Construction Engineering Australia V1.04 - August 2015 by EPC Media Group

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THE CITY OF UNLEY

City with a Vision for the Future

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Editorial

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Publisher and Managing Editor Anthony T Schmidt Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Mobile: 0414 788 900 Email: ats@epcgroup.com

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CIRCULATION 14810 Registered by Australia Post Publication No. 100001889

ISSN 2204-7247

August 2015 Volume 1 Number 4

12 Cover Feature

20 Formwork Special: Dokadek 30 Launch

24 Focus on Concrete 26 Sponsored Content:

Aussie Pumps

29 Project Spotlight: The Dali Museum

32 Precast Technology

34 National Precast Feature

About the Cover

In keeping with its focus on projects that encourage strong economic growth, while also building on the city’s strong sense of community the City of Unley in Adelaide’s inner-south has a number of major ‘mixed-use’ developments on the drawing board. Plans include the establishment of a multi-million Unley District Centre Zone that brings together medium-density housing, retail, restaurants/cafés, business facilities and enhanced public open space in the heart of the city. Image: Courtesy Taylor Cullity Lethlean Turn to Page 12 for the full story.

EDITORS COLUMN

Sub-standard Building Materials The ticking time-bomb in a legal minefield

In recent years, pricing pressures, combined with efforts to maximise margins in what is often a tough and unforgiving marketplace, has seen a significant increase in the amount of sub-standard building materials reported in Australian buildings. From electrical cabling, fixtures and fittings, through to structural components (including structural steel and fixings), steel reinforcing, cladding materials and glass, the list of identified sub-standard and nonconforming building materials being used in many new and refurbished buildings across Australia is both extensive and alarming. Indeed, the problems associated with sub-standard and non-compliant materials have now become so prevalent, that it is even the subject of a Senate Inquiry. Notwithstanding the potential safety issues that can result from using substandard construction materials - including structural failure, increased fire risks and serious OH&S ramifications - in these days of widespread litigation and strict ‘chain of responsibility’ legislation, the use of nonAustralian Standard compliant materials can spell disaster for engineers, specifiers, suppliers, builders and contractors in more ways than one. While this is obviously a complex issue with a number of underlying causes, it appears that in many cases, one of the major problems associated with the selection and use of materials that comply with all relevant Australian Standards is one of identification. Or, more specifically, who to believe. In some cases, even though the materials have been specified and ordered to an Australian Standard, the materials that arrive prove to be non-compliant. 4

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

Importantly, whether this ‘noncompliance’ is an intentional act of deception on behalf of the materials supplier, the builder or the contractor, or simply a matter of non-compliance through lack of correct process or an innocent misunderstanding of what constitutes compliance with Australian Standards, is effectively a moot point. Using nonAustralian Standard building materials carries a high risk of ‘built-in’ failure - and the results can be disastrous. The only way to be truly sure that the materials being used are fully compliant with the appropriate Australian Standards and fit for purpose is through independent expert validation and certification. And the key word here is INDEPENDENT! Organisations such as ACRS (Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels Ltd) provide a fully independent assessment and certification for both Australian and internationally sourced construction materials (in the case of ACRS, structural, prestressing and reinforcing steels) that helps builders and contractors ensure that they are getting the Australian Standard compliant materials that they ordered. In a recent discussion I had with ACRS Executive Director, Philip Sanders, he reported that with building products used on construction sites being sourced globally, the importance of independent, technically rigorous validation of material compliance, and awareness of consequences of failure, has never been greater. “In today’s environment, it is simply not enough to think that just because a product has been ordered to an Australian

Standard that the delivered product will automatically comply with the standard,” he said. “Increasingly, this is not the case: The product may meet the Australian standard; it may be supplied with documents for “an equivalent standard” (but which standard and is it really equivalent?) or; it may not meet any standard at all. So how do you know what you have got?” “Certifiers, builders and customers should ask for and then check the proof of compliance for the product. That check should include the independent, expert third party certificate and any supporting documents,” he added. Having confidence that all buildings and structures are being designed, specified and built using materials that meet the relevant Australian Standards and Building Codes is of critical importance. After all, it doesn’t matter how well a building or civil structure is built if a higher risk of structural failure is ‘built in’ by using sub-standard materials.

Anthony T Schmidt Managing Editor

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Construction Engineering Australia partners with National Precast EPC Media Group, publisher of Construction Engineering Australia (CEA) magazine, is proud to announce that it is partnering with National Precast Concrete Association Australia (National Precast) in its quest to inform specifiers, designers, engineers and construction contractors about everything precast. According to National Precast’s CEO Sarah Bachmann, National Precast is also pleased with the arrangement. “Both the publisher and the magazine – including in its previous life as Australian Concrete Construction – have a strong track record and provide a reliable source of information for the industry. We too are proud to be associated with EPC,” said Ms Bachmann. Like EPC, the Association has been around for many years. Started in 1990 by a small group of precast manufacturers, it has grown to become the peak body for the Australian precast concrete industry. Now the industry’s recognised voice, National Precast comprises members both large and small, in all product categories, and across all states. According to Ms Bachmann, National Precast is a very different organisation to what it was some 25 years ago. “We are now an organisation which is well known and respected within the construction sector. Contributing on many different forums, we represent the industry at both state and national level and also, on many Australian Standards committees”, said Ms Bachmann.

As well, the Association has ramped up its marketing, producing a constant supply of information across a number of platforms, which is readily available to the industry. “We have always made our mark with the publications we produce, the most notable being the Precast Concrete Handbook. Developing new publications is something which we are continuing, with two new publications Details for Buildings and the Sandwich Panel Recommended Practice having been recently released. That’s not where it stops though. National Precast also has a formidable range of other information available. From the many fact sheets that can be found on the Association’s website, a regular supply of member case studies is also now also being produced. Another new initiative, the free web user service, allows precasters, engineers, architects and contractors to sign up to receive regular electronic newsletters. The organisation also regularly produces editorials for industry journals and has recently partnered with DesignBUILD exhibition. The Association provides other services too, which are frequently used by the industry. “Our tender request service is a new service we offer contractors and is becoming increasingly popular. It makes it easy for builders. They simply send us the project details and leave the rest to us,” Ms Bachmann said.

Also available is the Find-a-Precaster service that is available on National Precast’s website as well as the R-Value Calculator tool that calculates the thermal mass benefit of precast. Membership is set to progress too. In recent times the Association has made some real changes which will see membership increasing and representing a wider sector of the industry. Provisional Precaster membership, for example, has recently been introduced to allow precasters to try membership for a heavily reduced fee. And membership now caters for individuals, with both students and individual engineers, architects, builders etc able to join. “We now have a broad presence in almost every sphere,” said Ms Bachmann. “We are an energetic group of individuals, passionate about precast, working vigorously to continue the remarkable growth of precast and represent its interests.” As part of the new partnership, starting with this issue, every issue of Construction Engineering Australia magazine will now incorporate a special National Precast Feature section. With precast news, views, project reports, technical information and member profiles, this regular feature section is sure to prove a valuable addition for CEA readers. The first National Precast Feature section can be found on Page 34 of this issue.

Light years and $1M ahead

The Hills Shire, Holroyd, Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith. “Taking advantage of new technology for energy efficient street lighting is about taking a step into a more sustainable energy future for Western Sydney,” Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Science, Karen Andrews, said. “There’s no better time to do this given that energy costs are a major issue for many Australian organisations, businesses and households, and a priority area for the government’s energy reform agenda.” Mrs Andrews said the project was designed to help reduce cost pressures

on the councils which were coping with population growth rates among Australia’s highest. The new energy efficient lights are expected to result in savings of $21 million and cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 70,000 tonnes over 20 years.

Nine Western Sydney councils are expected to share cost savings totalling over $1 million a year under an energy efficient street lighting project launched in late May. The $7.8 million project replaces approximately 13,000 street lights with energy efficient lights and is being supported by a $5.2 million Federal Government grant. Councils involved in the initiative are Blue Mountains, Blacktown, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, 6

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Protecting Australia’s national heritage Some of the most significant sites on Australia’s National Heritage List will share in almost $9 million funding to protect and maintain their historic values. Eighteen successful applicants will benefit from grants of up to $1 million through the Federal Government’s Protecting National Historic Sites Program. The program is designed to allow organisations to carry out important conservation work and activities which will enhance visitor understanding and access to these important sites. There are 103 places on the National Heritage List which are recognised for helping to define Australia’s natural, historic and Indigenous heritage. The Australian War Memorial, the former High Court of Australia, Woolmers Estate and the Hyde Park Barracks are among the key heritage-listed sites to receive funding through the latest grants.

City of Melbourne endorses plan for open space contributions Melbourne City Council has endorsed a planning scheme amendment which will require developers to pay fixed public open space contributions of either land or cash for new projects.

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

Cockatoo Island, Sydney

Other successful projects include: • conservation work on the Convict Workshops at Cockatoo Island (NSW); • conservation works and development of public education and interpretation resources on the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme (WA); • archaeological research, investigations, and conservation works to the historical graves within the Third Quarantine Cemetery (NSW); and • conservation works and the development of a cultural hub at the Rippon Lea House and Gardens (Victoria). Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, said the list was diverse, but one that very much reflected the richness of Australia’s heritage.

“What these places have in common is that they help build a strong sense of community and identity among Australians, and remind us of who we are and where we have come from. “It is important that future generations have the opportunity to visit places on the National Heritage List. By providing funding to help maintain and develop these important historic sites, the government is making sure this can happen.” The Protecting National Historic Sites Program supports activities that protect, manage, maintain and conserve places listed on the National Heritage List for their historic values, and also contributes to their management and long-term sustainability.

Planning Scheme Amendment C209 will be submitted to Victoria’s Minister for Planning for approval. “This amendment will help council to deliver on our Open Space Strategy by securing funding and land for parks, recreation areas and open spaces across the municipality,” Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said. The Open Space Strategy aims to create a network of high quality and diverse open spaces within walking distance for residents and workers. Open space plays an important role in mitigating the Urban Heat Island effect by

providing cooler spaces during hot summers and allowing built-up areas like the central city to cool more effectively overnight. “With more people choosing to live in apartments, the provision of high-quality public open space is more important now than ever,” Lord Mayor Doyle said. He said the City of Melbourne managed more than 500 hectares of open space, representing almost 15 per cent of the municipality. “We have a 15-year plan to create an additional 24 hectares of open space and this change to the planning scheme will help us to bring that vision to fruition.” Councillor Ken Ong, Chair of Council’s Planning portfolio, said the amendment set contribution rates of five per cent and 7.06 per cent for new developments, as either a percentage of the site value, a land contribution or a combination of both. “The higher rate will apply in the city’s high growth and urban renewal areas where there is a greater need for public open space to cater for a growing population,” Cr Ong said.

FIELDERS STEEL

INDUSTRY NEWS

A second landmark building for Sydney’s Chinatown $300-Million residential and retail showpiece complements Frank Gehry’s masterpiece Internationally famous Frank Gehry’s avant-guard creation for the Sydney UTS Business School may have dominated the headlines, but Chinatown now boasts two architecturally acclaimed buildings. The $300-Million residential and retail complex, The Quay at 61-79 Quay Street, seamlessly blends the old with the new. It is diagonally opposite Gehry’s Dr Chau Chak Wing Building and fulfils the potential of the prominent site which lay dormant for 25 years.

From 1912 to the 1950s it was the thriving poultry section of Paddy’s Market before it was turned into a retail warehouse. The building burnt down in 1985, but luckily a corner section of the facade was saved and preserved, albeit propped-up by steel supports. The remnant warehouse facade was sympathetically incorporated into The Quay, helping to provide an historical context at street level. Here 17 shops and service providers now operate, as well as China’s most famous traditional medicine shop – Tong Ren Tang. Above are 286 apartments. The Quay was developed by Ausbao Pty Ltd, which is the Australian subsidiary of the Beijing Capital Development Holdings Group. BCDHG is Beijing’s largest property developer, constructing more than eight million square metres of property countrywide each year. The Quay has two sleek metallic towers – one of 17 levels and the other 16 – each with a dazzling private foyer befitting a

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six-star hotel. It showcases contemporary symmetry and a purity of line, with most of the apartments orientated to the north to gain direct sunlight, and some enjoying water views of Darling Harbour. Ausbao purchased the site in September, 2009 and held a design competition. The winning scheme, by WMK Architecture, was granted 10% ‘bonus’ floorspace by the City Of Sydney Council because of its environmental initiatives, design excellence and clever response to re-activating the public spaces.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

The Managing Director of Ausbao, Gavin Zhang, describes The Quay as “an urban resort”, with a communal north-facing terrace garden connecting the two towers, and a large indoor-outdoor gymnasium. “We introduced elements previously only seen in prestigious hotels, which gives The Quay a unique architectural point of difference over other residential developments,” said Zhang. “The Quay gave us an exciting opportunity to showcase best practices in architecture, interior design, construction

and sensitive planning. It is at the forefront of sustainable city living, with plantationgrown timber, eco-friendly building services and a gas heated central hot water system which resulted in it being awarded a 4-Star Energy rating.” Most apartments have balconies with floor-to-ceiling operable louvres which enhance the layered appearance of the facade, enable residents to look out from their living areas at Darling Harbour and the city with added privacy, and create an indoor-outdoor living space. The interiors were crafted by Smart Design Studio, setting new quality standards with limestone floors in all living spaces, kitchens, bathrooms and balconies, ‘floating’ joinery, massive island benches, chamfered ceilings and LED lighting. Just like the custom-designed interiors, the two foyers at The Quay are unlike anything previously seen in a Sydney residential building. Created by specialist hotel design firm CHADA to a six-star standard, they have cavernous spaces,

internally-lit panels, reflective surfaces, oversized feature lights. The Managing Director of CBRE Residential Project Marketing, David Milton, says the popularity of The Quay is due to its quality, excellent design, exciting location and convenience to public transport. “It is close to markets, cafes, theatres, boutiques, galleries, museums, bars, designer shops, fashion outlets, colleges, recreational amenities, parks and the harbour,” Milton said. Further activating the precinct will be the highly-anticipated Goods Line, a 500-metre corridor to Darling Harbour which is due to open in a couple of months. Ausbao is well into the planning for another world-class residential building nearby, at 286 Sussex Street, appointing Tzannes Associates as the first stage design architects. “We delivered what we promised with The Quay, and we will continue to provide quality apartments to the Sydney market,” Zhang said.

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

COVER FEATURE

City of Unley A City with a Vision for the Future Encompassing an area of approximately 14km2 immediately to the south of the City of Adelaide, the City of Unley includes some of Adelaide’s most sought-after suburbs. Whilst geographically compact, Unley is both vibrant and diverse; blending some of Adelaide’s most ‘in demand’ residential addresses with a friendly and welcoming social character and GRP (Gross Regional Product) estimated at over $2.62 billion. Not happy to rest on its laurels, the City of Unley is continuing to look to the future, with a number of major ‘mixed-use’ developments now on the drawing board, including the establishment of a multi-million Unley District Centre Zone that brings together medium-density housing, retail, restaurants/ cafés, business facilities and enhanced public open space in the heart of the city.

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

ounded by Greenhill Road in the north, Glen Osmond Road in the east, Cross Road in the south and South Road and Anzac Highway in the west, the City of Unley is renowned as much for its beautiful tree-lined streets and high quality housing as it is for the abundance of cafés, speciality shops and boutiques, which are located in a variety of character-filled shopping precincts across the city. In addition, the city boasts a burgeoning commercial sector as well as a vibrant technology, healthcare and commercial sector - hardly surprising given Unley’s close proximity to both the Adelaide CBD and the ease of access it offers to major facilities (including Adelaide Airport) and major arterial routes.

Not surprisingly, the combination of location, quality housing and facilities continues to deliver strong and consistent growth across both the residential and businesses/commercial sectors. Whilst this growth is clearly necessary to ensure Unley’s future prosperity, it can represent somewhat of a double-edged sword.

Striking a Balance

One of the most challenging aspects of planning for the City’s future growth, is that of striking a balance between delivering modern, attractive and sustainable buildings and facilities that meet both the expectations and needs of residents, businesses and visitors alike, while not degrading Unley’s rich history and charming heritage appeal.

COVER FEATURE

Main image below: Unley Central concept, looking west across Unley Road. Artist’s Impression by Taylor, Cullity Lethlean. Above: (Left) Nook Nosh on Unley Road. Photo supplied. (Right) Caffe Paparazzi on Unley Road. Photos supplied.

“In Unley, we’re starting with a city which is attractive, vibrant and popular, so we need to ensure that our Development Plan delivers what we need for the future growth and prosperity of the city, without destroying its unique character - the very thing that has made it so popular in the first place.” Peter Tsokas, City of Unley CEO Lachlan Clyne, Mayor of the City of Unley, commented: “For Council, our primary goal is to find the right balance between encouraging development and growth, while not ruining the beautiful city that we have.” “The decisions we make today will birth a City of Unley for the future. Built on leading design principles, we want to create a highly accessible, inclusive and smart city that promotes innovation, health and wellbeing and provides opportunities for connection, inclusion and participation. We want our residents to establish deep roots within the community and feel like they never need to leave the City of Unley.” “Whilst it is often easier to maintain the status quo in terms of housing densities, business precincts and land use, in reality, staying stagnant is simply not an option,” the Mayor added. “With that in mind, we realise that if we want the City of Unley to continue to be an attractive city to live, work and visit, we need to ensure that our Development Plans encourage appropriate development that meet both the current

and future needs of residents, businesses and visitors to the city,” Mayor Clyne said. “Importantly, we don’t, however, want to ‘throw the baby out with the bath water’ so to speak - we need to protect and build on what we already have,” he added. These comments were echoed by City of Unley CEO, Peter Tsokas, who said that in many ways, the level of difficulty and number of challenges that need to be overcome during any widespread development planning process is in direct relation to the point from which you’re starting. “Put simply, if you’re starting with a derelict site in an area with very little appeal and very few facilities, it’s much easier to come up with a solution which is better than what you have,” he said. “In Unley, we’re starting with a city which is attractive, vibrant and popular, so we need to ensure that our Development Plan delivers what we need for the future growth and prosperity of the city, without destroying its unique character - the very thing that has made it so popular in the first place,” he added.

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

COVER FEATURE

Unley Central concept, Soldiers’ Memorial Garden with mixed-use development. Artist’s Impression by Taylor, Cullity Lethlean.

THE CITY OF UNLEY A Brief History The dense area of bush that once covered the Unley region of the Adelaide Plains was home to the Kaurna people and the City of Unley acknowledges the Kaurna people as the traditional owners and respects the traditional name ‘Kertaweeta’ which means ‘scrub with reeds’. European settlement dates from 1840 when the first subdivisions were made. By the end of the 1920s the area was almost completely subdivided. The 1970s and 80s saw an increase in the number of commercial offices within the city, particularly along the major arterial roads. As with many inner-city areas across Australia, the City of Unley has seen the development of a robust café economy over the past decade. This has led to a ‘renaissance’ for many of Unley’s smaller commercial / retail strips, with an abundance of new cafés, restaurants and boutique retail shops. Indeed, King William Road is one of Adelaide’s most popular café and retail destinations, attracting locals and visitors alike. Recent years have seen the population growing steadily, with Unley’s 2014 population estimate placed at 39,014 permanent residents - a figure that is expected to increase to almost 44,000 by 2040. 14

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

“What’s more, given our close proximity to the City of Adelaide, and the high number of key transport corridors that traverse the city, we also need to ensure that our plans fit with the State Government’s plans and vision for the Greater Adelaide Metropolitan Area - particularly in terms of land use and transport strategies,” Peter Tsokas said.

The Unley District Centre Zone – Sustainable Living with Community at its Heart The Unley District Centre, which is the traditional heart of Unley, is of particular interest to council because of the relatively tight land holdings in the area, with four major landowners. There are also a number of smaller holdings, but they are generally not interspersed amongst the larger parcels, thereby providing an almost unique opportunity for a large, fully-integrated and ‘cohesive’ development that works well on both a practical and aesthetic level. As one of the four major landholders, Unley Council has determined that it will endeavour to use its holdings as a catalyst for genuine mixed-use development (including residential) to occur in the precinct. Council has already prepared the Unley Central Precinct Plan, and the Minister for Planning has recently approved the initiation of the District Centre (Unley Central) Zone Development Plan Amendment (DPA),

which will further investigate the ideas and proposals put forward in the Precinct Plan. Both the DPA and the Precinct Plan will be the subject of a comprehensive period of community consultation commencing later in the year. “We believe that the Unley Central Precinct Plan provides us with an ideal opportunity to set a strong future direction for the city with a focus on community,” Mayor Clyne said. “While it may sound like an all-too-often overused ‘catch-phrase’, for us, plans such as the Unley Central Precinct Plan are about much more than simple buildings, roads and parks. They’re about building a strong sense of community and a future for our city - a sustainable future which focuses on liveability and celebrates and builds on what we already have,” the Mayor added. Even though the Plan is only now starting its journey of public consultation and community input, there is already considerable excitement amongst the Elected Members and small number of community members who have already had an opportunity to access the Precinct Plan. Indeed, the reaction to both the Plan and the initial artistic interpretations of the planned Unley District Centre Zone have been extremely positive. “This type of development takes a number of years. While we are only at a very early stage in the overall process, we feel confident that the Unley Central

COVER FEATURE

BUILDING FOR A STRONG FUTURE

Precinct Plan sets a direction for our city that balances future needs and growth with the strong community focus which is at the very heart of Unley,” Mayor Clyne said. “That said, we also know that achieving that sort of outcome, or indeed an outcome that delivers on the vision and aspirations of the Precinct Plan and the State Government for this area, will mean attracting hundreds of millions of dollars of private sector investment to the area, and significant thought and investment in managing the transport and movement of the additional residents attracted to the cosmopolitan lifestyle on offer,” he said. “There is much in the City of Unley that makes it such an appealing place to live and work. While we’re extremely happy with our city, we also understand that in order to continue to prosper, we need to grow for the future. For that to happen, we need a strong and positive plan - a plan that values what we have and builds on that strong foundation to enhance both facilities and the strong sense of community on which our city thrives,” Mayor Clyne added. “In many ways, it’s somewhat of a ‘watershed’ moment in the city’s history, and we welcome the possibility of an influx of new residents to capitalise on the corridor’s development and the Unley Central Precinct. Council is firmly of the belief that, if a developer builds it, the new residents will come and share the lifestyle,” Mayor Clyne concluded.

The Unley Central Precinct is only one of a number of major development projects currently undertaken by the City of Unley. Guided by the Community Plan 2033’s edict of ‘A Community of Possibilities’ the City of Unley has gained an enviable reputation for developing projects that encourage strong economic growth, while also building on the city’s strong sense of community - projects that balance the needs of residents, business and visitors alike. “We are also excited about other potential new sites becoming available across the city,” Peter Tsokas added. “For example, there is a 3.6 Hectares site within Unley, located less than 4 kilometres from the Adelaide CBD, which may provide significant development opportunities in the next few years”. Projects currently in various stage of development throughout the City of Unley include:

Cremorne Plaza Located on Unley Road, Unley, the Cremorne Plaza redevelopment incorporates both medium-density

residential and some small retail components. Cremorne Plaza was the first development approved in the State Government Urban Corridors Zone within the Unley Council area. The proponents are a consortium of international businessmen, who appear to have recognised the potential of the Unley Central area, having already invested significantly to acquire the property. With the development approval now secured, marketing of the Cremorne Plaza project is scheduled to commence early next year, with construction to commence when the required pre-sales targets have been achieved. Construction time for the project has been estimated at approximately two years.

King William Road Vision The King William Road Vision Project presents a long-term vision for the popular King William Road precinct - a much loved main street with a mix of food, small business and boutique retail. The vision provides the long-term plan necessary to direct future planning and investment to sustain and enhance its cosmopolitan character, combining longterm strategic goals with identifiable, achievable and immediate projects.

Pictured here and above: Parklets on King William Road, Hyde Park. Photos supplied.

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

COVER FEATURE

SA Government

PLANNING STRATEGY FOR METROPOLITAN ADELAIDE

Pictured here and below: Goodwood Road Street Upgrade concept. Artist’s impressions by HASSELL.

The vision captures the aspirations of its stakeholders and aligns ideas around growth, retail and dining, heritage, car parking, pedestrian access, safety, place making, greening and sustainability. It is intended to excite and inspire the community, build partnerships with local businesses and land owners, and direct long-term investment. An important part of the vision is the promotion of flexibility in staging, funding and use through temporary or opportunistic developments. This approach can inspire innovation in the design and management of the streetscape, resulting in a more dynamic experience for the public. The use of temporary installations and temporary activation of public spaces, including the introduction of ‘parklets’, is having huge success in reinvigorating the precinct.

Goodwood Main Street Upgrade A major streetscape transformation is planned for Goodwood Main Street in 2016. Home to restaurants, cafés, boutique stores and one of Adelaide’s most popular suburban cinemas, the precinct is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. The 2009 Goodwood Precinct Urban Design Framework (UDF) was developed with the local community to identify a range

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

of opportunities to improve the usability, function, character and sustainability of the village. Over the last 5 years Council has worked with government agencies and through local partnerships to implement a range of actions identified in the UDF. The under-grounding of the powerlines between the tramline and Victoria Street was a long term recommendation that will commence in late 2015. These engineering works provide Council with an opportunity to review the existing condition of Goodwood Main Street with local businesses and the community to plan a new future. Concept Plans for the precinct incorporate a range of opportunities to improve the usability, function, character and sustainability, all of which have been developed to reflect the aims of the community and build on the ‘alive and vibrant’ identity of Goodwood Road.

Unley Oval Redevelopment One of Adelaide’s most iconic suburban football grounds - and home to SANFL team Sturt - the historic Unley Oval is also a major drawcard for locals and visitors to the city. As part of a commitment to providing improved facilities at Unley Oval for all users, Council is currently seeking feedback from the community on potential upgrades to the grandstands at Unley Oval. Whilst the upgrades will not mean any significant visual change to the oval vista, they will deliver enhanced facilities to the interior of both grandstands for the benefit of all users, and will include upgrades to community function facilities, canteen facilities, toilets and amenities.

In 2010, South Australian State Government released its 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide. The Plan, revised in 2014, aims to focus future growth away from urban sprawl (to protect food growing areas and natural landscapes) while at the same time maintaining affordable cost of living, healthy neighbourhoods and providing opportunities for jobs growth and business investment. The Plan sets locations and directions for the “next generation” of infill and medium density housing (medium/long term), sets a stronger urban growth boundary and provides a link to plans aimed at activating zoned employment lands. It highlighted intentions to create a number of transit-oriented developments and a focus on mixed use precincts that would bring together housing, jobs, transport services, recreation and leisure. The City of Unley hosts a number of Adelaide’s most important transport corridors within its relatively compact boundaries. These include the Glenelg tram corridor, the Seaford rail line and major north-south arterial roads including Glen Osmond, Fullarton, Unley, Goodwood and South Roads. Council consequently has had to manage a balancing act that ensures the majority of the historic and character areas which give the Council area its very essence and attractiveness could be retained whilst still meeting the Government’s goals in relation to corridor development. While Greenhill Road and much of Unley Road were captured in the Government’s first round of Development Plan Reviews to develop the so called Urban Corridor Zones, the Unley District Centre Zone was not included in this process.

At this stage, Council does not have funding for any upgrades and the designs will be used to attract and secure funding from other sources in the future. Therefore, there are no set timeframes for the upgrades to occur. The construction will also go through the normal development approval process prior to any works commencing. For enquiries contact Keith Davis, City of Unley Manager of Urban Design on (08) 8372 5111.

BIDSTRATEGIST.COM

Do You Truly ‘Hear’ Your Clients? by Jordan Kelly www.bidstrategist.com I’m always surprised at how many people think they’re great listeners . . . but aren’t. Mere surprise gives way to real concern, however, when it comes to poor listening skills on the part of customerfacing operatives (especially business development executives - “BDs”) in one of my client organisations. The discrepancy between the way poor listeners see themselves (i.e. the many who see themselves, ironically, as good listeners) and the reality of their communications performance, has its roots in a simple distinction: listening versus hearing. Listening and hearing aren’t always the same thing. Sometimes they are, but often they’re not. It depends on the orientation and attitude of the “listener”. A BD, for instance, can have many different ways of “listening”. Here are a few:

CURSORY LISTENING This is “quick and dirty” listening, often the type of listening extended when the “listener” is “mentally multi-tasking”, or not deeply interested.

SHALLOW LISTENING Closely related to cursory listening, this is the type of listening that takes place when the BD or other customer-facing operative is of the belief that he or she already knows what the customer/client is about to say, already understands their problem/ objective, and/or already knows the solution . . . or at least the solution it suits themselves to propose. Needless to say, this form of listening is often underpinned by arrogance - an attitude that has no place in the toolkit of a sharp BD. 18

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

INQUISITIVE LISTENING Moving into the more productive forms of listening, “inquisitive listening” is the first step towards real client-centricity, real problem-solving. Unlike the former brands of listening, it’s a mode in which the BD genuinely “hears” the client or customer. In this more (but not yet peak) strategic form of listening, the BD is able to gather and identify components of information that are critical to the formulation of a solution. That is, of course, if the BD is genuinely driven by the desire to act in the customer’s or client’s best interests, in terms of the solution to be arrived at.

her organisation. I say “potential” because it’s the manner and comprehensiveness of the information that makes its way back through that operative and onwards to the bid team, that will dictate its next level of value. And it’s how that bid team then goes on to use it that will dictate its ultimate, bottom-line value. Stay tuned for future columns.

STRATEGIC LISTENING In this optimum form of listening, the business development operative hears the client at a very deep level. He picks up on his or her key motivating forces - the pain the organisation wants to avoid; the rewards sought both by the organisation, key stakeholders and personnel; the fears; the areas in which they seek clarity and direction over pre-existing confusion and indirection, and other intangibles. In this form of listening, the BD “listens between the lines”, empowering himself or herself with the ability to ask progressively more insightful questions. The BD that can perform at this level is also one who understands that information does not, in and of itself, constitute intelligence. He or she knows, however, that the answers to well-considered, quality questions loan themselves to conversion into valuable intelligence. The business development or other client-facing operative who has the smarts, the humility and the patience to listen at this level is a potential power tool to his or

Jordan Kelly is a bid strategist and consultant. She is author of ‘Think & Win Bids: Winning High-Value, High-Stakes Bids through Superior Questioning, Listening and Thinking Skills’. WWM readers can subscribe to her free newsletter - ‘The Bid Strategist’ at www.bidstrategist.com

The Formwork Experts.

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No need to calculate or measure up, as the positions and numbers of props are all made clear by the system

Dokadek 30 is a beamless, handset formwork system designed as a lightweight steel construction with powder-coated frames faced with a wood/plasticcomposite sheet. There are two different working methods: with or without drop-head. Dokadek 30 combines the benefits of a panel floor formwork system with those of a Dokaflex floor-slab formwork. That means its 3m² large panels make it fast in typical zones, yet, thanks to Dokaflex, it is also quick and flexible in the infill areas. Dokadek 30: Slab formwork at its most evolved.

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FORMWORK SPECIAL

DOKA INTRODUCES DOKADEK 30 FORMWORK SYSTEM Innovative New Panel Floor Formwork System Boosts Safety and Productivity In keeping with the company’s focus on providing innovative solutions that boost safety and productivity, internationally renowned formwork specialist Doka has launched its new Dokadek 30 Panel Floor Formwork System in Australia. Speaking on the eve of the launch, Doka Australia Managing Director, Christian Unger and Head of Sales, Jan Pienaar said that the new system represented a major leap in panel floor formwork design and performance. “We believe that the Dokadek 30 will change the way many Australian contractors think about formwork,” Mr Unger said. “Its innovative design features, versatile performance and low number of system components can deliver a significant boost in both safety and productivity which, in turn, can also help to reduce overall construction time and costs,” he added. Founded in Austria in 1958, Doka has been at the forefront of construction formwork technology for nearly six decades. A far cry from its humble beginnings, Doka now has some 160 branches in over 70 countries, employing over 5,900 people.

Doka Australia Head of Sales, Jan Pienaar (left) and Managing Director Christian Unger at the launch of Dokadek 30.

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

Importantly, despite this massive growth, Doka remains a wholly family-owned business - maintaining the same focus on innovation, quality and customer service upon which the company was built. “From the outset, Doka’s focus has always centred on the development of innovative systems which meet customers’ needs whilst maximising safety and productivity,” said Jan Pienaar. “We understand that our clients operate in an extremely competitive environment. With that in mind, Doka has always focused on the development of products and systems that offer practical solutions which can deliver tangible benefits.” “The Dokadek 30 system qualifies on all fronts,” he added. “It provides an extremely easy-to-use and highly versatile panel floor formwork solution that can significantly reduce erection and dismantling times, whilst also helping to improve safety on the worksite.” “It really is a win-win-win for contractors,” Mr Pienaar said. Developed with a focus on speed, safety and versatility, the Dokadek 30 system is the result

Dokadek 30’s unique design means that it is constructed from below, eliminating the risks associated with crews standing on an unstable surface and work from above.

of over five years Research & Development work - including numerous field trials. The system was first launched in Europe in 2012, and since that time as helped to revolutionise panel floor formwork. Dokadek 30 has been used extensively in Europe, the Middle East and Africa on some of the world’s largest and most high profile building projects, including the 1,000 metre tall Kingdom Tower in Jeddah Saudi Arabia. One of the key benefits of the Dokadek 30 system is that it only has three main components, namely: the prop, the head and the panels. As well as streamlining logistics and on-site component storage, Dokadek 30’s minimal inventory can help to eliminate on-site confusion with incorrect parts. For maximum versatility the panels are available in a choice of two sizes (2.44m x 1.22m or 2.44m x 0.81m). The panel sizes have been specifically designed to deliver the ideal combination of large area (thereby minimising the number of panels required) with easy handling - and ergonomic design incorporating largest possible area whilst still remaining a practical and easy-to-handle size. The panels feature Doka’s high performance Xlife sheet, which combines excellent durability for maximum reuse capability with a good quality off-form finish. For infill areas, the Dokadek system is fully compatible on both an engineering and safety standard with all other Doka formwork products. There is also a range of infill panel and beams to

FORMWORK SPECIAL

“Our specialised engineering services teams work with the customers through all stages of the project. From pre-engineering and design, through to delivery, on-site service, training and site supervision, our dedicated, fully-trained staff are there to help streamline the formwork process from commencement to completion,” Mr Unger concluded. For further information, please visit the website: www.doka.com/Dokadek-30 Dokadek 30 can significantly reduce erection and dismantling times, whilst also helping to improve safety on the worksite.

suit the most common occurrences. Another major feature of the Dokadek 30 system is safety. Dokadek 30’s unique design means that it is constructed from below; it cannot be put together from the top down. This not only means that the formwork crew can see that they’re putting it together correctly, it also eliminates the risks associates with crews standing on an unstable surface and work from above. Dokadek 30’s large hinge design allows it to be easily connected to the previous panel. Once connected, it is simply propped into position without requiring any work from above ground / base level. In addition, once the panels have been propped into position, they lock in so they can’t be accidentally knocked out, or ‘blown’ out of position by updrafts. For added safety Dokadek 30 is also fully-compatible with the Doka integrated handrail system. Together with the savings offered in terms of erection and dismantling, Dokadek 30 is also extremely quick and easy to move around a jobsite. The panels and components are fully compatible with Doka’s innovative DekDrive system. This means that rather than having to crane components outside the building to the next level or a different location, panels can be moved inside the building, using standard doorways and halls. As with all Doka products, the Dokadek 30 system is fully-engineered and approved to all applicable Australian Standards. Doka’s holistic approach to performance

The Dokadek 30 panels feature Doka’s high performance Xlife sheet, which combines excellent durability for maximum reuse capability with a good quality off-form finish.

and safety and extensive experience with compliance to standards provides contractors with the confidence that all documentation and processes are in place to ensure full compliance to all relevant Australian and New Zealand Standards. Doka has branches in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, servicing customers across Australia, and is also expanding into Western Australia. In addition, the company has a major regional logistics hub in Malaysia, which means it can move large numbers of equipment and materials in a significantly shorter timeframe than that that would be required to ship the materials from Europe. In keeping with its focus on customer service, Doka provides a ‘one-stop shop’ for formwork from design and engineering services, through to training (both on- and off-site) logistics and, of course, formwork supply. “Our customers are the centre of our business, and we are 100% committed to working with our customers to achieve the results that they need,” Christian Unger said.

Doka can also provide training and site supervision to help streamline the formwork process - delivering safe, fast, and efficient forming The Dokadek 30 panels lock in so they can’t be accidentally knocked out or ‘blown’ out of position by updrafts.

FOCUS ON CONCRETE

Did you know?

Interesting and Quirky Facts about Concrete Renowned for both his eye for detail and love for trivia (and all things concrete), Construction Engineering Australia (CEA) Deputy Editor, Jack Cleaver, has put together a collection of interesting and quirky facts about concrete. Enjoy!

Why are Carbon credits tied to fly ash? Fly ash is residual ash from coal-fired power stations that normally goes to landfill. Substitution of fly ash for some of the Portland cement makes for a more environmentally friendly concrete, particularly in saving CO2 emissions. Now, as we enter a future of carbon trading sooner or later, we are likely to see more end users try to grab the carbon credits, because they represent dollars. Retailing giant Wal-Mart in the US is the first end user to begin grabbing any carbon dioxide emissions reduction credits from fly ash specification in concrete mixes as its own property. This is going to set a worldwide trend.

Recycled building materials favour Concrete European cities like Edinburgh are demanding that recycled building materials must be used in at least 10 percent of any development over 1,000 square metres. This idea is spreading across Europe like wildfire and is turning out to be a boon for steel reinforced concrete. Steel reinforcing is 100% recyclable, as is concrete when crushed.

Question – Where is the largest un-reinforced concrete dome?

Bet you weren’t thinking that you’d have to go back 2,000 years. The Roman Pantheon is the largest (43.4 metres in diameter) 24

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

un-reinforced solid concrete dome in the World. It was built by the Emperor Hadrian almost 2,000 years ago, and is still a major survivor of Roman times. It was not surpassed in diameter by any dome, regardless of construction until the 20th century. Today, no engineer would dare build this concrete structure in a seismic zone like Rome without steel reinforcing.

New use for crushed concrete Passenger planes rely on thrust reversers to pull up before the end of the runway, particularly in wet weather when heavy braking is less effective. Of the hundreds of thousands of landings each year there have been a few occasions where the thrust reversers failed, sometimes sending planes careering off the end of the runway and even across roads. Looking for a reliable (and preferably low-cost) solution to this, airport authorities are turning more and more to thick beds of crushed concrete at the ends of a landing strip. These beds containing thousands of tonnes of crushed concrete can safely pull up sliding planes with no fuss.

Say Goodbye with Concrete and Hello to Money

Making money out of concrete usually involves hard work. But some smart cookies in the States have found a way to sit back and relax, watching concrete stack up the money. Here’s how: Relatives of the deceased persons can have their ashes mixed into concrete to help form ocean habitats for fish in artificial reefs. A reef diver came up with the idea of turning artificial reefs into memorials, and founded ‘Eternal Reefs’ in 2001, since then it has become very popular. Burying a loved one’s ashes in a reef ball can

cost $1,000 to $5,000. Eternal Reefs also has two models for pets, for $400 and $500. This is much cheaper than a grave and headstone. The balls have grapefruit-sized holes in them to dissipate current, and provide hiding holes for smaller fish from predators. The concrete surface is dimpled to encourage coral growth. Relatives and friends of those interred say they want something more tangible for their loved ones’ ashes than scattering them.

“Relatives of the deceased persons can have their ashes mixed into concrete to help form ocean habitats for fish in artificial reefs. A reef diver came up with the idea of turning artificial reefs into memorials, and founded ‘Eternal Reefs’ in 2001, since then it has become very popular. Radiation – Bring it on!

Concrete is a useful material for nearly everything, but it is especially useful for shielding against radiation, particularly when using plastic materials and heavy ores. There are seven popular concrete alternatives that are tailor made for various levels of shielding. These are baritepolyethylene concrete, barite-polyvinyl chloride (PVC) concrete, barite-Portland

FOCUS ON CONCRETE

cement concrete, pyrite-polyethylene concrete, pyrite-PVC concrete, pyritePortland cement concrete, and ordinary concrete. Factors affecting mix selection are the degree of protection required against neutrons, degree of protection against gamma rays, suitability of the concrete as a building material, and cost.

Concrete that Floats in World’s Highest Building

The Taipei 101 Tower of Taiwan is currently the third tallest building on Earth. Its height above ground is 509.2 metres. This includes the 60 metre tall spire. To save weight its composite concrete slabs are less dense than water. They are made from a special concrete (designed by Professor Young of the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology). They are made by mixing cement and porous clay (obtained by dredging silt at the bottom of a dam). The fact that the concrete slabs have a density of only 0.9 that of water means that it is possible to have a huge reception hall in the shopping mall at the base of the building.

The Walls Have Ears Japan’s Sumitomo Osaka Cement is developing a system for embedding minute Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) in concrete, meaning that every pour will be date-stamped, digitally-signed, and traceable. In an earthquake prone country, this information will be valuable in the event of disaster. One won’t have to get the pickaxe out to get the data, as the tags will be added to the mix by the dozen, and read using a special reader that can detect them embedded in concrete. If all goes well with testing, Sumitomo is making them available to construction companies. Unlike supermarket RFIDs, these tags have to be tough enough to handle a tough construction environment.

Nature has something better than concrete Human bones can withstand compression at twice the load as concrete (having the equivalent weight in section). Bones also have four times the tensile strength of concrete. Bones can be softened, then compressed in moulds, or extruded to make useful household items, like furniture. Just remember to keep your dog outside.

We like it – somebody finally likes concrete Finally, someone is saying nice things about concrete. The following comes from the BBC: “After water, concrete is the most widely consumed substance on earth - more than 19 billion tonnes is produced annually. It is the ubiquitous stuff of pavements, roads, utilitarian structures such as power plants, houses, schools and garages and despite its negative press, new technologies are now enabling it to assume any colour, shape, texture or pattern. Concrete is going through an extraordinary revival, and is now the material of choice for architects, engineers and artists.”

Reinforced Concrete was an Accidental Invention Reinforced concrete was invented in 1849 by chance by a Parisian gardener named Joseph Monier while trying to make concrete vases for flowers. The metal cage used to hold and shape the cement showed the property of not easily detaching from the concrete itself. Monier was annoyed with the concrete sticking to the steel until implications became clear, he tried firstly to promote it as an innovative material for the naval industry. With no success in that area, it was finally employed for buildings. Joseph Monier received a patent in 1867 and exhibited his invention at the Paris Exposition of 1867. François Hennebique, a French engineer was an important leader in experimenting with various ways of reinforcing concrete with iron and steel. At the Paris Exposition of 1867, Hennebique saw Joseph Monier’s tubs and tanks built of concrete reinforced with wire mesh, and began experimenting with ways to apply this new material to building construction, setting up his own firm in1867. First using reinforced-concrete floor slabs (1879), he progressed to a complete building system, patented 1892, using his invention of a method using hooked connections on reinforcing bars.

Did You Know? Read this and you’ll have a new respect for cement: Cement is so fine that one pound of cement contains 150 billion grains. Equals 400 billion grains per kilogram. In a typical concrete mix there is a surprising amount of air, around 6%. The other components are

water 16%, cement 11%, fine aggregate (sand) 26%, and coarse aggregate (gravel/crushed stone) 41%. When you mix these components together, you are in fact starting an extremely complex chemical reaction. A range of silicates and aluminates develop during the hydration phase. These then form a crystalline ‘gel’, which signals that the ‘setting’ process has begun. During the hardening phase, the multiplying millions of tiny micro-crystals that form from the ‘gel’ interlock to increase the concrete’s mechanical strength, turning it into true composite rock.

Concrete absorbs CO2 Wait around long enough and you’ll discover concrete‘s secret other life: Concrete can continue to increase in strength over decades. It is not uncommon to test concrete after 20 years to discover its crushing strength has doubled from its original 28-day strength. Then, over centuries, CO₂ from the atmosphere absorbs into the concrete to ‘carbonate’ the matrix by combining with the alkaline components; not dissimilar to the carbonation of limestone that creates cave formations such as stalactites. In doing so the concrete is doing the World a favour by absorbing greenhouse gases.

Six Percent of Concrete is Air A suggestion for a unique way of reducing the CO₂ emissions of our cement industry. As ordinary concrete when mixed contains around six-percent air, it is thought that it might be possible to seal the mixer from the air and inject CO₂ instead to ensure that the concrete absorbs this unwanted greenhouse gas. In fact, it may even be possible to use the standard agitator drum with no change; because CO₂ is heavier than air so no sealing of the drum should be needed. It could be even easier if the mixing water was simply carbonated, like a soft drink. New Scientist magazine reports that concrete panels cast in a pressurised CO₂ chamber become ‘super-strong,’ so there is the potential to enhance the strength of concrete as well as delivering an environmental benefit. Worldwide, the production of concrete is around nineteen billion cubic metres per year. Assuming we could retain six-percent of this as embedded CO₂ , that’s a massive 600 million tonnes of CO₂ sequestered away each year.

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

SPONSORED CONTENT

4,000 PSI

STEAMER BREAKTHROUGH Australian Pumps claim another breakthrough in their drive for more efficient steam cleaning with the introduction of their new Admiral 4,000. The Admiral 4,000 is a heavy duty steam cleaner designed for serious applications as diverse as food processing, livestock production, construction, mining and heavy industry. Boasting a 7.5 kW, 4 pole heavy duty motor and a big triplex industrial pump, the unique new steamer offers a combination of 130°C steam married to a pressure of a powerful 4,000 psi pressure. “Getting that extra 1,000 psi over the market standard, means much faster cleans and saves time, energy, labour, water and power” said Aussie Pumps Hamish Lorenz.

The new Aussie Admiral 4000 delivers an impressive 4,000 psi and steam to 130°C for fast, effective sanitising, de-greasing and cleaning.

The machine is mounted on a heavy duty steel chassis with stainless steel cover. It features a wide range of protection devices that are aimed at providing the maximum convenience for the operator. These include Timed Total Stop, Auto Shut-down, Microleak Detection, and Low Fuel sensor with warning light. “The pressures are set at 4,000 psi, and the operator has the ability to vary both pressure and temperature from the control panel” said Lorenz. This means an infinitely variable control of temperature from ambient (cold water) all the way through to 130°C. “Most smart operators set the machine between 75° to 80°C” said Lorenz. “That’s the point at which you get the best combination of hot water and fuel consumption and is ideal for washing big plant like mining gear, trucks or tractors” he said. The Admiral 4,000 represents a first for the cleaning industry. It is a move that is claimed by Australian Pump to put the company way ahead of the big European steam cleaner manufacturers. The best news for earthmovers, transport operators, industry and farmers is that the new 4,000 psi Admiral is significantly less expensive than big brand European machines with plastic covers and around 3,000 psi pressure capability. The triplex pump delivers a powerful 15 lpm flow. The machine comes with integrated detergent injection and is mounted on four big solid rubber wheels for ease of movement in factory, warehouse or workshop. Australian Pump claim the new machine is the result of extensive market research. Customers indicated that they wanted to save electricity, water and most importantly labour, in their cleaning programme. Further information is available from authorised Aussie Pumps distributors, specialist pressure cleaning suppliers and Australian Pump Industries. Visit: www.aussiepumps.com.au 26

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

Ascent-Screen

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Lockable Dowels For Post-Tensioned Concrete Frames

The Lockable Dowel accommodates initial concrete shrinkage and is then locked in position with a mechanical plate and epoxy resin. This unique Ancon product can be used to replace mid-slab ‘pour strips’ with temporary movement joints at core walls. Shear load is transferred through the dowel so formwork and props can be removed early, allowing unrestricted site access.

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PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

THE DALI MUSEUM

EXPRESSIONISM IN CONCRETE One of the most celebrated artists of all time honoured in concrete Famous artist, Salvador Dali, has been honoured with a Museum that looks like it really materialised from Dali’s consciousness. The museum dedicated to the surrealist artist is located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Why Florida and not his home country of Spain seems strange – like some of his strange paintings. It is a fascinating project, designed by HOK, which is an expansion of the original Dali Museum built in 1982. Totalling 6,300 square metres, spread over three floors, the internal writhing spaces challenge your senses, where you can admire the works of the master. The central spiralling concrete staircase that occupies the internal atrium reaches for the sky, (or the skylight at least). It carries on like the figurative Tower of Babel that inspires many of Dali’s works. The architecture of this work is inspired by Dali’s surrealist art, but at the same time it owes its appearance and the choice of materials to the practical need to protect the buildings and the works of art that it contains, from the frequent hurricanes that threaten Florida’s coasts. The building is composed of the special interaction between the rigidity of the concrete and the organic excrescence of the blue flowing glass that invites controlled views to the surrounds of the building. This is no ‘hermetically’ sealed museum, instead, it surprises at every turn.

BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED IN CONCRETE If Dali were alive today, he would no doubt love his fantasies realised in concrete. The new building is basically a Euclidean “treasure

box”, a carefully crafted block of reinforced concrete almost 18 metres high, right-angled, which contains the works of art, and a fluid, organic glass body called “Enigma”, (it takes the name from a 1929 Dali work). The new building combines the rational with the fantastical: a simple rectangle with 450mm thick hurricane-proof walls out of which erupts a large free-form geodesic glass bubble known as the “enigma”. The “enigma”, which is made up of 1,062 triangular pieces of glass, stands 25 metres at its tallest point, a twenty-first century homage to the dome that adorns Dali’s museum in Spain. And the concrete surfaces are finished to a high order. The shea-bolt holes in the formwork have been lovingly set out and each form panel is expressed, rather that trying to disguise where formwork panels are joined. To create a uniform, blemish-free surface, the traditional method of pouring a concrete building, with pour joints below and above each floor level, was not desirable in the exposed walls. The walls were poured full height floorto-floor in 4 metre high lifts, and the floor and roof structures were keyed in and mechanically doweled to the inside face of the walls. The self-consolidating concrete flowed around door and window openings, minimising surface blemishes. Paying tribute to Dali’s fascination with DNA structure and the Golden Section, a helical spiral shape was used for the magnificent concrete stair connecting the ground floor to the galleries 10-metres above. The metre deep structural concrete balustrade is the

primary load-carrying element for the stair, while the treads and landings cantilever off of the balustrade and add lateral stiffness. During construction, the stair was un-shored and reshored between concrete lifts before locking it into the 3rd floor structure. This construction sequence minimised stresses in the stair and allowed most of the natural deflection of the coiled shape to be built into the treads and risers as the stair was erected. The $30 million, 6,640 square-metre museum is truly the crown jewel in the revitalisation of St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area, and is a fitting architectural tribute to the talents of Salvador Dali.

HOW IT HAPPENED – WHY IT NEEDED CONCRETE The original Salvador Dali Museum was opened in 1982, but it soon became evident that the converted waterfront warehouse facility that housed the collection was too small and did not provide adequate protection from flooding and hurricanes. To build a new iconic facility that would not only protect Dali’s artwork, but would also attract worldwide attention, the Museum’s Board of Directors hired internationally-renowned architects HOK, along with the structural engineering firm of Walter P Moore, to design the new museum. Recognising that hurricane storm surge of the sea at the original building was a threat to the priceless paintings within, the new iconic museum needed to be designed for at least a 100-year life; however, the site was markedly less than two metres above sea level while a

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

massive storm surge could raise waves eight metres or more in its exposed coastal exposure so close to Florida’s hurricane infested Tampa Bay. To protect the priceless collection, the building pad was raised one and a half metres, the structure was designed to resist wind speeds of 250 km/ph (above code minimums), and all gallery spaces, the vault, and rare book library were located on the upper floors. An economical reinforced one-way, castin-place concrete slab and beam system was selected for the structural system. To create attractive exposed walls throughout the building, unfinished and architecturally exposed cast-in-place walls were used in lieu of architectural precast. Using exposed, unpainted concrete as the load-bearing structure and the architectural finish created several challenges: serviceability, constructability, and appearance. The good news is that concrete easily met all these challenges while providing essential hurricane protection to the exposed bay side of the building. Not taking chances against a massive boat being driven into the building in the event of a

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

hurricane, the concrete walls are 450mm thick, using a dense concrete mix with a low watercement ratio, high cementitious material content, and 20 percent fly-ash replacement to minimise permeability of the concrete. Penetron crystalline waterproofing admixture was used to virtually eliminate any water infiltration. This water-activated admixture, which forms a crystalline structure in the pores in the concrete, was particularly important in the areas where the glazing abuts the outer wall surface to prevent any water that seeps into the wall concrete from migrating around the glazing joints in the event of a major 250 km/ph storm. Retractable aluminium covers over the hurricane impact-resistant light-directing glass skylights are moved into place before a storm to take the initial impact force from flying storm debris. The largest potential area of roof glazing, however, is the primary glazing system that encompasses the

grand central atrium. The “Enigma” and the smaller “Igloo” freeform glazing systems that encompass the lobby atrium and multipurpose room are made up of more than 1,000 relatively small, thick and tough, individual glass panels held in place by strong interior steel space frames connected to the concrete superstructure.

• Avoid the risks of using Non-Compliant Steels • How to assure product conformance to standards • National & International Speakers on Compliance Risks

ACRS

Steel Compliance Seminars Australia & New Zealand – October 2015 PERTH – Monday October 12th, 5.30pm-8.30pm SYDNEY – Tuesday October 13th, 5.30pm-8.30pm MELBOURNE – Thursday October 15th, 5.30pm-8.30pm CHRISTCHURCH – Monday October 19th, 5.30pm-8.30pm AUCKLAND – Tuesday October 20th, 5.30pm-8.30pm BRISBANE – Thursday October 22nd, 5.30pm-8.30pm SEMINARS ARE FREE TO ATTEND AND CPD POINTS MAY BE APPLICABLE. • Australia and New Zealand are part of a global supply chain and building & construction products are now being sourced from both overseas and local manufacturers and suppliers. Alarmingly, there is increasing evidence that many suppliers of products, regardless of where they are made, are not providing evidence that they meet Australian and New Zealand Standards and building requirements, and hence they may not comply. • Formed in 2000 by peak construction industry bodies, the Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels, “ACRS”, independently assesses and third party certifies steel manufacturing & processing at over 150 locations in over 15 countries worldwide for construction steel products supplied to Australian and New Zealand standards.

ACRS is your toolkit for steel compliance. To register for the free ACRS Seminar Series visit: www.steelcertification.com or www.steelcertification.co.nz

Call ACRS on (02) 9965 7216, email info@steelcertification.com or visit www.steelcertification.com ACRS – The Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels Ltd ABN 40 096 692 545

PRECAST TECHNOLOGY

NEW CALEDONIA

FOCUSES ON PRECAST CONSTRUCTION The focus on building development in New Caledonia - the French archipelago east of Australia - is on precast construction for residential, public and tourism projects. Development includes houses and multistorey residential buildings, hospitals, schools, hotel complexes and industrial workshops. The precast plant of the New Caledonian Les Bétons du Pacifique Group, completed in 2014, will produce floor slabs and double and sandwich walls, as well as beams and columns for hall buildings. The LBDP Group, mainly a ready-mixed concrete supplier, selected the international planning office, MC2, as its project partner. Vollert was chosen as the plant partner and equipment supplier. It developed different scenarios and processes in coordination with the customer using 3D simulations and calculation models. “The most profitable solution is always an individual one, depending on the precast elements to be produced, the required output quantity, the degree of automation and the investment sum”, said Vollert sales engineer, Philippe Marrié. To be able to produce the desired variety of components consisting of laminar and structural precast elements, it was important to have flexible processes to change the production mix in the shortest possible time. In the start phase, there are up to 15 formwork pallets in the semi-automated circulating system. The precast plant will annually produce approximately 100,000 m² of untensioned floor slabs and double/sandwich walls.

Top: In order to be able to produce the desired variety of components consisting of laminar and structural precast elements, it was important above all to have flexible processes. Right: The island state of New Caledonia focuses on precast construction for the development of new buildings for residential areas and public institutions as well as the initiation of new tourism projects.

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

“For that we have used modern plant technology and machines that require little maintenance – in the formwork preparation, in the concreting and turning procedures, and also in the loading of the precast concrete elements,” Mr Marrié said. Solid and double walls up to 400 mm thick and floor slabs up to 60 mm thick are produced on a floor area of 1,600 m². A flexible pallet edge formwork attachment makes solid walls possible up to a thickness of 160 mm. Precast concrete element heights of up to 3.2m are possible and a partially insulated design can also be realised. “In addition we have developed a special formwork pallet for the manufacture of 18 untensioned U-girders. That was a technical challenge,” said Jürgen Schäfer, project manager at Vollert. Pallets with a formwork area of up to 40 m² and area loads of up to 400 kg/m² move through each workstation in a self-contained circulation concept. For the manufacture of quality precast concrete elements the concreting process and treatment of the surface are important. Firstly, the formwork pallets are mechanically freed from adhering concrete residues by a rotary brush and a steel scraper unit. The cleaning process is initiated automatically as soon as a pallet moves into the cleaning zone. An electrically driven brush is pressed against the formwork profile to clean the fixed

edge formwork. The formwork pallet is then sprayed evenly with release agent, using rotary nozzles. The output of the nozzles can be tailored to the ambient temperature and viscosity of the release agent to ensure quality coverage and reduce consumption. A CADCAM-controlled large plotter then draws outlines of the precast concrete elements to be produced 1:1 on the formwork surface with a water soluble ink. To achieve the desired coverage accuracy of ± 1 mm, a pneumatically actuated pallet centring device is integrated. Dimensional errors are avoided by the automatic operation which ensures the high plotting speeds of 0 - 1 m/s. Once the centring has been released again, the pallet moves to the manual formwork positioning. A workplace system - a rack positioned alongside the pallet position with a catwalk at the height of the formwork pallet serves to store formwork, magnets and built-in components. The formwork transport track has been integrated into the workplace system to facilitate handling of the formwork. The reinforcement and built-in components such as back boxes and transport anchors are fitted in the next work process. The reinforcement preparation takes place automatically; data required for this is provided by the plant’s master computer. Fed by a rotary bucket track, a rail-guided concrete distributor with a bridge design

PRECAST TECHNOLOGY

Clockwise from top: Fed by a rotary bucket track, a railguided concrete distributor with a bridge design was chosen on account of the limited space available. For the manufacture of high-quality precast concrete elements not only the concreting process and the subsequent preparation of the surface are important; particular attention is paid to the preparatory work processes. The precast plant, completed in April 2014, will in future produce floor slabs and double and sandwich walls as well as beams and columns for hall buildings.

was chosen because of the limited space available. This allows the discharge container, which has a maximum capacity of 3 m³, to drive longitudinally and transversely on the distributor bridge to achieve a large discharge area of up to 3.2 m. The energy chain was sunk into the floor so a fork-lift truck could drive over it. The concrete is discharged by a spiked roller/ slide valve construction, manually controlled by a moving panel attached to the side of the bridge. The discharge volume and the speed of the spiked roller can be adjusted to different concrete consistencies. Hydraulically actuated flat slide valves block out the area in which no concrete is to be discharged, e.g. for windows. By means of the slide valve width adjustment, the width of the outlet can be adapted to different kinds and consistencies of concrete (normal concrete, lightweight concrete). The roughening device provides for the roughening of the surface of the floor slab or the two concrete slabs of the double wall for a better connection with the cast-in-place concrete. A maintenance door facilitates cleaning of the container interior of the spiked roller. A compaction station ensures surface and edge quality. The concrete is compacted by a low-frequency vibrating station. The vibrating movement is generated by an unbalance drive, compacting the concrete, which enables compaction energy to be precisely adjusted – stiffer concretes can also be processed. A floor-guided storage and retrieval machine (SRM), designed for a concrete area load of 400 kg/m², puts the pallets into storage and removes them again automatically. The hardening chamber consists of two lined rack towers, each with eight pallet shelves; one above the other. The pallets are driven in and out via friction wheels and a rack-and-pinion pusher. The SRM has adjusters for accurate horizontal positioning in the individual hardening chamber axes.

Driving to the hardening chamber levels takes place by setting bars with adjustable set-down points. After a hardening time of about eight hours, the cured floor slabs are moved out via the rack tower for demoulding. The slabs are taken up by the 16 lifting hooks of the lifting traverse and stacked horizontally in transportable piles to be removed. If a double wall is being manufactured, the SRM takes the pallet out of the hardening chamber after the hardening of the first shell and transfers it to a stationary pallet turning device. The hardened upper shell of the double wall to be produced is mechanically clamped to the pallet by clamping arms. For the turning procedure, the turning frame is lifted to a height of up to 2.3 m by hydraulically-actuated lifting cylinders. During the rotary movement the gravitational forces are absorbed by a longitudinal stop, which ensures a safe turning process and prevents the precast elements from slipping sideways. Manually adjustable spacer feet serve the production of different double wall thicknesses. As soon as the first shell has been turned by 180°, the lower shell drives under the turning device. This lowers itself and connects the two shells to create the double wall. Spacers in the precast concrete elements and the spacer feet on the turning device ensure the desired thickness of the double wall is maintained. The double wall is compacted once again – the fresh concrete of the lower shell is vibrated. The synchronous vibration, without moving the first shell relative to the second, guarantees product quality and eliminates concrete segregation around the reinforcement. The clamping arms are removed and the upper, empty pallet is turned back. The pallet with the finished double wall drives into the hardening chamber; the empty pallet is set down on the roller track and drives through the hardening chamber to the cleaning station.

In the lifting area, the demoulded double wall is erected by a tilting station to an angle of 80° so the double wall elements can be removed without damage by a hall crane. The vertical erection of an empty formwork pallet returning from the pallet turning unit allows it to pass through. Loading utilises a lifting traverse fastened by a stabilising device which picks up the finished double wall by its anchors and loads it onto a setting frame. The precast concrete elements are removed by a run-off lifting carriage with a capacity of up to 20 t which connects the loading area with the outdoor storage area. Following the demoulding of the precast concrete elements, the formwork elements are placed on a transporter and taken to the formwork cleaner before the formwork profiles are returned to the production circulation. The plant configuration and storage, and production processes are overseen by a master computer system which controls individual work stations, creates the pallet occupation, routes the pallet transport and manages the order of removal from storage and curing times.

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

A NEW ERA IN PRECAST NOW WITH A MUCH WIDER CAPABILITY, PRECAST CONCRETE HAS A MULTITUDE OF APPLICATIONS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IS BOTH COST EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE. NATIONAL PRECAST CONCRETE ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA (NATIONAL PRECAST) HAS PLAYED AND WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN REPRESENTING THIS DYNAMIC INDUSTRY, RAISING THE BAR WITHIN ITS MEMBERSHIP AND ENSURING THE INDUSTRY’S EXPANSION BY EDUCATING AND PROMOTING ITS MANY ADVANTAGES. When you talk to the Association’s CEO Sarah Bachmann, it is clear that Sarah is extremely passionate about her industry with a fervent desire to maximise all of the opportunities available to the Association’s membership. “It’s an exciting time in the world of precast concrete. We are always striving to stay ahead of the times, to be proactive in establishing solutions that are both sustainable and cost effective. The construction sector is providing us with opportunities by demanding increased flexibility as well as products which are consistently needed on time and which are always of high quality. The work that the Association does to assist our Members and encourage continued product improvement places us as an industry in an ideal position to capitalise on those opportunities. We can see the future and we are up to the task.” The Association’s membership has grown considerably over the last twenty-plus years and today it represents a wealth of combined talent. Members include not just precast manufacturers and those who supply the industry, but

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

architects, engineers, builders, lawyers and accountants as well as tertiary institutions, affiliated organisations and international associations. It’s a formidable array of expertise available to an Association that’s dedicated to raising production standards, ensuring world’s best practice across the industry and maximizing the variety of applications available to its members. Most importantly National Precast is now a strong voice effectively representing the precast concrete industry to ensure its ongoing growth. Today, most modern precast factories have all their processes documented with many having independent third party accreditation. There is the soon to be published revised AS 3850 Prefabricated concrete elements and also the soon to be reviewed National Code of Practice for precast, tilt-up and concrete elements in building construction, both governing the design and use of precast. These two examples typify the due diligence exercised by National Precast in reforming industry practices throughout Australia.

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

ABOUT

NATIONAL PRECAST National Precast is the peak body for the precast concrete industry. Its mission is to influence, to connect people and knowledge, and to facilitate solutions for the benefit of the industry.

“The gains we have made in the precast concrete industry over the last ten years or so have contributed to this legacy and we look forward to the difference our industry and Association can make in ensuring that tomorrow’s world continues to build new infrastructure and still respect the environment in which we live.” Through its publications, education programmes, communications and forums, National Precast has developed a formidable and credible reputation. The Association is now recognized by various important bodies including Standards Australia, Safe Work Australia and the various State roads’ authorities. National Precast also regularly communicates and is represented on many allied industry group committees. There is no doubt that through its disciplined actions, National Precast has influenced much change within the precast concrete industry. You can understand Sarah Bachmann’s enthusiasm for the precast industry because there’s no doubt that precast concrete is a

valued commodity in today’s construction sector and plays a huge role in prefabricated construction. One can only contemplate its evolution into the future. As Sarah says, “The sustainability of building materials is critical because in terms of infrastructure it leads to a far better outcome and creates an important legacy for future generations in the way we manage our environment. The gains we have made in the precast concrete industry over the last ten years or so have contributed to this legacy and we look forward to the difference our industry and Association can make in ensuring that tomorrow’s world continues to build new infrastructure and still respect the environment in which we live.”

National Precast advocates on behalf of members to influence outcomes for the betterment of both the precast industry and the broader construction industry. It achieves this through participation on Standards Australia committees, representation to government authorities and its involvement with allied industry organisations. Members of National Precast span the entire building and construction industry, and include precast manufacturers, product and service suppliers, builders, architects, engineers, solicitors, accountants and allied organisations. National Precast facilitates the development of improved relationships between industry stakeholders and the sharing of knowledge through regular meetings, workshops and other events. National Precast members offer solutions to engineers, architects, builders and developers and the Association has a role to play in communicating the benefits of these solutions.

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

STANDARD NOW REFLECTS INCREASED USE OF PRECAST Any minute now the revised AS3850 Prefabricated Concrete Elements, will be published. Previously known as AS 3850-2003 Tilt-up concrete construction, the revised standard expands the standard’s scope and brings it into line with current industry practices. According to Sarah Bachmann, CEO of National Precast Concrete Association Australia, the revised standard will be welcomed by the industry and should help the uptake of off-site manufactured precast concrete. “Even though the 2003 version of the standard largely focused on single storey warehouses using tilt-up walling which is fabricated on-site, it was also being applied to precast ,” said Ms Bachmann. “Since the standard was first written, we have seen precast being used more and more in preference over tilt-up, and in many more applications than just industrial warehouses. The market share has grown and the standard has become outdated”, she said. “This revised version recognises that precast is no longer mainly used for walling in industrial warehouses, but that frequent demand is also now coming from the multi-storey residential and commercial construction sectors”, says Ms Bachmann. “The other thing we are noticing is an increased demand for total precast structures, where precast is used for walling, flooring, columns, beams, stairs and lift shafts. The new standard addresses that”. Jeff Stratford, National Precast’s representative on the standards committee, says

that the standard’s new title of ‘Prefabricated concrete elements’ says to people in the industry that precast is different to tilt-up, despite many of them continuing to incorrectly see it as one and the same. The revised version also addresses several critical ambiguities and errors regarding safety in the 2003 edition. “Differing interpretations of the testing and statistical methods in the 2003 edition had been causing confusion in the industry around the performance of several products,“ Stratford said. The updated standard has been split into two with Part 1 addressing general requirements and Part 2 relating to building construction. “The two documents have very similar scope but a very different focus as their targeted audiences are different, i.e. the Designer vs. the Contractor,” he said. According to Stratford, implementation of Part 1 should provide the industry with a greater level of satisfaction that the products that they are using have been tested and comply with a much tighter set of requirements. “Of course, the industry should still request compliance information from the suppliers they choose to use,” he said. Part 2 has been specifically written for the construction design and documentation of prefabricated concrete elements in building construction. It has been considerably expanded to provide greater detail, more examples, additional load factors and an overall update to reflect what is now standard practice in the industry.

“This revised version recognises that precast is no longer mainly used for walling in industrial warehouses, but that frequent demand is also now coming from the multi-storey residential and commercial construction sectors” 36

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

Ms Bachmann says that the process to update the standard has been a positive process which has also involved Safe Work Australia. She said the next step was for Safe Work Australia’s 2008 edition of the National Code of Practice (NCOP) for Precast, Tilt-up and concrete elements in building construction to be amended, to complement the changes made to the new AS 3850 and amended WHS legislation in all jurisdictions. “Ultimately, the revised AS3850 will work alongside a new Code, with the standard being the industry’s technical resource and the Code being the guide on ‘how to’ and ‘who has to’. The goal is to achieve a harmonised approach which enables every manufacturer in every state to do the same thing.

PRECAST CONCRETE UPDATES IN DESIGN AND STANDARDS

Date: Thursday 3 September 2015 Time: 09:00 – 17:00 Venue: Pullman Albert Park, Melbourne Tickets: AUD$490.00 Learn about the latest in design, construction, and safety requirements for precast concrete in Australia and around the world. The workshop will also look at changes to Australian Standards that are directly applicable to precast concrete, including the revised AS 3850 “Prefabricated Concrete Elements” and the impact these will have on design, construction and erection. Who should come? Design consultants, project managers, contractors, precasters and anyone with an interest in the design and construction of precast concrete elements.

More information and register at http://concrete2015.com.au/workshops/

precast... the tools

Precast concrete

it’s hard but easy to use

Like most things in life, precast concrete can be surprisingly easy to use when you have the right resources. Find a Precaster If you want to find the industry’s best and most trusted all in one location, then look no further. Our Find a Precaster tool allows you to quickly and easily find a list of precasters who have passed our certification process and who are ready to help you. Simply input your state, the product you are looking for and then the tool outputs a list of corresponding manufacturers. It’s that easy, so save yourself the ring around and find a precaster you know you can trust.

Tender Service Don’t spend all day chasing manufacturers to find the best price, let them come to you. Supply us with the details of your next job and we can put together a member tender request for you. Sent to our entire precaster membership, tender requests are a time and and cost efficient way to get our members to come to you with the information you need.

R-value Calculator If you are looking for an easy way to comply with NCC DTS requirements, give our R-value Calculator a go. It’s the first of its kind in the world… calculating and including thermal mass benefits in R-values for precast sandwich panel walling, single layer walling and precast flooring. The Calculator makes calculating R-values simple! Choose from variables such as concrete thickness, insulation, climate zone, building class, and the Calculator provides the Mass-Enhanced R-value of your wall or flooring system. It even provides you with a printable certificate that can be used as documentary evidence of NCC compliance.

Publications Looking for ideas and inspiration? Technical specs? Design guides or recommended practices? We have you covered. From our huge Precast Concrete Handbook, right down to our tiny Little Book of Concrete, we have a publication for every need.

Technical Support If at any time it does all get too hard and you do need some help, pick up the phone or send us an email and one of our team will be happy to help you. If you’ve got a question about precast, big or small, chances are we’ve got the answer. Put us to the test!

Get the tools you need visit www.nationalprecast.com.au

making precast easy

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

HALO ON MOUNT

Precast project sets a new benchmark in urban living Architect: Baltinas Architects Precaster: Austral Precast Type: Residential Apartments Location: Perth, WA

Located on the city’s doorstep in one of the most sought after locations in Perth, Halo on Mount is a new landmark combining cuttingedge, contemporary architectural design with environmental efficiencies. The development, which comprises 21 apartments, two penthouses, and a café, has been designed as a sustainable, timeless architectural statement, responding to cues from its parkland surroundings on Mount Street. Meanwhile, the development’s unique façade of halo circular windows draws on the dynamic Perth cityscape, creating an ever-changing pattern of light and shade. The complexity of the façade presented a unique design challenge, demanding the highest level of engineering skill for the design and manufacture of the precast mould. Baltinas Architects drew upon the expertise of National Precast member Austral Precast, who engineered an innovative precast solution which creates a seemingly random pattern of circular openings on the façade while using a standard mould for repetitive casting.

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

The panels were manufactured from an exposed organic grey, black and brown aggregate mix, resulting in an enduring, natural look. They were then sealed in their natural form to prevent the need for ongoing maintenance that is often required with a painted façade. Sustainability has been a key principle underpinning the design of Halo on Mount. Every aspect of the nine level building, from the solar panels and self-generating power to the use of rainwater tanks and low emission construction materials, have been considered to enhance sustainability performance. From a building perspective, the use of precast panels also has the added benefit of helping to mitigate construction risk by taking work off site where a project’s risk profile can be better managed. Off-site work also means the precast panel is produced under strictly controlled conditions in factories, resulting in better quality, accuracy and durability. Precast elements can then be scheduled to arrive ready for installation and lifted directly into place, to dramatically reduce construction time.

Artists Impressions: Courtesy Baltinas Architects

Due to its positioning along the Mitchell Freeway, noise reduction was also a major consideration in the design and choice of building materials for Halo on Mount. The same thermal mass that contributes to the sustainability of precast concrete also makes it an excellent sound insulator, reducing the intrusion of external noises into internal living areas. In addition, the tolerance for windows and doors at Halo on Mount are tight to prevent higher noise levels in the units, and precast has better control over tolerance than insitu construction. Barry Baltinas from Baltinas Architects said, “Austral Precast was able to satisfy the builder’s timeline and capability requirements and the architect’s design brief, which required quality and detailed construction experience.”

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

HOLLOW CORE CONCRETE

Peter Healy, Managing Director, Hollow Core Concrete

Leading the way in a competitive market National Precast member Hollow Core Concrete has a strong reputation for delivering excellence in a highly competitive precast industry. Since 1988, the Victorian based company has delivered on more than 1800 projects. From small beginnings, Hollow Core now employs 100 people working on a variety of small and multi-million dollar projects. Founder and Managing Director Peter Healy says there are simple reasons for the company’s success over almost three decades. “Our longevity is due to us having good staff, quality products and our perseverance to achieve excellence,” he said. “We’re a one stop shop, offering design services as well as a complete manufacture and installation service. We’ve also had excellent client support.” Mr Healy says his team enjoys projects that push the design envelope. “The smaller jobs are just as challenging as the larger ones because they require the same in-depth design, guidance and communication with the client to achieve rapid construction and cost efficient design alternatives,” he said.

“He admires those in the industry who accept alternative design options for suspended floors that challenge the conventional insitu concrete construction methods, he says”. PRODUCTS FOR EVERY APPLICATION While hollowcore flooring is an important part of the business, the company also manufactures a variety of other precast products including beams and columns, bridges, stairs, wall panels and absorptive noise barriers. “We’re always looking at product diversification and new ideas and this is evident with the diverse range of projects completed. You never stop looking at new ideas,” Mr Healy said. Over the years Hollow Core’s projects have covered the entire building spectrum, including commercial, residential, bridges, sporting facilities, car parks and noise walls. The company’s first project was at Webb Dock in Melbourne. There have been countless high profile projects to follow, including work on the MCG Northern Stand, MCG Southern Stand, Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, Melbourne City Link noise walls, Melbourne Park

Hollow Core Concrete’s factory in Laverton Victoria

Tennis Centre and Melbourne Emporium. The company’s largest current project is a precast panel and floor package for Melbourne’s new medium security Ravenhall Prison. The 1300 prisoner facility is due for completion in 2017. FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE Hollow Core is firmly focussed on its future and is looking toward continued growth and development. Mr Healy describes the business as exciting and challenging. He finds satisfaction in the benefits of precast - the off-site manufacture, the design required to present alternatives solutions and the speed of construction that result. He stresses that Hollow Core’s people will be the key to a successful future. “We have a good team. Everyone has to be motivated and focussed. The key to that is communication and everyone pulling together. And that’s what we do. “We’re focussed on our projects and getting them done as well, and efficiently, as possible.”

NATIONAL PRECAST ANNOUNCES FIRST INDUSTRY PARTNER According to National Precast CEO Sarah Bachmann, Industry Partner is a new category of membership available with National Precast, introduced to offer an expanded range of opportunities to industry suppliers. “Not only can industry suppliers gain access to leading industry players through their existing Industry Supplier membership; now they can really ramp up their involvement by becoming an Industry Partner. By involving us in their marketing strategies, we can help them gain some real traction with their target audience”, says Ms Bachmann. “Reid Construction Systems will make a welcome Partner given the company’s longstanding involvement in and contribution to the precast industry. We look forward to working with them over the next twelve months”, she said.

Reid have chosen to partner with National Precast over 2015-16 to promote their lifters, anchors and connectors. David Barnes, Reid’s Market Manager, is excited about the move. “Reid are honoured to be chosen as the Industry Partner by National Precast for lifting systems and connections.

“The program continues the great relationship Reid , National Precast and the members have had over many years in developing the industry and making Precast a safer and more attractive construction material”. Jeff Stratford, Business Manager Precast/ Tilt-Up ANZ for Reid Construction Systems is also excited about the move. “We didn’t think twice about strengthening our partnership with National Precast. We have been a long-time supporter of the association and the great work it has done to grow the profile and usage of precast concrete. Partnering, supporting and growing with National Precast has enabled us to tailor our solutions to meet the ever increasing and changing needs of the industry, ensuring Reid continues to be a supplier of choice.”

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

PRECAST HOUSING Growing in Popularity in Australia

Builders and architects right around the country are recognising the versatility of precast concrete for the residential housing market. National Precast Concrete Association CEO Sarah Bachmann says the potential for precast housing is enormous. “Precast homes are a niche market in which many of our members are experiencing growth,” she said. “Builders and architects are increasingly appreciating its versatility and benefits.” SPEEDING HOUSING CONSTRUCTION One National Precast member who is experiencing a rise in demand for precast housing is Melbourne-based Hollow Core Concrete. According to owner Peter Healy, the speed of construction is a huge selling point. Hollow Core Concrete have worked on a number of precast houses ranging from simple single storeyed to complex multi-level houses and medium density housing. Hollow Core’s Consulting Technical Manager Barry Crisp says precast home construction isn’t competing with brick veneer or timber cladding, but from a cost perspective, is comparable to a solid brick house with concrete flooring. “A precast concrete house we’re building at the moment in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern will take about 6 months. It’s a 300 square metre,

two-storey house. Lock-up occurred after just nine weeks on site. Using conventional construction methods it would take at least 12 months to build this style of home,” Mr Crisp said. “We’re finding it’s often builders coming to us, looking for a solution for a complex construction, and precast is that solution,” he added. Across the other side of the country in Western Australia, another National Precast member, MJB Industries, also recognises the potential for housing. MJB’s John Hovey has already manufactured precast for seven precast homes it has developed and sold, and there are more on the horizon. “Precast is proving to be a great alternative to traditional double-brick,” he said. “Buyers are impressed with the finish of precast, the speed at which we can build their homes and the lack of rubbish and waste during the construction process.” The company is also working with a not-forprofit organisation looking at the possibility of affordable social housing, constructed using precast concrete. Mr Hovey says the demand for high density housing in Western Australia is booming, and precast could provide a robust and long-lasting option.

Tasmania’s Relbia House, using insulated precast sandwich panels incorporating an insulation layer between two layers of concrete.

In Tasmania, National Precast member Duggans Precast have for many years manufactured precast for houses, particularly insulated sandwich panels. They are now helping to make a difference to communities, supplying the precast for social housing in North Hobart. In a $14 million dollar project, a former adult learning centre is being transformed into an inner-city housing project for young people at risk of homelessness and those with a disability. The 46-unit accommodation is expected to be finished at the end of the year.

Precast concrete is proving to be a great alternative to traditional doublebrick and brick veneer homes.

“Precast is proving to be a great alternative to traditional double-brick. Buyers are impressed with the finish of precast, the speed at which we can build their homes and the lack of rubbish and waste during the construction process” John Hovey, MJB Industries 40

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

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NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

BENEFITS OF PRECAST HOUSING Housing construction using precast concrete has a range of benefits. The build speed is often hailed as the most significant. Because precast concrete is manufactured in factory conditions, there’s no stopping for bad weather. Not only is the supply reliable, but also on-site installation is faster than traditional methods. Precast offers high performance in terms of thermal comfort, durability, superior acoustic insulation and resistance to fire and flood. Its strength and structural capability mean it meets engineering design standards for housing. Services, such as electrical ducting and plumbing pipework can be cast into the panels when they’re being manufactured. In terms of aesthetics, precast is flexible in form, shape and available finishes, allowing for complex designs and textures. Even brick patterns can be achieved. REDUCING ENERGY COSTS Precast concrete’s thermal capacity allows heat to be absorbed and stored in the building and radiated during cooler periods. This results

Construction Engineering Australia - August 2015

Hillside Project, developed by National Precast’s CEO in the Adelaide Hills, highlights precast concrete’s versatility and attractive aesthetics.

in energy savings as homeowners rely less on artificial heating and cooling. As well, concrete can provide a level of internal temperature stability that isn’t attainable with lighter weight construction methods. The panels can be insulated on the inside or manufactured as sandwich panels with an insulation layer between two layers of concrete. Homeowners not only save money though lower power costs, but also through reduced on-going maintenance and repair costs.

POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR PRECAST HOUSING According to the NPCAA’s Sarah Bachmann, the future growth for precast housing is promising. “Although precast housing requires specialised engineering design, when you compare it with a traditional solid brick home, there are so many benefits,” she said. “We see this as a market for potential growth. Whether it’s individual homes or multi-storey apartments, the future for precast concrete housing is looking positive.”

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