rail Managing Director Abdullah Al Subaie has underlined the key role being played by the private sector in the country’s rail project, with over 700 contracts being awarded to local companies.

He also highlighted the number of business opportunities available for private companies in the infrastructure, retail and real-estate sector as he took part in the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar’s Distinguished Speakers Series.

He spoke at length on the three key Qatar Rail projects, Doha Metro, the long-distance network for passengers and freight and the Lusail light rail tram system.

Speaking about business opportunities in the project, Al Subaie said that future tenders included those for the freight and passenger railway phase 1 and operation and facility maintenance contracts.

In the Metro and LRT projects, tenders for operation and facility maintenance will be rolled out, as well as smart services, MEP and architectural subcontract works and rail systems subcontracts.

The Lusail tram offers tenders for PMCS and contract extension to civil PMC contracts.

Other business opportunities highlighted by Al Subaie included park and ride facilities, retail and real estate opportunities.

“Sites have been identified for having real estate developments around the stations.

Twelve sites have already been identified and talks are on about the mix. An additional six sites have recently been identified as well for developments to be on top of or very close to stations,” he said.

Al Subaie pointed out that with 37 stations and 12,000sqm of retail space offering, the project offered countless business opportunities.

He highlighted plans for transitoriented developments. Developing rail will integrate communities to increase and grow ridership of the metro. He expected the occupancy of these communities to be high.

The company and authorities concerned will adopt smart urban planning to build a sustainable model for Qatar Rail.

Excellent network He said that the fast economic growth Qatar was witnessing was expected to drive fast population growth and thus the need for a good transportation network.

“The population is expected

TRUCK

Qatar Rail Managing Director Abdullah Al Subaie addressing the gathering. to grow from 2.6 million now to 3.6 million in 2031. This means there will be a need for efficient mobility solutions, reduction of CO2 emissions, enhanced road safety, and a transportation infrastructure supportive of economic productivity,” he said.

Al Subaie pointed to some of the challenges faced by QRail, including the establishment of a world-class infrastructure through a company that is starting from scratch, in a relatively short period of time.

He added that the Doha Metro was a highly complex project, with nine packages and 27,000 workforce on site right now. He said that the management and co-ordination between the different packages and the packages and utilities was very criti-

cal.

He said that the long-distance rail project would give Qatar access to three seas and more than eight ports.

The portion of the project handled by Qatar Rail is the connection between Doha City and the border point with Saudi Arabia which covers a distance of 150km.

Saudi Arabian authorities are in charge of the other part. He explained that the time table was organized between the two countries so each would finish its part around the same time.

“There is a technical committee among GCC countries to monitor and review schedules of different countries and ensure the schedule is compatible and that we both finish at the same

time,” he said.

He added that freight and passenger services would start at the same time, but economic feasibility is seen more for the freight rail transport.

“Around 400 trucks are needed to carry the load of one train.

The freight service will contribute to road safety and improve maintenance cost of these roads between GCC countries,” he added.

He pointed out that the LRT should be operational by the year 2020. Machines working on the project will be reduced over time as they complete their missions.

Enhanced quality Responding to a question about the difference between his role and that of Qatar Rail CEO Saad Ahmed Al Muhannadi, Al Subaie said he was running the executive committee’s strategic decisions, especially major procurement decisions, a strategic program to raise awareness and interaction with stake holders.

He is also working with concerned bodies to ensure QRail has the rules and regulations and the support it needs.

Al-Mohannadi is overseeing the development of the program, its safety and quality aspects

and day-to-day corporate business decisions.

Talking about benefits of the rail, Al Subaie said the reduced number of cars would mean less transit time and less Co2 emissions, which translates to an enhanced quality of life.

In two years of operation, QRail expects to have 640,000 passengers per day. This number is expected to grow to 1.65 million passengers in 10 years of operation.

“By 2021, we aim to increase the share of public transport to 21%. More than 75% of the population (will be) in the catchment area for the transport network. This transit time will be improved significantly, which is important for the city’s economic competitiveness,” he said.

On the social aspect, he said the network would help connect communities. At the same time it will provide opportunities to train and qualify nationals in its different operation phases.

Responding to a question about security systems in the network, he said QRail would have some duties and the Ministry of Interior some others. “We will have one security system but will co-ordinate with the Interior Ministry which might have addons,” he explained.

Maximize Your Business Potential With The Right Partner On The Road

GVW: 5.5 - 8 Ton

2 years or 200,000 Km

3 years or

100,000 Km

Visit

ISUZU Showroom at Salwa Road by Jaidah Flyover Service

Call

Fax

E-mail

44466752

44466784

info@jaidahhed.com

Doha-Industrial Area: Gate 57, Al Wakalat Street.

T: 44638866 F: 44602440 E: heservice@jaidah.com.qa

Parts

Doha-Industrial Area: Gate 69, Al Wakalat Street.

T: 44638854 F: 44606290 E: heparts@jaidah.com.qa

www.Jaidahhed.com

Quick Service & Parts

Al Khor Infront of Al Khor Mall T: 44170388 F: 44170351

9

Are we serious about GREEN?

Qatar has succeeded to place itself amongst the greatest advocates of “sustainability” worldwide since the introduction of Qatar National Vision (QNV2030)

I

t seems that everyone is suddenly interested in “GREEN” to the extent that the word “GREEN” has started to lose its meaning!

Today, ‘Green’ is the easiest word to express your interest in achieving “sustainability” goals, if any. It has become a magic word to promote anything and everything, from cosmetics to aircrafts and from hospitality to heavy industries.

Nobody denies that Qatar has succeeded in placing itself first amongst the greatest advocates of “sustainability” worldwide since the introduction of Qatar National Vision (QNV2030) in the year 2010.

The “green” concept has now emerged in the construction industry, like in other sectors as well. Green building technology and sustainable construction became a trend in the market after the adoption of different green building rating systems (LEED/QSAS/GSAS). The trend has taken form and gained momentum through the subsequent initiatives that were taken by different stakeholders.

From government agencies to businesses and from research houses to NGO’s, we have witnessed an unprecedented number of efforts and initiatives, all aimed at promoting “green” or “sustainability”. However, I can admit that after more than 5 years we have achieved very little of what we dreamed of in 2010! Nevertheless, this is better than nothing anyway.

This raises important questions: What went wrong? Moreover, how to get better results?

From my point of view, I think we have all had good intentions in our efforts. However, most of these efforts lacked “seriousness”. I do not believe in the proverb “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”, as I am sure good intentions always lead to a better world as long as they are “serious” intentions.

First things first: Before being “serious” about Green, let us agree that we still have a large “integration” gap as well as a large “knowledge” gap in the construction market.

I believe that these two gaps are preventing us from making steady gains in our progress towards a sustainable community; in the very least it is slowing down this progress.

There are many un-coordinated efforts that result in missing opportunities to realize our goals.

For me, it looks like starting the construction of a high-rise building from the second floor!

It simply won’t work because foundations must be constructed first. Becoming “Green” requires preparation and coordination at all organizational levels. There must be sort of “green infrastructure” or “green base” from which we can unify and launch all our efforts and ensure hitting the targets. “We need to fill the knowledge

gap first by more education and awareness of all aspects of sustainability, and then join forces together to fill the integration gap by more coordination & collaboration.”

First, there is our ecosystem, which includes us together with other living and nonliving things; this is simply the environment within which we live, work and grow. Then, there is our society, as a sub-system, where we interact and assist each other in all facets of life.

As a result of our social interactions, the economic system exists as a subsystem to our community. This specific hierarchy requires wise thinking and a high level of human collaboration to control and prevent a subsystem from adversely affecting or destroying the system of which it is part. Sustainability, in its essence, is to be responsible and “seriously” take part in this wise thinking (knowledge) and human collaboration (integration). In the first part of this article, we will focus on establishing a level of “knowledge” about “green” and more specifically “green building”. This will prepare the scene for the second part, which will focus on the “integration” of the missing parts of the puzzle.

Areas of Confusion You may be keen to participate in the “green” movement, whether seeking your own business benefits or willing to advocate sustainability. In both cases, you need to clear your understanding of some areas that came as a result of the “green” movement.The following are some areas of confusion related to green building concepts, which if not clarified may cause you to deviate from your goal.

Product Certification/Endorsement “To differentiate your product or service as environmentally sound, you may want to obtain certification from an independent, third-party so that you can include their logo or “ecolabel” on your product’s label and other marketing materials.

Ecolabeling is important way to market your product to green consumers.”

(Source: U.S. Small Businesses Administration).

Most importantly, you need to know that green building rating systems are not the right place to seek your product certification. LEED or GSAS, for example, never endorse or approve manufacturers, products, systems or materials.

They are intended to guide the project teams to utilize the best practices in order to ensure a better performance of the building as a whole.

However, by understanding how those assessment tools work and what they require, you will be able to align your products/ services with their requirements.

I have seen many suppliers and manufacturers who were very interested to get their product or service “green certified”.

They were ready to do whatever it takes them to be listed as preferred manufacturers or suppliers for LEED or GSAS rating systems. Later, they got to know that the only way to do that is through certain third-party organizations which have no existence in Qatar or GCC. Here, we may raise another important question, is there any plans for the GCC (as a consistent united entity) to have regional organizations that can provide such third-party certification? The following question should be: when?

Building Certification Not like product certification, a building certification process is a holistic approach to measure and assess a whole building performance against different impact categories and performancecriteria. “Knowledge” is essential in understanding the implications of this process to the design and construction of the building. “Integration” becomes the next magic word in achieving the certification goal.

According to the Green Building Alliance (GBA), third-party certification is a great way to add credibility to any green building.The process of achieving certification also adds a layer of accountability and integrity for the building project teams.

While a building can certainly be green and high-performing if it is not certified, there are several tangible and intangible benefits that accompany certification that cannot be as easily attained without it.

Third-party certification is not the only way to achieve a healthy and high-performance space, but it is certainly one of the most efficient ways to guarantee you get it done.

Every project, team, and budget will consider a variety of different delivery and verification methods for their high-performance place; however, anyone working on a green building project should review the following certification options, benefits, costs, considerations, and requirements.

QSAS/GSAS GSAS, Global Sustainability Assessment System (formerly known as QSAS) is developedby

GORD (Gulf Organization for Research & Development) through several years of intense collaboration with theTC Chan Centre at the University of Pennsylvania, and Schoolof Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA andother reputed houses of expertise.GSAS was developed by drawing best practices adopted from40 different rating systems known regionally and internationally.

“GSAS is the Middle East’s first integrated and performance-based sustainability assessment system for the built environment.”

The systematic assessment method is applied seamlesslyfrom the macro to a micro scales encompassing urban design,infrastructure and buildings levels.

LEED

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is transforming the way we think about how our buildings and communities are designed, constructed, maintained and operated across the globe. “LEED is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.”

To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Prerequisites and credits differ for each rating system, and teams choose the best fit for their project.

Although GSAS and LEED are being recognized very well in Qatar and the region, many other forms of green building rating

systems are available mainly in the U.S. and Europe. “Knowing” a bit about some of those systems will help you understand the different aspects of building certification and start thinking how to “integrate” your efforts to achieve better goals (Source: Green Building Alliance): ENERGY STAR for Buildings Program ENERY STAR was originally developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a voluntary labeling program to promote energy-efficient products and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Home Energy Rating System The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) is an evaluation of energy efficiency and forecasted energy costs within a home.

Green Globes

The Green Globes system was based on the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) by the Canadian Standards Association.

Corporate Sustainability According to Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, Corporate Sustainability is a business approach that creates long-term shareholder value by embracing opportunities and managing risks deriving from economic, environmental and social developments. Sustainability-related megatrends are changing our world and are having a measurable impact on companies’ top and bottom lines.

Seemingly, the corporate sustainability is related to the attitude of a company and is used as a measure of the behavior of its business activities in terms of Environmental, Social and Economic aspects. This has nothing to do with Green Building certification, although both are addressing sustainability.

Greenwashing According to the Greenwashing Index, greenwashing happens when a company or organization spends more time and money claiming to be “green” through advertising and marketing than actually implementing business practices that minimize environmental impact.

Evidence that an organization

DIAA EL-MASRY: is the General Manager and cofounder of QATAR GREEN LEADERS, a specialized company in Green Building Certification Management & Training. With more than 20 Years of experience in Architectural Design as a Senior Architect & Design Manager, Mr. El-Masry grew a keen interest towards encouraging and accelerating global adoption of green building and sustainable development practices. He has strong experience as a mentor of Green Building Concepts, LEED programmes, Design Management and public awareness. He is a pioneer in providing Green Building training to various clients & organizations in Qatar & GCC.

is greenwashing often comes from pointing out the spending differences: when significantly more money or time has been spent advertising being “green” (that is, operating with consideration for the environment), than is actually spent on environmentally sound practices. Greenwashing efforts can range from changing the name or label of a product to evoke the natural environment on a product that contains harmful chemicals to multimillion dollar advertising campaigns portraying highly polluting energy companies as eco-friendly Conclusion We are in a continually changing world! Things are becoming more sophisticated and complicated than ever before. The impacts of human activities are proven to be of tremendous effects on our ecosystem. This leaves us with only one option, to take sustainability to a “serious” level to achieve our national vision QNV2030. In a knowledge-based economy like the case of Qatar, knowledge become essential for everybody which mandates self-learning and sharing of knowledge and experience. On the other hand, our diversified initiatives and efforts should be unified and “integrated” to achieve real progress. In the next article, we will examine the missing components of the green building sector in Qatar, and how to integrate them together.

This article was first printed in Construction Sites magazine in January 2015.

The article reflects the personal perspective of the author whose aim is to improve the sustainability practices for a better and more ‘green’ Qatar.

Please, keep the discussion going by contacting the author: diaa@qatargreenleaders.com

10

ACADEMIC DEGREES IN SUSTAINABILITY ARE SIGNIFICANT FOR QATAR’S SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Standardised green degrees are vital in tackling existing sustainability challenges in Qatar

By Dr. Cynthia Skelhorn Qatar is developing at a phenomenal rate and this rapid pace in development presents various sustainability and environmental challenges. In collaboration with other industry partners, Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), a member of

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), has developed an array of initiatives geared towards creating sustainable solutions that are governed by cutting-edge research and thoughtful design.

It is imperative for current and

future generations in Qatar to be at the fore in developing lasting solutions to these green challenges in the nation’s journey towards achieving its longterm sustainability goals.

In collaboration with the College of Science and Engineering at Hamad Bin Khalifa

Qatari Sources GRP SECTIONAL WATER TANKS FIRE SECTIONAL WATER TANKS STEEL STRUCTURES PPR PIPES & FITTINGS LEED & GREEN BUILDING SOLUTIONS

Tel: +974 4487 3850 - Mobile: +974 55141030 Fax: +974 4487 3826 - P.O.Box 17175 Doha-Qatar e-mail: mohdzeli@gmail.com

University (HBKU), QGBC has developed a core module focusing on the essentials of sustainability for students in the newly launched Master of Science and Ph.D. in Sustainable Environment and Sustainable Energy programmes. This collaboration is aimed at generat-

ing innovative solutions to the existing sustainability challenges by bridging the gap between academia, research and industry in Qatar.

HBKU’s programmes offer exciting prospects in the field of sustainability and highlight the importance of partnerships between academia and industry for enhancing sustainability research and innovation.

Students will gain invaluable knowledge and the necessary research skills required to formulate lasting solutions to the environmental challenges, which are a product of the recent rapid growth.

Programmes like these are vital when it comes to raising awareness of various career prospects in the field while moving towards a more sustainable and knowledge-based society where future generations will be more mindful of the environment, local ecology, cultural heritage, and the importance of their preservation.

Such programmes develop not only the scientific and technical knowledge of sustainability issues, but also the ability to apply the knowledge to urban planning and design.

In the coming years we will no

Dr Cynthia Skelhorn,

Post-Doctoral Research Specialist Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC).

doubt witness an increase in sustainability graduates and it is the next generation who will make significant contributions to sustainability efforts through new and innovative ideas and designs.

Continued initiatives and academic programs such as these are paving the way for lasting solutions towards a more sustainable environment and society.

For more information about QGBC, log onto: www.qatargbc.org.

QGBC Green Building Core Concepts series

Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) will be hosting a series of training programmes for Green Professionals during January on some core Green Building Concepts. The Green Building Core Concepts series “evening sessions” will take place in the evenings on 18,20,25 & 27 January 2016 from 6 - 8pm at the Msheireb Enrichment Centre, Doha Corniche.

This course provides a detailed review of sustainable building and the LEED v4 Rating System and certification process. Using the credit category structure of LEED, sustainable building goals, strategies and measurements are presented and analyzed through numerous real-world examples. Important terms and concepts are defined and regulations and incentives related to each credit category are discussed. The main objectives of the course is to describe the structure of the LEED rating system and the overall LEED certification process and it will help practitioners understand major changes in the LEED v4. As well as: • Describe key green building concepts and goals associated with LEED • Recognize successful LEED strategies and measurements for achieving goals • D escribe the central role of integrative design • Identify and explain synergies between LEED credit categories and strategies • O utline the process for achieving a LEED GA credential

For further information and registration please contact: Hamoda Youssef hyoussef@qgbc. com.qa OR +974-44547430 the Head of Communications at QGBC 11 January 2016.

11

12

Future remains bright for solar energy development

The practical applications of harnessing solar energy in the Gulf region are massive and lucrative, according to a senior expert

More power from the sun hits the Earth in a single hour than humanity uses in an entire year.

A report by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has found that regular solar panels like the ones used today could supply much of the world with power.

They believe terawatts of energy could be produced by 2050 and say that the main obstacle is investment, not technology.

The world’s population currently consumes 15 terawatts of power from various energy sources, according to the Economist publication. Despite making up less than 5% of the world’s population, Americans use 26% of the world’s power.

The publication, by the MIT, shows that no revolution in solar energy needs to take place, as scientists already have everything they need to harness the energy of the sun and turn it into electricity, though minor tweaks may help to improve efficiency. The US generates less than 1% of its energy from solar power. This is something the researchers are looking to change. “Our objective has been to assess solar energy’s current and potential competitive position and to identify changes in US government policies that could more efficiently

and effectively support its massive deployment over the longterm, which we view as necessary,” Robert Armstrong, the director of MIT Energy Initiative, said in a statement.

Qatar, like its neighbors, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, recognizes the importance of solar power as an alternative to the use of fossil fuels.

According to a report on thegreenprophet.com, the Qatar Solar company in 2013 purchased a stake in SolarWorld, a German firm dedicated to the manufacture and marketing photovoltaic products worldwide.

SolarWorld distinguishes itself from its competitors by integrating all components of the solar value chain, from feedstock to module production, from trade with solar panels to the promotion and construction of turnkey solar power plants.

Salah Nezar, Corporate Sustainability Director at the Dohabased Qatar Project Management (QPM) company, says the practical applications of harnessing solar energy in the Gulf region are massive and lucrative.

“There are just a few days in the region when direct sunlight is low. Therefore, the practical applications of harnessing solar

energy in the region are massive and much more lucrative in terms of sustainability factors than anywhere else in the world. This solution can drive the massive demand growth for cooling in our expanding cities,” adds Nezar.

According to the US Department of Energy, the world consumption of energy in all of its forms (barrels of petroleum, cubic meters of natural gas, watts of hydro power, etc.) is projected to reach 678 quadrillion Btu (British Thermal Unit), or 715 exajoules by 2030 – a 44% increase over 2008 levels . Levels for 1980 were 283 quadrillion Btu and 500 quadrillion Btu in 2009). Using 70% as the average sunshine days per year (large parts of the world like upper Africa and the Arabian Peninsula see 90-95%) we can say that there will be 250 sun days per year at eight hours of daylight on average. That’s 2,000 hours per year of direct sunlight. Here’s how much of the world would need to be covered in solar panels to power Earth If divided into 5,000 super-site installations around the world (average of 25 per country), it would measure less than 10km a side for each.

The UAE has plans to construct 1,500MW of capacity by 2020

which will require a space of 3km per side. If the UAE constructed the other 7km per side of that area, it would be able to power itself as a nation completely with solar energy.

The US would require a much larger area and approximately 1,000 of these super-sites. According to the United Nations 170,000 square kilometers of forest is destroyed each year.

If we constructed solar farms at the same rate, we would be finished in three years. There are 1.2 million square kilometers of farmland in China. This is 2 1/2 times the area of solar farm required to power the world in 2030.

Even if solar is only 20% efficient (as it has been in lab tests) at turning solar energy into power, we’d only need to cover a land area about the size of Spain to provide the entire Earth with power by 2030.

The Topaz solar farm in California went online at the end of 2014. It generates 500 megawatts of energy, which is enough energy to power at least 160,000 homes. A terawatt is 1 million megawatts of energy.

The company behind the project, First Solar, uses 9 million solar panels to generate electricity. Crucially, it also eliminates over 350,000 tons of

CO2 every year.

The study has emphasized the need for more research at a federal level, as well as more development support to help to advance low cost and large scale electricity storage technologies. Battery technology is expected to be a crucial part of the future development of solar power energy, as the batteries can be used to store electricity during peak production and then dispense it at times when there is no sunshine.

The CEO of Tesla industries, Elon Musk, has been a big advocate of trying to develop better batteries that could help to store electricity. “Our goal here is to fundamentally change the way the world uses energy,” the Bloomberg news agency quoted Musk as saying in April last year. “We’re talking at the terawatt scale. The goal is the complete transformation of the entire energy infrastructure of the world,” he said. Locally, solar energy could be harnessed for cooling. In a research paper

by QPM explains how the sun can be an innovative and sustainable answer to a scalable and affordable outdoor cooling solution in Qatar.

The research is co-authored by Nezar on behalf of QPM in partnership with Dirk Krüger and

Jürgen Dersch from the German Aerospace Center, which is headquartered in Cologne.

The ground-breaking solution aims at rebranding the outdoor environment in Qatar during the summer, so it is comfortable and more appealing for people to experience open-air activities rather than staying inside a confined environment.

The outcome of this synergistic study shows the viability of the proposed outdoor cooling solution with the use of solar energy up to 90% of the cooling demand. There are few days only when the direct radiation is low; the output of the proposed solution can’t fully meet the cooling demand and another source of energy might be considered for these days.

As the cooling load peaks late in the day due to high humidity level, an optimized thermal storage between the solar field and chiller has been introduced in the region to provide for uninterrupted system performance.

Nezar believes that “solar energy is the future. The technology might be expensive now but in the future when fossil fuels have run out, all we will have is the sun. So tracking the strategic path of developing this technology as an alternative resource is very important.”

13

14

Blue concrete, a sustainable solution that gives back to the environment

“To be Green is tablestakes in the effort to make our world a better place. To be Blue takes us from obligation to opportunity; from limits, to true possibilities” After water, concrete is the second most consumed material on earth: tonne for tonne, it is used yearly twice as much as steel, aluminium, plastic and wood combined.

Sustainable construction starts from sustainable concrete, according to Dr Anna Grichting Solder, an assistant professor from Qatar University, an advocate of “Blue Design”. She believes that sustainability is more than being “green” which is becoming carbon neutral.

Construction Sites (CS) got an opportunity to discuss the “Blue concrete” with Dr Grichting and also about the innovative design and engineering research regarding sustainable concrete and how we could invent and design new forms with concrete that could play an active role in shaping a sustainable environment.

She explained water use and reuse, the transformation of quarry landscapes, concrete in ecological and nature restoration and concrete composition and biodiversity and other emerging trends.

What is Blue Design and why the Green Design doesn’t work anymore?

The question can sound differently. From green to blue - is green really the color of sustainability in the Gulf countries and drylands?

As water is the source of green in a desert and is an essential component for building materials - necessary to grow wood, to produce concrete, to make steel and many other materials for construction – we propose to use the color blue as a symbol of a paradigm shift in the way we look at sustainability.

When I began this research, from green to blue, I discovered that the concept had been proposed by Saatchi and Saatchi branding company’s CEO Adam Werbach. His concept of the “Birth of Blue” includes a shift from passive approach to sustainability to a more active and people-centered approach and advocates for the emergence of a post-green, consumer-led movement that aggregates the power of both marketers and consumers as catalysts for social change.

“Blue is bigger than advertising,” says Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide CEO Kevin Roberts.

“To be Green is tablestakes in the effort to make our world a better place. To be Blue takes us from obligation to opportunity; from limits, to true possibilities.”

In brief, we need to unleash the creativity and imagination of the global public if we are going to overcome the challenges our planet faces and to leave a smaller footprint, whether it be carbon footprint, water footprint or food-print.

It is not only the producers

of the built environment, but also the consumers or clients that have to be informed and inspired to make this shift.

Sustainability indicators and certification such as LEED and GSAS for the Gulf region are contributing to this, but can we do more?

What is “Blue concrete”?

Blue Design creates places that go beyond carbon neutrality and actually add back to our world, in a new symbiosis between buildings and landscapes. This new approach represents a fundamental shift in how engineers, designers and architects should view the challenges of our projects, thinking in systems rather than designing icons.

Creating a new flow and symbiosis between people and the planet underscores the importance to forge new interdisciplinary alliances with academia and the industry to improve the quality of the urban and rural environment and to cement our commitment to healing and saving our planet.

It is important to work in close collaboration with the local construction industry to explore these opportunities for innovative design and engineering research regarding sustainable concrete and how we can invent and design new forms of concrete that can play an active role in shaping a sustainable environment.

It is also essential that architectural and engineering education raises awareness on new forms and approaches to using concrete.

As concrete is the most widely used construction material in Qatar, we have to explore all the opportunities of sustainability that this material presents such as water use and reuse, the transformation of quarry landscapes, concrete in ecological and nature restoration, concrete composition and biodiversity and other emerging trends.

Is blue more sustainable than green, if we consider Qatar’s example?

When I first arrived in Qatar, I used to hear lots of talks about green building and about “green” as the color of sustainability: of course, green is the color of an oasis in desert but is green really a color of sustainability for a dryland area?

A beautiful green law consumes much water and is maintained by pesticides and herbicides that are harmful to people, animals and birds. It seems to me, water is a fundamental issue here. Blue Design looks at how we can best recycle water – grey and black water, preferably onsite, using natural and organic systems.

Green Design helps us achieve carbon neutrality, blue design gives back to the environment, isn’t it?

Dr Anna Grichting Solder, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning College of Engineering, Qatar University The question here is how we can transform a building not just into carbon neutral but also to make the building productive and useful for the community.

With “Green Design” we talk about carbon neutrality while “Blue Design” creates places that go beyond carbon neutrality and actually add back to the world. So designing the building that produces more energy than it consumes is an example of a blue design.

Blue Design, for me, must not be neutral and passive; instead it must be active, producing more than we consume, literally to give back.

Could you please explain how it could be achieved with concrete?

“Blue concrete” is a system, a process of interaction between two organisms and typically to the advantage of both.

For example, concrete and cement facades can be shaped in such a way to accommodate plants that can cool the building and also capture carbon dioxide, at the same time reducing the urban heat island in dense areas. This facade becomes an interface between the building and the natural environment and can also increase biodiversity and species habitats in urban areas. This approach represents a fundamental shift in how engineers, designers, architects should view the challenges of local projects and think in systems, how to use concrete the smart way and explore more possibilities and functionalities of this construction material.

What are the solutions available in the market today?

The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry has a wide range of solutions available; these include smart concrete, self-healing concrete or self-repairing concrete, bacteria in concrete, concrete

without quarries, transparent concrete and water-absorbing concrete.

Self-healing concrete is a good example of “Blue concrete” that can be used in different applications. This new form of concrete uses microfibers in the place of coarser bits of sand and gravel that tradi-

tional cement mix uses.

The fibers allow the final composite to bend with minimal fracturing and if fracturing does occur, the cracks tend to be less than 50 microns wide.

When these tiny cracks form, the dried concrete absorbs moisture from the air. When

it does this, the concrete in the crack becomes softer and eventually “grows” until the crack is filled in.

As we can suppose, this regrowth and solidifying of calcium carbonate renews the strength of the cracked concrete.

15

CTBUH making its mark in Qatar

Experts address seminar on ‘Building envelope design for major structures’

By Eng. Shaukat Ali CTBUH country representative Qatar Director of Structural Engineering, KEO International Consultants The Qatar chapter of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has organized a technical seminar titled, “Building envelope design for major structures”, at Doha’s Crown Plaza Hotel.

The seminar was jointly organized by CTBUH, Qatar and Grace Construction Products.

CTBUH’s country representative in Qatar, Shaukat Ali, has been playing a pivotal role in bringing attention to the everincreasing construction activities in the state for the benefit of industry professionals.

Under his leadership, CTBUH keeps track of projects coming up in Qatar, new technologies

Shaukat Ali: CTBUH Country Representative, Qatar introduced in the market and and innovative problem-solving solutions offered to the struc- techniques.

He said that CTBUH organized tural problems design.

In the opening speech, Shau- technical seminars, presentakat Ali, who is the Director of tions and site tours of the buildStructural Engineering, KEO In- ings which are iconic in nature ternational Consultants, briefed and offer both design and conthe gathering, consisting of struction related challenges. more than 100 professionals, He also informed that the numboth from government and pri- ber of companies and organizavate sectors, about CTBUH’s tions involved in the construcactivities in Qatar, stressing tion industry in Qatar were how important it was to edu- joining the growing list of the cate designers and engineers CTBUH member community. to adapt the latest technology The seminar focused on issues

related to design and construction of building envelope in high-rise buildings, architectural and decorative concrete and protection of below grade structures.

Technical experts from Grace, Qatar, talked about products and solutions they are offering which include waterproofing of below-grade deep basements, solutions to architectural concrete in exposed areas mainly in building facade and weather barrier systems in high-rise buildings.

Gerard Attree from Grace, explained the technology available in the Middle East for selfcompacted concrete required in difficult areas where vibrator cannot be used as well as colored concrete required by the architects especially in facade design.

Greg Austin from Grace talked

Gerard Attree talking about architectural concrete

A section of the gathering.

Greg Austin, Global Marketing Manager, Grace Construction Products, addressing the meeting. about the importance of weather barrier in the facade design and the latest technology industry is offering to have more efficient design strategy and best solution for a functional weather barrier system in facade design.

He further reiterated that extreme weather conditions in the Middle East demanded a carefully designed weather barrier system all around the building.

Members of the audience described the seminar as “edu-

Rob Hossell from Grace talking about waterproofing strategy in basements.

Al Rayyan Park reopens after upgrade

The park is designed to cater to people with special needs The Public Works Authority, ‘Ashghal’ announced the completion of redevelopment works at Al Rayyan Park (also known as Al Busat Al Akhdar). The authority had announced that it would complete the works by Q4 2015.

The restoration of the park took place in coordination with Al Rayyan Municipality, and the Public Parks Department of the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning (MMUP). The authority expedited the work to reopen the park to the public on

17 December 2015, in conjunction with National Day celebrations.

The authority had announced the partial closure of the park to facilitate construction works related to the development of Al Rayyan Road adjacent to the park, as well as the maintenance and upgrade of the park itself to include various facilities of the park, namely; the fence, walkways and lighting system. A jogging track will also be introduced to the park so visitors can have a wider choice

of sports to exercise.

Al Rayyan Park is located at the intersection of New Al Rayyan Road and Al Shamal Road stretched over a vast green area of 130 thousand metres.

It has been designed to cater to people with special needs and will include eight entrances in total, five of which will be located at the north section of the park and the remaining three at the western part. It also comprises a special events area at the southwest corner of the park.

cational, offering knowledge and exposure on the design of an efficient facade system with fully-blended weather barriers, waterproofing strategies for below grade structures as well as the latest technology to achieve architecturally suitable concrete”.

In the closing remarks, Shaukat Ali thanked those present for attending the seminar and promised that more interesting topics would be addressed in coming conferences.

16

Geopolitical concerns weigh heavy on Middle East construction industry

Survey reveals sharp drop in optimism, longer payment periods, less favourable contract conditions and rising disputes as market conditions harden A snapshot of opinion from the GCC’s construction has shown a dramatic drop in optimism over the last year.

Pinsent Masons’ Annual GCC Construction Survey, which was presented to representatives from the industry at the international law firm’s recent Annual Construction and Engineering Law Conference, shows that just 32% of respondents are optimistic about the year ahead.

This compares to 77% stating that they were optimistic about 2015 when asked the same question a mere 12 months ago.

This sudden shift in sentiment is consistent with the industry’s responses to questions about order books, contract conditions, payment periods and disputes, which are all less positive than a year before.

16% of those surveyed said that their 2016 order books had declined by over 10%, which compares to just 4% who said the same thing a

year earlier. Asked about contract conditions, 93% of businesses said they had become less favourable during 2015, representing a 14% increase on a year earlier.

In addition, 95% said payment periods were longer this year, and 60% said they were involved in more disputes during 2015 than had been expected before the year started.

The results are indicative of a hardening economic environment as the construction industry, like many others, grapple with the impact of ongoing low oil prices, simmering geopolitical tensions in parts of the MENA region, and a general concern related to emerging markets from many global investors.

Optimism surrounding Saudi Arabia saw a pronounced decline. Asked what country will provide the strongest growth opportunity in 2016, just 12% stated Saudi Arabia, representing a substantial drop from the 40% of respondents who believed it would be the strongest market during

2015.

In contrast, a growing portion of the industry now views Qatar as offering the strongest regional opportunity, rocketing up in positivity from 14% of respondents last year to 33% in this year’s survey.

The UAE is considered the strongest market opportunity in 2016.

By sector, real estate saw the largest single reversal in sentiment, with 26% of those surveyed considering it to offer the strongest commercial opportunity next year, falling from 48% of respondents the year before.

This may be due to the uncertainty around oversupply in places like Dubai in particular.

Away from the GCC, the construction industry remains tentative towards Iran and India, with only 40% and 42% respectively pursuing opportunities in these countries.

This may simply be due to a wait and see approach being adopted for Iran, as sanctions have not yet been officially removed. However, the India re-

sult is surprising given the historic trade links between the GCC and India, the strength of the economic growth being seen there, and the recent promotional visit of Prime Minister Modi to the UAE. Similarly surprising was the survey result on public private partnerships (PPPs). Two thirds (67%) of the industry stated that they are not currently involved in, or anticipating to be involved in, PPP projects over the next 12 months.

With the fiscal environment under pressure across all the oil exporting economies of the region, a far healthier result around PPPs was expected.

Commenting, Sachin Kerur, Head of Middle East Region at Pinsent Masons, said: “This is the sharpest annual decline in optimism our survey has seen, and there is no doubt that economic and geopolitical concerns are playing heavily on people’s minds. It would seem that good fundamentals in many places are being obscured by the role that politics is playing.

However, it is possible that as these issues lift there could be just as a swift a return to positivity.

“Nowhere in the region is falling optimism as pronounced as it is in Saudi Arabia.

This is to be expected given the challenges the country is facing and the central role oil maintains in its economy.

Despite this, there is a general sense amongst the industry that if the current financial squeeze can deliver greater diversification of the economy, Saudi Arabia will remain a highly attractive market.

Indeed there have been some positive diversification measures discussed in the Kingdom, which if implemented should enable greater private participation in the economic development of the country.

Meanwhile, in Qatar, they are benefiting from a natural bounce as the World Cup edges closer.

“The lack of anticipation of more PPPs was a surprise, on account of the fiscal challenges facing many countries

in the region.

These arrangements could offer a favourable solution for numerous major infrastructure and construction developments, and there have been legislative changes made to make them more accessible and attractive.

It may well be that the private sector still believes more reform is needed before PPPs become mainstream.

“The majority of the GCC construction industry is hesitant around pursuing opportunities in Iran and India.

A cautious approach is always advisable when entering new markets, particularly ones that have been subject to sanctions. However, India is one of the few countries in the world to show strong economic growth and businesses located in the Gulf are ideally suited to access the country.

I would encourage them to be more proactive on pursuing commercial opportunities in India, providing the right level of due diligence is conducted.”

Green building apps for a sustainable 2016

G

reen building is one of the hottest topics in construction today. And it has become even hotter around the talks about global warming and the role of construction professionals to help the planet to be in a better shape for the next generation.

Activity within the green building sector is doubling every three years and according to a recent report, World Green Building Trends 2016, more than 60% of the construction projects will be in green construction.

As the green building sector witnesses steady growth, the database of applications available for construction professionals has also been expanding, allowing them to adopt sustainable practices.

CS looks into green building apps that became a necessary working tool for construction professionals committed to sustainability.

Green Badger The application provides easyto-use tools for construction professionals embarking on their first LEED project. It enables one to manage all green projects in one central location with the swipe of a finger.

Never search for a status update again – Green Badger offers real time reporting on how the projects are meeting their LEED goals. Plus, Green Badger is the easiest way to aggregate data and metrics across projects.

The custom reporting options let the user track waste diversion efforts across dozens of projects, see material use frequency, and demonstrate how successful the projects are at obtaining various LEED construction credits, and avoid work duplication by periodically checking progress from the dashboard.

The Green Badger LEED Documentation Software is free to download, but to access the documentation features, you must purchase project-based subscription for a low monthly fee.

Green Badger can cut the time spent on LEED construction documentation by 75% and easily pays for itself in time and overhead savings.

Green Badger LEED Water Calculator app The Green Badger LEED Water Calculator makes determining water savings and associated prerequisite and point compliance a breeze.

No more complicated spreadsheets or guessing – just by selecting the fixture flow rates, the rate of water savings is calculated!

It enables one to calculate results for plumbing fixture water savings for WEp1, WEc2, and WEc3.

Plug and play multiple scenarios to see which fixture combinations maximize savings and points within seconds. The app is free.

LEED Green Associate Exam Preparation Guide The LEED Green Associate Exam Preparation Guide, LEED v4 Edition, is designed to help pass the LEED Green Associate exam.

The exam prep guide captures the critical points you need to know about green building.

It reflects the structure of the exam knowledge and task domains to organize foundational concepts in green building and LEED. The guide will help you to prepare for the exam by emphasizing key terms and providing application learning through practice questions.

This resource is intended to be used in conjunction with the exam primary references,

including the LEED Core Concepts Guide.

Access to a variety of digital resources that enhance learning is included with this guide.

These resources include practice questions, a practice exam, printable flashcards, an illustrated glossary and more!

Green Buildings Guide by Dubai Municipality This app provides an overview for the concept of Green House and also offers a conceptual explanation on how to apply the list of conditions and specifications for green building standards to a model of residential villas.

Most of the presented examples on these residential villas are applicable to any type of new buildings, whether residential, commercial or other.

Green Building Checklist 100 It is an excellent primary app, to gain basic knowledge about green building characteristics for the construction professional.

The application is simple, easy-to-use, interactive, precise, 100-points.

Another advantage is that it is absolutely free. Use it to design new green buildings or evaluate existing buildings to check its green, eco-friendly character.

The app covers all major areas of green building and presents it in a simple, understandable way i.e. site planning, environmental architecture, energy conservation and management, water conservation, efficient building materials, solid waste management and other important measures.

The “Detailed Report Generation” facility provided in the app, acts as a handy, building-specific, ready-reference guide of green building criteria. The “multiple projects” listing and its working or evaluation, simultaneously, is possible in the app.

Home Energy Performance Audit property and home appliances: get energy efficiencyrating, produce PDF reports, including the property evaluation label and the household carbon footprint.

This app generates accurate

figures of the household energy consumption and production (gas, electricity, wood, etc), and the energy cost of each appliance.

This easy-to-use software has been designed to address the needs of landlords, home owners, estate agents, surveyors, builders, property managers, realtors, solar PV installers... .

The produced report will cover the following elements: Personalized recommendations; insulation: roof, wall, windows, window shutters, door, ventilation, bottom floor, floor & thermal bridges; Energy consumption & production: central heating, programming and control, secondary heating, back-up heating, hot water, air conditioning, sustainable energy; Household profiling: electricity usage for your heating in cold season and/or air conditioning in cooling season, electricity usage for your hot water, forced ventilation by electrical energy; Energy usage: T° comfort: your heating profile in cold season, T° reduced or during short absence: your heating profile in cold season, air conditioning usage in hot season (average actual internal temp), home insulation (roof, walls and glazing), occupancy rate in heating season and/or cooling season, lighting.

17

Sustainability is the key driver of the regional concrete sector Concrete industry professionals are aware that the path towards sustainability of the GCC construction sector lies through sustainable concrete and to stay competitive in the market, it is important to adopt green practices.

The recent sixth International Concrete Sustainability Conference (ICSC), Middle East’s leading concrete event, was dedicated to exploring concrete sustainability, recent regulatory changes and upcoming trends of the local concrete industry – aspects that keep concrete industry professionals abreast and competitive in the demanding GCC construction market.

The conference was organized by the National Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), a US-based trade association, and Grey Matters.

The latest conference in the series was sponsored by 11 companies and was attended by government officials, regional industry professionals, international thought leaders and industry experts.

The event took place in Dubai for the first time in 2010 and has been organized there yearly since then. The Dubai Municipality strategically endorsed the latest conference.

Being a specialized conference designed to provide learning and networking opportunities on the latest advances, technical knowledge, continuing research, tools and solutions for sustainable concrete manufacturing, design and construction, ICSC has been reputed as a trendsetting event.

The conference included a panel discussion deliberating local requirements of the Dubai Municipality for green concrete (circular 202 issued in January 2014); their implementation, exceptions, alternatives and concerns rising from different parties such as authorities, concrete producers, contractors and consultants.

This year’s conference witnessed the first official announcement of the new sustainability initiative by the Dubai Municipality in partnership with NRMCA and Grey Matters: Environmental Product Declarations (EPD).

“EPDs allow manufacturers to accurately measure and report their environmental impacts using a scientific methodology called Life Cycle Assessment,” stated Lionel Lemay, senior VP with NRMCA. “Using Life Cycle Assessment permits a company to lower the impacts of their products by measuring current impacts and then developing products that have lower impacts through continuous process and product improvements,” added Lemay.

Local, regional and international speakers from seven countries shared the latest developments related to sustainable initiatives, design, specifying, manufacturing and construction of concrete.

Internationally-recognized speakers shared their works which hold tremendous impact on the global concrete industry.

Experts presented on the latest developments related to testing, construction, maintenance and research of concrete as it related to sustainable development.

Keynote speakers included: Lionel Lemay, NRMCA (the USA); Eng. Abdullah Rafia, Dubai Municipality (the UAE); Manuel Lascarro, FIHP (Colombia); Wilko van der Meer, Doka Concremote (Netherlands); Dr Morteza Zohrabi, WSP (Middle East); Sam Rafiki, Al Falah Ready-Mix (the UAE); Kileigh Shea, Walter P Moore (the USA); Kirsten Ritchie, Gensler (the USA); Dr Anna Grichting Solder, Qatar University (Qatar); Stefan van Uffelen, Concrete Sustainability Council (Switzerland); and Barry Mellor, Lytag (the UK).

“We are thrilled to have such a good response from the regional and local concrete industry,” said Rabih Fakih, MD of Grey Matters.

“This year’s conference gathered many international and regional keynote speakers who shared their expertise in all areas of concrete industry. The commitment of the Dubai Municipality towards sustainable construction should be the drive for all other authorities in the region. We are glad to offer a networking platform for the visionaries whose influence can be seen in projects throughout the world,” added Fakih.

The ICSC 2015 received an excellent response from the attendants who pledged to contribute to expand the use of sustainable concrete.

A graffiti banner of the event, which stated “Being part of the 2015 ICSC, I commit to contribute to Sustainable Concrete”, was the highlight at the conference site. The fact that all the delegates signed the banner showed their full commitment to sustainability.

The conference delegates received a generous dose of positive attitude and humor from the words of the motivational speaker Carol Talbot and other special activities organized for them.

KnowCrete by

Specifying durability by performance A preliminary view on the CEN proposals By www.concrete.org.uk Concrete – December 2014 – Evolving Concrete – 6-7 May 2015 www.evolvingconcrete.org Continued…

Chloride resistance classes

Again, three classes are being proposed with chloride diffusion being measured at least three times up to two years using the EN 12390-11 test procedure and then the extrapolated chloride diffusion at 50 years being the basis for classification (see Figure 1). EN 12390-11 currently has the status of a draft for development, but it has been revised and it is undergoing formal voting as an EN. The task group has agreed that the test solution will be a defined seawater and that a margin needs to be applied but no proposals have yet been made as to the magnitude of the margin. What is of more concern is the precision of this test and whether it is adequate for classifying in the way proposed. Type testing that takes two years to complete is also not ideal.

Experts and standardisation bodies have been invited to comment on the task group proposals and the author suspects there will be several comments on the proposed approach to chloride classification. For example, it may be more practical to classify on the basis of an initial measured chloride diffusion coefficient and an accepted or measured ageing factor. For the same ‘class’, a higher ageing factor would be linked with a higher initial diffusion coefficient. This approach means that classification may be completed in months rather than years and it minimises the impact of test precision.

Such an approach also has the benefit of avoiding the assumption in the proposed method that ageing will continue throughout the design life, which is an issue being hotly debated between experts.

Freeze–thaw resistance Freeze–thaw testing is what is described as ‘torture testing’, which is an extreme test and if the concrete passes, it is highly likely to perform well in practice. The problem with such tests and the normally accepted criterion is that it fails many concretes that have performed well in the UK environment. The scaling test methods (TS 12390-9) and the criteria are under review and it is hoped that before too long acceptable performance criteria for this test will be defined for more moderate climates such as the UK. Freeze–thaw resistance also has to cover resistance to internal damage and at present CEN does not even have a test procedure with the status of ‘draft for development’. This has to be something for the future.

Chemical resistance There is no agreed test method at European level for measuring the sulfate resistance of concrete (or cement). As it is the concrete that needs to resist the aggression, the focus for test development should be on concrete and not cement as many cements may provide adequate sulfate resistance if they are used in the appropriate concrete (see BS 8500-1). Sulfate resistance has to cover both the ettringite and thaumasite forms of sulfate attack. Given the lack of test methods, it is unlikely that the next revision of EN 206 will include a performance specification for sulfate resistance.

Conformity and production control Type testing will lead to limiting values that are specific to a set of constituents from specific sources. While control to comply with limiting values is practiced throughout Europe, the introduction of concrete resistance classes will lead to a debate on whether current practices are adequate. There are a number of issues that need to be discussed, validated and agreed, including: • Is variability from a specific source insignificant?

• Conformity to w/c ratio.

• What tests are needed to prove that the constituents have not changed significantly?

• What are demonstrably similar materials, i.e., those that can be used without having to repeat the type testing?

info@greymatters.ws www.greymatters.ws The International Concrete Sustainability Conference in progress

18

GCC municipalities in search of strategies to reduce C&D debris GCC countries rank among the top 10 countries worldwide in waste generation per capita, according to regional experts, with construction and demolition (C&D) debris representing the largest proportion of waste in the Middle East.

Far fewer regulations in the region, compared to other countries, have resulted in the accumulation of the C&D waste in landfills.

Tadweer, the Center of Waste Management in Abu Dhabi, aims to set regional standards for C&D waste reduction.

Experts in waste management say that recycling C&D waste can conserve raw material, energy and water, as well as reduce the production of greenhouse emissions and other pollutants that can contribute to climate change.

C&D waste recycling can preserve natural resources and support the local economy through the marketing of recycled C&D material which is much cheaper and has the same quality as the raw material and can be used in infrastructure projects.

“Construction projects are rapidly increasing in the region with Expo 2020 preparations in Dubai and the World Cup 2022 to be hosted in Qatar.

With these developments, mu-

nicipalities across the GCC are recognizing the need for robust strategies to minimize the negative impact of large amounts of C&D waste,” says Tadweer General Manager Eisa Saif Al Qubaisi.

EcoWASTE is a leading international platform for advancing sustainable waste management and recycling across the region and beyond.

“EcoWASTE 2016 is the ideal platform to bring together waste management experts and innovators from around the world, to share best practices and latest developments with key decision makers in the region,” according to Al Qubaisi.

As part of the annual Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week hosted by Masdar, EcoWASTE, held in strategic partnership with Tadweer, is an ideal platform for fostering collaborations, and pursuing business opportunities pertaining to waste management in the region.

The 2016 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is scheduled to run from January16-23 and EcoWaste will run from January18-21, co-located with the World Future Energy, and the International Water Summit (IWS), at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center.

The event is expected to bring together more than 50 exhibit-

ing companies from 17 countries, and more than 4,500 trade visitors from the waste industry.The Waste Management Master Plan, being developed by Tadweer for Abu Dhabi, includes studies about the best practices, laws and policies related to waste management and the best cost efficient waste processing solutions. The plan’s outcome will also propose methods to reduce commercial and industrial waste

Mosteel, represented exclusively by NORTH ENTERPRISES rated AAA Grade in 2010 as one of the largest companies in China that expanded to the external markets, and become the most important flat pack container type manufacturer and exporter in China.

Mosteel owns two factories covering 80,000 m2 equipped with production lines imported from Germany with a capacity of 60,000 flat pack units and 2 million m2 of sandwich panels a year, producing various kinds of sandwich panels including EPS, Rock wool, Glass wool and PU sandwich panels and recently AT panels with a sales volume exceeded 150 million USD in 2012.

This solid partnership enabled to deliver the following services to our clients, building a long term relationships, emphasizing on the quality of our products:

OUR SERVICES:

• Implementation of the “turnkey " solution for our clients in an integrated manner , including the Air Conditioning Systems , ranging from planning within the agreed time frame • Design and implementation of the final technical specifications required by our clients, ending with the erection and supervision of a particular project.

• Transfer and re- construction of the prefabricated cabins from one site to another.

• Maintenance of the prefabricated cabins, including structures, roofing, plumbing and electrical works.

Tel.: 4412 8899 - Fax.: 4412 8989 - Mob.: 5580 6713

www.mosteel.com.cn www.north-enterprises.com info@north-enterprises

and raise awareness about the importance of reducing waste especially that of construction and demolition.

“The Waste Management Master Plan was established to help position Abu Dhabi as a global leader in waste management and sustainable resource policy development.” says Tadweer Deputy General Manager Dr Salem Al Ka’abi, who is the head of the EcoWaste 2016 Committee.

“As part of the master plan, despite the growth in C&D waste that increasing construction projects are likely to cause, we are aiming to reduce C&D waste levels,” he points out.

“We hope to demonstrate how efficient C&D waste recycling can have a positive impact on the region’s environment, society, and economy during EcoWaste 2016.”

Seeing waste as a valuable economic resource, EcoWASTE

brings together leading local and international experts and providers with key buyers and decision makers.

Showcasing the latest innovations and technologies, enabling the exchange of best practice, and opening-up new business opportunities, it plays an important role in helping municipal authorities, industry and large corporations to meet ambitious recycling and landfilling targets.

Kahramaa announces Qatar’s first solar power station to be operational by 2016

The solar power station is expected to be operational by 2016, with a generation capacity of 10 MegaWatts (MW) to 15MW. The facility, which will cover an area of more than 100,000 square metres will be located at Duhail, according to constructionweekonline.com news reports.

Remarking on the announcement, Expotrade Middle East regional director Brad Hariharan said, “With ample amount of renewable resources at its disposal, the GCC region is harnessing the power of renewable energy technologies to its full potential.

“The state of Qatar has set a benchmark with its implementation of massive innovative programmes in deploying large solar power plants.”

The GCC has seen rapid growth in renewable energy generation and consumption, with Qatar leading the region, supported by innovative research and infrastructure development plans. Deployment of new renewable energy initiatives has ensured that the small Gulf country has become a primary producer of solar energy, enhancing its sustainability drive.

Being the most abundant and viable energy source, solar energy effectively addresses the increasing power requirements in the region, as the ongoing construction projects ramp up in the shadow of the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Kahramaa has targeted a generation capacity of 200MW through solar power by 2020.

The government has implemented numerous solar energy projects, including large-scale solar power plants, solar desalination projects and solar panel manufacturing plants, in line with the country’s goal to promote sustainability and diversity, while focusing on environmental awareness and reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

The Solar-Smart Grid project – an initiative of the Qatar Foundation (QF) – is also the first commercial photovoltaic (PV) project to be granted approval for grid connection from Kahramaa. According to industry approximations, QF’s solar energy smart-grid-enabled systems generate up to 85% of Qatar’s total solar energy output.

Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) announced its plans to set up a solar map by 2016, which will assist in identifying areas across the country that receive high-intensity solar radiation, with the aim to install solar cells for power generation.

Five solar stadiums for the 2022 World Cup will use ground-breaking solar-powered cooling technology to enhance the use of renewable energy.

However, while the country has exceptional solar energy potential, price competitiveness and lack of a renewable energy policy framework poses a challenge to the growth of the solar power in the region.

Construction

SITES

19

Jaidah industrial supply announces exclusive dealership with STILL Jaidah industrial supply division – a subsidiary of the long-established and influential conglomerate Jaidah Group, has announced an exclusive dealership agreement with materials handling equipment manufacturer STILL. Under the agreement, Jaidah industrial supply is the sole dealer of STILL forklift trucks & warehouse equipment in Qatar, reinforcing Jaidah Group’s position as one of the most trusted providers of industrial equipment , material handling, and Metal Fabrication in Qatar.

A launch event at Regency Halls announcing the new dealership was attended by Mr. Ayman Ahmed, Managing Director of Jaidah Equipment; Mr. Frank Mueller, Vice President CEE & Dealer business / STILL ; Mr. Maik Eckerkunst, International Corporate Communications, Mr. James El-

liott, General manager / Jaidah Industrial supply.

Speaking at the launch event, Mr. Ayman Ahmed, Managing Director of Jaidah Equipment said: “Jaidah Group has a history of long-standing relationships with major international manufacturers, making us perfectly suited to satisfy the high demand for equipment related to Qatar National Vision 2030. Our dealership agreement with STILL will reap rich returns for both parties and enhance our efforts

to facilitate further growth in Qatar’s logistics industry”.

The achievement created by the Company’s founder Hans Still in 1920 through a large amount of creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and quality quickly developed into a strong brand well-known throughout the world, a goal that Jaidah Group also shares through a combination of providing high quality products with excellent customer service. Mr. Frank Mueller added: “Jaidah has emerged as Qatar’s leading provider of industrial products, making the Group a perfect fit for us. We are delighted with this new dealership, and we are looking forward to having a positive impact on the Qatar’s growth by delivering our high quality products”.

The dealership agreement, which both companies dub a “long-term strategic partner-

ship,” leverages the complementary strengths of both companies to provide high quality material handling equipment in Qatar.

Mr. James Elliott General

Manager of Jaidah Industrial Equipment said: “At Jaidah Industrial Supply, we see hard work and determination as key factors for achieving excellence. Our division

Mr.Ayman Ahmed, Managing Director of Jaidah Equipment and Mr. Frank Mueller, Vice President CEE & Dealer business STILL

offers complete post sales solutions for our customers’ convenience, including field service, after-sales maintenance contracts and an excellent availability of parts.”

20

Construction

SITES

Safety in focus

Al Harib: Providing Security Solutions for a High Performance Environment

A

ccording to the Chairman of Al Harib, Mr. Ali Harib Al Harib, “Safety and Security are indispensable to the health and growth of any business entity.

In the last three decades, Security as an industry or domain, has evolved enormously with advances in technology.

These technologies have brought in innovation and smart automation to improve business performance and also various aspects of human life.”

No longer the modest start up that saw its beginnings in 2005 as the provider of simple CCTV solutuins.

Al Harib can now provide a complete turnkey solution when it comes to your home – palace, villa , compound or apartment.

They provide a complete range of security and surveillance solutions, which is user-friendly, cost effective, guaranteed and really worth the investment. Their services vary from simple but essential to complex solutions, cutting edge and fully integrated systems that satisfy security and surveillance needs of our customers at all levels.

Qatar has very specific laws on security and according to

Law No. 9 of 2011 it mandates that surveillance cameras be installed in residential compounds, hospitals, malls, banks, hotels, warehouses and other locations.

CCTV cameras are indeed very important to add security system to establishments as well as key entry points to the country like the airport and land border checkpoints.

Footage from the security system can, of course, also serve as evidence in case of crime or accidents.

So there are many benefits to ensuring the installation of surveillance systems to prevent crime and ensure the safety of employees and residents.

At AHSS we offer you a comprehensive solutions portfolio of CCTV, DVR/ NVR, IP systems, UPSs, Access Control systems such as Door Video Monitoring to advanced Biometrics compatible with time attendance/ HR systems and emergency alarms tailor made to suit your needs, with an unmatchable and optimum return for your investment.

It also includes the cutting edge solutions such as Mobile DVR, Video Transmission, mart Homes Systems and Solar Powered Solutions.

Our specialized sales, engineering and service teams

provide customers with extensive support from awareness creation, designing solutions to meet with regulatory and tight budgets, synchronize security and surveillance solutions with MEP activities.

After designing, building and commissioning we offer our customers comprehensive warranty and aftersales solutions.

Our services to clients are available around the clock throughout the year (24/7, 365).

“Al Harib Security Systems have received ISO 9001:2015 certification which is a testimony to the high standards and dedication shown by our staff and has helped us grow steadily over the years.

We try our level best to align our business with the development initiatives of Qatar, which is stated in the QNV 2030”, said Mr. Al Harib.

Our new Sustainable Energy business segment, supplies PV products and solutions from the world’s best manufacturers in Taiwan ,Germany and UK at competitive prices.

As Al Harib Group enters the third decade of our existence, we re-commit ourselves to our Core Values in an effort to add unprecedented value to our partners and customers.

Alpha Fire Services: Veteran GCC Fire Safety Company Introduces Innovative and Sustainable Products Alpha Fire Services have been working in the field of building and fire safety for the last 25 years.

It is a full service fire safety and security organization involved in the design, supply, fabrication, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire prevention, detection, protection and suppression systems, closed circuit television (CCTV), barrier and access control systems, risk management consultancy or fire risk assessments and contingency planning for all classes of buildings from private residences to industrial, commercial and other public buildings.

“Alpha Fire represents leading international manufacturers and suppliers and takes pride in being one of the company to introduce new innovative technology in Active and passive fire protection systems to Qatar, such as SE Controls from UK, DSPA form Netherlands, Advanced Fire Alarm Systems from UK; amongst other fire safe products,” said Mr. Pranai Sampang Rai, the Group General Manager.

Fixed Aerosol Fire Extinguishing Systems The General Manager for Alpha Services Qatar, Mr. Tony Lewis explained that the DSPA Aerosol generator that they recommend for building fire safety ensures that the entire area that is affected in the building is flooded with a fire inhibitor. The aerosol extinguishing system uses solid micro particles that fill the compartment completely and attack the combustion process; knocking down the flames removing the source of energy. Additionally, DSPA aerosol generators are listed under the US Environmental Agency’s (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Programme (SNAP) as approved substitutes for Halon and other ozone depleting substances.

SE Controls: Automated Ventilation Systems Natural Ventilation improves indoor environments and reduces CO2 emissions and is cost efficient. Mr. Tony Lewis explained that the SE Controls Natural Ventilation strategies can prevent the ‘sick building syndrome’ as well as reduce energy usage. SE Controls Natural Ventilation strategies are based on six stand-alone principles, which function differently depending on the building shape, internal heat loads and location of openings. Common ways of capitalizing on ‘free’ air movement is through the stack effect, cross ventilation and passive night time cooling using opening windows to facilitate ventilation. The opening of windows can be done manually or be automated. The use of actuators to automate windows can be used in both natural and smoke ventilation systems by reacting to sensors (rather than relying on human responses) to clear smoke or to increase the level of comfort within an indoor environment. Some of the key projects executed for SE Controls, smoke heat and natural ventilation system are: the Lusail Multipurpose Hall, Business Park, Heart of Doha, Silhouette Tower, Car Park and Stores for Amiri Diwan, Le Boulevard Commercial Bank Qatar and the Palestinian-Sudanese School; amongst others.

Alpha Fire also offers annual contractual maintenance and repairs, refills, tests and revalidates all types of fire equipment in its fully equipped workshops that are managed by trained and experienced technical and engineering staff. A fleet of vehicles enables the company to provide a fast and reliable emergency call-out service for all its contract customers. Mr. Tony Lewis said that Alpha Fire Services currently has a wide customer base for maintenance in various sectors including: Retail, Industrial, Commercial, high rise residential, schools, hotels and medical facilities.

Alpha Fire Services is the sole distributor in the GCC for DSPA Extinguishing System, SE Controls and the FIREDETEC Fire Suppression Systems. The products are all Qatar Civil Defense certified.

Alpha Fire Services, the group’s flagship firm, is a triple certified ISO company, approved by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Bureau Veritas (BV) and Lloyds.

PO Box 39053 Doha State of Qatar

Tel: +974 44147790

Fax: +974 4414 7791

Email: gm@afs.com.qa, info@afs.com.qa

Fire Protection and Detection Specialists

Construction

Safety in focus

SITES

21

Safety enhancements for super tall buildings

E

nhancements for super tall buildings are being introduced in various international codes now.

Such enhancements often apply when buildings reach around 30 floors in height.

A presentation, highlighting the fire safety challenges in super tall buildings and the features that are used to overcome them, was delivered at the Safety Design in Buildings Doha Conference.

The presentation defined super-tall buildings generally as those greater than 128m. In Doha, there are approximately 65 super-tall buildings which are either completed or under construction.

On January 4, 2010, Burj Khalifa was chosen as the world’s

tallest building, a record that it still keeps.

Several additional enhancements have been included in its design, including: • Evacuation elevators • Areas of refuge • Fire elevators • Redundant water supply • Dual fire command centers • Increased fire resistance The 2003 International Building Code included no additional requirements for fire safety for super tall buildings. The NFPA included recommendations of increased structural fire resistance.

In 2015, the IBC codes were updated to include: • Increased structural integrity of exit stairs • Increased bond strength

of SFRM Dual sprinkler risers Dual water supplies Remote exit stairs No reduction in fire resistance • Evacuation elevators • Stairway markings • Additional firefighter stair • Firefighting elevators The 2015 NFPA codes included: • Increased exit stair width • Stairway video surveillance All super tall buildings face challenges when it comes to emergency response before and after crisis. The case is more complicated in Burj Khalifa due to its location at the vibrant downtown of Dubai.

That’s why certain enhancements were needed to ensure maximum safety for inhabitants and better emergency response.

Structural enhancements • Four-hour structural frame that was reduced to three hours for other than mercantile, industrial, or storage.

• Increased structural integrity, including exit stairs and hoistways.

• Impact resistance (soft body within enclosure/ hard body outside enclosure).

Sprayed fire-resistant materials for increased bond • • • •

strength (Height less than 128m: 20kPa/Height greater than 128m: 48kPa) Suppression enhancements • Dual sprinkler risers that are protected within exit stairs. Each riser serves alternate floors.

• Dual water supply for 30 minutes, with connection to multiple mains and redundant on-site supply.

Means of egress enhancements • Remote exit stairs with “enclosures” to be separated.

• Evacuation elevators: all passenger elevators for public use, a fire safety and evacuation plan is in place, in addition to water protection that includes: omit sprinkler protection for elevator spaces, omit shunt trip, hoistway protection. An elevator lobby that can house 25% of occ. load (0.28 m2/ occ) was included. A house wheelchair is provided for each 50 occupants. Moreover, signage identifying evacuation elevator and two-way communication with FCC is in place. A direct/protected access to stairs is available through the lobby and it has a 1 hour smoke barrier and 45 minutes smoke doors

Qatar Rail’s Doha Metro project wins three International Property Awards

Derived from the historic Islamic architecture, the “Vaulted Spaces” Doha Metro station design was uniquely selected by the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in 2013.

It highlights the region’s vernacular architecture, acting as a bridge between the country’s past and future. One of the key elements of the design is that it gives the exterior shape of the station, by using modern bright materials to stimulate the interior of the oyster.

Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail), the company overseeing the construction of Qatar’s integrated railway network, was awarded “Best Arabian Architectural Design for Public Service’ and the ‘Best International Architectural Design for Public Service’ at a prestigious event in London this month. The awards presented by the “International Property Awards” recognize the quality of the design of Qatar Rail’s “Vaulted Spaces” design for stations on the Doha Metro.

A panel of 20 international architects’ judges have given the two distinguished awards to Qatar Rail during the international nomination event attended by Qatar Rail’s Deputy CEO, Eng. Hamad Al Bishri and Mr. Mohamed Timbely, Senior Director of Architecture and MEP Department.

This recognition follows a win at the regional event in Dubai last month where the company was named best “Public Service Architecture – Qatar” for the same project. The regional award was handed to Qatar Rail’s senior representatives Mr. Mohamed Timbely, Senior Director of Architecture and MEP Department and Eng. Hassan Al-Marwani Technical Interface Director.

According to the organisers of the award, the stations design for the Doha Metro create a unique combination of a recognizable design across the network with an approach which allows each line in the system to have a distinct identity and individual stations to have designs which embody the culture and history of the area they serve.

All stations in the network will reflect an overall design concept – called “Vaulted Spaces” which is based on traditional Islamic architecture. The stations will therefore bring together the modern high tech elements of the country’s future, yet will also celebrate its traditions.

Commenting on the triple recognition, Qatar Rail’s Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Saad Al Muhannadi said: “Those three awards recompensed two years of efforts where we tried to appropriate the concept of the Vaulted Spaces in order to be part of the heritage, culture and the national vision of the state of Qatar. It’s not only about architecture; it’s about a vision that we share”.

The first phase for the Doha Metro’s architectural works, covering 37 stations, is set for completion by 2018 while the second, extending to over 72 stations, by 2030.

with vision panels.

Stairway marking.

Luminous egress path markings.

Fire fighting enhancements • Additional fire fighting stair, is provided if selfevacuation elevators omitted and it does not contribute to exit capacity.

• Two 1,600 kg firefighting elevators that has water protection including: omit sprinkler protection for elevator spaces, omit shunt trip and hoistway protection.

• Elevator lobby characterized by: • Not less than 14 m2and 2.5 m width • Identified as firefighting elevator • •

•

Two-way communication with FCC • Direct/protected access to stairs • Stair to also have separate access • 1-hour smoke barrier • 45-minute smoke doors The NFPA enhancements for such buildings include increased stair width of 1,120 mm for less than 2,000 occupants and 1,440 mm for more than 2,000 occupants.

It also calls for stairway video surveillance for buildings of more than 4,000 occupants, with monitoring for every five floors and discharge floor displayed at FCC. Additional enhancements • Vertical isolation.

• Computer modeling for evacuation.

‫ﺍﻟﺒﺮﺍﺀ ﻟﻸﻣﻦ ﻭﺍﻟﺴﻼﻣﺔ‬

AL BARAA SECURITY & SAFETY

Fire rated window and door rolle shutters Fire Rated stell Door & wood 1-4 hrs Approval Q.C.D Supply & Installation

HVAC Ductwork Supply & maintence

Fire System Alarm Supply & maintence

Fire Rated Glass Window 1-2 hrs Approval Q.C.D

Fire Fighting System Supply & maintence

Email: marketing.albaraa@gmail.com / info@albaraafire.com Tel: +974 4416 5827 - Fax: +974 4450 1930 - Mob:+974 6657 5816 P.O.Box 14666 doha Qatar AlBaraa Security &Safety

Construction

Qatar

SITES

23

AmCham Qatar hails Qatar-US economic and investment dialogue

Qatar to invest $35 billion into the US over the course of next 5 years The American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar (AmCham Qatar) hosted an afternoon dialogue with Mr. Scott Nathan, the U.S. Department of State’s Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs, in November 2015. Over 60 members of the American business community attended the event Mr. Nathan discussed the Department of State and the U.S. Government’s role in promoting U.S. business interests in Qatar and the region. He also provided an update on the recent Economic and Investment Dialogue launched between the United States and the State of Qatar especially in the light of the recent announcement by Qatari Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani that Qatar will invest $35 billion in the US over a course of the next five years: “My visit to Qatar comes as a follow up to our ongoing economic dialogue with Qatar. The key objective of the dialogue is strengthening our economic and commercial ties with Qatar.

Small and medium enterprises play a vital role in that process.

Regardless of the size, US business are interested (positioned) to better understand the procurement processes in Qatar

in order to become more competitive on the local market.

On the other hand we want to work with all parties to investigate whether there are ways to mitigate some of the tax issues standing in the way of Qatari investment in the US”. – Mr.Scott Nathan concluded.

Robert A. Hager, Chairman, AmCham Qatar said: “American Chamber of Commerce is delighted to support the economic dialogue and we are working very closely with our partners at the U.S. Embassy in Qatar as well as the US Chamber of Commerce on the matters that concern our members and our Qatari business partners.

Our members are engaged on some of the key infrastructure and development projects in Qatar and we hope that the success of this dialogue will result in more American companies setting up businesses in Qatar, and especially increase the number of SMEs joining the local economy”.

Prior to joining the U.S. State Department as a Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs, Mr. Na- Scott Nathan, the US Department of State’s special representative for than worked in the private in- Commercial and Business Affairs, at the meeting. vestment sector for nearly two decades. As part of his visit to ernment officials and private of bilateral trade and invest- Chamber of Commerce, Steven AmCham afternoon dialogue as Qatar, Mr. Nathan met with gov- sector stakeholders in support ment. Representative of the US Lutes joined Mr. Nathan at the well.

WE CONSTRUCT YOUR STEEL

Engineering Fabrication

Blasting & Painting Installation & Erection

“ A Dutch group of Companies on two continents and over 650 people in 5 locations, focusing on the various needs and requirements of her industrial customers with a proven full services concept and a performance track record for over 50 years in steel construction, industrial steel and skids, piping supports and solutions contracting. ”

Project Management

FRIJNS STRUCTURAL STEEL MIDDLE EAST WLL A Division of Frijns Industrial Group Shahaniya Office Tel. 44905858 Mesaieed Office Tel. 50003981 F: 44905859 E: info@frijnsqatar.com PO Box 63721 Doha, Qatar

24

Construction

SITES

Qatar

Doha’s first-ever Gulf Metrology Forum brings together leading experts in the GCC

G

OIC hosted the first ever Gulf Metrology Forum in Doha, on 14 and 15 December 2015. The forum brought together experts in the field of metrology in the GCC seeking to plan for the future of this vital sector. The Forum touched on the latest international developments in metrology. It is a collective effort to align Gulf metrology policies and regulations with global developments in measurement techniques and their applications. Dr. Ali Hamed Al Mulla, GOIC Assistant Secretary General and Chairman of the organizing committee of the GMF said, “We are extremely pleased that we were able to have four key experts in the field of metrology as special guests and keynote speakers for the forum. This is an excellent opportunity for metrology professionals to get an insight into the industry through the eyes of world

leaders in the metrology field and learn about new ideas and applications to move forward and open new horizons for cooperation and advancement of this sector in the GCC region”. They included Dr. Martin Milton, Dr. Stephan Patoray, Dr. Petr Fisk and Dr. Hyong-Ha Kim. Dr. Martin Milton, was the keynote speaker of the event and he addressed the forum on “Scientific and legal Metrology” and “The importance of metrology for the developing countries and for the GCC nations” within the first technical session. Dr Martin Milton is the Director of BIPM since 1st January 2013. Before his move to the BIPM, Dr Milton spent 31 years at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), United Kingdom. He was a Fellow in the Analytical Science Division and led the “Gas Metrology and Trace Analysis” Group which was one of a small number of groups at

the NPL rated “internationally leading” for both its impact and its science quality by an independent international peer-review panel. The second Keynote speaker was Dr. Stephan Patoray, who presented on “The role of legal metrology in a global market”. Dr. Stephen Patoray is the Director of the International Bureau of Legal Metrology, (BIML) and leads a small group of highly dedicated professionals who provide all administrative support to the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML). He is experienced in standards de-

velopment, quality auditing and certification. The third keynote speaker is Dr. Petr Fisk, who spoke in the second technical session titled “Industrial Metrology & Energy” about “The importance of international recognition of national measurement capabilities to trade and global competitiveness: the Asia Pacific experience”. Dr. Fisk was appointed NMI’s Chair of Asian Pacific Metrology Programme and was appointed as Chief Executive and Chief Metrologist on 9th February 2012 at the National Measurement Institute – Australia. Following a short period

as a Visiting Scientist at the IBM Almaden Research Centre in California, he joined the CSIRO National Measurement Laboratory (NML) in 1991 to start and lead a new research project on atomic clock development.

In 1993, he was appointed Head of the Time and Frequency group of NML. On 1st July 2004 he was appointed General Manager of the Physical Metrology Branch of the National Measurement Institute (NMI).

The fourth keynote speaker is Dr. Hyong-Ha Kim, and she spoke about “Food metrology in Korea” in the fourth session titled “Health and Food”. Dr. Hyong-Ha Kim Director, Division of International Cooperation National Research Council of Science & Technology, Korea (Principal Research Scientist, Korea Research Institute of Standards & Science). Dr. Hyong-Ha Kim received her B.S. & M.S. degrees from Seoul National University.

She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Molecular Biology. During her training, she received various awards and scholarships including the ‘Harold C. Bold Award for

Teaching Excellence’, and the ‘Ralph Alston Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Research’. She joined the Korea Research Institute of Standards & Science (KRISS) in 2002 and is currently a Principal Research Scientist. She served as the Head of the Bioanalysis Center, and Director of the Global Partnership Office. Her research mainly focuses on Bioanalysis and Biological Measurement Standards, in fields including food, GMOs and biopharmaceuticals.

She is currently dispatched from KRISS, serving as the International Cooperation Division Director of the National Research Council of Science and Technology, a higher level council which governs the 25 research institutes including KRISS. Internationally, she is the Vice Chair of the Food and Nutrition Technical Committee of International Measurement Confederation’s Metrology, and an Expert Evaluator for the EU Research Directorate General of the European Commission.

Learn more about the 1st Gulf Metrology Forum by visiting the website: www.gmf.goic.org.qa

Qatar Rail signs contract with Qatar Cool providing District Cooling to 7 of Doha Metro stations

Al Muhannadi: “The district cooling system won’t only withstand the hot weather during summer peak times in Doha, but also contribute to protecting the environment by increasing energy efficiency and reducing environmental emissions, saving electricity, and evidently benefitting from a much more cost-efficient cooling service”.

Doha, Qatar –December 2015: Qatar Railways Company, the company overseeing the construction of Qatar’s integrated railway network, has signed a contract with Qatar Cool, the leading provider of reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly district cooling services, to provide district cooling services at seven of the

Doha Metro Red Line stations.

A signing ceremony took place at Qatar Rail’s headquarters on the 30th of November in presence of Eng. Saad Ahmed Al Muhannadi, CEO of Qatar Rail, and Mr. Yasser Salah Al Jaidah, CEO of Qatar Cool.

Aiming to support the environment and save electricity and cost, Qatar Rail has chosen to partner with Qatar Cool to provide district cooling at the Pearl and West Bay stations (Legtaifiya, Katara, Al Qassar, Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, West Bay, Corniche and Al Bidda stations), and proactively contributing to cooling measures during the summer months starting 2019, the projected operation date of the

Doha Metro project (Phase 1).

Through district cooling, chilled water is delivered via underground isolated pipelines to commercial, hotel and residential buildings to cool the buildings water via an Energy Transfer Station (ETS) which is situated in the basement of each building within a district.

The EST in each building then uses the buildings water to lower the temperature of air passing through the building’s air conditioning system, known as Fan Coil Units (FCU) or Air Handling Units (AHU).

Cooling systems will operate throughout the other stations and on the trains themselves to ensure that customers enjoy the height of comfort when us-

ing the network.

Commenting on the cooperation, Qatar Rail’s CEO, Eng. Saad Al Muhannadi, said: “Qatar Rail has always sought to work with the best local suppliers and partners on every aspect of each of its projects to achieve the implementation of a sustainable railway network.

We have the pleasure to cooperate with Qatar Cool to provide 7 stations on the project with a district cooling system that won’t only withstand the hot weather during summer peak times in Doha, but also contribute to protecting the environment by increasing energy efficiency and reducing envi- efitting from a much more cost- term”. ronmental emissions, saving efficient cooling service with an CEO of Qatar Cool, Mr. Yasser electricity, and evidently ben- economic interest on the longer Salah Al Jaidah, also commented on the partnership: “We take great pride in being part of Qatar Rail’s story. The benefits that the Qatar Rail system will bring to our country by providing an environmentally friendly, safe, fast and very efficient means of transportation are clear and necessary for our growing population. District cooling’s advantages are increasingly being recognized by governments, developers and end-users alike. It is an honor to say Qatar Cool is playing a fundamental role in Qatar’s sustainable and environmental fortification. We are committed to supporting Qatar and Qatar Rail throughout their journey.”

Construction

News

Qatargas presents JBOG project at UN climate change conference

Qatargas presented its iconic environment project, the Jetty Boil-off Gas (JBOG) Recovery Project, at COP 21 UN Climate Change Conference, held in Paris recently, showcasing Qatar’s mitigation efforts to combat the effects of climate change.

Attending a session on “Role of Oil & Gas Technology to address Climate Change Challenges”, organized as part of the Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (Oapec) side events of the conference, Hazim Ali Al Muraikhi, Environmental Affairs Division Manager, Qatargas, highlighted the JBOG project’s role in minimizing flaring at the six LNG (liquefied natural gas) loading berths in Ras Laffan Industrial City.

The session was aimed at discussing the role of oil and gas technologies and research & development in Gulf Co-operation Council as well as the Oapec countries towards combating the effects of Climate Change and raise resilience for Response Measures.

Al Muraikhi noted that this $1 billion environmental project would result in a 90% reduction, equivalent to annual Green House Gas (GHG) savings of 1.6 million tonnes of CO2.

The project will help recover 29 billion standard cubic feet (bscf) of gas per year which is enough gas to produce 750 MW of electricity or to power 300,000 homes.

The JBOG facility was built and is operated by Qatargas. It started operations in October 2014 and recently achieved a major milestone marking its 1000th loading, safely recovering approximately 535,000 metric tonnes of LNG. As the -160oC LNG is loaded onto the LNG ships, around 1% of the LNG evaporates due to the difference of temperature between the LNG and the ship tank.

JBOG collects the boil-off gas and transports it to a central compressor area. The gas is compressed, and then sent back to the LNG plants to be used as fuel gas or converted back into LNG. The compressor, specially built for the JBOG facility, is the first of its kind and the largest managing such low pressures and high volumes.

As part of the Common Facilities at RasLaffan Industrial City (RLIC), the JBOG facility is led and operated by Qatargas on behalf of Qatar Petroleum and the LNG producers in Qatar. It is the biggest project of its kind and one of the largest environmental investments in the world.

Qatargas is committed to being a key contributor in the realization of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 to have a proactive and significant international role in assessing the impact of climate change through the responsible production of LNG while protecting the Hazim Ali Al Muraikhi highlighting the role of the JBOG project in minienvironment. mizing flaring at the six LNG loading berths in Ras Laffan Industrial City.

SITES

Qatar Chamber signs deal with Chinese e-procurement firm Qatar Chamber (QC) has signed an agreement with a Chinese e-procurement firm,

ZA-GO.com, to facilitate trade between Qatar and China.

The deal was signed during a three-day high-profile Made-in-China exhibition. QC Chairman Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassem Bin Mohammed Al Thani expressed confidence that the agreement with ZA-GO would help facilitate B2B (business-to-business) meetings between Chinese and Qatari businesses to accelerate bilateral trade.

About 100 Chinese companies from different sectors showcased their products and services at the exhibition which was held from December 14 to 17 at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre.

Participating companies included Dongguan Xinxiang Metal Products, Foshan group of companies, Chaoan Jaidebao Ceramics Industry, Chaozhou Kedali Porcelain and China Arab Purchase (Shanghai) Electronic Commerce.

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassem said: “ZA-GO will be providing training, consultancy and host of other services to Qatari companies that are planning to procure quality products in big volumes direct from Chinese producers.

The company will also help ensure effective and efficient delivery of goods door-todoor.”

The QC chairman said that the Chinese company had already established an office in Barwa Commercial Avenue.

“Any Qatari trader willing to buy Chinese products or equipment direct from the manufacturers, ZA-GO will help it to search and buy it at guaranteed best prices,” he said. “With the initiative, we expect that the volume of trade between Qatar and China will increase further.”

QC Vice-Chairman Mohamed bin Ahmed Bin Tawar Al Kuwari, Chinese Ambassador Li Chen and several prominent businessmen were present at the exhibition’s opening event.

Registered in Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone, ZA-GO is an online arm of China Arab Purchase (Shanghai) Electronic Commerce. It is a modern information service provider that specializes in Internet and cross-border e-commerce.

Qatar is ZA-GO’s first destination outside its China operation. With Qatar as the entry market and targeted towards other Arab countries in the Middle East, the company commits itself to international trade and services in bulk commodities.

The core business of the firm revolves around online sales, sourcing enquiries between Chinese and Arab enterprises, corporate online procurement, tendering, bidding and security guaranty of online transition and financial settlements.

Trading & Contracting Est.

an authorised distributor of

Certified and Genuine Pegler Valves Valves for Water, Gases and Oil Wide range of sizes and types

Projects:

Najma Branch:

Barwa Commercial Avenue, Type 2 SAFWA Building, Block No. 28, 1st Floor, P.O. Box. 992, Doha- Qatar.

Tel: 44411410, Fax: 44425859

Mansoora St. Najma Tel: 44445220 Fax: 44314123

E-Mail : Web :

info@salcoqatar.com www.salcoqatar.com

25

26

Construction

SITES

Focus

Texas A&M at Qatar and Maersk Oil Qatar launch Qatar’s first journal on engineering education Texas A&M University at Qatar and Maersk Oil Qatar launched the inaugural issue of the Engineering Education Letters journal at a recent event in Doha, as part of the Dhia: Engineering Leaders program partnership between the two organizations.

The collection of articles from leading engineering education experts is an open source, peer reviewed, archival journal which reports results of the latest teaching methodologies, innovative teaching and learning techniques, and academic successes observed by local, regional, and global experts in engineering education and the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics). It provides a resource for local educators and experts to support the continuing develop-

ment and delivery of high quality technical education in Qatar.

This semi-annual online journal is published by QScience, a member of Qatar Foundation, under the editorship of engineering education scholars, Dr. Hamid R. Parsaei, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Dr. Nimir O. Elbashir, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Engineering, at Texas A&M at Qatar.

Texas A&M at Qatar and Maersk Oil Qatar have developed and introduced pioneering academic activities and experiential leaning opportunities for Qatari students and teachers in STEM fields over the past several years.

Maersk Oil has initiated and served as exclusive industry sponsor of innovative initia-

tives in the region, and has partnered with Texas A&M at Qatar to promote STEM education among young Qataris since 2012. Maersk Oil Qatar’s Dhia: Engineering Leaders partnership with Texas A&M at Qatar has brought regional and global recognition to the company and has made it a model community leader in engaging the next generation of Qatari leaders in science and engineering.

The initiatives are creating new opportunities to expose young Qataris to STEM programs and are aimed at encouraging these students to select STEM fields as professional pathways.

At the launch, Dr. Mark H. Weichold, Dean and CEO of Texas A&M at Qatar, recognized Maersk Oil’s initiatives in Qatar, stating that the activities are proving to have a significant impact and are making a key contribution to Qatar’s drive to become a knowledge-based economy.

“Qatar has been a leader in promoting engineering education over the past two decades,” he said. “Texas A&M at Qatar works closely with Maersk Oil as a committed partner to work toward achieving Qatar’s Vision 2030 and creating a new generation of engineering leaders.”

Jassim Al-Khori, Technical Manager of the Maersk Oil Re-

search and Technology Centre, said “As one of largest private sector supporters of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills in the country, we are focused on developing the human potential of the country for generations to come, as well as the safe and efficient delivery of more than 40 percent of the country’s oil production from a unique and complex offshore oil field.”

He continued, “We are delighted to have created a forum for educational scholars in the region and around the world

Volvo Trucks celebrates 100% sales growth in Qatar

to publish their work and disseminate results of their findings through a creative medium such as the Engineering Education Letters journal. Maersk Oil Qatar is also proud this publication has been created in Qatar and produced by a local publisher.”

He also noted that Engineering Education Letters is the first journal of its kind published in the region.

Parsaei and Elbashir stated that the goal in creating and launching this publication, also available online, is to promote

engineering and STEM education in the region and report major achievements of fellow educators to a larger audience.

They also stated that articles submitted to this journal are reviewed in less that a month by global experts in the field and the accepted articles immediately appear online, whereas the turn-around time for similar global journals exist is about six to twelve months.

Educators interested in submitting an article can view the journal’s website, http://www.eeletters.org.

Fifty years ago the phrase, “Drive it like you hate it,” was made famous by a Volvo campaign. Yet the words have never been more relevant than they are today in a challenging construction environment in Qatar Volvo Trucks in Qatar has recently announced their sales growth up by 100% in 2015 compared to 2014. Represented by Domasco, the authorized distributors in Qatar for Volvo, the company has put forward the advantages of the brand and also its unprecedented after-sale service.

“Volvo Trucks has seen exceptional growth in the Qatari market this year,” according to a Domasco official.

“At Domasco, we value the strong relationships we build with our clients above all else and that is why, for us, it is not only about the product but the total solutions that we can offer to them,” says Domasco managing director Faisal Sharif.

With the Qatar construction projects and transporting needs on the upswing, operators are looking for solutions to meet the growing requirements of the trade.

Particularly heavy duty commercial business are concerned with quality and service for the timely delivery of projects, avoiding penalties, and preserving status as a reliable construction and transport outfit. This is where consistent vehicle performance and the

dependable after sales service of Volvo Trucks stand out.

Domasco’s commercial vehicles sales and marketing manager Mohamed Majeed states that 2015 was a very good year for Volvo Trucks.

“We have achieved full year target by the end of the third quarter and we are proud to reveal sales growth up by 100% this year over 2014,” he says.

Domasco has worked to enhance customer-relations and to keep the customers updated on the latest available products. The latest product the company offers today is Volvo FMX construction trucks - The FMX Transit Mixer.

This truck is packed with features that will help reduce operating costs and has a lot of firsts for the truck industry here. Volvo claims that its chassis is the strongest in Qatar with an 8mm thickness.

These trucks will also have the highest ground clearance in its category with a suspension that can handle the extreme surfaces that the construction sites here can offer.

The FMX truck comes with a Volvo’s I-Shift automate manual transmission which the manufacturer claims will offer better

fuel efficiency and driveability.

Volvo claims it can reduce 31% of the fuel costs and at the same time help the driver focus more on the road rather than changing gears.

Volvo, which is known for their after-sales support, says that in Qatar customers can now get a pre-planned service appointment. This means less time spent in the service center and less inconvenience for the customer.

The Volvo Finance service offers also tailored finance schemes for its customers.

Understanding the long-term needs of the industry, Volvo trucks not only addresses capabilities and spec requirements but also a complimentary service package is given on each truck. The initiative comes in answer to observations and discussions with industry leaders on concerns of not just service availability but also unplanned costs associated with the same.

The extensive service plan is designed to ensure the optimum performance of Volvo trucks. Once the plan has been drafted, customers can keep track of the truck’s maintenance through regular reminders from the service center.

The free service covers preventive maintenance inclusive of oil filter change, labor charges, use of only genuine Volvo parts ensuring against unexpected expenses and costly breakdown.

Dedicated technicians are made available who will have the full history of each truck on hand to guarantee proper and timely servicing at all mile-

stones.

Volvo trucks are compared to brawny steel titans that can take on any extreme road condition or climate variances in the Gulf region.

It was Volvo which invented the phrase “Drive it like you hate it” to prove the resistance of its vehicles. Fifty years ago these words were made famous by a Volvo advertisement campaign.

Yet they have never been more relevant than they are today in a challenging construction environment in Qatar.

The new Volvo FMX is built for the toughest working conditions on earth. Beneath the robust exterior, a revolutionary new steering system takes the weight off your shoulders, and purpose-designed suspension evens out the terrain.

Ashghal Updates

Construction

SITES

27

Road Occupancy Law training for Ashghal staff

T

he Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center organized a training course on the New Road Occupancy Law that covered the Law No 14 for the year 2015 about road occupancy.

The two-day training session, held at Ashghal’s Assets Affairs building, was attended by Ashghal employees who were nominated to become enforcement officers of the law.

The first day of the training included a presentation that explained the Law No (14) for the year 2015 about road occupancy and stating stipulated violations.

It covered the concept and the new law acts, in addition to clarifying the public and private road occupancy law and showcasing offences that are controlled by this law. The presentation explained how to prove, issue and deal with violations.

The first training day was covered by Dr Bashir Saad Zaghloul, a teacher of criminal law at the College of Law at Qatar University. He showcased samples of issuing violations and concluded his session with a discussion with the trainees to exchange information.

Whereas the second day was covered by Ahmed Matar Al Dousari, Environmental Prosecutor at the Public Prosecu-

tion, who reviewed and discussed practical cases related to this law.

The training aimed to show all kinds of Road Occupancy Law and way of co-ordination, explaining the different types of violations under this law.

The training aimed at helping Ashghal’s proposed law enforcement officers to understand legal aspects that surround their job and to gain the legal skills in working with

Environmental Engineering Expert at Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and professor of environment engineering at Alexandria University Ghazi Abdel Kerim El Sherif explained Ashgal’s long term sustainable approach for water resources in Qatar during a presentation at the Future Drainage and Storm Water Networks summit held last month.

Sherif warned that the gulf area is already suffering a physical water scarcity, and that the fresh water lens under Qatar has depleted by 89% since 1971. So, water management methods need to be different than that adopted in water rich areas.

He pointed out that industries in Qatar depend mostly on desalinated water and sea water.

Sherif summed up major obstacles of water resources in Qatar as: • Agricultural Abstraction Exceed Recharge of aquifers by precipitation • Rapid Urban and Industrial Development Accelerates Extension of Desalination Plants • Losses of Desalinated Water in Distribution Systems • Limited Use of Treated Sewage Effluent Attributed to Quality Reasons • Incomplete Drainage and TSE Networks Sherif said that there is a need for sustainable water resourc-

es management. However Ashghal faces several challenges when it comes to Main Foul Wastewater, including limited treatment and network capacity, problems with pumping stations, operational flexibility, infiltration, septic tanks and tankers, sludge strategy and industrial waste water management.

He pointed out that Ashghal’s Treated Sewage Effluent Design Criteria issued in 2004 is very restrictive if the water is to be used in public parks irrigation, to protect public health or in case of discharge in sea for example, which limits the use of this water.

However, within One Decade (2004 – 2014), the Public Works Authority managed to increase production of high grade TSE three times, where in 2005 it produced 55 MM3 treated sewage Effluent, while the number rose to 169 MM3 TSE in 2014.

Unfortunately according to Sherif, the end user was not ready to use the treated water, so they had to get rid of this high quality water, temporarily.

He pointed out that the future capacity of treated foul water is expected to reach 366MM3 per year.

Sherif said there is a need for long term compensation of desalinated water and groundwater by treated water for different applications of water use like in

violations and fixing them and learning the key data that needs to be included in the violation record.

Ashghal, Qatar’s Public Works Authority, plans to co-ordinate with the Rule of Law and AntiCorruption Center to hold similar training sessions in English in the coming months.

The Law No14 of year 2015 regarding road occupancy was issued by the order of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Ha-

mad Al Thani on August 19 last year.

The law forbids laying utility pipes or maintaining them or occupying the road with anything that might affect traffic safety, unless a permit is obtained from the department concerned in the Public Works Authority.

The concerned department at the Public Works Authority co-ordinates with the Traffic Department of Ministry of In-

terior to issue the licence for the contractors, consultants or other relevant entities to implement temporary closure of a road or part thereto and to provide traffic diversions if required.

The department concerned is also responsible for supervision and monitoring of these works.

According to the law, the licensee shall comply with the conditions, technical proce-

dures and the period specified in the licence, in accordance with the conditions and technical specifications approved by the concerned department.

The licensee shall abide by the guidelines for excavation works within the right of way as approved by the department concerned.

The law binds on the licensee to restore the public road to the previous status after completions of works.

Officials with Ashghal employees during the training session.

Current and future vision of drainage works highlighted agriculture, landscaping, cooling systems and construction.

Manuals for TSE use for each of these fields are currently under development by Ashghal.

He also highlighted the rise in urban ground water and need for a collection system.

Ashghal adopts a traditional design approach of storm and surface groundwater network, where mainly networks are designed for final disposal to emergency flooded areas or marine environment. In urban areas it aims to control groundwater level and emergency handel storm water in safe management manner.

The discharged water contains solids, microbiological, trace oils and some metals.

Sherif referred to a study by Qatar University that warned that 61,000 cubic meters of ground water was thrown into the sea daily in 2004.

A Study of Surface Groundwater and Storm Water Outfalls Discharges on Marine Environment was carried out in 2007.

The study called for coordination between governmental organizations to improve procedures to reduce contaminants reach surface groundwater and storm water network by implementing in source pollution prevention program. It also recommended settling guidelines for temporary discharges from construction sites, dewatering works to surface groundwater networks,

plan and design of treatment measures for surface groundwater in upper land areas far from sea line for reuse purposes. Moreover, it highlighted the need to consider treatment measures for turbidity , bacteria and hydrocarbon in surface groundwater before discharges to marine environment.

Ashghal have also addressed the issue of urban ground water rise within Doha, which Sherif said is adversely impacting development.

Shrif then moved on to discuss the challenge of development of drainage sewerage works to add new water resource.

He pointed to the design change adopted by Ashghal’s Drainage Network Design Department for the Criteria of Surface Groundwater Networks in 2012, to create a subsurface zone where soakaways can work and basements don’t flood.

He said that ground water and surface water should be considered as a new source of recycle water. So recycled water is a combination of treated sewage effluent emanating from foul water streams (TSE) and treated ground and surface water (TGSW).

This requires management and treatment measures to reuse surface groundwater and storm water as new water resource. This would require Ashghal to: • Complete public surface

•

•

•

•

groundwater network and develop long and deep outfall discharge to sea as an emergency discharge measure.

Management and treatment measures should be considered to reuse surface groundwater and storm water as new water resource.

Implement treatment measures before discharge to existing outfalls.

Apply polluters pay principals .

Develop recycling system for surface groundwater & storm water including treatment measure by wetland followed by reverse osmosis technology.

Combine both treated water with recycled water within one treated water network to cover the

needs of municipalities, district cooling plants and industries for water use for different purposes.

Sherif said that the water balance predictions for 2060 foresees that demand will exceed supply and that current practice will lead to insufficient recycled water to meet all demands and fulfill the country’s food security program.

“We can accept using TSE with large quantities now. In 5 years, we can’t accept it. Efficient TSE use for agriculture, landscaping and cooling to provide opportunities for other users should be a priority “ he said.

Sherif advised all development management companies working with Ashghal to consider applying wise design of landscaping and intelligent irrigation system as well as efficient use in cooling systems.

28

Construction

SITES

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

Type

Tender Title

Participants

Issuing Date

Closing Date

Category

PWA/GTC/139/1415

Tender No.

GTC

Supply of Services Framework (AA-DOM/14-15/M/1610-2.05/G )

Consultancy and Specialized Services

4-Nov-15

9-Feb-16

Drainage

PWA/GTC/135/1415

GTC

Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) for 22nd February Street (AA/ ROM/2015/090/C1/G)

Qatari Companies Only - Joint Venture

21-Oct-15

12-Jan-16

Roads

PWA/GTC/139/1415

GTC

Supply of Services Framework (AA-DOM/14-15/M/1610-2.05/G )

Consultancy and Specialized Services

4-Nov-15

5-Jan-16

Drainage

PWA/GTC/135/1415

GTC

Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) for 22nd February Street (AA/ ROM/2015/090/C1/G)

Qatari Companies Only - Joint Venture

21-Oct-15

5-Jan-16

Roads

General Conditions of Tenders - Full Documents for the Tender can be obtained from Contracts Department (CD) against a Non–refundable fee paid to PWA Account No. (0013-001813-052), Qatar National Bank together with a copy of the Company Registration and a Company Authorization letter.

- Project document may be examined at Al-Faisal Tower(1), Ground Floor, Al Corniche before purchasing from PWA. - Each Tender must be accompanied by a Tender Bond, either in the form of a “Certified Check” or a “Tender Bond’’ issued by a Bank acceptable to the PWA” in the amount mentioned above valid for (120 days). Any Tender received without the proper guarantee will not be considered.

- The Tender shall be submitted in two separate sealed envelopes (technical and financial offer) and both envelopes must be enclosed in a third sealed envelope which shall bear the tender number, subject and closing date.

- All Tenders shall be submitted in original and one copy or they will not be acceptance.

Tenders shall be delivered at or sent to arrive not later than 1.00pm local Doha time on the closing date and deposited in the relevant Tender Box of concerned Tenders Committee’s Chairman at PWA. - The successful Tenderer shall provide a Performance Bond in amount of ten (10%) percent of the Contract Price endorsed by an approved local bank in Qatar.

- For further queries about any of the tenders, please communicate in writing to the Contracts Department by Fax.: (+974) 44950777

TENDERS Please note that any information mentioned on this table are as per the listed companies’ tender advertisements, without any responsibility of the magazine.

Tender Number

Type

Subject

Entity

Close Date

Value

Envelopes System

Tender Fees (QRs)

52 /2015-2016

Local Tenders

Dinamo wrap works for several mosques for three years

Ministry of Endowment & Islamic Affairs

3/1/16

8000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

150

53 /2015-2016

Local Tenders

The supply of spare parts and maintenance of air conditioning and refrigeration for several mosques area Gharafa - Aziguh

Ministry of Endowment & Islamic Affairs

3/1/16

15000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

150

518 /2015-2016

Central Tenders

Guard and security work of the Ministry and its affiliated buildings for two years

Ministry of Endowment & Islamic Affairs

4/1/16

380000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

300

509 /2015-2016

Central Tenders

Works of cleaning of buildings Council For three years

Supreme Council for Judiciary

4/1/16

180000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

300

Tenders Conditions: - You can get a copy of the documents of this tender / tenders of the Central Tenders Committee during official hours, against payment of the tender documents witch you can retrieve it.

- Must be accompanied with the tender a letter of guarantee bank / certified check from a bank operating in the State of Qatar, as indicated above for a period of temporary deposit on 120.

- The offer must be valid for a period of ninety days from the date of the opening of envelopes.

- Will be the last date for submission of tenders is twelve o’clock on the morning of the closure, and will not pay attention to any tender received after the deadline.

- Tenders deposited in the box of the Central Tenders Committee, located in Muntazah - Rawabi Street, to be inside the stamped and sealed envelopes and addressed to the Chairman of the Tenders Committee competent (central / local) showing the number, type of the tender and the subject.

- The Central Tenders Committee invites bidders or their representatives to attend the opening of the envelopes and read the price on the day following the date of the closure during the office hours.

- To obtain tender / tenders documents highlight above must be to mentioned authorization letter from the company / institution.

- For inquiries, please contact Tel: 44378192 /225 /143 /149.

- For more information about the Central Tenders Committee ,tenders and auctions are being posed by the Committee You can visit the site on the Internet www.ctc.gov.qa

Events

2016 Intersec 2016 Organizer: Messe Frankfurt Middle East GmbH Event date (s): 17 – 19 Jan 2016 Venue: Halls 1 – 7, Sheikh Saeed Halls 1 – 3 and Saeed Arena Hall at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre Location: Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 38 94 550 Fax: +971 4 35 85 511 Email: Intersec@uae.messefrankfurt.com Website: www.intersecexpo.com 6th Edition Waste Management & Recycling Summit Organizer: Nispana Innovative Platforms Pvt Ltd. Event Date (s): 9 – 11 Feb Venue: TBA Location: Doha, Qatar Email: jagadish.kumar@nispana.com Website: http://nispana.com/wmrsqatar/ Gulf Industry Fair Organizer: Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions Event Date (s): 9 – 11 Feb Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre Location: Manama, Bahrain Email: info@hilalce.com Website: www.gulfindustryfair.com 8th Annual Façade Design & Engineering Middle East Summit Organizer: IQPC Middle East Event Date (s): 21 – 23 Feb

CALENDAR

Venue: TBA Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4364 2975 Email: enquiry@iqpc.ae Website: http://bit.ly/1RyFPSG

SITES

29

OF EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

5th Annual Arab Future Cities Summit Organizer: Expotrade Middle East FZ-LLC Event date (s): 11 – 12 April Venue: The Ritz Carlton Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 4542135 Fax: +971 4 4542136 Email: info@expotrade-me.com Website: www.arabfuturecities.com Smart Parking Qatar Organizer: Advanced Conferences & Meetings (ACM) Event date (s): 18 – 19 April Venue: TBC Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 361 4001 Fax: +971 4 361 4554 Email: opportunities@acm-events.com Website: www.smartparkingqatar.com Gulf BID 2015 Organizer: Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions Event Date (s): 26 – 28 April Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre Location: Manama, Bahrain Email: info@hilalce.com Website: www.gulfbidexpo.com Gulf Interiors Exhibitions

Construction

Organizer: Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions Event Date (s): 26 – 28 April Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre Location: Manama, Bahrain Email: info@hilalce.com Website: www.gulfinteriorsexhibition.com Gulf Property Show Organizer: Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions Event Date (s): 26 – 28 April Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre Location: Manama, Bahrain Email: info@hilalce.com Website: http://gulfpropertyshow.net/index. php/en/

3rd Annual Lighting Qatar Organizer: Advanced Conferences & Meetings (ACM) Event date (s): 9 – 10 May Venue: TBC Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 361 4001 Fax: +971 4 361 4554 Email: opportunities@acm-events.com Website: www.lightingtechqatar.com Project Qatar 2016 Organizer: IFP Qatar LLC Event date (s): 9 – 12 May Venue: Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre (DECC) Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 44329900 Fax: +974 44432891 Email: info@ifpqatar.com

Website: http://www.projectqatar.com/

Heavy Max 2016 Organizer: IFP Qatar LLC Event date (s): 9 – 12 May Venue: Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre (DECC) Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 44329900 Fax: +974 44432891 Email: info@ifpqatar.com Website: http://www.heavymaxqatar.com/

Qatar StoneTech 2016 Organizer: IFP Qatar LLC Event date (s): 9 – 12 May Venue: Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre (DECC) Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 44329900 Fax: +974 44432891 Email: info@ifpqatar.com Website: http://www.qatarstone-tech.com/ 2nd Annual Future BIM Implementation Qatar Organizer: Advanced Conferences & Meetings (ACM) Event date (s): 11 – 12 May Venue: TBC Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 361 4001 Fax: +971 4 361 4554 Email: opportunities@acm-events.com Website: www.futurebimqatar.com

30

Construction

SITES

Project Focus

NOTE: Whilst we take pride in keeping our Consultants Database with the most up-to-date information, please note that the above information is provided by the Consultants mentioned in the list; therefore QCS in not responsible for any incorrect data.

Consultant

Client

Main Contractor

Value Range (QR) Million

Project Status

Type of Project

M/s. Commercial Development

M/s. Arabtec

500-750

Piling & Shoring

Hotel and Office Buildings

Audit Bureau Towers

M/s. Al Attiya Group Trading Co.

Not Appointed

400-600

Tender Stage

Offices / Residential Towers

Al Waab Mall

M/s. Qatar Industrial Services

Man Enterprize, Qatar

300-400

Under Construction

Mall

CBQ

HBK

N/A

Under Construction

Commercial, Bank, Office Plaza

Qatar Islamic Bank

AFQCO & REDCO - Al Mana

1.2-1.4 bn

Under Construction

Residential Towers

Basrec

GCC/ALEC JV

N/A

Under Construction

Retail Mall

Commercial Tower on Plot Com/49 Al Sedian Company

Yousuf Al Mahmoud

Al Balagh Trading & Contracting Co. W.L.L.

N/A

Under Construction

Office Building - Tower

Office Tower (3B+G+22 Floors) Plot Com-50 at Lusail Marina

Qatar Trading Agency

Redco - Al Mana

N/A

Under Construction

Office Building

Marsa Malaz Hotel at the Pear Qatar (Main Works)

Alfardan Properties Co.

CDC

N/A

Under Construction

Hotel

Mazaya Qatar Real Estate Development QSC

Sinohydro Group Limited

N/A

Under Construction

Residential

CBQ

Power Line Engineering - Qatar W.L.L.

N/A

Under Construction

Residential Towers

Al Sarh Real Estate WLL

CRC

N/A

Under Construction

Residential

Sh. Hamad Bin Faisal Al Thani

REDCO – Al Mana

N/A

Under Construction

Office Building

He Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani

Man Enterprises Qatar, WLL

N/A

Under Construction

Hotel

Ahmed Abed El Aziz Al Baker

Construction and Reconstruction Co.

675

Under Construction

Office Building

Private Investor

Orientals Enterprises

N/A

Under Construction

Residential

Shiekh Abdullah Bin Naser Al Thani

Construction and Reconstruction Co.

85

Under Construction

Commercial

MOI

Hassanesco Co.

N/A

Under Construction

Mixed Use

Shk/Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Thani

Construction and Reconstruction Co.

205

Under Construction

Commercial / Residential

Tricon International

Atlantic Contracting Co.

150

Under Construction

Hotels

Al Hodaifi Group

Not appointed

30-40 Million

Design stage

Office Building

El Eida

Not appointed

5-10 Million

Design stage

Villa

H.E SH Abdulla Bin Mohamed Al Thani

Not appointed

N/A

Under Design

Residential Building

Doha Education Centre

Not appointed

30-50 Million

Design stage

Education

Step 1 International Academy

Not appointed

20-40 Million

Design stage

School

Real Estate Services Group

N/A

600 Million

Design Stage

Hotel

UrbaCon Trading & Contracting (UCC)

N/A

400 Million

Design Stage

Mixed-Use

Project Title

Twin Towers

CBQ Boulevard Five Residential Towers at Viva Bahriya at the Pear (project management)

Doha Festival City (Package 3250,3100 and 7500

Qatar Sidra Village Project

CBQ Towers at VB20 & VB21 Al Rabban Suites Hotel Apartments (3B+G+M+50Floors) Office Buildings (3B+G+22) at Lusail Marina District

Holiday Inn at Business Park

Al Baker Executive Towers Al Nour Tower Al Nasr Showroom Police Training Institute Panasonic Showroom & Residential Al Sadd Hotel

Al Hodaifi Group HQ Al Eida Villa Blusail Furnished Apartment at Lusail (3B+G+10) Doha Education Centre

Step 1 International Academy Mix 11 Hotel Tower at Lusail City Al Jassasiyah White Beach Palace

Marina Com 05 Tower at Lusail City

Private Engineering Office / Mashour Real Estate Group

N/A

315 Million

Construction Stage

Office / Commercial

Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building

Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry

N/A

270 Million

Design Stage

Office

Barwa / Hilson Moran

N/A

250 Million

Design Stage

Office

Ministry of Interior / Al Ali International

N/A

180 Million

Design Stage

Office

MOI

WCT

N/A

Tender Stage

Educational Complex

Health Care Centers (Pacakge 4 & 5)

PWA

ITC/UCE

600

Under Construction

Medical Centers

Construction of Head Quarters Bldg. for Ministry of Interior

MOI

WCT

N/A

Under Construction

Administrative and Office Building

Alaqaria

Arcon

169

Under Construction

Mixed Use

Qatar Navigation

Ramco

450M

Under Construction

Warehouses

Ministry of Interior

Not Appointed

N/A

Design Stage

Administrative and Office Bldg.

500

Under Construction

Educational Building

Com 02 - Barwa Bank Headquarters at Lusail City

National Cyber Security Center

Police College Academy

MIC Business & Recreation Complex

Logistic City Headquarter of General Directorate of Borders, Passports & Travel Document Department

Construction of 56 Nos. New Schools (Stage 9B)

PWA

Al Huda/Al Sraiya/JTC

IBA GROUP

Not Appointed

400

Design Stage

Commercial / Offices Towers

Mr. Saeed Ben Zayed El-Khayareen

Al-Huda

200-250

Under Construction

Office Building

Fahd Suite - Apartment Hotel

FBA GROUP

Not Appointed

200

Detail Stage

Shopping Mall & Office Tower

IBA Hotel

IBA GROUP

Not Appointed

200

Under Construction

Hotel

Alwataniya Holding

Not Appointed

Confidential

Tender Stage

Hospital

Mr.Ali Abdulla Q A Al Emadi

Not Appointed

108 Million

DC-2 Stage

Hotel

QNB

Not Appointed

20 Million

under construction

Bank

Almal Holding

Not Appointed

120 Million

Permit Stage

Driving Academy

Gulf Pearls Company

Gulf Pearl

40 Million

Design Stage

Residential Building

Mr. Abdulla Abdul Rehman Abdulla Haidar

Not Appointed

38 Million

DC-1 Stage

Corporate Offices

Al Jazeera Finance

Living Interior

9 Million

Under Construction

fit out

Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy

Not Appointed

Not Applicable

Tender Stage

fit out

ACES

RAMCO Engineering

22 Million

Tender Stage

Industrial Building

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

165,540,000.00

DESIGN STAGE

MIXED USE BUILDING

MR. IBRAHIM AL ASMAKH

NA

135,000,000.00

ON - GOING

COMMERCIAL

RABBAN GROUP

NA

126,319,000.00

DESIGN STAGE

MIXED USE BUILDING

MR. IBRAHIM AL ASMAKH

NA

114,080,000.00

ON - GOING

COMMERCIAL

C4 - LUSAIL

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

108,070,000.00

DESIGN STAGE

HOTEL APARTMENTS

FV7 - MULTI PURPOSE HALL/ART CENTRE

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

67,500,000.00

DESIGN STAGE

COMMERCIAL

SH. AHMAD BIN HAMAD AL THANI

NA

54,000,000.00

SERVICE DESIGN

COMMERCIAL

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

38,000,000.00

DESIGN STAGE

OFFICE BUILDING

FURSAN REAL STATE

NA

32,627,000.00

DESIGN STAGE

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

FOXHILLS - D49

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

29,299,000.00

DESIGN STAGE

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

FOXHILLS - D21

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

27,472,000.00

DESIGN STAGE

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

FOXHILLS - D04

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

25,273,000.00

DESIGN STAGE

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

FOXHILLS - A13

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

24,918,000.00

DESIGN STAGE

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

FOXHILLS - D14

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

23,150,000.00

DESIGN STAGE

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

Al Emadi Twin Towers City Tower

Construction of American Hospital in Lusail 5 Star Hotel

Qatar National Bank Branches Qatar Driving School Gulf Pearl Office Building

Office Building in Energy City

A Jazeera Finance Headquarter-Fut out Consultancy Services for Additional Floors Fit-out at Al Bida Tower

ACES(Arab Center for Engineering Studies)

C6 - LUSAIL MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT INDS. AREA

C5 - LUSAIL MIXED USE BUILDING (2B+G+8F)-C5

AL AHLI CLUB FV9 AL ASMAKH HEAD OFFICE IN SUSAIL FOXHILLS - A30

Construction

SITES

31

ESAB AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS WELDING MACHINES, CUTTING SYSTEMS, CONSUMABLES & PPE

Tel.: +974 4411 4482 Fax.: +974 4411 4483 +Mob.: +974 6611 4416 m.elrefai@greenstudio.qa

METALPLUS

METALPLUS Prefabricated Air Duct Manufacturing and Trading Co.W.L.L.

aldarwishe engineering bldg. d ring road . opposite lulu hyper market

POBox.491, Gate No.45, Street No.29, Industrial Area, Doha-­‐Qatar Email: info@fabricastqatar.com , www.fabricastqatar.com

Tel : +974-­‐44783012 / 44127502, Fax : +974-­‐44781646 Mob : +974-­‐30911922, 30262009

Dutest Qatar W.L.L.

WIRE ROPES, SLINGS, HEIGHT SAFETY, FABRICATION, INSPECTION AND TESTING, RENTALS, CRANE HIRE

4458 5480; 4469 4569; 5581 5641; 7748 7432

Email: opera,ons@dutestqatar.com, sales@dutestqatar.com

UMM SLAL MOHAMED

P.O Box : 15104 Mob : 55 99 06 24 Telefax : 44 34 25 18 Email: info@metalplus.com.qa - hinzawi@metalplus.com.qa

www .me

OUR SCOPE AND SERVICES INCLUDE:

talp lus.

com

.qa

CRANE AND LIFTING EQUIPMENT ENGINEERS GENERAL MECHANICAL WORKS

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.

ENGINEERING

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

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

Rania Queen St. Amman- Jordan 3:29 622 PM - Aljbeha: 11941 Tel: +9626F_PAGE_ASC_A3.pdf 5356616 - Fax: +96261535 12/29/15 6606 - P.O.Box: watan_newspaper@yahoo.com

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Monthly construction news, tenders, project focus, and forthcoming exhibitions in Qatar Tel.: +974 4469 3280 - Fax: +974 4451 0428

Issue No. (102) January 2016, Doha - Qatar